"Hi, my name is RedRoseSAI, and I'm a wedding snob."

I've only been to one wedding with a dollar dance. Honestly, I was appalled.

I also think bands are better than DJs. We had a band, and they were awesome. I have yet to say to MrRedRose "Hey, remember that DJ at so-and-so's wedding? Yeah, he was great". Sorry, that just doesn't happen, but I do remember several great wedding bands.

Open bar is the only way to go. You wouldn't invite people over to your house and charge them for alcohol, would you?

Oh, and Chicken Dance, Hokey-Pokey, garter and bouquet toss? No thanks. We did do the cake cutting (withOUT smashing into each other's faces) the hora, and we made people get up and recite poetry if they wanted us to kiss. That was pretty funny...we have some very creative, extroverted friends, so it went over really well.

Since I'm going for broke here, I also like weddings in unique settings (i.e. not the ballroom at a Hyatt).

YES YES YES YES. We are wedding twins. I am so glad I'm not alone -- maybe it's a Chicago thing. :)

Different strokes for different folks. Some people can afford to have weddings with live bands, open bar, and don't do the dollar dance. Others are limited in their finances & make do with a D.J. To some, dollar dances are perfectly acceptable in their cultures while others do it for personal gain. It all depends on what a bride & groom want and think is acceptable for them.
Being a wedding snob is perfectly fine as long as you don't mock or look down your nose at those who do the things you're so against. This isn't written to offend or flame anyone. It's just the way things are w/weddings. Everyone does whatever they feel is acceptable for their special day regardless of what their guests might think. As long as we remember that the bride & groom are happy, then that's all that should matter.

I'm a wedding snob--for my own wedding. I have things that I would want, but I try not to judge others for what they choose. My only exception is if someone acts like hot shit and pretends to be high-class and has a tacky wedding. In that case, Munchkin is allowed to snark away.

Exactly how I feel. I actually think the Monday morning quarterbacking after wedding's is pretty tacky. If people are having the type of wedding that they want, then that's what's important. It's when they try to change to fit everyone else's tastes that things start going downhill.

My wife and I had what we wanted in our wedding, and we had an amazing day. Whether other people do other things for their weddings are up to them.

OK, if we're going to bitch about things we hate at weddings, let me throw out my top one:

THE UNITY CANDLE.

I think the image of snuffing out your own individuality to become part of a couple is absolutely repulsive and has probably sent more than one couple to therapy.

OK, have at me. :)

I've only been to one wedding where there was a unity candle, but I don't remember any message of snuffing out your individuality - just "the two become one" image, where the bride and groom each use their candles to light the central one together. I don't remember if they extinguished the side candles after lighting the central one.

If the message really is one of snuffing out your individuality now that you're half of a couple, well, *shudder*. When you get married, you are half of a couple - but you're still you. Your own individuality and personality don't go away just because you now have a ring on your finger.

LOL! I actually have to agree & say that I detest the Unity candle as well as that sand thing where a couple have 2 different colored sands that they pour into one container. I just don't get it. I don't like these traditions so I'm not having them.

Munchkin, you're perfectly in the right to be a snob about your own wedding. I think that we all are. I know I'm being one w/my loathing of the candle & sand. I also don't like uniformity in bridesmaids dresses so my girls are wearing the same tea length skirt w/different tops that they are comfortable in. It's all in the couple. I say that people should do what makes them happy & comfortable on their day.

I don't like the unity candle either, and we didn't do it at our wedding. I remember reading somewhere back when I was in the wedding planning stage that the whole unity candle thing originally started from a soap opera wedding, and was never a true "tradition" at all. Don't know if it's true or not, but I found it humorous.

I've been to several weddings where they have had the money dance, (mexican and pilipino) and if it's a cultural thing, cool. I wouldn't do it at mine and won't be doing it, but if it's your thing, go for it.

We're not having a band or a DJ, but then we are also flying to Ireland to get married on New Year's Eve with about 24 people coming. After the dinner reception, we're either going to go to the NYE ball at the castle where the dinner is being held, or going back into town to listen to some live music in one of the pubs with our friends and family. One way or the other, we're doing it our way and liking it.:)

Oooh, I'm glad you brought up the cake cutting thing. I think the bride and groom smashing it in each other's faces is tacky as hell. Thankfully, the last few weddings I've been to they haven't smashed it.

Gotta love the hora! Did you have people lift you in the chairs too? :)

As far as the unity candle, I don't think that's done at Jewish weddings. It hasn't been at any of the Jewish weddings I've attended. I never heard of the sand thing until it was done on Trista and Ryan's Wedding.

Ooh, I forgot to snark on bridesmaid dresses. I've always thought that it was odd for grown women to all dress alike. Is it a group of friends to support you on your day, or a drill team? I picked one designer, one color (a color that they ALL looked good in), and let them choose their own dress. It looked great, and everyone was happy.

We did the unity candle (mixed marriage, hence the unity candle and aforementioned hora) but we did not snuff out the side candles. I don't like what that represents, either.

And yes, we did have people lift us up in the chairs...that was quite an experience!

I believe the whole point of the bridesmaids dressing alike is so that they do not detract attention from the bride. But its silly to ask several women of different body types & styles to wear the same thing considering it could attract all sorts of bad attention to the women who don't wear it well.

My sister picked colors & a designer & then allowed us all to pick our own so that we matched but weren't dressed exactly alike. Its the best way to go.

WOW! That sounds so awesome! When is your big day?

;)