Being invited to a wedding is an honor, and attending one can be a lot of fun. There can be a fair amount of preparation involved in attending a wedding (though it doesn’t hold a candle to planning one!). These helpful tips will make sure that you both have a wonderful time at the wedding and make a good impression on your hosts.
The first tip for any wedding guest is to R.s.v.p. promptly. If you have received a save the date card, you probably already know whether or not you can attend the wedding by the time the formal invitation arrives in the mail. It is important to make a prompt decision and inform your hsots, even when there was no prior notice. The bride and groom need to give a head count to the caterer, purchase wedding favors, and determine if there is space to extend any last minute invitations. Knowing how many guests will be attending also helps the couple to get a better sense of their reception budget and to see if they will have extra funds left over for beautiful wedding jewelry gifts, a longer honeymoon, or a splurge on a cool vintage car for the wedding transportation.
In general, weddings involve a lot of presents. When you attend a wedding, it is customary to give the couple a gift; a gift is not mandatory but most guests send them. Tradition says that guests have up to a year after the wedding to send a present, but if you wait that long, you are likely to forget. It is best to send a present before the wedding, when the excitement is at its peak. You are not obligated to shop off the bridal registry, although it can be a good place to at least get a sense of the couple’s taste in household goods. More personal gifts like monogrammed luggage and custom wedding jewelry can be thoughtful bridal shower gifts for the bride. Shower gifts should be presented in person at the party, but wedding gifts should be delivered to the bride’s home.
After you decide to accept a wedding invitiation, start giving thought to your outfit for the ceremony. It may take you a lot of shopping to find an appropriate wedding if it is a black tie affair and you do not own a long dress or formal jewelry. Even if the ceremony is less formal, it can be a challenge to find the perfect summer dress or dressy sandals for an evening cocktail reception. Men need to check out their attire as well. Perhaps your husband’s favorite suit does not fit quite right anymore, or there is a stain on the tie he planned to wear. Don’t be afraid to call up the bride or her mother if you need clarification on how formally to dress. They will be pleased that you care enough to check.
If the wedding requires travel, be sure to make your plane and hotel reservations as soon as you can. This will help you secure convenient travel times and the best rates possible. Many couples book a block of rooms for their wedding. Sometimes this can secure a lower rate, but a lot of times all it does is ensure that there will be enough rooms available for all of the wedding guests; always inquire about potential discounts that can get you a better rate on a hotel room for the wedding. A few weeks before the date of the wedding, write down everything you need to pack to ensure that you don’t arrive at your destination and find that you left your camera or special jewelry behind. You will be able to truly relax and have a wonderful time at the wedding if you take the time to prepare a little!