Yes, your wedding should be all about you and your partner, and include the things you both want. But wedding “rules” have changed. We now live in an era of “doing your own thing” and “there are no rules” when it comes to planning a wedding. However, there really are some wedding don’ts that today’s bride should never do!
The Top 5 Wedding Don’ts
1. Don’t try to be super bride
Weddings take a lot of planning but you do not need to make every single decision about every little detail by yourself! You aren’t getting married by yourself, so make sure to involve your partner in the planning.
Don ‘t spend every waking moment planning THE WEDDING! You have a life outside of your “wedding bubble,” and it will be there long after you’ve gotten married.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your mom, your cousins, your best friends – many are ready and willing to help. Let them! If you are living out of town and your wedding is planned for home town, you need them. If you will be married in the town where you work with no family and/or close friends to help, hire a wedding planner.
2. Don’t have a cash bar
Do you invite people to your home for a dinner party and ask them to pay for their beverages? Of course not! So don’t do it at your wedding reception.
The only reason people consider having a cash bar is for the desire to save money. (There’s no denying that bars can get expensive). But making your guests pay is not the way.
Instead of having them pay, plan for what you can afford. You have lots of alternatives to help you save money in this area. Skip top shelf and go with house brands. Close the bar so no alcoholic beverages are served during the last hour of your reception, (but keep non-alcoholic beverages available so your guests stay hydrated). Have your bartender create a special drink for the event and serve that only. Or consider a wine bar or gloved waiters carrying trays of champagne.
If you only follow one of these “wedding don’ts” follow this one. While you may think “my guests won’t mind,” really, they will.
3. Don’t include bridal registry information with your invitations
It’s very tempting to do. And it doesn’t help that many registry sites/stores give you cards with “Registered at _________” printed on them for you to include with your invitations. But doing so isn’t considered in good taste.
Why? Because the purpose of your invitation (and appropriate enclosures like an RSVP card or maps/directions) is to make it as easy as possible for your guests to attend your wedding. Your invitation suite gives them the information they need (the what, where, when, how to get there, etc.), and a way to let you know whether or not they will be in attendance.
Wedding gifts are not mandatory. Any mention of gifts such as registry info (or even “No gifts please”) makes the wedding all about the presents.
But by all means, register for gifts – that helps your invitees select what you’d like. But get the information out on your wedding web site or via word of mouth, and not in your invitation.
4. Don’t be bossy with your bridesmaids
Remember that in the most traditional sense, your bridesmaids – especially your maid of honor – are there to witness this solemn event. They are not “maids” to command. Most brides handle this with skill and grace, but we’ve all seen brides shift from “asking” to “demanding” and it isn’t pretty.
Also remember, that being a bridesmaid (or any other member of the wedding party) is an honor. But there is a price tag and time commitments attached, so be mindful of any expenses they’ll have to pay and what errands/tasks you may want them to do for you.
Yes, they are there for you, but remember they have do lives beyond your wedding.
5. Don’t make guests wait
Don’t make them wait for hours between the ceremony and reception, unless it can’t be avoided due to cultural or religious reasons. If possible, have the same facility for both the ceremony and the reception. It that isn’t possible, you should arrange to have guests go directly to the reception site immediately after the ceremony, be greeted by a host or hostess and have a coffee bar or cocktail hour happening while they wait for the reception to begin.
Don’t make them wait in long lines for the bar. The best way to do this is by having the right number of bartenders on hand. Rule of thumb is 1 bartender per 75 guests for just beer and wine, and 1 bartender per 50 guests for cocktails/mixed drinks.
Be sure to follow these 5 wedding don’ts and everyone will have more fun at your wedding.
What do you think fo this list of “wedding don’ts”? What other wedding don’ts would you add? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo Credit: Emma Bauso via Pexels
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for fun ideas, or need help with your wedding plans? Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
Simple and concise
great post!
good job!
Susan recently posted…Top 10 Wedding Venues in Los Angeles
Thanks. Glad you liked it.