So happy with the way hubby and I did it. Decided we didn't want our toxic family around, but didn't want a burden on our friends so... we opted to invite our closest friends to our favorite pub, and when they all arrived we said "surprise, we're getting married". Best friend officiated on the outdoor patio, pub provided free champagne. We bought food for everyone, and they only had to pay for any extra drinks they wanted. No pressure to dress up, no gifts, no expenses or stress on anyone's part. Of course we both wore really nice clothes, but not "wedding" clothes. We had a ball and there was no stress whatsoever! Almost an elopement except our best friends were all there.

As a guy I learned that a wedding is very special esp for the bride as it's something she most likely always dreamed of and it's her good right. It should be her special day and only hers. No distraction from her, no fancy other dresses, no proposing, no birthday, nothing. Have bad news? Keep it to yourself. Need attention? Leave. Want to bring up something unpleasant from the past? Don't. Let her and them have their special day. Common sense.

I guess the normal families and friends don't get posted in places like this. I think it's very much up to the bride and groom what they want and will and won't allow; and to avoid stress and conflict, it's up to the best man and chief bridesmaid to ensure it happens that way, so they need to be the ones chucking out any wrongdoers.

After reading these stories, i think hiring a security guard would be a good idea

My cousin's wedding! The ceremony and the party took place in a beautiful country side house 45mins from the city. There's only one road that takes you there. At around the time everyone was driving to the venue, there was a car accident that closed the whole road on the direction towards the venue. I was stuck in traffic in the same car with my aunt (cousin's mom) and our grandma. When we finally managed to get moving, our driver got lost and couldn't find the venue. When we finally arrived, the ceremony was ending. My grandma was so upset that she missed it that she didn't want to leave the car. Then my aunt entered the venue and noticed that the mother of the bride had EXACTLY the same dress she had. My aunt started crying and joined grandma in the car refusing to go out. Then my cousin spent quite some time convincing his mom and grandma to join the party. Super awkward! The bride was furious. Another aunt gave my crying aunt a cape to cover up and then she joined the party.

I've attended a pretty high number of "nontraditional" weddings - lots of same-sex weddings before they were legal, for example. I went to one where the couple had a ridiculously huge wedding party, I think six on each side, and everyone was told to just wear back and white to keep things manageable. I was really startled to learn that you're not supposed to wear white at someone else's wedding, and I think it's a little crummy to s**t on anyone who does.