Wedding etiquette
Posted on Mar 10, 2010 under Uncategorized | No CommentEtiquette is basically a set of norms and standards of behavior that applies to people living in a particular society or culture. With the help of etiquette codes, one knows how to behave in certain situations or settings. Thus etiquette helps maintain a certain commonality of behavior and encourages polite and courteous behavior
Etiquette is never more important or more obvious than in formal settings or on special occasions where a large number of people are involved and interact. One such setting is a wedding. Wedding etiquette has been laid out to help the entire event go off smoothly without any misunderstandings and without hurting anyone’s sentiments.
Wedding etiquette begins right at the invitation cards. You have to be specific in your invites about whom you’re inviting so that there is no confusion. This is especially true when you don’t want children at your wedding. In such a case, there are polite ways of indicating it. For example, using the words ‘Adult Reception’ or mentioning the number of seats reserved for the invitee etc.
Wedding etiquette also requires you to put return postage on your RSVPs.
Weddings are a time for gifts and thus there is specific etiquette for it too. Never mention ‘cash only’ anywhere on the invite as its very rude as is giving out registry information or opening your gifts in front of anyone.
At the wedding, etiquette suggests that you avoid seating battling relatives or friends together. Try arranging the guests by age or their relation to you.
Weddings are also a time for disappointments. If you cancel your wedding, etiquette requires you to return your engagement ring as well as any gifts that you many have gotten (except the engraved or personalized ones). Also inform guests coming in from out-of-town first so that they can cancel their arrangements. In case there is a postponement of the wedding, etiquette says you resend invitations with the new date.
In case you’re the guest at the wedding, there are certain wedding etiquettes to follow too. You must RSVP no matter how close you are to the couple. In case you are not going to the wedding and have declined the invite, wedding etiquette says you aren’t expected to send in a gift. As a guest, if you’re late, then according to wedding etiquette, wait till the bride goes down the aisle before entering (through a side aisle). In case you’re still outside, don’t peek through the doors. If you have sent your gift to the couple already, you don’t have to get another one to the reception. Finally, wedding etiquette says that guests at a wedding should pay for their own transportation and lodgings.