honeymoon

Whether you’re attending a destination beach wedding or planning your own, there are a few beach wedding faux pas you should know about before the big occasion.

Destination beach weddings are a lot like regular weddings, but some of the etiquette that is expected differs from a traditional, local wedding. Whether you’re planning your own destination beach wedding or you will be attending someone else’s, it never hurts to know some basic etiquette before you show up for the big event!

Here are three things you should avoid at a destination beach wedding:

Dissing the food or culture—Wherever the destination beach wedding is taking place, it’s important to be culturally aware. Depending on where the wedding is, you might find yourself in an entirely different world than what you’re used to. Whether the food, language, or clothing is foreign to you, be respectful and do a little research before you attend the event. Dissing the food or the culture while you’re there is not only rude, but it also reflects poorly on the bride and groom.

Lingering too long—If you’re traveling a very far distance to get to a destination beach wedding, chances are you’re planning on staying for a few days. If this is the case, just be sure not to linger too long around the bride and groom. You can stay as long as you’d like, but remember that the destination is also the bride and groom’s honeymoon spot, so be careful not to crowd them during your visit.

Asking for help with expenses—Another faux pas you should steer clear of is asking for help with expenses during or before your travels. Unless the bride and groom specifically offer, they are not required to help you pay for any part of your destination beach wedding travel expenses. This also goes for the bride and the groom. Other than your parents or family members helping you pay for the wedding expenses, it’s considered poor etiquette to request financial help in the invitations or otherwise. Keep this in mind when you attend or plan a destination beach wedding.