Etiquette

Do you know the proper wedding etiquette? Read below to find out!                                                                                                                                    The proper etiquette for informing friends and guests about your registry is to ask your bridesmaids, mothers and relatives to spread the word.   Is is proper to include the phrase "Registered at__________" on your shower invitations and any communications regarding the wedding other than the wedding invitation.  It is NOT proper to include registry information with your wedding invitations.

The wedding ring must not be put above the engagement ring.  The wedding band is worn at the base of the finger.  On her wedding day a bride either leaves her engagement ring at home when she goes to the church or she wears it on her right hand.  Afterwards she wears it above her wedding ring.

The bride is on her fathers (or whoever escorts her) left arm coming down the aisle.  She does take her place at the grooms left during the ceremony, but when she comes back down the aisle she is then on her husbands right arm.  She always stands to his right at the reception.

It is the duty of the ushers to show all guests to their places.  An usher offers his right arm to each lady as she arrives, whether he knows her personally or not.  He asks of their preference of seating, the bride's side or the groom's side.   Members of the two families and a few most interested friends are seated in the front reserved pews.  All of the other guests are seated according to the general rule of first come first served.   It would be most helpful to have someone in the vestibule to identify family members and point these out to the ushers so that the proper seating is achieved.

The groom's mother is escorted up the aisle on the arm of an usher, usually the head usher,with the groom's father following behind.  They are seated in the second pew on the right. The first pew remains empty.  The bride's mother is then escorted to her seat. (second pew on the left).  No person should be seated after the entrance of the mother of the bride.

Whichever the direction of the receiving line, the bride always stands to her husband's right.  There is no rule as to whether the bride or groom is greeted first.

The maid of honor stands at the right of the bride.  (receiving line).  Usually the bridesmaids stand at the right of the maid of honor, but can be split with half standing to the left of the groom.

The Brides Parents Table.  The groom's mother sits on the right of the bride's father, and opposite them the groom's father next to the mother of the bride.  The other places at the table are occupied by distinguished guests including the clergyman who performed the ceremony and, if married, his wife.   He is seated at the left of the hostess and she at the bride's father's left.   Otherwise only especially intimate friends of the bride's parents are invited to this table.

If the reception is to be held away from the church, the best man sees the bride and groom into their vehicle.

The Second Marriage.  The fact that a bridegroom has been married previously has no bearing on the wedding preparations which may be made by his maiden bride.  More information and etiquette on this subject at Getting Remarried.Com

The Marriage of a Widow differs from that of a maid in that she cannot wear a bridal veil, orange blossoms, or a myrtle wreath, which are emblems of virginity; nor does she have bridesmaids, though she may have a maid or matron of honor.  She may if she chooses, wear all white.  When she becomes engaged, she should either remove or transfer her first wedding and engagement rings to the third finger of her right hand.  Both of these rings are removed before the second marriage.  In time, with no objection from her new husband, she may wear the first engagement ring  on her right hand.

The Marriage of a Divorcee.  Whether or not a divorcee may be married in her church depends upon the circumstances of her divorce and the approval of her clergyman.  She may not wear a typical white bridal dress and veil.  If she prefers to wear white, it should be a simple street length style.   Otherwise she chooses any style of dress she prefers.  Engraved invitations are not in good taste, handwritten notes are best.

The Double Wedding.  At a double wedding, the two bridegrooms follow the clergyman and stand side by side, each with his best man behind him;  the groom of the older sister nearer the aisle.  Then come the bridesmaids of the older sister followed by her maid of honor.  The older sister follows on her father's arm.  Then come the bridesmaids of the younger sister, her maid of honor and last the younger bride on the arm of a brother, uncle, or nearest male relative.  The first couple ascend the chancel steps and take their places at the left side side of the altar rail, leaving room at the right side for the younger bride and her bridegroom.  The father stands just below his oldest daughter.  The brother takes his place in the first pew.  The ceremony is a double one, read to both couples, with particular responses made twice.  The father gives both brides away, the older daughter first, then the youngest.  He then takes his place in the first pew beside his wife.  At the end of the ceremony, the older sister and her husband goes down the aisle first, then the younger couple.  The bridesmaids of the older are followed by the younger.

Seating parents at a double wedding.  One difficulty of a double wedding is the seating of the parents of the two bridegrooms, who must either share the first pew or draw lots for the occupation of first or second - which questions they must decide for themselves.  Occasionally the brides are cousins, in which case the front pew on the bride's side must be shared by both mothers, the older sister,or sister-in-law,being given the aisle seat.

More than One Maid and/or Matron of Honor. Some brides have two or three close friends or sisters and want to include all of them.   List them in your wedding program and the reason why you selected them.  The best man can escort both on the recessional, one on each arm.