Ex-Etiquette for Weddings : The Blended Families' Guide to Tying the Knot

Encore brides and couples with divorced parents will find helpful and suitable advice in this sophisticated, up-to-date wedding guide and etiquette primer. Jann Blackstone-Ford, a certified divorce and stepfamily mediator, and Sharyl Jupe, her husbands first wife, know firsthand how to make a blended family wedding a joyous affair. Together they take couples step-by-step through the wedding process, from the engagement to the planning stage, from the bridal shower to the wedding ceremony, and from the reception to the honeymoon or "familymoon." The topics addressed include how and when to tell children about remarriage; how children from a previous marriage will participate in the new wedding; how to arrange a harmonious seating plan for divorced in-laws; how to graciously word the invitations when the parents of the bride or groom are divorced; who stands where in the wedding pictures and the receiving line; how not to play favorites when among siblings, half-siblings, and stepsiblings; and how to address who walks the bride down the aisleher father or her stepfather? A complete resource guide listing web sites and books rounds out this helpful volume. Weddings rarely go off without a hitch, and when ex-spouses, children from previous marriages, and multiple sets of in-laws are involved, couples definitely need brand-new guidelines to politely maneuver their nuptial plans. Whether you are remarrying and attempting to combine two families or a first-time bride or groom dealing with feuding divorced parents, Ex-Etiquette for Weddings helps you navigate a host of emotionally charged situations, such as: how to announce your engagement when your parents are divorced, how to tell your ex and children about your remarriage, how to set the budget when your divorced parents are at odds, how to word invitations for second marriages or marriages of children with divorced parents, how and where to seat ex-relatives at the reception. Recognizing that tension and anxiety are extremely high around weddings, especially when the family situation is complicated, Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe offer trusted advice for raking a blissful trip down the aisle Front Cover 1 Copyright 3 Table of Contents 4 Acknowledgments 5 Introduction 7 1. Laying the Groundwork 12 2. Your Engagement 31 3. Setting the Budget 50 4. Getting Organized 62 5. Attendants and Attire 83 6. Guest List and Invitations 99 7. Showers and Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties 128 8. The Rehearsal Dinner 141 9. The Ceremony 145 10. The Reception 168 11. Destination and Theme Weddings, Honeymoons, and Familymoons 188 12. Formalities 197 Resources 210 Bibliography 220 Index 210 221 Introduction -- Laying The Groundwork -- Your Engagement -- Setting The Budget -- Getting Organized -- Attendants And Attire -- Guest List And Invitations -- Showers And Bachelor And Bachelorette Parties -- The Rehearsal Dinner -- The Ceremony -- The Reception -- Destination And Theme Weddings, Honeymoons, And Familymoons -- Formalities. Jann Blackstone-ford And Sharyl Jupe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209) And Index.