Extras at a wedding - what do you actually enjoy?

[Bridecilla]

Guests will be fed and watered. Not wanting to go mad with £££ that won't make a jot of difference.

We've booked a really good wedding DJ. Beer on tap.

Glitter bar? Photo booth??

@bookmum08 not everyone is so miserable to think that all weddings are crap. I think the majority of us enjoys them when they are done well, which is why the op is asking for advice. She can send her money on whatever she likes

No extras, good food and no long gaps hanging around. I would prefer a free bar (not that I drink) than mega bucks spent on favours/elaborate venue decor etc. Not that I am miserly but I just find it strange to have to buy all
Drinks when so much has been spent on unmemorable tat.

What’s a glitter bar? The only extras you need it’s canapés whilst waiting for the meal, it always takes longer than you think for photos.

Thanks @Herpes

I've only been to a couple of weddings in my life and never one in a venue like ours.

Our wedding was quite simple but we had a photo booth. At the end of the day, all that we really have from it now are the photos and wedding video (and each other!). I'd prioritise photos and wedding video over any other extra.
Also, we had loads of seating at the venue but the hotel were trying to push us to pay a bit extra for the wooden backed fancy chairs that don't need chair covers - they're fierce uncomfortable! They look nice but I hate them!

Glitter bar

Just as a nosey side question, what’s on your sharing platter? that sounds much nicer than the usual roast dinner.

What is a glitter bar?

As others have posted, you need to prioritise your guests comfort - food, drink, seating etc.

I would also add make sure there are sufficient toilets, and heaters if it is a cold day. We once left a wedding early because we were too cold.

Barn is open so weather dependent we'll need to shell out for a marquee.

Oh please dont assume its going to be warm. The worst wedding we ever attended was in the summer and they had assumed it would be hot. It pissed it down and we all left early as it was miserable. Definitely get the marquee.

Is it a barn designed for such events?

Have you elderly/disabled guests attending? If so is it accessible for them?

What about toilet facilities?

Definitely get the marquee assuming this is in uk you absolutely cannot depend on the weather.

The year I married we married in March and it was boiling hot, sunny and dry, my friend married the July after and it pissed it down the whole day torrential rain and it was freezing!

Cross posted. God! No to the glitter bar

Agree with PP to have places to sit and chat away from the music - if it’s in a barn, consider having the dancing at one end so people can sit at the other and have a proper conversation.

If it’s at a brewery, could you arrange a couple of tours while you’re doing photos?

And be a bit more regimented about the photos - leaving it “casual” can actually end in more stress if it means Auntie Maude is off inspecting the flowers when you want the family photo; or you’ll realise afterwards you’ve got 8 photos of Random Colleague but none of you and your mum!

Have a chat with your photographer about group photos - say you only want to dedicate half an hour, for example, and ask them how many different combinations they could do in that time.

Definitely agree #1 is comfort and food. Lots of different seating areas/options, shade if sunny, lots of food and drink available.

And what the feck is a glitter bar?

Venue is free so we'll be throwing money at the food and drink.

From memory the sharing platter is:
Roasted lamb, pork and beef
Herb roasted potatoes
Artisan bread
Local chutneys
Mixed salads
Coleslaw
Pease pudding
Roasted veg

I still don't know what a glitter bar is
All I ask when attending a wedding is to be fed properly. I am perfectly happy to pay for my own drinks.

Please can you put the meat on a separate plate in case you have any vegetarian guests.

It's a proper wedding venue so toilets etc in site. Inside seatingbareas, room for fire pit etc

Nothing, I much prefer a wedding without gimmicks. Personally I would even bother with wedding favours.

The one thing that does make a difference is giving guests access to food and drink and somewhere sit while the photos are being taken. The last nice wedding I went to had quite substantial canapes and sparkling drinks being passed round during the photos and then went straight into the main course for the meal.

One wedding I went to which had a lot of families with young children had a magician to quietly entertain the children while we sat at dinner. That was nice.

My favourite venue for a wedding locally has a piano bar type atmosphere where the tables are and a separate disco for later, so those who don't want to be part of the disco, (or those having a rest!) can hear themselves chat near the piano. Still some atmosphere but not too loud.

Oh god, no. I'd imagined a glitter bar to be a bar that was glittery. Not something more akin to a 6 year old's birthday party!

Why is it free? That sounds to me like friends/family supplying which also means highly likely health & safety issues not addressed! Because venues that do it professionally know and have to get certification for various health & safety elements.

Electricity supply, lighting, stability of the building... can all lead to disastrous even fatal consequences if not properly set up/maintained

I had to google glitter bar

Definitely not one of those at a wedding.

Plenty of food and drink options, comfortable seating and a good dj. A nice extra is somewhere with a quiet area and sofas for those that don't want to dance/listen to music.

I used to be a waitress, years ago, and served at hundreds of weddings. The people are what make a wedding good, not the extras.

Oh god cross posted - no to the glitter bar! I’d not show it but I’d be secretly catsbumface about the environmental waste - plus there’s always the risk someone’s going to get drunk and think it’s “hilarious” to dump it in your hair.

If you’ve got good outside space and probably good weather how about investing in some Garden games? Love a bit of giant jenga at a wedding!

@Ginfordinner yes. Only 1 veggie and she's my best pal so top of the list to cater for :)

None the wiser about a glitter bar, what do you do ?

If there are a lot of children, hire some babysitters to watch them and put a film on or have games in a separate room after they've eaten and during the speeches. Priceless for parents.

What @Graphista said. Her post should be printed out and given to every bride at the planning stage.