6 wedding dinner etiquette tips

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Evelyn Carpenter

Zarzamora Banqueteria

Everything surrounding a wedding has a why from the spiritual side, to a set of rules from a practical point of view.

But it is the famous protocol for the wedding dinner that will follow you throughout the organization of the wedding and that applies in several details that seem small, but can make a difference. Discover below what rules apply to the wedding dinner and take the ones that make the most sense to you, because of course, it is the bride and groom who decide which of all of theserules adopt.

    1. Location of the bride and groom

    The protocol for the wedding dinner says that the bride and groom should be seated at the presidential table, which must be visible from the whole room The newlyweds sit in the center, with the bride to the right of the groom, while the bridesmaid sits to the left of the groom, followed by the groom's father. The best man, meanwhile, sits to the right of the bride, followed by the bride's mother. If the wedding is religious and the priest has been invited, he should also be included at the head table.

    With respect to the other guests, the distribution of tables is usually done by family groups and groups of friends, being closer to the bride and groom those who have greater emotional ties.

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    2. Start of the dinner

    At the entrance to the wedding dinner, all the guests should stand up and sit down once the newlyweds do so. And the same with the food, because they have to wait for the guests to start eating and then do it themselves.

    On the other hand, the protocol indicates that honored hosts should not stand up to chat in the middle of dinner, since the greetings, congratulations and photos are reserved for after the meal.

    3. Table layout

    According to the protocol for formal dinners If a bread plate is included, it is placed on the upper left side, just above the forks, as the spoons and knives go on the right side. How should the cutlery be left after eating? As a basic rule, cutlery is placed in the reverse order of its use.

    As for the crockery, you should always use a shallow and a deep plate, as well as an under plate to give the table a more elegant touch. And with regard to the glassware, three cups must be placed From left to right: water glass, red wine glass and white wine glass, with the water glass being the largest, the red wine glass the medium-sized and the white wine glass the smallest, placed in front of the plate, slightly off-center to the right. The clean napkin is placed on the left side of the plate or on top of it. To use it, however, it should always be unfolded in the lap.

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    4. Menu composition

    The three-course dinner is the most common modality. The first course should be a light starter, as it should function more as an appetizer in the sense of whetting the appetite, e.g. soup, crepe, carpaccio or salad.

    The second half corresponds to the main course, where texture and flavor must be combined, in addition to making the presentation interesting to the eye. Options such as a beef or fish dish with a side dish are usually offered.

    The third part of the wedding dinner, meanwhile, is the dessert.

    Now, although it is rare, some dinners may also incorporate an appetizer. A "piqueo" or snack, which is a dish that is shared among all the people at the table. It can be, for example, a cheese plate with grapes.

    5. About drinks

    If you find the bottles of wine on the table and you have to serve yourself, it is important to know that the cups are not filled to capacity In the case of red wine, it is usually filled to about a third of its capacity, which can vary depending on the size of the glass. White wine, on the other hand, which should always be cold, can be served even a little less and refilled to drink it at the ideal temperature. The same applies to cider, champagne and other sparkling drinks.

    But according to protocol, wine and other beverages They should be drunk when the food is already on the table, although they should arrive earlier, so that they can do a little tasting of the wine.

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    6. Toast and end of dinner

    Almost at the end of the dinner, either before or after dessert Generally, it is the best man and best woman who dedicate a few words to the bride and groom, although another family member or close friend may also take the floor. Protocol dictates that this instance should not last longer than necessary and that it should end when the newlyweds make the final toast.

    Finally, in the past, it was the bride who had to conclude the dinner, being the first to get up from her seat, today it can be either of the two. However, the protocol rules dictate that the presidential table should at no time be left completely unoccupied .

    But rest assured, these rules are a guide and you should decide which ones you are most comfortable with. Ultimately, the most important thing about your celebration is that it is true to your style; protocol or not included.

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    Evelyn Carpenter is the author of the best-selling book, All you need for your marriage. A Marriage guide. She has been married for over 25 years and has helped countless couples build successful marriages. Evelyn is a sought after speaker and relationship expert, and has been featured in various media outlets including Fox News, Huffington Post, and more.