What  Makes A Good Wedding?....

We were at a wedding this weekend, and it was a blast. But actually, I knew it was going to be great before we even got there. This was the wedding of the daughter of our great friends. Everything was first class. Everything was special. It was unusual in the fact that the bride and groom were able to throw it together in only a few months. I remember it took my wife and I over a year to plan ours. Of course, that was before the internet.

Your wedding expert. Cheers!

At the end of the day, a wedding is just supposed to be a big party. Yes, it's expensive. But it's just a party to mark the beginning of a marriage of two people in love. How hard can it be to plan a fun time for all? I have been to tons of weddings over the years. Most were fun. But not all. Some I couldn't wait to get out of. It got me thinking. What really makes a good wedding? What are the biggest factors in whether the guests have an enjoyable time or not.

I'm not talking about the wedding ceremony itself. Some ceremonies are long and involved, (like mine was). Some short and sweet. Some are at destinations. I'm talking about the party afterwards. Here are my thoughts on the common denominators of a fun wedding reception.

But first, here are two notable things NOT on my list:

1. The Food: Wedding food is usually good. It ranges from Very Good (but not memorable) at best, to Just OK (at worst). It certainly is pricey these day for anything you get. It's also hard to please everybody even if you give them a choice.
2. The Liquor: An open bar at a wedding reception should be standard. Traditionally, the father of the groom covers the cost of the liquor. It certainly doesn't have to be top shelf. Nobody is going to say, "My word! This bourbon tastes like it was aged 12 years in an oak barrel!" It's just supposed to take the edge off. Regardless of your personal tastes, if you don't have liquor at your reception: you should just elope.

So here are 3 items that I think do make a difference in whether a wedding party is considered a fun time for all:

1. The Hall: Maybe the biggest mistake I have seen is crowding a bunch of people into a hall that's too small. It can get warm and stuffy. It can be hard to leave your table and walk between tables. Any old timers out there that remember when people could smoke at weddings? Give people their space. Space to eat, space to walk, and space to dance. It's also great if the hall has
   
   an area where you can get away from the main room. Even at the wedding I was at this weekend, there was a great, relaxing space outside of the main room to get away from the bumpin' music. 
2. The Music: This is usually contracted by the bridal party. There is usually a great debate these days as to have Live Music vs. a DJ. My personal preference is for live music. But you've got to get a band that can play all types of music. And one you can afford. The best I have ever seen was at a wedding last year. It was a band called K Street.Getting a DJ is more common these days. You can go over the playlist with a DJ. You also have to mix music for everybody in the crowd. Old timers to young kids. That's not so easy. Also the personality of the DJ can be critical for moving the party along and encouraging people to get out there and dance!
3. The People: If you are at a wedding where you know a lot of people, you should be set for a great time. There are plenty of people to talk to. But sometimes, you are at a wedding where you only know a few people. My suggestion here would be to don't be uptight. That's what the booze is for. Look for somebody who you seems easy going, or maybe you like their jokes.

   

   Old timers.

   Maybe you won't make a lifelong friend. But you might meet somebody you can have a conversation with. But if you're at a wedding with a bunch of dufasses, good luck. Remember your car is in the parking lot.

BTW: Here's a link to a promo for the band K Street.