Wedding Invitations | Etiquette | Guests

Part 2 of the Wedding Invitations, Etiquette and tips is a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for GUESTS when it comes to wedding invitations. If you missed part 1 of this series, Wedding Invitation Etiquette & Tips when sending invitations, you can find that here.

• Tip 1 – Who is invited? Whoever the invitation is addressed to, is who is invited to the wedding. If it doesn’t specifically say “and guest” or “and family”, then you may not bring a guest or your children.
• Tip 2 – This goes with #1. It is NEVER okay to add people to the response card.  If you receive an invitation addressed to “Mr. & Mrs. Robert Smith”, then your children are not invited.  Do not include them on the response card. Same goes for any single guests, if your invitation doesn’t specify “and guest”, you’re not to bring a guest. 
• Tip 3 – Realize that even if you’re upset or can’t understand why anyone would not want children at their wedding, this is still their wedding and it is their right to choose.  Be gracious.  Don’t call them (or their parent/sister/brother/friend to relay the message) and say “well if we can’t bring Bobby Jr. then we can’t come”.  That’s not fair.  They have their reasons, and again, it’s their wedding.  Same goes for the single guest upset about not bringing a date.
• Tip 4 – Be courteous and respond by the requested date.  The couple needs to give an accurate head count to their venue or caterer. The response card isn’t optional, it needs to be returned with an answer if you’ll be attending or not.
• Tip 5 – Make sure to put your full name on the response card.  There could be several guests with the same name, so be sure to put your first and last name on the card.
• Tip 6 – If you have a severe food allergy, feel free to indicate it on the response card even if there isn’t a designated space to do so.  This will save any last minute stress the day of the wedding and it’s helpful for the couple to know and inform the caterer.