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?

Flowergirl Responsibilities
You may choose one or two little girls to be flower girls. The best age range is between four and eight. (Although younger ones are cute, they can create some real challenges during a processional or ceremony.) If you choose two girls, it looks nice if they are about the same size, but that may not be possible. It can be a special honor for a child to be chosen as part of you wedding.

Advance Help the flowergirls...
Flower girls attend the shower and some pre-wedding parties. They attend the rehearsal and may attend the rehearsal dinner with their families. At the Wedding Flower girls walk directly in front of the bride in the processional and in front of the maid of honor in the recessional.As flower girls walk down the aisle, they may scatter flower or rose petals. If petals are not permitted, sometimes flower girls will hand out single flowers to guest as they walk, or they may just carry a bouquet, a ring of flowers or a pomander ball.

During the ceremony, flower girls may stand near the bridesmaids or may sit with their families. Younger ones probably will do better sitting with their families.They are in the formal photographs of the bridal parties.

At The Reception the flowergirls...
Flower girls do not usually sit at the bridal table however this is fine should you decde that you would like them to sit with the bridal party. Flower girls usually sit at a table of honor with their families rather than at the head table. Flower girls may dance with family members, friends or other members of the wedding party if they choose to do so.

Expenses the flowergirls...
Families of flower girls are expected to pay for dresses and other attire. Flower girls are not expected to bring a gift to pre-wedding parties they may attend. If their parents attend, gift expectations would be the same as any other guest. If they attend more than one shower or party, only one shower gift is expected. Flower girls are not responsible for helping financially with bridal shower.

Groomsmen Responsibilities
The number of groomsmen is usually determined by the size of the wedding. Groomsmen are usually brothers, relatives or best friends of the groom. In inviting people to serve as groomsmen, make sure that they are aware of the expenses involved. While it is not necessary to have an equal number if groomsmen and bridesmaids, it does balance nicely if they walk in pairs in either the processional or recessional.

Advance Help the groomsmen...
Groomsmen usually help the best man plan the bachelor party for the groom. Groomsmen attend pre-wedding parties.Groomsmen attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

At The Wedding the groomsmen...
They stand near the groom during the ceremony. They are in formal Photographs of the bridal party. They Escort the bridesmaids from the ceremony in the recessional. The best man usually keeps both the groom's and the bride's wedding rings for the bride and groom until the exchaning of the rings.

At The Reception the groomsmen...
Groomsmen are part of the bride partry therefore they are seated at the bridal trable. During the reception, groomsmen mingle with the guest. Groomsmen dance with the bridesmaids at the reception. They assist by encouraging single young men to participate in catching the garter.

Expenses the groomsmen...
Groomsmen pay for their own formalwear and accessories. Although groomsmen may attend several pre-wedding parties, only one shower gift and one wedding gift are to be expected. Groomsmen may share the cost of the bachelor party with the best man.

Responsibilities the usher...
The number of ushers is usually determined by the size of the wedding. Ushers are usually brothers, relatives or best friends of the groom. In inviting people to serve as ushers, make sure that they are aware of the expenses involved. Ushers distribute any programs or ceremony handouts at the ceremony. If there is a guest book at the ceremony, ushers direct guest to sign it.

Responsibilities the ringbearer...
Neither of these is required positions and may be boys or girls. Usually only one ring bearer is used, but two with one ring per pillow will work if you have and abundance of four or five year children that you would like to have involved in the ceremony. Although the rings on the pillows are usually not he actual wedding rings, you could have two ring bearers if you are having a double ring ceremony, one for the bride and one for the groom.

Advance Help the ringbearer...
If ring bearers are little boys they are not likely to be interested in any pre--wedding parties. If they are girls, they might want to attend the shower and some other parties. They attend the rehearsal and may attend the rehearsal dinner with their families. At the Wedding The ring bearers (s) carries a pillow with a ring or rings sewn to it. (These are usually not the real wedding rings but symbolic ones for show only.) The ring bearer (s) walks either directly in front of or besides the flower girl (s) in the processional and the recessional.

If real rings are tied to the pillow the ring bearer takes the pillow directly to the maid or honor and the best man who will remove the rings. The trainbearers follow the bride in the processional and recessional, and carry the bridal train. During the ceremony, the ring and train bearers may stand near the ushers or sit with their families. They are in the formal Photographs of the bridal party.

At The Reception the ringbearer...
Ring Bearers do not usually stand in the reception line. Ring bearers usually sit at a table of honor with their families.

Expenses the ringbearer...
Families of ring bearers are expected to pay for attire. Ring bearers are not expected to bring gifts to any pre-wedding parties they may attend. If their parents attend gifts expectations would be the same as any other guest. If they attend more than one party, only one shower gift is expected.