Guests put to work at wedding?

My parents and I were recently guests at a friend's wedding. Upon arrival at the church, all three of us were put to work - my dad in charge of the music, me in charge of the bridal party's flowers, and my mom was handed a video camera and asked to tape the cermony!





I doubt this will ever happen again, but what would be a good way to get out of it next time, if it ever does?

Guests put to work at wedding?
Just say no. It might seem a little rude at first, but it's not nearly as rude as a bride putting her "guests" to work at her wedding.
Reply:Listen. They are friends and friends do for friends. No big deal and how great they felt you were capable of contributing to their big day and all of you have fun memories. Next time, if there is another family friend getting married, show up at the last minute. Mom could have taped the ceremony, handed it off to another person during the reception, and passed the camera around, so everyone could have shared in the process. They could not afford all the professionals that some can, but, thank goodness their "friends" we willing to help with them have a memorable day.
Reply:Simply say, "I came to enjoy the wedding. If you needed the help, you should have let me know before." Then choose your seat. That is exceptionally rude, and should not be tolerated by any guests. I have family and friends helping out (Fiance's brother is a DJ and offered for free, fiance's cousin is a videographer and he offered for free, my best friend is a great cook and he offered to take care of the buffet, our good friend is a baker and offered to do our wedding cupcake tower, etc). Notice the difference? They offered. We didn't ask.
Reply:It would have been nice if they would have asked for your help ahead of time, but maybe they just didn't think it through. I would have pitched in and would have been glad to help the couple out on their happy day. What is a little pitching in amongst friends? They sound a little loopy, but what the heck it was their big day, why complain about it?
Reply:that's odd


i assume they were trying to save money on that stuff - or maybe something happened at the last minute


how many guests were there? how many of them were put to work too? are you guys close?


i've never seen it before and i can't imagine it'll catch on... but if it does my reaction would be based on how close you are to the couple - if you aren't close say "no, i'm sorry, i don't feel comfortable taking on that responsibility" if you're close to them help out and be happy about it
Reply:How tackey on their part! Did the DJ, florist, videographer not show up or were they just trying to cut costs? This is rude, you guys came to the wedding expecting to see them getting married, not to be put to work in areas that should've had a hired hand! So not only did you guys come to the wedding bearing gifts, but they used you as free labor. very tackey!
Reply:Although it may come off as rude, just say "no" next time. I know some couples try to save money by putting their guests to work, however, when this is done they notify them ahead of time.





That was really rude of your friend and she took complete advantage of you guys. Sorry!
Reply:Well, in my culture, that doesn't sound unusual. Actually, most of the people want to get involved into the wedding. Unless you were really good friends with the bride and bridegroom, you should say no next time.
Reply:I've never heard of that. I';m sure they only asked you because they felt close enough to you that you wouldn't mind helping. That's really not something I'd expect to come up ever again truthfully.
Reply:That is so rude! I would firstly ask why the people who were supposed to do it disnt show up.


I would also send a bill for my services after the wedding.
Reply:Wow, that's crazy!!!!!! I would jsut politely decline or tell them how terrible you are at hwatever they want done, and then they will elect to find someone else!
Reply:If that happened I wouldn't even know what to say...





I guess you can just say no. It is rude to just spring work on guests...that is why they are called "guests"!