Comment and Question:

Dear ones, My wife and I have read and benefited from your book, and now we are preparing to teach the topic to our children.  I have found that actually seeing social blunders and faux pas's, whether in person or in the safety of a video screen, is a very effective way for us to see and correct our own bad habits. To that end, can you please recommend to me some quality, hopefully explicitly Christian DVD resources for teaching protocol in the home? 

Thanks so much! Greg

 PM receives lots of questions about general shower hosting protocol . We've had good discussions on the how's and whys about who best host these gift-giving parties.We've also discussed lingerie showers in the past. The following question involves sisters as hostesses for lingerie showers.Question: I've always heard that, although not appropriate for general bridal showers, it is appropriate for the sister/sisters of the bride to give her a lingerie shower.  Is this true? 

Behind the scenes...Some people dream of success; while others wake up, put their best foot forward, and do something about it.

 Question: My husband is to be the best man at his brother's wedding in a couple months.  We were assuming that it would be his responsibility to throw a bachelor party, along with the help of the other groomsmen (a brother and a brother-in-law).  But I'm wondering...since he's also the groom's brother, should he not be the one throwing the party?  Is etiquette the same or different in this respect as a bridal/baby shower?  And what is some good general etiquette for a Christian bachelor party?  Thanks so much!

 PM received this question about engagment parties, which, I'm glad to say are increasingly popular. They officially mark the beginning of the betrothal with parental approval and blessing.

Question:Is it proper to invite guests to an engagement party if they are not being invited to the wedding?

Answer: Your question reflects cautionary sense as you step into the world of wedding etiquette. Engagements and weddings are occasions when the best of intentions can be problematic...

 Question:I know there's been a lot of great discussion on the blog regarding bridal shower etiquette.  I'm wondering...is a sister-in-law to-be too close of a relation to give the bride a shower?  In other words, the groom's sister-in-law.  Thank you! :)

 Answer: I agree, we've had some great discussion on showers. Thank you for taking time with your addition to the subject....

 Dear PM friends,

Summer's here...relax and remember that those with good manners find it easier to wag more and bark less.

Question: What do you recommend newly wedded couples call their new in-law parents? I know some in-law families invite their new member to address them on a first name basis.  My husband and I would like to be addressed as "Mom" and "Dad" by new daughters-in-law.  Are we asking too much of them and thereby not being gracious? Thank you!

 Answer:  You certainly have good intentions but because we are speaking of varied comfort zones here, a surefire recommendation doesn’t exist for all in-law situations.  I know of one new daughter-in-law who, because she loves her in-laws and doesn’t have a living mother or father, would jump at the chance to call her in-laws mom and dad.  On the other hand...