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20 Sadly Common Wedding Etiquette Breaches

Weddings stress out more than just the couple getting married, though they understandably bear the brunt of the anxiety. But the increased pressure and shrinking bank accounts do not excuse lapses in common courtesy. Hopefully most of these should be quite obvious to most people. Unfortunately, though, the fact that a site like Etiquette Hell exists shows that's not exactly the case…

1.) Sending thank you cards late. One tragically popular wedding etiquette myth states that couples have a year to send out thank you cards for their gifts. Most experts, however, think sending an immediate, personal expression of gratitude is absolutely essential.

2.) Not ordering enough food. Alternately, feeding the wedding party, family and perhaps "distinguished" guests a much better meal than everyone else. Both lead to hurt feelings, so keep head counts small if the budget won't be able to feed all attendees.

3.) Isolating family and friends by obsessing. Few will deny that weddings can be extremely stressful and exciting times, but loved ones want to actually talk about other things. Take their comfort into consideration when bringing up minute details of flower arrangements for the thousandth time. 

4.) Forcing long waits between the ceremony and reception. As most couples opt for photo sessions following the ceremony, a wait is going to be inevitable. While rushing may produce less-than-ideal results, don't waste any time touring the city or fooling around. Guests are owed courtesy. For longer gaps, make sure to have some food, drinks and maybe some music on hand so they don't go hungry, thirsty or bored.

5.) Poor circulation. During the reception, put forth the effort to greet every attendee personally and thank them for taking time out of their day to come celebrate. Failing to acknowledge their support oftentimes leads to very hurt feelings. 

6.) Inviting people to showers, but not the ceremony itself. This incredibly tacky faux pas makes friends and family think themselves a source of free gifts rather than valued guests. A simple rule is that those throwing the shower can only invite individuals they intend to see at the wedding as well.

7.) Asking guests to address their own thank you card envelopes. Another frequent shower no-no hands pens and envelopes to partygoers with the request that they fill out (sometimes stamp!) their own envelopes. Ostensibly meant to save the couple's time, most on the receiving end find this gesture completely impersonal and off-putting.

8.) Failing to provide enough chairs. Like food, the betrothed should never spring for fewer chairs than the headcount dictates – especially if the pregnant, ailing or elderly are to be in attendance. If cost is a concern, slice down the guest list before sending out invites. 

9.) Not allowing guests to leave until after the couple. Newlyweds hoping their receptions will rock and roll all night and party every day need to understand that their guests have needs as well. While general protocol asks them to stay until the cake is cut, some might have to split earlier because of health, exhaustion due to travel, travel itself or kids at home. Remain mindful and respectful of their wishes!

10.) Setting up a singles table. The singles table is pretty much a way to perpetuate social stigmas against the unattached, shoving them to one side and forcing them to mingle with little in common besides their relationship status. Put forth the effort to make them feel a part of things rather than relegated to one demographic. 

11.) Treating guests and attendants like slaves. Don't be cheap. If a venue or caterer charges too much for cleaning staff, spring for budget-friendly ones that do. Never, ever press guests or attendants into a position where they have to work for their visit. 

12.) Pitching hissy fits when things don't pan out perfectly. Inevitable issues small and/or big always crop up when planning a wedding. Display grace under pressure no matter what, as tantrums solve nothing besides the little problem of having a decent relationship with family, friends and vendors. 

13.) The "money dance." Some cultures do have rituals where well-wishers pin money to a new couple's clothing during or after the ceremony, but charging for dances exists as a different thing altogether. A new tradition, many couples turn to this tacky fundraising ploy to offset some of their wedding costs. 

14.) Thinking that gifts must equal or exceed the cost of feeding a guest. Although refraining from sending a gift in and of itself never wins anyone favors, holding expectations about how much attendees must spend is far, far tackier. Their budgets may not always cover the cost of a meal – and besides, the sentiment counts for everything. 

15.) Getting too intoxicated. Little tipples carry no shame whatsoever, but stay moderate during the reception. A stuffier head may prevent polite, not-at-all-awkward interactions with loved ones.

16.) Stickin' it to the haters. Friends and family might sneer somewhat at the relationship, whether with genuine concern or general pettiness. Don’t use the wedding as a pulpit for "showing them." Act the better person by proving them wrong through love, respect and communication than bickering. 

17.) Forcing participation in dancing and tosses. Not every guest loves the idea of hitting the dance floor or cramming in for the bouquet and garter tossings. Respect their wishes and put no pressure on them to participate. 

18.) Forgetting to note dietary restrictions. When feeding a large crowd, do show some consideration for those with food allergies, special diets and religious restrictions. Try to offer options and make sure all feel accommodated and not left out. 

19.) Only registering for high-end items. Etiquette experts understandably find themselves divided over whether or not gift registries should be considered tacky. But couples opting to go that route should ensure they respect a wide range of budgets. Only springing for expensive, high-end gifts will place financially-strapped well-wishers in an incredibly awkward position. 

20.) Setting up a cash bar. Couples who can't afford to offer guests alcohol shouldn’t have it at the wedding. Cash bars inspire discomfort and an overall sense of paying for the honor of attending. Since beer, wine, champagne and spirits are by no means essential to a good time, refraining from serving them because of finances will only be frowned upon by the petty and inconsequential. 

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 9:40 pm and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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