Good Manners are a language that speaks of kindness and hospitality. Knowing good manners is essential (even when you are a guest!) when organising a wedding that will ensures everyone feels welcome and completely at ease. 

In the third and final lesson of our online course "Good Manners in Events: the Wedding!", with Giulia Carli, an expert in Etiquette and Style, we discovered the secrets of an elegant table and impeccable reception.

One of the topics that are of greatest interest and that unleash the imagination of the bride and groom is undoubtedly the decoration of the reception tables.

An elegant table and an impeccable reception have rules that it are worth knowing, especially in formal situations such as a wedding. In order to be able to let creativity and imagination run free, it is important to know these rules perfectly and then decide whether or not you want to break some of them, of course with awareness and balance.

When it comes to table setting, we tend to think that knowing the proper etiquette will ensure the perfect table. On the contrary, it should be remembered that there is no single perfect table setting but that the table should be appropriate to:

• the time of day;
• the menu;
• the type of service.

In fact, there is no single type of table service. The main ones are:

• French Family-style service;
• French Banquet-style service;
• Silver or English service;
• Russian service;
• Plated service.

There is also a difference between table setting and place setting and during the course we explained the details of this distinction. Another important element to be taken into consideration is the calculation of the "spaces"; space intended in its broadest meaning, i.e.:

• the timing;
• the service;
• the conversation.

Another aspect that is well worth careful planning, and one that must be handled tactfully, is the seating arrangement. In this case it is important to maintain a proper balance between tradition and modernity. There are numerous additional aspects in the topic of hospitality, and during the session we covered some of them, including:

• the introductions;
• the speeches;
• the departure of the newly-weds and guests.

We have also analysed some the key moments that characterize every wedding:

• the cutting of the cake, with its rituals;
• the dancing, when a drop in the level of formality is to be expected, with the consequent greater risk of faux pas;
• the wedding favours, which must personal and stylish.

Over the course of these three lessons, Giulia Carli has also provided us with a number of tips that are both simple and indispensable for helping guests and the bride and groom to create the best possible memories of the event.

Thank you for watching these three episodes with us and we look forward to hearing from you if you liked these three sessions and if there are any topics you would like to learn more about, we will be very happy to oblige!

Photo © H4PH, The White Day