Tying the knot is a very exciting chapter in the love story you are creating with your partner. Still, it can prove helpful to take a closer look at whether or not your event reflects current wedding trends. From the median age of a couple when they decide to get married to the traditions surrounding surnames, Canadian wedding trends fluctuate from one year to the next. Take a look at these statistics surrounding modern weddings and learn a bit more about the evolution of marriage in Canada over recent decades.
Waiting To Wed
In the 1980s, the average age for a person to get married in Canada was 23. Over the last few decades, however, people have been waiting long periods before making the decision to walk down the aisle. Some experts believe this is due to younger individuals putting a heavier focus on their careers. Others attribute the delay to the rising costs of living and how expensive it has become to start a family. Regardless of the exact reason, the median age for a person to wed in Canada has shifted to 31 as of 2022.
Breaking With Tradition
Modern couples often like to break with traditions that no longer suit them. A great example of this can be found in brides who decide to keep their own last names after getting married. In the 1970s, almost all Canadian women who tied the knot changed their surnames. According to polls taken in 2019, this number has shifted a considerable amount. Roughly 40% of women who get married nowadays opt not to fully change their names. Of this percentage, about half decide to hyphenate their last names in order to incorporate their married names.
Setting Statistics Aside
As of 2023, about 36 countries across the world have legalized same-sex marriage. While this trend highlights how accepting people around the planet have become of LGBT relationships, it is important to note that Canada was one of the first countries to make this decision. Same-sex marriage was officially legalized in Canada on July 20, 2005, after the Civil Marriage Act was passed. While this act made same-sex marriages legal nationwide, certain provinces had legalized these unions earlier. Provinces that passed marriage equality laws in 2004 include Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.
Opting for Winter Engagements
There is no “right” time of year to get engaged. As long as you and your partner are on the same page, the decision to get married can be a great choice. Still, some studies have shown that a majority of Canadian couples prefer to pop the question during the same period. According to a number of reports, a large chunk of couples make the decision to get engaged between December and February. While they may prefer winter engagements, most couples wind up hosting their weddings during the spring and summer.
Sharing Space First
Several decades ago, it was commonplace for couples to live separately until they officially tied the knot. This is a trend that has shifted dramatically in recent years. According to national stats, roughly 75% of couples decide to live together before making the decision to get married. Many couples opt to move in together before marriage in order to see how well their relationships fare when they’re sharing a space. If you wait until you’re married to live with your partner, you might discover that the two of you have very different ideas on cohabitation.
Ignoring Statistics & Following Your Own Path
While it can be helpful to take a look at statistics now and again, it is important to remember that your wedding does not need to follow any specific rules or trends. As long as you and your partner are happy with the decisions you have made, everything else will fall into place.
When a couple decides to marry, usually there’s an understanding they’ll be sharing things moving forward. This is true for couples in Canada and all over the world. Many newlyweds will share a last name, a primary address, several monthly expenses, and finances.
While these are all important elements in a marriage, finances can be very complicated. Sharing finances should lead to conversations about income, assets, debts, bank accounts, and credit histories, among others. Here’s what engaged and seriously dating couples should know about credit.
What Is Credit?
Generally, the term “credit” refers to a person’s creditworthiness or history as a borrower. This record is often expressed as a number or code, typically called a credit score. This score is based on your debt history and provides insight to lenders on the likelihood of you repaying debt on time. Credit scores not only impact your ability to secure loans or credit cards, but they can also affect employment opportunities sometimes.
What Does a Score Say?
In Canada, an individual’s credit rating is alphanumeric. A number ranging from 1 to 9 indicates your payment track record. A “1” means the person always pays their bills within 30 days of the due date. A “9” means the person never pays their bills. A “0” means the person has no credit history. Letters indicate the type of debt a borrower has:
I – This is an installment loan where the borrower makes fixed payments on a regular schedule until an established date. Think of a mortgage or a loan for college.
O – This is an open credit account where a balance must be repaid in full after a certain period. Certain charge cards (as opposed to credit cards) work this way.
R – This refers to revolving credit, such as credit cards, where the balance and repayment vary.
The type of debt you incur also matters to anyone reviewing your history as a borrower.
Do Married Couples Share Scores?
When two become one in marriage, their histories (and scores) do not merge. Your history is your own, and the same is true for your partner. Should you choose to open an account together or secure a loan together, lenders will review both histories. That shared account will also show up on both of your records. It’s important to discuss current debt and attitudes toward borrowing in advance.
Does Bad Credit Impact My Partner?
The good news is that having a spouse with bad credit doesn’t lower yours by marriage or association. Getting married doesn’t do anything for or against your rating. Joint debt will show up on both reports. Potential lenders will review both your and your partner’s histories if you’re applying for a loan together. If you add your partner as an authorized user to one or more accounts (or vice versa), those accounts will be a part of both histories.
Do Name Changes Impact My Score?
Taking on your spouse’s last name, hyphenating names, or choosing a new name doesn’t impact your score. It doesn’t reset your borrower history. You can initiate a name change with credit reporting bureaus by formally contacting them. Your reports may also update as you register a name change with existing accounts.
What About Disputes?
If a report shows inaccurate information, you can formally dispute it with credit reporting bureaus. This is true for individual debt and shared debt. Because your and your partner’s credit records are separate, clearing up a dispute on shared debt does not automatically clear it for both you and your partner.
Finances are a complex subject for dating, engaged, and married couples. It’s important to be up on all the facts before you and your significant other decide to make joint purchases and take on debt. Your individual credit histories can’t automatically impact your shared financial future, but they may provide critical insights sooner than later.
Many people have a problem giving up their devices, even for a solemn occasion like a wedding. An unplugged wedding is one in which the guests are asked not to have their phones out at all. It’s not about putting phones on silent or turning off the flash on their cameras. Guests are requested to put their phones away completely.
Even though device-free weddings are on trend, asking your friends and family to go without their phones for just a few hours can be controversial. Here are some things to consider if you’d like to have an unplugged wedding.
Decide How Much of Your Wedding You Want Technology-Free
Before you tell guests that you want a device-free wedding, make sure you and your partner are on the same page. Do you want both the ceremony and reception free of phones? Many couples ask that the ceremony be device free while allowing phones at the reception, provided that guests respect the professional photographer when getting those special moments, like cutting the cake or the first dance.
Present the Positives of Unplugging
Smartphones today are almost necessary, so getting guests to buy into your unplugged wedding will take some delicate footwork. Starting with your invitations, tell your guests that you’d like them to enjoy the ceremony without distractions from their phones. You want your guests to be present and in the moment.
You’ll need to repeat this multiple times through your wedding communications, from the save the date, on your website and at the venue itself. Have the officiant mention it during the welcome speech, too. This figure of authority can be more impactful than signs.
How Do You Enforce an Unplugged Wedding?
You’re going to have to deal with guests who think they’re exempt from the no-device rule. Plan on taking a gracious approach, not a confrontational one. Give guests a station where phones can be safely stored during the ceremony. Don’t make this mandatory, but give options. Have one or two ushers who are comfortable asking guests to put their phones away if a guest sneaks them out to take a selfie.
Don’t threaten to take phones away. You hope your guests will want to support an unplugged wedding because it can be a refreshing moment where they can slow down. Going into punishment mode will put people on the defensive, which will take away the moment.
Are There Disadvantages to an Unplugged Wedding?
Before you completely unplug, consider another side. Guests like to take photos of events to remember for themselves. You may get copies of all your photos from the photographer, but most guests won’t have that option. In addition, you won’t get to see your wedding through the guest’s eyes.
Your guests may want pictures of family and friends they only get to see occasionally, and your photographer won’t be able to be everywhere. During the reception, guests can help take pictures of the fun stuff you might otherwise miss. While it’s nice to unplug for a while, getting those candid shots the photographer might miss is a good reason for guests to have their devices during the reception.
Be Gracious and Find Balance
There’s nothing wrong with wanting an unplugged wedding ceremony. Putting phones down can help your guests connect with you and your other guests. Expect pushback but stay confident in your decision; have polite answers that affirm your choice of an unplugged wedding. Give guests the opportunity to take photos with the bridal party and their friends and family.
Your wedding can be more intimate when your guests unplug during the ceremony. Ask your guests to “hold the phone” to be present for your wedding.
Modern couples often want to include their fur baby in their wedding, but doing so is more challenging than simply bringing your pet to the ceremony and reception. You must consider several factors to ensure your pet-friendly wedding is as joyous and stress-free as possible for everyone involved.
Choose the Best Role for Your Pet
Consider your pet’s personality and style to find a role for it in the wedding. If you have an especially active pet, you could let him greet visitors to use up some of his energy. A couch potato may be better suited to walking down the aisle with you to her favorite pillow so she can nap during the ceremony.
If you want your pet to wear a special outfit during the wedding, practice putting it on ahead of time. If you have a shy pet or reactive dog, think about other roles that may be less stressful for your companion. For example, your fur baby could star in your engagement photos or invitations.
Hire a Pet Sitter
Before you plan to bring your pet, check with the venue to see if it’s pet friendly. Make sure you know the rules at each venue about what’s expected of your pet. Once you’re sure you want to include your animal, hire a pet sitter for the day. You and your wedding party are going to be busy. Don’t rely on them to take care of your pet.
Give your pet time to get to know the sitter before the big day. Also, ask your venue if there is a space where your pet can rest if things get overwhelming, or make arrangements for your sitter to take your animal back to the hotel or your home.
Make Your Guests Aware Of Your Pet
If you’re planning on bringing your pet to the wedding, you should alert guests because many people have allergies. This gives guests a chance to prepare by taking allergy medicine or to decline the invitation. Also, you should note whether other pets are welcome at the wedding or not. Mention it ahead of time so there are no questions or surprises.
Talk to Your Vendors
Let your wedding photographer know your pet is part of your wedding party. This can help the photo team set up the right angles to get your pet in the pictures.
Talk to the florist about your bouquet and floral arrangements, which should not include plants that are poisonous to your pet. For example, lilies are very toxic to cats, and some are toxic to dogs.
If you think your dog will be at the reception, you should alert the band or DJ and tell your caterer that a dog will be on-site. Communication before the event will help things go much smoother.
Pack Supplies for the Big Day
You’ll want to make sure to have plenty of food, water and treats for your pet on your wedding day. Pack the pet’s food bowl and water dish to give him a sense of normalcy. Don’t forget to include a couple of favorite toys, plenty of waste bags and a pillow or dog bed. It might even be good to include a towel or puppy pads for accidents. And a lint roller for pet hair is an absolute must.
Having your best four-legged friend in your wedding party can make your day special, but you’ll want to practice with your pet beforehand. Let your pet get familiar with the space before the big day so he isn’t stressed out. Have a plan B in case things don’t go how you want, and you’ll still be able to have the wedding of your dreams.
Having a lot of friends can be both a blessing and a curse while you’re planning your wedding. The more people you want to have a role in the festivities, the more complicated it becomes to have a wedding party of a sensible size. One way around this is by ditching the idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen altogether. Instead, there are plenty of other ways to include your loved ones during the ceremony and reception. Consider these alternatives and discover useful ideas for giving everyone a part to play.
Ask for Assistance With Preliminary Events
Typically, members of the wedding party are responsible for planning preliminary gatherings like the engagement party and the bachelor or bachelorette parties. Even though you’re opting to forego the traditional wedding party, you can still ask your close friends and family members to help you with certain precursory affairs. You should remain mindful of the costs of planning, however. Offer to pay for the parties, and be sure to purchase small gifts as a way of showing your gratitude to those who dedicated time and effort to putting together these events.
Give Them Something To Read
Another great way to include your loved ones on your big day is by asking some of them to do readings during the ceremony. Whether you follow a traditional religious format or select texts that hold a special significance to your heart, this is a perfect way to show people you care about that you want them involved in your event. Be mindful of whether the people you ask are comfortable with public speaking. If certain people have a fear of talking in front of groups, it is best to find another task for them.
Have Friends Give Speeches
You can also ask friends and family to give speeches during the reception. Traditionally, the best man and maid of honor deliver toasts over the course of the festivities. If you aren’t having anyone fill these roles, then you can feel free to ask anyone you’d like to say a few words. The more people you ask to speak, the shorter you need to make the speeches. Guests tend to become restless when people talk for too long, so be sure to ask only people who you know will be able to deliver succinct and sentimental toasts.
Delegate Important Tasks
Throughout the course of your wedding, there are some tasks that need to be handled by individuals who are competent and trustworthy. If you want to make the people you care about feel included, consider asking them to take on these responsibilities. For example, you may need people to usher guests to their seats before the ceremony begins. You may also need a person or two to coordinate with the caterers and other vendors to ensure your big day follows a tight schedule. Asking responsible friends to fill these roles can offer you peace of mind.
Include Your Friends in Photos
Finally, consider including specific loved ones in your wedding photos as a way of making them feel involved. However, don’t wait until the last minute to make this decision. Inform all of the people you want in your photos of your plan before the big day arrives. This is important because you don’t want people to wander off or get too drunk before you have the opportunity to get them in a picture. It can also be helpful to give a list of names to the photographer so that he or she can ensure everyone is present.
Though it might be traditional, there is no rule stating you must have a wedding party. If you still want your loved ones to feel included, there are plenty of alternatives that will make them feel special on your big day.
Sustainable weddings have been on trend for years. Weddings can be extravagant affairs with a lot of waste, but with a little forethought, an eco-friendly event is more attainable. Making your wedding green not only reduces your impact on the environment, but it also reduces the impact on your budget. Have a mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle for your upcoming wedding by starting with these tips.
Look for a Green Venue
Today’s hotels and event venues have many ways to reduce their carbon footprint, from using solar panels to composting on-site. Look for venues that have multiple sustainable initiatives in place that support green operations. Some buildings get certified through federal or state programs to indicate their commitment to sustainability. Under the Canada Green Building Council, hotels can be audited to receive a green key rating of one to five to demonstrate their current environmental efforts. Holding your wedding in a green environment and housing your guests in green hotels can make a big difference in your own environmental impact.
Sustainable Ways For Wedding Attire
Fashion has a huge impact on the environment. Creating dresses and tuxes that might only be worn once or twice takes a lot of resources. Instead of buying new, rent or buy a used wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses. If you do buy new items, look for sustainable fashion that is made of recycled or sustainable materials and made in ethical working conditions. Check for social responsibility statements by the corporate office. Shop locally or use brands that limit packaging.
Reuse or Rent Décor
Decorations and flowers are items that can end up in landfills after the wedding. Talk to the wedding venue about wedding decorations that you can reuse or rent. Shop locally for reused decorations on social media or in second-hand stores. Ask your friends to reuse their wedding decorations. Even if your colors aren’t the same, the greenery and glass vases will fit into any color scheme. Plan to offer your own wedding decorations to others after your wedding.
Create a Sustainable Wedding Gift Registry
Register with stores that are eco-friendly and sell items made from recycled materials, are Fair Trade Certified or made locally. You may also want to give guests an option to help give money toward your honeymoon or another large purchase. Some couples even ask guests to give to charity instead of giving a gift, especially when the couple already has everything they need in their home.
Sustainable Menu Items
The menu is another place where planning ahead can make your wedding more sustainable. Start by thinking about seasonal foods for the wedding. Anything that can be sourced locally is usually a better choice for the environment. Serving local wines and delicacies also supports your community. Plant-based menus are also more eco-friendly and usually less expensive than serving seafood and meats.
Ask your caterer about their own process to reduce waste. Rent dishes and flatware for serving. Although those items will need to be washed, it will keep a lot of waste out of landfills. Instead of a buffet, choose a plated dinner. Buffets require a lot of extra food for serving, which often goes to waste.
Make Small Changes To Your Wedding
Before buying items for your wedding, think about the impact on the environment. Candles and balloons might be traditional decorations, but both are not sustainable. Balloons just get tossed into a landfill after the wedding. Candles made of paraffin wax, which is a petroleum product, are not eco-friendly. Printed invitations use a lot of paper. Find eco-friendly options instead.
Think of ways you can be more sustainable on your special day to really enjoy your wedding, knowing that you’re not a burden to the environment.
Engagement parties have long been a tradition that couples indulge in before getting married. However, younger Canadians have been putting a unique spin on this custom in recent years by throwing surprise engagement parties. This can be a great way to delight the happy couple and show them how much their connection means to their family and friends. Still, you need to go about the process in the right manner for it to work. Review this guide and gain more perspective on how to properly throw a surprise engagement party.
Ask the Right Preliminary Questions
Before you do anything else, you need to ask yourself a handful of questions about the couple. Namely, you must consider whether or not they will appreciate being surprised. Some people absolutely hate surprises, especially individuals who like to have a lot of control over their lives. If the couple likes to meticulously plan every detail of their routine without change, then you may want to nix the idea of surprising them. You should also consider whether the guests can keep a secret. If you’re working with people who love to gossip, you may want to consider other options.
Create the Guest-list For The Engagement Party
Next, you need to figure out who will be invited to the party. This can be a tricky step, especially if you don’t know all the people the couple would want present at the event. Since you cannot ask the couple without giving away the secret, you must work with other friends and family members to put together a succinct list. You must be very careful with who you invite, as custom dictates people who are invited to the engagement party must also be invited to the wedding. Be thorough to avoid any awkward situations for the couple.
Pick a Place
One of the more challenging aspects of planning a surprise engagement party is selecting a location. Opting for a venue like a restaurant can make it easier to figure out food and drink concerns, but it also can be more expensive and limit how many guests you can invite. The popular alternative younger Canadians have been taking advantage of in recent years is hosting the party at someone’s home. This can help to create a relaxed and welcoming environment for everyone. If you decide to use a venue, be sure to book the space at least three months in advance.
Plan Activities At Your Engagement Party
To make the event more personal, you may wish to include a variety of activities. Specifically, it can be a good idea to plan games that are centered around the couple and their relationship. For example, you can create a list of questions about the couple and have all of the guests answer them to the best of their abilities. When the answers are read aloud, it can make for a fun and hilarious experience as the couple learns who knows the most about them. Look at sites like Pinterest for more inspiration on party games.
Figure Out the Final Plan
Once you have all of the details figured out, you must create a plan for the day of the party. How are you going to get the couple to the venue without giving away the secret? Will someone be in charge of spending time with the couple beforehand so that they make it to the venue in a timely manner? You may also want to consider having guests park their vehicles away from the venue where the party is being held. This will help to keep the party a total surprise until the last possible moment.
Throw a Wonderful Engagement Party
While surprise engagement parties have become a popular trend among younger Canadians, a lot of work goes into planning such events. As long as you’re prepared to handle all the details, a surprise party can be a wonderful way to celebrate a special couple.
As the wedding couple, you will probably be very busy through the ceremony and reception not thinking about entertainment. Your guests may have a completely different experience, from waiting for the caterer to serve dinner after the cocktail hour to waiting for the DJ to start the dancing. Hosting entertainment for those moments can make your guests remember your wedding fondly. Here are some of the best ideas to keep guests busy during the reception.
Hire a Petting Zoo
Even if you have a kids-free wedding, adults will enjoy getting to pet and watch animals in a petting zoo. Some petting zoos have a unique array of animals, hedgehogs, bunnies, ducks, alpacas, goats and more. The staff who come with the zoo will provide information and manage the creatures, so it’s educational and fun without a lot of extra work for anyone. Check with your venue to make sure it’s okay to have animals on site.
Table Games As Entertainment
Buy some travel games or decks of cards to place on the table to give guests something easy to do between courses or during speeches. Practically everyone remembers the classics, like checkers, backgammon or crazy eights, so you won’t need to provide instructions. Personalize the decks of cards with your photos and let guests take them home as a reminder of the wedding.
A Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give guests a list of ideas for pictures to take with their own phone or with a disposable camera. Make up two or three sets of lists so everyone at the same table has a different list. Ask them to post to social media with a unique wedding hashtag to make these photos easy to find. You’ll see much more of the reception through a different lens and get some great memories that your photographer might miss.
Hire Unique Entertainers
Your community probably has a lot of entertainers who would spend a couple of hours providing entertainment for a crowd. Think beyond musicians or circus-style performers. Hire a caricaturist, a magician or a balloon animal artist for the cocktail party in addition to any band or other entertainment. If you’ve ever been to a Renaissance faire, think about the street performers that kept you entertained while you walked around, the dancers, the bird of prey showcase or the comedians.
Set Up a Miniature Golf Course
Check with your local bounce house rental to see what kinds of games they offer. If your venue has space for a mini golf course or croquet, those kinds of games can keep old and young guests entertained for a while without wearing them out in the heat of the day. You may find some other neat game ideas as some party places rent casino games or carnival games that will keep guests busy instead of twiddling their thumbs.
Coloring Books or Advice Pages For Entertainment
On each table, place some crayons and coloring books. Adults and children alike often enjoy having something to keep their hands busy that is not mentally challenging. Give guests an opportunity to leave you a piece of wisdom or advice for your marriage by leaving special cards on the table.
Family and Guest Trivia Entertainment
Get guests to talk to each other by leaving cards with clues to information about each other at the table. Kind of like a “Guess Who” game. Or leave clues about the wedding party to see if guests can guess which person in the family can play the harmonica or some other unique attribute. You might even ask who is the oldest at the wedding or who traveled the farthest. Make sure to provide answers through the evening to see who got it right.
Give your guests a reason to enjoy your wedding by keeping them entertained throughout the day or evening.
We all know how crucial an Invitation can be, Informing your guests of your wedding is one of the biggest tasks on your plate. While you might feel excited to get this started from the moment you announce your engagement, it is best to make sure you put in proper research before you begin. Invites typically come in what is known as a “suite.” Unlike invites to a birthday party, which require little more than card and envelope, there are a few key elements involved with the suite. Review this breakdown and feel ready to tackle this important wedding task.
The Preliminary Stepof The Invitation
Before you even get to the suite itself, there is a very important preliminary step you must address. The save-the-date cards are the first point of contact you will have with most of your guests. This card provides your friends and family members with the general notice of your wedding and the date you have selected. While you can include other details if you so desire, this early stage is only meant to provide a notice to your guests so they can plan accordingly. This isn’t part of the suite, but it is definitely crucial.
The Main Event
The suite itself is composed of several parts. The centerpiece is the main invitation. This is the item that includes all of the most important details of your event. The verbiage and exact phrasings you select will come down to what you feel comfortable with, but there are some templates online you can use to get started. Be sure to include your full names, the date and time of the event, and the exact address of the venue. You don’t want to crowd the paper, so limit yourself to these key points.
It is important to note that some customs suggest putting in the names of the people who are paying for the event. If your parents are helping to cover the costs of your big day, you would introduce the invitation with language suggesting they are the ones welcoming the guests. This is not as commonplace as it once was, however, and can be left to your own discretion.
The InvitationWith AResponse Card
While informing guests of your big day is important, it is equally as crucial to include the response card. This is a small item included along with the other stationery in the suite. The card is included to allow guests a convenient way of replying to the invitation. Typically, the card is very small and is placed within an envelope that has been addressed and stamped. You don’t need to include postage, but it increases the odds your guests will place the cards right in the mail and you can get a headcount.
The Excess
The final piece of the suite is the “details” card. In reality, this can be a single card or multiple pieces of paper. The point is to include the information that cannot fit on the main card or doesn’t belong elsewhere. For example, if you need to give directions to guests, this is the place to provide that info. The details you can include here will range from the answers to commonplace questions, contact info that might be essential, information related to booking local hotel rooms, and so on.
The Rest
Finally, there are lots of little flourishes you can include in the invitation suite to give it a bit more personality. While you don’t want to over stuff the envelope, couples will include decorative elements that don’t take up much space and help to tie the invites into the overall aesthetic of the event.
An invitation suite is an important part of your big day. Create a list to make sure you hit every point discussed here and tackle this task with ease.
Being invited to attend a wedding is a great honor. When a couple asks you to share their special day with them, it means you are a person of importance to their relationship. Unfortunately, there are plenty of guests who make significant errors when it comes to celebrating a marriage. If you want to be the best guest possible, take a look at these common mistakes and learn how to avoid them at all costs.
TheInvited
Couples put a lot of thought behind who is included on their guest lists. This also means they have been deliberate with which guests will receive a plus-one invite. If you were not given the option to bring a date to the event, then you should simply accept this. One of the most uncomfortable mistakes you can make is to reach out to the couple and request a plus-one. The couple likely is working with a tight budget, and asking to bring someone can put them in a very difficult position.
Another common mistake with invitations is failing to RSVP in a timely manner. The longer you wait, the more complicated you are making matters for the couple. You should also stay true to your word and attend an event that you replied “yes” to. If a conflict comes up and you can no longer make it, let the couple know as early as possible so they can adjust their lists accordingly.
The Invited and The Gift
When you’re invited to a wedding, you are also expected to bring a gift. Unfortunately, there are plenty of guests who forego giving a present. While it is not mandatory to provide a gift, you can bet that the absence will be noticed. To maintain a strong relationship with the couple, find a present that falls within your budget. If there is a registry attached to the event, try to avoid purchasing an item that is not on the official list. For those who don’t have time to grab something from a store, a cash gift is a suitable fit.
The Ceremony
These days, everyone uses their phones to snap a ton of pictures during a wedding ceremony. Since the couple likely hired a professional to photograph the event, you must remain mindful of how you go about taking your own pics. Getting in the way of the photographer is a huge faux pas, so stay in your seat at all times to avoid blocking a perfect shot. It is also important to remain quiet during the ceremony and to put all of your electronic devices on silent in advance.
The Reception
Most wedding receptions feature an open bar for guests. However, this is not an invitation for you to drink so much that you make a fool of yourself. While you should feel free to indulge in a few beverages and enjoy your experience, you must also remain mindful of your limit. The last thing you want to do is ruin a beautiful day by becoming belligerent. It is also a good idea to be polite to the catering staff and any other vendors present during the event. Treat all guests and staff with the same level of respect.
The Odds and Ends
Finally, be sure to pay attention to all information listed on your invitation or the official wedding website. If there is a dress code, plan your outfit in advance. If you need to mention dietary restrictions, do it immediately. Try to avoid bothering the couple with any questions that can be answered by reviewing the information already given to you.
While being a wedding guest can be a lot of fun, you should be mindful of your behavior throughout the experience. Use your best judgment at all times, and help the couple enjoy this special day to the fullest.
Tying the knot is a very exciting chapter in the love story you are creating with your partner. Still, it can prove helpful to take a closer look at whether or not your event reflects current wedding trends. From the median age of a couple when they decide to get married to the traditions surrounding surnames, Canadian wedding trends fluctuate from one year to the next. Take a look at these statistics surrounding modern weddings and learn a bit more about the evolution of marriage in Canada over recent decades.
Waiting To Wed
In the 1980s, the average age for a person to get married in Canada was 23. Over the last few decades, however, people have been waiting long periods before making the decision to walk down the aisle. Some experts believe this is due to younger individuals putting a heavier focus on their careers. Others attribute the delay to the rising costs of living and how expensive it has become to start a family. Regardless of the exact reason, the median age for a person to wed in Canada has shifted to 31 as of 2022.
Breaking With Tradition
Modern couples often like to break with traditions that no longer suit them. A great example of this can be found in brides who decide to keep their own last names after getting married. In the 1970s, almost all Canadian women who tied the knot changed their surnames. According to polls taken in 2019, this number has shifted a considerable amount. Roughly 40% of women who get married nowadays opt not to fully change their names. Of this percentage, about half decide to hyphenate their last names in order to incorporate their married names.
Setting Statistics Aside
As of 2023, about 36 countries across the world have legalized same-sex marriage. While this trend highlights how accepting people around the planet have become of LGBT relationships, it is important to note that Canada was one of the first countries to make this decision. Same-sex marriage was officially legalized in Canada on July 20, 2005, after the Civil Marriage Act was passed. While this act made same-sex marriages legal nationwide, certain provinces had legalized these unions earlier. Provinces that passed marriage equality laws in 2004 include Quebec, Yukon, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland.
Opting for Winter Engagements
There is no “right” time of year to get engaged. As long as you and your partner are on the same page, the decision to get married can be a great choice. Still, some studies have shown that a majority of Canadian couples prefer to pop the question during the same period. According to a number of reports, a large chunk of couples make the decision to get engaged between December and February. While they may prefer winter engagements, most couples wind up hosting their weddings during the spring and summer.
Sharing Space First
Several decades ago, it was commonplace for couples to live separately until they officially tied the knot. This is a trend that has shifted dramatically in recent years. According to national stats, roughly 75% of couples decide to live together before making the decision to get married. Many couples opt to move in together before marriage in order to see how well their relationships fare when they’re sharing a space. If you wait until you’re married to live with your partner, you might discover that the two of you have very different ideas on cohabitation.
Ignoring Statistics & Following Your Own Path
While it can be helpful to take a look at statistics now and again, it is important to remember that your wedding does not need to follow any specific rules or trends. As long as you and your partner are happy with the decisions you have made, everything else will fall into place.
When a couple decides to marry, usually there’s an understanding they’ll be sharing things moving forward. This is true for couples in Canada and all over the world. Many newlyweds will share a last name, a primary address, several monthly expenses, and finances.
While these are all important elements in a marriage, finances can be very complicated. Sharing finances should lead to conversations about income, assets, debts, bank accounts, and credit histories, among others. Here’s what engaged and seriously dating couples should know about credit.
What Is Credit?
Generally, the term “credit” refers to a person’s creditworthiness or history as a borrower. This record is often expressed as a number or code, typically called a credit score. This score is based on your debt history and provides insight to lenders on the likelihood of you repaying debt on time. Credit scores not only impact your ability to secure loans or credit cards, but they can also affect employment opportunities sometimes.
What Does a Score Say?
In Canada, an individual’s credit rating is alphanumeric. A number ranging from 1 to 9 indicates your payment track record. A “1” means the person always pays their bills within 30 days of the due date. A “9” means the person never pays their bills. A “0” means the person has no credit history. Letters indicate the type of debt a borrower has:
I – This is an installment loan where the borrower makes fixed payments on a regular schedule until an established date. Think of a mortgage or a loan for college.
O – This is an open credit account where a balance must be repaid in full after a certain period. Certain charge cards (as opposed to credit cards) work this way.
R – This refers to revolving credit, such as credit cards, where the balance and repayment vary.
The type of debt you incur also matters to anyone reviewing your history as a borrower.
Do Married Couples Share Scores?
When two become one in marriage, their histories (and scores) do not merge. Your history is your own, and the same is true for your partner. Should you choose to open an account together or secure a loan together, lenders will review both histories. That shared account will also show up on both of your records. It’s important to discuss current debt and attitudes toward borrowing in advance.
Does Bad Credit Impact My Partner?
The good news is that having a spouse with bad credit doesn’t lower yours by marriage or association. Getting married doesn’t do anything for or against your rating. Joint debt will show up on both reports. Potential lenders will review both your and your partner’s histories if you’re applying for a loan together. If you add your partner as an authorized user to one or more accounts (or vice versa), those accounts will be a part of both histories.
Do Name Changes Impact My Score?
Taking on your spouse’s last name, hyphenating names, or choosing a new name doesn’t impact your score. It doesn’t reset your borrower history. You can initiate a name change with credit reporting bureaus by formally contacting them. Your reports may also update as you register a name change with existing accounts.
What About Disputes?
If a report shows inaccurate information, you can formally dispute it with credit reporting bureaus. This is true for individual debt and shared debt. Because your and your partner’s credit records are separate, clearing up a dispute on shared debt does not automatically clear it for both you and your partner.
Finances are a complex subject for dating, engaged, and married couples. It’s important to be up on all the facts before you and your significant other decide to make joint purchases and take on debt. Your individual credit histories can’t automatically impact your shared financial future, but they may provide critical insights sooner than later.
Many people have a problem giving up their devices, even for a solemn occasion like a wedding. An unplugged wedding is one in which the guests are asked not to have their phones out at all. It’s not about putting phones on silent or turning off the flash on their cameras. Guests are requested to put their phones away completely.
Even though device-free weddings are on trend, asking your friends and family to go without their phones for just a few hours can be controversial. Here are some things to consider if you’d like to have an unplugged wedding.
Decide How Much of Your Wedding You Want Technology-Free
Before you tell guests that you want a device-free wedding, make sure you and your partner are on the same page. Do you want both the ceremony and reception free of phones? Many couples ask that the ceremony be device free while allowing phones at the reception, provided that guests respect the professional photographer when getting those special moments, like cutting the cake or the first dance.
Present the Positives of Unplugging
Smartphones today are almost necessary, so getting guests to buy into your unplugged wedding will take some delicate footwork. Starting with your invitations, tell your guests that you’d like them to enjoy the ceremony without distractions from their phones. You want your guests to be present and in the moment.
You’ll need to repeat this multiple times through your wedding communications, from the save the date, on your website and at the venue itself. Have the officiant mention it during the welcome speech, too. This figure of authority can be more impactful than signs.
How Do You Enforce an Unplugged Wedding?
You’re going to have to deal with guests who think they’re exempt from the no-device rule. Plan on taking a gracious approach, not a confrontational one. Give guests a station where phones can be safely stored during the ceremony. Don’t make this mandatory, but give options. Have one or two ushers who are comfortable asking guests to put their phones away if a guest sneaks them out to take a selfie.
Don’t threaten to take phones away. You hope your guests will want to support an unplugged wedding because it can be a refreshing moment where they can slow down. Going into punishment mode will put people on the defensive, which will take away the moment.
Are There Disadvantages to an Unplugged Wedding?
Before you completely unplug, consider another side. Guests like to take photos of events to remember for themselves. You may get copies of all your photos from the photographer, but most guests won’t have that option. In addition, you won’t get to see your wedding through the guest’s eyes.
Your guests may want pictures of family and friends they only get to see occasionally, and your photographer won’t be able to be everywhere. During the reception, guests can help take pictures of the fun stuff you might otherwise miss. While it’s nice to unplug for a while, getting those candid shots the photographer might miss is a good reason for guests to have their devices during the reception.
Be Gracious and Find Balance
There’s nothing wrong with wanting an unplugged wedding ceremony. Putting phones down can help your guests connect with you and your other guests. Expect pushback but stay confident in your decision; have polite answers that affirm your choice of an unplugged wedding. Give guests the opportunity to take photos with the bridal party and their friends and family.
Your wedding can be more intimate when your guests unplug during the ceremony. Ask your guests to “hold the phone” to be present for your wedding.
Modern couples often want to include their fur baby in their wedding, but doing so is more challenging than simply bringing your pet to the ceremony and reception. You must consider several factors to ensure your pet-friendly wedding is as joyous and stress-free as possible for everyone involved.
Choose the Best Role for Your Pet
Consider your pet’s personality and style to find a role for it in the wedding. If you have an especially active pet, you could let him greet visitors to use up some of his energy. A couch potato may be better suited to walking down the aisle with you to her favorite pillow so she can nap during the ceremony.
If you want your pet to wear a special outfit during the wedding, practice putting it on ahead of time. If you have a shy pet or reactive dog, think about other roles that may be less stressful for your companion. For example, your fur baby could star in your engagement photos or invitations.
Hire a Pet Sitter
Before you plan to bring your pet, check with the venue to see if it’s pet friendly. Make sure you know the rules at each venue about what’s expected of your pet. Once you’re sure you want to include your animal, hire a pet sitter for the day. You and your wedding party are going to be busy. Don’t rely on them to take care of your pet.
Give your pet time to get to know the sitter before the big day. Also, ask your venue if there is a space where your pet can rest if things get overwhelming, or make arrangements for your sitter to take your animal back to the hotel or your home.
Make Your Guests Aware Of Your Pet
If you’re planning on bringing your pet to the wedding, you should alert guests because many people have allergies. This gives guests a chance to prepare by taking allergy medicine or to decline the invitation. Also, you should note whether other pets are welcome at the wedding or not. Mention it ahead of time so there are no questions or surprises.
Talk to Your Vendors
Let your wedding photographer know your pet is part of your wedding party. This can help the photo team set up the right angles to get your pet in the pictures.
Talk to the florist about your bouquet and floral arrangements, which should not include plants that are poisonous to your pet. For example, lilies are very toxic to cats, and some are toxic to dogs.
If you think your dog will be at the reception, you should alert the band or DJ and tell your caterer that a dog will be on-site. Communication before the event will help things go much smoother.
Pack Supplies for the Big Day
You’ll want to make sure to have plenty of food, water and treats for your pet on your wedding day. Pack the pet’s food bowl and water dish to give him a sense of normalcy. Don’t forget to include a couple of favorite toys, plenty of waste bags and a pillow or dog bed. It might even be good to include a towel or puppy pads for accidents. And a lint roller for pet hair is an absolute must.
Having your best four-legged friend in your wedding party can make your day special, but you’ll want to practice with your pet beforehand. Let your pet get familiar with the space before the big day so he isn’t stressed out. Have a plan B in case things don’t go how you want, and you’ll still be able to have the wedding of your dreams.
Having a lot of friends can be both a blessing and a curse while you’re planning your wedding. The more people you want to have a role in the festivities, the more complicated it becomes to have a wedding party of a sensible size. One way around this is by ditching the idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen altogether. Instead, there are plenty of other ways to include your loved ones during the ceremony and reception. Consider these alternatives and discover useful ideas for giving everyone a part to play.
Ask for Assistance With Preliminary Events
Typically, members of the wedding party are responsible for planning preliminary gatherings like the engagement party and the bachelor or bachelorette parties. Even though you’re opting to forego the traditional wedding party, you can still ask your close friends and family members to help you with certain precursory affairs. You should remain mindful of the costs of planning, however. Offer to pay for the parties, and be sure to purchase small gifts as a way of showing your gratitude to those who dedicated time and effort to putting together these events.
Give Them Something To Read
Another great way to include your loved ones on your big day is by asking some of them to do readings during the ceremony. Whether you follow a traditional religious format or select texts that hold a special significance to your heart, this is a perfect way to show people you care about that you want them involved in your event. Be mindful of whether the people you ask are comfortable with public speaking. If certain people have a fear of talking in front of groups, it is best to find another task for them.
Have Friends Give Speeches
You can also ask friends and family to give speeches during the reception. Traditionally, the best man and maid of honor deliver toasts over the course of the festivities. If you aren’t having anyone fill these roles, then you can feel free to ask anyone you’d like to say a few words. The more people you ask to speak, the shorter you need to make the speeches. Guests tend to become restless when people talk for too long, so be sure to ask only people who you know will be able to deliver succinct and sentimental toasts.
Delegate Important Tasks
Throughout the course of your wedding, there are some tasks that need to be handled by individuals who are competent and trustworthy. If you want to make the people you care about feel included, consider asking them to take on these responsibilities. For example, you may need people to usher guests to their seats before the ceremony begins. You may also need a person or two to coordinate with the caterers and other vendors to ensure your big day follows a tight schedule. Asking responsible friends to fill these roles can offer you peace of mind.
Include Your Friends in Photos
Finally, consider including specific loved ones in your wedding photos as a way of making them feel involved. However, don’t wait until the last minute to make this decision. Inform all of the people you want in your photos of your plan before the big day arrives. This is important because you don’t want people to wander off or get too drunk before you have the opportunity to get them in a picture. It can also be helpful to give a list of names to the photographer so that he or she can ensure everyone is present.
Though it might be traditional, there is no rule stating you must have a wedding party. If you still want your loved ones to feel included, there are plenty of alternatives that will make them feel special on your big day.
Sustainable weddings have been on trend for years. Weddings can be extravagant affairs with a lot of waste, but with a little forethought, an eco-friendly event is more attainable. Making your wedding green not only reduces your impact on the environment, but it also reduces the impact on your budget. Have a mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle for your upcoming wedding by starting with these tips.
Look for a Green Venue
Today’s hotels and event venues have many ways to reduce their carbon footprint, from using solar panels to composting on-site. Look for venues that have multiple sustainable initiatives in place that support green operations. Some buildings get certified through federal or state programs to indicate their commitment to sustainability. Under the Canada Green Building Council, hotels can be audited to receive a green key rating of one to five to demonstrate their current environmental efforts. Holding your wedding in a green environment and housing your guests in green hotels can make a big difference in your own environmental impact.
Sustainable Ways For Wedding Attire
Fashion has a huge impact on the environment. Creating dresses and tuxes that might only be worn once or twice takes a lot of resources. Instead of buying new, rent or buy a used wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses. If you do buy new items, look for sustainable fashion that is made of recycled or sustainable materials and made in ethical working conditions. Check for social responsibility statements by the corporate office. Shop locally or use brands that limit packaging.
Reuse or Rent Décor
Decorations and flowers are items that can end up in landfills after the wedding. Talk to the wedding venue about wedding decorations that you can reuse or rent. Shop locally for reused decorations on social media or in second-hand stores. Ask your friends to reuse their wedding decorations. Even if your colors aren’t the same, the greenery and glass vases will fit into any color scheme. Plan to offer your own wedding decorations to others after your wedding.
Create a Sustainable Wedding Gift Registry
Register with stores that are eco-friendly and sell items made from recycled materials, are Fair Trade Certified or made locally. You may also want to give guests an option to help give money toward your honeymoon or another large purchase. Some couples even ask guests to give to charity instead of giving a gift, especially when the couple already has everything they need in their home.
Sustainable Menu Items
The menu is another place where planning ahead can make your wedding more sustainable. Start by thinking about seasonal foods for the wedding. Anything that can be sourced locally is usually a better choice for the environment. Serving local wines and delicacies also supports your community. Plant-based menus are also more eco-friendly and usually less expensive than serving seafood and meats.
Ask your caterer about their own process to reduce waste. Rent dishes and flatware for serving. Although those items will need to be washed, it will keep a lot of waste out of landfills. Instead of a buffet, choose a plated dinner. Buffets require a lot of extra food for serving, which often goes to waste.
Make Small Changes To Your Wedding
Before buying items for your wedding, think about the impact on the environment. Candles and balloons might be traditional decorations, but both are not sustainable. Balloons just get tossed into a landfill after the wedding. Candles made of paraffin wax, which is a petroleum product, are not eco-friendly. Printed invitations use a lot of paper. Find eco-friendly options instead.
Think of ways you can be more sustainable on your special day to really enjoy your wedding, knowing that you’re not a burden to the environment.
Engagement parties have long been a tradition that couples indulge in before getting married. However, younger Canadians have been putting a unique spin on this custom in recent years by throwing surprise engagement parties. This can be a great way to delight the happy couple and show them how much their connection means to their family and friends. Still, you need to go about the process in the right manner for it to work. Review this guide and gain more perspective on how to properly throw a surprise engagement party.
Ask the Right Preliminary Questions
Before you do anything else, you need to ask yourself a handful of questions about the couple. Namely, you must consider whether or not they will appreciate being surprised. Some people absolutely hate surprises, especially individuals who like to have a lot of control over their lives. If the couple likes to meticulously plan every detail of their routine without change, then you may want to nix the idea of surprising them. You should also consider whether the guests can keep a secret. If you’re working with people who love to gossip, you may want to consider other options.
Create the Guest-list For The Engagement Party
Next, you need to figure out who will be invited to the party. This can be a tricky step, especially if you don’t know all the people the couple would want present at the event. Since you cannot ask the couple without giving away the secret, you must work with other friends and family members to put together a succinct list. You must be very careful with who you invite, as custom dictates people who are invited to the engagement party must also be invited to the wedding. Be thorough to avoid any awkward situations for the couple.
Pick a Place
One of the more challenging aspects of planning a surprise engagement party is selecting a location. Opting for a venue like a restaurant can make it easier to figure out food and drink concerns, but it also can be more expensive and limit how many guests you can invite. The popular alternative younger Canadians have been taking advantage of in recent years is hosting the party at someone’s home. This can help to create a relaxed and welcoming environment for everyone. If you decide to use a venue, be sure to book the space at least three months in advance.
Plan Activities At Your Engagement Party
To make the event more personal, you may wish to include a variety of activities. Specifically, it can be a good idea to plan games that are centered around the couple and their relationship. For example, you can create a list of questions about the couple and have all of the guests answer them to the best of their abilities. When the answers are read aloud, it can make for a fun and hilarious experience as the couple learns who knows the most about them. Look at sites like Pinterest for more inspiration on party games.
Figure Out the Final Plan
Once you have all of the details figured out, you must create a plan for the day of the party. How are you going to get the couple to the venue without giving away the secret? Will someone be in charge of spending time with the couple beforehand so that they make it to the venue in a timely manner? You may also want to consider having guests park their vehicles away from the venue where the party is being held. This will help to keep the party a total surprise until the last possible moment.
Throw a Wonderful Engagement Party
While surprise engagement parties have become a popular trend among younger Canadians, a lot of work goes into planning such events. As long as you’re prepared to handle all the details, a surprise party can be a wonderful way to celebrate a special couple.
As the wedding couple, you will probably be very busy through the ceremony and reception not thinking about entertainment. Your guests may have a completely different experience, from waiting for the caterer to serve dinner after the cocktail hour to waiting for the DJ to start the dancing. Hosting entertainment for those moments can make your guests remember your wedding fondly. Here are some of the best ideas to keep guests busy during the reception.
Hire a Petting Zoo
Even if you have a kids-free wedding, adults will enjoy getting to pet and watch animals in a petting zoo. Some petting zoos have a unique array of animals, hedgehogs, bunnies, ducks, alpacas, goats and more. The staff who come with the zoo will provide information and manage the creatures, so it’s educational and fun without a lot of extra work for anyone. Check with your venue to make sure it’s okay to have animals on site.
Table Games As Entertainment
Buy some travel games or decks of cards to place on the table to give guests something easy to do between courses or during speeches. Practically everyone remembers the classics, like checkers, backgammon or crazy eights, so you won’t need to provide instructions. Personalize the decks of cards with your photos and let guests take them home as a reminder of the wedding.
A Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give guests a list of ideas for pictures to take with their own phone or with a disposable camera. Make up two or three sets of lists so everyone at the same table has a different list. Ask them to post to social media with a unique wedding hashtag to make these photos easy to find. You’ll see much more of the reception through a different lens and get some great memories that your photographer might miss.
Hire Unique Entertainers
Your community probably has a lot of entertainers who would spend a couple of hours providing entertainment for a crowd. Think beyond musicians or circus-style performers. Hire a caricaturist, a magician or a balloon animal artist for the cocktail party in addition to any band or other entertainment. If you’ve ever been to a Renaissance faire, think about the street performers that kept you entertained while you walked around, the dancers, the bird of prey showcase or the comedians.
Set Up a Miniature Golf Course
Check with your local bounce house rental to see what kinds of games they offer. If your venue has space for a mini golf course or croquet, those kinds of games can keep old and young guests entertained for a while without wearing them out in the heat of the day. You may find some other neat game ideas as some party places rent casino games or carnival games that will keep guests busy instead of twiddling their thumbs.
Coloring Books or Advice Pages For Entertainment
On each table, place some crayons and coloring books. Adults and children alike often enjoy having something to keep their hands busy that is not mentally challenging. Give guests an opportunity to leave you a piece of wisdom or advice for your marriage by leaving special cards on the table.
Family and Guest Trivia Entertainment
Get guests to talk to each other by leaving cards with clues to information about each other at the table. Kind of like a “Guess Who” game. Or leave clues about the wedding party to see if guests can guess which person in the family can play the harmonica or some other unique attribute. You might even ask who is the oldest at the wedding or who traveled the farthest. Make sure to provide answers through the evening to see who got it right.
Give your guests a reason to enjoy your wedding by keeping them entertained throughout the day or evening.
We all know how crucial an Invitation can be, Informing your guests of your wedding is one of the biggest tasks on your plate. While you might feel excited to get this started from the moment you announce your engagement, it is best to make sure you put in proper research before you begin. Invites typically come in what is known as a “suite.” Unlike invites to a birthday party, which require little more than card and envelope, there are a few key elements involved with the suite. Review this breakdown and feel ready to tackle this important wedding task.
The Preliminary Stepof The Invitation
Before you even get to the suite itself, there is a very important preliminary step you must address. The save-the-date cards are the first point of contact you will have with most of your guests. This card provides your friends and family members with the general notice of your wedding and the date you have selected. While you can include other details if you so desire, this early stage is only meant to provide a notice to your guests so they can plan accordingly. This isn’t part of the suite, but it is definitely crucial.
The Main Event
The suite itself is composed of several parts. The centerpiece is the main invitation. This is the item that includes all of the most important details of your event. The verbiage and exact phrasings you select will come down to what you feel comfortable with, but there are some templates online you can use to get started. Be sure to include your full names, the date and time of the event, and the exact address of the venue. You don’t want to crowd the paper, so limit yourself to these key points.
It is important to note that some customs suggest putting in the names of the people who are paying for the event. If your parents are helping to cover the costs of your big day, you would introduce the invitation with language suggesting they are the ones welcoming the guests. This is not as commonplace as it once was, however, and can be left to your own discretion.
The InvitationWith AResponse Card
While informing guests of your big day is important, it is equally as crucial to include the response card. This is a small item included along with the other stationery in the suite. The card is included to allow guests a convenient way of replying to the invitation. Typically, the card is very small and is placed within an envelope that has been addressed and stamped. You don’t need to include postage, but it increases the odds your guests will place the cards right in the mail and you can get a headcount.
The Excess
The final piece of the suite is the “details” card. In reality, this can be a single card or multiple pieces of paper. The point is to include the information that cannot fit on the main card or doesn’t belong elsewhere. For example, if you need to give directions to guests, this is the place to provide that info. The details you can include here will range from the answers to commonplace questions, contact info that might be essential, information related to booking local hotel rooms, and so on.
The Rest
Finally, there are lots of little flourishes you can include in the invitation suite to give it a bit more personality. While you don’t want to over stuff the envelope, couples will include decorative elements that don’t take up much space and help to tie the invites into the overall aesthetic of the event.
An invitation suite is an important part of your big day. Create a list to make sure you hit every point discussed here and tackle this task with ease.
Being invited to attend a wedding is a great honor. When a couple asks you to share their special day with them, it means you are a person of importance to their relationship. Unfortunately, there are plenty of guests who make significant errors when it comes to celebrating a marriage. If you want to be the best guest possible, take a look at these common mistakes and learn how to avoid them at all costs.
TheInvited
Couples put a lot of thought behind who is included on their guest lists. This also means they have been deliberate with which guests will receive a plus-one invite. If you were not given the option to bring a date to the event, then you should simply accept this. One of the most uncomfortable mistakes you can make is to reach out to the couple and request a plus-one. The couple likely is working with a tight budget, and asking to bring someone can put them in a very difficult position.
Another common mistake with invitations is failing to RSVP in a timely manner. The longer you wait, the more complicated you are making matters for the couple. You should also stay true to your word and attend an event that you replied “yes” to. If a conflict comes up and you can no longer make it, let the couple know as early as possible so they can adjust their lists accordingly.
The Invited and The Gift
When you’re invited to a wedding, you are also expected to bring a gift. Unfortunately, there are plenty of guests who forego giving a present. While it is not mandatory to provide a gift, you can bet that the absence will be noticed. To maintain a strong relationship with the couple, find a present that falls within your budget. If there is a registry attached to the event, try to avoid purchasing an item that is not on the official list. For those who don’t have time to grab something from a store, a cash gift is a suitable fit.
The Ceremony
These days, everyone uses their phones to snap a ton of pictures during a wedding ceremony. Since the couple likely hired a professional to photograph the event, you must remain mindful of how you go about taking your own pics. Getting in the way of the photographer is a huge faux pas, so stay in your seat at all times to avoid blocking a perfect shot. It is also important to remain quiet during the ceremony and to put all of your electronic devices on silent in advance.
The Reception
Most wedding receptions feature an open bar for guests. However, this is not an invitation for you to drink so much that you make a fool of yourself. While you should feel free to indulge in a few beverages and enjoy your experience, you must also remain mindful of your limit. The last thing you want to do is ruin a beautiful day by becoming belligerent. It is also a good idea to be polite to the catering staff and any other vendors present during the event. Treat all guests and staff with the same level of respect.
The Odds and Ends
Finally, be sure to pay attention to all information listed on your invitation or the official wedding website. If there is a dress code, plan your outfit in advance. If you need to mention dietary restrictions, do it immediately. Try to avoid bothering the couple with any questions that can be answered by reviewing the information already given to you.
While being a wedding guest can be a lot of fun, you should be mindful of your behavior throughout the experience. Use your best judgment at all times, and help the couple enjoy this special day to the fullest.
