Wedding Basics
Flowers
Music
Photography/Videography
Favors
Transportation
Flowers
When choosing a florist, find someone who
is reliable and shares your taste. Look at florists' sample
photos and discuss your ideas to make sure your florist's vision
matches your own. Bring photos of your venue and swatches of
fabric from your dress and the attendant gowns to your meetings.
If you're on a tight floral budget, ask your florist for a chart
of flowers that are in season. This should lower your costs
considerably. You may also want to use greenery to fill out your
arrangements.
The Bridal
Bouquet
Wherever else you scrimp on
flowers, don't scrimp on your bouquet, because it's really the
essence of your vision of your wedding. The traditional bouquet
is white or pastel, but use whatever flowers you feel define and
express the real you. White roses, lilies of the valley, white
lilac, and stephanotis are all popular choices. Choose a bouquet
that matches your size; if you're small, a large bouquet may
detract from your dress.
Flowers for the
Wedding Party
Attendants' corsages
should coordinate with their dresses, and with the bridal
bouquet. If the gowns are ornately detailed, opt for a single
stem, or accent simple dresses with a more intricate
arrangement. Both mothers usually get a corsage to wear on the
wrist or lapel, or to pin to a bag. Flower girls need a basket
of petals to toss or a small bouquet to
carry.
The groom's boutonniere is often pulled
from the bride's bouquet. If the bride's bouquet is built around
roses, then the groom could have a single white rose. All the
men in the party get boutonnieres: the groomsmen, ushers, ring
bearer, fathers, and grandfathers. A white carnation is the most
popular flower for the boutonniere.
Flowers for the Ceremony
Check with your church or
temple to see what their decorating policies are. You may want
to skip a white aisle runner, since a white dress will stand out
better against a dark floor, and an off-white dress may clash.
You can cap the pews on every row, alternate rows, or just
immediate family rows, depending on your budget. A cheap
alternative is to use bows instead of flowers for the pews.
You'll probably want several formal arrangements on the altar
plus smaller touches on any tables to be used in the ceremony.
To save money, consider renting potted plants instead of flowers
for the foyer and steps outside the venue. Many florists use
myrtle, an evergreen, as decoration for the trellis under which
the marriage takes place.
Flowers for the
Reception
Ask your florist if it
would be possible to design the pew caps for the ceremony to
double as centerpieces for your tables at the reception.
Whatever centerpieces you choose, make them a reasonable size so
they don't block conversation at the table. A cheaper
alternative is to use balloons, candles, or greenery for
centerpieces. Flowers for the cake table and the food tables are
standard. Flowers for the restrooms and the guest-book table are
a nice touch.
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Music
Your music choice makes all the
difference in determining what kind of ceremony and reception
you'll have. For the ceremony some couples choose the church
organ, some have a string quartet, others have musically
talented friends sing and play. Make an appointment to speak to
your wedding officiator. Some churches and temples don't allow
secular music, so make sure that any music requests you have are
approved by your venue. Talk with the musical director of the
space about the kind of atmosphere you'd like to create, your
musical tastes, and what the church or temple offers.
If you choose a band for the reception,
make an appointment to listen to a live demonstration; if this
isn't possible, at least listen to a tape. Specify in your
contract the kind of attire you expect musicians to wear. If you
hire musicians for the reception, let them know any special
requests you have ahead of time. Make arrangements for them to
set up their equipment at the ceremony and reception site.
Whether you choose a live band, a small
orchestra, or a D.J., make sure the people you hire offer a wide
range of musical selections to keep the guests entertained
throughout the wedding. This includes any personal favorites and
any ethnic selections appropriate to the family. No matter which
type of entertainment you choose, the selection of music should
fit your taste and individual music style. It's your wedding and
you should get exactly what you want from your musicians; it's
okay to be demanding.
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Photography /
Videography
The first step in choosing a photographer
is to think about the style and feeling you'd like your wedding
album to have. Look at friends' albums and videotapes for ideas.
Then go to several studios and look through sample albums. Look
at whole albums, instead of sample photos. You'll want a
photographer who can tell the story of your wedding. While you
look at sample albums, pay attention to the story the album is
telling to see if it gives a feeling of the day. It might be
worth spending more money to find a photographer who knows just
what you want. If you are dealing with a large studio, insist
upon meeting the person who will be photographing your wedding.
Make sure the person is energetic and engaged, someone who will
work well with you and your guests. Discuss your budget openly
with photographers and once you have chosen one, be sure you
agree on all of the details and fees included in the final
price.
Most studios will have a number of
wedding photography packages from which to choose, but they
should be willing to create individual packages to fit a
couple's needs. The photographer can help choose locations for
wedding photos, indoors and outdoors. Give the photographer a
list of shots you want, especially if you have a complex,
extended family. It is common to have candid photos taken during
the reception as well as standard, posed photographs. Make sure
to be very clear about how much you want the photographer to
interrupt your ceremony, if at all. Some people want the
photographer on the altar snapping pictures, some prefer that
pictures be taken from the sides, and some don't want any photos
taken during the ceremony at all. Decide ahead of time what you
prefer. The photographer might want to see the venue beforehand
in order to bring appropriate equipment. Provide a wedding-day
itinerary at least one month before the wedding.
Try to take most of the formal,
portrait-style pictures before the ceremony, then more informal
shots as the day goes on, so you can have time to fully enjoy
your celebration. Some couples even wait until a couple of weeks
after the wedding and have their pictures taken in a natural
setting with a more relaxed atmosphere.
More and more, couples are returning to
black-and-white or hand-tinted prints for their ceremony, their
celebration, or both. Black-and-white photos give a timeless,
formal feel to an album. Another popular trend is to hire a
photographer with a photojournalist's flair. You might try a
photographer with experience in the news or magazine field who
will tell the story of your wedding day with pictures.
Use the same criteria to choose a
videographer. Find someone creative who will work with you to
create a fun, special document of your wedding. You may want to
include interviews with family members, childhood photos, or
favorite songs. Give the videographer a seating chart marked
with people who you especially want included on the tape.
Suggest a theme for the video, where guests are all asked to
make a wish for the bride and groom, or to tell a story about
them.
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Favors
Biscuits used to be given as favors,
along with fruit and almonds. Later, people sent their guests
home with spice buns. In romantic Elizabethan times, small
corsages of flowers tied into a knot with ribbons were given to
symbolize the marriage promise. Even today, many couples feel it
is essential to give their guests a token of their esteem, a
remembrance of the day. Favors are a thoughtful way to thank
your guests for sharing your wedding with you.
Generally, one favor per couple is
appropriate. Common favors at Italian weddings are sugarcoated
almonds, which symbolize life's bittersweet nature. Jordan
almonds, which symbolize fertility and joy, wrapped in tulle
bundles are a popular choice. Plants of various kinds are
meaningful favors, like small rosebushes, evergreen trees, small
potted plants, or flower and vegetable seeds in a pretty pot. A
silver picture frame could double as a placecard, or a porcelain
vase could have a flower or two in it. Silver-plated mirrors,
candles and candlesticks, or a small bottle of champagne are
common favors. Coming up with unique favor ideas is an area
where a creative bridal consultant can offer some value.
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Transportation
The standard way couples travel on their
wedding day is by limousine. Some limousine rental agencies also
offer antique cars. Reserve your vehicle well ahead of time and
arrange to see the exact car you'll ride in to check its
condition and to see how many will fit in it. A five-hour rental
should be enough to get to the church, be married, and be driven
to the reception site.
Other fun ideas are a horse-drawn
carriage or a sleigh ride, depending on the weather and distance
between the ceremony and the reception. If you want to get
really creative, you could be taken away by fire engine,
rowboat, hot-air balloon, or helicopter!
Providing transportation for the main
wedding party is not necessary; however, it can add comfort and
luxury to your special day and reduce stress. Typically, the
best man and maid of honor ride in the car with the couple from
the ceremony to the reception, and the rest of the wedding party
follows in one or more cars. Whichever mode of transportation
you choose, make sure that the company has the proper licenses
and insurance.
Whether your wedding is a big-budget
affair or a small and less expensive gathering, splurging on
valet parking at the ceremony and/or reception is a great way to
make your guests feel special, especially in colder climates.
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