Ancient smoking etiquette – we’ve come a long way, baby.

Love Mad Men? You’ll love this etiquette q & a! It’s amazing to see how things have changed- smoking was so normal there were dos and don’ts! Yikes.

I got my hands recently on an etiquette Q&A compilation from Amy Vanderbilt, columnist and etiquette authority from the 50s-70s.  I will be sharing gems on the blog in the coming months.  Here’s my favorite so far, not wedding related, but too good not to share.

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Amy Vanderbilt’s ad for Lucky Strikes

 Q: Recently, when four of us were dining out- two married couples- one of the husbands left the table for a few minutes. The remaining husband, left with his wife and the wife of the other, lit the cigarette first of his friend’s wife and then of his own.  His wife felt that as her escort, he should have lit her cigarette first. Which is correct?

 A: As one woman was left alone, the husband and wife remaining are, in effect, her host and hostess for the moment.  Therefore it was correct for the remaining husband to light the guest’s cigarette first, then his wife’s.  

There you have it folks, cigarettiquette.

Be well, and love well.  And for goodness sakes.  Don’t smoke!

-Dinah

 

Wedding Video Etiquette: A Poll! Vote Now!

Often overexcited newlyweds are dying, DYING to show friends their wedding video. Meanwhile, many friends squirm. They were there! In real time! So how do you handle being asked to watch someone’s wedding movie? Vote in our poll!

[polldaddy poll=8212336]

The 4th of July Non-Weekend. Bad for Brides? Good for Guests? You decide.

Ah the calendar.  Tomorrow, the 4th of July falls on a WEDNESDAY for the first time in many years.  For those with office jobs whose vacation days are comparable to certain rare truffles in the food world, this is a big deal. There are calculations by which you can take only a few days off, and yet stretch your vacation and/or wedding weekend to five days, all with the aid of a well placed Monday or Friday out of the office.  Thanksgiving is the ultimate centerpiece to the art of stretching PTO: you can take a full seven days and only “spend” three.

But this year (darned Gregorians) Fourth of July isn’t participating.  And some are breathing a sigh of relief.  Hint: it’s not the brides.  People who might have attended weddings this holiday, are attending barbeques.  And parades.  And celebrating Independence Day well, independently.  There are many people who don’t want to have their summer plans set for them by receiving a “save the date” in February and being expected to clear their calendars.

As a bride, it’s hard to see outside the bubble where your wedding is the Most Important Thing In The World, but sometimes people have fun things scheduled at the same time or want to have that option.  And that’s OK. (Well your sister really ought to keep her schedule open, but let the rest of your list plan their own vacations, and lead their own lives. It’s not anybody’s fault, and there shouldn’t be any lasting drama or upset about who had something else going on that day ).

All thoughts running through my head on a summer’s day… enjoy your barbeques tomorrow.  And the weddings that are happening this weekend!  Remember, you can always have sparklers no matter what time of year it is*  And no matter who comes, or what the season, your wedding will light up with joy and memories for everyone.

Live well, and love well.

Dinah

 

* please check the fire regulations in your area and at your venue!