Wedding Guest Survival Guide

We make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK - we don't sell toasters, so nothing below is us pushing a gift list. It is what UK couples actually ask for, plus the card that goes with it.

A wedding is a twelve-hour day in shoes you don't normally wear, with people you half know. A bit of planning makes it genuinely enjoyable.

This is the practical version - the stuff nobody puts on the invitation.

Before the day

• RSVP by the date, not the week after. Caterers charge per head and the couple is chasing.
• Declare dietary needs honestly and early, and don't add extras on the day.
• Check the dress code and the venue. Grass and stiletto heels are a losing combination.
• Send the gift to their house beforehand so you're not carrying a parcel through a ceremony.

What to pack

• Flat shoes in a bag, plasters, painkillers and a phone charger.
• Cash for a bar, a taxi or a collection - some rural venues still have patchy card signal.
• A jacket or pashmina. British marquees are cold from about nine o'clock onwards.
• The card, signed, with your name inside as well as on the envelope.

On the day

• Arrive thirty minutes before the ceremony time, not at it.
• Phones away during the ceremony. The photographer is paid for; your raised arm ruins their shot.
• Pace the drinking through the reception. The speeches are the halfway point, not the finish line.
• Talk to the people either side of you at dinner, even if you came with someone.

Small talk that works

• "How do you know the couple?" never fails and always produces a story.
• Ask the parents how the morning went - they've been up since five and nobody has asked them anything.
• Compliment something specific: the readings, the cake, the venue, the music.
• Leave quietly near the end rather than doing a lap of goodbyes at 1am.

Browse wedding cards

How to write it so it lands

• Flat shoes in a bag. Always.
• Sign the card before you leave home.
• Talk to the parents - nobody else has.

Where to shop next

• Wedding gift ideas
• Wedding favour ideas
• Wedding gift etiquette
• Honeymoon fund etiquette
• Gifts for the couple who have everything
• How much to give for a wedding gift
• Wedding speech one-liners
• Wedding anniversary years and gifts
• All guides
• Hen party decorations
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to a wedding as a guest?

A signed card, flat shoes, plasters, a jacket, some cash and a charged phone. Send the gift to the couple's home beforehand.

How early should you arrive at a wedding?

Around 30 minutes before the stated ceremony time.

Can I take photos during the ceremony?

Only if the couple has said so. Most now ask for an unplugged ceremony so the paid photographer gets a clean shot.