Why do people burn stuff at weddings?

Because they are BORED! And obviously there is plenty of kindling – serviettes, menus, the odd snotty tissue.

Invariably the bride and groom are blissfully unaware of the pyromania of their guests. It’s the poor family member who gets lumped with returning the hired decor items who has to please explain.

So why are people bored?

This is one of the first things I considered when planning our wedding. I wanted to have a wedding where the guests are considered too and not just Bridezilla and her groom sidekick.

I think it’s the conundrum of fitting it all in; photos, speeches, food, that makes a lot of weddings just plain yawnworthy. You can’t expect people to wait for two hours, with nowhere to sit, and then hope and pray alcohol will keep them from getting restless.

Nicky and I went to a wedding recently, a beautiful wedding. But they made us wait for more than an hour outside the reception venue with non-alcoholic welcome drinks. I thought this was quite uncool. Especially considering there were elderly people, and The Girl With the Fooked Knee (me). Contrast this to a bush wedding we went to in July, where we sat at our table reconnecting with old friends and knocking back some cocktails while the couple had their photos. Muuuuuuch better.

My solution: throw out all the unnecessary stuff (throwing bouquets, sniffing garters, speeches by every Auntie and cousin brother), have a First Look. Let your people into the reception venue before you arrive. And have some consideration for the poor souls who are wearing their favourite 9 inch heels, and who came 100’s of km’s to your special day.

And here, have a pink blueberry cocktail:

Pic courtesy Cap Classique