Some girl dreams of the perfect fairy tale wedding and how everything will go off without a hitch, riding off into the sunset with Prince Charming.
Sometimes, however, if the guests aren't familiar with proper etiquette, this picture perfect wedding could be ruined in a matter of seconds.
"I was at a friend's wedding when someone stood up in the middle of the ceremony and said, 'I love you guys. Ya'll are great together,'" said Willis McKee, senior in political science.
While the intentions may have been the best from this loud-mouthed guest, these are the type of things that tend to dampen the day for the bride and groom.
Nonetheless, with a few tips from wedding experts, even the most clueless of guys can be ready to charm his way through this year's wedding season.
The first thing to remember after receiving an invite is to RSVP, regardless if you will be attending or not.
"It is very, very important, even if it seems old fashioned, for you to RSVP," said Whitney Phillips, catering sales manager at Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. "Out of respect to the bride and groom and their planning of financial and space budgets, you can't forget to do this."
When a RSVP is sent, it is also important to note how many people will be attending.
However, Phillips notes that it is only proper to bring a guest if the invitation allows for one.
"If you were addressed as Mr. John Smith, then you can't bring a guest," Phillips said. "However, if the envelope says Mr. John Smith and guest then you can bring a guest."
Phillips also said that while it is ultimately up to the bride and groom, etiquette on their part suggests, if you are single, then you should be able to bring a guest.
The next thing to consider after receiving an invitation is the gift.
Tom White, store manager at Bed Bath and Beyond, said gifts are not optional and that if you receive an invite you should bring a gift.
However, he believes the cost of the gift is negotiable.
"You should base your spending upon how well you know that person," White said.
Phillips said a general minimum of $50 should be spent.
Both Phillips and White agreed, with the ability to order gifts from registries online, there is no excuse not to get a gift.
"With technology the way it is, it's so simple," Phillips said. "Most boys' excuses of not wanting to go to the store is now null and void because you can do everything on the computer, have it gift wrapped and delivered to their home without ever stepping foot in the store. Technology is definitely on the boys' side for this one."
After sending the RSVP and buying the gift, figuring out what to wear is the next big step.
"The time of ceremony and the season dictates a lot," Phillips said. "If the wedding is before 4 p.m., you should wear a tie but not necessarily a coat. After 4 p.m., you should traditionally wear a coat and, depending on the specifications of the invitation, possibly even a tuxedo."
Next, for the ceremony and reception, it's always good to enjoy oneself and celebrate with the bride and groom, but there is a fine line between celebrating and over-doing it. "Be polite," Phillips said. "Just because there may be an open bar doesn't mean you have to drink as much as you can. Remember you aren't the one paying. Try to keep it to a one or two drink per hour limit."
The final piece of advice that Phillips offers is to be respectful of the bride and groom on their wedding night.
"At a recent wedding, the groomsmen tried to release crickets in the bride and groom's suite so they'd stay up all night," Phillips said with a laugh.
Luckily for the bride and groom, Phillips and her event staff were able to foil the plot before it was carried out.
However, the wedding planner can't always be relied on to save the day, so it's important everyone try and adhere to wedding etiquette to make this special day as good as possible for the couple involved.
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