Wedding Etiquette 101

Being a part of a wedding ceremony can bring with it a level of anxiety, especially if you have never been in one before.

There are a number of old wives tails and myths that many people still believe today. In this article you will learn what the proper etiquette is for today's weddings and receptions.

A long standing common belief is the bridesmaids should pay for their own hair and make-up. Today's bride needs to be aware of the expenses involved with participating in a wedding. Especially if there is travel involved as well as clothing needed for parties and showers since the costs can add up pretty quick.

There isn't a traditional protocol but if you want specific hair and make-up for your bridesmaids then the bride should pick up the expense for these services.

How much should a bride expect a bridesmaid to spend on their dress? Again, expenses can add up fast and this should be taken into consideration especially with people in their 20's and 30's since many are invited to participate in a number of weddings in a years time. This can lead to financial stress so it's a good idea to keep this in mind.

Chose a dress for the bridesmaids that is reasonably priced. Ask the attendees what they consider to be a reasonable cost for the dress since the bride is not required to pay for them.

If the bride is wanting a more expensive dress to be worn by the bridesmaids, she should consider paying the difference. Perhaps the bride could pay for the cost of the shoes and jewelry depending on the financial situation of the bridesmaids.

Many people believe the brides parents are required to pay for most of the wedding and reception, however it's often necessary for both the grooms and brides family to pull their resources together to pay for the cost.

Today's couples are opting to pay their wedding and reception expenses themselves. They often work to save up for the cost of their wedding or share the expenses with the bride and grooms parents.

It is true that the bride and groom should not include with their wedding invitations, the registry information for gifts. By doing so, it puts too much emphasize on buying a gift. It's also somewhat tacky to include this in the invitations.

Word of mouth works well on letting others know about the registry and it can be placed on the wedding web-site instead. The registry can be included in the shower invitations since this is an event where gifts are expected.

It's false that a receiving line is required for a wedding reception of any size, no matter how small or how large. A bride and groom are not required to have a receiving line but they must greet each guest and thank them for attending.

The couple and hosts should be able to see and greet all the guests with smaller sized weddings. Weddings larger than seventy-five guests should have a receiving line to make sure all guests are seen and individually thanked.

The maid-of-honor and the bridesmaids are not required to host a shower for the bride. The bride should never ask for one to be hosted, however anyone in the wedding party can host or co-host a shower if they desire to do so.

Many people believe a bride and groom have one year from the date of their wedding to send out thank you cards. This is one of the many misconceptions regarding wedding etiquette.

Most people like to know their gift was received and appreciated long before one year. For wedding gifts you and your spouse received before the special day, it's suggested that a thank you note be written and sent immediately instead of waiting until after the event.

Send thank you notes for the wedding gifts you and your spouse received no later than 14 days from the time you return from the honeymoon.

Don't forget those people who arranged parties and showers for you. Thank you notes to these people should be sent as soon as possible after the event.

Some brides get their thank you cards together before the wedding so it's easier for them to write the notes and send them out in plenty of time.

Never use pre-printed thank you notes. Always hand write the thank you note and mention the item you received. This lets the recipient know you really appreciated their gift and is much more personal.

If you received money for a wedding gift, you should mention in the thank you note what you plan on doing with it such as adding it to the money you have been saving to purchase a home or to buy something you've had your eye on.

Common belief says if the bride does not yet have an engagement ring then she is not officially engaged. This is simply not true with today's bride. Many couples chose to get the ring after they announce the engagement.

Others decide to save for a more expensive ring and get it after the wedding. Some couples decide not to have rings at all. It is personal preference today and is a decision made by the couple.

In years past it was customary for the bride and groom to request some traditional household items with the registry they had chosen. Today, brides and grooms should register for things that make sense.

If traditional items such as linens, silverware and china are things you need then by all means include them with the registry. The bride and groom should chose a wide range of prices so it's affordable for everyone.

It's a myth the groom must spend one to two months of his salary on the engagement ring. There is actually no set amount and the ring does not have to be a diamond. It can be any gem or no gem at all. Today's groom should spend what he can afford to.