Wedding guests should totally help themselves to reception décor, right? Wrong.

by Maggie Seaver (the knot)

Photo By Rich

It’s hard to keep track of all the proper wedding guest etiquette to follow. What seems obvious to one person—like turning your phone off or on “silent” during the ceremony—might completely escape another (we all have the one selfie-addicted friend). When in doubt, refer to this list of eight common guest faux pas—and avoid them at all costs. Because who doesn’t want to be a well-behaved wedding guest?

1. Save Picture Taking for the Party

Unless the couple specifies otherwise, tuck your phone somewhere discreet and make sure it’s either off or muted for the ceremony. Not only does the couple want you to be fully present during their vows, they also want their photographer and videographer to get the best shots possible—that’s why they hired them. Guests who insist on snapping photos themselves often get in the way of the pros’ work, both in the moment and also in the resulting pictures (no one wants a wedding album full of photos of guests on their cell phones).

“This advice is also important leading up to the ceremony,” says Amber Harrison, style and etiquette expert for Wedding Paper Divas. “Friendships have been ruined because overly excited bridesmaids post a photo of the bride in her dress before the ceremony and it was seen by the groom—before the wedding.” You don’t want to be that friend.

2. Don’t Bring a Date You Know the Couple Won’t Like

If you’re given a plus-one, you’re technically at liberty to bring whomever you want, but tread carefully. “[Don’t] bring a guest who might make the couple, or other important wedding guests, uncomfortable,” Harrison says. “Do your part to avoid any awkward social situations that might upstage their day.” In other words, think twice before you bring the bride’s ex-boyfriend from college.

3. Don’t Wear White

You’ve heard this one before and you’ll hear it again: Avoid white and similar hues that might appear white in photos, like blush, cream or pale beige. It’s bad form and completely avoidable. Let the bride stun the crowd in white—you can hold off for one day.

4. Hands Off the Décor

Love those marble coasters or copper vases? Ask the couple where they found them—don’t take them home with you! This isn’t a yard sale. “Unless they’ve invited you to take home a centerpiece or piece of décor, the couple has most likely made arrangements to return these details to their florist or rental company,” Harrison says.

5. You Must RSVP

This isn’t one of those wedding etiquette rules or traditions simply in place for tradition’s sake. Your RSVP will affect the final head count, which will determine pretty much every other detail —the catering, ceremony and reception rentals, seating chart, the cake, favors and more. Reply “yes” or “no” as soon as possible. “If you RSVP after the deadline, seating charts and catering may have already been arranged, causing stress and frustration for the couple and their vendors,” Harrison says. “A good rule of thumb is to return the RSVP card immediately or, if there’s no specified deadline, within at least four weeks of receiving it.”

6. Stay in Your Assigned Seat

The couple will have spent hours creating just the right seating chart for a reason. Sit in the seat or at the table you’ve been assigned to, as trading seats can be interpreted as insulting—and it’s really not necessary. Not seated near the person you wanted to be? Catch up with them during cocktail hour or after dinner.

7. No Spontaneous Toasts

“[Reception timelines] are usually planned in painstaking detail in advance, so unless you’ve been invited to speak, doing an impromptu speech not only sets the timing off, it can be uncomfortable for the couple and sometimes the other guests too,” Harrison says. Even those asked to give a toast should run their speech by the couple to avoid unwanted surprises, which means your spur-of-the-moment addition definitely won’t be a good idea.

8. Don't Get Wasted

The allure of the open bar is undeniable, but please keep it together. Getting inappropriately drunk is never a good look for anyone, so know your limit and be respectful of the couple’s day. “If the event is super long, pace yourself by alternating between a glass of alcohol and then a glass of water,” Harrison says.

Original article here

https://www.theknot.com/content/things-guests-should-never-do-at-weddings?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=brandpost

If you're not sure what the best time is to have your first dance, find out where to include it on your wedding reception timeline here.

by Ivy Jacobson

Photos by Rich

There's so much emphasis placed on your first dance: the song choice, dance moves, and any surprise elements—but when's the best time during your wedding reception to actually have your first dance? Putting together your wedding timeline can be challenging (we can help you with our handy wedding day timeline tool!), but luckily, there are really only two good times to do your first dance.

The first time we recommend doing your first dance is immediately following your grand entrance into the reception. You can enter to a fun song while your guests clap and cheer, and then you can head straight to the dance floor to keep the momentum and excitement going. It also makes it the first thing you do at the reception, which is great if you're both nervous and want to do it without further delay, or if you're doing a surprise dance for your guests and want to show it to them or involve them early on. (You can also cut your wedding cake after that too, if you want.) And if you want to get all of the dances done upfront, you can do any parent/child dances after the first dance as well. What can follow is everyone sitting down for the first meal course.

The second time we recommend doing your first dance is after the meal is over. Everyone will be paying attention (you may not get the same type of crowd if you do the first dance while salads are being served), and you can easily segue into everyone being welcomed onto the dance floor right after (or after the parent/child dances, if you do those then too).

Your wedding planner, DJ, band, or entertainment can also help you with your first dance timing for any other factors.

Article here : https://www.theknot.com/content/when-should-we-have-our-first-dance?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=brandpost