I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Original post by Misty

Dec 01, 2003 10:52 AM

It was aaaaaaaall the way out in Jersey, so I don't think anyone here will care if I say how bad this was.

For starters, it was buffet, for 160 people, so the food line was ridiculous. It made us feel like we were at one of those Chinese buffets. There was one table set up with the buffet, no real cocktail hour, just an hour of people coming around with chicken fingers and crab cakes, and a fruit platter that was finished in 20 minutes. They had chicken stir fry, really bad filet mignon, and two pasta dishes that were awful, wilted salad, and stale bread. The cake was obviously left out too long, because the buttercream was spoiled. Coffee was served in paper cups and you had to go get it yourself. Nothing was served to us.

And, I think a first ever, the bride requested that the electric slide and chicken dance be played, and the DJ made it a point to tell everyone that those were the only two songs she requested besides her first dance and the parents dances. Everyone was basically yanked onto the dancefloor, willing or not, to quack like a chicken.

I feel horrible saying stuff like this, but I can't help it. Please don't flame me, I just can't understand how someone can spend over $2000 on the dress, and then go sooooooo far to skimp on the wedding.

Sonicstef Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:10 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

I went to a wedding where the 'cocktail' hour for over 150 people was a single plate of fruit and cheese!!!! Like enough for maybe 10 people. No one even touched it b/c no one could believe that was it!! (Not that i think you need a lot of food for 5 hours straight but if you dont have any food or cocktails, pls do not have a cocktail hour!)

natasha Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:11 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

The wedding sounds pretty bad. At least the bride looked good in her her dress.

ChristineC68 Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:27 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

I went to a wedding like that. It was right after DH & I got engaged. After hours of standing around, multiple speeches and several special dances/songs, we were finally permitted to get some food (there was no cocktail hour to speak of and not even bread or crudite on the table).

Someone at our table leaned over and said that when you start planning the wedding make sure you don't let your guests starve like this (We were there for over 4 hours before we really got anything to eat - for a wedding that started at 5.00)

shamma Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:32 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Christine, you are a strong woman, I would have left a long time the nerve

jennbaby Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:33 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Posted by Sonicstef

I went to a wedding where the 'cocktail' hour for over 150 people was a single plate of fruit and cheese!!!! Like enough for maybe 10 people. No one even touched it b/c no one could believe that was it!! (Not that i think you need a lot of food for 5 hours straight but if you dont have any food or cocktails, pls do not have a cocktail hour!)

ChristineC68 Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:33 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

we left after our measly/cold serving of nasty tasting food and went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner

shamma Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:38 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Did ya seal the envelope??

wacky Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:45 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Christine I would have high tailed it out of there and left $40 bucks on the table with a note that said thanks for the cocktails.

People are out of their minds, Shamma dont laugh.

Shamee Posted: Dec 01, 2003 12:54 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Wow, sounds like a few I went to - cocktail hour consisted of goldfish crackers and chips in plastic bowls on the bar! Dinner was ?!? - some sort of array of bad food that resembled a buffet. Husband and I were so hungry, we were going to battle over the roll we were left on our plate!! You had two shots at the buffet tables and that was it - you were cut off. Believe me - the 'check' got changed for sure...

Jenn P Posted: Dec 01, 2003 03:21 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

It sounds like what made it so bad was their total inconsistency in the level of formality. You probably wouldn't have cared about the buffet if the bride wore her best suit, had one MOH and that was it, the invitations were the kind you handwrite the info in, etc. etc....

We went to a similar wedding in Manhattan this year. Believe it or not, it was May 31st. It was in the basement of the church-no cocktail hour, terrible food, and a small, cramped space made ten times worse by the fact that the line for the buffet creeped onto the dance floor.

We still had fun, but what makes me so mad is that they got a terrific gift from us and six months later-no thank you.

Misty Posted: Dec 01, 2003 03:29 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

That's exactly what made it bad. And you are right, I really wouldn't have cared if it were presented in a way that said 'this is a relaxed informal wedding...'. But she had 6 bridesmaids/ushers, 2 flowergirls, sent out save the date magnets, had intricate centerpieces, the black tie invited thing on the bottom of the invite.....just weird!

shamma Posted: Dec 01, 2003 03:45 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

you will be prepared for the next event how dare the ude black tie out of context Misty that is what you call priorities. I would have given up centerpieces for better food and real plates and cups and a sit down dinner

JennP *shakes head in disbelief*

Xelindrya Posted: Dec 01, 2003 03:50 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Posted by Misty

The DJ called tables 2 at a time, but there was so little space to form a line that the line stretched towards the dancefloor. There was only ONE buffet station with so little to offer that it was slow moving. What made it really uncomfortable was the fact that every time he called a table number, the table would yell out as if they hit bingo or something! It was like 'tables 2 and 7 you may now get your dinner' and the response would be 'WOOO YAAAAAAYY!!!'.

LOL
OMG i can SO see myself being that person.

Hell if I got stuck that that kind of wedding I'd have to enjoy it somehow. I mean dang Im shaving off every penny I can but Im not THAT bad!! Makes me feel better about our own!

Jenn P Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:01 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Shamma, that's what I was thinking. If I were in dire financial straits the centerpieces would be the LAST thing I would splurge on.

Misty Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:17 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...

Ok purely out of curiousity I visited the website of the hall they had the reception in. They have all the prices listed for their options. OMG they got so ripped off! They paid 75 a head plus tax and gratuity for this crap! And the centerpieces were included!

The gratuity should have gone to the guests for getting up and helping themselves!

AND FOR 5 BUCKS MORE A PERSON THEY COULD HAVE HAD A SIT DOWN DINNER WITH WHITE GLOVE SERVICE AND A MINI VIENNESE!!!

Now I am convinced I went to a fundraiser.

Leelee Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:26 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...read my latest post...HOLY CLUELESS! LOL

Yikes Misty! Sorry you had a bad time...

I must say in my own defense though-not only did I have a buffet but I served EVERYTHING on plastic.
We couldn't afford to rent everything (especially since everything was rented separately).
However, I can say that it was kind of nervy to state black-tie affair. My wedding was low key and intimate.
Just had to say my 2 cents..
But, just the same-sorry it was a lousy time!!

nrvbrd Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:27 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...read my latest post...HOLY CLUELESS! LOL

I refuse to believe that!!!!

$75 a head for paper cups and scarce amounts of food

hOLY CRAP!!!!!

Misty Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:32 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...read my latest post...HOLY CLUELESS! LOL

I'll FM you the website. I never tell a lie. LOL

Misty Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:35 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...read my latest post...HOLY CLUELESS! LOL

Posted by Leelee

Yikes Misty! Sorry you had a bad time...

I must say in my own defense though-not only did I have a buffet but I served EVERYTHING on plastic.
We couldn't afford to rent everything (especially since everything was rented separately).
However, I can say that it was kind of nervy to state black-tie affair. My wedding was low key and intimate.
Just had to say my 2 cents..
But, just the same-sorry it was a lousy time!!

Leelee, that is completely respectable. And, people probably had a complete BLAST at your wedding. This wedding was too big and blown up for what it actually was. lol.

Sage10.03 Posted: Dec 01, 2003 04:39 PM

Re: I hate saying this, but I went to the worst wedding this weekend...read my latest post...HOLY CLUELESS! LOL

Misty - may I ask where in NJ? Just curious since I live there....
The wedding sounded like a nightmare....

and for the exact reasons stated above.....

There is nothing wrong with a buffet, or anything else stated, it's just that it was presented as a 'grand affair'!!!!