Wedding Etiquette

Something that I really am not great with is wedding etiquette. I think I am going to have to buy a book. More and more of my friends have been getting married these days (crazy time in my life! It was like yesterday and we were all still in high school!). It seems like with every wedding, I am a little puzzled by one issue or another.

First- gifts. Okay of course you should buy a gift. BUT- what if they invite you to their engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, and wedding? Do you bring a gift for all of these occasions? Should you just set a budget from the beginning and try to work in gifts from each category? Sometimes I would rather buy someone a big gift instead of several small gifts, but then you don't want to be the girl at the bachelorette party who shows up empty handed. What if the person planning the bachelorette party has spent a lot of money on the whole thing but never consulted anyone about how much they could pitch in? I went to an amazing bachelorette party that was so much fun, and I put in money for the whole thing, bought my dinner, bought drinks, and brought a gift, but I felt like I didn't give enough to the cause. I never knew before the party how much was being spent. That was really awkward and no one made me feel bad, but I wasn't prepared for the whole thing to be soo expensive. Should I feel bad about that? Or is it kind of on the planner, and polite guests should just give what they can? Especially if they're not consulted prior to the event?

Secondly- attire. I really enjoy the opportunity to get dressed up for any event, lets just be honest. But weddings are kind of hard to pick out clothes. First- no matter what the theme (except for the Barn Dance Themed reception I went to- which was super cute) people probably shouldn't ever wear jeans to a wedding. One wedding I had this really cute dress that was black at the top and white at the bottom. Did that violate the "don't wear white to a wedding" rule? I wore the dress anyway, and I don't think anyone even thought anything of it, but I worried a little beforehand.

Thirdly- Guests. Okay, can you assume that you're allowed to bring a guest? Sometimes the invitation will be made out to multiple people like "Shanna and Guest" or it just says Shanna. I've always assumed that I could bring a guest. A lot of times Danielle is my plus-one at a wedding. Who wants to go alone? But what if they haven't budgeted for me to bring a guest??

Finally- Facebook wedding invitations. I don't think there is any way on this planet I would attend a wedding that I was invited to on facebook. I mean, technology is great and all, but this is out of control. This has happened to me twice. I don't even know where to begin with this concept but that's just crazy. If I don't merit a stamp, I'm probably not coming.

That's just a short list of all the things that come to my mind when preparing for a wedding. I really do love weddings, but to a degree they stress me out!

Posted in: Being Engaged