You might not want to have your guests remember your wedding day only because of the horrible food you served at the reception, the dismal seating arrangement wherein their tables were crammed too closely, or the glaring absence of a thank-you note. Plan appropriately and avoid these common guest complaints.
Cash Bars
Cash bars are downright tacky. It’s like asking a person to visit your home and making him pay for the drinks you’ve offered him. The solution: have an open bar and stretch your liquor budget by limiting the offerings.
Horrid-Tasting Food (Or Lack Thereof)
It is all right to cut corners on your wedding décor but not on the quality of the food you serve to your guests. Everyone will be incredibly gracious enough to smile at your unending, slightly boring photo montage presentation, but no one will be impressed by those tiny and rubbery cocktail shrimps. Always have a food tasting with a prospective caterer.
If your reception happens during mealtime, provide full meals. Otherwise, plan for a cocktail party or an afternoon tea.
Long-Winded Toasts
When the speeches and toasts become insufferably long-winded, wrap things up by having the DJ come up with a musical cue. The most obvious solution, however, is to let people doing the toasts know in advance that short and snappy speeches are best.
Unbearably Loud Music
Play music at a volume that’s low enough so that your guests don’t need to scream in order to be heard when they talk to each other. You want to encourage mingling. The painfully loud music will prevent that from happening. The elderly, most especially, may not be too thrilled listening to relentlessly pounding dance music. You want people to have fun during your special day and not develop headaches from the blaring music played at an ear-splitting volume.