Wedding season might be drawing to a close, but it’s never too late for a refresher on the proper etiquette!
- When to Have A Plus One
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It may be tempting to bring that new guy you met in accounting to your second cousin’s first wedding, but plus one’s are traditionally reserved for serious long-term relationships. Weddings are expensive, and if everyone was allowed to bring friends, then that would be a serious financial strain on the newly married couple.
- A Season of Gifts
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Depending on your relationship to the couple, and your role in their wedding, you may be expected to attend various events such as the engagement party, wedding shower, bachelorette party, and rehearsal dinner. Attendance for these events sometimes requires giving a separate gift. In those instances, make sure to either get something off the registry, or money. Nobody wants to get seven blenders.
- Dress to Impress
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One of the oldest wedding rules is to avoid wearing white. Even though you have that amazing white dress from Forever 21 in the back of your closet, it needs to stay there another day. You do not want to end up on a wedding shaming website for daring to challenge the bride.
- Be A Helping Hand
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Weddings are chaotic, every single one of them. There’s always something that goes wrong at the last minute, and people spend a lot of energy running around like crazy in the hour before it all comes together. Try to get to the wedding with plenty of time to spare; budget even more time if it’s a distance away that you’re unfamiliar with. Once you get there, see if there’s any way you can be of assistance to somebody. You might be the saving grace for the day.
- Drink With Caution
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One of the easiest ways to cut corners in financing a wedding is to have a cash bar, meaning drinking will get expensive it you’re too heavy about it throughout the reception. Even if there is an open bar, it’s best to take things slowly. You may have a long drive home, a speech to give, or copius small talk to make. It’s best to be safe when mixing alcohol and fancy events.
- Keep Smiling!
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One of the most annoying things in the world is someone telling you to smile, but it’s really important for a wedding day. If you have a RBF, nobody wants to see that immortalized in their wedding album. If you don’t want your cheeks to sting later on, try to smile everytime you sense a camera around you!
- Be Patient With Social Media
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Depending on the feelings of the couple, it may be best to lay off posting wedding photos to your own social media accounts. Like with birthday cake, the couple should be the first to enjoy showing pictures of their big day. You can always post them later with more time to think of your hashtags!
- Leave With Style
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Don’t leave before giving your congratulations to the newly weds. You might not get to have a very long conversation with them, but it will feel great to have just a few moments to spend with them on their day!
Weddings can be rough. Sometimes they’re perfect, sometimes they’re a disaster, but they’re always a celebration of love. And you can add so much more to that celebration with a little help!