The dumbest rules you have at your venue

Chairs that are inside cannot then be moved outside, and vice versa. No rice, helium balloons, confetti, sparklers, open flames. Candles must be drip-less. No hanging or leaning anything on the walls. No hanging anything on the ceiling. No dancing on the carpet. If you want to move the furniture you have to call the director and SHE has to come move it.

That is crazy!!! That she has to move it...

Just about every rule a venue puts into place makes sense. Confetti is almost impossible to clean up! I made the mistake once of putting confetti on a New Year's Eve buffet table at my apartment once - I was still trying to vacum that crud up out of the carpet 8 months later! Rice is NOT bad for birds. However, it is another item difficult to clean up - especially if it gets into grass. And if rice (or birdseed) lands on a hard surface where people walk, it is now a slipping/falling hazard, especially for ladies who might be wearing heels. (Such as, the BRIDE???)

Flower petals make sense: ever step on them when/if they hit the floor? No matter the color, they have moisture in their petals that is released when stepped on, and this can soil carpeting. Red flower petals can stain permanently.

I can remember when no one had red wine at a wedding, ever. It was always white wine/champagne. Why? It was considered tremendous ill fortune for the bride to have blood on her dress cont

Or anything that appeared to look like blood. Red wine spilled/dripped on a white dress can often look like blood, so weddings up until recently never served red wine. Venues might prohibit it because red wine can stain: and guests who are walking around with drinks, slightly tipsy, not necessarily watching out for each other, might bump some one who can spill a glass of red wine that might stain carpeting, upholstery, or linens.

Hanging things from ceilings is a classic safety hazard - especially if the ceilings are those accoustic tiles.

The one that gets me is the mandatory security guard for weddings. What about birthday parties, quencenneras, or anniversaries where alcohol is served? Why no security there? But for wedding - whether alcohol is served or not, one must pay out for a guard. Now, THAT'S stupid!

I agree with Michele. Most of the rules make sense, even though they're really annoying to us! My venue has a no jeans rule. Of course that's fine for the ceremony since I hope no one will wear jeans, but it's annoying for other visits or for when the BP goes to get ready.

Wow... michele, either you are an insurance agent or just really really resourceful! haha! I would have never come up with that stuff! and thanks for clearing up the bird issue...

Like FMH I too am having a backyard wedding so no rules, just have to be respectful of the owners space so we run everything by him and his wife...

I can completely understand some of them, but things like wine come out of carpets/upholstery with a steam cleaner/cleaning solution. It can be washed out of linens. The stain can be cleaned with funds from the security deposit. Hanging light things (like paper bells) shouldn't be an issue, especially if it's on the side walls.

Oh, and I agree about security. That is ridiculous.

No bubbles (I guess kids were pouring it into the fish pond)

No petals (unless they are white)

No confetti, rice, etc.

Nothing too outrageous, I did want to have bubbles, but I understand why they have the rule now. Poor fishies.

Nowadays the red wine thing has a lot to do with what kind of venue it is. For example, you probably can't have red wine in any sort of museum or art gallery, because it could stain the art.

So far, my venue has been pretty open about everything. They renovated the place with a lot of things in mind, like using a drop ceiling so we can string lights, tulle or china balls from it.

We haven't gone over much yet though, so who knows. They could have crazy rules we don't know about!

That's so sad when parents don't watch their kids and others suffer The fish and future couples.

Yep one of my HUGE pet peeves when parents don't do a thing about their out of control kids or crying baby.

I am sorry if it is harsh and yes I don't have kids. It just I grew up with young parents that they would take me home if I misbehave in public. Or punish me. So I was always on my best behavior in public while growing up.

Our venue has the same rule about requiring security there if there is alcohol. But they provide the security. And they said no sparklers, confetti, bird seed, etc... for the farewell. So i'm trying to come up with a creative alternative.

Wow that is really cool serena to get security for free

Done by 11 pm. Can't decorate the night before (I'm hoping to sway him), no alcohol opening besides at the bar (even though we bring our own alcohol), no red punch, candles must have enclosed holders

Out by dusk.....DUSK! Really?!? Ugh so wedding all over by 9pm.

Can't decorate the night before UNLESS it's not booked, but we won't know that until the week of. And the church, which is my Grandmas church won't let us play "From This Moment On" Byhania Twain in the Church. It's a stinking love song.

My venue is pretty lax about everything except for no tape.... but we can staple and push pin anything we want!! They're probably going to be sorry they told me that! haha. Also anything except for wine and champaign has to come from their bar, but thats expected (I wish it wasn't... but.. it is). It just sucks a little because they don't have kegs, and they sell it by the can. Would have been cheaper with a keg, but I guess I got a great deal on my venue so I can't complain!

Why not have your receptions at your homes, then you can do anything you want to? I know I'm about to be slammed, but put yourself on the venue's end. Listed below are a few reasons from a venue for some of the "dumb rules" -

1) Closing times - Cities have noise curfews. Venues often have you out by a certain time to meet those.

2) No tape, nails, etc. - damage to the facility, if we don't protect the property thru these type of rules you won't. Multiply your event x many events where stuff is hung & poorly removed; imagine it's your home - would you be set up rules?

3) Red rose petals stain carpets, floors & linens when rubbed in or stepped on.

4) Confetti is a nightmare to clean up; I once spent 4 hrs w/ vacuums, brooms and rakes cleaning the stuff up from our driveway at 3 am.

5) Hours allotted for decorating - venue staff has to be present, open up for renters, &/or be present to monitor property use (time $&dollar.

6) Rice is a mess to clean up.

7) Candles burn holes in linens.

We had to hire security for our venue but we were going to do that anyway, and it ended up costing less because it was through the venue themselves.