A wedding becomes almost impossible to plan and make special when you are trying constantly to make the day about everyone that is in attendance. Trying to include a song in the reception for every loved one or making eye contact with everyone as you walk down the aisle is not possible. You should simply worry about yourself and your partner as your wedding day progresses. [Read more…]
Why is the Rehearsal Dinner Important?
The wedding ceremony and reception are often thought of as the biggest parts of the wedding and what will make or break its effectiveness. People spend hours, days and weeks planning these two things without realizing that they could have an impact on them before they even happen. The most underrated event of the wedding process is the rehearsal dinner that occurs the night before.
First, the rehearsal dinner is important because in many cases it is the first time that the close relatives will intermingle. The more of an opportunity they have to get to know each other at this event the better they will get along the next day. You have the opportunity to see just what the vibe will be like the next day by surviving this important event.
Next, the rehearsal dinner is important because it begins to set the tone for the type of wedding day that you want with those close to you. If you intend on a very formal and traditional wedding or a laid-back relaxed wedding this is your opportunity to set the tone. Don’t overlook the power of the rehearsal dinner, it could make or break the actually wedding day for everyone.
Tips for Planning Your Wedding Reception
There are a million different things to consider when you are planning a wedding ceremony and a reception, some big and some small. One of the larger groups of decisions you must make is in reference to your reception, there are many things to consider. The following is a few things that you should consider when planning your wedding reception:
- If you are making assigned seating for everyone at your reception you need to take in to account the general energy between the people at the table. Are they all old or young? Are they relatives, friends or a mix? Do these people knowingly not like each other? All of these things could affect the atmosphere.
- One of the biggest ways to enhance or ruin the atmosphere of the wedding is the question of alcohol. Yes, it can loosen people up and cause for a great party vibe, but it could also cause a scene with unruly people. The balance is what type of party you want to have.
- What type of food you serve will have a direct impact on the type of reception you will have. If you serve a meal, people will likely sit and talk most of the reception. If you have finger foods or cheese and crackers people will be much more inclined to get up and walk around to mingle.
What does the Groom pay for?
Men are notoriously sly when discussing the wedding and showing any excitement for this day that is so widely accepted as “the bride’s day”. This though process has begun to change as more and more men are willing to say out loud that they enjoy the planning and experience of the wedding. One thing that makes this difficult is the process of paying for all of the expenses of the wedding.
Here are three things the groom is expected to pay for:
- Her ring. You know that next to a house and a car this will likely be the most expensive thing that you every purchase in your lifetime. Remember that this will be a symbol of your love for your wife for many years to come, make it a hit and make it last. Shop with her leading up to the purchase to see what she likes.
- You must pay for your tuxedo purchase or rental and in the case of your groomsmen renting tuxes you often pay for that too. This is a nice gesture if you are asking people to travel long distances to be in your wedding. Save them a bit of money and pick up the tab.
- A gift for the bride to give to her in the hotel room or on your honeymoon is a great gift opportunity. Give something sentimental or something expensive, either way, it will be something she will remember for years to come.
What does the Bride Pay for?
It is the inevitable and sad truth of the wedding process that the bride and groom do have to open their purses and wallets quite often. There are several large purchases to be made by both and this is where you can make or break your finances for quite some time. What follows below is a few examples of what the bride is expected to pay for in the wedding process, like it or not!
- You are expected, unless you have a very wealthy family, to pay for your own wedding dress in most instances these days. This was not always the case in the past but has become more accepted as the role of women has changed in our society. Make sure to shop around and find your dream dress for the best bargain.
- As the bride, you are expected to buy the wedding ring for your future husband. Luckily for you, the groom’s ring is infinitely less expensive in almost every situation than that of the bride. Make sure you know what your man likes or he may not wear it as often as you would like.
- Finally, the bride is expected to get a gift of some sort for the groom. This can be as large or small as you and your future spouse would like it to be, but there should be something. Some small memento of the day and your love for one another.
What do the Bridal Party and Groomsmen pay for?
The bridal party and the groomsmen in the wedding play a large role in that they are to be the supporting cast of the future husband and wife. These people are the ones you have chosen to stand beside you as you pledge your life and love to your partner. With all of this being said it is a logical assumption to assume that these people must pay for something in the expensive wedding process, right?
Well you are party correct if you answered yes to the above posed question. The bridal party and the groomsmen are obviously responsible for several of the party aspects of the wedding process. The shower where you are your fiancé will receive many of your gifts is usually thrown by the bridal party. This is where so many memories can be made.
Also, the bridal party and groomsmen are responsible for putting together the bachelorette and bachelor parties that are so important. This is important to remember when picking your best man and maid of honor, make sure these people are people that you trust to not let you get out of hand. The bridal party and groomsmen don’t foot a lot of the bill, but they do help cover some of the costs of the wedding.
What does the Groom’s Family Pay For?
The traditional idea and the often quoted lines are that the bride’s family basically foots the bill for the wedding of the bride and groom. While this is true in many cases it is not entirely true when you consider the things that the groom’s family does step forward to pay for. The list below is about a few things that the groom’s family is expected to pay for in the wonderful day.
- The fees commanded by the clergy or officiate of your wedding are to be paid by the family of the groom. This can be quite costly at times and can really be aided if the family of the groom is willing to step forward.
- One of the most memorable times of the wedding process is the rehearsal dinner that follows the wedding rehearsal. This is traditionally the evening before the wedding and is attended by all members of the wedding party and some other select family or friends.
- The corsage that the bride will wear as well as the boutonnieres worn by the groomsmen are paid for by the groom’s family. These can get quite pricey the bigger the wedding party gets, but it is nice when the family of the groom has the financial wherewithal to pay the bill.
What does the Bride’s Family Pay For?
The cost of a wedding is exponential and generally overwhelming for the bride and groom to think about in the time leading up to the wedding. It is very hard to try to figure out how to put all the expenses together in the time you have available and pay for the day of your dreams. This is why the family of the bride and groom step up to pay for many different aspects of the wedding process.
Here are a few things the bride’s family is expected to pay for:
- All fees related to the church or chapel where the ceremony takes place and where the reception is to be held. This is a well-known tradition that will knock many a father of the bride silly.
- Invitations can be quite costly and have recently started to be paid for by many more bride and groom couples. However, traditionally it is the bride’s family that pays for such things.
- The flowers that are put up in the church and at the reception are generally paid for by the family of the bride. This is another that can go either way, but traditionally the bride’s family has been expected to step forward in this situation.
Three Things to Remember about Wedding Gifts
One of the most amazing and awe-inspiring moments of your wedding’s overall process is the incredible loot you get from family and friends. It is sometimes overwhelming when you think of all of the things you received for your wedding and then all of the money on top of it. While these gifts are wonderful and exciting it is important to remember some general rules about respect in reference to wedding gifts.
Here are three things to keep in mind about wedding gifts:
- You never have to open a wedding gift that is not presented at your wedding shower in front of anyone else. Open your gifts with only you and your new spouse present to create memories that will live on forever.
- Do not include your registry information on your formal wedding invitation, ever. This information should be spread by your family or you could put it on the less formal “Save the Date” invitation. Either way, do not place this in a formal invitation.
- Do not ever tell anyone that is not close family that you are requesting cash over gifts of any kind. To take this an obvious step further, do not put that you would like cash in your wedding invitation. This is just in bad taste and will not guarantee you any money.
The Top Five Invitation Rules of Etiquette
There are a lot of established rules to follow when making and sending out wedding invitations that you may not know, but you better learn. You can turn some traditional family and friends off by ignoring these rules and doing whatever you want. Just remember that these same people are taking time out of their schedules and likely bringing you cash or a gift.
Here are five things you must always remember when making and sending wedding invitations:
- Always put return postage on your invitations for the RSVP. Nothing is tackier than expecting people to pay to tell you that they are coming.
- The person officiating your wedding and their spouse get an invitation. People often forget this, but these people are very important to the day.
- If you have people who have not responded to your RSVP by one week after the date requested, call them yourself. Get the answer you need and move on!
- When the person you are sending the invitation to is over 18 or live outside the home they deserve their own invitation. This is a matter of pride and respect.
- Always send invitations to family members that obviously know the date and time. Many people like to have a keepsake of your special day.