What's the difference between manners and etiquette?

Manners are the small things you do to show respect. They come from how you were raised and what you believe about treating people well. Saying please, holding a door or listening without interrupting are all manners. They work anywhere, at home, at work or at a wedding.

Etiquette is the agreed way to behave in a specific setting. A wedding has its own etiquette, a funeral has another and a business meeting has a third. It tells you when to stand, what to wear, how to sit and when to give a speech. Wedding etiquette includes replying by the deadline, following the dress code and not posting photos before the couple share theirs.

Manners guide your character and etiquette guides your actions in a room. You can know all the rules and still be rude if your manners are poor. You can also have warm manners but miss a key rule, like arriving late to the ceremony. The best guests combine both. They know the rules for the day and follow them with genuine kindness.

If you are ever unsure about a legal or religious detail, the rules can change, so check GOV.UK, the register office or your place of worship.