Day #21 - Guest Etiquette

I was recently asked this question - How do I feel about inviting someone to the wedding ceremony, but not the reception?  In my opinion...don't.  The worst thing that could happen is the "uninvited reception" sees the completed wedding invitation or speaks with an "invited reception guest during the ceremony and hurt feelings evolve.  If you are limited in who you can invite to your wedding reception, just send those guest a wedding announcement after your nuptials to avoid unnecessary conflict.

There are also some rules of etiquette that must be considered. If you send someone a Save The Date, they should also be on the final guest list to receive the official wedding invitation.  Also, if a guest is invited to your bridal shower or couple shower, it should be your intentions to invite them to your wedding day celebration as well. Otherwise, it looks like you "used" them for a gift.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - www.rushphotovideo.com

Wedding Tasting Etiquette

Depending on your venue, catering will either come with the price of renting the reception space or you will need to outsource a caterer.  Regardless of your decision, you should taste the food prior to serving it on wedding day to your guests. 

But what should you expect and what will you discuss at a tasting?

Well first, a tasting is just that...a taste. Do not expect to be served a full meal.  You will see the full presentation of the soup, salad, entree and possibly the hors d'oevures.  You may even get to sample the wines that will be served during dinner and cake should the caterer be providing the wedding cake. 

Next, bringing your entire family and friends to a tasting is not appropriate.  Most tastings can only accommodate 4-6 guests (couple and each set of parents).  Plus all those extra opinions will truly dull the experience.

Also, be very honest about how the food tastes.  That is the purpose of this meeting.  So if you feel it needs extra salt, let the chef know.  There are no repeats in wedding planning so you want to make sure you have voiced your opinion especially during the tasting.

Last, during your tasting experience, consider some of these questions:

• Do you like the look of the food presentation?
• Are hot dishes served hot and cold dishes served cold? 
• How's the plating of the entree?
• Are the hors d'oevures easy for your guests to eat?  
• Do the courses make sense for the season?
• When is the latest date you can make a change to the menu?

Until next time...WEDologize!

I Made It To Your Wedding! Thanks for the Map!

 

I truly believe it's always a nice addition to provide your guests with directions to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception. This information can be placed on your wedding website along with hotel accommodation information. Or should you make welcome bags or baskets for out-of-town guests, consider adding a map along with things to do in the city over the weekend. The map can also be an enclosure with your invitation ensemble or given to guests as they are departing the wedding ceremony.

When creating this type of information, you have to decide do you want an actual map showing a compass, highways and landmarks, or do you want to only use text on the map. I'm actually very fond of using both. I think a drawn map looks so lovely mixed in with the wedding invitation attachments. Then I love the idea of the guests receiving a map after the ceremony by a hostess or usher.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: CT Designs; Paper Charm Designs)

The Language of Invitations

When preparing your invitation ensemble and the wording to excite your guests about the upcoming nuptials, there are some things you should pay close attention to:

1. If there are parental contributions, be respectful and discuss the invitation verbiage with your parents. The norm use to be that the bride's parents were the hosts of the wedding and reception and therefore, their names appeared on the invitation. Not always the case anymore. The groom's parents my be contributors or the bride and groom might be funding the nuptials themselves.
2. Listing your registry information or stating to your guests that you only want monetary gifts (wishing well) within your invitation ensemble is poor etiquette. That type of information can be expressed verbally through parents, bridal party members, or list it on your wedding website.
3. Mail your invitations at minimum 8 weeks before your wedding date with the respond date listed 2-3 weeks before the wedding date. This will allow enough time to get those infamous seating arrangements together.
4. Spell out all dates, times and places on the wedding invitations. Example - Saturday, May twenty-ninth, Two thousand and twelve, Four-thirty in the afternoon, Swissotel Chicago.
5. If you are not inviting children to the wedding reception, it is appropriate to say "Adult Reception" or address the invitation to the parents only - "Mr. & Mrs. Doug Johnson" instead of "Johnson Family".
6. It's a thoughtful gesture to allow single individuals to bring a guest by stating "Miss Brenda Douglas and Guest", but if you can't afford the additional plate, don't sweat it...invite just Brenda.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - Joie de Vie Paperie)