FAQ'S for Wedding Etiquette

Through the years of planning weddings in Antigua Guatemala, we have come across many questions asked by our couples. Here are the most Frequently Asked Questions that may apply for most weddings:

• Our Reception will begin at one o'çlock and be over by five. Do we need to serve a sit-down meal or can we just serve hors d' oeuvres?

There is no rule that says you MUST serve a full meal at your reception. However, if your reception falls during a typical mealtime then it would be appropriate to serve a full meal, since your guests will be expecting it.  Finger sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres are very appropriate for short, cocktail-style wedding receptions.

• Our reception won't start until two hours after the ceremony. Am I responsible for my guests in the interim?

Yes! You should make sure that your guests will be entertained between the ceremony and the reception. We generally suggest to include a small cocktail between the ceremony and the reception, thus giving the couple time to take their pictures.

• If we are having a buffet at our reception, is it inappropriate for the wedding party to be served at their seats?

Not at all! Guests do not expect the bride to stand in the buffet line in her wedding gown!

• Is it necessary to serve dessert in addition to the wedding cake?

No. It is perfectly appropriate to serve your cake as dessert.

• Should we provide meals for the band and photographer?

Yes, it is not only a requirement (some vendors put a clause in their contract that calls for a full meal), but it  also shows your gratitude towards your vendors.

• Where should my brothers/sisters and grandparents be seated during the ceremony?

Your siblings should  sit in the second row, behind your parents. Grandparents  sit in the second row and close friends and relatives sit in the fourth row.

• In what order does the bridal party and attendants walk down the aisle?

For Catholic Weddings, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, one by one, While the groom's men and best man wait at the altar. However, if there are more than 4 bridesmaids then they walk down the aisle in pairs. The Maid of Honor is next,  followed by the ring bearer and the flower girl. The bride then enters on her father's right arm.

Protestant processionals are the same, except that the groom's men precede the bridesmaids.

A traditional Jewish processional may begin with the Rabbi and Cantor (onthe Rabbi's right side), followed by the groom's men walking one by one, and the best man. The groom then walks in between his mother (on his right)  and his father (on his left). The bridesmaids then walk in, one by one, followed by the Maid of Honor, the page and the flower girl. The Bride is the last to enter, with her mother on her right and her father on her left