What is the worst wedding , stag or hen do you have been to?

[Julie's Haircut]

Mooooooooooooooo

Surprisingly, the guy was fit and trim. His wife.....well, let's just say they looked like the number 10 when they stood next to each other.

 

[DawnM]

I am NOT a fan of these outdoor weddings with barn receptions. One had no A/C and the other had A/C but it was pretty inefficient.

At both this past summer I was SO HOT! No way I could dance or enjoy it as I was constantly getting more ice to cool myself down.

I went to a barn wedding a couple of years ago, but it was in March and much cooler.

 

[RedAngie]

My SIL was getting married and we went early to help decorate the church as it was a low-budget wedding which is okay. We come in to find out SIL crying as she "remembered" she had never finalized her divorce from husband #1 so she was still legally married (did I mention she's an idiot). She was determined to still have a ceremony and reception.

Minister finds this out and refuses to do the "mock" service about 90 minutes before it started. Luckily a family friend of the groom had a son who was in seminary and needed some practice so he officiated the ceremony. Only a choice few people knew the circumstances and when the stand in minister didn't declare them husband and wife the entire crowd was looking at each other with confused looks on their faces. It still amazes me how my DW turned out so normal with the family she has.

She may have been an idiot, but she handled the situation with aplomb.

My mother told the story of a wedding from before I was born. The couple found out the day before that their marriage license wasn't valid for whatever reason. They started bickering and each family blamed the other side. They ended up cancelling the wedding and reception, which most likely was already paid for. Then they called off their entire relationship.

They should have calmed down, still had the reception, and then go thru the formality of a legal ceremony at a later date.

 

[ronandannette]

She may have been an idiot, but she handled the situation with aplomb.

My mother told the story of a wedding from before I was born. The couple found out the day before that their marriage license wasn't valid for whatever reason. They started bickering and each family blamed the other side. They ended up cancelling the wedding and reception, which most likely was already paid for. Then they called off their entire relationship.

They should have calmed down, still had the reception, and then go thru the formality of a legal ceremony at a later date.

My first thought was "Why tell anybody?" I know for a certainty that had it been me in that situation, I just would have kept my trap shut, gone through with everything and dealt with the consequences afterwards. A perfect application of the "ask forgiveness, not permission" technique!

 

[Melissakay1q]

I was invited to a church wedding around 10 years ago. It was set during a work day, maybe 6 or 7 o'clock at night. I showed up a bit before the ceremony was supposed to start and went to find the restroom. I opened the door to find the bride, her mother and one of the brides children helping the bride to get her white gown up and on over her black bra, just there in the middle of the restroom in front of the large line of stalls.

After that, I took my seat in the church and waited. The music started and in came the bridal party. Then the music was changed to the song for the bride to enter to, but it was mistakenly the wrong song because it was some heavy hip hop kind of music. That was changed to something else, a country song I believe, and the bride literally stomped down the aisle, black bra straps failing to stay out of sight, in maybe 8 seconds so the music was abruptly cut off.

The wedding ceremony was very quick and we all headed to the gymnasium of the church. I guess it was a school as well? No decorations. There was a folding table with bologna and cheese sandwiches cut into shapes like hearts and butterflies, cookie cutter style. There were no chairs or tables to eat at, so we all stood around, sandwiches in hand as the bride opened her gifts in front of everyone like at a children's birthday party. She received 4 crock pots and a set of tupperware. I almost went crock pot but at the last minute, went tupperware.

 

[spinandmarty]

The worst I have seen: need a little background here, groom and my wife and I had been best friends for about five years, He was a groomsman in our wedding, always at our house 3 or 4 times a week at least... I went out on a limb to get him a job, it was 3rd shift basically all alone you didn't see anyone all night, but a good job.. He lasted a week, he couldn't stand being alone... The next week he introduces us to his new girlfriend he had met at his mom's church. I don't know if in the 4 or 5 times I met her if I ever heard her say more than 5 words, other than hello. Well after that we hardly ever saw him, so it was with much surprise when about 6 months later he asked me to stand up with him at his wedding... We go for rehearsal it is in a very small Pentecostal Church, most of the people moved up here from the southern part of our state, which is kinda known like hillbilly type area... Standing like we will be for ceremony, glance over father of bride rubbing daughters butt.. she kinds of moves to shrug hand away, mother of bride notices it slaps his hand away, this happens 5 or 6 times at rehearsal.. So moving on next day at wedding, we are waiting downstairs for our cue to go up and as we turn to go upstairs I think is that cake leaning, nah prob my imagination.. The ceremony starts her cousin sings Love me Tender, it was awful just awful.. Then preacher proceeds to spend the next 45 minutes preaching a fire and brimstone sermon, with all kinds of shouting from the congregation, amen brothers and tell it like is brother, I expected everyone to start speaking in tongues at any second... So ceremony over taking pictures Bride and her parents, father of bride has arm around bride and is cupping her breast, mom slaps hand away... It was unbelievable!!!! We go down stairs for reception, sure enough cake has fallen over, we didn't stay long, guess my wife's dress was too short, for that church, think part of the fire and brimstone was aimed at her, no one would talk to her so we left... This was like 35 years ago, have only seen them a handful of times since, but I guess their still married....

 

[JanBlessed]

Thankfully....no. At least, not yet!!!

 

[Nora03]

Love this thread. The worst one I attended was one of my cousin's. She got married in the big Catholic Italian church in town in the middle of winter (in the middle of the Canadian prairies). She wore the big white dress and had all the bridesmaids. We went to the hall were the reception was to find that the heat hadn't been turned on. A few tables were set up but there was no food. The groom and best man left and came back with buckets of KFC. I don't recall if there was a cake. We all had to keep our coats on as it was freezing, and left early.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

When I was 11 I went to a Catholic wedding with a full Mass. There was no AC in the church and it was June. I was miserable. I didn't mean to be at all disrespectful of their religion, and I'm sure I'd appreciate it more now. I was just a hot and bored kid.

 

[Bluestars]

The worst I have seen: need a little background here, groom and my wife and I had been best friends for about five years, He was a groomsman in our wedding, always at our house 3 or 4 times a week at least... I went out on a limb to get him a job, it was 3rd shift basically all alone you didn't see anyone all night, but a good job.. He lasted a week, he couldn't stand being alone... The next week he introduces us to his new girlfriend he had met at his mom's church. I don't know if in the 4 or 5 times I met her if I ever heard her say more than 5 words, other than hello. Well after that we hardly ever saw him, so it was with much surprise when about 6 months later he asked me to stand up with him at his wedding... We go for rehearsal it is in a very small Pentecostal Church, most of the people moved up here from the southern part of our state, which is kinda known like hillbilly type area... Standing like we will be for ceremony, glance over father of bride rubbing daughters butt.. she kinds of moves to shrug hand away, mother of bride notices it slaps his hand away, this happens 5 or 6 times at rehearsal.. So moving on next day at wedding, we are waiting downstairs for our cue to go up and as we turn to go upstairs I think is that cake leaning, nah prob my imagination.. The ceremony starts her cousin sings Love me Tender, it was awful just awful.. Then preacher proceeds to spend the next 45 minutes preaching a fire and brimstone sermon, with all kinds of shouting from the congregation, amen brothers and tell it like is brother, I expected everyone to start speaking in tongues at any second... So ceremony over taking pictures Bride and her parents, father of bride has arm around bride and is cupping her breast, mom slaps hand away... It was unbelievable!!!! We go down stairs for reception, sure enough cake has fallen over, we didn't stay long, guess my wife's dress was too short, for that church, think part of the fire and brimstone was aimed at her, no one would talk to her so we left... This was like 35 years ago, have only seen them a handful of times since, but I guess their still married....

That sounds like the worst wedding ever.

 

[mjkacmom]

Love this thread. The worst one I attended was one of my cousin's. She got married in the big Catholic Italian church in town in the middle of winter (in the middle of the Canadian prairies). She wore the big white dress and had all the bridesmaids. We went to the hall were the reception was to find that the heat hadn't been turned on. A few tables were set up but there was no food. The groom and best man left and came back with buckets of KFC. I don't recall if there was a cake. We all had to keep our coats on as it was freezing, and left early.

I've never heard of a big Italian catholic wedding with no food!

 

[elaine amj]

Food really is important, isn't it? I remember back when my kids were little, we were all invited to DH's cousin's wedding. DH had met him 1x or 2x as a kid. At that time, the groom was on his way to becoming a movie star and had appeared in some big-name films.

We were all excited and the pre-wedding festivities were lavish (especially by our simple standards!). Then it was time for the dinner itself. It was a 12 course traditional Chinese meal...plated individually. I don't know if you have ever been through one of those - but served family style, dinner is about 2 hours of neverending food (I love it).

Plated individually - it was excruciating (over 3 HOURS!). By 10pm, we were maybe halfway or so through dinner. I ate everything and was still starving (those waiters were STINGY with their portions!). It was worse for my picky teen nieces (and my toddler daughter and nursing son!). I ended up taking them all for a break in one of our rooms (THANKFULLY in the same hotel). We got a pizza and it felt sooo good to EAT!!!

I did return to the reception which dragged on forever before dinner was finally done.

On the cool side, my kids still like to brag that they were at his wedding

 

[AppleDumpling]

Close friend of mine from college got married in her hometown in rural PA. Small wedding, only 30-40 guests. I was a bridesmaid and single at the time, so I went alone and was one of only a few from outside the area. It was January, there was snow on the ground, so the fathers of the bride and groom picked up and carried the bride, me and the one other bridesmaid into the church so we wouldn't get our gowns and shoes wet. (I was wearing dressy sandals picked out by the bride.)

The reception was held in a hall in the local firehouse. The bride's father was the chief of the small town; her brothers and cousins were all firefighters/EMTs. Just as the party was really getting rocking, band playing, everyone on the dance floor, the alarms start going off. Band stops mid-song as everyone freezes and looks at each other while half the males in the room run to the truck bay, put on their fire gear over their tuxes and suits, and leave with sirens blaring. After awhile the party resumes. They come back later, the bride's father apologizes, says all is ok and tells everyone to continue having a good time. I never did get the story of what happened.

They get to when the bride is throwing the bouquet and the groom the garter. They ask all the single ladies to step forward. I get pushed onto the floor and there's only three of us: me (in my 20's), the bride's widowed grandma (70-something) and her 8 year old niece. I hate this tradition and was really uncomfortable but played along and of course she threw the flowers straight to me. They call for single men, turns out there are none in attendance, but an uncle steps in saying his wife is in the hospital and couldn't make it so he's "single for the night". Then I have to sit there really awkwardly while this very drunk old man, who I've never met before, puts the garter on my leg. Ugh. Got out of there fast as I could and swore never again; from then on, soon as they announced a bouquet toss, I made a beeline to the restroom.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've been to three not-so-great weddings.

The worst was my too young niece, who was pregnant at the time. The groom's mother literally boohooed, during the entire wedding. She was totally disruptive. The minister had to practically yell to drown her out. My sister tried to talk them out of getting married, but supported them, when they made their decision. My niece was less than a year older than me & I felt really bad for her. FWIW, they've been married for over 30 years & my niece still can't stand her MIL.

The next worst was when I was a kid. Apparently the groom & bride forgot they had an audience. The kiss lasted foreevvveeerrrrr. People were looking around in awkwardness. I don't think I was the only one who was wishing they'd give it a rest. Obviously, a lot of people didn't live together, before getting married back then. To make matters worse a woman fell off the porch, after the wedding. She was probably sleep walking, after the kiss. Because my sister is like my grandmother was, she was on the porch rolling over laughing at her.

The last was my niece's wedding last winter. Something possessed my sister & her (different sister & niece) that getting married in a barn in December was a good idea. This was not a cheap wedding. At least, the barn had heaters that did a decent job of heating it. The tent the reception was held in was an ice box & the tent owner wouldn't allow us to rent heaters for it. The DJ was a total waste. The few who stayed for the reception left as soon as they ate. On a positive note, the picture of my niece arriving via horse & buggy, while snowflakes fell around her, was the most beautiful wedding picture I've ever seen.

 

[leebee]

At my wedding, one of my brothers-in-law had an ongoing feud with the DJ. He'd requested a song and she refused to play it, saying she'd only play what my DH and I had listed. How stupid! Anyhow, I have about 6 photos of my BIL and the DJ, flipping each other off throughout the night!

When DH was in grad school, one of the students in his lab got married. We were all invited, and it was an amazing reception. Big hotel, bride and groom greeted groups of guests as they came in with shots of ouzo, long cocktail hour poolside with open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres. Dinner started with multiple champagne and ouzo toasts, with bottles of red and white wine on the table to go with dinner (prime rib & lobster surf & turf). All the lab folks were seated at 3 consecutive tables across the back of the crowd; DH and I were seated in the middle. Suddenly, mid-dinner, something whooshed by my head. Yup... the lab director, sitting at the table to our left, had thrown a roll at one of the students sitting at the table to our right. While a total food fight didn't break out, there was a flurry of airborne food products (rolls, olives, etc.) before the more-sober in the crowd managed to calm the folks who thought this was a hoot. DH wasn't involved... I froze him with a look! Totally tacky... way too much booze involved! (but a totally amazing wedding!!)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

At my wedding, one of my brothers-in-law had an ongoing feud with the DJ. He'd requested a song and she refused to play it, saying she'd only play what my DH and I had listed. How stupid! Anyhow, I have about 6 photos of my BIL and the DJ, flipping each other off throughout the night!

What was the stupid part? That fact the they were flipping each other off or that the DJ wouldn't play anything that wasn't off your list?

I do know it's a growing trend to not allow requests to be made. At my wedding we didn't want requests to be made (though our music choices were majority with the guests in mind) and in fact all the DJ companies we spoke to have that as a question-do you want requests to be allowed or not?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The last was my niece's wedding last winter. Something possessed my sister & her (different sister & niece) that getting married in a barn in December was a good idea. This was not a cheap wedding. At least, the barn had heaters that did a decent job of heating it. The tent the reception was held in was an ice box & the tent owner wouldn't allow us to rent heaters for it. The DJ was a total waste. The few who stayed for the reception left as soon as they ate. On a positive note, the picture of my niece arriving via horse & buggy, while snowflakes fell around her, was the most beautiful wedding picture I've ever seen.

Ohhh that picture sounds just beautiful but that's a real bummer on the no heat on the reception area..sounds very uncomfortable

 

[VandVsmama]

Attended a family member's wedding once in which I was a bridesmaid. I was 3 months pregnant at the time and the bridesmaid dress selected was a strapless number...which resulted in me looking pretty hideous because I wasn't yet at the point where you could really tell that I was pregnant. So I just looked like a stuffed sausage in a crappy overpriced dress that literally fell apart after one wearing.

The day before the wedding, about 2 hr before the rehearsal was supposed to happen, the bride wouldn't tell anybody where the rehearsal dinner was to be held. One of the groomsmen had to yell at her in order for her to cough up the address....as in, "Hey, listen. I'm sick and tired of this. Either you tell me right now where the rehearsal dinner is supposed to be or nobody is going to show up to your rehearsal dinner." Thankfully, I got to bow out of that since we had a 1 yr old child at the time whose bedtime was the same time as when the rehearsal dinner was to begin. DH went to the rehearsal dinner instead of me.

On the actual wedding day, when the bride was taking family photos, none of them included my child. Apparently she wasn't considered 'family' that day. I couldn't wait to leave the reception. It was exhausting and I ended up with bleeding blisters on my feet from the shoes.

At my own wedding, same family member was sent an invitation that read "So-and-so and guest," yet when family member RSVP'd, she wouldn't tell us who the "and guest" person was. Well, as it turns out, she brought her friend, X, who DH & I had purposely not invited to the wedding because I had been roommates with X for a year in college and learned upon us moving out of the apartment that X had talked smack about all of us roommates behind our backs the entire time we were apartment-mates. So family member had the nerve to bring X into a room of the church that I and the bridal party were in just before the ceremony and all X wanted to do was gossip and talk smack about people. It was very unpleasant. X is now employed as a marriage-family therapist. It's kind of like the blind leading the blind there.