Founder, Dearest Guest
Ilayda writes every post on the journal. She founded Dearest Guest after planning her own wedding and realizing the difference between a great wedding and a stressful one is communication.
Read the full story →The QR code at the table doesn't work. Texting 150 friends one by one is exhausting. Here's the day-after thank-you text that actually gets every guest to upload their photos and videos.
May 28, 2026
Cigar bars, permanent jewelry, tattoo artists, live painters, and the personalized texts your guests will screenshot. A curated guide to the wedding guest experiences that turn attendees into participants in 2026.
May 28, 2026
A region-by-region tour of Mexico's most jaw-dropping wedding venues, from Tulum jungle cenotes to Oaxacan haciendas to Valle de Guadalupe wineries, plus the experiences, the costs, and the logistics couples always miss.
May 28, 2026
A complete 4-day destination wedding timeline with SMS templates for every event. Welcome dinner, excursions, rehearsal, wedding day, and farewell brunch -- what to send, when, and to whom.
May 14, 2026
Planning a wedding in Tahiti? A complete guide to what your guests need to know -- flights, time zones, currency, language, dress codes, and how to communicate across the islands.
May 14, 2026
Welcome letter templates for destination weddings in Tulum, Cabo, Maui, Tuscany, Amalfi, Santorini, Bora Bora, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Lake Como, Provence, and Aspen. Specific local details guests can actually use.
May 14, 2026
The complete destination wedding planning checklist, phase by phase. Save-the-dates, hotel blocks, marriage licenses, guest communication, and the wedding weekend itself -- ordered by when each item actually has to happen.
May 14, 2026
Looking for a Joy wedding app alternative? Compare Joy vs SMS-based guest communication and find out why text messages reach 98% of guests while apps reach 30%.
March 19, 2026
Real feedback from brides and wedding planners who used SMS to communicate with their wedding guests. No scripts, no paid reviews -- just honest reactions.
March 18, 2026
Comparing Appy Couple alternatives for wedding guest communication. Learn why SMS-based messaging outperforms app-based solutions for reaching every wedding guest.
March 17, 2026
Exactly when to text your wedding guests, from 6 months out to the morning after. A timeline backed by real data on open rates and guest preferences.
March 16, 2026
Copy-paste RSVP reminder text message templates that get guests to respond. Organized by urgency level, from gentle first nudge to final deadline reminder.
March 15, 2026
Email RSVPs get a 20% response rate. Text message RSVPs get 90%+. Here's how to collect wedding RSVPs via text and actually hear back from every guest.
March 14, 2026
A minute-by-minute wedding day communication plan with text message templates. Know exactly what to send your guests from morning to after-party.
March 13, 2026
Your guests won't download another app. Here's how to keep every wedding guest informed using SMS, without apps, accounts, or passwords.
March 11, 2026
A hands-on comparison of DIY group texts, generic mass SMS, and wedding-specific texting services. Find the right way to text your wedding guests.
March 10, 2026
Comparing TextMyGuests vs Dearest Guest side by side. Pricing, features, setup time, and which wedding texting service is right for you.
March 8, 2026
A minute-by-minute wedding day timeline with checklists, delegation strategies, and tips for keeping everyone coordinated without stressing the couple.
March 5, 2026
Your wedding website has a 12% return visit rate. SMS has 98% open rates. Here's how to stop relying on a website nobody checks and start communicating where guests actually are.
March 1, 2026
The complete guide to coordinating destination wedding guests across airports, resorts, and time zones. Communication timelines, travel day coordination, and emergency planning.
February 25, 2026
Copy-paste SMS templates for every wedding moment, from save-the-dates to thank-you messages. Keep your guests informed and delighted.
January 20, 2026
Everything you need to know about keeping your wedding guests informed, from timeline planning to emergency updates. A complete wedding day communication plan.
January 18, 2026
