Wedding etiquette includes being mindful of how much it costs guests to attend

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected]. There is no option to place obituaries through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

**General Information:**
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– An alternate phone number (if any)

**Obituary Specifications:**
– Name of Deceased
– Obituary Text
– A photo in JPEG or PDF format is preferable. TIF and other file types are accepted. We will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
– Ad Run Dates

There is a discount for running the obituary more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply. If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply. Please contact us for more information.

**Policies:**

*Verification of Death*
To publish obituaries, a contact name and phone number for the funeral home or cremation society is required. We must contact them during business hours to verify the death. If the deceased’s body has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, that program’s phone number is required for verification. Please allow enough time for this, especially during limited weekend hours.

Alternatively, a death certificate is acceptable for verification. Only one of these two options is necessary.

*Guestbook and Outside Websites*
We are not permitted to reference other media sources with guestbooks or obituaries placed elsewhere when publishing an obituary in print and online. We may include a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead. Please contact us with any questions regarding this.

**Obituary Process:**
Once your submission is complete, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication. This proof will include pricing and scheduled run dates. Please review it carefully. Notify us of any errors or changes before the notice is published, following each day’s deadline. After publication, we are not responsible for errors that occur post-proofing.

*Online*
Changes to online obituaries can be managed through the obituary desk. Please call us with any questions.

**Payment Procedure:**
Pre-payment is required before publication by the specified deadline.

– Credit Card: Payments accepted by phone only due to PCI regulations.
– EFT: Check by phone; please provide routing and account numbers.
– Cash: Accepted at our FRONT COUNTER, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM.

Call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have reviewed and approved the proof.

**Rates:**
– Minimum charge: $162 for the first 10 lines.
– Each additional line after the first 10 is $12.20.
– Ads under 10 lines will be charged the minimum of $162.
– For a second run date, all lines are $8.20 per line from the first line onwards.

*Example*: A first run of 20 lines costs $164. Each photo published is $125 per day. For example, publishing 2 photos in the paper over 2 days would incur 4 photo charges totaling $500.

**Deadlines:**
Please adhere to deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the requested day.

| Type | Deadline | Notes |
|———————–|————————-|———————————————–|
| Ad Photos & Obituaries | Monday-Friday, 8 AM–5 PM | No exceptions |

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### MEMORIAM (Non-Obituary) Requests

Unlike obituaries, memoriam submissions are remembrances of loved ones who have passed. Rates differ from obituaries.

For information, please call 651-228-5280 or email [email protected].

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
(Closed on weekends and holidays)

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## Wedding Expenses Can Stress Guests and Strain Relationships

*By Adriana Morga, New York (AP)*

Weddings are celebrations of love, but they can also require guests to make significant financial commitments that cause stress. From paying for hotels and flights to destination weddings to multiple outfits and gifts for pre-wedding events, friends and extended family may feel pressure to spend large sums of money before the couple even ties the knot.

This sense of obligation paired with budget constraints can lead to resentment, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings among friends and family.

Future spouses planning their dream wedding, while mindful of their own expenses, may want to consider how costs impact their guests.

“Money is part of how we show up for one another,” says Christine Hargrove, a licensed therapist and assistant director of the Love and Money Center at the University of Georgia. “But don’t let finances get in the way of lifelong friendships or family relationships that are healthy and supportive.”

Hargrove often observes that budgeting issues become friendship issues not only for couples getting married but also for members of the wedding party. While asking someone to be a groomsman or bridesmaid usually expresses appreciation, it can unintentionally overlook the financial burden involved with bachelor or bachelorette parties and the wedding day itself.

“If somebody says, ‘I care about you, I really want to come to your wedding but I absolutely cannot afford five days in the Caribbean on top of already going to a wedding,’ don’t take it personally,” Hargrove advises.

Money conversations are often very emotional, but everyone benefits when these talks are approached with understanding.

“Couples have to keep in mind that people have different budgets, different backgrounds. People have different work responsibilities and capabilities of taking PTO,” says Sarah Schreiber, a former magazine weddings editor turned wedding consultant.

### Recommendations for Couples to Reduce Guests’ Costs

**Book Different Hotel Options**
It’s customary to reserve room blocks at discounted rates for out-of-town guests. Schreiber recommends offering several hotel options at varying price points.

**Offer to Pay for Some Services**
Covering transportation to and from the venue, paying for childcare if children aren’t invited, and hosting a morning-after breakfast can make the wedding more affordable for guests, says Pittsburgh-based wedding planner Cassie Horrell.

**Request “No Gifts”**
Putting a “no gifts” request on the invitations is another way couples can reduce financial burdens, says Rachel Lawrence, head of advice and planning for the budgeting app Monarch Money.

**Be Upfront with Your Wedding Party**
Inform wedding party members in advance about possible expenses for bachelor or bachelorette parties, wardrobe rentals, or makeup. This transparency helps them decide if they can participate without financial strain, says Hargrove.

**Don’t Take It Personally If Guests Can’t Attend**
If someone declines an event or the wedding for financial reasons, respond graciously. Accepting it respectfully reduces relational issues and hurt feelings, Hargrove advises.

### Recommendations for Guests to Manage Wedding Costs

**Share Costs with Friends**
If attending is expensive, consider sharing costs by booking group hotel rooms, couch-surfing, or pooling airport transportation expenses. Esther Lee, a deputy editor and wedding expert for The Knot, recommends this approach.

**Skip Some Events**
With many pre-wedding events, it’s okay to attend only the most meaningful ones to avoid debt, advises financial planner Chelsea Hodl. Communicate openly about which events you can attend.

**Save on Wardrobe**
Cut costs by renting dresses or tuxedos from online services like Rent The Runway, Nuuly, or Black Tux. Alternatively, wear an outfit you already own or borrow one. Lee reassures guests that re-wearing attire is perfectly acceptable.

**Be Transparent with Friends**
Don’t feel ashamed if you can’t afford to attend a wedding. Honest communication helps prevent negative feelings, says Hargrove. Show affection in other ways, such as inviting the couple to dinner or sending flowers.

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*The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The foundation is independent from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.*
https://www.twincities.com/2025/10/26/be-well-financial-wellness-wedding-costs/

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