We’d love it if weddings went off without a hitch, but they’re often the first place for accidents. From uninvited guests to unplanned speeches, here are some of the rudest wedding guest behaviors—and ones to stop immediately!
1. Wearing White
Most brides opt for a white wedding gown; we all know it’s inappropriate to show up in something similar. Yet, year after year, people do it anyway—whether it’s a tone-deaf guest or a nightmarish mother-in-law, white is for the bride unless explicitly stated otherwise.
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2. Arriving Late
That wedding invite came months ago, which means guests have more than enough time to prepare. Arriving too early or late disrupts the ceremony, puts undue stress on the venue, and may even result in being turned away at the door. It’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes before the time listed on the invitation.
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3. Forgetting to RSVP
The last thing you want to do is show up as an unannounced wedding guest. RSVP dates give ample time to let wedding planners or couples know if you can make it. That said, it’s just as important to let couples know if you can’t make it.
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4. Ignoring Dress Codes
Dress codes ensure everyone is comfortable, but uniform. Showing up in a ball gown to a casual wedding is just as inappropriate as donning jeans to a black-tie event. Most weddings don’t go crazy with restrictions either, so it isn’t that hard (or expensive) to follow etiquette.
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5. Skipping the Ceremony
We’re all very excited for cocktail hour and the reception, but don’t skip the ceremony. Every part of the wedding is an important part of the experience and showing up for free food and drinks doesn’t look good.
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6. Getting Hammered
Speaking of drinks, open bars aren’t an excuse to get loaded…not to the point of being a nuisance anyway. Guests will obviously indulge in free shots, but there’s a difference between enjoying covered drinks and getting so wasted you embarrass yourself or others.
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7. Taking Centerpieces
Unless the couple says otherwise, don’t take centerpieces home. First of all, they’re expensive. Second of all, the couple may have plans to give them away to specific people or bring them home. Worst of all, centerpieces are sometimes rented and missing ones now leave couples with an unexpected bill!
8. Talking During Important Moments
Vow exchange, speeches, and other key parts of the wedding don’t need added commentary. Keep speaking volume to a minimum during important moments so you don’t interrupt anyone.
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9. Posting Public Photos
We love to share a joyous experience, but some couples want their weddings off social media. Be respectful of any wishes and don’t post photos unless the couple says it’s okay. (Don’t worry, professional photos are likely coming!)
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10. Bringing Uninvited Guests
Don’t show up with an uninvited plus-one. Weddings are a costly, delicate experience that don’t need any last-minute hiccups—uninvited guests now mean more food, drinks, and money. To make matters worse, every RSVP’d head is accounted for, so showing up with a random guest might leave them in the lurch for seating.
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11. Hogging the Couple
We know it’s tempting to hog the happy couple, but weddings are for everyone to enjoy. Try not to monopolize their time with long conversations or requests. Couples need time to speak with all in attendance!
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12. Complaining
Whatever the issue is, keep complaints to yourself. Couples go out of their way to ensure everyone has a good time, so little comments about the food or the venue aren’t helpful.
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13. Unsolicited Speeches
Couples shouldn’t have to wrestle away the microphone. Unless given explicit permission, don’t make any unsolicited speeches—they cut into the schedule and can make others uncomfortable.
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14. Bringing Children
Stop bringing children to explicit adult-only weddings! Children can easily disrupt the mood with tantrums or impulsive behavior, which throws a huge wrench in wedding plans. Not to mention, children in those situations are uninvited guests, which results in more money and stress.
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15. Jumping in Formal Shots
Hopping into formal shots isn’t as funny as some guests believe. Photographers take more than enough pictures throughout the day, and you’ll likely get a couple in with the bride and groom. But those staged, formal shoots? Let the photographer do their thing.
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16. Going Crazy on the Dance Floor
The dance floor is for everyone—we’re sure you’ve got some amazing moves, but it’s important not to hog the stage. It’s also not a place to get inappropriate with other guests.
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17. Not Respecting the Registry
Registries are there for a reason, so don’t stray. The best thing you can do for a couple is to grab items they’ll actually use. That said, not every gift is in every price range. If you can’t afford to buy something solo, you can always split the price of a larger gift with someone else!
18. Fighting for the Bouquet
The bouquet toss is a sacred tradition and getting aggressive takes away the magic. Even if someone else gets pushy, don’t match their energy. Fighting for the bouquet isn’t a good look, so just walk away from them and save face.
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19. Last-Minute Dietary Requests
Dietary restrictions need to be made well in advance. Showing up to complain about a lack of food options isn’t just rude, it’s ungrateful. If you need something specific, be sure to bring it up when the invitation rolls in so couples can plan accordingly.
20. Texting the Bride
In a perfect world, weddings are a well-oiled machine on a tight schedule—the last thing a special day needs is unexpected problems. Whatever issue you have, whether it’s asking for directions or confusion about parking, get help from someone else!
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21. Being Disrespectful of Culture
Be respectful of any cultural or religious practices, even if they’re unfamiliar to you. Behaving otherwise is highly disrespectful to the couple, their traditions, and their families.
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22. Flash Photography
Unless permitted by the couple, refrain from flash photography during the ceremony. Flashes are already pretty distracting, but they can also interrupt important moments or impede the professional photographer’s work.
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23. Bringing Huge Gifts
When all is said and done, couples are exhausted—unless they asked for that microwave, don’t bring giant gifts. That said, even if they did request a large present, you can always mail it to their house instead of bringing a cumbersome gift to the reception.
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24. Overstaying
Pay attention to when the party dwindles. Don’t hang around too long after the room clears because stragglers make life harder for both couples and wedding planners.
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
25. Making it About You
Weddings are a celebration, not a time to act jaded. Whether you’re single or freshly out of a breakup, try to share the couple’s joy. And hey, weddings are a good place to meet new people, too!
