Wedding Etiquette for Brides

Photography: Diamond Photo & Video Design & Decor: Unique Rose Events & Designs

Whether we admit it or don't wedding etiquette is still an important issue to many of us. We’ve all complained about weddings that we’ve attended. Or maybe you’ve heard some friends who have attended a wedding ceremony and learned after the ceremony that he or she was not invited for the wedding reception. Although it is acceptable and is within the wedding etiquette standard to invite some guests only to the ceremony and some only to the wedding reception, the guests should be informed of this fact before hand.

Basic Wedding Etiquette for Brides

What to Wear. Modern wedding etiquette allows a bride to wear any design that she wants in any color. Brides are not limited to wearing ultra white wedding dresses that have sleeves. They may wear a tube, halter or spaghetti strapped wedding dress in creme, beige or pastel colors. The world is your oyster. For the sake of wedding etiquette, the bride should also consider her cultural background and the church’s dress requirement. If your church requires you to wear a shawl over a tube wedding dress, then you must do so. If the minister or priest thinks that your red wedding dress is inappropriate for the church and asks you to replace your $10,000 designer wedding dress for a white wedding dress, then you should adhere to his request or choose another venue.

Who to Invite. It is basic wedding etiquette for a bride to talk to her groom about she would like to invite. It is the two of you who will get married, not only you. It is a violation of wedding etiquette if you invite someone your groom does not want attending the ceremony and reception. If it is your second marriage, you should not invite your ex-spouse or your ex-parents-in-law. Even if you two are in good terms with your ex, wedding etiquette dictates that you should not invite them. This is to avoid unnecessary confrontations or wedding drama. The only reason you should consider to allow your ex to be in attendance is if your children request your ex-spouse to be present, then you should talk about it with your groom. If he agrees, then invite your ex to be in attendance.

Pro Tip: If your groom disagrees with your ex being in attendance at the ceremony and reception you can invite your guests for a dinner at your home after your wedding or honeymoon. This private dinner is more quiet and will save you the trouble of explaining to your father and mother and other close guests why your ex-husband is in your wedding.

Gift Giving and Registry. It is a big wedding etiquette no-no to ask for cash gifts from your guests. Although it is a reality that newlyweds need cash as startup money, you don't want to ask for cash. Let your guest decide what to give. If he or she have decided to give you cash, be grateful. Do not ever ask your guests to fund a mortgage or fund a charity that you will establish as a wedding gift. Registry cards are acceptable. Wedding etiquette specialists recommend that you put up an online registry card and inform your guests through invitation that you have an online registry.

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Photography: Diamond Photo & Video Design & Decor: Unique Rose Events & Designs

Choosing a Professional Wedding Planner

Planning your own wedding can be fun, but sometimes it can be just too overwhelming. This is when you should take advantage of a professional planner.

There are many places that you can find professional wedding planners or event planners. You can search the Internet or social media to find a wedding planner. We recommend researching reviews on each wedding planner that you choose. Shop around so that you can get the best estimate. Create a list of planners you like would like to do a face to face interview with. A face-to-face interview is extremely important because you and your wedding planner will become very close. You must have synergy.

Be sure to ensure that the wedding planner you want to hire has good recommendations. Experience and testimonials are very important when you hire any service, but your wedding planner is the most important service that you will be hiring, so you want to be very sure that you are hiring the best.

Apart from recommendations, try to check to see if the wedding planner has experience and get as much information about them as you can before you hire them. If you can find others who they have worked for, try to contact them and find out what sort of job the wedding planner has done for them.

A wedding planner can be quite expensive but is well worth the money. This is especially true when you have a large wedding to prepare for. Sometimes you have to hire someone to help you, or you will get overwhelmed. Remember, you cannot be a bride and planner on your wedding day. Do your research and hire the best wedding planner that you can afford. At the same time be careful to read the contract carefully before signing so that there are no misunderstandings. When you exercise caution and check out everything, you will be able to find a great planner who will make your wedding a special day for you.