This Flowchart Will Help You Determine When It’s Okay (and Not) to Leave a Wedding-Related Event Without Saying Goodbye

By Carrie Denny Whitcraft· 8/19/2014, 12:20 p.m.

We’ve all got a friend or two who are masters of the Irish Goodbye (or as the creators of this graphic call it, “Ghosting”): One minute, you’re having an uproariously good time with them over a drink at a party, and the next minute you turn around to find them vanished, as if they were never there at all.

I had a roommate in college who did this basically every single night we ever went out (which was too many out of seven), and, as the peak of her fleeing occurred before texting was really a thing (yes, I am Old), the rest of us were always left to wonder whether or not she was in a ditch somewhere, had relocated to another party, or had simply decided she needed no more drinks and took herself home. Checking Anna’s bed whenever we stumbled in the door just became something we automatically did, like ordering a 3am pizza.

I have known both many a guest—and many a bride and groom—to do the Irish Goodbye at a wedding, which is why I found this flowchart so hilarious:

Illo by Caroline Paul and Wendy MacNaughton at Tech Page One

There is definitely something to be said for the newlywed couple just peacing out, after saying the really important goodbyes to a select few, because seriously, there’s just no way they’d get to bed before their honeymoon flight left if they made the rounds again—and I use the word again because anyway, if they were a good little bride and groom they will have already greeted/thanked all of their guests individually at some point during the celebration.

The shower, though? No, you may not leave a shower with nary a glance over your shoulder at the ladies who came out to fete you. (Or, as the chart says , “Then don’t leave.”)

The chart is sound, people. Follow this chart.

{h/t}: A Cup of Joe

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