There’s always that one person at the wedding. You know which one we mean: the one who is doing something that makes everyone else slightly uncomfortable. They might be getting too loud, using profanities left and right, or – gasp! – wearing white. And when the booze is flowing freely at an all-inclusive resort, a faux pas can quickly turn into a giant facepalm.
To help you navigate the waters of destination wedding etiquette, we’ve put together a handy guide for your reference, whether you’re getting married or just attending the nuptials.
For the Couple:
Do send save-the-dates well in advance. We’re talking as early as possible here. Your guests will need to know that travel is involved, so giving plenty of notice will be appreciated.
Do let guests know that gifts are not expected. A line on your invitation can mention that guests’ presence is a gift in itself, or that gifts can be sent directly to the couple’s home.
Don’t schedule activities for every minute of the day during the wedding celebrations. Your guests are on vacation, too! Some events such as the rehearsal dinner and even planned group excursions are nice touches, but be sure to leave plenty of free time for everyone to relax.
Do have a welcome gift awaiting your guests when they arrive. It can be a beach bag filled with essentials for the vacation or a small, travel-friendly item that will be easy to transport back home. Also, be sure to include an itinerary of events so guests know when and where to be. Your Weddings by Funjet Concierge will be able to coordinate having these items in your guests’ rooms when they check in.
Don’t get so swept up in the details that you forget to have a great time! This is an incredibly special occasion in your life and perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of your friends and family to be spending such an extended amount of time together. Relax and enjoy it!
For Guests:
Do alternate every alcoholic beverage with a glass of water. Trust us. After a day in the sun and sand, you’re already dehydrated. And rehydrating will also keep you from accidentally imbibing more than you meant to.
Don’t feel like you need to spend every second with the bride, groom, and everyone in the family. It’s okay to spend some time exploring on your own or in a smaller group. This helps diffuse tensions that could arise when some people want to read by the pool but others want to play beach volleyball. Plus, the bride and groom are, like, superbusy trying to finalize the last details, so sometimes it’s best to stay out of their way for a few hours.
Do bring a gift. It can be small and inexpensive – after all, you’ve come quite far for this celebration! Get creative (but remember that everything has to be flown back home at the end of the week!) A great idea is to give the happy couple an excursion off the resort that you know they would enjoy or a couple’s massage on the beach. Experiential gifts create memories of this wonderful time together and they’ll remember it for many years. Alternatively, you can send a more traditional gift directly to the couple’s home.
Do be on time for any wedding-related events. Follow the itinerary and plan to arrive a few minutes early for things like the rehearsal dinner and – of course – the ceremony.
What are your personal wedding etiquette tips? Tell us in the comments below.
