Wedding etiquette

So, you are engaged and to be married and now you need to plan your wedding. Where do you start, what is etiquette and what is not? At the beginning the list of to-do’s does seem quite daughnting at first but once you get familiarised with everything in and around wedding planning it is actually quite fun, and can be done without going into a panic attack. So let’s start with the wedding etiquette. Below is a list of a traditional wedding etiquette that will guide you when planning your wedding.

Wedding etiquette

• Asking the parents’ permission
  If you are a legal age, this is not compulsory but seen as traditional wedding etiquette. Asking your fiancé’s father permission to marry his daughter will not only earn you respect as his future son in law but put his stamp of approval on the marriage.

• Who pays for what?
  It is traditional wedding etiquette for the bride’s family to pay the reception, church fees, groom’s ring, invitations, flowers, music, and the gifts for the bridal party. On the other hand the groom’s family is responsible for paying the bride’s ring, clergy fees, the bride’s bouquet and corsages, alcohol, and the gifts for the groomsmen.

• Invitations
  The invitations are sent out by the party paying for the wedding. (Traditionally this would be the bride’s parents.) It is also considered wedding etiquette to indicate the required dress code on the wedding invitation. Be sure to include the RSVP date on the invitation, and if you have not received a reply within one week after the RSVP date call him or her and confirm over the phone. Children over the age of 18 are to be given their own invitations.

• Wedding etiquette for presents
  If you are a family member and unable to attend the wedding it is considered etiquette to send the bridal couple a gift in your absence. However if you are a friend or work colleague it is not necessary to send a gift. If the couple has a gift registry at a store/s it is wise to include this information in the invitation. Alternatively the bride’s mother or bridesmaids could be contacted for this information. Nevertheless, it is recommended to include a gift registry in the invitation. If the couple is moving out of town, giving a cash gift is preferable over any other gift.

• Wedding etiquette for between the ceremony and reception
  If you are taking photos after the ceremony, it is wedding etiquette to consider your guests and limit the photo session. Keep your guests entertained with live music like a string quartet and ply them with snacks and drinks to keep their minds of their watches.

• Wedding etiquette for the bridal party’s dress code
  Traditionally if it is your first wedding, it is etiquette for the bride to wear a white wedding dress as it symbolises her virginity. However these days a bride is free to wear whichever colour dress she wants. Keep in mind that it is the bride’s day and she should outshine and attract the most attention. Therefore when selecting your bridesmaids dresses keep in mind that you are the princess of the day not them!

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