A Return to Tradition

Good manners are made up of petty
sacrifices,” observed the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. When it comes
to weddings, it’s good to keep that in mind. The best of weddings
makes people bonkers — a coworker planning his wedding said he’s so
overwhelmed with all the details and decisions to make, he can only
spend five minutes a day in wedding world before wanting to curl up
in the fetal position.

We at The Independent believe that’s because of how far
the whole wingding has drifted from its formal roots and etiquette.
Everything costs a fortune, anything goes, and people seem to have
forgotten all about manners and tradition.

So in this, our annual wedding issue, we’ve put together tips on how to get back to the basics of wedding decorum. Read about the
history of bridesmaids; find out what really goes on at that
age-old send-off known as the bachelor party; check out a return to
style via Fashion Engagement photos; and get some suggestions of
where to have a rehearsal dinner the whole correct-salad-fork-using
family will enjoy. And, of course, we include a resource list to
help you in your gargantuan task of getting married. As irritating
as the details of a wedding may be to partake in, remember these
sage words from Mr. Emerson: “Life be not so short but that there
is always time for courtesy.”

INSIDE THIS SECTION: •
Wedding Etiquette by Heather Clisby •
Rehearsal Dinners by D.J. Palladino •
Bridesmaids by Heather Clisby •
Bachelor Parties by Shannon Kelley Gould • Wedding
Dance Lessons by Elizabeth Schwyzer •
The Five-Minute Rule by Matt Kettmann •
Engagement Photoshoots by Matt Kettmann