Photo: Getty Images
As much as you'd like to think your guests will love every single aspect of your wedding, the truth is you really can't please everyone. However, you can try to avoid ticking them off too bad. Here's how:
1. Too many speeches
Speeches are great and all, but turns out sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Florida Keys wedding planner Lynn D'Ascanio of Dasignerevents.com recommends finding out how many people would like to make a speech in advance, and if it's in excess of three or four people, politely ask some of them to do so at the rehearsal dinner the night before. The maid of honor, best man and parents definitely get priority at the wedding.
2. Asking for cash gifts
This is a major etiquette don't — and for good reason. Instead, set up a traditional wedding registry and you're bound to get cash gifts. However, asking guests to flat out fund your honeymoon or help you purchase a house and some of them may be a bit turned off, points out wedding planner and founder of Pretty Pear Bride, Shafonne Myers.
See More: 10 Ways to Ensure Your Guests Have an Absolute Blast
3. Social media bans
Most people will understand if you ask them not to take pictures during your ceremony or to post anything until after it's over. But when you try to limit playing with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on the days preceding and following your wedding (particularly at destination weddings), you're playing with fire, says professional wedding planner Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques.
4. Really loud music
Guests often complain about the music choices and volume according to Greg Jenkins, founder of Bravo Productions. "Make selections that appeal to everyone, and conduct a sound check before the guests arrive into the room," he suggests. "If those who opt not to dance can't carry on a conversation, then the music is too loud."
5. Long lines
Not having enough bartenders or servers for the size of the crowd may put some of your guests in a sour mood, warns celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown of Donnie Brown Weddings and Events. Make sure you have enough help so that no one is starving or spending the majority of your wedding waiting in line.
See More: Wedding Etiquette Tips For Brides: Guests and Family
6. Very specific dress codes
While requiring all of your guests to wear white for your bohemian wedding sounds dreamy in theory, you have to take into account that some of them might not own anything white and now that's just an extra expense for them.
7. Less than ideal weather
Outdoor weddings in the blazing sun and heat with zero shade and non air-conditioned receptions can have guests annoyed from the beginning, says Lynn Jawitz, owner of Florisan Wedding and Event Design in NYC. Don't turn the air conditioning up too high, though, because you don't want to freeze your guests out either.
8. A huge gap between your ceremony and reception
"In some parts of the country this is a normal practice, but for most it's not," notes Tracie Domino, founder of Tracie Domino Events. If you must have a gap over an hour, she advises giving your guests some fun suggestions on ways to occupy their time.