When a couple chooses a small, destination wedding, family and friends might try to insist on traditional pre-wedding celebrations, like a bridal shower. How should couples handle the pressure to register and have showers when their wedding guest list is small? Cheryl offers her solution and the one etiquette rule that should never change with… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Etiquette of Having a Bridal Shower with a Small Destination Wedding 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 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, It’s best etiquette to wait until someone asks about your registry before sharing your list or preferences. But here are a few tips to help you spread… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Do I Share My Wedding Registry?
Ask Cheryl: Should I Return the Engagement Ring?
When an engagement is broken, who keeps the ring? Is it a question of etiquette or law? 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 in Florida Hi Samantha, I’m sorry to hear about your… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Should I Return the Engagement Ring?
Ask Cheryl: Father of Bride Can’t Afford to Travel to Destination Wedding
Dear Cheryl, My daughter has a 3rd wedding planned at a destination 1,000 miles from my home. She lives 20 minutes away from me. I am 80+ disabled and on Oxygen, and I have a very fixed limited income. It would take an entire Social Security check for me to fly to her wedding, not… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Father of Bride Can’t Afford to Travel to Destination Wedding
Ask Cheryl: How To Politely Communicate a Honeymoon Registry to Wedding Guests
Couples sometimes skip the traditional registry and register for experiences like a honeymoon. But how do you communicate a honeymoon registry to your guests? Hi Cheryl, I have a question regarding the bridal shower for my future daughter-in-law. Guests are asking what they can get her, but the bride said that she doesn’t need anything.… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How To Politely Communicate a Honeymoon Registry to Wedding Guests
Can You Register for Furniture? Wedding Registry Options for Big-Ticket Items
Dear Cheryl, My boyfriend was married and lost his wife to cancer. We are planning to get married, and I’m 48, which means I have most things already, and so does he. We will need big furniture pieces for our home together, not all the regular smaller appliances and house starter items. Can people give… Continue reading Can You Register for Furniture? Wedding Registry Options for Big-Ticket Items
Ask Cheryl: Dos and Don’ts for Mothers of the Groom (MOG)
Dear Cheryl, My son is getting married next year, and I’m unsure what my role should be. I want to be involved in and help with the wedding, but I don’t know where to start. Since we are paying for half of the wedding, shouldn’t I have a say in the planning? Thanks, Mother of… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Dos and Don’ts for Mothers of the Groom (MOG)
Ask Cheryl: Registry Info on a Wedding Announcement?
Over the past few years, many couples have chosen more intimate weddings and then informed family and friends of their nuptials with a printed wedding announcement. Should registry information be included in a wedding announcement? Should those receiving an announcement feel obligated to send a gift? Dear Cheryl, My niece’s son had a small outdoor… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Registry Info on a Wedding Announcement?
Ask Cheryl: How to Avoid Wedding Registry Blunders
Creating your ultimate wedding wishlist is a fun experience and the perfect opportunity to ask for unique gifts. But what should NOT be included in a wedding gift registry? Dear Cheryl, I want to include non-traditional items in my wedding registry; are there some things that I shouldn’t include? What should I stay away from?… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How to Avoid Wedding Registry Blunders
Ask Cheryl: Asking Wedding Guests to Pay for the Reception?
If a couple invites their wedding guests to dinner after the ceremony, should their guests be expected to pick up the tab? Hi Cheryl, A dear friend of mine is getting married for the third time and it’s the groom’s second marriage. They are having a ceremony at the beach with no reception. She said we would… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Asking Wedding Guests to Pay for the Reception?
Ask Cheryl: Appropriate Gifts for Wedding #2
What is an appropriate gift for a second or “encore” wedding? Read on for the answer. Dear Cheryl, My best friend’s son is getting married for the second time, but this is the bride’s first marriage. We are very close to these people, so what is appropriate for a gift? Thanks,-Rachel Dear Rachel, Being invited… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Appropriate Gifts for Wedding #2
Ask Cheryl: Is it Too Late to Celebrate Coworker’s Wedding?
The “workplace shower” is a somewhat modern practice that doesn’t always follow the traditional rules of wedding etiquette—and that’s okay! Dear Cheryl, My coworker got married two weeks ago. She didn’t invite me or anyone else from the office, and I completely understand given the high costs of weddings. Our coworkers never organized a shower… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Is it Too Late to Celebrate Coworker’s Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: Do I Have to Invite the Crazy Relative to My Wedding?
Every family has its quirky members, but is it ever okay to exclude them from the wedding guest list? Today, Cheryl offers her tips for handling difficult guests. Dear Cheryl, We’re in a bit of a situation with our brother-in-law. At our daughter’s wedding, his behavior was so obnoxious that we decided to leave him… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: Do I Have to Invite the Crazy Relative to My Wedding?
Ask Cheryl: How Much Should I Spend on a Second Bridal Shower Gift?
When your mailbox is filled with invitations for weddings and showers, gift-giving can seem overwhelming. Today, we’ve got good news for your budget if you’ve been invited to multiple showers for the same bride! Dear Cheryl, I was invited to two showers for the same bride. What amount should I spend on a second bridal… Continue reading Ask Cheryl: How Much Should I Spend on a Second Bridal Shower Gift?
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?
Ask Cheryl: Who Should I Invite to My Bachelorette Party?
In recent years, the bachelorette party has become a huge production. What once was a fun night out with the bridesmaids has become an extravagant (and expensive) weekend-long trip. The new bachelorette party format raises 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?