15 Wedding Guest Dos and Don'ts

Pay attention to the deadline on the invitation. In fact, if you know your reply, pop it in the mail as soon as possible.

Unless it says "and guest" on the invitation, only you should be attending. And no, DON'T call the bride and ask if you can bring a date, either. If it were in their budget, the bride and groom would've extended the extra invitation.

Couples spend tons of time choosing the items on their registry - and they picked 'em because they plan on actually using them, says Carley Roney of The Knot (http://www.theknot.com). So do them and yourself a favor and buy from the registry. To make your gift seem more personal, buy it early, when there's more of a selection to choose from. Otherwise, you might indeed end up having to spring for the garlic press, dish towel and rolling pin combo.

Between taking down the decorations, remembering to hand out vendor tips and saying goodbye to all their guests, the last thing the bride and groom - and their families - need to worry about at the end of the reception is figuring out how to fit all their gifts in the car. Save them the trouble by shipping yours directly to their home.

True fact: Weddings tend to run late. But that doesn't mean you should. Plan to be at the ceremony 20 to 30 minutes early, says Azure Nelson of OneWed.com (http://www.onewed.com).

As much as everyone loves a random ringtone outburst of "Never Gonna Give You Up," don't ruin the couple's big day by interrupting their vows with Rick Astley - or anything else.

You don't want to be underdressed for the wedding. Even if it's casual, always wear a dress, skirt or suit. Dress for the venue, but follow instructions from the bride and groom, advises Roney.

This one should go without saying, but just in case, we'll repeat: Who wants to be that girl? You've got a million color combinations to choose from; you don't need to wear white. Oh, and stay away from the light ivories, too.

He or she needs to capture those life-changing moments, says Brooklyn Bride's (http://bklynbrideonline.com) Vane Broussard. It won't be the same if your head is in the way, so pay attention, and above all, resist the urge to photo-bomb.

Even if you've never met the couple's parents, seek them out to introduce yourself, thank them and tell them how much you enjoyed the wedding. Note: This one is particularly important if there isn't a receiving line.