Archive for the category ‘social grace’

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Receiving Graciously

By Social Grace

Accept gifts graciously. It’s always the thought that counts!

Even if  you just received the most horrendous gift in the world, you must not degrade the gift giver by making any petty comments or disapproving looks.

A lot of times people see something they love and assume that the person receiving it will love it just as much as they do. They won’t understand you not enjoying their gift and they will only have hurt feelings.

A simple thank you will always do.

(BTW: even gifts you didn’t want still get thank you notes! No pouting allowed!)

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This entry was posted on April 15th, 2011 under social grace, tip of the day.

Ask Grace: Save the Date Dilemma!

By Social Grace

Dear Grace,
An old sorority sister of mine is getting married this Fall. Last Christmas, she called me to say that she was engaged and how excited she was. She quickly talked about wedding plans and that she would keep me posted. We aren’t the best of friends, we’ve had our share of drama but we still get along, although we are not super close.
Anyway, our mutual friend called me up and told me that she received their Save the Date…but that was a month ago!
Should I ask my friend if I’m invited to her wedding? This seems rude and awkward, just in case she’s changed her mind or something.

What should I do?!

From,

Left out in Los Angeles

Dear Left out,

The rule of thumb is to not confront someone on such a sensitive topic. Asking whether or not you are invited can be a little uncomfortable and seem immature.

However, since your friend did already discuss her wedding plan with you I think it is fair to contact her and bring it up. She will most likely ask you flat-out if you received your Save the Date.

If all else fails, ask your mutual friend to fish around for details. With scenarios like this there isn’t one great solution. Just follow your instincts and keep being nice. If she has a limited guest list, don’t take it personal,her guest list might be influenced by her parents or her future in-laws.

Hope all turns out well.

XOXO,

Grace

Just for fun: Check out Lazy Susan’s response but we warn you, don’t actually take her advice!

Have a question for Social Grace (and Lazy Susan)? E-mail it to: askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

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This entry was posted on April 8th, 2010 under ask grace, featured, social grace.

Lazy Susan: Save the Date Dilemma!

By Lazy Susan

Today, Social Grace answered a question from a girl who hadn’t received an STD (Save the Date) card from her friend despite being told about the engagement by the bride herself. While her answer was full of tact and sensitivity, Lazy Susan insisted on weighing in too. So, with much reluctance, we bring you Lazy Susan’s response:

Stop hoping and wishing. If you didn’t get a STD, then you’re not getting one. Instead of crying about it, get revenge. Here’s a few ways you can do it:

1. Call her out in a public arena, like facebook. After all her friends see what she did, she’ll be publicly humiliated. You could actually do it in a public place, but you’ll only have the satisfaction of a few moments. Facebook is forever.

2. Ask your girlfriend what date the bride-to-be is having her wedding and throw an even more awesome party. The more awesome it is, the more friends you’ll be able to attract away from her event.

3. Crash her bridal registry. Scour the internet and find her bridal registry (Macy’s, Target, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel are all good places to start) Then get out your credit card and buy as many things as you can. Instead of having it shipped to their place, ship it to your address. Then return the items to the store, but don’t update the registry. Boy, will she be disappointed when all the gifts she thought she was getting don’t make it to her doorstep.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lazy Susan’s advice is purely for entertainment value. NEVER actually take her advice. For your best bet, see what Social Grace has to say!

Have a question for Social Grace (and Lazy Susan)? E-mail it to: askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

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This entry was posted on April 8th, 2010 under ask grace, featured, social grace.

Ask Grace: Money…it’s what we want!

By Social Grace

Dear Grace,

I have lived with my BF for over three years. We have everything we need and we don’t want to register for gifts. Honestly, we want to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon and we just want money to go towards that. How do we ask for money without being tacky?

From,

Poor in Manhattan

Dear Poor,

Unfortunately, there is no polite way to ask for money … on paper. Your best bet is to ask some family members to spread it around verbally so you don’t have to. However, I think the modern age would be a bit forgiving if you set up a website for your cause. However, I understand wanting to do something different, perhaps you can go the modern route and create a website all about your honeymoon to Hawaii? You can then explain your reasons for your request for cash gifts more clearly, and you can share photos from your trip!

Whatever the case may be, register! Even if you would prefer money you will receive gifts no matter what, so you might as well control the odds and register for things you want! Remember: you can register for gift cards, and you can even set up a registry on sites like www.myregistry.com that give you the option to add literally any item, from any online store to one universal registry.

Use your options! In the end, you may regret asking for money.

Good luck!

xoxo,

Grace

Do you have a question for that need answering? E-mail me at askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

Just for fun: Check out what Lazy Susan has to say. But be warned, do NOT take her advice!

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This entry was posted on March 18th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Lazy Susan: Money…it’s what we want!

By Lazy Susan

Today, Social Grace gave advice to a woman who wants money instead of gifts for her wedding. While Grace’s answer was full of tact and sensitivity, Lazy Susan insisted on weighing in too. So, with much reluctance, we bring you Lazy Susan’s response:

So you want money for your wedding. Well, money is one of my favorite things so I can definitely, help you there, lady.

Here’s four things you can do to get more money from your weddings guests:

1. Charge admission. Everyone’s dying to be at your shindig, right? Well, make them prove it by selling tickets. And if they want to sit in the front, let them know that they’re going to have to pay for it.

2. Be $ubtle. On your wedding invitation, replace all S’s with dollar signs. It’s $o $ubliminal, mo$t people won’t even notice thi$ hint!

3. Learn the return policy. In today’s world, every store accepts returns. Register for gifts as normal, but ask your guests to give you the receipts for your “scrapbook.” Then return all the gifts for cash!

4. Elope. Instead of trying to get money, focus on saving it instead. I bet the money you’d save on your dress, ceremony and reception would buy you at least two tickets to Hawaii.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lazy Susan’s advice is purely for entertainment value. NEVER actually take her advice. For your best bet, see what Social Grace has to say!

Have a question for Social Grace (and Lazy Susan)? E-mail it to: askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

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This entry was posted on March 18th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Be kind, stay behind.

By Social Grace

http://www.flickr.com/photos/atwatervillage/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

No tailgating!

For your safety, and for the sanity of the other drivers on the road, be sure to keep a safe distance between yourself and the cars in front of you. The rule of the matter is… if you are driving 65 mph, about 6-7 cars should be able to theoretically fit in between your car and the other person’s car, (one car’s length for every 10mph you are driving) This gives you time to break in case of emergency. And remember, this isn’t just a safety tip, this is common courtesy!

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This entry was posted on March 16th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Social Grace: A sneak peek into our Quick Guide to Gifting!

By Social Grace

To gift or not to gift….that is the question. Read below to find out more information on Engagement Parties and get a sneak peek into our Quick Guide to Gifting!

The Engagement Party: Designed for the Bride’s family to host, this soiree was generally where the Engagement was announced. Because of the spontaneity involved gifts were not given. Now days people can celebrate their Engagement in a multitude of different ways; anything from a BBQ to an elegant cocktail hour will do, all depending on the couple being celebrated.

Gifting Verdict: Unless you want to bring a bottle of wine or champagne to the host, no gift is required. (unless stated in some sort of invitation)

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This entry was posted on March 15th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Ask Grace: A MOH’s Right to Choose!

By Social Grace

Dear Grace,

I was asked to be a Bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding and then two weeks later my best friend asked me to be her Maid of Honor…on the same day! I want to be with my BFF but how do I choose and please everyone?

From,

Confused in Sacramento

Dear Confused,

You have to forget about the pacts you made in your youth and your family’s opinions and choose from your heart. If the thought of missing your BFF’s wedding breaks your heart, join her wedding party with absolutely no regrets!!

If your cousin feels at all slighted with your choice, explain to her that you will make it up to her. Maybe you can host a special Bridal Shower for your cousin or help her through the wedding planning process. Remind her that just because you are not present during her big day doesn’t mean you won’t be a source of support and help throughout her wedding experience.

Perhaps you will find as it gets closer to the wedding date that you will have the opportunity to go to both weddings. Did they specify what time of day their weddings will be?

In any case follow your instincts and remember to try and make both women feel special! Have fun!

XOXO,

Grace

Do you have a question for that need answering? E-mail me at askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

Just for fun: Check out what Lazy Susan has to say. But be warned, do NOT take her advice!

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This entry was posted on March 11th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Lazy Susan: A MOH’s right to choose!

By Lazy Susan

Today, Social Grace gave advice to a woman who was asked to be a bridesmaid for two weddings on the same day. While her answer was full of tact and sensitivity, Lazy Susan insisted on weighing in too. So, with much reluctance, we bring you Lazy Susan’s response:

Duh! You choose both of them because liquor isn’t cheap and isn’t getting cheaper, so when two of your loved ones have an open bar on the same day, you can’t turn down either offer. (Especially in this economy!)

But, Susan, you ask, how can I show up to the second wedding after I’ve been drinking all day at the first? Well, guess what? This day isn’t about you. In fact, no one’s even going to notice you. They’ll all be looking at the bride. Take that opportunity to get as crazy as you want to be.

If you absolutely must choose between the two (because of distance or whatnot), then get as much information about the amenities (i.e, menu, cute single men in attendance and of course – which is the prettiest dress). Then make your decision based on that and move on. If anyone questions you, just tell them to deal with it. A bridesmaid is just a step up from being hired help anyway.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lazy Susan’s advice is purely for entertainment value. NEVER actually take her advice. For your best bet, see what Social Grace has to say!

Have a question for Social Grace (and Lazy Susan)? E-mail it to: askgrace@proposalmagazine.com.

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This entry was posted on March 11th, 2010 under social grace.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Wedding Slang Edition

By Social Grace

“Word” of the day: WP

Meaning: Wedding Party or… Wedding Planner

This might be confusing because it is used all over wedding message boards and despite their very different meanings, the shortcut WP can be used for either one. So read those message boards wisely or suddenly you might be ordering a bouquet for your favorite Event Coordinator!


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This entry was posted on March 5th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.