Wedding Guests Dos and Don’ts We All Need To Know

1. Don't turn up with a +1 unannounced

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As a wedding guest, it's a huge no-no to turn up with a plus one who you haven't even asked the bride and groom if they can attend. If you have been told that you are able to bring someone then sure, go ahead. But do NOT assume you can rock up with someone, every guest costs a lot of money.

2. DON'T wear white...or anything close

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In wedding guest etiquette this has got to be the top of the list in terms of what NOT to do. Do not, in any circumstance wear white to someone else's wedding. We don't care if you're calling it 'ivory', 'cream', or an off-shade of grey...if it's anything like white, stee absolutely clear.

3. If you're leaving, say goodbye to the bride and groom

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Your bride and groom have hosted this amazing wedding and spent a lot of time, effort, and money to make it what it is PLUS, inviting you to share their special day. So don't just disappear without saying goodbye, if they're busy wait until they're free so that you let them know you're going and what an amazing day it's been.

4. Don't keep requesting your own songs

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The DJ will ask for requests if they really want, but don't be that person who dictates the songs just because you think you've got the best music taste. Nobody wants the entire album of a very niche band that you're into and remember, this isn't your day!

5. Remember to take home your wedding favor

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Weddings cost such a huge amount, and even wedding favors take a lot of time and effort to make or a lot of money to buy. So don't leave it on the table? Bear in mind that the bride and groom have made this for you to take home, leaving it shows a lack of appreciation!

6. If you have food intolerances...tell them BEFORE the wedding

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Rocking up to the wedding and being presented with a meal and then declaring that you're actually a vegan or that you're intolerant to half of what is in front of you is SO not cool. If you have any dietary requirements tell them months in advance. The last thing they want to be doing is sorting out your meal on their wedding day.

7. Always RSVP!

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Let someone know that you are, or are not going to attend their wedding. It's a huge honor to be invited to such a special day so the least you can do is let somebody know. Weddings take a lot of preparation and food is ordered per head, meaning your space makes a big difference!

8. Don't make your own big announcement

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Please, do NOT make any big announcements. Do not decide to propose, or announce your pregnancy or anything of the sort. This is the bride and groom's big day and absolutely not yours as a wedding guest. Making a big announcement is stealing the limelight.

9. Remember to personally congratulate the couple

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You'd think this is super obvious, but when questioned, many people would attend a wedding without having personally gone up to the pride and groom to congratulate them. But since you are attending someone's big day, you should definitely go and give them your heartfelt wishes - even if you don't know them that well.

10. Take a pass on the shots

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Have a few drinks and be merry by all means but nobody wants to be the one to give everyone something to talk about the morning after...for all the wrong reasons. Puking on the dancefloor, falling over drunk, these are the kinds of things you really don't wanna do as a wedding guest.

11. Don't steal the bride and groom's attention

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Imagine this is your big day, one of the best days of your life and someone's trying to steal your attention. Can you imagine how you'd feel? Yep, furious. And rightly so. Don't steal the biggest moment of someone's life from them by doing something to attract their attention.

12. Be super complimentary

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Be complimentary of the bride's dress and the venue how good the ceremony was and how tasty the food was. These things are all appreciated but sometimes wedding guests forget to share their positive opinions. But it means a lot to the bride and groom that you loved their big day.

13. Don't ask questions like 'wow, how much did this cost?'

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By all means, ask who made the flower arrangements because they are so beautiful, but don't ask any financial questions. Finances are an uncomfortable topic at any time, and they are especially inappropriate on a wedding day. So no matter how curious you are about the price of the bride's dress...don't ask!

14. When it comes to a gift, ask what they want

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Instead of doubling up on smoothie makers or scented candles, ask the bride and groom what they ACTUALLY want. There's no use in getting them something that they don't want, won't use, or have no need for. Instead just ask, 'what would you like for your wedding gift?'

15. Don't bring any drama to the wedding

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If you have drama with anybody...leave it at the door. Do NOT bring your drama into someone else's wedding. The only attention for the day should be positive. No matter what gossip went down during the bachelorette or who ghosted who, don't bring it to the wedding!

16. If you have to cancel, do it well in advance

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The least you can do if you're not able to attend a wedding is to let them know as soon as possible. This gives them a chance to invite another special guest to your place. Each place has to be well thought out for a wedding and so it really does make all the difference!

17. Do get up and dance

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Every bride and groom fears that their wedding day won't be everything that they envisaged it to be. And it's a worry that things will get awkward or nobody will get up and dance and the whole mood will feel flat. So as a wedding guest, do them a favor and dance the night away!

18. Sit in your own seat

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Don't be messing up the well-thought-out, meticulously planned seating plans. Today isn't about you or where you want to sit, so follow the board and take your seat. Otherwise, you literally could mess the whole thing up and that is a stress that the newlyweds don't need.

19. Don't talk to the bride and groom for hours

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As much as we've said to make sure you thank them and congratulate them, don't on the other hand engage in a super lengthy conversation that steals half their night. They have to mingle with hundreds of guests and will barely have time to enjoy the night as it is, without a three-hour conversation per guest.

20. Put your phone on silent!

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Bad wedding etiquette doesn't get much worse than having your phone ring during such an important ceremony. The number one rule should be to have your phone on silent. And while you think it should be a given, there have been many instances where guests' phones have rung mid-ceremony.

21. Definity don't be late

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Being late for a wedding is disrespectful. Make sure if anything that you're early, just so that you definitely aren't late. You can't walk into a ceremony halfway through in the middle of the wedding vows. So make sure you set an alarm and get ready on time.

22. Don't take videos during the ceremony unless you've asked to

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different brides and grooms may have very different views on this. Some love you to record videos, the more footage of their day the better. But others don't want their ceremony to look like a sea of mobile phones. Instead, they prefer the videographer/ photographer to do the recording alone.

23. Absolutely don't give a surprise speech unless asked to

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By no means should you get up and do a spontaneous or uninvited speech. No matter how close you think you are to the couple or how funny you think you'll sound after one too many glasses of vino, it's not a good idea. Don't do a speech unless you've specifically been asked to!

24. Don't overdo it on the PDA

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Look, the only people who are allowed to be sickeningly in love and do all the public displays of affection they want are the bride and groom. Anybody else should hold back on the PDA so that they don't make all of the other wedding guests uncomfortable in their presence.

25. Make an effort to mingle

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Even if you're an introvert, try not to sit at the table in the corner and not speak to anybody. Weddings are joyous occasions and everyone's there for the same positive reason. Mingle as much as you can, it's what the newlyweds want their guests to do.

26. Sign the guest book

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Don't think 'I'll do it later' in terms of signing the guest book because once you get onto the dance floor you may completely forget. Signing the book is a way for the couple to cherish their memories and it's not much to ask for each guest to sign their best wishes!

27. Keep any negative opinions to yourself

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If you don't like the groom's choice of suit, the wedding decor, or the flavor of the cake, keep it very much to yourself. Don't only not tell the couple (obviously) but don't say it to another guest who could relay the message. Any negative feedback on a wedding day should be kept to yourself.

28. Check if children are welcome

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Many people would assume that weddings are child-friendly. But not every couple wants their wedding to have children in attendance. It's actually quite common for a wedding to be adult only so definitely double-check before you bring your children alone, just in case!

29. Don't abuse the open bar

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Open bars are a kind gesture so don't go overboard and order 5 cocktails in a row. The open bar is intended for each guest to have a drink, but other than that paying for your own drink is better. Weddings are costly enough without spending thousands on the bar too!

30. Don't share embarrassing stories about the couple

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What the bride and groom don't want you to do is start opening up about all of the embarrassing stories you remember. These are probably best shared in private, rather than in front of the hundreds of wedding guests of all different ages and relations to the couple.