TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE PERFECT WEDDING GOWN

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding is selecting that perfect gown, the one that will dazzle your fiancee, your friends and your family. Although your mind may be made up and your heart set on a particular style prior to going shopping, be sure to try on several different styles.

Your bridal consultant should not just be helpful and friendly, she should be knowledgeable and a good listener. Tell her what you’re looking for. If you have pictures show them to her. Tell her where your wedding will be and when it will take place. All these things will help her determine which gowns in her store will best fit what you’re looking for.

If your bridal consultant is pushy, insists you don’t know what you want - but she does, or tries to get you to buy every dress you try on -- run out of the store. Purchasing your gown should be a fun experience.

Also realize that all gowns look great on the size 6 models in the pictures. Your body shape and size will make a difference on what style gown looks best on you. Be open to the suggestions of your bridal consultant. Oh and by the way - sizes for bridal gowns is different that the sizes you find at the mall or on ready to wear clothes. Wedding gowns use “European” sizing and run from one to two sizes small. That means if you usually wear a size 8 you’ll probably be a size 10 in your bridal gown.

Be careful not to bring too many friends with you. Usually mom, grandma and a friend is plenty. When you have too many people giving their opinions it can be confusing and frustrating. Remember it’s your day, it’s your dress, and it’s your decision - if you love it, that’s what really counts.


TIMING AND BUYING YOUR DRESS

You can never buy your wedding dress to early, but it’s very easy to wait too long.

You may think that a bridal consultant is trying to pressure you when they encourage you to purchase your gown months in advance. Average time to order a dress is 12 - 17 weeks. Let me explain the process.

Almost all wedding gowns are manufactured in China. When a bridal shop sells a dress they call the manufacturer with the order. Most manufacturers accumulate orders through Friday. The orders are usually faxed or sometimes emailed to the actual manufacturing plant in China. The dress is then put into the production schedule. The cutting, sewing, embroidery, beading etc. is then done. This process can take several weeks.

Once the dress is completed at the manufacturing plant in China it is packaged and shipped by container to the U.S. When it arrives in the U.S. it must clear customs. This part of the process can take place quickly or take several days. (Sometimes the custom officials take extra time to inspect shipments looking for contraband, and other illegal items that are not allowed in the country.) After the dress clears customs it is shipped to the manufacturer’s warehouse, it is checked in and then repackaged ready to ship to the bridal shop. Dresses are usually shipped regular UPS which can take 3-7 days depending on the distance from the warehouse to the bridal shop.

One more thing to take into consideration is Chinese New Year. This is a 15 day celebration in China and the dress manufacturers close down for it. That can mean an additional 2 weeks for delivery of your dress.


TIMING AND BUYING YOUR DRESS part 2

In our last newsletter we talked about how long it takes to actually make your dress, 12 - 17 weeks. Now we’ll discuss some other advantages to ordering early.

Most bridal manufacturers actually come out with new styles 2 times each year, Spring and Fall. That also means that they discontinue dress styles 2 times a year. The bridal shop never knows which dresses will be discontinued and which will be held over to the next season.

If you put off ordering your dress it could be discontinued when you actually decide to buy. This could be a big disappointment for you.

By ordering your dress early you provide adequate time for alterations and for any other problems that could arise.

Alterations are usually done 6 - 8 weeks prior to the wedding. It is always best to schedule your appointment with the seamstress well in advance. This means 12-17 weeks for ordering the dress and another 6-8 weeks for alterations. So you can see that 5-6 months prior to the wedding is not too early to order.

Mistakes happen, fortunately in the bridal industry they are few and far between. Sometimes the manufacturer can make an error, anything from the wrong color fabric to sending the wrong size dress. Sometimes the bridal shop can make an error in ordering. This isn’t to scare you. Both the manufacturer and the bridal shop are very careful with each detail and use several checks to make sure there isn’t any error. But on the remote chance something doesn’t go exactly as planned it is so much better to have ordered you dress well in advance so if a correction needs to be made there will be time.

Piece of mind. Knowing that your dress is ordered and you can get on with other aspects of your wedding is a big relief. Your stress level will go way down once this is taken care of.

So the advice is: When you find the “Perfect Dress” buy it. Period…End of story…Stop looking. But it that day! And especially if the gown is on a sale rack or is a one-of-a-kind sample.


WEDDING GOWN STYLES - What looks good on what body shapes and sizes.

“There are so many wedding dresses to choose from, where do I start?” This is an all too often question asked by brides everywhere. The first step is to figure out what style wedding dress is the best for your body type. Then you can start paying attention to the train length, décor, and accessories. If you stay within the most complementary body style you can find the perfect wedding gown. Decide what your favorite feature is that you would like to accent and also the feature you would most like to detract from. Brides come in all different sizes, short and tall, over bearing bust lines or over bearing hips, lots of curves or no curves. Whatever the shape, there is a perfect dress for you.

For a more petite bride looking to elongate her legs and body, empire waist gowns sit right under your bust line and gives the illusion of longer legs and more height. Also a dress with princess seams elongate the body. Usually a princess cut dress is a fitted bodice with a slight A-line cut at the skirt. A tall bride should look for lines that separate and distinguish the different components on her body, such as a distinct waist line in a basque waist or a wrap waist line on top of a princess cut.

Brides wanting to accent their waist but minimize the bust area should look for a wrap waist line and heavy beading on the bust area. Basque waist lines are also great for accenting the waist. The key is a fitted bodice with something that makes the eye go to the waist. When the bust is covered with beading people’s eyes look at the beading and not the actual size of the bust line. Full busted brides should also look for scoop necklines and thicker straps. Lace up backs are great because they can loosen where you need them to and really tighten where you want them to. Instead of getting the dress to fit your bust and then having to alter it to fit your waist.

Smaller busted brides who want to give fullness and lift to their bust line should look for dresses that have little beading on the bust line and more beading at the waist and elsewhere. If you want to detract from your hips choose fuller skirts such as A-lines and ball gowns, they hide the hips and the fuller the skirt is at the bottom the smaller it will make your waist look.

To accentuate curves or make it look like you have curves, a bride should a choose sheath cut dress. The bride with curves would look for pencil skirts to show off her body rather than a mermaid which could make her look to curvy. A mermaid skirt is great for someone who has little curves because it gives the illusion of having them. Also, delicate draping on sheath cut dresses will provide amore curved body shape.

If you are wanting to bring in your waist line, wrap dresses and basque waists are great. The wrap, while looking like it is just a bunch of draped fabric across the mid section while it’s hanging up, is actually one of the most flattering styles for a bride wanting to minimize her waist line. It will put more focus on the bust while it trims down the waist. Basque waists with heaving beading on the mid-section will, and boning in the bodice really accents the waist nicely while holding everything together.

Once you and your bridal consultant have picked the right cut for your body, accenting your best feature and detracting from your not so great feature, you can then move on to the décor and embellishments.


WEDDING GOWN GLOSSARY

Gown shapes:
Ball gown - This is the classic wedding dress shape. This has a large full skirt and is what you would recognize as a “Cinderella” look.
Basque Waist - This dress is similar to a ballgown except it has a dropped waist with a V-shape to it.
Empire Waist - Has a very high waist close to or directly under the busts. The skirt drops from there.
Mermaid - A fitted gown in the bodice and waist that flares dramatically at the bottom starting usually in the mid to lower thigh area.
Sheath - A straight dress fitted throughout with no waist.

Gown Lengths:
Ballet - the dress stops just above the ankle
Floor - the dress stops approximately one inch from the floor
Intermission - the dress is floor-length in the back but the hemline is about the mid-calf area in the front.
Street - The dress stops just below the knee
Tea - the dress stops between the knee and the ankle.

Necklines:
Bateau - slightly curved below the collarbone from one shoulder to the other
Decolletage - a plunging neckline that reveals cleavage
Jewel - Encircles the base of the neck itself
Portrait - the neckline comes just above the shoulder and gathers at a point just above the bustline in the center of the dress
Queen Anne - A high neckline on the back and sides of the neck and sometimes plunges in the front.
Sabrina - A straight neckline that begins about two inches inside the shoulder
Scoop - A low, rounded neckline
Square - as it says, its shaped like a square across the front of the dress
Sweetheart - the neckline begins inside the shoulder and dips into a heart shape at the bustline

Sleeves:
Balloon - puffed out from the shoulder to the elbow
Cap - a short sleeves that fitted and only covers the shoulder
Gauntlet - a detachable long sleeve that usually covers the forearm to the wrist or back of the hand
Juliet - A sleeve that is puffy at the top and then is fitted on the lower arm area

Waistlines:
Asymmetrical - Begins at the natural waist and then angles over to one side
Basque - Come to a point dipping in the center of the front of the dress
Blouson - the fabric is gathered at the waist
Dropped - the waistline is a few inches below the natural waist
Empire - the waistline begins just below the bustline and drops from there


TODAY’S TOPIC: VEILS

Veil Styles:
Blusher: A shoulder-length layer of the veil that is worn over the face. Typically combined with other lengths and used for both formal and semi-formal weddings.
Elbow Length: Single layer elbow veils are usually 30" in length. 2~tier veils are usually 25" x 30". The top (shorter) layer is the blusher. This is one of the most popular veil length!
Fingertip Length: Single layer elbow veils are usually 36" in length. 2-tier veils are usually 30" x 36". The top (shorter) layer is the blusher.
Chapel Length: Chapel length veils usually extend to the floor behind the dress. They are used in a formal wedding. Brides can also combine veils - a single layer elbow with a chapel length veil and use the elbow length as the blusher.
Cathedral Length: Cathedral length veils are typically a single layer 120" in length and extend 1-3 feet beyond the train of the dress, depending on the dress style. They are used for formal weddings. Cathedral length veils look best when worn with a cathedral or semi-cathedral length gown.
Brides can also combine veils - a single layer elbow with a cathedral length veil and use the elbow length as the blusher.

How To Choose Your Wedding Veil
Things to Consider When Selecting Your Veil Length:
• Your height
• The Length of your Dress
• Detailing of Your Dress

1. If you are under 5'4" you should select an elbow length veil (30" long). If you are over 5'7" you should
select a fingertip veil (36" long). If you are in between those heights, then you can probably go with either length -- it just depends on whether you prefer a short length (elbow) or longer length (fingertip).
2. You should consider where on your head you will be wearing your veil. If you are wearing it towards the back of your head, the veil will be longer.
3. You should consider the detailing (on the back of your dress) and the overall design of your dress. Your veil length should be cut just above or below any focal point on your dress. Don't choose a veil length that ends right where your bodice begins because it cuts you in half visually (something just above or just below). If you have a sharply defined waistline, don't choose a veil t hat ends right at the waistline something slightly above or below it.

Veil Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do the veils come attached to a comb?
A: Yes, all of our wedding veils will come attached to a comfortable 4" comb.

Q: What is the difference between white, diamond white, and ivory colored veils?
A: Here is the description of our colors:
WHITE: This a bright (stark) white color. If your gown is called "white", this is the veil color you need to select.
DIAMOND WHITE: This color is just barely off-white. It is best used for Diamond White, Light Ivory, or Candlelight dresses. It is also best for silk white gowns which are not actually a stark white color.
IVORY: The ivory color is very soft, light shade of ivory. If your gown is a true ivory color, this is usually the best choice for you.

If there is any color variation between the dress and your veil-- you always want the veil to be a shade lighter (versus a shade darker) than your dress ..

Q: What are your veils made out of?
A: Our wedding veils are made with "Bridal illusion", which is a type of tulle that is softer and made specially for bridal veils.

Veils come with a wide variety of edgings. Ask your bridal consultant to show you the many choices available. There is and edge for every dress. Some of the most popular edges include ribbon edges of various widths, crystal edges, seed beads - barrel beads - micro crystals and many combinations. You’ll have fun seeing all the options.


CHOOSING BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES

You’ve probably been a bridesmaid yourself. It can be a stressful time trying to get all your bridesmaids together and then trying to decide on what everyone likes.

First thing to remember is it’s your wedding, it’s your big day - not theirs’.

Second thing to remember you still want these bridesmaids to be your friends after the wedding too!

Maid’s dresses have become much more fashionable. You can find some absolutely stunning styles available now. Many of these style can certainly be worn again for special occasions after the wedding. When shopping consider that it is now acceptable to have all the maids dressed exactly the same - same dress - same colors. Or you can have them all in different styles but the same color. Or you can have them all in the same style but different colors.

It’s best if you consider the price of the dress they’ll be wearing and who is paying for it. You may find some maids resent paying $200+ for a dress just to be in your wedding. Be sensitive to their feelings and their budget.

One more consideration - not all dresses look good on all body sizes and shapes. If you have a variety of sizes and shapes as your maids either choose a dress that will look good on everyone or consider allowing them to wear different styles but the same color.

Last consideration - ask your bridal consultant if you get a discount. Discounts are sometimes offered if you purchased your gown from the same bridal shop, or sometimes if you order 5 or more dresses.


WEDDING DAY EMERGENCY KIT

We’d like to provide you with an extensive list of items you may need on your actual wedding day. You can add or subtract from the list depending on the location of your wedding, what you’re wearing, the wedding colors and time of day. If your wedding is at a home - in the backyard then many of these items will already be available. If you’re traveling to a distant location you may already have many of these items for your travel. Look over the list and decide what items you should have with you at the actual wedding. Remember emergencies happen, if you’re prepared it can “tragedy” into a minor inconvenience.

Makeup kit
Hand mirror
Hair spray
Nail Glue
Deodorant
Toothpaste and or breath mints
Tampons/Kotex
Extra nylons
Chalk - can cover up a spot on your gown
Bobby pins - to secure your tiara or veil
Corsage pins - not just for corsages but good for other minor “repairs”
Hairdryer
Iron
Sewing kit (with buttons, hem tape, needle, safety pins, scissors, thread to match bridal gown and maids dresses) This is probably the most important item to “save” the day.
Shout wipe - or Tide pen for spot removal
Static cling spray
Antacid - Aspirin - ibuprofen
Band-aid best in a skin tone
Personal medications
Super glue
Scotch tape
One or two pair of black men’s socks - surely one of the men will forget and wear white socks!

When you’re trying to decide what words or saying to engrave inside each other’s wedding bands, make sure you’re not saying something to cutesy or an inside joke or sexually suggestive with the words you inscribe. This lasts forever, and you’ll be wearing these rings when you’re older. Your kids will ask about the inscriptions, so think forward and choose something heartfelt rather than in-the-moment amusing.

When you start your wedding planning process – or if you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to distribute a contact list to everyone in your bridal party. The list should have everyone’s e-mail address so that they can all contact each other directly with their questions about the gowns, their deposits, the shower, and any of the other details of your wedding. That way, they won’t have to funnel all of their messages through you. It will take a ton of work off of your shoulders. Be sure and send out an e-mail asking each of them which e-mail you should use to contact them…do they may have a preference of which e-mail they would like you to use. Never give out their office e-mail addresses. The best e-mail is the one they check the most often, so it’ll be an efficient tool for them.


Have you thought about your pets during your wedding and or your honeymoon? Is there someone who would volunteer and take your pet during your wedding day? What about while your on your honeymoon? It’s best to make arrangements now. Visit several great boarding establishments. Always use a reputable boarding house, preferably one that other friends have used. If you’ve never boarded your pet before, it can be worrisome for you. If so ask a friend or relative if they can watch your pets for you. You may want to plan pre-visits with your pet to wherever they will stay to establish some familiarity with the location, the friend’s other pets and the friend who’s taking them.

Sometimes guest drag their feet or just forget to RSVP. If you have some guests who haven’t RSVP’d by the date you’ve included on any invitations, it’s best to call them. You should ask them if they are coming. You may feel this is being a bit too pushy but you’ll prevent a big etiquette faux pas of guests not having received their invitation! They do get lost in the mail. If you call, you won’t have an offended relative or friend who thinks they got left off the list. Plus this will give you a much more accurate count for catering and could save you hundreds of dollars.

Something you may not have thought about. You’ll be using your cell phone a lot in the coming months as you plan your wedding. With so many vendors and friends calling you for wedding details, and you calling them, the minutes can really add up. Ask them to call you on your regular phone, or call them right back from your home phone. Save those cell phone minutes so you don’t get slammed with overage charges, which can be in the hundreds of dollars

Many of your wedding guests will be sending gifts to you after the wedding. It would be a good idea to ask a neighbor to check your front, side and back doors for any package deliveries made while you’re away. You don’t want to risk any gift being stolen or damaged by the weather.


Have you thought about your first dance? Learn several different dances. You don’t want just your First Dance to be impressive. Arrange with your deejay or band to play some unique dances that your guests will love, try a cha cha, a samba, a tango, ask friends for some ideas too. Dancing With the Stars is a big TV hit. Let your guests show off their dancing talents at your wedding. And be sure you can join in the fun too.

You are probably planning a money dance. Make sure you have a purse you can put the money in. Many guest will bring gifts of cash or a check in an envelope. Plan on making something special to put these envelopes in. You could make their own cake-shaped gift box for the guests to insert their money envelopes into. Or how about a decorated bird cages, or a beautiful, satin, beaded ‘money handbag’ that you could also use for your money dance. What’s your plan?


Seating all your guest can be a real frustration. If you’re having problems creating a seating chart for the reception because not everyone of your family and friends are just not fitting into those 12-seater tables try this. Ask the event facility manager if you can mix up the table sizes. See if you can use some 12-seaters, some 10-seaters, and maybe a few 8-seaters if that will help solve the seating dilemma.


Your bridal party would rather have an inexpensive keepsake gift, such as a framed photo or a bracelet from Target – something they can hold onto – than have you pay for their shoes or their tuxes as your ‘gift’ to them. So that’s good news! You can spend under $20 per bridal party member and make them happier!


At the start of your planning, create a Who Pays for What list. Forget about the old-fashioned traditional lists you see online, the ones that say the bride’s family pays for everything or that the groom’s family pays for all the alcohol. Today’s wedding planning model has each group custom-designing who will pay for what, and how much, so approach parents with ‘how would you like to help us plan our wedding?’ Come to an agreement that everyone is comfortable with. Make some notes so if there are any questions later you can refer back to them. Also take into consideration that there might be grandparents who would like to pay for something specific….like maybe even your dress. Be prepared on how you will handle people / relatives who either want to help, don’t want to help or can’t help. Sometimes not accepting someone’s offer to pay for something can cause hurt feelings…so be aware, and be prepared.

When you are choosing your honeymoon location remember that cost is only one factor. Check out which season you‘ll be there. You don’t want to book your honeymoon during hurricane season or bug season, or the off season when some of the restaurants or attractions are closed. Check with your travel agent when the ‘shoulder season’ is for the locations you ‘d like. “Should season” is the time between peak and off season when prices drop but everything at the destination is still pretty much the same as it is in peak season.

Different house of worship have different rules. It’s a good idea to meet with your officiant and find out the specific rules of the house of worship you‘re going to be using. You could be surprised to find out that they don’t allow flash photography, the throwing of rice, or the placing of and/or lighting of candles. Obviously you’ll want to know this ahead of time, before you invest in any expensive décor that might get turned away, or before a guest does something inappropriate.

When working with your DJ or band you know you can make up a Play List for the songs you want to hear during your reception. But did you know that you can personalize it even more by creating a ‘When To Play List’. You can make it so slower songs are played for the dinner hour, fast songs are played during the dancing hours, and then again slower songs for the dessert hour. This way you actually get to design all the aspects of the music for your wedding day, and your DJ or band gets specific guidance on what you want to hear and when. It really does make it easier for them too.

Create a plan for who you want to hand out programs as guests enter your ceremony area. Child attendants can do it, and parents have even expressed interest in this task so that they can greet the relatives and friends before the ceremony starts. An honored couple can also be chosen for this task. I advise against setting programs on chairs for outdoor weddings, since they can blow away in the wind.

The key to wedding day make-up is to look like yourself, only better. These tips will help you shine on your wedding day as well as photograph beautifully.
1. Choose colors that are brighter than you usually wear, not darker.
2. Wear a yellow-based foundation.
This will flatter your face in pic tures, no matter what your ethnic background or skin tone.
1. Choose matte, solid-color makeup instead of frosted, iridescent and pearled colors and glosses which can make your face look greasy.
2. Apply powder with a puff to get enough coverage to keep your skin from looking shiny.
3. Buff the power in with your hands to help it last longer.
4. Powder your neck and shoulders
as well to keep them from look ing shiny in pictures and blend better with your face. Don't use makeup, however because this will rub off on your dress.
5. Get a facial at least two weeks before your wedding date to allow redness or puffiness to subside.
6. Each night, gently brush Vaseline-coated lips with a soft toothbrush to remove scales or flakes.
7. Avoid new beauty products for two weeks before your wedding. The last thing you need is an al lergic reaction on your wedding day.
8. Use a humidifier in your room at night to boost skin's moisture level.
9. Use lip balm with sun screen to keep your lips from getting dry or cold sores.
10. Experiment with a variety of eye pencil colors, both smudged and hard-lined to find the best look for your eyes.
11. Take off makeup every night so pores don't have a chance to get clogged.
12. In the morning, splash icy cold water on your face to reduce puffi ness and tighten skin.
13. Drink eight glasses of water daily to detoxify and hydrate your skin.
14. Deep condition your hair once a week. Start now!

Before you decide, interview several photographers.
Ask to see examples of their work. Remember the album you'll see is a composite of many weddings and his best work. Keep these questions in mind while reviewing their albums:
Do all the pictures look alike?
Are all the poses traditional?
Are any pictures taken at bad angles?
Do backgrounds detract from the pictures?
Did the photographer capture emotions or personal style of the bride & groom?
How much attention is paid to details? Look for bouquets held at poor angles. In group
pictures are all the arms and hands positioned well? Are all the men's jackets buttoned?
Consider if the photographer's style matches your personalities. A reliable expert with a good reputation may not take the type of pictures your prefer. You'll spend a good part of the day working closely with the photographer.
Hire someone you like personally. Animosity between the two of you may create upsetting distractions or a failure to communicate your preferences.
Ask if the person you meet with in the studio will be the one who will actually take pictures at your wedding. Also inquire whether they will bring an assistant. Ask to meet this person to be sure you will like working with them as well.

If all your life you've dreamt of your wedding day. Now it's time to actually plan for it! Romance and real ity collide! Where should you start? First, plan for your marriage, not just the wedding ceremony. Couples who consult pre-marital counselors have a much lower divorce rate. Make a com mitment to have someone help you explore potential future disagree ments. They will help you discuss marriage breaking challenges such as family relationships, career plans, child raising, financial planning and sexual expectations.
If you should discover your fiance is not the perfect person for you, the decision will be difficult. But, it will be worse to learn you're not com patible after the dress is ordered and the hall is reserved.
The first thing to do for plan ning the wedding ceremony is to set a budget. Not very romantic is it? Nei ther are financial pressures or disap pointments on the day of your wed ding. Discuss your wedding plans with your fiance and decide who will pay for what. Consult your family to learn how much (if anything) they plan to contribute.
Warning: whoever pays for the event will ex pect to have a strong say in the decisions.
For guid ance consult a wedding plan ning guide.
On paper, list, in detail, each aspect of your wedding and assign it a budgeted amount. After totaling all the items you will probably need review and see where you cut back on expenses. This is done much more easily on paper than when stand ing in a vendor's showroom or office.
Next, make a planning cal endar. The wedding planning guides will give an outline of what should be done and when. Allow extra time whenever possible. Everything will take longer than you expect, especially if you choose to do-it-yourself instead of hiring professional services. Get counsel, follow your budget and calendar and have a beautiful wedding and a happy ever-after.

Beauty gurus advise the best color for your lips is determined by your eye color
Blue/gray eyes: Choose lipstick colors with blue or mauve undertones, neutrals with rose and mauve undertones, light pink to fuchsia, peaches and reds.
Brown eyes: Choose colors with yellow, orange or brown undertones, orange to terra cotta, corals and reds and warm neutrals. No mauve or blue undertones.
Hazel/green eyes: Choose colors with burgundy or brown undertones, neutrals with brown or rose undertones, medium pinks with rose undertones and reds.

First make a list of all the men you expect to wear formal attire.
Ask them for their preferences (especially the fathers).
At the Tuxedo Rental Service ask:
Will you guide us toward the proper attire for our wedding's level of formality and time of day?
Will you help coordinate apparel for the various men in the wedding?
Do you offer discounts?
What does the base rental price
include?
Do you have a wide selection of jackets, slacks, ties, vests, cummerbunds, shirts, shoes and accessories?
Do any of these items require up-charges?
What is the deadline for all measurements?
Do you have cards for men who need to be measured out -of town?
When are deposits required?
When are final payments required?
Do you require a damage deposit?
What does this include?
How soon before the wedding may we pick up the tuxes?
Must each person try on the tux before taking it?
How are you prepared to correct problems?
When must the suits be returned?
What are your shop's hours?
When will the damage deposit be refunded? And to whom?

Why is it that some wedding reception guests just can't get enough of the bride and groom kissing? They love to clink glasses at the most inconvenient times so the bride and groom barely get a chance to eat their dinner. This can
get boring to the bride and groom and to other guests.
A fresh idea is to make it a game of "copy this".
At the clinking command to kiss, select a couple. Choose people who are romantically paired: your parents, the maid of honor and her husband, the best man and his girlfriend, your brother and his wife, etc. The selected couple kiss in their most dramatic style. Then, the bride and groom have to copy their actions and kiss.
This game can add laughter and love to your reception.

Is unique the word for your wedding? Most brides are not content with cookie-cutter weddings. They want to express their own indi vidual style. Some get so caught up in the excitement that the event more resembles a Broadway production than a wedding celebration.
Even simple, cookie-cutter type weddings can cause stress. Adding challenges and details can cause a bride so much stress that she can't enjoy her wedding day. And, doesn't that defeat your purpose?
To help you reduce the stress of planning a unique wedding here are a few dos and don'ts:
Don't make plans for a lavish event if your fiancee wants a simple wedding, then browbeat him into supporting your efforts.
Do share your ideas, listen to his as well and make compromises.
Don't assume since it's your day that, only your opinions and feelings matter.
Do show consideration for friends and family members. Yes, even the mothers of the bride and groom.
Don't try to do everything yourself
Do ask others to share in the planning and work.
Do ask for advice, help and suggestions.
Don't underestimate the time, work and money involved.
Do count on everything taking twice as long and costing twice as much as you first estimated.
Don't base a style around hard-to find props or apparel. Example: don't plan a Hawaiian theme if you have no resources for leis, grass skirts or palm trees.
Do launch your style from a natural inspiration such as the style of your gown, location, time of year or family customs.
Don't get in over your head.
Do realize your limitations. Accept that you may not get everything ex actly as you want it. Remember the point of the day is to get married, not launch the next Spielburg movie.
Don't burden yourself by trying to use your theme in every element.
Do incorporate a few unique ideas that reflect your style.
Don't try to impress anyone. This isn't the time to prove your mother was wrong or to out-do someone else's wedding.
Do remember the purpose of the wed ding is to make a solemn commitment and celebrate.
Don't impose on your guests. Brides have been known to request their guests come in costume, wear a certain color, travel great distances or devote full days to their weddings. As a re sult, the guests stayed away from the wedding.
Do respect your guests' needs and de sires.
Don't confuse your guests.
Do explain things to your guests. Let them know ahead of time what to ex pect, especially if you choose an un usual location. If you will include an unusual ethnic tradition, make a note of this in the wedding program.
Don't get lost in your theme.
Do choose a theme that reflects your personal style, talents and interests.

Rented wedding transportation can assure that you will arrive to the church and to the reception in safety and luxury. Whether you hire a horse drawn carriage or stretch limousine you don't want any surprises. Here is a list of questions to ask:
Do you have a variety of vehicles?
Do you offer wedding packages?
What vehicles are available for the day of our wedding?
May I see the actual vehicles before selecting them?
Will the vehicle(s) be freshly cleaned and prepared for us?
Do you belong to the National Limousine Association or other group that establishes reliability and service standards?
What amenities and services are included in your rates?
What are your policies on tipping?
How will the driver(s) be attired?
How much deposit do you require?
When must the final payment be made?
Will you meet with us face-to-face before we make our deposit?
What are your drivers' qualifications?
Do you carry insurance?
What is the liability for damages?
May we consume champagne or other alcoholic beverages in the vehicle?
Are your vehicles smoke free?
Can we play our favorite music in the vehicle?

The honor of serving as a wedding attendant comes with duties as well. If these duties are not made clear before assigning this honor, hard feelings can rise up as the wedding day nears. Avoid unpleasant feelings by mak ing sure your attendants understand what you will expect of them. Review the lists below with your attendants before they agree to this responsibility.
Before the wedding, her duties may include:
Help select dresses
Assist in addressing invitations
Plan a shower
Plan a bachelorette party
Attend wedding showers
Help shop for services and mer chandise for the wedding
Contact the bridal shop to con firm delivery date
Pay for her own dress and acces sories
Assist with coordinating accessories, shoes, jewelry, etc.
Have her dress altered
Have her dress pressed
Allow time prior to the wedding for travel
Help decorate reception hall
Encourage and support bride
Keep in contact and offer to help as needed and attend the rehearsal
On the wedding day her duties may include:
Encourage and support the bride
Arrive on time for pictures
Assist the bride in dressing
Help the bride finish packing
Have her own nails, makeup and hair done
Keep the ring until the exchange ceremony
Hold the bride's bouquet during service
Adjust train and veil during cere mony
Stand as a witness and supporter of the vows made by the bride and groom
Stand in the receiving line
Help collect items from the dressing room
Sign the marriage license
Attend the reception
Ride with bride and groom to re ception
Circulate during the reception
Offer a toast
Before the wedding her duties may include:
Help select dresses
Help address invitations
Help plan a shower
Attend wedding showers
Attend the bachelorette party
Pay for her own dress and accessories
Have her dress altered
Have her dress pressed
Allow time prior to the wedding for travel
Help decorate reception hall
Encourage and support bride
Keep in contact and offer to help as needed and attend the rehearsal
On the wedding day her duties may include:
Encourage and support the bride
Arrive on time for pictures
Assist the bride in dressing
Help the bride finish packing
Have her own nails, makeup and hair done
Stand as a witness and supporter of the vows made by the bride and groom
Help collect items from the dress ing room
Attend the reception
Ride with wedding party to re ception site
Circulate during the reception
Before the wedding his duties may include:
Get measured for his tuxedo
Pay for his tuxedo Pick up and try on tuxedo to assure a good fit
Make arrangements for the bach elor dinner
Select a gift for the groom
Keep in touch with the groom and offer support and help
Allow time prior to the wedding for travel
Arrange for transportation to the ceremony and reception
Help decorate reception hall and attend the rehearsal
On the wedding day his duties may include:
Hold the bride's ring until the ex change ceremony
Stand as a witness and supporter of the vows made by the bride and groom
Stand in the receiving line
Help collect items from the dressing room
Sign the marriage license
Give payment to the officiant
Ride with bride and groom to reception
Circulate during the reception
Offer a toast
Dance with the bride and her at tendants
Have the car ready for the newly weds' departure
Before the wedding his duties may include:
Get measured for his tuxedo
Pay for his tuxedo
Pick up and try on tuxedo to as sure a good fit
Attend the bachelor dinner
Keep in touch with groom and offer support and help
Allow time prior to the wedding for travel
Help decorate reception hall
Attend the rehearsal
On the wedding day his duties may include:
Escort guests to scats
Stand as a witness and supporter of the vows made by the bride and groom
Escort parents after the ceremony and release guests row by row
Attend the reception
Ride with bridal party to the re ception

Questions to ask in a bridal shop!
Do you have a variety of styles for me to try on.
Can you show me styles similar to dresses I selected from pictures?
Will you counsel on which styles are most flattering to me?
Do I need all appointment to try on gowns?
Are you an authorized dealer for the designer's dresses you sell?
What is your price range?
Will I get a voice in deciding which size to order?
How long will delivery take?
How much deposit do you require? friends?
When is final payment due?
Can you help me select the best headpiece?
Do you allow monthly payments?
What other accessories or undergarments will I need?
Must the final payment be cash?
Do you charge for delivery?
Do you have these on hand for me to try on with my gown?
Do you charge for pressing?
Do you provide a Sturdy garmet bag?
How will you prepare my gown for transport to the church?
Do you offer Package discounts?
How much do you charge to bustle the train?
Do you charge to store the dress for me?
What will alterations cost?
When should I schedule my dress fittings?

NEW-
Ask your photographer to capture some non-people shots, such as your gown hanging up, your jewelry laid out on the dresser, your shoes, your groom’s tux, your bouquet. These item shots are so beautiful, you’ll be glad you asked to NOT be the center of every picture

When you’re making your seating chart, make sure you seat elderly, pregnant or special needs guests closer to the buffet, or in an easy-access location they can reach without too much walking between guest tables. They’ll appreciate it.

NEW-
A new top trend for groom’s gifts: great tickets to a sporting event. He likely has a top-notch watch, and cufflinks are great, but you can’t wear them every day. So give him the gift of a great experience, such as tickets to a playoff game, VIP box seats to a regular season game, courtside tickets. Check the website for his favorite team to see if they have special promotional seats and on-sale tickets…pro and minor league teams offer great discounts on fabulous packages.