Date: Fri 05-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

brides-invitations-reception

Full Text:

BRIDES SIDEBAR: Invitations That Are A Must

One of the largest costs any couple will encounter when planning their wedding

day will be the reception. The type of wedding you are planning and the

location will both be factors that determine how many people will be invited

to join you. Of course, your budget is also going to be a large factor in

deciding who makes the cut.

There are some invitations that should be automatically sent to guests-to-be.

Regardless of the size of your reception, certain people must never be omitted

from the guest list.

The wedding officiator, and his/her spouse, even if it is not expected they

will be attending.

All wedding party members and parents of the bride and groom. Even though

these people most likely know every detail of the day's events, they are given

invitations.

Spouses, fiances or live-in companions of anyone in the bridal party.

Boyfriends and girlfriends are another matter. If you can afford to have them

attend, by all means do so, but you are not obligated to include them in the

reception.

If the bride or groom's parents have divorced, new spouses are to be included.

Your happiness is what is most important on your wedding day, and it is

expected that everyone put aside their past differences to observe this rule

of etiquette.

If the bride and/or groom is close to any parents of their wedding party,

these parents should be invited to share the occasion.

People in mourning should be given an invitation, along with an (unspoken)

understanding that they will certainly be forgiven if they choose not to

attend the celebration.