Wedding hosts

Hosts / host couple

At a traditional wedding, the hosts are the people who issue the invitations, or, if you like, those who pay for the celebration.
In the past, it was usually the bride’s parents; nowadays, it is more common for both sets of parents to contribute to the cost, and sometimes the bride and groom do too. Or the bride and groom may cover the costs entirely themselves.
Those who issue the invitations (and pay) are also primarily responsible for all the arrangements and for ensuring the wedding is a success. It’s important to create a good atmosphere and make sure all the guests are comfortable. Everything must be just right – from the invitation cards to the ‘parting gift’ as guests leave.

Naturally, the guests play their part as directed by the hosts; they should follow the rules laid down, not make up their own.

At weddings, one adheres to the customary rules of etiquette that apply to other parties and celebrations. One example is that the host should give the welcome speech at the wedding dinner.

Even if the parents are the hosts, this does not mean that they alone decide how the wedding is to be organised or what it should include. It is always the bride and groom who are in charge of their own wedding day. When the parents are helping to pay for the wedding, it is customary to plan the wedding in consultation with them.

If the bride and groom are paying for the wedding themselves and are the sole hosts, or if it is a large wedding with many guests, it may be advisable to ‘hand over’ the hosting duties to one or more close friends (known as ‘co-hosts’) well in advance. They will help with all the details and practical arrangements. That person or those people can then also give the welcome speech on behalf of the bride and groom and mention this fact in their speech (though the bride and groom may also deliver the welcome speech themselves. If the bride and groom have one or more ‘co-hosts’ – which makes things easier – they still bear the responsibility themselves, as they are the actual hosts!)