Managing Your Full Wedding Weekend
Modern Irish weddings often span multiple days with various events. Coordinating rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, receptions, and brunches requires careful planning. Here's how to create a cohesive celebration weekend.
Pre-Wedding Events
Welcome drinks for out-of-town guests Thursday evening. Keep it casual - pub or hotel bar works perfectly. Rehearsal Friday afternoon with key participants only. Rehearsal dinner for wedding party and immediate family. Consider Irish tradition of home house gathering. Provide welcome bags at guest hotels.
Communication Strategy
Create wedding website with full weekend schedule. Send detailed itinerary to wedding party. WhatsApp groups for different guest segments. Appoint family members as information points. Print weekend timeline for hotel lobbies. Update website with any changes immediately.
Venue Coordination
Book ceremony and reception venues simultaneously. Ensure venues know about multiple events. Coordinate decoration transfer between venues. Arrange transport between all locations. Check parking availability for each event. Consider weather contingencies for each venue.
Guest Energy Management
Don't overschedule - guests need downtime. Optional vs. mandatory events clearly marked. Morning events allow afternoon recovery. Vary event formality levels. Provide quiet spaces at each venue. Consider older guests' stamina.
Catering Across Events
Vary menu styles to maintain interest. Account for dietary restrictions at all events. Lighter rehearsal dinner before big day. Substantial day-after brunch for recovery. Welcome drinks just appetizers. Track who's invited to which meals.
Entertainment Progression
Build excitement across weekend. Casual background music for welcome drinks. Speeches at rehearsal dinner. Full entertainment at reception. Acoustic music for brunch. Avoid entertainment overlap or repetition.
Logistics Management
Designate point person for each event. Create setup/breakdown schedule for each venue. Coordinate vendor arrivals across locations. Plan item transfer between venues. Arrange accommodation for vendors if needed. Check licensing hours for each venue.
Budget Considerations
Prioritize spending on main reception. Welcome drinks and brunch more casual. Consider hosting vs. cash bar options. Bundle venues for potential discounts. Share vendors across multiple events. Track separate budgets for each event.
Weekend Success Story
"We had five events over three days. The key was our wedding website and my sister as information coordinator. Everyone knew where to be when, and the weekend flowed beautifully from casual to formal and back." - Aoife, 2023