Last week, you saw our list of wedding guest DO's and DON'T's, but guests aren't the only ones who may need some pointers when it comes to their wedding etiquette. As a member of the bridal party, there are some simple DO's and DON'Ts that you should follow to make sure the bride and groom's wedding day goes perfectly as planned and as stress-free for them as possible!
DO's and DON'Ts - Bridal Party Etiquette
1. DO be prepared for the ceremony. Remember, before the bride comes down the aisle, all eyes will be on you. First off, don't have tons of things in your pockets right before you walk. You don't want to be scrambling to find a place to put your cell phone, keys, and wallet at the last second. Also, make sure you spit out your gum, put down the beer, and grab your bouquet before the eyes and cameras are on you. The last thing a bride and groom want is to see their Maid of Honor and Best Man chomping gum in their ceremony pictures.
2.
DON'T complain about the dresses. Chances are, the bride spent a good amount of time picking out just the right dresses for her bridesmaids that both complimented her vision as well as their various body types. Unless there is a big financial or modesty concern, accept the dress that the bride has chosen for you, and rock it on the day of the wedding!
3. DO leave all the drama at home. As wedding planners, we place the bridal party at the ceremony and the head table in the order that the bride and groom envision. When the bride frantically approaches us on the morning of her wedding and says that her maid of honor and her groom's best man are in a fight and that they can't sit or walk together, she is under stress that she should not be on her wedding day. If you and a fellow bridal party member are having a personal disagreement, let it go for the day. You're all there to make the day more special, and bringing drama to the head table is not the way to go about that!
4.
DON'T procrastinate. Bachelor Party plans? Check. Wedding rings? Got 'em safe. Toast written? Check. Rented the suit? Oops...Being a member of the bridal party, especially as the best man or maid of honor, comes with responsibilities! If the bride or groom has given you a task to complete
before the day of the wedding, make sure you get that done early. It's always better to have time to spare than having to rush order or put something together at the last minute. So many of our brides tell us their biggest stress is praying that so-and-so finally ordered their outfit or got fitted before it's too late. Don't be that attendant!
5. DO remember that pictures are important. Photographers and couples often have long lists of shots that they want to get through by the time the reception begins. If the members of the bridal party disappear after the ceremony, someone has to go round them up before pictures can start. If the photographer gets through all of the scheduled bridal party and family pictures early, then the couple can go enjoy their cocktail hour and reception. After the ceremony, it's best to stick around until the photographer tells you you're free to go.
6. DON'T get undressed after the ceremony. Now, this may sound a little ridiculous, but believe me, we've seen it before. Like I said, pictures are important and if you've gone and changed out of your tux or dress, the photographer will have to wait for you to change back into it. Also, pictures will be taken throughout the night, and most likely the couple wants you in the dresses and suits they've picked out especially for their big day.
7.
DO make your toast appropriate. Humor is fine in toasts...to a certain point. Check out our blog post about
The Art of Giving a Wedding Toast for ideas and tips. We suggest making toasts sweet and simple...and leaving the crass jokes for another time.
8. DON'T get too drunk. We discussed this as wedding guest etiquette, but it goes for the bridal party too. You'll be in pictures, making toasts, and helping out the bride and groom throughout the night. Taking shots before the ceremony is not something we suggest.
9. Do remember that this is their day. We can't point this out enough. The bride and groom have spent months and months planning a day that will celebrate their love and commitment to each other. This means that this day should be all about them, and you should be doing your best to make sure that is what happens. So if the wedding colors are purple and yellow, and that purple maid of honor dress just isn't your style, remember that you are here for them (and that you get to choose what she wears on your wedding day!).
So, these are our ultimate DO's and DON'Ts...do you have any that you would add to the list?!
