Dealing With Rude Wedding Guests
Unfortunately, it is a fact of life: at every wedding there are going to be a few guests who are thoughtless, inconsiderate, or downright rude.
There is no need to let a few irritating people detract from how much you enjoy your wedding, however.
Here are the most common issues that couples face with rude guests, and how to deal with them with a smile on your face.
Some guests do not intend to cause any trouble, yet manage to be very aggravating.
These are the people are can't seem to do anything or get anywhere on time.
They do not return their response cards by the requested date, don't return follow up phone calls, and some will even turn up at the wedding without ever bothering to R.
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that they are coming! By the time the day of the wedding rolls around, you may well be so annoyed that you no longer even care if they come.
Taking this step by step, if someone does not send in their response card, you should give them the benefit of the doubt (maybe it got lost in the mail?).
It is perfectly fine to make a phone call asking if they will be able to join you for your wedding.
Keep your tone upbeat and welcoming, not irritated or put out.
A week is plenty of time to wait before making a second (and final) call.
A polite message letting them know that the caterer is demanding a final head count by Saturday, and if you do not hear back, you will assume they are unable to attend is fine.
Of course, a person who is rude enough to ignore a response card and two phone calls may well be the sort to turn up at the reception anyway.
Should this occur, the problem should not be dropped in the bride's lap! If possible, find a seat at a table and a dinner for them (usually easier when it is a buffet reception), but if you have a packed house, it is absolutely acceptable to let them know that since they did not respond, there is no seat or dinner available for them, but invite them to join in for dancing after the meal.
That is really the best you can do.
Then there are those guests who steal the attention from the bride.
Anyone who shows up late to a wedding ceremony is in fact doing that when they come in to the venue late after everyone is seated.
The couple should not delay their ceremony to accommodate late guests unless it is a member of the wedding party or a very close relative (mother, wait; aunt, the show must go on).
It is not fair to all of the other guests who were considerate enough to be on time.
Once the last guest has been seated, anyone else who arrives should wait until after the processional to enter the ceremony site.
At that point, the latecomer can slip into a seat in the last row, or simply stand quietly in the back.
Another type of guest who steals the bride's thunder (and there is one of these at almost every wedding) is the guest who shows up looking so dramatic that all eyes will be upon her all night.
You know the one; she is wearing a backless cocktail dress with enough wedding jewelry up for the entire bridal party.
Or the aunt who insists on wearing her $50,000 diamond and sapphire suite of jewelry to a simple afternoon wedding in the bride's backyard.
This is a reminder to all wedding guests: you should certainly try to look good, but not so good that you will be the center of attention! If you are the bride, the only thing to do is to smile; don't waste a second of your time worrying about the other person stealing your spotlight, because no one can outshine a bride on her wedding day.
There is no need to let a few irritating people detract from how much you enjoy your wedding, however.
Here are the most common issues that couples face with rude guests, and how to deal with them with a smile on your face.
Some guests do not intend to cause any trouble, yet manage to be very aggravating.
These are the people are can't seem to do anything or get anywhere on time.
They do not return their response cards by the requested date, don't return follow up phone calls, and some will even turn up at the wedding without ever bothering to R.
s.
v.
p.
that they are coming! By the time the day of the wedding rolls around, you may well be so annoyed that you no longer even care if they come.
Taking this step by step, if someone does not send in their response card, you should give them the benefit of the doubt (maybe it got lost in the mail?).
It is perfectly fine to make a phone call asking if they will be able to join you for your wedding.
Keep your tone upbeat and welcoming, not irritated or put out.
A week is plenty of time to wait before making a second (and final) call.
A polite message letting them know that the caterer is demanding a final head count by Saturday, and if you do not hear back, you will assume they are unable to attend is fine.
Of course, a person who is rude enough to ignore a response card and two phone calls may well be the sort to turn up at the reception anyway.
Should this occur, the problem should not be dropped in the bride's lap! If possible, find a seat at a table and a dinner for them (usually easier when it is a buffet reception), but if you have a packed house, it is absolutely acceptable to let them know that since they did not respond, there is no seat or dinner available for them, but invite them to join in for dancing after the meal.
That is really the best you can do.
Then there are those guests who steal the attention from the bride.
Anyone who shows up late to a wedding ceremony is in fact doing that when they come in to the venue late after everyone is seated.
The couple should not delay their ceremony to accommodate late guests unless it is a member of the wedding party or a very close relative (mother, wait; aunt, the show must go on).
It is not fair to all of the other guests who were considerate enough to be on time.
Once the last guest has been seated, anyone else who arrives should wait until after the processional to enter the ceremony site.
At that point, the latecomer can slip into a seat in the last row, or simply stand quietly in the back.
Another type of guest who steals the bride's thunder (and there is one of these at almost every wedding) is the guest who shows up looking so dramatic that all eyes will be upon her all night.
You know the one; she is wearing a backless cocktail dress with enough wedding jewelry up for the entire bridal party.
Or the aunt who insists on wearing her $50,000 diamond and sapphire suite of jewelry to a simple afternoon wedding in the bride's backyard.
This is a reminder to all wedding guests: you should certainly try to look good, but not so good that you will be the center of attention! If you are the bride, the only thing to do is to smile; don't waste a second of your time worrying about the other person stealing your spotlight, because no one can outshine a bride on her wedding day.