"Tacky" things that turned out to be good ideas

I haven't really started hardcore planning the little details, but there will be no seating chart for sure. Even though that is considered tacky here, I've never been to a wedding in my area that's had one, so I'm pretty sure no one at the reception will even notice. I'm also not inviting any guests to the wedding itself, but I don't think an audience and all the typical bells and whistles are necessary for the 2 minute civil ceremony I want. I'm sure the etiquette police don't like that.

Honestly, I think GameCox's football wedding sounds AWESOME.

@Angie, why no photographer?

She realized how much it costs. But I'm sure I'll get my way by the end of this and get a photographer at least for only the ceremony!

I wish we had done B list invites. We so far have about a 30% decline rate. We sent STDs and a lot of people who said they were coming have backed out. We would have invited other people but now it's too late. I'm just sad and annoyed that most of the people who aren't coming waited until the last minute to tell us.

FutureMrsS, that's what we found too. The people who were really excited about coming, sent their RSVPs back right away. Most of the RSVPs that took forever were people who needed more time to figure out if they could come and people who knew they weren't coming and didn't care enough to send back the card.

WHAT?! I saw the previews for the one with the Tiger from Clemson (our rival), but I haven't seen the one with Cocky. I don't know if I want to see it. Mine will be better!

You can all come. Just pay for your meals on the way in. Just kidding...(kinda)

We're getting cases of "$2 Buck Chuck" from Trader Joe's to serve at the wedding. I just picked up the first case today. It's surprisingly good wine! I used to buy it all the time so I would always have some on hand to offer friends who stopped by.

And I'm seriously considering the Honeyfund...

Heidi, it's so frustrating bc had I known that we'd have so many nos we could have invited other people, but everyone waited until the last minute. Some people said they were coming and said they took leave and then I found out today that something changed and they won't make it. In some cases I can understand, but in others I think they were just being here's by at least not letting us know sooner.

@gamecox: the same episode that had cocky also had another wedding with the rival mascot! And then again last week had ANOTHER episode with cocky!

We're not having a seating chart and we are having a limited open-bar. Guests will pay for anything beyond wine/beer that will be provided. I think that's all so far.

I am in LOVE with this thread, and so glad to see more people doing what they want instead of what etiquette dictates!

We are having a karaoke reception, and I’ll tell you that our guests are SUPER excited about it. When FH and I started dating, we were part of a weekly karaoke social, and many of our guests were part of it as well (it was a pretty large group). But even the guests that don’t frequently karaoke are excited. Also, when FH and I are introduced at the reception, we are going to come out singing a Def Leppard song together in 80’s attire! And not a slow, sappy song either!

But besides all that:

- I will be printing (not handwriting) addresses on the invite envelopes. It just seems silly to handwrite them, as I have never even paid attention to the envelopes when I have received invites.

- My dog will be part of the wedding (which some people love, but others not so much)

- Adults only, both the ceremony AND the reception

- No seating chart

- Beer will be free, but liquor will be a cash bar (Until I got engaged and started reading wedding forums, I had no idea this was considered tacky. Every wedding I’ve ever attended has had a cash bar…)

- Possibly some B list invites if we have several declines

- I haven’t booked a caterer yet, but if china/silverware is not part of the package, I’m not above using plastic!

- I’m not using fresh flowers. Not because I don’t love them, but we would rather just spend that money elsewhere. I’m using silk flowers as well as DIY coffee filter flowers for centerpieces.

- Dollar dance (I really didn't want to, but my matron of honor has talked me in to it)

Playing Single Ladies during the Bouquet toss, sorry I love Beyonce

Only reserving a bridal party table and immediate family, leaving the rest open seating.

-skipped the STDs because nobody wanted them

-sent out a picture of the invite to people electronically because that's what they liked best. they loose paper invites

-changed the plans to where we have the chapel for 3 hours, and made the reception cake and drink with a after party vs the original plan of something catered. nobody wanted to spend 6 hours plus in a church chapel when there are places like 1up nightclub and hard rock cafe out there waiting. (I live in denver) but now hear this world, we are not going to casa Bonita! I don't care how much south park people love that place in my book once was enough. ick city! :/

edit for typo

I love seeing everyone's ideas coming together, so far everything just sounds based more on practicality and in the interest of having more fun!

Ours would probably be the burger bar that we are having and we're doing a live-action slide show at the reception, so that will definitely be the opposite of "unplugged." Because the FH and I had different ideas on how we wanted to celebrate the wedding, we decided that we'd do a bit more formal ceremony and a huge party for the reception.

ETA: My sister really focused on exactly what she wanted and there were a number of things that she was told would be tacky. It turned out to be a perfect little backyard wedding. Below are some of the things that she had.

-a dry wedding (some of our family drinks to excess and she wanted to limit that)

-plastic plates and silverware

-she had a large BBQ buffet that she designed to look like a vintage picnic

-her wedding was in the yard of one of our family members farms, she was adamant that she wanted the horses and cows to be grazing freely throughout the land (outside of the backyard fence, of course). My grandmother freaked at the prospect of the cows mooing during the ceremony.

Oh yes... 8815... I got hit with that one.

I had someone back out of coming because I didn't give them a plus one... But I had made it clear to my 18 sorority sisters that I wanted them all to come, but couldn't accommodate plus ones for each of them and asked them to make it a girls night. If they were still ok with that, they were to let me know.

One said she was ok (she probably didn't REALLY read the text). But then sent me a book saying that she was uncomfortable not coming with her husband. She proceeded to decline the invitation. LOL I thought that was amusing.

GameCox... it was on the same episode... just later in the show. The Tiger bride was PIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSED! It was quite funny!

@Klassy! A karaoke reception! That's awesome. We could never do it with our circle, but that sounds like so much fun.

@Beth, cows in the yard! That's hilarious. "Do you take this man to be your husband?" "Moooo!" haha.

Mrs. Dean - we also used 2 Buck Chuck!

I only had white wine and beer for my alcohol. My venue wouldn't allow red wine/red beverages. We did the best we could.

We had a keg, used very nice plastic plates, cups, and flatware (rentals were out because our locale was not near any rental place for delivery). We also had a more casual bbq reception (on the beach, live band, fun times), so it worked out fine.

I wouldn't consider any of the above tacky, but some uber-formal brides on here would.

We used an iPod during the band's set breaks and after the band left.

I love this thread too! It so refreshing to see that some of us are doing what we feel is right for our event rather than what etiquette dictates. And no judging or flack on this thread. I love it! FutureMrsS, that's why we're inviting everyone we want to invite because I have a lot of out of town family and friends who "say" they're coming (and I hope they do), but I know they all probably won't be able to make it.

I'm also having plastic cups & plastic plates and silverware that look like the real thing. We have to clean up afterwards (our venue comes with tables & chairs and that's it) and we want to be able to just throw everything in the trash.

I'm also doing electronic STDs and invitations via paperlesspost. I think I'm truly the loner on this one, but it works for us and the designs I picked are beautiful! We're saving $$ on the postage and paper costs but I'm also doing it because I'm a techy and it's so efficient. I hate getting mail because I always misplace the important stuff!