What is a reasonable expectation for the contribution of a wedding guest?

When it comes to attending a wedding as a guest and not part of the bridal party, people usually assume that their role is pretty minimal. All they have to do is turn up in an appropriate outfit, look happy for the recently married, and not do anything that could be construed as causing drama. Buy something appropriate from the gift registry, and the performance is complete.

However, these days, there is no accounting for the wild requests that the happy couple may come up with in the name of having the perfect day. They want people to put in at least a fraction of the effort that they have. Whether this is practical or justified is another thing entirely, and it can easily turn what should be a nice moment into resentment from guests who should be wishing them well. 

It is unlikely that most invitees want to upset the bride or groom, but they will worry about doing that when they feel like they can not live up to their lofty expectations. Sensitivity is required when handling a scenario where a wedding guest can’t deliver what was hoped for.