Spring 2010, p. 15 so tasty
Harbour Banquet Oakville Press Centre
We try to make our website as informative as possible however, certain promotions and communications are better relayed through our social media channels. Please feel free to join/follow us and we will be sure to keep you on top of the latest news at Edge Hospitality!
WEDDING FAQ’s
Favors/Bridesmaids Gifts
Finding industry information for favors also presents difficulties: the biggest of which is that the choice of favor is individual—it could be anything the bride/groom chooses. There may be things that are more likely to be chosen (picture frames, jewelry, etc.) but these items are not solely for the wedding industry. There is no way to distinguish between those that are bought for weddings and those that are not. Also, the places where favors or gifts can be bought is not limited to the “wedding favor store.” Most stores sell a variety of products and will not mark items specifically as “wedding favors.” There may be estimates of the average amount that a bride spends per party favor/gift, but such “averages” fail to take into account the number of people to whom she is giving a gift – which can vary from one to five to eight, and on up. Searching through publications geared to gift markets may be one way to find information on such gifts.
I do not plan on attending a wedding. Do I still give a gift?
Usually, if you receive an invitation, a gift is given. However, if you don’t know the couple well or you can’t afford to send something, then you don’t have to. It is courteous, however, to at least send a card with a personal note of congratulations.
Should you decide to provide a gift and are not sure of what to buy the couple, try calling a family member or someone in the Bridal Party to see if they are registered and then choose something nice (and personal). If you are good friends with the couple then use your imagination! I always prefer giving something personal as anyone can go out and buy towels or a toaster but if you truly think about the couple (and know them well enough to have some kind of idea) then use your imagination to put something special and personal together.
Some considerations can be romantic gourmet items such as champagne and chocolates and a couple of candles, some massage oil and bubble bath, a few gift vouchers out for nice dinners (www.compassrestaurant.ca).
Should you be on a budget you can also enclose a small card within the RSVP that you are so very sorry you cannot attend their big day but as a gift you are going to take the happy couple out to dinner (or cook for them at home) after they return from their honeymoon to catch up on everything you missed and to view the photographs and video etc and to spend time with them.
What is an appropriate gift for a couple having been previously Married?
How about a gift certificate? You can get one to a department store or a specialty store, such as a sporting goods store.
I have a few ideas that I’ve heard of that may be appropriate. One is to buy them cooking classes together. Instead of just handing them a gift certificate though, you can buy a wooden spoon and attach a card that says what you’ve got them, to make it original. Or, maybe dancing lessons for them to take advantage of before the wedding. Anything that focuses on the two of them together. Or, if it’s someone you’re willing to invest a little money in, how about a nice set of luggage? I hope you figure it out! Good luck!
Is it ok to invite a friend but insist that they come alone, ie. no significant others?
You are within your rights to invited single people “singly”, if that is your preference. The invitation inner envelope would have only their name, no “and guest” notation.
(I am speaking of TRULY SINGLE people here. This would not be appropriate, however, for engaged couples—both should be included, or neither—or for people who date exclusively and whom you know. If you exclude, for example, the girlfriend of a close friend, that will appear rude.)
There have been many single guests at weddings and have found that they are sat at a table with other singles. This scenario has typically been fun and exciting for them!
If only your name appears on the envelope, then only you are invited. I would not contact the bride. She apparently assumes that since you received mixed messages with the invitation and RSVP, that you would follow generally accepted protocol and not bring a guest if your invitation did not indicate you could. If you don’t feel comfortable traveling to the wedding alone, your friend might go with you to the ceremony but not attend the reception or you might decline and choose not to make the trip.
Is it proper to invite people to the ceremony and not the reception
According to etiquette, everyone who attends the ceremony should be invited to the reception. It is acceptable to have a small ceremony and a large reception, but not the other way around. One way to handle the problem is to have a cake and punch reception at the church immediately following the ceremony for all of the guests followed by a private reception for close friends and family. However, there will still be some who will be offended when they learn that they were not included to the second reception.
How should I choose my bridal party? Is it important for the bridal party to be even?
It is fine to have an uneven number of attendants. When they enter, have the guys walk in with the groom and the girls walk in by themselves. When they exit, the last bridesmaid can be escorted out by two groomsmen. She should walk to the center, in front of the aisle, turn to face the guests, and pause. Then the first groomsman will step behind her and to her left side, while the second groomsman steps directly to her right side. As for the first dance, that is only for the bride and groom. You do not need to have a wedding party dance if you don’t want one or if it is inconvenient. Most couples today only focus on the couple’s dance and the father-daughter dance and sometimes a groom and mother dance. If you want to have a wedding party dance, let each member of the wedding party choose their own partner, including choosing their spouse or date. They do not have to dance only with another member of the wedding party.
Autumn 2010, p. 45 edition
Winter 2009, p. 5 edition
Bellisima, Summer front page
