Worst Wedding Tradition? Seasoned Guests Weigh in on Cringiest Customs They'd Rather Skip

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 10, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Wedding traditions come and go; many have even been lost to time immemorial, and plenty are on their way out. Rarely do officiants actually ask if anyone objects to the union anymore outside of rom-coms, for example. This custom was originally part of the ceremony in order to ensure that the couple's marriage would be legally valid – in other words, guests were invited to point out if the bride or groom were already married or if the pair had some biological relation. Some traditions seem pretty innocent on the surface but have misogynistic implications in their origin. Every year, more and more brides are opting to have their mother, grandmother, or close friend walk them down the aisle rather than have their dad "give them away" at the altar. 
There are some old customs that are still going somewhat strong but that make modern wedding guests a little uncomfortable. What's fun about watching a bride's beautiful makeup and dress get ruined by a cake smash?  Find how some brides and grooms put a modern spin on tired traditions or otherwise avoided them despite family pressure.

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  • 01

    Things you don't look forward to at weddings?

    Cheezburger Image 10526951936
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    For those who have been to other weddings before...what do you usually dread/not look forward to at weddings and definitely won't be doing at yours?
    via u/PinkCatBoss
  • 03
    Or what are some things that happen at more "stereotypical" weddings that you didn't/aren't doing at your own?
    via u/PinkCatBoss
  • 04
    Growing-The-Glooty Bouquet/garter toss will not be happening at my wedding. Awkward for the guests and participants
    via u/Growing-The-Glooty
  • 05
    Unfair-Animator-9739 The last wedding i was at, a guest was way too aggressive wrestling the bouquet out of the bride's hands...yikes
    via u/Unfair-Animator-9739
  • 06
    kelli-leigh-o After surviving them enough in my 20s when my husband and I got married we had "pet parent toss."
    via u/kelli-leigh-o
  • 07
    Had a stuffed dog toy that looked like ours and a stuffed cat toy and called up dog lovers and cat lovers. Whoever caught them would be next to adopt a pet. We had guests of all ages run up but it also wasn't required so nobody was pressured.
    via u/kelli-leigh-o

  • Throwing a plushie to adopt a pet is a much cuter and more inclusive idea than the bouquet or garter toss. 

  • 08
    muppetmemories I got married last month and opted out of the garter/bouquet toss because of reddit. I had several women come up to me disappointed that I didn't do the bouquet toss! No regrets, but just wanted future brides to know.
    via u/muppetmemories
  • 09
    OkCryptographer1922 I love the bouquet toss, I caught my best friends bouquet and still have it years later the garter toss, it's so gross to me but I HATE
    via u/OkCryptographer1922
  • 10
    utopiadivine My best friend "forgot" to do the bouquet toss, after the wedding she said "my cousins are ruthless, so I saved this for you" and handed it to me. Lol I have it on my desk.
    via u/utopiadivine
  • 11
    ResponsibleFly 9076 Long wait between the ceremony and dinner
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  • 12
    entcanta333 My brother is getting married this month ... 9am wedding.... 7pm dinner
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    10 Doub
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  • 14
    ResponsibleFly9076 9am wedding?! That's so weird! Hopefully the guests can go home or somewhere comfortable to chill until dinner.
    via u/ResponsibleFly9076
  • 15
    entcanta333 Nooope full day schedule with a party boat. His fiance is European, and from my understanding that's considerably a short wedding.
    via u/entcanta333
  • 16
    Public Ad_9578 Yep. My ex BIL and SIL had a two hour delay... to take pictures.I had nothing to do as my ex husband (BF at the time) was in the wedding party.
    via u/Public_Ad_9578
  • 17
    navelbabel I don't mind that as long as there's drinks and apps.
    via u/navelbabel
  • 18
    JustLooking34511 If the groom retrieves the garter off the bride in front of everyone. It's always so cringeworthy and no one ever wants to catch it.
    via u/JustLooking34511
  • 19
    ak3307 When is the last time you actually saw this at a wedding? Ive never heard of anyone doing it and thought it was left in the 80s!
    via u/ak3307

  • I've seen it at every wedding that I've been to, unfortunately. It's about as awkward as you'd imagine. 

  • 20
    ottersandgoats I don't see it very often anymore but I was at a wedding just 3 years ago where the bride did this!
    via u/ottersandgoats
  • 21
    CParksAct Smashing cake in the face. It seems so disrespectful to your brand new spouse. I absolutely forbid my husband from doing that to me at our wedding. I think it's the only thing I have ever "forbidden" my husband to do and we've been
    via u/CParksAct
  • 22
    together since 1997 and married since 2001. He never seriously considered doing it, but I just wanted to make him aware of how serious I was about it. I don't like to do ultimatums with people. Open discussion and dialogue is much healthier.
    via u/CParksAct
  • 23
    Suitable-Sea-4794 Speeches. Last wedding I went to there were 5 speeches it was so unnecessary
    via u/Suitable-Sea-4794
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 25
    Euphoric-Stress9400 Finding a seat. I HATE weddings without assigned seats. Or at least assigned tables. It's so stressful and awkward.
    via u/Euphoric-Stress9400
  • 26
    thekingDiabeto I'm the opposite. I hate being told where and with whom I have to sit. So my wedding two weeks ago we didn't do assigned seats. So far we haven't heard from anyone any complaints about that.
    via u/thekingDiabeto
  • 27
    navelbabel We skipped the cringey thing where the bridal party is expected to 'dance into' the reception one by one while being announced and everyone stares at them... or especially if it's in pairs. We had our whole
    via u/navelbabel
  • 28
    wedding party come in at once with us to a killer song, like a posse vibe. They were announced by name still but not like slowly one at a time, I hated that as a bridesmaid and the pressure to do some awkward dance-walk.
    via u/navelbabel
  • 29
    anxiouslucy I feel like a j saying it but I despise having to watch the mother/son father/daughter dances. I went to a wedding recently where there was a dance for the groom & his mom, the bride & her dad, the bride & her brother, the bride and her stepdad. Full. Length. Songs. It was god awful. It gets so boring and awkward lol
    via u/anxiouslucy
  • 30
    awake-asleep I think I've heard one genuinely good speech at a wedding. Most speeches are cringey and weirdly off topic, or drag on way too long.
    via u/awake-asleep
  • 31
    conversesap Apparently I'm one of the few that enjoy listening toasts... I don't look forward to line dances. When the Electric Slide comes on, it's my cue to exit the dance floor.
    via u/conversesap
  • 32
    Embarrassed-Bass1362 Kids - no big deal, but weddings are more fun without them. I know folks will feel differently.
    via u/Embarrassed-Bass1362

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