You may be really happy that a friend is planning her wedding, and you might even have a gift picked out -but then comes the news: you didn't make the cut for the guest list. Trend-watchers are seeing more and more weddings that include the wedding planner sending out notices to friends to confirm that they are not expected to attend. The most likely reason is that smaller guest lists mean fewer costs.
“Nine out of 10 times, it’s because of lack of space – and the couple feels super guilty,” Tatiana Byron, founder of event planning service The Wedding Salon, told TODAY.com. “These are usually people they’re friendly with, but not close to.”
Tatiana’s clients have done everything from personally e-mailing and sending cards to acquaintances to having their wedding planner do the dirty work for them – call and apologize on the couple’s behalf. The response? An unsurprising mix of disappointment and anger.
“Some of their friends complain and criticize the couple, thinking the planner won’t tell the client,” explained Byron. As for those who deliver the bad news personally, it usually becomes a game of throwing the significant other under the bus. “The groom blames the bride, and the bride blames the groom.”
How about this idea: don't plan such an expensive wedding that you can't have all your friends there. Link -via Digg
(Image credit: Flickr user Flower Factor)
The ceremony and reception were in a park (a big shed type building served as the reception hall and we stood in the band stand for the ceremony), friends helped cater (high tea, not dinner), and family did music. Decorations were begged or borrowed and almost everything has been reused since! My wife altered her dress slightly and has worn it to a number of other functions.
We've received a lot of compliments about our wedding and guests are often shocked when we tell them the cost. It was a country town wedding and just about invited everyone we knew.
My experience was that if you focus the wedding on the union and the two people, instead of the 'day', you will have a more genuine and cheaper day.
Of course, I must admit that our style may not suit everyone- but it certainly reflected how we wanted to start our life together.