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Bachelorette Guide To Attending Weddings

I’ve been to several weddings and have been to enough of them to know the do’s and don’ts when it comes to being a wedding guest. A lot of what you should and shouldn’t do is common sense, however, some people still need refreshers. That said, here’s my bachelorette guide to attending weddings… 

RSVP & Be On Time. If someone thought enough of you to invite you to be a part of their special day, the least you could do is let them know if you can or can’t make it to the wedding. There have been some weddings I couldn’t attend (due to prior commitments I already had) and I wish I’d been upfront and declined to attend sooner rather than later. With the ones I did attend, I was sure to RSVP in a timely manner. This is important as it lets the bride, groom, and wedding planner know how to prepare for how many guests will be in attendance. Also, be on time for the wedding. I once showed up late to a friend’s wedding and got there just in time for the vows. It was awkward arriving late and there was only one open seat left for guests: at the end of the very front row of the ceremony. I was so embarrassed about arriving later than planned. I learned my lesson about getting to events on time.

Watch Your Wallet. Weddings can get expensive and buying gifts for weddings can too. So budget. Get a quality gift but don’t feel obligated to splurge on what you can’t afford. Especially since the events leading up to weddings (bridal showers, bachelorette parties, couple showers, and more) can hit your wallet hard. If you’re not going to be able to attend certain events before the wedding or your budget is tight, don’t feel obligated to go to every event. Just pick one, and/or just attend the wedding and pick up a nice and thoughtful gift. 

Dress Accordingly. I’ve definitely stepped up my formal wear for weddings. Depending on what kind of wedding you’re attending, some brides might have a dress code they’d like guests to adhere to and other brides might care less, either way, show up looking decent. I’ve seen people show up at weddings wearing questionable items of clothing or clothing better suited for a night out at a club. When in doubt about wearing something questionable to a wedding, don’t. Find something else nice to wear. Most weddings have photographers and videographers, and whatever you’re wearing will be captured or recorded. 

Unplug & Enjoy. A popular trend I’ve seen at weddings now are decorated signs letting guests know that the event is going to be unplugged, meaning the bride and groom would like for guests to enjoy the event without snapping or posting pictures on social media of the ceremony. Again, most weddings already have a photographer and videographer on site, so the bride and groom are able to have their day captured by the person/people they’ve paid good money to handle the job. Some couples may not mind photos once the official ceremony is over but be respectful of what’s been asked. I’ve had friends and family attend weddings and were surprised or offended when an usher or a family member of the bride or groom asked them to put their phone away during the ceremony. Just go with it and enjoy the event. 



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