Part II: Enhancing the Guest Experience Through Sound, Taste & Scent
Welcome back to Part II of our Guest Experience series. In Part I, we explored how sight and thoughtful entrance design set the tone for your celebration. Today, we’re diving deeper into the sensory details—sound, taste, scent, and floral ambiance—that shape how your guests feel, connect, and remember your wedding long after the night ends.
As an event designer, this is where the experience becomes immersive. These elements may seem subtle, but they create emotional touchpoints your guests carry with them—moments that feel intentional, curated, and grounded in the story of your day. (If you missed Part I, you can read it here.)

While sight creates the first impression, the deeper narrative comes alive through sound, taste, and smell. These often-overlooked senses create an experience that resonates with every guest.
Sound: Curating the Emotional Pace of Your Wedding
Sound is a close companion to sight. The shift from outdoor to indoor spaces can be dramatic; sound impacts the mood through laughter, chatter, music, or whimsical effects. Proper audio systems ensure speeches, announcements, and entertainment are projected clearly and received as intended.
Example: Consider your location carefully. Sounds from nearby rooms, kitchens, or even traffic can unintentionally distract from the ambiance.
Taste: A Signature Layer of the Guest Journey
Taste and Smell are intertwined. If something doesn’t smell appealing, guests may not try it; conversely, enticing aromas elevate taste and overall enjoyment.
- Example: Food and beverages should please the eyes, nose, and palate. A beautiful dish that smells as delightful as it looks amplifies the guest experience.
- Example: Flowers delight both sight and smell. However, overpowering scents or clashing aromas with food can be distracting. Plan fragrant elements thoughtfully to maintain harmony.
- Example: Avoid unpleasant odors from bathrooms, trash, or nearby outdoor sources. Early scouting ensures your event is free from surprises that could undermine the experience.
Floral Details: Atmosphere Without Overwhelm
Floral design isn’t only about the arrangements; it’s about how each piece supports the experience. Texture, placement, and scale help guide attention and shape the environment.
Examples:
- Low-profile arrangements during dinner to support conversation
- A floral focal point that frames key moments
- Unexpected touches such as bud vases, tablescape accents, or fragrant herbs
- Plan placement carefully to balance aromas throughout your event (see flower ideas).
When florals are used with intention, the room feels elevated yet effortless.
Bringing the Sensory Experience Together
When planning an event, every detail matters. From the way guests first see the décor to the sounds that fill the room, and the scents and flavors that delight their senses, each element contributes to a memorable experience. By thoughtfully coordinating sight, sound, taste, and smell, you create an atmosphere that resonates long after the event ends.
For a deeper dive into enhancing your event experience, explore our location tips and ideas for beverages and flowers that engage all the senses.
Next, we explore Part III – Touch to discover how tactile details elevate your guests’ experience.
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Ha! I hired a wedding planner to do EVERYTHING for me when it came to my wedding. I told her to tell me the time and the place and I would be there, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI like that. Thanks for visiting and reading this article. Please share.
DeleteI have never thought about the ambiance before when it comes to a wedding. But that is because I didn't go too many and I am not married yet. But indeed, the wedding venue should smell lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found this article informative. Thanks for visiting and reading this article. Please share.
DeleteI wish I would have seen this when I was planning my wedding! It was so stressful at times and I could have used some tips and advice to not over stress myself.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that. I hope it turned out well, though. Maybe you could try again on your anniversary? What do you think? Thanks for visiting and reading this article.
DeleteThis is helpful for those planning a wedding! I never had to plan one since I got married in a courthouse, so I don't know much about this.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I am glad you found this helpful. Thanks for visiting and reading. Please share.
DeleteWedding planning is certainly a difficult task and it's really important to think of your guests for sure. I even didn't think that their senses may occur to be so important! I'll use your tips if I ever get married! :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found this information helpful and plan on using them one day. Thanks very much for visiting and reading. Please share.
DeleteThis is wonderful post. Weddings should always center around the five senses as they help record the memories.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I am glad you found this informative. Please share. Thanks for visiting and reading.
DeleteThese are some fantastic ideas that I never considered for my wedding. At least smell was not on the list at all but see, hear and taste were.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am glad you found this informative; I hope you share. Thanks for visiting and reading.
DeleteYes, spot on. I had lilies at my wedding and they were awful. I still can't stand the smell 20 plus years later.
ReplyDeleteI am smiling... I try not to place strong smelling flowers as centerpieces because of that. Guests will not be able to enjoy their meals or have a good time because of this. Usually, I placed floral arrangements on an angle (buffet) and raise them so that they are not too close to the guest's food or under their noses. Thanks for sharing your experience and reading.
DeleteOur wedding, looked nice, smelled nice, tasted nice, but oh, the music. We had hired a DJ and his cds skipped and he got drunk towards the end and started singing along to the songs on his microphone. We didn't even have a bar because my husband and I went to a Christian college at the time and drinking was something that could get us in trouble. The DJ had to go to the bar at the restaurant or pack his own drinks. He actually kept trying to hit on my mom.
ReplyDeleteDespite all of that, it was still a great wedding and we had a lot of fun.
Sorry to hear that. A DJ should never act the way he did. This was unprofessional of him. I hope he gave you some of your money back. Aside from that, I am glad you had fun on your day. Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience.
DeletePlease share.
I love seeing and smelling flowers at a wedding. And, there’s nothing worse than being seated next to a huge garbage can while trying to eat during the reception.
ReplyDeleteThis is true. Planners should make sure that trash bins are far away from guest's seating arrangement. This is very distracting for both bride/groom and guests alike. All bins should be in the back away from guests view; this is where the wait-staff comes in - clearing plates and taking them to the back... Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience. Please share.
DeleteThis is a really interesting approach to wedding planning!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. Thanks for visiting and reading this article. Please share.
DeleteWow, I never realized wedding planning could get so complicated! Good thing there are posts like this to help people out!
ReplyDeleteYes, it can get very complicated and at time stressful. Thanks for visiting and reading this article. Please share.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to plan a wedding. I'll have to consider this when planning our vow renewal ceremony.
ReplyDeleteIf you need any help, call us or send us an email and we will try and help you where we can. Thanks for visiting and sharing this article.
DeleteMy mom always stresses how important scent is when planning any kind of event. I used fresh peaches and apricots as centerpieces at my wedding, and it looked and smelled wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI know it did... great centerpiece idea. Thanks for visiting and sharing this article.
DeleteSmart idea to check for scents. When we lived up north everything was fine in the winter for smells, but in the early Spring the farmers would fertilize and it would STINK for miles. I always felt bad for those people who bought homes near that and didn't realize.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine. Summer weddings are the ones we need to pay more attention to due to the heat. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
Deletewhat fabulous ideas. I will remember this when I plan my daughter's wedding. I especially like the part about taste and smell. You are so right that it activates the other senses.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Tell your daughter congrats on her engagement and all the best in her new life. Yes, if something does not smell right, we most definitely will not try it. Same if it does not look great. All our senses interact with each other, which cause us to react. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteThese are really nice tips to consider when planning for the big day! I got married 7 years ago, but I never even thought about the competing smell of flowers and food.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! If you should think about vow renewal, you have this has your guide. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteThis is some really great insight on how to plan a wedding. I have never had to so this would be so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteIt is definitely important to think about what your guests will experience when planning a wedding. I love the idea of using the 5 senses to plan a wedding. We had fake flowers which was great because that means our wedding did not have a heavy floral smell and we got to keep our flowers. I think we took into account the smell sense.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Silk flowers are always the best way to go if you are unsure of the scent of the flowers you have in mind. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteWhen someone pays so much attention to pleasing all the senses and creating a nice atmosphere for your event, you know that you are in the right hands.
ReplyDeleteThank you! This should be included in planning any event. Thanks for sharing your feedback and visiting. Please share.
DeleteYou are a wedding expert! Love this! Now I just need to find a man!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Don't rush it. Take time to know and understand you before getting in a relationship. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback.
DeleteI never thought about the different scents and how they can counteract with one another. A friend is getting married, would love to share this with her.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Your senses compete with each other for dominance. So, having a balance will definitely help. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share this with her. Oh, tell her congrats on her engagement and all the best in her new life.
DeleteWedding planning can be a total stresser!! Great way to break it down and make it doable for people!
ReplyDeleteThank you for seeing that. We appreciate your visit and your feedback. Please share.
DeleteWhat a great idea! I've never really thought about using my senses while planning a wedding! This is practical advice for any event planning.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We try to give relevant information to any DIY planners who need that extra help. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteI'm shortly getting married, but I don't have any pans to go this big about it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! This is where you are wrong. It does not matter if it's small or big, you still need to make sure your guests enjoy and remember even after your wedding day. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Send us an email if you need any additional help.
DeleteThis is such a nice way to take a step back and figure things out. It really helps to think outside of the box too!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We try to always think outside the box with all our brides. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteThis is great information for couples planning on getting married. Planning a wedding can be a headache.
ReplyDeleteIt absolutely can. Thanks for sharing your feedback and visiting. Please share.
DeleteThis is a great point, to consider the senses. It is hard enough planning so simple tips help
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's always good to capture all five senses when planning an event. This leaves your guests wanting more and remembering even after. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteThis is great reminder. The wedding is about the bride and groom but you want it to be memorable for all. By using all their senses, you create lasting memories!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. The wedding is about both the bride and groom, at the same time, you want your guests to enjoy the moment and remember even after the big day. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteMany people don't consider the sounds of smell when they are planning a wedding so this is such an eye opening post
ReplyDeleteThank you. Planning an event can be stressful, especially if you have other things going on in your lives. I am glad you found this article eye opening. Thanks for visiting and sharing feedback. Please share.
DeleteThese are all extremely important when it comes to weddings. After reading this, I will so be in control of what the guest would feel. Guarantee, this will help the wedding to be more successful.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. And, congrats on your upcoming nuptials. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteI guess being able to know prior the wedding what the guests must feel is brilliant. It gets you to prepare properly. This is a mountain of great help.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We appreciate you visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteHow does the say go, the ceremony is for you and the reception for your guests. I think it's important to remember that not everyone likes super loud music or overly fragranced flowers. It's best to create an atmosphere for everyone.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, creating a balance is key to planning the perfect wedding. You want your guests to remember everything about the big day, long after.Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteVery well written article, for event these tips are very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteIndeed such a great compilation about wedding planning. This should be shared to those who are planning to get married so they have already an idea what wedding is all about.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteThis is such a great post loaded with valuable info. I am going to share with my sister who is getting ready to start planning her wedding! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post! I wish if I know this 7 years ago. I will share this to my cousin.
ReplyDeleteThank you. If, you plan on doing your vow renewal, you can use these tips to help you along the way. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. And, thanks for sharing this with your cousin.
DeleteI am actually impressed as I never though about planning a wedding with senses in mind, how very cool
ReplyDeleteThank you. We are always trying to do things different when it comes to our clients/brides. We think that including the five senses will create a unique experience for both bride/groom and guests. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share
DeleteThis is really helpful for those who are planning for a wedding.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback. Please share.
DeleteThese are such great ideas to incorporate what everyone would see, smell, hear etc. I never really think about this when planning something.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, we tend to overlook these areas, which should always be included in any type of planning - weddings, party, birthday, etc. Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback.
Delete