Worst Wedding

[CEDmom]

That was really tacky of the bride and groom to get drunk and not thank their guests for coming. I honestly don't remember what we did with cash gifts at our wedding. I think their was a table set up near the cake but I'm honestly not sure. We did have a buffet but salad and bread was served so that people had something to eat while waiting for their table to be called. We had a very small wedding (under 100) so any wait was really a non-issue. We also didn't have a traditional head table. We had a table for DH and I along with my matron of honor and her husband and DH's best man and his wife. Everyone else is the wedding party was family and they were scattered at different tables.

 

[mt2]

I have never seen a box, birdcage, or anything else. Cards are usually left at the table with the rest of the gifts. I have been to weddings where food ran out. My SIL wedding is one. My DMIL told me that that had planned for 180 people and the caterer made food for 200 (just in case). Well over 235 people showed up. They didn't RSVP and some said "so I'm only one more person". Not good at all.

Happy Thoughts to all

mt2

 

[crazelion]

I have never seen a box, birdcage, or anything else

I know what mean. Down south I never seen any box and birdcage are serious. People actually put a box out for cars strange.


. Cards are usually left at the table with the rest of the gifts. I have been to weddings where food ran out. My SIL wedding is one. My DMIL told me that that had planned for 180 people and the caterer made food for 200 (just in case). Well over 235 people showed up. They didn't RSVP and some said "so I'm only one more person". Not good at all.


I am going to a wedding in Memphis in June i think we have too many people to and food is run out.

I am already :mad that I have share a hotel room with my Mom sister but she wants to keep adding people to the room. I told her not having anymore people in the room period.

If add people to the room I am founding a nother place to stay at.

 

[kilee]

It's interesting to see how wedding traditions vary from area to area. The last wedding I attended was my sisters and it was the full-multi-course meal formal wedding. I know my parents could of bought a brand new midsized car in cash for what they paid for that wedding. I can't believe in some areas people don't serve a meal. Here, that would be considered "tacky". It can be brunch, lunch, or dinner. But it needs to be a meal. Also, of the weddings I've been to in the last year (7 I can remember) only 2 were even held in a church. I would never pay to go to a wedding. Sounds like the couple couldn't afford the reception.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I think it's awful not to greet each of your guest individually and thank them for coming and for whatever gift they may have brought for you. I don't find the box thing an issue. It's much easier than carrying it around with you all evening. That being said....

My wedding received a LOT of criticism from people who DIDN'T attend!! We had less than 15 people present. All of whom were either family or extremely close friends. Money was a real issue for us at the time but I so desperately wanted a lovely white gown and bridesmaid. Our solution was first to cut the guest list to parents, siblings and best friends only. Then, we had just cake and punch at our reception. No dinner, no dancing, no frills period. Afterwards, everyone invited went to dinner at a local restaurant where everyone understood they were paying for their own food and drinks. Everyone present understood completely and even commended us for not overspending in order to show off. People who weren't invited but heard of the circumstances thought it was the tackiest thing they'd ever heard of. I was told I was stingy, tacky and downright rude. I was also told I should have either waited to get married until I had the money for a proper wedding or just gone to the courthouse in my best dress and called it good. That's why those people weren't invited, because I knew they didn't want to be present because they loved us and wished us well but because they wanted free food and booze! I still fail to see what was so tacky about going to dinner and not paying for everyone. I often invite friends or my sister to meet me for dinner and they don't expect me to pay for dinner! When did weddings go from being about celebrating with the bride and groom to being about showing off for the guests? I do think that if you're in the position to have a nice sit down dinner for your reception you should have the class enough to make sure there is enough food for EVERYONE to get as much as they'd like. Stick within your means and don't bow to pressure to have a dream wedding!

 

[Kallison]

I went to a wedding where they had the most incredible food -- prime rib sliced to serve, ham, turkey tons of hor dourves. We were there with another couple and each stuffed ourselves like three plates full. Then the doors opened and they said -- Dinner will now be served. We all cracked up. They had a SEVEN course meal. I mean you had to roll us out of there in a wheelbarrow.

 

[danacara]

Good god. Was that wedding in New Jersey, near where you live? I can't even imagine how hideous that must have seemed.

Kallison - I also stuffed myself silly at the last wedding. Jean-Paul was like, "this pasta is great", ate three plates, and then ... they carried in the salads ... meats ... sushi bar ... his eyes practically rolled back in his head.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Shugardrawers
When did weddings go from being about celebrating with the bride and groom to being about showing off for the guests? I do think that if you're in the position to have a nice sit down dinner for your reception you should have the class enough to make sure there is enough food for EVERYONE to get as much as they'd like. Stick within your means and don't bow to pressure to have a dream wedding!

I don't think providing a meal for guests is "showing off".

And it is very much possible to serve a meal and still have a "dream wedding" on a respectable budget...everyone's idea of a 'dream' wedding is different.

 

[Hillbeans]

Ok, I admit i'm from NJ and around here, i'd expect nothing less at a wedding than having a cocktail/appetizer hour and then a served dinner. At my wedding there was so much food it was obscene. That's just what I grew up around though, so i'd be in shock just like you were.

I've gone with my DH to many weddings near where he grew up in PA and it's COMPLETELY different than the weddings around here. There they have Kegs, shorts, whatever goes. We went to a wedding at some hall and they actually closed the bar for 2 hours during dinner....it was a rule. All of the guys at the wedding freaked out and were drinking people's half full glasses.

I've never heard of running out of food though....my goodness.

 

[Kimberle]

How about when the guests eat & run?



They did that at my wedding.

I live just outside NYC, grew up in MN. Got married in MN. (What a task planning that long distance, but that is another story.) As soon as the main course (shrimp scampi and chicken cordon blue) was served, people chowed down then about 2/3rds left! Before dessert was served, before the cake was cut. A few came up & thanked me, but not most. Dh & I didn't even have time to go around to the tables..... It was not late either, about 7:30 pm.

(I always thought it was extremely rude to leave before the cake was cut.)

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Here in NJ and NY it seems like a full dinner is the norm. We went to dh's cousins wedding in Altanta years ago (her mom is originally from NJ) they had a wedding like the ones we are used to. They told us later that some people left after the cocktail hour because they were not expecting to go into another room for a full sit down dinner.

 

[Blondie]

Where I grew up (suburban Philly area) a full sit down meal or buffet with an open bar is the norm. We had a sit down (didn't run out of food) with a 4 hour open bar. We also had an hour long Catholic mass wedding ceremony prior.

Imagine my surprise when we moved to Maine and went to a wedding where it was a cash bar! I walked up to the bartender and ordered a mixed drink, then was told "that'll be $3.50." I'm sure I turned three shades of red because I left my purse back at the table with my DH! I had to go back and get money to pay for it! I guess things vary from region to region. I asked a co-worker at that time about it and her opinion was "why should the bride and groom pay for everyone to get plastered." I never looked at it that way. If I were having it in my home, I wouldn't have my guests pay for their drinks.

 

[ckmommy]

I have to laugh at the OP wedding. I have a feeling that we will be going to one very similar to that one very soon. My Brother in law is getting married, his first words out of his mouth about the reception hall...they only charge $$(I can't remember the exact cost) per barrel of beer AND we can drink until 2:30 am. I know where his priorities will be!!

At my own wedding, our church would not allow a receiving line due to another service 75 mins. after ours (Saturday evening mass). I was really OK with that. Who wants to shake the hands of the other members of your wedding party--most people do not even know them except if family is in your wedding party. We opted to be one of the first people to arrive at the reception and greet everyone as they came into the club. I think people enjoyed this! We had an open bar during the appetizer portion of the reception, then free beer wine and soda during the remaining part of the reception. The dinner was sit down and everyone got their food at the same time. After dinner, my DH and I went arount to each person and gave them a gift for coming to our wedding and made light converstion with everyone that was there (248 people). Because of this, the cake did not get served until 9:00. Also DH and I who were 24 at the time, made a promise to each other not to drink at the reception--we both wanted to remember the day with a very clear head. We also agreed not to smush cake in each other face--VERY tacky if you ask me! I paid more for my wedding dress than I did for my first car, and was not going to have it ruined! Sorry so long!!!

 

[Duchie]

I grew up in the South and attended MANY weddings before moving. The norm for receptions was appetizers and munchies (peanuts, pretzels, etc.) and beverages. Alcohol was optional (depending on the church and their rules.) The reception lasted a couple of hours, then the bride changed into her "gowing away" outfit and the couple left. My mom usually had a "let down" party at our house after the reception for all of our out-of-town guests, but that was just us.

When I got married in Ohio, things were quite different. Buffett (and we had about 30 more people show up than RSVP'd, but fortunately did not run out of food), open bar, reception lasting until midnight. We went to every table and gave each person a small favor and thanked them for coming. But at each table the people wanted us to drink a toast with them, so we did. Didn't realize until it was too late that I was quite tipsy! And yes, I was older, too and should have known better. I guess even the best of us can slip up once in a while.

 

[Nancy]

I guess my worst wedding was a cash bar one. I never heard of them and went to the wedding with no cash in my purse. Luckily my friend had some money and we each had one drink. I wouldn't have minded paying for my drinks if I had known before hand.

My cousin got married and had a no alcohol wedding. Her sisters husband went to a liquor store and bought some to serve to a few people at the wedding. My cousin was not happy about that! we knew about the no drinks before the wedding...it wasn't that big of a deal.

I was also at a wedding where the food was served on paper plates and had plastic utensils. Very funny to be all dressed up and eating like we were on a picnic. Plastic knives don't cut meat very good.

Now of course my wedding was perfect

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by Blondie
I asked a co-worker at that time about it and her opinion was "why should the bride and groom pay for everyone to get plastered." I never looked at it that way. If I were having it in my home, I wouldn't have my guests pay for their drinks.

I completely agree...you're a guest at their party. It's not like a BBQ where it tells you on the invitation to bring a keg.

If you can't afford a full open bar, at least offer beer and wine. I doubt Blondie was trying to get "plastered" from one cocktail at a reception.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Nancy
I was also at a wedding where the food was served on paper plates and had plastic utensils. Very funny to be all dressed up and eating like we were on a picnic. Plastic knives don't cut meat very good.

Yes - but at least you had meat to cut - right?

I went to a wedding last year...not only was everything (cheese/crackers/veggies/a few hot appetizers) served on paper plates/cups...but the plates/cups were advertising the local fish shop.

My brother - in all seriousness was drinking diet coke (spiked with rum from his flask - he's 23, cut him some slack) turns to me and says "Hey - know where to get any good fish or ice cream around here" (proudly displaying the advertisement on the cup - which, when turned around, the fish shop also had soft serve ice cream!)

too funny...not what I would have pictured for a wedding...but hey - at least we REMEMBER these weddings - right?

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
Yes - but at least you had meat to cut - right?


My brother - in all serious was drinking diet coke (spiked with rum from his flast - he's 23, cut him some slack) turns to me and says "Hey - know where to get any good fish around here" (proudly displaying the advertisement on the cup)

too funny

LOL - that's funny.

I know my in-laws went to a wedding and they told us about it. Apparently someone was stealing the bags of pretzels on the table after the reception. My DH and I told her that's one we've never heard before (pretzels at a wedding).

 

[luv2nascar]

I am so burned out of weddings
The food for the most part stinks. You are expected to give generous gifts (money) as they are shelling out a fortune to feed you. Buying a new dress and shoes is a brand new experience in pain. Let alone if one or more of your family is in the wedding.

I told my DH I don't care how many more times your brother gets married I'm not being in the wedding. First one DH and I were both in. 2nd one DH, myself, and oldest DD were all in. It has cost us a fortune between wedding, gifts, and showers.

YUCK

 

[Big Dude]

Being a DJ for 18 years, I've seen magical weddings and I've seen nightmare weddings. Some of these stories have brought a smile to my face. Probably the most outrageous thing I have seen at a wedding was when a girlfriend and boyfriend caught the bouquet and garter. The girl was dressed in a leather miniskirt and the boyfriend....well...he proceeded to put the garter on.....after he showed it to the crowd by placing it it up her skirt and out of her V neck!!! I guess the crowd was already loosened up a bit because nobody even batted an eye!

There have been a number of fights at some of the weddings. I just make sure that they are not near my equipment and when they really get into it, I'll start playing the Michael Buffer "Let's Get Ready To RUMMMMBLE" track. That usually gets a laugh. I've seen brides and grooms almost come to blows because of the cake smashing scenario. I've had to abandon my DJ stand on a couple of occasions to tend to someone who was going into diabetic shock, stroke, bee-sting (being allergic to them) because I'm an EMT. I usually got a nice tip after one of those shows.

Sometimes the food is good, sometimes it's terrible. Sometimes I get to eat, sometimes I don't. One thing I can say is I have gotten to meet some very nice people along the way. I love going to weddings simply because I get paid to go.

Adam aka Big Dude