As I plan my wedding for next year, there are a million things that have to be planned, done, and paid for. I can now say that I fully understand why some brides are called "bridezillas" and sometimes, guests don't make that any easier. As a soon-to-be-bride, here are 10 things you need to know if you're attending a wedding as a guest any time soon.

1. We cannot always accommodate your plus one.

Most venues have a capacity limit and if you're like us, we chose a wedding package that only accommodated a set amount of people and if we choose to go past that set amount, it's an additional cost. And by additional cost, I mean $590. We're trying our best to make everyone happy, but we also want our family and close friends to be a priority. If you tell me a week before the wedding that you're bringing someone with you, there will probably be an issue. And, I'm speaking on behalf of ALL brides and grooms, please DO NOT just bring whoever you want without informing us. If you want them to have a chair and food to eat, we need to know ahead of time.

2. RSVP's are important, even if you don't think they are.

RSVP's are important for plenty of reasons. It ensures we have enough seats for everyone, that they will be able to eat the catered meal, and that we'll be able to fit them in at a table for the wedding reception. If your RSVP says "Please reply by x", reply by then. If you can't, contact the bride or whoever is in charge.

3. Please dress according to the dress code.

There's nothing more frustrating than having a formal dress code and here comes John wearing basketball shorts and a stained T-shirt. Don't be like John.

4. Show up on time.

If the ceremony begins at 5:00, you should be there at LEAST 10-20 minutes before it is set to begin. Coming early helps you find your seat and talk and mingle with the other guests. Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.

5. For the love of all things holy, if you're not the one getting married, do not wear white.

Unless the bride/groom request you to wear white, don't do it. It does not matter what color shoes and necklace you would pair with that white dress. Put it back on the hanger and put it in the closet.

6. We paid a LOT of money for this entire wedding, so please enjoy yourself.

We don't want you to be bored or be watching the clock every 10 minutes so you can count down until the reception ends. Go out and dance or ask the DJ to play your favorite song. Eat as much food as you want (if your dinner is buffet-style at least), enjoy the cake, and just have fun.

7. The chargers under your dinner plate are, contrary to popular belief, not for you to use.

What is a charger plate, you ask? Let me show you.

The white plate is for your food. The silver glitter (or gold or whatever color the couple chose) plate is for decoration.

8. Please be mindful of the couple's wishes.

We are having an unplugged wedding ceremony which means we do not want people to have their phones, tablets, iPads, cameras, etc out taking pictures. If the invites mention that or you hear it from the family or wedding coordinator, chances are that we really do not want you to have your phones out. But that goes for any wish, not just an unplugged ceremony. If you do something that goes against our wishes and someone tells you that, please respect that.

9. A small gift or card goes a long way.

Don't read into this, but usually, wedding etiquette is that you always bring a gift or card to the wedding of which you're attending. And, don't get me wrong, we aren't expecting cards that are filled with checks for $1,000 and we don't expect you to spend your savings on a gift from our registry. Our registry is just suggestion based. It is not a direct order for you to only be able to get gifts from there. And, if the gift is large, please feel free to send it to our address rather than bringing it to the wedding. Can you imagine trying to fit a bunch of huge boxes in a small car? Coordination nightmare.

10. It is not selfish for us to not have an open bar.

Let's be honest, we all know some of our friends or family who will do anything for free alcohol. With free alcohol comes a lot of responsibility (and money for the bride and groom). When I first started planning this wedding, I didn't want an open bar for a lot of reasons, but mainly because if someone drinks way past their limit and then go and drive home, something bad could happen to them and I would feel completely responsible. Because we'll be having a cash bar, our guests will be aware of how much they're drinking because they have to pay for it. If that's tacky, then so be it, but I don't want to watch Uncle John Doe stumbling across the dance floor or hear about them getting into a car accident and being charged with a DUI.

All in all, if you received an invite to a wedding, then the couple really wants you to be there and it's OK if you can't make it, but be sure to send back your RSVP. If you do go to the wedding, have fun and make it memorable.