So you're the bride and the centre of attention. Don't get swept up in making it your day; spend some time thinking about how your guests would feel. We've compiled a list of top wedding pet peeves from real-life experiences, and suggest what you can do to prevent them from happening.

Pet Peeve #1

"I rushed home after work so that I could change into a more appropriate outfit for the wedding, and turned up at the hotel to see some of my fellow guests in t-shirts and jeans."

Prevent this by…

Stating your dress code clearly in the invitation. Not only will being under-dressed make the errant guest stick out like a sore thumb, it's embarrassing for them when they turn up and realise everybody else is dressed to the nines.

Pet Peeve #2

"I couldn't stand the wedding photographer. He was so loud, kept sticking his camera in our faces, and making us do stupid actions for him to snap!"

Prevent this by…

Discussing do's and dont's thoroughly with your photographer beforehand. In fact, it would be best to get recommendations before you hire your photographer or videographer.

Pet Peeve #3

"I almost starved waiting for the food to be served. And I turned up on time too."

Prevent this by…

Having circulating waiters offering trays of hors de'oeuvres, if you can afford the added cost. Otherwise, try not to keep your guests waiting too long for the banquet to begin, especially if they're seated among people they're not familiar with. Which brings us to our next peeve…

Pet Peeve #4

"I was stuck at a tableful of boring strangers. We had nothing in common to talk about."

Prevent this by…

Trying to seat each guest with at least one familiar person. We know this is not easy, but if it's really not possible, at least try to put people in the same age group or from similar career backgrounds together.

Pet Peeve #5

"The reception was at this ulu spot, and no directions were provided in the invitation. We got there just as the first course was being cleared away."

Prevent this by…

Tucking a map into your invite with detailed directions to an off-the-beaten-path venue. Think how many marriages you'll save. ("I thought you brought the directions." "No, you said you had them.")

Pet Peeve #6

"There were five hours of lag time between the ROM ceremony and dinner reception. I had to take a whole day off work just to attend both, and I had nothing to do in between."

Prevent this by…

Minimising the time between the ceremony and the reception, giving guests a comfortable amount of time to move from one locale to the next. If that's not possible, find some sort of diversion during the down time, such as asking a friend or family member to host a little get-together at their place.

Pet Peeve #7

"The invitation clearly stated that hongbaos were preferred over gifts, which I found to be in poor taste."

Prevent this by…

Not stating anything about gifts in your invitation. Your guest's presence should be the most important. If there are things you really need, send your closest friends and family members your gift registry, and leave the other guests to decide what they wish to give.

Pet Peeve #8

"The bride was upset about something, the groom had a black face, and all the family members seemed tense. It was so awkward!"

Prevent this by…

Acting happy, no matter what! The stress of a wedding can take their toll on the couple and small things could set off a quarrel. Put your worries and petty quarrels aside, and smile.

Pet Peeve #9

"I never got to see the wedding photos, even though I was promised copies. It's been six months since the wedding."

Prevent this by…

Going online! Come on, in the age of Facebook, do you really have any excuse for not sharing your photos? It takes mere minutes to create a profile (if you don't already have one) and to upload your pictures.

Pet Peeve #10

"I never got a Thank You note."

Prevent this by…

Getting this task over and done with. Finish what you start, no later than three months after your wedding. Make the process as painless as possible by doing a handful a night, and be sure to get your hubby to do his fair share, too!