62 Wedding Guests Who Somehow Made Someone Else’s Big Day About Themselves

Setting boundaries early is only half the battle — managing your own expectations is just as critical. When dealing with notoriously difficult friends or family members, expecting them to suddenly transform into polite guests just because you’re wearing a wedding dress is foolish.

“We get into mental, emotional, and financial trouble when we have unrealistic expectations of people. You need to be able to accept people for who they are, and where they are, and govern yourself accordingly,” says Danielle L. Moore, a mental health therapist at Refresh Wellness Center.

Once you state what you need, their reaction will tell you everything you need to know about how much responsibility — or access — they should be given on your big day.

A wedding is, first and foremost, a special day for the couple getting married. It is not an opportunity for a guest to act like a freeloader or an attention-seeker. If you are invited to a wedding and feel even the slightest urge to demand a plus-one, complain about the food, or propose to your partner on the dance floor, stop right there. Wait for your turn. Do not try to become the main character in someone else’s story.

Next time you RSVP to a celebration, remember the stories on this list… be the guest who brings joy, and leave the drama to professional actors.