Can't believe how carryed away you can get trying to please your guest! We...

We're not doing any of that. As we have always had very successful BBQ's for birthdays etc we decided to do the same for our wedding reception. In the garden, with gazebos in case of rain (hopefully not in July). The bigger expense is that we are hiring caterers and borrowing tables and chairs, possibly hiring some, to ensure everyone can get seated. We are even doing without seating plans so that people talk and mix. If they can't be happy for us with that then that's their problem. There will obviously be a wedding theme for decorations/flowers and napkins etc but we want it to be a case of eat, drink and be merry. We are rather spending out money on the rings which we will wear for the rest of our lives rather than just one day.

I agree. We will be having a small sweet stand, but that it for us and a really cheesy 90s disco.

Dayna Slater

Too true...i did to a degree but me and dh spent a lot of time putting together a playlist of all our fave songs for the night, some werent amused and wanted their own "disco" but the answer was no...our wedding, our music, our way!

TBH I don't think all the extras are needed. I've never not enjoyed a wedding that just had a DJ and stuff. The only extras we are having are garden games such as giant connect 4 etc but we got it for a deal within our DJ package.

Definitely think you spend your time planning a wedding with the thought in your head of 'will everyone enjoy it' but it's not their day, it's yours. We didn't have anything to keep them entertained we just had a DJ and an Irish band cos it was something we loved, and luckily it was a massive hit! But even if it hadn't of been, tough sh*t cos we enjoyed it

They did you a favour by saying they will be there, and you invited them because you want them to witness your moment. I don't see why it's such a hassle to give them and yourself an amazing day.

Why are you doing all this if it's so stressful? Surely no one has told you you have to?!

We had great fun thinking of all the little extras. We had giant garden games, space hoppers, disco, photo booth, bouncy castle and sweet cart. My husband and I loved it just as much as the guests and we still get amazing comments a year down the line. I'm just a big kid really and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

My night do will be literally a DJ, I'm not hiring bouncy castles or photo booths I want a proper traditional evening do of just dancing and plenty of laughter! X

I had just had a disco. Highlight of the evening was the buffet. We had bacon and sausage rolls and folk still comment on that nearly 4 years later.

Have your guests demanded all the bells and whistles or is this more to do with "my wedding will be the best". Do whatever you want, it's your day but don't do anything begrudgingly, proper friends don't care and will be there for you not a few jelly babies!!!!

We had a magician on arrival whilst we went off and had pictures to keep guests entertained we were very lucky with the weather as we chose to have tipis is the middle of a field. We had a bouncy castle, inflatable darts and a football pitch was perfect kept the children busy we had a drinks station where the kids to help them selves to drinks so parents were left to enjoy the day. Then for evening guests we had a singer magic mirror and dj everyone commented that we had thought of everything to keep guests entertained everyone was happy 250 people from 1- 85 so in my eyes it was perfect people still say was best wedding they have been to only do what is right for you if gets stressful stop and think why you are doing what you are doing. The day is for you and your husband to make promises to each other surrounded by people you love. Good luck x

I've pleases no one but myself and my H2B. It's our wedding- like it or lump it :)

I organised a string quartet and canapés and a sweet cart for the afternoon after the ceremony. I tend to get bored and hungry in that part and I wanted the people I love that were there to see us start a new chapter of our lives to be able to relax and enjoy themselves. I know some of our older guests had some time just sat listening to music and spending some time not having to keep chatting to others. I seen guests dancing while we were having pictures taken.

My guests had all travelled quite far despite us putting on a bus and those that weren't on the bus were spending a lot of money to stay overnight.

I also considered that a lot of money is also spent by guests and I wanted all of these people to come and enjoy my whole day. Yes ultimately it was about me and my husband but I wanted to make sure I consider my guests too rather than think if they don't like it our way tough xx

We're having the venues DJ and sweet cart (wedding favour)
We're setting up a kids table with some colouring and possibly the wii machine. Do what makes u happy not everyone else

We had a candy cart, and a table with games and colouring things for the children from the pound shop, as we had 12 children at our wedding. Also had bubbles n stuff as favours for them. That was plenty to keep them amused. We also had a Dj at night time and most kids were up dancing ect x

We are having a disco (family owned) hopefully a band for the first dance (also family) and some giant versions of games and a sing a long and hopefully a home made photo booth. All things me and h2b want that will help entertain our girls during our day

We're only having a dj we don't have kids otherwise we'd do something for their entertainment everyone else can either get a babysitter or entertain their kids themselves

Hi I agree with you entirely only having what we can afford, if people don't like it they are welcome to stay away or leave when they want :)

I've gone the other way lol, loads organised as I want ppl to have a really fun day and not be bored

We had a very small wedding with very close family and friends. We did the catering and my daughter donated her house for the reception we had an amazing day no frills just plain and simple dancing and having fun with the kids.

Well said! I'm completely with you on that. Me and my H2b are on a budget, we have decided to sacrifice having wedding cars so we can feed the people we want at the ceremony a decent meal. Now I'm been asked about having Balloons, children's entertainment and expensive keepsake favours for the guests. Isn't it enough that they mean something to us both and have been invited to our special day? It feels like we are expected to make it there special day instead.

I feel your pain! Im still only in the planning stage and its really stressful with the amount of pressure im getting from guests xxx

This was me and my husband on our bouncy castle on the 5th August, yes I was wearing custom trainer , then changed into my unicorn onesie at the night time, this was my only demand throughout our whole wedding :) #bestweddingever

I agree. Nowadays it seems that the next wedding has to be bigger/better/louder/bouncier/trendier/weirder etc etc than the previous one. It's now trying to outdo the Joneses never mind keep up with them

Most people are just happy with a bit of food alcohol and some music :-) don't worry!

We've supplied games for the children but nothing for adults I love dancing and if they don't I don't care they are gonna dance

Im not doing any of that fo that reason. Its our wedding day. No one elses. Get married, have pictures.. bbq speeches, booze, and dj. Im doing a play room for the kids but thats more so for my boy with his tv & dvds ect and an airbed incase any kids need a nap but we have done our wedding for us. We aint getting married for anyone else apart from me my h2b & our boy x