Heather and I recently attended the Association of Bridal Consultants’ annual conference in Indianapolis.  We met a lot of great people, and attended some very informative classes.  One of the highlights of the conference for me was meeting Peggy Post. That’s right, Peggy Post, the great-granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post – etiquette guru!

I attended two of Peggy’s sessions at the conference, and learned some really interesting things about etiquette and how it changes between cultures and over time.

One thing that really stuck out to me was that the giving of a thank you gift can differ between cultures.  The type of gift, when to give it, when to open it, and the appropriate way to reciprocate the gift can all vary depending on the culture.  For instance, be cautious if giving flowers as a gift.  Different colors or types of flowers have various meanings depending on the culture;  some even symbolizing death.  What I found even more interesting (and not surprising) is that chocolates are the universal thank you.

My favorite part of Peggy’s presentation, (besides her calling wedding coordinators saints) was her showing how the principles of etiquette have changed over time.

In 1922:
A bride-to-be could not accept apparel, a house, or a car from her fiancé.
A wedding in the evening would never take place in New York. A sit-down breakfast reception was the norm.
Southern weddings took place in the evenings (because the weather was typically cooler).

In 1980:
Female guests should never wear white or black to a wedding.
A woman who is re-marrying should never wear white.
A bridal gift registry could only consist of crystal, silver, china, and linen – that’s all!
The bridal party could only consist of men standing with the groom and women standing with the bride.

Now in 2009, we have honor attendants or even pets as participants in the bridal party.  It is acceptable for female guests to wear black; sometimes even the bridesmaids’ dresses are black.  And bridal registries often consist of just about any household item, even camping gear and flat screen TVs.  Not to mention the option of having a honeymoon registry, or requests for charity donations in lieu of gifts.

I also found it interesting that the one rule of etiquette that has not changed in over 80 years is the sending of a hand written thank you note after receiving a gift.

How do you think the rules of etiquette will change over the next 20 years?  Will evites be acceptable as wedding invitations?  Will social or eco-responsibility be more of a rule instead of an option?

Yes, the chair covers are actually glowing!  How cool is that?  I think they would be great in a South Beach themed reception, or for adding a little more sparkle to your holiday party.

They are made with a fiber-optic fabric, and to make them even better they’re battery operated (no wires).   In addition to chair covers; linens, placemats, overlays, runners, pillows, and tray liners are available in this table décor rental line from PBG Event Productions.

Photo Source: PBG Event Productions

I could describe some the gowns’ amazing details, but think I will just share a few of my favorites (be forewarned, few things make me as happy as sparkles and lace).  These gowns are from Martina Liana’s 2009 collection…imagine what 2010 is going to bring!

I was given a beautiful journal with the advice for my husband and me to write down our wedding day memories together while relaxing on our honeymoon. So while sitting in a hammock overlooking the Caribbean Sea we did just that. It was a great way to capture our memories while they were still fresh in our minds, and we were still on our wedding “high”. We also took it one step further and wrote down our honeymoon adventures, (well the PG ones anyway). It was really cool to read again shortly after returning to the real world, it helped us stay in denial about being back. And almost two years later we can instantly relive our wedding day or travel back to the beaches of St. Lucia just by perusing a few pages in our journal.

Besides photos or video what are some of the ways you plan to preserve your wedding day memories?

Q: Basically, what does the Wedding Protector Plan^SM cover?
A: The plan can reimburse you if an important item related to your wedding (for example, your ring) is lost or damaged before you get married. The plan can reimburse you in case you lose your deposit if a vendor (for example, your florist) goes out of business before your wedding. You also can receive funds if events beyond your control cause you to postpone your wedding.  You may add coverage to protect you in case someone at your wedding is injured or causes damage to property of others. Of course, certain terms and conditions apply to these coverages, which you will want to review before you purchase your Wedding Protector Plan.

Visit the Wedding Protector Plan at www.protectmywedding.com for more information, FAQs, a risk assessment quiz, and a premium calculator.

 NOAA via Getty Images

The first thing I thought was ‘what a perfect location for out-of-town guests’.  Whether your wedding is at the beach, downtown, or anywhere in between Hotel Indigo is located in the center of everything Jacksonville has to offer.  Conveniently located in Southside’s new Tapestry Park the hotel is minutes from shopping & entertainment at Tinseltown, and the St. John’s Town center. It’s just a 20 minute drive to the downtown area or the beaches, and less than 30 minutes from the Jacksonville International Airport.

Hotel Indigo’s banquet room is great for rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons, showers, or a farewell brunch for your guests.  And their two-room suites are spacious enough for families, or for getting ready with your bridesmaids on the big day.  There is a café and cocktail lounge on-site, the chocolate-Twix martini is a must try!

For more information and photos visit Hotel Indigo on the web.

As I’m sitting here planning my day a sense of dread comes over me.  I begin to wonder when I am going to make it to the polls.  What’s the best time to beat the crowds?  For a fleeting moment I think, “Ugh, I’m not even going to bother.” “I don’t have time for this.” “What if I’m there for two hours?”

I snap out of it with this following thought, “Women before me fought for over 70 years to win the right to vote; and I’m going to whine over an hour or two.” So I’m heading out, and whether it takes me 5 minutes or 5 hours I will be casting my vote in gratitude and pride.

Your wedding will probably be the only time you have so many of your loved ones celebrating together in the same time and place, and it is a very touching experience.  The farewell brunch is a great way to spend more time with your friends and family in a more relaxing and informal atmosphere.  You’ll get to hear about parts of your wedding that you missed, and of course how fabulous it was!  So when you begin to think that you couldn’t possibly plan another wedding related gathering consider adding just this one more:  I wish I had.

Check out all of the great designs at www.beegeebags.com

I wish I knew where we were planning to go for our honeymoon before we set our wedding date.  We had already booked our venues for December 1st before we had even thought about our honeymoon destination.  We eventually decided on St. Lucia in the Caribbean in January.  This happens to be the peak season for most of the Caribbean and the prices for hotels and air travel are at their highest.  Our honeymoon cost almost double what it would have if we had gone in April.  If the date or time of year for your wedding is not a priority, consider planning around your honeymoon destination’s off season.  You may find some great deals, and less crowded beaches or attractions.

Melanie and her husband, Eric
(photo by Kris Graham Photography)