| Re: I wouldn\'t (and don\'t)
Man! Things must be very different in the social and professional expectations of weddings in other parts of the world to Australia. I worked as a stringer for a studio that primarily catered to othe italian and greek commounities here some years ago. After only a few weeks the owner of the studio had a little chat to me as to keeping the customers happy. A small but noted problem had arisen with one job where I would not have a beer with one of the fathers. ( I do not drink beer) The studio owner mentioned that a lot of people would see this as a " snubing" of their hospitality and was there a problem that I could not have a drink with the clients? After we sorted my aversion to beer, he said if I could have a nip of spirits with them and that was not a problem for me if I could do so to prevent and misunderstanding on the clients part. Over the years I have worked with different cultures I have come to realise the importance of being seen to accept their hospitality when it is offered.
I can state for a fact, some cultures here are nothing less than insulted if you do not have a drink with them. They want to be hospitable to everyone and to not have a drink with them or not enjoying yourself, hired pro or not, does not go down well. Being seen having one drink with dinner and maybe a toast or drink with one of the fathers would in no way at all concern me as to what people may think or think poorly of me as a professional. Turning down having a drink with a member of the families or bridal party would be virtual professional Suicide with a huge number of weddings I have done.
As for drinking water or coke all night for appearences sake, at weddings over here it would be assumed that you were drinking Vodka and lemonade or having a scotch and coke anyway. While I am not adverse to having one or two drinks only on a job, I am also happy to have them and then drink coke for the rest of the night. The number of times I have been asked what I was drinking only to have a father, groom or other person connected with the function then thrust an alcoholic beverage in my hand and insist I drink with them would be too numerous to mention.
While these comments may sound somewhat self serving to some people, I can assure you it is nothing more than good customer relations. I have found as would have many others, the quality of your photos is very much based by the clients on how they like you as a person. Turning down the offerings of a gracious host is something some will quickly forget and certainly won't enhance your reputation or the perception of your work especially if they are the ones writing your cheque! :0)
As Bill says, everyone is different and so maybe accepted standards in different areas. Bottom line is we should all do what we think is best [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]  | 
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