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Showing posts from July, 2013

Traditions: Bouquet and Garter - to Toss or Not

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Traditionally,   near the end of a wedding reception the bride tosses a bouquet and the groom tosses a garter which he first removes from the bride's leg.   Today, however, many couples are choosing to forgo the tossing of one or both items for several reasons.   Often, when the bouquet or garter toss is announced, young children rush to the front, crowding out the “eligible” ladies and men.    The bride may want to keep her bouquet and she didn't order a separate toss bouquet, or she may be embarrassed by the manner in which the garter is removed (no teeth, gentlemen, please).   Not all couples have single friends to catch the bouquet or garter. And some venues are simply not built for tossing anything if the room is small or the ceiling too low.   If you do choose to toss the bouquet or garter, the following tips can make the occasion more fun and less chaotic and embarrassing.   If a number of children will be present, have a “candy toss” of individually wrapped p

When the Best Man is a Woman.......

You are getting married and you and your intended are choosing the members of the wedding party.   He can’t decide which of his good friends he should ask to be the best man. No matter whom he chooses, someone’s feelings will be hurt. So, he decides to ask his sister. Or perhaps the bride has a friend since childhood that she wants to be in her line, but he happens to be a guy, not a girl. Can she have a male bridesmaid? Today, it is common to include a person of the opposite sex among your attendants. Older couples with adult children have been doing this for years. The criteria for choosing attendants remains the same as it has always been – choose people that are close to you and will continue to be a part of your life in the future.   If that person is of the opposite sex, that is fine in most instances, unless your wedding will be held in a conservative church or synagogue. Then, you may need to obtain approval from the pastor/priest/rabbi. When a person of the opposite

Four Ways to Keep Your Bridesmaids Happy

This is wedding season. Literally thousands of women around the world will share the big day with a sister, cousin or friend as a bridesmaid or maid/matron of honor. Some women will love the experience. Others will consider it to have been their worst nightmare. How a bride treats her attendants in the months and days leading up to the wedding makes all the difference. Asking someone to be a bridesmaid should be an honor. It implies friendship and the desire to share the big moments in life with someone close to the bride. Unfortunately, too often friendships are strained or broken as stress and self-centeredness take center stage. But how do you keep your cool during what is one of the most stressful times in a woman's life? First, a bride should carefully consider before asking someone to be part of her wedding in any capacity, whether bridesmaid, reader, soloist or helper. Think long term. Will the person be part of the bride's life in ten years or is she a new friend th