Wedding Etiquette

Cultural backgrounds and individual convictions heavily influence the decision-making in Wedding Etiquette. Nevertheless, the following is a general guide that should be construed as such... and adopted as you deem fit:

Who Pays For What?

The Bride typically pays for
The Wedding ring for the Groom
Gifts for the Bridal Party
The Wedding gift for the Groom

The Groom typically pays for
The Bride's rings including the Engagement ring
The honeymoon
Wedding gift for the bride
The marriage license
The Groom's men gifts
Wedding gift for the bride


The Groom's Family typically pays for
All drinks at reception
Wedding Cars
Rehearsal dinner
Fees, Flowers, Oganist for Church / Ceremony Costs

The Bride's Family typically pays for:
The costs of the reception.
The Bride's Wedding Dress & Accessories
Invitations, announcements, thank you notes
Photographer
Videographer
Bridesmaids, flower girl, ring bearer flowers and accessories
All Wedding Flowers

The Bridal Party typically pay for:
Their Wedding clothes or hire of clothing
Wedding gift for newlyweds

Maid/Matron of Honor responsibilities
The maid or matron of honor is usually a sister or very close friend. Choose some dependable. If you choose, you may have both a maid (single) and a matron (married) of honor takes precedence at the ceremony, signs as you legal witness.

Advance Help the maid of honor...
The maid of Honor may plan your wedding and take care of details for you. If she lives nearby she might help address invitations, plan pre-wedding parties, make favors or table decorations, and keep track of gifts received and thank you cards sent. The maid of honor usually hosts a bridal shower. The bride can delegate care of bridesmaid's fittings and details. She attends pre-wedding parties. She attends the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

At the Wedding the maid of honor...
The maid of honor helps the bride with dressing and assists with the, train, veil and holding the brides bouquet during the ceremony. She is responsible for having an emergency kit with miscellaneous items such as a needle and thread, extra nylons, a roll of tape etc. She walks in front of the bride in the processional and with the best man in the recessional and stands near the bride at the altar. She makes sure that all of the bride's clothing, make-up and personal belongings are removed from the changing room at the ceremony site and taken back to the bride's home. She helps to line up bridesmaids for formal photographs.

At the Reception the maid of honor...
The maid of honor is seated at the next to the bride. During the reception, she mingles with guest. She dances with the best man at the reception. She helps the bride with her train, fastening it to floor length so it is out of the way for dancing, if necessary. If the bride needs assistance in tossing her bouquet or in gathering single women to catch it, the maid of honor can help out. If requested, she helps the bride dress for the honey moon and makes sure the bridal gown and other personal clothing items are returned to the bride's home after the reception. She takes the bridal bouquet for preserving and may take the gown for heir looming while the bride is on her honeymoon.

Expenses the maid of honor...
The maid or matron of honor pays for her own dress and other attire. Although she may attend several pre-wedding parties, only one shower gift and one wedding gift are to be expected. She may share the cost of bridal shower.

Bridesmaid Responsibilities
Bridesmaids are usually close friends or family members. When inviting them, make them aware that there are costs involved as well as a time commitment. It is an honor to be asked, but may also be a financial burden. Make friends feel special when you invite them to be part of your wedding.

The number of bridesmaids usually depends on the formality of your wedding, with a dozen being the maximum for any wedding. Girls between 8 and 16 are considered to be junior bridesmaids. Junior bridesmaids are not expected to help with details as much as bridesmaids.

Advance Help the bridesmaids...
Bridesmaids help take care of details for the bride such as running errands, and making table decorations or favors. Bridesmaids usually join the maid of honor in hosting a bridal shower. Bridesmaids attend pre-wedding parties. Bridesmaids attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

At the wedding the bridesmaids...
Bridesmaids walk in the processional and recessional, either single file. They stand near the bride during the ceremony. They are in formal photographs of the bridal party.

At the Reception the bridesmaids...
Although bridesmaids may attend several pre-wedding parties, only one shower gift and one wedding gift are to be expected. Bridesmaids share the cost of the bridal shower with the maid of honor. The Bridesmaid are required to dance with their groomsmen partner with the bestman and maid of honor during the brial watlz after the bridal couple have danced it together.