- By Lauren Griffith, CTW Features
- Category: Etiquette

Whether you’ve been to a wedding before or not, you have likely seen movies, shows, or viral videos of wedding guests behaving in ways that they should not at a large-scale, public celebration of a friend/ family member’s love. There are many ways to derail the fun of a wedding celebration, but these top six examples should definitely be considered if you want to enjoy the evening without creating any form of negativity at the event.
1. Drink Irresponsibly
We all know that weddings are a great time and although the champagne may be free-flowing, it’s a considerate gesture to the bride and groom to “drink responsibly” so that no unfortunate incidents happen on their special day. By no means does this mean do not drink at the wedding entirely, but try to limit alcohol consumption to the point of making irrational decisions. Your friends and body will thank you the next day.
2. Ignore the Bride & Groom
Even if you’re a distant relative/ friend of the bride and groom, it’s important to show them some attention and love on their wedding day. This could be a gesture as simple as walking up to them during a spare moment at the reception and thanking them for the invite. We recommend establishing that moment/ connection before heading home for the evening.
3. Make an Inappropriate Speech
If you’re a best man, maid of honor, or close relative of the bride or groom, chances are that you may need to make a speech at some point during the wedding. What NOT to do in this case is make an inappropriate speech that would make the bride/ groom uncomfortable just for the sake of being funny, or make the speech solely about you and how you know the bride/groom. While it’s standard to include some history/ past about the happy couple, our advice is to keep it short, sweet, and heartfelt.
4. Dress in White
It should go without saying NOT to wear white to a wedding, but wedding/ fashion trends do change frequently, so there may be some confusion surrounding this topic in 2022. However, it’s a pretty timeless idea not to wear white to any wedding. This could take away focus from the bride and her white wedding dress, confuse guests, and clash with the overall wedding theme/ aesthetic. Stay neutral or colorful!
5. Make Complaints
While every aspect of a wedding celebration may not be executed exactly how you would prefer, it’s best not to have too many complaints about the wedding during the event. Saying negative things about the food, location, decor, etc. will most likely get back to the happy couple, and worrying about their expensive wedding not being up to guest standards should be the last things on their mind during the evening. Follow the age-old rule that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all! Or at least save your complaints for a neutral friend after the fact.
6. Forget to RSVP
One of the most important things NOT to do at/ before a wedding is forgetting to RSVP. If you don’t RSVP, you may not even have a solidified spot at the event. Make sure to give the bride and groom plenty of notice ahead of time and RSVP in a timely manner, including your plus one if applicable.
©CTW Features