What Happens at a Rehearsal Dinner?

Lots of terms get thrown around during the wedding planning process, but if you are a young bride, you may not have any first hand experience with many of them. People often wonder what the purpose is behind a rehearsal dinner, how to plan one, and what really goes on there. This is an overview of the whole rehearsal dinner process.

First the reason behind the rehearsal dinner: it is a small dinner party that gives the bride’s and groom’s families a chance to get to know one another in an informal setting before the wedding itself. With that purpose in mind, you should definitely plan to invite parents, siblings, and grandparents from both sides. The wedding party is also always on the guest list, and some brides will choose that opportunity to present her attendants with their bridesmaid and flower girl gifts. Frequently, the more extended members of the couple’s families will also be included in the wedding eve party, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. These days, it is not uncommon to also invite out-of-town guests, with the result that there are almost as many guests at the rehearsal dinner as the wedding reception.

One of the main events of a rehearsal dinner is the speeches. As the party is most often hosted by the groom’s family, it is traditional for the groom’s father to give some sort of toast. It does not need to be anything long, it is mostly a chance to welcome everyone, and to thank the out-of-town guests for making the trip. The groom’s father will conclude his toast by saying a few kind words about the bride and groom and toasting to their future happiness.

Beyond that, the wedding eve dinner is essentially a party like any other. Guests eat, drink, and mingle. They often end early so that everyone will be well rested for the wedding the next day. This has led to a custom where the younger guests often have an after-party at a nightclub, bar, or home after dinner. Just so long as everyone is rested and raring to go the next day, this can be a fun way for the younger guests to get to know one another, which is after all, one of the purposes of a rehearsal dinner.

Centerpieces for Valentine’s Day Weddings

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and its arrival signals one of the most popular days of the year to get married. After all, it is the holiday of love and romance, so what could be a more apropos wedding date than February 14^th? Celebrate the spirit of the holiday with one of these romantic centerpieces for Valentine’s Day weddings.

When you want to use classic red roses in a very opulent way, choose ones with dramatically long stems and display them in tall crystal or silver vases. This is a great choice for brides who like very elegant wedding details, such as Swarovski bridal earrings. You can bring a bit of the sparkle from your bridal earrings into your centerpieces with Swarovski crystal accents. Crystals can stud the center of each rose, or they can be draped around the edges of the vases for an impressive detail. It is a far cry from baby’s breath and fern accents, that is for sure.

Although Valentine’s Day weddings are often more dressy, it could also be a lot of fun to go with more of a sweet handcrafted design concept. Think of things like handcrafted paper hearts in cozy patterns like pink and red plaid. One really cute and unique centerpiece idea is to wrap plain vessels with red yarn, fill with informal pink and red flowers like carnations, and have the paper hearts on tall wires springing jauntily from the flowers. Add one large heart to the display and stencil the table number on it. This would be so cute and different than the typical wedding table arrangements.

Vintage nostalgia is another approach you can take for your Valentine’s wedding centerpieces. Floral arrangements can be adorned with a white lacy doily ruff around the edge (this would also look great for bouquets). If you were interested in using white flowers, a mountain of fluffy white baby’s breath would work well with this design. While individual stems of baby’s breath as a filler can look anemic, when used as a single flower display in masses, it is ethereal and cloudlike – absolutely romantic, and just right for a Valentine’s Day wedding.

Big City Weddings

There are many wonderful places to have a wedding, but none can beat a major metropolis for excitement and drama. The options for venues are nearly endless, meaning that you can have virtually any style of wedding that your heart desires. Here are some ideas for planning fabulous big city weddings.

The first step is to decide on a venue. Most cities offer infinite possibilities. If your vision of a dream wedding includes a grand ballroom, a dramatic wedding gown, and custom bridal jewelry, look into the ballroom of a top notch hotel. They will often be lavishly decorated with gilt details, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and impressive entrances. Imagine yourself pulling up to the most gorgeous hotel in the city, resplendent in your designer bridal gown and stunning custom jewelry – if this makes your heart beat faster, then a grand ballroom wedding is perfect for you.

On the other hand, many people who live in cities like things which are more minimal and edgy. For these couples, a wedding in an urban loft can be ideal. Most lofts which are available for weddings and events are wide open spaces with huge windows. Talk about a blank canvas upon which to paint your dream wedding. Decorate the loft with rented lounge furniture, unusual centerpieces, and custom lighting. Loft spaces lend themselves to weddings with a predominantly younger crowd; the older generation might not get the appeal of a raw space.

Even nature lovers can find plenty to please them in a city wedding venue. Most major cities have breathtaking botanical gardens which can be used for weddings. You can have a totally romantic garden wedding right in the heart of a big city. For many couples this can be the perfect solution, as you will be able to be married surrounded by an abundance of flowers without the hassle of planning a wedding out in the countryside far from your place in the city. There could surely be no better way to celebrate both your love for each other and your native city.

Tailoring Wedding Stationery to Your Theme

The invitations and other stationery which you choose for your wedding will help to set the tone. When you have a special theme or location, the invitations can be a great way to introduce your wedding to your guests. These are some tips on tailoring your wedding stationery to your theme.

Beach theme weddings are among the favorites of brides everywhere. Whether you will be heading off to a sunswept destination for your wedding, or simply putting on some great beach wedding jewelry and carrying a tropical bouquet in your backyard, there are some very special beach invitations available. Think about the type of beach wedding you intend to have – is is more classic with simple pearl jewelry and a tailored strapless dress on a New England beach with a lobster dinner on the sand, or it is going to be at a Caribbean resort, complete with steel drums and drinks in coconuts? For the first style, classic white invitations embellished with a red engraved lobster across the top would be ideal, or go with an invitation embellished with a bright hibiscus for the tropical wedding.

Winter Wonderland weddings are another hot theme, and one which translates easily into wedding invitations. Select crisp white stationery which is decorated with silver snowflakes. One of the prettiest versions of this would be to print the invitations on vellum laid over a snowflake patterned paper. Tie it together with a festive metallic silver ribbon or a red velvet bow for the perfect finishing touch. For your save the dates, what about using antique postcards depicting horse drawn sleighs in the snow? Simply lovely.

Having a vineyard wedding? Invite your guests with style! The most restrained option would be an invitation which features an engraved image of a bunch of grapes across the top (somehow a picture of a bottle of wine just does not feel bridal enough). Or get really creative, and design your wedding stationery to resemble vintage wine labels. This would be a wonderful way to really get your wedding theme across in a fun manner. Your guests will surely be in the spirit of things when they receive these special and unique invitations.

Balancing a Wedding With Work or School

Timing, as they say, is everything. There is no doubt that as soon as he pops the question, most women start thinking about having the wedding and getting married. The idea of putting off your nuptials due to the other things going on in your life can seem downright unromantic. On the other hand, if you know that you are in a hectic part of your life now, but that in a year things will have settled down, a long engagement might be well worth the stress saved.

Balancing school with planning a wedding can be one challenge. Although it seems very exciting to graduate from college in May and get married in June, the truth of the matter is that you might have more fun with both your senior year and your wedding planning if you push the wedding back to the following year, or at least until the autumn. After all, you don’t want to feel rushed when you are shopping for your wedding gown or bridal jewelry because you have an exam looming that you need to study for. Nor do you want to miss out on the best venue or band because your weekends were so tied up with school that you did not get anything booked.

Women with demanding careers would be wise to determine if the workload is temporary or ongoing before jumping into the wedding planning process. In other words, if you are finishing a medical residency, you would be insane to try to plan a wedding at the same time, but waiting is not so terrible, because there is a definite end to that particular work situation. On the other hand, if you are trying to make partner at your law firm and eighty hour weeks will be the norm for the foreseeable future, there is no point in waiting, since things are unlikely to change.

When a demanding career is the norm for you, the best possible thing which you can do for yourself is to hire a wedding planner.  Better yet, plan a destination wedding at a beautiful resort. They are used to taking care of most of the details for their long distance brides, and when you are working a grueling schedule, a trip to a tropical paradise is exactly what you need! You can have your dream wedding and a relaxing vacation, all in one. What could be better?

Electronic Wedding Etiquette

It seems like every day one hears of new ways in which electronic communications are being used in appalling ways related to weddings. As technology evolves, etiquette comes along for the ride to ensure that brides and grooms know how to graciously comport themselves in any situation. This is the latest electronic wedding etiquette, including Facebook, texting, wedding websites, and email.

Did you hear the one about the groom who stopped in the middle of his wedding ceremony to update his status on Facebook to “married”? Either he has the world’s least trusting bride or he went way too far. A marriage ceremony is a solemn and momentous occasion, certainly not one which should be interrupted by something so trivial. The worst part is that once word of something like that gets out on the Internet, other people will also decide to give it a go, even if it is only done in jest.

It should really go without saying that guests should turn off their cell phones for the duration of a wedding ceremony (as well as for funerals). Times being what they are, it must also be stated that the groom should turn off his cell phone, and that the bride should not be carrying one at all, even if she has one of those wedding gowns with pockets. No matter how many crystals you put on it, a cell phone cannot count as wedding jewelry! Save the ringing for the church bells, please.

Wedding websites can be a fantastic way to share information about your upcoming nuptials with your guests. They can, however, get a bride and groom into some trouble. For one thing, bridal registry information, while an acceptable item to include on a wedding website, should not be the main feature. Wedding invitations and thank you notes should never be sent by e-mail. This is one time when the old way of doing things is still the best way, even for the most modern of couples.

Where to Meet a Mate

All humans crave companionship. Especially as people approach certain milestones, like turning 30, they may start looking for a person with whom they can settle down and build a life. This can be particularly stressful for women, as they watch their friends get to have the fun of being brides, picking out a bridal gown and jewelry, flowers, etc. Many a woman, no matter how independent and successful she may be, has watched all her friends go down the aisle and wondered when she will the one picking out bridal jewelry and bouquets.

So how does a man or woman set about finding a person with whom they can settle down? Personal introductions are still a great way. There are certain types of establishments of which it is said that “the house makes the introduction”. What that means is that the people that you meet there are not exactly complete strangers, more like friends that you have not met yet. Churches and schools are the most common of these places.

Believe it or not in the era of Internet dating, there are still old-fashioned matchmakers out there. I once met one at a party, and she had a very high success rate of putting together couples who would eventually get married. The nice thing about a matchmaker is that, unlike a dating service, she spends time will all of her clients individually; since she gets to know them personally, she is much more able to match up compatible people than a computer. Matchmakers often specialize in certain religious or ethnic groups; the one I met worked exclusively within the Jewish community.

Then there is the Internet. Many people have certainly found their future husbands or wives through an online dating service like eHarmony or Match.com. There is no longer the stigma that used to be attached to finding a spouse this way. Online dating sites, however, have some definite disadvantages to them, including potential safety concerns. Exercise caution before meeting anyone you meet on the Internet in person.

Finally, keep your eyes and heart open to other possibilities. If you are having a hard time meeting people, think about signing up for an interesting class or volunteering. You may meet that special person, and even if you do not, at least you will be enriching your life.

Guide to Choosing Wedding Colors

Think about how many elements of your wedding will feature your chosen color or colors: the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, the invitations, the wedding cake, maybe even the invitations. That is why the color that you select is so important. Almost any color can be beautiful for a wedding, but not all will be ideal for the style that you wish to create. First and foremost, the wedding color that you select should be one which you really love, but beyond that, it should suit the season, the location, and the formality of your event.

Pastel colors like pink, yellow, lilac, and celadon are all wonderful for springtime weddings. They have a light and airy effect that is as lovely as the first breeze of spring on a sunny day. Colors this light will tend to look the best for daytime weddings, especially those which are held outdoors. The softness of these shades makes them very easy to use in combination with each other, as well. Just be careful that your wedding does not end up looking like an Easter egg!

Bright colors such as hot pink, lime green, turquoise, and true orange are very festive. They work beautifully for a summertime wedding, especially a casual one. These bright choices are cheerful and fun, which makes them great when your main goal is to design a wedding at which everyone will really get into a party spirit. They are not so great for formal weddings, however, as they really do feel more like a beach afternoon. The turquoise and lime green make a fantastic pair, and the hot pink and orange are equally terrific together.

Rich colors such as red and purple are more elegant and formal (depending on the shade of red and how it is used it can also work for a casual wedding). Think of deep red roses or dramatic purple orchids for an opulent evening wedding. To enhance the feeling of richness, choose silver or gold accents. On the other hand, these same colors can be used with a more lighthearted approach by combining them with a bright or light shade. Lime green with cherry red is modern and fresh, and lilac mixed with purple will brighten it up for a daytime wedding.

Dealing with Wedding Disagreements

It is inevitable when planning a wedding that disagreements are going to arise between the bride and her mother. Here are some tips to help brides deal with common wedding disagreements.

Scenario No. 1: You and your friends all love a great party and your mom thinks drinking is wrong.  This is an area where sometimes a middle ground can be found between the two sides. Maybe your mom is worried less about people having a glass of Champagne for toasting and more about the younger generation getting drunk and rowdy. Perhaps you can agree that only wine will be served at the reception, and then the newlyweds and their friends can have an afterparty later.  Of course, if your mom is paying for the wedding and insists on an absolute ban on alcohol, there is not too much you can do about it.

Scenario No. 2: Your mom wants to see you wear a traditional long sleeve wedding gown with her strand of pearls. You imagine yourself in a trendy one-shoulder dress with modern crystal bridal jewelry. There can be some ways to appease a traditional mom. For instance, you might agree to wear the modern dress with a little jacket for the ceremony.  Do your best to make your mom feel respected, but also make sure that when you put on your entire wedding ensemble that you feel gorgeous.

Scenario No. 3: Budget conflicts. It is really, really easy to spend a huge sum of money on a wedding in the blink of an eye. And yet, when your parents are paying for the wedding, they will likely have in mind what they consider to be a reasonable budget. This is one dispute that has to go to the parents. Even if you think that your parents’ idea of what a wedding should cost is hopelessly outdated, you cannot in fairness ask them to spend more than they can afford. Your best bet is to find a way to work within their budget or to make up the shortfall with your own money if you can.

With these tips in mind, you should be able to handle most wedding issues which crop up in a graceful manner.

Uninvited Wedding Guests

Showing up to a wedding without an invitation is a serious social faux pas. It would be like wearing a necklace your ex-boyfriend gave you for your wedding instead of your fiance’s gift of pearl bridal jewelry. Nonetheless, wedding crashers are a real problem, and not just in the movies. It can be a difficult issue for the newlyweds to resolve on the spot at the reception, which is why it is wise to have a plan in place beforehand should uninvited guests arrive.

The most likely type of uninvited wedding guest is not so much a true wedding crasher (unless you happen to be a celebrity), but a date brought along by one of the official guests. This actually makes the issue a bit more delicate, since presumably the person to whom you did extend an invite is someone that you care about. That means that unceremoniously chucking the intruder into the street by his shirt collar is pretty much out of the question.

If you are having a buffet dinner and there is room for an extra guest, the most gracious thing to do is nothing.  Simply allow the uninvited guest to have dinner along with everyone else and do not give it another thought. In the case of a buffet or station reception, it really won’t cost you anything more than maybe a couple of drinks. But if you do not have an extra dinner or a place to put the uninvited guest, by all means someone should inform the person that they cannot accommodate an extra guest for dinner. To soften the blow, you may invite them to join everyone else for dancing after the meal.

Much more rarely, there will be true wedding crashers, people who you most definitely do not want to have at your wedding. Typical candidates are ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends, estranged relatives, and maybe a crazy former roommate. There is no need to allow these people to intrude on your wedding day. The father of the bride or the best man is perfectly in the right if he lets the wedding crasher know that his or her presence is not welcome and that they must leave. Rarely will this sort of problem arise at a wedding, but at least if it does, you will be prepared to handle it so smoothly that none of the invited guests will even know that anything is happening.