Ego Vinterop Wedding Designer

Ok soo ii wanted to get some opinions on the these wedding etiquette tips.

a) “Arrive on time or even 20 minutes early” – is that good advice? I

b) “Don’t take photos during the ceremony – it’s distracting and rude” – Is this good advice?

c) “Children- Their is no harm in bringing children to a wedding as long as they are well behaved.” – Isn’t it better and appreciated if people leave the kids behind unless its a close relative’s wedding?

A) This depends on the type of ceremony/celebration/reception that they’re having. For example – We are getting married and having the dinner reception afterwards at the same location. Therefore, we need to make sure that everyone arrives on time so that it doesn’t disturb the service.

B) I have never heard of this. At all of the weddings that I have been to, many of the guests take pictures during the ceremony. It’s expected.

C) Only if they were invited. Find out from the bride/groom when you receive the invitation if it is unclear.

What does he say when the minister asks who gives this bride away?

This isn’t an etiquette question, it’s just an issue of what wording you like. The easiest thing would be to cut out the "who gives this woman" entirely (many couples omit it because it’s sexist), or have your uncle say, "She comes with the full support of her family."

I know my family well enough to know many are going to ignore the RSVP in the invitations. That is why I wanted to added a note at the ending of the invitation stating that if they do not RSVP and show up to the ceremony, they’ll have to pay a $50 fee. But my mom and grandmother seem to think that is pretty bad wedding etiquette. What do you think?
By the way, I made an error, I meant to write reception, not ceremony.
And I have good reason to do this. My cousin’s wedding was last summer. Quite a few of our relatives never RSVP but did show up to the reception.

it is not good etiquette to charge a fee, however, RSVPs are important, and you could spread the word that there will only be seating and food for those who do reply, but do this in a tactful way, like having family members mention it to those who you do not think will reply, or if you have a wedding website, list it there.

Is it proper etiquette if strapped for a wedding to ask a good friend to come to the wedding without their significant other, especially if you know that your friend knows alot of other friends at the wedding so they won’t be alone? Or does etiquette dictate that if you’re going to invite someone to your wedding, you have to invite the other person, even if you don’t know them at all?
No, I want to know if proper etiquette demands that both people be invited. Can someone just ask for the person to attend the wedding alone, since they won’t know the boyfriend/girlfriend.

It depends on how significant the significant other is. Are they living together? Are they engaged? If the answere to either of these is yes, I’d invite them both or if you can’t afford it maybe you should elope. Not knowing the other half of the significant other is no excuse to not invite them. How would YOU feel if your future spouse was invited to a party and the host said leave your friend home. We don’t know her. Just because a couple aren’t married doesn’t mean you have the right to disrespect them as a couple. It’s different if they are casual dating. If you didn’t invite my significant other who I live with I woun’t come or consider you a friend.

My fiance’s parents are divorced and his father is remarried. His mother is not remarried but never changed her married name back to her maiden name. How would I word this invitation other than "Together with their Parents" which I feel is too informal.

You eliminate the idea of designating a host entirely. In modern times, we rarely have the "traditional" wedding in which the brides parents bore all expenses and hosted everything from their home, so the old form in which the bride’s parents issued invitations is obsolete. Since it would be gauche for you invitation to reveal private information, like who paid for what, one of the most tasteful ways to issue your invitations is in the passive voice.

The pleasure of the company of
[invite each guest by name, even nursing infants]
is requested at a dinner dance
to celebrate the marriage of
Bonnie Bridella, daughter of
Joyce Bridella Newman and James Newman, and
Thomas Bridella, to
Gregory Groomly, son of
Victoria Groomly and
Robert Morris,
at Two O’Clock etc etc etc

Bonnie’s parents, Joyce and Tom, divorced when Bonnie was a child and Joyce married James. James has been a parent to Bonnie, and James’ own parents are Bonnie’s "poppi and nana." So Bonnie has 3 parents mentioned in the invitation. If Joyce and James had married when Bonnie was in her teens, James probably would not be mentioned. Gregory’s parents, Victoria and Robert, are not currently a couple and so their names are not written on the same line. If two people ARE currently a couple but their names are too long to handily write on one line, it’s OK to use two lines. Just don’t use a single line for two names unless those two people are currently a couple.

The reason you include parents’ names is so that people receiving the invitations will know who is getting married, as in "Do we know any Greg Groomly? Oh, that’s Bobby’s son, you know, little Jeeter."

My husband’s best friend is getting married and my husband is the best man. I was invited to the shower, but cannot make it. What does wedding etiquette say about gifts? Do I still have to give a gift if I’m not going? I feel like I should…What do think?
also, how much do you spend on the shower gift? I know the wedding gift stuff, but I never did a shower gift alone. First wedding that’s not family!
they also borrowed $1,000 from us….

It all depends on how close you are and the kind of relationship you have. The fact that you feel you should means that you should with an apology as to why you couldn’t attend.

My sister is getting married in a small, private destination wedding ceremony this October and only about 10 guests are invited to the actual ceremony. When she returns to her hometown, she is planning a large cocktail party or reception for family and friends.

What is the proper etiquette for throwing her a bridal shower? Should we have one? Who should be invited? Should she register?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Etiquette would say only the people attending the ceremony…however, if it is that small of a list I would say invite all close female family and friends. They will understand! I would definitely not want to be left out of any of my friends showers just because they were having a private ceremony. I’d still love to buy them a gift and celebrate with them just the same!

We’re in the early stages of planning. Nothing is set in stone yet we’re just throwing some ideas around. This was one of them but what’s the etiquette on something like this? Would I wear my wedding gown and the bridal party be in their attire too? Would I still have an engagement party, bridal shower, and bachelorette party? Has anyone else done this? Thanks.
Also, would I register for gifts?
Oh we would be feeding them. We were thinking like a lunch reception in a park or something.

With the boom of destination weddings, traditional rules have to be modified to reflect modern times. Long gone are the days on home town family weddings as more couples opt for more practical and exotic venues.

Here are some appropriate guidelines: Do NOT make it a re-enactment of the wedding. The time is gone and is yesterday news, so please no one in monkey suits pretending that it is a week ago, it is awkward, forced and embarrassing. Don’t wear your gown again, that is just silly (particularity in a public park) . Alternatively you can wear a nice dress and a corsage on your wrist; It is more practical for the place and your marital status.

Engagement parties are hosted by a family member a soon as the engagement is announced, If you have been engaged for a long time and everyone knows, then there is no point whatsoever for an engagement party, You do not host this for your self and gifts should not be requested or expected. It is meant so families can meet each other and that’s all.

Bachelorette party? Yes. Before getting married of course if someone wants to throw you one with your friends.

Shower: Yes, keep it small, if someone offers to host one for you, yes you can have one. Tip: Showers are not means of collection from every female that you ever had contact with, but for a small group of people that know you very well (immediate family and handful of friends). Do not make this an opportunity for everyone that you ever knew since kindergarten to buy you things, people can see through that.

No, no, bridesmaid are just for one day, not until you are satisfied for years to come. BM are to wear whatever they want on the public park party.

Register for gifts: Sure, but only give that information to those that ask. It is not polite to solicit any gifts from ANYONE in particularly in your situation as no one will be attending the ceremony. In your case, if some people want to gift, they will ask for the information. But BY NO MEANS put registry information on the invitations for post-wedding festivities, that is presumptuous, greedy and in extreme poor manners, particularly since you are already married and that is NOT a reception, but a post-nuptial celebration. You can put that on your shower invites for family members and very close friends only. If everyone else asks, you can tell them, but DO NOT volunteer the information as many people will get offended by that.

Good luck

I’m single, just turned 28 and recently inherited my grandmother’s three-diamond engagement ring and solid gold wedding band. The diamond ring is beautiful and I’d like to wear it on my right hand – not as an engagement or wedding ring – but my family and friends can’t decide whether it’s proper to wear it with or without the wedding band. Are there any etiquette rules about this?

I wear my grandmothers ring as my engagement ring – felt it made it more special, when looking for an engagement ring I kept being drawn to rings very similar. Previous to this I kept it in its box, hidden for 10 years, scared I would lose it or it would get it stolen, If not as an engagement ring I guess you can wear it as you please with or without the wedding band as this will have no significance other than the sentimental meaning being your grandmothers. Please get the ring(s) valued, insured and get the setting checked in case any stones are loose.

I’m single, just turned 28 and recently inherited my grandmother’s three-diamond engagement ring and solid gold wedding band. The diamond ring is beautiful and I’d like to wear it on my right hand – not as an engagement or wedding ring – but my family and friends can’t decide whether it’s proper to wear it with or without the wedding band. Are there any etiquette rules about this?

I wear my grandmothers ring as my engagement ring – felt it made it more special, when looking for an engagement ring I kept being drawn to rings very similar. Previous to this I kept it in its box, hidden for 10 years, scared I would lose it or it would get it stolen, If not as an engagement ring I guess you can wear it as you please with or without the wedding band as this will have no significance other than the sentimental meaning being your grandmothers. Please get the ring(s) valued, insured and get the setting checked in case any stones are loose.