5 Things I’d Never Do as a Houston Wedding Guest (Now That I Own a Venue)
Photos by Always Photogenic Photography
Running a wedding venue brings things into perspective. From the moment you give a tour to a prospective couple to the moment they make their getaway after they say ‘I do’, you get to see it all. Having had hundreds of parties through Brandt 1910, our vintage venue just outside Fulshear, I've witnessed the very best of wedding guest etiquette—and a few moments that left me blushing. The truth is, most of the guests have wonderful intentions, but some end up unwittingly creating uncomfortable moments for couples, vendors, and venue professionals.
If you are invited to a wedding, particularly here in the Houston community, where weddings are often grand events, these insider tips could have you as the guest every couple wishes they had. Your role, after all, as a guest is to celebrate love and help make the fairy-tale day the couple has dreamed about come true.
1. Don't Wear White, Cream, or Even Blush to a Wedding
This is a simple rule, but I'm amazed how often it happens. Just this past spring, a guest visited Brandt 1910 wearing a flowing cream-colored wedding guest dress that, from behind, looked nearly the same as the bride's wedding dress. That awkward moment during cocktail hour when they stood standing together? One that everybody will never forget for all the wrong reasons.
Sealy and Fulshear brides prefer to choose unique, stunning dresses that will be the focus of attention. It may be an old-fashioned ivory ball gown or a modern blush-colored dress, but your job as a guest is to let them take center stage in all their glory. Even fairly "safe" colors like champagne, nude, or off-white can look pretty close to bride attire in photos.
The best Texas wedding guest style? Choose rich jewel tones, classic navy, or bold floral that pay respect to the season. Your fashion should complement the celebration, not steal the spotlight from the guest of honor.
2. Don't Show Up Super Early or Super Late
Timing is more crucial for weddings than most wedding guests realize. Arriving at your destination too early means you'll likely walk into a pandemonium of last-minute preparation. I've seen guests accidentally disrupt final dress fittings, makeup touch-ups, or private family moments better left undisclosed.
In intimate venues such as ours, early guests can be especially intrusive. Those last few precious moments are often used by the couple and wedding party for silent preparation, and surprise visitors can create unnecessary tension on an already charged occasion.
On the other hand, tardy guests create their own problems. There is nothing that can destroy a ceremony like guests ambling in on vows, and tardy guests become part of wedding photos by default. Schedules at venues in Texas are especially close with regard to conditions like afternoons of heat and golden hour sun for photos. When the schedule becomes off, it cascades into everything from vendor coordination to the couple's planned schedule.
Plan to arrive approximately 15 minutes before ceremony time. This gives you a nice buffer without invading the couple's setup time.
Pro Tip for Brides:
Make sure and put language on the event invitation that indicates when the actual ceremony starts. Something like, “Ceremony begins promptly at 5 PM”. You could also schedule a mass text or email to your guest list with the reminder and parking directions.
Don't Assume You Can Bring a Plus-One or Your Kids
Guest counts aren't a recommendation; it's budget, seating charts, catering orders, and space in the venue. Every wedding invitation is precisely planned, and bringing uninvited guests causes a cascade of inconvenience.
Houston area venues like Brandt 1910 typically have fixed layouts according to exact headcounts. When guest numbers change unexpectedly, it may affect anything from table arrangement to dancing room. The bride and groom likely spent months negotiating these elements to a perfect "just so". You might be left without a chair or even a plate of food.
If your invitation doesn't specifically mention a plus-one or children, assume they're not included. When in doubt, reach out to the couple directly rather than making assumptions. They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness in asking.
3. Don't Post Wedding Day Photos Before the Couple Does
Social media has created a new generation of wedding guest faux pas. Most couples want to control how their wedding day is shared, especially their first photos as wedded couples. Some want to hold back on some of their moments, while others want the surprise of sharing their own beautifully posed photographs first.
I've witnessed brides and grooms crestfallen when their wedding photos were shared on social media even before they laid eyes on them. One helpful tip: post the couple's first if you didn't hire the photographer. Let them upload their initial set first, and then share your own recollections, tagging them appropriately. Most couples appreciate guest photos as a secondary way to look at their special day, timing is just everything.
4. Don't Make the Venue a Free-for-All
I suppose that nothing astonishes me more than guests who walk into places obviously marked as private or off-limits. I've found bridesmaid wedding guests in bridal suites, storage rooms, employee prep rooms, and even reserved private family rooms.
Every area of a wedding location is deliberately planned. Areas backstage contain critical gear, personal effects, or risks that should not be allowed to guests. When a person wanders into the wrong area, it may disturb expertly planned logistics or create safety hazards.
The quality guests honor our territory as if they were guests in someone's beloved home or upscale shopping store, because historically, that's exactly what Brandt 1910 once was. Built in 1910 as a general store and later as a pharmacy, our building has always served as a shared-space gathering place. Considerate guests maintain that cozy energy while allowing employees the freedom to function effectively behind the scenes.
Please keep within allocated guest areas, and if you're ever in doubt, please ask a venue coordinator instead of venturing on your own.
5. Your Presence Makes the Celebration Complete
Most wedding guests are truly wonderful. They show up on time, dress with care, honor boundaries, and add to the celebratory energy that makes weddings so enchanting. These little etiquette details ensure that each couple's day goes exactly as planned.
If you are hosting a wedding in the Houston, Katy, or Fulshear region, by all means, remind your family and friends of wedding guest etiquette. Most people just want to do the right thing, they just need to be reminded of how to do so.
The couples who celebrate at Brandt 1910 always share with us that their favorite part was being fully supported and celebrated by their guests. When they all know their part in making magic happen, the outcome is a wedding day that tops every expectation.
Ready to start planning your celebration?
We'd love to share more real wedding tales and planning advice with you. Follow Brandt 1910 for behind-the-scenes glimpses of Houston area weddings and get a glimpse of how our historic space could be the perfect backdrop for your love story.
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(979) 217-1772
info@brandt1910.com
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