Wedding ettiqutte

[pigface]

In a traditional wedding, after the dinner and the best man's speech the groom usually makes a speech too. During this groom's speech is it customary to give presents to the bridesmaids, best man and bride's / groom's parents?
My fiancee thinks that it is customary however, I have never been to a wedding where presents are given to all those recipients.
Who is right?

[CheekyChops]

It is traditional to buy pressies for the bridesmaids, best man and usher but I've never heard of pressies for the parents. A bouquet of flowers for the mums maybe.

I found this on the internet regarding the groom:

In addition, he is expected to buy presents for the bridesmaids, the best man and the ushers, as a thank you gesture for their help.

[Jules001]

I agree with Cheekychops, a bouquet of flowers has, at all the weddings I have been to, been given to the both of the Mothers (bride and grooms) and any other person who has significantly helped out with the wedding. I made my niece's wedding cake and made all her invites and so I got given a bouquet too.

[EngTeach]

In the States we don't give to the parents (though I did attend a cermony where in the church the mothers each got a long stemmed rose from the bride and groom) . We do give gifts to the bridal party, but they are usually distributed at the rehearsal dinner a few nights before the wedding day.

[Octavius]

It is traditional to give gifts to the mother of the bride, and the mother of the groom, bridesmaids, ushers and the best man. If there is anyone else who �helped� in some way towards the arrangements then usually a word of thanks is enough. You can overdo the gift-giving so be careful, keep it short and sweet.

But of course, all weddings are unique, so it is up to you whether you go with tradition or do your own thing.

Incidentally protocol dictates speeches start with the brides father, then the groom and the best man goes last. That is, the dad congratulates the bride and groom and welcomes everybody on behalf of the family, the groom responds on behalf of him and his wife, (and compliments the bride and the bridesmaids) and delivers all the thank you�s and toasts the bridal party, then finally the best man responds on behalf of the bridesmaids and ushers with a tail of wit before toasting the happy couple.

[spudqueen]

Your fiancee is right - all those people (the brides and grooms Mothers receiving flowers - nothing for the fathers!) do receive presents. I presume you are getting married in Britain and not the States so you can ignore EngTeachs answer. And I've never even heard of a rehearsal dinner!

[China Doll]

If the best 'man' is a woman then she gets a present too... or at least she does if she is the daughter of the groom.

That ^^^^^ really just illustrates that all weddings are different and you can personalise them to your taste but I will say that every wedding I've been to the mother's have got a bunch of flowers and there have been little gifts for bridesmaids and anyone who helped.