Bridal Party Decisions

One of the important parts of planning a wedding is making decisions about the bridal party. These decisions may seem to not be terribly important but they can actually cause a great deal of stress for some couples. In particular couples who have many siblings or close friends may have a great deal of trouble making these decisions. The most important decision associated with the bridal party is who will be included but this is not the only decision to be made. It is also important to consider the attire for the bridal party and the role they will play in the wedding. This article will discuss some of the important bridal party decisions a couple will have to make during the process of planning their wedding.

Obviously the first decision a couple has to make in regards to their bridal party is how large will the bridal party be and who will be included in the bridal party. These decisions cause a great deal of stress for couples who have a large number of siblings and close friends. There is a lot of pressure to include everyone in the wedding but it does not always seem practical to have a very large bridal party. The couple should work together to make these decisions and should carefully consider each member they are considering for the bridal party. Ideally there will be an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen but this is not always the case. Having equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen in the bridal party certainly adds symmetry to wedding photos but it should not be the deciding factor. Couples should be willing to have unequal numbers in certain situations especially where there are people who are very important to the couple.

Once the couple has decided on the size of their bridal party and selected individuals to be in the bridal party it is time to think about which members would be ideal as the maid of honor or the best man. Ideally these special bridal party members will not only be the closest friend or family member to the bride and groom respectively but will also be capable of assisting the bride and the groom in the wedding preparation in whatever way they are needed. Some brides and grooms may rely heavily on the maid of honor and best man to assist in the wedding plans and preparations while other brides and grooms may just expect the maid of honor and best man to be there to talk to about the plans or even vent to when things are not going well. Regardless of the expectations it is important to discuss these issues with the maid of honor or best man beforehand so no one is disappointed.

Once the bridal party has been selected it is time to start thinking about the attire for these members of the wedding party. For the groomsmen this is usually a pretty simple decision. One trip to the tuxedo rental store for measurements and to order tuxedos is usually all that is necessary. Some grooms may have different requirements though and this can make the attire issue a little more tricky. However, this is usually nothing in comparison to the decisions the bride and her bridesmaids will have to make. Shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses is usually much more complicated. Some brides may opt to select a dress on their own but most will have all of the bridesmaids come with them to try on dresses. This will help to ensure the dress that is selected compliments all of the bridesmaids. It can be difficult to find a color and style that suits everyone. However, in most cases, it can be done.

Another important decision to be made in regard to the bridal party is the role they will play in the wedding. In most cases, the groomsmen will serve as ushers before the ceremony and escort the bridesmaids into the ceremony and reception. The bridesmaids will precede the bride in the ceremony and reception and will also likely assist the bride in the preparation on the morning of the wedding. This may include tasks such as assisting the bride in getting dressed and doing her hair and makeup and overseeing the last minute preparations in the reception room.

Last Minute Details for Your Wedding

Couples may spend a year or more planning and preparing for their wedding but nothing can prepare them for the last minute details involved in orchestrating a wedding. Most couples, okay especially brides, immediately rush out the second they get engaged and purchase a book or planner for the purpose of organizing their wedding plans. When thumbing through the books or planners they will undoubtedly see timelines listing when they should be accomplishing certain tasks. Upon first glance these timelines may be long but they don’t appear to be too daunting. The couple will see there usually only a handful of tasks which need to be accomplished during each time frame. For example the couple may be tasked with setting a date and booking a location for the reception approximately 12-15 months before the wedding date. That doesn’t sound bad at all. Then they take a look at the list of items to be completed in the week before the wedding and realize planning a wedding is filled with last minute details. This article will discuss some of the last minute details involved in planning a wedding.

Starting about two weeks before the date of the wedding, the couple will begin to take care of a number of last minute details. Two of these details are related to the guest list. Although the couple likely asked the guests to RSVP by a certain date there will always be some guests who do not do this. Now is the time for the bride and groom to call these guests to see if they will be attending or not so they can give a final headcount to the caterer. Most caterers require this information approximately two weeks in advance. The couple will also want to meet with the DJ or band at this time to provide a song list. This will include song selections for the entrance and special dances as well as songs the couple would like to see included during the wedding. Two weeks before the wedding the couple will also want to complete seating arrangements and call service providers such as florists, limousine drivers and cake decorators to confirm all plans and deliveries.

One week before the wedding the couple will still be hurrying around taking care of last minute details. The bride, in particular, will be particular busy. The bride and her bridesmaids should have their final fittings by this time and the gowns should be picked up. The couples should pack for their honeymoon and organize travel documents at this time. The week before the wedding is also the time to confirm the details for the rehearsal dinner and pay the balance on the reception hall.

The day before the wedding is a very busy one but the couple should have some time to relax. The bride should get a manicure and pedicure and assemble her gown, shoes and accessories for the next day. The groom should also assemble his attire and may want to get his hair trimmed as well, if necessary. Both the bride and the groom should try to get a good night sleep in preparation for the big day ahead.

One the day of the wedding there is still a number of things to be done but most of this should be delegated to a trusted friend or family member. In addition to dressing for the wedding the bride will also have her hair and makeup done. There will also be a need to have someone check the reception hall to make sure everything is set up properly, someone should meet the florist and assure she has access to the reception hall to set up the floral arrangements.

Party favors ideas for weddings

How many times have you attended a wedding party and received a figurine with the name of the bride and groom engraved on it? How many times have you lamented on where you are going to store it because you just do not have the heart to throw it away even if it is completely useless? Such is often the case with party favors for weddings. They end up in a pile of heap in the garage awaiting some form of use, except they don’t have. Read more