50 Wedding Acts of Kindnes
1. Be courteous and kind.
To everyone – and all the time. Family, friends, and wedding vendors are there to help make your day memorable, not work for you. Be kind, courtesy, and appreciative – it goes a long way!
3. Expect nothing.
No expectations is a great way to live, let alone plan your wedding. If you expect nothing, you won’t be disappointed – and you’ll often find yourself pleasantly surprised.
The bridesmaid dress will most likely be worn only once. Plus, dresses can be downright expensive! If you find one you love, offer to pay a portion for each bridesmaid to help defray the cost.
If you’re specific on color, pick something like black which most women already own. Wearing their own shoes means they’ll be happy with how they look, feel, and since they’re probably already worn in they won’t be in pain all night.
… and make it happen.
And make it a girls’ day to remember.
9. Donate your wedding favor budget to charity.
10. Put gowns back the way you found them after trying ‘em on.
It will make the dress attendants day much easier… and it’s the right thing to do!
12. Register only for things you need, love, and will use.
13. When you receive a gift to your home, snap a photo of you with it…
… and send with the thank you card.
Make sure both visions of a perfect wedding day are met.
They’ll feel included – and will appreciate the gesture.
For example, one bride attached these charms to her shoes so her deceased father could walk her down the aisle…
17. Ask your Mom or Dad about their wedding day and tie in a memorable detail.
I borrowed my Mom’s bridal purse, which was given as a wedding gift by my Grandmother.
If the ceremony and reception are in separate locations, arrange for a limo or shuttle to transport your bridal party.
And often.
… for out of town guests at their hotel, budget-allowing of course. I attended a wedding where the bride arranged for a shuttle at our hotel which was awesome because we were unfamiliar with the area.
Include fresh fruit, water, snacks, a thank you card, and a map, along with notable places to visit nearby.
23. Ask a family member to contribute his or her talent.
For instance, ask a cousin to contribute her talent for floral design, your aunt to give her famous apple pie recipe for your dessert table, or ask a musician to contribute music for the ceremony.
If you and your honey can’t agree on something, compromise. Better yet – flip a coin. It’s not worth a second arguing.
If your mind is made up on something, be quiet and listen anyway: it may be worth considering.
Read our article on how to entertain guests at a wedding for some fun suggestions.
27. Laugh.
Often. You’ll feel better and stress out less.
29. Dance.
You know what makes guests get on their feet and dance? When they see the bride and groom dancing!
Ah, a lifesaver for high-heeled guests!
This is a great idea and guests will be so thrilled you went the extra step! Read more on the must-haves here (+ snag a FREE printable!).
Kids get bored at weddings, at least until the dancing begins. Keep them happy with coloring books, crayons, word games, puzzles, and more.
34. If giving favors, make them memorable.
Don’t say thanks with a throw-away gift! Give guests things they’ll actually use and enjoy, like bags of candy, coffee favors (try Apropos Roasters), homemade candles, beer soap (give Dirty Deeds Soaps a look), printed photos from your photo booth, etc.
Again, the gifts you give ought to be memorable. Try this list of 50 Must-Have Bridesmaid Gifts for your girls.
It’s his party – mind your business!
This time goes by in an instant, so step back and enjoy the events as they unfold. You’ll thank yourself later.
… provide blankets or inexpensive umbrellas for guests. I was at Ikea a few weeks ago and spotted these umbrellas which are only $2.99 each (if you’re an IKEA family member, which is free) and are available in a multitude of colors. For blankets, buy in bulk to save some money. You can also bring your own blankets for guests to borrow and ask family members to contribute theirs. Just be sure to have a basket for guests to put the blankets back at the end of the night.
39. Give yourself a wedding planning break when you need it.
This is one way to be kind to yourself. Wedding planning can be stressful, and you owe it yourself to take a day off every so often. Rent a movie. Go for a bike ride. Exercise. Go on a date with your hubby to be. Play video games.
Include important dates, events, and locations so they can plan ahead (with work or school schedules).
… especially important if you have elderly guests in attendance.
43. Be generous.
44. Donate your dress to a bride in need.
Places like The Bride’s Project help you donate a dress to someone who can’t afford one. It’s a great way to pay it forward.
My Dad told me while planning my wedding that if something happened – i.e. the cake never came, the flowers undelivered – that he’d find a way to make it work. (What a guy! – P.S. We didn’t need to improvise, but it was nice to have a backup plan just in case.) Grocery stores offer sheet cake, flowers, or anything else you may need in a pinch. So, if something happens, shrug it off and improvise. It happens! You’ll laugh about it later. Remember: if you’re married at the end of the day, your wedding day was a success. :)
47. Spend a little time with all of your wedding guests.
48. Donate any uneaten leftovers to a shelter.
49. Donate your wedding flowers to hospitals.
Bring them over the day after the wedding or arrange for family members to assist. Your pretty flowers will be enjoyed and brighten up rooms of so many people. Places like Random Acts of Flowers makes the donating process even easier.
It doesn’t look good on anyone.
* * *Happy Planning!
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