Today's post isn't meant to hurt anyone's feelings or shit on any traditions but instead it's meant to call attention to those little wedding bits we've seen on Pinterest or in person that seemed like they'd be a great thing but when it all came down to it… they bombed. Sometimes the ideas are lovely but executing them is difficult. Sometimes it's just awkward for the guests (or you). Sometimes it's just time-consuming. So before you get too hooked on that great little thing you saw on Pinterest, check out my suggestions for wedding ideas that seem great but actually suck (and some alternatives that don't).
Today's post isn't meant to hurt anyone's feelings or shit on any traditions but instead it's meant to call attention to those little wedding bits we've seen on Pinterest or in person that seemed like they'd be a great thing but when it all came down to it… they bombed. Sometimes the ideas are lovely but executing them is difficult. Sometimes it's just awkward for the guests (or you). Sometimes it's just time-consuming. So before you get too hooked on that great little thing you saw on Pinterest, check out my suggestions for wedding ideas that seem great but actually suck (and some alternatives that don't).
Image Courtesy of: Pepper Nix Photography
Blessing The Rings
At a wedding I attended, during the ceremony they had everyone pass around the rings and bless them. Sweet, right? Well, with a ton of guests it took F O R E V E R. It was such a lovely and delightful idea but with that many people, there was a lot of awkward silence and vamping by the officiant.
Try this instead: Ask just the immediate family to bless the rings or ask all the guests to take a moment and do a collective blessing. Just as sweet but much faster. Or do like Dana of Broke Ass Bride did and "[start] it at the beginning of the ceremony so by the time [you get] to the exchange of rings, they [are] back [to you]. Yielded one of my favorite photos, my dad whispering love into our rings.".
Feeding Each Other Cake/The Cake Smash
Who knows where or when the feeding each other cake and then smashing it in each other's face tradition started but NO. Just no. You spent how much time and money on your hair and make-up and you choose to have buttercream smeared all over it? Wasteful.
Try this instead: Use forks or just eat your own slice. Save the make-up! For God's sake, think of the make-up!
Non-Alphabetical Escort Cards/Seating Plans
Most venues and caterers will want you to create a seating plan for the reception. It makes sense because it helps them know where to deliver the food. So, why not make the seating plan (or escort cards) into a pretty display? Nothing wrong with that. Where you run into problems is when the guests need to find their seats and you've used a random system to organize their names.
Try this instead: "At your reception when guests are trying to find their name, they have no idea where to look. Keeping things logical and alphabetical is the route to take if you don't want guests to use the whole cocktail hour to find their name on your seating chart." - Lauren Grove of Every Last Detail
Clinking Glasses = Kissing
Ugh. This is another one of those traditions that just needs to die. Look, you're gonna be busy at your reception – greeting guests, doing the first dance, trying to squeeze in a meal. The last thing you want to do is stop whatever you're doing and make out just because somebody hammered on a glass with a fork. Christen Moynihan of Broke Ass Bride agrees, "The clinking of the glasses for kisses at the reception. The first time, maybe. The 15th time? Nope."
Try this instead: Do it once and then smile brightly and say loudly, "That was lovely but we're not doing that again. Be sure to use your fork on the yummy prime rib instead!".
Animals In The Wedding Party
Dog as the ring bearer. Cat as a bridesmaid. SO SWEET! But, as Sarah Darcy of Classic Bride Blog points out, "I personally love sharing the photos of pups bringing the rings down the aisle (especially when they have couture floral wreaths!) but I'm not sure how great it actually works in real-life … maybe it works perfectly but it seems like it might be a logistic nightmare.". Lauren Grove of Every Last Detail agrees, "Unless the pet can hang out with the guests during the wedding – then it's all good. But usually, someone has to take the dog home, miss out on the cocktail hour, etc. It's really, really complicated." Another thing to consider – the poop. Ew.
Try this instead: Bring your furbaby along for the engagement session (we did!) and even the couple photos pre-ceremony or during the cocktail hour. you get a few sweet photos but no one has to miss out because they're on pooch patrol.
Can you think of a time that a wedding moment didn't quite gel?
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