12 things brides do that drives wedding guests crazy

1. No open bar. Everybody knows that weddings are expensive – and booze can be seen as optional. But it isn’t for your guests who will likely need some social lubricant to make small talk with your dear aunt Sally and your college roommate. The least you can do is ensure they don’t need to spend money on cocktails.

2. Outdoor weddings in bad weather. Outdoor weddings are lovely in theory – but always prepare for bad weather. Nobody wants to be huddling under a shade tree in their finest clothes waiting for a mid-summer rainstorm to pass. Just have a backup plan.

3. Being forced to catch the bouquet if you’re single. There is literally nobody on earth who likes this tradition. It’s old, sexist, and stupid, and needs to be retired.

4. Being invited to just the ceremony or the reception. While you might view it as a way to save a bit of money if you invite a guest to the ceremony but not the reception, you’re likely to offend a great many people if you do this. It’s rude. If you can’t afford to host someone at the ceremony and reception, don’t invite them at all.

5. “The bride is a whore” speeches by the best man. This is another horrible tradition that must die out.

6. Wedding souvenirs with the couple’s face on it. Wedding souvenirs can be fun and quirky but nobody wants to drink their coffee out of a mug with your face on it.

7. Not enough food. Again, it might seems like skimping on food is a good way to pare down the budget, but no-one is going to be happy with a growling stomach – especially if they’ve been drinking all evening. Feed your people!

8. Not enough seating. It was a trend in the 1990s to not provide enough seating for people to ensure people were up and mingling and for some crazy reason lives on today. It doesn’t work. It’s annoying. And some people who need seats, like the ill, elderly, or a pregnant woman, might not get one.

9. Rigid themed weddings. Themed weddings can be fun, but don’t insist your guests dress as Star Wars characters or Dothraki hoards. Let them dress as they wish.

10. Being seated with complete strangers and people you have nothing in common with. Give some thought to the seating plan, and don’t seat your 29 year old work friend at the kid table because she doesn’t have a date. Try to figure out who she might click with, and put her there.

11. Not providing appropriate bathroom facilities. This usually happens with outdoor weddings, and it can be a real problem. Appropriate facilities include a place to check makeup so make sure you have access to a real bathroom. That means no porta potties!

12. Asking guests to fill in for a job. Your friend is a photographer? Great! But either hire her at her market rate to snap the pics, or invite her as a friend. It’s unfair to expect professionals and tradespeople to pitch in and help out with no compensation. They want to celebrate – let them!