Did you read that Pippa Middleton slapped a ‘No ring No bring’ ban on her wedding guests?
Have you ever heard of this restriction before? It’s definitely not the norm, but what is?
Know your wedding etiquette so you don’t end up red faced this wedding season!
WEARING WHITE
It’s a big no-no, always has been and always will be according to the experts! Wearing white or ivory is for the bride and the bride only.
WEARING BLACK
It used to be a definite faux pas but according to those in the know the rules have relaxed and as long as there are flashes of colour within your outfit and you don’t look funereal then wearing black is ok.
No matter what you wear, remember not to commit the cardinal wedding guest sin of UPSTAGNG THE BRIDE! Advice states your outfit should always be elegant and demure – do with that one what you will ladies!
THE WEDDING GIFT
This is a tricky one…if there is a gift-list, stick to it, if you can’t afford any of the items on it then professional advice is to include a gift receipt. Apparently gift cards are perfectly acceptable if you are stuck on what to buy. According to The London Economic the average spend for a gift is between £40 and £59 but guidelines say the cost of the dinner/venue etc should be taken into consideration and unfortunatley we are told that the cost of travel and accommodation is NOT PART OF YOUR GIFT.
Did you know that the ‘right’ thing to do is give the gift a few days before the big day?
POSTING PHOTOS
Nowadays we are all broadcasters but should you post pics of the big day and the bride in particular before she has had a chance to? The answer is a big NO. By all means take pics of your outfit and yourselves but don’t show anything of the bride, bridal party or venue until the bride has given you the go ahead. It’s her big moment let her be the one to share it first.
KIDS AND PARTNERS
The rule here is to follow the invite to the letter. If it says no kids or their names aren’t mentioned then they simply aren’t invited. Likewise with your plus one. Don’t assume you can bring along your latest squeeze – each place costs the couple dear, so if you have a new partner they may not be considered close enough to come. It is apparently bad form to ask for your kids/partners to be the exception to the rule so just get on with it or politely decline.
YOUR OWN PROPOSAL
This week a Best Man made the news for ALL the wriong reasons by stopping the CEREMONY to propose to his girlfriends and then announcing her pregnancy!!!
We recommend that you definitely don’t do that….
Any more wedding guest etiquette to add to this list ladies?
I am going to a few weddings this summer and these are really interesting tips – especially about the wedding gift. Thanks for sharng
Laura x
No problem Laura – enjoy!
These are great tips! I still can’t believe the story of the mid-wedding proposal! Who does that?!
I know!!!!
So many useful tips! I’m getting to that age where people around me are starting to get married so I could definitely use those.
They do come in handy Elodie x
Some great tips and definitely ones to follow to avoid upsetting people x
Thanks lovely x
My other half told me about the guy who proposed in the middle of the ceremony, even he couldn’t believe it and he’s the least romantic / bothered person ever!
Hahaha if the guys are aghast you know it’s bad! X
Great tips on wedding etiquette here – I’m still gobsmacked at the guy who proposed at another persons wedding!
I know right! SAhocking, during the ceremony!
Great tips, I know someone who is having children at their wedding but having a kids room with separate entertainment and nanny! Sounds perfect haha
Oh wow that does sound perfect!
I disagree about black though. There has always seemed to have been this idea that you should never wear black at a wedding. But why? Colors are just what people make and it’s society that has decided what colors are suitable for different occasions. At a lot of funerals now people are just wearing different colors. My friend passed away 2 years ago and before she died she told her family that people were to wear bright colors. I wore black (completely) at my cousins wedding and i thought i looked great, who cares what people think.
Ha! Some people care what people think if it’s their big day – good for you though!
I totally think that sticking to the guest list is the best ideal. It annoys me when people don’t because its hard enough plucking up the courage to ask for things as it is! xxx
I didn’t have one at mine because it’s as so small, if there is one I stick to it though x
This is such a great list. Especially about wearing white or black 🙂 x
I have known two people to buy actual white wedding dresses from high street ranges! As a guest!
These are some great tips – especially about the wedding gifts. I never knew before how much to spend!
It’s a really tricky one and can be quite awkward!!! Depends how well you know the couple I think x
Great tips, i would hate to upset anyone at a wedding!
I know and it can be so easy to do it without realising 🙈🙁
I love this! I was SO worried about people sharing photos on my wedding day, I had to remind them loads of times! Luckily no one did before I got the chance to go over them!
It could be an idea to pop it on the invites too?
YES I’ve seen so much of this lately where someone at someone elses wedding proposes to their partner!!! JUST NO!!!
Definitely not during the ceremony! Ha!
I agree with letting the bride post her pics. But with how easy everything is with technology, it would be hard to stop people from posting the pics even without the bride’s approval. I hope everyone knows this.
I know, I see it a lot. I guess it depends how laid back the bride is too? X
I can’t believe someone did that in the middle of the wedding! That’s so rude and inappropriate. I agree with all of these tips. People need to use common sense and respect, upstaging or trying to bring along more people is never ok.
During the vows too Helen!!!!
Someone wore white to my wedding and initially I was really bothered by it, but looking bad it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Good outlook, very true x
I find proposals at weddings so cringe and very disrespectful.
I think a lot of people do, some couples may want it I guess but best to check ha!
We have a couple of weddings coming up, luckily I agree with all these points!
I have never heard of the ‘no ring no bring’ before.
When I have my wedding, I will make sure it is clear to the guests not to publish our photos before I give the go ahead. This is something I feel strongly about.
How rude of men to propose on during someone else’s day!
I have been to so many weddings over the past two years (3 this year already!) that I like to think I’m fluent in wedding etiquette now! I also debate wearing any form of black though even if I do pair it with brightly coloured accessories. With the photos, a lot of the weddings I have been to have had specific aps to share all photos too so they can have more than just their official photos.
I heard about the Pippa no ring thing and it seems a bit ridiculous if you ask me!
Very good tips. I think this will be he first summer I’m not attending any weddings, but being involved in the organisations of a few recently, I know how important is the guest etiquette.