WEDDING Q&A

A BUBBLY WELCOME A bottle of chilled sparkling wine elegantly arranged in your room upon arrival to toast your future. A ROMANTIC GESTURE A special turndown service on an evening of your honeymoon. WAKE UP TO WEDDED BLISS Delight in a delivery of fresh flowers and a decadent breakfast in bed one morning of your choice.

DreamIT’S YOUR WEDDING

WHERE EVERYTHING’S INCLUDED!

You don’t have to give up on the dream of a traditional wedding when you get married in paradise. At Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, you can celebrate the most special time of your life with the people who mean the most to you. Whether you choose a Free* Tropical Wedding or customize it with your own style, every moment, from the planning to the I do’s, is all about you. After you’ve exchanged your vows slip off to your private honeymoon while your guests enjoy the vacation of a lifetime, with land and water sports, 5-Star Global Gourmet™ dining, plus bars and lounges serving unlimited premium liquors. Everything is all-inclusive, all the time, even the tips, taxes, and Beaches transfers.* It’s the perfect way to celebrate your love.

MORE QUALITY INCLUSIONS THAN ANY OTHER RESORTS IN THE WORLD

VOTED WORLD’S BEST YEARS IN A ROW AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 23 BEACHES.COM/WEDDINGS • 1-877-BEACHES or call your Travel Advisor

@beachesresortsweddings

*Visit www.beaches.com/disclaimers/bridalguideseptoct21bchsp or call 1-800-BEACHES for important terms and conditions. Beaches® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Beaches Resorts.

Straight talk, smart solutions Q A& Wedding by Mary Clarke, Editor in Chief

THE NAME GAME

QI plan to take my husband’s last

name after we’re married and will notify business clients of the change. What’s the most professional way to do so via email?

AIt’s best to send a mass mailing to clients stating “For future reference, please note my new email and last name, Marisa (maiden name) Wright.” Keep your old email address for a while and if any of your clients continue to use it, notify them again of your new email and name change.

Also, be sure to inform the following organizations of your new last name: Social Security (you’ll need an original marriage license for verification), voter registration, credit-card issuers, banks, insurance companies, frequent-flyer programs, utility companies, investment firms and your doctors. And don’t forget to get a new passport and driver’s license. Plus, it’s a good idea to carry two photo IDs with you for a while, one with your maiden name and the other with your married name in case you ever encounter a problem when dealing with any of the above institutions.

GUEST PLUS-ONE?

QMy fiancé’s parents think everyone

invited to a wedding should be able to bring a guest. What’s the rule?

AThe rule: You don’t need to extend plus-ones to single friends and family members. In fact, most couples don’t— unless they have an unlimited budget. You should, however, include partners of the following: anyone married, engaged or living with a significant other and anyone who is in a long-term relationship.

FLOWER GIRL FEES?

QMy daughter is going

to be a flower girl in my brother’s wedding, and the maid of honor asked if I would like to help pay for the bridal shower. As much as I’d like to participate, we are on a tight budget. Am I expected to contribute to the cost of the shower?

ANo, not at all. The bridal shower is the bridesmaids’ responsibility. The mothers of the bride and groom may also offer to chip in. The parents of the flower girl and ring bearer are only required to pay for their children’s attire, shoes and accessories and any travel or lodging expenses. You can politely decline and offer to help with decorating and setup, if you’re able. Let your brother and his fiancé know about her request. Should there be any grumbling, your future sister-in-law can set the record straight with her attendants.

SAVE-THE-DATE QUERY

QOn our save-the-date notices,

should we ask our guests to RSVP by text or email?

AYour save-the-date notices do not require an RSVP. They’re sent simply to alert guests as to the time and place of the wedding so they’ll have ample opportunity to make their travel arrangements. Reply cards are enclosed with the wedding invitation only. However, if you and your fiancé would like to get a rough estimate now, you can follow through with emails or texts. Keep in mind, though, that it may be too early for some people to confirm, so be sure to get your invitations out four months before the big day (especially if it’s a destination wedding), and ask to have responses in at least 10 weeks before the wedding. That should give you plenty of time to finalize all of the details with your pros.

GIFT QUANDARY

QWhat’s the right amount of money

for a wedding gift? I don’t want to appear super-cheap, but I’m desperately trying to pay off my student debt.

AThere isn’t a golden rule or any set amount that’s considered appropriate for a wedding gift. Basically, you give what you can afford. With student loans to pay off along with other living expenses, it’s perfectly understandable that you might not be able to be as generous as you’d like. If writing a check makes you feel uncomfortable, then select an item from the couple’s registry that suits your budget. Your friends will love getting a gift they registered for, but more importantly, they’ll be glad you were there on the big day to share in their celebration.

››› Go to bridalguide.com/QA for more etiquette advice. And send your planning questions to us at mail@bridalguide.com.