The Wedding Invitations and Announcements

envelope. The inner envelope is then
The
that offer a variety of different themes,
Wedding Invitations
designs, folds, trends, and beautiful
placed in the outer envelope with the
& Announcements
colors.
front of the inner envelope facing the
Q
back of the outer envelope.
. May guests be invited to a reception
Q. When should announcements be mailed?
Q
and not the wedding itself?
. When should wedding invitations be
A
ordered?
A. Yes, if the wedding service is attended
. Announcements should be mailed a
day or two after the wedding.
A
only by relatives and close friends.
. Invitations should be ordered when
all of the details of the ceremony and
Q. Are wedding announcements ever sent
reception have been confirmed.
to anyone who’s been invited to the
The Thank You Notes
Information such as the date, time
ceremony or reception?
and place of your service and
A
Q
. No. Wedding announcements are only
. Is it necessary to send a thank you note
reception, as well as an accurate guest
sent to those people who were not
to someone I have thanked in person?
list count are needed when placing
invited to the ceremony or reception.
your invitation order. You should order
A. It is considered socially correct to
invitations at least three months
always send a written thank you note
before the wedding.
Q. Are the wedding invitation envelopes
even if you have thanked someone in
person.
Q
addressed formally?
. When should wedding invitations be
mailed?
A
Q
. Yes. Abbreviations should not be used
. When should thank you notes be
A
except for Mr., Mrs., Jr. or Dr.
mailed?
. Invitations should be mailed
approximately 6 to 8 weeks before
Q. Is it correct to use “and family” when
A. A written thank you note should be
the ceremony.
addressing the invitation envelopes?
sent as soon as possible after receiving
Q
the gift, normally within 2 to 3 weeks
. Are any special arrangements made
A. No. Separate invitations should be sent
of receipt.
for out-of-town guests?
to adult family members living under
A
the same roof, whenever possible. For
Q. Is there a tactful way to thank someone
. It is a good idea to send a “save-the-
small children, address the outer
for a monetary gift?
date card” to your out-of-town guests.
envelope to their parents and write their
This card is usually sent four to six
A
first names on the inner envelope under
. When writing a thank you note for
months before the wedding. This is the
their parents’ name.
money, it is not necessary or advisable
first news your guests have of the
to mention the amount. Instead, refer
wedding. It typically includes
Q. What is the purpose of the tissue
to it as “your generous gift,” or
information about the wedding and any
included with my invitation order?
something similar; mention how you
special accommodations which you
plan to use the money, whether to
have made for them.
A. In the past, tissues were used to guard
purchase an appliance or to use in
Q
against ink smears. Today’s printing
some other way.
. What are considered traditional
methods ensure ink is dry before
invitations?
invitations leave the printing plant, so
A
the tissues are no longer necessary.
. Traditional invitations are white,
However, many continue to use the
The Wedding
ivory or ecru with a panel or without
tissue as part of their wedding
a panel. Traditional invitations can be
Q. How many ushers and bridesmaids are
ensemble for aesthetic reasons and for
thermographed or engraved.
needed?
the sake of tradition.
Thermographed (raised) printed
A. It depends on the size of the wedding.
invitations are less expensive and
Q. How should the invitation be inserted
Normally, there should be one usher for
imitate the look of engraving.
in the envelopes?
every 50 guests. The average wedding
Q. What are considered contemporary
A. The invitation is folded and put in the
party for formal or semi-formal is four
invitations?
inner envelope (the smaller envelope)
to six bridesmaids and ushers. A bride
A
does not need as many bridesmaids as
. Contemporary invitations are those
with the folded edge down and the front
of the invitation facing the back of the
ushers.

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Q. In a formal wedding, which side is
usually reserved for the bride’s family
and friends?
The Reception
A. The bride’s parents are seated on
the left side of the aisle and the groom’s
Q. At the bride and groom’s table, where
Planning
parents sit on the right side. (In some
does the bride sit?
synagogues this is reversed.)
A. The bride is seated on the groom’s
Q. What if a church has two center aisles?
right.
A. Pick one aisle and run the whole
Q. With divorced parents, who attends
the Perfect
wedding as though it were the only
the reception?
one, or use the right aisle for the
processional and the left for the
A. Both may attend if agreeable by all, or
recessional.
separate receptions may be given.
Q. Does the groom always kiss the
Q. Who reads congratulatory messages
bride at the altar?
aloud?
Wedding
A. The person performing the ceremony
A. The best man reads any congratulatory
will rule on it, according to the church
messages that are received.
practice.
Q. Who proposes the first toast?
To help you prepare for
one of the most memorable
Q. Is there a recessional at a home
wedding?
A. The best man proposes the first toast
days in your life, we have
to the bride and groom.
A. It is not necessary. The married
compiled a list of some of
couple may turn around after the
Q. Who cuts the first piece of cake?
the most commonly asked
ceremony and receive best wishes
A. The bride, with the groom’s right hand
from the guests.
over hers, cuts the first piece of cake.
questions of Brides-to-Be.
They break the slice and eat it together.
Q. Who gives the officiant his or her fee?
We have provided you with
A friend or waiter then takes over the
slicing of the cake.
answers from leading experts
A. The groom pays, but the best man
hands it over in a plain white envelope
in the Bridal Etiquette field.
before or after the ceremony.
Q. What happens at the reception if
other couples start dancing before the
bride and groom?
Q. Where does the wedding party stand
in the receiving line?
A. When the newlyweds appear, everyone
should stop dancing. Then the bride
A. The receiving line is in the back of the
church after the ceremony. The order
and groom waltz once around the floor
may vary, but usually the bride’s
solo.
Compliments of:
mother and father are first, followed
by the bride, groom and bridesmaids.
Q. Is the groom obligated to dance with
someone besides his bride?
The groom’s mother and father may
be included. The ushers and the best
A. Yes, the groom is obligated to dance
man do not stand in the receiving line.
(931) 363-3161
with his mother, mother-in-law, and the
maid of honor.
Info courtesy of Regency
Flower Wedding Line, Tempo
& Programs Galore

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