Wedding Guest Etiquette

Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Guest Etiquette For A Lovely Wedding

• How to be the perfect wedding guest
• Proper wedding manners of guests
• Gentle suggestions to prevent awkward situations

I read this quote in a Miss Manners Wedding Etiquette book, (abridged version) 'One does not frustrate you and your friends or hurt some well - meaning relative, and to prevent your wedding helpers from losing their sanity by having only one guest list'.

Basically, do not have two different guest lists for your ceremony and reception. This alone will solve half your wedding guest list issues!

After all, the root of etiquette is kindness and that means making the most considerate deicsions.

A Civilized Guest

Wedding Schmoozing Taboos: "When are you getting married?", "When is your turn?"

Basic Wedding Guest Etiquette

1. RSVP! The proper wedding etiquette is to answer the invitation immediately in the mode that is requested
   response card, email, text message.


2. Answer on behalf of those whom it was addressed to


3. If addressed to a list of names, reply with those names listed of those attending


4. And show up! Nothing could be more rude than a no-show.


5. Make your own plans to get there, sort out your accomodation if it is a destination wedding.


6. Don't show up if you have declined the invitation.


7. Don't try to do a second rsvp just because your travel plans fell through and you have nothing better else to do.


8. If attending the wedding, bring a wedding present with a prior effort to determine the couple's preferred choice of gift.


9. Depending on culture and tradition, wedding gifts can be accepted in various forms, e.g. registries, cash gifts. Even if you are not from the same culture, take on the couple's wedding gift tradition.
See Sending a Wedding Gift Etiquette


Wedding Etiquette Story

Two particular wedding guests were from a different culture and decided to disregard the wedding couple's cultural tradition for cash gifts. So their gift was a painting instead. Twenty years from now, it is still perceived as rudeness.

Therefore, save yourself from the risk of ruined friendships and give them what they want, regardless of etiquette.

10. If you're not attending a wedding of an acquaintance, send a note of congratulations.


11. If it's a good friend's wedding that you are unable to attend, send a good gift.

Wedding Guest Dress & Attire

A guest should try to refrain from wearing white or black as much as possible to a wedding, except for men's suits.

It is not good wedding guest etiquette to arrive in anything too fancy, lest you be accused of upstaging the bride.

Wedding Reception

Having wedding guest etiquette is like having good party manners. When you first arrive, seek out the host families and offer your congratulations.

At the wedding, make an effort to tell the bride she is beautiful and the groom that he is a lucky man.

See more Wedding Reception Etiquette.

Continue to Page Two of Wedding Guest Etiquette

Miss Manners Wedding Etiquette

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