GUEST ETIQUETTE

Things we’ve learnt from doing hundreds of weddings 👀

We LOVE having your favourite people at your Elopement or Micro Wedding! But… guests can sometimes have a mind of their own 😂

After doing hundreds of weddings, we’ve learnt a few little tricks that will make your day way easier, your photos better, and your guests less stressed. So, here is our tried-and-tested guest advice:

Consider a dress code

It doesn't need to be complicated! This could simply be a main colour to wear or a colour palette that compliments your wedding styling. It makes such a difference in your photos when everyone is somewhat coordinated, especially when you’re having a smaller wedding and every guest is going to appear in your group photos. You don't need everyone matching… just give them a little direction! You would be surprised at the amount of guests who really appreciate the guidance.

Screenshot the timeline + MAP

Please send your guests a screenshot of the timeline with the MAP, GPS pin and directions.

This is particularly helpful for parents, grandparents and anyone who might feel anxious about getting to the correct location — especially for beach sunrise weddings where the location can be dark, remote and very unfamiliar. Don't assume everyone will confidently follow a Google Maps pin at 5am. If there are specific parking instructions, walking directions, stairs, beach access etc., include these too.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS — PLEASE READ THIS ONE!

This is SO important if you have guests travelling between QLD and NSW. If your guests are travelling from QLD to NSW and don't realise it's daylight savings, they will be ONE HOUR LATE. And yes, this has happened, a lot! If your guests are staying around the border (Coolangatta/Tweed), their iPhone can sometimes bounce between phone towers and change between the QLD + NSW timezone. Our recommendation: if they are staying around the border, manually set their phone location/timezone to Sydney so there are no nasty surprises on wedding morning.

GROUP PHOTOS

We plan your group photos straight after the ceremony for a reason. Guests have a magical ability to disappear exactly when you need them. 😂 They're off to the toilet, wandering down to the beach, having a cigarette, grabbing a drink, chatting to someone they haven't seen for 10 years…If we leave group photos until later, it becomes a nightmare trying to wrangle everyone, especially after a few drinks. And the worst part? You miss out on your FUN candid moments together.

We can work through our general group photo list, or you can give us your own. A simple list might look like:

Bride's side of the family

Groom's side of the family

Both sets of parents

Parents + siblings

Grandparents

Everyone

If you have someone particularly important who has travelled from overseas or across the country, PLEASE tell us. We don't want to accidentally miss an important person/photo. And yes, standing there smiling for 15 minutes while we smash through the family photo list is probably the part of the day that “sucks” the most for you. 😂 But I can almost guarantee that if we don't do it, it's the first thing Mum or Grandma will complain about afterwards: “ I didn't get a photo with the whole family!”. It's worth it. We promise to make it as painless and quick as possible, then you can get back to having fun.

BRIDAL PARTY

If you have a bridal party getting hair and makeup done at your accommodation, tell everyone the same start time. Lie. Thank me later ;)

For example: tell everyone they need to arrive at 9am. Don't stagger the times and tell Mum, “Oh, you can come at 12pm because the artists won't have time to fit you in.” The artists work quickly and are often working on several people at once - hair can be set and waiting for curls to cool down while makeup is being done, etc. If you give everyone different arrival times, someone will inevitably be late, someone will misunderstand, and suddenly we're chasing Auntie Margaret at 11:47am. One arrival time. Everyone knows where they need to be. Easy.

UNPLUGGED CEREMONY

We know your guests are excited. We know they want a photo. We know Grandma has an iPhone. But please consider asking guests to put their phones away during the ceremony. Couples are now asking guests to not post anything to social media until the couple has. Our Celebrant can make an announcement for you. There is nothing worse than getting the perfect professional photo of you walking down the aisle… with someone's giant iPhone held directly in front of their face.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Have a quick chat about what you're comfortable with.

Are guests welcome to post throughout the day?

Do you want everyone to wait until you've posted?

Do you want the ceremony completely unplugged?

Are there any photos you absolutely don't want online?

There is no right or wrong answer - just make sure your guests know the rules. Our Celebrant can make an announcement on your behalf.

DON'T BECOME guests HELP DESK

This one is IMPORTANT. Please nominate a guest contact person for questions on the day.

Because the last thing you need while you're getting your hair done, putting your dress on or literally standing at the altar is:

“Hey! Where do I park?”

“Which beach entrance?”

“What time are we meeting?”

“Is this the right house?”

You should not be answering these questions on your wedding day.

Give guests a designated person they can contact instead - ideally someone who isn't you!

TRANSPORT

If you're getting married somewhere remote, do not assume Uber will magically appear, especially at sunrise! Some locations have poor phone reception, limited rideshare availability and very few taxis. Make sure guests know how they're getting to and from the wedding before they start drinking. If you're somewhere remote, it can also be worth reminding guests to organise their accommodation/transport in advance rather than assuming they'll “just get an Uber.” Future-you will thank you.

FAMILY DYNAMICS - TELL US THE GOSS

This is your permission to tell us the things we need to know but shouldn't have to ask about in front of everyone.

Divorced parents?

Estranged family members?

Step-parents?

Someone who absolutely should NOT be standing next to someone else?

A family member who is likely to disappear during photos?

Tell us privately.

We would much rather know beforehand than accidentally announce:

“Okay! Mum, Dad, Step-Dad and the whole family together!”

…and then realise we've just created a family crisis. 😬

This is especially important for your group photo list. We can quietly organise people in a way that keeps everyone comfortable.



SURPRISE SPEECHES / moments

We LOVE a surprise.But please ask your guests to tell us or your planner/photographer first if they are planning a surprise speech, gift, performance or special moment. We can find the perfect spot in the timeline and ensure we capture it beautifully.

Guest advice

We love having guests at your Elopement or Micro Wedding! Here are a few pointers for managing guests expectations, advice and inspiration!

• give you guests a dress code, this can be a main colour to wear or a colour palette to compliment your wedding styling for cohesive portraits
• screenshot the timeline with MAP with GPS and directions for your guests, this really helps older guests (Mum and Dad) who might be feeling anxious about arriving at the correct location - especially for beach sunrise weddings!
• Daylight savings - this is SO important to ensure you have notified your guests. If guests are travelling from QLD to NSW and don't realise it's daylight savings, they will be ONE HOUR LATE! If they are staying on the boarder (Coolangatta/Tweed) their iPhone may bounce phone towers (changing between QLD + NSW timezone), we recommend manually setting your location to Sydney to avoid any issues.
• group photos - we plan this straight after the ceremony. Often guests go missing (wondering off, toilet, smoking section), if we leave it until later it will be a nightmare trying to wrangle drunk guests for group photos. This means YOU miss out on FUN candid moments together. We have a general group photo list we can working through or you can give us a list. A general list "brides side of family > just parents + siblings > just grandparents". If you have important person/people who have travel abroad, please let us know so we don't miss an important shot! This part of the day "sucks" for the couple, standing and smiling for 15mins while we smash through the list, I can guarantee if we don't do this, it's the first thing older generation will complain about afterwards (ie: Mum not getting a family photo). It's worth it, we will make sure it's as painless as possible :)
• Bridal Party - if you are having a bridal party who are getting hair and makeup at your accommodation, lie and tell them ALL the same start time - Thank me later ;) For example: Everyone arrives for 9am, don't stagger and tell Mum its okay to arrive at 12pm because you think the artists won't have time. The artists work quickly and often working on several ladies at once (ie: hair set waiting for curls to cool down, while makeup is being done).

Phones on silent / unplugged ceremony — guests taking 47 iPhone photos while standing in the aisle can absolutely ruin the professional photos. 😅 You could encourage them to put phones away during the ceremony and let you handle the photos.

Don't become the couple's help desk — nominate a guest contact/person for questions on the day. The couple should not be getting messages like “Where do I park?” while they're getting married.

Transport / Uber availability — remote elopement locations can have poor reception and limited rideshare availability. Guests should know how they're getting home before they start drinking.

Family dynamics / sensitive people — this is a big one. Ask couples to quietly tell you about divorced parents, estranged family members, step-parents, complicated relationships, or people who shouldn't be placed togetherbefore group photos. It saves awkwardness on the day.

Social media — establish whether the couple is happy for guests to post during the day. Some couples want an unplugged ceremony or want to post their own photos first.

Surprise speeches — tell guests that if they want to organise a speech, surprise, gift or special moment, tell the planner/photographer first. Otherwise it can completely derail the timeline.

Medical needs / medications — for older guests or remote locations, remind them to bring anything they may need because the nearest pharmacy/shops may be a considerable drive away.