Ain't Nobody Fresher Than My Clique: Groomsmen John and Lyncoln taking flicks during the Royall Union

Chances are you or someone you know is heading to a wedding this weekend. Check out these six (plus a bonus) painless Triple B approved tips to ensure that you and the couple of the day have an awesome time.

1 – Do RSVP. Pay attention to the deadline on the invitation. In fact, if you know your reply, pop it in the mail right away. And this nonsense about Black people not RSVPing is just that: nonsense. Let’s do better, folks.

2 – Don’t assume you can bring a date. Unless your invitation says “and guest”, only you should be attending. And no, don’t contact the couple or their parents to ask if you can bring a date, either. If it were in their budget, the extra invitation would have been extended.

3 – Stick to their registry unless you plan to give money. Prior to planning my own nuptials, I was guilty of getting creative and buying gifts that weren’t on a couple’s registry because they were “cool” or different”. Now I know that ish is annoying. Couples spend tons of time choosing the items on their registry—and they picked ‘em because they plan on actually using them. You can be creative in your card.

4 – Don’t bring a large gift to the wedding. Save the couple that trouble of getting a blender home in the midst of a bunch of other post-wedding responsibilities by shipping your gift directly to their destination of choice.

5 – Dress the part. You don’t want to be underdressed for any wedding. Dress for the venue and follow any instructions given by the couple. And unless you are specially asked to do so, avoid wearing white.

6 – Don’t abuse the open bar. Look, if you know that you can hold your liquor — knock yourself out. But if you’re a lightweight, stick to one or two cocktails or just a couple glasses of wine less you end up giving the bride’s Uncle Rufus a lapdance in the middle of the dancefloor. (Yikes!)

*BONUS* – This might seem like a no-brainer but simply try to enjoy yourself. Congratulate the couple — sincerely — and if it isn’t sincere you shouldn’t be there. Introduce yourself to their parents and siblings. Take the photo booth pictures. Do The Wobble. Find out what their wishes are for social media and abide accordingly. Many brides and grooms have an irrational fear of their guests not having a good time on their wedding day. Give them some peace of mind.

What is your fave wedding memory as a guest? Let me know in the comments.

Ahem (clearing throat) – I’ll start. I have two — other than my own of course. One is definitely doing the Electric Slide with Oprah Winfrey at my friends C and J’s Caribbean wedding reception. The Queen of all Media was nervous that she might not have been doing it right and turned to myself and a few other guests for direction. Yep, that really happened. The next is my friends Mo and L’s Baltimore nuptials. Their first dance was to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “You’re All I Need” soulful classic but midway through they switched it up to the Method Man and Mary J. Blige version. My girl Mo had said for years that the latter would be her wedding song. To witness her dream realized was a beautiful sight. Me and the rest of our crew were crying and cheering hysterically on the dancefloor right along with the newlyweds.