How To Ruin a Wedding

Yup! You read the title correctly. I just came across this somewhat humorous article on theknot.com. There is an expert below. Head to theknot.com to read the full article.
All of these things, by the way, have happened at actual weddings. Any wedding guest horror stories you have to share?

Ways to Ruin a Wedding:

1. Speak up During the Ceremony

We've heard the horror stories-- the "Are you sure?"  from the minister, the "Don't do it man" groomsmen comment and the vocal grandmother using her time as a reader at the pulput to offer her humble opinion. Yikes.

Instead: Any reservations about the relationship should be brought up in private long before the ceremony.

2. Stick your Fingers in the Cake

Believe it or not, guests do this. There's nothing cute or okay about touching the piece de resistance of the reception menu. Besides the sanitary factor, wedding cakes are expensive and should only be handled by three people: the bride, the groom and the caterer.

Instead: It sounds ridiculous and should go without saying, but if you can't get close to a wedding cake without touching it, don't go near it.

3. Wear White
We don't care if it's the middle of summer and your little white sundress is the most flattering thing in your closet. Do not, we repeat, do not wear white to someone else's wedding. Most brides have been looking forward to their moment in the spotlight -- as the only one in white. While it's true no one could possibly upstage the bride, it's considered the ultimate guest dress no-no. The other color to avoid wearing at a wedding? Bright red.

Instead: Colorful tones like pinks, yellows and purples are all fair game. Just stay away from anything in the white and ivory color family.

4. Spill Anything on the Bride
That gorgeous white wedding dress more than likely cost the bride a couple thousand. And while she probably won't have another reason to wear it again, a drink spilled on the wedding dress still ranks as one of the worst mistakes a guest could make.

Instead: You can't be too careful holding a beverage near the bride. If you have a glass of red wine or Coke in your hand, put it down.

5.Give a Roast Toast
Just because you have a microphone in your hand that doesn't give you free rein to tell the most outrageous college drinking story or reveal what happened in Vegas. It's also not the time to talk about old boyfriends or reveal the groom's most embarrassing habits.

Instead: Give your speech the grandma test. If it's not PG-rated and something you'd be comfortable telling her, it's not wedding reception toast material.


Need help being the perfect guest?
http://honeymoons.about.com/od/weddingsaway/ht/wedding_toast.htm
http://bestmansduties.com/
http://www.diyweddingspeech.com/
http://www.modern-manners-and-etiquette.com/wedding-guest-etiquette.html

The Unplugged Wedding

Hello! I'm back, phew.


So yesterday the offbeatbride.com, a great blog did a feature on the unplugged wedding.
Coming right off the plane from a wedding myself- I have to say that bride was lucky, there weren't too many cell phone cameras and other digital devices.


But.... how do you feel about guests using their cellphones or cameras to capture video or photos during the ceremony?


The thought process on offbeat bride was that your ceremony is pretty short usually, if 15, 20, 30 minutes for the two of you to connect together and with your guests. It's an emotional time, and not really a time you want guests to be fiddling with their cameras. You want to SHARE the experience together.


Also, when researching this topic I found tons of threads and message boards with photographers complaining that guests were getting in the way of their shots...which makes their job difficult.

Look here:

That flip camera isn't going to nab a great shot, so just put it down!

You can find this template on offbeatbride.com. Perhaps it could be used in the program or at the door.

Besides the template above, what other solutions do you have?

Print a matching reminder card and attach it to the outside of your ceremony program.

Appoint one of your ushers to make an announcement to the waiting guests: “Guests of the Bride and Groom, the ceremony is about to begin. We ask that you kindly turn off your cell phones at this time.”

I'm a fan of the latter. Easy and to the point. As the usher is escorting guests to their seats simply have him say "please turn off your cell phone, and limit camera usage"