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I need to know what the groom's parents are responsible for as far as the wedding and the reception.
Hello, and thank you for visiting my website.
"Traditionally" the grooms parents are responsible for the rehearsal dinner and that's about it...way back when they also paid for the honeymoon, but that is no longer really something they are obligated too.
Nowadays it really depends on the financial situation of the bride and groom and the relationship with parents.
More and more couples are picking up the tab for the entire event.
Whatever help you receive should be greatly appreciated.
Congratulations and good luck!
What percentage of invited guests can I expected to come?
The standard rule of thumb on number of guests who will not attend is about 10 percent.
There are many variables which effect this number...The size of your wedding, the location of your wedding and the number of guests you have invited from out of town.
It is not unusual for some of your guests who have responded that they will come not to show up and vise versa...
If you are spending a lot of money on the food for your reception it is always a good idea to make phone calls to your guests to confirm that they will be attending.
Most caterers and locations will require a guaranteed number from you about a week before the event and you will not be able to lower that number if people decide not to come.
What are the order of events at the reception, from the arrival of the bride and groom to the ending and who is the master of ceremonies at the reception?
Hi Debbie and thank you for visiting my site.
The "Traditional" order of events is as follows:
Grand Entrance (Parents, Bridal Party and Bride and Groom) are introduced in to room and seated.
Then the toasts are given, dinner is served, standard 1 hour of dancing beginning with traditional father/daughter dance, bouquet and garter toss and then cake cutting.
If you are planning to have a DJ or band they will generally put the schedule together for you and act as an MC for your event.
Who do I invite to the rehearsal dinner?
Like all aspects of your special day, the rehearsal dinner should include those you want to be there.
Traditionally the rehearsal dinner is for family members, the bridal party and any guests who have traveled from out of town to be there for your wedding.
If you are looking to cut costs it is perfectly acceptable to have a small dinner for just the parents and your bridal party.
How far in advance should wedding invitations be purchased and when should they be sent?
Hi Theresa and thank you for visiting my site.
Wedding invitations take 3-5 weeks to be printed and should be mailed out 4-8 weeks before your wedding.
If you have many guests that have to travel, allow the 8 weeks so that they can make plans.
If the majority of guests are local 4-6 weeks is adequate.
I am the mother of the groom for a July evening wedding.
Is it permissible for me to wear the same color as the bridesmaids.
The wedding will be Silver and Red.
I have a really pretty red pants suite that is very dressy and I would like to wear it to the wedding.
My husband will be wearing a tux.
Is this appropriate.
Hi Cheryl and thank you for visiting my site.
It sounds to me like your outfit is lovely and quite appropriate.
It is actually customary for both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom to wear the wedding colors.
If you have concerns about what the bride would like you to wear, perhaps it would just be easiest to ask her if she would be happy with your selection?
Is it customary for the Groom's Father to wear a tuxedo.
The Bride's Father, as well as all Groomsmen and Ushers will be wearing Tuxs.
Hi Audrey and thank you for visiting my site.
It is really up to the bride and groom and the overall attire for the wedding as to what the father of the groom should wear.
If your wedding is "black tie" or after 5 attire then it would make sense for the grooms dad to wear a tux as well.
If it is a more casual wedding then it would be alright for his dad to wear a suit if he is more comfortable.
does the father of the bride wears the same attire as the groom and groomsman?
Hello Denise and thank you for visiting my site.
The father can wear the same attire as the bridal party, but it is not traditionally mandatory.
Lot's of fathers wear a different tuxedo or even a very nice dark suit.
How can I save money on food?
There are several ways to cut the cost of the food for your reception.
The time of day is a key factor in saving money.
Lunch prices are generally about 1/3 less than dinner prices.
If you plan an early afternoon ceremony you can get away with light hors d'oeuvres or even just cake and punch for your reception.
If you have your heart set on a dinner for your reception, consider having your event on an "off" date.
It is harder for vendors to book events on Sundays and Holidays, and most often they will give you a bit of a discount if you will select one of these days.
i am going to my brother's wedding on sept. 17th and it is at 630 pm and i dont know what im supposed to wear . it didnt say casual dress and i have heard that after a cartain time it goes to a formal dress.
please help.
Hi Marie and thank you for visiting my site.
It sounds like a cocktail dress would be perfect for your brothers wedding, but if you are uncertain the best thing would be to ask his bride to be.
Does the mother of the bride have to wear the colors of the bridal attendants?
Or can I wear any color I want?
Hello again Debbie.
It is not necessary for the Mother of the Bride to wear the attendant colors, however it is traditional to ask the bride what color she would like you to wear and it should compliment the wedding colors.
Is it proper to print out the Name and addresses on the invitations or should they be hand written?
Hi Irene and thank you for visiting my site.
Addressing your invitations is a matter of personal preference.
There is not set right or wrong way to do so.
Like everything in your wedding it should reflect your tastes and personality.
If you have all kinds of time to hand pen your invites then great, if not there is nothing at all wrong with printed lables on your invitations.
I have seen beautiful invitations with the clear lables and pretty fonts that look extremely nice and professional.
Congratulations and best of luck to you!
My son is getting married, I am single, so, I asked my future daughterinlaw if my son could escort me down the isle.
I have seen this done at many weddings and find it charming.
But, I was told I am not the star and should just go sit down.
So what is right and wrong here.
Hi Cynthia and thank you for visiting my site.
Unfortunately this is not really a question of "wrong" or "right".
It is a very personal issue.
I agree with you, I have seen a number of weddings where the groom walks his mother down the aisle.
I have even seen grooms who have their mothers stand up for them in place of the best man.
I too find this charming and very touching.
It sounds like your daughter in law to be is determined to have the spot light all to herself.
Have you spoken with your son about it?
Since it is their wedding it is ultimately their decision, but your son should have some input as well.
If it does not work out I would suggest just trying to be happy for him and enjoying the day.
Best of luck!
Who pays for the rehearsal dinner?
Traditionally the parents of the groom host the rehearsal dinner.
With weddings being so expensive and so many couples paying for most or all of their own weddings these older traditions have begun to fall by the wayside.
It is likely you may find yourselves hosting the dinner.
There are lots of ways to cut costs on your rehearsal.
Consider having something at home or at a family members and do a "pot luck" type of event.
If you are out of town for your wedding or just want something a little more upscale, restaurants tend to be less expensive than private banquet halls with catering.
Serving a pasta dish is the most cost effective meal and it also takes care of any vegetarian guests you may have.
I don't see my question answered so far.
I am the grandmother of the groom.
The wedding is full length, tuxedo attire, even for the mother of the groom and bride.
I am 81 years old and have no use for a long dress.
I have a black tea length very dressy skirt and top which I can wear with a pink silk jacket.
The wedding colors are cafe au lait and shades of green.
Am I way off track?
Does it even matter what a grandmother wears?
Hello Barbara and thank you for visiting my sight.
I apologize for the delay in getting back to you.
Your outfit sounds lovely and perfect for a formal wedding.
At 81 years old I think you should be able to wear whatever you want and feel great in it!
If the bride has not specifically asked you to wear a particular dress then you are free to wear what you like.
who rides with the bride to the church?
Hi Donna and thank you for visiting my site.
Generally either the females in the bridal party or the brides father ride to the church with the bride, but this is not set in stone.
She can really have whomever she chooses.
Should I be worried about how my guests will dress?
Generally people know to dress up for a wedding, particularly if it is an evening event.
If you have friends or family that you are concerned may not dress appropriately, there is nothing wrong with specifying attire on your invitation.
This can be done by adding a line towards the bottom of the invitation to say, “This is a formal occasion” or something along those lines.
Sometimes people will have a more casual reception on the beach or out of doors.
It is a good idea to specify that “beach wear” or “casual attire” would be appropriate for such a venue.
What are the Maid of honor's duties?
Traditionally your Maid of honor is responsible for hosting your shower or bachelorette party.
She is also expected to provide you with the “something old, something new, something borrowed something blue”.
Many women don’t know about that tradition, so you may want to remind who ever you select if it is important to you.
On the day of the wedding your Maid of honor should focus on keeping the bride calm and happy.
She should also know how to bustle the bride’s gown after the ceremony if there is a train on the dress.
It is common these days for the Maid of honor to give a toast to the bride and groom at the reception along with the Best Man.
Dear Valerie,
The mother of the groom would like to wear the same color as my bridesmaids.
would this be considered tacky?
Hi Liz and thank you for visiting my site.
No, not at all tacky for the grooms mom to wear wedding colors.
It is actually traditional for both mothers to wear the wedding colors.
Congratulations!
How do you seat people at the reception?
There are a lot of different options on how to have your guests seated for your wedding.
The most simple for you would be to have “open seating” where everyone just seats themselves.
If you like you can have a few reserved tables next to the head table for family members.
Be sure to let those guests know ahead of time if they are to be seated at a reserved table.
Because families are structured so diversely, sometimes it will not work to have open seating.
You may not want a step parent to be seated with someone they may feel uncomfortable with or ex-spouses to be near each other.
If this is the case then you can have tables numbered and provide place cards for your guests.
This gives you the control of where everyone is seated.
Your reception facility should be able to provide you with a diagram of tables with numbers and you would then be responsible for providing the place cards and making the seating assignments.
Hi Valerie! As far as the ceremony goes, what is the order in which everyone walks down the isle? I want both mothers involved, my step-dad, my father-in-law to be and all of our grand parents. Then how will the wedding party go if i have a Matron of honor and a Maid of honor?
Hi Annette and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the brides family members are escorted down the aisle first and seated, then the grooms immediate family.
Parents first with Mothers and current husbands leading then Fathers with second wives.
Grandparents follow parents.
While this is
the traditional manner of seating family many weddings change the pattern around.
It is fine to have both a Maid of honor and a Matron of honor.
I would suggest the eldest of the two walking just before you or you could also have them walk down together.
Congratulations and good luck!
what are the colors for a summer wedding? i just don't know what colors to choose
Hello Rosie, and thank you for visiting my site.
There really are no set colors for a summer wedding.
You should pick colors that you like and that make you happy.
Traditionally brides will select lighter cooler colors for summer weddings, but jewel tones work nicely as well.
It also depends on what time of day your reception is.
Normally I would suggest staying away from black or very dark colors, but if you are having a formal evening wedding even dark colors are acceptable.
I am the mother of the groom and would like to know if giving my future daughter a card for her bridal shower with a note in it saying that my husband and I will pay for the rehearsal dinner is tacky or just not proper?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally it is the responsibility of the parents of the groom to pay for the rehearsal dinner.
If you give your daughter in law a card or certificate for the dinner for her shower gift, in essence you are not really giving her a shower gift.
Honestly I do think it would be a little tacky.
My only brother is getting married. My daughter will be their flower girl and I thought they would ask me to be a brides maid since I am his only sister, but instead I have been asked to be the greeter at the reception.
Am I over reacting or do have reason to feel insulted.
Also ...What is considered appropriate attire for a reception greeter and sister of the groom.
This is an evening wedding with about 250 people.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
I apologize for the delay in my response but my site has been having some trouble.
I understand this is your only brother and that it could be hurtful for you not to be included in the wedding party.
The thing to keep in mind is that the female attendants are traditionally the brides siblings and very closest friends.
I am certain it is not an intentional over site, but since you are female there is not really a role for you unless you are very close to the bride.
My suggestion would be to be happy that you are involved and for your brother and have a wonderful time on their special day.
My daughter is getting married August 27th at 2:30 in the afternoon.
Her colors are black and red.
What am I supposed to wear for a ceremony at this time of day?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
It is customary for the mother of the bride to wear the wedding colors.
It will probably be quite warm so I would suggest something like a red summer suit or maybe of more formal red and black sun dress type outfit.
It also depends on the venue.
If the wedding is outdoors definitely opt for a sun dress or cocktail type dress in one or a mixture of both of her colors.
Hi Valeri,
if the bride is wearing a long formal dress, and the maids are wearing tea length. is it OK for the Mother of the bride to wear either a long, a low high,
or a tea length dress? ( the guys will all be in black tuxes.) Thanks so much!
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
As long as the bride has not objection to your selection "Mother's of the bride and groom" are generally allowed to wear whatever they like.
i am sending out my invitation this weekend and would like to know how would i word on the invitations that we would like for our guest to give us money as a gift. i do not have a website for them to go to. we will have a wishing well .thanks in advance
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Since you are sending your invitations out this weekend I am assuming they are already printed and you can't include a line indicating your wishes.
Perhaps you could have a directional card imprinted to go with them to indicate that "The couple is not registered but will have a wishing well at the reception" or something along those lines.
Word of mouth is also a good way to let people know what you want.
Your guests will no doubt be talking prior to your wedding and you can make sure people know that you would prefer cash over gifts.
How do you let the guests know that the bride and groom do not want gifts but just donations of money to help pay for the honeymoon and the house they are saving for? Is this okay?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Yes it is okay to request cash gifts for your wedding.
Many couples get married when they have already established households or lived together for awhile and don't need the traditional towels, dishes, etc...for gifts.
My suggesting would be to create a honeymoon registry on line and instruct your guests that is where you are registered.
This way you can list items you want such as excursions for your your honeymoon with a cash value and they can purchase gifts through pay pal which will go directly into an account for you.
You can see a good example with one of my site sponsors at Registry Palace.com.
Congratulations and good luck!
Is a black tea length dress appropriate to wear to an outdoor wedding beginning at 6pm?
My husband is in the wedding and is very a tux.
The wedding is Oct.6 in Arizona.
Thanks for your advice.
Hi Dee and thank you for visiting my site.
Black is always appropriate for after 6.
Tea length is a good choice with the weather still being warm in Arizona in early October.
Have a great time!
I am a male and i was just asked to be a bridesmaid in a firends wedding. We discussed things and she has stated that she wants me to dress the same as all the other bridesmaids(which is a strappy dress the lingerie and tall heels) i dressed up once as a female for a party when we were in college and now she thinks i can do it again i am very passable as a female and i dont mind dressing for this occasion what should i do.
Hi Matthew and thank you for visiting my site.
I would say do what you want!
If you are comfortable wearing a bridesmaid dress and this is what the bride wants as well, then go fo it.
What is the poem for the camera table tents? There is one that rhymes.
I researched it but I keep getting only the one that doesn't rhyme.
Hello Jamie, I am uncertain which poem you are referring to.
The only suggestion I have is to look at several cameras until you find the ones you want.
You could probably find a website for Kodak or one of the other camera company's and see a wide variety of what is offered.
Hi Valerie,
The reception for my son's wedding follows immediately after the wedding.
He and his bride are getting pictures taken with the family and wedding party before coming to the reception.
Until they get to the reception, who should be there to greet people as they come in?
Hi Linda and thank you for visiting my site.
It is actually very common for not only the bridal party but the families as well to be tied up with pictures directly after the ceremony.
Depending on where you are having your reception you should have a Captain or banquet coordinator who will instruct your guest as to where to go for the "pre reception" period of time.
If you are having the reception at a family members home or a venue that does not have any one in charge of the event, then you should assign someone to greet and direct guests until the bridal party arrives.
My daughter is having a 7 pm wedding and the MOG and I are wearing long dresses.
My mother in law (77 years old, a widow) has bought a strapless tafetta silk dress with ruching from bodice all the way down to the knees. If is very form fitting and has a trumpet skirt.
It looks like a prom dress or pageant gown.
She was very offended when I told her it was more formal than mine and the MOG dress.
I don't think it's appropriate for a woman her age although she normally dresses very stylish for her age.
It is going to a topic of contention but I am not sure what I should do, if anything about it.
What are thoughts, advice?
Hello Mary and thank you for visiting my site.
This one is easy for me because my personal opinion is that 77 year old women should do whatever they please.
If your mother in law is comfortable and feels like she looks good, then more power to her.
Is it proper for the Bride and groom to walk around with a drink in their hand hugging and greet guests at their tables?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
If there are drinks being served at the reception I don't see anything wrong with the bride and groom enjoying a cocktail while visiting tables.
I see this as more of a personal preference than a matter of proper or not proper and think it is up to the bride and groom.
If fathers of the bride and groom wear tuxedos, shouldn't
the Mothers be in formal attire as well, meaning gowns.
What is acceptable as formal for todays ladies.
I always feel gowns.
Am I correct?
Hello Maxine and thank
you for visiting my site.
Formal is "in the eyes of the beholder"
Trends and Fashions for formal have changed so much over the past few years that everyone has a different opinion on what is "dressed up" and what is casual.
There are very formal pant suits for ladies as well as tea length or cocktail dresses that are considered very dressy but not gowns.
I would suggest wearing something you are comfortable in and that makes you feel like you look great!
If this means wearing a gown, then by all means wear a gown.
Also, a great rule of thumb is when in doubt always refer to the bride...ask her what she would like you to wear.
HELLO VALERIE. I NEED HELP. I'M 22 AND I'M BEEN INVITED TO MIDDAY WEDDING ON AUGUST 10TH IN NEW YORK. IT'S GONNA BE IN A COUNTRY CLUB. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO WEAR (I NEVER BEEN IN A SUMMER WEDDING BEFORE) CAN THE DRESS BE SHORT? WHAT COLOR? HELP ME PLS.
I HAVE ANOTHER CONCERN. I'M TRAVELING TO N.Y. FOR THE WEDDING (I'M OVERSEAS) AND THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW THERE IS THE BRIDE AND HER MOM(I'M GONNA STAY WITH THEM) . WILL IT BE RUDE IF I ASK IF I CAN BRING A MALE FRIEND WITH ME? I DONT WANT TO BE ALL BY MYSELF IN THE RECEPTION AND I DONT WANT THEM TO WORRY ABOUT ME. THEY ARE GOING TO BE VERY BUSY. I'LL APPRECIATE ANY HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
It sounds like a pretty sun dress or a cocktail dress would be appropriate for the wedding you are attending depending on how dressed up you want to be, and short would be fine.
I don't think it is rude at all to ask if you may bring a friend.
Perhaps you could offer to stay in a near by hotel in case the space is limited at their home.
I am sure they will let you know what would work out best for everyone, and it is definitely not rude to ask.
Have a great time!
What type of food do we serve at an outdoor wedding reception around 2:00 in the afternoon?
My mom says Hour Dourves because its too late for lunch and too early for dinner, but my fiancée insists that we need to feed our guests a full meal.
Hi Sandra and thank you for visiting my site.
I tend to agree with your mom that Horsdoeuvres are better for a mid afternoon reception.
It is very easy to select enough items to make the selections constitute a full meal.
Carving stations, pasta stations, and individual hot items will definitely fill up your guests.
If your fiancé really wants a meal service I would recommend a "light" luncheon selection for that time of day.
Congratulations and good luck!
What other type of music can the bride walk down the aisle to besides "Here comes the Bride" ?
Hi Aubrey and thank you for visiting my site.
You can use pretty much any music you like as you walk down the aisle as long as the church you are married in does not object to it.
I have seen a huge variety of music used for services, anything from harpists to a live band performing as the bride enters.
It is truly up to your personal preference.
I would suggest looking on some of the music sites and the Internet if you don't already have something in mind.
Congratulations and good luck!
Hi Valerie, would it be inappropriate for the mother of the groom to wear an ivory dress?
If the bride has no objection to the color choice for your dress you can wear any color you like.
I am under the impression that only the bride walks on the runner at her wedding.
Is this correct?
Hello Ray and thank you for visiting my site.
The runner is generally placed before the ceremony.
Guests are not supposed to walk on the runner, but the rest of the bridal party usually walks down the aisle with the runner in place.
Who should be included in the rehersal dinner if the Grooms parents are paying for it? Should it include the extended family or just people in the wedding party?
Hello Cathy and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the rehersal dinner is for the bridal party, immediate family and family traveling from out of state who may have to come in early to be there for the wedding and have no where to go.
How do I inform people of my registry?
Word of mouth is the most common way to let your guests know where you are registered...people will ask you.
It is appropriate and convenient to add a line onto your invitation or directional sheet to state where you are registered, such as:
Visit our registry at RegistryPalace.com or
Beth and James are registered at Macy's and Target
What are the best man’s duties?
Traditionally the best man is responsible for hosting the bachelor party, picking up out of town guests, and holding the rings on the day of the ceremony.
Of course the most important role of the best man is the wedding toast.
Make sure your best man has something prepared in advance so that the toast flows smoothly and is complimentary to both the bride and groom.
Remember that the toast is the first thing to set off your reception and if it is muddled it could set a bad tone for the rest of the evening.
How can we save money on the reception?
There are many ways to save money on your reception.
If you are planning on serving a meal you can save a lot of money by having a luncheon as opposed to a dinner.
You can save even more money by having your reception in the mid-afternoon and serving something like a “high tea” or light hors d’oeuvres.
Many reception sites will offer discounts on what are referred to as off dates.
If you can consider a Sunday or a holiday vendors may be willing to come down on the price for you.
This applies to many vendors, not just your reception site.
Ask your DJ and Florist if they offer discounts for less popular days as well.
Another way to cut costs is to have your wedding out of town and keep your guest list down to a minimum.
You can still send out announcements to let everyone know you are getting married, but you won’t need to invite them all to the wedding.
Do I have to have the same number of groomsmen and bridesmaids?
Always remember, you don't "have" to do anything!
Weddings are very personal times and the friends and family you ask to be part of it should always be the most special people in your life.
It really doesn't matter how many attendants you have on each side, just keep in mind how the placement will look and if your attendants are not of the same number you may want to vary the traditional formation at the alter.
You can also add functions for friends if there are people you want to be part of the wedding but you would prefer to keep the attendants balanced.
You can have any number of ushers for male friends and for female friends you can have a guest book attendant, gift table attendant, greeters at the reception or additional flower girls.
Your attendants will feel special no matter what you have selected them to do, they just want to be a part of your special day.
How can I get an inexpensive wedding dress?
There are many venues that can save you money on your gown.
Keep in mind you will probably never wear your dress again after your big day, so do you really need to keep it?
Some of the places to get great prices on a gown are thrift stores, ebay or bridal outlet stores.
You can also take a picture of a very expensive gown from a magazine to your dry cleaner and most likely get a referral of someone who can make the dress for far less than the magazine price.
Wedding gowns are also available for rental and will be fitted to your exact body shape for a small additional cost.
Your gown is one of the most important aspects of your wedding and you want to feel perfect!
Look around until you find just what you want and then do the research to get the best price.
During the ceremony, as everyone walks down the isle, which side should the bride and bridesmaids walk and which side should the father of the bride and groomsmen walk?
And is it true that family of the bride be seated on her side as well as family of the groom on his side?
Hi Yamile and thank you for visiting my site.
The bride and bridesmaids are generally on the left side.
Most people no longer have guests seated on one side or the other, but if you want to carry on this old tradition there is nothing wrong with it.
My daughter is not having drinking/dancing at her reception.(Wedding 12:00 Sit down dinner reception 1-5) Do you have any ideas of other things to do at the reception besides eat???
Hi Susan and thank you for visiting my site.
There are the usual traditional things that generally take place at a reception even when there is no dancing scheduled.
The cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss and traditional toasts will take up some time.
Of course just having friends and family together to visit and catch up will be nice for the guests, but if you want to do something additional sometimes people do have entertainment at wedding receptions.
Different cultures have dancers or other types of performers to entertain their guests.
There are many event companies that can assist you in finding something that would be fun and appropriate for what you are wanting to do.
How can I save money on the Honeymoon costs?
The best way to save money on the cost of your honeymoon is to try and get others to help you pay for it.
When we recently got married my husband and I created our own honeymoon gift registry.
You can see our example at RegistryPalace.com.
Instead of being registered at department stores you can create the items you want for your trip and ask your guests to purchase them on your site.
We were able to fund 90% of our wonderful cruise through gifts from friends and family.
A couple of additional ways to save costs are to wait until just before you leave to book something.
Lot's of travel packages are greatly reduced about a month before the trips.
You can also book reduced rate vacations on ebay if you keep your eye on who needs to get rid of a trip they have decided not to take.
My stepdaughter is getting married October 30th, in Philadelphia. I recently bought a torquoise silk dress at an end of
summer sale. Would a short sleeve torquoise dress be appropriate for an October wedding? It is an afternoon wedding.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
My only concern about the dress would be that October 30th in Philadelphia may be very cool.
Be sure the wedding and reception are an indoor venue and that you will not be spending a lot of time outdoors.
If that is the case, turquoise is a perfectly appropriate color for October, particularly for a guest of the wedding.
The only other consideration is if your step daughter has asked you to wear one of her “colors” as a mother of the bride figure.
You may want to ask her if she has a preference as to what you wear.
Traditionally the mother’s of both the bride and groom are dressed in the wedding accent colors.
I have heard that there is some type of formula as to the number of invitations sent and the number of guests that attend. Could you help me here? The chapel holds 300, how do you decide how many you can invite?
Hi Amy and thank you for visiting my site.
There are lots of different opinions about how many guests will come versus how many are invited.
Most of the time I recommend using 10% as a guideline.
If you have many guests that have to come from out of town this number may increase.
If you do not want your wedding to exceed 300 guests I would keep your list down to 330.
My step-son's wedding is in November at 5 p.m. The mother of the bride is wearing a long, strapless dress with a cover. What is appropriate for me to wear? I'm cold natured and the wedding is in PA.
Hi Lydia and thank you for visiting my site.
If the bride has not specified what she would like you to wear then the choice is up to you.
It is always nice to stay in the color scheme that she has selected but style should be whatever you feel comfortable and think suits you.
For something dressy but still warm a velvet jacket is nice with dressy slacks or a long skirt or dress.
They also have lovely sweaters that come out for the holidays in golds and silver that would be appropriate.
Please tell me what the right amount of cash is to put in my nieces Wedding Card?
I don't want to feel that I am not putting in the correct amount.
Ffrom my husband, daughter, and myself.
We live in the Boston MA. area.
Hello Paula and thank you for visiting my site.
There really is no right or wrong amount to give a bride and groom...it really depends on what you can afford and how close you are to the couple.
If you really feel like you need some protocol on this, one way to determine the amount is how much the couple is spending per person on the reception.
If the reception is $100 per head and you have 3 guests attending from your family, then a $300.00 gift is appropriate.
Again, not carved in stone but one method people use.
Hi Valerie:
I am getting married in September and there has been some debate over what the groom's father should wear to the wedding.
I am having a very traditional wedding and traditionally the only person other then the groom and the groom's men that wear a tux is the father of the bride.
The grooms father isn't part of the bridal party.
What should he wear the day of our wedding?
Hi Bethann and thank you for visiting my site.
Unless you want the grooms father to be dressed in a specific manner you should leave the decision up to him.
He should wear whatever he is comfortable in.
A nice black suit would be very appropriate but if he would like to wear a tuxedo there is nothing wrong with that either.
Dear Valerie,
I am having issues already about the guest list to our wedding and it is 13 months away.
My fiance has a very large family and he is insistent that he invite everyone in his family, which is well over 100 people.
Some of these people he only sees once a year or less.
My parents are paying for the wedding and have given us a set budget.
If we invite all of these people we will need to pay for them.
He doesn't think it's fair that I ask him to cut down on the list.
Please help.
Dear Holli,
Finances are probably the most problematic part of planning your wedding.
It is very stressful for everyone to spend the kind of money a wedding takes these days.
You should feel special that your fiancé wants all of his family to see him marry you.
It is a special day for both of you and his feelings need to be considered.
The two of you need to have some serious discussions about how to make this work.
You do have 13 months to save up for it.
I would suggest you sit down together and create a realistic budget and see where you can save.
Chances are good that if your fiancé does not see these family members they will not come to the wedding.
(It is also expensive to attend a wedding)…if you have saved and 50% end up not coming, think of how nice it will be to have that extra money for you honeymoon or your new life together when you return.
Another option would be to limit the number of guests to fit in to the budget you have already created and split the number of guests 50/50.
You will probably both have to cut your lists, but that would be a fair way to go if you don’t think you can save up the money.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best!
Where in the ceremony do the flower girls and the ring bearer come in?
Hi Fredericka and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the ring bearer comes down the aisle first, followed by the flower girl.
When addressing the envelopes, should the state be spelled out or is it permissible to abbreviate the state?
Is it correct to write the zip code on a line by itself (if there isn't enough room on the third line)?
Hi Lottie and thank you for visiting my site.
If you want the invitations to be addressed to the letter as far as etiquette, you should always spell out the state and have a separate zip code line.
Most people don't feel that this is all necessary, but if you want it to be by the book that would be the correct procedure.
Whose name do you put on the response card envelope when the couple is living together before the wedding.
Thanks for your help.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
It is appropriate to put both names on the invitation and response card "Mr. Joe Smith and Ms. Mary Jones"
I believe the groom's parents are part of the bridal party. If my wedding is a semi-formal event, should the groom's father be fitted for a tuxedo? And, should his parents walk down the aisle??
Hi Tristine and thank you for visiting my site.
I believe it is up to the bride and groom to decide who they wish to be part of the bridal party.
If you want the grooms parents included that is just fine.
If the parents are not actually standing up for you as Maid of Honor, Best Man or attendant, they generally do not walk down the aisle, however you can plan your processional in any manner you wish.
Congratulations and good luck!
Valerie, I need help making a decision on what to wear to an outdoor wedding, 5pm, in October.
Mother of the bride, bridesmaids, are wearing black.
Other colors for the wedding are orange and teal.
Please Help!
Hello Anna and thank you for visiting my site....I would so stick with black!
My daughter's wedding is on October 13th at 6:30.
Her colors are red and black.
Is a black formal pant suit appropriate?
Hi Kim and thank you for visiting my site.
It is customary for the mother of the bride to wear one of the wedding colors, so a black pantsuit would be perfect.
Unless the bride selects an outfit specifically for the mothers then the choice is up to you to wear what you feel comfortable in.
My Stepdaughter is getting married in April in North Carolina.
Her color for bridesmaid dresses is Periwinkle, her mother has chosen purple for her dress.
Can you please suggest some colors that would coordinate nicely with these colors.
I am concerned with the photos,
I don't want to clash with the other colors.
Thank you.
Hi Murlene and thank you for visiting my site.
Anything in the blue family would go very nice with Periwinkle.
It is also appropriate for the mother of the bride to wear off white if that suits you better or even black if your step daughter does not object to it.
Black is formal and generally appropriate and everyone looks good in it!
Whatever you decide have a great time!
We have been living together for quite a while and are having a very casual ceremony.
We would prefer for our friends to give us cash gifts since there really is nothing we need.
My questions is, is there any way to include that on our invitations without sounding so bad?
I appreciate your help with this.
Thank you,
Hi Lori and thank you for visiting my site.
My husband and I had the exact situation you are facing.
We created a honeymoon registry for our guests to purchase things we would like to do on our honeymoon, of course this was cash and we could spend it as we chose to, but it really was intended to pay for the excursions and fun times we wanted to have.
We put a line on the invitation to "visit our website at....and the registry was located on the site.
If this sounds like something you might like to do you can create your own honeymoon registry at registry palace.com and the cash will come through pay pal.
There are several sites available on the INTERNET that can assist you with this, but Registry Palace is free!
Congratulations and good luck!
I am the Mother of the Bride. I have a budget of $7,000 for the reception. The GROOM has chosen a venue that costs that amount, just for rental (no flowers, no food, no bar, no DJ, no photographer. He is insisting that we have the wedding there, and is causing friction between my daughter and me. I only have my father and 2 brothers on my side that will attend, and they are from out of state.
I feel this is absurd for me to pay such a large amount and not even provide a meal for my family. How do I convince him to allow my daughter and me to plan this ourselves, and to stop interfering with the plans?
Hi Roseann and thank you for visiting my site.
It is very generous of you to extend a budget of $7000.00 to your daughter and her fiancé.
If they can not agree on a venue that works in that price range then I think you should let them know you will contribute that amount and they can do what they will.
This will give you the opportunity to contribute what you wish to but leave the ball in their court.
If the groom wants this venue so badly then he can sport for the food or have a silly reception.
I do not suggest trying to force the issue as this will only cause you additional stress at an already stressful time.
Simply say here is the $7000.00 I have to give you and I just want you to be happy.
You will ultimately feel better.
How much do you spend on someone to preform your wedding ceremony?
Hi Matt and thank you for visiting my site.
There are many factors which determine how much you would spend on an officiant.
If it is your Pastor or Priest it can be as low as $150.00, but it can go up as high as $750.00 for a Rabbi or non-denominational officiant.
Hi, My fiance and I have planned a small wedding with just our immediate family in the Carribean. However we are having a large reception in our hometown just a few days after we return from the islands.
I don't know how to word the invitations to the reception without seeming terribly rude for not inviting everyone to our wedding.
I have read it is proper etiquette to wait until you are married and then send out an announcement of the marriage and an invitation to the reception, however our reception is so soon after our wedding there simply isn't time to do that. What would you recommend the proper wording be for our reception invitations?
Thank you for your help
Hello and Thank you for visiting my site.
There is nothing wrong with having a romantic wedding at an exotic location and then celebrating with friends and family once you return.
Simply word your invitations something like “Join Valerie and John as they celebrate their union at a reception to honor them….” Keep in mind the most important thing is to have the wedding of your dreams and if that means just the two of you on the beach then that is what you should have.
Your friends and family should be happy to have the opportunity to celebrate with you once you return.
Congratulations and Good Luck!
My daughter is getting married this October.
We are in the process of getting back all of the response cards.
The other day we received a response card that was addressed to MR & MRS. X.
and only MR. & MRS. X.
The card came back stating that not 2, but 4 would be attending the wedding...Their adult daughter and her boyfriend.
(They were not on the invitation list).
My future son-in-law has a very "Oh well." attitude about it.
We are the one's who are paying for the entire wedding....my daughter is appalled at the arrogance...my husband is really mad...and the future in-laws are also of the...well, they responded, there's nothing that can be done...they ARE friends of the family.
We, like most families, are on a budget, which was explained to the bride, groom, and his parents!
What is the correct way to handle this situation?
Please advise.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
It is very rude for guests to respond for others who were not included on the invitation.
This is very common and happens to everyone.
Although it may be a little uncomfortable it is absolutey appropriate for you to call Mr. and Mrs. X and let them know the invitation was only for the two of them and you hope they will be able to attend but the guest list is limited.
If they decline or are insulted, too bad!
They are in breach of the correct etiquette, not you.
Is it proper etiquette to mail the Pastor of the ceremony an invitation to the wedding?
Thank you for your time.
Hi Dana and thank you for visiting my site.
If you would like your Pastor to join you for the reception it is appropriate to send an invitation.
Hi Valerie,
My step son is getting married in Florida this November.
Do you think it's appropriate to wear a red gown?
I've asked his fiance about the wedding attire and said to wear whatever we want.
His mom is wearing a lavender color gown and I'm not sure of the color of her mom - black or plum - I believe.
the bridemaids are wearing navy blue.
I'm from ny and I'm used to getting pretty dressed up for weddings.
It's in a really nice place in Boca Raton and my husband (the groom's father) is wearing a blace tux.
The bride is wearing a beautiful lace gown.
The red gown is very tasteful and elegant but I'm not sure about red.
It's not a bright red, its dull.
We will not be in any pictures with the mom.
Hi Jan and thank you for visiting my site.
If the bride said to wear whatever you want, then that is your answer.
It would only be an issue if she was trying to coordinate colors for pictures but it does not sound like that is the case, so wear what you feel comfortable in.
Have a wonderful time!
How do we write a registry note to ask our guests to contribute to our honeymoon account?
What is the proper etiquette?
Hi Sam and thank you for visiting my site.
You can include a line on the invitation or directional card which indicates where you are registered.
Many couples also have websites where their guests can be directed to get information on the wedding, registry etc...If you have not yet set up your registry account a great place to look is RegistryPalace.com.
This service is free for six months and will allow you to create your registry for anything you want and get cash quickly and easily through pay pal.
Congratulations and good luck!
We are having a small wedding and reception at a church @ 3:00. Is it ok to have just cake, punch, & coffee?
Hi Laura and thank you for visiting my site.
It is fine to serve cake, punch and coffee at a church reception.
This is actually a more traditional way of doing things then the big dinner dance receptions people do now and will save you a ton of money!
Congratulations and good luck.
What is an appropriate amount to offer to the wedding pastor for his services?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Generally the Pastor will have a set fee, usually ranging from about $150-$250 for members of the church and maybe a little higher for non-members.
If you Pastor is leaving the amount up to you, I would suggest somewhere within this amount.
What are the duties of the mother of the groom?
Am I expected to help host the showers?
Or should I just keep my mouth shut and wear beige?Cindy
Hi Cindy and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the grooms family pays for flowers and hosts the rehersal dinner.
If the bride does not have a maid of honor or close family females to host her shower it would be a very nice gesture on your part, but it does not fall in your traditional responsibility.
Have fun and wear what you want!
A FRIEND OF MY MINE POSED THIS QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU DO IF TWO MONTHS AFTER YOUR MARRIAGE YOUR HUSBAND LEAVES YOU AND WANTS A DIVORCE? DO YOU STILL SEND OUT THE THANK YOU CARDS, OR DO YOU RETURN ALL THE GIFTS? WHAT IS THE PROPER ETTIQUE FOR THIS SITUATION. (NO THERE IS NO CHANCE OF RECONCILIATION.) DIVORCE IS IN PROGRESS.
Hi Sandy and thank you for visiting my site.
Definitely a no on the thank you cards, but I am uncertain about the gifts.
It seems to me it should be the responsibility of the person leaving the relationship to deal with it.
If I were the bride I would probably send everyone close to me a brief letter explaining my situation and let my husband deal with the whole gift issue.
Hi Valerie, My 20 year old daughter is getting married in July and in December she asked my neice, her cousin, who is the same age as my daughter, to be her maid of honor.
She was very excited and said she thought the dresses that my daughter had picked out for the attendants were beautiful.
When the time came to order the right sizes and colors of dresses the other 2 attendants, bidesmaids, did it right away and when my daughter called her cousin to see if she had ordered hers yet she said, she really did not think she should have to pay for a dress that she didn't like the looks of or the color and would never ever wear again.
She also said that it was proper etiquette for the brides parents to pay for the dresses.
My daughter gave her 3 other options for dresses and 2 more colors to choose from, since she was to be the maid of honor she thought it would be okay for her to wear a different style if she liked it better and would be able to pay for it.
Her reply was that she still felt it was the brides parents duty to pay for the dresses.
I know my sister can help her out financially if she needs it, but I just found out that my sister (who is my best friend) also thinks we should pay for the dresses.
I told my daughter to just let her cousin off the hook and she appointed her best friend, who has already purchased her dress and was suppose to be a bridesmaid, to be the maid of honor.
What is the proper etiquette for this situation.
Hi Dixie and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the brides maids and maid of honor do pay for their own attire.
I think you made the right decision by releasing the cousin of the responsibility.
If she was fussing at this early stage and not cooperating it would have just caused more hassle than it was worth.
Now she can buy whatever dress she likes to wear to the wedding and everyone will be happy!
What advice can you give me about my make-up for my wedding?
Your makeup on your wedding day is a critical aspect of your whole “look”.
Take pictures from magazines with you to cosmetic counters when they are doing free makeovers and see how these looks work for you.
I recommend hiring a professional makeup artist.
Once you have decided on the type of look you want, have a practice session with them and your hairdresser.
Have someone take a picture when you are finished.
This is a day when you want to feel like you look your absolute best, so take the time and spend the money to make it happen.
I am the mother of the bride.
Is it okay for the groom to see the wedding dress just not on the bride until the actual ceremony?
Hi Penny and thank you for visiting my site.
"Traditionally" the groom should not see the dress, but nowadays it is really a personal decision of the bride.
Can you tell me when is the appropriate time for the wedding guests to stand during the processional?
I was recently at a wedding when they stood as soon as the procession began.
I thought they remained seated until the mother of the bride stood, signaling the bride's entrance.
Hi Barb and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally you are correct...no one stands until the bride is in place to walk down the aisle.
Perhaps there was confusion at the wedding you recently attended.
I have seen several times where someone will stand early and others simply follow because they don't know what to do.
I live in Louisiana, and i want to have a nite time wedding (with lots of candles) during the summer. I would really like to avoid the expenditure of serving a meal (dinner to be exact).
How late or early should the wedding be so that I can avoid this, and is it polite to just serve cake at a nite time wedding?
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Dinner hour is generally between 5:30 pm and 8:pm.
If you want to serve just cake I would recommend having your reception after 8:00 pm.
It is also a good idea to indicate on the invitation that "cake and punch" will be served.
This will trigger your guests to understand there will not be a dinner and they will eat prior to your party.
The day is about you getting married, not what you eat so relax and enjoy!
Hello Valerie,
I have some questions about post wedding celebrations. I was married 7 months ago in Italy because my husband is Italian and so are my parents, so it really wasn't a destination wedding it was a regular wedding held in a foreign country. We live in Italy now. Almost all of the family and friends I invited from the US couldn't make it so we want to have a celebration there (in the US). The celebration will be a little short of our 1st year anniversary (we couldn't have it any sooner for various serious reasons). Is it too late? Can I wear my gown again? What is an appropriate invitation?Thanks.
Hello and thank you for visiting my site.
Your situation happens to a lot of couples who have to move to across country or to another country for work or personal reasons.
It is not at all unusual to have a second celebration in your home country when the time is right.
I have had some couples plan their second reception 5 years after they originally got married.
It is fine to wear your gown again at this reception and to plan it just like a wedding reception for your friends and family at home.
There are a few ways to address the invitation and no set rules.
I think "celebration of our marriage" is a nice way to put it.
An invitation printer would be able to give you many more options.
Congratulations and Good luck!
whose grandparents are seated first, the bride or groom
Hi Debbie and thank you for visiting my site.
Traditionally the family of the bride is seated first.
I'm having trouble deciding on a song for my father daughter dance on my wedding day. I never met my father until my highschool open house and I still dont know him all that well. I do love him, and he is a great guy and through him I have a wonderful stepmother and 2 adorable brothers. I want a nice song but most songs that sites recommend are songs about growing up with your father and I didn't have that luxury. But on the other hand I dint want to insult him. Any ideas?
Hi Arika and thank you for visiting my site.
It is lovely that you are including your father in your wedding and there are many appropriate choices for the father daughter dance that may not be on the traditional recommended lists.
I agree that you don't want one talking about childhood and the growing up years when you were not together at that time.
A couple of suggestions would be to ask you dad if he maybe has a favorite song that he would like to dance to at your wedding.
Another thing you could do is utilize the internet and search through song lists until you find one that you like and think would be appropriate.
I wish you all the best and congratulations on your wedding!
Is it proper to have an engagement party?
And if so, whose family should have it, the bride's or the groom's?
Hello Jan and thank you for visiting my site.
It is great to have an engagement party and in some cultures even part of the wedding celebration.
It can be thrown by either side or by the couple themselves.
Valerie, I am having a cocktail reception with appetizers and drinks only.
I was wondering if I start the ceremony at 7:00 with the reception immediately following would that be ok for that type of reception? Will people know by "cocktail reception" on the invitation that it will not be a full dinner and they should eat before they come?
Hi Becky and thank you for visiting my site.
The wording of cocktail reception should be sufficient for your guests to know that dinner with not be served.
The timing is perfect with a 7:00 pm ceremony as it will give people a chance to have an early dinner prior to going to your wedding.
Congratulations and good luck!
Who can host my wedding shower?
While it is "traditional" for the Maid of Honor to host your shower, really anyone can give you one.
If you are fortunate you may end up with more than one!
Sometimes your co-workers will host a shower for you and it is also appropriate for your mother or your fiance's mom to give you a family shower.
There are no set guidelines but if you are going by the book it should be your Maid of Honor.
I am single and never get invited to weddings addressed to me "and guest".
My friend argues that it's okay to respond with 2 attendees even though the invite did not read "and guest".
I was even invited to a couples baby shower without the option of bringing a guest!
What is your take with the single peron and "guest" situation?
I feel that the invite should extend the invite to me with "and guest" noted.
Hi Karen and thank you for visiting my site.
I agree it is somewhat rude not to include the word "guest" when sending invitations to a single person.
It is however understood as far as protocal that you are welcome to bring a guest.
Most people use the guidelines listed wherever the invitations are purchased and examples of invitations for single people are shown with the single name.
I understand your frustration, but your friend is right, you should feel free to RSVP for yourself and a guest.
It is also a good idea to include the name of your guest in the event placecards are being used.
My fiance and I are getting married Sept 30 2006 we are trying to save money and are only inviting adults to our wedding with limited seating.How do we construct R.S.V.P. to inform no children and only persons listed are invitation.
Hi Daniella and thank you for visiting my site.
There are a few ways to word the invitation to include only adults, the most common is to have a line on the bottom simply stating "This is an adult occassion".
The store or person who does your invitations should be able to give you additional examples of wording.
As far as people adding on guests, this is just plain rude!
You will know how many are coming when you get the rsvp's, but aside from that there is really no way to tell.
You can only assume they will understand it is for them as a couple without additional guests.
Hi Valerie,
I was wondering if the bridesmaids typically walk down the aisle with the groomsmen?
Or can the groomsmen walk out by themselves?
Hi Jill and thank you for visiting my site.
The processional is done a variety of different ways.
It really depends on the look you want and the size of the bridal party.
If you have a very large bridal party it makes more sense to have the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle in pairs, if not then it is generally the groomsmen are already at the alter with the groom and the bridesmaids walk down the aisle individually.
I hope this helps!
Can the groom wear something different from the groomsmen?
Of course!
This is a big day for the groom as well, and he should stand out from his groomsmen.
The most traditional way to off set the groom is to have him in white and the groomsmen in black.
A couple of more modern ways to have the groom look different than his guys is to give him a different neck piece...perhaps an ascot instead of the traditional bow tie.
You could also consider having the groom wear a colorful vest or tie and cumber bun.
Just like the bride the most important thing is for the groom to feel comfortable and like he looks great.
Do all my bridesmaids have to wear the same dress?
The most important thing to remember in planning your wedding is that it is "YOUR" wedding! Everything from the day to the guest list and your vows should be just as you want them to be. While it is "traditional" for all of your attendants to be in the same attire it is most definitely not essential. Many weddings are now done in themes or even a variety of colors based on seasons or favorite shades of the bride. A lot of brides allow their attendants to select the style of dress as long as the color is the same. Women have such varying body types and shapes that all of your girls are not going to look and feel good in the same dress. Lots of bridal magazines and shops now carry two piece brides maid gowns with alternating tops and bottoms...you can go on a shopping trip with your party and have everyone try the style that feels good to them. When picking out your dresses keep in mind how you want everyone to look standing up at the alter. What vision do you have that your guests are going to see? It is also a nice touch to have the Maid of Honor in a different style or color than the other girls.
Is it normal to change from wedding gown to something else more casual like a suit or dinner party dress for the reception, if so when does the outfit change occur? Thanks.
Hi Kimberly and thank you for visiting my site.
It is perfectly fine to change during the reception.
You should probably wait until you get all of your picture shots in your gown.
After the bouquet and garter toss and the cake cutting.
Have a wonderful wedding!
Do guests envited to an Engagement Party bring gifts, if so what kind of gift?
I will be attending the Engagement Party, Bridal Shower and Wedding.
Gifts are not traditionally expected at an engagement party...if you should choose to bring a gift something small like flowers or a bottle of wine is appropriate.
I was told by a pastor that if we were to be married at his church we could not play the wedding march "which my grandmother recorded before she died" because it was paganistic, is this true, and if so how did it become part of the wedding ceremony?
Hi Amanda, and thank you for visiting my site.
Wow...I have never heard this one before!
You are talking about the "traditional" wedding march???
I don't understand why your pastor has a problem with this.
I have been to hundreds of services at many different denominations where the wedding march has been played.
The only answer I have is that it sounds like a personal issue for him.
I will definitely do some research and if I find a better answer I will let you know.
I am the maid of honor in a wedding.
I threw a great shower, and took her out for a bachelorette party.
Between the shoes, hair, dress, etc. I am up over $1000.
Am I supposed to get her a gift also?
After all this, I don't want to be called cheap!!
Hi Kathy and thank you for visiting my site.
It sounds like you are a terrific maid of honor!
Traditionally you should get the bride and groom a wedding gift.
If it is really a financial strain, you could always do a gift certificate for them to redeem a lovely dinner at your home some time in the future.
This would be a cost effective, creative and still thoughtful wedding present.
When the parents, and grandparents are being seated during the ceremony, should the music be specific for the mother of the bride, and then the parents of the groom, and for the grandparents. So in other words, does the mother of the bride get a song for her, and then the others get songs for them, all different from each other? Also, Are all they all seated after the prelude, for everyone to see? Or, are they seated during the prelude with no attention given to them?
Hi Jennifer and thank you for visiting my site.
Music selection for the pre-processional is entirely up to the bride and groom.
Generally there is not specific music played for the parents and grand parents, but it is a very sweet idea and could easily be incorporated in to your ceremony.
DOES THE BRIDE AND GROOM LIGHT THE UNITY CANDLE BEFORE THEY ARE PRONOUNCED MAN AND WIFE OR AFTER
Hi Debbie and thank you for visiting my site.
Generally the unity candle is part of the ceremony and is done prior to being pronounced man and wife.
Your officiant should guide you through the order of the ceremony.
Congratulations and good luck!
When should I start planning my wedding?
The amount of time required to plan your wedding varies from couple to couple.
There are several things to consider when making a time frame.
How long will you need to save up the money for what you want for your wedding?
How much notice would any out of town guests need?
Are you having wedding attire made, or buying off the rack?
Generally weddings can be planned in as little as three months, but most often people will give themselves a full year.
Plan the wedding you would like to have out on paper and then go through and determine how long it will take to accomplish the tasks ahead of you.
If a woman has been married before, should she wear both sets of wedding rings after the ceremony and if so, how should they be displayed on her finger(s)?
Hi Carol and thank you for visiting my site.
It is actually not appropriate for women who remarry to wear both sets of rings.
I would suggest having the original wedding set made in to another piece of jewelry.
Perhaps a c