Wedding guests - the one thing you noticed or remembered most?

Question

Of all the weddings you have been to, name the one thing you remember or noticed the most.

Answer 1

Food...music....if it was open bar or not....how the bride looked.....

Answer 2

if you just want one thing i would have to say the food.

but i also look at the dresses and how the hair is done and the bar. ohh and the back drop.

Summer

Answer 3

#1 thing: Atmosphere.

I went to a wedding where we partied our booties off.  I have no idea what we ate, whether there was even alochol there, what she wore...but I remember that kick *** party.

ETA: That's funny that so many people remember food.  I've been to countless weddings and have no idea what we ate...but then again we're all dancers so we spend most of the evening on the dance floor, not stuffing our faces.

Answer 4

Food, consideration for guests while Bridal party having pictures taken.  

I went to a really beautiful wedding but the wedding was at 2:00, reception at 6:00.  Guests were expected to go home and return for reception.  We were too far from home, so our gang went shopping and some had to eat due to diabetes.  We got lost/stuck in traffic and got back at 6:30, ended up stuck behind bridal party with another two complete groups of people.  Bridal party  was 3/4 way through being 'announced' and they were upset with all of us because room was 'empty' in video and photos!

Inconsiderate to dump guests for that long.

Answer 5

food , drinks  and how behaviour was between guest . My friend went to her cousins wedding and all she could rememeber was how the bride treated her guest like dirt and how disrespect she was towards her mother-in-law. But did mention that the food was good.

Answer 6

the behavior of the guests

Answer 7

I remember and notice how long it takes for the bride and groom to get to the reception. i hate when it takes FOREVER.

Answer 8

The food!! People will always ask...how was the food?

Answer 9

the food!!!!!!

Answer 10

It's cliche, but the food. When you've sat through an hour-long ceremony and waited on the wedding party to finish with photos, a good meal is really appreciated.

Answer 11

The music!!!!!!!!!! :):):)

Answer 12

The cake. It is the most photographed thing at a wedding next to the bride and is the centerpiece of the reception. If it's ugly, tacky, too simple or too over done then it's memorable in a bad way.

Answer 13

The one thing I noticed most was that the more "orchestrated" or micro-managed a reception was the less enjoyable it was.

It seems that once a reception has started, all the well thought out plans go up in smoke.  So the most enjoyable receptions tend to be the ones that are allowed to flow naturally.

Answer 14

The food/drinks and whether or not the music was good.

Answer 15

I went to an Italian wedding and the food was soooo good.

What I also remember about this wedding was how completely drunk the wedding party was by the end of the night.

Answer 16

The food-quality and quantity.  Were portions adequate, was there a variety...things like that.

and

Drinks-quality and quantity.  Was it top shelf liquor or were they going cheap and I couldn't drink what I like.

Answer 17

Food, Music, and liquor

Answer 18

Food, music and manners!

Answer 19

Food, Music, and how well or not well the servers of food/beverage were. And also if the bridemaids all looked good in their dresses or if they were too tight, too big, falling out - maybe that's just me

Answer 20

guests always remember if there was a cash bar

Answer 21

I was a guest at one wedding where the bride and groom walked around to some tables to thank everybody.  Apparently, only about 5 - 7 of their 20+ tables.  I was not one of the selected, but two tables around mine were.   I thought this was EXTREMELY distasteful and have never forgotten it.  Visit everybody!  (I was sitting with the bride's godmother and family.  Not somebody she didn't know.)

Answer 22

I took wedding photos for 6 years so I seen alot of different things at weddings.  I could go on and on about what I remember... but, one thing stands out in my mind as being truly unique.

When the ceremony was over, instead of the ushers excusing each row of quests to stand in line to greet the bride and groom... (the bride and groom usually waiting at the back of the church or outside the doors)... The Bride and Groom walked to the front of the church and excused each row of guests.  It was great.  As each row stood up to leave they could congratulate the Bride/Groom and everyone else in the church could remain in their pews and visit and watch the "receiving line" come to them, one row at a time. Then the guests waited outside with their little packets of birdseed and bubbles and after the Bride and Groom received the last row, they walked outside to be cheered and greeted with bubbles and birdseed.  It was so much nicer for the guests, and for the photographer.  The parents stood at the back of the church handing out the bubbles/seed and talking to each guest as they went outside to wait for the bride and groom.  

I have suggested this to many couples since I seen this,  and they loved the idea.  It's nice for the guests to remain in their pews and be able to watch the receiving line instead of standing in line in the church waiting.

Another thing I remember from a wedding is the bride and groom stepping down from the altar during the soloist music and bringing a rose to their "new" mother, the bride to the grooms Mom and visa-versa.  The Moms stood up and hugged their new child, the Dad either hugged or shook hands, and the bride and groom then returned to the altar.  The one I seen this at was having the song "The Rose" played.  (a Garth Brooks song I think) but I'm sure you could do it during a ceremony with another song, or even just at a special part.  People talked about it all night at the reception and dance.

Are you planning your wedding and looking for ideas?  Congrats!

Answer 23

One of the most memorable things from a wedding I remember is how the bride did nothing but pull at her dress the whole time!  It has made me realize how awful strapless dresses are and how I will never wear one!  The entire time she was walking down the aisle, she kept trying to pull her dress up so she wouldn't fall out!!!  It was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever witnessed!

Other than that one instance, I would have to say the food is the most memorable.

Answer 24

As a guest I always remember food most (Was it good? Unique? How about the cake?). That, and the quality of the music (Did they have a danceable mix? Did the music actually reflect the couple's taste, or was it really typical?).

Answer 25

i love when the familes take time to thoughtfully put together seating charts for the reception. i've been to a couple of weddings where we've sat at what felt like a "leftover" table or no one around us had anything in common so conversation was limited to "so how do you know the bride?"

knowing how detailed a process it was to put together my own seating chart, i really appreciate it when the couple groups people together that they know will get along. it helps to mix the families up and create new friends!

and someone mentioned keeping the guests waiting for dinner for hours....that's happened to me, too, except we were burdened with long toasts and dozens of special dances. we were so hungry we almost snuck out to nosh on the cheese and fruit bar!

Answer 26

There are a few things - but these are my top few in order!

1.  Food.  Yes, everyone has already said it - but it is the most important thing.  When you are hanging around for hours you can get very hungry - and if there is not enough food, or it takes ages, or you can't eat the food (due to alergies or just a dislike of the food - which isn't common in my case!), or if you don't get a chance to eat because of too much else going on - it can make people very grumpy and ruin everything!  I am proud to say that we had a gorgeous dinner at our wedding and everyone got something that they liked - and we didn't have to break the bank either!

2.  Music.  For the last few hours of the reception people will mingle and dance and just do 'whatever'.  I have wanted to dance before and because the music was only in one style (Disco) I couldn't dance to it.  It is not my style of dancing and there was no variation - it just got boring after a while.  I have also wanted to mingle at weddings and talk to old friends and family I hadn't seen for ages - but the music was too loud to even hear anyone talk.  We had to litterally yell at each other.  Everyone eventually gave up - or went outside away from the 'party'.

3.  The Venue.  Although I don't remember little things like the decoration - I do remember where the ceremonies and receptions were held (ie a church or garden or restuarant)  This is not something to worry about though - it is never something you think good or bad of... well usually not!

4.  Clothes.  Mostly the women!  I can't remember a lot of bridal dresses - too many just look the same.  But I certainly remember some bridesmaids dresses that were 'interesting' to say the least!  They would not have been my pick but they certainly stood out and made a statement!

5.  The Main Table.  For example - I have been to 2 weddings where I could not see the bride and groom at the reception.  One was because they did not have a main table and were just stuck on a standard table near the back of the room - the other was because we were at the back and the main table (and speaches) were all around a corner.  Either way - it is dissapointing as a guest - you are there for the couple and to not even see them for most of the night is a bit silly if you ask me!  I realise that the couple will mingle after the meals but I still like to see them throughout the meal - and I certainly like to see who is speaking when the speaches are made!

I guess, unfortunately, the things that always stand out are things that you don't like or don't agree with.  Unless something really nice is out of the ordinary it will tend to be forgotten by most people.  But they will remember if the overall feeling/atmosphere of the wedding was good or not.