The Fine Art of Wedding Etiquette
Sometimes when you first start planning a wedding, the etiquette can seem overwhelming and perhaps even a little bewildering. However, following proper etiquette is a very important part of planning a wedding; it is about much more than style or appearances – good etiquette ensures that everyone feels respected and enjoys the event. This is a look at the fine art of wedding etiquette.
For those who do not know an invitation from an announcement, a great place to start is with one of the soup-to-nuts etiquette book, such as Emily Post’s. A comprehensive etiquette book not only covers things like how to write a proper thank you note, but will offer guidelines about many practical aspects as well. You can learn what sorts of items make appropriate bridesmaid gifts, how many appetizers to order per guest, and the order of the ceremony processional.
It also helps to have an understanding about the reasons behind some of the seemingly arcane bits of wedding etiquette. Why go to the trouble of creating a seating chart for the reception? It is because a good host takes care to put together dinner tables with a mix of people who will enjoy one another’s company and carry on lively conversation. It also allows the bride and groom to make sure that honored guests, such as parents and grandparents, are assigned seats at the head tables, and it can even allow the bride the chance to try her hand at a little discreet matchmaking among the couple’s single friends.
Another great reason to brush up on your Emily Post is to make sure that you are a) making you guests feel appreciated and b) avoiding causing any offense. This is where thank you notes come into play. Dashing off a few words of personal appreciation on pretty stationery is nothing compared to the effort (not to mention the expense) that goes into shopping for, purchasing, wrapping, and shipping a wedding present. To neglect this most basic bridal duty is to both show a distinct lack of appreciation and to offend the giver at the same time. Knowing the proper etiquette, on the other hand, will make a fine impression on all of your wedding guests…including the friends of your in-laws, who are sure to comment to your mother-in-law about what a thoughtful, polite woman her son was lucky enough to marry.
Filed under Bridesmaid Gifts, Wedding Planning | Tags: Bridesmaid Gifts, wedding etiquette, wedding etiquette books | Comment (0)Wedding Etiquette Books
Just as every bride is different, so is every wedding etiquette book. For instance, if you are the kind of bride who likes everything to be “just so”, with your sets cultured pearl bridal bracelets, matching earrings, and necklaces, you will enjoy the style of “Miss Manners on Weddings”, which happens to be my personal favorite wedding etiquette primer. It is a short book, and by no means comprehensive, but it hits the high points, and does so in the usual amusing style of the doynenne of etiquette, Miss Manners. The witty anecdotes are a very amusing distraction from the stress of planning a wedding, and should you ever need to know the polite way to respond when someone asks to bring a monkey to your wedding ceremony, this book will have all the answers.
If you are looking for a basic wedding etiquette book that will cover every conceivable detail from the bridal shower through the end of the reception, then “Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette” is for you. It is a hefty book, and at over 400 pages, you might not end up reading the entire tome from start to finish, but it makes a very handy reference tool for all of those sticky situations that crop up during the course of planning a wedding. The Emily Post book also covers quite a few contemporary etiquette situations, such as multicultural weddings and blended families.
For brides who spend hours on the internet checking out all of the latest tips and ideas or who buy every wedding magazine at the store, there are a couple of wedding etiquette books out now from the top wedding magazine/website editors. The countless fans of The Knot, will enjoy delving into “The Knot Complete Guide to Weddings in the Real World”. Another fan favorite is “Brides Book of Etiquette” from the same people who write the popular magazine “Brides”.
There are also more specialized wedding etiquette books available. Budget bride? Then check out “Bridal Bargains, 9th edition: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget”. Or perhaps you need help fine tuning your wedding invitation wording. “Crane’s Wedding Blue Book” is there to help. There are also etiquette books on topics ranging from military weddings to gay weddings to weddings for blended families. Whatever your situation, whatever your style, there is an etiquette book available to help you plan your dream wedding.
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