My Wedding from My Guests' Perspective

Warning: long post. But: If I were a guest experiencing my wedding, here would be my view of things. Do you think the pros outweigh the cons with their caveats?


Pro: complimentary onsite lodging in the mountains for 3 days for a wedding weekend with rented cabins and houses vs. Con: destination wedding with travel costs. Unavoidable since out families live in different states and we met online via mutual friends. People might have to take Thursday/Friday off to take full advantage of the lodging although there are no 'required' events on Friday, it's more of a travel/welcome/rest day so if they can't get the time off that is okay.
Pro: everyone has their own room, and cabins are grouped by age and formality level. there's a house just for my partner's family and one for mine. a party house for our funnest adult cousins and internet friends. a tiny two room cabin for my introverted bridesmaids. a separate apartment for my partner's sister's family since she and her husband have 5 children, three of whom will join her as part of the wedding party (the other two are adults). vs Cons: shared bathrooms and kitchen/living areas. I might also take over some of the fridge space with wedding stuff. But the kitchens will otherwise be fully stocked as my partner's parents own a restaurant about 90 minutes away and should be letting us use the catering van. There's also a good amount of outdoor space. Firepits, hammocks, trails, a creek, Adirondack chairs, etc.
Pro: a post-wedding brunch for everyone. Con: rehearsal dinner limited to wedding party and immediate family only. (should I try to change this? I feel weird asking since I'm not paying for this meal, someone else is...)
Pro: open, non-cash bar and no driving home at the end of the night. Con: self-service... And it's ale, red and white wine, pink champagne, hard apple cider, and soft drinks only. No liquors. (although there is whisky in some of the food... my family is Scottish lol)
Pro: enough of every entree and dessert that it's less of a choice between and more of a choice what order they want to try it in. Con: we're putting my in-law's access to catering supplies and wholesale costs plus my love for cooking to work and catering it ourselves, serving it family style. it will be high end and food safe though! Charcuterie, salads, smoked salmon and truffle quiche, veal and sausage lasagna, multiple flavors of cheesecake. The only thing we are ordering in is the apple cider doughnuts and the brunch food for the next morning. The menus are also printed and tell people exactly what stuff is and make it clear having seconds is fine and to enjoy.
Pro: a non-religious/Non-sermon ceremony with music by live string quartet, with programs and even an interactive portion so they don't get bored (we're asking everyone to tie a ribbon on our handfasting cord while a nice song plays). Con: phones checked at the door by our DOC to be returned during cocktail hour.
Pro: pre ceremony string music for entertainment and no venue change after. cocktail hour DJ and drinks start right away. Con: my brothers in law who will have seated the guests as ushers will be asking guests to carry their ceremony chairs across the lawn to the tables. About 40ft. The brothers will get grandma's and grandpa's chairs for them though, and anyone else who needs it.
Pro: no guest book, a photo booth instead. Con: roaming videographer and 2nd photographer might make people feel shy.
Pro: no standing receiving line. We'll greet people at the 5 tables instead, throughout the night. No crazy entrances or group dances. Con: everyone and their grandmother, literally, is being allowed to give a speech if they want to.
Pro: no garter toss, bouquet toss, or cake cutting per say since it's cheesecake bites. I know all but the most traditional of my guests would hate those events. We might do a champagne tower though it wouldn't be that tall. Con: raffling off the wood flower centerpieces for charity in honor of my grandmother who passed from ovarian cancer. Might be seen as tedious, a bummer, or not classy but idc, I miss her and want to honor her and don't need 5 centerpieces forever in my house. We'll pay to ship them since it's a destination wedding.
Pro: nice DJ and dancefloor with lights. Con: sitting through 2 parent dances and our first dance first.
Pro: lightweight minimal favors for travel. Con: may feel cheap as it's relatively inexpensive... It's an art postcard, a stamped envelope, a pencil with our date etc, and whatever prints they want from the photo booth printer. The theme is 'see who makes it home first, you or the postcard'. Didn't want to offer food or anything fragile for people who are flying.
Pro: a live painter near the DJ booth and photo booth is a point of interest. Con: she's only painting our families, us, and our bridesmaids, not other guests. It's a time issue not a money thing.
Pro: mountain scenery and fresh air, Con: outdoors in June and we are trying to avoid a big tent by having a pop up gazebo for a lounge area near the bar and DJ etc, and of course people can go inside or on the porch if they need to.
Con: 4 kids under 10 present. Pro: they have their own picnic area and I'm considering hiring a sitter to chill with them. I'm also buying some sidewalk chalk so they can decorate the driveway as an activity if they need it but nbd if they don't. We have the venue the next morning as well for cleanup so I can hose it off then.
I can't really think of anything else. I think if I were a guest I'd find aspects of my wedding quirky, for sure, but ultimately enjoyable and understandable given the general family vacation/backyard garden party vibes and the small guest list of <50. What do you guys think, if you made this far?