Anybody Care to Share Their Top Wedding Guest Complaints?
We all know that a wedding is supposed to be all about the bride and groom…right?
Even though that may be true, it’s still a good idea to take note of some of the top wedding guest complaints so as a guest, you can prepare, or as the bride, well, you can prepare. 🙂
After all, you want all of your guests to leave happy and raving about what a special day it was. Hearing less-than-ecstatic grumbles is never the end goal.
Here’s the list from bridalguide.com:
Top Wedding Guest Complaints – #1:
An inconvenient date.
Think it over before asking guests to forfeit spending Christmas or the Super Bowl with their loved ones to celebrate with you. Hosting during a holiday may disrupt traditions they’d prefer not to miss, and in the case of a sporting event, you may find that guests are MIA because they’re sneaking off to catch the score or watch it on a nearby TV.
How to deal: If you’re considering a wedding at a potentially sticky time of year, check in with your closest loved ones to see if they already have set plans or would be open to attending. Some events may be easier to pull off than others (e.g., I’m getting married on Labor Day). In some cases, like Halloween, there is no other option if you’re planning on throwing a full-out themed bash, so just shrug off the complainers! Also, guests may be more inclined to consider attending if they know about the date for months in advance, so the sooner you send out that save-the-date, the better. It’s also a good idea to check your local events calendar to ensure your big day doesn’t compete with a parade or other large-scale community event.
Top Wedding Guest Complaints – #2:
Invitation confusion.
There is nothing more frustrating than when a guest assumes they’re receiving a plus-one you had no intention of inviting (we meet again, random bar hookup #22). This can happen even if you address the wedding invitations using proper etiquette.
How to deal: Don’t dodge the question—it will only make things more awkward. I’d recommend addressing the miscommunication kindly. Please don’t tell someone who thought their children could come that you “can’t have them there because weddings with kids are tacky” (true story). Avoid confusion by writing the names of the guests you want to invite on the response card and having them check off a “will attend” or “will not attend” box.
Top Wedding Guest Complaints – #3:
Seating snafus.
After the victory of compiling (and finalizing) your guest list comes the challenge of seating arrangements. It’s part art, part science: Who will combust next to whom or become fast friends?
How to deal: If your guests’ elbows touch and they can’t easily move in between tables, you’ve probably crammed too many of them in one spot. Also, keep centerpieces at a conversation-friendly height (no one wants to stare into an orchid all night). If you’re having a hard time divvying a group of friends or family members equally, try to seat guests within the same vicinity so that they can lean over and “aww” together during the first dance instead of texting across the room.
Top Wedding Guest Complaints – #4:
Pulling out the wallet.
How much do guests dislike cash bars? More than you know.
How to deal: All the pros are in agreement that cash bars are a major no-no. You’d never ask a guest to pay for a drink in your own home, so why should the wedding be any different? However, that doesn’t mean you have to fork over the cash for an open bar if you can’t afford it. Tutera recommends serving a limited selection of wine, beer, and champagne or a couple of signature drinks.
Top Wedding Guest Complaints – #5:
Climate crisis.
Every frequent wedding-goer has experienced an event that was either scorching or freezing cold. Subjecting guests to extreme weather conditions will severely cramp their style.
How to deal: You can’t help it if a weather emergency happens on your wedding day. However, there are small, fun measures you can take to ensure that guests are comfortable, beyond the obvious (plenty of shade and heat). Some ideas I love: double-duty fans that serve as programs for summer weddings and gifting your bridesmaids a shawl or faux fur wrap for winter weddings.
If all of this sounds overwhelming, you can always work with event planners Los Angeles CA who specialize in creating smooth, guest-friendly wedding experiences — from timeline management to creative seating arrangements.
So…Care to Air YOUR Top Wedding Guest Complaints?
Sound off in the comments below. It’ll be our little secret!
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