Wedding Etiquette

Namibia Dream Weddings | namibian wedding

Wedding Etiquette

Invitation

Every quest should recieve an written invitation. Then you have two options - send it or pass the it personally. Furthermore, ivitation should contain separated card where guests can confirm their presence and send it back. You if plan to invite guests for a reception, it is polite to put another card. Don't forget to clearly write there if guests are allowed to bring spouse/kids/partners. Invitations are appropriate to send from 6 months before wedding to 6 weeks before wedding. You can also send a short schedule to let people know how wedding will look.

What to wear

The etiquette says that important quests as fathers and best man should match with groom. Ladies should take long dress for big wedding, shorter ones for smaller wedding. It is also not right for ladies to have white or red dress. Male guests should wear dark suit with light or white shirt with tie, belt and dark socks.

Wedding presents

It is common that during the reception quests will bring gifts to newly-weds. In some contries it is more common that gifts are given one aor few day before the wedding ceremony or on the wedding is a scecial place where quests will just place gifts and cards. More and more common are also online list of gifts, where couple will make a list of thing which they want or need and once someone takes it, it will be visible so it won't happen that you will get same presents.

Seating plan

First, you should choose if you want round tables (more and more popular) or normal tables build in the "T" or "U" shape. Guests can be related only to tables or every guests can have a certain chair already marked with a name card. Accoring to an etiquette newly-weds should sits at the main table with parents and best man. The rule is that less important people sits more far from the table of bride and groom. Wedding is also about putting families together so don't make that mistake, that you will sit one family separated from the other one. They should be mixed and quests should also sit like woman, man, woman, man... The plan should hang somewhere at the entrace or tell someone (best man, bridesmaid) to take care about seating guests down.

Wedding convoy

To the ceremony (everyone from one place):
Firsts is going groom with his mother (+ driver), second is mother of the bride with father of the groom. After them is going to rest of quests (more important guests are more infront) and in the last car is bride with her father.
To the ceremony (from different places):
Here, the beide has to arrive like last one with enough distance to make sure that guests will be already ready to welcome her.
Leaving the ceremony (to a reception):
In the first car are newly-weds, after them parents and them the rest of the convoy. During this way it's also common hooting.

Toast

Wedding reception starts with a toast which is presented by a father of the bride, father of the groom and then best man or bridesmaid. Attention is attracted by a light knocking with knife on the glass.

First dance

This comes after the desert. First dance belongs to newly-weds, then bride is dancing with groom's fahter and groom is dancing with bride's mother. After that newly-weds dance with their parents.

wedding_et

As a guests...

If you are invated on the ceremony, it doesn't automatically mean that you should also come on the reception. If you are not sure, don't worry and ask the engaged couple.
It is alway good to know how big the wedding is and dress yourself according to the occasion. Smaller wedding requires different clothes then formal wedding in the fancy restaurant.
Never(!) come late on someones wedding. It is very disrespectful and most of couples don't tolerate that.
Bring a gift for copuple. Even when they say that your presence is the most important, bringing a gift is automatic. Also if couple has a list of gifts, don't choose things on your own and bring something from the list.
Respect seating plan. At least at the beginning.
Don't bring people with your which are not invited. If it is not on the invitation card "+1" of that you can bring your partner, don't do it.
Don't bring your kids when the couple doesn't wish it.
If the wedding theme is not in light colours, don't wear white dress. It is the big day for a bride and other are less important. Also don't wear red dress. It is very agressive colour.
Always respect religion of the bride and the groom.
Don't talk about your own wedding. Even if your think that yours was better or you like comparing. Don'T even try it. this is their day and you can just talk about them and how awesome wedding they have.
When you are not using your phone for taking pictures, turn it off and don't make calls.
Don't leave the wedding/ reception before cutting the cake. Only newly-weds are allow to leave their wedding whenever they want without talking to anyone.