The Etiquette On Calling Off A Wedding
By the way, we do mean both of you since the groom and the bride are responsible for calling off their wedding.
Here are some things to consider about how you should properly call off your wedding.
No Announcement Sent
If no announcement has been sent out about your wedding just yet, then the word about calling off the wedding can be done by simple word of mouth. In fact, you should only have to tell those that you told yourself.
Announcement Sent
If you or your parents have sent an announcement to your family and friends telling them that you were being engaged, it is important that another formal announcement go out on paper saying that the wedding has been called off.
Newspaper Announcements
If there has been an announcement in the newspaper, then there should be another to say that the nuptials have ended by mutual consent. No blame or details need to be provided.
Wedding Invitations Sent
If the wedding invitations have been sent out inviting people to your wedding, another formal wedding invitation needs to go out, letting everyone know that the wedding has been canceled.
Close To the Wedding Day
If the wedding day is fast approaching, it is imperative that guests be called and told about the called off state of events. The first ones to be called are traveling guests. You should allow everyone to know that things just have not worked out the best and leave it at that. Do not feel you need to elaborate because things just get twisted here.
Postponing the Wedding
If you have to postpone the wedding, you can do this following the same rules as above. But, you will want to tell your guests just what has caused the delay in this case. Whether it be illness or a death, they are likely to understand if you tell them in time.
If you know when the new wedding will take place, that information can be included. If you do not, another invitation will need to be sent out when the time does come to inform guests. Do not have a second wedding shower, though.
Calling Off the Wedding after the Wedding Shower
If you have had your wedding shower and you are now canceling your wedding, you will need to take some important steps with your guests and the gifts that you received.
The gifts given at a wedding shower are given for the bride and the groom to start their new life. If that is not going to happen, you need to return the gifts to your guest promptly.
You should not open any of your wedding shower gifts until after the bride and groom have been married so as to avoid a problem in this situation. It is often that a gift may need to be returned for other reasons as well.
If you have opened the wedding gift that was given to you, contact the gift giver and arrange to pay back the gift giver for the gift itself. If this is not possible, there should be restitution made in some way.
Read about engagement party etiquette and chinese etiquette at the Etiquette Lessons website.
