What makes a wedding fun or terrible?

[Friedseasalt]

We’ve still got a while until our wedding, but I’ve been thinking about what actually makes weddings fun for guests.

I know some people love them and others find them long or a bit boring, so I’m curious — what are your favourite things about weddings and what do you dislike the most?

Anything that really makes a wedding enjoyable (or the opposite)?

Oh god, these are bringing back memories — being dragged up to the dance floor by DH’s godfather, Paddy Moriarty RIP, a complete pisshead who was well into the free bar by then and who painfully steered me round the dance floor for at least 10 agonizing minutes.

For me what makes them borin, stressful and certainly not fun are things like
dress codes where the Bride insists guests should or shouldn't wear a certain colour,
Weddings in places that are very difficult to get to
Very long very formal church services
Weddings that are just big expensive parties
Weddings that are too organised and designed to look good on social media
Fun would be
Multi generational gathering of family and close friends ( the nicest weddings I've been to the oldest guest was over 90 and the youngest was a baby
No pressure on guests
Something for guests to do between the ceremony and the meal. With canapes and drinks, music garden games etc
The Bride and Groom make an effort to greet everyone
Good food
In the evening a quiet room for people to chat as well as a disco for people who want to dance.

Keeping timelines tight. Ceremony, drinks, dinner dancing. Don’t let people stand about for ages wondering what’s going on. Take your side/his side photos before the ceremony so only the combined side to do after and make sure your guests are being fed and watered!
Also this weird thing of only bringing invites to part of the day - I really don’t get it.
Free bar - again having guests pay? Trim your guest list so you can afford to cover the food and drink.
So: tight timings, cover the food and drink, be clear on what’s happening when. Keep speeches short.

Making sure that there is enough seating. This is so when the room is being turned around for the evening session or when the photos are being taken, guests can sit down and don’t have to fight over two sofas and an arm chair.

I’d say wedding at 3.00pm, photos to be finished by 5.30 at the latest. A meal (could be anything but guests sit with friends/family) and then music for dancing.

Make sure there’s plenty of food, some paid for drinks including decent non- alcoholic and ensure there’s a buffet/pizza van/chip van etc for evening guests.

I think go smaller with better quality food/drinks rather than a million people and very little food. I’ve been two two weddings with hardly any food and I resented being there. I did indeed take a coolbox with a picnic as we knew there was no sit down meal just canapés and then the cheapest buffet in the evening. (A lunchtime wedding too).

Accessible for guests. Not in the middle of nowhere or up a mountain. Decent and timely food including for people with allergies. So often you get a fruit salad or something while everyone else tucks into a roast dinner. No fixed seating, let people choose. No DJ personally as I find most of them really cringey and naff. A band or just recorded music is better. Speeches -keep short and to the point. Thank everyone for coming and tell them the buffet is open! Guests either already know or don't need to know your life story.