​Wedding Etiquette Basics

Announcements:

Before you go on a social media blitz telling everyone the news, be sure to tell your family first. After saying “Yes” it may be difficult to keep the news to yourself. Just remember to share the news with your closest family members first, then other family members and finally close friends. Once you have received all the best wishes be sure to thank everyone.

 
Leave your Registry off of the Invitations:

Your invitations are for the purpose of letting guests know that you want them to be apart of your special day. Guests already know that you have most likely registered somewhere. Place your registry on your wedding website and/or share it with family members and friends. The word will get around.

 
Bridal shower, bachelorette, and bachelor parties:

Be sure that only invited wedding guests and attendants are invited to these gatherings. You are the bride, therefore be sure to check the lists. You don’t want people not invited to the wedding being invited to these. It may come off as a “Oh I’m good enough to give a gift but not share your special day” scenario.

 
Take care of your Wedding party:

Your wedding party is spending time and money to be a part of your special day. Make sure to return the favor. Try and keep drama at a minimum and show your appreciation with a special gift showing your gratitude. Try and choose a gift that they will cherish long after the weddings over. Use a price point dependent on how much they’ve had to spend: travel, attire, hotel bookings, etc. Also, covering your bridal parties’ hair and makeup is also a nice gesture, especially if your wanting it done professionally. Be sure to also feed your wedding party if their meeting you early. A nice brunch for the ladies and a lite lunch for the men.


Be sure to greet your guests:

During cocktail hour or after dinner has been served and you have eaten, be sure to greet all of your guests and thank them for attending your wedding. Either make your rounds table to table or circulate the dance floor.

 
Seating charts:

Instead of forcing everyone to sit with their formal family members and close friends try to seat guests together that have similar interests unless of course you know that’s the only spot they would like. Try and decide if you’ll think that guests will get along, if they have similar characteristics, work in the same field, have a comparable background, etc. and place them together. Weddings are a great place to make new friends and mingle.

 
Make everything run close together:

In order to keep everyone occupied and not forgotten be sure that there isn’t any large time gaps in between events. If you are going to be taking pictures after the ceremony, make sure cocktail hour starts soon after your ceremony exit. Leaving large gaps can lead to guests leaving. Also be sure there isn’t too much of a time gap between the cocktail hour and the reception. This can lead to guests leaving as well as guests getting a little tipsier than anticipated. If there has to be a large gap be sure to give your guests suggestions during the break such as sightseeing or a hospitality area.


Pay for your guests’ drinks:

If you are seeing alcohol as one of your biggest finances, there are ways to lower this cost. Signature drinks with a few beer options is a good way of personalizing cocktail hour and dinner drinks. Choose only wines and beer that mix well with your menu. Mixed drinks can add up quickly. If you must serve liquor try a limited bar. Only serve cocktails during cocktail hour and switch over to wine and beer during dinner. If a venue allows you to bring in your own alcohol, try and purchase it from a store that allows returns on unopened bottles.


Be sure to feed the vendors:

Most vendors include feeding within their contracts. They are working all day long to be sure your day is the best day possible.  Make sure your caterer adds them to their count. Vendors you may not have to feed are those who are just dropping off items such as florist and bakers. However, if you are tipping on the day of be sure to catch them before they leave or leave this up to another vendor such as your planner.  Also make sure there is an area for vendors to sit and eat, usually away from guests but close enough to maintain their rolls.


 
Send “Thank You’s promptly”
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You’ll want to send thank you’s while everything is still fresh in your memory. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to remember what each guest got you. Make a list of everyone from your bridal shower to your wedding that gave you gifts. Only wait a few weeks to send thank you’s out. By sending these out, your showing guest that you appreciate their gifts and their attendance.