Wedding Etiquette
Everyone involved in the wedding, from the bride and groom to the groomsmen, bridesmaids and the guests, is subject to these certain rules of etiquette to ensure that tradition is upheld and that everything goes as expected. Not following the etiquette in a traditional ceremony could result in hurt feelings.
One key thing to remember, if you are a part of the wedding party, ie. a bridesmaid or groomsman, that the day isn’t about you. It’s about the couple being married. Essentially, you are there to support the bride and groom and do what you can to make things easier on them. Causing a scene, upstaging the couple or stealing their thunder is completely unacceptable and any such behavior should be avoided at all costs.
During the ceremony, the guests must be aware of their actions and behavior. Certain things like getting up to use the restroom, whispering, or falling asleep can be a distraction for everyone around you. There is nothing worse than being distracted by a guest insisting on making everyone in their row move so they can get up and use the restroom. Cell phones should be turned off as well, to prevent any unexpected interruptions.
If you are the mother and father of the bride or groom, you need to be especially mindful of your behavior during the ceremony. Keep in mind that the attention should be focused on the bride and groom, NOT on you. Every time you sniffle, cry or make any other noise you take away from the ceremony. The last thing you want the guests remembering at the ceremony is how the mother of the bride caused a scene by breaking down during the vows.
For the bride and groom, keep in mind that everyone in attendance are your guests, and should be treated as such. Yes, they are there for you, but at the same time you should ensure that everyone is comfortable both during the ceremony and the reception afterwards. Try to put yourself in their shoes. What would you like at a wedding or reception as a guest? Is the seating comfortable? Are there enough entree choices to cater to vegetarians or any other dietary issues? What have you done to make your guests feel welcome and appreciated? Always make sure to make the rounds to each table and thank everyone for coming.
Generally, the bride and groom have registered at a store for gifts that they feel would be beneficial to their new life and new home together. When shopping for gifts, guests should do their best to stick to the registry as best they can. Most couples understand that not everything they want will be in everyone’s price range, and so will put a few smaller items on the list. If you are unable to find something on the gift registry, then a gift of cash is always acceptable. Just don’t go overboard.