Vintage Brides Wedding Etiquette, 1961

Flipping through my vintage etiquette books and found a surprise tucked inside. I don’t know how I never saw this original press release from Grosset & Dunlap from 1961 announcing the publication of The Brides Book of Etiquette by the editors of Brides magazine. I was reading through the book for lost traditions and my favorite might have been the pages about displaying the wedding presents. Gifts used to be sent to the bride’s home, opened and displayed in the dining room. I remember early in my career I planned a wedding in Charleston, SC and the mother of the bride hired someone to stay at the house while the reception took place at another location. I thought it was odd then but learned this practice was because the wedding was announced in the paper, thieves would know that all of the family members were out celebrating and the house and potentially loads of wedding gifts would be unattended. #mannersmonday

A Personal Wedding Assistant for Your Leading Man

{Photo: Muhammad Siddiqu}

I enjoyed watching the Oscars last night.  All the clothes, mostly good this year, are always the highlight of the night for me.  I was especially looking forward to seeing the men's formalwear this year since we're so excited to announce that we are launching the Groom's Experience as an addition to our traditional wedding services.  

We work with our clients to assist them on all levels of the wedding and there are a lot of moving parts.  Design and decor, invitations, vendor selection, tastings, and deadline tracking just to list a few.  While we incorporate the groom in all of our meetings and correspondence some of the services that are typically offered to our brides the groom does't always get to benefit from. 

Our grooms can now have the option of having our personal shopper assist with curating a look for them and their groomsmen including suiting, custom ties, and accessories.  We can take the stress out of shopping for groomsmen’s gifts and handle the shopping, wrapping and delivery of meaningful presents for his closest friends and have an on-site attendant on wedding day to assist with getting ready, styling, pressing, tying bow ties, running errands and keeping everyone on schedule. 

Monogram Linen Etiquette

{Photo Source: Leontine Linens}

The crocus are up so I'm getting my Easter table setting together.  It's time for a new set of fresh linen napkins for the table this year and have always loved this Scout Guide blog article about the process. “Monograms can be rendered in as many styles as there are personalities,” Leontine Linens owner and founder Jane Scott Hodges writes in Linens: For Every Room & Occasion. To help demystify the sometimes overwhelming process of finding the monogram style that suits you, we asked the experts at Leontine—which is celebrating 20 years of creating custom linens—what to consider when selecting a personal design. Here are their recommendations:  

Don’t feel restricted by rules. While there is a longstanding tradition and etiquette to selecting your monogram and what initials to use, our philosophy is to not be beholden to any one doctrine or rule. In today’s world, we prefer to think of your monogram as something uniquely and perfectly suited for you and your personality.

Know the components. The initials you choose to combine, the letterforms themselves, the color combinations, and the item you are personalizing all come together to create a truly bespoke item that is yours and yours alone. To that end, here are a few things to consider when making your selection:

• The Single Initial: The perfect style to represent just a first or last name. A single letter is a nice option for a guest room or informal table linens.
• Two Letter – Cipher: A cipher is a decorative two-letter monogram that can be used to combine two first names or two last names. 
• Two Letter – Traditional: A two-letter monogram in a traditional format that places both letters side by side and the same size and, like the cipher, can be used to combine a first and last name or two last names.
• Three Letter Traditional: The most popular of all monogram designs, where the surname appears center and larger. Traditional etiquette is to use the lady of the house’s initials: first, last, maiden. However, modern tastes have evolved to replace the maiden initial with the husband’s first initial.
• Three Letter Straight Across: A three-letter monogram that reads straight across is designed for an individual’s name and is not suited for a couple who wishes to combine their initials. These styles are commonly used for gentlemen, but are also popular for a modern twist throughout the home.

Happy New Year! 2017

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!  We are so thankful for all of our clients and supportive partners.  Cheers to a brilliantly creative and prosperous 2017!