How to RSVP to a Wedding: Etiquette & Card Tips
The invitation arrives in a beautiful envelope, and tucked inside is a small card with a line that begins with a single letter “M” and a blank space. If you’ve ever stared at that and wondered what you’re supposed to write, you’re in very good company. I get this question constantly from guests, and from […]
Can You Bring a Plus-One to a Wedding ?
Yes, you can bring a plus-one to a wedding, but only if the invitation says you can. The couple decides this when they build the guest list, and their answer is written right on your invitation, usually as “and Guest” or your partner’s name. After managing guest lists for more than 80 weddings, I field […]
Is It Rude to Not Go to a Wedding?
No, it isn’t rude to decline a wedding invitation. After planning more than 200 weddings, I can tell you the “no” is almost never the part that stings a couple. What actually reads as rude is how and when you decline: a reply card that never comes back, or a yes that quietly turns into […]
How Much Cash to Give at a Wedding ?
The average wedding guest gave $150 in 2024, according to The Knot’s most recent Guest Study, and that number has held steady for two years running. But the honest answer to how much cash to give at a wedding is that $150 is a starting line, not a rule. After planning more than 200 weddings […]
What Order Do Wedding Speeches Go In ?
If you want the short version: at most US weddings, the best man toasts first, the maid of honor follows, a parent or host speaks next, and the couple closes with a thank-you. That is the backbone of the traditional wedding speech order. But after planning more than 200 weddings, I can tell you almost […]
Who Gives Speeches at a Wedding ?
I’ve planned more than 200 weddings, and “who’s actually supposed to give a speech?” is one of the questions I field most — usually from a bride three weeks out or a best man who just realized he’s on the hook. The short version: a handful of key people traditionally speak, but you get the […]
How Long Should a Wedding Reception Be ?
Most wedding receptions run four to six hours, and in my planning experience the sweet spot lands right around five. That covers a one-hour cocktail hour plus roughly four hours of dinner, toasts, and dancing. I’ve planned more than 200 weddings on the East Coast, and reception length is one of the first numbers a […]
How to Become a Wedding Officiant (Step by Step)
“Become a wedding officiant” sounds like it should involve seminary, robes, and years of training. It doesn’t. In most of the country you can get the legal authority in the time it takes to order takeout. I’ve planned more than 200 weddings, and some of the most moving ceremonies I’ve watched were run by a […]
Who Walks Down the Aisle First? Processional Order
The short version: the officiant walks down the aisle first in a traditional ceremony, though plenty of officiants are simply standing at the altar before anyone moves. After more than 200 weddings, I can tell you the processional trips couples up more than almost any other piece of the ceremony. Here’s the order I hand […]
How Long Should Wedding Vows Be ?
Most personal wedding vows run about one to two minutes each, which works out to roughly 130 to 250 spoken words. That is the range I steer almost every couple toward, and it is the same window you will see across the major planning sites. Zola puts the average at somewhere between 30 seconds and […]