As a wedding planner or a past bride or groom, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of being bombarded with questions that were clearly answered on the wedding website. It’s a struggle to maintain composure and not just snap, ‘JUST LOOK AT THE WEDDING WEBSITE’ at every guest who asks these repetitive questions. But why is this such a significant issue, and how can we prevent adding to the couple’s stress as their big day approaches?
The Bride and Groom Have Enough Going On
I will never understand this, no matter how long I have been in the wedding industry — why do people feel the need to ask the bride and groom questions answered on the invitation and wedding website, especially when we are two weeks or less out from the wedding date?
You may think, ‘Sheesh, Jess, it’s not a big deal! Just answer the question.’ However – here’s the thing. Weddings result from months of hard work, stress, and an endless list of tiny details that frequently feel overwhelming and unmanageable. The last thing a couple needs from their guests is to be pulled from their daily lives as they wrap up wedding planning — trust me, they’re talking to me enough as it is — to answer questions that are easily findable on the invitation and wedding website, which have been shared multiple times by that point.
This is arguably one of the things I see stressing my brides out the most. I truly cannot convey to a wedding guest the importance of reviewing the invitation and wedding website in their entirety before picking up the phone and sending that text. It’s a text to you, but it could be the catalyst for a downward spiral manic moment that the bride certainly didn’t ask for. Please don’t be this person!
Wedding Websites Take A Ton of Thought, Planning, + Effort
Brides and planners take specific care in building the wedding website and masterminding exactly what they want it to say. Please take the time to read through and make sure your question hasn’t already been answered. On rare occasions, it hasn’t. That’s totally fine! Thank you for letting the bride know that some helpful information is missing. However, the big items like time, place, lodging, attire, etc., have been answered, and you should have what you need!
It’s Not About You
Wedding websites and invitations contain only the most important information regarding the wedding events. If the wedding website says formal attire, please do not ask if cocktail attire is acceptable. If the website says the event is child-free, please do not ask to bring your kids. Not only are you creating situations where the couple must feel awkward advocating for their decisions regarding their wedding day, but you are also undermining the couple in general. You do not need to understand nor agree with the decisions they have made for their wedding. You just need to accept them and plan accordingly should you wish to attend. After all, it is their special day, and they’ve decided to include you in their celebration. That’s all that matters!