Wedding this weekend - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

labeadel · #1 05-30-2006, 07:04 PM

Well, we went to a wedding this weekend that was very different. To start off, bride and groom had a cocktail hour, which included them, prior to the ceremony. It was very different and I did like it. I would never have done it, but it worked for them. I just kept feeling like we missed it already! They came around and hugged and said hello and then an hour into mingling, the ceremony started. The processional was to a poem reading, which was again, very cool. Then during the ceremony, which was conducted by the groom's cousin who got ordained on the internet (cool) they had 6 different friends get up and speak as to how great the couple is and how they are meant to be together. Thankfully, many of these speaches were pretty funny. Now, these speaches were very akin to best man/Maid of Honor speaches which were still to come. They then said their own vows, which were beautiful, then they exchanged rings and the ceremony was pretty much over. A side note: They had put bubbles at everyone's seat, but we were never told to use them, nor was there a moment where we were to use them. Kinda strange. It's like they were there just to be there.

Then we went in to the area that we were just mingling in for dinner, and it's a buffet and already set out. Well, guests start grabbing plates and loading up. Then the DJ has to make an announcement that guests need to wait for the bridal party and B&G to eat. Oh and the tables had blank placecards at them. We weren't told what to do, just had to figure it out. It was very confusing since when we got there, some tables already had placecards filled out. Once we started to look for somewhere to sit did we realize that the tables were open to anyone, you just had to write your own names down. My only qualm with this is that they should've had a note on the tables instructing guests what to do. It was confusing.

Shortly after we got our food and had hardly finished up, they asked everyone to come out into the outdoor area (the reception was in about 3 different rooms, inside and out) and watch the cake cutting. So everyone came out, watched the cake cutting, watched the first dance, watched the mother/son and father/daughter dance, and then listened to 4 MORE people give toasts. If you're keeping track, we've now listened to 10 speaches. And I've now been standing watching them dance, cut cake and give speaches in my high heels, outside in the cold. So, there was some dancing, but no slow dancing outside of the dollar dance, and then we listened to 3 more speaches!! One from the B&G, who then introduced their parents who each gave speaches. So, I just wanted to give an overview of this wedding. It was interesting, but if there is one thing to bring away from this story, keep the speaches to a minimum. We ended up listening to 13 speaches before the night was over. While it was great to hear how much the B&G were loved, it got to be a little much.

ljeagle · #2 05-30-2006, 07:14 PM

13 speaches

SuzyBride · #3 05-30-2006, 07:34 PM

Wow that's alot of speeches! That was a very "different" wedding!

Marge129 · #4 05-30-2006, 08:01 PM

Too many speeches for me. I think we had 1 at my first wedding... from the Best Man.

Sounds like it was an interesting day!

labeadel · #5 05-30-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marge129

I think we had 1 at my first wedding... from the Best Man.

As it should be. I mostly wanted to post this for all the brides planning their weddings to know what guests think after the wedding day. Just try to keep things clear and keep the speeches to a minimum!!!

feb-bride · #6 05-30-2006, 08:18 PM

Wow - That's a lot of speeches!

We had five at our wedding, but they were all done at the same time - during the toasting portion of the reception. Speech givers included my dad, the best man, the maid of honor, and both bridesmaids. I specifically told the DJ that I did not want "open mic" during the toasting, because speeches can get to be BORING after awhile.

labeadel · #7 05-30-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feb-bride

because speeches can get to be BORING after awhile.

And it started to seem a little narcissistic. It had me wondering, did they feel the need to prove to everyone that they are "meant to be together?" They have only known each other for a short time, so maybe that fueled the decision for so many speeches.

birdie · #8 05-30-2006, 08:42 PM

Thanks for the tips. It is always nice to hear the outcome of weddings. I haven't been to too many so don't really know how things may come across - but I wasn't planning on 13 speeches. The processional to a poem is a cool idea - I never would have thought of it but I really like it.

My previous boss had an interesting wedding. He and his wife had all of their friends over for a cocktail party and then halfway through they announced they are going to perform the ceremony and the couple and their witnesses left, leaving the rest of the party raging on. They returned in a few minutes, married, and joined the rest of the party. I wasn't there but he told me and FH about it. Pretty low-key, but then again, so are they.

Anyway, i'm not sure how I got onto that subject, but thanks again, Labeadel, for the tips!

555Ann555 · #9 05-30-2006, 08:50 PM

Oh I'm not sure about that idea Birdie...

I don't think I'd like to be invited to a wedding where I couldn't actually witness it!

Amy: That certainly seems like overkill on the speeches! If it has gotten to the point that your guests are counting them then there is something wrong!

We had 4 but we had a toastmaster too and he kind of had a speech too... None of the guests knew that I was going to give one (although my close friends guessed that I might!)