Holiday: Whether you favor Valentine’s Day or Christmas or any holiday in between, holiday themed weddings can be some of the most fun you’ll have! Wedding invitations are easy for this one. With a selection of Custom Mix ‘n Match Wedding Invitations to choose from, all you have to do is choose your colors! For extra fun, add in accessories like ribbons or candy. With the time you’ll save choosing your wedding invitations, you can add in sweet additions to your wedding like a Valentine’s candy buffet or candy cane favors for every guest.

Princess: Is nothing too good for you? Then don’t settle for anything less than the prettiest wedding invitations! Match your elegantly frilly gown to Anna Griffin’s Platinum Toile Wedding Invitations, frothy shimmering confections that’ll get your guests ready for your lacy extravaganza of a princess wedding. If you favor Barbie-licious pink, get exactly what you want with customized 5×7 Vertical Folio Pocket Wedding Invitations in blush, fuchsia, or pretty cotton candy!

Green: Today’s weddings (and homes!) are all about sustainability and organic goodness! Show your commitment to not wasting paper by going with foldover wedding invitations that use the smallest amount of paper. Use green shades like Sour Apple or Celery, and be sure to encourage your guests to recycle.

Beach: So what if you’re not going destination? You can still have your wedding at the shore if you live in a coastal state. Have a classic beach wedding of your very own, complete with the perfect beach wedding invitations. If you like things cute and basic to go along with your church wedding ceremony, try these simple Beach Church Wedding Invitations. Getting married on the shore proper? Get your guests in the mood for sun and sand with Beach Scene Tri-Panel Wedding Invitations.

Engraving: Often spoken of but not often practiced, engraving is the most traditional method of printing wedding invitations. The design and words are etched into a copper plate. The invitation is placed facedown onto the plate and then pressed until the design and words are engraved onto the paper, creating raised lettering. While classic and beautiful, this sort of printing will cost you. If you’re going a bit less high-budget, look into thermography.

Thermography: This heat-based method involves joining ink and a resin-based powder that fuse to create the look of raised lettering. One of the most popular choices when it comes to printing wedding invitations, thermography produces an appearance similar to engraving without the prohibitive cost.

Lithography: You’re likely the most familiar with this method of printing wedding invitations, also known as offset or flat printing. Lithography creates a flat image on the paper, without the raised effect of engraving or thermography, using a rubber cylinder which transfers an inked impression of the text to paper.

Laser printing: The most cost-effective option, laser printing can likely be done with the computer printer you already have. Most unprinted wedding invitations are delivered with the intent that they’ll be printed using this method.

Calligraphy: Do you have an unlimited budget? Calligraphy is done by hand by skilled artisans experienced in the trade. Done with special pens and ink, calligraphy is an involved process that will leave you with the most beautiful handwritten invitations. Due to the high cost, calligraphy is most often kept to the most formal of wedding invitations.

You will need:

• baby food jars, “stage 2”- these are the jars that are about 4 ounces. The lip on these jars makes for a flush and clean looking finished project.  You can also buy jars with the lip.  If you don’t have a friend or family member with a baby who is at “stage 2”, you can post on your local Craigslist, Freecycle or any other local forum you frequent to ask someone to save them for you! They should of course be cleaned and have the labels removed. The labels can be tricky so try soaking them before you try to remove them.
• thank you stickers or other personalized stickers.  Squares work better than label sized but either will do.
• jewelry wire or floral wire
• jewelry crimpers (or needle nosed pliers)
• ¾ inch ribbon for the rims of the jars. (beaded or decorative is a nice touch)
• 2 colors of tulle (you can use just one color or even 3 or 4 colors.) You only need the rolls that are about 6 inches wide. The bigger rolls just add more cutting!
• round beads, 2 sizes (use 6 mm and 4 mm)
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• candies
• thin satin ribbon
• scissors

Step By Step

Included are some convenient, time saving variations for the bride who wants a little less work with the same do it yourself feel.

Step 1: Starting the jars

You need to remove the labels and the sticky residue they leave. Soaking them before trying to remove the labels seems to be the best method. You need clean, dry jars. Hold the ribbon taught around the rim of the jar so it just touches and cut that length. This is the one part you should do individually for each jar because of manufacturing differences.  Cutting the ribbon in advance based on one sample piece sometimes leaves you with pieces that are too short or long by just a little. Hot glue the ribbon to the top of the jar. Place the sticker (that says thank you, or your names and wedding date or whatever you’d like!) centered on the jar (on the side). Set the jars aside.

Step 2: Making the charms

You can skip this step and purchase pre-made charms from your local craft store. You can vary this method to make a variety of charms and even letters.

You will need to experiment with a length of wire that works for your beads and the size charm you want before you make templates.

Once you have a size that works for you with minimal waste you can cut a bunch in advance.  Put a loop at the end of the wire to hold the beads onto the wire (or just bend the wire in a “c” shape and finish each charm right away. String one of the smaller beads, then eight of the larger, 2 smaller, then 8 more of the larger.

Fashion the wire partially into a heart before tightening the beading and closing the loop. You can also loop the beads into a circle with one sparkly center bead to look like an engagement ring.

Make sure you crimp down the wire where you joined it to prevent beads from falling off your decorations and to ensure there are no exposed sharp edges of wire.

Step 3: The bows

Once again you can buy these pre made at your local craft store to save some time and experimenting.

This part is simple. Cut about a foot long piece of tulle.  You can make yours larger or smaller depending on the type of bow you are making and the size you want.  You can also make your bows multiple colors if you are crafty.  The fastest method seems to be to make “bunny ears” from the tulle and double knot them into a bow. Fluff the sides and trim the length if necessary. Attach your charms to the center of the bows using a small piece of jewelry wire (or hot glue).  You can also tie the charm right into the bow if you left your loop of wire in the center. The assembled bows can then be hot glued to the ribbon on the jars slightly off to the side of the stickers.  You can also tie them opposite or directly over the sticker, whatever you like best.

Step 4: The candy pouch

They also sell pre-made tulle pouches with draw strings.

Overlap 3 pieces of tulle like an asterisk. Fill a jar ¾ of the way with your candy and carefully pour the candy onto the center of the tulle where all 3 pieces overlap.  Carefully gather up the tulle and twist it around the candy to make a bag. You can use another small piece of tulle to tie the pouch closed or some thin satin ribbon.  Place the bag in the baby food jars. You may have to wiggle it a bit to get it through the opening.  Fluff up the ends of the tulle that are sticking out of the jar and you are finished!

This is a great way to recycle baby food jars.  These would also make wonderful baby shower favors.  Go the complete do it yourself route or buy some or all of the elements pre-made to save some time and effort and still get that do it yourself look and feel.

2) No Pressure. It seems like all you have to do is utter the word “wedding” in a store and suddenly you are surrounded with a hoard of wedding vendor predators trying to cash in on your bridal bliss. When you buy wedding invitations online, you will not have to listen to any boring speeches about the “rare Alpacan paper” or other justifications for overpricing. You will not have to waste time nodding politely or being diplomatic. If a certain wedding invitation doesn’t appeal to you, just click out and move on!

3) It is easier to get the groom involved. Because they are traditionally associated with pastels and potpourri, it can be tough getting your guy to set foot in a stationery store. But snuggling up together in your office chairs, browsing through wedding invites on commercials while he watches the game…now that’s the kind of compromise good marriages are made of!

4) No hurry. On that note, if you do get your grumbling groom to a wedding invitation shop, this will most likely be your only chance to pick out invitations. Given the range of choices, this can be quite overwhelming and return policies on wedding invites are usually less than forgiving. With an online site, you can shop, mull, print out options, save favorites in a personal folder, come back…you get the idea! When you finally choose your wedding invitation, you’ll know it is the perfect one, not just some product of a rush decision.

5) No typos! One good thing about going through an online vendor rather than doing it yourself? No spelling or grammar errors glaring at you for all of your married life. Sure you’re a grammar goddess in your own right, but everyone’s been known to mix up “there” and “their” on occasion, especially under stress. The more advanced wedding invitation sites have a customization template where you just input your personal details and your beautifully worded invitation is created.

Spelling and other punctuation errors are embarrassing and tacky, and can overshadow even the most elegant design and expressions. Buying wedding invitations online means letting someone else worry about the basics so you can just focus on making your invites beautiful.

If you’re trying to figure out the best shape for your invitation, your options include panel (no folding involved), short-fold (sheet of paper folded once, creating a short front panel and a longer back panel), tri-fold (one sheet folded twice, creating a three-paneled invitation), accordion fold (one sheet folded twice in an accordion fashion) and French-fold (sheet of paper folded twice, creating a four-paneled invitation). It’s like origami, only slightly less complicated & they all make more sense when you see them pictured on actual wedding invitations, trust us.

Some common terms you might come up against while you’re hunting include the following: enclosures (a catch-all term for the RSVP cards, reception cards, direction cards, etc. that come along with an invitation), invitation proof (a sample invitation that lets you see and hold exactly what you’re getting), motif (a small picture, often an ornament or a logo, that you might want to appear on your invitation), typestyle (a fancy term for font, or the type that your wording appears in). As you can see, most of the vocabulary you’ll come up against when creating your wedding invitations is just a slightly different way of saying something relatively straightforward.

But how about some of the more obscure terms out there? If you see the words “deckle edge,” it means you’re getting an invitation (probably parchment) with uneven, feathery edges, great for more artistic types. Die-cut means your wedding invitations will have a cut-out shape or sculpted edge, via a process that uses metal rules to cut designs and shapes into the paper. If a backing layer is mentioned, it’s in reference to the sheet of card stock behind the printed layer on panel invitations. On three panel invitations, it’ll likely be a double backing layer.

Can’t get enough of the secret language of wedding invitations? For more information, we say know the glossary, love the glossary!

There are still a few surprises for wedding guests, and someone’s new spouse, that are not overdone.  Here are some great surprises to add to the wedding reception that will leave guests talking and make it a party everyone remembers.

Enlist a Local Celebrity- A local newscaster, singer or special person around town giving a toast can make a wedding memorable if the bride or groom happen to be acquainted with one.

Dancers, Dancers Everywhere- Hiring dancers from a local dance school can be used in so many ways.  A jig can be performed for an Irish couple.  Belly dancers always attract attention.  There are so many forms of dance and hiring professionals or a really good student team can really make an impression.  Enlisting a friend or two to start a dance, flash mob style, and having the dancers slowly join in to the dancing as their first number will leave guests talking until the next wedding season and beyond.

A Few Tricks Up His Sleeve- Magicians are great for entertaining children but an adults only reception can include more risqué tricks and audience participation. Jugglers and other entertainers may also be appreciated.  A fortune teller always draws a crowd.

Take a Gamble- Set up a casino area with chips and card games.  Hire a roulette wheel and operator.  Casino style parties are always a hit and sure to be lots of fun.

Special Band- An unexpected change in music halfway through the festivities can be fun.  Have a mariachi band or some congo drums and other percussion join the party to liven the mood.

Mascots Anyone?- Local sports team mascots can often be enlisted for events for a fee. College teams will be less expensive than pro teams but surprising everyone with the mascot of the couple’s alma mater can be great fun especially if the mascot’s assistant is distributing school swag or wedding favors chosen for the theme.

Billions of dollars are spent in the wedding industry every year so it may seem like everything has been done.  Planning a wedding should be based on the couple and their personalities and dreams for the day not what it says in a wedding book.

Honeymooning in Jamaica - Jamaica is the perfect honeymoon location for couples that are ready to hand over the reins to someone else.  After months and maybe even years of wedding planning, an all inclusive resort may be just what the doctor ordered.  Jamaica can be a magical experience in a land of reggae, sugar cane and coffee. Jamaica is a great choice for couples looking to take advantage of water sports like water skiing and surfing.  There is no need to venture very far outside your all inclusive resort when choosing Jamaica for your honeymoon. Spend your time with good music, good food and good vibes.  Have spa treatments, get your hair braided and get a glorious tan.  Many little treasures are available when shopping at local merchants.

Honeymooning in Puerto Vallarta - With impressive restaurants and resorts, Puerto Vallarta caters to honeymooners like few other Mexican beaches can.  Many beaches in Mexico are favorites for students on spring break and other vacations.  This is not so much the case with Puerto Vallarta. Horseback riding, swimming and scuba diving are some of the most notable activities available when taking your beach honeymoon at this vacation destination. At this location you get the feel of a small town ambiance with all the convenience and luxury of a top notch resort. The Zona Romantica is well known for its boutiques and shops. For the couple looking for some dancing and nightlife, try one of the many Havana style night clubs in the area.

Honeymooning in Maui - Accommodating service, resorts with the most coveted luxuries and sparkling, radiant beaches are all trademarks of a honeymoon in Maui. Maui has accommodations ranging from top of the line hotels and resorts to intimate bed and breakfasts. You can get your excitement from exploring the views of volcanoes or surfing along the amazing beaches.  Maui is also known for having a very vibrant and active nightlife. Maui is a great honeymoon destination that offers a little bit of something for everyone.

Honeymooning in Santorini - This island in Greece is a virtual paradise.  It isn’t a well kept secret so quite a few honeymooners take advantage of the chance at laying on multi-colored beaches (the sand is red and black!) and the many other accommodations and delights that the island of Santorini has to offer. This area offers archaeological sites that attract both casual tourists aficionados. The brilliant turquoise waters are enough to leave many honeymooners awestruck. Santorini consists of two islands and multiple islets that are the result of a volcanic eruption that forced the center of Stronglyi, which was then a single island into the sea.  Some say this is the site of the lost city of Atlantis.  With its mythological charm, Santorini makes you feel like you have been whisked through time and space to an exotic paradise.

Honeymooning in Florida on Honeymoon Island - It would be remiss not to mention a sampling of the beaches in the continental United States.  Florida offers a variety of atmospheres for newlyweds looking for a honeymoon destination.  From the young, party going crowds of Daytona to the magical peace of Key West that seems to transport you to a tropical location, there is something for everyone on the beaches of Florida. There is even a Honeymoon Island.  The pioneers called this island Hog Island but it was renamed in 1939 when a developer built palm thatched bungalows for couples on their honeymoon.  Honeymoon Island is a nature lover’s paradise.  Swimming and snorkeling give you a glimpse of the sea life in the Gulf.  There are trails and miles of natural beauty.  It is a favorite spot for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts.  Shelling is known to be especially good on Honeymoon Island because of the gulf currents depositing shells so steadily on the shores.  Florida offers something for everyone but Honeymoon Island is a must visit location for couples looking to take it slow and marvel at the wonders of nature.

When choosing a destination for your beach oriented honeymoon think about how populated you want the beaches to be.  You also want to consider if you want to have to travel to get to the beaches.  Do you want beaches surrounded by tourism or secluded hidden beaches?  What other types of attractions might you want to explore during your honeymoon? Are you interested in water skiing? How about fishing? No matter what beach town you choose to visit, be sure to take some time to de-stress and unwind! You finally made it through all the wedding planning and you wound up being a married couple!

Most of what you can buy, you can make yourself.  Also, if you aren’t too precise about what you are looking to get your girls, you may also find things similar for a much more affordable price.

Here are 7 ideas that can help you wow your bridesmaids with gifts without breaking the bank.

1. Personalize it Yourself - There are countless personalized bridesmaids’ gifts advertised and available.  Most of them you can buy much cheaper in a plain version and personalize yourself. Craft stores sell plain tote bags, thong sandals (flip flops) makeup bags, t-shirts and so much more ready to be personalized.  The craft store will also have almost anything you can imagine on hand to use to personalize your gifts.  You can use things like iron-on appliques for a quick and easy personalization or hand glue gems and other adornments on your gifts if you have more time.  Many craft stores also have someone on hand who teaches craft classes that may have some ideas for you.  Check “do it yourself” websites and project books and cards at your local craft store for even more inspiration.  Ask on bridal boards if there is something you want to do. Others may have done it and have some great tips for you to help you personalize everything from wedding invitations to the t-shirts for your bachelorette party.

2. Pick a Theme - Choose a theme for your bachelorette gifts and then pick gifts you can find on clearance that fit that theme.  A spa day gift bag can include loofahs you get two for $1.00, a pedicure kit you find on clearance and face mask sample sizes you find for under $2.00.  A kitchen theme can include personalized aprons (that you make yourself!), a kitchen gadget or two and some recipe cards for your favorite recipe as well as a recipe for friendship (you can make these yourself as well!) You can choose from so many different themes and it makes for a clever gift that your bridesmaids will love. Try a coffee house theme, a nail care theme, a floral theme or a travel theme.  Perhaps you all share a favorite sports team or hobby you can use as a theme. The possibilities are truly endless and only limited by your imagination.  No one will know you found things on clearance unless you tell them!

3. Take Advantage of Special Offers - Many websites and stores have email and coupon clubs.  It may seem like spam and junk mail but these clubs can save you quite a bit of money when making large or frequent purchases.  Make an email account for your wedding and maybe even a second for signing up to get the email deals.  Don’t use deals for things just because it is a good price, however.  Choose the items you want first and wait for a deal that you can apply to them.

4. Make a Budget and Stick to It - Don’t fall into the trap of grabbing new things for your bridesmaids every single time you see something you love. Set a spending limit and shop around before you choose.  Count every little purchase into the total spent for each bridesmaid as small additions and clearance purchases can quickly have you going over your budget.  Make sure any items you use to personalize your gifts come out of your budget as well.

5. Decide Between One Large Gift or a Gift Bag - If you are purchasing a jewelry item, a gift certificate or any other big item there is no need to add a gift bag unless it is in your budget.

6. Glam Without the Price Tag - Jewelry is a popular choice for bridesmaids’ gifts but can be quite expensive.  This is something else you can make yourself.  If you aren’t the crafty type find a friend or neighbor who is to help with ideas or even ask them to make the jewelry for you. Someone who does jewelry making as a hobby will already have many of the materials which means you don’t need to spend money on supplies you will never use again.  This way you can buy your crafty friend the materials needed to make your jewelry and tip them and still save money because you didn’t need to buy the tools of the trade.  Plus because they are more experienced you will have a better looking finished product. With that in mind…

7. Use All of Your Resources - Your friends may not be jewelry makers but everyone has a profession or a talent.  If you had a florist in the family you would probably try for a discount with their family right?  Well apply the same concept to discounts on your gifts for your bridesmaids and help with homemade gifts.  Homemade and personalized doesn’t have to mean you made it personally.

Gifts for your bridal party don’t have to be a huge expense.  You can give awesome gifts your girls will talk about and love without spending a fortune.

Welcome to Town Get Together

People don’t always stay in their hometown.  Even if the couple getting married is getting married in their hometown, inevitably some guests will probably have to travel to the wedding.  Some couples also have destination weddings.  A scheduled meal with these family members and friends is a good place to give out welcome kits and exchange news.  It is a great opportunity for the bride and groom to mingle a little extra with those guests that they don’t often see.

Rehearsal Dinner

It may be tempting to skip the rehearsal dinner and go straight to bed or get back to planning the last minute details.  The rehearsal dinner can be a great chance to relax and forget the stress of those details for a little while with the people who have helped the bride and groom the most.

Parties for the Guys and Parties for the Girls

Try to hold all parties like this a few days before the wedding especially if alcohol will be involved. Stag and Doe, bachelor and bachelorette or just a jack and jill shower are great ways for the guys, girls or both to relax and have fun.

Bridesmaids’ Luncheon

The bride can host a bridesmaids’ luncheon, a spa day, a breakfast or anything else a day or two before the wedding.  This allows the bride to thank her bridesmaids for all they have done and is another great opportunity for relaxation.

The Wedding

The wedding will be hectic and is obviously the highlight of the wedding festivities.  The bride and groom should enjoy the ceremony and find a few moments of peace after the ceremony to enjoy their new husband or wife’s company.

Wedding Dinner

The bride and groom should be sure to eat, drink, dance and have fun!  A lot of time, money and planning go into a wedding so the people who did all the work should enjoy themselves.

Cake, Punch and Dancing

Sometimes the venue and finances don’t allow room to invite everyone you would like to invite. A solution to this can be to invite some extra friends for cake, punch and dancing.  Serve desserts and have a blast!  When the tables are cleared away, the extra room should add to the venues maximum capacity.

After Party

Many brides and grooms don’t get a lot of time to enjoy their wedding reception.  If the couple isn’t leaving right away for their honeymoon they can have an after party.  Everyone can change into something more comfortable and meet for drinks, dancing or an activity like bowling. This is also great if the reception is really going well but the venue was only rented for a few hours.

Wedding Brunch

Wedding brunches are pretty common when there are out of town guests.  It is a way for the bride and groom to see their guests one last time before everyone goes home.

Wedding Games that Add Celebrations All Year Long

Musical chairs/Musical treasure hunt - In this game 13 people play (not the bride and groom!) and 12 chairs are laid out to start.  Slips of paper are drawn that say different items that can be found throughout the reception venue  They may list things like a strawberry from the dessert table, a personal item from an aunt of the bride or a centerpiece.  Each player has to go grab their item and get into a chair.  The last person doesn’t get a chair and has to choose a month on a pre-made calendar.  The bride and groom will have pre-written tasks and favors on the calendar.  To be fair no one who is playing should know what the tasks are or what month each is assigned.  Tasks can include washing the groom’s car in August, baking the couple a pie in November or other tasks specific to the couple.  The game ends when all the tasks are assigned.  The last person who doesn’t get a task, instead they get a small gift basket or other gift from the bride and groom.

You can also do who knows the bride/Who knows the groom trivia - As each player gets an answer wrong they get assigned a task in a calendar month in the same way as if you are playing musical chairs or musical treasure hunt.

The wedding and wedding reception are hectic and don’t need to be the only chance the happy couple have to celebrate with their friends and family.

Attendants of the Opposite Sex

It used to be that brides had their female friends on their side of the aisle and grooms had their male friends on their side of the aisle.  This is no longer always the case.  More and more couples are opting to give attendant spots to the people they feel most deserve them regardless of the sex of the person.  This is perfectly acceptable.  If your best friend is a man and you could not imagine anyone else standing by your side as you say your wedding vows, then by all means ask him to be your man of honor.  A male on the bride’s side of the aisle should wear what the groomsmen are wearing.  The same idea goes for a woman on the groom’s side of the aisle.  She should wear whatever the bridesmaids are wearing.  It is not necessary for a woman on the groom’s side of the aisle to be holding a bridesmaids bouquet.  In these cases have attendants walk up the aisle solo for their entrance, or let them approach the altar in groups of three.

Paying Old “Debts”

Many women feel that if they were in a friend’s wedding party that they are obligated to ask that friend to be in their own wedding party.  This is not always the case.  Ask yourself a few questions.  Are the two of you still close friends?  How long ago was your friend’s wedding?  Is your friend the best choice?  You should choose your bridal attendant based on which friends and family members best suit the roles.  If you and your intended spouse have decided on a set number of attendants you may not be able to include everyone you would like to include.  Choose your maid of honor first and then choose people you think can manage the duties that come with being a bridesmaid.  If you are still close to your friend chances are she will make the cut anyway.  If she doesn’t because of family she will more than likely understand.

Children in the Party

It can be difficult to decide which niece should be your flower girl and how old is too old for a ring bearer.  Here are some general guidelines for including children in your wedding party.

• Flower girls and ring bearers should be between four an eight years old.  Some mature two and three year olds may be able to handle the roles but be sure to have special rehearsals with the child ahead of time.  Also, you should be prepared for a last minute hitch or tantrum.  Older children can be junior attendants, readers or candle lighters.  They can also be flower girls and ring bearers if they find the role acceptable.
• You can have multiple flower girls.  There is no rule that says you can have just one.  Are all three of your sisters bridesmaids with young daughters?  Consider having each one walk down the aisle holding their mother’s hand or tossing petals in front of their mother.
• Having multiple ring bearers is a little trickier than having multiple flower girls.  You can have the rings on separate pillows to accommodate two young men.  Three can be accommodated by having two carry the tapered candles from the unity set while one carries the ring pillow.  A fourth can carry the unity candle itself. Other young men can be dressed as pages to accompany the bride or carry the edges of her train or cape.

If your wedding ceremony venue will not allow flower petals to be tossed, you have plenty of options to accommodate the little girls in your wedding party.  Consider giving them small bouquets, baskets of flowers to carry or even cute teddy bears to hold.  They can also carry a basket of flowers and hand them to the guests at the end of the pews ending with handing one to the mother of the bride and mother of the groom.  You can also have your “flower girl” carry your unity candle, the glass for a Jewish ceremony or a pomander ball.

Out of Town Attendants

Sometimes adult life takes us far away from the best of friends.  So what happen when you want your best friend from across the country to be a bridesmaid?  Bridesmaids traditionally help the bride with many aspects of the wedding.  They go dress shopping and help address invites and plan the bridal shower.  Your choice of bridesmaids should not be dependent on these duties.  You should ask the people you want by your side on your wedding day.  You can always get other friends and family to help with the details of your shower and other such jobs.  Be sure to ask out of town friends well in advance if they would like to be in your wedding party.  If they are unable to do so due to timing or cost be understanding.

Adjusting the Bridal Party for the Sake of Symmetry

There is no reason the bride and groom must have an equal number of attendants.  The procession can be adjusted by having two bridesmaids walk down the aisle with each groomsmen.  The reverse is also true.  The bride and groom alike should choose the people they want to be attendants and not be forced to choose people just to fill a spot or match the number of attendants their future spouse has chosen.

Who Pays for What?

Normally the wedding party is expected to pay their own way.  This includes attire and any hotel accommodations.  It is a nice gesture to provide your bridesmaids jewelry as a gift.  If you can afford contributing more your attendants probably won’t object.  Keep the budgets of your attendants in mind when choosing their attire.  Encourage your groomsmen to rent their tuxes from the same store as the groom.  Many stores will offer a discount on a tux to the groom this way with some stores even offering the grooms tux for free.  Then you can pass some of the savings on to your attendants.

How Many is too Many?

Tradition says that the size of your wedding dictates the number of attendants.  The most important thing; however, is to have the people closest to you in your wedding party even if that means only three attendants for a wedding of 250 plus or ten attendants for a wedding with a guest list of only sixty people.

How Do you Inform People of Their Wedding Duties?

You want to make sure that people have a general understanding of their duties in their role as your attendant before they accept the role.  They should know what costs they will be expected to shoulder and what events they will need to attend.  Other roles aren’t so easy to impose on people.  Consider sending an email, newsletter or card to all of your bridesmaids detailing what you expect on your journey together.  Make it fun and laid back so no one feels that it is targeted at them.  Or try having a bridesmaids’ lunch early in the planning stage to open a dialogue about who will be doing what and when they will be doing it.  If someone is shirking their responsibilities approach it delicately and try asking them when they think they will get around to fulfilling it.  Always say thank you often and show your gratitude for the honor your friends are granting you standing by your side and for their help in the planning.

Your attendants do you a great honor in standing at your side for your wedding day.  Be sure to choose people who are close to you and who can fulfill the roles.  Be understanding should any if their situations change.  When you look back at your wedding you will be glad you did.

An itinerary - Even if the only events the guests are invited to attend are the wedding and the reception they should be provided with an itinerary of the day or weekend’s events.

Directions - Directions to the venues and any local points of interest will be very helpful to guests who don’t know the area. A map showing where the venues are in relation to each other may also be useful.

Information on attractions - The local visitors’ center will have pamphlets and even coupons that can be included in the welcome bags.  Information on eateries, movie theaters and other local venues would probably be appreciated as well.

Toiletries and medicine - Medicine cabinet items like trial size deodorants, band aids, a sewing kit, aspirin and antacids may come in handy for some of your guests. A few suggestions:

• headache medicines – things like Tylenol and aspirin
• tummy trouble medicines – antacids and single servings of things for upset stomach
• hand sanitizer
• hand towelettes
• cotton swabs and cotton balls
• trial size toiletries – deodorant, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash and toothpaste to name a few
• small basic sewing kit
• flip flops for the shower, pool or just to dance in when dress shoes get uncomfortable
• a handkerchief
• band aids
• a few alcohol prep pads
• a small manicure kit – clippers and a nail file will do
• makeup remover wipes

A personalized do not disturb sign

A t-shirt – Saying “I am with the Bride” or “I am with the Groom” or just “I am with the (bride and groom’s last name) wedding”

Some candies or snacks.

A few packets of flavoring to flavor bottled water - Including a bottle of water is also a nice touch and the labels can even be personalized.

Mints

Coupons - Or small five dollar gift cards for a local eatery or a food place that delivers.

These bags can be highly personalized to the guests and the couple.  Guests from out of town will appreciate the extra effort, especially if they wind up needing some of the items included.

Of course you have the usual sash, piping, vest and pocket square options for interjecting yellow into the bride or groom’s attire.  If you are using the piping, be sure to use a bright yellow, or thick piping on your veil to showcase the yellow.  Too small of a touch of yellow, especially when pale, could easily blend into the white of your dress. For a summer wedding consider foregoing a tiara for a few yellow flowers in your hair.  It will save you money and complete a dreamlike look for your casual wedding.  Pale yellow bridesmaid dresses with bouquets that include lush greens will create wonderful memories in your photo albums.

Wedding Invitations and Paper with Yellow Inspiration

Custom design your invitation in banana split or sunshine yellow or any of MyGatsby’s 90 plus color choices. The Serena Wedding Invitation is a classy and elegant way to work yellow into your wedding stationery. Try designing your RSVP cards and enclosures in the complimenting color that you have chosen for your wedding color palette.

Flowers to Consider for Your Yellow Wedding

So many basic wedding flowers come in yellow.  Roses, orchids, calla lilies, acacia lilies, gerbera daisies, tulips and carnations are just the start.  Marigolds, Daffodils and daisies are also a great way to add yellow to your bouquets and centerpieces. Yellow cabbage roses will provide a full look and paired with whites and greens make a classic bridal bouquet.  A few tulips that are hand tied make for a simple yellow bouquet that won’t take away from your dress and accessories.

A burst of yellow is sure to brighten any wedding color scheme. Add a splash of sunshine to your wedding no matter what weather you are given on your special day.

Yellow is a versatile color and can be paired using any of its shades with most colors.  Here are some ideas for using yellow with the color of your choice.

• Yellow and green – You would be hard pressed to find shades of yellow and green that won’t work well together.  The beauty of this color combination is that you can mix pale shades with bright shades or with other pale shades to create totally different looks.  Bright shades will also pair well and create a beautiful wedding color scheme.  Try using tall glass vases filled with lemons and limes and topping it off with flower petals in similar shades or white for a gorgeous and unique wedding reception centerpiece. Print your menus or table numbers in a pale yellow and place them in dark but bright green frames for a pop of elegant color. A simple bouquet of yellow pops in a green frosted vase also makes for a great centerpiece when using this color combination.

• Yellow and orange – This color scheme can stand on its own or be accented by touches of a pale, almost peach pink.  White or black can also be used with this color combination if alone the colors are too bright for your tastes.  Both yellow and orange are bright, fun colors. Try placing peach and orange flowers in a short vase over pale yellow tablecloths for your wedding reception centerpieces.  Use tall vases for elegance or short ones to encourage conversations between your guests.

• Yellow and pink – Envision a pale pink butterfly resting on the yellow flowers of your wedding reception centerpieces.  How about bright yellow flowers being carried by your bridesmaids in sassy hot pink bridal gowns? Can you picture it? This color scheme can be tweaked to fit nearly any style of bride.  From pale and elegant to bright and exciting, this color scheme is sure to help you create a wedding reception theme that you are sure to remember.

• Yellow and blue – Most wedding color combinations that include yellow are workable with almost any shades of either color and this one is no exception.  Think outside the box and consider a pale turquoise with any shade of yellow.  Any shade of blue, from a light ice blue to a deep royal blue, will make a great pairing with yellow for your wedding ceremony and reception.  Blue is easy to incorporate into your wedding. So many companies create almost anything in blue to fit with the something borrowed something blue rhyme. Chunky turquoise jewelry to go with the pale yellow dresses that your bridesmaids are wearing creates a fun and finished look.  Pale blue pedestals holding yellow cookies, candies and cakes make for an eye catching addition to your cake table.

• Yellow and brown – Bright canary yellow and chocolate brown will compliment the sassy bride well. Pale yellow and khaki makes for a muted and classy color scheme that goes well with Eco Chic weddings. Mocha colored pillar candles with sunshine yellow rose petals scattered in a ring around the base make for classy and simple centerpieces utilizing this wedding color scheme.

• Yellow and red – Lush, bright red roses with yellow mums or poms make beautiful eye catching bouquets.  This color combination will work in various shades but nothing can match the appeal of bright true reds and yellows paired together. Be daring and have your wedding cake iced in red and decorated with plenty of yellow flowers and surround its base in tons of yellow flower petals.

• Yellow and white – Pale yellow with white is a classy and elegant pairing.  Use a bright yellow for a summer or morning wedding.  White tablecloths, gold rimmed china and bright yellow centerpieces make for a wonderful wedding brunch setting and décor.

• Yellow and purple – Yellow and purple is yet another really versatile yellow color combination. Try an eggplant with a pale yellow wash or bright purple with a sassy canary yellow.  Lavender votive candles look soft and romantic against yellow table clothes.

• Yellow and black – In most circumstances, you want to keep the black to damask and floral patterns.  If you would like to use clean lines and large amounts of black, try to mix the shades of yellow you use or choose a pale yellow.  Bright yellow and lots of black can give you a bumble bee look so be careful unless that fits your vision.

Themes that Pair Well with Yellow Color Palettes

What theme wouldn’t benefit from a burst of yellow? Put some yellow into your beach wedding to add a pop of color to your blues and whites.  Mix pale yellows and greens for a wedding color palette reminiscent of a field of daffodils or yellow tulips in spring. Nature themes really let yellow shine in wedding color palette.  Consider a sunflower theme, a bumblebee theme or a theme modeled after any yellow flower.  Yellow butterflies can also help create a beautiful atmosphere for your wedding reception.

Outer envelope: This contains all the ingredients within your wedding invitations, often referred to as enclosures. Each envelope is formally addressed to each guest, so don’t forget to address by title and full name, including the Mr. and Mrs. And keep that penmanship neat!
Inner envelope: This is the envelope that actually contains the invitation. The tradition of inner and outer envelopes dates back to Victorian times, when mail was delivered by hand – having two envelopes meant the wedding invitations inside could remain pristine for unsullied presentation.
Wedding invitation: In all the fuss, let’s not forget the wedding invitations themselves! From single panel to gate folio pocket fold, your options are many and varied.
Response card: Make it as easy as possible for your guests to get back to you with a response card. Also known as an RSVP card, these are included with wedding invitations to ensure that your guests are able to indicate their acceptance or regrets. Don’t forget to include a date by which you’d like to receive the response.

Optional ingredients:
Reception card: Is your reception taking place in a different place than the ceremony? Include a reception card with your wedding invitations that lets them know when and where the reception will be held.
Map/Directions: If your wedding is taking place somewhere a bit out of the way, include a map and directions to make it as easy as possible for them to get there. If you’re having a destination wedding, or just several guests from out of town, it helps to locate the hotel of choice on the map as well.

Combine all ingredients together for perfect wedding invitations. Serving (and wedding party) sizes may vary. Be sure to spice your invitations up according to your own tastes!

All dressed in white. Any bride can wear white.  If white looks good on you and you want a white dress go ahead and wear it.  Be it your first wedding or second, whether you are marrying your high school sweetheart or blending two complete families, go ahead and wear the white dress you have always dreamed of wearing.  Another taboo is for anyone but the bride to wear a white dress.  This is commonly accepted as being the wrong thing to do. With more and more brides wearing color, this rule is harder to enforce.  If a bride wears a blue dress should you still not wear white?  Is everyone then prohibited from wearing blue?  The best rule is to be reasonable.  Refrain from wearing white regardless of the color gown the bride will be wearing.  Keep in mind everyone attending the wedding will know who the bride is.  All eyes will be on her no matter what other guests may wear.  If you are a guest try not to wear white or the color the bride will be wearing.  If you are the bride try not to get stressed over what each of your guests wears.  It is your day and much more important than the attire of one third cousin.

Face the music. Since the bride and groom are more likely than not hiring the DJ, it is tempting to tell him or her that “we only like country music” or “we only like soft rock”.  Avoid only playing the music you want to hear.  Your guests are coming from far and wide to celebrate your special day.  Give your DJ a list of must play songs and songs to avoid but keep it brief.  Remember you hired your DJ to entertain your guests and they can only do that if you give them room to do their job.  Avoid sitting older guests too close to the music.  Make sure you have an area where the music isn’t as loud for people to sit and talk.

Time is of the essence. It may feel like all you have done recently is hurry to meet schedules and handle last minute details so the last thing you want to do is rush around on your wedding day.  You will want to make sure you are on time to the reception, however.  Also make sure some sort of food is being served at the start of your reception.  Even if you are just serving appetizers during the cocktail hour, your guests will appreciate it.  Many of your guests will have planned their mealtimes on the day of your wedding around the schedule you have laid out and some may not have had time to eat at all earlier in the day.  They are your guests and it is rude to keep them waiting. Your wedding day may feel like a long day and will probably leave you pretty tired.  You do not want to leave your reception early no matter how tired you are.  Your guests are there to celebrate with you.  On the same token you want to know in advance what the charges are if you stay at the venue longer than planned.  You will also want to know what your entertainment and photographer will charge for any extra time spent at your reception.

Smell the roses. Years ago having silk flowers in your wedding bouquets or as centerpieces was a major faux pas, but no longer.  Thankfully silk flowers are a less expensive and now widely used and accepted alternative to fresh flowers in many aspects of weddings.  So go ahead and make your own centerpieces in advance or design your own bridal bouquet that you can cherish forever.

Black is back. It was once considered wrong to wear a black dress to a wedding as black was said to be reserved for funerals.  Just as more colored clothing is being seen at funerals as they become more of a celebration of life, so is more black being seen at weddings.  Try some bright accessories or a dress that has other colors besides black in it if you are still uncomfortable wearing all black to a wedding.

Rice is not nice. The tradition of throwing rice at a wedding is deeply rooted in several cultures. In reality; however, many venues don’t want rice thrown on their property.  In addition to being messy to clean, rice can be a slipping hazard and a choking and dietary hazard to some wildlife in the area.  Try having guests blow bubbles instead.  Bubbles are a fun alternative and they set the mood for some great pictures.  Some couples now throw birdseed.  This ensures that the local birds can safely handle the cleanup.

Your wedding can be anything you want it to be. There is no need to conform to what is popular or faux pas.  As long as you are considerate to your guests and are careful not to insult anyone, go ahead and do what makes you happy.

Have a children’s menu. Most catering companies will offer plates for children at a much reduced cost.  The child sized meals consist of smaller portions. Some caterers offer a separate menu with traditional finger foods like chicken fingers and french fries for your younger guests.  These children’s meals also come with a much smaller price tag than what you are paying for your adult guests.  Most caterers will not offer this option unless you ask about it, so if you are having more than a handful of children as guests, it is definitely something you want to consider.  Of course, a buffet style meal would eliminate the need for a separate menu but some caterers will still offer a lower rate for children.  If a considerable number of your guests will be under the legal drinking age you may even be able to negotiate a lower price on your open bar.

Avoid the word “wedding”. During the holidays most department stores will have plenty of dresses that could be used as bridesmaid dresses in a fall or winter wedding.  The same goes for spring and summer dresses during prom season. For even more savings on wedding attire, shop at the end of the season when stores have these items priced even lower. Small bottles of bubbles, chic candle holders and rolls of fabrics and ribbons can be found on clearance racks and in closeout bins.  When shopping for prices, avoid the word wedding.  Adding the word wedding to anything you are shopping for will also add steeply to the price.  This even applies to your reception venue and caterer.  Tell the people that you are asking for price quotes, you are planning a family event and avoid specifying it is a wedding. Hold them to their price quotes unless they can justify the extra cost.  Many sites and caterers will charge an extra premium just because the event is a wedding.  This is especially useful if you will be getting your cake and such from an off-site bakery and won’t need anything particularly wedding related from these vendors.  Wedding linens shouldn’t cost any extra because they will have to use linens on the tables anyway.  Shoes are another great example of prices going sky high when you add the word wedding.  Many discount shoe stores have dyeable shoes at reasonable prices for your wedding party.  You can even get your wedding shoes there in spring. Accessories quickly raise the price of your wedding attire.  Try to look outside the bridal boutique for as many of them as you can.

Save on postage. You found the perfect wedding invitations and the perfect ribbons to adorn them; chances are you don’t care as much about the enclosures such as reply cards.  Sine you have to stamp all the reply cards for your guests why not use postcards instead?  It usually costs less postage to send a postcard than an enveloped reply card.  Also you can save on envelopes.  There are many great invitations that allow for customized inserts and have matching reply cards in postcard form.

Ask for a discount. If you are making your own favors or buying silk flowers or large quantities of almost anything, ask for a discount.  Many craft and even discount stores would be happy to order a quantity of what you are looking for and give you a discount on the bulk. If all your attendants on either side of the aisle are shopping for attire in one place there may be a discount available possibly even for the bride or groom.  Some stores even partner with others for discounts.  Many stores allow associates or managers some wiggle room with prices to make a sale.  None of these people will offer these discounts unless you ask for them and make it clear you need to save money if you want to go with the options they are suggesting.  Never just accept the price without at least trying for a better one.

Think big. Try using larger tables at your reception.  Fewer tables mean fewer centerpieces and tablecloths.  If you are making these or paying per piece, 5 or 6 less tables can make a difference in budget.  Try sitting ten people per table instead of 6 or 8.  If the tables are setup correctly it also gives your guests more flexibility in conversation.

Shop off the rack, just not the bridal rack. If you aren’t looking for a big train for your wedding dress, consider a bridesmaids dress in white.  Also consider buying a plain white, no frills bridal gown and adding your own embellishments for a custom dress.  If you have someone talented in dressmaking in your circle of family and friends, consider buying the material and asking them to make you a custom dress.

Forget the classic reception.  Have dinner at your favorite restaurant. Many restaurants have private rooms or areas they can close for your special day.  Family style meals or a limited menu can keep your costs low.  An added benefit to using a restaurant for your wedding reception is no fees for linens, tables or centerpieces.  Many restaurants will also plate your wedding cake as dessert for a small plating fee.  A restaurant with a little bit of open floor area can even allow for a first dance.  Since you are paying for the guests who order and are served, there is no need to worry about unexpected guests as long as you do not go over the maximum capacity for the area of the restaurant that you are using.

There are plenty of ways to save money on traditional wedding elements.  You don’t want to be afraid to throw tradition to the wind altogether to give yourself a wonderful day at a considerable savings.

Rain and Other Watery Superstitions

Culturally rain tends to be a good thing on your wedding day.  Some say you are getting the bad weather out of the way so the rest of your marriage can be bright and sunny.  Others say the rain is cleansing and leads to a more solid union from the start.  The superstition is probably based mostly on the Hindu tradition that a wet knot is harder to untie.  Also rain is good for crops and many cultures depended on it for their well being.  So rain on a wedding day symbolized the future financial well being of the happy couple.  With the same token, rain was the cause of the fertility of those crops so could also have meant the couple would be blessed with children.

Tears were also said to be cleansing for the marriage and it was thought good luck if the bride or a child cried at the wedding.

If you really don’t want rain on your wedding day it is said that hanging rosary beads in your window the night before will keep the rain away.

A Black Cat in the Bride’s Path

Black cats are generally thought to be bad luck right?  Well yes except on your wedding day it is considered good luck for the bride to encounter one on the way to her wedding.  Of course the same is also said about the bride encountering a clergyman, lamb, spider, dove, doctor, policeman and even a blind man.  Brides no longer walk to the church generally so they tend not to randomly encounter any of these things on the way.  But think twice about swatting that spider on the windowsill on the morning of your wedding!

Coins, Coins, Coins

Coins have been associated with good luck on your wedding day for ages.  Wearing them in your shoes tend to be a popular superstition said to guarantee the couple will always have some money in their future together.  Another common superstition is the groom should give a coin to the first person he sees on his way to the ceremony.

Marriage is a Powerful Thing

Some Jewish weddings were held in cemeteries during the middle ages.  These times were riddled with plagues and it was said that the life affirming act of marriage had the power to stop them.  Also the tradition of throwing rice was said to mean plentiful crops for the people tossing the rice and the happy couple. Some believe throwing the rice was meant to feed evil spirits and keep them distracted from the happy couple. Just touching the hem of the bridal gown was considered good luck in some cultures.

No Peeking

It is very commonly considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding attire before the actual ceremony.  Also it is said the groom should not see the bride at all on the day of the wedding before the actual ceremony.

Color Me Happy

There are sayings about the color of the dress you choose to wear on your wedding day.  White generally is a good thing as is blue.  Yellow and green generally are said to mean not such favorable things.  The exact meanings of each color vary by superstition.

Chivalry or Prevention

It is considered a bad omen for the bride to trip on the threshold entering the marriage home.  So the tradition of having the groom carry her over the threshold was started.

Timing is Everything

There are several poems and verses saying what type of bride you will be depending on the time of year, week and even day. Most look favorably on January, February and September brides while giving mixed reviews of other months. They tend to give favor to Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and warn against weddings that are later in the week.  It is said to be good luck to be married when the minute hand on the clock is upward moving and bad luck when downward moving.

Diamonds, Not Pearls

Pearls as pretty as they are, are also said to bring bad luck to a marriage.  They are formed by harsh conditions and agitation and are said to bring the same to a marriage.  They also are said to bring many tears to the bride.

A Stitch in Time and Good Timing

It is said if a bride makes her own wedding dress she will cry a tear for every stitch she sews.  It is said to be good luck to be married when the minute hand on the clock is upward moving and bad luck when downward moving.

These superstitions and all others can be fun.  Just don’t get worried if a “bad luck omen” comes your way.  After all there is probably someone, somewhere who sees it as good luck and your marriage will be what you make it.

There are countless rules on when and how to send out wedding invitations.  Once you have decided what is right for you, you want to have them sent out about 2 months before the wedding if possible.  You want to take into account when your vendors need information about how many guests you will have.  Be sure to find out the absolute last day you can give your caterer a final count and set your R.S.V.P. date at least a week or two before that.  Regardless of how clear you are and whether or not you include super easy postage paid reply cards, some people will simply forget or just assume you know they are coming.  Make sure to contact these people.  You want to add a handful to your final number for the caterer and other vendors then just don’t worry about it.  Most caterers will be ready to handle a few extra people.

If your wedding and reception will be held on the same day try not to have to large of a time space between them.  Schedule most of your formal photographs before the ceremony.  Consider having the caterer hold a cocktail hour so guests aren’t sitting at the hall waiting for you to finish pictures so they can eat.  Make sure your DJ or other entertainment is also present for the cocktail hour and there is someone ready to inform them that you have arrived.  Usually an employee of the reception site will be happy to do this.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Announcements and Thank You Notes

If you had a destination wedding and are having a reception for those who couldn’t make it you want to have it within a couple weeks of returning. If you are sending wedding announcements you want to send them no sooner than the night before the wedding.  It was for a time customary for the couple to stop at the post office on their way from the wedding ceremony to their reception.  The next day is also acceptable.  You do not have to send wedding announcements but if you had a small wedding and want to announce it to your extended family and colleagues that didn’t make the guest list they are a great idea.  You should not expect gifts from these people but if you do receive any you should send out a thank you note right away.  Thank you notes should be sent to all guests as soon as you return from your honeymoon or no more than a couple weeks after the wedding.  If you received a gift you should specifically mention it.  Cash can be mentioned by thanking the guest for their contribution to your new furniture or honeymoon fund.  If no gift is received you must still send a thank you note and just as promptly.  You want all of your guests to know you appreciated them sharing in your special day.

There are many events and stages in planning a wedding and getting married.  Stay relaxed about all of them and they can all be lots of fun!

Chances are the couple may not be organizing this event.  Usually held a month or two before the wedding the traditional shower was only for the bride and gifts were brought only for her.  Gifts included things to decorate the bride’s house or lingerie and the like.  Today, wedding showers and couple showers are becoming more and more common.  If you are planning the shower yourself be sure to be clear about what type of party it will be.  Let your guests know if it is a bridal shower or a couple’s shower and about any themes you are having.

Everyone invited to the bridal or couple shower should also be a guest at the wedding.  If the event is hosted by someone else and you know who it will be in advance, make sure they have a copy of your guest list.  If one or two people are invited that didn’t get an invitation try to fit them in and make sure they get an invitation right away.  If inviting those people would mean you have to invite ten others or quite a few extras are invited to the shower there is no need for you to extend wedding invites to them.  Be sure to express how sorry you are and how small the wedding will be.  Make sure to send thank you notes for any gifts with the sincere wish that you could have a bigger wedding and saying how grateful you are to have so many special people who care about you and wish you well.

Girls and Guys Nights Out.  The Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

The best thing to keep in mind with these is that if late nights or alcohol will be involved you do not want to have them the night before the wedding.  On the night before your big day you want to be well rested.  You may be too nervous to sleep anyway, but a bit tired is better than being hungover and completely exhausted.  Try to plan these events at least a week before the wedding.  Make sure your maid of honor, best man or whoever is likely to be planning the events are aware of your wishes.  If you would really prefer a spa day with a few girlfriends to a night of bar hopping make it known.  If all else fails make it known you would like to plan the event yourself and get your friends involved.

The traditional late night parties are now often replaced with spa days, sports outings and other rare pleasures in which the bride and groom don’t usually have the time or money to indulge.  It is still an event that is all about being close to your friends and letting them know that your relationship is still as strong as ever even though you have been preoccupied with wedding plans.

It is best to outlaw any talk about wedding planning during these events. Don’t talk about color swatches or rehearsal scheduling.  Just relax and have fun!

Take Two! Or Three or Four… The Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

The wedding rehearsal is usually only held a night or two before the wedding.  This helps keep everything fresh in everyone’s minds and ensures that out of town members of your wedding party will not need to schedule two trips.  The rehearsal will usually be held at the same venue as the wedding.  This way everyone is familiar with the actual locations they will be standing and playing their roles.  Try to give any children involved a dry run a week or so before the formal rehearsal.

After the rehearsal the couple traditionally holds a rehearsal dinner.  If the parents are hosting the wedding they may also host the dinner.  The rehearsal dinner is a thank you from the couple to the wedding party.  It shows their appreciation for all that their friends and family have done so far.  It also shows how grateful and honored they feel that their party will be at their sides on this special day.

The rehearsal dinner can be formal if the reception will also be formal.  You can also just make reservations at a nice restaurant or have a pizza night with lots of toppings.  It is not appropriate to ask guests at your rehearsal dinner to help with any last minute tasks like hall decorating or centerpiece making.  If you have tasks like these set a time with some friends earlier in the day to get it done before the rehearsal.

She Said Yes! Announcing your Engagement

There is a pecking order on who gets the big news first!  Some people may actually be upset if you don’t take the time to tell them before you tell the world.  Sit down with any children the two of you have first and tell them the happy news.  Next you probably want to tell your parents and future in laws.  It is considered proper etiquette to inform the bride’s parents first followed closely after by the groom’s parents.  Next you will want to tell any close family members such as siblings and grandparents.  Tell anyone who may get hurt feelings not hearing the news directly from you.  It may be best for you to be direct with your parent’s and ask that they keep the news to themselves until you have time to tell certain people.  Consider that the news will probably spread like wildfire anyway so once you start announcing keep with it until you have told everyone on the above list.  You can of course tell everyone at once during a family dinner.

Next you want to call close friends and consider whether you want to send engagement announcements or have an engagement party.  You may also decide to print an engagement announcement in your local paper.  If you decide to have an engagement party you want to have it a few weeks after you announce your engagement.  No need to wait too long.  Make sure the event is only for announcing and celebrating your engagement and be sure not to try to squeeze it into another event such as a birthday party.  You don’t want anyone feeling upstaged at their party.

Sending official engagement announcements is also acceptable as long as you plan on inviting everyone that is sent one.  If you have chosen your wedding date you can include it in the announcement, but be sure that your venue and reception hall of choice can accommodate that date.  If you aren’t sure of the details it is best to just mention the season and year.  Something along the lines of “we are planning a fall wedding for next year” will do just fine.

This is Really Happening! Setting and Announcing your Wedding Date

You want to do this as soon as possible as well.  All of your vendors and bridal party will need this information to be able to commit time in their schedules for your special day. If you are set on a particular venue for the wedding, reception or both, you will want to make sure they have the date you have in mind available.  If you are getting married in a church, they may have things you need to accomplish before they allow the wedding and you want to make sure you know what they are in advance.

If you and your intended have a special date in mind that happens to conflict with a special day for someone else, things can get tricky.  Say your wedding is your sister’s birthday or the anniversary of someone very close to you.  You will want to privately discuss your intentions with them before making a general announcement.  Explain your reasoning and listen to their concerns.  As long as someone hasn’t already announced that date for a wedding or event that would conflict with yours there is no reason not to have your wedding on the day of your choosing.

Announcing your wedding date can be done in many ways.  You will want to tell all the key people as soon as possible and personally even if you are sending written announcements.  The key people include; the parents of the couple, the bridal party and anyone else you consider to be very close to you.  There are many free and low cost sites that allow you to create a wedding website for announcements and updates on your wedding planning, registry and other details.  Social networking sites and phone calls are also appropriate ways to spread the news.

If most of the people you know aren’t very tech savvy, save the date cards will be a must.  You may wish to send save the dates regardless so people have a written reminder to keep handy.  Save the dates may include the information for your wedding website, if you have one.  It is not on good form to include your wedding registry information.

Hire entertainment. A magician, a clown or even just a few babysitters can go a long way towards keeping the children occupied.  This way parents don’t have to follow their children around and the children feel more relaxed.  You can be a bit more relaxed with what you allow the children to play with when you know they are under constant supervision.  Sitters can play games, tell stories and do crafts with the children, as well as playing referee. Someone who can do some face painting would also be a welcome addition from the point of view of young children and sometimes even pre-teens and teenagers.

Give the adults on the dance floor a break and let the DJ play a game of limbo or musical chairs with the kids.  You can have the DJ award small toys, trophies, medals or blow up instruments as prizes. The hokey pokey and other organized dances can also be fun for kids as well as freeze dancing.  Who knows maybe a few adults will also join in the fun.

Stock the kids table with a variety of goodies.  Coloring books and crayons are a good start.  Glow sticks, puzzles, bubble wands and arts and crafts are also fun.  Some cheap hats, masks and other photo props can be paired with some disposable cameras allowing the older children to help the younger children create lots of fun memories and maybe even allowing you to make a special small wedding album of all the children, or set aside a few pages in your wedding album for these pictures.  Board games and hand held games can help keep children of all ages busy.  A deck of cards may be out to good use.   Try to avoid paints and clay that may cause damage to the bride’s dress, a rented tuxedo or the wedding facilities from an overzealous underage guest. Stickers can be lots of fun if the children are old enough to know where they shouldn’t stick them.

Use the great outdoors. If the reception hall has an outdoor area the children can use, some frisbees and jump ropes may do the trick.  Ask permission before allowing the children to use sidewalk chalk or any water. There are plenty of inexpensive outdoor toys available in the summer so stock up the summer before your wedding towards the middle or end of summer for some great deals.

Let them get comfy. Encourage your guests with children to bring a pair of sneakers or even a change of clothes for the children.  If the reception venue has a side room where you can set up their entertainment use it! Add some oversized pillows and bean bag chairs so they can relax.  You can even set up a television or game system if the venue will allow it.

Most of all realize that kids will be kids and they are often unpredictable.  They will get bored and hyper and will get into things.  When having children at a wedding, be prepared for them to get into something and if they don’t, you can be pleasantly surprised.

Brides can often get so wrapped in the details of planning their wedding day and the surrounding events that they forget about the bigger picture.  The people around them aren’t so consumed in those details so they just see the bride acting like a brat.  Sometimes fights occur that cause irreparable damage to friendships.  Usually when the moment to walk down the aisle arrives all feuds are forgotten and girlfriends band together once again but sometimes that isn’t the case.  Women agreeing to be bridesmaids should be prepared to see their friend act in ways she normally wouldn’t as a bride and be prepared to deal with the disagreements that can arise. Drama will occur on some scale no matter how small, handling it gracefully is the hard part.

Bridesmaids May be Tasked to Death

Many brides, especially in the United States rely on their bridesmaids for tons of help when planning the wedding.  Bridesmaids can and will be drug to countless fittings, sit addressing envelopes until their fingers ache and asked to tie countless tiny little ribbons exactly the same so they can be glued onto the invitations.  Bridesmaids to not have to help with every little task they are asked to do if they do not have the time or ability.  Brides should be conscious of the things they are asking of people and try to spread out the tasks some.  But not all of them are.  Some things bridesmaids may be asked to help the bride with include:

• Countless trips to try on and choose bridesmaids’ dresses can happen.  An agreement on bridesmaids’ dresses may not be reached at the first store the bridal party tries or on the first day they go shopping.
• Planning showers and bachelorette parties is a bridesmaid’s job many times.
• Addressing invitations can be an overwhelming task and the bride may ask for assistance from any bridesmaids with good penmanship.
• Making countless suggestions and helping with decisions will also be asked of the bridesmaids. Brides will be faced with countless choices for favors, decorations and everything you can imagine.  Bridesmaids will be texted constantly, emailed pictures and sent links. They should be prepared to be hit with these questions and many brides will expect a timely response at the worst possible times.  Bridesmaids should not be expected to drop everything to help the bride with these decisions but should try to be as timely as they can. Brides need to be understanding of their bridesmaids’ schedules and accept explanations as the bridesmaids give them.
• Helping to make favors, gift bags and centerpieces can be a huge help to the bride.  Many brides take on do it yourself projects and don’t realize how much work it will be.  Making a day out of these tasks and ordering lunch or having some wine can make them easier to bear.

Bridesmaids are All Day of Wedding Coordinators

The day of the wedding is very hectic for the bridesmaids.  They are expected to do everything they can to make the day easier for the bride.  Helping the bride get dressed, making sure she eats and drinks and making sure she doesn’t forget anything are just the start of the bridesmaids’ duties on the day of the wedding.  Handling any issues so the bride doesn’t have to worry is a big part of being a bridesmaid on the wedding day.  Be prepared to fix attire issues, deal with unruly guests and assist everyone with any information that they may need.  The wedding day can seem more like a job for the bridesmaids then a huge party.

Being a bridesmaid may seem like a lot of work and no fun.  Getting to choose things with the bride, spending lots of time with her and standing by her side on one of the biggest days of her life can be a lot of fun and a memorable experience. Being a good bridesmaid will be appreciated by the bride even if it isn’t immediately apparent or expressed.

Being a Bridesmaid Costs Money

Standing up for someone at their wedding is not a financial decision that should be taken lightly.  Bridesmaids may very well have to pay for a dress that they will never wear again, shoes that they probably think are hideous, tacky matching jewelry and beauty treatments that they think are ridiculous.  And that is just the start! Destination weddings may require travel and lodging as well. Some of the things bridesmaids will have to pay for may include:

• Their own dress, shoes and accessories (of the brides choosing)
• Their own hair, nails and makeup
• A portion of the bridal shower
• A portion of the bachelorette party
• Their own travel to and from the wedding (or meet up place if the bride is hiring a limo or other wedding day transportation.)
• Their own lodging (for a wedding or other bridal events far from their home)

Some brides may have other unusual requests but this is a general idea of expenses to expect when agreeing to be a bridesmaid.  The cost for each of these things will vary with the style of the wedding and the bride’s taste.  Some brides may opt to hire one makeup artist for the morning to do everyone’s makeup or one stylist for everyone’s hair.  Other brides may buy their attendants’ shoes or jewelry for the wedding day to help offset the cost.   Bridesmaids may very well be expected to purchase all of these things themselves however and it is something to be prepared for when agreeing to be a bridesmaid.  If a bridesmaid really can’t afford to contribute to showers and parties; however, she shouldn’t be expected to do so.  Standing up as a bridesmaid is about being there for the bride on her big day, not the parties before the event.

Bridesmaids Sometimes Have to Look Hideous

Many women have visions for their weddings that they cannot be persuaded to change.  The jokes about bridesmaid dresses have a source! Lucky bridesmaids have friends and relatives with excellent taste, or are standing by a bride that allows the bridesmaids some decision making power.  Many brides now choose a color and length and allow the bridesmaids to pick a style that looks best on them. Some brides go as far as to choose hairstyles and makeup colors for their bridesmaids.  The bride may have  a final say but no bride should want her bridesmaids to be totally uncomfortable.  Bridesmaids should feel free to address serious concerns with the bride like a flower allergy or worries about a wardrobe malfunction.  As for color and style, bridesmaids can make a passing comment and give an opinion, but in the end the bride will have the final say.

Not All Bridesmaids Contribute Equally

Many times the planning for the bridal shower or bachelorette party will fall on one or two bridesmaids even if there are six.  School and family issues, work and just pure laziness can be contributing factors. There isn’t really much that can be done if a bridesmaid or two aren’t stepping up to the plate.  Every attempt should be made to include all of the bride’s attendants regardless of their ability to donate financially or contribute time to the planning of these events.

Towers and castles rule this theme.  “A Renaissance Wedding” or “A Medieval Wedding” are the best themes to suit this style.  Braided hair styles, medieval dress and traditionally romantic details will make your wedding day shine.  Try having ushers hold prop swords in an arch when you walk down the aisle for a dramatic touch.  A red runner on the aisle will also add to the royal vibe.  Candle holders that look like torches make great decorations for your wedding ceremony or reception.

Detailed goblets and silver place settings make nice touches at the reception.  Talk to your caterer about giving the tables a medieval feel.  Plates of fruit and cheeses make great cocktail hour accompaniments.  Consider serving just one or two signature cocktails and having wine be the highlight of your beverage selections.

A gown with an empire waist is your best choice in attire.  A wide headband with your hair worn down will complete the look.  Choose to wear it anywhere from super straight and sleek to wild wavy ringlets.  Strappy sandals with straps that go up your calf are a great footwear choice.  Sandals with a modest heel will do as well. An updo with lots of separate elements is also appropriate.

Rich burgundy and emerald green is a great wedding invitation color scheme for your medieval wedding.  Try something with a wide border and have it custom designed to be written as a proclamation.

Hansel and Gretel

Cakes, candies and chocolates are the focal point of this wedding.  “A Sweet Beginning” is an appropriate theme.  Bright colors, highly contrasting patterns and of course candy themed details should rule your décor.  Try having a candy table for your guests with bowls and fancy containers filled with classic candies, plates of baked goods creatively arranged and maybe a gingerbread house decorated like a wedding chapel.  Personalized, edible items are a timeless choice for wedding favors that fit this theme perfectly.

This theme is admittedly more geared towards your reception.  Incorporate the fun, childlike spirit into your ceremony with bright colors and by utilizing a gayly dressed flower girl, ring bearer and junior attendants and pages. Give guests packets of birdseed to scatter as you leave your ceremony.  It is a great, eco- friendly alternative to breadcrumbs.