Wedding Horror Stories- What's the worst you've seen?

My H and I flew across the country to attend his cousins wedding. Easily cost us $1500+ to attend. The day before the wedding they had a "help us set up/rehearsal" which we had to go to, not because we were in the wedding party but because they needed help setting up. So fine we go, move tables/chairs/etc. the entire time the bride was sitting with her feet propped up telling everyone what to do, because you know...shes the bride! The day of the wedding was SO HOT and humid, they got married outside in a field with no shade, and no chairs (well there were chairs, but only for the elderly, at least they were considerate... right?!). The reception was potluck, and the food was kinda gross and a collection of random casseroles/ham. The bar was a "toonie bar" which I find not only rude but SO ANNOYING who carries that much change, let alone to a wedding? and we had NO IDEA that it would be cash bar. The set up crew was also the take down crew (my FILS) but my inlaws were not having it, they were pissed. They started to take down the tables and chairs as soon as they were left empty before the bride and groom had even left (was probably like 930PM) the brides family saw this happening, and refused to get up or help at all. They sat at their table (in fear it would be taken away im sure) for the rest of the night, so they were the only ones left with a seat. It looked hilariously awkward to see one set up table in an empty hall while people danced around them. To top it all off, the grooms side all went in together and gave a VERY generous cash gift...we never received a thank you card. Still salty, it cost me an arm and leg to attend that wedding!

@KE that happened to me also! I think it was the ministers first wedding (new to the church, anyway), and he totally forgot to tell everyone to sit so we all just stood the whole time! The one I went to was closer to 20 minutes, but we were all confused and through the whole ceremony people were looking around trying to figure out if they could sit and start a wave, or if they'd get yelled at, or what!

A family friend had a backyard wedding. Nothing wrong with that but he tried to get his guests and her family to fund his day. On the way there they called my mom for ice and booze. This is after she was asked/told to bring the wedding cake. He spent top dollar on his custom suit but had her family cater and host the whole thing. It was very clear he did not want to spend a dime on his 'wedding' and I say him because this was his attitude. They lasted three months. My mom really wanted the money she spent back.

I went to a ranch themed wedding. I was a guest so I hadn't seen the invitation and my date didn't read the part where it said "ranch attire" so we were wearing semi formal attire. We got there and everyone was in jeans, it was hot as f, we had to take a bus up this mountain to get to the spot and during the ceremony, an actor pretending to be a cowboy shot is gun off when they asked if there were objections.

@JJ every Catholic wedding I've been to has had a gap. It's tough because churches only allow certain times and then reception venues also have time restrictions.

@cutenickname @jj very true, they only offer like 1130 or 330 at my church. Not a whole lot we can do

These are crazy! Thankfully all the weddings I have been to have been pretty chillax! I think the worst is when you want to be a wallflower and people drag you to the dance floor.

Not a bad wedding in the same way that the rest of these are, but I went to a real "Runaway Bride" wedding last year. The bride was in the middle of her vows and just said "I'm sorry, I need a minute" and ran out. Super uncomfortable for everyone, but it was so sad too. Her mom went out to check on her and her dad invited everyone to go ahead and enjoy the bar/food but I don't think very many people actually did.

Went to a wedding forever ago. All I remember is right before they kissed someone broke into the wedding and ran down the isle dressed in a poncho and sombrero asking/screaming about where Jennifer Lopez was. It was obviously a friend of the couple but boy it was awkward. No one laughed or understood what was going on.

@JJ yeah, that's odd!

@Lucy- I just saw your comment about the ranch wedding hahahaha.

@OHP holy hell, girl!!!!!! I spat out my tea after the first sentence.

I have two

First one-my XH and I were in the bridal party along with our twins boys as ring bearers. The bride asked me to do her hair morning of(I was a hairdresser) okay fine. I did her hair and then she decides that she wants me to do the rest of the BM hair. Okay. Then they leave and she tells me to pick up the buns and trays for supper. Okay. I still have not had my hair done. I was late getting to pictures and was told that it was fine. Since I couldn't show up on time I didn't need to be in them. We get to wedding and it was so freaking hot we were dying. Outside, no shade. After the wedding MOB tells me and another BM and our "groomsmen" that we have to load up all the chairs for the rental company. Then she tells us that we don't need to be in limo. It's for family only(the rest of BP) and they don't want us in pictures. We had no ride. Had to call a friend to get us. We go to the reception two hours later. There is only buns and cold cuts to eat. All the guests left to eat. Bride was having a fit. Told us we couldn't leave until after the dance. We sat there starving and the drinks were full price and we didn't have any money on us. We left around 10ish. Next morning bride shows up with tuxes and tells us we have to take them back to rental place(an hour drive away). I told her to shove them up her ass

2nd-my best friend decided to surprise her son with a reception for wedding. They were just going to have ceremony. She asked for help decorating night before and we went there and the hotel wouldn't let us in as my friend hadn't paid room rental. So I paid for it. We decorate. The next morning I went to do the flower girls hair(BFs daughters) and got roped into doing everyone's. Okay. That fine. We go to ceremony and there is no seating. Outside in August. I was in a walking boot.

Get to reception and we had to pay for our plates. I said nope and left for dinner at a restaurant. We get back and 90% of the guests and wedding party are in parking lot. Drinks were $9/each so everyone was drinking there.

Two weeks before her wedding, a girl I knew from high school sent out a mass facebook invite for her wedding to about 500 of her "closest" friends. The wedding was going to be in a local church basement, was strictly dry, and was BYO food. Sadly, because I would've loved to witness this wedding, I was on vacation, but fortunately my cousin was actually married to my old acquaintance's brother!

After I got back from vacation, I met up with my cousin to ask her how the wedding went. Apparently, the bride and groom only had a two week engagement, so she sent out the FB invite pretty much the day she got engaged. My cousin then spent the two weeks leading up to the wedding trying to convince her sister-in-law to wait to get married, but failed miserably, and got roped into making decorations for the entire wedding. Bouquets, centerpieces, you name it, my cousin made it.

Oh and apparently there was no dancing allowed at the reception. Because church basement.

I went to a wedding as a photographer (my aunt kind of guilted me into it for her daughter) and no one knew what they were doing. It was incredibly obvious that the bride and groom didn't want this big, everyone they love in attendance wedding and that they let other people completely plan out all the details. Literally, I think they were just told a time and a date to show up. When it came time to walk down the too dark aisle, no one knew who should walk first or when to walk. I was a very inexperienced photographer (a fact I made known when I was asked) at this time and had only ever photographed two weddings prior to this and they were in full sunlight. I hadn't practiced photography in really dark rooms and my flash just wasn't helping me out any. So, here I am trying to get somewhat decent photos of these people who look confused and I'm looking at my mom in the hopes she can help get me out of this situation since it was her sister who put me in it. This was a self catered, self DJ, friendor filled wedding with no alcohol whatsoever. The brides bouquet caught on fire at some point during the evening and I had several people approaching to tell me who they were to the bride and groom. My mom (who was newly widowed at the time) left the wedding early because it was too much for her and it was really close to hers and my dad's anniversary. The groom proceeded to tell her that she needed to let go of all the bad stuff and just be happy and all that jazz. It, rightfully, pissed her off and she continued to leave. I got all of the 'necessary' shots that the grooms mother thought I should get before checking to see if the bride/groom were okay with the shots I got before checking out myself. I was miserable the entire time and ended up stressing over the awful quality of most of the pictures due to be inexperienced. I told my mom that I am no longer photographing people. I don't like people enough to continue it. Haha. So, now, I very happily stick to nature and animals. Anytime someone asks me to do a wedding, I decline as politely as I can. No more shit shows for me!

ETA: Correcting Autocorrect

At my friends church wedding they did communion. All of her non-religious friends and Jewish friends happened to be seated in the same 2 rows. These friends all sat quietly and politely observed while the other guests went up to the front of the church. Nobody interfered with the ritual, and everyone was respectful of other people's religious practice.

The officiant, seeing that not everyone was participating in the ritual, looked straight at that section of the church. He said something to the effect of "it would be the greatest gift to Bride and Groom, if on the occasion of their wedding, you accepted Jesus into your hearts." Bride and Groom clearly did not know that this was going to happen, and wore an expression of "I should smile through the awkwardness because the camera's right there." Never been proselytized to at a wedding until that day!

Being the Florida girl at an outdoor wedding in Virginia Beach in the middle of September in like the low 60s. It rained earlier that day, so my feet were soaked and freezing.

I was a b-listed (before I knew what that was) at a wedding that was supposed to start at 7pm and didn't start until 9:30pm. I also had to be at work at 6:00 am the next morning

I went to a wedding that had a cash bar...unless if you were "special" and close to the family and you got a wristband. I got a wristband but I couldn't imagine how everyone else felt. Love them but it was so tacky.

My cousin had a very low key wedding that was overall decent. However, it was 2 months after my grandfather's funeral so everyone was a bit solemn. Not a big deal but it wasn't the happiest affair.

But the craziest thing is that she let my aunt pick the musician...and my aunt picked a man who only plays and does sing a long songs. And brings a book straight from the 90s of what he can play. It literally included things like take me out to the ballgame which I think was played since there were some kiddos there. Needless to say, it was a big BOY I don't ever want something like that moment for me.

@Kateri that is a new low!!

@cutenickname @jj @Luckyak I'm having a Catholic wedding and the latest they'll let us get married is 130pm so we're going to have a gap so we don't have an awkward 2:30pm reception. This happens usually in my family and we all go to the hotel or someone's house and start drinking. Usually not a huge issue as long as there is food, alcohol, and dancing at the reception.