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Another free Relationships and Marriage article for you by Rev. Gail Heimbach
Titled: WEDDING ETIQUETTE GUIDE - PART 1
WEDDING ETIQUETTE GUIDE - PART 1
Article Summary: Let's admit it...every wedding is different! So, I have put together some answers that many brides have questions about.
IMPORTANT TIPS
If you are having an outdoor wedding (sand or grass) the bride should NOT plan on wearing high-heeled shoes. I have seen this many times….the bride has difficulty walking in the sand or grass with her heels on, so she takes them off. Now her dress is TOO long and she trips over it as she is walking down the aisle. So, in this case the bride should NOT plan on wearing high-heeled shoes.
Another consideration for an outdoor wedding is NO CANDLE CEREMONY! Candles are difficult, if not impossible, to light outdoors (or staying lit). A Sand Ceremony would be better suited for an outdoor event.
Try to resist the urge to involve helpless animals in your wedding. This is usually a disaster! That wonderfully, well-behaved pooch has suddenly become uncontrollable (what a way to ruin the wedding day!).
Limit the time gap between ceremony and reception. Having folks happily mingle at a pre-dinner cocktail party is a wonderful plan…for one hour. Anything longer and guests are just going to get sauced and impatient.
And a tip for everyone: Turn off your cell phones!
Now, after that…..do whatever the bride wants you to do, no matter how insane she is ;o)
INVITATION PROBLEMS
It is considered poor taste to have the invitation clarify “no children”. It also begs the questions, “How old is a child?” Does this means 12 or under? You may want to add a note apologizing and clarifying that the request was made for monetary concerns. If you are resolute in this decision, then stick to your own rule; any exceptions will result in hurt feelings. When addressing your invitations, leave the children’s names off and don’t mention them in the invitation. Also, have friends and family pass the word…let the network work.
If you don't want children at your wedding, you have 2 options:
• When addressing your invitations, leave the children's names off it and also don't mention them in the invitation.
• Have friends and family pass the word around that you don't want children there.
Just how many people really know or understand etiquette? In some cases you have to cut straight to the chase and say what you mean. We suggest adding one of these phrases to the bottom of your reply card:
• Adult Reception
• We hope that the (# of) of you will be able to join us
• (# of) seats have been reserved in your names
Other invitation stuff:
• If someone hasn't responded to your invitation, 1 week past the "Reply by" date, call him or her and confirm over the phone.
• Children over the age of 16 get their own invitations.
• Your officiant and their better half get an invitation
• Send your parents and wedding party invitations, as a keepsake. They don't have to reply.
• You have to put return postage on your RSVP's.
• Never give a verbal invitation to your wedding without following it up with a formal invite via U.S. mail.
• Furthermore, make sure you add that person’s name to the final guest list.
WEDDING GIFTS
• It is considered rude to put "cash only gifts", or other wording meaning the same thing on the invitation.
• You're not supposed to put registry information on your wedding invitation. It's left up to friends and family to inform everyone. However, you can put gift information on an insert in your bridal shower invitations. If you have a personal wedding website with info for bridal party and guests (and gift registry info), you can include an insert with the link to your website in your wedding invitation.
• You're not required to open your gifts at the reception or in front of anyone.
THE DREADED RECEPTION SEATING PLAN
• Don't seat battling relatives together.
• So that everyone has a good time, seat teens together, aunts and uncles together, etc. Try seating groups either by their relationship to you or by their ages.
• As for the head table, the rule has changed so often that there isn't one anymore. You and your better half can sit at a raised table with your wedding party below you. You can have your own table with a table on either side of you with your wedding party. You and your husband in the middle of a long table with men on one side and women on the other, or boy, girl, boy, girl. Parents and grandparents at the table or not, it's up to you.
• Stick to table numbers. Famous couples, places you've been, etc., are hard to see from across the room. We've heard many complaints by guests at weddings, when they have to search for their tables.
• Reserved tables are all you need. Why put yourself through the extra work of having a reserved chair for each guest? It just gives people something else to complain about.
• It's a good idea to have a "Reserved" card at the parents seats. They are the only ones that need preferred seating.
IF YOU'RE WEARING GLOVES
Gloves give your wedding attire such an elegant look. You can take them off sometime before you put on your wedding ring and hand them to your maid of honor. She'll give them back to you at an appropriate time.
It's appropriate to wear your gloves in the receiving line and the first dance. When it comes time to eat and party, the gloves come off.
JUST A FEW RULES FOR THE GUESTS
• Don't assume that the couple knows you're coming to their wedding. You must send back your reply card before the "Reply by" date. Failing this simple task is incredibly rude and insensitive.
• If the invitation specifically states: “John Smith and Guest” then you may certainly bring someone. If the invitation is addressed to you and you only, you may not bring a guest. However, if you too have found The One and would like to bring him/her along, phone the bride and ask her permission.
If you have declined an invitation, you are not expected to send a gift.
• If you arrive at the church during the procession, you should wait until the bride has gone down the aisle before entering. Also, don't peek through the doors to watch because you'll be in her photos.
• If you are late for the ceremony, you should walk down an outside aisle and find a seat quickly and quietly.
• If you are of a different faith, you are not required to participate in the rituals, but if you want to that's fine.
• You have to buy the couple a gift.
• The gift should be something that they can both use.
• If you have sent a wedding gift through the mail, then you don't have to bring another one to the reception.
• It's wise to give a cash gift to couples that are getting married out-of-town because they will have to ship everything back home and that's an added cost to them.
• Many couples that have lived together for awhile will not register for gifts. That's because they already have everything they need. In this case, cash in a wedding card is appropriate.
• Guests pay for their own transportation and lodgings.
OUR NEXT ARTICLE'S SUBJECT WILL BE ABOUT WHO PAYS FOR WHAT
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
About the Author:
Rev. Gail Heimbach
http://www.idovows.org
Keywords: wedding+etiquette, weddings, beach+weddings
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