Angelion Insights

March 11, 2010

Wedding Reception Planning: Celebrate Your Wedding in Your Own Unique Style!

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Wedding Reception Planning:

Celebrate your wedding in your own unique style!

Every bride dreams of having a special wedding celebration, it’s the definition of special that may vary from bride to bride. When I got married I knew that I wanted the atmosphere and décor to be a reflection of my own personal style. The big challenge for me was; what was my personal wedding style? Sure, I knew my colors, chocolate brown and scarlet red, two sensuous shades that have always spoken to me. And I was also confident that I wanted our wedding to be a really fun and fabulous night for everyone in general. Now, I know that you are probably thinking, “Who doesn’t want their wedding to be fun?” but what I mean more specifically by a fun and fabulous night is that I wanted our guests to experience that awesome, magical kind of fun that you can’t plan on just any old night out. It was important to me that instead of memories of me cutting a cake, tossing a bouquet and otherwise basking in the spotlight, our guests left with memories of dancing to their favorite music, enjoying delicious and unusual delicacies and reconnecting with old friends and family. I had little other wedding planning ideas past these, but these I was sure of.

I was a very fortunate bride-to- be in that I have experience in event planning, not tremendous experience, but enough to feel that I was starting this process with an advantage. And unique to many other brides, without panic. So I carefully and thoughtfully began, step by step, to formulate the decisions that would define the atmosphere and décor of our wedding in a way that would help it to stand out among the typical cookie cutter wedding reception that we have all come to tire of. I would love to share some of my tips, techniques and advice that allowed me to plan and execute the wedding of my dreams and even enjoy doing so!

#1 Tear Sheets

Congrats! You are engaged! Now run immediately to your favorite newsstand and buy every bridal magazine! WAIT! There are so many more resources out there than every bridal magazine. I suggest buying two bridal mags to get a read on what the trends are in the wedding industry. Are brides going for traditional gowns? What are your contemporaries doing for favors? Find the look of invitation that most catches your fancy. Scour the two magazines you choose for whatever peeks your interest and then tear, tear, tear! Move on then to the interior decorating magazine you picked up with your latest issues of “Modern Engaged Bride-to-be”. And then pour through an issue of “Real Simple” or “Fine Cooking”. These are magazines dedicated to the finer aspects of living and celebrating life and they offer great insight into chic and distinctive ways of hosting a spectacular event. Lastly go through your favorite home catalogues, mine is Crate & Barrel. Tear out the pictures and advice that speak to you and along with the pages that you favored from the bridal mags and lifestyle publications begin a wedding production binder. Spend some time with these images and ideas, envision how you could incorporate them into your ceremony and reception and give yourself a little time to think on it! Before you realize it, your style will begin to rise to the surface.

#2 Book your locations

While you are mulling the images and ideas over and over in your mind, begin making appointments with ceremony and reception locations. While you factor in cost, layout, capacity and availability, keep in mind the mold-ability of the location and how you could incorporate your pages from your production book. Is there a great built in fireplace that you could fill with candles? Is the décor shabby-chic just like your favorite catalogue? Are the draperies inspired by your favorite destination? Make mental notes of the design influences in the space you are checking out, you may be able to play off of those features in a way that makes HUGE impact! Once you find your locations, the remaining decision fall into place much more easily.

#3 Invitations & Dress

Not many wedding planners would likely group together two such major event aspects like stationary and wardrobe, but for style purposes – they work well together. Keep in mind that both areas will complement the style of your wedding but are typically considered separate areas of the event. Well, they are and they’re not. For one, the invitation and dress set the tone of the event. By choosing the best wedding stationary and wedding gown, you can bring together all of the aspects of your wedding style that you have selected. If your décor is a sleek and modern white wedding staged outside under a tent of glowing Chinese lanterns, your perfect invitation, menu and escort card could be printed on delicate rice paper featuring the Chinese ideogram for love. Your ideal dress may be a gauzy and simple boat necked gown cinched sharply and intentionally at the waist with a silk obi. This complete look, preceded by the invite and completed by the décor, harmonizing food and drink and capped off with arrangements of cherry blossoms and votives, will be breathtaking! Pulling off your wedding style is as simple as minding your details and keeping in mind that every decision is an opportunity to make a statement.

#4 Food, Drink, Tunes & Favors

The final details to incorporate into your fabulous event are the guest’s favorite! Perhaps you have chosen a location at a beach club. Your stationary could feature a save the date “flip flop”, a lobster embossed engraved invitation and escort cards of painted seashells. Your dress is a simple silk bias cut sheath, with a gorgeous cowl neck accented with a designer flat thong. Imagine your guests enticed by the scents of lobster hors devours wafting though the air and the whimsical sounds of a steel drum band. You could have your signature “beachcomber” cocktail passed on trays with mini umbrellas in them! This is the making of a memorable event! As your loved ones depart they can take with them his and hers flip flops in the colors of your wedding, wrapped in a beach towel monogrammed with your wedding date and a message of thanks! The trick to adding the best details to any event is to ignore the pressure to make a decision and think of a natural choice. Sure, the websites and magazine might suggest favors for a wedding being hosted at a country club, but those favors wouldn’t incorporate the feel of your event. Use your imagination. If you decide that you would rather have centerpieces of hurricane vases filled with shells and candles rather than flowers than you can make it happen! Shells and candles are easily obtainable at craft stores such as Michaels. Another cute centerpiece idea for a beach wedding is a aluminum sand pail with shovels filled to the brim with garden roses according to your colors. What an impression you would make!

I hope my approach to wedding planning has given you a decent jumping off point. There are a few more areas to tackle, like wedding party plans and transportation… Look for my next article dedicated to bridesmaids, groomsmen and carting them around. There I broach the subjects of shopping for flattering dresses in bulk and censoring the Best Man’s toast!

Good luck, enjoy and follow your heart. It will lead you right to your style!

By: Ellen Preimesberger

http://www.TheWeddingColony.com

Ellen Preimesberger is an experienced event planner who has weathered the experience of wedding planning successfully. In her articles she hopes to impart some of the knowledge she has gained planning events for clients, as well as herself and her family, so that brides-to-be everywhere can enjoy planning their weddings as much as Ellen did hers.

March 10, 2010

The Wedding Checklist

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We talk a lot about different things as they pertain to a wedding.  The one thing we’ve yet to do is have a wedding checklist, which everyone can look at and use as a guide to helping them make sure they don’t forget anything.  So, here’s our list, and this is after the couple has gotten engaged, as well as time frames.

Immediately

Discuss a prenuptial agreement if there’s any kind of monetary issues. involved.  Waiting   until later will cause more problems than it’s worth. Discuss the issue of wanting children or not; same reason as above Discuss any issues of religion; same reason as above.

Things To Plan As Soon As Possible

Plan the date; this drives everything else. Where the wedding will take place. You have to book this way in advance because other couples will be doing the same thing. This also gives you the chance to plan the type of wedding you’ll have, such as how long, very religious or not, how many songs, readings, etc. Where the reception will be. One reason is because other couples will be doing the same thing. Another reason is that it helps you set your budget for the wedding early, since the reception is the biggest expense. Book a photographer Book the wedding cake maker Book the limousine, if you’re getting one Order your invitations, then get them out as soon as possible Book the flowers Book the day of the wedding for make up, hair, and other personal things like this Book the band, DJ, and music type Select the wedding dress Book the date for the tuxedos Plan the menu with a caterer

Things To Do Within The Final Two Weeks

Check on everything to make sure everyone is ready for the big day Verify that the groomsmen have picked up their tuxes Check the weather, and make contingencies as necessary Do a drive through as far as how you hope the wedding day will go, if necessary Check your emotions; this is the time when things tend to get tense for couples

Day Before The Wedding

Check on decorations both where you’re getting married and where the reception is Verify that everyone in the wedding party is in town and ready to go Make sure the food and cake for the reception is all set to go Follow up with anyone you haven’t already heard from in the two weeks beforehand After the rehearsal dinner, relax and settle down; big day tomorrow

Day Of The Wedding

Though there’s a lot you might think you have to do on your wedding day, there are only two important things.  Get to where the wedding is supposed to be, then get married.  Everything else will fall into place as it’s supposed to, whether it’s perfect or not.  Have fun, and enjoy your day.

See more:

For additional wedding tips, including wedding gowns, designer wedding gowns, and plus size wedding gowns, visit www.bridepower.com.

Getting Married? Hire Wedding Planners To Handle Your Reception Woes

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It happens at least once in a lifetime with almost everybody. You are just engaged, and get the “butterflies in your tummy” kind of sensation every time someone reminds you that you are about to begin a new life. Your dreams are rosy and they should naturally be so. However, there is one thing that is bothering you, and that is the shortage of time and the lack of resources to help you make arrangements for a perfect wedding. There is only one solution to this problem–hire wedding planners.

Now you may question if it is wise to let wedding planners to oversee your nuptials!  “I am certainly not a princess, nor can I afford their services,” you say, but hiring planners to handle the important occasion in your life can be the best and the wisest way to save undue expenditure. They have different packages to suit everyone’s pocket. Wedding planners can handle your wedding like no one else can. They have a keen eye for detail, and in-depth knowledge about how to handle virtually every aspect of your big day.

Right from planning out a suitable theme for your wedding to hiring decorators, to planning the menu, to sending invitation cards, to finding the right gift shop for your wedding presents, to seeing that your gifts are not replicated, to planning the menu, your wedding cake, deciding the venue and arranging for the wedding service, decorations, flowers and your wedding dress, wedding planners virtually do it all for you while you are busy in the office or just dreaming of your new life.

Just think of how much time and money you would be wasting while running around preparing for your wedding! Wedding planners help you save on these, while also sorting out all your preparation-related worries on themselves so that you can just sit and relax before your big day. They have a keen eye for every detail, which ensures that your big day is a special one, and everything is properly managed to avoid any confusion or mismanagement that could spoil things.

They go about planning your business preparations in such a business-like way that your wedding is bound to be a success, come what may. And on top of it all, they possess the patience to deal with different kind of people while arranging for your wedding, which is an added advantage. Since wedding planners have to make several decisions on your behalf including choosing your wedding attire, they have to be really cautious about the colour and the fabric that best suits your personality, as well as your budget.

They help you avoid conflicts of all sorts that are bound to occur while planning an important occasion like your wedding by taking the responsibility for making your arrangements. In short, wedding planners are your best pals when it comes to making arrangements for your wedding. Of course, they charge a fee, but then every cent that you spend on them gives you something which is much more valuable than money – peace of mind.

The Queensland online is a wedding planner Brisbane to help make your wedding plan simple. If you are looking for a bridal registry or the next bridal expo brisbane, it is all conveniently located here.

The Proper Morning Wedding Etiquette

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A good advice for making a wedding romantic and truly special is to make the ceremony debt-free and low-key as possible. Couples should save their money and not pay much attention to wedding advices features in magazines. Love is basically between the couple that will be getting married so its best they focus on each other.

A morning wedding followed by a luncheon reception is ideal, as it will give the couple enough time for their honeymoon, starting a new life and have enough energy to perform immediate post-wedding activities. Over 200 guests waiting at an expensive sit-down dinner will not add anything special to the romance.

A morning wedding will also help the couple save money and their eager energy and more than half a day to savor the moment of finally getting hitched.

Etiquette in a morning wedding

A morning wedding can be formal, semi-formal or informal. The bride can be outfitted with a short wedding dress or suit. In a formal morning wedding, the bride’s gown should touch the floor and veil fingertip or slightly below the middle knuckle of the mid finger. A fingertip veil becomes more attractive when it is used with an elbow length blusher. For a semi-formal morning wedding, the gloves and blusher veils are optional.

The groom’s attire is typically composed of a business, sportcoat or morning suit in accordance to the level of formality. In a semi-formal morning wedding, proper etiquette dictates that the groom can sport a dark stroller or suit without black or gray tails. In a formal wedding, a morning suit, which is composed of gray pinstripe trousers, ascot, gray vest and a cutaway coat, is suffice. The groom also has the option to wear a tuxedo if he wants to.

The groom and bride’s attire should complement each other. If the bride is wearing a casual short wedding dress, then the groom should wear a business suit or sportcoat instead of a tuxedo.

Regardless whether the wedding is during the morning or late in the evening, there is a certain etiquette that should be followed in the ceremony. <br><br>

- Bridesmaids and groomsmen should assist in the ceremonies if the morning wedding is not held strictly in private.

- The bridesmaids should not have dresses that is not too eye-catching but will match the wedding dress. In addition, they should be younger than the bride. The dresses can contain more ornaments and should consist of light, graceful fabric. Flowers should serve as the main decoration.

- The wedding dress should be simple but elegant and can be decorated with few ornaments or jewels that come from the parents or the bridegroom. The dress needs to have an attractive veil and garland.

- The bride needs to be assisted by her bridesmaids in wearing the wedding dress, receiving visitors and locate themselves at her left side. The first bridesmaid for easy access should keep the bouquet and gloves.

- The clergyman should be received by the groomsmen and led to the couple that will be married. They will also serve as assistants for the bridegroom, during the occasion.

- Guests should wear something light and fresh. A breezy dress or a light-colored suit would be appropriate. Those who are fond of hats are in luck in a morning wedding, as wearing one will complement the ease and energy of the ceremonies. Dark suits and dresses should be avoided.

The Wedding Breakfast

If the bride appears during breakfast proper etiquette dictates that she sits beside her husband at the center table, while the father and mother occupy the top to bottom and greets the guests coming in. Once the cake has been cut and every one has eaten, which include offering a toast to the new couple and giving acknowledgements, the bride and groom meet with their friends and eventually exit from the ceremony.

The newly-married couple can start in their wedding journey at around two or three o’clock, while the rest of the guests and family member depart from the reception area shortly after.

Information on american flag etiquette can be found at the Etiquette Lessons site.

March 9, 2010

Divorced Parents And The Wedding Etiquette

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Dealing with divorced parent in a wedding can be tricky and complicated. While coping with the situation will be stressful particularly for the brides, having a beautiful wedding despite having divorced parents is never impossible.

Divorced parents of the bride or groom should participate in the wedding ceremony. In addition, they also to the rehearsal dinner even if they will likely act horribly. Not inviting the parents will create more trouble. The parents may or may not have to host the rehearsal dinner, which is supposedly one of the most relaxing portions of the wedding process.

Indicating in an Invitation

-    The name of the mother is the first written then followed by the father. The word “AND” cannot be used between the names.

-    The names of the mother and stepfather can be written in the invitation if the father has not been involved in the life of the bride or groom since she/he was a baby.

-    The individuals whose names are appearing on the invites do not have to be always the ones paying for the wedding despite popular belief.  

Sharing in costs

The couple should consider opening a checking account that will solely contain expenses for the wedding. The divorced parents should be asked on how much they can contribute. It is advisable to ask a check for a lump sum that will be deposited to the wedding account in order to make the money easily accessible whenever it is needed.

Seating arrangement

If the divorced parents are not speaking with each other, it is advisable that the two should be seated apart from the each other. One of them might be attending with someone the other parent cannot be comfortable with. Etiquette dictates that mother and stepfather occupy the first row, while father and stepmother sit on the second row.

However, the divorced parents can be seated with each other if they are on good terms but will likely have to stay in different areas during the reception.

No families are the same, as each has different problems and scenarios that affect relationships. Communication is the most important way to keep relationships strong. The couple have a responsibility of keeping the divorced informed about the progress of the wedding and they should also be given a chance to contribute. Never compare the behaviour of one parent to another, as this could result in conflict.

A wedding ceremony follows certain etiquette in order to make the occasion flow seamlessly.

-    In a semi-private wedding, bridesmaids and groomsmen should perform certain responsibilities in assisting the bride and groom.

-    The bridesmaids should obviously be younger than the bride and their outfils should complement each other. The dresses of the bridesmaids can include more ornaments and composed of light and graceful fabric. Flowers should serve as the main decoration.

-    The wedding gown should be very simple but can be combined with few jewels or ornaments coming from the parents or groom. The most attractive part of the dress should be the garland and veil.

-    The bridesmaids should help the bride in wearing the wedding gown and attending to guests. Bridemaids should position themselves at the bride’s left side during the ceremony. The first bridesmaid should be responsible in keeping the bouquet and gloves.

-    Bridesmaids can be positioned from the tallest to the shortest from the couple in order to be symmetrical. A bridesmaid and groomsman with similar height can be paired with each other.

-    The groomsmen are assigned to receive the clergyman and then lead him to the couple. They should be positioned groom’s right side during the wedding ceremony.

Ceremony in Church

The bride enters from the left side walking with her father followed by her bridesmaids. The groom enters the room from the right and is followed by his groomsmen. The parents come from behind the entourage, while the attendants can stand from either side.

The glove of the bride does not need to be snug, as it will be taken off later in the ceremony. In addition, the ring should be placed where the groom can easily see it to avoid delaying the ceremony.

Learn about funeral etiquette and baby shower etiquette at the Etiquette Lessons site.

Attending A Wedding Show In Colorado

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If you have wedding plans, why not take the time to study wedding etiquette and attend wedding shows in Colorado. With wedding etiquette lessons you will learn what to and what not to do so that you won’t hear anything from your guests that might discomfort you.

You don’t need to follow all wedding etiquette rules; all you need to do is learn the basics and you can bend the rules accordingly. Of course, you will only bend wedding etiquette rules that won’t make your mother and close friends raise their eyebrows. You very well know how to bend rules with taste.

You won’t wear a black wedding dress just to bend a wedding etiquette rule for the sake of bending it. Wear black wedding dress if you have a reason. But if you can do with a white wedding dress, well, that would be better. Bend on some other rules instead. Such as being informal in the wordings on your wedding invitation.

On the other hand, attending wedding shows in Colorado will give you an idea on what to expect from a country and garden weddings and who are the best suppliers that you should hire when you plan to get wed in Colorado.

– Why More and More Couples Want to Get Married in Colorado?

Many couples have been getting married in Colorado because of the cool weather, beautiful gardens, and homey, old fashioned barn and big houses which are the best wedding reception for a country themed wedding.

Colorado is situated in Southwestern America. It is known for its breathtaking scenery– snowcapped mountains and moist grasslands — and world world famous ski slopes that attract skiers and snowboard enthusiasts (that come from every place of the planet) each year between the months of December and March. Colorado’s Rocky Mountain State is home to North America’s best skiing locations, such as: Vail, Steamboat Springs, Aspen and Breckenridge.

Boulder, Colorado boasts Aspen rich parks with green grasslands. Boulder, Colorado is perfect for couples who plans to have a garden wedding.

In the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, a garden that looks like paradise is open for public. The Alpine Garden is a botanical garden filled with colorful, high elevation plants. The rugged mountains and pine trees are the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.

The Alpine Garden hosts private events such as weddings. Its Rock Garden Terrace can accommodate up to fifty (50) guests, which is just perfect for a simple wedding with only close family and friends as guests.

The kiss of the newly weds and the loving look that they give one another is enough to warm the hearts of guests in the cool Colorado garden terrace.

– Attend Wedding Shows in Colorado

On your wedding plans list, write that you will study Colorado wedding etiquette and mark dates of wedding shows in Colorado. Wedding etiquette in Colorado is not actually stiff; people celebrate festivities with country inspired cuisine and lots of wine, as you will learn from wedding shows in Colorado.

Colorado exudes freshness of blooming flowers, green grass, and cool weather. This is the reason why lots of wedding shows are being held in Colorado. Couples with wedding plans go to wedding shows in Colorado because of the fabulous things they hear about the place as a good venue to celebrate weddings and party on with country and garden wedding themes.

Wedding shows in Colorado features wedding etiquette books for couples with wedding plans. Wedding etiquette books contain information about wedding etiquette on invitation, wedding etiquette on who pays the wedding expenses, wedding etiquette for step mother and fathers, wedding etiquette for second family, wedding etiquette on what the bride should wear including her bridesmaids and her guests’ clothing, and wedding etiquette on the issue of cash bar.

Emily Post was known for her wedding etiquette knowledge and she had a spectacular book about wedding etiquette for couples with wedding plans. Everything that a couple needs to know about socializing during the wedding has been compiled in a single, thin book.

If you have wedding plans and want to catch the latest wedding shows in Colorado, just go to the official website of the State of Colorado and they have information about various events in the State of which include wedding shows in Colorado.

To read about engagement etiquette and wedding invitation etiquette, visit the Etiquette Lessons site.

March 8, 2010

A Unique Proposal

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There comes a time, hopefully, in every woman’s life when a man will ask her to marry him. This is an article of a unique proposal. I hope you enjoy it!

Let me begin by first writing of how I proposed to my wife. I had given her a promise ring probably 2 years into our dating and told her that I would be faithful to her. A year passed and I invite her over so that we can go out on a date. As she pulled into the driveway, I met her down by her car. We started walking up the steps to the house and I made up a story about us guys talking about our wives rings as work today. So I asked her to let me see her promise ring. As this took place we walked upstairs and proceeded into my bedroom where her eyes met a big beautigul vase full of lillies. Some romantic “baby-making” music was playing in the background and a note was sitting by the vase of flowers. As she was reading the note, I put her promise ring into my pocket and took the diamond engagement ring out of my pocket and slide it onto her finger ever so gently. She didn’t even look because she was focused on the note I had written her. After she got done reading she finally looked down and she realized it wasn’t her promise ring that was on her finger anymore. I got down on one knee and proceeded to ask her to marry me but the words came fumbling out because she started crying and it made me cry. She said yes and we went on a date that night. The night was one to remember and will always be in my memories. I’d say that was a unique proposal.

We finally set our wedding date to May 17, 2008 and the wedding plans had seemed like they’d begun before I had proposed to her. We were excited. She picked out a dress really quickly and regreted it because she found another one that she loved even more. As the days passed, that dress looked more and more beautiful, so she ended up buying that one too. We are still trying to sell her original one. She picked five bridesmaids to be in the wedding and I had five groomsmen. We bought wedding jewelry and bridal jewelry from Silverland Jewelry & Gifts in Raleigh, NC. My soon-to-be wife picked out a tin cup necklace for each of her bridesmaids. I think that the wedding jewelry and bridal jewelry were the last things that we did in preperation for the wedding.

The day of the wedding finally came and it was as special as the moment I had proposed to her. I am such a sucker and cried as I was making my vows to my wife. We have it on camera so I never hear enough of how I cried at my wedding. I guess it’s cool because my wife said she loved it. Who knew that I would cry and my wife wouldn’t!?

I hope that this article would inspire someone lucky man to propose to his princess and if you have a unique proposal, please share it with me. Best Wishes, Kendall.

My name is Kendall and I write about weddings,fashion, and jewelry for Silverland Jewelry & Gifts which is located in the Sutton Square Shopping Centre in Raleigh, NC.

The Wedding Etiquette For The Main Of Honor

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Modern weddings are full of symbolic rituals and a number of key players are assigned particular assignments or titles for the wedding.

Basically, the principal players in every wedding are the bride and the groom. They are the ones who assign people to other players or symbolic titles.

The groom’s best friend and best buddy is named the best man. His counter part, the bride’s reliable maiden friend, is the maid of honor.

Why maid of honor? Because in the old wedding traditions, brides are expected to be virgins. The old and conservative world had it that virginity equals honor. Thus, maid of honors are people who help the bride retain the big V, which in the old times should be given as a primary gift to the husband.

Responsibilities given to the maid of honor

All little girls dream to brides someday. Some want to be maid of honor first before finally hitting it big to be brides.

Being maid of honor can be a fashionable experience. However, there are some responsibilities or expectations from her. The following list will enumerate 17 of the most common duties the maid of honor should hold accountable to during weddings.

1.   You should help the bride address and distribute all wedding invitations to guests. Sometimes, maid of honors are also required to attend wedding announcements.

2.   In adherence to traditional wedding etiquettes, maid of honors must try to attend to all the prenuptial parties. Of course, she should not be there during stag parties, unless she has totally gone nuts.

3.   If possible, it would be sweet if the maid of honor organize a couple’s shower for the soon-to-be bride and groom.

4.   Wedding etiquettes have it that the bride should be assisted by the maid of honor when going away to buy the wedding dress.

5.   As a sign of good breeding and professionalism, maid of honors are expected to come on time during fitting appointments and rehearsals and any other dates assigned by the bride.

6.    Deal with florists for the supply of rose petals that would shower the bride and the groom as they leave the church or the altar. The maid of honor also makes sure that the flower girl is present and knows what she will do with the flowers.

7.   On the wedding day, it is strictly written in all wedding etiquette guides that maid of honors arrive at the wedding venue, usually a church, on time or earlier so she can still assist the bride and the brides maids when they are dressing. Be at least 2 hours ahead of everyone.

8.    She should brief the best man about his responsibilities.

9.   The maid of honor, as wedding etiquettes have it, should take care of the bride’s train during the wedding and when she goes to the receiving line.

10.   The maid of honor should be kind to hold the wedding bouquet when the ceremony gets to the part when the bride and groom exchange rings. Do not, however, forget to hand back the bouquet after that part.

11.   During double ring ceremonies, which seldom happen, she should carry the groom’s ring and hand it to the officiating minister.

12.   Maid of honor follow traditions and wedding etiquettes to coordinate with the official wedding photographer and assist him in identifying the entourage. Candid shots can be ethical as long as the shots are not hilarious to put the persons involved in compromising and awkward situations.

13.   She should be the witness in the signing of the marriage certificate.

14.   The maid of honor is expected to stand with the couple in the receiving line. As a sign that she knows anything about wedding etiquettes, she should traditionally stand to the groom’s left side and the bridesmaids should stand to her left.

15.   Cooperate and coordinate with the best man, and help the bride and the groom depart, at least during certain symbolic rites in the ceremony.

16.   The maid of honor should make sure and help out see that the bride’s demands or designs suggested for her dress is executed by the tailor.

Parting words

You, the bride’s maid of honor should remember that you have a great responsibility in making sure that the wedding would be wonderful for the bride. Your own maid of honor would do the same when its time for you to be the bride. Good luck!

Learn about baby shower etiquette and dinner etiquette at the Etiquette Lessons site.

Some Etiquette For Small Wedding

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An elegant small wedding is one of the most beautiful weddings that can be organized. The budget is not too high, the attendees are all relaxed and will likely have a good time and nuances such as children running around and making noise will be avoided. A wedding without too much frills makes sure that the love between the couple is the focus of the ceremony.

Etiquette in a small wedding

ATTIRE: Guests are only advised to wear clothes comfortable to them. A dress from a closet selection, a white one or even a sundress is appropriate for a small wedding. A bridesmaid can wear a white dress or even a pantsuit. The groom can go for khakis, or even jeans paired with a shirt and a sport coat.

SETTING: A small wedding can be held in a community center, a local park or even your parents’ backyard. Holding ceremonies in a unique location such as a rooftop, a barn, an art gallery can clearly speak about the personalities of the couple.

INVITATIONS: Invitations in a small wedding can be handwritten on handmade paper. Send them like writing a note to a close friend. It is important to note that attendees should be in casual attire.

FLOWERS: Simple bulbs such as hyacinths or tulips can serve as alternatives for floral flower arrangements. Using these will generate huge savings for the couple. Gerber diaries inserted in a flat container filled with wheat grass can serve as an attractive centerpiece.

MENU: The menu of a small wedding can be very diverse. A party can be set a few months before the wedding and the guests can be asked to bring their favorite recipes. The couple can choose their favorites and use them as wedding food. It is also good to acknowledge whose recipe it is by putting a label in front of every dish. Besides a party, a barbeque or picnic fare can be held.

REGISTRY: Common retail stores such as Sears or Target can be used as gift registries. Couples can specify what they want to receive in order to avoid the usual gift of expensive China that will likely collect dust in a cabinet.

Costs, costs, costs

Tradition dictates that the bride’s parents are responsible for paying off the wedding regardless if it is small or big. However, expenses have become an issue due to the challenging times. The etiquette in requesting for money is by gathering both families and discussing how to share in the wedding expenses, as the couple will unlikely have enough to cover all of their needs.

The budget will be a major basis on what type of wedding will be held. The couple needs to meet with everyone who will be attending. However, the couple cannot force their parents to shell out money that is not available.

Couples can make various compromises if their budget falls short. For example, less expensive rings can be used. A more expensive replacement can be acquired in the future. Some couples do not even have wedding rings at all. Those living in a nice climate can have the reception at home and hire catering services. To help control costs, a butler can be tasked to pass around hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments.

The parents of the groom traditionally pay for the following items:

Boutonnieres for groom’s attendants

The bride’s bouquet

Officiate fee or donation

Rehearsal Dinner

Lodging and transportation expenses of the rabbi or minister

Corsages for every family member

Transportation of the Groom and Best Man going to the wedding

Giving tips is a nice way of rewarding those that have given good service but it is not a requirement. A tip given to a minister can be seen as a gift for marrying the couple. Tips can be given to servers, drivers and musicians but still, this is not a requirement.

The etiquette in service fees

Couples should make sure that they are comfortable with the people that are helping in the wedding whether it is the wedding experts, the photographer and even the florists. They should share the same vision on how the wedding should come out and not merely focus on how much money will spent.

A couple may receive possibly the lowest price but if the rendered service does not meet what was promised, the value is useless, even if it is a small wedding.

Read about engagement party etiquette and chinese etiquette at the Etiquette Lessons website.

March 7, 2010

Wedding Planning Timeline Checklist

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , — @ 6:47 pm

Congratulations on your engagement. Now it’s time to go to work and plan the wedding of your dreams. With a little preparation (and a sense of Humor!) there is no need to act like a bridezilla.

Here is a checklist to help you keep your sanity.

9-12 Months before the wedding

Announce your engagement. Plan what type of wedding you want- formal, informal, day or evening, number of guests Choose a wedding date. Determine your budget- Discuss who is responsible for what expenses before making any plans. You should include your parents and future in-laws in this discussion. Remember to treat them with respect. Any money they provide is a gift! Make guest list – Don’t forget to include your parents and future in-laws in this discussion. Speak to officiant- Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Justice of the Peace etc. Reserve your ceremony and Reception Sites.

6-9 Months Before Wedding

Select Bridal Gown Choose your attendants- Maid/Matron of Honor, Best Man, Bridesmaids, Ushers, Flowergirls, and Ring Bearer Choose a Photographer Select bridesmaids dresses & accessories (Remember to be Kind and listen to their suggestions and concerns). Select a caterer (if needed) Hire a band or DJ Book your florist

4-5 Months Before Wedding

Schedule fittings for yourself and attendants (don’t forget your flower-girl) Reserve any rental items needed for ceremony and reception Finalize guest list Order Stationery – wedding invitations, thank you notes, and wedding programs Address invitations or hire a professional calligrapher Plan rehearsal dinner – set date, time and location. (This dinner is usually given by the grooms’ parents.) Arrange for accommodations for out-of-town guests. Start planning honeymoon (Groom usually makes these arrangements after you BOTH decide where to go.) Don’t forget to get any passports or travel documents you may need. Register for gifts. Purchase shoes and accessories (Remember to break your shoes in before the wedding)

2-3 Months Before Wedding

Order wedding cake Order party favors Order all necessary decorations Book all transportation for wedding day (if necessary) Buy wedding rings Visit lawyer to write any necessary wills or prenuptial agreements

5-8 Weeks Before Wedding

Purchase gifts for wedding attendants Mail invitations (A map to assist your guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites is a nice idea). Visit hairstylist to determine what style you want for your hair. (Hint: Never change haircolor or change your style right before your wedding. Any changes should be made at least 3-4 weeks in advance). Have a formal wedding portrait taken Send wedding announcements to newspapers (if necessary) Change name and address on driver’s license, social security cards, insurance policies, and bank accounts Reserve wedding attire for groom, ushers, ring bearer (Usually done by the groom). Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner (if necessary) Obtain marriage license Get blood tests if necessary in your state Plan a bridesmaid luncheon

2-4 Weeks Before Wedding

Confirm ceremony details with officiant Arrange final fittings for your gown and bridesmaids dresses Make final floral selections Finalize rehearsal dinner plans Confirm details with all service providers – It is a good idea to give them a written list of your wedding day timeline. Contact guests who have not yet responded to your invitation Pick up wedding rings Meet with your photographer to discuss special photos you want taken. Meet with your DJ or band to confirm the music you want played Remind all attendants (male & female) when to pick up their wedding attire. Purchase any special accessories or make-up you want your attendants to wear. Determine ceremony seating for any special guests (give the list to the ushers). Plan reception seating-write names on place cards.

Hold On….Your Almost Done! Last Week

Pick up wedding attire Figure final guest count and notify cater Arrange for “get-a-way” car from the reception Review the schedule of events and last minute arrangements with all service providers. Confirm honeymoon reservations Pack for your honeymoon

Take a Breath…..It’s Finally Here….Your Wedding Day!!!!

Give rings to the best man and maid of honor (If no ring Bearer) Give the best man money to pay the officiant after the ceremony Relax and have fun!!! All your hard work and planning has paid off.

Jasmine MacDonald is the editor of Fun Weddings and Merry Brides which will provide you with daily ideas and tips to help you plan the perfect wedding while staying within your budget. Jasmine can also help you design your very own wedding website to keep your friends and family updated about your wedding plans. Check out a Free Trial offer at Merry Bridals.

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