Wedding Notes – How Do I?

We gladly help our brides solve awkward problems that can arise when one is giving a party for 150 friends of the bride. No matter how organized one is, it is nice to have an experience specialist – a knowledgeable consultant or certified wedding planner – available for face-to-face problem solving. Every wedding is unique and so can the problems that are presented by the “people factor”.

How do I handle guests who have responded to our invitations and state on the reply card that the number or guests planning to attend is larger than the number we’ve invited?

If your quest count and budget can handle the number of “extras” indicated, chalk it up to bad manners on the part of those quests and just greet them with as much good grace as you can muster. However, if your quest count is already pushing over the budget and you truly cannot absorb the extra bodies, we suggest that you turn to your maid of honor, a tactful bridesmaid or family member who may know the offending guests well. Ask this person to call the guests in question and explain that the bride would love to expand her guest list, but unfortunately it is not possible. The reason? Budget, time, space concerns! If the person is offended – and some will be – they are not true friends. Remember that they are the ones who have overstepped the etiquette boundaries.

If you really want the invitees to attend in spite of their children, and that’s where many overages originate, you might consider adding to the reception card copy that reads “adult only reception”.

If you find that many of your invited guests are bringing uninvited children, you may just arrange for the children to be at a “separate” reception somewhere in the same venue. You can provide “sitters”, large screen TVs, lots of craft items and a separate kid friendly menu that is provided by family members.

For more ideas and answers to questions, phone  909-229-9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

Wedding Gown Styles for You

 

When you are shopping for your wedding gown, selecting a style that is appropriate for your body shape is the secret to looking amazing on your special day.  Shopping for your gown at a store that has the knowledge to make you look fabulous should be your goal.   We have specially trained consultants who do know how to find the RIGHT dress for you.

What to look for!

If you are a petite bride – shorter than 5’4” and small boned, look for gowns that give the illusion of more height  like off the shoulder or gowns with vertical lines.  Your goal is to draw the eyes upward by keeping details at a minimum and focusing the eye to the bodice area.

 

 

 

 

 

If you are tall – usually 5’9” or taller, you can wear a wider variety of shapes.  It is best to emphasize your longer proportions.  Bias cut skirts and straight designs can be fabulous.

 
 
 

 

If you are a plus size consider a gown with a skirt that flows from just under the breast to the floor.  A-line silhouettes and princess lines work well as well as does heavier fabric like satin.

If yours is a triangle shape – narrower on the top and fuller on the bottom, your goal is to create balance.  A V neckline is excellent for you.

 

 

 

 

We can help you find the dress that will be perfect for you. 

Contact us for any questions regarding dress styles or wedding planning

at 909-229-9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

Wedding Myths Dispelled

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                                                                                                                                                                                             MYTH 1 – IT COSTS A LOT OF $$ TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING

Absolutely not!  A beautiful wedding depends on the love of the couple and their families and does not depend on the amount of money they spent.  Beautiful weddings happen at all price ranges. I will be starting a series of blog posts on how to make your beautiful wedding happen on your budget.

 

 

MYTH 2 – THE WEDDING INDUSTRY IS FULL OF “PROS” OUT TO CHEAT YOU

While there may be an occasional store that makes the news or a florist, photographer or caterer that fails to follow through, they are vastly outnumbered by reputable, experienced professionals whose livelihood depends on their sterling reputation for honesty, integrity and reliability.  Check out the reputation of a vendor under consideration., as a trained and certified wedding planner we will do this for you or show you how. There are many great resources to check vendor reviews and references. 

MYTH 3 – WE HAVE A YEAR TO GET OUT OUR THANK YOU NOTES

Whoever started that myth was dreaming.  The rule on thank you notes is simple – write them ASAP.  Keep up with them throughout the period of showers, parties, gifts sent to the bride’s home.  If a guest has thought enough to send a gift to celebrate the wedding, he or she deserves a thoughtful response which expresses timely and sincere thanks.  If there is a legitimate reason for a delay in writing personal thank you notes, then gift acknowledgment cards are to be sent immediately and followed up by a personal thank you at a somewhat later date – but NEVER A YEAR.

There are other misunderstandings out there about wedding do’s and don’ts. For answers to your questions, call us at 909.229.9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

 

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Creative ways to personalize your wedding

Because the push to be unique is increasing important to our brides, here are some of the more creative ideas we have seen.

·         If yours is a smaller wedding, consider including a personal note with the invitation.

 

           

    Include your parents by having their wedding photos on display at the reception. Include grandparent photos too if they are available.

 

  

 

 

·        Stats have shown that social invitations are opened more frequently on Saturdays.  Time your invitation mailings to arrive on Saturday if possible.  You’ll receive more RSVP responses.

 

    ·         Pick a monogram or logo and use it throughout the planning process.

 ·         Take lots of photos during your engagement and pre wedding planning period and use   them as table decorations at the reception.

·         Create an entrance at the wedding – something that says WOW and let’s guests know they have arrived.

 

·         If you are planning a Dessert Station at your reception, ask family cooks to bring a dozen or two of their favorite treats.  These will add variety to the selection and invest family in the reception.

For answers to your questions, call 909.229.9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

 

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Wedding Trends for the 21^st Century

A posting from Emilypost.com lists the following trends as increasing in importance for the weddings currently being planned.

·         Personalized weddings are increasing.  Brides may follow traditional guidelines for the ceremony and reception, but they also want their day to have elements that are unique for the couple and which make the event memorable.  Creating a monogram that is used throughout the process or adopting a signature color or theme are ways they are putting their individual stamp on the event.  Invitations may be the first indicator of a couple’s decision to make the wedding uniquely  theirs.

·         Cost sharing is common.  At one time the bride’s family funded the event, but with couples being older and both employed, wedding costs can be shared or even funded solely by the bride and groom.  What has not changed is the need to have clarity around who is paying for what.

·         High Tech influence is clear.  The internet plays a growing role in registries, vendor research and selection and information sharing related to the wedding.  Maps, instructions and even invitation design are possible with the help of electronics.

·         Color is appearing in more and more bridal gowns.  Color themes are increasing popular and influence all aspects of the wedding –flowers, invitations, attendant attire, reception décor and even food, beverage and cake display.

·         Grooms are more actively involved in wedding planning and choices.  Couples often take mutual responsibility for all aspects of wedding decision making – guest list, financing and even writing thank you notes.

For more ideas how to incorporate these trends into your wedding plans, call 909.229.9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

Do I need a wedding planner?

My event location/ hotel already provides a catering manager and onsite coordinator, why do I need another one?

 

 While it is wonderful that the location/ hotel provides a coordinator, usually the hotel’s onsite coordinator only handles all the responsibilities related to their specific venue and the service of the food. Often they are not responsible in directing your wedding ceremony/rehearsal or assist with of planning of your event. What we offer is a more personal, detailed understanding of your plans; from vendor selections to producing a timeline for the day. We coordinate not only with the food service but with all of your other vendors. We make sure that your flowers are in the right place, that the seating cards are set, that your musicians had their sound test, and that every DETAIL has been checked and checked again.

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 Changing Times

Many of the traditions that we follow in weddings today have their origins in Elizabethan or Renaissance eras.  It is no wonder that some changes have occurred.

·        VOWS – the phrase “Honor and obey” has been replaced with various alternatives that reflect equality in the relationship.

·        BRIDAL ESCORTS – More and more brides and couples are having both parents escort them down the aisle.  In some ceremonies, the groom comes down the aisle with both his mother and father, followed by the bride on the arms of both of her parents.  This honors both parents and recognizes each of their roles in preparing their sons/daughters for this day.  In fact, if the bride’s father is not available or this is a second marriage, a bride may choose to walk down the aisle alone or she may choose anyone to escort her.  A sibling, her mother, her grandfather, her son or a friend may do the honors.

·        PARENTAL ROLES – Parents are no longer limited to escort duty.  Many grooms are choosing their father to be the best man and brides are asking Mom to be the matron of honor.

·        RECEIVING LINES - These may still be part of a very formal wedding where the ceremony and reception are at different venues, but for smaller weddings with the same site for ceremony and reception, more and more couples are foregoing the receiving line and instead making it a point to acknowledge and thank each guest at his/her table throughout the evening. 

For more advice about changes you can comfortably make in your wedding plans, stop in and chat with one of our experienced consultants.  We know how to help you make your wedding uniquely yours or tie it comfortably to tradition. For answers to your questions, call 909.229.9061 or email babridal@juno.com

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Showers are Traditional

In fact, they date back to the 18^th century according to Emily Post.  It seems that a father did not like his daughter’s choice of husband and refused to give her a dowry.  Friends of the groom’s were insulted by the bride’s father but in support of the groom, collected enough “assets” among themselves, “showered” the bride with them and the marriage happened.

Today’s showers have evolved over time, but there are still some “rules” or guidelines most brides follow.

*The bride’s maid of honor is the usual hostess for a wedding shower, but any bridesmaid, friend of the bride’s mother or groom’s mother or distant relative of the bride can be hostess.  It is usual that no member of the bride’s immediate family (nor the groom’s for that matter) host a shower so that it doesn’t look like they are soliciting gifts for the bride.  This also extends to the bride.  It is never OK for the bride to throw a shower for herself.

*With all the talk of “themed” weddings, potential hostesses wonder if they need to plan a shower in keeping with the theme of the wedding.  The answer is no.  The shower simply celebrates the upcoming marriage of the couple.  The closest the events come to a “theme” is kind of gifts guests bring to the shower, such as spa items, kitchen items or lingerie.  Some showers are for couples.  Gift items for those should appeal to both genders like “stock the bar” parties, tools, outdoor equipment or electronics.

*Who should come?  Only guests invited to the wedding should be invited to the shower.  The only exception is for a workplace shower where not all work colleagues may be invited to the wedding. Nor is it necessary or even feasible to invite to a shower, every female who is invited to the wedding.

*Including Gift registry information on the shower invitation is acceptable (but this is the only place).  Brides should open all shower gifts at the shower and thank each person as the gift is opened.  Each gift must be followed by a handwritten thank you note.  If multiple showers are given for the bride, guests attended more than one shower need only give one gift.  If a guest cannot attend a shower, she should not feel obligated to send a gift. For answers to your questions, call 909.229.9061 or email babridal@juno.com.

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WEDDING TOASTS

 

 

According to Random House, a toast is “a salutation uttered immediately before drinking in honor of a person or event.”

Toasts acknowledge the wedding couple and express good wishes for a happy future together.  They also express a welcome – one family welcoming a new member to the group.

Some general guidelines:

·         Toasts are not an opportunity to make the couple blush nor are they the place to tell inside jokes. 

·         The average toast can run about 3 minutes but no more than 5 minutes. 

·         The best times at the reception to offer toasts are either before the dinner starts and/or just prior to cutting the cake. 

·         The official host of the reception (usually the bride’s father) is the first to offer a toast.  He is followed by the best man and then the maid of honor.  Yes, the maid of honor offers a toast to the happy couple.  Others may wish to offer toasts, but they should be controlled. 

·         If the bride and groom host their own wedding, they start the toasts by thanking family and guests for being with them on this special occasion. 

·         When looking for words for the toast, consider lines from poems that have meaning for the couple or the person offering the toast.  Song lyrics or short anecdotes about the couple are also appropriate. 

 

If you have questions about other toasts or are looking for ideas for appropriate toasts,

call (909)262-1575 or email babridal@juno.com.

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 INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS

Wedding customs from other countries can make an interesting addition to your wedding plans.  Consider these ideas shared by brides.

·        Mexico – guests for a heart shaped circle around the couple who dance their first dance in the center of this “circle of love”. 

·        Belgium – a dressmaker can make a handkerchief for the bride and embroider her name and date on it.  After the wedding it is framed and kept by the bride who cherishes it until it is time to be handed down to the next bride where the process is repeated. 

·        Germany-both the bride and groom carry a lighted floral laden candle to the altar.  They are placed by the unity candle throughout the ceremony and then used to light the unity candle as part of the ceremony. 

·        Scotland –the couple drinks first from a Quaich or loving cup which is shaped as a bowl with two handles.  The custom dates back to the 15^th century and symbolizes two families coming together.  Tradition has it the couples who drink from it first will have happiness and good fortune. 

·        Greece – bride and groom both wear a crown or wreath of flowers called stefana.  They are the symbol of royalty and the sanctity of marriage.  The groom removes his after the ceremony, but the bride keeps hers on as part of the wedding ensemble.

And one custom that should go away is the tradition of stuffing cake in each other’s face.  Feeding each other the first bite of cake is nice.  Smearing it all over each other’s face is not.  Certainly no bride wants a photo of herself covered in frosting. For answers to your questions, call 909-262-1575 or email babridal@juno.com.