We know you’re excited about your big day. You probably went straight from saying “yes” to delving into how to make your wedding a unique and wonderful celebration: the bride’s gown, the wedding party, the reception decor, the music, the food… so many details that go into making it the once-in-a-lifetime event it deserves to […]

Manage your bridal gift registry with these month-by-month tips.

1. Register. Period. Weddings and showers mean gifts. That’s just the way it is. Your friends and family want to contribute something nice to your new life together, and while some may insist on choosing for themselves, many just want to know what you would like or need.

We’ve all heard heinous reports of bridezillas who shame their wedding guests for giving an inadequate gift, or none at all. While these are extreme cases of tactlessness, sometimes it’s a nice reminder for all of us to discuss etiquette when it comes to gift-giving occasions, such as weddings and showers.

It’s an honor to be included in a friend’s wedding party, but it’s hard to know what’s expected of you when it comes to your pre-wedding role, especially if you’re a first-time maid of honor or bridesmaid.

Your wedding duties don’t end the morning after you’ve said I do: there are still those thank you cards to write! Etiquette expert Lizzie Post says that, ideally, couples should send out handwritten thank you cards to each guest within three months of the wedding, even if you’ve already said thanks in person.