Top Lessons People Took Away From Other People’s Weddings
Some people have been fortunate enough to attend dozens of weddings throughout their lives, and with that experience comes a lot of essential advice. The perfect wedding is attainable, and recently, men and women have met online to reveal the best lessons they learned from attending other people’s weddings over the years.
1. An Open Bar is a Must
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
I speak from experience: Nothing makes me turn on a wedding faster than finding out there’s a cash bar at the wedding. For generations, wedding guests have made their opinions known: An open bar is a must-have at any wedding, big or small. While having an open bar increases a wedding’s cost, it’s money well spent.
2. The Best Speeches Are the Shortest Speeches
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
It doesn’t matter if the best man is the funniest person in the world; wedding guests’ attention spans start waning after about two minutes of listening to a stranger speak. Keep speeches short. Besides, at that point, most guests are impatiently waiting to either eat, drink, or start dancing!
3. Be Thoughtful With the Invitations
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
When crafting their guest list, the bride and groom should consider the wedding venue and who would be physically able to attend! Know your audience, people. “If you’re going to have the reception in a two-story barn with a lot of stairs, maybe you shouldn’t invite the elderly and a severely disabled man,” advises one hopefully-not-elderly-or-disabled man.
4. Destination Weddings Can Be a Blessing in Disguise
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
If the thought of inviting hundreds of people to your wedding makes your bank account tremble, consider a destination wedding. Not only are they infinitely more manageable, but they also serve as a deterrent for unwanted guests. “Destination weddings make it really easy to make sure the people you don’t like can’t come to your wedding,” advises one savvy groom.
5. It’s Okay To Be a Bridezilla
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Ladies, think about it: Unless something goes awry, you will only have one wedding in your lifetime. Countless brides confess they were too hands-off during the planning process and the wedding itself, resulting in an experience they wish would’ve been better. Remember, this is your day; being a slight bridezilla is okay!
6. Choose the Officiant Wisely
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
If having a traditional religious ceremony isn’t your idea of a perfect wedding, make sure the person who officiates reflects that decision. Otherwise, it might get awkward.
“Do not have a preacher perform the ceremony if he is going to spend the majority of the ceremony trying to convert the guests to Christianity,” explains one guest. “The ceremony should be about the bride and groom, not an opportunity for you to earn heaven credits.”
7. Follow Your Wife’s Lead
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
This lesson is for any man who just found himself married to the love of his life: If your new wife takes a drink out of your hand during the reception, let it be. Don’t walk over to the bar and get another one. Trust me; she knows best.
8. Set Guidelines For Your Guests
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Feel free to tell your guests how to behave on your special day. Countless people lament the rise of amateur family photographers ruining official photos. If you hire the best wedding photographer around, it’s okay to want to maximize their skills. So instruct your guests to permanently leave their cell phones in their pockets throughout the wedding.
9. It’s Important To Think Practically
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Some common sense thoughts can slip your mind during a wedding, so always thinking critically is essential. For example, think twice about holding onto flowers for the wedding ceremony. One person learned this lesson the hard way.
“Do not hold your bridal flowers during the entire ceremony; hand them off to your maid of honor when getting to the altar,” explains one woman. “My aunt held hers throughout the entire excruciatingly long Catholic ceremony, and since they were cheap flowers, they dripped ugly, dirty brown water all over the front of her dress.”
10. Don’t Invite Ex-Girlfriends or Boyfriends
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
This lesson shouldn’t have to be explicitly stated, but here we are. It doesn’t matter if you and your ex are on friendly, speaking terms — eliminate the possibility of any drama infiltrating your wedding and keep your ex-significant others off the guest list.
This story was inspired by Reddit and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Budget Savvy Bride.
Are You Ready To Hear About the Worst Bridesmaid in Wedding History? Buckle Up!
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.
Learn the story of one heinous bridesmaid and decide once and for all: was she the worst bridesmaid in history?
Father Seeking Advice After Fiancée Bans 6-Year-Old Daughter From Wedding!
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Find out what happens when a man’s fiancé tells him that his six-year-old daughter will not be allowed at their wedding.
Am I Wrong for Not Giving a Promised Wedding Present Because I Was Uninvited?
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.
Read the real story of a guest who was uninvited to a wedding and questioned whether or not they should still give a gift!
Upset Bride Posts Videos of Why She Excluded People From Child-Free Wedding
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.
Inviting Kids to Weddings is a typical topic of controversy surrounding the big day. Read the real story of one bride who decided to have a child-free wedding.
Should I Reach Out to My Wedding Guests That RSVP’d and No-Showed?
Image Credit: Adobe Stock.
What do you do about guests who confirm they plan to attend but then ghost on the big day? One bride asks how to handle this dilemma. See how the internet reacted!
Follow The Budget Savvy Bride on MSN for More Wedding Stories
For more trending wedding stories, make sure to follow The Budget Savvy Bride’s page on MSN!