The best wedding you were at?

hoanymole

What was the best wedding you were at and why? What cool ideas were incorporated into the day?

We need one addition to our day but we don't know what. We wanted a Carribean Steel Band but can't find one in Dublin.

Thanks :-)

clint_silver

Ed* wrote: »

What was the best wedding you were at and why? What cool ideas were incorporated into the day?

We need one addition to our day but we don't know what. We wanted a Carribean Steel Band but can't find one in Dublin.

Thanks :-)

worst wedding I was ever at, bride had a trad band on after the meal, and before the main band, river dancers on during the bands break the band had to break after 20 minutes to let the dancers on, a photo booth in the corner, sky lanterns, fireworks after the band and before the DJ which took 30 minutes. band played 70 minutes in total, DJ played 40 minutes.

Best wedding was me own. hanging out of the rafters. cant remember anything except the party. Im slightly biased but spendspendspend on the band!!!

lazygal

The comments we got about ours (people have said it was one of the best weddings they were at) were about the band and the free bar. We dithered for a bit on having a free bar but apart from the couple of freeloaders we knew would take advantage, people really, really appreciated it. The band were also amazing, we paid over the odds for a good band and they went over and above the call of duty. We also had our ceremony and reception in one place, again loads of people were delighted not to have to shuffle between a ceremony venue and the reception venue on the day.

Gatica

My sis-in-law's wedding was the best. I really enjoyed the day. I was the best man's OH, so I was "alone" a lot of the time. I thought it would make it tough, but I just mingled with the rest of the family. The wedding ceremony didn't stick out that much in my mind, to me church weddings all blend into one (sorry to anyone who's had a church wedding). The reception was an hour away, a bit of a trek.
However, the atmosphere at the hotel was fantastic, and we soon forgot about the long car trip. They had it for exclusive use, so there were no strangers skulking about. There was a bit of sparkling wine before we went in for the meal. I don't remember the meal, or even the centre-pieces or favours. I know the speeches were brill (though I'm a bit biased ), and we had a lot of fun dancing.
The best part for me though was the second day. We all met again at breakfast time, went for a walk, chatted, had lunch. There was a wedding buffet in the evening with some more wedding cake. It was very relaxed and informal. That day I remember really well, made it the best wedding!
We can't afford a second day and I'm really disappointed about that, as I think it could've been the highlight...

I swear i dont mean to sound like Pollanna! but ive been to loads of weddings and the best one i was at is memorable for the simple reason that everyone enjoyed themselves because they were allowed be themselves - what i mean is, it was such a relaxed atmosphere, the speeches werent formal or mushy or worse smart/cringing - they were reflective of the couple - laid back and funny!

there was no outdoing of each other with different "additions" people could sit where they liked (contraversial prehaps, but it worked in this wedding) and everyone was encouraged to dance dance dance and dance some more, it was really about friendship and love, not materialism.

But the best part of all, the one i copied for my own wedding.................................prepare to fire.................

THERE WERE NO KIDS, bliss!

grind gremlin

The best ceremony I was at was a blessing outdoors on a summers day. All guests had a glass of champagne in hand. (Couple had married in a registry office a few days earlier). We were out on the lawn and the couple married under a beautiful floral arch. I was also at a church wedding where the priest was HILARIOUS! He set the tone for the day ahead!

In my opinion, the best weddings are generally dictated by the people that attend them. I have been to very expensive weddings , but while the food was fab, the atmosphere wasn't.

I was at one wedding where we had to endure a slideshow of the bride from birth to her wedding day.... coupled with a very long and tedious speech. Short and funny is the way to go with speeches, in my opinion.

I find the personality of the couple generally shows through on the day... if they are relaxed and enjoying themselves, so are the guests. I was at one wedding where the bride had told all the groomsmen they were not allowed to have a drink until after the speeches. When one of them came up to our room when we checked in, a phonecall was made by the bride, from reception, telling him he had to come back downstairs. Needless to say it was a very subdued day.

the_syco

clint_silver wrote: »

Im slightly biased but spendspendspend on the band!!!

Agreed; get a good band, and watch them at a wedding, as some bands perform well in certain settings.

=-=

Mate got a band which he saw at a wedding, tracked them down, and found that they regularly played at a pub, which they also went to, and had a great time, so he's looking towards the day.

sweetie

You won't get too many people not picking their own wedding but anyways I think mine was the best I've been to! Great guests, a beautiful sunny day, nice country house setting, bright airy marquee, lots and lots of prosecco and wine and cheap drink and cocktails, very good band and dj, lovely meal and short and funny speeches and singing session at the piano for those not into the dancing. It could have been very different if the weather/music/caterer etc had been bad but we went with the best we could afford and never entertained the possibility of it going wrong.

Daisy M

We were at a wedding last year which had lots of extras but for me the best part was the photobooth. It was lots of fun and you get a copy of your pics. We got lots of dif pics taken and its a great momento of the day.

Sunny Dayz

If you are looking for a little quirky addition to your wedding, get a go of inflatible guitars from a joke or pound shop. We did that and the groom, best men, dads, uncles etc had a great time air guitaring to a soft rock set the dj played. Great photo op too. Then after, people who had small kids at home got to bring one with them.

Sleepy

TBH, a wedding is made by the people at it far more than anything the bride or groom can pay for in advance.

Only tip I can think of is that wherever you're having it, make sure the bar serve as late as you want them to!

hoodwinked

If i am to be honest and i know some people may disagree,

i found some of the best Weddings i have been at have been ones with little children. they can do or say things that just make the day. (not to mention how adorable they look in suits/dresses)

i find at that awkward moment when the band/dj first start playing when people are too sober/self conscious to dance seeing the kids out on the dancefloor having fun really gets the party going, not to mention everytime i saw the children are the first to grab an adult and drag them out dancing which then encourages more to come out.

you can't really plan it in advance obviously but i find it helps to make sure they are there.

i was at two weddings where there were 'no children allowed' and they were boring and slow moving once the meal had ended. by the time people got on the dancefloor they were too drunk to stand nevermind dance or the dancefloors were empty until the band/dj was forced to call the first dance earlier then planned.

ElleEm

hoodwinked wrote: »

If i am to be honest and i know some people may disagree,

i found some of the best Weddings i have been at have been ones with little children. they can do or say things that just make the day. (not to mention how adorable they look in suits/dresses)

i find at that awkward moment when the band/dj first start playing when people are too sober/self conscious to dance seeing the kids out on the dancefloor having fun really gets the party going, not to mention everytime i saw the children are the first to grab an adult and drag them out dancing which then encourages more to come out.

you can't really plan it in advance obviously but i find it helps to make sure they are there.

i was at two weddings where there were 'no children allowed' and they were boring and slow moving once the meal had ended. by the time people got on the dancefloor they were too drunk to stand nevermind dance or the dancefloors were empty until the band/dj was forced to call the first dance earlier then planned.

I really hate seeing kids at a wedding for this reason.
When there are loads of kids on the dancefloor, it makes me reluctant to get up myself.
And people are usually getting drunk at weddings, and I just don't think it's a good environment for kids. It also prohibits the parents from having a good time. Or worse still, the parents ignore the kids so they go around annoying other guests!
I LOVE kids, but I would never bring them to a 21st/ 30th party so I don't see why they should be brought to the party atmosphere of a wedding reception.

OP, the best wedding I was at was a chilled out, no fuss affair, done on the cheapest budget.

For my own wedding, I'll be scrapping all the typical cars/ cakes/ flowers stuff. I want to set up a few bits and pieces in the bathrooms for the guests (flipflops, plasters, safety pins for the girls/ breathmints and anti- perspirant for the men). I think this would be a nice touch.

hoodwinked

ElleEm wrote: »

And people are usually getting drunk at weddings, and I just don't think it's a good environment for kids.

we have it organised there is one sober parent at all times, so for us it is not an issue, and you'll find most parents would have the same idea.

ElleEm wrote: »

It also prohibits the parents from having a good time.

this is not true in the slightest! you will find most parents actually enjoy spending time (and special family occasions) with their children, it is actually more enjoyed then dumping them on a babysitter and having them miss a personal family occasion.

ElleEm wrote: »

Or worse still, the parents ignore the kids so they go around annoying other guests!

you cannot tar all parents with the one brush, i would say parents ignoring their children are a minority and to be fair i have NEVER seen it happen at a wedding i have been to.

ElleEm wrote: »

I LOVE kids, but I would never bring them to a 21st/ 30th party so I don't see why they should be brought to the party atmosphere of a wedding reception.

because a party in a public pub is very different to a personal private wedding celebration, its more of a family affair then a party in a pub, its why homes/houses/hotels allow children in, where pubs/clubs do not. like wise elderly relatives tend to avoid 21st's but you'll always find them at weddings!

Sleepy

The Children / No Kids debate is something that splits most people down the middle tbh.

Myself and my fiancée have two kids already so we'll be inviting some of their cousins to keep them company during the day but with a strict "Children are to be out of the function room by 9pm" clause!

lazygal

I hate children at weddings. I don't think they add to the day or create cute memories. I've yet to be at a wedding where a child didn't cause hassle, be it a flower girl having a tantrum about walking up the aisle, gangs of kids chasing eachother around when food is being served, screaming during speeches or making if difficult for adults to dance. We had a child free wedding and it was great. I will not bring my child to a wedding even if he or she is invited, I'd either arrange a babysitter or stay home.

I don't understand parents who can't realise that a wedding is not a kid-centred event, its about two adults solemnising a relationship.

cyning

Obviously I think my own wedding was the best I was ever at

Ah no seriously aside from that:

Baskets of stuff in the bathrooms: pick up cheap flip flops, safety pins, hand cream needle and thread etc it really means your looking after your guests and someone always has a broken zip, falling hem!

Video booth: this totally depends on your guests. It can either work really well with a younger crowd or really badly with an older crowd

Short speeches: nothing worse than speeches dragging on for hours!

Good band/dj.

Really good food: and plenty of it.

Something that is very reflective of "you" as a couple. This can't be anything anyone suggests to you: friends of ours had shots of tequila as the drink for the toast: Their favourite drink. We had a very relaxed wedding with our 250 guests: our speeches were short and quick plenty of flowers because I love them and I had bags of sweets and colouring books and stickers hair stuff etc for the kids. We just wanted everyone to feel included and they did. We chatted to everyone and just enjoyed ourselves!

On kids: for me I would have been gutted if my little cousins and his hadn't been there. For me a wedding is a family occasion and the kids are part of my family. That's a personal decision depending on everyone's circumstances. I do think they make the day: but I wouldn't judge anyone either which way.

Sleepy

And for me, I can't imagine marrying my fianceé without dancing with our daughter...

While I can understand a couple who haven't had kids not wanting their guests bringing them along, would you feel the same vitriol about kids being at a wedding you were a guest at?

lazygal

Sleepy wrote: »

And for me, I can't imagine marrying my fianceé without dancing with our daughter...

While I can understand a couple who haven't had kids not wanting their guests bringing them along, would you feel the same vitriol about kids being at a wedding you were a guest at?

I'm not full of vitriol, I just don't think a wedding is a place for children. The only hassle we got with RSVPs were from couples who had child free weddings themselves, only to assume we wanted their sprogs at our day. Why would we want children there? I don't enjoy weddings with children at them as much as the child free ones, to be brutally honest. And I worked with children for a long time. Just don't need to be around them at a social occasion like a wedding.

lazygal

lazygal wrote: »

I'm not full of vitriol, I just don't think a wedding is a place for children. The only hassle we got with RSVPs were from couples who had child free weddings themselves, only to assume we wanted their sprogs at our day. Why would we want children there? I don't enjoy weddings with children at them as much as the child free ones, to be brutally honest. And I worked with children for a long time. Just don't need to be around them at a social occasion like a wedding.

Totally agree, im so glad i didnt have kids at mine, I didnt care if people got into a huff because their precious darlings weren't invited, ive been to plenty of weddings where my son wasnt invited(and i never expected him to be) but then i dont particulary like kids except my own as is my right!

when people say "kids make a wedding" I really have to laugh, are they serious?

Here was me thinking that it was a celebration of adult love!

lazygal

Deleted User wrote: »

Totally agree, im so glad i didnt have kids at mine, I didnt care if people got into a huff because their precious darlings weren't invited, ive been to plenty of weddings where my son wasnt invited(and i never expected him to be) but then i dont particulary like kids except my own as is my right!

when people say "kids make a wedding" I really have to laugh, are they serious?

Here was me thinking that it was a celebration of adult love!

I have to laugh too-does that mean if they're at a child free wedding they're thinking 'Ah, this would be much better if there were a few kids here'. Does anyone seriously think a wedding lacks something just because there's no kids running around?

Sleepy

I wouldn't be in the 'kids make a wedding' camp at all and when invited to one my first thought is "who can we get to babysit?!".

For us, we're effectively forced to have children because at the very least, we'll have our own but tbh, we want them there to be page boy and flower girl and, personally, I want to do the whole cheesy daughter dancing on daddy's toes thing.

Since we have them coming, we thought why not let our friends who have kids / our kids cousins come along for the day and have arranged a separate dining / play room for them for during the meal/speeches and will have a childminder hired for the day to supervise them and all parents will be asked to have them in bed by 9 or so.

Maybe we're trying too hard to have the best of both worlds but I can see both sides of the argument: a wedding is a family occasion and children are part of the family but at the same time I don't want them running around the function room when I'm trying my best not to make a total balls of my speech!

Gru

I was at a wedding on Friday an there were kids there, they were the first ones out on the dance floor and kept going all night, there were colouring books and sweets and things to keep them quiet and there was no fuss.

They helped get everyone else out dancing which really kicked things off. I couldn't imagine leaving out kids from the wedding, especially when you know them. The parents won't mind because the kids will all play with each other do they'll get to relax and enjoy themselves despite what people think.

Kids aren't some sort of monster that live to ruin weddings and they won't make a bee line for you in your dress with chocolate covered hands. You won't notice the kids on your day except to see them out dancing, you'll be too busy trying to talk to everyone. Having to find a babysitter can be a real pain in the ass and tbh why would you cut your nieces and nephews from the wedding.? You should be delighted to have them there because they will add a bit of fun to the wedding.

At the wedding I was at they really did add to the night, they certainly didn't ruin it for anyone.

Most couples will only have one drinking anyway as they might rather drive home at the end of the night so its not like there'll be no one there to look after them when they get tired.

Seriously, you won't notice the kids, you will be far too busy to notice. The day will fly and you'll wonder where it went. Lifes too short to be offending everyone around you, so have the kids along and let them have some fun too!

Gru

Gru wrote: »

I was at a wedding on Friday an there were kids there, they were the first ones out on the dance floor and kept going all night, there were colouring books and sweets and things to keep them quiet and there was no fuss.

They helped get everyone else out dancing which really kicked things off. I couldn't imagine leaving out kids from the wedding, especially when you know them. The parents won't mind because the kids will all play with each other do they'll get to relax and enjoy themselves despite what people think.

Kids aren't some sort of monster that live to ruin weddings and they won't make a bee line for you in your dress with chocolate covered hands. You won't notice the kids on your day except to see them out dancing, you'll be too busy trying to talk to everyone. Having to find a babysitter can be a real pain in the ass and tbh why would you cut your nieces and nephews from the wedding.? You should be delighted to have them there because they will add a bit of fun to the wedding.

At the wedding I was at they really did add to the night, they certainly didn't ruin it for anyone.

Most couples will only have one drinking anyway as they might rather drive home at the end of the night so its not like there'll be no one there to look after them when they get tired.

Seriously, you won't notice the kids, you will be far too busy to notice. The day will fly and you'll wonder where it went. Lifes too short to be offending everyone around you, so have the kids along and let them have some fun too!

How in the name of God is it offending anybody by inviting them without their kids to? on what planet is this offensive? im never offended when my son isnt invited, but then again im not precious about such things

ABajaninCork

Of course mine was the best! . Nothing flash, just a typical Irish/Barbadian day, with lots to eat & drink!!

We had a great day, with kids as well! Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Pity about the weather that day, but there you go...

The best wedding? I once went to a wedding where it was only the couple, two witnesses, and I was the only other guest. Lovely ceremony, nice surroundings. We girls went off to lunch at a nice restaurant afterwards, and the two boys just went to the pub as they didn't fancy lunch.

Janey_Mac

I think the best wedding I was ever at was a pagan ceremony held in a scout camp in the UK. There was a big marquee for dinner and dancing, a hog-roast for the meal, (and we all queued up for our food, there was no table service,) mead for the toast, a ceili band after dinner, an iPod with loads of music queued up instead of a DJ after that, and a not-free mobile bar. (It's easier to get a temporary bar license in the UK than here.)

People could stay in a nice B&B a few miles down the road, or (what most of the friend guests did,) camp at the site, since most of us go to weekend-long live roleplay events and are well used to camping. It meant that a lot of people who might not have been able to afford to go if it had meant the expense of a hotel made it.

The ceremony was lovely; anyone who wanted to participate stood in a circle around the couple, anyone who wasn't comfortable with that stood back a little and observed while the celebrant performed the ceremony. There was the mix of the unusual- the setting, the pagan ceremony- and the traditional- the bride wore a beautiful white dress, the groom was in a full morning suit.
It wasn't perfect; the lanterns, lovely metaphors for the relationship that they were, took forever to light (and some of them just didn't,) and there were moments of hilarity that probably weren't planned, but it was lovely and suited the bride and groom.

And the weather was beautiful, which helped.

Sleepy

Sounds like the type of thing I'd love to do if I was brave enough to bet on Irish weather!

Gatica

Deleted User wrote: »

[/B]How in the name of God is it offending anybody by inviting them without their kids to? on what planet is this offensive? im never offended when my son isnt invited, but then again im not precious about such things

I agree. I'm afraid Gru, that while it maybe for some it may not be for others. I don't think anyone goes out of their way to offend their friends by not inviting their children. It's not any different from people getting offended at not being invited, being invited only to the evening and so on.
If one was to be concerned about not offending anyone, you'd have to invite >200 people, just to keep everyone happy. I am sure most people across the different threads would agree that the couple gets to decide who comes to their wedding and who doesn't, and I'm afraid that includes kids.

cowlove

At our wedding we had an ice cream van after the ceremony. It was a scorching day and it went down a storm. It was great for pictures too!

I got my husband a delorean to go to the church in so this was also great for having outside the church. People sitting in, getting pictures etc.

A great wedding I was at had a photobooth. It was the one thing I wish we had got for aour wedding. You got 2 sets of pictures. 1 for the guests to keep and one went in a book and you write a message for the bride and groom.

Zulu

I think the secret is not to make a "big deal" out of anything. A "strict" policy on anything is a sure way to 1) get some peoples backs up & 2) create a reason to get upset!

It's a party folks. A party. Enjoy it.