Plymouth Country Club | Blog

Congratulations vs Best Wishes:  do you know the difference?

Posted by Meg Maher on Dec 8, 2017 9:15:00 PM
Find me on:

"Best Wishes!" she said to me.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was walking in a local mall with my mother and we ran into a long time family friend.  My mother updated her on the news that I was recently engaged, and whilst oggling at the ring, she exclaimed "Best Wishes!".  I had never heard this before and when our brief encounter ended, my mother explained to me that she was correct in saying that as opposed to "Congratulations".

main-qimg-25eca360cdc797760f957c71bfa701ab-c.jpg

The Oxford dictionary defines 'best wishes' as an expression of hope for someon'e future happiness or welfare...the definition of 'congratulations' in the same dictionary as expressing praise for an acheivement.  I learned that day that saying "Best Wishes" instead of "Congratulations" to a bride was an old tradition, but didn't realize HOW old it really was.  The Huffington Post sites this tradition dating back to the Victorian era.  Saying "congratulations" to a bride-to-be would infer a victory, as if she had conquered something impossible:  landing a husband!

“Saying congratulations to a bride implies that she has won something – her groom.

The groom is to be congratulated for getting the lady to accept his marriage proposal.

To avoid controversy, many people just extend their best wishes to the bride and the groom!”

-etiquette101.com

images (3).jpg

Most people these days say etiquitte is something of the past, but I heartily disagree.  Proper etiquette links us to our past with traditions and meaning.  Surprise your friends by knowing the proper expression at their new status as fiance and tell them the meaning behind it...I promise it is a conversation starter as well as an education.  For more on etiquette, check out this blog post about leaving a party early.

If you are soon to be engaged or, even better, have already had that wonderful change of status to a FIANCE...check out Plymouth Country Club for all of the upcoming celebrations you will be having!

Download our Wedding Menu

  

Topics: Wedding, Etiquette, best wishes instead of congratulations, engagement, best wishes

Weddings, Golf, South Shore and more...

There is so much cool stuff happening in this new era of golf, and so many creative minds providing daily inspiration for weddings and events, we just want to stay involved. This blog is our way of doing just that! We wanted to be able to share and connect with the PCC community and beyond, from anywhere, at any time (even when there is no golf in sight in mid-February).

And remember you can always check out what's happening at the club by:

Download the 2017 Holiday Events Menu Guide

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts