English Wedding Etiquette

English weddings have some differences to American weddings

When attending a wedding in England it is important to be aware of the local traditions and etiquette. While many elements of an English wedding are the same, or similar, to the elements of an American wedding, there are subtle differences that help distinguish between the two.

History

In England between the 16th and 19th centuries, the parents of the bride and groom often arranged marriages between their children when they were young, says WeddingDetails.com. There is an English saying that states, "Marry in September's shine, your living will be rich and fine," and traditionally, couples would marry between the harvest season and Christmas since there was a greater availability of food during this season.

Ceremony

The English wedding ceremony is similar to the American wedding ceremony. The main difference is that after the exchanging of the vows and rings, the couple goes into a private room with the priest and one or two witnesses to sign the wedding documents, including the certificate. This completes the ceremony and makes the marriage official, says WeddingDetails.com.

Reception

An English wedding reception is usually split into two parts---the wedding breakfast and the evening reception, says Country Bride. The wedding breakfast is a seated meal held for close family and friends, and often the wedding party as well, depending on the couple's budget. Distant relatives and acquaintances join the wedding breakfast guests in the evening for a buffet meal and dancing.

Gifts

Bridal showers may be the traditional place to give wedding gifts in the United States, but in England there is no such event. Instead, guests bring gifts to the reception and leave them on a gift table, or send them to the couple's home prior to the wedding, states WeddingDetails.com. While in the past, bridal registries were not popular, more and more modern English brides use them to avoid getting the same type of gift more than once.

Dress Code

As in the United States, if the English wedding has a specific dress code, the invitation should provide sufficient information, according to Country Bride. If there is no mention of a dress code, the guests of an English wedding should base the formality of the dress on the formality of the invitation. A casual invite usually means a more smart-casual dress code.

References

• Country Bride: Wedding Clothing Etiquette
• Country Bride: Wedding Reception Etiquette
• WeddingDetails.com: English Wedding Traditions