Post # 1
Member
1696 posts
Bumble bee
As @red_rose: said, any time you ask people what they dislike you’ll get a thread full of negativity — with the exception of folk like @rome116: (invite me, my dear: I promise to reply properly!
) who bring in their positive outlook by talking about things they find awesome!
But this is the Etiquette board, after all. One might think the primary denizens of this board would be people who love manners, and the people who truly do want to know what good manners advise. So…
What details do you love? What is it about them that you find beautiful, or compassionate, or sensible or helpful?
One of my favourites is the scope for a hostess to consider her guests’ individuality in so many different ways: selecting menus that take into account religious and health-related dietary restrictions without disappointing, setting up conversation groups when you do your seating-plans so that no-one is left out and everyone has a chance to meet someone new; introducing people to one another during the cocktail hour or the dance party so that no-one is left as a wall-flower.
Another is the mathematical challenge of applying protocols to things like seating charts: it’s like doing Sudoku to try to get both order of precedence, and compatibility, to come out right.
Post # 3
Member
5965 posts
Bee Keeper
Personally, for me it just doesn’t get any better than lovely invitations! I adore receiving and sending a high quality, well worded, exquisite invitation….it reminds me of gentler times, when the postal service was THE only form of long distance communication and it was sophisticated and elegant.
Post # 4
Member
74 posts
Worker bee
@Nona99: +1 I love invitations.
Or it could just be my love of mail period 
Seriously, its so refreshing getting invitations in the mail.
Post # 5
Member
817 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: February 2013 - Mansion House at the MD Zoo
Ditto on the paper! i miss letters….
This is going to sound tongue-in-cheek but I mean every word. I like the rules. It’s so much easier to just be able to say, well this is how this is done, or this is why we’re doing this, or just this is what you do than to have to take every little preference of every person into account. And I like the tried-and-true formulas for how to interact, ensure that everyone has a good time, avoid leaving anyone out, etc etc.
Post # 6
Member
947 posts
Busy bee
Open bars! Just kidding!
i actually love ushers or having someone escort guests to their seat.
Post # 7
Member
9209 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: August 2013 - Rocky Mountains USA
Uh oh, I’m sending my invitations via Paperless Post so I would disappoint all of you!
In a weird way, I love sending people wedding gifts even if I can’t attend their wedding. I still get to partake in their marriage in some way, even if I wasn’t there to witness the beginning of it.
Post # 8
Member
6256 posts
Bee Keeper
I love thank you cards, and official invitations, and dress codes!
Post # 9
Member
1659 posts
Bumble bee
I love love love love hostess gifts (gift giving in general!). I love showing someone that we appreciate their hospitality with a token.
Post # 10
Member
3587 posts
Sugar bee
Yes, I like paper stuff, and expensive, handsome paper invitations are a rarity, I haven’t seen one in years.
I recently treated myself to very expensive notecards at the stationery store and I lingered over the monogrammed stationery that one can buy. oooo lala.
Did I spell stationery correctly? haha
Post # 11
Member
1696 posts
Bumble bee
@lolot: Our postal service has become so unreliable, that I send invitations by email more than I ever thought I would. But I still word them correctly without thinking about it — I know, because last time one of my younger guests pointed out that it was the most formal email she had ever received in her life. She showed it off to all her friends.
Post # 12
Member
7759 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I know most of these are traditions not etiquette but what the heck…
I love the hens’ (bachelorette) party.
I love when a church (or other venue) is decorated for the occasion. Most of all I love the smell of the flowers.
I love the tradition of not letting the groom see your dress until you walk down the aisle.
I love showering the bride and groom with confetti. (Or some environmentally responsible alternative).
I love a good wedding speech.
I know many people don’t like this, but I love the clinking of the glasses to get the bride and groom to kiss. (And enjoyed it at my own wedding too).
Post # 13
Member
646 posts
Busy bee
I love seating charts. I enjoyed creating mine, but I mostly love them as a guest. I hate the awkward shuffle of not knowing where to sit, like being a new kid in the school cafeteria!
Post # 14
Member
1399 posts
Bumble bee
@mstellah: +1 for open bars… but i’m NOT kidding 😉
i also love giving gifts, and adhering to RSVP deadlines :o)
Post # 16
Member
668 posts
Busy bee
@Ellegee: +1 for the hostess gifts. I love showing my appreciation for being welcomed into someone’s home.
I also love the first dance. Gets me teary-eyed every time!
