Guest Corsages - Etiquette Question

liacin

I have an etiquette question about Bouts and corsages for important wedding guests. We are planning to give corsages to the mothers and grandmothers, and bouts to the fathers and grandfathers at the wedding.. The problem here is that our sides are a bit lopsided. My side has 1 mother, 1 father, 2 grandmothers, and 1 grandfather. His side only has 1 mother. No father, no grandparents... This seems odd and lopsided, but I don't know how to solve the problem. There isn't really one important "father figure" that could receive a bout on his side... Also, if we try to include an important Aunt on his side or something... what about all the aunts on my side? I have a big family and he has a small family.. Any ideas how to solve this problem?

tmm140

I don't think it matters if the sides are lopsided.  My side is my mom and dad and grandmom.  My FI's side is mom dad 2 grandmoms and a grandpop.  I would draw the line grandparents for cors. and bouts.  Unless your super close with your aunts and uncles, you could get carried away with it all.

saisongbird

I wouldn't worry about it. It's not a let's try to outdo each other thing. It's an honoring those who are close to you thing. For me, I have two mothers, a grandmother, a father, two uncles, and potentially a grandfather to be honored. He has his mom and dad. It's not an issue unless you MAKE it an issue.

Brie2010

You should hire some fake grandparents to sit on his side and wear corsages.

nda_roxybabe

Brie is very wise

scoetto

Nothing to really worry about, IMO. I'm not sure why it has to be even?

banana468

This isn't a problem that needs solving.  You don't need an even # of corsages or bouts.   I have one living grandparent and DH has three.  I didn't find two other relatives to receive corsages so that sides would be even.  My grandmother received a corsage and DH's three living grandparents also received flowers.You can drive yourself crazy trying to make sure that things are even.  Don't over-think this.

ExpatPumpkin

There is no such thing as a perfect family... Just give bouts and corsages to those whose roles/relationships warrant it. No one will notice or even care that it's lopsided.

Lauren Exley

This is a non issue. Etiquette and otherwise. Give flowers to mark important people, and don't make important people up.

janedoe1113a

You're overthinking it.

tmm140

I like the idea of hiring grandparents to sit in.  You could get real creative, you could use a mime, an S&M dominatrix, and a cowboy.

LesPaul

Don't worry about lopsided numbers.  You're not supposed to be keeping score.  Give corsages and bouts to people who are important to you, and who you feel should be honored in this way.  Who cares if 'your side' has more or less than 'his side'?? 

LesPaul

Side note - I have no parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles.  All deceased.  So I gave a corsage to my ex-husband's Mom and my new husband's Mom, and to the pastor's wife.  My ex-husband's Stepdad, the pianist, the pastor, best man, my new Stepson, and my Brother all got bouts.  Guess we were lopsided too.  I don't think anyone noticed or cared.

danieliza1127

There's no problem to solve.  It's just parents and grandparents, it doesn't have to be even or anything.  Let that go.