Wedding Etiquette for Groom's Parents

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. Both the bride and the groom make their wedding a beautiful and memorable occasion by sharing each other's expenses and inviting their families to be a part of it. Even though there are many different views about wedding, 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 have to be followed at specific times during the wedding. Similarly, there is a set of wedding etiquette for groom's parents as well. In the following article, we will be going through these few wedding etiquette which the groom's parents have to follow at the wedding.

Wedding Etiquette for Groom's Family

There are a set of things which have to be done before and at a wedding, most of which is applicable to the bride's side. But the groom's parents too have a specific role to play as his family.

Acquaintance Etiquette

• Traditionally, it is said that when a couple decides to get married, it is the groom's parents who 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 groom's parents is that they should formally meet the bride's parents before the wedding preparations start.
• The meeting should be done officially to announce the engagement and the will of both the sides. 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 an acquaintance and maintain the 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.
• The groom's parents are expected to pay for the rehearsal dinner and to hold the dinner at their residence.
• If the wedding expenses are also being shared by them, it is completely accepted to ask the wedding couple to lower their expectations about the rehearsal dinner and have a homely affair.
• Even though these traditions are followed by many couples, 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
The groom's mother is however supposed to be the busier woman from the groom's side. She has the responsibility to manage 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 complement 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!