Wedding Guest Tips
Being invited to a wedding is an honor, and attending one can be a lot of fun. There can be a fair amount of preparation involved in attending a wedding (though it doesn't hold a candle to planning one!). These helpful tips will make sure that you both have a wonderful time at the wedding and make a good impression on your hosts.
The first tip for any wedding guest is to R.s.v.p. promptly. You probably already know whether or not you can attend the wedding by the time the formal invitation arrives, usually thanks to a save the date card. Even if there was not prior notice, be sure to make a prompt decision and inform your hosts. The bride and groom need to give a head count to the caterer, purchase wedding favors, and determine if there is space to extend any last minute invitations. Knowing how many guests will be attending also helps the couple to get a better sense of their reception budget and to see if they will have extra funds left over for beautiful wedding jewelry gifts, a longer honeymoon, or a splurge on a cool vintage car for the wedding transportation.
Weddings generally involve a lot of gifts. When you attend a wedding, it is customary to give the couple a gift; a gift is not mandatory but most guests send them. Tradition says that guests have up to a year to send a present to the newlyweds, but if you wait that long, there's a good chance you will forget. The best time to send a gift is before the wedding, when excitement is at its peak. You are not obligated to shop off the bridal registry, although it can be a good place to at least get a sense of the couple's taste in household goods. More personal gifts like monogrammed luggage and custom wedding jewelry can be thoughtful bridal shower gifts for the bride. Wedding gifts should be delivered to the bride's home, and shower gifts should be given in person at the party.
As soon as you decide to accept a wedding invitation, start giving some thought to what you will wear to the event. If it is a black tie wedding and you do not own a long dress or formal jewelry, prepare to possible do quite a bit of shopping. Even for a more casual celebration, it can be harder than you expect to find the perfect summer dress or the right dressy sandals. Men need to check out their attire too. It could be a number of things: maybe your husband's favorite suit does not fit quite as well as it did last time, or there is a spot on the tie he planned to wear. If there is any question about how formally to dress for a wedding, it is perfectly fine to call up the bride or her mother to ask. They will be pleased that you care enough to check.
For a destination wedding, definitely make your plane and hotel reservations as soon as possible. This will help you to secure the best rates and the most convenient travel times. Some couples book a block of rooms for their ceremony. Sometimes this gets a better rate, but often all it does is make sure there are enough rooms for all the wedding guests. Be sure to ask about potential discounts that can get you a better rate on a hotel room. A few weeks before the date of the wedding, write down everything you need to pack to ensure that you don't arrive at your destination and find that you left your camera or special jewelry behind. You will be able to truly relax and have a wonderful time at the wedding if you take the time to prepare a little!
