So H and I knew that we wanted a small intimate wedding with just our closest family (we ended up with 12 people at the wedding including us). Don't get me wrong I love big weddings but I knew that the big blow out wasn't for us not to mention that I'd helped my sisters plan their weddings and I just wanted simple for my own. H and I had also committed to a very small budget. We loved our wedding.
So recently a friend of ours also got engaged and posted on FB about looking for a non-traditional venue that was CHEAP. H read the post and commented that they might want to look into where we got married because it met all of his criteria (CHEAP and non-traditional - its also beautiful in the summer time). Well one of the other commenters started bagging on our venue in really harsh terms. Whatever happened to tact? I understand everyone is welcome to their opinion but I really don't think you have to shred something/someone else to get your point across...
Re: I'm Irritated...
I find the best way that I have found to catch people like this off guard is to say this:
I wholeheartedly agree with you @novella1186! There is no point in being rude about it, just none. That is just quite annoying and probably didn't make you feel very good @ShellD13! I agree that some people just like to bash. Wow, I am sorry that you went through that @novella1186! I agree that mantra of help fix it or shut up, stop needlessly criticizing. There is a way to be tactful about it without making people feel like crap about their own wedding. So rude!
Weddings are extremely personal and everyone different tastes! Don't bash on people for their tastes. We do not all want the same thing. I feel like some people just don't get that. How crappy to feel cruddy about your tastes and your preferences for your own wedding.
One of my pet peeves is when people are rude like that about other people's weddings! There is so much work that goes into a wedding and I don't believe that anyone has a right to critique another couple's choice of venue, decorations, dresses, style, etc. Was it your wedding? No! Unless you are being treated terribly, then just respect the couple's tastes, have a good time, and move on!
/rant
I think "everyone is entitled to their opinion" mantra applies in non-personal things. In something very meaningful like a wedding, tact should be used. If someone hated that venue, they don't have to say anything. Everyone may be entitled to an opinion, but it doesn't mean everyone else wants to hear it.
My wedding was at my in-laws home, we had food cooked by my sisters in law (and no one asked them to do it, they wanted to) and I got flak for it. The day was great. People who expressed scorn, were not invited.