Bebe Akinboade

ARE YOU ATTENDING A WEDDING SOON? HERE ARE 10 ETIQUETTE RULES EVERY WEDDING GUEST SHOULD MASTER

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Maybe you think of wedding etiquette as pertaining
only to the couple, but there is, in fact, a long list of do’s and don’ts you
should abide by as a guest; from the moment the invitation arrives until after
the happy event has occurred. Some rules of conduct are obvious while some need
mastering.
The couple would have gone through series of
planning and rehearsals and the least you can do is to make their day perfect
for them by comporting yourself in a proper manner. Bebeakinboade.com presents
to you 10 Etiquette rules every wedding guest should master.

ARRIVE AT THE CEREMONY ON TIME. Leave plenty of time
to get to the wedding. Its good manners for all guests to be seated before the
couple and not troop in one after the other as the ceremony are going on. If
you’re really late, stand in the back or slip quietly into a back pew or row
once the processional is completely finished.

DONNT JUST SHOW UP FOR THE RECEPTION, ATTEND THE
JOINING AND BLESSINGS. The ceremony is the most important part and guests
should make all efforts to attend. It’s in poor taste to show up to the open
bar without first attending the main event.

DON’T WEAR BLACK OR WHITE TO A WEDDING. If you are a
close friend of the couple and are partaking in the wedding uniform (aso-ebi)
great, you’ve got your attire sorted out, if not there are two colours that are
a big no at any wedding:- black and white. White should be a colour that’s
left exclusively for the bride while black is a bit too gloomy for the day.

DON’T BE DISRESPECTFUL OF THE COUPLE’S RELIGION OR
CULTURAL TRADITIONS. For you to have been invited for the ceremony, that means
that you know about the couple as well as their tradition and religious
beliefs. If it’s a church that requires you cover your hair, or a mosque or
temple that demands you cover your shoulders, or being quiet during a
particular ritual, please observe. It’s only for a few minutes after all and
you can ditch the headpiece once the service is done before the reception.

DON’T HOARD SEATS. It is distasteful to see bags,
wedding programmes or souvenirs on seats while some guests are standing or
loitering around the hall.

DON’T CALL THE SERVERS FOR FOOD. If it’s a buffet,
take a decent amount, if it’s a serving arrangement; let the servers get to
your table and not you hollering for them. After all if you miss the food
there, you can take yourself out to a treat or eat a proper meal at home.

DON’T HUSTLE FOR SOUVENIRS. It’s a matter of fact
that everyone loves freebies; it’s also a matter of fact that souvenirs can
never go round all wedding guests. If it gets to your table, good for you. If
not, it’s not as is you can’t afford to buy whatever is being distributed. No
point lowering your self-esteem over this.

DO NOT GET EMBARRASSINGLY DRUNK. Even if the
reception is a party where alcohol is flowing freely, that is not a license to
over-indulge. A friend’s or relative’s wedding should not be turned into a
clubhouse. We all know our tolerance level when it comes to booze, so you can
decide to pass after the first glass and leave the indulgence till a night out.

SEND A GIFT, EVEN IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND. Etiquette
dictates that if you were invited, you owe the couple a gift, even if you can’t
make it to the wedding. People lose friends over this. The couple would have
expended a lot during the planning process, so one of the greatest ways of
showing them love, apart from attending is giving a gift. If there is a wedding
gift registry that solves the problem of what to get, if not, you can get
anything tasteful within your budget or give a cash donation. This will go a
long way and really be appreciated.

DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE CAKE IS CUT. It’s an old rule,
but there’s a good reason for it. It’s considered a quiet sign to elderly
guests that it’s okay to leave. That’s when it’s acceptable for you to depart
as well.

 

 

 
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