Wedding etiquette 101

The world is drastically different than it was in the days of Emily Post and the rules of wedding etiquette have gradually become modified to suit the modern day couple.

Highlights of wedding etiquette:

• Tradition holds that the mother of the bride chooses a dress first, followed by the mother of the groom. Their dresses should complement each other, as well as those of the bridal party.
• ‘Save the Date’ cards can be mailed more than one year in advance of the wedding and should mention that an invitation will follow. Make sure that your guest list does not need any thinning as every guest who receives a ‘Save the Date’ should receive an invitation and vice versa.
• The bride can wear any color and any style that suits her age and figure.
• The wedding party may include multiple attendants.
• When it comes to seating arrangements
  please read: Your seating arrangement
• Attire is very important because it helps to define the style of the wedding.
  The following article outlines the different types of attire options for a wedding. Attire 
• Speeches and toasts can be intimidating to some guests.
  The following article outlines some basic rules for speeches and toast. All about the perfect speech
• The following article answers etiquette questions ranging from wearing white on a second marriage to dealing with children at a wedding. Do’s and Don’ts for the wedding
• The No 1 rule for all couples is to plan together.

Writing Your Own Vows

Many couples choose to write their own vows. This enables them to express their own sentiments and emotions more personally. Couples are still required to fulfill the legal requirements of their state or province but adding a few personal notes will make your ceremony memorable. Some couples like to work together on their vows while others prefer to keep it a surprise. Just remember, if you choose this route, you may want to make sure that your voiced words are not too personal and will not make your partner feel uncomfortable. Meet with your officiant well in advance of the wedding to discuss your vows and to ensure that they meet all religious and legal requirements. Prepare your vows in writing on a decorative note card. Have it available just in case the emotion of the day causes an untimely memory lapse.

Wedding Planner

A wedding planner will wear many hats when assisting a client. The role of the planner is to provide each bride and groom with his or her individual vision of perfection. The planner serves as an advocate to ensure that the vision becomes a reality. A wedding planner will mean something different to each couple that she assists.

Necessary skills required to be a successful wedding planner:

• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to multi task
• Work long hours (12-14 hours)
• Creativity
• Knowledgeable of industry vendors
• Work under pressure
• A quick problem solver

Responsibilities of a wedding planner:

• Organize details
• Coordinate schedules and timelines
• Deal with difficult situations or clients
• Provide expert advice
• Solve logistical problems
• Assemble a team of creative, committed professionals with a broad network of resources Facts about the industry

Why hire a wedding planner?

The decision to hire a wedding planner is very personal. In our fast world, more and more couples want assistance in planning their special day. 

Couples opt for the assistance of a wedding planner for many reasons.  Some of those reasons are:

• Save time
• Save money
• Looking for expert guidance
• Reduce stress
• To be the negotiator
• To be a mediator
• Organize details

After saying “yes”…

Most brides become completely overwhelmed after they have said “yes” to getting married.  The engagement period is a great time for both families to become better acquainted with one another. This is also a time when major decisions need to be made. There is a growing trend for couples to buy their first home before they get married, which simply adds more stress to the engagement period.

Here are some effective ways that a couple can announce their engagement and to friends and family

• Personally telephone them
• Mail out ‘Save the date’ cards
• Publish an announcement in the local paper
• Announce the engagement at a party
• Create a wedding website

Some couples want to plan the wedding but do not want to worry about the details on the day while other couples want professional assistance right from the beginning to the day of the wedding.

Below are some of the more popular choices for service options that couples can select from:

1. Hourly consultation:charge per hour for your time. This type of consultation is designed for the couple who has just a few questions for a planner or would like some details reviewed and finalized. Fees for this service can range from $40 to $100 per hour.
2. ‘Day of’ Coordination: This type of service is designed for a couple who would like to plan their own wedding but does not want to worry about all the little details on the day of the wedding. Wedding planner would be to finalize all the information with the vendors (set up times, take down times and arrival/departure times), direct their rehearsal and execute the wedding agenda/itinerary. This also includes all the little things such as setting up the guest book, place cards and programs. This service can range from $500 to $1,500.
3. Full service planning
   This service is designed for a couple who requires assistance with many aspects of the wedding. The services can include any of the following

• Referring and sourcing new vendors
• Providing creative options (theme design and color selection)
• Negotiating contracts
• Tracking budgets
• Coordinating logistics
• Arranging travel or accommodations
• Developing floor plans
• Developing back up plans (What if it rains?)

Fees for this service can range from $1,500 and up.