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Linda Kevich Interview with the Wedding expert Linda Kevich, creator and editor of SuperWeddings.com, recently discussed the topics of unique wedding ideas and wedding etiquette in an interview with a reporter for the Waco Tribune Herald in Waco, Texas |
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WTH: Does good wedding etiquette vary from area to area? What would be the best place to find out what the traditions and expectations are in a given area? Linda Kevich: To a very large extent, most of the rules of traditional wedding etiquette are the same, regardless of the geographic location. To a much more limited extent, however, there can be a small degree of regional variation. Occasionally, one region of the country may do things with regards to a specific rule of etiquette a little differently from what is considered to be 'proper' throughout much of the rest of the country . As one example, most wedding etiquette books will tell you that it is considered improper to open wedding gifts in the presence of guests, and this is indeed the case in most areas of the country. However, there are a few regions where a 'gift opening' with guests in attendance is something which has always been customary, and which is expected. Often the best way to determine if there are any traditions specific to the region and which deviate from standard wedding etiquette is to consult a professional wedding consultant who is very familiar with the customs and traditions of the area. WTH: What are some good rules of thumb about dressing to attend a wedding? Linda Kevich: Find out if the wedding has a theme. For example, if you know you will be attending a wedding with a Hawaiian Luau theme or beach theme, you'll want to dress in keeping with the theme. If you show up in a formal suit, you may feel terribly out of place. Some weddings have a cultural or ethnic theme which might influence how you should dress. For example, if the wedding you are attending is a Japanese wedding, find out if it would be appropriate to dress in traditional Japanese attire. Consider the time of day. A sequined evening dress may be a good choice for an evening wedding and reception, but wouldn't be appropriate for a morning wedding followed by a brunch or luncheon reception. You'll also want to know the style or formality of the wedding. Find out if it is informal, semiformal, formal, or very formal and let that be your guide. WTH: What are some unique wedding ideas that are popular? Linda Kevich: Some of the most popular ideas for making a wedding more unique right now are "destination weddings", theme weddings, and "surprise" weddings. A destination wedding is one in which the bride and groom, their attendants, and all of their guests travel to a special location for a combined wedding/honeymoon/vacation. Often this involves an exotic vacation spot like the Caribbean Islands or Hawaii. Some couples are also opting for destination weddings in romantic cities like Paris or Rome. Another location which is becoming very popular for destination weddings is Scotland, where couples and their guests can stay in real castles, and have the ceremony and reception there as well. Obviously, for logistical and budgetary reasons, the destination wedding is not generally an option if the guest list is very large. For the bride who wants to feel like princess for a day, this is a highly realistic way to do it! More and more couples are incorporating "themes" into their weddings to make their weddings a little more out of the ordinary and memorable. All of the details of a wedding - the decor, the food, the attire, and the music - can be built around a central theme. This type of wedding is a lot of fun for the couple to plan, and even more fun to attend. Some of the hottest themes right now include period-style themes such as Renaissance or Medieval weddings, Cinderella themes, and Hawaiian Luau themes. The "surprise wedding" is another fun idea. Guests are invited without being told the true nature of the event they will be attending. If the wedding is near Christmas time, they might receive invitations to a Christmas party. If either the bride or groom recently received a promotion, they might be told they are invited to attend a party in celebration of that achievement. It's only after they arrive that they learn that they are about to attend a wedding. For the couple who craves a wedding with a high excitement level, this one is definitely it! WTH: Are people opting to have different or unique weddings now, more than, say, 20 years ago? And if yes, Why? Linda Kevich: Absolutely! Couples today are becoming much more creative and imaginative in their planning because they want their weddings to be a reflection of their personalities, and an expression of who they are as a couple. Today's bride and groom have grown tired of the "cookie-cutter wedding", which is mostly what we tended to see 20 years ago. Instead, they strive to paint a beautiful self-portrait of themselves through all the little details of their wedding. The focus is now on finding ways of making the wedding a more personalized experience, so that it becomes more meaningful to the couple, and more memorable in the minds of their guests. WTH: What is the number one wedding ettiquite rule that you would say is absolutely most important?
Linda Kevich: Rather than singling out one
specific rule of etiquette, I think that what is truly most important
and effective is to emphasize the concepts which form the basis of
all wedding etiquette. If the bride has a broad appreciation and
understanding of what etiquette is really all about, and what it is
based upon, she doesn't need to rely so heavily on memorizing a lot
of rules, because her own common sense will guide her towards doing
what is "proper". So, the most important thing for people
to know about wedding etiquette is that every rule of wedding
etiquette can be boiled down to a very simple concept: Never do
anything which has even the slightest potential to offend, embarrass,
or hurt the feelings of a wedding guest, family member, gift giver,
or bridal party attendant. Conduct yourself with kindness,
graciousness, consideration, grace, and humility, even - or rather especially
- during those moments when circumstances make this most challenging.
And finally, avoid any form of selfish behavior and always be
respectful and appreciative of attendants, helpers, financial
contributors, and guests. This is wedding etiquette in a
nutshell; by faithfully following these guidelines at all times the
bride will conduct herself impeccably, and face little risk of
committing an etiquette blunder.
As you have just read about unique wedding ideas, we thought that you might find the World of Wedding Favours interesting. They manufacture and supply favours that are suitable for all types of UK weddings. Their range of products include wedding bubbles, bomboniere, wedding invitations and personalised napkins. They supply their products to places such as Wadham Chapel. |
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