Today’s question tackles the often-debated bridal shower guest list. Who gets the final say: the bride or the hostess? Cheryl offers some clear guidelines and practical advice to help bickering brides and their hostesses. Dear Cheryl, My mother and sister are throwing me my bridal shower and asked that we go over the invite list.… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Who Gets the Final Say on the Bridal Shower Guest List?
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: How to Handle a Giftless Guest
When a guest doesn’t bring a gift, are brides obligated to write a note thanking her attending? Cheryl gives two options for how to handle a gifteless guest. Dear Cheryl, My daughter is writing thank you cards for gifts received at her bridal shower. She informed me that she did not receive a gift from… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How to Handle a Giftless Guest
Ask Cheryl: Do Bridal Shower Guests Also Need to Be Invited to the Wedding?
It seems like every wedding involves at least one difficult invitation situation. How should the mother of the bride handle someone who offers to host a shower, but wasn’t included on the wedding guest list? Dear Cheryl, Like most couples, our daughter and future son-in-law have had to limit the guest list for various reasons,… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Do Bridal Shower Guests Also Need to Be Invited to the Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: Who Should Be Invited to a Bridal Shower?
Guest lists are tricky, but this is one question that can be answered with clear-cut guidelines. Hi Cheryl, My co-worker is throwing a wedding shower for me and has asked me for a list of people to invite. My whole work team will be invited to the wedding, so I will only include female team… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Who Should Be Invited to a Bridal Shower?
Ask Cheryl: Can I Give a Group Bridal Shower Gift?
Hi Cheryl, I’ve received an invitation to the bridal shower of my brother-in-law’s bride-to-be. This is his third marriage and her second. My three daughters are also invited, two of whom are in college. My youngest is a junior in high school. None of my daughters are working regularly. I planned to give a cashmere… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Can I Give a Group Bridal Shower Gift?
Ask Cheryl: How Do I Handle a Giftless Wedding Guest?
It’s all too common: a wedding guest shows up to the wedding, but never sends a gift. Is it ever appropriate to say something? Cheryl weighs in. Dear Cheryl, My cousin and his wife came to our son’s wedding but did not give a card or gift. Do I say something or just let it… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Handle a Giftless Wedding Guest?
Ask Cheryl: Who Should I Invite to My Bachelorette Party?
The bachelorette party has become a huge production in recent years. What once was a fun night out with the bridesmaids has become an extravagant (and expensive) weekend-long trip. With the new bachelorette party comes new questions, like who should be invited? Hi Cheryl, What is the etiquette on inviting friends to a bridal shower… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Who Should I Invite to My Bachelorette Party?
Ask Cheryl: Do I Have to Invite the Crazy Relative to My Wedding?
Every family has its quirky members, but is it ever ok to exclude them from the wedding guest list? Today, Cheryl offers her tips for hard-to-handle guests. Dear Cheryl, We’re in a bit of situation with our brother-in-law. At our daughter’s wedding, his behavior was so obnoxious that we decided to leave him out of… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Do I Have to Invite the Crazy Relative to My Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: Should Future Grandmas Invite Each Other to Baby Showers They are Hosting?
Today we’re tackling two hot topics when it comes to baby showers: who should host; and who should be invited. With two future grandmas hosting separate events, Cheryl advises how best to handle the question of whether it’s appropriate for the grandmas-to-be to invite one another. Hi Cheryl, Both the future grandmas are holding separate… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Should Future Grandmas Invite Each Other to Baby Showers They are Hosting?
Ask Cheryl: What’s Worse Than a Bridezilla? Two!
I’m often asked about etiquette for same-sex weddings. Are there differences? I’ve found that in general, the etiquette questions and dilemmas are the same no matter who is saying, “I do!” Take, for example, this question from a couple who finds themselves taking orders from two bossy brides. Dear Cheryl, I am writing on behalf… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: What’s Worse Than a Bridezilla? Two!
Ask Cheryl: Can I Invite a Friend to My Niece’s Bridal Shower?
We hear this question quite often, and the answer never changes. Read on to find out more! Hi Cheryl, I am attending my niece’s bridal shower. Is it proper to ask the host, my sister-in-law, if I can invite a close friend of mine to attend? Thanks, Yvonne Hi Yvonne, Thank you for writing! The… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Can I Invite a Friend to My Niece’s Bridal Shower?
Ask Cheryl: Should Mother of the Groom Invite Close Friends to Son’s Second Wedding?
The topic of second marriages comes up frequently in the Ask Cheryl mailbox. Hopefully, this week’s question and answer will clear up questions about invitation and gift-giving etiquette. Hi Cheryl,My son is getting married for the second time, but this is his fiancé’s first wedding. Should I invite my close friends to his second wedding… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Should Mother of the Groom Invite Close Friends to Son’s Second Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: How Much to Spend on a Gift for an Acquaintance?
When you’re invited to celebrate the wedding of someone who isn’t a family member or close friend, choosing an appropriate wedding gift can be tricky. Read on for my advice. Dear Cheryl, I’ve been invited to the second wedding of someone I would consider to be an acquaintance, but not a personal friend. The bride-to-be… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Much to Spend on a Gift for an Acquaintance?
Ask Cheryl: Which Traditions Should We Keep for our Second or Third Weddings?
Traditions like throwing the bouquet and cutting the cake are celebratory, but are they appropriate beyond the first wedding? Dear Cheryl, My upcoming marriage will be my third, and my fiance’s second. We originally planned to have a small gathering, but because of the size of his family it is turning into a larger celebration.… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Which Traditions Should We Keep for our Second or Third Weddings?
Who Traditionally Throws A Baby Shower? Is It Okay For A Family Member To Host?
Baby showers became popular during the baby boom era of the 1950s as a way help new moms prepare. They are also a way for family and friends to celebrate the new arrival. Today, in addition to traditional baby showers, many are opting to host a “Sprinkle” (for encore babies) or a “Sip and See”… Continue reading Who Traditionally Throws A Baby Shower? Is It Okay For A Family Member To Host?
Ask Cheryl: Should I Return the Engagement Ring?
When a couple chooses to call off their wedding, there are many practical as well as emotional implications. Today, we address the engagement ring: who keeps it? Dear Cheryl, My fiancé and I have decided to call off our wedding by mutual agreement. Am I now expected to return my engagement ring? Please advise. -Samantha… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Should I Return the Engagement Ring?