Hostess With The Mostest: Avoiding The Top 10 Wedding Guest Complaints

Yes, it’s your big day but that doesn’t mean forgetting all about your guests. You want your wedding day to be memorable — for you and your guests — so don't go spoiling the fun by committing any of the top 10 wedding guest complaints!

Get the seating right

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One of the most difficult parts of planning the wedding is compiling the seating chart but even the most brilliantly constructed seating chart will count for naught if guests are crammed or trapped.

Ensure there is enough room between each seat and table that guests won't be squashed or unable to move. There's little worse than attending a party where so many people are packed into a tiny area that every time someone wants to get up, everyone around them has to rise or move to make room for them.

Overly long toasts

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We've all been at weddings where the speeches JUST. WOULDN'T. END. You know the ones. Remember that best man speech that went for 45 minutes? Or where the groom's big brother cracked inappropriate joke after inappropriate joke before the bridesmaid launched into a speech that disclosed way too much about the bride's teenage shenanigans. They're uncomfortable, off-putting and, sometimes, plain old boring.

Bad food – or not enough of it

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Of course, no couple wants their guests to go hungry. Be sure to have tasted the food selection you'll be serving on your big day with your venue during the initial planning stages. It's a little too late to discover problems on your wedding day. Also, keep in mind that you're probably feeding a large group of people and that not everyone will share your taste in food. You may have vegetarians in the crowd (or be one yourself) and guests with allergies or other special dietary needs, so be sure to notify your venue of these as early as possible. Finally, be sure to order enough food for your guest numbers. There's little more embarrassing as a host or hostess as the food running out halfway through the event. Keep all these food-related rules in mind and you won't find your guests doing a Maccas run – despite the gourmet feast you've served up – on their way home!

An ungracious couple

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Just as you've invited your guests to share your big day, they too have take time out of their schedules to help you celebrate. No matter how busy you are, be sure to make time to speak with every guest on the day. The best way to ensure every guest gets personal attention is to walk around to each table while appetisers or desserts are being served. It will become more complicated to see each guest once they have begun moving around and switching tables.

Timing issues

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Be mindful of how much time you leave between your wedding ceremony and reception. You'll be busy having photos taken and grabbing a desperately needed break, but unless something is organised (even just the name of a local pub where guest can grab a beer or coffee while awaiting your arrival), they'll be milling around twiddling their thumbs.

Give your guests directions

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A really thoughtful gesture is to include a mini map of the venue or a slip of paper containing directions to the ceremony and reception sites. It can just be something you print at home containing the address and basic directions and just goes one step smoother to ensuring your day runs that little bit more smoothly.

An inconvenient date

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Be mindful of the convenience of the date you're marrying on. While you may have chosen your wedding day because of an anniversary or another special occasion, there's no point inviting people on a day the majority of the guests will have difficulty attending or a date such as Christmas, that most people would probably rather spend with family. For example, a Grand Final day wedding may see guests declining your invite. If they do attend, chances are many will be elsewhere mentally – between sneaking off to watch or listen to the match on a phone or nearby radio or TV.

Bored out-of-towners

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Guests travelling to your wedding can be left idle and bored on the days leading up to your wedding. It is understandable that you do not have time to entertain everyone, especially as you are finishing last minute errands. Giving each out-of-town guest a welcome pack can help make them feel welcomed. In the pack include brochures of fun activities to do in the area and events that are going on. This will allow guests to entertain themselves without feeling abandoned by you.

Inappropriate or bad music

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Musical tastes vary and what is, literally, music to your ears may be hellish to your guests – and vice versa. Of course, choosing music can be a painful exercise: too much old-time music can lead to complaints from the younger crowd while the lyrics in some Top 40 songs (I'm talking about you, Robin Thicke!), may make your grandparents blush.

Ambiguous invitations

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Don't be ambiguous with your invitations. Be absolutely clear about whether or not they are able to bring a guest/date/plus-one and whether children are invited. In not being clear, you're inviting discomfort, frustrated guests and some very, very awkward conversations. So, be straight up from the start.