Be an A-list Wedding Guest: The Best Etiquette Advice for Wedding Guests

Attending a wedding is often a fun opportunity to dress up, reminisce with old friends, meet new people, and enjoy a night of celebration. It can often be slightly overwhelming if you’ve not been invited to many weddings before or if this is the first friend in the group to get married. Royal Affairs Ballroom is here to take the guesswork out of wedding etiquette by sharing the best etiquette advice for wedding guests.

• Assess the invitation

• Access the wedding website

• A timely RSVP

• Read the plus-one policies & children policies (Assume Nothing)

• A gift is nice

• Arrive early

• Apply the dress code

• Attend the entire event

• Avoid your phone

• Accept your seat assignment

• Avoid overindulgence

Assess the invitation & RSVP

When you receive an invitation in the mail, take a moment to read everything included in the invitation. Check your calendar, check the envelope for names, and make a quick decision on attending the wedding. Be sure to read all the details, because it is easy to skim the information and miss something important.

Access the wedding website.

In today’s tech-driven world, most couples have a wedding website that provides extra details and information on the celebration. This website is designed to help attendees with the dress code, plus-one policy, children's policy, and more. There may even be a schedule of events so you can be extra prepared for the celebration timeline. 

A timely RSVP

Rather than postponing this task, RSVP quickly. Make a decision and stick to it. You have already checked your calendar and you know if attendance is possible. Make a decision and RSVP promptly. An important note about RSVPs is that vendors often charge per guest for a wedding reception. For example, food is often charged per person, so that a couple may pay $XX per guest. The caterer may require that information 7-10 days before the event. Other costs per guest include chair rentals, table rentals, and even wedding favors. The longer you wait to RSVP, the more challenging it is for everyone to plan.

Assume nothing

This piece of etiquette is about guests. Unless the envelope specifically listed “plus one” on the outside, you are the sole invitee. Do not assume that you can bring a guest. Do not assume that children are included. Even if the exterior envelope says “The Smith Family,” but the interior envelope leaves off a particular member of the family, don’t assume that was a mistake. 

What do you do in this situation? 

First, check the website to see if there are additional notes that help you determine who is invited. Second, send a text message or make a phone call. It doesn’t matter if this feels awkward. You need clarity on bringing a guest or if someone was left off purposefully. We have seen both of these specific instances occur at weddings, and clarifying the information quickly is the best policy.

A gift is nice

If you’re invited, plan to bring or send a gift. Once you access the gift registry, send a gift to the home rather than bringing it to the wedding. It simplifies the evening.

Arrive early

Weddings and funerals are never a time for being fashionably late. At a wedding or reception, you may find yourself locked out until the bridal procession has finished, and then be seated quietly at the back if you show up late. Arrive early, get a good seat, and wait patiently for the couple’s big day to begin.

Apply the dress code.

Most weddings include a dress code. This information is usually shared on the wedding website. If the dress code is unclear, err on the side of dressy. Slacks, a button-down shirt, and a tie for men are always the best place to begin. An appropriate dress that is not white is the best place to start for women. If the dress code is still unclear, you can always search the internet for the theme that was listed.

Attend the entire event.

Unless you have previously told the bride and groom that you need to exit early, plan to attend both the wedding and the reception. This goes back to the “assume nothing” point, where cost is related to the RSVP count given to vendors. Be very clear and up front about any need to attend part of the event, and then be sure to follow through with your decision.

Avoid your phone

Keep your phone turned off and put away, no matter how uncomfortable you are at the event. Phones are a distraction to the photographers and videographers and often ruin the perfect shot. They also tend to ring at the worst moment, disrupting the ceremony. Turn it off. Put it away. 

Accept your seat assignment.

Seat assignments are carefully and thoughtfully selected by the bride and groom to ensure that everyone has a great seat and a great time. It’s important to be respectful and accept the seat you are assigned. This is not your party. You are a guest.

Avoid overindulgence

With a wedding reception and access to alcohol, it can be easy to overindulge when you’re having a good time. Pay attention to how much you are imbibing and pace yourself with water in between alcoholic beverages. Overindulgences often lead to embarrassment, and be prepared to call for an Uber to get home safely at the end of the night. 

At Royal Affairs Ballroom, we get to experience so many beautiful and memorable wedding moments. Sharing tips and advice with guests and clients is something we believe helps everyone. Are you planning to wed soon? Call 972-221-6565 today to schedule a tour with our venue manager and see the beautiful ballroom for yourself. Our 2025 schedule is filling up quickly. Secure your preferred date today!