[PeppyGPhiB]

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I attended the wedding of some friends. They rented out a facility on a beach, at night, in October. They didn't have a lot of money, so they decided to DIY...or so we thought. We knew that ahead of time, so my husband volunteered to help with grilling when they told us that was their plan. Well, we showed up an hour before the wedding - to get the lay of the land - to find none of the food preportioned, laid out or prepared. Other friends were setting up the tables, making the placecards, setting up the music/AV. We were handed a card telling us that photography would be provided by us, the guests, and on the card was a list of shots we were tasked with taking. After a lovely ceremony, which I witnessed without my husband because he was helping the non-caterers get food opened and placed in containers for the "cocktail hour," everyone was asked to go outside for a while so the room could be re-set. It was cold and raining outside. Meanwhile, my husband was still trying to help get the food going, and the two tiny grills started. He discovered there weren't enough steaks for the 100 guests, and the chicken was frozen in two square blocks. I thought they were roasts when I saw them. Another guest went and got ice for the bar since there was none; another guest went and bought salad dressing since there was none. My husband and another one of our friends were outside all night cooking the steaks and chicken while guests ate, the cake was cut, first dances happened, etc. At one point the father of the bride went outside and hollered at them for not having the chicken - which never did defrost - done and served. I eventually insisted that they come inside, chicken or not. I made my husband a plate of food and sat with him as he ate, all alone at our table. After about a half hour, the music on the iPod changed pace, slowing down and eventually ending with "Hit the Road, Jack." Then the bride got on the mic and said they appreciated everyone helping them clean up, because they had to be out of there by midnight. This was at 11:30. A lot of the guests grabbed trash bags and started cleaning up, but we took off. My husband had already missed the whole wedding...he didn't even get to see them get married!

I was pretty appalled. It's one thing to DIY...most brides these days do a lot of DIY. But it's another to ask your guests to throw the party for you, and that's what this was.