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Admittedly a wedding is a very stressful time for the guest as well as the wedding party. Pressure is on to do the right things in many aspects and in some cases have to do it on unfamiliar ground, as in the case of a religious wedding of which you do not know the protocol.
However, if you stick to classic, basic conventions of etiquette, you should not go wrong and it is often found that these unwritten rules are universal. |
DON’T BE LATE |
You would have known well in advance of the wedding date and the time of the ceremony, so as with job interviews or any other appointment it would not be appropriate to be late. However, things do happen, if you have a car breakdown or a sick traveling member for instance, that would be an unforeseen occurrence. In the event of arriving late, try to be as discreet as possible, wait for a suitable moment and slip in quietly at the back, preferably to the side rather than the middle. If it is a closed door ceremony, stay outside and remember that you will still be able to express your wishes and enjoy the occasion at the reception. |
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DON’T MAKE A SCENE |
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you happen to have a disagreement with anyone be it another guest or your companion guest, please take it elsewhere. This is not your time, it would not be appropriate to cause any disturbance which would bring attention to yourself or disrupt the serene ambiance of the occasion in hand … remember you would like the same courtesy to be afforded to you on your day.
Please remember to turn off your cell-phone.
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PHOTOGRAPH WITH DISCRETION |
Guests constantly taking photographs can be very distracting and annoying for the ceremony in hand; try to restrict yourself while in church. Save your shots for outside poses where they can be taken without disruption, quietly on the side. Remember the couple will probably have a professional to record the event and you can always order your own high quality selection with their permission. |
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HAVE CULTURAL RESPECT |
If you happen to be in an ethnic ceremony which is not of your faith or you feel strongly against, this is not the time to be radical, for the sake of the couple help them to enjoy their day without making any religious statements. If you really feel that there is a practice of which you simply cannot participate, please try your utmost to be discreet. A good idea would be to find out the aspects before attending. |
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RESEARCH |
In the case of a cultural ceremony of which you are not familiar, do a little research beforehand to familiarise yourself with protocols and customs so that you do not feel too lost. Do not be afraid to ask questions, even from the families of the couple themselves. In the event of something unexpected remember that you can always follow, with discretion, what the majority are doing. |
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