The BEST wedding you've ever been to...what was at it?

coopman41e

We are getting married in summer 2014 so we have some time to plan. We have time to get creative and make stuff that would make it unique.

So my question is at the best weddings you've ever been to, did they have anything that made it unique and awesome?  Let's hear some ideas

I've been looking at Pinterest all week but thought I would ask The Knot pro's as you've all been awesome in your past help. Thank you!!

Maggie0829

The best weddings I have been to had great food, great drinks and great music.  If you have those three things then your guests will have an amazing time.

fallbride1109

Good, lively music.  I went to a wedding once that had a live band and had so much fun, I thought it was the band.  But then I went to a wedding that had a really great DJ and had just as much fun.

All I need at a wedding is good music, food, and cake.  Spend the money on those things first and foremost is my advice.

lyndausvi

Great food, open bar and good music makes a good wedding for me.

dumdumfroggie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_the-best-wedding-youve-ever-been-towhat-was-at-it?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f9bb9a11-b885-468e-9303-d94bd522feacPost:4dd922f6-82d0-426e-b0c9-25bf28bdb117">Re: The BEST wedding you've ever been to...what was at it?</a>:
[QUOTE]Great food, open bar and good music makes a good wedding for me.
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]

<div>Exactly this.</div>

GoodLuckBear14

There were two.  One had incredible food and the best DJ I have ever heard.  The other was in Chicago and Second City came in and gave an hour long performance.  (I will emphasize, these were not comedians from your local Comedy Corner, this was Second City)

RebeccaB88

What they said.  Good food (enough of it, and appropriate to the time of  day), good drink, good music (I personally hate bands, love DJs).  Also, being able to tell that the couple made the effort to make sure all their guests were comfortable and well hosted.  Plenty of comfortable tables and chairs, venue appropriate to the weather (not outdoors when its very hot or very cold, or raining, air conditioned or heated as needed, etc), appropriate sized venue, care taken with seating arrangements, being greeted and thanked for coming.  I notice all of that, and appreciate the effort made for it.

Worst ones all involved spoiled, selfish, entitled brides with either more money than taste or more expensive desires than their budget would allow. None made the effort to see to the comfort of their guests.

AdeleDazeem

Best wedding I ever went to was a traditional chinese, ten course dinner reception.  The food was great.  Everyone at our table was friends.  The food was served family style.  We tried all sorts of traditional and somewhat exotic chinese food.  With ten courses, we were eating for about two hours, but they just kept bringing more and we were always saying "what's that?" or "Oooh, pass that!  Let's try it!"

orangehills

Actually, the best one I've been to was very small and simple. About 35 people. The ceremony was at a house in Napa overlooking vineyards, and they had the toasts there and some appetizers. Then we drove into Napa for dinner and dessert at a restaurant, and they provided wine. It was simple, just hanging out talking with friends and celebrating our friends' union!

But then again, I'm not a huge fan of the big party weddings. The ones I've been to just made us wait around for forever for food and the dancing was awkward and the toasts seem to go on for a long time. So, definitely have good food, some beverages, and if you are having music, good music!

Avion22

My favorite weddings are those that have small thoughtful touches that show the bride and groom's personalities -- WITHOUT making the whole thing into some big broadway-style production. Believe it or not, you can OVER-plan....sometimes it's best to just let the people you hire do their jobs and let everything else just happen. It makes for a relaxed bride, groom, and wedding party, and a much more fun and spontaneous atmosphere without feeling over-produced.

LeiselEB

FOOD! Have awesome food. 

Open bars are great. 

Good music is a must. Even if you don't have dancing, good dinner music makes a difference. 

Peavy

Ditto the others -- good food, good music, open bar, and hosts that care about their guests.

Summer2011Bride

Good food, free drinks if you have alcohol (not making guests pay), and lively music/dancing. I could even forego dancing if the vibe is fun and there's some music playing.

And taking guests' comfort into consideration. I went to one wedding in the middle of summer that was outside with no shade. We sat on logs for 40 min. in 95º humidity. There was a building on the premises where she could have moved the ceremony in case of inclement weather, and while it wasn't raining, I would argue this unbearable heat was just as bad. But since the bride dreamed of marrying outdoors (the "altar" area was in the shade I'd like to point out), everyone else had to suffer. That made me always think of her wedding in a bad light because she did not consider the comfort of her guests.

Lilshell812

The best one I've been to had the following:

(1) GREAT food with tons of different options (hors d'ouevres included a seafood station & raw bar, meats, cheeses, etc.)

(2) An amazing view of the Philadelphia skyline. The venue was in Center City and when the city was lit up, the views were absolutely stunning.

That said, this wedding cost a lot of money. If I had to guess, I'd say $50-60 grand, easy. It might've been the best because it's something I could never afford.

tlc35

As long as there is food that I can enjoy, good music for dancing and good people I am happy (booze helps too!).  I personally don't like a lot of toasts, spotlight dances etc because I find them boring to watch and would rather socialize or dance.  Oh, and not a lot of waiting around.

HobokensFury

Ditto PP. Great food, music and booze.

ingramnusz

I would echo pp's in that good food, booze, and music make the most memorable, entertaining weddings.

I would also add that the best weddings I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot!) were the ones where the bride and groom were just themselves.  I've bee to a lot of weddings where it seemed like a race-through-the-rituals, like they were checking boxes off a list (first dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc.) rather than enjoying themselves.  I really like watching a couple enjoying their own reception rather than suffering through it. 

reppunzel

The best weddings that I've been to were focused on the marriage and the couple's union/new life together.  The guests were taken care of well, certainly (cuz I've also been to some where we weren't and I'm not advocating that!), but the *marriage* was clearly their priority, not a huge social production.  Those were also the weddings with the most personal interaction between bride/groom and guests, too.

coopman41e

Thank you all!  Very good feedback   We have the free booze part down, ha ha.  Also have good food and a very highly appraised DJ.

Was there anything AT the weddings that still stands out in your mind as out of the ordinary, unique yet funny?  Like a groomsmen surprise dance or flip book studio?  Anything out of the ordinary that still makes you remember "that awesome wedding" to this day?

Thank you as always

meofmanynames

I  have never been to two weddings that were the same...

I think the most fun I EVER had a wedding was when I was 13 and it was a cousin's wedding (I had never met the cousin).  They were married at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado in September just as the leaves were barely starting to change colors.  They were married outside with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.  The reception was really simple...buffet dinner, DJ, wine and beer.  There were aspen leaves in all the flower arrangements.  I had a blast dancing with family.

The other wedding I went to that was really memorable was my brother's best friend's wedding last November.  Typical Caatholic church ceremony and then a buffet dinner reception on a YACHT!  It was a harbor cruise and so nice and elegant.

hoffse

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_the-best-wedding-youve-ever-been-towhat-was-at-it?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f9bb9a11-b885-468e-9303-d94bd522feacPost:ef3d7e64-bc8c-4ef9-be24-a8a90a2e2e24">Re: The BEST wedding you've ever been to...what was at it?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you all!  Very good feedback :)  We have the free booze part down, ha ha.  Also have good food and a very highly appraised DJ. Was there anything AT the weddings that still stands out in your mind as out of the ordinary, unique yet funny?  Like a groomsmen surprise dance or flip book studio?  Anything out of the ordinary that still makes you remember "that awesome wedding" to this day? Thank you as always :)
Posted by coopman41e[/QUOTE]

<div>Honestly most of the stuff you threw out makes me roll my eyes.  For me, it's all about having a good band - I'm not really into DJs, and I've heard way more bad DJs than bad bands.  Please no "surprise" dances - so many people do them now that they're no longer surprises.  It was cute the first time (see youtube), and then it was emulation every other time.</div><div>
</div><div>I agree with PPs - just host your guests well.  Don't turn it into a show.  Spend time on your vows and the CEREMONY, which is where the actual marriage takes place, and you'll be good.  For me, the best wedding I've ever been to had a fantastic band, great food, a lovely full-length episcopalean ceremony (they had communion and everything so it took more than an hour), and the best wedding cake I've ever tasted.  I've never really loved wedding cake, but I LOVED this wedding cake.  I remember it 5 years later and am trying to find a baker who can do the same flavors (orange filling).  There was nothing cute about it - nothing "creative" - it was just a really well-timed reception, and the couple clearly cared about the ceremonial aspects of it as well.  So I felt like I was witnessing the beginning of a marriage, as opposed to a wedding - if that makes any sense.</div>