A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of love, and it should be a truly unforgettable experience for both you and your guests. To make your special day even more remarkable, consider incorporating the five senses into your plans. By appealing to sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, you can create a sensory symphony that will leave a lasting impression. Each sense has its own stimuli and when combined and maximised, can elevate your wedding day to new heights and have a huge impact.
In our last blog post we explored key reasons why evoking the 5 senses is important. In this blog post, we’ll explore practical steps on how to evoke the five senses at your wedding to make it a multi-sensory celebration like no other.
Sight
Sight is perhaps the most obvious sense to engage at a wedding, as it’s all about the visual aesthetics. On your wedding day, It is also the very first impression your guests will have of your day. Hence why so many suppliers invest so much into social media and also why couples pay to have the best photographers to capture the memories of each element of the day.Here are some ways to enhance the visual experience at your wedding:
Venue Decor:
Perhaps one of the most obvious points. You want your guests to be wowed upon arrival, it is important to choose a stunning venue that represents you as a couple. Consider the architecture, natural beauty, history , surrounding grounds and the unique charm or prestige. Afterwards, decorate the venue with flowers, candles, drapes and lighting that complements the theme of the day.
Color Palette:
Speaking on decor and lighting, one fun way of engaging the visual aesthetic of your day is by curating a colour palette for the day entire day. Practical ways of doing this include: the colour of florals, stationery and linens used or ‘flipping the script’ and focusing more on the attire of your guests-leaving the former elements minimal/ muted.
Centrepieces and Table Settings:
Invest in eye-catching centrepieces, tableware (glassware, linens, charger plates, cutlery) and personalised stationery and edible treats. This is one of the best ways to create a cohesive visual identity and reflect your style and theme.
Statement Pieces and Backdrops:
Create Instagram-worthy photo opportunities for your guests to capture beautiful moments and share the memories. For example, you could hire a large 8ft frame decorated with florals, set up a lounge area with florals and pillars or even a large escort board with personalised messages or luggage tags.
Hearing
After sight, engaging the sense of hearing is the more obvious element. This mainly involves selecting the right music and sounds. Here’s how to make your wedding a harmonious experience:
Live Music:
This Could be the main factor in elevating your day. There’s just something magical and organic about live music. Consider hiring a live band, string quartet, or solo musician to set the tone during the ceremony, cocktail hour, entrances and main reception. They are one of the more fun ways to incorporate guest engagement and interaction.
Dj Choice:
Although live music is great, depending on your tastes, a great Dj can be the deciding factor in the difference between a good day to and an amazing experience. Consider the combination of live music for dinner and having a top-notch Dj for the Afterparty who understands your crowd and can cater to your interests.
Sound System:
This can make or break the flow of the reception. More venues are now introducing a sound limiter in their events spaces to control the level of music. However, the limit varies venue to venue. Before booking, ensure your venue has a quality sound system to guarantee that your vows, speeches and music are heard clearly.
Speeches and Toasts:
People do not have very long attention spans. when selecting those to give speeches, encourage them to be as heartfelt and moving to keep your guests locked- in.
Touch
Although sometimes overlooked and underrated, the sense of touch can be engaged in various ways to make your wedding day feel unforgettable:
Texture and Fabric:
These are perhaps the easiest ways to incorporate the sense of ‘Touch’ into your wedding day. Opt for unique fabrics in your wedding attire, table linens, and decor. A practical way of doing so is by using natural linens, patterned and silk tablecloths, incorporating fresh florals etc to create a dynamic tablescape.
Guest Comfort:
There’s nothing worse than being forced to stay in an area you feel physically uncomfortable for a long period of time. Not many people consider this, but providing comfortable seating and climate control throughout the day ensures your guests are comfortable and happy whilst at your wedding.
Sensory Stations:
Consider setting up tactile stations like a DIY scent bar or a memory jar station for guests to engage with or even a station where your guests build their own throwing confetti prior to the ceremony.
Taste
The influence of food and beverages at a wedding plays a significant role in evoking the sense of taste. In most cultures, it is arguably one of, if not the most important sense to engage. Here’s how to create a culinary experience your guests won’t forget:
Menu Selection:
Work closely with your planner and caterer to craft a menu that not only reflects your preferences and cultural influences but would be enjoyed by all your guests. If possible, go for food tastings and include trusted parties from both sides to give their options. Also, pay close attention to the style of food service to ensure a smooth wedding breakfast.
Signature Cocktails:
At the Afterparty, offer signature cocktails or mocktails that carry personal significance to you both as a couple, opt for a company that also offers visual shows or luxurious garnish to elevate the experience of your guests.
Cake and Desserts:
As we all know, there’s always room for dessert! Your wedding cake and dessert table should be as beautiful as they are delicious. If your budget allows, you can also incorporate a mouth-watering waffles and ice cream cart with personalised wafers or pic’n’ mix station.
Late-Night Snacks:
During all the fun at the afterparty with drinks flowing, it is highly likely that your guests would be hungry. Surprise your guests with late-night snacks to keep the party going and soak up all that alcohol. Consider mini fish and chip boats, a barbecue, or even a buffet area of various international finger foods.
Smell
For a well-rounded experience, try infusing delightful scents into your wedding day. This sense is closely linked to memory and emotion:
Floral Arrangements:
Although more costly in some areas, try using fresh floral blooms for your bouquets and centrepieces such as roses, lavender, eucalyptus , gardenia or Lillys.
Scented Candles:
If your wedding budget does not allow for fresh florals, you can be creative with scents. Scented candles are a great alternative you can place around the venue. However, make sure to not overwhelm the space as this would create the opposite effect.
Final Thoughts
By thoughtfully engaging the five senses at your wedding, you can create a multi-sensory experience that not only reflects your culture and personality as a couple but also leaves a lasting impression on your guests. From the visual beauty to the delicious flavours and delightful textures and scents, your wedding can be a sensory symphony that resonates with everyone in attendance. Remember, it’s these small but meaningful touches that transform your wedding day into a truly unforgettable celebration of love.
Next Steps
If you are in need of a wedding planner who fits the bill we would be delighted to hear from you. We have planned several weddings at many stunning venues and home residences before (previous weddings we planned ). You can get in touch with us by filling out the inquiry form on our Contact Page.
