I have already received the first invitation to this season's wedding. How about you? Every time I receive an invitation to a wedding, I go over in my head what the new couple expects from me and what are the responsibilities that I have to fulfill as a guest.

In preparation for this year's wedding season, LĪGAVĀM reminds us of the things that wedding guests should definitely consider.

If you don't come - let me know the time

Wedding decorator Iluta Piternika /  MintDeco believes that when organizing a wedding, advice should be given not only to the newlyweds, but also to the guests. She has observed a lot in her professional experience, including mistakes and things that should not be allowed.

Iluta Piternika has observed that all invited guests arrive at only a few weddings. "If the guests announced their non-arrival within the deadlines indicated in the invitations, then it would be correct in relation to the new couple.

But the reality is a little different. In reality, guests tend to announce their absence a week before the wedding, the night before or even on the day of the wedding, they whisper in the host's ear - we will not be at the celebratory dinner. If it is, for example, a family of four, then the guest tables will be empty, and at the last moment you will have to transfer guests from one table to another, correct beautifully prepared and already printed guest seating plans. It should be taken into account that the seating plans in a uniform wedding style are prepared a week or even two before the wedding, so the announcement of not coming to the wedding celebration the night before is very late," says Iluta.

It will also be unnecessary and not a small expense for the young couple. "The cost of one guest in solid wedding parties can be as much as 100-150 euros. If the whole family does not come, then it is a big cost. No caterer or celebration venue will give the new couple a discount at the expense of non-arriving guests, because the caterer has already provided the products, the celebration venue has calculated the anticipated workload," reminds Iluta.

Also MintDeco recommends:

• Respect the wishes of the young couple in the invitations. For example, don't come to a wedding with red roses if you've been asked to give white flowers. If in the invitation the young couple asks not to give flowers at all, then this should be taken into account, and you should not come with a bouquet of flowers.
• If you are asked to leave your babies at home on the wedding night, then it would not be correct to come with children without separate coordination with the new couple.
• Ja esat aicināts uz kāzām viens, bet īsi pirms gaidāmā notikuma pamanījies iemīlēties brīnišķīgā cilvēkā, tad bez saskaņošanas ar jauno pāri šo cilvēku uz kāzām aicināt nedrīkst – mēdz būt situācijas, kad nav kur nosēdināt vai izguldīt arī vienu papildus cilvēku, pie tam ne visi pāri vēlas, lai viņu kāzās būtu kāds pilnīgi svešs cilvēks.

Also take into account:

• If a couple asks not to use mobile phones during the wedding ceremony or celebration and not to publish their wedding moments on social networks, it should be respected and not acted against the request.
• Never, never, never publish a picture of the bride from the wedding day before her acceptance, especially for the bridesmaids, who often see the future wife before the groom himself. He really wouldn't want to see his bride for the first time on the wedding day Instagram , not in real life.
• When you see the seating plan and are not satisfied with your seat, do not make any seat changes without the acceptance of the organizer or the couple themselves. The couple have taken the time and energy to create a seating plan for their guests and know exactly why you need to sit at a particular table. The organizers of the wedding say that the self-action of the guests, changing the arrangement of the seats, even created situations when conflicts arose or even the bride cried.
• Using your mobile phone during the wedding ceremony not only to capture the event, but also to check your social media profiles or reply to messages is the worst thing you can do. A wedding ceremony is a moment when you should put everything aside and enjoy the fact that you are allowed to be present in such an important event for these two people.
• If the couple has made a special request for gifts or even created a list of potential gifts, then you should follow it and choose something from this list for your congratulations.
• Clothes, clothes, clothes - again and again it is worth thinking about what to wear on the special occasion. You can definitely leave white dresses at home, just like overly bright clothes. It is worth remembering - on this day you should only be the background, without overshadowing the most beautiful foreground - the bride.

PHOTO: ANDRIS SPROGIS, EINĀARS FREIMANIS , ELĆA UPMANE , LINDA LAUVA , REINIS MELIORANSKIS