Hi Ladies:So....
After reading some of ya'll's responses to the "I DO BBQ" thread, it had me thinking to the....event I am attending for my little sister this weekend. I have been going over in my head and with my husband and other sister why I am so bothered by this, and I'd love to hear if you were in my spot your reaction.
This past week, my sister (who lives on the west coast) married her FI in a private (just them and an officiant) where they live. Then, this weekend, my parents and his family are throwing a reception in my hometown in Florida.
Here are the etiquette crimes in order from mostly harmless to horrendous:
Harmless:
--She's wearing her dress to the party (stupid, but harmless)
Kinda Rude/Weird:
--They are having a ceremony recap with photos
--We have to do family pictures at the reception site before the party
--"Cocktail Attire Required"
Horrendous:
--Asked for cash on wedding website
--Calling it the "Real Wedding" when they already got married (whole family guilty of this)
The whole reason for this set up is REASONS (they wanted to get married on the anniversary of the day they met, they wanted to get married in a state that recognized marriage equality--even though they are straight and FL just passed marriage equality, they didn't want family to have to travel).
Part of the reason I am butthurt is my husband will be at a different wedding. Also, I just got married in February, which my H and I funded ourselves--which we are proud of and happy to have done b/c we made all of the decisions--but my parents are paying for my sister's event.
So---is this stuff actually rude or am I just hung up b/c of my own reasons and this is etiquette approved????
----
Update:
So to report back. The good, the bad and the ugly--
The good:
- Open (limited) bar with a a very heavy handed bar tender. That was nice! NEEDED.
- Food was decent
- DJ was ok
The bad:
- We were held captive for the ceremony pictures. They were stunning so it was kind of fun, but I can see how others were bored.
- It wasn't as private as we thought....they had several friends and the groom's brother in attendance. That personally hurt my feelings.
- They did all of that weddingy stuff: spot light dances, cake cutting, grand entrance, ect. Felt fake to me.
The ugly:
- After 90 minutes of family pictures along a pond in Florida weather, the bride and the groom were then another hour late for their "grand entrance" No food out, just open bar. Guests had been there for anywhere to an hour to two waiting. People were drunk and hungry.
- AC was on but the bar was out on a deck, so the doors were propped open. It was freaking hot!
- NO TABLES. Just scattered couches. We had to balance our plates on our knees.
- They had NINE speeches toasts. NINE. Keep in mind only about 40 guests. That's almost a QUARTER of the guests giving speeches! NINE!
- NOT ENOUGH CAAAAAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All in all, super rude. Well hosted in the sense that we were eventually fed and there was booze. But other than that, an absolute cluster.
My poor husband at the wedding he was at this weekend as well had some issues. Namely taking photos from 1:30 - 6 in the hot May sun and the country club venue they were at refused to provide water for them??????
I hope no one I know gets married any time soon. That was enough nonsense for me for a while.