What DO you like at weddings?

A personal and not-too-long ceremony. Been to some churches where they went on and on... and didn't seem relevant to the couple there.

Agree with the decent booze and food

Some good music (love a band but a good DJ will do!)

Yay! (Guess who's having fireworks!!)

Very jealous! I love love love fireworks but I'm not allowed them.

Hats.

Veils.

Men in morning suits (but only if it's a formal do)

Beautiful real flowers

Seeing real affection between bride and groom

little touches...table menus, name place cards etc

happy bridesmaids (not the ungrateful miserable looking B***hes you see at some weddings!)

and like CB, a gorgeous invite

Sorry my main "like" is really fluffy but - to see the Bride and Groom are in love

When everyone joins in to make a moment magical - my friend chose Aerosmith for her first dance and everyone crowded round the dance floor and sang the words - it was so nice

Fun - photobooths, dressing up, laughing, jokes, people being relaxed

To be able to eat - i'm so fussy, I've never eat 3/3 courses on a wedding (or other formal) meal

Decent food and drink, especially table wine.

Father of the bride speeches

LOVE imaginative reception stationary and table accompaniments i.e napkins

I would add the following:

Decent amount of booze

A shortish gap between the ceremony and reception. I hate standing around for hours.

Speeches that last an appropriate amount of time.

Speeches that I can actually hear!

A good disco with everyone dancing.

It has to be the family all getting together and all getting on. This only happens for weddings and funerals in my family and I know which one I prefer.

AND: Decent bathrooms!!

As a side rant: How can you book a venue without assesing the 'niceness' of the bathrooms.

Think about all the memorable weddings you have been to and what made them memorable. I find its usually the music and food/wine. Get them right and everything else falls into place. I wont remember peoples centrepieces, cakes, invitations, colour scheme etc.

I do however remember weddings where there wasnt enough food, raw vegetables, cold food, poor service etc

I am so excited about our fireworks - most people don't know we're having them so I'm hoping they'll be a huge success

To see the bride and groom relaxed and enjoying everyones company

When the groom/father of the bride's speech makes me cry.

When I know the couple really well.

When there's a free bar ?

When the bride actually looks so beautiful, so I don't have to lie.

When everyone gets up and dances at the evening reception.

Canapes! (I love them!)

Champagne in a saucer rather than a flute.

AGREED!!!

I checked the bathrooms at each venue we looked at.

I like:

A happy couple who you know are a perfect match for each other

Good food

Good company

Pretty venue with overnight accomodation!

Lots of love and happiness ...aww

good food/booze

Personal touches

lots of room to dance/good music/separate area to sit down and chat

Being put on a table with fun, talkative and welcoming people.

A room full of people who are happy for the bride and groom genuinely ! No " have to " invitees ! Lovely dresses , hats and shoes lol People who look in love and only have eyes for each other x

A simple affair - with no over the top "finishing touches"

And one which doesn't last all day with annoying bits in the middle when you're having to wait around for the next thing to start.

Happy people

Sunshine

Reminiscing with family and friends, watching other people do the same

Good food, good drink and good music

Being the centre of attention just for one day and knowing I'm surrounded by the people who love me and OH most

Me too! But OH says we can do some kind of indoor firework thingy that the venue has OKayed and he is keeping it a surprise for me, but you can get it in all kind of shapes and letters and waves and stuff... I don't understand it but it is as near as he can get to full on fireworks.

For me: fireworks, chocolates and champagne on tap, a few dramatic flourishes would be nice e.g. the musicians at the start of Love Actually!

I like to see a couple who aren't too scared to laugh. I like good food. I like sitting with randoms. Got to say, I'm snookered as to why this thread isn't doing quite as well as its sister...

Oh yes! Mine aren't brilliant but they're good enough and we will make sure they are up to scratch (we have the venue from the day before).

I love finishing touches... I'm a veggie and appreciate it when I have been thought about, which is why our cake has so many bloomin' tiers catering for different food requirements!

I like sunshine.

I like a loved up couple.

I like to sing hymns i know! Loudly coz me loves singing.

I like champers and loads of it.

I like a chance to speak to the couple and alllll their family n friends whom i dont know.

I like short speeches.

I like photos, they are my memories too!

I like classic cars.

I like transport put on when required.

I like a quiet area away from the band/dancing.

I like a loo with more than 2 cubicles!!

The B&G having a good time no matter what items they have which have been included on the other list, because it's their day.

Most of this probably comes from me working above a registry office and seeing people pose for piccys but:

Guests who you can see have genuinely made an effort (even if they did go a little OTT - bless!)

Little boys (not pageboys) in waistcoats/tie

Couples who act like they're actually in love (you wouldn't believe how many weddings we see where the bride and groom dont seem to have time or inclination to bother with each other) was lovely to see a wedding once with only 4 people and the groom actually picked the bride up and swung her around (wasn't even for a photo!)

(although my oh would break his back if he tried that)

Traditions (first dance,toasts, dress etc)

Weddings that reflect the couples tastes and personalities and not a checklist from Brides magazine.

A totally in love couple, good food, drink, atmosphere and a day that just flows so well you wonder where the time went.

Perhaps cause it's easier to criticise/be bitchy/moan than be nice/complimentary?! ?

A couple that are purely deeply in love and that shines out

a well thought seat plan-- dont want to sit ppl/or be sat with ppl i dont know

traditions (speeches, toasts, groom and bride not seeing each other until the aisle)

nice favours

good food

good (and not expensive) drinks

good dj

a chilled bride

real flowers

nice centrepieces (low- so they dont get in the way of views)

nice table clothes/cutterly etc

nice chair covers

nice bedrooms in venue

nice staff

all in one venue

breakfast alltogether the next morning

bride looking amazing- and looking like herself

guests looking smart

groom looking smart

helpful ushers to tell you where to go

order of the day- so kinda no what to expect

confetti given to the guests

?