Wedding Week Prep

 

Now that wedding season is in full swing, many couples are preparing for that week before their big day. If you have hired a wedding coordinator, that week should be fairly easy because he or she should be handling the final details of your wedding day. But there are still some items that will need to be handled by you or by your Maid of Honor or Best Man. I've listed a few of them below:

• Pick up wedding bands from jeweler and make sure they fit
• Give final count to caterer
• Have the final walk-through of the reception venue detailing the days events
• Groom and groomsmen should pick up tuxedos, shoes and accessories
• Pack for the honeymoon
• Pick up wedding gown and accessories and make sure someone is with you to learn how to bustle the train
• Have final meetings or make final calls confirming all arrangements with hired vendors + give them a detailed timeline of the wedding day events - a task that certainly will be handled if you hired a wedding coordinator
• Prepare and deliver welcome bags to hotels where out-of-town guests will be staying
• Attend wedding rehearsal and dinner, and give wedding party gifts at the dinner or on wedding day
• Write thank you notes for gifts received

Until next time...WEDologize!

(Photo by Rush Productions)

Toasting The Happy Couple (Day #12)

At some point during the wedding reception, toasts are going to happen.  The greatest piece of advice I could offer is keep them short, sweet and do not open the floor up for all your guests to start extending their well-wishes.  And this happens to be the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to say a few words of thanks to family and friends for celebrating the day with them.  But before the guests of honor take the mic, the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor should be the ones to welcome the guests and say a few sentimental words of remembrance, encouragement and love to the newlyweds.

Below I've given a few suggestions on how to make this memorable moment happen as stress-free as possible:

• First, before you take the mic, always have your glass of champagne or wine in hand before speaking.  It is a toast, remember.  And end the toast with, "Please raise your glass..."
• The Best Man should lead the toasts with the Maid/Matron of Honor following.
• Have a toast prepared in advance.  You have known for months that you were going to be asked to give a toast when you accepted the position.
• Speak from the heart and know that it's okay if your toast is written on paper or a note card so you don't forget.
• Remember, it's not a speech and please keep it tactful.  Speaking about negative past events and ex's is a total no-no.  
• Last, keep the toast less than 2 minutes.  Toasts are typically going to happen after the bridal party has been announced in or before the entree, so keep it short and sweet so that guests can eat!

Until tomorrow...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.dcphoto.com)
repost from 8/28/13

Brides Most Unnoticed Accessory

When wedding gown shopping, brides always focus on their head piece or veil, shoes and undergarments.  But what about that "item" that will hold your lip gloss, lipstick, perfume, compact and breath mints?  This "item" is hardly ever photographed, but I always witness the bride looking for it to make 'touch-ups' throughout the night.  It'll sit lonely on the head table or sweetheart table, or sometimes held by the Maid of Honor.  But at the end of the night, this item is always in the hand of the bride before heading off into marital bliss.

Check out this "item" that can only enhance the wedding gown and it's accessories:

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - http://www.camillelavie.com; www.etsy.com; www.stylemepretty.com; http://www.affordableelegancebridal.com)

Roles of Your Wedding Attendants

I spoke with one of my brides recently who eliminated a couple of women from her wedding party for "failure to act".  Basically, she didn't feel they were doing what needed to be done, and although I know she's been open with the ladies she selected to be in her wedding, do all involved really understand the roles they are to play?  Below is a sampling of the attendants duties.  And please know, everyone doesn't have to stand up for you on wedding day.  There are plenty of other things they can do on wedding day...but I'll save that conversation for another blog post :)

Maid of Honor (Single) or Matron of Honor (Married)

• Attending bridal gown fittings
• Keep bridesmaids on schedule prior to wedding day and especially on the BIG day
• Take charge of planning the bridal shower with the other bridesmaids
• Hold the bride's bouquet at the altar and fix her train and veil during the ceremony, and bustle her train at the reception

Bridesmaids

• Play hostess at any of the pre-wedding parties the couple may be having
• Order and pay for your own attire by order date
• Arrive to the ceremony before time to assist bride

Best Man

• Drive the groom to the ceremony
• Hold the bride's ring during the ceremony
• Give first toast at the reception
• Distribute payments to vendors at the ceremony and/or reception

Groomsmen

• Rent or purchase formalwear by requested date
• Help with pre-wedding tasks such as transportation
• Act as ushers if the couple does not have any on wedding day

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: Rush Event Photography and Video Productions | repost from 6/6/12)

A Personal Wedding Day Message

During the wedding planning, you are going to go through an array of emotions for your soon-to-be spouse.  But the main thing you want to remember is wedding day is just one day...the bond of marriage is forever.  Consider writing your partner a love letter or note to be delivered on wedding day via your best man and/or maid of honor.  The heartfelt words you write will lay on your soulmate's heart as they walk down the aisle to happiness.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - http://www.hannahgoering.com/)

Avoiding Reception Toast Mishaps

 
At some point during the wedding reception, toasts are going to happen.  The greatest piece of advice I could offer is keep them short, sweet and do not open the floor up for all your guests to start extending their well-wishes.  And this happens to be the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to say a few words of thanks to family and friends for celebrating the day with them.  But before the guests of honor take the mic, the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor should be the ones to welcome the guests and say a few sentimental words of remembrance, encouragement and love to the newlyweds.

I have witnessed on numerous occasions a Best Man or Maid of Honor unprepared to speak to the crowd and an awkward pause always occurs when they say "I thought I was going to have a little more time" or "I didn't write anything down" or "I'm unsure what to say".  Have a skillfully planned wedding toast, in my opinion, is the only way to go when planning out your reception timeline. So below I've given a few suggestions on how to make this memorable moment happen as stress-free as possible:

• First, before you take the mic, always have your glass of champagne or wine in hand before speaking.  It is a toast, remember.  And end the toast with, "Please raise your glass..."
• The Best Man should lead the toasts with the Maid/Matron of Honor following.
• Have a toast prepared in advance.  You have known for months that you were going to be asked to give a toast when you accepted the position.
• Speak from the heart and know that it's okay if your toast is written on paper or a note card so you don't forget.
• Remember, it's not a speech and please keep it tactful.  Speaking about negative past events and ex's is a total no-no.  
• Last, keep the toast less than 2 minutes.  Toasts are typically going to happen after the bridal party has been announced in or before the entree, so keep it short and sweet so that guests can eat!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - http://www.ksweddings.com/)

A Toast to the Happy Couple

At some point during the wedding reception, toasts are going to happen.  The greatest piece of advice I could offer is keep them short, sweet and do not open the floor up for all your guests to start extending their well-wishes.  And this happens to be the perfect opportunity for the happy couple to say a few words of thanks to family and friends for celebrating the day with them.  But before the guests of honor take the mic, the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor should be the ones to welcome the guests and say a few sentimental words of remembrance, encouragement and love to the newlyweds.

I have witnessed on numerous occasions a Best Man or Maid of Honor unprepared to speak to the crowd and an awkward pause always occurs when they say "I thought I was going to have a little more time" or "I didn't write anything down" or "I'm unsure what to say".  Have a skillfully planned wedding toast, in my opinion, is the only way to go when planning out your reception timeline. So below I've given a few suggestions on how to make this memorable moment happen as stress-free as possible:

• First, before you take the mic, always have your glass of champagne or wine in hand before speaking.  It is a toast, remember.  And end the toast with, "Please raise your glass..."
• The Best Man should lead the toasts with the Maid/Matron of Honor following.
• Have a toast prepared in advance.  You have known for months that you were going to be asked to give a toast when you accepted the position.
• Speak from the heart and know that it's okay if your toast is written on paper or a note card so you don't forget.
• Remember, it's not a speech and please keep it tactful.  Speaking about negative past events and ex's is a total no-no.  
• Last, keep the toast less than 2 minutes.  Toasts are typically going to happen after the bridal party has been announced in or before the entree, so keep it short and sweet so that guests can eat!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - Bridal Banter)

The Role of Wedding VIPs

I spoke with one of my brides recently who eliminated a couple of women from her wedding party for "failure to act".  Basically, she didn't feel they were doing what needed to be done, and although I know she's been open with the ladies she selected to be in her wedding, do all involved really understand the roles they are to play?  Below is a sampling of the attendants duties.  And please know, everyone doesn't have to stand up for you on wedding day.  There are plenty of other things they can do on wedding day...but I'll save that conversation for another blog post :)

Maid of Honor (Single) or Matron of Honor (Married)

• Attending bridal gown fittings
• Keep bridesmaids on schedule prior to wedding day and especially on the BIG day
• Take charge of planning the bridal shower with the other bridesmaids
• Hold the bride's bouquet at the altar and fix her train and veil during the ceremony, and bustle her train at the reception

Best Man

• Drive the groom to the ceremony
• Hold the bride's ring during the ceremony
• Give first toast at the reception
• Distribute payments to vendors at the ceremony and/or reception

Bridesmaids

• Play hostess at any of the pre-wedding parties the couple may be having
• Order and pay for your own attire by order date
• Arrive to the ceremony before time to assist bride

Groomsmen

• Rent or purchase formalwear by requested date
• Help with pre-wedding tasks such as transportation
• Act as ushers if the couple does not have any on wedding day

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.dscphotobiz.com)

Toast It Up With Champagne

At some point during the wedding reception, toasts are going to happen.  The greatest piece of advice I could offer is keep them short, sweet and do not open the floor up for all your guests to start extending their well-wishes.  And this happens to be the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to say a few words of thanks to family and friends for celebrating the day with them.  But before the guests of honor take the mic, the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor should be the ones to welcome the guests and say a few sentimental words of remembrance, encouragement and love to the newlyweds. 

I have witnessed on numerous occasions a Best Man or Maid of Honor unprepared to speak to the crowd and an awkward pause always occurs when they say "I thought I was going to have a little more time" or "I didn't write anything down" or "I'm unsure what to say".  Have a skillfully planned wedding toast, in my opinion, is the only way to go when planning out your reception timeline. So below I've given a few suggestions on how to make this memorable moment happen as stress-free as possible:

• First, before you take the mic, always have your glass of champagne or wine in hand before speaking.  It is a toast, remember.  And end the toast with, "Please raise your glass..."
• The Best Man should lead the toasts with the Maid/Matron of Honor following.
• Have a toast prepared in advance.  You have known for months that you were going to be asked to give a toast when you accepted the position.
• Speak from the heart and know that it's okay if your toast is written on paper or a note card so you don't forget.
• Remember, it's not a speech and please keep it tactful.  Speaking about negative past events and ex's is a total no-no.  
• Last, keep the toast less than 2 minutes.  Toasts are typically going to happen after the bridal party has been announced in or before the entree, so keep it short and sweet so that guests can eat!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: rsvpartiesinc.com; http://www.weddingsbycolor.com/)