While the majority of brides do their best to be pleasant and polite, there are times when even a well-meaning bride does something rude. It is often accidental, but that doesn't make it any less offensive to those people affected by the behavior. Learn about these rude things that brides do, so you can make sure to avoid these mistakes at your own wedding.
Money is often tight when planing a wedding, and one typical mistake is to put the comfort of the bride and groom above the comfort of the wedding guests. Common money-saving measures like cash bars are often seen as very rude by the guests who discover they are expected to pay for their own refreshments. This is doubly true when the couple decides to spend less on their guests so they could spend more on something for themselves like a designer wedding gown or a stretch limo. Whether you have a lot of money to spend or just a little, make your guests the top priority in your wedding budget. The same goes for your bridal party, by the way; it's no fair skipping the bridesmaid jewelry gifts to afford a more expensive veil.
Another rude thing that many brides do is to take their bridesmaids for granted. Again, it is not usually intentional, but this is something that frequently happens. While it is nice if your bridesmaids want to throw you a shower or a bachelorette weekend, the polite bride never tells her friends that they have to give her a party. Likewise, do not turn your bridesmaids into indentured servants who are expected to give up all their free time to make DIY projects for your wedding. Accept help when offered, but don't make your friends feel obligated. And always show your appreciation with a gift of bridesmaid jewelry or some other special present.
Timing and logistics can be one of the most challenging aspects of wedding planning. One thing that is sure to drive your guests crazy is a big gap between the wedding ceremony and the reception. There are all sorts of reasons why this can happen. It is often a result of an early afternoon church ceremony followed by an evening reception or the couple wanting extra time for photography. While the bride and groom surely to not intend to be rude, expecting your guests to hang around for a couple of hours with nothing to do really is quite inconsiderate. If you need extra time for photography, take some pictures before the ceremony. And if your church only performs 1pm ceremonies, plan an afternoon reception that can follow, rather than scheduling an evening party that won't start for hours.
Something else that is a common faux pas is putting bridal registry information on the wedding invitations. Brides are often talked into it by the store that set up the registry, touting it as a "convenience" for the wedding guests. Unfortunately, many guests are more likely to see it as an attempt at a gift grab than something done to make their lives easier. Avoid this perception by leaving bridal registry information off of the wedding invitations. People who are interested in shopping from a registry will ask you where you are registered. It is also acceptable to put a link to your registry on your wedding website, as long as it is done in a subtle fashion.
Being a polite bride is not so hard when you know what not to do. Most brides want to do right by their friends and family, and when you know how, it is easy to avoid making impolite mistakes. You can be sure that a bride who is thoughtful and considerate is always noticed and appreciated.
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