Wedding Guest Etiquette

 

So your friends are getting married… and you’re invited! Whether this is your first or fifteenth wedding invitation, there are some rules of etiquette that are highly encouraged. But don’t stress because your All Occasion Catering team is here to help you be a stellar wedding guest, courtesy of Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette.

It all starts with the invitation. When you receive that beautifully stylized invitation, take a moment to admire the hard work that went into making it special and RSVP immediately, to help the bride get a headcount of how many guests to expect. The wedding caterer and other vendors also need an accurate count for the ceremony and reception. Most invitations include a card that requires only your name and response, but it’s perfectly fine to write a formal reply if you can’t make it.

Read and respect the invitation. If it isn’t specified that you are allowed a guest, just assume you are going solo. This is not the time to negotiate the hosts’ decision, and you may even meet a new dancing partner who compliments your moves on the dance floor.

To make things easier on you AND your friends, send the wedding gift ahead of time. It’s one less thing you have to carry around and helps consolidate the pile of gifts that the hosts have to pack and carry out post-reception. It’s completely appropriate to bring a small card to the wedding dress your gratitude for the invitation and even pointing out what gift the couple should expect from you.

And last, but certainly not least, have a great time. This is a celebration of a new journey and you get to partake, so what’s not to celebrate? But be on your best behavior. Don’t be the guest everyone goes home chatting about for the wrong reasons. Wear attire appropriate to what is indicated on the invitation, watch your alcohol intake and pay your respects to the hosts. So here’s to wedded bliss in 2015 – for the fortunate couples AND their guests!