Q. My daughter is getting married on 1st September. The theme is black, purple and silver. What colour should I be wearing? PS: Where can I find wording for thank you cards?

A. Thank you for your e-mail. Do you know what colour the mother of the groom is wearing? (Ideally, your outfit should also tone in with hers.) You could consider colours like taupe, mocha or even burgundy. Depending on whether it suits you, a mustard or a soft lime could work as well. To help you choose your outfit, though, it would be best to obtain a piece of the fabric being used for the bridesmaids’ outfits, as this would assist you in finding something suitable that tones in with the overall colour scheme.

Regarding your query about wording for thank you cards: As a general rule, all that is required when thanking guests for their gifts is that you should be as sincere as possible and mention the individual gift (or it might sound somewhat impersonal), as well as any special circumstances to do with the giver. For example:

Dear Aunt Mabel

Very many thanks for the wonderful wooden salad bowl you gave us on the occasion of our recent marriage — it is exactly what we needed. We love its unusual shape and colour and as Napoleon and I do so enjoy salads, your bowl is going to be put to great use.

We were thrilled that you and Uncle Archibald were able to share our special day with us, even though it required a great deal of travelling on your part to do so. Thank you again to both of you.

Much love,
Josephine and Napoleon.