The big day is approaching and you’ve been invited! But all of a sudden, your nerves are starting to take its toll on you and you don’t know what to do. After all, you’ve never been to a wedding before.
Does this sound like you? Then keep on reading as we’re about to give you a comprehensive list on what to do and what to avoid to give the best possible impression:
- DO: Silence your phone
Obvious, right? And yet, too many guests slip their mind. And then it goes off at the worst possible moment and you’re forever labeled as “that guy”. Ouch! Don’t let this happen and either enable silent mode or turn it off completely.
- DO: Prepare a speech
Ideally, you want to be in the know regarding whether you’ll be called to the mic stand to give a speech or not. But sometimes, you don’t. So it’s better to come prepared and have a speech ready. It doesn’t need to be polished down to the last word, but it doesn’t hurt to prepare a general outline of it and go over it a couple of times in your mind.
- DON’T: Bring uninvited guests
Unless someone has received an invitation, don’t assume they’re invited. To make matters more complicated, asking the bride or groom whether someone can tag alone is perceived as rude, so don’t do it.
- DO: Put some thought into the gift
The gift doesn’t need to be expensive, but do make sure it’s something appropriate and thoughtful. For instance, Omega Speedmaster as the ideal wedding present for punctual, classy, or career-oriented individuals. If you can deliver a punchy and witty message in the gift tag, you’re bound to be remembered for it.
- DON’T: Use flash when taking photos
Taking photos is all fine and well, but do make sure to keep the flash feature disabled. The reason being is that the couple and other guests may find it annoying. Plus, it could disrupt the work of a professional photographer they’ve hired just for the occasion.
- DON’T: Drink too much alcohol before the ceremony
There’s a long night ahead of everybody, so please try to stay composed during the first couple of hours. After the official ceremony is over, have at it!
- DO: Let the couple know about any food allergies you might have
Are you a vegan? Do you only eat gluten-free foods? Then be sure to let the couple know a gracious amount of time before the wedding day. After all, these things require preparations.
- DON’T: Get off the hinges about catching the bouquet
The whole concept of tossing the bouquet is supposed to be fun, so don’t make it competitive. Walking all over someone just to get the upper hand is the last thing you want to be doing.
Who will be the lucky one to catch it?
- DO: Dress appropriately
Don’t be the guy who comes in wearing jeans even if it’s a casual event. Instead, err on the side of caution and wear something nice. Sprinkle some cologne on top and you’ll be good to go. And for the love of it all, don’t wear white unless you want to be mistaken for the bride.
- DON’T: Criticize the food
If you absolutely have to, at least be courteous enough and not be too vocal about it. It’s better to pave your way with a white lie instead and compliment it even if you’ve had better.
Conclusion
That should pretty much cover it. Do keep in mind there could be other small little details that fall outside of the scope of this article due to them being culturally-specific, religious-based, or something similar. So do your homework before you take off, but apart from that, don’t worry too much!