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To help you prepare for one of the most memorable days in your life, we have complied a list of some of the most commonly asked questions of Brides-to-be. Below we have provided you with answers from leading experts in the Bridal Etiquette field. Click on one of the links below to take you the related section. The Wedding Invitations & Announcements |
| Please note: The below information is for a traditional American Wedding. With the ever changing diversity in our population the wedding etiquette is being incorporating by many customs from a wide range of cultures. The etiquettes shown here are from the past several hundred years established in the United States. Obviously you should observe your family traditions in etiquette. |
Q. When should wedding invitations be ordered? A. Invitations should be ordered when all of the detail of the ceremony and reception have been confirmed. Information such as the date, time and place of your service and reception, as well as an accurate guest list count are needed when ordering your invitation order. You should order invitations at least three months before the wedding . Q. When should wedding invitations be mailed? A. Invitations should be mailed approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the ceremony. Q. What are considered traditional invitations? A. Traditional invitations are white, ivory or ecru with or without a panel. Traditional invitations can be thermographed or engraved. Thermographed (raised) printed invitations are less expensive and imitate the look of engraving . Q. May guests be invited to the reception and not the wedding itself? A. Yes, if the wedding service is attended only by relatives and close friends. Q. Are wedding announcements ever sent to anyone who’s been invited to the ceremony of reception? A. No. Wedding announcements are only sent to those people who were not invited to the ceremony or reception. Q. Is it correct to use “and family” when addressing the invitation envelope? A. No. Separate invitations should be sent to adult family members living under the same roof, whenever possible. For small children, address the outer envelope to their parents and write their names on the inner envelope under the parent’s name. Q. What is the purpose of the tissue included with my invitation order? A. In the past, tissues were used to guard against ink smears. Todays printing methods ensure ink is dry before the invitations leave the printing plant, so the tissues are no longer needed. However, many continue to use the tissue as part of their wedding ensemble for aesthetic reasons and for the sake of tradition. Q. When should announcements be mailed? A. Announcements should be mailed a day or two after the wedding. |
Q. Is it necessary to send a thank you note to someone I have thanked in person? A. It is considered socially correct to always send a written thank you note even if you have thanked someone in person. Q. When should thank you notes be mailed? A. A written thank you note should be sent as soon as possible after receiving the gift, normally within 2 to 3 weeks of receipt. Q. Is there a tactful way to thank someone for a monetary gift? A. When writing a thank you note for money it is not necessary or advisable to mention the amount. Instead, refer to it as “your generous gift”, or something similar; mention how you plan to use the money, whether to purchase an appliance or to use in some other way. |
Q. How many ushers and bridesmaids are needed? A. It depends on the size of the wedding. Normally, there should be one usher for every 50 guests. The average wedding party for formal and semi-formal is four to six brides maids and ushers. A bride does not need as many bridesmaids as ushers. Q. In a formal wedding, which side is usually reserved for the bride’s? family and friends? A. The bride’s parents are seated on the left side of the aisle and the groom’s parents sit on the right side. Q. What if a church as two center aisles? A. Pick one aisle and run the whole wedding as though it were the only one, or use the right side for the processional and the left for the recessional. Q. Is there a recessional at a home wedding? A. It is not necessary. The married couple may turn around after the ceremony and receive best wishes from the quests. Q. Who gives the officiate his or her fee? A. The groom pays, but the best man hands it over in a plan white envelope before of after the ceremony. Q. Where does the wedding party stand in the receiving line? A. The receiving line is in the back of the church after the ceremony. The order may vary, but usually the bride’s mother and father are first, followed by the bride, groom and bridesmaids. The groom’s mother and father may be included. The ushers and best man do not stand in the receiving line. |
Q. At the bride and groom’s table, where does the bride sit? A. The bride is seated on the groom’s right. Q. Who proposes the first toast ? A. The best man proposes the first toast to the bride and groom. Q. What happens at the reception if other couples start dancing before the bride and groom? A. When the newlyweds appear, everyone should stop dancing. Then the bride and groom waltz once around the floor solo. Q. Is the groom obligated to dance with someone other than the bride? A. Yes, the groom is obligated to dance with his mother, mother-in-law and the maid of honor. |
