Weddings are joyful occasions. For the betrothed, they are a celebration of mutual love, respect and shared values. As a guest, the wedding day is a chance to meet new people, drink prosecco, connect with that cousin you haven’t seen in 18 years and dance, with alcohol-fuelled abandon, to hits from the 80s and 90s.

However, before the couple can reach a state of wedding bliss, there are months, if not years, of planning involved, plus a significant financial commitment to be made. It’s no surprise, therefore, that both the build up to the wedding and the big day itself can be fraught with tension and disagreements and even the most etiquette savvy can unwittingly commit a blunder that will see them stricken from the guest list the next time wedding bells ring. So here’s the top six wedding faux pas, in reverse order…

#6 – Are You Coming or Not?

‘Are you coming or not?’

Believe it or not the most oft repeated irritation, that couples planning a wedding relate, is guests failing to RSVP. It’s easily done after all. You receive the invitation through the post and after the initial ‘Ooh, how lovely! I must buy a new hat,’ thoughts have gone through your head, the beautiful, embossed ivory card is given pride of place upon the mantelpiece and promptly forgotten all about until 6 weeks before the wedding. At which point you receive a decidedly curt text from the bride asking whether you will or will not be gracing her wedding with your presence.

Whilst it is proper etiquette to send a written note, an email, or even a text, is better than no response at all and many couples helpfully provide a wedding website where, amongst directions to the venue, menu options and links for hotels, there is usually also an RSVP button. Consequently, this wedding related pitfall is easily avoidable provided, when the invitation arrives, you don’t file it in the ‘putting-it-off-for-another-day’ pile.