Latest news with #Insta-famous
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Kyoto's Kichi Kichi Omurice to run two-day event at Jurong Point's Tsukimi Hamburg
The charismatic chef Motokichi Yukimura of the famed Kichi Kichi Omurice will be in Singapore on July 10 and 11 for a cooking showcase. PHOTO: RE&S ENTERPRISES SINGAPORE – If you have not been able to score a coveted seat at the famed Kichi Kichi Omurice restaurant in Kyoto, Japan, you can now try your luck in Singapore. Helmed by Japanese chef Motokichi Yukimura, the 14-seat restaurant is renowned for theatrically serving the Insta-famous omurice (Japanese omelette rice), where a perfectly cooked omelette is sliced open to drape over a bed of fried rice. Chef Yukimura, 69, has 314,000 followers on his @kichikichi_omurice Instagram account. It carries a line that says: 'Upon request, we will go to your country to make omurice.' He has done so in cities such as Jakarta and Sydney. Up next is Singapore, in a collaboration with home-grown food and beverage group RE&S Enterprises, which focuses on Japanese cuisine concepts. On July 11 and 12, the chef will host a cooking showcase – two sessions a day for lunch and dinner – at Tsukimi Hamburg restaurant at Jurong Point. Each session is limited to 20 people, who will have to win tickets by joining a lucky draw. To do so, you need to sign up as a &Rewards Member and spend a minimum of $20 in a single receipt at &JOY Japanese Food Street (at Nex or Jurong Point), from June 3 to 30. Each winner, to be announced every Thursday, can get a pair of tickets. This collaboration has been in discussion for some time, says RE&S Enterprises' vice president of marketing Winnie Loo, whose team visited chef Yukimura at his Kyoto restaurant in February. Kichi Kichi hamburg omurice, a collaborative dish to be launched from July 10 at Tsukimi Hamburg outlets. PHOTO: RE&S ENTERPRISES She says: 'Chef Yukimura has always embraced meaningful overseas collaborations that allow his culinary philosophy to reach new audiences. One of our Japanese counterparts bridged this connection with him, making this collaboration possible.' She also confirmed that there are no plans for chef Yukimura to open a permanent Kichi Kichi Omurice outlet in Singapore. For those who are unable to get tickets, you can go for two collaborative Tsukimi Hamburg x Kichi Kichi Omurice dishes instead. First, the Kichi Kichi Hamburg Omurice ($16.80) features demiglace fried rice with edamame and chicken blanketed with a fluffy spiral 'tornado' omelette and finished with a hamburg patty. The other option, Kichi Kichi Omurice ($12.80), comes without the hamburg. The demiglace omurice, says Ms Loo, stays true to the original rich, slow-cooked demiglace sauce by chef Yukimura. But instead of the classic sliced omelette presentation, diners here will get a spiral 'tornado' omelette on the rice to ensure consistency across the dishes. The dishes will launch on July 10 as permanent additions to Tsukimi Hamburg's menu at all its outlets. First established at Jurong Point in 2022, Tsukimi Hamburg's other branches are at CapitaSpring and Hougang Mall. Ms Loo adds: 'During our visit to his restaurant, the conversation flowed naturally, and the idea of pairing his world-famous omurice with Tsukimi Hamburg's signature juicy hamburg steaks felt like a perfect match.' For more details on the lucky draw, go to Eunice Quek is STFood online editor at The Straits Times. She covers all things trending in the food and beverage scene. Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Travel influencers reveal most overrated Insta-famous holiday destinations & the dupes that could save you thousands
Bucket list destinations are often overcrowded, overpriced and overrated. Here, 10 travel experts pick their top prettier, cheaper swaps SUN, SEA & SWAPS Travel influencers reveal most overrated Insta-famous holiday destinations & the dupes that could save you thousands Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of Brits are inspired by social media when it comes to booking their next holiday - then left dismayed when they get there, and it doesn't look like what they saw on screen. To avoid disappointment, we've spoken to ten top travel influencers to find their least-favourite destinations and the underrated locations to head to instead. 27 Helen Wright from the blog, found a hidden spot in Florida Credit: Instagram 27 Chloe, aka The Holiday Mum, gets the beach to herself Credit: Instagram Travel writer, Helen Wright, from passportstampsuk says short and snappy video content online can show someone everything a destination has to offer in less than a minute. She told Sun Travel: "In less time than it takes to make a cup of tea, you might discover somewhere you have never heard of and get a look at the sights, food and feel of the place before the kettle has even boiled. "I was planning a short break to a Spanish city I'd visited before when I saw influencers Twin Perspectives post about Gdansk in Poland. "It looked relaxed, easy to navigate and with lots to see and do, so I ended up going there instead. "Not only did I get to experience somewhere I've never been before, it was half the price - flights to Gdansk on Ryanair start from £11 each way, so it's a real bargain." Influencers who travel the world full-time often stumble across less popular places, seeing how they compare to common holiday spots for Brits. The Sun asked a range of travel experts for their most overrated destination and the French capital Paris was the most unpopular destination, with many frequent travellers saying the same thing. "It doesn't live up to the hype," says travel blogger Cora Harrison. "It's expensive, dirty, often overcrowded and not easily walkable." So what overrated destinations do some of the top UK travel influencers think you should avoid this year? And where should you swap them for instead? Ryanair launches new flights to cheap holiday hotspot Miami for Panama City Beach, Florida 27 Panama City Beach is a beautiful spot on Florida's Gulf Coast, and much cheaper than Miami Credit: Instagram 27 The world-famous Ocean Drive in South Beach – a hotspot for tourists Credit: Alamy Helen told Sun Travel: "Miami is iconic, which is why it's a bucket list destination for a lot of people, but it's also very expensive and can be difficult to navigate. "Often, people, especially families, discover that there isn't actually that much to do in Miami Beach itself and after a few days, find it disappointing. "The beach is beautiful, but it doesn't have the laid-back Florida beach life that some coastal towns have. "Instead, go to Panama City Beach on the Gulf Coast. It's just as lively as Miami, but the beach bars here are laid back and family-friendly. "There are lots of sleek apartments along the seafront, perfect for families, that start from £90 a night. Compared to the hotels in South Beach, which are usually between £150-£250 per night, it's a real bargain. "The beach itself is stunning. It's one of the nicest I have seen in the USA, outside of Hawaii. "The water is pure blue and it's not uncommon to spot dolphins, manatees and turtles swimming off the shore. "It doesn't have the architecture and culture that Miami offers, but if you want lively nightlife and a white sand beach, Panama City Beach is perfect." Paris for Lyon 27 Travel bloggers said Paris was crowded and overpriced Credit: Alamy 27 They much preferred Lyon with a more relaxed and authentic vibe Credit: Alamy Cora Harrison, from told Sun Travel: "Paris might be known as the City of Love, but reality says otherwise. "It's crowded, overpriced, and honestly, a bit dirty, meaning any charm the city might have is quickly lost. "Instead, I suggest heading to Lyon, France's culinary capital. "It offers riverside strolls, cobbled old towns, and a more relaxed, authentic vibe. "During the same week in September, when 3-star hotels in Paris were £400, you could book an equivilent stay in the centre of Lyon for £250. "Plus, Lyon is well connected, with affordable direct flights from airports across the UK, making it an easy, budget-friendly swap." Mykonos for Kimolos, Greece 27 Mykonos has become a popular tourist destination - and crowded with holidaymakers Credit: Alamy 27 Jackie likes to visit less populated areas of Greece like Kimolos Credit: Instagram Jackie Rezk from said: "Did you know Greece doesn't have to break the bank? On average, the daily cost to visit touristy places like Mykonos can be over £180 a night. "Mykonos is expensive and so crowded that you lose all the beauty and charm it became famous for. "Instead, why not try Kimolos, which you can get to on the ferry from Athens? "You will find hardly any tourists there and it's absolutely stunning. "This hidden gem is also more affordable to visit, with an average daily spend of £80. "This small volcanic island has the same gorgeous white-washed buildings as Mykonos but with few crowds. "You will find stunning views of the sea, great food, and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. "It has easily become my favorite island in Greece." Santorini for Dorset 27 Emily says you don't have to leave the UK to get a Santorini-like experience - just head to Dorset Credit: Instagram 27 Santorini has famously become overcrowded with tourists and Instagrammers driving prices up Credit: Alamy Emily Luxton from told Sun Travel: "Santorini always looks perfect on Instagram, but for me, the reality on the ground is less inviting. "You dream of cute cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and sapphire seas. "Instead, you get elbow-to-elbow crowds and overpriced everything! "I do like Santorini and the volcanic rock beaches are impressive, but are usually too heaving to enjoy. "There are far nicer islands in Greece, in my opinion. "In fact, you don't even have to leave the UK to find pretty seaside villages, dramatic coves, and quality seafood. "Dorset has all of that and more, with no additional airport stress. "You can get a two-night stay on the Juarassic Coast, close to key areas like Durdle Door for under £200. In Santorini, you can expect to pay £300 or more. "If you don't mind a bit of a ramble, you can often find a remote beach all to yourself too." Ksmail for Dhermi, Albania 27 Influencer Abena loves to explore the quieter areas of Albania, like Dhermi Credit: Instagram 27 Ksamil in Albanian has been dubbed the 'Madives of Europe' - but travel bloggers say its overpriced and beaches are packed Credit: Alamy Abena Kusi from TravellingTuesdays told Sun Travel: "Ksamil in Albania is very overrated. "People often say this is a hidden gem that not many people know about, but in summer it's rammed. "The beaches are packed and sun loungers and parasols are wildly overpriced. "I've even heard people calling it the Maldives of Europe, but in reality it is a small village, overrun with construction and loud music. "Instead, choose to go further up the Albanian coast to places such as Dhermi or Himare, which are more authentic and less congested. "To be honest, even a simple trip to Corfu would be better and more beautiful than going to Ksami, in my opinion." Nice for Cassis, France 27 Nikita says Nice but it didn't leave a lasting impression Credit: Alamy 27 Instagrammer Nikita pictured in the less crowded town of Cassis, France Credit: Instagram Instagrammer Nikita Bathia told Sun Travel: Nice is… nice, but it didn't leave much of an impression. "The buildings are pastel, the coastline is pretty, and it looks good in photographs - but beyond that, it felt a bit flat. "The beaches aren't particularly comfortable, the old town is packed, and the energy leans more generic than charming. "It's easy to see why people go, but harder to feel connected to it. "I found myself wishing for somewhere slower, more authentic and less polished. "If, like me, you're after something with more character and less crowds, Èze or Cassis feel far more personal. "They are both beautiful with a stunning coastline and quietly a lot more memorable." Nassau, Bahamas for private island 27 Marcus says many people don't realise Disney has a private island in the Caribbbean Credit: Instagram 27 A seafood restaurant on the shore at Bimini in the Bahamas - a hidden gem with less tourists Credit: Alamy Marcus Adam from said: "Going to the Bahamas invokes a vision of azure waters, white sandy beaches, and a blissful island vibe. "But some ports end up a very different experience to what you might expect. "For me, Nassau, one of the Bahamas' main cruise ports, is over busy and overpriced. "Frequent cruisers I meet will often opt to stay on board to enjoy ship amenities instead. "You can go shopping and enjoy the local bars in the brand new port area, but if you prefer a more exclusive experience in the Bahamas, time is better spent at one of the cruise lines' private islands. "However, they are exclusive to the cruise line you sail with, so choose wisely and check the itinerary you book includes a stop there. "My favourites are Bimini with Virgin Voyages, Perfect Day CocoCay with Royal Caribbean, or Castaway Cay with Disney Cruise Line. "As the only ship in port, it feels like your own private island." Cornwall for Llyn Peninsula 27 Monica Stott is a big fan of the Llyn Peninsula Credit: Instagram 27 Abersoch, Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, Wales is beautifully undiscovered Credit: Alamy 27 Cornwall has become a hotspot for staycations in the UK Credit: Alamy Monica Stott from told Sun Travel: "I love Cornwall but unfortunately, so does everyone else looking for a staycation in the UK! "The crowds, the traffic, the lack of parking and the need to book restaurants so far in advance is a real hassle. Plus, the cost of decent accommodation that isn't a caravan is outrageous. "If you can even find somewhere near the beach in summer, expect to pay over £1,000 for the week. "I've started swapping Cornwall for Wales' Llyn Peninsula. You can book accomodation steps from the beach for less than £100 a night. Try Victoria Hotel, a lovely pub with rooms on the coast. "People often say the Llyn Peninsula is how Cornwall was 50 years ago. It's all golden beaches, pretty villages, white-washed cottages, weather-beaten pubs, dramatic cliffs and views for days. "The Llyn Peninsula is also blessed with a beautiful micro-climate and often tops the charts for the hottest days during the UK summer." Mirajima for Kyoto 27 Mirajima is a great place to experience Japan's serene landscape Credit: Instagram 27 Kyoto is a beautiful city to visit but tourists flock there throughout year Credit: Alamy Calum McSwiggan told Sun Travel: "While Kyoto is undoubtedly beautiful, over-tourism has made this popular hot spot almost impossible to enjoy, with huge crowds swarming over the whole city and cultural areas. "To really experience the peaceful serenity that Japan is famous for, I recommend travelling just that little bit further. "From the island of Mirajima, the mountains of Kusatsu, or the hot spring town of Shibu Onsen, the country has so much more to offer. "Get out there and explore, enjoy the scenery from the windows of the country's exceptional public rail network, and remember to put your phone away and enjoy the quiet moments in between." Dubai for Oman 27 Dubai is a popular destination for Brits, but Chloe Gunning finds it lacks character Credit: Instagram 27 Oman is naturally beautiful and more interesting than Dubai Credit: Instagram Chloe Gunning from told Sun Travel: "Dubai is famed for its luxury lifestyle and five-star hotels, but I find it artificial and lacking in character. "Warm temperatures are guaranteed throughout the year, but you'll spend most of your time sitting in traffic, or hopping from air-conditioned hotel to shopping mall, to overpriced restaurant. "For a more cultural and adventurous holiday, I'd recommend swapping the UAE for Oman. "This neighbouring country is home to rugged mountains, emerald-hued pools, vast deserts and incredible history. "Spend your days hiking through dramatic gorges, swimming in waterfalls and sleeping under the stars in desert yurts. "Oman has more soul, and you'll feel all the better once you experience it!" The Algarve for Comporta, Portugal 27 The Algarve, Portugal, is a holiday hotspot for Brits thanks to its guaranteed sunshine Credit: Alamy 27 Chloe says Comporta is just as pretty and a lot cheaper to visit Credit: Alamy Chloe from @theholidaymum told Sun Travel: "The Algarve has many strong points, not least the guaranteed sunshine and sandy beaches, but it's very commercial with a lot of concrete and high rise buildings spoiling the idyllic beach views. "I recommend making a swap to its chic older sister, Comporta. "The beaches in Comporta are paradise found: more expansive, quieter and cleaner than the Algarve and lined with effortlessly cool beach clubs. "The resort style hotels, such as Sublime Comporta and Quinta da Comporta, are design-led and stylish and there's a smattering of homestays in the area with the same design credentials. "The sunny peninsula is just under a two-hour drive from Lisbon but it's more affordable to you can stay longer to compensate for the drive." Cancun for Belize 27 Cancun has stunning beaches Credit: Alamy 27 But Belize also has many undiscovered beaches with less crowds Credit: Instagram Macca Sherifi from told Sun Travel: "Cancun is full of American college kids looking to party and it has zero Mexican culture. "Throw in all the high-rise all-inclusive hotels and over-developed beaches, and you've got yourself one of the most overrated tourist hotspots in the world. "My advice - head over the border to Caye Caulker in Belize. This place is a tropical paradise with a really fun Caribbean vibe and some of the bluest waters you'll ever see. "In fact, it is home to the Blue Hole, the giant sinkhole that is on every divers and snorkeller's bucket list. "Instead of paying £1,800 for the week in Cancun, get an apartment with beach views for only under the half the price. It may not be all-inclusive, but the local food is better and very affordable. It really is an amazing destination to visit and so undiscovered compared to somewhere like Cancun."
Buzz Feed
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
37 Terrible, Terrible, Terrible Wedding Guests
Recently, this photo of terrible wedding guest behavior went mega-viral on Reddit, and it got me thinking – what other terrible wedding guest behavior have entitled people been guilty of? So I ran to r/weddingshaming to comb through the worst of the worst! Here are 35 terrible wedding guests who, frankly, deserve our shaming. "A friend was getting married last year, and finally, the big day arrived. Guests started arriving, and one guest — we'll call her Sarah — has her plus one, her BF, but she also brought a second plus one, which she never informed anyone own photographer she had fired to follow her and take pics for her Instagram. This girl isn't famous or even Insta-famous (she has 2–3k followers), but all the photos on her Insta seem 'professional.'" "During the reception, the groom's auntie managed to get hold of the mic and gave this sobbing, lamenting speech about her son who'd died in infancy 30 years before. We got to hear about his illness and passing (in uncomfortable detail), and then she led the whole reception hall in a rousing rendition of the hymn they liked to sing to honour him. Like, several times over. Pretty sure we had to sing it in a round at one point, too. As soon as she was done, her tears disappeared like magic, and she sat back down with a big, smug smile on her face." "This happened over 12 years ago. My boyfriend at the time (now husband) brought me to a wedding as a plus one. During the reception, the bride and all the single ladies gathered so the bride could toss the bouquet. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a guy came up behind the bride, who was holding the bouquet up over her head, poised to launch it into a crowd of hopeful women, and grabbed the bouquet from the bride. Then he got on one knee in front of a bridesmaid, offered her the bouquet, and proposed." "I had a private courthouse wedding and then a month later a reception party at a beautiful banquet hall. The attire requested was cocktail, as we would be getting fully dressed up again in his custom suit and my gown. Guests showed up at the venue, and we had a great time taking pictures, eating, drinking, etc. However, I hadn't had the chance to take a picture with my whole family yet. About an hour into the reception, all nine of my nieces and nephews (aged 12-20) disappear. Weird, but whatever, I'll get the family photo when they reappear. Well, when they finally reappeared two hours later, along with one of their fathers, they had all changed from their formal clothes into basketball shorts, jeans, and t-shirts, including the father. Apparently, they were complaining they were bored, so he decided to take them back to the hotel to change so they could go MINI GOLFING in the middle of the reception. No words." "I attended the wedding of friends several years ago. A woman in our social circle, who was kind of infamous for being offended at the drop of a hat, was upset that the bride, with whom she was not particularly close, hadn't asked her to be in the wedding party. So she asked one of the bridesmaids what they were wearing, drove to David's Bridal, and showed up at the wedding wearing the same gown as the bridesmaids. Talk about an awkward reception." "I had my wedding and handfasting ceremony this weekend. My fiancé and I purposely kept it very small with close family and friends only. I have had a complicated relationship with my dad since my parents divorced when I was 12, and I moved with my mom. Because of this, I invited him as a guest, but very specifically did not want him to walk me down the aisle. When the ceremony was about to start, he asked where he should go, and I told him to go and sit with the guests. He disappeared, and I went to my location for the final preparations to make my grand entrance. My music started, I descended the staircase of the venue, and there was my dad waiting for me in front of everyone. He took my hand, said, 'Let's go!' and led me down the aisle. I was too stunned to know how to respond in this situation. All eyes were on me, I was in the middle of the aisle, and I'm scared of conflict, especially with my dad." "A guy that we (the bride and groom) had never met before proposed to his girlfriend at our wedding. We were cutting the cake, so everyone had been ushered in, and the photographers were going wild, telling us to pose, how to cut it, etc. Everyone was watching. And this guy jumped into the space between the wedding party and everyone else and proposed to his girlfriend. She was a former colleague of my husband, and I had only met her the day before. She is not a super close friend of us as a couple or my husband individually. And we had never met that guy before. He met us at our wedding reception." "About fifteen years ago, I was a guest at a big New York-New Jersey wedding. The church wedding service went off without a hitch, and the bride, groom, and their families were doing some quick group photos outside. That was where the first sign of trouble started. The bride's mother started throwing a fit that the bride's family should have priority for photos. She actually physically stopped the photographer from taking a group shot of about fifteen people to make them wait for her family to be ready. The bride looked mortified, and the bride's father and groom's parents had to step in and keep mom from causing a scene." "I recently attended a wedding with my boyfriend. They had a nice ceremony and cocktail hour, and we all sat down to eat. Here's where it gets good. The first two speeches from the best man and the bride's father were fine. Nothing wild; just your standard speech at a wedding. Then came the maid of honor (the bride's older sister). She walked up to the front and grabbed the mic. First thing she said was, I didn't write anything down; I figured I'd wing it.' She then said, 'Honestly, we've heard enough about my sister for one day. I'm a little sick of it,' then proceeded to thank both parties and a few others. She didn't say a word about her sister (the bride) or the groom. She then ended the speech by saying, 'Can't wait to meet the little one.'" "I met this girl at the gym in 2018. We were both in long-term relationships (hers nine years, mine eight), and we bonded over that. I got engaged in 2019 and got married this April. By December '22, she and her fiancé had broken up after almost 14 years together, and her personality changed from tree-hugging girl to femme fatale (she's indeed beautiful), dating married men and bragging about it. After my ceremony ended, she asked one of my best friends if she knew who was single at the party. Before my husband and I finished our pictures, she was already at the back of the venue with Guy #1." "I got married last weekend. My brother invited his new girlfriend. She's got her own online business where she sells makeup and perfumes or something. She's a 'work from my phone' girl. Anyway, our venue had a strict no-phone policy during the ceremony, and I asked for nothing to be posted on social media about the wedding due to family drama. Today I received an email from her with an 'invoice' for £500." "In the short gap of time between my ceremony and reception, when my ex-husband and I were taking some more pictures, etc, my ex-step FIL gave my ex-MIL a huge new diamond ring. Sitting at their table with all their friends and family, he gave a little speech and presented her with this big ring. She was crying; the whole deal. Everyone made a whole scene and my whole side was the actual fuck. My ex's father and his whole side also thought it was awkward. This was at her first child's wedding — her oldest son. My photographer's assistant was so thrown off and took a bunch of pics of it, so I had to actually see it, not just hear about it. I had a fairly good relationship with my MIL and her husband, but I never really got over that." "I have now been married for almost thirty years. But everyone who attended my wedding only remembers one event that occurred. And it has nothing to do with my actual nuptials. So my brother had a long-time female best friend. She actually chose my wedding reception to declare her love for my brother. He was already engaged at that point to his college girlfriend. This led to a confrontation in the middle of the reception. "My MIL isn't quite horrible. She toes the line, but for the most part, she isn't interested in us, and we take that as a blessing. When we got engaged, she suddenly became interested, because this woman loves a party. She went wedding dress shopping with me, and I found this gorgeous sheath dress, but ultimately, I didn't feel comfortable in it. It is the type of dress that will cling to your tummy if you have one, but I was heartbroken, and I loved it. MIL really liked it too, though I didn't know how much until I saw her wearing it on my wedding day." "I went to a friend's wedding last weekend, and wow. The wedding itself was lovely. The couple was gracious and polite to everyone, the food was good and plentiful, the venue was beautiful, and everything was running smoothly. Then the bride's sister got up to make her speech. A bit of backstory: the bride and her sister are fraternal twins. Growing up, her sister was always more popular and considered to be prettier. In eighth grade, the groom had a crush on the sister and wrote her a letter declaring his feelings. She wasn't interested and embarrassed him by reading the letter out loud during lunch. Everyone laughed at him; he cried, and it must have been awful. The bride felt bad for him, since she was used to being bullied by her sister, too. She walked home with him that day to console him, and they eventually became best friends. They started dating in high school, lived together all through college, and got married after nearly fifteen years together." "My husband and I chose to have a simple, cheap wedding due to both going through University. Most of the guests loved the relaxed daytime atmosphere of being at a park and being surrounded by friends and family. But we had issues with one guest: a former close friend. First, he showed up late, and we held the wedding until he arrived so he wouldn't miss out. He later complained of the cheapness of the wedding, stating, 'it doesn't cost enough to be a real wedding.' He made a few other remarks we tried to I was informed he was trying to invite my friends to a karaoke night at a random pub that night, and didn't want to invite my husband or me. " "I attended a beautiful wedding this weekend in Boston. The grooms both come from money, so the venue was gorgeous and the decorations tasteful (white orchids, guests and wedding party wore black). Everything was just stunning, and there were no hiccups (that I was aware of) until around 10 p.m. They had an amazing live band that kept everyone dancing throughout the night, but I guess someone had too much fun on the dance floor. I see a staff worker with a broom and a tablecloth run out onto the dance floor, throw it over something, and quickly scoop it up. He left quickly. And then the smell. Someone, I swear to god, pooped on the dance floor. (Or as my sister said, sharted)." "I went to a wedding for a friend this past winter. Let's call her WB for 'winter bride.' WB has decorated her venue (a small church) with dried florals incorporated within Christmas trees. It actually looked very pretty. Imagine my surprise and a few other guests' surprise when we found out where they came from. In the fall, WB had been a guest at her childhood friend's wedding. We'll call that friend FB for 'fall bride.' FB has asked that at the end of the night, her flowers be donated to a local nursing home. FB found out at WB's wedding that WB had collected a car full of FB's flowers, taken them home, and dried them for her own wedding. WITHOUT ASKING." "We got married in Las Vegas and planned on heading to the strip or Fremont Street after the reception. On the shuttle bus, we realized a friend of ours got way too hammered. He actually fell off of the bus and had to have a group of our guests, including the groom, carry him to the hotel lobby. He shit his pants while passed out on the hotel lobby couch, so we had our EMT friend checking to make sure he was breathing, etc. The entire group was hanging out in the lobby, and a couple of the guests went to shower him off in their room. The rest of us went up to our hotel room (the bride and groom's room) and were going to take a shot to get the night restarted, and suddenly, the drunk guy and his girlfriend came into our hotel. The drunk guy passed out in the bride and groom's bed. 🤢" "My fiancé and I are having a very casual wedding at his family's hunting property in Northern Michigan. We are having a tiny ceremony (12 people, immediate family only) and a 100-person reception. Both are at the hunting property. We didn't want to have a wedding in the first place, but my fiancé is an only child, and his family really pushed for it, so here we are. He has a great aunt I've never met in the five years we've been together. We invited her to the reception only, just like the vast majority of the family. When she sent back her RSVP, she wrote on the card, 'No ceremony, no attendance, we are family!!'" and declined the invite." "I received my cousin's RSVP with four other people's names in the name field for their plus one. She wanted to invite her mom, dad, daughter, and daughter's fiancée. I only invited this one cousin per my dad's request since I hadn't talked to her in over five years, and he already had a small list of his family members he wanted to invite. My dad called her and told her that her mom and dad were okay to come, but her daughter and her daughter's fiancé could not since we were not having a huge wedding. I also texted her to let her know the same thing." "A couple of years ago, one of my best friends since middle school got married. For her wedding party, she chose her sister as maid of honor, and then the groom's sister and I as bridesmaids. Planning the bachelorette party fell to me and the groom's sister because the maid of honor was still in high school. I went over to the sister's house one day and we planned everything out. It was a normal afternoon right up until I went to leave. She asked if I could stay a few more minutes so she could show me the wedding gift she got them. I said ok, and she disappeared from the room for a few minutes. When she came back, she had a karaoke machine with her. I assumed that was the gift because I knew the couple both liked to karaoke. But then she hit play and started singing at me. In her living room. With a microphone." "October last year, I was the photographer at a wedding. Now, this couple was from a not-so-nice area north of Adelaide, and they decided to have their wedding at a nice winery south of Adelaide. Red flags were starting to come up even before the wedding. The groom punched the FOB at the engagement party, and there were other fights, too! Now the wedding went okay. Until later on in the evening, when a staff member from the venue came in like she had seen a ghost. Nearly in tears, she explained that she had seen the bride's brother having a wank behind a dumpster." "Less than a week before the wedding, we had a guest text my fiancé asking to show up to the venue early to take pictures for us and to continue to take pictures during the ceremony and reception. We informed her that we have already booked a photographer and videographer and that it would not be necessary. My now-wife first texted her back saying, 'No, thank you, we hired professionals,' and after she persisted, I had to step in and give her a firm 'No, do not do this.' This guest was a courtesy invite as she did take our engagement photos and is an old family friend, but she was more of an acquaintance to the family at this point. We honestly never even expected her to accept the invitation." "I'm not the bride, but a guest. Apparently, a couple's babysitter fell ill the morning of the wedding, as in, they had to go to the hospital. Scary stuff, things happen. In polite society, perhaps they'd text the wedded couple and send last-minute regrets. Nope! These folks were C L U E L E S S and showed up with their (uninvited) three-month old infant… who then cried during the ENTIRE ceremony and said clueless parents just…stood there, in the back of the space, letting that baby wail the whole fucking time: processionals, blessings, vows, glass breaking and all." "My sister had a beautiful ceremony. Everything went off perfectly, and then the bar opened for guests whilst pictures were being taken of the bridal party and anyone else they wanted photographed. Well, it turns out the best man made good use of the bar during this time (perhaps 90 minutes), because by the time we were ready to sit down to dinner, he was three sheets to the wind. I don't know if he was trying to drown his nerves because he hadn't written his speech or something, because when he stood up, he pulled a receipt out of his pocket and pretended it was his speech." "I've been married for a few months now, but every time I think about my dad's speech, I get so angry and upset. I have already asked the videographer not to include it in my video. My dad and I were close when I was growing up. I was definitely a daddy's girl. We aren't close now. He's in his sixties and can be sexist; I'm a bit of a feminist, and he knows this. Now onto his speech — this man didn't bother to mention me or my husband, apart from saying, 'She's all grown up now, and I'm glad.' His next statement was 'If you don't think jokes are funny you shouldn't be here' I instantly thought 'Guess I shouldn't be here' when he started to read off the old ball and chain jokes he got off Google and made jokes about not listening to his wife and asking her, 'What did you say? I wasn't listening.' Not a single guest laughed." "My fiancé has a friend he wanted to invite to the wedding, but I did not. She's a hot mess express, but we had some extra room, and I didn't want to be a bridezilla, so whatever. She was invited. Let's call her W. Cut to the wedding day. We were getting ready, and guests started to arrive. My fiancé went to greet people before the ceremony, and I stayed hidden for my big reveal down the aisle. He came back up to our room where I was getting ready and said W is wasted. Then my wedding planner came up and asked who she was, saying they could not serve W. The ceremony hadn't even started!" "I had an intimate wedding with only 50 guests: only family and very close friends. My uncle was going to attend the wedding with his girlfriend, but he had a fight with her that week, so he took his male best friend as his plus one. The best friend thinks he is a singer, but he only screams and makes an unbearable noise. Also, he 'sings' at every family gathering he attends. He carries CDs with the songs he knows everywhere he goes. When I saw him at my wedding, I was afraid he might want to perform, but I thought the DJ would say something to us if he asked him to play his CDs. At some point, my husband and I had a photo session with our parents and his siblings. When we got back to the party, this guy was 'singing' and the DJ was playing his CDs. Back then, I didn't know how to set boundaries, so I didn't say anything. Everyone was very confused. He 'sang' for about an hour and a half." "My (I'm the groom) mother is a tricky one. When she asked what colors she should wear to my upcoming wedding, I just said to avoid white and light blue (the bridesmaids' color). She went and bought a white dress with some line-work light blue floral print on it. I haven't actually seen it; I just heard the description. So I asked her if she could send me a pic of it. After a day of leaving me on read, she replied with 'No, that's not appropriate for you to ask me.' She then stopped responding to my texts." "I married the man of my dreams. We had a dream wedding. We decided to invite his long-lost sister. After the ceremony, she had some sort of breakdown, running around screaming, 'This should be my wedding!!' First off, she was single. She somehow thought from the fact that we had a fancy wedding, that it would have been hers if she hadn't been adopted. It's rather a sad story, but holy hell, she was screaming like it was Jerry Springer, and it was hard for us to try to explain it to everyone. She hasn't spoken to us since, as if she still believes it should have been her wedding. mom brought her new boyfriend and took pics in their underwear in the bathrooms. We had disposable cameras that these were found on. Double bonus...a cousin stole $100 bill from a relative's purse and put it in a wedding card to us." "I just got married! At our wedding, my MIL complained to her son, the groom, and put complaints in the family group chat. The complaints ranged from her being too hot (outdoor ceremony), her feet hurting, and complaints about the planner. At the end of the night, she left without saying goodbye because she felt unappreciated for decorating the vehicle. She decided to take ALL the decorations off the car that she and her family from both sides spent 30 minutes doing in the rain. I never got to see the car decorated, and she specifically did it for me in my favorite color. We did not ask for the car to be decorated, but she offered, and I was really excited about it. After doing that, she left the wedding crying and took two family members with her that was supposed to stay and help us pack up the decor." "This is about a wonderful wedding I went to yesterday. The bride and groom are the absolute sweetest couple you could ever meet. When we first arrived, we all waited on a terrace before the ceremony began, and that's when I saw it: this lady (who I found out later was the groom's aunt-in-law) was wearing a full-length, completely white sundress. All her accessories were white, including the shoes." "When my sister was planning her wedding, one of our cousins told my sister not to invite part of our family: two of my dad's cousins and their family. She recently had her wedding, and they got super drunk and were a big problem. Cool, we never see them of Dad's cousins and their families crashed the wedding. Whatever, it was a big party. Just ignore them. Until the son of one of the cousins came up to my sister (the f*ing bride) and told her, 'I can't believe you forgot about us, you don't even remember my name.' My sister just replied, 'Oh, no Stephano, I know who you are. I didn't forget you, you just weren't invited,' and went on her merry way. Needless to say, they all got super drunk and annoying. They weren't kicked out; my family isn't about drama. (Unfortunately.)" "This woman was a bad friend to start with and generally a rude guest. She didn't like the meal option she chose when she saw someone else's option, so she demanded a different meal. Of course, the caterers didn't have any spares, as it was only a small wedding, so she sulked and pouted her way through the meal. The bride and groom had put a few bottles of wine on each table to go with the meal. Once the meal was done, she hid a few half-full bottles under her cardigan and took them back to her hotel room so she wouldn't have to pay for drinks later on. That was rude behaviour in and of itself, but the icing on the cake was how she neglected her kid. The kid was ill, so they shouldn't have been at that wedding anyway. After the meal, she put her kid to bed in their hotel room (same venue as the reception) and left them alone for the next six hours." "This happened a while ago when my twins were just over a year old or so. My husband's cousin got married in a medium-sized outdoor ceremony. The invitation said adults only, which we were completely okay with. We were going to leave our twins with our nanny. The bride told me that she wanted us to bring our twins. The family wanted to meet them, plus I was also doing her and the bridesmaids' makeup. So we said okay, we'd love to bring them. The bride also said that she would make sure the catering company brought two high chairs for our kids, and they would be with our seats (assigned seating)." And finally, we'll end on a silly one: "A friend gifted his bride professional pictures of only himself. This friend is super self-absorbed about a lot of things, but this one was the most ridiculous to me. He hyped this gift up to people like it was something he had 'made' for her, to then reveal he had gotten professional pictures of himself done (they were very well done — the photographer is great!!), put them in a book, and gave them to her as her wedding gift day gift." Who's the worst wedding guest you've ever witnessed or heard about? Let us know in the comments below or via this anonymous form! Submissions have been edited for length/clarity.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Spring Is Erika Henningsen's Season to Shine
Erika Henningsen has been experiencing fame from all angles this spring. On a recent sunny morning in New York, the actress was in the heart of Times Square, fielding polite compliments on the street during a photoshoot. 'I love your work!' one man offered, passing by as Henningsen posed with the area's iconic signage in the background. On the other side of the street, it was Henningsen doing the fawning as she stooped down to pet a pair of corgis out for a walk. It turned out to be Dash and Lili, an Insta-famous dog duo who boast half a million Instagram followers. You never know who you'll run into in New York, or where you'll run into them. More from WWD Gideon Glick Brings a Choreographer's Vision to Life in 'Étoile' Ilana Glazer Reflects on Broadway Debut 'Good Night and Good Luck' and Amplifying Unsung Stories Sasha Calle on Queer Representation in 'On Swift Horses,' Musical Connection and Her Journey From South Florida to Hollywood Henningsen is currently starring in Broadway musical 'Just in Time,' the new immersive jukebox-style production led by Jonathan Groff as the '50s-era crooner Bobby Darin, which is already drawing a famous crowd. 'Last night I looked out [in the crowd], I was like, oh, that's Steve Martin right there,' she says. 'I don't get nervous, it's just a very odd experience to clock people whilst you're also telling the story and to have to tell your brain, 'OK, cool, that person is here and you love and respect and admire that person, but keep going.'' The show's actors get up close and personal with audience members, particularly those seated at cabaret-style tables at the center of the theater. In one scene toward the end of the show, Henningsen sits down in character next to an audience member as she watches Groff onstage. ' I always love that moment because I think we break the rules,' she says. 'Like, not only are you gonna watch, you're actually gonna be a scene partner to me now.' Henningsen, who originated the role of Cady Heron in the 'Mean Girls' Broadway musical, hadn't set out to do a jukebox musical. 'It was never actually something on my bucket list,' she says. The actress was intrigued by the duo of director Alex Timbers and Groff, as well as writer Isaac Oliver's approach to the book, who 'basically subverts the entire expectation of what this jukebox bio musical is gonna be,' she says. 'I think he cracked the code on how do we give people a way in if they don't know who Bobby Darin is? How do we give them a way in if they don't know who Jonathan Groff is? Somehow the show is able to meld the worlds of theater fans who have known this whole cast for their various things, and then also the people who are here to hear this classic era of music.' Henningsen first received the script while she was upstate shooting 'The Four Seasons' for Netflix, which premieres on Thursday. The eight-part miniseries was written by Tina Fey, who leads the series in an ensemble cast that includes Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte. ' Tina has always been so encouraging of her actors,' says Henningsen of the 'Mean Girls' playwright and creator. 'She leads with a very steady but light hand. So you always know everything's always on schedule, everybody's kind. There's never any drama.' Onscreen, there's plenty of drama to be found. The show is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name, in which three longtime friends and their partners are reunited over the course of four eventful couples' trips. 'Everybody involved wanted to capture the idea that your friends can be going through loss, can be going through personal chaos and turmoil on the inside, and then something will happen that makes you and your friend laugh because of an inside joke from 20 years ago,' says Henningsen. Return to the idea of fandom and Steve Martin: while on set in Puerto Rico with her costars, Henningsen, Fey, and Carell began discussing the idea of being starstruck by people they admire in the industry. ' For me, that person was Tina Fey when I was in 'Mean Girls.' Steve is the nicest person ever, I immediately felt at ease, but I still put him on a pedestal, because he's just such a wonderful comedic actor,' she says. 'But it was funny because both of them said Steve Martin was that for them. It was such a weird kismet moment to be like, 'oh my God, I'm tongue tied around you — and the people that I also admire feel the same way.'' Starring in 'Just in Time' is also a little bit nostalgic for Henningsen, who was in high school when 'Spring Awakening' came out, the production that earned star Groff (a notorious performance-spitter) his first Tony nominations. 'That was when all the YouTube bootlegs started happening for the show,' says Henningsen. 'There was a moment onstage last night where we get in a fight and — he actually doesn't spit on me that much — but there was this one moment where the character erupts, and I got spit on in a way that made me flinch,' she adds. 'And I just remember thinking like, 'oh my god, you watched YouTube videos of this when you were 17 years old, and now you are the person experiencing that.' It's kind of a weird, wild, full circle.' Best of WWD White House Correspondents' Dinner's Best Dressed Guests of All Time: Sofia Vergara, Demi Moore and More Met Gala 2025 Committee Member Tyla's Red Carpet Moments [PHOTOS] Met Gala 2025 Committee Member Angel Reese's Red Carpet Moments [PHOTOS]
Time Out Abu Dhabi
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Soraya in Abu Dhabi
Given its proximity to a mall food court, you'd be forgiven for thinking Soraya was a casual mall restaurant. Located at the main entrance, with its own valet service (NBD), this is a super stylish Persian restaurant that is undeniably swish. Created by the team behind Pachamama in London, it's a style and substance kind of place that impresses no matter the time you stop in. During the day, enjoy a sun-drenched dining room that looks like the home and a very eccentric Persian artist. With burnt-orange booths, candelabras with melted wax candles on every table and a stunning open kitchen with plenty of action to see, the interiors are elegant yet cosy. With powdery beige walls collaged with bright, framed artworks, tastefully wooden panels and decorative frilly lampshades, it's the perfect example of knick-knacks done right. (Credit: Soraya) But, again, this isn't just style over substance, because Soraya serves up some of the best high-end Persian cuisine in Abu Dhabi. Start with the sabzi khordan, which is a simple yet essential part of any Persian meal. You'll get a vibrant platter of fresh herbs and veggies, served family style and meant to be eaten alongside pretty much everything, especially when paired with grilled meats. If you're after an iconic main, then the ever-juicy kubideh kabab – a superstar of Persian grills – is the kind of dish that's simple in concept, but when made right, it hits on every level. Expect its juicy, tender meat, smoky flavour and aromatic herbs to live in your head rent-free for a while. Soraya's rendition was deeply satisfying. (Credit: Soraya) Finish with the restaurant's Insta-famous caramel burnt cheese cake, where waiters dramatically pour a brown butter & hazelnut kunafa sauce on top. Creamy and ends the entire experience on a high. While Soraya is wonderfully modern, it's not straying too far from tradition, though, either. You're getting iconic recipes presented in a contemporary way in a stunning space, all priced very reasonably for what you're getting. What's not to love? Spend enough time at Soraya and you won't just forget you're next to a mall – you'll feel like you've been whisked into the eclectic home of a Persian creative who just happens to serve some of the best kababs in the city. Casual mall dining? Not even close.
