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Title: Catholic Etiquette for Weddings Author: Kay Lynn Isca Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, IN pp.27 Excerpt from Forward: I'll never forget the evening I spent with my classmates in preparation for the celebration of our twenty-fifth anniversary to the priesthood. After dinner, we went around the table sharing experiences. As we did, one of our more vocal classmates suddenly blurted out: "I hate weddings! I really hate weddings!" He then listed all his woes. It was an unforgettable outburst. The woes he listed echo the "land minds" astutely identified by Kay Lynn Isca in this booklet — land minds waiting to explode if we unknowingly step on them. Anyone who has experienced weddings knows that as sacred as they should be, creating that sacredness depends in great part on avoiding certain land minds. For example, engaged couples unfamiliar with diocesan or parish regulations have been known to explode if they are blindsided by them, or if these regulations are presented as unbending laws with no explanation of their reasonableness. If, on the other hand, a couple knows what to expect, and the regulations are explained properly, it clears the air, enabling them to breathe easy at a time of high tensions. Excerpt from Book: One question ceremony sponsors may struggle with is whether or not to stage a receiving line in the vestibule of the church after the ceremony. Preferences vary, but the trend seems to be to opt out of a receiving line at the church. Alternatives are to have the bride and groom meet guests as they arrive at the church before the ceremony (non-traditional, but friendly), or more commonly, to form a receiving line at the reception instead. While it is important for the bride and groom to speak personally with each wedding guest, this can be accomplished by more than one method. |