Celebrate the launch of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 by sharing your dos and don’ts for throwing a big family wedding and you could win a £300 Love2Shop voucher. NOW CLOSED!

[ZaneMumsnet]

Weddings should be occasions of joy and happiness; however there are some times when they can be stressful and downright insufferable. From unreasonable demands from brides to issues over inviting (or not inviting) children, not to mention the sticky issue of wedding lists and seating plans, they can be a bit of a nightmare. To mark the return of the long awaited romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, we would like to hear the rules you’d put in place for successful big family weddings.

Written by Academy Award® nominee Nia Vardalos, who stars alongside the entire returning cast of favourites, the film reveals a Portokalos family secret that will bring the beloved characters back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 hits cinemas on March 25.

Check out the trailer below:

If you were coming up with a list of dos and don'ts for how to throw a big family wedding what would they be? Have you been to some terrible ones you’d like to share a story about? If you were going to have one, how would you make sure it all went without a hitch?

Whatever your ideas and stories are, we'd love to hear them.
Everyone who posts on this thread with their tips will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw,
MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions apply

The only thing to rember is it should be fun - for you and your guests

If it's a family wedding you're having then be prepared to deal with all generations - kids will be kids (there will be some imperfect moments, but hopefully you and your lovingly invited guests will get a laugh out of them) and even old people, will be old people (sometimes worse than the kids).

Most of all I would say that your wedding should be a true reflection of the two of you as a couple and be personal to you both - follow your heart and not the latest trends and fashions/favours. Only spend what you can truly afford. Remember what the really important part of the day is - and that is the promise you are making to each other. That is all that really matters - anything else is just decoration and trimmings!

enjoy the day most importantly!

other than that..have lots of entertainment for the kids

Make sure that a yes is a yes. I had 6 cousins say yes and not turn up. Sooooo annoying. And don't waste the day being followed by a photographer - big regret

Do what you want to do and tell everyone else to do one!!!!!

Do make sure everyone has enough to eat and don't keep people hanging about, no-one cares what your dress looks like or how the nice the venue is if they're starving

i think you have to judge personalities and place them accordingly. Take into account any existing fueds etc but generally people are well behaved on the day because they know it would upset proceedings.

if you have to have a big wedding make sure the younger guests are entertained, may it be a childminder or toys in the corner.

If I could go back in time it would be a no brainer!

1. Do everything you want to do for it to live up to the dream in your head.
2. Don't tell anyone anything about it until absolutely necessary to avoid unecessary advice or questions about who is and isn't invited.

Make sure there's enough food on the buffet if it's my family!
Only have the bridesmaids you actually want!

I once had the misfortune to live in a downstairs maisonette and the upstairs 'tenants' did indeed have a Big Fat Greek Wedding celebration (literally). It not only went on for about 12 hours but also was so loud that I vowed never to live in a maisonette again.

So don't intrude on other people's space. Or if you intend to, invite them so they're not put out/upon.

And don't spend a fortune on your wedding. You can have a perfectly lovely day for a couple of £K .

Before starting any arrangements decide on ground rules. Overall cost and how many guests can be invited ( especially by parents of bride and groom)

Don't do it (big family weddings that is!)

Keep it small, intimate, and only the people YOU really want there.

Honestly, I would hate a big family wedding so I'm not the best person to ask, I think it should be about the couple and their wishes, and not done to suit what various family members envision as the perfect wedding.

Try and remember that at the end of the day it is your wedding-the important bit is that you and your partner are getting married so don't worry about great aunty val twice removed not wanting to sit next to rude uncle Fred or that Cousin gertrude will be offended if her neighbour's sisters dog isn't invited.
As long as you can look back on a happy celebration of your special day with the people who mean the most to you there to celebrate with you then you are on to a winner.

DO Just please yourself and DO NOT bother with a big family wedding

Do - enjoy it. It should be an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Don't- try to please everyone. You can't.

Do not have tea lights sat on a table with no holder and paper napkins placed beside them.

My friend did this... I set the table on fire in the middle of the speeches... Never spoken to her since ( I am thankful the marquee didn't go up in flames)

I can't really comment as the DH and I eloped to the USA for ours and had the grand total of 2 guests (my bestie and her DH) and their baby at our wedding!! I do think that if we'd planned a large wedding the key thing would be, unless you're stinking rich , is to set a realistic budget (you want to have enough left over for a decent honeymoon!!) and stick to it. Also, make it the day YOU want it to be and try not to meet others' expectations as that will only make you miserable.

My top tip would be Don't Do It!

We just had parents (only because they insisted!) and my sister and her partner who were our witnesses. After we got married we all went back to our house for cake and champagne, then my Dad took us all out in the evening to a lovely restaurant.

If you really really want a big do:
Have a budget and stick to it
Do what YOU want, not what other people think you should do

But really I think you shouldn't have a big wedding at all

The wedding is about you , your partner and your immediate family. As long as you do what suits you then nothing else matters .

Do whatever it is you want to do, don't be pressured into doing things you don't want to, it's all about you :)

Don't worry so much. Honesty, no one cares if the shade of purple you use for the table centres doesn't match the bridesmaids outfits etc..

The main thing is to enjoy everyone gathering together for your big day so do make sure you remember to have fun!

For a proposed big family wedding

Do - elope

It's way easier and less costly.

Do's and don'ts - DO take time to enjoy yourself as the day will fly by. Don't let anyone talk you out of your plans, it is easy to be swept along by everybody else's opinion!
I went to a wedding once where the groom got horribly drunk and set a chair cover alight with a candle. The venue had to be evacuated meaning we were standing in the freezing cold for ages whilst the hotel management sorted it out!
If I got married I would definitely keep things very simple, a nice day with friends and family and some fun entertainment thrown in for good measure. Oh and I would definitely include children!