How To Be a Good Wedding Guest

Related to my previous post on how to be a good wedding host, below I've listed out some top tips on how to be a good wedding guest.

Please, please RSVP on time.

Check your answer then mail in the card--it's that simple! / Image via Crafty Pie

Sigh...this was the one thing as a bride that was THE most frustrating.  Luckily we had a decent RSVP card return rate of about 65% (I think I read somewhere that the average was about 50%) but still!  For those other 35% who didn't respond, I don't know how much easier we could have made it.  We choose RSVP postcards in favor of RSVP cards with envelopes because we figured it was one less step for people.  All they had to do was check their response and pop it in the mailbox (as we already addressed and stamped each one).

On that same note, if you RSVP'd yes but can no longer make it, PLEASE do not wait until the day before or the day of to cancel (and unless it's a life or death situation, never, ever be a no-show.)

Do not be late for the wedding.

Someone's wedding is not something you need to be fashionably late for.  Generally things are running on a specific schedule, so aim to be on time for all of the events that you are invited to.

Respect the dress code.

There is endless information available on the interwebs about wedding dress codes / Image via Brides

Simply put, if you do not understand dress code terminology (i.e. black tie optional vs. black tie), there is a thing called Google--look it up to see what it means.  Or ask the bride, groom, maid of honor, or mother of the bride.  I know I had to look up all of the formal terms because I didn't know what they meant in the early stages of wedding planning.  And beyond that, unless the invite says casual, skip the Hawaiian shirt or an outfit that you would wear to a dive bar and put on something nice!  It's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed at a wedding.

Keep it classy.

It's totally fine to let loose and get drunk at a wedding (after all, isn't that the point of the reception?), but remember to keep it classy and don't get stupid drunk.  That means no barfing at your table or on the dance floor (run to the bathroom instead!) or getting too freaky on the dance floor--at least wait until the old folks have left before you start twerking or grinding!
 
Throw your hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care.

BM K and GM Z at my wedding / Photo by Sarelle Photos

You're there to support the bride and groom and enjoy a free meal (and free booze), so have fun!  Don't sit in the corner with a sourpuss expression on your face.  If you hate dancing then hit up the photobooth, play some games or go mingle.
 
What are your top tips on how to be a good wedding guest?