Wedding is equally important for both – the hosts and the guests. Many times while attending a wedding you knowingly or unknowingly face certain embarrassing situation that remains in your memory for a long time. Wedding etiquette for guests is of utmost importance to avoid such situations. Since wedding is an occasion that brings so many relatives and friends face each other after a long time, emotions, laughs and queries burst out like a volcano at the time of interaction. This is exactly when you can save yourself from being embarrassed in front of everyone. Remember only special people are invited as guests to attend wedding and if you are invited you are among those special.
Here are 10 ways to manage your wedding etiquette as a guest:
1. Inform your presence
Wedding invitations are given long before the scheduled date. Arrangements have to be made for the guests. So it would be better to inform your presence or absence to the host. Even if you are not attending, responding too late for it will be considered as a bad sign.
2. Check the number of invitees on the card
There are other things besides date, day, time and venue on the invitation card to note. Check on the envelope about the number of invitees. If it is mentioned as “Mr. XYZ and Guests” the host is requesting you to bring other guests also with you and if it is mentioned as “Mr. XYZ” it means the host is requesting you only for the honor of your presence. Follow the request and act so to avoid embarrassment.
3. Gifts
Even if you are not attending the wedding due to some problem send a gift mentioning your name and best wishes. It is not compulsory to bring the gift at the wedding, you can even gift it later on. Whereas it is expected to gift the cash and money certificates at the reception itself. Do not become a guests who just attended wedding to see others and enjoy food.
4. Choose proper attire for the wedding
Being an invitee you should look decent and respectful. While choosing a dress for yourself kindly note the color of your dress. In many cultures white and black colors are treated as colors not to wear at wedding. You are attending wedding to wish bride and groom best of luck for future and not wishing them bad luck. So kindly focus on the color you choose to wear.
5. Reach on time
Be punctual enough to reach on the time mentioned in the invitation card and attend the wedding completely. Even if you are late by chance do not interrupt in between ceremonies and create an embarrassing scene there. Watch the ceremonies from far away that may not disturb others.
6. Take care of kid invitees
If you are taking your kids with you, kindly see to it that the kids are not disturbing other guests and ceremonies going on. Loud cry, laugh and shout of your kids may seem to be disrespectful to even the bride and groom. If your kids are not following your instructions of keeping quite and behaving well take them away from the hall and then shout on them or re-instruct your kids.
7. Make acquaintances with the unknown invitees
Do not seat/stand in a corner alone. This will grab attention to other invitees. You can start with the introduction to other invitees and mingle with them to enjoy wedding party. Conversation is very important in marriages so talk to people.
8. Control your tone
Do not speak loud and laugh aloud at the time of ceremonies. This may disturb the bride and groom along with the holy-man and other guests. Control your speech tone and way of talking. Do not even whisper, this too is a bad sign.
9. Be in your limits
Drinks are an indispensable part of wedding. Enjoy drinks to your limit and do not drink much so that you are not in a position to manage yourself and keep yourself stable in the party. After drinking, some people even do not know what to speak and what not. Therefore limit yourself to the amount you can consume easily.
10. Do not disturb the arrangements
There at the wedding venue everything like chairs, tables, drinks, starters, main course has a per-decided place. Do not try to impose your ideas and views to rearrange those things neither force the waiters or people serving their to make changes. This may not look good and is against wedding etiquette.