What to Do When a Member of the Wedding Party Gets Sick

As with anything, there are degrees of illness. If a bridesmaid catches a cold the week of the wedding, she needs to take some cold medicine, stuff some tissues into her tiny little handbag, and show up at the appointed time in her dress and bridesmaid jewelry, ready to go. Pay your sick bridesmaid a little special attention by having some orange juice or a nice warm bowl of chicken soup waiting for her when she shows up to get her hair and makeup done. Of course, she would be forgiven for leaving the reception right after the cake cutting to go home and sleep.

Something like the flu, on the other hand, has the potential to knock a groomsman or bridesmaid right out of the wedding party. You don’t want someone standing at the altar who is likely to vomit right when the minister asks if anyone objects to the marriage! For that matter, your guests will not remember your wedding fondly if they all caught the flu from a highly contagious groomsman. If the fluish one happens to be one of the parents of the bride or groom, obviously they would do their best to make it to the wedding, but they should definitely skip the receiving line!

When the illness is more serious, flexibility is the key. This is no time to worry about whether the groomsmen and bridesmaid numbers will end up uneven at the last minute. If a member of the bridal party does have to bow out due to a serious illness, it would be very gracious of the bride to pay for her bridesmaid dress and bridesmaid jewelry and give it to her as a gift. If you are having a wedding program, by all means list her as an honorary bridesmaid. It would be very, very sweet to have a bridesmaid bouquet made for her and have it delivered to her bedside as well.

In very rare cases, an immediate member of the bride or groom’s family (parent, grandparent, or sibling usually) might be so very ill right before the wedding that their very life hangs in the balance. There comes a point when it is necessary to either postpone the wedding or to scale it back dramatically. If the very ill person is one of the bride or groom’s parents, they may even wish to consider having their ceremony at their parent’s bedside, if the patient is up to it. At least that way, all the most important people would still be there to witness the marriage.

A Forest Theme Wedding

Imagine how beautiful it would be to have a forest theme wedding. The soothing natural colors, the charming woodland creatures, and the abundance of rich textures would all combine to make a truly delightful experience. These are some ideas and inspiration on how to design a forest theme wedding.

As with most weddings, the place to begin is by selecting your wedding colors. For a forest theme wedding, choose rich colors like chocolate brown, moss green, and touches of gold (either metallic or not). These colors will be equally at home in an actual forest clearing or in a more conventional indoor reception site. Chocolate, moss, and gold can also be used for any season; change the tone by fabric selection. For instance, in the autumn or winter, you could use sumptuous materials like velvet and shantung, whereas in the spring or summer, things can be lightened up a bit with organza or chiffon.

For the wedding attire, something a bit non-traditional would best suit a forest theme. Think romantic and soft, maybe a bit ethereal. The satin ballgown is definitely out. You could use a couple of different inspirations for a forest-y wedding gown. One would be the dreamy woodland fairy and another would be the more down-to-earth but romantic Robin Hood style. The bridesmaids’ dresses would be gorgeous in a moss green with chocolate colored accents. Topaz colored crystal bridesmaid jewelry would be a stunning accent or choose Swarovski crystal leaf pendants and earrings as the bridesmaid jewelry.

Decorating the ceremony and reception sites for a forest theme wedding will be really fun! Gather natural materials such as pinecones, moss, and branches as your primary materials. You can go with a very rustic feeling or take the theme in a more elegant direction by adding touches of metallic gold. Of course the ideal place for a forest theme wedding would be a clearing in an actual forest, but you can also transform an indoor setting by bringing in all of the natural elements. Gobo lights projecting tree shadows onto the walls of a tent or ballroom would be a wonderful detail.

The Big Wedding Following a Private Ceremony

For a variety of reasons, sometimes a couple decides to have a very small private wedding ceremony with a justice of the peace, rather than a full scale wedding bash. Whatever the reason, it is not uncommon for the happy married couple to decide several years later that they would like to have a full traditional wedding with all the trimmings, the one that they did not have the first time around. This is a look at the etiquette and practical considerations about planning a big wedding following a private ceremony.

Here is the thing: if you are already married, you are already married. When having a formal wedding following an earlier marriage ceremony, it is technically a renewal of vows. Much of what you do can be the same as any first time wedding, but a few changes are in order. Can the bride wear a long white gown? Absolutely. Is a long veil and a train appropriate? Not to be a downer, but no. A floor length bridal gown with a stunning piece of hair jewelry instead of a veil is the way to go. You can still have bridesmaids, all dressed up in pretty dresses and bridesmaid jewelry precede you down the aisle, and by all means, have a flower girl if you wish.

Gifts are a large part of weddings, but most couples who are already married prefer to make it clear to their guests that no gifts are required. Never write anything about gifts on a wedding or vow renewal invitation, not even if it is a no-gifts request. Ask your close family and friends to spread the word instead, which is very effective. Should someone choose to give you a present anyway, just graciously accept it and consider yourselves lucky to know such generous people. By the way, a bridal shower is not appropriate for a woman who is already married. You could, however, have a special night out with your bridesmaids; it would also be the perfect time to give them their bridesmaid jewelry gifts.

Perhaps the most fun part about planning a big wedding after a private ceremony is that you finally get to have exactly what you want. By the time a couple gets around to it, the bride is usually mature enough that she is comfortable taking the reigns, rather than deferring to her mother on the wedding details. After years of dreaming, it is truly a delight to see your wedding vision come to life!

Jack and Jill Wedding Showers

A co-ed Jack and Jill shower has many things in common with a standard all-female shower. You will need invitations, food, decorations, and of course, presents. However, all of these things should be planned with a much less feminine flair than they would for a shower without the guys. Start with invitations; instead of something pink and frilly, choose a more gender neutral party invitation (it need not be specifically a bridal shower invitation, as those are likely to be very girly), such as one in green or blue instead of pink or purple. You don’t want the invitation to scare off the men you invite, after all!

Next, think about the decorations for your Jack and Jill party. Opt for a more modern and streamlined design than you might for a traditional shower. Pick a theme which is equally appealing to men and women; instead of the Victorian tea party, go for the backyard barbeque or cocktail party. Skip the lace tablecloths and wedding bells in favor of linens in an elegant dupioni (for a more formal party) or a casual print (for a very relaxed party). Create chic floral arrangements in shades of green and cream, versus pink, pink, and more pink. Attending a wedding shower will be a first time event for many of the men present, and you want to make sure that they do not feel like they accidentally stumbled into a “hen party”.

Many traditional bridal showers have games, such as making a “bridal gown” out of toilet paper or doing word scrambles with the names of kitchen tools. These games are frankly not appealing to many women, and they are certainly out of the question for a co-ed shower. A wedding party does not actually need games at all, but if you really want to include them, limit yourself to just one or two, and make them fun for everyone. The best choice is a questionnaire with questions about the bride and groom; whoever gets the most right answers wins a small prize. This is a fun game because it can spark a lot of funny answers and bring up a lot of silly old memories.

One thing that is absolutely the same for any wedding shower is that the guest of honor must thank their host appropriately. A small gift and a heartfelt letter of thanks from the bride and groom would be lovely after the Jack and Jill shower. If the hosts are bridesmaids, remember that you should get them a separate thank you gift apart from the bridesmaid jewelry you give them to thank them for being in your wedding. While bridesmaid jewelry is a wonderfully personal gift from the bride to her attendants, the hostess gift which is a joint present from the bride and groom should be a little less personal, such as a fine bottle of wine with a personalized bottle opener or a pair of theater tickets. It is a very gracious way to show your appreciation for the Jack and Jill wedding shower.

Types of Wedding Bouquets

The nosegay is one of the most popular types of bouquets. This is the perfectly round arrangement of flowers, and is especially favored by brides who like roses. Nosegays can be comprised of a single variety of blossom or they can have a combination of blooms, as long as they work well together to create the signature round form of this very popular bouquet. Nosegays are sometimes embellished with ornaments to match the bridal and bridesmaid jewelry, such as pearl pins in flower centers or crystal brooches pinned to the handle wraps.

Handtied bouquets are another very popular option. They are often similar in size to nosegays, but will have a more natural form, rather than the perfectly symmetrical dome shape of the nosegay bouquet. They work beautifully with flowers ranging from traditional peonies, roses, and hydrangeas to casual wildflowers such as daisies and asters. The stems of handtied bouquets are left exposed, instead of being covered in an elaborate bouquet wrap. A simple bow made of a luxurious ribbon makes for a lovely embellishment on the flower stems.

Cascade bouquets fell out of favor for several years, but now they are back and better than ever. They got a bad reputation in the 1980s, when they were very structured and stiff looking, but modern cascade bouquets have all of the drama with none of the contrived look. The best cascade bouquets have a natural dripping effect, and are often made with large dramatic flowers like orchids and lilies. These bouquets are ideal for formal weddings and work wonderfully with both large ballgowns and dramatic, slinky sheath gowns. Trailing ribbons and flower streamers can be added to make the cascade look even longer and more fabulous.

A sweet alternative to a handheld bouquet is the pomander. This is a round ball of flowers which hangs from a ribbon. Pomanders are particularly popular for bridesmaids and flower girls, and should be made in proportion to the person carrying them. Red roses on wide white satin ribbons look stunning for holiday weddings. For a springtime wedding, small spray roses make sweet pomanders for attendants wearing pink dresses and pearl bridesmaid jewelry. For a more modern take on the pomander, try carnations in bright colors.

What to Do If You Run Short on Wedding Cash

It happens to many couples: you are about halfway through planning your wedding, and come to realize that there is no way you have enough cash to pull off what you had planned! It is distressing, to be sure, but there are some things you can do to make your wedding come together beautifully, even if funds run low. Here is what to do if you run short on wedding cash.

Buy a white bridesmaid dress. Bridesmaid dresses come in a wide array of fashionable styles and beautiful materials these days. Even the most expensive bridesmaid dress is going to be a major savings over a traditional bridal gown, so this can be a great way to save money while still looking fabulous. Don’t be afraid to shop for accessories which are geared towards bridesmaids, either. In many cases, bridesmaid jewelry and shoes are sold at a lower price than the equivalent styles which are marketed to brides. While you’re at it, pick up some great bridesmaid jewelry to thank your attendants.

Have a morning wedding. Why? Because hosting a brunch reception will cost a fraction of an evening affair. The menu can be much smaller, the bar bill will drop by a huge amount, and as the reception will likely run shorter, you can also hire the band for a shorter time or skip dancing altogether, and just play background music on your ipod. The only caveat to having a morning wedding is that you will want to plan for an early end to your rehearsal dinner so that everyone can get to bed early the night before.

Skip the extras. What do you really need to get married? A bride, a groom, an officiant, and a witness. Technically, everything else is extra. Start with the bare essentials, like a bouquet for the bride and a wedding cake, and build from there. Omit all the stuff that is really not necessary, like custom cocktail napkins, printed menus and programs, and flowers for the ladies’ room. One place that you should never skimp, however, is on the food and drink for your guests. Reasonable refreshments are not extras, they are the basis of good hospitality.

With all these money saving strategies in mind, you will be able to create a wedding that is memorable without starting off your marriage mired in debt, which will make for a much happier beginning.

Simple Ways to Make Your Wedding Unique

Every bride wants her wedding to be beautiful and memorable. Most brides also want their wedding to stand apart from the crowd, even if their taste is fairly traditional. This is a look at some simple ways to make your wedding unique.

An Oval Wedding Cake. The round tiered cake is definitely expected. Square cakes are interesting, but may be a bit too contemporary for some weddings. A wonderful way to make your wedding cake distinctive is to use oval tiers rather than round. It is very elegant, appropriate for a traditional or formal reception, and yet is just unexpected enough to have a great wow factor. Be sure to play up the non-traditional oval shape by having a decorative border emphasizing the outline of each tier.

Mis-matched Bridesmaid Dresses. The perfectly matched set of bridesmaids no longer feels so fresh. A very easy way to make your wedding a little different is to let each attendant choose her own attire. Some brides will make it wide open and say, “Pick any pink dress with pearl bridesmaid jewelry”, while others might narrow it down to a specific color and fabric and request that each woman pick her favorite dress within one designer’s collection. When your bridesmaids feel their best, they will look their most beautiful.

High and Low Centerpieces. Who says that the centerpieces for each table at the reception must be uniform? A great trend is to create several different centerpiece designs in heights which range from high to low. As long as they are in similar colors and use at least some of the same flowers and elements, the varied centerpieces will maintain a cohesive style across the reception space. You can’t beat the visual interest created by mixing and matching your table arrangements. Like the oval wedding cake, this is an idea which works as well for formal weddings as it does for less traditional receptions.

Creative Escort Cards. Rather than using the standard white tent cards to let guests know their table number, try something a bit different. For a garden wedding, use die-cut bird cards and hang them from a tree with pretty ribbons. For a beach wedding, use lay out starfish in a tray of sand, and tie a tag with the name and table number of each guest to a starfish. Having a formal wedding? Paint pears gold and attach name tags to their stems. Arrange the gold pears in elegant lacquered boxes on tables for an eye-catching and stylish alternative to the basic white escort cards.

Let your creativity be your guide, and you are sure to find even more ways to add unique character to your wedding, whether it is traditional or informal.

Ideas to Brighten Up Black Bridesmaid Dresses

Just because you have chosen a dark color for the bridesmaid dresses does not mean that they cannot have some vivid color elsewhere in their ensemble. A very fresh approach to the bridesmaid bouquets is to give each attendant a nosegay made of a different variety of flower. Have each bouquet made in a monochromatic color from one type of flower. In other words, you might have one nosegay of green Kermit mums, another of hot pink carnations, another in orange gerbera daisies, and so on. As long as the shape and size of each bouquet is uniform, this will look fantastic.

Accessories are a great way to brighten up black bridesmaid dresses. The bridesmaid jewelry can be a particularly fun way to add a splash of cheer to dark attire. Classic white pearls are lovely, but when the attendants are all wearing black, it can be better to opt for Swarovski crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets. This will give you a huge range of color choices, and will also get some shimmer and sparkle into the bridesmaids’ outfits, which is always a good thing. For summer, aquamarine crystal station necklaces would be gorgeous. In the winter months, a rich color like jade or cinnamon will be just the right amount of color for the bridesmaid jewelry to make it pop against the dark dresses.

Bridesmaids wearing knee length black dresses? Then use their shoes as the pop of color. One of the best colors is a chartreuse satin shoe, which will really stand out and make a statement. There is nothing somber about shoes like that! Cobalt blue is a rich hue which looks surprisingly good with black. Another deep shade with a great hit of color is plum. Metallic colors can work well for the bridesmaids’ shoes also. Silver, gold, or bronze shoes will offer the distinct advantage of being something which the bridesmaids will be able to wear again on many occasions.

What if your bridesmaids have already purchased their black dresses, but when your mother learns of the choice, it launches her into a panic attack? Instead of returning the dresses, consider adding a sash or wrap with a pop of color. This couldn’t be easier, since absolutely any color will look great against a black dress. If it means maintaining family harmony, it may well be a worthwhile compromise. The nice thing is that after your wedding, remove the sash, and your attendants will still have the classic black party dresses that they started with.

Quirky Wedding Ideas

Every wedding shares many elements in common, but that is no reason that you have to do them in the expected way. Most brides will give their attendants bridesmaid jewelry, but instead of giving each girl an identical set, why not have custom bridesmaid jewelry made with unique variations for each attendant? What a simple way to show each of your bridesmaids that you see her as an individual, not just as part of a matched set.

Your wedding favors are a great place to try something a little different. No matter how traditional the wedding, it is always okay to go out on a limb with the favors. At one wedding I attended in a mountain resort, the newlyweds gave pens from the resort as their favor; not just any pens, but the retro kind filled with liquid and a moving scene. To dress them up, they handmade special clear triangular tubes which fit the gifts to a “t”. It made a nice presentation for favors which were inexpensive, but also fun, unique, and enjoyed by all the guests.

Centerpieces are one of the main forms of decorations for most wedding receptions. Flowers are always gorgeous, of course, but blossoms in a vase do not always look so original. Think of new ways to display your flowers, like putting them under a sheet of Plexiglass on the table or inside clear boxes. Or skip the flowers altogether and design centerpieces around something that is near to your heart. Book lovers can stack up piles of their favorite classic stories (pick up vintage hardcover versions in second hand shops) and top with a ribbon or a few loose cut flowers. Or maybe you are headed to Paris for your honeymoon. Attractive Eiffel Tower replicas would look marvelous as centerpieces. Almost anything goes, as long as it looks stylish or beautiful.

Allow your mind to wander and your creative juices to flow, and before you know it, you will have planned a wedding which is quirky, fun, and entirely you.

Should the Mother of the Bride Be Her Mom-of-Honor?

Without a doubt, being asked to be the maid or matron of honor in a wedding is a major compliment. After all, it is the bride’s way of saying that you are one of the most special and trusted people in her life. If the bride’s mom is the woman with whom she has the strongest bond, she may well wish to elevate her role in the wedding ceremony from simply mother of the bride to “mom-of-honor”.

Having a mom-of-honor tends to work very well when the wedding party is small. If the bride has only one person standing up with her, it is lovely for it to be her mom. In fact, while having one’s mother as the chief honor attendant is fairly rare, it is actually rather common for the groom to choose his father as the best man. When your mom is the only honor attendant, it makes things simple. She can select any dress she likes, pick out sophisticated bridesmaid jewelry, and choose between a bouquet and a corsage.

However, if you plan on having a large group of bridesmaids, it can be a little awkward to have your mother double as the maid of honor. This is not to say that you should not do it; just be sure to think through the logistics carefully beforehand. If your idea of the role of the wedding party is essentially to show up and look pretty for the ceremony, there should be no problem with having your mother in the group. On the other hand, brides who picture their engagement as including a bachelorette weekend in Vegas and a couple of last wild girls’ nights out might feel a bit funny about having their mothers along for the ride. Certainly, you could exclude her from events which are geared towards your contemporaries, but generally speaking, any wedding-related event should include your whole bridal party (well, except for the flower girl). Just be certain that you would be comfortable either omitting these types of events or having them without a maid of honor present.

When the bride’s mother is the matron of honor, she should coordinate with the other bridesmaids, but still dress appropriately for her age and important status. It actually is not so hard to pull this off gracefully, because even when all the bridesmaids wear the same dress, it is quite common to have the maid of honor dress in a way that distinguishes her key role. Select a dress for your mother in the same color and fabric as the younger ladies, but allow her to select a style that is comfortable for her. As for the bridesmaid jewelry gifts, it is customary to give the honor attendant something more elaborate than the rest of the group, so don’t worry about matching the gift for your mom to those of the other bridesmaids. Simply pick out something that you know she will like.