You've been invited to a Wedding

The colourful card says it all. You've been invited to a wedding. You're pleased that someone made a special effort to invite you. But what if you're not sure on whether to attend the event? Or what do you do in case you're busy on the scheduled date? Here are some tips and suggestions-.

• If you really don't want to attend the wedding: don't go. If you are not a close friend of the bride or the groom or if you feel it isn't that important a relationship, why not free up your spot for another guest?
  

• If you do not plan to attend the wedding, notify the couple as soon as possible. If you do not attend the wedding, you are not expected to send a gift, but it would certainly be appreciated if you did. Or perhaps you can send a card with your best wishes to the bride and groom.
  

• If you do plan to attend the wedding: notify the couple as soon as possible. Your prompt reply will help them plan their events.
  

• Can I bring my guest? Weddings are expensive affairs. Each additional guest means additional cost to the hosts, and while in some cases that might be as little as an additional Rs. 200-300 per guest, sometimes it could be upto Rs. 1000 (or even more!)

• Look closely at the envelope of the invitation. To whom is it addressed? If it is addressed only to you, it is obvious that your hosts expect you to attend the wedding alone. At the same time it might be a little boring to attend a wedding all alone. As the wedding date approaches, you can ask the couple if other common friends have been invited. It would be a good idea to then arrive at the celebration alongwith the friends.

Being a good guest isn't really very hard. And you should be especially sensitive to the feelings of the 'couple'. Remember that a couple's wedding is first and foremost 'their day', and a very special day for their families. They would like you to have a good time, but the event is not organised to 'indulge' you. So put the couple's happiness ahead of your own. The couple and their families have honored you by inviting you to the wedding: return the favor by following simple rules of courtesy and sensitivity.