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What are the best/worst things you've experienced at a wedding?

313 replies

Turniptracker · 30/01/2020 21:32

Just started planning a wedding and it got me thinking about the best and worst things about weddings I've attended in the past. The worst was a wedding where we kept getting moved from room to room for each stage of the wedding, we were kicked off the dining tables after our last mouthful of dessert and had to stand up in a cold stable with no chairs to juggle coffee and chocs (hello indigestion). Best by far, but for all the wrong reasons, was watching a groomsman rip his trousers through vigorous dancing and he was so drunk he proceeded to just rip all his clothes off and dance in his pants Grin
Any "best things" for good reasons also welcome!

OP posts:
BohoBunney · 30/01/2020 22:00

It’s very rare in the UK to provide a free bar. You usually expect a Welcome drink, Wine on tables during meal and bubbly for a toast, but I wouldn’t dare be so entitled to expect a free piss up all evening.

Worst was the undercover singing waiters. As soon as I saw what was happening I left the room.

Best .. I don’t think I’ve been to an awful wedding tbh. But did have a lot of fun when there was a ceilidh

BronteSisters · 30/01/2020 22:04

Worst was an easy going, Uber cool, sit where you like wedding breakfast. Great if you're in the room early and bag a table, not so good when you arrive just after most are seated and your family of 5 has to be split up around the room at different tables or piss people off asking them to move elsewhere.

As for a PP saying worst is having to buy your own drinks? That I can understand in a country where alcohol isn't crazily priced but paying for 100+ people to get drunk in the UK? I could only dream of having that kind of money. I don't mind paying for my own drinks but food needs to be provided though, like any other party.

Stayawayfromitsmouth · 30/01/2020 22:05

Best includes plentiful food and drink throughout the day.
Garden games/ entertainment/ canapes during photos.
Worst was being last table served at a buffet/ bbq/ help yourself style meal and there being no food left.
Being kept waiting around with nothing to do/ sit/ eat or drink while photos were taken for hours.
Being kept waiting for food to be served while speeches went on for far, far too long.

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PatellarTendonitis · 30/01/2020 22:07

Worst - many that were all variations on the same theme, tight, shoddy hosting which meant not enough food, no food, running out of food, long waits for food, undercatering. OR not enough seating.

Don't usually bother going to evening do's anymore unless they are very local as they tend to be utter shit and just a cash grab from the guests and find two-tiered weddings rude AF.

Best - my sister's wedding was lovely. Mass at 4, straight to reception, photos done in an hour whilst guests had canapes and cocktails at the venue, lovely dinner and then disco.

Brokenlightfitting · 30/01/2020 22:08

but paying for 100+ people to get drunk in the UK?

I don't think I have ever seen anyone drunk at a wedding. Maybe that is because the drinks are all provided and people drink in moderation?

MaisieMaisie · 30/01/2020 22:09

Best weddings I have been to have had 60 or so guests. Small enough for everyone to spend time with the couple and to be relatively informal.

Also When The bride is relaxed

Worst part of any wedding is the hanging around while the wedding party have photos taken. If we are staying locally the trick is to go for a nap and remain the party when the b&g do. You'll be all lovely and refreshed and not annoyed/bored/cold/drunk like those who have been waiting around.

And speeches! Short and sweet is a winner. max time for all speeches and toasts: 15 minutes!

Lavendersquare · 30/01/2020 22:11

@FruityWidow I know the feeling, I once went to a wedding that had a beautiful 4 tier cake on display, I was gutted when I discovered it was made of cheese. Cheese! Cake should be cake!

Brokenlightfitting · 30/01/2020 22:11

Worst- My SIL took the flowers from the church. I was mortified.

CooCooCoo · 30/01/2020 22:12

best : there was a bouncy castle, a kids play park and a cozy coupe Kids car
There was no kids. 🤣 after a good few drinks it was the BEST fun 😂

Worst - waiting around with nothing to eat for hours while the wedding party took photos

THIS. Amazing wedding but hours of being dressed up in the cold with nowhere indoors to go until the reception was ready... that was pretty crappy

DappledThings · 30/01/2020 22:14

Worst:
Cold mulled wine as the welcome drink
Groom singing his own song to the bride
Father of the Bride speech that lasted less than two minutes but managed to include a possibly racist jibe at his new son-in-law, a toast to his other daughter and no mention of the bride

Best:
One in Spain with an amazing 7 course meal
Ones where it all feels really relaxed throughout the day
Ones with wonderful speeches. People say they hate speeches but I've heard some hilarious ones, some that tell you things about the couple you never knew, beautifully kind ones. Good speeches can make a day

Sharkyfan · 30/01/2020 22:15

Best - Swedish wedding at their summer house in the garden, ceremony and party, copious amounts of simple but delicious food. Transport all laid on back to Stockholm (where hotels were)
Other best - fish and chip van supper

Worst - cousins wedding where we didn’t know many people anyway, then my husband (of 1 year) and I were seated on different tables away from each other, I had some other family on mine, he was with no one he knew. And there was a single guy Next to me. Still to this day don’t understand the thinking with that one and if it was accidental or not!

Free bar is not always possible but I did find it a bit off when I was invited to the evening so only of quite a close friend (but very small ceremony so wasn’t too offended about that!) which involved traveling some distance and getting a babysitter, and then we didn’t get a single complimentary drink on arrival. I had been expecting one glass of bubbly or something I must admit. And the wine was extortionate (hotel) and not very nice!

RainbowMum11 · 30/01/2020 22:15

Best - relaxed, plenty of food & drinks & pub games while the B&G were having their photos, lovely chilled and personal day with amazing food.

Worst - really stuffy, posh venue, so formal, hanging around waiting in the reception rooms for ages while photos being done, hours for speeches, bar not open.

PatellarTendonitis · 30/01/2020 22:16

I fucking hate speeches. I immediately tune out. Don't know why they're a thing, waste of bloody time. People just want to eat, not listen to twee shit.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/01/2020 22:17

Best:
The one that had karaoke,everyone really enjoyed it.

Worst:
When we all had to wait in the bar for 2 hours in between the day and evening reception.This was so boring that when it was our wedding we made sure it flowed through.

EarringsandLipstick · 30/01/2020 22:18

I've been to so many weddings that haven't been great - some of that is me; all the dressing up / getting hair done etc takes hours, and I love the church part (I think all the weddings I've been to have been in churches as it's only quite recently you could get married anywhere other than church or registry office in Ireland, and most registry offices were NOT nice). I find I've run out of steam once we are half way through the meal. But sometimes i get a second wind if the music is great.

So best parts: lovely music in the church, and how fabulous everyone looks; when there are decent canapes / snacks provided between church and meal; good sandwiches / cake for the afters (is that a thing in the UK? it's where people are invited to the evening reception part, after meal etc and about 11 p.m. it's expected that afters food is brought out, often including sandwiches with some of the meat served at the main meal, slices of the wedding cake etc and loads of TEA!)

Worst ... oh God so many. There was a good friend of mine who was marrying a girl who was very very shy and desperately insecure about their relationship. I never understood why they got married (but they're still together so...!). Anyway, at the altar, when it came to the vows, she just stopped. Said nothing for an age. You could hear a pin drop. Eventually, she turned and walked away, leaving the groom at the altar! Everyone sat stock still. Priest, bridesmaids went after her, and a while later she came back, said vows, all done. No-one said a single word about it!

That wedding was dull as ditchwater. Everyone ate their meal, quietly. Almost no-one went on the dance floor and all wrapped up I'd say by midnight.

Plenty of drunken messes, especially when it came to the speeches. I remember one best man, drunkenly making his way through a list of the groom's (alleged) past sexual conquests. It just got more and more vile, and seemed never-ending. The look on the parents' faces at the top table ...

Butterfly02 · 30/01/2020 22:19

Worst - got married in register office, had a meal 40 minutes drive away and then evening reception another 40 minutes drive - on an industrial estate so no where to stay overnight.
Best - had a separate room for children to play in. One with a great live band.

NC4Now · 30/01/2020 22:20

Best - the one with no table plan and a buffet so you just came and went as you pleased. I think I'm more of a fan of informal weddings.

pallisers · 30/01/2020 22:20

Worst - the one where I knew the bride would have preferred to be marying someone other than the groom. That guy was at the wedding too. Still, the marriage has lasted.

Best - small wedding outdoors with drinks on the lawn after, people playing croquet, kids running around, then nice dinner and someone called out country dances (this was in the US) afterwards. It was so much fun - every man woman and child was on the floor dancing.

motortroll · 30/01/2020 22:20

Worst- bride singing to the groom while her son did an interpretive dance. Would rather a cheesy disco thanks!

Best- my wedding- just a big party mostly. But I fear there may have been some waiting around. Oops

Brokenlightfitting · 30/01/2020 22:21

Best: I once got pulled off the street to be a witness

Yika · 30/01/2020 22:21

Best - masses of childcare laid on (a whole team of babysitters) - children enjoyed outdoor games while the rest of us had pre-dinner drinks. Then children were taken in by the babysitters to have their dinner first. Then when adults went in for dinner the babysitters took the children upstairs to (a) TV and games room and (b) room full of cots for the little ones. It was brilliant! Children and parents had a fantastic time and it said so much about the lovely, thoughtful couple who got married. A very memorable day.

CatsMother66 · 30/01/2020 22:26

The worst: In the 80’s I went to a wedding where the centre of the tables had plastic cups filled with cigarettes for guests to help themselves. They did and smoked them all through the meal.

Lemonysherbet · 30/01/2020 22:26

Worst is by far the waiting game.hanging around in corridors whilst rooms are being rearranged. DH and I at a wedding where we knew no one. Was so boring.

Best ones were just a bloody good mix of people up for a good time :)

Brokenlightfitting · 30/01/2020 22:26

BEST:bacon butties at midnight are always welcome

WORST:bizarre table gifts- who wants a packet of seeds?

Deadsouls · 30/01/2020 22:27

I don't go to many weddings.

I can say the worst which was my own wedding (now divorced).

It was in a foreign country so guests came and stayed for around 3 days. My dad came and proceeded to get drunk for 3 of those days, flirted with my friend. Got very drunk at the actual wedding, kept trying to get extra bottles of champagne. My mum (they divorced when I was young) had a go at him.
He was meant to give a speech, but hadn't written one down or prepared for it. Gave a wobbly speech during which I cringed and hoped the ground would swallow me up.

It was all pretty embarrassing.