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Your Guide to

All Things Bridal

honeymoon getawaysbridal dresseslimousine servicestuxedo rentalswedding gownscateringbridesmaids dressesphotographyhairstyling/nailscake decoratingtanninghall rentalsrings/jewelryDJ musicfl oral arrangementswedding party giftsinvitationsdecorationsrehearsal dinner locations

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Publication of

Your Guide to

All Things Bridal

Section 2 Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Publication of

www.teresasbridals.com

IT’S ALL ABOUTTHE


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Every couple wants their wedding to be memorable. Th e goal of planning a w edding is to create an experience that everyone will r emember for years to come. F or some couples, a theme wedding is the best way to accomplish just that.When it comes time to se-lect a theme, the day the wedding takes place may dictate the theme. F or example, if the w edding takes place on Halloween, the ideas for the theme are easy. Many other couples choose a theme that high-lights a specifi c interest or hobby or something that is dear to them. H ere are some popular w edding themes. * Holiday: Th e Christ-mas season lends itself well to wedding planning.

Wedding themes can add up to extra funTh e colors (r ed, green, gold) are already estab-lished, and most churches and buildings ar e already decked out in holiday fi n-ery, cutting do wn on the amount of fl owers and embellishments couples need. Because the holi-day season is so busy and a popular time for social-izing, couples who want to tie the knot during this time of y ear should send save-the-date cards well in advance. Another option is to have a “Christmas in July” wedding, featuring the same holiday themes but without the hectic na-ture of the holiday season. * Vegas: Couples who want to tie the knot in Las Vegas but want to ensur e all their lo ved ones can attend can r ecreate the magic of Vegas wherever

they may be. Casino-in-spired games and big buf-fet meals can make guests feel like they have stepped into a casino on the famed Vegas strip. In addition, an Elvis impersonator is essential to a Vegas wed-ding. * TV show: Some cou-ples elevate certain televi-sion shows to cult status. Whether it’s “Friends” or “Star Trek,” popular tele-vision shows have been transformed into festiv e wedding themes. Whether the idea is to go daring and exchange vows in costume or simply name reception tables according to characters or show loca-tions, couples can include a little television fun into the event. * Fairytale: Many men and women envision a fai-

rytale wedding complete with horse-drawn carriage and the “happily ev er af-ter.” Th is is what makes Disney properties as w ell as the v arious castles around the world popu-lar backdrops for wedding events. Th ose planning a fairytale wedding need only look to fav orite sto-ries or movies for their in-spiration. * Interest or passion: Love to climb mountains? Avid about scuba diving? Couples who share a par-ticular interest can include elements of this spor t or hobby into their wedding. Invitations and decor can hint at the theme, and then special activities can further enhance it. F ish bowls as centerpieces may call to mind under water adventures, while sur f-board-shaped invites may set the scene for a beach-side party.

A masquerade theme might be an entertaining theme for a couple’s nuptials.

Th eme weddings can add an extra spice to the fes-tivities and incorporate

couples’ interests into theevent -- making it ev en more special.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Page 3

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Tradition behind tossing rice Once a couple has been married, tradition states that they be co vered with tossed rice upon exit-ing the ceremony. Th e idea of throwing rice began during the Middle Ages, when rice symbolized fertility. Rice was tossed at the married couple in the hopes they would have many children and be blessed with prosperity as a family. A false rumor spread that rice was harmful to birds who would eat the discarded rice and explode, so many people now use birdseed or rose petals as alternatives. However, rest assured that the rice myth has been debunked by Th e Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Not every bride-to-be has visions of walking down the aisle to Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus.” Some prefer other songs that are romantic or dramatic. Th ere may be a par ticular song dear to a bride’s heart or one she just fell in lo ve with. For those looking for something that mor e ac-curately refl ects the tone of individual w eddings, here are some selections, courtesy of Th e Knot, that can make the w edding even more special.

Traditional1. “Air” (Handel)2. “Canon in D” (P achel-

Wedding processional alternatives bel)3. “Procession of J oy” (Hopson)4. “Te Deum” (Charpen-tier)5. “Wedding March” (Mozart)6. “Canzon V” (Gabrieli)7. “Romeo & Juliet Love Th eme” (Tchaikovsky)8. “Winter” (Vivaldi)

Contemporary1. “Sunrise, Sunset” (Hamick & Bock)2. “Th e Look of Lo ve” (Burt Bacharach)3. “Th e Vow” (Lubbock)4. “Wedding Procession-al” (Rodgers & Hammer-stein)Here are some other con-

temporary songs that can be used with lyrics or in instrumental versions as wedding processionals or fi rst dances.1. “Take Me As I Am ” (Love Th eme from “Jekyll & Hyde”)2. “Marry Me” (Train)3. “Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars)4. “Th at’s All I Ask of You” (Love Th eme from “Phan-tom of the Opera”)5. “Th e Wind Beneath My Wings” (Bette Midler)6. “Con Te Partiro” (An-drea Bocelli)7. “My Heart Will Go On” (Love Th eme from “Titanic”)8. “You Raise M e Up” (Josh Groban)

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Page 3B

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Remarriage rates con-tinue to increase, and many vendors are now catering specifi cally to couples en-tering second marriages. A bride getting married for the second or third time has just as many attire options as she did for her fi rst wedding.Research indicates that more than half of all marriages end in divorce. Th e silver lin-ing to that cloud is that 54 percent of div orced women

Wardrobe Options for Second-Time Bridesremarry within 5 y ears, ac-cording to the N ational Center for Health Statistics. Furthermore, 75 per cent of divorced women r emarry within 10 y ears. Th ese sta-tistics show that the need for bridal gowns for women entering a ne w marriage r e-mains strong.When choosing a go wn for a second wedding, brides-to-be can use their discr etion. Gone is the stigma of w ear-

ing white. H owever, brides still may want to choose an alternative color to bright white to be mor e comple-mentary to their skin tones. Off -white, pale y ellow and pale pink can be fl attering shades. If second brides do choose to w ear white, they may want to av oid a fl at white color. Instead, they can opt to w ear a shimmery shade of white and a go wn with a little more pizzazz.Th e gown -- just as with fi rst-

time weddings -- should be as formal or as casual as the wedding itself. At afternoon weddings it may be accept-able to w ear a tea-length gown or ev en a cocktail dress. Enhance beachside or casual aff airs with less elabo-rate gowns. Formal second weddings should still feature a gown that is formal in na-ture.A more mature bride may feel more comfortable wear-ing a w ell-tailored pantsuit rather than a go wn. Again, the choice is up to the bride regarding what she wants to wear.

According to Th eKnot.com, the unoffi cial experts on all things w eddings, there are some things that may surprise the average person about weddings across the country. Here are some facts to consider.

* Weddings in Iowa

Wacky Wedding Facts and Nebraska are the biggest, averaging 200 guests.

* Th e average engagement ring costs more than $5,800.

* Most brides hav e one do-it-yourself element, such as favors or escort cards.

* “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Lady in Red” are the two most popularfi rst dance songs (even though 87 per cent of brides wear white).

* Only 19 per cent of couples r ely on a wedding planner.

* Ancient R omans broke a cake o ver the bride’s head to symbolize fertility. Today, brides must be fortunate to have only a little cake smashed in their faces!


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After the thrill of wedding festivities dies down, couples often jet off to a honeymoon retreat and begin an entirely diff erent adven-ture. Th e honeymoon may create mixed feel-ings, some concerning the chance to spend time alone after months of planning and a fe w feelings of anxiety o ver spending the fi rst night together as a married couple. For many couples, the honeymoon w ed-ding night is the fi rst time they ar e intimate together or it holds a special meaning of be-ing intimate for the fi rst time after being mar-ried. Such signifi cance can put pr essure on a happy and natural expe-rience. Wedding jitters ar e normal, as ar e honey-moon and w edding night jitters. B ut just as wedding trends have changed through the years, so, too, hav e be-liefs about the w edding night. Knowing about shifting trends can al-leviate some of the ner-vousness. According to a r e-cent survey from Brides

Honeymoon how-tomagazine, one in thr ee brides plan to get into bed on the w edding night and ... sleep . Af-ter all of the hoopla of planning and enjo ying the wedding, most peo-ple are exhausted. Oth-ers say they plan to stay up and r elive moments of the day. Only about half of all couples think they will consummate the marriage on their wedding night. Taking the pressure off of the w edding night means that the r est of the honeymoon may be fi lled with oppor tu-nities to be amor ous. But couples may still be fi lled with expectations for the perfect romantic retreat. Here are some things to think about.

* Accept the fact that some wedding nights and honeymoons ar en’t exactly what’s pic-tured in the mo vies. Don’t try to liv e up to a Hollywood-inspired ideal or you may be let down when things don’t go your way. In other words, it may rain on your beachside liaison.

* A wedding requires a lot of work. Many peo-

ple fi nd themselves tobe physically exhaustedafterward. Others fi ndthey are so wound up that they cannot r e-lax. When the mind or body is on adr enalineoverload or completel y wiped out, it ’s not theideal situation for r o-mantic endeavors.

* Try to make the hon-eymoon stand apar t from other nights b y packing nice lingerie or nighttime attire so thatthe memories will be special. Th ere will beplenty of other times down the r oad when you’re an old, married couple to hop betw een the sheets in a ratty col-lege T-shirt.

* Pack some candles and mood music, or ask the resort to handle these details for y ou. Th ese items can help set the scene.

* Make sure your pack-ing list includes specialtoiletries and birth con-trol methods if y ou’re not ready to start a fam-ily so soon after bein g married. Th e brandsyou prefer may be har d to acquire while at somehoneymoon locations.


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Many brides-to-be look forward to the day when they visit a bridal salon and ar e able to try on gowns for the fi rst time. Th ere are certain tips that can make the day go much mor e smoothly and potentially r educe the amount of time it may take to fi nd the perfect gown.

Tips for trying on wedding gowns * Wear a suppor tive, well constructed strapless bra or corset in y our correct size. If you will be wearing a petticoat, also have the right size available.

* Go without face makeup when tr ying on gowns so they remain clean.

Th ere’s no better way to say “job well done” to a w ed-ding vendor than by off ering a tip. Although tips ar e not mandatory, they can sho w a DJ, caterer or another hir ed helper just how much his or her exemplary service was appreciated. Some vendors include tips in their regular schedule of charges, primarily cater-ing facilities that will be hir-ing wait and bar staff for the event. Others do not include a gratuity into their charges, so it is up to the customer to provide a tip if desir ed. Fif-teen to 20 per cent is usually customary according to wed-

* Try to w ear your hair similar to the style y ou have in mind for your wedding.

* Note that the siz e of the wedding gown you will wear is typically one to two sizes larger than y our day-to-day clothes. P roper measurements can be matched to designers ’ size charts.

* It’s best to limit the number of people with whom you shop to 1 or 2 trusted friends or family members. An entourage can be confusing.

* It’s always better to order a slightly larger go wn and leave room for alterations if you are between sizes

ding etiquette exper ts and may be adjusted depending on the siz e of the w edding and the quality of the job done. Businesses owned and operated by a single person, such as a fl orist or photogra-pher, often pocket all of the proceeds charged for w ed-ding services. Th erefore, a gratuity for such v endors is typically unnecessary. Busi-nesses that hir e out staff , such as a large music and entertainment company or a limousine service, will pay employees a salar y. Couples can show those emplo yees they appreciate the job done

Tipping point: Gratuities for wedding vendors a nice touchfor the wedding with an ad-ditional tip. A catering hall typically has a staff working behind the scenes to keep guests happy. Th ese staff members include coat-check person-nel, a catering manager , kitchen staff , and parking at-tendants. It can be customary to tip these individuals. One dollar per guest is typically suffi cient. Or you can choose to individually tip those who went above and beyond.Even though w eddings can cost several thousands dol-lars, and the idea of par ting with another dollar can seem

monumental, it is important for couples to factor tipping into their o verall wedding budgets. Otherwise, they may be asking family mem-bers or the best man to loan cash for tipping or dipping into the honeymoon fund. It may be necessar y to keep about $1,000 to $1,500 available for gratuities alone. It is considered poor eti-quette to tip a ceremony offi -ciant. Instead, a donation to the church or a charity can be made. Tipping is entir ely up to the couple getting married, but it can be a nice sho w of

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Many brides-to-be, and even some gr ooms-to-be, express concern about their weight in the w eeks and months leading up to their wedding. Losing w eight is a goal for many engaged cou-ples, but it ’s important that couples who want to shed a few extra pounds don ’t sacri-fi ce safety for the sake of slim-ming down. According to a Cornell University study of 273 wom-en with a w edding day ap-proaching, 70 percent wanted to lose more than 20 pounds before their w eddings. How-ever, reality indicates that a weight loss of 5 to 10 pounds is more attainable -- mor e so if the w eight loss r egimen is spread out over several weeks. Th e term “brideor exia” has entered the v ernacular, and it is associated with brides who are taking extr eme measures to lose w eight. Taking laxa-tives, engaging in fl uid-only diets and ev en using tobacco or drugs to ser ve as appetite suppressants are just some of the measures some brides have taken to shed w eight before their wedding days. Th ere is no magic formula to shed pounds, but ther e are

Safe and smart ways to slim down before your weddingcertain ways to jump-star t and maintain the pr ocess of healthy weight loss so brides can look slimmer and healthy for their big day. * Eat. Although initial calorie curbing can help shed weight, eventually your body may adapt to y our new eat-ing habits or go into “ survival mode,” which means conser v-ing fat reserves. Researchers at Penn State University found that fasting signals to y our body that it is being star ved, triggering a lo wer metabolic rate. Brides-to-be should never cut out food entir ely. Eating anything less than 1,200 calo-ries a day will encourage the body to try to conserve energy by lowering its metabolism. Severe calorie restriction is not an eff ective way to lose weight. * Step up y our exercise regimen. Reducing food in-take alone will not help y ou lose weight quickly. Th e goal is to burn mor e calories than you consume. Th erefore, add-ing more cardiovascular activ-ity to y our routine can help burn calories more effi ciently. According to a clinical study from researchers at Italy’s Uni-versity of Padua published in the 2011 International Journal

of Sports Nutrition and Exer-cise Metabolism, eating a light meal before exercising helps you burn more fat and keeps your body burning fat even 24 hours after the exercise. * Reduce sodium intake. Sodium doesn’t necessarily lead to weight gain, but it can make it appear so . Sodium contributes to water r etention in the body, which may make you appear heavier or bloated. Cut back on foods that ar e high in sodium, especially as the wedding draws close, to reduce water retention. * Identify sources of empty calories. Fruit juices, soda and other beverages are often the culprits with regards to unnec-essary calorie consumption. Th erefore, choose your bever-ages wisely and limit them to water, teas and unsw eetened drinks. If you want to drink fruit juice, consider diluting it. In addition, most alcoholic beverages have 100 calories or more. While it may be tempt-ing to celebrate with wine, champagne and mixed drinks during your engagement pe-riod, your waistline may ulti-mately pay the price for such indulgences. * Hire a good photogra-

pher. A camera allegedly adds 10 pounds, a r eason many couples panic about their wed-ding day. A photo is a 2D im-age of a 3D object. Th erefore, the photo r educes depth per-ception and fl attens an image, which may make some items look like they have more bulk. A professional photographer will know how to manipulate lighting and angles of the cam-era to ensure a more fl attering shot. * Eat smaller portions. Of-tentimes, its not a matter of what you are eating but ho w much. Most portion sizes served in r estaurants or ev en at home ar e double or triple the amount that y ou should be eating. When in doubt, cut everything in half. * Fill up on fi ber or protein. Instead of resorting to pills to suppress an appetite, simply eat foods that will fi ll you up naturally. High-fi ber foods will bulk up in the stomach and keep y ou feeling satiated longer. Th e same can be said for lean pr oteins, which take longer to digest, thus fending off hunger pangs. While losing w eight for a wedding is many couples ’ ul-

Concern about fi tting into their gowns drives manybrides to crash diet in an effort to lose weight.

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Over the course of their lifetimes, many people will be wedding guests on several occasions. During the height of wedding season, weddings can run into one another, as the format and the festivities are similar at various ceremo-nies. Couples inter ested in setting their nuptials apar t may want to enhance the wedding reception with a few unique ideas. Who hasn’t attended a wedding that seems formu-laic? Th e couple enters, they do their spotlight dance, there’s food, a bouquet toss and then the cake cutting. Guests may actually be able to predict what’s coming next. While it is often cus-tomary and easy to follo w tradition, that doesn’t mean you cannot buck with tradi-tion and off er a few creative ideas to make y our event stand out. Here are several ideas you can introduce into your wed-ding to add something spe-cial to the reception. * Skip the big entrance. Th ose who were kind enough to attend the ceremony have already been intr oduced to the newly minted happy couple. Instead of spending the cocktail hour in the iso-lation of the w edding suite, mingle with y our guests from start to fi nish. So much time is spent posing for pic-tures or being out of touch

Unique reception touches with guests, the cocktail hour can be a great time to sit and chat. Being with guests dur-ing the cocktail hour means you don’t have to make that big entrance fr om behind closed doors. G uests will have all ey es on y ou when you step on the dance fl oor for your fi rst dance together. * Dance to an upbeat number. Guests are expect-ing a slow, sappy tune. What they may not expect is an up-beat song that shows you are willing to hav e a little fun. If you haven’t mastered the waltz but enjoy a little quick step now and again, feel fr ee to choose a tune that sho ws your excitement and love for each other. * Encourage couples to dance together. It’s often cus-tomary for the bridal par ty to join the bride and gr oom on the dance fl oor midway through the fi rst dance. However, that leaves spouses or signifi cant others waiting in the wings while their dates tango with gr oomsmen or bridesmaids. Instead, don’t have assigned partners. Rath-er, encourage y our bridal party members to dance with whomever they choose. * Swap the gar ter/bou-quet toss for something more meaningful. If you’re part of a couple who feels the gar ter and bouquet toss has become trite, there are other ways to create special moments in

your celebration -- ones that don’t single out the single-tons who hav en’t yet found their special someones. U se this time to pr esent a small gift or token of y our aff ec-tion to someone on the guest list who has served as a men-tor or source of inspiration. * Choose one special component as an extra good-ie for guests. S ome couplesfeel the mor e they off er thebetter guests will vie w their wedding. Spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean guests will hav e a bet-ter time. I f you want to goabove and bey ond the or di-nary, fi nd one thing that youabsolutely love and off er thatat the par ty. It could be afl ambe presentation, a choc-olate or candy bar, a carvingstation with y our all-timefavorite food (ev en if that ’s PB&J), or a carnival-inspiredautomatic photo booth. * Hire a liv e performer. Although it’s hard to beat the performance quality o f your wedding song bein g performed by the original artist, unless y ou’re cousins with Celine D ion, chancesare she won’t be available to sing “My Heart Will Go On” at your reception. However, a live band adds a certain lev-el of ex citement that a dis k jockey may not be able to provide. Th ose who are add-ing a cultural or ethnic com-ponent to their wedding may want to hire a dance tr oupeor another type of performer, like a bagpiper, as an added measure of entertainment forguests. * Let them eat ... cook-ies? Some people just don ’tlike cake. Th erefore, whyshould a couple hav e to cuta seven-tiered white confec-tion? Towers of diff erenttypes of treats can be created from just about anything and serve as the perfect backdropfor that classic cake-cuttin gphoto. A pyramid of cr eampuff s, stacks of br ownies,a cookie castle, or cer eal-cake concoctions can wor k. Some bakeries will decorate a “dummy” styrofoam cake, and then you can serve apple pie a la mode, if you desire. * Stage a costume switch. Let’s face it, dancing all nightin a long go wn takes some stamina. As the bride, hav e a more comfortable cocktail dress available to switch into for the latter par t of the r e-ception. It will also add somevariety to your wedding pho-tos.

Use the bouquets of the bridal party as the centerpieces of some of the reception tables as one way to bring something different to your wedding.


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Being chosen as a best man or a maid of honor is a signifi cant and meaning ful honor. Th ose roles have evolved over the y ears, but these special par ticipants must still per form some of the traditional duties of the past, including ser ving as the offi cial witnesses to the ceremony. Th e following is a rundown of the v arious duties maids of honor and best men ar e now expected to handle once they’re chosen for these distinguished honors.

Prior to the wedding

Before the wedding takes place, the maid of honor will closely assist the bride-to-be with many of the impor tant decisions related to the look and the feel of the w edding. She typically accompanies the bride to dr ess shops to select gowns for the bride and bridesmaids. M uch in the same manner , the best man will assist the groom-to-be with choosing tux edoes or suits and also with coordinating with the ushers to ensure they know when to go for fi ttings.

Although the best man will serve as a sounding board for the gr oom, traditionally the bride and her bridesmaids have taken on the majority of the wedding planning, so the maid of honor can expect to play a larger r ole than the best man. Th e maid of honor may be asked to delegate certain assignments, such as helping to fi nd wedding vendors or addr essing invitations. She may go with the bride for makeup and hairstyle trials. Together with the bridesmaids, she will plan a bridal sho wer party and a bachelorette excursion. She may select a wedding gift for the couple and pr esent it on behalf of all the w edding attendants.

Th e best man will coordinate the bachelor party and may be asked to assist the groom with selecting a honeymoon site or to come along to book the trip.

Wedding day

On the day of the wedding, the maid of honor and the best man will act as a suppor t system for the

bride and groom. Th e maid of honor will help the bride get dressed and help iron out any mini-emergencies that should crop up. Th e best man will help ensur e all of the ushers are dressed and get the groom to the wedding on time.

During the cer emony, the maid of honor will hold the bride’s bouquet while she

Roles of the best man and maid of honorparticipates in the w edding. Th e best man will keep the rings safe until they ar e needed. Th e maid of honor also will help adjust the bride’s train and v eil as she sits and stands during the ceremony. Both will sign the marriage cer tifi cate as witnesses.

At the r eception, the best man is expected to

give a toast and the maid of honor may shar e some words as well. She also may accompany the bride to the restroom and assist her with managing the gown.

After the wedding

Th e best man will be in charge of r eturning the tuxedoes to the rental shop, if necessary. He also may drive

the newly married couple to the airport so they can departon their honeymoon.

Th e maid of honor will assist the bride in changin g out of her gown and into her travel clothes. O ftentimesthe maid of honor takes the gown to the cleaners in the days following the ceremony so the dress can be preserved.


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Music is an integral ele-ment of many of life’s special events. Th e score of a mo vie can carry a fi lm, and a ten-der song can bring tears to a person’s eyes during a stage production. Many couples spend lots of time choosing a song for their fi rst dance at their wedding. While that song is signifi cant, couples should devote lots of time to choos-ing a band or deejay for the reception as well. Statistics compiled from a variety of sources, including USA Today, Th eKnot.com and Brides magazine, point out that roughly 80 percent of guests say the thing they remember most about a wed-ding is the enter tainment. When asked, many couples admit they wish they spent more time and money choos-ing their wedding entertain-ment. Music helps make memo-ries and gets guests on their feet. Th ose who enjoy them-selves most at the w edding

Test out wedding music vendors are often the people who are on the dance fl oor. It is important to note that price shouldn’t be the deciding factor for wedding day enter-tainment. It is crucial to see the entertainment provider in action to judge for oneself just how good he or she is.One of the best ways to wit-ness a deejay or band in ac-tion is to attend a w edding where they will be wor king. Find out if y ou can spend a little while peeking into a wedding and gauge guests ’ responses to the music and fi nd out ho w the enter tain-ment engages the cr owd. Th e entertainer may be able to arrange this with a couple from an upcoming w edding so that you don’t necessarily have to crash the w edding. If a musical enter tainment company is war y of letting you see play ers in action, it may be an indication to look elsewhere.Another good way to see for yourself if the enter tainment factor is high is to pay atten-

tion to the bands and deejays used at weddings you attend. If you are planning nuptials in a y ear or the months to come, take the car ds or in-formation of the entertainers you come across at weddings and any special ev ent par-ties. If there is someone who is doing an impeccable job , there should be no hesitation to hire that person for y our own wedding. Don’t be em-barrassed to ask a friend or family member for the name and number of their deejay.If you have specifi c music requirements, such as cul-tural music or cer tain ver-sions of songs y ou prefer to be played, it is key to discuss this with the deejay or band ahead of time and confi rm they can meet y our needs. Certain wedding vendors may promise you the world but fail to deliv er. Ask the deejay for a playlist to see his or her selections for the wed-ding. Find out if the band has a compilation they can

send to y ou so y ou can see how they sound per form-ing some of the mor e popu-lar songs typically play ed at wedding receptions.If you like a par ticular band or deejay, double-check that the people y ou see playing are actually the ones who will

be performing at y our wed-ding. Many times performers are part of larger companies that have many people work-ing under one name. If you’re not careful, you may not get the same performer you had hoped for. Request specifi c individuals if y ou want to

guarantee that the music will be what you heard at a previ-ous wedding or during a trial performance.Music can make or br eak a wedding reception. Invest ample time into selectin g and trying out v endors to ensure fun is to be had by all.

Spending time and money selecting the right band or deejay can ensure your wedding is a fun-fi lled event.


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It has become tradition for married couples to jet off on a post-w edding vacation. Th is honeymoon is a way for the bride and groom to enjo y quiet time together and star t off their married life together on an intimate level. Although the word “honeymoon” has happy connotations today , the original meanings of the word may not be so blissful. Th ere are varying accounts of the ev olution of the word “honeymoon,” but many believe it to be a Norse tradition deriving fr om the word “hjunottsmanathr.” Northern European history describes women being abducted fr om their families and for ced into marriage with a man fr om a neighboring village. Th is husband would take his new bride into hiding and stay there for a while until it was cer tain the bride ’s family had given up the hunt and retreated. It was also tradition for Scandinavian couples to drink a sw eet, honey-infused wine kno wn as mead for a month after getting married. Th is may be

Origins of the term “honeymoon” where the “honey ,” for the sweet drink, and the “moon,” for the one-month period of time, originated. O thers say “honeymoon” refers to a

sarcastic quip that a marriage starts out sw eet as honey , but then wanes much as the moon will each cycle.

Brides- and grooms-to-be hope and pray their wedding day will go off without a hitch. After a y ear or mor e of planning and writ-ing checks for so many things, couples hope that it all comes together in the end. For most it does. O thers may need a little help keeping things on track. Although the idea is to hope for the best, being pr epared for a fe w obstacles along the way can ensur e the day goes smoothly. Many couples fi nd it wise to pack an emergency kit, stocked with items to make r e-pairs or handle tie ups with ease.Brides and grooms can use this checklist to compile a wedding day kit that meets their needs and customize with any spe-ciality items. • needle and thread in white, black and the color of bridesmaid gowns • extra pairs of pantyhose

• pain reliever pills

• antacid

• quick-clean detergent stick

• bandages

• powder

Pack an emergency wedding day kit• deodorant

• double-sided tape

• black buttons

• sanitary pads

• mints/gum

• makeup for touch-ups

• extra cash

• slippers or a change of shoes

• umbrellas

• hairspray

• hair pins

• names and phone numbers of all w ed-ding vendors

• static cling spray

• hair dryer

• contact lens solution/eye drops

• nail fi le

• nail clipper

• straws (to sip drinks without r uining lipstick)

• safety pins • black socks

• earring backs


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Brides-to-be thinking of asking a pr egnant friend or family member to be in the bridal party should kno w such a r equest is common. Recent fi ndings indicate that around half of all w ed-dings now have at least one member of the bridal par ty showing off a baby bump -- sometimes it’s even the bride herself. Barring a medical con-dition, there is no r eason a pregnant woman can’t be in the wedding and fulfi ll her obligations, so feel free to in-vite that special someone to be in the wedding. Th ere are just a few things to consider to help make it easier on ev-eryone involved. Th ink over these things. * Gowns: One of the things brides and brides-maids often fret about is the gown they will be w earing. While nonpregnant mem-bers of the bridal party won’t fl uctuate much in w eight from the day of their fi rst fi ttings to the w edding day, a pregnant woman is gr ow-ing with new life within her

Th ings to consider when a bridesmaid is pregnantfrom the moment of con-ception. Th is will hav e to be taken into consideration. Some maternity designers create bridesmaid dresses for pregnant women, but they may not exactly match the other gowns in mind. Ask the bridal store if alterations can be made to a standar d gown, including or dering a much larger size, adding elas-tic panels or another way to ensure the gown will stretch over a gr owing belly. Also, be considerate and choose a gown in an empire waist style so that it is fl attering for the pregnant bridesmaid. * Shoes: While pregnant, some women’s feet sw ell. Having strict r estrictions on footwear can make a pr eg-nant woman uncomfortable. Low heels or ballerina slip-pers can be comfor table and fashionable. Th e other mem-bers of the bridal par ty may also thank you for choosing a sensible shoe. * Breaks: Many activi-ties during the w edding are bound to be tiring. B ut someone who is pr egnant

may feel it more than others. Ensure your mama-to-be has ample time to sit and r est. Also, try to hav e planning meetings near a r estroom where she will be comfor t-able. * Nonalcoholic drinks: From bachelorette parties to the wedding itself, be sur e there are plenty of nonal-coholic and decaff einated drinks she can enjo y. Preg-nant women need to hav e a lot of water to meet the phys-ical demand of pregnancy as well. * Travel: In the latter months of the pr egnancy, many doctors advise against air travel. Spending long hours in a car may be un-comfortable as w ell. If you were thinking about having the wedding far away, these are things that must be taken into consideration. You may want to r evise your plans if your heart is set on having this woman in the bridal party. * Ceremony: It can be tir-ing for a pr egnant woman, especially one in the last tri-

mester, to stand for a long period of time. I f you are having a long, r eligious cer-emony, see if a seat can be arranged so your bridesmaid can sit down when she needs a rest. * Declined invitation: Some pregnant women will jump at the chance to be in the wedding, while others

may realize their limitations and prefer to attend only as a guest. Have a another person in mind in case y our brides-maid invitation is declined, and do not hold it against the person if she feels she won’t be able to commit dur-ing her pregnancy. * Patience: Although all eyes are generally on the

bride on her special day, hav-ing a pr egnant bridesmaid may garner a shar e of “oohsand aahs” and attention for her as w ell. It’s a humble bride who can shar e her spotlight for a while. Andremember, the “ something new” at your wedding may be that new baby who is on the way!

Having a pregnant friend or family member as a bridesmaid just takes a little extra planning.


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Chances are those who have attended a w edding have witnessed some popu-lar traditions take place. Th e bride wears a veil, a court of wedding attendants accom-panies the bride and gr oom, and birdseed, rice or fl ower petals are tossed. B ut have you ever wondered why? Th e wedding customs ar e ripe with tradition and har ken back to days when supersti-tion and myth often r uled the day. * Th rowing rice: Today it has become de rigueur to blow bubbles, toss bir d-seed or r elease doves when the bride and gr oom leave the house of worship ne wly betrothed. Th at’s because savvy individuals found that raw rice can pose a hazar d to birds pecking in the ar ea. However, rice throwing is an old custom that dates back to the M iddle Ages, when wheat or rice wher e thrown to symbolize fertility for the couple. * Bouquet: N owadays, the bride carries a beautiful bouquet of fl owers. But the

purpose of the bouquet held diff erent meanings in the past. Saracen brides carried orange blossoms for fer tility. Others carried a combina-tion of herbs and fl owers to ward off evil spirits with their aroma. Bouquets of dill were often carried, again for fertil-ity reasons, and after the cer-emony, the dill was eaten to encourage lust.* Bridesmaids: Th ere may be arguments o ver dresses and how many bridesmaids to have in a w edding party now, but in ancient times it was “the more the merrier .” Th at’s because bridesmaids were another measur e to keep the bride safe against evil spirits. Essentially the bridesmaids were decoys for the spirits -- dressing like the bride to confuse the spirits or maybe help deter them to leave the bride be. * Wedding rings: Wearing of wedding rings dates back to ancient Egypt. Th e round shape of a ring symboliz es eternal love. Th e ring is worn on the four th fi nger of the left hand because it is be-

lieved this fi nger has a blood vessel that goes dir ectly to the heart. * Wedding cake: Th e traditional wedding cake evolved from Roman times when the cake was original-ly made fr om wheat. I t was broken over the bride’s head to ensure fertility. All of the guests eat a piece for good luck. Single women used to place a piece of wedding cake under their pillo ws in the hopes of fi nding their o wn husbands. * Father accompany-ing the bride: Th is tradition symbolizes that the bride ’s father endorses the choice in husbands and is pr esenting his daughter as a pur e bride to that man. * Kissing the bride: I n older times, a kiss symbol-ized a legal bond. Th erefore, the bride and gr oom kissed to seal the deal on their be-trothal. Th ere are many tradi-tions surrounding a wedding that people simply accept. But understanding their ori-gins can make the cer emony more meaningful. A wedding cake once symbolized fertility for the happy couple.

Origins of bridal customs


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Before discussing table settings for their weddings, many couples fi nd it helpful to br ush up on some fl oral terminology before visiting fl orists.

It can make you appear more knowledgeable and prepared if y ou understand what will be discussed and are able to choose what you want. It also helps to ensur e your money is being spent in the best way possible.

Here are some common and some lesser known fl orist terms that can be adv antageous to know.

* Biedermeier: A nosegay arranged tightly with concentric cir cles of diff erently colored

Floral terms to know

fl owers. Th e fl owers are wired into a holder with only one type of fl ower in each ring.

* Bouquet: A dense bunch of blooms that are kept together in a bouquet holder, wired or tied with ribbon.

* Crescent: One full fl ower and a fl owering stem wired together to form a slender handle that is held in one hand.

* Garden: A centerpiece featuring wildfl owers.

* Nosegay: Small, round bouquets composed of densely packed round fl owers and fi ll.

* Oasis: Specialized

foam that is used in bouquet holders and centerpieces to r etain water and keep blooms fresh.

* Pomander: A fl ower-covered ball that is suspended from a ribbon.

It is often carried by child attendants.

* Posies: Smaller than nosegays but similar in design.

* Presentation: A bunch of long-stemmed

fl owers cradled in the bride’s arms. I t’s sometimes known as a pageant bouquet.

* Topiary: Flowers trimmed into geometric shapes.

* Tossing: A smaller copy of the bride ’sbouquet to use in thebouquet toss.

* Tussy mussy: A small, metallic holder tocarry a posy.


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Despite the months of planning and poring over every minute detail of a w edding, it has often been said that what people remember most about wedding receptions is the food and if they had fun. Th erefore, instead of worrying about choosing Jordan almonds o ver chocolate truffl es, or whether the cake should have an extra tier, couples may want to pay more attention to selecting their reception menus.

Although certain foods are wedding staples, it could pay for couples to think with their stomachs instead of their heads when selecting wedding day far e. Having a selection of foods that taste as good as they look is a wise idea over having certain foods simply because they are trendy.

Whether you are cooking yourself, having a family member serve as chef or relying on the menu of the reception hall, think about foods that will please guests

and select those items, regardless of them being fancy. Here are some other tips.

* You want foods to be fi lling but not so much so that guests hav e to waddle to the dance fl oor. If you’re planning on sev eral courses, keep portion sizes small to off er a taste of the diff erent items off ered.

* Classic foods can work well as wedding fare. Roasts, b a r b e c u e d meats and favorite pasta dishes can make guests feel like t h e y ’ r e dining a t

someone’s home and not at a wedding.

* Choose

items people hav e heard of. Instead of tornadoes of beef, select a hear ty prime rib. Just because a dish sounds fancy doesn ’t make it taste better . If a guest doesn ’t know what he or she is eating, it can be uncomfor table. Now is not the time to experiment with

exotic

foods, either. Otherwise, some picky eaters may be left hungry.

* Th ink about the foods y ou love and see if they can be

incorporated at the wedding.

Although a br eakfast bar at an ev ening event may seem funny , waffl es and omelets may appeal to a greater number of guests than a gourmet fi sh creation.

* Don’t make vegetarians an afterthought. Too often, vegetarians must eat whatever the kitchen can pull together , which is usually a compilation of the vegetable garnishes from the meat dishes. Make an eff ort to have a true vegetarian dish that is intricate and delicious.

* Mashed potatoes ar e a crowd pleaser. Serve little portions of mashed potatoes in cocktail glasses and enable guests to top as they see fi t with bacon bits, cheese or

chives.

* No idea is silly , and serving any type of food

in a hors d ’oeuvre style can make it acceptable at a formal aff air, whether that food is pizza or caviar-topped

crackers.

* If you have a fav orite restaurant that ser ves delicious food, fi nd out i fthey will cater your wedding.

* Just because it isn ’t on the menu doesn ’t mean it cannot be pr epared. Talk to the catering manager and let him or her kno w your preferences. Provided you’re willing to pay a little mor e, there’s a good chance you canhave items that aren’t on thestandard catering menu.

* Th ink outside the bo x for your cocktail hour “bars.”A bread bar, a dippin g station, milk and cookies service, or v egetable bar ar e options that go against the standard cheese and past a stations.

Although it’s your wedding, ultimately the goal is to please the guests. By choosing foods they will love and rav e about, y ou’re guaranteed positive remarkson your wedding.

Use cuisine to create a wedding to remember


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In a 2012 study of desti-nation weddings conducted by Th e Knot M arket Intel-ligence, a r esearch wing of Th eKnot.com, researchers found that 350,000 destina-tion weddings occur each year. Th at fi gure means nearly one in four couples who tied the knot in 2011 had a destination wedding, a roughly fi ve percent increase from 2009. Destination weddings have grown in popularity for a variety of r easons, not the least of which is the appeal of getting married in an ex-otic or unique locale. I n ad-dition, 65 percent of sur vey respondents said they chose a destination wedding because they wanted a more intimate aff air with fewer guests. Whatever the r eason be-hind a couple ’s decision to have a destination w edding, there are things such couples must consider that others who chose a local cer emony can aff ord to o verlook or place a smaller emphasis upon. Packing is one aspect of a wedding that’s more im-portant to couples having a destination w edding than those getting married closer to home. O nce a couple boards a plane to head off to their destination w edding, any items left behind will

Packing pointers for destination weddingsstay behind. So it’s important for couples getting married far away from their homes to develop a plan with r espect to packing so they don’t for-get or damage any important elements of the wedding. * Start with a checklist. Couples should dev elop of checklist of items they will need to bring with them. Make this list as extensiv e as possible, including ev-erything that will hav e to be packed, such as clothing, toiletries, jewelry, reservation information, and anything else you expect to need on your trip. Check off items on this list as you pack them away, and check the list the night before you embark to make sure you have every-thing. * Carry on especially im-portant items. S ome items are simply to impor tant to pack. A bride’s wedding gown and the gr oom’s tuxedo fall into this categor y. Unfortu-nately, checked bags can get lost, and no bride or gr oom wants to arrive at their desti-nation without their gown or tux. An airline may pr ovide brides with a garment bag to store the wedding gown, and the gown and tux can likely be hung in the plane ’s closet without fear of other passen-gers putting items on top of

them. In addition to the w ed-ding day attir e, don’t store items like the w edding rings or family heirlooms in a checked bag. Carr y these items in a purse or secur ely store them in a carry-on bag.* Consider mailing welcome packages after y ou return home. Welcome packages are nice gestures that show your guests just ho w much y ou appreciate their being ther e for your big day . However, when having a destination wedding, couples may dis-cover that their premade wel-come packages are too bulky or just too numerous to eas-ily fi t into luggage. I nstead of taking these to y our des-tination, mail them to y our guests after you return home. Th e packages might not be there to welcome guests, but the sentiment is still the same and guests will appreciate the gesture just the same. I f you plan to go this r oute, talk to the hotel in adv ance to see if they can help y ou put to-gether a smaller package so guests are still w elcomed to the destination. * Be wary of shipping items ahead of y ou. Some couples ship some important items to their hotel ahead of time. While this might seem like an easy solution to pack-

ing welcome packages or other special items such as decorations, these items can easily get lost in the mail or

stranded at customs. S hip-ping items ahead might seem like a gr eat idea, but couples must weigh the po-

tential risks befor e placing important items in someone else’s hands.

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