6 Things Guests Should NOT Do the Night Before a Wedding
Invitations are sent out months in advance to give you plenty of time to prepare for the occasion, so there are a few things you should avoid doing at the last minute.
Photo: Brittany Graham Photography
Even though you're not part of the wedding planning process, a wedding guest has responsibilities too. Invitations are sent out months in advance to give you plenty of time to prepare for the occasion, so there are a few things you should avoid doing at the last minute. Nobody wants to be that guest!
Don’t drink too much
If you’re invited to the rehearsal dinner chances are there will be alcohol. Limit yourself to just a few celebratory drinks instead of reliving your college days. Waking up with a headache the morning of the wedding is only going to make the day a rough one to get through. If you’re not going to the rehearsal dinner, use this time to rest up and relax. See a movie with other guests who aren’t at the rehearsal dinner or another activity that doesn’t involve heavy drinking. You’ll be much happier in the A.M.!
Don’t purchase a wedding gift
Chances are you’ve had the link to the couple’s registry since the invitation was sent out, or even earlier. There’s no reason to wait until the last minute to get a gift, especially since it’s easy to buy the gift right off a retailer's website. It’s also proper etiquette to send the wedding gift directly to the couple's home, not show up with it at the reception. It’s okay to send the gift after the wedding is over, but avoid purchasing it right beforehand.
Don’t buy a new outfit
Again, you’ve likely had a number of months to find something to wear, so shopping the night before isn’t the greatest idea. It may not fit the way you want it to and you’ll have no time to get alterations made. Buying new shoes so close to an event that calls for moving on the dance floor will backfire since you won’t have a chance to break them in. It’s better to be safe than sorry in the game of wedding guest fashion, so buy your outfit a few weeks ahead of time.
Don’t ask the couple lots of questions
If you have last-minute questions about transportation, start times, or directions, ask someone other than the guests of honor or check their wedding website or WedSocial app. They soon-to-be newlyweds have heard those questions a million times over and their rehearsal dinner is the last place they’d want to answer them again, especially when you’ve had plenty of time to figure everything out beforehand. If you have an urgent question, go to the maid-of-honor or best man to help you out and let the almost newlyweds celebrate.
Don’t stay up too late
You’ve got a long and busy day ahead of you so it’s a good idea to catch up on your R&R before the big event. You’ll likely be dancing the night away the next day so save your energy for the big event. Being tired at a wedding isn’t just annoying for you to deal with, it’s also bad etiquette to be yawning and complaining throughout the day. It’ll be much easier to enjoy yourself with a good night’s sleep.
Don’t forget to download WedSocial
Charge up your phone and make sure you’ve downloaded WeddingWire’s FREE WedSocial app. Not only can you share all your wedding pics in one place, but you can also get event details the couple has shared such as directions and start times. You can also like and comment on other guest’s photos. It’s the app no guest should be without!
