I was talking to my friend and his fiance (who were about a month away from their wedding), and I mentioned that I was at a wedding recently where the couple rubbed a few people the wrong way.
Basically, they didn't go from table-to-table as a couple, thanking people for "Joining us today", "Sharing their special day", or just plain "Showing up". It was an average-sized wedding, by the way. . .maybe even on the small side.
My friend's fiance then told me that they're going to have no time to do that either, and not to expect it from them.
Do you think the couple (the one that didn't greet each table) showed poor form in any way, or are some people just way too sensitive?
2006-07-07 02:50:59 · 8 answers · asked by ThatGuy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Great answers so far!!!
You have to remember that even if they greeted the Church guests, many (most) of the Reception guests were not at the Church.
2006-07-07 03:25:09 · update #1
I think it's a little of both. Weddings can get very hectic without the couple even noticing. It can be very difficult to direct a small bridal party, much less one with lots of people in it. However, some guests can be very sensitive and feel slighted if they don't receive any attention from the bride and groom.
Did the couple have a receiving line that guests could go through so that they could have thanked each guest? If not, then going from table to table at the reception would have been a nice gesture. Often at weddings the only chance some people have to congratulate the couple is during the receiving line or at the reception while people are eating.
There are ways that thanking your guests can be built into the schedule for the day. My husband and I dismissed our guests by row after the ceremony. We had our pastor ask all the guest to remain seated and we started at the front of the church and thanked the guests row by row as they left the Church for the reception. It worked out great and didn't take too much time. Each guest had the opportunity to congratulate us personally and we had the chance to thank them. We also went around to the tables during the reception too.
As your friend if he's going to have a recieveing line. If so, then he really doens't have to greet each table at the reception. If he's not going to greet guests in any way then it could be considered poor form on their part, afterall, the bridal couple have asked their guests to come to their wedding, it is only considerate to thank them for their time.
2006-07-07 03:12:09 · answer #1 · answered by Just Jess 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree, not greeting the guests is indeed poor form.
As I understand it, proper wedding etiquette for a reception after the ceremony is to either have a receiving line OR make the rounds of all the tables and greet the guests. The only way I can see people getting away with this is to have a very informal party a couple weeks after the wedding.
2006-07-07 11:20:30 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't know the proper etiquette on this. However, my own personal feeling...If you have time to take my gift, you have time stop by my table and spend a second to thank me for coming.
They are throwing a party. At any party the host and hostess must spend time with the guests, it is rude not to. Would they invite people to their home for a dinner party and not speak to everyone? Would they be to busy to entertain their guests?
2006-07-07 10:01:25 · answer #3 · answered by Brooke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really wonder if you have ever gone through a wedding?! It is so hard to go around to everyone. People start running up to you and won't let you talk to the people that you actually need to talk to. There is no way that you are able to talk to everyone. My reception was a total blur!
2006-07-07 10:58:54 · answer #4 · answered by onefootnaked 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds pretty poor to me. Weddings seem so much like trolling for gifts nowadays. Buy us something expensive and go to trouble to see us get married, but don't expect any thanks but a card sent anywhere up to a year from now. They should make time to show how appreciative they are. maybe not dance one of those dances, or a to go plate?
2006-07-07 10:03:27 · answer #5 · answered by SnakEve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm getting married in about a year. We're getting married in Guatemala, which means that many people are going to have to travel to go to our wedding. I will go around the table and thank EVERYBODY for being there. They didn't need to go, but it is out of courtesy that they did.
and it is the same courtesy you should extend back to them.
2006-07-07 11:05:29 · answer #6 · answered by antoniojvr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Traditionally the newlyweds do go around and thank everyone. If they don't have time to do that then at least they should thank everyone in a cheers and personally thank as many people as possible.
2006-07-07 09:57:40 · answer #7 · answered by Karebear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think the newleyweds should thank as many people as possible, maybe not necessarily to every table, but walk through and mingle, make sure you speak to the people who would be most likely to get their feelings hurt if you didn't.
2006-07-07 10:03:57 · answer #8 · answered by TN girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋