Most couples planning a Catskill Mountain wedding will be from out of town. But whether you are a local bride or making this your destination, consider extending your celebration to a weekend of festivities. Since most of your guests will be traveling a distance, a wedding weekend allows them to experience all that you love about the Catskills and lets you spend more quality time with your friends and family. From the welcome party to the goodbye brunch you will have plenty of opportunities to create memory making moments.
The key to a successful Catskill wedding weekend is to communicate the itinerary. Give your guests plenty of time to prepare for all the events of the weekend by listing the schedule on your website. A wedding website is a snap to create and there are some great apps available that will walk you through every step. Don’t forget to suggest specific attire for each activity. Your guests may not be aware of the variable terrain and weather in the mountains! Include suggestions for guests to explore and enjoy on their own. Local distilleries, breweries, farmer’s markets, galleries and shopping are great options as well as favorite hot spots for lunch when out and about.
Welcome bags are a great way to remind guests of what they can expect over the weekend. Keeping your guests informed will help them relax and fully enjoy what is to come. Have the bags waiting for your guests at their accommodations or pass them out at the welcome party. Include the itinerary for all the weekends festivities as well as the times for the ceremony and reception. If you are supplying a shuttle for the welcome party or reception, include a schedule of pick up and departure times. I also like to add a simple map showing the venue location and other points of interest, just in case they miss the shuttle. Remember that many local areas have limited or no cell service so navigation apps are often unreliable.
Pre wedding festivities.
The day before your wedding, your planner will typically arrange for a rehearsal at the venue with you, your immediate family and your wedding party. If this is pre-organized it should take no more that 30 minutes. You will then be free to enjoy your rehearsal dinner or welcome party with your guests knowing that everyone knows the drill for the ceremony the following day.
Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner was an intimate affair for members of the wedding party and parents but with the growing popularity of destination weddings, the welcome dinner has expanded to include all your out of town guests. I recommend that this event be a casual buffet or BBQ.
A pizza or food truck will offer some flexibility for late arriving guests. After all, you want this to be a unique experience for your guests, a time to meet and greet everyone, but not to stress out your budget or compete with your reception the following day.
Your wedding day.
Start your day with friends and a sunrise yoga class, a guided hike or a leisurely bike ride. You can create a fun, sign up sheet and display it at your welcome dinner. This will help keep these activities a bit more organized. But don’t obsess, put someone else in charge so you don’t stress! Limit your activities to the morning to give your guests enough time to get ready for your big day.
After the ceremony and reception and as the evening winds down and comes to a close you can invite guests to enjoy a bonfire with s”mores or a late night snack or if you can’t bear for the evening to come to an end, head out to a local pub for an after party with a few of your closest friends.
The day after.
A post wedding brunch is a great way to say goodbye and thank those who traveled a distance to share your special day. Some guests will want to head home and some may even opt to sleep in, so, keep it simple.
Timing is everything so don’t overschedule. Allow your guests enough down time to relax and enjoy some time alone to enjoy all the Catskills have to offer. I guarantee they will leave with lasting memories of your unforgettable wedding weekend!
Photo credits
Amanda Popp Photography
Douglas Benedict Photography
