Wedding Etiquette Advice from Kristin Kaplan of Simply Stunning Events - Gifts, Registries, Parking
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I am always excited to receive questions from brides, moms, and even wedding guests! I am not a wedding planning expert but luckily, I know quite a few! To answer some questions, I reached out to Kristin Kaplan, owner and senior planner of Simply Stunning Events. Kristin knows etiquette and I knew she would be just the expert to help us with some of our most recent reader inquiries.
If you are an invited wedding guest, be sure to keep reading for Kristin's advice regarding gifts for the bride and groom. (I get gift questions all the time!)
Advice from Kristin Simply Stunning Events...
Q: Should I bring a gift to engagement party and what is appropriate to bring?
A: Since engagement parties are becoming slightly more popular and they are the first of several events you will be presumably be attending for this couple, there is no need to bring a large or expensive gift however bringing a small housewarming present or a bottle of wine is a wonderful thought.
Q: Do I provide a gift for both shower and wedding?
A: If you are invited to both the bridal shower and the wedding, it is customary to bring a gift to each. Since it can often be very costly to attend weddings these days (especially if you have to travel a long distance and stay in a hotel), it is fine to give two smaller gifts if you are attending both the shower and the wedding.
Q: Should I provide parking, valet, or transportation for the guests?
A: I feel this honestly depends on where the wedding is located and where the guests are coming from. If the majority of your wedding guests are from out of town and have flown to your wedding, you should offer transportation to and from the wedding back to the primary hotel in the form of a shuttle. Or if your wedding is located downtown or in a location in which parking is very limited, then you should arrange for a valet service or reserve parking spaces at a nearby lot as you wouldn’t want your guests to park 8 blocks from the wedding and be forced to walk. However, if your wedding is in your hometown and most of the guests are coming from their own residences, then providing parking or shuttle services is not necessary.
Q: Are cash-like registries such as honeymoon registries acceptable or tacky?
A: I may be in the minority but I personally love the idea of a honeymoon registry or something similar. These days many couples live together (and for many years) prior to getting married so most already have the general kitchen items and appliances and don’t need another set of dishes or another blender. Giving the gift of scuba lessons or a fabulous bottle of wine with dinner on their honeymoon is not only appreciated but this way you can give them an amazing memory. I do however feel that registries such as a mortgage registry are crossing the line into tacky territory. If someone wants to give cash, they will do so in an envelope at the reception. Asking people for a down payment on your house is a bit odd.
Thanks for your help Kristin! By the way, I totally agree and love the idea of a honeymoon registry.
About the Author:
Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide
Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Happy Planning.
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Posted on August 29, 2012 |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Guests, Gifts & Favors
