Receiving a wedding invitation is a great pleasure and a great honor. It must be treated with the utmost respect. You have been asked to participate in an event that means a great deal to the celebrants.

Being a good guest isn’t really very hard, and you should be especially sensitive to the feelings of the bride and groom. Remember that the couple’s wedding is, first and foremost, their day, and a very special day for their families. They would like you to have a good time, but the event is not organized to indulge you. The couple and their families have honored you by inviting you to the wedding. Return the favor by following simple rules of courtesy and sensitivity.

· RESPOND PROMPTLY - Respond right away whether or not you will attend. Those organizing the wedding need to know the total head count to order the food and plan the seating arrangements. If you are invited, it is a must that you attend both the ceremony and the reception. As a sign of respect. If you have a serious conflict in your schedule that will keep you from one, inform that to the couple. RSVP on time. Most invitations today have an RSVP date at the bottom. "RSVP" stands for "respondez s’il vous plait" a French term meaning, "please respond". You are expected to reply as to whether or not you are coming. The reason for this is so that the couple can determine the exact number of guests coming and inform their caterer, prepare enough giveaways and order enough liquor. While it is considered very bad manners to respond after the specified RSVP date, it is even worse to show up at the wedding without replying at all. This will be a major inconvenience to the couple, most especially if they have prepared a seating chart.

· GUESTS MUST NOT BRING (UNINVITED) GUESTS -. "… and Guest". If your invitation is addressed to you "and Guest", you are free to invite a date to escort you to the wedding; otherwise, if it is only your name you see on the invitation, do not assume it is all right to do so. You should attend the wedding alone. Remember that the cost for each guest is quite high, so bringing unexpected guests is very impolite. Also, you may be disrupting a seating arrangement which was meticulously planned out by the couple.

· DONT BRING YOUR CHILDREN - Unless their names are specified on the invitation, or unless they are part of the bridal entourage, it is NOT APPROPRIATE to bring children to any wedding. If your children are invited or you decide to bring one as your guest, make sure to keep them under control. If they become disruptive during the ceremony, bring them out. During the reception, do not allow the children to run wild. Do not expect the coordinator, the photographers, or any of the working staff to supervise them for you. They have enough to do. If your children cause damage, be prepared to pay for it; otherwise, the bride and groom will be held responsible for it.

· NEVER INVITE YOURSELF - Don't assume you're invited, particularly with colleagues. Don't ask for an invitation or comment that yours must have been lost in the mail. Weddings can be expensive and the wedding couple and their families may not be able to include everyone, so don't take it personally.

So many tips might have been given about how the guests should behave during a party, particularly at wedding receptions. But here are some things oftentimes overlooked by the guests when they receive an invitation to a wedding.

· KEEP YOUR SEAT - If seating has been assigned at the reception, don't move the place cards or trade places, respect it. There's a reason the bride chose that particular table for you. Do not disrupt the arrangement by insisting on sitting beside your friends. Remember that in doing so, you are displacing some guests. You will have time to be with them anyway once the program is over. Besides, this is one way of meeting other people. Socialize.

· INTRODUCE YOURSELF - Make a point of saying hello to the families of the wedded couple and especially to older relatives. You will be long remembered as "the young man with such nice manners." A wedding guest list usually has a cross-section of ages and you never know who you'll meet. Use your networking skills to make a good impression. Carry a few business cards in case someone asks for one.

· BE POLITE DURING SPEECHES - Don't talk during the speeches and at least pretend to listen. Don't make a toast unless you've been specifically asked to in advance. If you're the best man, prepare a few words beforehand. Do not give a long impromptu speech. It is true that couple will be happy to hear you wish them well. But make your congratulations short and sweet. They usually have a program for the evening, and any impromptu speech may throw the program off-balance. When making a speech, don’t forget that there are guests of different ages, backgrounds, and possibly of varying cultures present. Therefore, keep your speech tasteful and watch your behavior and manners.

· BE SINCERE ON THE WEDDING VIDEO - when the videographer asks you to say a few words to the bride and groom, give them your best wishes. Don't make jokes: "I know a great divorce lawyer" may sound hilarious to you, but it's not appropriate. This is not an audition; it's a keepsake for the couple and will be viewed by many people for many years.

· BUFFET LINE - .If a buffet is served at the reception, do not pile your plate with food. Be considerate to those who have not yet eaten. You will have your chance to get a second serving later.

· GIFT ETIQUETTE - In our country, it is normal to bring your gift to the wedding and the practice is to hand it over at the reception table for proper registering. Do not bring your gift to the ceremony venue where no one can take care of it, as everyone is focused on the ceremony. In most cases, a monetary gift is not only acceptable, but also very much appreciated by the couple. This is especially true if the couple will be residing abroad or far from their former residence. Ask about the gift registry. It is generally not considered proper for an invitation to include any mention of where the couple has registered their gifts but, as a guest, you are expected to take it upon yourself to inquire about whether a registry exists. The registry was intended by the couple to make your gift buying easier. Whatever you get from the registry is something you are sure the bride and groom truly want.

· ORDERING DRINKS - Ask whether these are going to be hosted by the couple or not. If the drink is hosted, be very considerate in ordering. Ordering more than necessary is impolite and inconsiderate, considering that the cost of drinks in reception venues is very high. If the drinks are not hosted, then do not insist on ordering and not paying for them yourself. Drinking alcohol. Have fun; weddings are joyous occasions. But do not over indulge yourself at the open bar. Do not embarrass yourself and the newlyweds by being obnoxiously drunk. No one enjoys being around a drunken wedding guest.

· SAYS THANK YOU - before you leave, be sure to thank the bride and groom, as well as all their parents for including you in this special occasion.