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A wedding is a momentous day — the bride and groom have invited their loved ones, including you, to partake in their special day!
With that said, there is a certain etiquette every wedding guest should follow so they don’t fall prey to wedding faux pas. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
You must RSVP
Whether or not you can attending a wedding, send back the RSVP. It’s only common courtesy to keep the couple in the loop, so they can adjust food and seating accordingly.
Don’t add a “plus one”
Oftentimes, a couple will limit seating to stay within budget. So if they did not include a “plus one” or “bring a guest” line on the invitation, it probably isn’t by coincidence. If you need to bring someone with you, then reach out to the couple beforehand.
Wedding gifts can be too late
If you didn’t get the wedding gift to the couple by the wedding date, then you still have time. The standard time frame of sending a wedding gift is within a year of the wedding. Additionally, most couples keep their registries open for about a year, making it easy to send a gift well after the wedding. But if it’s after the year mark, consider giving the gift — but as an anniversary gift or housewarming gift instead.
Dress code matters
There is a such thing as being underdressed or overdressed for a wedding. You don’t want to wear jeans to a wedding with a cocktail attire dress code. You also don’t want to wear a gown to a semiformal wedding. And just as a rule of thumb, never wear white.
Communicate when changing your RSVP
It’s probably the worst case scenario when you already RSVP’ed “yes” but can’t attend at the last minute. No-shows are inconsiderate, so if you can’t make a wedding last minute, do your best to reach out to the couple. Depending on how much time you have before the wedding, either send an apology note with a gift ahead of time or call them and leave a voicemail at the very least. For goodness sake, don’t send a text!
Sign the guestbook
It might seem cheesy to sign your name and leave a note in the guestbook, but it’s a great way for the couple to remember everyone who attended the wedding — especially if they weren’t able to greet you at the ceremony.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
