10 Wedding Etiquette Tips for the Bride and Groom
Because your wedding will be one of the most memorable days of your life, your behavior needs to reflect this. Learn what to do -- and what not to do -- on the big day from David Tutera of WE tv's The Wedding Planner and author of My Fair Wedding: Finding Your Vision... Through His Revisions!
It's simply important that you come across to your guests as appropriate, sincere, and genuinely thankful that they are there to celebrate with you. Trust me, being a graceful bride will keep you from having any regrets five, ten, or fifty years from now. It will also keep your guests filled with memories of you as nothing less than charming, beautiful, and blushing. Remember, this party isn't only about you; it's about the bride and groom -- and, of course, your guests! Follow these tips to ensure that you are the picture of elegance and grace at your wedding:
Walk down the aisle with poise, and hold your bouquet by the stems with flowers tilted forward.
Practice your wedding kiss and make sure it's sweet, not raunchy.
Make a mental note to avoid arm-pumping after the ceremony is complete. You're getting married, not cheering for a high school football team! Walk back up the aisle together as the happy, elegant couple you are.
Attend your own cocktail hour! When couples schedule photos during this time, they miss out on sharing those first few moments of newlywed excitement with their family and friends. Also, consider that couples often enter the reception room fifteen minutes after guests have entered, so missing cocktails as well as the start of the reception means a lot of time away from guests.
Make a point to look into the eyes of your guests when talking to them -- this is good etiquette anytime.
At the reception, visit each table and greet guests individually. If possible, try to visit with each guest at least twice during the evening. It's no different than if you were hosting a dinner party at home -- you want everyone to feel welcome.
Always mingle with guests with your new husband at your side.
Neither you nor your groom should ever be seen smoking or drinking beer from a bottle rather than a proper glass. You're not at a sports bar!
Pace yourself when drinking wine or cocktails -- no one wants to see a tipsy bride or groom. You don't want to wind up on Brideszillas!
Hold your champagne glass by the stem, not the bowl to keep the champagne chilled. And always have a glass within reach for toasts.
We want to know - what bad behavior have you experienced at weddings?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Tutera, author of My Fair Wedding: Finding Your Vision... Through His Revisions! (Copyright © 2011 WE: Women's Entertainment LLC), is one of the biggest names in the wedding industry, renowned for his wedding design and production firm that has catered to the bridal needs of celebrities like Star Jones and Antonio Pierce of the New York Giants. And, while not for weddings, David Tutera has also counted Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Elton John, and Barbara Walters as satisfied customers. David will debut his own line of wedding dresses in Fall 2009 at bridal retail stores and boutiques nationwide. Additionally, "Disney's Couture Wedding Collection by David Tutera" is a line of four wedding decor packages designed for Walt Disney World and Disneyland in California. David has been featured as a wedding expert on several television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show, The View, TBS's Movie and a Makeover, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Fox and Friends. David is often featured in magazines and in printed publications, from Town and Country to The New York Times, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and more.
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