Guest perspective--likes and dislikes?

Somethings I didn't like as a guest to a wedding was when they had it buffet style. I personally don't want to get up and stand in a long line to get food. Most people wear heels or uncomfortable shoes and don't want to have to stand in a line like that. I also think it takes the elegance away from it.
Another was their dj was really bad and just kept repeating songs. Couldn't get anyone out on the floor.

Coming from a guest perspective:
1) Open bar - If majority of your guests like to drink, and you have the budget then definitely opt into an open bar. The last wedding I went to before COVID, my friend and her husband had an open bar for only 3 hours because they didn't want people to get too crazy/drunk. So, you can always put a limit on it too.

2) Be mindful of outdoor weddings. My cousin got married in Hawaii so it was hot and humid. But because it's Hawaii I expected it to be that way. I still had fun though and made the most of it because it was my first time there, and everyone in the family have been waiting for her to get married to her long time boyfriend so we were super happy for them.

3) Good food. If you can taste the venue's food ahead of time to determine if you like it or not then do it! There was a wedding that I went to a few years ago that was plated and the salmon did not taste good at all

4) Entertainment. Make sure to have entertainment all throughout the night some how.
5) Make speeches short and limit to who can speak.

1. I personally am a very picky eater so at my brother-in-law's wedding I barely ate because a lot of his food had fancy seasonings and sauces.


2. I have been to two weddings where there wasn't assigned tables and I didn't enjoy that at all especially the one because guests were trying to reserve tables for certain people so you had no idea where you could actually sit.
3. One wedding we went to we were told the ceremony started at 4 pm so we arrived at about 3:30-3:45. The couple lied and the ceremony didn't actually start until 4:30 pm. It was the middle of the summer so it was really hot and it was in a barn with only two fans. Everyone but one person arrived well before 4:30 pm so a lot of the guests including myself were annoyed. The one person that arrived late showed up at about 4:40 pm so he would've been late either way.

Put effort into getting good food and communicating what type of bar you have or don't have. The worst weddings I've been to have had terrible food, or were promised as an open bar and when we got to the reception, found out it was a cash bar, and we didn't bring cash. (While cash bars aren't bad, make sure guests know to bring cash ahead of time if that is your plan).

I agree with the others as well, take 10 minutes and assign guests to tables. It speeds up the transition from ceremony to reception and it is 1000% less awkward for guests who may not know a lot of other guests if you just assign their table. You don't have to put them in specific seats, just tables!

For you, don't cut the budget for photography. At the end of the day, people won't care how fancy your centerpieces are or if you gave away expensive favors (which I would skip anyway), but your photos will be all you have of your day once it's over, so that is one thing I wouldn't cut down budget wise!

Personally as an introvert I dreaded being pressured to be involved with the bouquet toss or dancing. Lol

If you have a gap in time in between the ceremony and the reception, please please have food/drink/activities for your guests. I’ve been to a “cocktail hour” where the food was so minimal and the wait so long that guests were almost pouncing on the waiters. I was at another one where the couple just sent everyone away for 4 hrs, rather awkward. On the other hand I’ve been to cocktail hours where there are coloring books and themed tables and amazing music, and guests were having such a great time we didn’t even care that technically we were all waiting for the couple to finish pictures.