Wedding season is exciting! Maybe a dear friend is tying the knot or a close family member is planning on saying “I do”. Perhaps a colleague or neighbour has invited you to their nuptials. These are all great opportunities to celebrate the people in your life, and are definitely events to look forward to. Most people agree that weddings are a lot of fun. However, you may be a bit worried about what is expected of you as a wedding guest.

Sure, even the most seasoned wedding guest can mistakenly break the rules every now and then. But, the last thing you want is to embarrass yourself in front of all the other guests or be an inconvenience. If you want to ensure that your wedding-attendance-reputation is top quality and that you’re the best wedding guest you can be, then follow these simple tips.

– RSVP as soon as you can
Whether or not you’re planning on attending, you should RSVP as soon as you can. If you don’t, it’ll be a huge inconvenience to the couple, especially if you still show up to the wedding. Often, the couple needs to communicate a final head-count to vendors such as caterers. While you may think putting off the RSVP is minor, you could be unnecessarily adding to the couples wedding stress. Don’t do it!

– Don’t bring a guest if you weren’t given a plus one
If the wedding invite doesn’t clearly state that you can bring a guest, then don’t. It’s also probably a good idea not to assume that you can bring your kids either. If the invite doesn’t say anything, then find out first.

Weddings are expensive. If you didn’t get a plus one, then the couple wasn’t planning on catering for your plus one. Additionally, most venues have a maximum capacity. It will be mighty awkward if you bring a guest and there is no seat for them.

We know it can be uncomfortable to attend a wedding alone, but it’s better than causing an inconvenience on the couple’s special day.

– Dress appropriately
Take the season and the time of day into account, then dress appropriately for those factors. Be sure to check if there are any dress code specifications on the invitation. If there are, then follow them. Do not take any artistic liberty.

Additionally, avoid wearing white at all costs. Wearing white is considered to be extremely rude – you’ll be wearing the bride’s colour on her special day.

– Arrive on time
This is not the time to arrive fashionably late. If you arrive late you may disrupt the ceremony or proceedings. You’ll be considered rude and inconsiderate.

– Put your phone on silent
This is another way you may mistakenly disrupt the ceremony. If you get some notifications or a phone call during the ceremony, it is quite distracting. The attention should be on the couple, do not take it away from them.

In fact, you should try to keep texting and social media to a minimum during the wedding, lest you come across as uninterested or bored.

– Don’t abuse the open bar
You don’t need to take full advantage of the free drinks. A wedding is a classy event, so behave as such. A story about you passing out at the wedding is sure to get you uninvited from future weddings very quickly.

– Mingle with the other guests
If you’re at a table with strangers, be sure to introduce yourself and make some conversation. When it’s appropriate, get up and talk to other people too. This simply makes you a pleasant guest to have in attendance. You should, however, avoid sitting in a different seat because you know people at a table that isn’t the one you were assigned. You’ll be messing with months’ worth of planning.

– Don’t compare the wedding to others you’ve attended
It may seem as though you’re being judgemental or criticizing the wedding. The couple has spent a great amount of time planning this, and to them it’s perfect. Keep your opinions to yourself. Nobody wants to be seated next to a Negative Nancy.

– Unless you’re the actual photographer, keep the pic snapping to a minimum
Hovering around the couple all day to take pictures can be quite annoying. It can also be quite distracting. Refrain from this. One or two pictures are fine, but don’t over-do it.

Another thing that you should remember is to avoid using your flash. Your flash may ruin the official photographer’s photos or simply just distract the couple and other guests.

– Don’t leave early
Unless it is really necessary, it’s best not to leave early. Wait at least until the cake is cut. It’s simply good manners. You wouldn’t want to make the couple feel bad on their special day, would you?

Image: Unsplash 

One of the most controversial guest-list decisions you’ll make is whether or not you’re inviting kids to your wedding. On the one hand, the decision against inviting kids could cause some tension between you and your loved ones. On the other, a wedding without kids is likely to be much easier.

There are many things to be taken into consideration when making this decision. From guest expectations to venue capacity.

Ultimately, the decision is yours and you should do what feels right for you and your partner.

To help you wrap your head around making this decision, here are some pros and cons of inviting kids to your wedding.

Pros of inviting kids: 

– Your guests with kids won’t have an issue attending

It is common for guests to complain about a child-free wedding because they don’t have anywhere to leave their kids. Sometimes, finding a good baby-sitter can be tough, especially if the child’s grandparents are also attending the wedding. If you’re inviting guests from out of town, they won’t be familiar with any sitters in the area. Most people won’t leave their kids behind if they’re travelling either.

By allowing kids at your wedding, you ensure that all your friends and family with kids are able to be in attendance.

– They add to the atmosphere 

Inviting kids to your wedding brings a playfulness that you likely wouldn’t get from your adult guests. Having children run around and giggle with joy really does add an extra touch of happiness to the special day.

– There will be no tension 

If you decide on having a wedding-wide ban on kids, you have to be prepared for some tension. Many people will take offense to the decision. This can be totally avoided if you allow parents to bring their kids along.

– Your nieces and nephews can be part of the wedding 

While kids may not always be your cup of tea, we’re sure you’re very fond of your little nieces and nephews. You may even want them to be a part of the bridal party. If your wedding doesn’t accommodate kids, this is something you’ll have to give up.

Cons of inviting kids:

– Kids are unpredictable 

Kids are known for their unpredictability. They could start screaming and crying and having a full-blown temper tantrum at any moment. Additionally, they get a bit fidgety if they’re sitting still for too long. They may start running around and acting uncontrollably if they get bored. If you’d prefer to avoid the risk of having your “I do’s” interrupted, then an adults-only affair is probably better for you.

– You will have to spend more money 

Venue size and catering need to be taken into account. They may be little but kids still require seats and food. If your budget is tight, you may want to ensure that your adult guests are catered for first and then decide if you can afford to invite kids.

– You’ll have to keep them busy

Entertainment for kids and entertainment for adults are two completely different things. You will have to ensure that you have a way to keep kids busy, because for them a wedding is a very long event.

Image: Unsplash