You dress like a bridesmaid deliberately
There’s no way every female guest at a wedding can know what the bridesmaids will wear, so as to steer clear of their designated color. If you dress like a bridesmaid completely unintentional, you might feel a bit weird but it’s not the end of the world. However, if you choose to wear something in the same color palette as the bridesmaids on purpose, it’s just rude.
According to Anne Chertoff, wedding etiquette trainer at Beaumont Etiquette, to be respectful towards the bride and the bridal party, it’s best to avoid wearing the exact same color or models and being mistaken for one of the bridesmaids.
You take the vase full of flowers
It’s actually quite common for guests to take home the floral centerpieces on their dining tables. In fact, some of them are designed to be picked up after a party. So, if you also want to take the beautiful flower arrangement home, just make sure you’re not also taking the vase, for no other reason that the newlyweds might be asked to pay for the missing vase. You don’t want to add that to their already high wedding bill, do you?
You get aggressive during the bouquet toss
No matter how competitive you might be (or eager to get married!), there’s no need to become aggressive when it comes to catching the bouquet. Not to mention that alcohol and heels don’t usually make a good match at all.
Don’t go elbowing the other ladies who want to get their hands on it by elbowing them or chasing the bride like you’re on a football field. You’ll only seem extremely desperate, warns national etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. “For the sake of appearance and civility”, keep your wits and manners and wait for the bouquet to land where it’s supposed to. If it’s in your hands, then so be it!
You switch your order at a plated dinner
At a plated dinner, guests are required to choose from various options, such as beef or chicken, fish and vegetarian food. If you’ve chosen the chicken dining option and then have a change of heart and go vegetarian at the very last minute, you’ll just add one more problem to the general chaos called a wedding party.
The only time you can change your choice is if you find out that the dish includes an ingredient you’re allergic to. In that case, “politely asking to switch from fish to chicken may be appropriate,” says Gottsman. Otherwise, stick to your initial choice.
You immediately inform the couple when something’s wrong
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. In other words, you may simply want to help the newlyweds but notifying them the minute something goes wrong is not the best way to do it. Between enjoying this special, and hopefully unique moment in their lives and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves, the last thing they need is to hear there’s a problem somewhere.
“You don’t want to add any stress or frustration during the big day,” says Josh Spiegel, Creative Director and President of Birch Event Design. If there’s something that needs immediate attention, inform the venue staff or a family member of the bride or groom.
You complain about the quality of the food
Since we’re on the subject of food, complaining about it at a wedding is simply unacceptable. Not only will you seem ill-mannered and flat-out rude, but you will also ruin the dining experience for the other guests at your table. “Keep your opinions to yourself and be grateful you are included in the couple’s special day,” advises Gottsman.
Even if it’s not the most expensive menu out there, that still doesn’t give you the right to criticize something that the newlyweds invested their time and money in.
