Congratulations! Your baby just got engaged! Unless you’ve been through this before, you are probably wondering, what do I do now? You are a very significant part of the big day. (But I didn’t have to tell you that.) My daughter recently got married, and someone said to me, “You are the second most important… Continue reading 9 Wedding Tips for the Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom
Author: Cheryl Seidel
Cheryl is a happily married mom to two adult children and has recently enjoyed being a mother-of-the-bride. Her background in product development and marketing led Cheryl to create RegistryFinder.com, a search engine for gift registries, in 2012. Long considered a gift-giving and gift etiquette expert, her firm belief is that gifting should be fun, easy, and stress-free! Readers regularly write to Cheryl about their etiquette questions and she answers them here on our blog.
Ask Cheryl: Mother of the Bride meets Mother of the Groom – Is a Gift Appropriate?
Some personalities love giving gifts to make others feel welcome—but is this practice ever over the top? Hi Cheryl, I’m meeting the groom’s mom for the first time at the bridal salon where my daughter is selecting her wedding dress. I want to make the groom’s mom feel comfortable and welcomed. Do I give a… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Mother of the Bride meets Mother of the Groom – Is a Gift Appropriate?
AskCheryl: What’s an Appropriate Engagement Party Gift?
Did you know that over 40% of all marriage proposals occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day? With so many engagements on the horizon, I’ll be asked many questions about engagement gifts and engagement party etiquette. Today’s question comes from a guest who wants advice about selecting an engagement gift for a friend. Hello Cheryl, What… Continue reading AskCheryl: What’s an Appropriate Engagement Party Gift?
Ask Cheryl: Should Guests be Invited to Multiple Bridal Showers?
While it may seem that “anything goes” regarding wedding etiquette these days, there are a few firm rules about guest lists and gift obligations. Dear Cheryl, My daughter has already had one shower which included me, her sisters, her bridesmaids and their mothers. Now she is having another shower given by an aunt and she… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Should Guests be Invited to Multiple Bridal Showers?
Ask Cheryl: How Do I Invite Guests to a Welcome Party?
The day before the “big day” is often busy: out-of-town guests arrive, the couple and their bridal party run through the ceremony rehearsal, and the groom’s parents often plan a rehearsal dinner. Amid all the hustle and bustle of the night before, welcome parties have become a relaxed way for guests to mingle with other… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Invite Guests to a Welcome Party?
Ask Cheryl: How Much Should I Give for a Second Marriage?
It’s very common to receive an invitation to an “encore” wedding – the wedding of a couple getting married for the second or even third time. Choosing the perfect gift can be challenging, especially when it’s not their first time celebrating this special occasion, and it’s normal to wonder how much to spend. Dear Cheryl,… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Much Should I Give for a Second Marriage?
Ask Cheryl: How Many Should Be Invited to a Bridal Shower?
Is it just me, or have you noticed that bridal showers are becoming larger and larger? Today, I advised a concerned hostess on how to handle a ballooning guest list. Read on for my tips and the etiquette behind why showers shouldn’t feel like mini-weddings. Dear Cheryl, I’m co-hosting a bridal shower for my niece… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Many Should Be Invited to a Bridal Shower?
AskCheryl: How Late Can I Send a Baby Gift?
Today’s reader is embarrassed because she is late sending a baby gift. We’ve all been there – maybe we forgot, procrastinated, or had an excellent reason. Read on for my advice to her. How long after a baby’s birth can we send a newborn gift? We intended to do so and even bought the gift,… Continue reading AskCheryl: How Late Can I Send a Baby Gift?
Ask Cheryl: My Husband Invited to a Wedding Without Me!
My husband received a wedding invitation via social media from his stepdaughter (from a previous relationship). In the online RSVP process, only his name was found. He said he would contact her and straighten it out. I think this was intentional and disrespectful, even though we have been married for almost fifteen years. How do… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: My Husband Invited to a Wedding Without Me!
Ask Cheryl: Do the Groom’s Parents Give a Gift to the Bride’s Parents?
Hi Dana, It is rarely “wrong” to give someone a gift, but it might be awkward in this case. It’s not customary for the groom’s parents to give the bride’s parents a gift at either the rehearsal dinner or the wedding. Traditionally, the groom’s parents host and pay for the rehearsal dinner. I don’t recommend… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Do the Groom’s Parents Give a Gift to the Bride’s Parents?
Ask Cheryl: How Do I Tell My Bridesmaid that her Boyfriend is not Invited to the Wedding?
Dear Cheryl, I’m getting married next year and a very good friend of mine is a bridesmaid. We have been friends for over 20 years. She has already bought her dress. My question is how do I tell her that her boyfriend of over 2 years isn’t welcome? He has a drinking problem and we… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Tell My Bridesmaid that her Boyfriend is not Invited to the Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: Is a Honeymoon Registry Tacky?
Dear Cheryl, My daughter was considering her wedding registry options. She asked me if including a honeymoon registry was tacky. What do you think? Jerri Hi Jerri, Before electronic transfers became the norm, many wedding guests enjoyed giving cash or a check as a wedding gift, hoping the couple could use it on their honeymoon.… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Is a Honeymoon Registry Tacky?
Wedding Etiquette Question: What Costs Should the Bride Cover for Her Bridesmaids?
Being asked to be a bridesmaid for a friend’s wedding is exciting. But when the questions of travel, lodging, the bachelorette party, and the wedding day itself arise, the bridesmaid may wonder, “Am I supposed to pay for that?” Money conversations are always awkward, but before you say yes to the honor of being a… Continue reading Wedding Etiquette Question: What Costs Should the Bride Cover for Her Bridesmaids?
Ask Cheryl: Are Aunts Expected to Host a Bridal Shower?
Hi Cheryl, I am officiating my niece’s wedding and am wondering if it’s appropriate, or expected, for me to help pay for the bridal shower? I already donated $100 toward the shower and bought a gift. There are only a few bridal attendants: 2 bridesmaids, a junior bridesmaid, and a flower girl, so expenses for… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Are Aunts Expected to Host a Bridal Shower?
Ask Cheryl: How Do I Share My Wedding Registry?
Hi Cheryl, How do I share my wedding registry with our friends and family? I want to make sure they know where we’re registered. Thanks, Brenda Hi Brenda, When it comes to informing your family and friends where you are registered, of course, we hope you will tell them to find you on RegistryFinder.com. It’s… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Share My Wedding Registry?
Etiquette Guide: When Are Baby Gifts Required?
A baby’s entry into the world is definitely a cause for celebration, but with all the different parties and occasions, it’s not always clear when you’re expected to give a baby gift. You may be invited to multiple gatherings, so when should you bring a gift? And what is the etiquette of baby gift-giving? Below… Continue reading Etiquette Guide: When Are Baby Gifts Required?