Other Do's and Dont's in a Wedding

The following information comes from experts on wedding etiquette and manners (based on different sources online and wedding magazines).


Main sources: The Frugal Bride Magazine and Weddingknot.com

ON INVITATION

Reception is one of the most expensive essentials of the wedding ceremony so naturally you wish to count the number of adult guests only. If you don't want children at the reception, be careful in addressing the issue, it might send a bad message to your invited guests. 

Try these options:

• Specify the number of guests when dispatching your invitation. If addressing the couple, make it clear that you reserve only 2 seats for them. This careful clarification will solve your anxiety of not wanting children at the reception.
• Include the number of the table assign to your guests. 
• Never mention in the invitation that you don't want children at the reception, it is very rude.
• Other wedding etiquette experts suggest that you may ask your friends and family to pass the message to your guests that if possible they will not bring children at the reception.
• You can still fire a direct message in your invitation that you don't want children at the reception by putting something like this at the bottom of your message or at the RSVP card:                                             

                                                            Adult Reception
                                              We have reserved 2 seats for you

• If your reception requires a confirmation of the number of guests, it is very important to slip an R.S.V.P card in the invitation. R.S.V.P is a French term for Please Response. An accurate R.S.V.P card looks like this:                                  

R.S.V.P

A reply is needed for this invitation

Kindly confirm your attendance on or before ________(usually three to two weeks before the wedding)

Contact Number: ____________ Contact Person:_______________

Or you may leave a message through the contact page of our wedding site: http://ourwedding.com

ON WEDDING GIFTS

Wedding etiquette experts warn that it is always considered rude and highly improper to slip a bridal registry card in your invitation or send the guests a wishlist, the bottom line of this highly inappropriate gesture is that, guests are supposed to share your joy and happiness of your wedding day that's why they are attending and not to shoulder the expenses and household items of the start-up of your married life.

Here are the reminders:

• If you arrange a registry at the leading department stores in your area, try putting this information to your wedding site or have friends and relatives spread the message but never put this blatantly in the invitation nor send each of your guest with an email detailing your registry and wishlist.
• It is also considered inappropriate to put "cash gifts only" in the invitation.
• You are not required to open the gifts presented by the guests to you at the reception, it lacks proper etiquette. Open it when you return home or from your honeymoon.
• ALWAYS send a THANK YOU note or card to everyone who attended the wedding and those who send gifts even if they did not attend the reception. Sending a Thank you note is always part of the proper decorum of the wedding.

BRIDAL REGISTRY

In the modern trend of weddings, most couples choose to set up a bridal registry in the leading department stores in the area in order to offer convenience to the guests who are confuse what items to buy as a wedding present.

The other purpose of this is to avoid receiving duplicate items like 5 electric fan, 3 rice cooker, etcetera. In setting up a bridal registry, it is very important to take the following pointers.

• Choose items that are not very expensive to the guests. 
• Don't assume that your guests are willing to buy appliances and expensive linens for you.
• Choose start-up household items only.
• Avoid entertaining the idea of let your guests shoulder the responsibility of buying you household cabinet and appliances in your wedding.
• The appropriate items to put at the registry are the following:

1. Starter dinner set
2. Half dozen of glass
3. Half dozen of cups and saucers
4. Half dozen of spoon and fork            
5. Two pillows
6. One rice cooker
7. Blanket
8. Pillowcases
9. Bath Towel
10. Electric Heater                     

AT THE CHURCH CEREMONY

In 2011, days before the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Dean of Westminster was  interviewed whether there will be a wedding kiss by the couple after the ceremony, the bishop seemed startled and surprised, his reply was "We never do such thing (kissing) at the Abbey, it's a bit Hollywood, couple can kiss outside but not inside the church".

So, after the signing of the registry, couples are not compelled to kiss in front of the ecstatic crowd inside the church and nobody can force you to do so. But if the guests continue to bang their hands on the pew forcing you to smoother at the altar steps, simply ignore them and remember these pointers:  

• During the preparation stage, set a meeting with your photographers and hosts of the ceremony.
• Give them instruction that you don't want a kiss inside the church and will do it instead at the reception.
• Ignore the screaming of your guests at the church by concentrating on the photo opportunity at the altar.
• Instruct the host beforehand to announce that the newlyweds, wedding attendants and their parents will be the first group to leave the church premise followed by the guests. 

ON SEATING PLAN AT THE RECEPTION

Before dispatching your invitation, prepare a list for your seating arrangement at the reception and carefully group the people according to their friends. 

• Do not seat battling relatives and friends together.
• Arrange the seat plan according to your guests' groups: co-workers, cousins, uncles, classmates, etc. 

SECOND TIME FOR THE BRIDE

What the etiquette dictates if it's the bride's second trip to the aisle or if she has a child or children already?

• Wearing a white bridal gown is perfectly acceptable, after all, white signifies purity of intention of getting married.
• But wedding decorum says that you are not supposed to wear veil and long train attach to the gown. Just fix yourself with make up and put blooms around your hair or wear simple headdress.