Wedding planners reveal 12 things they'd never have at their own ceremony and reception

Wedding planner Lindsey Nickel of Lovely Day Events told Insider that food trucks would be a big pass for her wedding.

"The reality is that food trucks aren't capable of feeding a lot of people at once, which means you end up with a long line of hungry guests," said Nickel.

Instead of using a food truck for your main reception meal, Nickel suggested surprising guests with one for late-night snacks.

Andrea Adelstein, wedding planner and CEO of NYLUX Events, told Insider she'd skip having flower petals scattered down the aisle.

"Flower petals look gorgeous but are actually very slippery and costly," said Adelstein. "They're also ruined" by the time people walk down the aisle.

Instead, Adelstein recommended using candles to line the aisle, then reusing them for cocktail hour. Opt for LED candles or flame candles in safe containers.

Wedding planner Hovik Harutyunyan, owner of Harutyunyan Events in Los Angeles, told Insider he would never have a cash bar at his wedding.

"Under no circumstances should guests have to pay for food and beverages at a wedding," said Harutyunyan. "I would never have a guest to my home and charge them for a glass of wine, and the same basic rule of hospitality applies to weddings."

If having a full open bar at your event would be too expensive, consider serving only beer and wine or scaling back your guest list.

"Sparklers look cool, but they can start grass fires, burn hair, or even worse," said Nickel. "I wouldn't pass out sparklers to potentially inebriated guests in the dark."

Bird seed or bubbles can create a unique backdrop for exit photos without the fire hazard.

"I think pre-printed seating charts are too risky," said Adelstein. "Guests can see where they are in the 'pecking order' and you can't make swaps due to absent guests or clashing personalities."

Adelstein recommended assigning seating through classic paper escort envelopes or tabletop cards. This approach makes rearranging guests easier.

Mason jars had their moment in the wedding spotlight, but Nickel said their trendiness has passed.

"Mason jars and burlap were the wedding trend of the early 2010s, but I'd avoid them today," said Nickel. "There are so many other ways to create a country vibe without being so literal."

Vintage wooden tables, fresh flowers, and vibrant greens are timeless ways to add rustic charm to your reception.

Harutyunyan said he cringes when he sees wedding invitations with specific gift requests such as "no box gifts" or "cash gifts only."

"It's poor manners to request a gift, let alone a specific type of gift from your guests," Harutyunyan told Insider. "It's not only incredibly tacky but immensely rude."

It's customary for certain members of the wedding party to give short toasts or speeches, but opening the floor to any wedding guest can kill the party mood.

"I'd limit toasts to the couple, parents, maid of honor, and best man," said Harutyunyan. "Any other toasts tend to drag and make guests bored or antsy."

Harutyunyan suggested that if many people want to give speeches, allocate those toasts to the rehearsal dinner rather than the reception.

Sending the wedding photographer around to each reception table can result in awkward photos.

"Guests rarely like being made to stand up around half-eaten meals and a table covered in handbags," said Adelstein.

Plus, in some cases, your guests may not know everyone they're seated with.

To make sure you get the photos you want, consider giving your photographer a list of guests who must be included in pictures along with their table numbers. Be sure to inform guests ahead of time if the photographer will be drawing them aside.

Wedding cakes can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars — so, Adelstein said, she'd skip the fancy cake.

"I'd have a small, beautiful wedding cake, but not an expensive or elaborate one," said Adelstein. "Most of the elaborate cakes we serve are left mostly uneaten."

In lieu of a large cake, try ordering a small one for the cake-cutting ceremony and serving a selection of sweet bites at each table.

Couples on a budget may be tempted to enlist guests to help set up or break down their wedding reception, but the DIY approach can feel inhospitable.

"Friends and family are already taking time off from work, traveling, and buying a gift," said Nickel. "I think they need to be able to enjoy the wedding without doing setup or breakdown."

Invest in vendors that will be able to handle the setup and breakdown so that every element of the wedding happens on time and according to plan.

"I wouldn't have favors because they often end up being a waste of time and money," said Harutyunyan. "Guests don't really want shot glasses, mints, or socks with the couple's names and wedding date on them."

Harutyunyan said instead of favors he'd take the portion of the budget allocated to guest gifts and donate it to a charitable cause.