Wedding Etiquette: How to be a Good Wedding Guest

1. RSVP Quickly
This is the easiest rule out of the bunch: send in your RSVP ASAP. The stamp is on the envelope, ready to go and yet, many of us wait until the last second to send in our RSVP. Sending in your RSVP as soon as you get it makes the bride’s life so much easier. She will truly appreciate your promptness.

2. Dress Appropriately
If the invitation requests a formal attire, head to Nordstrom and score a beautiful dress (tip: after the wedding, you can always have it tailored to be a cocktail dress so you can get more uses out of it!). Or if it’s a whimsical, summer wedding that’s on the beach, go more casual, but don’t wear flip-flops unless very casual attire is noted and requested on the invite.  If the wedding is outside and on the grass, don't forget to bring Solemates High Heeler, which will prevent you from sinking into the grass and ruining your heels. 

3. Arrive Early
According to traditional wedding etiquette, guests should arrive at least 30 minutes before the wedding begins. The last thing you want to do is to arrive as the bride is coming down the aisle. Not only is it uncomfortable, it’s also incredibly awkward to make eye contact with the bride as she’s making her debut.

4. Put Your Phone Away
Even if it's the fifth wedding you've attended this summer, it’s the bride’s first (or at least her first for this wedding season!). So give her and her groom your full attention. This means no texting, no emails and absolutely, no updating your Facebook profile. Also, if you’re friends with the bride, she can tell you updated your profile during her wedding!

5. Drink Responsibly
No one wants to be that girl who took the open bar to heart and had way too much to drink. This might be the most important and simple wedding etiquette rule: drink responsibly. You do not want to be the girl that interrupted the first dance with her rendition of gangnam style.

6. Keep Your Complaints to Yourself
You’re seated with the bride’s annoying cousin who will not stop talking about her latest green smoothie cleanse. Or worse, you’re somehow seated at the kid’s table. Whatever you do, do not complain to the bride! This is her day to be celebrated by her family and friends, not run around fixing problems to please everyone else. If it’s truly a problem, talk to the catering staff or the wedding planner, if they have one.