BAM! But felt kind of let down by the wedding

Sorry that you feel let down, but look on the bright side you married the love of your life and you have the rest of your lives to make happier memories together. Congratulations

It's probably because it was so late, I personally stay up until well after midnight but most of my friends are in bed by 10. If anyone had to drive at all that's probably why they left

I had cancellations the night before our wedding, people didn't show, people came late (after and during the cermony, captured in pics) and left early. To be honest I really didn't care, our day was beautiful and I loved every minute of it. I would suggest focusing on the guest that stayed and enjoyed all of your moments with you. If I didn't learn anything else throughout this process is although you really did everything to make your guest comfortable , no one cares about the day as much as you..so if you were happy that your vision came to life that's all that matters.

Why would they say thank you? You were supposed to be thanking them for coming, not the other way around.

You had a Friday wedding. People work on Fridays and they were probably tired from working. It sucks being disappointed, I get it. You said you and your FH had a great tie so just let it go and enjoy being a married couple.

Hey OP, so sorry to hear you felt let down. But focus on the great things- wedding planning is over! And now you get to call FH your husband. Soak up newlywed bliss and enjoy!

This is honestly something I worry about happening too. Your timeline also sounds similar to mine and we are doing lawn games and photo booth for extra entertainment for guests. I think it's totally understandable that you are disappointed that guests left early because you probably put your heart and soul into your wedding. Honestly I would be too if that happened on my day (as much as I try to tell myself not to care). But just remember that you just married the love of your life that's the best part about it all

There could be a variety of reasons why they left early. Maybe there wasn't an adequate amount of food, maybe the music wasn't good, maybe they aren't the type of crowd that likes to hang late.

I do not think it's about a Friday wedding though. Mine was Thursday and was from 7pm-12:30am. If you said hardly anyone showed up at your ceremony I would have said because you started too early, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Focus on the positives. Maybe you will feel better once you get your professional pictures back.

I still can't get over someone thinking a 5:30 PM ceremony is too late. Huh?

That sucks! To be honest I'm afraid that will happen at our wedding too.

I'm sorry to hear you were disappointed. I had a lot of guests leave early (including my own mother.) We had a good dj, plenty of booze, plenty of food and a photo booth. I've never left a wedding early. I think it's rude. I know I truly appreciated those that stayed till the end.

Sorry to hear that you were disappointed. I hope that as time goes on that you remember the good things about it rather than the disappointing things. Sounds like you did your best to give your guests a good time.

I'm also having a Friday wedding, and not starting the ceremony until 6 p.m. - figured giving guests the option to not have to leave work too early, and to give the day a chance to cool down a bit since it's in June. I think I have a good mix of younger and older people, and most are local, so now I'm wondering how that will all turn out.

This is one of my biggest fears. It happened at my cousin's wedding, which I think was mostly due to the somewhat dated music selection. As others have said, just remember the highlights. And congratulations to you!!

I would be disappointed but with a Friday wedding I'm sure people were tired from work. However I agree with you that the least they could have done was say thank you, congratulations, and goodbye.

I'm so sorry. To me, it sounds like you hosted a lovely evening! What about the wedding party, did they stay? I hope you and your husband had fun atleast. Our wedding was over at 11:30 and I'd say some people started leaving around 10:30. I've never left a wedding early so I don't understand it either, OP. I'm sorry you're upset!

I agree a lot of people leave after the cake is cut. And Friday weddings are tough. If it were me I have to get up for work on Friday's, work a full day, get ready, and be up all night. On work nights I'm usually passed out by 10, so I probably would be well out of gas by 9.

I'm sorry though, that sounds like such a let down.

I'm sorry that they left early. They certainly should have said goodbye. I think a few things went wrong here: Friday wedding (nothing wrong with Friday weddings in theory, but people are likely tired from a long week at work and likely had to work that day; some go to bed early), dance floor opened way late (should have been opened right away, IMO), and lawn games. Honestly, lawn games at an evening wedding don't sound the least bit fun to me and if that's what was available prior to dancing, I might have considered leaving too, though I would have said goodbye and congratulations.

Sounds like the dance floor opened way late.

I'm so sorry that people left early. Try not to let it get to you. It's done and you're still married to H.

5:30 really isn't too late for a ceremony. A vast majority of our evening weddings start at either 5:30 or 6:30. We have a few venues with noise regulations that start at 3:00, but most of them do an 11:00 and a 5:30 or 6:30.