Ceremony & reception details

So, how can I do it? We will be doing the bread, wine, salt and a silver coin and my father will be giving a Sto Lat toast. 

Should I inform our guests early on for eg; in our information packs we’re sending to people, or should they find out for themselves when they arrive? Our guests are interstate mostly, so thats the reason for the info packs.

Also, should we let them know that they’re welcome to pin $$ on my dress? Or would that come across as distasteful and greedy?

The following link has what we’re doing (of course not all of it, though:)

http://www.udonet.com/laura/wedding/polish.html

Hi Buttercup,

Firstly, I think for anyone who doesn’t know Polish customs, might see the pinning of money on your dress as tacky and rude, sort of a ‘you want me to buy you a gift and give you money’ sort of thing, so please don’t do this, I have heard of people doing other things like pinning wishes to the dress but please don’t do money, your guests should never have to open their wallet at your wedding. If you are going to do it anyway, don’t mention it to your guests, and don’t be offended if people don’t participate (I know you wont be, but my ex-sister-in-law threw a tantrum when no one give her any money and the BM and MOH were literally pulling people out of their seats to dance with her)

With the Sto Lat, will the guests be participating? Will they need to know the words? It might be a nice idea to put the translation (if you can) into their program so that they can follow along if they don’t speak Polish, perhaps you could put into your bags an explanation of the traditions and what they mean so that people who don’t know aren’t left wondering what is going on.

I would put the information on each tradition in a program or on the dinner tables (depending on when the events occur- during ceremony on the program/order of service- during the reception on the tables). Put a little bit of information on the history and importance to your culture and translations where possible.

If it was in the info packs then guests may read it when the invite arrives and then forget about it and be lost during the wedding.

And whilst I agree with MissLynda that normally a money dance is in very bad taste when it is part of a cultural tradition I view it very differently. I would assume that your guests who are polish will know what is expected and to just let it slide with the non-polish guests. I would definately put it on the table information sheet at reception so that those guests know the history of it and why it is happening.

I’m so glad you, MissLynda and you J_Jaye answered! I’ve come across you both a few times lately and you’ve always got the best advice!

MissLynda; No, my Dad will just give a quick speech then a toast with everyone to say “Sto Lat!” at the end. And you’re right, I don’t really want people to give money or a gift really as 98% of our guests are from interstate and already spending money to come down to celebrate our marriage with us.

J_Jaye; Yes, you’re totally right, I will put the info in with their arrival packs and will just give some info about the culture in a fun way at the reception.

Thank you both sooo much!

If I were invited to your wedding I would love to be involved in your traditions, even the money pinning ones. I think a note in the info pack would be nice, just explaining what is going to happen, but letting everyone know that if they do not wish to participate it is not expected of them. I would be more bummed if I rocked up to a wedding and DIDN’T have a note on my to pin to your dress. Especially because at weddings I usually just take a small clutch with lippy and a key card in case I head out on the town afterwards. 

Good point Dankistar! maybe put it in both the info packa dn the table. A lot of guests wont even read the info in the packs. We had a DW and sent info packs to our guests and still got questions that were in answered in the packs!  It’s just human nature!

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a DW? :3

DW = Destination Wedding.

I just realised we are neighbours! Well if you are in Hillside Victoria that is!

Yes I am in Victoria!…Just off Calder Park Dr  in fact (not giving away too much of course on a public forum!) hehehe

LOL well we defiantely are neighbours then. I am in Caroline Springs!