# Etiquette: Proper greetings for newlyweds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929 "2005-03-30T12:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/1 "2005-03-30T12:26:14Z")
I have always heard that the proper greeting to a bride is “best wishes”, and to the groom, “Congratulations.” The rationale is something like congratulating the bride would be tantamount to saying, “Congratulations on catching a husband, we thought it would never happen.” Is this the correct etiquette, and the correct reasoning? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/2 "2005-03-30T12:58:00Z")
That is certainly traditional – I don’t know anyone other than myself who observes it regularly anymore, though. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/3 "2005-03-30T13:08:22Z")
I’ll join you over there in the old fogeys corner, **Cliffy** – I also do it, despite knowing that it’s silly and outdated. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/4 "2005-03-30T15:28:40Z")
This is something I can never recall and, frankly, it doesn’t bother me. I never understood why something that might be considered insulting or condescending to a bride would not also be so for a groom. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/5 "2005-03-30T16:06:32Z")
One may also say “felicitations”. ---
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/6 "2005-03-30T16:18:08Z")
Gotta go hobnob with the rest of the elders. “Congratulations” to the groom indicates the extent of the dragon-slaying, etc., he had to accomplish in order to win such a beautiful princess. All brides, of course, being princesses at their weddings, as well as great beauties. We assume the lady did not have to call attention to herself by heroic chivalry in order to be deemed worthy to wed the charming prince. I’m always happy to indulge in a bit of fairy-tale folklore on the proper occasion. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/7 "2005-03-30T21:21:26Z")
All I know is that my wife always hits me when I say, “Getting some tonight, heh?” So I am pretty sure that is not the correct greeting. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-proper-greetings-for-newlyweds/296929/8 "2005-03-30T21:30:16Z")
Some newlyweds might appropriately be greeted with “Deepest sympathies” or “My heartfelt condolences.” 😛