Traditional Etiquette: "Congratulations" to the Groom and "Best Wishes" to the Bride

This is an old standby of tradition which people disregard. You are supposed to give your "best wishes" to the bride and "congratulations" to the groom.

The concept is that "congratulations" implies that someone has won a prize or caught something, and it is somehow impolite to imply that the bride "caught" her husband or simply the old etiquette did not imply that the bride had won the groom, but that the groom had won the bride.

Nowadays, it is entirely correct to say "best wishes" to both, and to avoid controversy.