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There’s a whole lot to think about when you’re planning your Big Day. There’s the big stuff: the venue, the dress, the bridal party, the seating chart, the dress code. Then there are all the little details: the invitations, the decor, the first dance, the favors. You want everything to be perfect—and understandably so. It’s a day you’ve probably imagined countless times, and you want it to be one you’ll remember fondly for years to come.

But planning a wedding and hosting a wedding aren’t quite the same thing. The difference? Your guests. Because while it’s your day, they’re the ones you’ve invited to share it with you. And ideally, you want them to remember the celebration for all the right reasons—not because they were hungry, uncomfortable, confused, or treated like an afterthought. Unfortunately, the weddings on this list missed that memo. They were shared in response to a question posed by u/featherboots in the r/weddingshaming subreddit: “What’s the worst guest mistreatment you’ve seen at a wedding?” And if you’re planning to head down the aisle yourself, you might want to take notes.

#1

A beautifully set table with flowers, plates, and glasses, showing a perfect wedding guest experience. If you can’t afford to feed and have drinks for your guests, you need to scale down. Everyone wants a big fancy wedding, not everyone can afford one. Some of the nicest weddings are the smaller, more casual ones.

Birdy304 , Drazen Zigic / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

Estelle G
Community Member
17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not everyone wants a bit wedding, I want a small wedding and reception but a big honeymoon

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    #2

    I haaaaaate weddings that treat guests like extras, or worse, gift givers.

    My dress was cheap, my shoes were $30, I don't think we decorated anything. But all the money we had was spent on food and open bar.

    I can't imagine treating your invited friends and family so poorly. I don't get it.

    RainbowBriteGlasses Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good for you! I bet all your guests had a great day

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    #3

    A wedding party with the bride and groom seated, surrounded by groomsmen and bridesmaids in black outfits, a unique wedding guest experience. Mine was a wedding I went to last summer. The couple asked that all guests wear black - they were wearing white and wanted to stand out in the pictures. They then proceeded to get married in the hot afternoon sun.. it was pushing 100 F that day. One of the grandmas ended up having a heat stroke and the bride got upset with her for causing a scene. Like idk maybe you should have moved the ceremony inside?? The venue was definitely set up to accomodate it. Having to wear all black just made that sun so much worse and for the bride to act like it was the elderly person's fault for passing out was insane.

    brad_online , Alexander Mass / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    Planning a wedding can be stressful. And after all that time, planning and expense, nobody wants their big day to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. You can’t control everything—the weather, the dress-code violators, or how Uncle Rodney might behave after a few too many—but the last thing you want is for your guests to go home wishing, at best, they’d skipped the whole thing, or at worst, with a story worth sharing on r/weddingshaming.

    So while it’s tempting to focus on the million and one details that go into making your fairytale vision come true, it’s worth stopping to ask one important question: How do I want my guests to feel?

    #4

    Wedding guest experiences: Guests stand at an outdoor wedding, focused on the ceremony. It’s crazy that there wouldn’t be enough food at a wedding. I agree with you OP, hospitality comes first and everything else comes second. To get your guests to carve a day out of their lives for you and not to feed them in return is shambolic.

    vlookup11 , Samantha Gades / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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    #5

    Guests mingling and dancing at a lively outdoor wedding, illuminated by string lights, creating a memorable wedding guest experience. They selected people for open bar??! Yikes. Why not give everyone a glass of wine or beer or bubbles to toast then cash bar from that point on? Otherwise that’s obnoxious AF.

    fugelwoman , _andrii_olishevskyi_ / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, that was a perfectly normal and acceptable compromise back in the day, you might normally expect a welcome drink and wine at the table, then anything else is paid for individually. I think the completely open free bar idea was not really a thing back when I lived in the UK,

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    #6

    Outdoor ceremony in the hot sun with no seating and no tent cover. The elderly guests literally went back to their cars to sit and have air conditioning until the reception could start. The bride said she didn’t think seats were necessary since the ceremony itself was only 20 minutes and it saved her $500 between the seat rental, set up and removal. She didn’t account for the fact that people arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony and stay for a bit later. It was hot and uncomfortable as hell.

    Or morning weddings with evening receptions where guests have to figure it out for hours in a strange town in between the events.

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    tresgatos72
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not having shaded seats for elderly guests or those who were pregnant or other issues is just plain rude.

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    Events with Ambience, a wedding management team in Chicago, highlights that this question isn’t simply about which flowers your guests would choose, which charger plates they like, or what color they think the bridesmaids should wear. It’s about the experience you want them to have when it’s all over and they make their way home. Because, as the company explains, “Years from now, no one will remember whether your napkins were ivory or champagne. They probably won’t remember the exact menu. They may not even remember the floral arrangements.”

    What they will remember—as this list shows—is how the wedding made them feel. A wedding can be beautiful in every way and still leave guests feeling uncomfortable, confused, hungry, or like an afterthought. As the company puts it, “The best weddings aren’t measured by how extravagant they are. They’re measured by how people felt while they were there.”

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    #7

    A beautiful bride holds a pastel floral bouquet, highlighting an elegant wedding experience. Travelled across country to attend spouses nephews wedding two days ago. Spent almost $3k on travel and gifts. Bride never even acknowledged us, bride’s mother dismissive of me when I told her it was a really nice wedding.
    Basic common courtesy gene totally absent in that family.

    Traditional_Bill_381 , freepic.diller / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am the odd duck since most weddings are just theater put on by a couple to spend money for a giant party at their guests expense. Then 5 mintue4s later, they get divorced. Rinse and repeat. Why even go to the wedding knowing you have to spend money on clothes, gifts and possibly travel. So overrated. You can throw bridal parties/bachelor parties, baby showers, divorce parties, housewarming, etc. included too. Always feels like a cash grab to the people throwing said parties.

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    #8

    A man opens his wallet, revealing hundred-dollar bills, indicating a wedding expense or gift. Was talking to a friend over the weekend, her niece is getting married in a few months. Black tie plus everyone is expected to wear the colour black. 'Guests' are expected to pay $110 each for their meal, the invites did not specify 'gifts not requested'. I told her to take plenty of $$ for the bar, no way there will be an open bar, even, for a short while.

    Ok_Quantity_4134 , rawpixel.com / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That would be a 'no' from me. No way I'm going to pay for a meal I can't even chose myself. This couple should seriously scale down their entitlement.

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    #9

    A disappointing wedding guest experience with a hot dog and sandwich on a platter. A group of us were invited to an old Uni friend's wedding, for the full day. Lovely church ceremony, lovely drinks reception at a Country manor...then, when everyone was called in for the sit down dinner, our entire group was told we weren't on the list for food and were asked to come back in 3 hours for the wedding reception. We ended up going to get sandwiches from a local petrol station...

    Busy-Energy-8299 , magnific (not the actual photo) Report

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    And this is where hospitality comes into play. As much as the day is about the two of you and your love story, Events with Ambience says your wedding is also an exercise in hosting. “The most memorable celebrations balance personal expression with genuine hospitality,” they explain.

    That doesn’t mean trying to please everyone—let’s face it, we all have an Aunt Susan who will inevitably find something to pick at. Rather, it means making sure your guests feel considered: that they’re comfortable, know what’s happening, have what they need, and feel genuinely welcomed into the celebration.

    #10

    A breathtaking view of a Disney castle at dusk, an unforgettable wedding guest experience. What is with people playing Disney music at parties and things where people are expected to dance?? Do Disney adults think these songs are remotely danceable? I was at a party earlier this summer where a Disney adult put on "When Will My Life Begin" from Tangled and they got mad no one knew what it was and no one was singing along. What's wrong with these people?

    idgafpersonally , zhenhappy / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Bigmomma
    Community Member
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Im a disney adult i play disney songs at parties when the kids are there for adults its dance tunes

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    #11

    A tattoo artist works on an arm, with red lighting, depicting an unusual or disappointing wedding guest experience. Former best friend refused to move her November 2020 COVID wedding. It was an outdoor ceremony and we thought it would be fairly quick.

    Except directly after the ceremony without saying anything to anyone, they disappeared into the venue (where we were not allowed because it was covid) for over an hour. It was raining and very cold. Photographer kept saying that they would be right out and to please wait because it was a surprise.

    The surprise was they went inside and got tattoos of each other.

    deadbeatplantmom , fxquadro / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    tresgatos72
    Community Member
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have left right after they disappeared. 🙄

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    #12

    Dirty dishes piled in a sink, showing a disappointing wedding guest experience. Small wedding at the couple’s house with a sit down meal catered by one of the guests. It was lovely until it was revealed that the guests were expected to clean up, do dishes, break down tables/chairs, etc. while the couple had their photos taken in the yard.

    Dry_Amphibian_2940 , rawpixel.com / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

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    This doesn’t need to be overwhelming, either. According to Events with Ambience, this basically comes down to thinking about the guest experience in five layers and making sure your wedding decisions support one or more of these:

    1. Comfort: Are guests physically comfortable? Think seating, temperature, shade, hydration, restrooms, and places to relax.
    2. Clarity: Do guests know where to go, what comes next, and what to expect?
    3. Hospitality: Do they feel genuinely welcomed, appreciated, and taken care of?
    4. Connection: Do they have opportunities to laugh, celebrate, and interact with the people they came to see?
    5. Emotion: When everything else is working, guests can be fully present for the moments that matter.
    #13

    I worked in catering years ago. One weekend we had a wedding at a winery - ceremony out in a field, reception in a barn. The cocktail/dancing space was downstairs, and the dinner tables were upstairs. No elevator.

    Logistically, everything was fine until the guests rolled up and one of them used a wheelchair. The ceremony and dinner areas were just flat out not accessible. The couple knew this when they booked the venue.

    So, this very nice man and his wife sat out half the wedding, and we fed them a nice private dinner right next to the dance floor. I had a really great event captain with me that night, and he did his absolute best to make them feel welcome.

    The lack of consideration is just breathtaking, even over a decade later! I bet they accepted his gift with a straight face too :/.

    standrightwalkleft Report

    Gail Lott
    Community Member
    Premium
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Heartbreaking and infuriating.

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    #14

    Destination wedding in a historic chapel in the town where the groom went to college. There were maybe 40-50 people in attendance.

    The entire wedding budget was spent on the chapel and travel expenses for their families.

    The reception was in the basement of the chapel. No bar, obviously, but also no music or dancing.

    For food, there was a punch bowl, a fruit tray with cheese cubes, and a smaller tray with deli meat to make sandwiches, but they ran out of everything pretty quickly.

    I love a nice simple cake and punch reception. But not at dinnertime and not for a destination wedding. If you are asking your guests to travel hundreds of miles to see you get married, you need to feed them something more substantial than a slice of room temperature lunch meat on a stale dinner roll.

    The worst part was that the bride didn’t talk to any of the guests who traveled to this wedding. She stayed in her little bridesmaid bubble the whole time. The groom (who I didn’t know very well) came around and chatted with us for a bit, but nobody else spoke to the guests. They kept to themselves. Not even a quick, “it’s so good to see you, thanks for making the trip.” Rude.

    IWasGoatbeardFirst Report

    Ashtophet
    Community Member
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you’re the bride, you go to every table and chat / say thanks for coming. Even awful Aunt Whatsername…

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    #15

    A mother lovingly breastfeeding her baby, a quiet moment away from potentially disappointing wedding guest experiences. This is personal but it still irks me. I had permission to bring my 5 month old baby with me to a previously close friend’s wedding. During the cocktail hour, I snuck away to find a quiet, private corner to nurse. I normally didn’t cover up but out of respect (and fear of confrontation), I used her swaddle to cover up. A guest saw me and came over to tell me to use the bathroom. I politely told her no, we’re comfortable here. She huffed, grabbed my arm, and escorted me to the bathroom and pushed me through the door. Being a first time mom and already anxious about being at the wedding, I was too shocked to say anything. We left shortly after.

    TrippyHoneycomb , psousa5 / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    18 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Manhandling a woman with a baby should be grounds for being instantly served an open hand sandwich.

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    It’s this kind of intentional hospitality that separates the weddings shamed on this list from those where guests leave thinking, “That wedding was so easy,” “Everything flowed perfectly,” “We had such a wonderful time.”

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    Because the carefully chosen flowers will eventually wilt, the music will stop and the cake will be eaten. What guests take home with them is the experience—and, ultimately, how the wedding made them feel. So perhaps the best thing you can do when planning your Big Day is to remember that your guests aren’t just there to witness the celebration. They’re there to experience it, too.

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    #16

    A plain, empty paper plate rests on a white surface, representing a disappointing wedding guest experience. The groom was the cheapest person I've ever met. He emceed the wedding (after asking a friend from out of town to bring his PA system at the last second) because he didn't want to pay for a DJ. He also asked friends who were already at the wedding to leave during the ceremony to pick up the food because he didn't want to pay for delivery. Each guest received one paper plate for any and all food. Appetizers was a single bag of potato chips on each table, dinner was baked ziti and salad, and then there was cake (served on the same plate that was stained red with marinara). There was no bar at all, just a two-liter bottle of Cheerwine on each table.

    The marriage did not last.

    mewhins , sosiukin / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But was he willing to pay for a decent divorce attorney?

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    #17

    Former wedding coordinator for my church here. Now, keep in mind I have *nothing* to do with any activity but the ceremony.

    But the worst way I’ve seen guests treated across the board is the couple head off for pictures and the guests are stuck at the reception…no one coordinating the bar or the catering and no one from the wedding party will step up.

    The one I got in the most “trouble”:
    An “alternative” bride and groom left after family pics to have their pictures shot at an empty warehouse. They didn’t leave anyone behind to coordinate the bar, the DJ, or the caterers.

    Guests were sitting and standing around for an hour and half in our reception hall. I saw some get up to leave. I made the executive decision to start everything…open the wine/beer bar, start music, serve apps…

    *Two hours later* the bride and groom grace their guests with their presence. Half the guests had left, the caterers were standing around waiting for the signal to bring out food (this was a buffet) and the only thing left was cheap lite beer. The best way to describe it was…dismal. Only family stuck around.

    I found out later the bride was *furious* with me. She wanted some kind of compensation for “interfering” to which I said Bless Your Heart.

    alk_adio_ost Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    compensation for poor planning and being colostomy bags. Bless your heart is the perfect response.

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    #18

    A beautifully decorated barn ready for a wedding guest experience, with white tables and chairs set up. Wedding in a barn venue with no listed dress code. My husband was in the wedding, so I knew the wedding party outfits were *quite* formal and that that was the tone they were going for, but people showed up in everything from jeans to gowns.

    That was what it was, but the bigger issue was nowhere on the invite or the website did the couple inform people that the ceremony would be outside. And that wasn’t intuitive, because this was a wedding in Midwest US in NOVEMBER. So many poor women were shivering and freezing.

    As a cherry on top, it was impossible to get Ubers because the wedding was in a football town and it was a home game day, and the couple didn’t organize transportation of any kind.

    lark1995 , wirestock / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Luke || Kira (he/she)
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No dresscode wedding sounds fun as hell TBH. I have friends who are all flavors of alternative and I'd want them to arrive as THEMSELVES, not as some wedding props dressed in something that makes them uncomfortable.

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    #19

    I was bridesmaid to a dear friend, generally it was a wonderful wedding but she decided not to get us any flowers to hold, I think to save money.

    Do you know what is incredibly awkward? Walking down an isle with nothing to hold. Posing wedding pictures with nothing to hold. It looked SO awkward.

    She had filled the hall with sunflowers. One sunflower each would have worked! And cost like £15 total for the 6 of us!

    emilydoooom Report

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    10 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh? I think that may be just you I can't see why it would be awkward at all. Or is it just me?

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    #20

    People remember the food, or lack thereof. Of all the weddings I have been to in the last 25 years, the one my wife and I still hate on, is the one we had to drive out to the middle of nowhere, "scenic wedding". The only food was hors d'oeuvres, and every time a waiter left the kitchen he was swarmed and only made it 10 feet.

    Oh, and a cake that a friend made, which was a beautiful cake, but my 2 square inches of cake just teased my stomach.

    We left early so we could drive back into town before restaurants closed.

    ZenSand1804 Report

    GalPalAl
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So many reason to stand by the idea of why I don't attend weddings and related parties/celebrations. They aren't enjoyable or worth my time and money

    #21

    Wedding was at a historic home. Everyone was left sitting in chairs so close we were all touching arms in full afternoon sun probably high 70’s low 80’s temperature waiting for the ceremony to start. We moved our chairs around and they set up tables for the reception in the front yard area of the house and we are given the strangest bizarre wine that was absolutely disgusting along with our dinner.

    They begin speeches and start dancing. Then apparently there was a secret bar somewhere in the back yard area that certain people were privy to so a bunch of guests were just sitting around while the bride and groom and a few of their friends are completely gone from their reception and not grab a couple of shots and come back, just gone. After about 20/30 minutes of them being gone we just left.

    Why have all these people there if you don’t even want to celebrate with them??

    Reignboughbright Report

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    #22

    I was the sister of the bride, not only was I not invited to be part of the bridal party, (she made sure to tell everyone at her bridal party AND bachelorette party, both of which I made cakes and desserts for), but I also had to make the wedding cake, and after the ceremony I didn’t have any seat for the reception and there were no extra chairs, and so my cousin got mad that I didn’t have anywhere to sit and I was being excluded once again, he saw a single tear and said, “cmon lets go to an actual party” and helped me disappear (took hours for anyone to even notice, they also said someone else had made the cake I spent hours on) and when they noticed we were gone, they accused me and my cousin of inappropriate things while we were actually getting drunk on a farm with friends who came together to cheer me up. I don’t go to weddings anymore. I also don’t talk to my sister or most of that side of the family.

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    tresgatos72
    Community Member
    18 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The cool cousin is the only one *worth* talking to.

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    #23

    My story is from a bachelorette last summer where the MOH prepared a surprise spiritual ceremony about forgiving our female ancestors. The woman next to me was abandoned by her alcoholic mother when she was 12 and my grandma is a raging homophobic racist. MOH read a text from chatGPT for 25min and ignored all the awkward side eyes from the bride and her guests.

    flamboyantbutterfly Report

    #24

    A black and white close-up of feet on a confetti-covered floor, capturing the exciting wedding guest experience. Bride hates/hated grooms twin sister my takeaway was jealousy twin sis got a scholarship and went out of state for college groom did not and wasnt the best student bride seated her at the kids table. Sent out texts to parents twin sis would babysit unknown to twin sis until the reception. So twin sis got super drunk was the life of the party and babysat not a single child. I was 13 at this wedding and I still think twin sis is the coolest person I've ever met.

    DoubleOh14 , rawpixel.com / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hah! That was a smart choice of groom's twin sis. If you are voluntold for babysitting or driving, just get drunk and you're off the hook. Yes, they might call you irresponsible, but hey, that's worth it.

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    #25

    I worked at a mansion that was a fancy summer house turned all inclusive wedding resort.

    The couples would pay for the entire property (say, 20k for a weekend) and then could choose how much their guests could pay for rooms, and guest services would collect it at checkin. Most couples would ask guests for less than the rate of a hotel room, many couples absorbed the entire amount and let guests stay for free - but one memorable couple decided to turn a profit on their guests. They asked us to collect MORE than our rate.

    Someone got charged $500 for 2 nights on a pullout sofa - and the couple had not invited that person to breakfast.

    teacher2anklebiters Report

    #26

    There was an A list and a B list of guest, that no one was aware of until they arrived at the reception. A list sat in the main reception hall, catered lobster dinner, open bar, etc. B list was sent to a large hotel conference room with pizzas, cash bar, and an iPod for music.

    This was my cousins wedding and she simply explained that because of her "Instagram look" 🙄 she could only afford X amount of people on the A list but didnt want anyone to feel excluded which is why she had the B list. She then looks at the table with me and my sister (it should be noted her and my sister are BFFs and my sister was the MOH over her own sister) and says she only included us on the A list because her mother made her. If she had her way we would have been on B list because she doesnt appreciate us being prettier her then her.

    Her mom (my Aunt) had no idea her daughter/my cousin had done this A list/B list and was so embarrassed.

    Healthy-Resist-5965 Report

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    #27

    The wrist bands is so tacky. Basically saying who you actually wanted at your wedding vs who you just want a check from.

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    Fire Singer
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've not experienced this one before. Wristbands to show who can be at the ceremony versus the reception? Wristbands for food and drinks? I don't understand.

    #28

    A row of blue portable toilets, a potentially disappointing wedding guest experience if not well-maintained. Black tie wedding at a farm with porta potties 🫩.

    Whitedishes , timurmalazoniia / magnific (not the actual photo) Report

    Heffalump
    Community Member
    15 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What alternative do you propose?

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    #29

    Groom hired a celebrity DJ about 12-15 years after celeb's heyday. Only food was cut-up veggies and cheese and crackers prepared by bride's family. The groom had somehow talked her family into giving him the money they had earmarked for her sister's college (sister had decided to work instead of college but still). The DJ and his entourage/friends had commandeered all the wine and there were no toasts.

    I reconnected with the bride after her divorce. He had continued being a selfish jerk and she left him.

    Optimal_Savings5873 Report

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    #30

    Went to one that had nothing besides dinner rolls for the vegetarian friends (who identified themselves in the RSVP, wasn’t a surprise), no alcohol/beverages whatsoever besides water and DECAF coffee, and reception was in MIL’s yard but she didn’t want guests using her bathrooms so there were portapotties. Guests had to park in the church parking lot and walk to the house!

    erinlaninfa Report

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    #31

    I had a friend who didn’t think she had a proper first wedding so she had the worst second wedding reception. She decided to throw it at a local restaurant and I was trying to help her choose her menu but homegirl could not conceive that she should cater the food to more than just herself. She kept trying to choose like three different kinds of potatoes and I was like baby maybe you need a vegetable or something? Then she wanted to choose all of the same genre of protein and I was like baby girl maybe you should put some chicken on the list because most people don’t want to eat what you’re putting on here. She straight up told me it didn’t matter because it was her wedding and she was only getting what she wanted. Mind you she didn’t even take the opinion of her groom into consideration, just her wants and needs. I’m all for pleasing yourself because it is your wedding, but if you’re inviting other people, you should cater to them as well. Needless to say that marriage didn’t last. Nor did the next one… or the next one. She’s embarking on a new one now, let’s see how it goes.

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    #32

    Wedding where the bride and groom ate steak while everyone else had chicken. There were about 40-50 guests at two long tables. Across from us were two old ladies who proceeded to steal every bit of the tableware, including plates and glasses!

    interesting_SeaBass Report

    #33

    Seating the grooms family at the last table by the exit. My husband was his brothers best man. I was seated at the last table with in laws while the rest of the groomsmen had their dates with them.

    At another one, all the guests got food poisoning at reception except for me, the lone vegetarian who only ate a dinner roll and green salad.

    Solid-Bee-1613 Report

    L.V
    Community Member
    9 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My parents went to a wedding where the main dish was trout, and everybody who had it got food poisoning... The caterer's speciality was trout...

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    #34

    A few years ago I was a maid of honour at a former best friend’s wedding. The wedding was held at a manor house, very traditional English countryside. There was a sit down meal with a complimentary glass of wine per person (and no bar available). We were sent the menus together with invitations and all made our choices. Only the meal that was served was entirely something different. We then realised that we all got generic chicken, and the vegetarians got a risotto (none of those were on the menu, the menu did have things like beef wellington etc). When there was the time for the toasts we had an empty champagne flutes put in front of us and no champagne or Prosecco was served, the bar wasn’t opened till later. I did the MOH speech and it was a little weird to hold an empty glass.
    But actually the strangest thing was when bride and groom stood up and did a joined speech and started thanking everyone and bringing out the small presents. Well, by everyone they meant all their extended families including cousins and aunties and uncles. It felt a little bit like we were witnessing a family Christmas. The groomsmen got a thank you and the presents as well , but nothing for the ladies, not for me not for the other two. We were a little confused, sober and disappointed. We were all part of a very strong friendship group at that time and one of us got married the year before, so there definitely was no animosity or misunderstanding. My husband pointed out to the groom that the bridesmaids were overlooked and it was awkward, but the groom said that he didn’t realise that we would want to be acknowledged officially being the best friends and all.
    Luckily for us the bar got opened soon after the speeches and that somewhat helped us to power through.
    Unfortunately the crack was too much and we slowly drifted apart after that with this girl. The other ones are still in my life and it’s now a funny story that bonded us stronger.

    kitchenandcat Report

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    #35

    The ceremony was in someones backyard in the rain with no access to bathrooms or otherwise. The Reception was 50 minutes away at a hall where it was basically a potluck with no beverages, no dancing, and a sheet cake. The brides family went up to grab food and walked away with multiple plates piled high and took probably 2/3 of what was brought, most of the guests didn't get to eat.

    Ambitious-Cat-1626 Report

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    #36

    I went to a formal wedding inside an active working barn. The bride was walked down the aisle by two goats who stopped to eat the hay bales (very poley to sit on) the guests were trying to sit on, then started eating everything because that is what goats do. The entire ceremony kep getting interupted as the goats would attempt to devour something, a guest or the bride/groom would try to haul the goats back up to stand at the “alter”, and then the bigger goat would try to head ram whomever was trying to wrangle it. Wash, rinse, repeat. Reception was punch and chips.

    To thier credit, it was a second marriage for both of them, no registry, and they made it clear they did not expect or want presents. They just wanted people there. But those goats…..

    Drachenfuer Report

    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium
    15 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Al least the goats provided free entertainment

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    #37

    Not the worst, but it was at a ranch, with 2 homes for the wedding parties, but guests had to camp (that's fine). The night before the wedding (i was a bridesmaid), we were in our girls quarters and the bride was very strict that we weren't allowed to drink or go mingle with other guests. The guys opened a keg and we wanted to go hang out. She was super irritated and let it go for a bit until she got pissed off and said we all had to come in and go to bed. It was super awkward.

    For the camping aspect, there was so much poison oak everywhere that the only place to put down tents was right next to the horse corral which smelled soooo bad (I love horses but they can be stinky), not enough restroom access- 2 on a trailer for a lot of people and the lines got long and they started to get ...full, reception venue was on a steep angle so the dance floor was angled and everyone's calves were so sore the next day & an auntie fell, food messed up my stomach in the middle of the night and I slept in the car miserable. OK, maybe it was the worst one....

    Designer_Warthog_665 Report

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    #38

    I still talk about what I call the Cold Chipotle Wedding.

    It was my husband’s cousin. First, she had already gotten married in New Zealand and this was for her American family. The church wedding was over an hour long as they are evangelicals. We watched a vow renewal and then they sang Christian songs for 45 minutes. Afterwards there was dessert in the basement and guests were asked to supply dessert. Fine.

    Later there was a reception at the home of a friend of the bride. Family and close friends only. So we go, and it’s in the friend’s converted garage. People have to bring their own chairs. And the food was takeout catering boxes of Chipotle! And it was already cold.

    Like fine, you had your real wedding in New Zealand because you married a guy from there and you live there now. Good for you. But you don’t need to make us sit through your bad music and then feed us cold take out that most people have for lunch at work. Should have just left it at the desserts in the church basement.

    On_my_last_spoon Report

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    #39

    Groom ignored everyone, bride included, to play his guitar badly with his bros in a random gazebo at the edge of the property. He was a mid singer, think the the guy who plays Wonderwall at parties. Never even got close enough to the guy to know what he looks like. Divorced within a year because he decided to become a stay at home hoser and that the bride would support him financially while also being his mother. I considered his playing to be guest mistreatment.

    teatuk Report

    #40

    Traveled from CA to VA, husband was groomsman. They know we are vegetarian, but had zero options for us. Sliders were the menu. We brought our own food. DJ was a neighbor who played a Lionel Richie album twice. There was a giant painting of the bride in her $6000 dress at the entrance. Divorced within 2 years.

    pl1974 Report

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    #41

    Couple got married overlooking a 900 foot gorge in Georgia in July. Small ceremony where about 40 guests gathered at a scenic overlook in the middle of nowhere overlooking the gorge. No seating at all, no water or shade. Bride was 2 hours late, no one could reach her. Groom was present and kept saying “She’s on her way.”

    At one point someone left and went to buy bottles of water at a Costco or something, so at least we had room-temperature water.

    The ceremony finally happened and then we all drove somewhere to a pavilion for the reception, which was fine but most guests at that point were not in the mood to do anything but eat and leave.

    Couple still married years later.

    Melodic-Mode2332 Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    gorge was about 275 m deep

    #42

    Mid August wedding in Detroit where everyone but the bride’s family had to purchase flights - we were all in our 20s and it was pricey. Hotel off of a highway with no room service following a reception that lacked air conditioning, open bar for a limited cocktail hour and only Serving one drink at a time leaving a long line and many without drinks, no food options for vegetarians (unable to eat anything as it all was seafood and meat) and a swing band as the sole
    Source of music so unless you knew how to swing dance (no one did), no one could dance. And zero transportation for anyone following the reception which left several Groomsmen stranded (this was 2002 and pre-uber). Everyone left sweaty, starving, under serviced and stranded. Absolutely terrible, but the couple is still Together 24 years in and I do have to give them props for that.

    BigLoveMirage Report

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    #43

    New Year’s Eve wedding at midnight during a snow storm (not their fault it stormed, but their fault they made everyone celebrate at midnight in the Midwest on new years…) where they had Costco trays (no dinner, just snacks) and the worst fruit wine from a random place in Oklahoma. They originally didn’t want to serve any alcohol, but then ended up agreeing so they bought the worse wine anybody ever had instead.

    runnybo Report

    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wine from Oklahoma is blasphemy. I can't imagine it would be at all good.

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    #44

    Not really horrible as some here.

    Friend got married, and invites said "cocktail attire required". Turns out that the majority of the people invited didnt know what this meant. Some showed up in polo and dress pants, button shirt and their good jeans, some in button shirt and dress pants. Very few in a tie. I opted for just polo and jeans as well. I still dont know what "cocktail attire" is.

    And because the bride has the eating habits of a 5 year old and the spice tolerance of a suburban idaho Baptist, all the food was the most bland stuff ever. She complained the mozzarella sticks were too spicy during the reception. The spiciest thing on the table was the ranch dressing.

    Justgonnawalkaway Report

    Gail Lott
    Community Member
    Premium
    14 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "the spice tolerance of a suburban Idaho Baptist" LOLOLOLOLOLOL

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