The Wedding Zone.

Wedding information - From engagement to honeymoon

Wedding Etiquette and Protocol for The Wedding Service and Wedding Reception

Weddings are surrounded by many traditions and protocol known as wedding etiquette. Whilst many of these have been discarded of late, etiquette still plays a large part in the wedding ceremony.

Even if there is a break with traditional wedding etiquette, it's still a good idea to know what is expected.

Here is a guide to who does what:

The Best Man - Wedding Etiquette

The Best Man should be the busiest of all - playing a large part in helping to ensure all arrangements have been made. This includes the stag night, supervising the ushers, driving the bridegroom to the wedding, and paying all the necessary fees on the bridegroom's behalf. The best-known function is to stand on the groom's right hand during the ceremony and pass the ring to the vicar or registrar when asked. The best man should look after transport to the reception and makes sure everyone gets there.

Wedding Protocol - At the reception, it is the best man who, with the bride and groom greets the guests, makes a speech replying to the groom, reads Emails, telemessages and cards and arranges and announces the cutting of the cake.

 

The Bride - Wedding Etiquette

THe Bride names date of the wedding and the type of ceremony. Both she and the groom are expected to greet guests at the reception.

The Bride's Father - Wedding Etiquette

The Father of the Bride usually accompanies the bride to the ceremony, down the aisle and gives the bride away - He makes the first speech at the reception after the wedding breakfast.

The Bridegroom - Wedding Etiquette

Bridegroom Etiquette - He makes a speech in reply to the bride's father, in which he thanks the bride's parents and guests and toasts the bridesmaids.

Bridesmaid-in-Chief - Wedding Etiquette

The Bridesmaid-in-Chief should help dress the bride, organise the other bridesmaids, hold the bride's bouquet during the service and help the bride to change after the ceremony.

Ushers - Wedding Etiquette

Wedding Ushers - They hand out wedding service sheets and show guests to their seats at the ceremony.

Who Pays For What:

Wedding Protocol - There are no hard and fast rules about who pays for what, but it is as well to decide in advance who is! This avoids any confusion or embarrassment on the day.

 

The Bride's Parents -

Engagement and wedding announcements, bride's dress, sometimes bridesmaids' dresses, wedding stationery, flowers, photography, reception, transport and the wedding cake.

The Groom -

Pays for the engagement and wedding rings, all church and licence fees, the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets, flowers for both mothers, buttonholes for himself and the best man and the ushers, transport for himself and the best man, gifts for bridesmaids and best man and the honeymoon.

The Order of Service:

The vicar will give plenty of advice on hymns to choose, but basically the order of service is as follows:

Introductory Medley

Entrance of the bride, referred to as the processional

Hymns, marriage vows and prayers

Hymn or psalm blessing

Signing the register

Recessional (leaving the venue)

As the wedding party leaves the wedding venue, the order should be: Bride and Groom followed by the bridesmaid-in-chief and best man, the bride's mother and bridegroom's father, the bridegroom's mother and bride's father, the bridesmaids and other attendants.

At The Wedding Reception:

Wedding Reception Protocol

The bridal party usually greets the guests as they arrive at the reception and they are offered a drink.

Wedding etiquette for greeting arriving guests at the wedding reception - The receiving line order is as follows:
Bride's Mother
Bride's Father
Groom's Mother
Groom's Father
Bride
Groom
Chief Bridesmaid
Best Man

At less formal reception the guests may be greeted by just the bride and groom.

 

Top Table Seating - Wedding Etiquette

The bride and groom sit together in the centre the bride is seated on the groom's left - To the bride's left is her father, the groom's mother and the best man.

To the bridegroom's right is the bride's mother, bridegroom's father and bridesmaid-in-chief.

The main thing to remember is that not all weddings days go according plan! Small details will change and may cause some tension - so make sure you all enjoy yourself and don't let any petty arguments over who does what and when get in the way of the big day.

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