Traditionally, a wedding is supposed to be a gift to the bride from her parents, but in today’s world, it’s more of 50-50. The bride and groom make their wedding a beautiful and memorable occasion by sharing each other’s expenses and inviting their families to participate. Even though there are many different views about weddings, individuals like the best man, bride’s maids, maid of honor, and the bride’s mom and dad, the groom’s parents too are involved in many ways. As it is well known that everyone involved in the wedding has particular etiquette that has to be followed at specific times during the wedding. Similarly, there is a set of wedding etiquette for the groom’s parents. In the following article, we will be going through these few wedding etiquettes that the groom’s parents should follow at the wedding.
Wedding Etiquette for Groom’s Family
Most things must be done before and at a wedding, most of which apply to the bride’s side. But the groom’s parents have a specific role to play as his family.
Acquaintance Etiquette
- Traditionally, it is said that when a couple decides to get married, the groom’s parents have to initiate the meeting between the two sets of parents.
- Even if they’ve met before or know each other very well, one of the wedding etiquette for the groom’s parents is that they should formally meet the bride’s parents before the wedding preparations start.
- The meeting should be held officially to announce both sides’ engagement and will. It could be done through a phone call by inviting them over for dinner or simply a cup of coffee.
- This tradition is done for the simple reason that if the two families are not known to each other, they can become acquaintances and maintain a good relationship for the years to come.
Monetary Etiquette
- Another traditional wedding etiquette for groom’s parents is by sharing the expenses of the wedding. In today’s wedding the couple decides to make shared expenses but earlier, it wasn’t this way. Read more on rehearsal dinner etiquette.
- The groom’s parents are expected to pay for the rehearsal dinner and to hold the dinner at their residence.
- If they are also sharing the wedding expenses, it is completely accepted to ask the wedding couple to lower their expectations about the rehearsal dinner and have a homely affair.
- Even though many couples follow these traditions, some who are very independent don’t mind inviting their parents for the wedding and not asking them to share any expenses.
- In some weddings the groom’s parents are expected to pay for the bride’s wedding ring and even her dress, but that totally depends on the couple.
Individual Etiquette
Wedding Etiquette for Groom’s Mother
However, the groom’s mother is supposed to be the busier woman from the groom’s side. She is responsible for managing the bride’s wedding gown, but if the bride’s mother is present, the etiquette says she can let her handle it. The groom’s mother shouldn’t mind the bridesmaid dresses or the one for the maid of honor as that is the bride’s family affair. She should only compliment or match the color of her dress to those of the bride’s side.
Wedding Etiquette for Groom’s Father
The groom’s father has no major responsibilities regarding the wedding, except for helping with the arrangements if asked. He has to escort the ladies to their pews if needed. If the groom’s parents are divorced or remarried, all he has to do is escort his current wife to be seated in the pew behind the groom’s mother.
Thus, the above wedding etiquette for groom’s parents are to be followed by choice and also by discussing with all the family members including the wedding couple!
