The Q: Since I'm learning on your blog daily how to be gracious host, what tips can I learn about being a gracious guest?
The A: Oh, so much! Weekend after Weekend, (hold on while I get on my soapbox) I am APPALLED at the horrible behavior that I witness at our clients weddings- all of the atrocities of etiquette committed by guests. It's like our polite society is CRUMBLING before my very eyes!
(sigh) Anyways, I guess I'm not the only one who feels this way because the gals (and I'm sure there are some guys there too!) at WeddingChannel.com have just posted a Wedding Guest Guide! It answers such questions as "How do I know if I was invited with a guest?" or (and they phrased it more politely- "Should I get hammered at a wedding?" I will say that the issue that they tackle that is closest to my heart is "Are there colors that are inappropriate to wear?" The answer is, naturally, DO NOT WEAR WHITE. In fact, honestly, they weren't firm enough about it! The question should have said "I shouldn't wear white to a wedding, should I? and the answer, if I were an editor there would be "ABSOLUTELY NOT, buy, borrow or steal another dress to wear if you ONLY own white dresses, do NOT wear a white dress." I cant tell you how many weddings we've gone to where guests - one time it was a MIL!!! - wore white to the wedding. So many people committed this sin last summer that I started to think I was going crazy, entering a secret world where there were no rules!
Ok, back to weddingchannel! They did a good job, I hope people read it- it has smart things like "Don't verbalize complaints to the bride and groom." If I could make one addition, I think it would have to be "Should I dance on the dancefloor during the first dance?" To which I would have to say "NO" and retell the story about practically tackling a couple who never go the "Don't get hammered" memo a couple of years ago as they tried to "join in" the 1st Dance.
Check out the guide and "politely" send it to your guests :-) Kidding.
(Guest Etiquette Guide
