Mind Your Monte: Wedding Etiquette By Monte

Guests: gift an acquaintance something within your budget and from her wish list.
Note the flavor of the registry. Lots of baking items? Buy for the kitchen.
A lovely, low-cost gift is an apothecary jar filled with bath salts.
Don't gift what you don't know - especially when it comes to art and decor!
It's true: Wedding guests can buy off-registry gifts.
A great gift is a framed invitation. Opt for a silk mat and dried flowers to accent it.
Tell inquiring, uninvited guests that space and finance prevent you from including them.
Make your master guest list for the wedding, and all other party invites from that list.
Brides: always include your sisters and future sisters-in-law in your bridal party!
Brides: when choosing bridesmaids, consider who knows you best and has always been there.
Parents don't belong in the wedding party. Let them be hosts and greeters.
You know the tone of your wedding. You decide if kids belong there.
Kids at weddings require special menus and attention. Keep young guests fed and governed!
Guests: never show up at a wedding with a child when it's clear children aren't invited.
I see no problem with printing "Adults Only" on a save-the-date or RSVP card.
Encore brides: you don't need a registry. You need a party! Spoil your guests this go-round.
Couples: want cash instead of gifts? Then say so! Being told what to do saves guests guesswork.
Keep dances short and sweet. Dance with Dad, let the groom cut in, open the floor.
Brides: buy bridesmaids' flowers and any specific jewelry you've requested they wear.
Ensure a friend or aunt plans the bride's showers. Her friends may be too young to host.
Moms: keep your emotions in check. If the bride is overreacting, it's easy to react. Don't.
Moms and brides: pick the 10 most important big-day details. Let the list guide your priorities.
Mothers of the groom: you can be as involved as you're paying to be!
Mothers of the groom: defer to your son when there's confusion. He's your liaison to the bride.
Your budget dictates the size of the guest list. Parents can buy more space and heads.
Couples: wait a few days before the honeymoon. Get emotions and affairs in check before leaving.
Brides: your groom doesn't want to relive every detail of the wedding. Call your mom to dish.
Couples - hosting a destination wedding? Change locales for your honeymoon for privacy.
Couples: be mindful of the bar and thirsty friends. Keep the crowd appropriate for Nana's sake.
Brides: you don't have a year to send a thank you note. You have six weeks.
The perfect thank you note: "Your gift has taken a special place in our home and hearts."
Grooms: don't match your groomsmen's vests or ties to the bridesmaids' dresses. Tacky!
Grooms: skinny black ties and tuxes never go out of style. This is your perfect look.
Brides: when it comes to etiquette, everybody has an opinion. The one that matters is mine!
A receiving line gets the greeting job done, even if you think it's old-fashioned.
Couples: you must spend a moment with each and every guest at your reception.
Don't forget to eat at the wedding! Ask the caterer to make you a small plate.
Brides: why not revive the sip and see? Host a tea to show off all your wedding gifts.
Tip wedding vendors who don't include gratuities in their service charge.
Brides: the groom's gift needn't be elaborate - but it should be meaningful to your man.
Co-ed bachelor/bachelorette parties? Skip them. Let boys be boys and girls be girls.
The cake is the focal point of the reception. Let it be as beautiful as it is delicious.
The perfect wedding favor speaks to the season. Consider tree ornaments or flower bulbs.
A sweet DIY favor is a river rock with a special phrase written on it.
Brides: there are 3 essential reception accessories: a chandelier earring, smoky eye, red lip.
Brides: a wedding dress is a powerful garment that tests your style and emotional maturity.
Moms: your young bride doesn't have an evolved sense of style and wants your dress approval.
Brides: the dress is half the equation. How you move in it is the other half.
Brides: choose a fashion era you love and let that inform your bridal style.
Everyone has a budget. Separate the wedding needs from wedding wants.
A wedding planner can play hardball for you with vendors - and family!
A lot of brides know what they want; they just won't commit to it. Be decisive. It's your day.
Brides: allot 15-20 percent of your budget for the gown, alterations and accessories.
Brides: don't try on dresses until you've determined your bridal vision and season.
Brides: On your wedding day, you'll be playing three roles: bride, wife and hostess.
It's maddening to pay and not have a say. So, brides, be kind to your mothers!
Moms: be your daughter's reality check. Keep her aware of the budget and her attitude.
Brides: every mom wants to see her daughter in a veil. It's such a small act to please her.
Brides: a perfect way to honor Mom is to wear her headpiece or reconstruct it for your look.