How To Be The Perfect Wedding Guest

If you have never been invited to a wedding or would like some suggestions, here are my top five tips on how to be the perfect wedding guest!

~Monica Hui
Owner, Lead Planner and Designer
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RSVP to the Wedding
This should be a no-brainer. If you want to attend, say so. If you can't, decline the invitation politely. Never say "you might be able to come" or "you will know closer to the day." These answers really don't help the couple with their wedding planning. They need to be able to know the exact number of guest moving forward. Same goes for if you declined the invitation, don't show up the day of cause your plans changed. There might not be a seat for you.



Be Respectful With Your +1
Unless your invitation says you can invite a guest, you can't bring one. The wedding couple spends a lot of time with their wedding list and they want to invite only the people they want at their wedding. Also, weddings are a huge expense. They have accounted for each guest and cannot (necessarily) afford to have extra uninvited people at their wedding.



Wedding Registry
Regardless of how you feel about wedding registries or what is registered by the wedding couple, try your best not to stray from their wedding registry. Likely they have what they need and the things on the registry are the only things they need or want. If the couple don't have wedding registry, likely they prefer a cash gift. Check in with the couple, family, friends, or wedding party in a discrete manner to make sure.



Don't Be Late
This applies to all aspects of the wedding. Whether it is for the wedding ceremony, pictures, reception, or cake cutting. The couple has taken the time to plan and organize their wedding. Every aspect of the wedding is on a timeline. While they would not likely wait for you as a guest, it is best to minimize disruptions to their day.



Let The Couple Shine
This means letting the couple have their day and be the center of attention. Do not be THAT guest that wore something too revealing, danced a little too provocatively, had too much to drink, shared way too information in a speech, or kissed everyone that night.


 William Innes Photography 

Carisa and Richard: Seating Chart

This is part 15 of the new blog series about Carisa and Richard's wedding planning process up until their wedding on August 31, 2013. In addition to sharing with readers their love story and wedding planning adventures, insights and tips for brides and groom's planning their own wedding will also be shared!

Only two months away from Carisa and Richard's wedding! If you are also getting married around this time, you should be sending out invitations, getting RSVPs, and deciding on where everyone is sitting at your wedding. Most of the Hollywood movies portray this as a daunting task: Aunt Helen cannot sit next to Aunt Selina, but must sit next to Uncle Ken, but Uncle Ken cannot be next to Uncle Bob. (OMG.)

Source: Bridal Guide

 

Here are some of the common dilemmas:
Bridal Table: Traditionally, the bridal table is reserved for the bride and groom and is a large rectangular table in the center of the room. The groom sits to the right of the bride and the best man is seated on her left. The date of the best of man is seated to his right. The maid of honor is seated to the right of the groom with her date on the left side. Modern option: the bride and groom sit in the middle of the head table with the bridesmaids and groomsmen on either sides.

Family Tables: Traditionally, the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom are seated across from each other at a large table. The additional seats at this table are taken by the officiant, grandparents and close family members. A modern option is for the parents of the bride and parents of the groom to host their own individual table.

Divorced Parent Tables: Each parent should host their own tables. Just make sure they are far enough apart to ensure a good time for them (and you!)
 
Singles: Being seated at a singles table SUCKS. Don't do this to your single friends if you want to remain friends with them after the wedding. Seat them with other people they know at a wedding, even if the table is full of couples. Your single friends are there to attend your wedding, not go on awkward blind dates.

Children: Children’s tables are encouraged and will serve as a great break for the parents. Ensure the placement of least one child over the age of 12 to help the children. Giving the children activities at their seat is a great way to keep them entertained.

With Carisa and Richard's wedding, they were worried about their guests not mingling with each other. A great solution is not to have the bride's guests on one side of the room and the groom's guests on the other side. Have the guests sit at a table with people they know but inter-mix all the tables in the room. They are bound to bump into and chat up with someone they didn't already know. Makes for a great night for everyone!

~Monica
Owner and Lead Designer @Wishahmon

If you missed the first couple of blog posts on Carisa and Richard's wedding planning adventures, you can catch up on how they got engaged, set the date, found a venue, found a marriage commissioner, found a photographer, sent out invitations, took care of out of town guests, found a DJ, found a wedding gown, found a wedding cake, designed their décor,  chose their flowers and booked hair and makeup artists, and drafting a wedding timeline. 

Source:  Tinywater Photography