48 Of The Worst Wedding Moments That Guests Can’t Believe Actually Happened

What's a wedding without some drama? From flowers wilting to people being arrested, nothing is off-limits. But as a guest, you can do your part to minimize the amount of chaos that happens at someone else's nuptials. Besides the obvious things, like not getting drunk and falling all over, there are a few other important etiquette rules guests should follow.

Th first might come as a surprise to some, but wedding planning experts say it's actually rude to arrive too early. By too early, we mean earlier than 30 minutes before the ceremony. That's because everything might not yet be in place, and interrupting the final touches can cause uneccessary stress.

"It's better to wait in your car than go into the venue and risk stressing out the bride by seeing her before the ceremony," says Holly Patton Olsen, the founder of Perfectly Posh Events.

The same applies to arriving too late. According to Brand Hamerstone, the owner of All Events Planned, the general rule of thumb is that 10 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin. "Walking in as the bride (or groom) is walking down the aisle in incredibly rude and ruins video and photos that are being taken," explains Hamerstone.

If you do happen to arrive a bit late, you should try to be an invisible as possible and not make a scene. Slip in quietly from the back and remain standing near the entrance until there is a natural pause. Or, if you can, take an empty seat in the very back row.

We've seen our fair share of stories about guests wearing white to a wedding, or even worse, wearing their old wedding gown. That's an obvious no-no. But so is dressing like the bridesmaids. Obviously, you might not know that the bridal party will be wearing. So if you rock up in a similar outfit, then you can't really be blamed.

However, if you are privy to the bridesmaids' color palette, you should steer clear of it. Basically, avoid looking like you're a member of the wedding party. And no, wearing the same dress as the bridesmaids but in a different color is also not okay.

No matter how eager you are to be the next in line to get married, control yourself during the bridal bouquet toss. Remember, you're a polite guest, not a star athlete.

"You don't want to appear overly eager, nor do you want to come across as if you are catching a pass on the football field," warns etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, the founder of The Protocol School of Texas. "Allow the bouquet to land naturally in the direction which it is tossed, without any pushing or shoving — for the sake of appearance and civility."

If things go wrong at a wedding, which they often inevitably do, it's not your job to go running to the bride or groom. They have enough on their plate as it is. If something's really bothering you, or is a major issue, rather inform the wedding planner or venue staff.

"If something's gone wrong during the wedding, do not point it out to the couple or their immediate family members. You don't want to add any stress or frustration during the big day," says Josh Spiegel, Creative Director and President of Birch Event Design.

If a big drama, crisis, or family emergency happens at a wedding, it's really none of your business. Stay in your lane, resist the urge to pry, gossip, or approach the bride and groom for updates. And it goes without saying that you should not take your phone out to record or photograph whatever disaster is going down so that you can share it or post it online. Be the better person and maintain the couple's privacy.