After months or maybe even years of wedding planning, brides and grooms expect to relax and enjoy their big day – but did you know there are a minefield of traditions, customs and rules to navigate?
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From the reason the top tier of your wedding cake should never be eaten to why your groom shouldn't lift his bride's veil, we've turned to the etiquette experts Debrett's, who have been teaching social manners for 250 years, to brush up on our knowledge. Keep scrolling to see the 10 traditional wedding etiquette rules you probably know nothing about…
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1. The groom should pay for the flowers
It is custom for the groom to foot the bill for bouquets and buttonholes, though many modern brides choose to handle all of the flowers.
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2. The mother of the bride should be the last guest to enter the church
Just before the bride arrives, the mother of the bride should be accompanied to her seat on the arm of the chief usher.
3. The bride should stand to the left of the groom during the ceremony
This very specific arrangement which has now become commonplace was originally to leave the groom's right sword-hand free.
READ: Wedding terminology A-Z: The lingo you need to know before your big day
4. The groom shouldn't lift the bride's veil
Traditionally, it is the mother of the bride or chief bridesmaid who lifts back the bride’s veil during the first hymn.
5. The in-laws switch partners after the ceremony
The father of the bride should escort the groom’s mother out of the church at the end of the ceremony, and the bride’s mother will then be escorted by the groom’s father.
There is a special rule when it comes to the removal of wedding hats
6. Wedding guests can only remove their hats after the mother of the bride has done so
If wearing formal headwear, any female wedding guests should wait until the mother of the bride has removed hers before following suit.
7. The groom is responsible for buying thank you presents
The groom should arrange gifts for the bridesmaids, pageboys, best man and ushers. Traditionally, the mothers should also receive a bouquet or present.
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8. The bride should write the thank you cards
Traditionally, the bride should oversee the writing of thank you letters when the couple return from their honeymoon.
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9. The bride should cut the cake
Although couples cut the cake together, it is customary for the bride's hand to be on the bottom so she is initiating the cut – as it used to be believed that this would ensure the marriage would be blessed by children.
Will you be cutting your cake the traditional way?
10. The top tier of the wedding cake should not be eaten
This is a rule that many people still stick to today, as they keep the top tier for the christening of their first child.
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