Wedding Tips

You will need to see if your reception facility has adequate electrical circuits to handle your Bands or DJ's equipment. Your Band or DJ can tell you what is needed.

Send a tape or CD copy of "your song" to the band at least 6 weeks before the wedding so they can learn it for your first dance together.

Make sure you understand the rate and time charge. Some have a packaged time with a per hour charge over that time and some have a fixed hourly charge.

Use a DJ that is experienced with Wedding Receptions. This person should have knowledge of reception activities. A good one can keep activities flowing and provide entertainment for all. You may discover your photographer and your DJ with their heads together early at the reception to make sure they each know what the activity sequence will be.

Check your DJ's dress code. After all you, your bridal party and your guests are going to be dressed well.

If you are using a band or musical group for your reception entertainment other than a DJ, ask if they can provide recorded music when they take a break.

You may want to consider the services of a bridal consultant. They can help with the planning of all or just a part of the wedding. Their knowledge of protocol, procedures, and local services can be very helpful. Especially when you reach the panic stage. It could actually save you money.

Register with at least two registries. More if you like. And in more than one price range. This allows more flexibility for guests to choose gifts. It is suggested that you register no later than 6 months before the wedding.

Check about their return policies.

Consider this....Register for fewer selections to increase the probability of receiving more complete sets.

Don't fall into the trap of falling in love with a particular outline without trying it on. You must approach each gown with an open mind.

Check on their alteration policies. Make sure you clearly understand them.

Many brides do not know about having her gown bustled for the reception. Check with the alterations person to have them show you how it is done.

Limit the number of people who will be accompanying you as you search for a gown. If the number is too large, you will be frustrated by too many opinions.

Allow up to 12 - 15 weeks when ordering a Bridal Gown and also another 2 - 3 weeks for your alterations and fittings.

Your dress price range is determined by it's priority within the wedding budget.

Work with a professional to discover the design elements that compliment your body's proportions, high lighting advantages and drawing attention away from flaws and camouflaging imperfections with a balanced design line from the shoulder to the hemline.

You will know when you have chosen the right headdress when it compliments your bone structure and facial features, pleasingly frames your face and works perfectly with your gowns neckline and shoulders. This is extremely important for portrait style photographs.

Who selects the bridesmaids dresses? THE BRIDE. Take only your maid of honor or your mother with you to select the dresses.

Coordinate the colors of the bridesmaid gown to the season and the background color of the ceremony site.

See if they can dye shoes to match your wedding colors. Not all can.

Most bridal shops will require 50% deposit before ordering their dresses. After you select the gown, get the advance money from the bridesmaid. Many brides advance money for the dresses, never to be reimbursed. This can cause hard feelings between the bride and her attendants.

The color - or hue of white - of your wedding dress should be calculated according to personal considerations, not what others dictate.

Order bridesmaid gowns at least 5 months in advance, especially if the gowns must be mailed to out-of-town bridesmaids.

Have your alterations person make a small Bridal purse or garter to keep from the fabric left over from your gown for that extra little something.

You may want to consider a groom's cake. Usually a flat sheet cake decorated to show the groom's hobby or sport. One was decorated with a trolley car depicting the first time the couple met. Ask your baker about this. The groom's cake may be served at the reception or given to the guests in small individual boxes to be taken home. This is an old tradition from a belief that single women could put the cake under their pillows and dream of the man they would marry.

Have someone experienced with cake cutting to serve your cake. Or ask your baker for a cutting guide.

Some caterers provide someone to serve your wedding cake.

Use care with white candles (tapers and unities). Too much exposure to sunlight will cause them to turn yellow.

Do not use brandy snifters or any other glass with a curved in top with floating candles. The candle will migrate to the side and be under the lip of the container. The heat from the flame will crack the glass.

Floaters make great centerpieces for reception tables accented with votives trailing down to each end of the tables.

Don't destroy that beautiful unity candle by burning it. Consider using a lamp oil insert in your candle. Only the oil in the insert will burn and leave the unity candle in new condition. You can also use it as a decoration on the bridal table, let it burn and never damage the candle.

When setting budget for catering, set the amount you want to allow for each person and work backwards with your caterer from there to arrive at your cost. Work with your caterer on quantity breakdowns. Don't order more food than you need.

Catering prices are usually not negotiable so expect the best price quoted first. Get a full understanding of the gratuity and taxes.

Your caterer can help you determine how much food it will take for your guests and also how much space it takes to set everything up to serve and seat them.

Some caterers offer wedding packages. These can include DJ's, floral arrangements, bartenders, and decorations.

This is where your budget comes and goes. Feeding everyone can cost anywhere from $10 to $250 per person. That's why, before you plan the catering you need to know how many people are coming (within 10%) and how much you can spend.

You should not wear makeup heavier than normal for photographs. The most important thing is to look like you. Beautiful makeup is essential for beautiful photography and will reduce the cost of retouching bridal portraits.

Junior bridesmaids and flower girls are young, make sure they look it. Don't style their hair in beehives and don't use heavy makeup. They should look sweet and innocent.

Hand and nail care---You will most likely have photographs taken showing your ring hands, Both you and the groom. Also your ring will be getting checked out by people in your audience.

One foolproof way to perfect makeup and to limit the pressure on you is to hire a beauty consultant to be on hand. Never hire a makeup artist without a practice session to find out if you will be satisfied with his or her work, and if they understand the look you want.

Plan ahead. Never make any hasty decorating decisions. Neutral colors are timeless.

You can help your florist plan your arrangements if you can bring along pictures of your gown and the attendants dresses. Also have a layout of the church and reception facility.

If your floral designer will not be present for the start of the ceremony, make sure you receive detailed instructions for handling the flowers.

Be careful when designing your bouquet, in that it is not too large as to obscure the details of your gown.

Flowers should compliment, never upstage your look. Keep in mind the proportion of your body when selecting the size of your bouquet.

When choosing the color of your flowers, pick something that offers a contrast to your gown. Flower arrangements that closely match the gown may get lost in the photographs.

Ask florist or whoever makes the flowers to keep separate the men's lapel buds and the flowers for mothers, grandparents, and helpers from the brides and her attendants. This keeps people from running in and out of the bride's dressing room to get flowers.

Did you know----The purpose of flowers at the ceremony is to focus your attention to the front of the church.

If you are on a tight budget, do not schedule your wedding on a busy flower giving day such as Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or any major holiday.

When working with your florist designing your bouquet don't hesitate to be specific about what you like and what you want. If you want something lush and lavish, DO IT. This is your day and you should expect a spectacular bridal bouquet designed just for you.

When planning the colors in the floral arrangements at the altar, keep in mind that dark colors tend to lose visual impact in the photographs. Lighter colors stand out better. Discuss this with your florist.

Begin your search for a florist at least 3 months in advance of the wedding date. Ask for references and check them closely. Visit their shop to get a feel for the designer's style and taste.

Today there are no strict rules for wedding flowers. The starting principle is to know yourself. You will be the focal point on this important day, and you will be most at ease if you match the style of your wedding to your personality.

Clip holders can be rented allowing not only the Bridal Bouquet, but also the attendants bouquets to decorate the Bridal table during the reception.

Have your florist make two bouquets, one for you to carry down the aisle and a smaller one to throw at the reception. This allows you to keep and preserve your wedding bouquet designed by and for you. It can also be used as a table decoration until you are ready to throw it.

Floral decorations used to decorate the rehearsal dinner can be used at the reception also.

Wedding Time Capsules, the unique gift to give when the Bride & Groom gets everything else, The capsule is set up to keep all those timed & precious memories of your big day with room to put a few items in, Stationery to write timed letters and the dated seals to close it and open up again on your anniversary maybe 15 to 20 years down the road and share those memories again. Also available Baby Time Capsules.

A gift idea for your bridal party. Wine bottles with personalized labels for your wedding.

How about a year after your wedding, have a dinner party for your bridal party.

Another gift idea for your attendants. A necklace or earrings that you would like them to wear at the wedding.

Store your gown in a cool, dry place. Not in the basement or attic. Attic heat can promote yellowing, basement dampness can cause mildew.

After your gown is cleaned and preserved, inspect it from time to time. Stains that did not show up at the time of cleaning could appear later and need attention.

Ask the service how the preservation process works. Is it pretested; are the sugars removed; how do they treat the beading and trim. They should be able to supply you with information about preserving and storing your gown.

"Make sure it's yours". Ask if the box that the gown is sealed in has a clear vinyl front so you can see the gown. Some brides have opened the box years later and discovered the gown was not theirs.

When packing put medications and a change of clothes in your carryon. Pack half of your clothing in her luggage and vice versa. If one bag is lost, you will still have some clothing.

Duplicate your important documents.....Passport's first pages, driver's licenses, credit cards, and reservations. Pack these separately is case of misplaced or stolen.

For the bride. Use your maiden name when booking travel arrangements. The name on your tickets must match your ID.

Thinking about a cruise for your honeymoon. Find a cruise specialist. A honeymoon cruise if you can. They have the knowledge and experience to help you get just the right package. Use a local, well known agency if you can to avoid scams and rip-offs.

If you plan a honeymoon trip out of the U. S., make sure that all passports, visas and inoculations are up to date.

Don't let your out of town guests get lost in the shuffle. If they are staying at a local Hotel / Motel and are unfamiliar with the area they may need some help navigating around. Check with the facility they have made reservations with to see if they might have information such as entertainment, shopping, sightseeing and local directions.

Check with your local Hotels / Motels for special rates available for advanced or group reservations for your out of town guests or bridal party members who have to travel.

Ask if they can do your engraving.

Looking for that special gift for your bridesmaids. Ask your jeweler about wedding bell pendants. They tell the story of the bride that tried to pull the belfry rope to ring the church bells and could not move it. With her husbands help, they pulled on the rope and rang the bells. "In life, always pull together".

Frame a photo of your fianc� to show at rehearsal dinner or reception.

Make sure you get all the photos needed at the church. If someone says we can get this one or that one at the reception, good luck. Once the tux jackets, ties and cummerbunds are off it is very difficult (next to impossible) to get them back on for photos.

Give your photographer advance notice if you are planning any surprises, (presenting flowers or gifts to the parents), or anything out of the ordinary. He or she may get caught out of position a miss a good shot.

Make sure you have a full understanding with your photographer and videographer of the hours of coverage. Some brides have been very surprised when the photographer is packing up to leave halfway through the reception saying his or her time is up.

Reminder----If you want good coverage of your wedding allow your photographer reasonable time. The biggest complaint heard from guests and bridal parties alike is How Long Is It Going To Take To Get The Pictures Done, and When Can We Leave For The Reception. The last one especially when you are having an open bar.

"Pre-ceremony photography" is something you may want to consider. Here is how it works--The formal photographs, referred to as the altar return photos, are the very first taken. These include photos of the bride and groom. Everyone involved meets at the church about two hours early and the photos are taken before guests start arriving. Advantages of this include everyone is at their photo best before the "hugs and tugs" of the ceremony and the receiving line assault your make-up and clothing. The photo session is a great "tension breaker" and by having the photos already done you can immediately join your guests at the reception.

The photography of your wedding is unlike most wedding services, in that it extends far beyond the day of your wedding. The caterers do a beautiful job on a meal that is gone the next day, The wedding cake, except the top is gone forever. It is within your album that those once in a lifetime memories are re-lived with every turn of the page.

Photography styles vary. By seeing your friends wedding albums, you may have already arrived at some strong likes...or dislikes. Some brides love the soft, misty, romantic poses. Others prefer more of a "documentary" approach to their photos. You can get a feel for a photographer's personal style by looking through his or her display albums and prints.

Check with your minister about photography (what's allowed and what's not allowed). Differs from minister to minister and church to church. Relay this information to your photographer. If he or she attends the rehearsal they can work this out with the minister then. Small detail, but makes photography smoother. Some brides and photographers have been very upset when they are informed on the day of the wedding that there are restrictions on the photography.

Go over the way you would like the lighting in the church to be set for the ceremony with your photographer. He or she can advise you on how it will have to be photographed. If flash is not allowed during the ceremony and the lights are not too dim, then high speed film can be used. (be aware that there will be a color shift in the photos. Some processing labs can correct this somewhat during printing. However, some people like the effect of the shift. Ask your photographer about this. He or she may have samples to show you). If the lighting is too dim (candle light ceremony) You may have to restage the ceremony for photos afterward.

Invite your photographer to attend the rehearsal dinner. Ask for a few photos to be taken at rehearsal dinner. Makes the wedding story more complete.

In your selection process for your photography, ask how they handle the altar return photos and how long they require for them. This is somewhat time consuming and usually gets the most complaints from guests and bridal parties alike.

When choosing a photographer you should see emotion in his photos. An experienced photographer will be able to pose his subjects so they appear happy and relaxed. His candid photos should tell a warm romantic story - unposed and natural.

Just in case your photographer overlooks it, when you and your groom are cutting the cake, the bride is on her husbands right and the closest to the camera.

If you are forced to cut corners (low budget) try not to do it with the photography and/or videography. This will be the only part of your wedding to provide a visual record to look back on in the years to follow.

Please inform your photographer if there are any divorces and / or remarriages among the parents of the bride and groom. If there are difficulties these need to be worked out early. (who is to be or not to be photographed with who). If this is worked out in advance it saves a lot of embarrassment (on the people involved trying to work this out while the photos are being taken, and on the part of the photographer when he or she asks for the parents and six people stand up). Remember, if your photographer does not attend the rehearsal and comes directly to the wedding, the only person he or she is likely to know is the girl in the white gown.

When you talk with a studio about your wedding photography, find out which photographer you will get. You may think you are getting the owner or feature photographer and on the day of your wedding you will get somebody from their staff that you don't know or haven't seen their work. The same goes for larger DJ businesses. You will need this spelled out in their contract.

Selecting your photographer as well as other services for your wedding needs careful consideration. Check around, prices and packages vary so you can usually find something that fits your budget. The important thing is using someone you are comfortable with. It is your wedding and should be done the way you want it. You need people that will work with you to make it successful.

Ask your photographer to attend the rehearsal. An experienced wedding photographer can be a wealth of information on procedures and problem solving. Don't hesitate to ask.

Try to get as many photos before the ceremony as possible, saves time on altar return photos.

When selecting a photographer and / or a videographer ask to see samples of an entire wedding. All of them will have samples of their best work which is a reflection of their technical skills, but seeing how they handle the whole wedding is important. Do they already incorporate the type and style of photos you have in mind or if not then can they provide what you want.

The wedding photographer is the only person that sees the complete wedding from start to end. After a few years experience he or she has seen what works and what doesn't work.

Consider using your limousine in the Wedding Photo Session. It's very impressive.

Have some fun photos taken. For example; you and your attendants wearing big fuzzy slippers while dressing, or the men dressed in their tuxes sitting on the altar steps or church pews wearing big athletic shoes.

Ask your photographer if you will get an opportunity to see all of the wedding proofs. Some photographers use only enough film to cover the event but there are photographers that "overshoot" to insure themselves of plenty of coverage. The photographer will naturally edit out the duplications and the not so good photos before presenting your proof box or book.

Break in your new shoes at home before wedding day.

Treat your Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids to lunch and a shopping trip featuring being driven to the locations in a limousine.

Prenuptial Contracts----Good or Bad. Let's take a look. It is a contract that determines asset distribution in case of divorce. (Consider that half of all American marriages end in divorce). Some of the most common reasons for the contract are; Part ownership in a business in which the other owners do not want the spouse's attorney nosing through the books; Children from a previous relationship; Either partner has previous assets he or she does not want to share. Compensation for giving up a good job; Protection from the other's creditors; Protection of an inheritance; and to expedite matters in case of a divorce. Prenuptials are not for everyone. It is usually the moneyed partner that asks for one. If either of you are considering this, work it out early. They have been known to be engagement breakers.

Planning a wedding is not as easy task. There are many problems and details to be worked out. The better the planning--the better the wedding will go. In my 17 years of wedding photography there is one that really sticks to my memory. The bride had it so well planned it really went like clockwork. Everything and everybody was in it's proper place and it's proper time. There were absolutely no gaps or open spaces when nothing was happening. The thing that made it so outstanding was that it was the largest wedding I had ever handled (24 people in the wedding party).

Contact the society editor of your paper to get the procedures for submitting photographs. If the parents of the bride are divorced, either parent may announce the engagement. However both parents should be mentioned in the article. If one or both parents are deceased the engagement may be announced by a relative, a friend or by the bride herself.

Being super organized can help reduce the stress and strain of putting a wedding together. Use a calendar to keep your plans in order. Also make good use of one of the many wedding planners available at the bridal shops, florists, jewelers and other wedding services in the area.

It is not necessary to have the entire bridal party in the receiving line. The bride and groom, the bride and grooms mothers, and the maid or matron of honor are all that are really required. The order would be the bride's mother followed by the groom's mother, the bride and groom, and the maid or matron of honor. The rest may be excused. The best man, groomsmen, fathers, and bridesmaids circulate through the crowd. However, you may want all of them in the line.

This is how it would look if you elected to use everybody.

Bride's Mother

Bride's Father

Groom's Mother

Groom's Father

Bride

Groom

Maid of Honor

Best Man

Attendants

In the case of divorced and remarried parents, then it is correct to have only the bride's mother in line. If she chooses to have her husband with her, then it would be the bride's stepfather. The exception would be if the divorced parents are jointly hosting the reception. They would stand together in line and the stepfather would be omitted.

Since the mother of the bride is considered the hostess for the reception, she should be the first one in the receiving line.

The receiving line and altar return photographs are sometimes a difficult thing to set up. There are many things to consider. Some of these are the size and formality of the wedding; location of the reception (in the church facilities or a location some distance away); formality of the reception (cake & punch, buffet, or fully catered dinner). If the reception is at the church facilities you can either allow the guests to go through your receiving line and enter the reception area and wait while the altar return photos are being taken OR after your guests are through your receiving line make your appearance in the reception area and get the activities started. The wedding party can return to the altar for photos. Either way there is a period of time that you are away from your guests and activities. If the reception is a another location it can be handled differently. You can set up your receiving line at the church allowing your guests to travel on to the reception site while you have photos taken, or the bridal party steps aside in another room or hallway allowing the guests to exit the church. The bridal party re-enters the church and has photos taken and then proceeds to the reception site to set up a receiving line there. The reception time could be set a few hours after the ceremony time. This allows freshening up time, travel time and photo time at the church and possibly at some outside location. It also alerts the guests that are planning to attend the reception that the wedding party will not arrive until that time. The reception card in your stationery will provide this information. Example (Reception immediately following at "________" (location) or Reception at "________"(time) and "________"(location). These are just basics and you will have to design and adjust to fit your wedding. Your church coordinator and your photographer can be of great help here. If you have that under control let's fit in the rice or birdseed tossing if you have elected to have this done. It can be done immediately after the ceremony (which means trying to get it cleaned off you and the groom and tracking it back into the church); after the altar return photos (which means the guests have to wait while photos are done); as you arrive at the reception; at some point during the reception (fitted in with the cake cutting, bouquet and garter throwing) or after the reception making your getaway. Getting all of these elements fitted together takes some planning and thought. Each wedding is different and has it's own unique circumstances. Watch other weddings, talk with other brides, and ask your selected services of their advice. You thought it was going to be easy.

Local volunteer fire departments may have facilities to hold a small wedding reception and have auxiliary groups that might serve the festivities.

The focus of the reception room should be the head table or bridal party table. This is where the bride and groom and their attendants should sit. Is is usually a long rectangular table or three tables arranged in a "U". Since this table will be the focus of the room, it should be decorated with your floral and color theme. Centerpieces should be kept low so that you can see over them.

This is the suggested seating at the head table

Groomsman

Bridesmaid

Best Man

Bride

Groom

Maid of Honor

Groomsman

Bridesmaid

Cake fights----Could be fun, Could not be. Think about it. Food colorings used in cake decorations can stain wedding gowns.

Quite a few industrial plants and companies in the area have very good employee facilities that can be used for wedding receptions. If you have a relative that works at one of these companies you may be able to reserve the facility.

If your reception facility is providing the beverages, check to see if you are paying for what is actually consumed or if you pay an estimated cost.

Another one for children. Have an area set up for the little ones to allow them something for themselves. An area with a TV/VCR running kids shows and some coloring books.

Make sure you provide enough room behind the cake table when planning the layout of the reception.

You can figure on at least 20% of your invited guests will probably not attend.

Consider decorating with helium filled balloons along with florals. After the festivities, give them to the younger ones to take home, or use them to release for your honeymoon send off.

There are many ways to have the garter removed from your leg. You could sit on a chair with your husband kneeling to remove it, you could stand with your foot on the chair seat, you could sit on the best man's lap, you can have the men in the bridal party form a semi-circle and lock their hands together to form a cradle for you to sit in. I have seen the bride sit on her husband's lap and the best man take the garter off------think about that.

The groom's dancing obligations are; his bride; his mother; his mother-in-law; and the maid of honor.

Plan reception activities early. (cake cutting, toast, garter and bouquet) Your audience will likely thin out as the length of time increases. You may discover that you have just two or three single females and / or males for the garter / bouquet throwing.

If you are to have champagne for the toast and bridal party to drink from, set the table with tulip shaped glasses or champagne flutes. Wide, shallow glasses are not good choices. One bottle of bubbly should serve six to eight quests. Whatever the beverage chosen, it should be served to the bride first, then the groom, then the maid of honor, then parents and lastly the best man. The person giving the toast should make sure all glasses are filled before proposing the toast. The glass should be raised with the right hand and straight from the shoulder.

If you are the recipient of a toast, you do not stand, raise your glass, or take a sip of your drink. You do thank the toasters, or smile and graciously nod. You are not obliged to return a toast.

Decide early if you are going to open gifts. The rule of thumb is OPEN ALL or OPEN NONE. It is perfectly OK to gather up the cards that contain cash gifts and take them with you when you leave the reception.

When it comes time for the toast, no matter what the beverage is or the location (bridal table or the cake table), have someone assigned to be ready to deliver the beverage to the table. It is not the mothers place to have to go get it. This is one of the empty time consuming areas when everybody is waiting and looking around for something to happen. Toasts can be offered with champagne, wine, a mixed drink or non-alcoholic punch, but never with tea, coffee or water.

Decorating the honeymoon vehicle-----Remind the bridal party at the rehearsal to please use common sense if they have ideas of decorating your vehicle at the reception. Auto finishes can be damaged if not careful of what is put on them.

Provide each table with one or two of the disposable type cameras for the use of the guests. These cameras are decorated with wedding themes. Ask your guests to use them to take their own candids and leave the camera on the table. You can then have them developed at a later date and have plenty of extra photos. Who knows what will be on them.

Invite the clergyman and his wife to the reception. They sit at the parents table.

If you plan to have the guy that catches the garter put it on the leg of the girl that catches the bouquet, wait until you see who catches them. A big age difference or a personality conflict may prevent this.

The parents may be seated at the bridal table or at a table of their own.

Consider having a non-alcoholic reception after the wedding out of respect for your non-drinking guests, then schedule a separate party for a later date to celebrate with those who choose to indulge.

When planning what you are going to serve your guests at the reception, take into consideration the time of day the ceremony will be. If it is an early afternoon wedding then perhaps a light buffet will do. If the wedding is late in the day, then you have run into supper time and your guests may be very hungry. This last one gets overlooked too many times and guests may get unhappy.

When getting ready to throw your bouquet, check overhead clearances for obstructions such as fans, light fixtures and decorations. On bride threw hers into an overhead fan and it got caught on the blades and scattered all around.

Some bride's choose to wear two garters, one for the groom to remove and throw to the crowd and the other to keep.

The bride sits on the groom's right at the bridal table.

Wedding Bells, a new popular item along with Bubbles. Bells come with a little quote card and are rung at the times for the Bride & Groom to kiss.

Tall Centerpieces..make sure that they don't block the view of your guests or make it difficult for them to converse with each other across the table.

Flowers with a strong scent can distract from the taste and enjoyment of the meal.

Remember, a reception is YOUR gift to your guests. It should be fun and entertaining. A time they'll remember.

No drinking by photographers, assistants, DJ's etc.

Start early on your search for a reception location. Some brides have been known to set the wedding date based on the availability of the reception facility she wants to use. Things to keep in mind are handicapped facilities, restroom facilities, dance floor, room for your Band or DJ, and is your reception line to be held at the church or at the reception (you have to allow room to set it up).

Check with the people in charge of the reception facilities you have chosen to use on what is allowed and not allowed for decorations. Make sure you have a clear understanding of who is responsible for damage, cleaning, liability and replacement.

Children at the reception.....Those under 5 years of age; Try seating these families with other families with young children. Ages 5 through 10; Consider seating this age group together. Have an adult babysitter for this table. If you set up a kid's table, cover it with paper tablecloth so they can draw on it. The centerpiece could be buckets of crayons, play-dough, sketch tablets and games. Provide them with take home favors of candy or toys. Ages 11 through 16; Seat this age group together. Not needing an adult babysitter with this group, seat them at a table close to adults who will keep rein on them. Treat this group as adults, but without any alcohol.

Avoid serving salty foods. Salt increases thirst, causing higher beverage consumption

Consider using potted ivy plants as centerpieces.

Prelight all candles and let burn a few seconds. They will readily light for the ceremony.

Try this with aisle cloth; Roll it out and cut to length, then fan fold it back to the altar. This way it will not catch as will rolled aisle cloth and will end up straight as it will easily follow ushers. Do not need ribbon, just grab corners.

Ask your photographer to go over the next day's wedding plan with your party. This will let all involved know what to expect.

Have two large photo matts at the reception. One for your wedding party to sign and the other for your guests to sign. Later, after your photographs are developed pick one of the bridal party and one of you and your husband and have them mounted for keepsakes. Ask your photographer or photo framer for details.

The purpose of the rehearsal dinner is to allow opportunity for the two families to meet informally and get aquatinted. It could well be the first time some of them have met. Guests include the bride's immediate family, the groom's immediate family, the bridal party, and of course those attending the rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom's parents.

You may want to consider insurance against damaged and / or broken rental items. Check with your rental center. This may be included in their contract.

Try visiting a rental shop that carries wedding items.

No procedure is so closely bound by tradition as the issuing of your wedding invitations and announcements.

Just wait until you start selecting your wedding invitations. You have to pick from paper stock, color, design, size, type style, quantity, and enclosures (including response and reception cards). Then there is the proper way to address and assemble the envelopes. Check it all out with your stationer.

Invitations should be mailed six weeks before the wedding.

Always order extra envelopes to cover any mistakes made while addressing them.

Invitations should be handwritten, not typed. You could consider Calligraphy.

Wedding invitations should be ordered at least three months before the wedding. However, it is best to order your invitations as soon as you have all the necessary information.

When having RSVP cards printed, specify the count is for the reception only and not church attendance.

It is always a good idea to order extra invitations to cover any late additions to your list.

Don't order pre printed thank you's. Order blank so that the Bride & Groom can write their own personal message of thanks to their guests.

Videography - requires a professional with good equipment, lots of talent and years experience. To make sure you will not be disappointed with your video, hire a professional.

Videotaping your wedding offers one more dimension to record the excitement of the event. It gives not only a visual record of all the action, but also the audible. Preserve a once in a lifetime event in live, vibrant, full motion color...not to mention sound.

See if your videographer will allow you and your new husband to sit in on the tape editing. This allows you to edit and create the tape exactly the way you like.

To insure that your wedding ceremony maintains that great look and romantic atmosphere, invest in good quality candles.

Watch your placement of candelabras at the altar. Heating and air conditioning ducts and overhead fans blowing on them will cause them to burn unevenly and ruin the effect.

If you plan on having your wedding near a holiday make inquires early, so give your self at least a year to plan your wedding.

Ask a friend to be the coordinator for your wedding. By attending the rehearsal she will become aquatinted with your minister, wedding party, musicians, photographer, family members, etc. By taking notes on people, places and times she can keep people on cue on the wedding day. (reminding ushers when to light candles, watching for people to pin flowers on, starting wedding party down aisle at proper times and spacing, straighten out bride's gown, etc.) Make sure your photographer knows who this is. She is invaluable. By bring female she has unlimited access to the brides dressing area to pass information back and forth.

The garter may be put on your leg by anyone you choose. It is usually put on by the maid of honor, but you could have your father or brother do it.

Make sure you have a safe place for valuables where you are dressing. This room will be unattended for quite a while.

Don't ask any of the services that you have hired for your wedding to do anything against the wishes of the minister or the church. They may like to do another wedding at the same church.

Children in wedding parties are a risk factor. Be prepared to fill in gaps if they back out at the last moment.

Ask people involved to please be on time, dressed and ready for photographs at the times your photographer sets for the day of the wedding. Delays can cause confusion and missed photos.

Try balloons instead of rice or birdseed. Have the balloons in the colors of your wedding pre-filled and ribbon strings attached and stored in the lobby or a nearby room at the church. Give each guest one of the balloons as they exit the ceremony. The Bride and Groom step outside with their balloon bouquets and when they release them the crowd releases their balloons. They float away in a colorful cloud and no mess.

Allow an out for children in the bridal party. (let them sit with parents / grandparents at front of church after walking down the aisle).

Ask a friend to pin on all flowers. This keeps all pinned on the same way, any inconsistency will show up in the photographs. Same person could start attendants down the aisle and straighten out the bride's train. This person should be pointed out to the photographer.

Avoid using cigarette lighters to light candles before or during the ceremony. (flicking your bic doesn't get it). Use candle lighters or other candles.

Having an outdoor wedding. Treat the grounds for ants before the rehearsal and again before the wedding ceremony.

Be careful of silk flowers filled with rice or birdseed to toss at the Bride and Groom. The contents are ejected with a lot of force and can cause eye injuries.

Important----Ask all of your potential services about cancellation policies.----Once the dates and deposits are set their may be circumstances out of your control to cause you to change the date of your wedding or a complete cancellation. (It's real---it happens). Mother nature and military conflicts are two good ones.

Take time out for yourself and your fianc�, know that you can't please everyone, and enjoy this very special occasion. A stressful bride is not a happy bride!

Don't forget the penny in your shoe for good luck. Have a photo taken with your father putting the penny in your shoe.

Don't forget-----Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue.

Keep a notebook and make follow up part of your plans, this will help avoid wedding day trauma. Stay in contact with the people you hired---Don't assume anything.

For your information-----The garter goes on the left leg.

If you are planning on having a flower girl dropping rose petals ahead of you and your father, check with the church for their policies on this. You may run into a cleanup or a liability problem.

If you are going to use a rolled aisle cloth, it will pull out easier if you use one of the metal bars designed for this. Ask your florist. Ribbons can bind up and cause problems.

Provide plenty of spacing between bridal attendants coming down the aisle. More pleasing for the audience and easier for the photographer. This will have to be worked out with the music and aisle length.

Rice or Birdseed----give this a lot of thought as to where to use it. If used after the ceremony it can get tracked back into the church. It will also get caught in hair and all of the creases and seams of the gown and also in the bouquet. It is difficult to get it all out and will shake out at the altar return photos. Also caused difficulties with low cut gowns. Other times of use would be after altar return photos, during or after reception. Another alternative is balloons.

Some weddings are set up so that the bridal party faces the audience.

Try this instead of reception line at church. When the bridal party has retreated after the ceremony, instead of ushers coming back in to let the audience out, the bride and groom re-enters back down the aisle and starting with the parents row, lets the audience out row by row. Instead of a long receiving line, everybody remains seated and views the bride and groom receiving all the hugs and kisses until their row is let out. Wedding attendants can maintain regular receiving line in lobby.

Turn towards each other when exchanging rings. Lets audience see and allows photographer to get photo. (same for lighting the unity candle).

Check with your church about rice or birdseed use. Some will not allow rice but birdseed is ok. Some will not allow either. Gets tracked back into church and difficult to clean up. Also slippery to walk on and can cause falls.

Make your wedding night trousseau memorable by wearing it again on your wedding anniversaries.

A word for dad. After giving your daughter away at the altar, make sure your shoe is free from her gown before stepping away. Also small aisles and large trains make it difficult to step behind her to your seat.

The essentials kit----this is a must! This should contain a brush, comb, hair spray, make up, deodorant, tampons, bobby-pins, safety pins, small sewing kit, aspirin, scotch tape (for emergency hems), q-tips for make up smudges. Be prepared for all emergencies.

Like to keep your wedding bouquet forever. You can by a process called freeze drying. It can indefinitely preserve your flowers just as you carried them down the aisle. Your florist may have information on this.

If you choose to use the wedding bubbles instead of rice, birdseed or balloons, use the special solutions that will not stain garments. Also be cautious with the type of flooring material. The solution can make the floor slippery and dries to a sticky mess that can be difficult to clean up. This is why some banquet and reception facilities do not allow DJ's to use bubble machines.

When escorted down the aisle to the altar, usually by the bride's father, (sometimes by a brother or other relative), the escort will be on the right side of the aisle facing the altar. The bride walks on the escorts left arm.

Ladies corsages are pinned on her left side.

If you are planning to use the florals from the ceremony at the reception, check with your church as to their policies on this. Some churches ask that you leave the florals as a gift to the church.

If you choose musicians or soloists other than the church's, you may be expected to pay the church organist or soloist out of professional courtesy.

When starting back up the aisle after the ceremony, present both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom with a rose.

If you select cummerbunds for your men's formal wear the proper way to wear them is crumb catcher up.

Always buy your wedding dress first and then build the rest of your wedding around your gown.

Paper aisle cloths can cause problems when used over carpeting. Heels can punch through it and cause tripping problems.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony, make sure you have an alternate facility to go to in case of bad weather. Murphy's Law (if anything can go wrong---it will) applies here. Also make sure that all of your services are aware of this alternate.

How many tips have you noticed about planning, organizing, notekeeping, calendars and checking back? Think there might be something to that.

Every bride deserves to be beautiful on her wedding day. Since this is the one moment in your life with a one hundred per cent guarantee that you will be the center of attraction, every aspect of your appearance should be a compliment, from your flowers to the wedding party.

Don't forget the marriage license.

If there is more than one important child in your life, a procession of children bearing flowers add charm to every wedding. To create a special moment at the beginning of the ceremony, have the children carry a garland down the aisle and lay it on the altar as a decoration. Or give them small bouquets to carry to mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom once they are seated.

If you select to have bridal party photos taken before the ceremony, plan it well ahead of when you expect guests to start arriving. (this is usually one hour before the ceremony. Your ushers and registrar will have to be available to receive guests). Also arrange to have the church and to have the florals and decorations in place. We have seen many photos taken like this and the florals were not in place. When these are placed in the album with the others taken later, the difference really shows up. Consider having snack trays and refreshments on hand to hold the bridal party over until the reception.

Once the bouquets are delivered they should be handled as little as possible until the ceremony. On exceptionally hot days keep a large cooler on hand and leave your flowers in it until you are ready to walk down the aisle. In the winter keep the flowers away from cold and drafts as well from heating ducts and radiators.

No wedding day is perfect, plus the odd happenings are what you remember most. Smile and have a happy day.

Have you made enough decisions yet. Here's one to make on the formal wear for the men. Is your wedding going to be Formal, Semiformal or Informal. How about Traditional or Fashion. How about the time of day and time of year. Check with a formal wear consultant.

Pick one area (music, dress, reception) to make extra special.

Wedding announcements for the newspaper. The newspaper will need a black and white photograph (however some papers can now publish color photographs) and the following information; The wedding date; Ceremony and reception locations; Bride's name; Bride's parents name and city of residence; Bride's attendants names, and if they are related to the bride and groom, the relation; Description of the bride's gown and bouquet; Bride's education and occupation; Groom's name; Groom's parents name and city of residence; Groom's attendants names, and if they are related to the bride and groom, the relation; Groom's education and occupation; Where the couple honeymooned; What city the couple will reside in after the wedding. Optional information would be The registrar's name; The photographer and videographer; Cake designer and server; Reception assistants; Ceremony musicians; and floral designer. Look at other announcements in the paper and contact the society editor of your newspaper.

Wedding traditions and etiquette pretty much dictated the planning and staging of weddings in the past. This is not so for the modern wedding. Traditions and etiquette are good to know to help you plan your wedding but they do not have to be followed to the letter. Plan your wedding your way and let it reflect your personal tastes and feelings.

When planning a formal wedding allow yourself six to twelve months to assure time to shop, plan and order if necessary. Organization is a key point to a smooth wedding day.

We've seen this before. Light a special candle at the very start of the ceremony in honor of those special people that could not attend your wedding.

This one looks good....Releasing White Doves instead of balloons or using rice or birdseed. It is a spectacular sight.

Another one we've seen....Placing a photo of a loved one from your past at the altar.

Ask a local classic car club if they have a member you could hire for a small fee to chauffeur you on the day of your wedding.

If using ushers to seat guests, front seats should be filled first to prevent a scattered look.

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