Runaway Bride Etiquette: Eight Tips for the Bride Who Cancels or Postpones Her Wedding

In light of the recent runaway bride scandal, author and etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore offers this advice to couples who want to avoid costly consequences or hurt feelings over a cancelled or postponed engagement.

Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 4, 2005 -- A broken-hearted bridegroom is just one of the many people Jennifer Wilbanks will have to face when she tries to put her shattered life back together in Duluth, Georgia. In an effort to make amends with all those who were hired, invited to attend, or participate in her wedding, she will need to consider observing proper etiquette.

According to author and etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, any engaged couple who decides to cancel or postpone their wedding has quite a bit of work to do in order to avoid costly consequences or hurt feelings." To make the process flow correctly and smoothly, Whitmore offers the following etiquette advice:

1. Wedding guests should be notified as soon as possible. There may be time only for phone calls, but whenever possible, handwritten notes or printed cards should be sent. Sending an e-mail is much too impersonal. There is no need to explain why the engagement was broken.

2. When a wedding is called off, wedding presents already received must be returned with a brief note of appreciation. The only exception to this rule would be if the bride or groom died before the ceremony then those presents that might be of use to him or her may be kept as long as the giver doesnt object.

3. When an engagement has been announced in the newspapers and is later broken, the bride or groom may inform the papers of the fact if she or he so chooses.

4. All bookings (photographer, musicians, caterer, florist, clergy, flight, room reservations, ceremony site, etc.) must be cancelled. If cancellation requests are made over the telephone, its best to follow up in writing. In some cases, a deposit or penalty fee will be assessed if a cancellation notice is not sent within a sufficient amount of time prior to the wedding.

5. All engagement, shower and wedding gifts must be returned to the senders if the wedding is cancelled. If the gift has already been used, the bride or groom should purchase a replacement to return to the sender.

6. In most cases, a wedding dress may not be returned. Therefore, the bride must keep it, sell it, loan it to a friend, or give it away.

7. Most wedding insurance policies dont cover changing your mind about getting married. This policy generally covers situations involving death in the family, illness, natural disasters, or severe weather conditions.

8. Regardless of who broke the engagement, the engagement ring must be returned. The only exception to this is when the ring or diamond was a gift or heirloom from the brides family.

Jacqueline Whitmore is the author of Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work (St. Martins Press, July 2005) and the founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Florida. She has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, Womans Day and Glamour. She can be contacted by calling (561) 586-9026 or via e-mail at info@etiquetteexpert.com or visit her web site at www.etiquetteexpert.com.

# # #