When your engagement era first starts, there are a lot of plans to make...and parents want to know how they'll be involved. Many parents aren't aware that things have changed in wedding planning, that it's not always the bride's family planning and paying for everything, and they may have expectations from the way things were when they got married.

The most important key to starting off well with parents is the First Conversation, where you may invite them out for dinner or to your place for coffee and desserts, and you'll let them know that you're very happy to "share the planning" with them. That's the wording you'll use so that they get the message that they're not going to be In Charge. Find out how to start off right from Minute One, what to say and how to say it, here at my Ask the Wedding Etiquette Expert message board.