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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Top 10 Wedding Tips for the Groom


  1. Be there before the bride! Never, ever be late - and make sure your half of the wedding party are on time too, even the ring bearer. Camp out if you have to.
  2. Even though it's bad luck to see the bride in her dress, don’t be ignorant of the colours she’s choosing for the rest of her wedding party. It would be a lovely touch if some of your accessories (cummerbunds, bow ties, kerchiefs, boutonnières) complimented hers. Black is a safe bet, but to coordinate shows thoughtfulness.
  3. It’s the groom's responsibility to pay for the bride’s bouquet. However, at the end of the evening the tradition is for her to throw it to her guests to help them follow her up the aisle. A lovely touch might be to surprise her with another bouquet as your new wife at the honeymoon suite.
  4. Consider an alternative to the tuxedo. Traditionally the morning suit was chosen for a daytime wedding, a tuxedo for an evening. For the modern marriage, a well-cut suit can be an alternative to the tux.
  5. At the wedding breakfast – the first meal after the wedding (i.e. usually at the reception), if the wedding guests decide to toast the couple, it is NOT appropriate to join them in the toast – but rather you should acknowledge the toaster gratefully by looking at them and then thanking them after the toast. To join the toast would be to concur with the toaster and shows a lack of humility.
  6. As the groom you will be required to make a speech. A few points to remember: Most importantly, compliment your new spouse and don’t be afraid to openly express you affection for her. Then similar praise is due the bridesmaids. Obviously you will thank your parents, the bride's parents and your groomsmen. And if you want to win a few points, make special mention of the bride's mother and how lovely she looks this evening….and don’t forget your own mother either.
  7. Obviously “the mates” will be there and all eager to toast your new demise. Remember, this is your wedding night, not your stag, so watch your intake of alcohol. Drunk is not the condition in which to spend your first night of marital bliss.
  8. If you are not leaving immediately on a honeymoon, organize in advance what you are going to do for your first night together and if it is to be a hotel, pick a nice one and enjoy using the room service.
  9. Remember that you are now a couple and what you want is not necessarily the top priority, be thoughtful and attentive to your spouse’s needs.
  10. Don’t forget to return rented tuxedos before you depart on your honeymoon as late charges can be exorbitant.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

21 Century Wedding Must: Websites!

The Internet has made planning a wedding a much easier process for young couples of the 21st century. It is a tremendous source of information for everything you could ever imagine related to the big day. One application that is becoming increasingly popular is a wedding website where all of the details of the wedding can be posted along with many other terrific features.

There are many benefits to having a wedding website. There is a lot of information to disseminate, and by putting all of the information online; the couple eliminates the endless requests for information that typically occur when a wedding approaches.

Sallie Baldwin of Savannah Georgia, a recently engaged young woman, appreciated her wedding website for the information it provided for her guests. "I wanted a way for our family and friends to easily access information about events around the wedding. A lot of our family and friends don't live near us so it is a way for each other's families to get to know us as a couple immediately! "

Most wedding websites allow people to RSVP online. Emily Riggs of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, another wedding website user had a very positive reaction from her guests regarding the RSVP function. “We were so pleased with the way it worked out, 85% of our RSVP's came via email - including two sets of grandparents!” Her guests also found another benefit. “Everybody was printing our "Our Story", Pictures and Bios so they could save them.”

A huge benefit of a wedding website is that the couple can have a link to their online registry. This allows guests to see what the couple has chosen and to make a contribution without leaving their home. Kirk Spangenberg of Charleston, South Carolina appreciated that feature the most. “My favorite part is the link to the registry. I want to make it as easy as possible for people to buy us the things we have picked out for our wedding!"

There are also fun things for the guests to see on some wedding websites, like photos, a countdown, a poll and quiz about the happy couple. Some sites have additional features such as a special page for out of town guests. This allows the couple to provide their guests with all kinds of information about their city, suggested accommodations, places to visit, restaurants, and shopping. Tiffany Duggin of Los Angeles, California appreciated this feature the most. "I wanted a way for our family and friends to learn about things to do and see in Philadelphia “ (where the wedding is taking place). Our site had great links for restaurants, attractions, and lots of other great stuff in Philly.

Perhaps the greatest thing of all is that the couple can make everyone a part of the festivities, even those that could not attend the event. Lara Goldenberg of Montreal, Canada can attest to that. “We had a small wedding and could not invite as many friends and family as we wanted and many people who live far away could not make the trip. The website allowed everyone to be a part of our special day”.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Top 11 Guest Complaints about wedding receptions

We all know the saying "You can't please everyone"! While that may be true, these types of guest criticisms are easily avoided by careful planning -- and addressing them now will make everyone's memories of your wedding day so much nicer.

1. The DJ was obnoxious or played lousy music. Find the best wedding DJ available using recommendations from other brides and the advice of wedding industry professionals.

2. The music was TOO LOUD. Again, hire a great DJ who is experienced and focused on creating a fantastic overall experience for you and your guests. Other suggestions to avoid this common complaint: Move tables and chairs away from speakers and seat older guests further from the sound equipment.

3. Speeches were TOO LONG and we couldn't decipher the words. Keep speeches under five minutes. Ideally, they should last between two and five minutes. A good DJ will spend a few moments with each person making a toast or speech, teaching him or her how to correctly operate and speak into the microphone. He will also use a quality microphone!

4. We didn't know anyone at our table. Take the time to carefully plan your seating arrangement, placing guests at tables with others they know. They don’t have to be fast friends, just acquaintances or people with some kind of connection. Try to seat out-of-town guests, who aren't likely to know anyone, with others having similar interests.

5. I resented paying a dollar to dance with the bride. Unless it’s a long-standing family tradition, and you will offend someone if you break the ritual, the dollar dance is best forgotten.

6. We stood forever in the receiving line. The bride & groom, and their parents are the only required greeters. Better yet, couples should instead consider visiting individual tables during or immediately following dinner. (See #10 below)

7. We had too much time to "kill" between the ceremony and reception. Out-of-town guests are often at a loss for ways to fill the time between a two o'clock wedding and a six o'clock reception. Try to keep the down time to a minimum. When it isn't possible to hold the events within an hour or so of each other, ask the hall if it will open its doors early for your visiting guests (and ask them if there’s a charge). Other options include asking relatives or close friends to invite them to their home for a light snack, or arranging a hospitality suite for them at their hotel.

8. The centerpiece was so large that I couldn't see or talk to guests seated across the table. Smaller, shorter arrangements are best. Your centerpiece shouldn't be the center of attention (or main topic of conversation) at the table.

9. I was offended that I had to pay for drinks. Open bars are the accepted norm. If your budget is tight, offer wine and beer only -- or limit drink choices to “call” brands. You can also close the bar during the dinner hour to save on costs.

10. The bride and groom didn't stop by to say hello. Make the rounds of guest tables at your reception, but don’t spend too much time at each. A quick greeting, thank you or compliment will suffice.

11. I was never thanked for my gift! Share this task with your husband. Divide your list, write your notes at the same time, and make a pact to finish a certain number every night until they are finished. Dangle a carrot in front of your noses. When the last note is FINALLY written, reward yourselves with a special bottle of wine or dinner out. It is customary to mail thank-you notes within three months. You don’t want to wait that long for your carrot anyway, do you?