Of the Seven Wedding Guest Sins, "The No-Show" is Worst According to WeddingChannel.com

Business Wire, July 8, 2008

WeddingChannel.com Polls Reveal Top Wedding Don'ts

LOS ANGELES -- Nearly half of brides-to-be polled by WeddingChannel.com admit to committing wedding etiquette gaffes. Now that they're engaged, they want their guests to know how to behave. To wipe out wedding manner mishaps, WeddingChannel.com (www.weddingchannel.com), the number one wedding website that is chock-full of answers to all your wedding etiquette questions, has come up with the worst wedding guest sins ever committed so family and friends won't suffer any confusion when it comes to the rules of being a great guest.

"All too often, wedding guests mess up--they drink too much, ask if they can bring an uninvited guest, or dare to ask the bride if they can try on her engagement ring," explained Summer Krecke, deputy editor of WeddingChannel.com. "While guests may not be aware of their bad behavior, brides and grooms often feel frustrated by their guests' blunders."

By polling thousands of brides, the editors at WeddingChannel.com have determined the Seven Deadly Wedding Guest Sins:

THE SEVEN DEADLY WEDDING GUEST SINS FROM WEDDINGCHANNEL.COM

1. THE NO-SHOW

Showing up to a wedding with an uninvited plus-one is definitely a no-no. So is forgetting to RSVP to the couple by the date specified. But worse than that? According to 1 in 3 brides polled by WeddingChannel.com, it's RSVPing "yes" to a wedding and then not showing up. When it comes to being a good guest, abiding by the rules of responding is an absolute must--especially when the couple is shelling out five-star funds to feed and entertain you.

2. FOREGOING THE CEREMONY, BUT STILL ATTENDING THE RECEPTION

A wedding is the celebration of the marriage of two people--not a free, all-you-can-eat buffet. Don't even think of skipping the ceremony--55% brides claim that's plain out rude. If you have a legitimate reason for showing up late, like waiting for childcare or a late plane arrival, be courteous by apologizing to the couple.

3. GETTING INTOXICATED AT THE RECEPTION

Sure, the free alcohol will most likely be flowing, but try to keep your inner Jack Daniels contained. Indulge in the champagne toast, a signature cocktail, a glass of wine with dinner, but keep additional drinking to a minimum. You don't want to be the person the guests gossip about at the morning-after brunch.

4. WEARING WHITE

Nearly 80% of brides polled said "no" when WeddingChannel.com asked if they thought it was permissible for a guest to wear white (or any variation thereof) to a wedding. Stay away from ivory, diamond-white, grayish-white, and try not to bear too much skin. A rule of thumb: If you have to ask if it's okay, choose something else.

5. COMPLAINING.

If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it. Couples fear the fact that their guests might not like their wedding. Avoid complaining within earshot of the couple or any of their family members. There is nothing more disheartening than hearing that a guest didn't care for the destination, the selection or the quality of the food, band, gifts, or any other detail of the wedding.

6. SWITCHING SEATS

43% of couples say that they would be miffed if someone tampered with the tables at their wedding. Even though you might want to sit somewhere else, you must take into account the fact that couples often spend hours figuring out their seating plans--and probably sat you there for a reason. You'll have plenty of time to hang out with your crew on the dance floor, but, when it comes to dinner, sit in your assigned seat.

7. REGIFTING

Perhaps the second biggest gaffe a guest can make is giving a recycled gift--without taking out the original card or, worse, forgetting that it was already inscribed for someone else! WeddingChannel.com has heard from thousands of couples who've been horrified to receive a regifted present. If you cannot afford a gift, send a card before the wedding with best wishes and a note that a gift will be on the way soon. And, when choosing a gift, opt for a selection from the couple's registry: 1 in 3 couples prefer that you do not stray from their wedding wish list. Don't know where they're registered? Log onto WeddingChannel.com to search their registries at 20 top retailers from Macy's to Tiffany & Co. to Amazon.com.

Although they didn't quite make it into the Seven Deadly Wedding Guest Sins, the below additional wedding guest gaffes came pretty close:

* 68% of brides say they've had a guest ask if they can bring an uninvited plus-one to the wedding

* 75% of brides say guests have had the audacity to ask how much they're spending on the wedding

* 70% of brides say it's not ok to ask to try on her engagement ring, yet, nearly 60% of brides have had this done to them

Additional WeddingChannel.com etiquette solutions are also available at www.weddingchannel.com/etiquette.> About WeddingChannel.com

WeddingChannel.com is the number one wedding and gift registry website, offering comprehensive wedding planning content, interactive tools, a panel of experts, and a central location for couples to manage their gift registries. From beauty to decor to fashion, WeddingChannel.com contributors include the most sought-after wedding professionals, such as celebrity wedding planner Yifat Oren, five-time Emmy Award-winning makeup artist Eve Pearl, celebrity wedding photographer Robert Evans, and Kleinfeld Bridal co-owner Mara Urshel.