Photo: Krista Lee Photography

Ultimately, your wedding day is about celebrating the love between you and the person you're about to marry. But there's another goal at hand: throwing one seriously epic party that your guests will talk about for years to come. But how do you make your big day stand out amongst the throngs of weddings your family and friends have attended in the past? While there are many ways to upgrade the standard nuptials, we made a list of 20 easy ways you can get the party started (and continuing!) right.

To start, think about the wedding experience as a whole. Sure, your nearest and dearest are elated to watch you marry your longtime love, but sitting for an hour-long ceremony is not their idea of a celebration. Remember that many of your guests have traveled to spend time with you, not watching you, so ensure the evening is interactive. This way they'll feel like an important part of the proceedings.

And while the night should certainly cater towards your preferences, think about the total experience for your guests, too. You may love soft jazz music, but that won't fill your dance floor, so consider those tunes for cocktail hour and have your DJ amp up the playlist after dinner.

To help you plan and execute the best wedding ever, we outlined 20 sure-fire tips that will leave your guests impressed. We promise, including even just a handful of these standout ideas will turn your wedding day into an event to remember.