Etiquette For Brides Before the Wedding

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Etiquette is a guide for behavior, not a law. Use bridal etiquette as guide, do not adhere the rules blindly, as each family and situation is unique and apply your common sense whenever required.

Etiquette to register
Registries are a great way to let people know what sort of things you would like as wedding gifts. But gifts are not mandatory for the guests to bring. Never demand or ask any guests to give you a specific thing.

The maid of honor (bridesmaid) usually throws the bridal shower, which also includes the bridal shower themes. She can be the bride's relative or friend. If there is more than one bridal shower, each shower would have a different hostess.

Bridesmaid's etiquette dictates that the maid of honor has some important duties to perform such as-

1. Hosting a bridal shower
2. Attending all prenuptial parties
3. Helping the bride in the weeks of planning before the ceremony
4. Helping the bride to pack her luggage
5. Giving the bride moral support
6. Assisting the bride wherever she needs
7. Witness and sign the marriage certificate after ceremony.

The bridal shower guest list
Bridal etiquette says all those invited to the shower should be on the wedding guest list. It is a poor etiquette to invite someone to the shower and exclude her from the big day itself. The guest list should include-

1. Mother of the bride and groom
2. Grandmothers or great grandmothers of either side
3. Cousins, aunts
4. Bridesmaids
5. Friends of the bride and their family
6. Female colleagues of the bride

Etiquette to send an invitation
Each person invited should be sent with a separate invitation and it should be done about a month before the party. The invitation card should include-

# Bride's name
# Date and time of the bridal shower
# Address/venue
# Phone number of the hostess
# Map or direction to the exact location

You must take proper care regarding the invitation wordings.

Etiquette to play games
Playing games help guests to interact with each other. In fact, bridal shower games are great ways to let your guests get to know each other and know more about the bride and groom. It is usual to give small gifts for the winners of the games played at the party.

Etiquette to write a thank you card

A thank you card should always be handwritten.
Thank your friends for the parties and the showers that they have arranged for you.
Thank your guests for the gifts that you have received.
Write your new address on the thank you cards.

This thank you notes should be sent within one week of the ceremony. This is the only way of telling someone who has given you a gift of how much you appreciate it.

Finally, bridal etiquette means being sure to include the wedding party and the mothers of both bride and groom in shower in some way. Ask each person to take some responsibility to make the occasion a memorable one.

Lyn Adams is the publisher of the wedding resource magazine Orange County Brides. She has launched the online resource for Orange County Weddings that contain a list of all orange county wedding resources.