Throwback Thursday – Rule #3: Eat Your Frickin' Dinner

Here’s an oldie but goodie, taken from one of my past columns at The Broke Ass Bride:

We’ll get to rule #2 in a little while. But Rule #3?

SIT. DOWN.

So, you’ve planned this great wedding. You’ve had your meal tasting, you’re really excited about the food you’ve picked out and paid so much for (per person, even). You may not have eaten for most of the day… too much running around, too nervous, maybe someone handed you a cookie before you put on your dress. Now it’s cocktail time and you are starving. Ravenous, I tell you. But you have to take pictures. You have to take pictures while everyone is enjoying the signature cocktails and mini-donuts that you got just for them. You have to take pictures while they’re sucking down the chicken kabobs. And if you’re really lucky, you can smell the food from where you’re frantically (yet happily) smiling, for the love of God, while you’re taking pictures. 

 Yes! Time for the reception. Your grand entrance into your first dance, all you ever dreamed, and then you make your way over to the sweetheart’s table, where your dinner is waiting for you, tantalizing and hot. But on the way, Aunt Sookie bride-blocks you for a congratulatory hug. Seeing the opening, your Mom’s cousin David drags you over to table 3 for a group picture. Seeing that opening, one of your bridesmaids asks you a question about check-out time at the hotel, and since that’s going on, the groomsmen pull your guy over to the bar for the first of many celebratory Jager shots. By the time you get back to your table, your food is either cold or the waiters have quite helpfully – Grrrr – cleared it away. If I’ve seen it happen once as a wedding guest, I’ve seen it happen a dozen times. 

Seriously? Not on my watch. 

Rule #3 is as follows: You will eat. I will make sure you get some appetizers before or during picture taking. I will personally guide you to your table (in dark sunglasses and sporting a Secret Service scowl, if necessary) and sit you down. Addendum to Rule #3: Just like when you were a kid, you will not be allowed to get up until you have finished your dinner. Everyone can come to you while you’re sitting there, instead (and they will, don’t worry). When you’re done, then I will let you get up and work the room to everyone’s satisfaction.

 If you don’t have a wedding planner, make Rule#3 yours, anyway. Ask your venue/caterer to have someone bring a plate over to you and yours during the cocktail hour. Ask one of your wedding party or one of your parents to escort you straight to your table (an “official” looking escort always detracts people. Dunno, it works). DO NOT LEAVE THE TABLE UNTIL YOU’VE FINISHED. Then the rest of the night is yours.

Oh, and Rule #2: No cheap aisle runners. If it says it’s made from paper, stay away from it. You think They’re beautiful, you think they’re elegant…and every single one of my brides who has had one has tripped on it. No matter how secure it was fixed to the floor, they stumble to the horrified screams of the crowd. It could be me, I’m cursed, but it doesn’t matter. If you want an aisle runner, ask your florist what they can do. Or, hey, use flower petals. Buy one from a company that makes professionally, like OriginalRunners.com. But don’t go cheap, unless you’re prepared to hear the screams. And seriously people, EAT YOUR FRICKIN’ dinner. Please? 

 See you at the end of the aisle, 

Liz Coopersmith 
Silver Charm Events
www.silvercharmevents.com
323-592-9318
liz@silvercharmevents.com