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

WEDDING NOTEStm Wedding Showers

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.