8 Difficult People You Will Encounter While Wedding Planning (and How to Deal With Them)
While most of your wedding guests will be amazing, you’re going to come across a few less-than-amazing people on your journey to the altar. Here’s how to handle them.
While the majority of your friends and family members will be awesome additions to your big day and a huge help in the months leading up to it, a handful of them may have some quirks to work out. From type A pals who want to flex their wedding planning muscles to overly-critical family members, you’ll see it all on your journey to the altar. Here’s how to handle them.
Here are a few of the difficult people you will encounter while wedding planning.
The Wannabe Wedding Planner
This friend or family member has been waiting desperately for someone to get hitched and they are going to try their darndest to be a part of your big day. They’ve probably crafted several dozen Pinterest boards, have a phone filled with dress photos and are currently researching how to become ordained. Understand that this is coming from a good place, but you don’t need to accept their helping hand for everything. Give them a few tasks - like wrapping up favours or addressing envelopes - to keep them busy and involved. Luckily, they’ll probably do a bang up job because they’re so into it.
The Ghost
No, this is a not a spooky, transparent ghoul looking to curse you on your big day - it’s the other kind of ghost. You know, that friend who you text twenty times only to be met with no reply? Far less scary, a hundred times more annoying. The best way to deal with this is to be understanding. While it may drive you up the wall, try not to push this person to be a bigger part of your wedding day than they want to be. They may have something going on in their own life that’s causing them to be a little distant, and you don’t want to make them feel badly. Focus on your wedding and they’ll join in on the revelry when they’re ready.
The Overenthusiastic Acquaintance
A lot of people are going to crawl out of the woodwork when they hear you’re getting hitched - your high school lab partner, your former coworker, your second cousin twice removed, even that guy you met at a party one time six years ago. Even if you weren’t the greatest of friends, they may try to weasel their way into your wedding plans. If they try to start putting together your wedding for you, kindly let them know that you’ve got other friends and family members on the job, and that while it’s appreciated, you don’t need any more cooks in the kitchen.
The Judgemental Judy
Everyone is going to have an opinion about your wedding, and, unfortunately, they won’t all be great. If your BFF or aunt has the moxie to mention how much they dislike your choice of venue or dress, stop giving them the insider details. Let them know that you want your big day to be full of surprises to save you from constant critiques. The stress of wedding planning is enough without that added doubt.
The Coworker Who Needs an Invite
So, you accidentally mentioned your impending nuptials at your last company mixer? You’ve probably got an office pal or two waiting with bated breath for their invite to arrive on their desk - and they are letting you know. If that’s not in the cards, you’ve got a bit of explaining to do. The best way to handle it is to be direct. Let them know that your guest list just didn’t have room, but that you really appreciate their well wishes. Sure, you may get a bit of side-eye at the water cooler, but it’s better than spending months dancing around the subject.
The Quiz Master
This is that friend or family member that wants to know literally everything. Seriously, they would probably steal your phone when you weren’t looking just to get that extra bit of info. From when you’re going to start having children to how much your wedding is costing you, this guy or gal wants the scoop on it all. To sidestep the uber personal questions, use your conversational skills to maneuver your way out of answering. Charm them with your humour, or, if you don’t mind a little confrontation, shoot them down from the get-go.
The Spotlight Stealer
We all have that friend who loves the limelight just a little too much. You know the one who always outdoes you on the dance floor or wears the flashiest ensembles on every night out. Well, you’re going to have to let ‘em know that your wedding day is not their day - it’s yours, and you’ve earned your fifteen minutes (or more) of fame. So what do you do? Give them some strict guidelines. Make your dress code clear, give them specifics for their toast and ask them not to choreograph a Beyonce-themed dance routine for your reception.
The Wedding Newbie
Some people just don’t go to a ton of weddings, and that is A-OK. But, unfortunately, this means they probably missed the memo when it comes to wedding etiquette. These guests will probably need to be schooled in the do’s and don’ts of guest lists, table arrangements and dress codes. Expect for them to reach out with a few inappropriate questions or try to smuggle in a +1 when you’ve clearly indicated that there shouldn’t be any extra guests. The best way to deal? Have your point person reiterate the rules to them. This will save you the hassle of awkward and uncomfortable situations and help them get to know the ways of the wedding world.
