|
Minding Your Wedding Manners |
PDF
|
| Print |
|
E-mail
|
For many couples, there comes a time when they decide to commit themselves to one another and communicate this commitment by getting married. Along with family and friends, all those who care for them take part in their wedding day.
Proper wedding etiquette is often expected for different aspects of the wedding. From taking care of the invitations, to the transportation, reception details, location and the church, everything has a subsequent "proper", or traditional wedding etiquette to follow.
The engagement:
Proper wedding etiquette should certainly be observed for the engagement. The news should be announced to immediate family foremost. An introduction of both families should be arranged. Proper wedding etiquette states that if either one has not met each other's parents, they should break the news to just one family at a time.
As for friends, the proper wedding etiquette is to announce to them individually after the families.
The wedding organization:
The wedding theme is the first thing the couple should agree upon since all the details following it will be affected. If the couple chooses a beach wedding, proper wedding etiquette stipulates that everything would be patterned after that. There are wedding planners who can coordinate everything for the couple and are a great help for the bride and groom in planning their special day.
The question of when and where the wedding should be held is an important subject to consider. The couple must also decide what kind of ceremony they wish to have. Would it be a church wedding or a civil ceremony? The proper wedding etiquette is to determine the religious preference of the couple. Sometimes even if they share the same religion, a couple can still desire the informality of a civil wedding.
The location for the reception is the next important decision to make. As proper wedding etiquette, the couple should be considerate of the guests. Proper wedding etiquette dictates that the reception area should be nearby to the wedding location so that the guests and the couple won't be too tired when they arrive.
Transportation is another factor to think about. Aside from the bridal car, it is proper wedding etiquette to provide for those without cars from the wedding location to the reception area. The couple can ask guests beforehand about who would bring their own transportation so they can estimate how many automobiles they will have to rent for the group.
The apparel:
Proper wedding etiquette for any traditional wedding is a white gown for the bride and a preferred color for the bridesmaids, wedding party and sponsors. However, times have changed and other color palettes are now acceptable for the bride.
The groom and groomsmen typically do not have trouble with their clothes since they wear what is appropriate to the theme and whatever the couple has decided on for the design.
The reception:
Of course, a major part of this event is the reception. Although the atmosphere is more informal, one cannot forget the proper wedding etiquette of having a plan. It should really be about the couple, wishes from their family and guests, a time for appreciation and a celebration of the new life ahead for the newlyweds.
The menu, cake, table decor, centerpieces, sound system, and entertainment should be addressed months beforehand. The proper wedding etiquette is to follow the allotted time frame for each aspect. All of this would entirely be based on the couple's taste and budget.
The finances:
All this preparation will go to waste if the couple cannot pay for any of the wedding items. As proper wedding etiquette, the issue of who will pay for what is divided between the bride and groom's family.
Traditionally, the proper wedding etiquette is for the bride's family to pay for the reception expenses, the church fees, the groom's rings, the invitations, flowers for the ceremony and reception, music, transportation and lodging for the bride's party. The groom's side pays for the rehearsal dinner, the bride's ring, clergy or officiator's fee the bride's bouquet the flowers for the entourage, transportation and lodging for the groom's party.
Currently, a couple can decide what obligations they will handle. But the proper wedding etiquette is to divide the expenses, as this would be the sign of their future together.
It is difficult job to handle all the wedding details but proper wedding etiquette should be observed at all times. Sometimes people tend to forget these simple but very important gestures. Everyone must realize that by following appropriate wedding etiquette, the event is more elegant and memorable.
|