Wedding Guest (Maltese Wedding)

June 13, 2017

Social

Hand delivered or found in your letterbox, your role as a guest to a wedding starts when you open the envelope and read the invitation.

Now what?

Have a read through this guide we’ve prepared for you to ensure you put your best foot forward:

RSVP – Be respectful and advise whether you will be attending or not. Do not leave it to a few days before the wedding and never, ever ask to bring an uninvited guest.
If you receive an invitation, then you owe the couple a gift irrespective of whether you are going or not. When you know there is a gift list, try to follow it. If you opt for a cash gift, hand it to the maid of honour or best man at the reception, who will hand it over to the couple.
This is the day where the bride shines and stands out so avoid white and ivory coloured outfits. It is also wise to follow the correct dress code depending on the type of wedding. Going for a pair of stilettos at a beach wedding will restrict you to any part of solid ground throughout the reception.
If you are attending the ceremony, you should arrive before the bride. If you are late, wait until she walks down the aisle and even then, take one of the pews towards the back.
Time for celebration follows at the reception – but this is not a time to eat like never before. While the couple are greeting their guests, be prepared! Time yourself before taking that deviled egg. Avoid suddenly realising you are on video greeting them with a stuffed mouth. Another tip is to keep your glass in your left hand so your right hand is free to shake hands.
At Maltese weddings, it is common to have different themed tables – be it with Chinese food, cheese, pasta – whichever you decide to queue for, remember this is not a race. Allow enough distance from the person in front of you to avoid poking your plate in their back. Overfilling the plate is also not acceptable.
Drink wisely. If you are driving, know your limits and avoid being rowdy and drawing too much attention to yourself.
The first dance is shared by the bride and groom. If you feel the urge to show your dancing skills, we suggest you wait. It won’t be long until the guests take to the floor and dance away.
With nearly everyone owning a smartphone, it is very tempting to take photos of the bride and groom. Do not trump the couple by posting photos before they do. This is not your party. They get to decide when their photos are shared. Be respectful and ask before sharing their photos.
If wish to leave, try to do so after the cake is cut. Do not eat sweets displayed on the cake table before.
Never take away food from the reception to enjoy it at home. There is no other way to say this. It is poor form.
Last but not least, it would be courteous to find a few minutes after the wedding to send a personalised thank you note to the couple.