Worst Wedding Etiquette Mistakes
The wedding day is the most important day in a couple's life. Couples carefully select the people with whom they want to share the special occasion. It is important to follow the rules of proper wedding etiquette to ensure the couple's big day goes off smoothly and without a hitch. Wedding guests can avoid embarrassment and unnecessary wedding disasters by avoiding common wedding etiquette mistakes.
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Invitations
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Make a great impression with the engaged couple from the start by responding to the invitation in a timely manner. Some people make the mistake of responding to the invitation too late or not at all. Check your invitation for the RSVP deadline and make sure to return the RSVP card on or before that date. Additionally, make sure to check if the invitation specifies whether you are allowed to bring a plus one. Another horrible etiquette mistake is to bring a guest when the invitation was only extended to the person whose name was on the invitation. Remember, the couple is paying per guest. Therefore, unless the invitation explicitly states that you may bring someone go alone.
Ceremony
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The wedding ceremony is a very special event in the lives of a married couple. You do not want to ruin their special moment with poor etiquette. Be sure to arrive to the ceremony on time. If you are unable to arrive before the ceremony starts, stand in the back so as not to disrupt the ceremony. One of the worst things that could happen is for the bride and groom to be interrupted during the exchange of wedding vows. Make sure your phone is turned off. Do not text, talk or surf the internet on your phone while the ceremony is going on. Keep conversations with other guests to a minimum. Quick comments about how pretty the bride looks or the beauty of the ceremony are acceptable but keep them short and to a whisper. If you must have a lengthier conversation or have a sudden coughing or sneezing attack, excuse yourself immediately, step outside and return once you are done. Also, unless you have only been invited to the reception, don't skip the ceremony. One of the worst wedding etiquette mistakes you can make would be to skip the ceremony and only show up for the reception. This is considered rude.
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Attire
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On her wedding day, the bride should be the center of attention. Don't make the mistake of wearing something too provocative or something that will cause you to stand out and take attention away from the bride on her special day. Never wear white, cream or ivory. Avoid dresses that are too tight, reveal too much cleavage, or are too short. A knee length cocktail dress is appropriate.
Reception
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Over drinking at the reception is poor wedding etiquette. Over drinking can lead to overly provocative dancing, inappropriate behavior towards other wedding guests or the couples family, or making a toast in poor taste. Use good judgment and pace yourself even if the reception has an open bar.
Gifts
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Guests are expected to give a wedding gift whether they attend the ceremony or not. Do not make the mistake of bringing the gift with you to the ceremony or the reception location. Gifts should be sent to the couple's address. Always use the couple's registry when selecting a gift.
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References
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