When Brides Parents Are Divorced

Divorce wedding etiquette can be a sticky situation depending on how well the biological parents and stepparents get along. If the two parties can be friendly, the happy couple can arrange things however they choose.

How many of us have heard of that happening, though? Assuming that there is some discord, the following guidelines can help the stepmother follow proper wedding etiquette for her stepchild.

The first place to start thinking of wedding etiquette for the divorce parents of the bride is the invitations. Typically the bride’s parents host the ceremony and there are first on the invitation.

It is proper wedding etiquette to have just the mother and just the father on the invitation on separate lines if they are both contributing financially to the wedding. If the stepparents also contribute, they may also be included on the invitation.

Next, where should everyone be seated according to proper wedding etiquette for divorced parents? Once again, the bride has the last say, but typically the mother should sit up front. If the father and she get along he can sit in the same row; if not, he sits in the row behind her.

Usually, stepparents would sit behind the biological parents Yes, it may seem awkward to have the mother and her ex-husband sit on the second row together, but this is a family event for the bride, not a contest in who is the latest wife of the father.

Family photos could be the next sticking point for divorced parents of the bride wedding etiquette faux pas. Most photographers will arrange separate photos for biological parents and stepparents.

Rarely would both be in the same photo, and if this does occur the two mothers would be placed on opposite ends of the pose. It is not unusual for the stepparents to not be included in wedding photos at all, so don’t take it personally if this happens since it does fall within the range of proper etiquette for divorced parents of the bride.

At the reception, wedding etiquette for divorced parents has stepparents take the backseat once again unless they are hosting the reception with the biological parent.

If the mother held the wedding and the father holds the reception, it would be perfectly acceptable for the stepmother to be included in the receiving line and the mother to not attend.

However, if the biological mother is also throwing the reception, the stepmother should probably not even attend. Of course, all of this nit picking divorced parent wedding etiquette is just a guideline and can be adjusted to suite the needs of the bride.

Finally, the dance. How does divorced parents of the bride wedding etiquette deal with the family dance at the reception? Again, the stepmother is asked to bow out gracefully and let the bride share this special day with the two people who brought her into this world.

The father would dance with the bride and the groom’s biological mother would dance with the groom. If there is a family dance provided, the stepparents can then dance with their own partner.

Hopefully, these wedding etiquette hints for divorced parents of the bride will help you plan and deal with wedding plans for your daughter without making embarrassing or hurtful mistakes.