You’re standing in front of the love of your life, surrounded by your closest friends and family, just about to say ‘I do!’ when—like a bolt from the blue—you hear someone stand up and shout, ‘I object!’ The crowd gasps, the minister is flabbergasted, and your own jaw drops to the floor. It’s like a scene from the movies, only... fact can often be stranger than fiction.
Reddit users have been spilling the beans about some of the biggest moments of wedding drama they’ve ever witnessed. Redditor AhappyTeddyBear asked them to share their stories of having seen someone object to a couple’s union during the ‘speak now or forever hold your peace’ portion of the ceremony.
Check out the most intriguing stories below and remember to upvote the ones that caught your attention the most. Got any entrancing wedding ceremony stories to share with all the other Pandas? You can do so at the bottom of the aisle--err I mean article, in the comment section.
Wedding celebrants Anna and Sarah from The Wedding Society gave Bored Panda some great insights about wedding objections, how to react to them as a couple, and what (not) to do if you ever feel like you desperately want to object during a ceremony.
"For anyone thinking of objecting during the ceremony... just don't!! It's never okay to ruin someone's day. All it will do is wreak havoc and draw attention to you—it's selfish and cruel. If you're genuinely concerned about the union, approach them privately and beforehand with love and respect. If the couple chooses to move forward anyway, respect their decision and do the best you can to support them through their marriage." Read on for the full interview!
#1
Not speak now part, but well, you'll see.
Friend of mine was getting married in the park under the trees because both of them were nature people and groom had a dog that went everywhere with him that wasn't allowed in any church because dog despite being well trained and quiet.
There were some rows of chairs with lots of people filling them including Groom's mother who was sitting with his dog. Bride and Groom were at the front with the officiant. Officiant begins. Officiant comes to the part where he says, "Do you take …" Groom's dog, Shadow, began to howl a loud, long, mournful howl. Everyone laughed. Officiant started the question again. Loud, long, mournful howl again. Everyone laughed. Groom told Shadow to come to the front. Shadow ran up, stood directly in between the bride and groom and the officiant started again. Not a peep from Shadow. Her vows. His vows. Officiant looked at Shadow and asked, "Shadow do you take bride and groom to be your lawfully wedded parents?" Shadow barked one single bark. Officiant concluded the ceremony, everyone cheered and clapped, and Shadow barked three times, the only times that he made any sounds. Not kidding. Beautiful dog too.
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910points
#2
A wedding I was at, one guy got up and pledged his undying love for the bride, followed by four or five others objecting for various reasons including one guy's love for the groom. By the second or third objection, though, it was clear that the whole thing was a clever ruse. I found out later that it was all set up by the bride as a prank on the unsuspecting groom and family and friends. It was pretty hilarious!
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415points
#3
A member of my wife's family had a pirate themed wedding. A rival pirate appeared and objected to the wedding. The groom dueled him with rapiers and won
365points
Anna and Sarah confirmed to me that objections aren't as common as they're portrayed in movies. In fact, they're rare. "Objections mid-ceremony seem to be very rare these days. If a friend or family member has a real problem with the union, it's unlikely that the couple isn't aware of it beforehand!" they told Bored Panda.
"It's important to know that any objections are usually coming from a place of care and worry for either party to the union," they explained. "Objections shouldn't be met with anger, hostility, or defense. Instead, it's important to meet them with kindness and love, and where possible, to try and understand where the basis of the objection is coming from." In short, it's best to avoid getting heated and opt for understanding those who object without defending themselves.
#4
I was at an outdoor ceremony once, with a storm coming in. The pastor was trying to move things along so that we wouldn't get caught in the rain (the reception was indoors). He asked if anyone knows of any objection, and instantly, there was a loud clap of thunder.
To his credit, the pastor just paused a moment and then said: "Anyone else? Alright, in that case..." and finished the ceremony.
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303points
#5
Yep. Happened to me. Was at the altar when a girl who I thought only ever saw me as a friend stood up and shouted that I was making a mistake and that she was in love with me and had been for ever.
Obviously everyone was shocked.
I took her outside and she poured her heart out to me and made me realise that I was marrying the wrong girl.
Went back inside and called off the wedding and 6 months later got married to the right girl , started a business together and we have 3 amazing kids, insane sex life, money in the bank, 2 holiday homes 5 luxury cars, happiness and a private jet.
That’s the fairy tale version. The real story was that no one objected and I left my wife 5 years later after she bankrupted us. No kids, no houses, no cars, no money and no sex life.
F*ck all of you for not objecting.
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294points
#6
It was a medieval themed wedding. The best man declared his love for the bride. Challenged the groom to a fight for her love. They march outside draw swords and go at it. Apparently they choreographed 2 nights a week for like 6 months but it honestly looked like they were trying to kill each other. The groom wins and everything goes on like normal 0_o weird but cool.
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288points
Redditor AhappyTeddyBear’s thread got nearly 50k upvotes and got 8.8k comments. People were lining up to share their own unforgettable and dramatic wedding experiences.
The custom of objecting during a wedding ceremony was introduced by the Catholic Church in the 12th century to ensure the legality of the union. Information about the upcoming marriage would be announced beforehand so that the community would have the time to come forth with any sensitive information about the union.
“Grounds for objection included factors like a party already being married to another, pre-existing vows of celibacy or commitment to the church, being underage without parental consent, or close blood relations,” writes ‘Brides’ magazine.
#7
When my sister married her now ex-husband and thry asked for objections i just screamed "I DONT LIKE HIIIIIIM, HE'S NOT PRETTY" and started bawling. I was 5 at the time.
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287points
#8
My aunt was getting married to her second husband, and during the "speak now or forever hold your peace" bit, their baby started crying.
The dude officiating it said "If anyone older than six months has any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace"
He got a laugh and the wedding carried on. They're still together 10 years later, so I guess whatever my cousin had to say was misinformed
239points
#9
My wife drug me to a wedding that I did NOT want to be at years ago but I'm forever grateful that she did because I was able to witness one of the greatest spectacles of human drama that has ever taken place. This was like an episode of Jerry Springer mixed with Cops. Bride's LOVER spoke up at that moment and yelled, "I'll be god-damned if I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and let you steal my woman, you sorry piece of sh*t!" This deranged old redneck proceeds to come at the groom WITH A PISTOL threatening to shoot him if he doesn't give her up. It wasn't a huge wedding, maybe 40 or so people but every single one of them went screaming and running and maybe 2 people stayed and called the cops. I grabbed my wife's hand and we retreated outside to watch the rest of the scene unfold from the church window.
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216points
Any objections would be given under oath and the officiant would then investigate the situation while the actual wedding was suspended. In short, objections were a very big deal back in the day.
Nowadays, objections tend to be seen more often on the silver screen, in Hollywood movies, than in real life. They’re now less about the legal issues surrounding the marriage and more about one’s personal feelings regarding the union itself.
#10
About 5 years ago, a coworker of mine invited all of us to his wedding. He was a great guy but none of us had ever met his wife. Seen pictures of her and he always said nothing but good things of her.
Fast forward to the wedding, it was an incredibly nice one, looks like they paid quite a bit for it. Everything was going smooth and I was having fun and assume so was everyone else. Anyway, now they're both at the alter or whatever looking deeply into each others eyes and smiling and when that line comes of " speak now or forever hold your peace" i get anxious but nothing EVER happens. So right as soon as the anxiousness faded away, THE BRIDES MOTHER STOOD UP AND OBJECTED. Blurted some sh*t about how she doesnt want to continue their family with a man like him ( he was black she was white). The bride to be cried ran off. Wedding went f*cking silent. Brides dad took the mom and ran after the bride. The groom stood there incredibly awkward. He may or may not have achieved actually leaving his body. Anyway, the groomsmen took him away. I left because it was too weird. Apparently, the reception went on. They did not get married that day. But ended up together anyway privately, and surprisingly work wasn't weird. He laughed about it. And they are happily married.
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208points
#11
At my own wedding. But not in the traditional way. We were getting married along a river at the end of summer and tons of wake boarders and boats were out. I was a ball of nerves and the ceremony felt so serious... when all of a sudden some dude bro on a boat blasting music screamed “Don’t do it bro!!” And sped off.
It was actually hilarious and made the rest of the ceremony a lot more fun. My husband and I cracked up even though his brothers looked like they were about to jump in the river after the guy!
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198points
#12
I was one year old when my mom married my stepdad. During the objection portion, I yelled, "STOP!" but no one listened. They divorced six years later. I told you, mom. I f*cking told you.
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196points
“While your natural instincts may be screaming for a gut reaction, try to remain calm and pause the ceremony. If you believe the objection requires a conversation with that person, gently take them to the side for a private discussion. Emphasis on private. There's no need to inflame the already precarious scenario by opening up a public forum,” writes ‘Brides’ magazine.
“Once in a private setting, acknowledge the party's objection with appreciation but reinforce the relationship with your partner. You're not obligated to justify your decision to get married, but instead should calmly thank them for their concern and move on.”
#13
So I’m attending this ultra chill beach wedding in small town Canada, I don’t know most anyone because it was my ex-step-aunts, so my brothers family I never see . It was fun anyways, the bride flew in on a seaplane and all the chairs were set up on the sand.
Anyways, the groom is from Trinidad and Tobago, so all his relatives traveled a long way and had cool accents, there was a party before; we were all a little bit tipsy.
So as the ceremony progresses, everyone is watching, gettin’ teary from the vows. Then the line comes ‘….any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony speak now.’
Nobody expected this; The father of the groom gets up, flailing, and a collective gasp followed by silence overtakes this tiny venue. We’re all waiting with baited breath but, he’s just standing there with glassy eyes. Turns out he was baked; this 70+ man in a suit and dreads laughs and says ‘No, I kid, I kid’ and the whole spirit of the audience cheers up as he sits back down.
Rest of the reception, people are going up to him saying ‘good one’ or scolding him. Damn good night. Best wedding I’ve been to.
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190points
#14
The groom himself. He just stood up there and started crying and, in front of everyone, told the bride that he'd fallen out of love with her a while before but he didn't know how to break it off. It was extremely uncomfortable, they both stepped out, and ten minutes later came back out and got married, because she'd apparently told him she was pregnant. They're still together, with three kids, and I'm not sure about the husband but I can confirm that the wife is having an affair. Neither of them are happy, but she has a comfortable life and he doesn't have the spine to leave
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185points
#15
I went to a wedding when I was 5, it was between my Older Brother and his fiancée. Anyways, they said the whole "speak now" speil and right before he was done little 5 year old me said "I OBJECT!" And everyone turned to me. I was dead silent because I didn't know what would happen. My dad asked me "Well, why do you object?" And I said "I did not know what would happen if I did" and I was promptly seated
151points
#16
Nobody had said "speak now", but the grooms ex still decided to get up and scream that he was her soulmate, that she forgave him for "this whole thing", and that they should leave now because he'd proven his point. By breaking up with her, five years earlier, falling in love, and holding a wedding.
I ate so much cake and got so drunk at that wedding. Meanwhile everyone else was screaming and throwing sh*t. Good times. The bride was my boyfriends ex. No idea why they invited us
140points
#17
It was at my wedding that we had at my grandmother's house who lives out in the country next to a cattle farm. The cows didnt make a peep till that moments and one finally went "moo"
We all laughed and continued but it was a funny moment about my wedding.
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138points
#18
I was working at a wedding when I was younger. I was running the bar at the reception, which was very close to the hall the weddings were at.
We were told that the reception would begin around 4pm. It was already about 3ish and I was packing fridges, the usual bar man things, while one of the male guests was still sitting there drinking.
I asked if he was not joining the reception, to which he replied something along the lines of “when I have the courage”.
He downs his drink, and leaves. 10 minutes later he’s back, looking extremely disappointed. Guy orders a drink, and less than 30 seconds later another guy who’s dressed extremely well (turned out to be the groom), walks in, punches him in the back of the head, and leaves.
This dude just picked his drink up and sipped it further.
We were told that the reception would begin around 4pm. It was already about 3ish and I was packing fridges, the usual bar man things, while one of the male guests was still sitting there drinking.
I asked if he was not joining the reception, to which he replied something along the lines of “when I have the courage”.
He downs his drink, and leaves. 10 minutes later he’s back, looking extremely disappointed. Guy orders a drink, and less than 30 seconds later another guy who’s dressed extremely well (turned out to be the groom), walks in, punches him in the back of the head, and leaves.
This dude just picked his drink up and sipped it further.
I eventually found out that this dude, had downed his drink, walked into the receptions down admitted to sleeping with the wife on her hen night, and again the night before the wedding. He was never invited to the wedding, he just felt the groom needed to know. So he found out where the wedding was, suited up and dropped the info mid-ceremony.
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131points
#19
One of my friends interrupted his cousin’s wedding to come out of the closet. He couldn’t understand why people were so pissed at him
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121points
#20
Mom got married to my stepdad, Uncle objected... After the attention was focused on him, he just asked if they were still going fishing afterwards.
To which my stepdad reached into his suit and pulled out his fishing hat.
Very sweet and bromantic. They loved to fish together. Rip though. Remind me to upload the video. Wish I could find a cheap way to digitize the vhs to upload it online.
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118points