Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours.
Getting ready to wrap a gift for a dear friend's summer wedding.
You know Summer (and its endless stream of wedding and wedding related parties) is here when suddenly your Instagram feed is filled with romantic floral backdrops, something blue moments, and of course all those sun-soaked selfies. I personally love wedding season because they are an excuse to bring out all the dramatic accessories and my favorite oversized clutches. And black tie weddings...those are the very way to my heart. I love being dressed up! And a handsome man in a tux is a huge plus. With attending so many weddings lately I wanted to compile some quick wedding etiquette tips for you to remember!
Unless it says "and guest" on the invitation, only you should be attending. And no, DON'T call the bride and ask if you can bring a date, either. If it were in their budget, the bride and groom would've extended the extra invitation.
Pay attention to the deadline on the invitation. In fact, if you know your reply, pop it in the mail as soon as possible.
Couples spend tons of time choosing the items on their registry—and they picked em because they plan on actually using them, says Carley Roney of The Knot. So do them and yourself a favor and buy from the registry. To make your gift seem more personal, buy it early, when there's more of a selection to choose from. Otherwise, you might indeed end up having to spring for the garlic press, dish towel and rolling pin combo.
Between taking down the decorations, remembering to hand out vendor tips and saying goodbye to all their guests, the last thing the bride and groom—and their families—need to worry about at the end of the reception is figuring out how to fit all their gifts in the car. Save them the trouble by shipping yours directly to their home.
Weddings tend to run late. But that doesn't mean you should. Plan to be at the ceremony 20 to 30 minutes early.
As much as everyone loves a random ringtone outburst of "Uptown Funk," don't ruin the couple's big day by interrupting their vows.
You don't want to be underdressed for the wedding. Even if it's casual, always wear a dress, skirt or suit. Dress for the venue, but follow instructions from the bride and groom. If the invite says Black Tie.....do not down play this.
This one should go without saying, but just in case, we'll repeat: Who wants to be that girl? You've got a million color combinations to choose from; you don't need to wear white. Oh, and stay away from the light ivories, too.
Even if you've never met the couple's parents, seek them out to introduce yourself, thank them and tell them how much you enjoyed the wedding. Note: This one is particularly important if there isn't a receiving line.
Many brides and grooms have an irrational fear of their guests not having a good time at the reception. Give them some peace of mind by getting out on the dance floor, mingling with new friends and smiling—no matter how much you hate the Electric Slide.
Enjoy the bar; don't abuse it. One shot too many and the bride's reception becomes a chore. Plus it's just plain rude.
Yes, it may seem cheesy, but the wedding is oftentimes a big blur for the couple, and they'll want to remember everyone who attended. Sign the guest book with legible handwriting!
Make a point of saying hello to the bride and groom, but keep your conversation short, so they can make their rounds and maybe even have time to get a bite or two of all that food they picked out! Oh, and speaking of chatting, refrain from complaining about how long it took you to get to the wedding or how awful the weather was during the ceremony; they don't need to hear it.
OK, so you might not love the Jordan almonds or appreciate the handmade coasters, but the couple put a lot of time and money into those trinkets as a way to say thank you for coming. Take em with you, even if you toss them the minute you get home.
Carley Roney is one smart lady!
PS: Went to Anthropology today and their wedding stuff is seriously gorgeous! Please buy me all of this when I get married!!! Lin is currently sitting on the couch next to me sweating bullets. HA.
Shop the story here
Kisses, Hugs, and Happily Ever Afters,
Sam