Top Ten Things Not to Do at a Wedding

Photo by Matthew Essman on Unsplash

I was able to go back into the archives and found the third installment of Top Ten Things Not to Do authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me.  This one was from July 2013. Since we are coming into the wedding season, I hope you enjoy these. You will note, in the beginning, the lists were straightforward.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at a Wedding

10 If you are in the wedding party, do not take off your clothes, no matter what the circumstances may dictate or what you think the circumstances are dictating.

9  If you are not in the wedding party, see number 10.

8  If you are the best man or maid of honor, do not cry when you describe your love for the bride or groom in your toast, and eliminate the word “amazing” from your speech.

7  Do not try to set an all-time personal record in the number and kinds of drinks you intake simply because they are free.

6  If you do set an all-time personal record of kind and number of drinks, do not ask the bride or groom for a kiss or worse, for a date. (Same goes for the best man and maid of honor.)

5  If you are not in the wedding party, do not offer a toast even if several of your friends are clapping and saying your name, followed by the chant “toast, toast, toast.”

4  If you brought a wedding gift to the reception, do not take it home, no matter what.

3  Do not pretend to be someone else or use a made-up name when you are introduced to others, even if you may never see these people again, and you think it is so funny.

2  If you came with a date to the wedding, do not go home with someone else.

1. When you leave the reception, do not thank the bride and groom’s parents with a big juicy kiss

65 comments

  1. Jaye Marie & Anita Dawes's avatar

    I have been to quite a few weddings, and I have see some behaviour that would make even you cringe, John…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I think we all have. Thanks, Jaye.

      Like

  2. Ritish Sharma's avatar

    Haha, this list is gold 😂 #5 had me laughing out loud. Thanks for digging this up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’m glad you got a laugh, Ritish. Sometimes laughs are precious gifts. 😊

      Like

  3. GP's avatar

    This are ALL valid suggestions, in fact they should be mandatory!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Nail the list to the church door sounds about right. Thanks, GP. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. GP's avatar

        😀👍

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    10 and 9 brings up many questions and now of them are sanitary.

    Like

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I was a witness to a bunch of wedding guests stripping and jumping into the hotel pool. Had no idea what started an idiot idea like that.

      Like

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I know right?

          Like

  5. coldhandboyack's avatar

    Easy to read and understand. Not so easy to execute.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      That is the problem with all rules, it seems.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Teri Polen's avatar

    I’m going to print this list and give it out to all guests at Son #1’s reception in September!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I would just leave a pile of them at the entrance. More offical that way.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. lois's avatar

    #4–😂 **They won’t miss this.** This list is perfect. Now if some people would only read it…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Ha ha ha. Yes, that would be great.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar

    Bwahahahaha! No. 9 especially cracked me up. Too funny.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thank you, Monika. Always like to hear that you got a laugh.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar

        Your Top Ten lists always make me smile.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Kymber @booomcha's avatar

    This is a great list to follow, for sure! Thanks for the laughs this morning.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Always lovely to hear you got some. Thanks, Kymber.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Author Jan Sikes's avatar

    Having just attended a wedding on Saturday in Austin, I could agree with this list. 🙂 And by, the way, I saw the sign for Lakeway on our way out of town!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      So you know it is a real place. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Author Jan Sikes's avatar

        Yes, it’s real!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

    Great advice list, John! Yes, indeed, do not be an Alpha Hotel!

    Like

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Thanks, Tim. I was going to ask what an Alpha Hotel was, but it came to me. Yes good advice. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. T. W. Dittmer's avatar

        Yeah, I revert to the military alphabet phonetics often, John. 😎 Many times I’ve said “Bravo Sierra” at some government movement.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I can identify with that. There are some real Sierra, Oscar, Bravo’s in the government.

          Liked by 1 person

  12. shoreacres's avatar

    I love #8, particularly “eliminate the word “amazing” from your speech.” Perhaps “awesome” could be added, just to bring the advice up to date.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Awesome is a good one.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Rebecca Cuningham's avatar

    These had my imagination going, John. Could be a rom com movie script called Kiss the Bride (Not You!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Ha ha ha.Good one, Rebecca.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Jacqui Murray's avatar

    Boy these are great tips. A lot of people need to read this list.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Or just make more fodder for more lists.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Dan Antion's avatar

    12 years old, but still valid, John.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Seems just like yesterday

      Like

  16. petespringer's avatar
    petespringerauthor · · Reply

    #2—ouch! I don’t know if that’s more funny or sad.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I’ll go for funny. Thanks, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. thomasstigwikman's avatar

    I can add one more #11. If you are the best man don’t forget your suit. The best man wearing shorts and a t-shirt just isn’t classy enough. Our younger son was the best man for our oldest son and he did just that. They rushed to go and rent him a suit right before the wedding.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      That is funny. Kids are like that for sure.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. thomasstigwikman's avatar

    Well suit, I meant tuxedo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I assumed such.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. noelleg44's avatar

    Every wedding guest should have this list. Along with;

    If you are an older wedding guest, do not decide to show off your moves on the dance floor.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      There you go. Nothing like an old guy doing the Macarena to send folks to the exits.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Stevie Turner's avatar

    Wise words, John. My hairdresser told me that when her daughter got married, the reception ended up in one big fist fight!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Ha ha ha. Was it in Liverpool?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Stevie Turner's avatar

        No, in Suffolk.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          Lotta drinks I’ll bet.

          Liked by 1 person

        2. Stevie Turner's avatar

          Probably, although I think one side hated the other side.

          Liked by 1 person

        3. John W. Howell's avatar

          Yeah, that is a good reason.

          Liked by 1 person

  21. Ankur Mithal's avatar

    Simple, basic, universal. Just like lists should be. Takes out the ‘different culture’ excuse. I mean, read no. 10, or 4. Or 7, or 2…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Yes. We are all human after all.

      Like

      1. Ankur Mithal's avatar

        Though sometimes I question that contention, I think I know what you mean.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I’ll take it down a notch. We are all mammals after all. 😀

          Like

  22. Andrew Joyce's avatar

    I disagree strongly with #7.

    Like

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I can see your point. How about, “Don’t try to resist drinking everything in sight, cause it’s free.”

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Jennie's avatar

    I haven’t been to a wedding where someone tried to take their clothes off. Gee, I’ve missed all the fun.😅

    Liked by 1 person

    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I think maybe you left the receptions before the skinny dipping began.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. John W. Howell's avatar

          I know. 😀

          Liked by 1 person

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