It will be a banner year – 16 weddings…. Some key learnings…

Bykeatingcwk

By the end of this year, I will have attended 16 weddings in 2007.   It has led to many tired Mondays at work, a significantly lower bank account balance, more airplane frequent flier miles, and higher status at Weddingchannel.com (as if they do anything about it…)

As part of my experiences, I have witnessed nearly every type of wedding imaginable and I figured that rather than those experiences disappearing into the black hole of my mind, I should collect them on my space.   Thus this blog entry was born during my delayed flight last night from Orange County.   Let’s call it Chris Keating’s wedding circuit key learnings….

They will be updated as the weddings continue….  If there are others though that you think should be included or if you disagree with mine, leave me a comment.

Note: these are solely my opinions and do not represent opinions or people other than myself….

Key Learnings

  • Get the best man and maid/matron of honor speeches out of the way early (preferably before dinner) so then they can enjoy the wedding like everyone else and not have to stress over their speech
  • Take the individual wedding party pics before the wedding but take the combined wedding pics after so that the bride and groom don’t see each other
  • Include travel size packets of Advil, two bottles of Water, and Vitamin B tablets in the gift bag that each guest gets when they check into the hotel
  • No matter how bad the weather turns out to be, the people throwing the wedding (bride, groom, families, etc…) should always view it before, during, and after the event as "making the experience memorable".  But at the same time, for outdoor weddings there should always be a tent as a fallback plan (just in case…) 
  • If possible, get a group of people to rent a house for the weekend or week – it allows for a quiet hotel experience for those people that want to sleep after the wedding and allows for a security guard free place to hang out after the rehearsal dinner/wedding
  • Golf on the day of the rehearsal dinner is great
  • If possible, invite most of the people to the rehearsal dinner since that is when the best stories, roasts, and slideshows are played and where the memories and laughs are truly shared
  • Weddings should start at 6-7pm since that gives people traveling from afar time to enjoy their day on Saturday and it allows people driving up from nearby time to get up to the wedding on Satruday morning/afternoon.   In addition, it allows certain people to recover from the trouble due to the night before
  • The wedding party should walk in as a couple together and leave together as a couple – it actually gives the guys something to do other than stand around and look stupid….
  • Take pictures of each of your "groups" at the wedding – for example a picture with your high school friends, with college friends, post-college, etc…   It is a great way to tie memories together
  • Family style dinners are fantastic if possible
  • At no point should the songs "Brickhouse", "YMCA", "I will Survive", or a few other horrible 70s songs be allowed.   Notable exceptions are "We are Family" and "Celebration"
  • There should always be an open bar with hard alcohol.  End of story.
  • Band members should never be on the dance floor with the wedding guests – the band shouldn’t need to interact with the wedding party.  They should be able to pump people up with their music alone.
  • The wedding band should have simple musical instruments that the wedding guests can play to significantly increase crowd participation – notable instruments include cowbells, cymbals, triangles, and most importantly tambourines
  • Have the wedding band stop one song earlier than the "cut-off" time by the venue and then have them play an encore.   it will cause the crowd to leave not wanting "one more song"
  • Bridesmaids should be able to choose the style of dress that they want to wear as long as the color is the same.   While it doesn’t apply to me, I was writing this while sitting next to a woman coming from a different wedding and she felt so passionately about this point that I have to include it….
  • Have a time-elapsed camera of the dance floor at the wedding and then turn the picture stream into a video as well
  • Post-wedding food for guests as they leave the wedding is one of the best things I have experienced at a wedding.  The food should be representative of the area where the wedding is being held (ie cheesesteaks in Philly) or of a favorite food of the bride and groom (ie mini-grilled cheese sandwiches)
  • The post-wedding bar should be small enough that it feels intimate and doesn’t lose the fun of the event but it shouldn’t be too crowded.  Hotel bars always seem to work well as long as they have a stereo system that the "DJ" wedding guest can hook an iPod into
  • The bride and groom should send a printed picture of the wedding party to each member of the wedding party after the wedding – it doesn’t have to be framed but that is a nice touch if it is.   This is a way of thanking all of the bridal party for putting up with the pictures when they could be at the reception drinking cocktails

 

(Posted with Windows Live Writer)

4 Comments

  2. Haha.  I couldn\’t plan a wedding to save my life.  Im not detail oriented enough…. 

  3. http://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3285u-3brs.htm Toshiba pa3285u-3brs Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/asus/a32-f3.htm Asus a32-f3 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/asus/f3.htm Asus f3 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3285u-3bas.htm Toshiba pa3285u-3bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/laptop-ac-adapter/dell/d620.htm Dell d620 Adapterhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/acer/as07b41.htm Acer as07b41 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/acer/aspire-5500.htm Acer aspire 5500 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/acer/aspire-9300-series.htm Acer aspire 9300 series Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/laptop-ac-adapter/ laptop ac adapterhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.aulaptop-ac-adapter/ laptop ac adaptershttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/apple/a1185.htm Apple a1185 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/apple/a1185-black.htm Apple a1185 black Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/apple/a1185-white.htm Apple a1185 white Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/asus/a42-a4.htm Asus a42-a4 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/asus/a42-v6.htm Asus a42-v6 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/clevo/d400.htm Clevo d400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/clevo/d470w.htm Clevo d470w Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au laptop batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au laptop batterieshttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/compaq/dv4000.htm Compaq dv4000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/compaq/dv6000.htm Compaq dv6000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/compaq/presario-v4000.htm Compaq presario v4000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/1501.htm Dell 1501 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/6400.htm Dell 6400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/d620.htm Dell d620 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/d630.htm Dell d630 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/d820.htm Dell d820 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/d830.htm Dell d830 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/e1505.htm Dell e1505 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/gd761.htm Dell gd761 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/gk479.htm Dell gk479 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-1000.htm Dell inspiron 1000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-1520.htm Dell inspiron 1520 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-6400.htm Dell inspiron 6400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-1521.htm Dell inspiron 1521 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-6400.htm Dell inspiron 6400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-1720.htm Dell inspiron 1720 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-500m.htm Dell inspiron 500m Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-6000.htm Dell inspiron 6000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-9300.htm Dell inspiron 9300 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/inspiron-9400.htm Dell inspiron 9400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/kd476.htm Dell kd476 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/kr-onx511.htm Dell kr-onx511 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/latitude-d620.htm Dell latitude d620 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/latitude-d630.htm Dell latitude d630 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/latitude-d810.htm Dell latitude d810 Battery

  4. http://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/latitude-d820.htm Dell latitude d820 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/latitude-d830.htm Dell latitude d830 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/vostro-1000.htm Dell vostro 1000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/vostro-1500.htm Dell vostro 1500 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/vostro-1700.htm Dell vostro 1700 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/wr050.htm Dell wr050 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/xps-m1210.htm Dell xps m1210 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/xps-m1330.htm Dell xps m1330 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/xps-m140.htm Dell xps m140 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/xps-m1530.htm Dell xps m1530 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/dell/xps-m1730.htm Dell xps m1730 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/510.htm Hp 510 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/530.htm Hp 530 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/dv2000.htm Hp dv2000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/dv6000.htm Hp dv6000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/dv6500.htm Hp dv6500 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/dv9000.htm Hp dv9000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/sony/vgp-bps2b.htm Sony vgp-bps2b Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3285u-1bas.htm Toshiba pa3285u-1bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3285u-1brs.htm Toshiba pa3285u-1brs Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/sony/vgp-bps5a.htm Sony vgp-bps5a Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3356u.htm Toshiba pa3356u Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3356u-3bas.htm Toshiba pa3356u-3bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au laptop batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au laptop batterieshttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3399u-1bas.htm Toshiba pa3399u-1bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3399u-1brs.htm Toshiba pa3399u-1brs Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3399u-2bas.htm Toshiba pa3399u-2bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3533u-1bas.htm Toshiba pa3533u-1bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3533u-1brs.htm Toshiba pa3533u-1brs Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/toshiba/pa3534u-1bas.htm Toshiba pa3534u-1bas Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nc6100.htm Hp nc6100 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nc6120.htm Hp nc6120 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nc6120.htm Hp nc6200 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nc6400.htm Hp nc6400 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nc8230.htm Hp nc8230 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nx6100.htm Hp nx6100 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/nx6120.htm Hp nx6120 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/pavilion-dv2000.htm Hp pavilion dv2000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/pavilion-dv6000.htm Hp pavilion dv6000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/hp/pavilion-tx2000.htm Hp pavilion tx2000 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/ibm/thinkpad-r60.htm Ibm thinkpad r60 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/ibm/thinkpad-t40.htm Ibm thinkpad t40 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/ibm/thinkpad-t42.htm Ibm thinkpad t42 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/ibm/thinkpad-t43.htm Ibm thinkpad t43 Batteryhttp://www.bestlaptopbattery.com.au/ibm/thinkpad-t60.htm Ibm thinkpad t60 Battery

Comments are closed.