Smartphone Etiquette and Unplugged Weddings

February 29, 2024

Think about the last time you were at a wedding. How many guests had their cell phones held up the moment the processional music started to play? I’m willing to bet there were quite a few. You may have even been one of them! I remember planning my own wedding years ago and wondering whether […]

How Much Should You Spend on a Wedding Gift?

February 13, 2024

The most often asked question in my “Ask Cheryl” inbox is how much to spend on a wedding or shower gift. And while we all love a hard and fast etiquette rule, this is one of those questions that doesn’t have a “one size fits all” answer. Read on for my advice and some spending […]

Six Social Media Rules for First-Time Parents

February 8, 2024

Before giving birth to our son, I considered myself to be an open book when it came to sharing aspects of my life via social media.  Whether it was sharing our pregnancy announcement just mere days into my second trimester or snapping the perfect photo to announce our son’s name and gender to our loved […]

9 Wedding Tips for the Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom

January 23, 2024

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – Mother of the Bride meets Mother of the Groom – Is a Gift Appropriate?

January 9, 2024

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 […]

– AskCheryl – What’s an Appropriate Engagement Party Gift?

December 12, 2023

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – Should Guests be Invited to Multiple Bridal Showers?

November 28, 2023

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – How Do I Invite Guests to a Welcome Party?

November 14, 2023

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – How Much Should I Give for a Second Marriage?

June 13, 2023

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, […]

– Ask Cheryl – How Many Should Be Invited to a Bridal Shower?

May 23, 2023

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 […]

– The Morning Of – 6 Ways Bridesmaids Can Help Create Calm, Not Chaos

May 11, 2023

Bridesmaid dress? Ordered! Bridal shower? Check. Bachelorette weekend? Done! After months of anticipation, a few pre-wedding festivities, and around a thousand messages in the group chat, you might get the sense that your bridesmaid duties are winding down. But the hours leading up to the ceremony are some of the most crucial moments for bridesmaids: […]

– AskCheryl – How Late Can I Send a Baby Gift?

May 9, 2023

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, […]

– Ask Cheryl – My Husband Invited to a Wedding Without Me!

April 25, 2023

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 […]

Who Gets a Gift from the Bride and Groom?

April 13, 2023

Your wedding is an opportunity to show appreciation for close friends and family through thoughtful gifts. Pop quiz time! Question: Who should get a wedding gift from the happy couple? Answer: If you picked A or B, I wouldn’t be surprised. But, the answer is actually D. Which I know is semi-ambiguous, but bear with […]

– Ask Cheryl – Do the Groom’s Parents Give a Gift to the Bride’s Parents?

April 11, 2023

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 […]

– Ask Cheryl – How Do I Tell My Bridesmaid that her Boyfriend is not Invited to the Wedding?

March 28, 2023

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 […]

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