Wedding Etiquette For Dummies

Wedding Etiquette for Dummies

The right way to do everything before you say "I do"

Planning a wedding should be fun, exciting, and worry–free but most brides, grooms, and their families run into sticky situations that aren′t so black and white. Whether it′s deciding how to handle divorced parents, dealing with bickering bridesmaids, or anything in between, Wedding Etiquette For Dummies gives you the tactful, proper way to handle any situation without losing your cool.

Engage in wedding etiquette from the start find out how to announce your engagement with elegance, decide who will pay for what, and wisely select your wedding party

Understand ceremony protocol discover helpful guidance on setting?the date, choosing a site, working with an officiant, and personalizing the ceremony to reflect your style

Perfect your reception plans find tips on selecting a location, working with your reception manager, putting together a seating chart, choosing a menu, and presenting proper favors

Manage details with your manners intact get advice on choosing wedding attire, composing your wedding invitations and announcements, and registering for gifts

Behave on the big day and beyond use practical information on how to tactfully greet guests, move through the processional and recessional, celebrate with class at your reception, write thank–you notes, and handle unexpected situations

Open the book and find:

Suggested wording for announcements and invitations

Guidance on writing your own vows

Etiquette for a variety of ceremony styles, from religious to civil and beyond

Tips on appropriately assembling your guest list

Rules for festivities before the wedding

Advice on working well with wedding vendors and planners

Special considerations for getting married the second time around

Introduction 1

Part I: Engaging in Proper Wedding Etiquette from the Start 5

Chapter 1: Incorporating Etiquette into Your Wedding 7

Chapter 2: Announcing Your Engagement with Elegance 13

Chapter 3: Tastefully Using Technology during Wedding Planning 31

Chapter 4: Deciding on Finances and Planning Responsibilities Upfront 39

Part II: The Main Event: Planning Your Ceremony and Reception 59

Chapter 5: Checking Out Ceremony Styles 61

Chapter 6: Nailing Down the Basics of Ceremony Protocol 77

Chapter 7: Perfecting Your Reception Plans 95

Part III: Working on Wedding Details with Your Manners Intact 113

Chapter 8: Putting Together Your Wedding Party 115

Chapter 9: Choosing Appropriate Wedding Attire and Doing So with Grace 135

Chapter 10: Assembling the Guest List 151

Chapter 11: Carefully Composing Your Invitations and Announcements 163

Chapter 12: Registering for Gifts and Giving Your Own 191

Chapter 13: Observing Etiquette Rules at Festivities before the Wedding 199

Part IV: Behaving on the Big Day and Beyond 209

Chapter 14: Minding Your Manners at the Ceremony 211

Chapter 15: Celebrating with Class at the Reception 231

Chapter 16: Acting Properly after the Wedding 245

Part V: The Part of Tens 253

Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Working with Your Vendors and Wedding Planner 255

Chapter 18: Nearly Ten Guidelines for Getting Married the Second Time Around 259

Index 263

Sue Fox is the author of Etiquette For Dummies and Business Etiquette For Dummies. She is the founder and president of The Etiquette Survival Group, a California–based professional development and publishing company.