Last week, I talked about some of the elements that go into a great wedding. This week I have suggestions from friends and co-workers as to what definitely doesn’t work at a wedding.

Topping the list – hold on to your hats, now – is the Chicken Dance. As one coworker said, “That thing should have been put to rest a LONG time ago.”

I would actually say that goes for all of those step dances. While none is quite so embarrassing as the Chicken Dance, they’re all pretty awful, especially if you don’t know the steps. Each generation busts out with it’s own Electric Slide, Macarena or whatever it happens to be. If you’re not of that generation – or you’re just trying to put a bad memory to rest – these dances can be awkward at best.

I remember one wedding in particular that played The Electric Slide. All the women my age squealed, resurrected their high school days and, unfortunately dragged me along in the tidal wave of yesterday, I stood up there, punching my fist futilely in the air, trying to simultaneously follow along and tap into banished high school gym class memories, praying for the fabled large hole in the ground that supposedly swallows people when they most need it.

So, no, the Chicken Dance isn’t the best idea you’ve ever had. Here are some other no-nos:

n The bridal bouquet – an ugly tradition. Alright, I know you probably won’t give up tossing the bouquet, but consider this: “One wedding I went to, all the girls who were grouped up to catch it, none of them put their hands up and it dropped to the floor.”

n “One thing I didn’t like about one of my friends weddings was that they had someone singing during the ceremony. Like they stopped everything and we listened to her sing. It was just awkward and very random... I think singing should just be at the reception...”

n Keep your guests dressed . . . appropriately. “I was at a wedding recently, and when we got to the reception some of the guesses had changed into ‘comfortable’ clothing. I think that this is wrong. One person even had jeans and a sweatshirt on. If it is such an imposition to dress up, then don’t go. The bride and groom and others work so hard to have a memorable, beautiful day. It should be about them. These people actually were in some pictures I saw and the pictures as far as I am concerned were horrible. Again, people should stay home if they are so imposed about ‘dressing’ up.  A simple blouse and nice pair of pants would do.”

n Consider your bouquet carefully, especially in the summer. One friend went to a wedding where the bride ended up trying to dodge a bee while saying her vows.

n Think about your centerpieces as well, advises one newly-married woman. “The best advice I can give is DO NOT have a centerpiece on tables that fall over easy. Someone always bumps the table and things go flying!”

n Rethink the how sentimental you want your wedding to be, said one coworker, who very plainly opined, “Do not have some folk wannabe strum guitar and sensitively sing Paul Stookey’s awful ‘Wedding Song,’ or whatever it is called, unless you want to watch your guests alternate between: (1) trying not to puke or (2) trying not to collapse into guffaws.

n Watch your drinking, advised one wedding guest, “Do not, as a friend of mine claimed he did at his own wedding – well, at the subsequent reception – drunkenly deck the best man ... who happened to be own brother.”

Enough said.