Wedding questions?

Question

My stepdad has raised me since I was 5. My dad has been around too but I decided to have my stepdad walk me down the aisle.

How do I phrase the invitation? Do I include my two sets of parents along with the grooms? Seems like a lot of people. Also, I barely know my stepmother and she has only been around a few years. Do I still put her name on it?

Are the bride and groom required to dance? We HATE dancing!

Are there any rules for seating charts for the reception? Should I mix all 3 sides of the family?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Traditionally the brides parents announce the wedding first so,

Mr and Mrs (mom and step dad)
and
Mr. (dad)
and
Mrs and Mrs (Grooms Parents)
request the honor of your presence
to witness the blah blah blah of
(your name)
to
(grooms name)

OR

leave the parents out entirely and say

(Your name) and (Grooms name)
request the honor of your presence
as they are bound together forever
in the bonds of holy matrimony.

there is no rule saying the parents name has to be on there in this day and age. Anything goes. Even more casual phrasing.. Don't feel like you HAVE to phrase it a certain way. Tweak it to work for you. A formal invite doesn't work for a casual beachy wedding and vice versa. And no, you don't HAVE to put your step mothers name on it. BUT, if you are putting your step-dad's name, you should then in turn put your stepmothers name out of politeness. Otherwise leave off both the steps and just put your parents no matter who walks you down the aisle. Personally I would address it from you and your fiance.

ALSO: You don't have to dance. You don't have to throw a bouquet or any of those things if you don't want to. We didn't at our wedding. We kinda snuck onto the dance floor when there was a song playing that struck a chord in us at the time and it was incredibly romantic and felt a bit more private.

Mix the family, don't segregate anyone. Allow your guests to mingle and enjoy each others company otherwise everyone will clump together and cliques will form and that is not conducive to a nicely flowing party and atmosphere

Answer 2

There is no rule that says the bride and groom are required to dance. The last 3 weddings I went to did not have dancing. The only rule for seating charts is not to put the singles with a whole table of newlyweds or a family with 5 kids. Don't put anyone who hates each other together--which very well could be a problem with 3 sides of your family. Realize older people (like your grandmothers) will want to sit with people they know. Older friends or siblings they rarely get to see. This can also be done by just forgoing the seating chart and allowing them to seat themselves. What I did was reserved a few tables at the front for the bridal party, grandparents, and his close people (aunt, cousin, cousin's kids). That way the bridal party could still sit with their guest (as I had one engaged bridesmaid, two more in serious relationships--I didn't want their significant others soon to be family wandering around wishing they could be with their girlfriend.)

According to the etiquette books, technically an invite is from the host inviting them. The host would be whoever is paying for it. If stepdad and mom paid for it, they would be the two hosts. However in your case, to not have any hurt feelings I'd go with the "together with their parents" line. It includes everyone without listing tons of names. Dad may be hurt if you include stepdad without step mom. Often people just put their parents--especially if remarriage was recent. But stepdad has been there since you were 5 and I think his feelings would be hurt then, especially since he is walking you down the aisle. I'd just go with Together with their parents.

Answer 3

I would include everyones names on the invitation, it would be a great gesture and its completely appropriate and common! You do not have to dance at all if you do not want to! Its your wedding day! Just let the dj or announcer know to nix the bride/groom dance and just go into the toasts or group dancing! I would mix up the seating and give the entire "new" family a chance to meet and get to know eachother! It would create an opportunity for family closeness and let people mingle who wouldnt normally have a chance to meet! Have you considered letting both of your dads walk you down the aisle? They could each be on one arm and that way no one gets their feelings hurt? When asked who gives you away they could both say "we do" Good luck! And Congrats on the wedding!!!

Answer 4

Who is paying for the wedding? It will affect the wording of the invitation. If your fathers name does end up on the invitation, his wifes should, too-- even if you are not close the fact remains that your father is not single. But if you want to make it easy, it can just read
"With their parents
(your name) and (his name)
invite you to...."
You dont have to have dancing, but be aware that is the main event for most receptions, so yours will be shorter and people will start to go home after dinner and cake.
Seating people can be tricky. If you can seat people who know and like each other together, thats perfect. Theyll have plenty to talk about. If it would be awkward, change it up. There are no rules on this.

Answer 5

Hi and congratulations!

1. The invitation...yes, I have seen it with many parents, but I think the easiest is to simply have:

Together with their parents
Jill Susan Johnson
and
Ryan Thomas Smith
invite you to share their joy
as they exchange wedding vows
and begin their new life together
on Saturday, the sixteenth of September
Two thousand and eight
at six o'clock in the evening
[place]
[address]

There is LOTS of examples of wording on the computer. Just Google in "wedding invitation wording" and it gives you many examples.

2. NO, you most certainly do NOT have to dance.

3. Seating. Usually keep families with those they know. You don't need to mix everyone together.

Answer 6

Don't make a seating chart. Have a wedding party table and let all the other guests seat themselves.

Regarding invitation wording, when it gets tricky with all the parents, you leave them off. Instead, say "The honor of your presence is requested at a ceremony uniting ____ and ___ in holy matrimony."

Answer 7

We are wording our invitation with our names and "together with their parents". Maybe you could put "together with their families". You are not required to dance, maybe you can find something different to do together like karaoke or something.

As far as the seating goes, will your two families get along if you set them together? If you think there will not be any drama, sitting them at adjacent tables will probably be better, then there will not be any of the "she's closer than we are" crap.

Answer 8

nicely as quickly as the couple are married and on my own she shud tell him btw i'm compelled.. if he became a appropriate guy he could set her loose from his and her misery. a guy can't tension himself on the spouse yet relies upon what u recommend by using that. If a guy (my husband) does it in anger then i could kick him there yet while i became drained and he wanted it i assume i could sleep with him if he did no longer anticipate lots of me lol. it extremely is a serious answer. She could purely declare rape if that's what it became.. _______________ nicely she married him to thrill her relatives maximum appropriate?? the two tell him u dnt wanna be married or sleep with him. A husband has rights too no longer his fault she became compelled.. all adult males decide on intercourse after so she the two be's uncomplicated or does it. she would be able to't marry somebody and say no usual.. did he tension himself on her questioning she became shy? like in a jokey way there are alot of issues that a guy can think of.. sure FFS examine precise.. no depend if it extremely is RAPE THEN sure @jihad, she agree's to great intercourse no longer somebody attacking her 4 it. And if she became compelled to be with him he shud be positioned off no?? she is a human with emotions no longer an animal.. it extremely is the reason i stated she could tell him how she feels no longer purely say no like that. he will think of she;s the two shy or no longer waiting.. he will nonetheless attempt regardless.

Answer 9

At my wedding, we didn't have dancing. My hubby and I wouldn't do it, and my dad told me he wouldn't either.

We sat our families together, and tried to match up family member who got along (both of our families have members who are divorced, currantly fighting with each other, etc.), and it worked out well.

Don't include parents names on the invites. "We invite you to join bride and groom, on this date at this place to celebrate their wedding."