Hello, Hello, beautiful people! Welcome back to SugarRush by Portia!
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being a wedding guest. You read that correctly…I was not coordinating nor was I in the wedding. I had the pleasure of enjoying the union of my friends, Nate and Jasmine. You may remember this bride and groom from the featured photos in my “You Said YAASSS, now what” blog post. Their wedding was definitely the Bay Area Lit Wedding of the Year! Jasmine and Nate also looked so happy which brought so much joy to my heart!
When I started this blog, I promised that I would write posts for not only the brides and grooms, but also wedding parties and wedding guests! So in this post, we are going to talk Guest Etiquette 101: Five Tips to Being a Welcomed Guest. As a wedding guest, you are invited to join the couple and their families to witness their union and celebrate the beginning of their new life together. If you stick to these tips below, you will help ensure that the wedding is the day the couple has dreamed of!
DISCLAIMER: The tips below are NOT specific to Nate and Jasmine’s wedding, but attending their wedding reminded me that this post was long overdue!
Tip #1: RSVP…RSVP…RSVP
When one is planning a wedding, they need a number of guests to plan for. The number of guests determines the number of tables and chairs they will need as well as the amount of food they will need to provide. When a couple puts an RSVP date on their invitation, it generally corresponds to a deadline they have been given by their vendors. Sometimes I think and I’m sure you may have thought, “[insert couples name] knows how much I love them and that I’m going to be at their wedding”. The couple may know, but our RSVP confirms this. If I don’t RSVP, I can’t be mad if there is no seat for me. With this being said, I totally understand that life happens and plans change. If something changes, just let the couple know so they can plan accordingly. Just not the day before the wedding though lol.
Tip #2: CP Time no longer applies to weddings
Listen y’all, I’m guilty of this too. Many of us were born with this chronic illness of being fashionably late. Then we figure, they aren’t starting on time, so we don’t trip. I won’t talk a lot on this one. Let’s change our ways, lol
Tip #3: Let the Photographer and Videographer Do Their Jobs
We are blessed to live in a technological age where we have access to some of the best products at our fingertips! I KNOW your iPhone X takes amazing pictures, but please try to be mindful of where you are taking the photo from in relation to where the professional cameras are positioned. Along with that, remember that the cameras pick up on quite a bit of sound…
Tip #4: Slay Hunnttyy (minus that white outfit you love)
Wedding photos last a lifetime, so make sure to slay in your Sunday’s best! Try to refrain from wearing all white or ivory as this is the couple’s day to shine bright….like a diamond. You should still shine though, but shine more like gold. That was kinda corny, but you get the idea.
Tip #5: Enjoy the Day
Have you ever looked at wedding videos or clips on YouTube and you see that one person who has that resting stank face? Don’t be that person, lol. Try to remain present at the wedding and enjoy every moment. Meaning be there physically AND mentally. If you are having some difficulty being there mentally (because once again, I understand that life happens), then I beg, sit somewhere where the camera won’t catch you.
BONUS TIP: Weddings can cost a pretty penny. Think of it this way- your seat (food, decor, chair, silverware, beverages, etc) costs the couple, on average, about $100. Also, you are an invited guest because the couple loves you. Bless them with a little something to show your love and support (i.e. money, a gift from their registry, money or money).
And to my couples-don’t be salty if someone is unable to give you a gift. Remember, cut your coat according to your pre-wedding size not your post wedding size, because life happens and people’s bank accounts may be set up in a way that doesn’t allow them to bless you the way they want to.
Long story short, let us all contribute to making the couple’s big day as wonderful as possible by being punctual, mindful, and present with a present! 🙂
See below for some shots of the beautiful couple and some photos of me at the wedding!
Toodles for now, SugarBees! <3
