Bridal Shower Thanks
You only have to write thank you notes to the people who didn't attend but gave gifts . You can thank those who attend presonally and do not have to send them a note.

Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is paid for by the groom's family and usually arranged by them as well. Often the bride's family will make the initial arrangements; the groom's family will complete the arrangements once they arrive for wedding preparations.

What's a Dad to do?
Fathers do not have to stand in the receiving line, although it is customary.

Duplicate Gifts
Duplicate wedding presents may be exchanged without explanation, however if you are exchanging a gift by someone who would notice the absence of their gift later it's good to let them know what you're doing.

Broken Gifts
If a gift arrives broken, take it back to the store it came from without notifying the giver. If the gift arrives by mail, notify the giver so they can collect on the insurance.

Thank You's
Thank you notes should be handwritten, not printed or engraved. And, if your reception is small you might open gifts there; however it is perfectly acceptable to open them at your leisure later.

Military weddings
  When not officially at war, servicepeople have the option of dressing in military uniform or civilian attire. If the groom wears military garb, all serving groomsmen should do the same.  
  If both bride and groom are in the military, they may both wear their uniforms; the bride should NOT wear a uniform if she is in the military but the groom is a civilian.

All about engagements
  When couples get engaged, some of them wonder who is supposed to do what to let the families know. Here's the etiquette:
   The groom's family should contact the bride's family and arrange to get together. A phone call or note is fine. If the families are a great distance apart plans can be made to meet at a mutually convenient date.
   An engagment can be announced before the groom gives a bride a ring. Engagments are announced by word of mouth, personal note or newspaper announcment, but not by engraved announcement.
   An engagement party is given by the bride's family. It may be a small dinner with just the two families or it may be a larger affair. Guests do not bring gifts; only close friends of the bride give her gifts. After the bride's family makes an announcement and choose to have a party or not, the groom's family is then free to do the same.

Got other questions? Get the answer!
 Gift Receiving Etiquette
I recently got an email from one of my brides with an etiquette question. 

"I understand you should not provide where the bride and groom are registered with the formal wedding invitation, but you should send that information along with the Bridal Shower invitation.  For those folks that are not invited to the shower, how are they to know where we are registered?" S.

Answer: Usually by word-of-mouth, by your mom or sisters, aunts, etc.

Dear Abby...
Being in the wedding business for so long, I feel compelled to save everything I find about marriages, weddings, and brides. Here's something I found in Dear Abby way back at Valentine's Day 1999:

DEAR ABBY: Years ago you printed a list of tips for a happy marriage. I thought they were wonderful and had them framed. My husband and I recently retired to Florida, and somehow the list was lost during the move. Could you please run it again? — NANCY
IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

DEAR NANCY: I'm pleased they meant so much to you. They cer-
tainly bear repeating, particularly on the weekend of Valentine's Day,
the day that celebrates love. Read on:

1. Look not for perfection in your mate. You will not find it, and it's just as well. Living with a saint could be very tiresome.
2. Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger.
3. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.
4. Believe the best rather than the worst. People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them.
5. Remember that true friendship is the basis of any lasting relationship. The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow upon your friends.
6. Practice forgiveness, for who among us hasn't needed to be forgiven?

Wedding Peculiarities

There are so many details to consider when planning a wedding. Here's some answers to the questions I'm asked the most often:

Who sits where and which side is the bride on? The left side as you face the alter is tradationally the bride's side and the right side is the groom's. However, the ushers may recommend to the guests one side or the other to keep seating balanced.The bride walks down the aisle on the father's or escort's right arm.

My parents are divorced. What do I do about seating them?
When parents are divorced the mother and step-father are seated in first row; the father and step-mother are seating in second row.

This is my second marriage; what's different?
It's OK to have a shower, but since you should already have most of the household items you need it should be small and intimate.
Widows stop wearing their old wedding rings at engagement. (Sometimes with children still at home, it's OK to wear them until remarried.) The first engagement ring may be saved for her children or the stone may be reset in another piece of jewelry.
Don't wear a veil, don't use orange blossoms and don't carry a myrtle wreath. Pale colors or off-white are preferred dress colors, but white is acceptable with colored accessories.
Invitations are the same as first marriage, but use the bride's full name.