Wedding Invitations

Once in a blue moon two engaged relatives will accidentally plan their wedding on the same day or around the same time as one another. Perhaps it was even done on purpose out of spite or competition. Let’s hope not though.  This doesn’t happen too often but when it does, it can be a little awkward, discouraging or even convenient depending on the situation.  This is when it’s vital to keep the lines of communication open.

If both engaged parties live in the same general location, it may actually be more convenient for the mutual guests. Chances are the parties share many of the same family and friends. This will allow their traveling guest’s to save some money. Make one trip vs two separate trips.

Sometimes a simple “Oh oh we scheduled around (or on) the same date” will do the trick and the two parties naturally start working on solutions. But what if one party is stubborn? What if that’s the only time that will work for them?  Yikes!

If it was you, you may think “I shouldn’t have to revolve my wedding around their life”.
But before getting uptight, stubborn or jumping to conclusions, it is important to get as much information as you can. Simply ask why they choose that date. Why is it important to them? Why is this date so important to you? Both parties will need to let go of the pride and be as understanding and flexible as possible.

Thanks for reading this weeks wedding etiquette blog. Have a great weekend.

Wedding Etiquette as an unaccompanied wedding guest has its own implications.

I have some direct experience with this issue. Not all that long ago, I was invited to my cousin’s son’s wedding.

The wedding ceremony was great, but I was one of the few guests who came alone.

I could have brought a guest, but I didn’t know if that was encouraged or not.

Not being crass enough to call my cousin and ask if that would have been OK, I attended all by myself (not a problem, especially since I danced off about five extra pounds at the post-wedding reception).

But that got me to thinking- what is the Wedding Etiquette way of determining if it is OK to bring a guest to the wedding?

I put the matter out of my mind until I recently read a Q-A from TheKnot.com on this very issue.

The question was: “I’ve been invited to a friend’s wedding, but I don’t want to go alone. Is it okay to bring a date?”

Some wise advice was provided by Lisa Carse, who supplied the answer from The Knot to the website of WABC-TV, New York.

“Check your invitation envelope. Does it just say your name or does it say your name “plus guest”? If yours is the only name on the envelope, then you’re the only one who’s been officially invited. Resist the urge to ask the couple if you can bring a guest anyway.

“Instead, figure out who else might be attending the wedding solo and plan your transportation (and accommodations) with them, if possible. If it’s still too uncomfortable to attend alone, then you can politely decline the invitation.”

(The Knot, via WABC-TV, New York)

When do you need wedding announcements?
If your circle of friends and relatives is larger than the list you intend to
invite to you wedding ceremony, or if you have a private wedding, you will want
to send an announcement of your wedding in the place of wedding invitations.

Also if you are having a destination wedding, obviously many of your friends
will not be able to attend. In this case you would want to send out wedding
announcements to let them know that you got married. You might include an
invitation for a celebration back home which they could attend to help you
celebrate at a later date.

Why is it proper to send wedding announcements?
Wedding Announcements include the wedding date, but never the time or location
of ceremony. They should be mailed the day of the wedding.