A wedding - one of life’s happiest occasions - for both the happy couple and the guests attending. Or is it? A new survey by leading high street jewellers, Goldsmiths, has revealed some of the most awkward etiquette issues when it comes to planning, and attending, the big day.
With more than a third (39%) of those questioned being outraged at the thought of being invited to a hen/stag do abroad when the wedding is also overseas, 75% wanting to pick out their own engagement ring, and almost a fifth of singletons being disappointed if they don’t get a ‘plus one’ to the wedding - we get to the bottom of the perfect engagement and wedding etiquette to create a conflict-free day!
Despite over half (58%) of brides questioned admitting they would be disappointed if they had politely requested money and received a gift from a guest instead, the research revealed that almost a fifth of guests are annoyed if the invite specifies they give a monetary gift.
Other major bug bears for wedding guests include:
Being invited to a hen/stag do and wedding abroad (39%)
Screaming children (36%)
Drunken relatives (34%)
Inconvenient location (29%)
Long and cringeworthy speeches (29%)
Long ceremony (26%)
Long waits for food (25%)
Not receiving a plus one when invited (22%)
Being asked for money for the wedding gift (17%)
When a wedding falls on a weekday (13%)
Spending money on attending a wedding is also on the rise, with the average wedding guest spending £217 on the big day when they tot up the outfit, gift and accommodation, while 12% of those questioned even confirmed they spend a staggering £500 on their role as a wedding guest.
In fact, it seems we are a fairly generous nation, with the average wedding guest spending a lavish £74.12 on a gift for the lucky couple.
Craig Bolton, Executive Director at Goldsmiths, comments: ‘It’s fascinating to get an insight into the UK’s thoughts around what is right and wrong when it comes to wedding celebrations – especially when it’s so important for things to run smoothly on the big day. Brides-to-be being more impressed with quality than quantity when it comes to the stone in their engagement ring was a particular shock for us – but it’s brilliant that people are openly discussing what they are looking for in their ideal ring.
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