In my opinion, couples have a responsibility to their guests. When planning a wedding, a couple should do everything in their power to provide the best guest experience possible. When your guests feel extra special, that makes the event memorable!
However, guests have responsibilities too! Before and on the big day there are things guests can do to enjoy the wedding day to the fullest while also being respectful of the couple’s decisions and requests!
Before I proceed, I think it’s important to show an example of a not-so-great wedding guest! Check out this clip from the show Hello Ladies.
As a planner, I was completely annoyed by his antics. As a person who loves comedies, I laughed until tears were streaming down my face! Check out the show Hello Ladies on HBO Max to see how this guest seating situation ends. You won’t be disappointed!
In a nutshell, please don’t be this guy! When you receive an invitation to a wedding, remember, you’ve been invited to one of the most important days of the couple’s life together. Do everything you can to be the best guest!
Here are a few tips!
The Best Guests RSVP
It’s simple. Let the couple know if you’re going to be there.
Also, respect the RSVP deadline as well as the number of people you’re allowed to bring with you. Weddings cost money! Guests that miss an RSVP deadline or decide to add a +1 without permission can impact the couple’s budget and time.
Late and/or missing RSVPs cause a ripple effect. Without timely RSVPs, the couple may miss a deadline with their caterer. Then the caterer has to either delay their order for rentals (tables, chairs, linens, etc) or the couple has to decide to increase the order in hopes of everyone showing up (aka wasting money).
And let’s not even get into guests that bring uninvited people with them. That’s just disrespectful. Trust me, if you decide to bring a person that was not included on the guest list, you’re making extra work for someone. If I planned the wedding, that someone is me!
Be considerate by appropriately responding in a timely manner. When you do so, you’re showing the couple that you care about their time, energy, and their budget.
The Best Guests Respect The Seating Arrangement
Do you know how long it takes to figure out where guests are going to sit at a reception? Weeks!!!
Honestly, whether you have 25 guests or 500, creating a seating chart is a daunting task! Couples have to figure out how to comfortably and safely seat their family, friends, and those guests that are mortal enemies all together in the same space.
As a guest, you may not think it’s a big deal to move to a different table or seat. However, this one small change can cause lots of extra work for catering staff. Imagine being the person that delays everyone’s meals because you don’t like where you’ll be sitting for an hour! Or imagine being that person that crams themselves at a table making it less comfortable for others. Please fight the urge to relocate yourself!
If you don’t like your seating arrangement, stay on the move! Once the dancefloor is open, dance until you can’t stand anymore. Or hang out at the bar all night. Bartenders are really fun to talk to! Whatever you do, please respect the seating arrangement and other guests by staying put!
The Best Guests Unplug
If the couple requests an unplugged event, please turn off your phone. Guests can be annoyed by this type of request. However, that’s only because they’ve probably never had the pleasure of paying thousands of dollars for a professional wedding photographer and/or videographer! Who wants pictures/video with guests in the background holding a cellphone in front of their face?
Unplugging truly benefits everyone involved in the wedding day. By unplugging, The couple gets the desired outcome with their photos and video. Guests can be fully present and enjoy every moment of the event. And the Planner doesn’t have to worry about losing their mind when a ringer accidentally goes off during an important moment. It’s a win-win-win!
If you’re invited to an event, respond and conduct yourself in a manner that makes the couple happy that they invited you. It’s that easy. In the planning process, couples make lots of hard decisions. When you strive to be the best guest you can be, that is your way of recognizing and respecting all the hard work that went into planning their big day!
I can’t leave this post without asking you to share! Did you experience a terrible guest at a wedding? Do you have other tips to add for guests to consider? Share them below!