We’ve all been guests at a wedding (or one day will be). There are no clear cut
rules to being the “ideal” wedding guest. But it helps to know a few do’s, don’ts, maybes and donteventhinkaboutits. So here we go with Purple Twirls guide to being an awesome wedding guest in Ghana:

BLENDING IN WITH THE DECOR
Yes. There I said it. Just because the wedding colors are fuchsia, purple and orange doesn’t mean you should adorn yourself in all those colors darl. You’re not meant to be a mobile decorative piece. Hints of the wedding color(s) should work fine but is not absolutely necessary, unless requested by the couple.

SAY CHEESE
Once you notice a photographers lenses on you, please smile at the camera to get a great shot! Unless it’s a random moment (which the photogs usually don’t even make you aware of), pretending you don’t see the camera staring in your face is a little odd. Look straight at the camera and flash a wicked smile for a fab photo you can use as your next profile/display picture!

PHOTOGRAPHERS SPACE
It’s difficult for photographers to capture important moments of a wedding for the couple when there are eighty million photographer assistants in their way. Allow them some space to work and also be courteous to other guests who are as interested in the happenings of the event as the people you want to show the pictures/videos to. Which brings me to my next point:

#SOCIALMEDIA
Weddings are private moments that the couple usually prefers to share with their closest and dearest. If the couple hasn’t given consent to post their photos on social media, please don’t make it an obligation to do so. Some people would only like their professional wedding photos out there so asking the couple for those to post wouldn’t hurt.

INVITATION ONLY
It is NOT cool to crush a wedding that strictly has an invite only guest list. Not Cool. At. All. There’s a reason it’s invite only. Because the number of guests has been budgeted for, seats and all! (and you make our work harder too). So if you get an invitation only invite, it doesn’t mean bring your neighbors and your family pets just because “you know the bride/groom very well” and “he is your small boy from school”. They won’t be happy when they find out their in laws couldn’t get seats because of your entourage. RSVP for invite only weddings and ask the couple if there’s room for you and your +5. You might just get lucky.

HAPPY FEET
Ladies, we all do it. Those cute (painful) shoes look SO good with that dress you want so badly to wear. But before you make that shoeicidal decision, consider the venue for the wedding and reception. Rocky hills, stoney, uneven steps and the beach are certainly no place for stilettos. Wear appropriate shoes for the venue and avoid the Pinocchio walk and balance beams. Guys too! No need for those patent leather shoes at the beach. Carry your flip flops, sandals or slippers along and get comfy for the party!

HAVE FUN
Thou shall not go to a wedding and be stiiiiiiffff. Let loose and enjoy yourself. It’s a wedding! DJ playing your song? Jump up and bust those moves on the dance floor. Single ladies…you know you want that bouquet. Go get it! Make song requests, leave a video message for the couple, grab the mic and tell a joke about the couple (appropriate ones, I beg, we don’t want grandma “hearing things”), get interactive and mingle with other guests!

Go on now. Have fun at the next wedding you’re going to. Feel free to leave tips and comments on being an ideal wedding guest.

Remember, we’re still accepting articles and posts for our Twirly Tuesdays so if you have anything at all you want to write about, shoot us an email at info@thepurpletwirl.com.