When planning your marriage ceremony day, there’s rather more to consider than simply your ceremony and reception. Whereas these parts are completely the primary occasions and the explanation why everyone seems to be becoming a member of collectively, most engaged {couples} resolve to go all out and plan a whole marriage ceremony weekend to have a good time their nuptials with household and mates.
Whether or not a hometown celebration or a vacation spot marriage ceremony, most fashionable weddings embrace a welcome occasion to kickstart the festivities, a rehearsal dinner for shut household and mates, a energetic cocktail hour between the ceremony and reception, an after-party to maintain the marriage night time going, and sometimes a morning-after brunch to bid farewell to family members. You might resolve so as to add some or all of those occasions to your marriage ceremony weekend itinerary – the selection is yours!
Study extra about every of the assorted occasions in your marriage ceremony weekend itinerary, and be impressed to host your marriage ceremony occasions at a few of the greatest marriage ceremony venues throughout North America!
Marriage ceremony Welcome Celebration
Whereas historically weddings included solely a rehearsal dinner and a marriage celebration, {couples} are actually discovering extra methods to have a good time with their friends. Whether or not or not you’re having a destination wedding, the primary occasion on the marriage weekend itinerary that each one friends are invited to attend is usually a welcome occasion – often a dinner or cocktail occasion that begins off the marriage weekend.
Whereas not everybody will attend, it’s necessary that you just invite every of your attendees to this pre-wedding occasion, which as of late, have turn out to be fairly extravagant! Brides and grooms can lean right into a design scheme that previews their marriage ceremony décor or create a completely recent look with a enjoyable theme that won’t have labored for the nuptials themselves.
The timing of your welcome occasion is as much as you. Some {couples} can have a Thursday rehearsal dinner, adopted by a Friday welcome occasion for all of their friends, whereas others will do the other. As with something associated to your marriage ceremony day, do what feels best for you!
Venue Concept: JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
In the event you’re internet hosting a marriage in Orlando, Florida, think about JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes in your welcome occasion! Whereas the resort – which options almost 150,000 sq. ft of occasion areas – can actually host a whole marriage ceremony weekend, these planning their ceremony and reception at completely different Orlando venue can invite out-of-town friends to remain on the lush, 500-acre property and host a marriage welcome occasion at one of many property’s lovely indoor and out of doors areas.
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Following a multi-million-dollar renovation, friends staying on the resort will get pleasure from the brand new Grande Lakes Waterpark that includes a lazy river, three waterslides, and luxurious cabanas, in addition to an 18-hole golf course designed by PGA legend Greg Norman, and farm-to-table fare at Whisper Creek Farm – a 7,000-square-foot fruit and vegetable backyard with an adjoining 11,000-square-foot out of doors occasion house, which might additionally host marriage ceremony occasion occasions!
Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner usually takes place instantly following the ceremony rehearsal the night time earlier than the marriage; nonetheless, if that schedule doesn’t work, you may alter it to suit your marriage ceremony schedule. This dinner ought to present gratitude to your family members and sometimes occasions, it’s a chance for shut mates, cousins, grandparents, and so forth to provide speeches.
At a minimal, these concerned within the ceremony (the marriage occasion and officiant(s) in some circumstances) and their vital others ought to be invited, alongside together with your rapid households. Past that, you may lengthen the invitation to out-of-town friends and extra. In the event you embrace prolonged household, it ought to be equal on either side – if the bride’s aunts and uncles are invited, the groom’s ought to be invited as nicely. We advise creating a transparent guest-list cutoff and sticking to it to keep away from damage emotions.
Whereas much less formal than the marriage itself, many marriage ceremony planners encourage making a seating chart for this dinner so that each visitor – a lot of whom are possible assembly for the primary time – can get correctly acquainted earlier than the marriage day. Just like the welcome occasion, be happy to design the celebration to enhance the marriage day or select a completely new feel and look.
Venue Concept: SLS, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Beverly Hills
{Couples} internet hosting their marriage ceremony in or close to Beverly Hills, California, are inspired to incorporate SLS, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills of their marriage ceremony weekend occasions. The gorgeous venue gives 15 occasion areas good for a rehearsal dinner or the large day itself, with customizable experiences all through your marriage ceremony weekend – and even pre-wedding occasions, akin to engagement events, bachelorette weekends, bridal showers, and extra.
SLS, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Beverly Hills; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Company staying on the SLS in Beverly Hills will relish within the five-star lodging and facilities, akin to California delicacies served on the Vista Rooftop, participating in dawn yoga and lounging in cabanas on the sunny rooftop pool deck with panoramic views of Los Angeles, or indulging in facials and therapeutic massage therapies on the luxurious Ciel Spa, which might even be a beautiful setting for a bridal-party spa day main as much as the marriage weekend.
Venue Concept: Residence Inn Large Sky – The Wilson Resort
Locals and guests alike are heading to Large Sky, Montana, for snowy winter weddings or beautiful spring and summer season fêtes. {Couples} looking for cozy lodging for his or her family members, in addition to the proper rehearsal dinner location or marriage ceremony venue, will love Residence Inn Big Sky – The Wilson Hotel. With capability for as much as 150 friends, the Wilson Ballroom gives breathtaking views of the mountains to create a romantic backdrop.
Residence Inn Large Sky – The Wilson Resort; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
As one of many latest lodges in Large Sky, The Wilson will deal with your friends to pet-friendly studios and suites for a house away from house as they discover the pure great thing about the world, in addition to get pleasure from Montana-inspired fare on the onsite Copper Whisky Bar & Grill. The property can also be simply steps away from native outlets, eating places, and bars in Large Sky’s City Middle, so there shall be no scarcity of issues to do whereas attending your marriage ceremony weekend!
Marriage ceremony Ceremony
Though the wedding ceremony is usually the shortest a part of the whole marriage ceremony weekend, it is usually the important motive why you, your fiancé, and your family and friends are gathered to have a good time: to honor your love and your marriage as you trade vows.
Regardless of what number of family members are attending your nuptials, create an intimate ceremony that appears like simply the 2 of you by personalizing the service. Many brides and grooms choose particular music, write their very own vows, select particular readings, or incorporate their cultural traditions to make sure the ceremony is exclusive to them.
When seating your family and friends for the ceremony – whether or not held in a church, chapel, or temple, open air on a terrace or manicured garden at a shocking resort, or inside a powerful ballroom, the custom of the “bride’s facet” and the “groom’s facet” is not needed; nonetheless, it is very important reserve seats within the first one or two rows for the mother and father and grandparents of the bride and groom. {Couples} are additionally now internet hosting in-the-round ceremonies so all of their friends have an amazing view of the proceedings.
Venue Concept: JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa
Brides and grooms welcoming friends to Muskoka Lakes in Canada’s Ontario province will fall in love with JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa. The beautiful lakefront location gives the proper place to host your marriage ceremony ceremony. The Lakeview Garden overlooking Lake Rosseau gives breathtaking views for a memorable vow trade, and an extra 16 venues all through the resort are good for extra marriage ceremony weekend occasions.
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Although the property gives easy accessibility to Muskoka’s famed out of doors actions, family members could not even wish to go away the resort. With award-winning eating places and bars, a rejuvenating spa, a year-round indoor-outdoor pool, and two non-public seashores providing water actions within the summertime, there’s one thing for everybody to get pleasure from simply 2 1/2 hours from Toronto.
Venue Concept: Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica
Situated simply 4 blocks from the seashore, Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica is a boutique resort providing the proper house base for friends who wish to discover all that Los Angeles has to supply. From the top-floor Delfina Penthouse Ballroom with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica mountains to beautiful out of doors venues, there’s no unsuitable place to say “I do.”
Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica; Images courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
From the second your marriage ceremony friends are provided glasses of Champagne on arrival, they’ll be given a red-carpet expertise whereas staying onsite in your by-the-beach wedding. Company will get pleasure from coastal-inspired resort rooms with modern décor, craft cocktails and California-inspired delicacies at Longitude Bar + Restaurant, an out of doors pool and bikes out there for rides alongside the pier or seashore, and extra.
Venue Concept: Sheraton Fairplex Resort & Convention Middle
{Couples} in search of a ceremony venue in East Los Angeles will discover Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center to be an enthralling place to say “I do.” With beautiful out of doors occasion areas, marriage ceremony friends can benefit from the California sunshine as you trade vows.
Sheraton Fairplex Resort & Convention Middle; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
The picturesque property in Pomona gives suite lodging with enhanced facilities in your family members, in addition to entry to the resort’s signature restaurant, McKinley’s Grill, showcasing native elements from the onsite Farm at Fairplex.
Cocktail Hour
Whereas some {couples} have determined to modify issues up and begin the marriage with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres earlier than the vow trade, cocktail hour is most frequently held between the ceremony and reception. Whether or not to provide the couple and their marriage ceremony occasion an opportunity to take images, enable friends time to journey between the ceremony and reception venue, or present sufficient setup time if the identical house is used for each the ceremony and reception, cocktail hour retains family and friends occupied till dinner is able to be served.
When individuals consider cocktail hour, alcohol and hors d’oeuvres instantly come to thoughts; nonetheless, there may be rather more that happens inside that quick hour between marriage ceremony occasions. This can be a time for friends to socialize, maintain their starvation, and put together for the festivities. It’s additionally the couple’s probability to captivate attendees by creating a way of pleasure.
To make the cocktail hour one to recollect, transcend background music, some appetizers, and libations, and herald parts that friends wouldn’t count on till later within the night. Some ideas embrace reside music, dancers and performers, garden video games and actions, caricature artists, magicians, interactive lounge areas, photograph stations, or distinctive meals shows. You need this portion of the night to fly by, however at all times go away your friends wanting extra!
Venue Concept: Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
For {couples} getting married within the nation’s capital, Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is a perfect property to begin the festivities at your cocktail hour and past. With over 100,000-square-feet of occasion areas throughout 80 venues, we love the scenic out of doors terrace venue providing aerial views of Washington, DC, making for an amazing cocktail hour location when the climate permits (or a tented choice for a stress-free planning expertise).
Marriott Marquis Washington, DC; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
After your elegant city wedding, friends can retreat to their trendy visitor room or suite, savor the subtle flavors at onsite eating places, or step outdoors to get pleasure from historic native sights, energetic nightlife, and world-class procuring – all inside strolling distance from the property.
Marriage ceremony Reception
Your wedding reception will possible be the a part of the marriage weekend that friends are most wanting ahead to. In any case, it’s the occasion that features a scrumptious dinner, customized cocktails and effective wines, heartfelt speeches and toasts, and naturally, loads of dancing and revelry!
Whether or not you resolve to host your marriage ceremony reception beneath the celebrities or choose indoor areas akin to a chic ballroom, the most effective marriage ceremony venues for memorable receptions embrace sufficient house to seat your friends, in addition to have loads of room for a number of bars, a dance flooring, and even lounge areas for friends to mingle with these not seated at their tables.
Whereas beautiful backdrops and distinctive décor assist to create an unbelievable atmosphere for this celebration, what your friends will bear in mind most is how a lot enjoyable that they had – and that begins with the bride and groom having enjoyable as nicely!
Venue Concept: La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa
Santa Fe is a magical vacation spot year-round, which is why we’re anticipating the placement to turn out to be much more standard for weddings. La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa gives the proper place to have a good time. From out of doors venues beneath the celebrities to Spanish Colonial-style ballrooms, friends shall be overjoyed with the award-winning chef and catering choices you choose, in addition to the structure and nature surrounding the property.
La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Situated on six acres, this Southwestern-style desert wedding venue is simply steps away from Santa Fe’s historic plaza showcasing museums and artwork galleries. After they’re not exploring the vacation spot or participating in marriage ceremony festivities, family members will discover respite in casita-style visitor rooms, calm down at Spa Sage, or dine at one in all 4 energetic onsite bars and eating places.
Venue Concept: The Mayflower Resort, Autograph Assortment
For almost a century, The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection has been an iconic spot in Washington, DC, making it the proper place to host a quintessential DC marriage ceremony weekend. With spectacular, newly restored ballroom venues, your reception shall be wealthy in timeless luxurious. You might even be celebrating with family members in the exact same ballroom that hosted over 70 years of Presidential Inaugural Balls, galas, and different noteworthy occasions!
The Mayflower Resort, Autograph Assortment; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
As Harry S. Truman stated, the property is “Washington’s second-best handle,” so that you’ll haven’t any worries that your friends will get pleasure from their keep all through the marriage weekend. From elegant rooms and suites to glorious eating, the resort is a no brainer for {couples} needing a DC marriage ceremony with loads of lodging for his or her family members.
Venue Concept: Marriott Marquis Houston
Brides and grooms exchanging vows in Houston shall be thrilled to have a good time their marriage ceremony reception at Marriott Marquis Houston – particularly in the event that they’re internet hosting a big visitor listing. With ballrooms able to seating as much as 2,600 individuals, the resort is a saving grace for {couples} having a troublesome time discovering a venue that can comfortably accommodate their family and friends. Spacious occasion lawns and rooftop venues are additionally out there for marriage ceremony weekend occasions.
Marriott Marquis Houston; Images courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Set within the vibrant downtown district, friends staying on property will adore the deluxe lodging, infinity pool, and the world’s largest Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river at Altitude Rooftop & Pool. Family members also can watch the large recreation on the onsite sports activities bar, get pleasure from wine tastings on the wine bar, or savor Texas flavors at regionally sourced eating places.
After-Celebration
Your marriage ceremony is among the happiest days of your life, so it is sensible why {couples} wish to lengthen it for so long as attainable. Whether or not as a consequence of having an earlier finish time than you’d like or simply wanting an excuse to modify up the vibe throughout your reception, an after-party is a should.
To excite your family and friends attending the after-party, the occasion ought to embrace upbeat music and leisure (for those who had a band in your reception, think about a DJ to create a club-like ambiance), extra drinks and late-night bites, and loads of room for dancing.
Because you’ll need the after-party venue to be near the reception, it’s sensible to have it in a unique location inside the identical venue and even on the resort the place most of your family members are staying. In the event you’re internet hosting a marriage weekend at a resort or resort, this shall be a seamless transition! For smaller after-parties, you may even ebook a collection – simply make sure to examine with the property relating to any noise restrictions, so the enjoyable temper isn’t ruined by a go to from safety.
Venue Concept: W Philadelphia
Even for those who’re not internet hosting your marriage ceremony at W Philadelphia, the playful luxurious resort is the proper place to host your after-party – particularly if most of your marriage ceremony friends are staying on the Middle Metropolis property. Host a personal, VIP after-party within the 2,300-square-foot, two-bedroom Excessive WOW Suite, full with a DJ sales space and floor-to-ceiling home windows, for hours of post-wedding enjoyable, or select the WET® Deck bar terrace overlooking downtown Philadelphia for an unforgettable cap to the most effective marriage ceremony night time.
W Philadelphia; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
When friends usually are not attending your marriage ceremony occasions, they’ll have lots to maintain them busy at this resort within the “Metropolis of Brotherly Love.” With dynamic eating choices, a year-round heated pool, and exquisite Away Spa, the property can also be close by to the historic Outdated Metropolis, critically acclaimed eating places, the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork, and extra.
Morning-After Brunch
Although actually not necessary, the morning-after brunch is an more and more standard development for the final word marriage ceremony weekend. In any case, it’s an effective way to spend just a little extra time together with your family members earlier than they head house and also you jet off in your honeymoon.
Whereas some pairs merely invite their friends to a post-wedding brunch through the use of the breakfast choice on the resort the place the vast majority of friends are staying, many {couples} select to plan a way more particular, non-public event. Test with the resort to see if an space of the onsite restaurant could be reserved, or work straight with the catering supervisor to customise a brunch to your liking – from the décor to the menu – in one of many property’s occasion areas.
Given varied journey schedules and even hangover ranges in your friends, it’s possible that most people you wish to embrace in your farewell brunch gained’t wish to arrive at a set time – particularly if it’s early. Thus, it’s really useful that the post-wedding occasion is a extra informal brunch with a buffet versus a plated service, so family and friends can drop by after they’re prepared. This can be a time to calm down together with your family members within the glow of your new married standing.
Venue Concept: The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Sq.
Whether or not you hosted your nuptials at The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square or most of your family members are staying on the resort whereas attending your San Francisco marriage ceremony, the downtown property is a superb setting to bid adieu to your friends with a morning-after brunch. Select from 35 spectacular occasion venues wealthy with historical past for this particular send-off – and the ultimate occasion of your marriage ceremony weekend!
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Sq.; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Since opening in 1904, friends have cherished the property’s stately magnificence and turn-of-the-century European type. As the one resort straight positioned in Union Sq., your family and friends can have the privilege of viewing San Francisco’s iconic cable automobiles simply outdoors the doorways, in addition to entry to town’s greatest procuring, theatre, nightlife, and eating sights.
Vacation spot Marriage ceremony Venues
Increasingly more {couples} are selecting to host vacation spot weddings in lieu of hometown celebrations. Since most brides and grooms lately develop up, meet, and reside in varied cities throughout the USA (and even the world) from their family and friends, even a marriage near the place they presently reside can find yourself being a destination wedding for many friends.
As a result of must journey, the vast majority of vacation spot weddings have a smaller visitor listing, which can enable for extra high quality time with the couple throughout the celebration and extra occasions all through the marriage weekend, akin to excursions, a enjoyable welcome occasion, and so forth.
The fantastic thing about a vacation spot marriage ceremony is it permits you and your fiancé’s households and mates to return collectively for as much as a whole week. Don’t really feel obligated to plan each minute in your family members. Give friends sufficient to do to get a really feel in your vacation spot, but in addition enable them sufficient time to calm down and plan actions on their very own. Ship a marriage weekend itinerary together with your invites, share it in your marriage ceremony web site, and put one other copy in welcome baggage!
Venue Concept: Orlando World Middle Marriott
Whether or not you and the one that you love need a part of your marriage ceremony weekend to be celebrated at Walt Disney World® otherwise you’re simply in search of an amazing vacation spot marriage ceremony location in Florida, Orlando World Center Marriott has all the pieces you and your friends will want. That includes 102 venue choices – together with the Harvest Terrace, a variety of expansive ballrooms, and out of doors venues with lake and golf course views – the 200-acre property is supplied to host every of your marriage ceremony weekend occasions and guarantee all of them have a novel look.
Orlando World Middle Marriott; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Particularly preferrred for kid-friendly occasions, the resort features a free shuttle to Walt Disney World, a waterpark full with a lagoon-style pool, a youngsters’ splash zone, three waterslides, and a lazy river that friends of all ages will love. Plenty of bars and eating places, a calming spa, 18 holes of golf at Hawk’s Touchdown Golf Membership, and extra facilities will affirm there’s no scarcity of actions for friends to get pleasure from all through the vacation spot marriage ceremony weekend.
Venue Concept: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
In the event you’re one of many many {couples} who has at all times dreamt of a vacation spot marriage ceremony in Hawaii, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is a dream marriage ceremony venue. With 466 visitor rooms, there’s actually sufficient house to have your whole family members keep onsite all through your vacation spot marriage ceremony weekend. For the entire marriage ceremony occasions, you’ll work with a marriage planner to convey your Hawaiian marriage ceremony imaginative and prescient to life all through the 54-acre property.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua; Photograph courtesy of Marriott Worldwide
Whereas staying onsite, friends will get pleasure from beachfront eating at eating places serving up recent native flavors, sip cocktails from luxurious poolside cabanas, and bask in Hawaiian spa therapies for the final word island escape. Company also can go to the seashore or ebook a tee time at one in all two 18-hole golf programs surrounded by a historic pineapple plantation. Aloha!
Regardless of which of those marriage ceremony occasions you select to have throughout your marriage ceremony weekend, a very powerful factor is to make every a part of your marriage ceremony day mirror you as a pair. Have enjoyable with the planning course of, and sit again, calm down, and benefit from the marriage ceremony of a lifetime!
