You’ve been invited to a wedding—what an honor! The couple have spent countless hours planning and thoughtfully designing their wedding day and celebrations, and they’ve invited YOU to be part of it. That’s huge!
Perhaps you haven’t been to many weddings, or you reside overseas and are unsure what the guest etiquette is for weddings in Australia, either way hats off to you for reading this post as that shows you really care about being a great wedding guest.
So, if you’re wondering how to be the best guest possible, with over 10 years’ experience each and a passion for creating really good wedding ceremonies, we’re going to share our top tips for guest etiquette at weddings ceremonies.
- Be On Time
Let’s start with something simple, but crucial: punctuality. When the invitation says the ceremony starts at 3:00 PM, that’s exactly when the ceremony commences and the walk down the aisle takes place. Guest arrival time is typically 30 minutes before the ceremony start time—unless otherwise advised on your invitation.
So if the ceremony is at 3:00 PM, you should aim to arrive by 2:30 PM (or even a touch earlier if you anticipate traffic or parking delays). A guest being late can cause a domino effect of delays that impact the entire flow of the day.
A delayed ceremony can:
- Cause all the other guests to be inconvenienced as they wait around longer than anticipated, sometimes in the sun or wind.
- Increase nerves for the couple as they each unexpectedly wait around for the ceremony to start.
- Disrupt timings for the photographer and videographer, limiting the time originally scheduled for post ceremony location footage in the golden hour light that the couple have invested greatly in.
- Push back and shorten catering schedules, e.g. cocktail hour service.
In short, being on time is one of the kindest things you can do as a guest. Plan ahead, book your transport, and allow plenty of time. If in doubt, arrive early.
What if you are late? If for some reason you do end up being late and arriving at the ceremony start time, please don’t race down the aisle in front of the wedding party or the bride – inadvertently becoming an unintended part of the wedding party arrival Yikes! Instead, discreetly stand off to the side, ideally out of eye shot of the cameras, and politely wait until the arrival has taken place then discreetly make your way to the ceremony, blending in with the standing guests or taking a seat near the back to avoid causing a disruption.
Couples tip for late guests: The general consensus is not to inconvenience your entire wedding by waiting for a late guest or two before starting. For the reasons outlined above, it creates a much better wedding day experience for everyone when your wedding runs on time and to schedule.
- Take A Seat When Invited
At the wedding ceremony, when you’re invited to take a seat—please do! We always aim to start the ceremony with all seats filled, noting the front row is usually saved for key family members with an empty seat or two for the person/s walking the bride or groom down the aisle.
You can help keep the ceremony aesthetic beautiful and the energy warm and connected by filling every seat with your happy presence.
Don’t hesitate to sit next to someone you don’t know. Avoid leaving gaps in the seating—it may feel more comfortable at the time, but having photos with empty seats don’t look great and give the impression that guests didn’t show up. Plus, the couple have organised seating so that everyone can enjoy the ceremony comfortably.
- Engage in the Ceremony
As a wedding guest, you’re not just a spectator—you’re part of the atmosphere. As Celebrants delivering the thoughtfully prepared ceremony and creating the warm happy vibes, we LOVE having a great crowd with guests engaging in and enjoying the ceremony.
How to be present and in the moment: During the ceremony, laugh at the funny moments, wipe a tear during the heartfelt vows and clap and cheer enthusiastically when prompted when they kiss and when the couple make their way back down the aisle together. The more the couple feel you, their guests enjoying their ceremony, the more they will too.
This is one of the most memorable moments of their lives. You can make it even more meaningful by being fully engaged and enjoying every special moment.
- Share What You Loved
After the ceremony, don’t just say congratulations (although definitely do that too!). Take a moment to tell the couple something specific you loved about the ceremony.
Let them know that their effort, their love, and their story impacted you.
Maybe it was their vows. Maybe it was their connection, the way they looked at each other. Maybe the tone of the ceremony really reflected them as a couple. Perhaps their hearing their love story gave you goosebumps, or their choice of ceremony music fitted perfectly. Whatever resonated with you—let them know.
Kind comments stay with couples forever. They’re treasured just as much as the photos and speeches.
In summary, being a great wedding guest is about being present, thoughtful, and kind. Be organised and arrive on time, take your seat with intention, enjoy the moment, and share your joy with the couple.
If you are planning your wedding and love the idea of having a ceremony that you and your guests will thoroughly enjoy, we would love to hear from you.
Contact Celebrants Jamie + Cara here and let’s start planning your special day.
Special mentions to the following Photographers for capturing the essence of our couples ceremonies with these images of wedding guests. Evernew Studio, Ethereal Studio, Studio Impressions, Lauren Joy Photography, Soo Photography & Blonde Freelance.
We hope this was helpful in showing how you can be a really good wedding guest and make the couples wedding day extra special.
If you’re looking for wedding inspiration, you can see more of the Victoria Park weddings featured in this post, and more on our Victoria Park wedding blogs here.