Wedding Guest Etiquette: Rules to Stick to and Faux Pas to Avoid (2024)

FAQs

What is faux pas wedding? ›

Wedding Faux Pas: Leaving Too Much Time Between Your Ceremony & Reception. It has to be said – the “wedding gap” is real! Leaving too much time between your ceremony and reception without considering the comfort of your guests can make for an awkward (and let's be honest – boring) co*cktail hour.

Torti suggests splitting the guest list evenly, with 50 percent of the available guest count going to the couple and 50 percent going to the parents. “This means each set of parents would be able to invite 25 percent of the guest list,” Torti explains.

Overindulging – Eating or drinking too much alcohol in a public setting would likely be seen as a faux pas. Rude or obscene gestures – Making rude or obscene gestures with your hands, arms, face, or any part of your body would be considered a faux pas.

noun, plural faux pas [foh pahz; French foh pah]. a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

This is probably not too surprising—62 percent of wedding guests said that food is one of the most important things they pay attention to at weddings. That's why you'll probably spend about half of your budget on your catering and venue—because the last thing you want is hangry guests.

1. Married, Engaged and Cohabitating Guests Traditionally Receive a Plus-One. As a rule of thumb, Amber Harrison, the head of weddings at Shutterfly, says only married, engaged, and “serious” couples (say, they're living together or have been together for a year or more) receive a plus-one.

Write your guest(s) names on the reply card yourself, leaving no room for them to add anyone else. 2. Add a section saying “We have reserved __ seat(s) in your honour”, and fill in this gap with the number of people you're inviting.

What not to talk about at a wedding? ›

Don't talk too much about yourself.

This isn't the time to tell everyone your life story, starting at the time of conception. I know, it's fascinating stuff, but people are here to celebrate the bride and groom, not you, so keep the focus on the two people who count.

Officiant. This is perhaps the most important role in the wedding since they're in charge of helping you say “I do.” Today, anyone can become a registered officiant online so this role can be filled by a close friend or family member rather than an ordained minister or judge.

: a significant or embarrassing error or mistake : blunder. Long, hot soaks in winter are a classic faux pas, since exposure to extreme heat after having been in the cold can cause small visible blood vessels to appear at the skin's surface.

A cultural faux-pas is doing something offensive to another person's culture on accident. Famous examples include eating with one's left hand in India, being too familiar with Japanese or German businessmen, or not finishing a meal made by someone from the Guangdong province of China.

But what is a faux pas? A faux pas is a slip in etiquette or a social blunder (in a conversation or in an action) that causes offense embarrassment. In French, faux pas translates to a false step.

Faux pas literally means "false step" in French, and that's a great description of what you do when you make a faux pas. It's a matter of stepping in the wrong direction, or saying exactly the wrong thing. A faux pas can offend people sometimes, but more often it's just embarrassing for everyone involved.

The tradition of brides wearing white didn't start until Queen Victoria, but an old nursery rhyme says red, yellow, green, pink, grey and black will bring negativity to the marriage. Specifically, red will make you "wish you were dead."

Burgundy, green and light blue followed in terms of popularity, respectively. The least popular wedding color in 2021 was bronze, according to our data. Just 3% of couples reported using this unique color for their nuptials.

Why can't you wear pink to a wedding? ›

Is pink appropriate for a wedding?” There's no rule here, but it depends on the shade of pink. While dark pinks and light reds are appropriate, blush and other shades of light pink have a chance of looking too similar to the bridesmaids, or getting washed out and looking white in photos.

Are Wedding Favors Necessary? Technically, no—you are not required to give out favors at your wedding reception.

The belief that July is an unlucky month for weddings is a superstition that has endured for generations. It's origins can be traced to several old, anonymous rhymes that warn couples married in July of everything from bitter-sweet memories to laboring for daily bread!

The rehearsal dinner usually takes place the night before the wedding. However, some couples decide to have the rehearsal dinner two nights before the wedding to give family and friends a chance to recuperate before the big day. The rehearsal dinner is a chance for families to spend time together in a relaxed setting.

While plus-ones don't necessarily to have to bring their own gift to the wedding, Leahy says it's gracious for you to contribute to the present the attending guest will be giving.

In the world of unattached singles, the person who receives the plus-one wedding invitation generally pays travel and lodging costs of the person he or she invites as a date, and selects and pays for the wedding gift as well.

Choosing not to invite any long-term partners can be seen as an etiquette faux pas, so keep this in mind as you begin creating your wedding guest list. It's also considered common courtesy to extend a plus-one to any members of your wedding party.

“You may want to make a phone call or send an email ahead of your written decline with more details as to why you are not attending,” said Meier. Express your disappointment, and let them know you care and wish them so much happiness. If feasible, send a little gift (flowers are perfect) with your RSVP card.

How do you let guests know they have a plus one? ›

When addressing the outside envelope, write the guest's first and last name while not adding “and guest”. This allows the guest who is invited to understand the invitation is directed towards them. Once they open the card, they will be able to see the “plus one”. The "and guest" does not need to be on the envelope.

Never! "The bride may or may not wear white (maybe ivory, maybe champagne) but it's her color for that day. You don't want to be mistaken for the bride in a white or lace gown," Brandi Hamerstone, owner and wedding planner at All Events Planned, says.

In general, it's not appropriate for guests to wear white to a wedding. "When you're a guest at a wedding, the most important thing to keep in mind is not to upstage or upset the bride," says wedding dress designer Madeline Gardner. "It's safe to stay away from any outfits that are predominantly white, cream or ivory."

As a result, it is largely no longer considered a faux pas to wear red to most Western and secular weddings.

Traditionally, the only off-limits color for wedding guests has been white, for obvious reasons—no one wants to take attention away from the bride. But times are a-changin'. Now, many people simply don't see wearing white as a big deal. Some brides and grooms are totally cool with it.

Glitter, Glitter, Glitter Everywhere

Avoid wearing anything too shimmery or distracting. All eyes should be on the bride, and your disco-ball-looking dress may ruin her big moment to shine.

Can You Wear Black to a Wedding? Generally, wearing black to a wedding is appropriate. "Guests can absolutely wear black to a wedding," says Shawne Jacobs, President and Creative Director of Anne Barge. "In the past, black was a color typically worn for mourning.

"There's a huge misconception that wearing black to a wedding is still a faux pas, but that's not the case. Black is perfectly appropriate for a wedding guest."

Is it OK to wear a cream floral dress to a wedding? Yes, a floral dress with a white background is completely fine & acceptable. With the caveat that the dress is appropriate for the season, time of day & formality of the particular wedding. Just please don't wear a solid white or solid light cream or pale ivory dress.

What are the 5 types of cultural appropriation? ›

According to Rodgers (2006) there are four types of cultural appropriation: exchange, dominance, exploitation, and transculturation.

As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," Sabatino affirms. However, you should avoid wearing white unless you are told otherwise. That shade, she says, is reserved exclusively for the bride.

Steer Clear of Anything Too Casual

No one wants to quit their coziest clothing like yoga pants, slippers, and jeans. But these have no place at a wedding. Even if a wedding is casual and relaxed, still dress with respect. No flip, flops, shorts, or jeans should be on your list of options to wear.

Lizzie Post, host of the podcast Awesome Etiquette from the Emily Post Institute, says that no guest should ever feel embarrassed if they happen to wear the same color as the bridesmaids, but they can ask in advance what the colors will be if they're concerned about it.