After living on the island for many years Iâ??ve made many observations. I think itâ??s time for a refresher course in etiquette and plain ole manners.
Weddings
1. If youâ??re invited to a wedding and the invite is addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Joe Blow, do not bring Tiny Tim and Suzie Q with you unless the invitation specifically says Mr. & Mrs. Joe Blow & Family.
2. If the invitation is asking you to RSVPâ?¦ do so. If you respond yes and at a later date you find out that youâ??re unable to attend, notify the bride/groom a.s.a.p. In most cases theyâ??re paying the caterer per person. This especially applies if youâ??re invited to a wedding off Island. The Bridal couple/family are paying big bucks for the meal. Iâ??m talking $40 and up per person. Itâ??s just plain rude if you donâ??t show and donâ??t give advance notice.
3. Dress accordingly. Donâ??t show up at the reception looking like you just came from the beach or plowing the back forty.
4. Send out a thank you for your Bridal Shower gift before the wedding and send out a thank you for the Wedding gift before the 1st Baby Shower. If you donâ??t have the decency to thank people for generous gifts donâ??t expect them to show up with a baby gift.
Funerals
1. When leaving the church going to the cemetery, the hearse goes 1st followed by the immediate family. (Not cousin Harry on your great great grandfathers side three times removed.) The cars should proceed in order of closeness to the deceased.
2. If you see cars slowly leaving the church following the hearse, that should be the 1st clue that you donâ??t get in the processional line if youâ??re going to Stoney Acres for lunch.
3. Cars coming in the opposite direction should pull over to the side of the road until the car processional has passed. This is just simply showing respect for the deceased and their family.
Church
If youâ??re attending church services, dress like youâ??ve been invited to the Lordâ??s house for dinner (kind of like youâ??re going to Ninaâ??s Restaurant.). Not like youâ??re going to a beach party or have on a jacket that looks like it was pulled out of a cows rear end.
Our parents and grandparents would be rolling over in their graves at the inappropriateness and lack of manners that some of us possess today.
Etiquette
Moderator: Gillespie