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• WEDDINGS • BIRTHDAY PARTIES
• RECEPTIONS • FAMILY REUNIONS
• GRADUATIONS • HOLIDAY PARTIES
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The responsibilities of bridal party members Metro Creative
A couple’s wedding day is one they will never forget. Guests’ focus is squarely on the happy couple on the day they’re set to make their union official. However, happy couples are not the only ones with important roles to play during a wedding. Being asked to be in a bridal party is a unique honor. With that honor comes responsibility, as each person in a bridal party can do their own part to ensure a couple’s wedding day is a success. Maid or matron of honor A maid of honor and matron of honor perform the same functions. The terms are simply unique because a maid of honor refers to a person who has not yet gotten married, while the term matron of honor is used for a person who has gotten married. Brides also may choose a man to serve as man of honor. Whatever title is appropriate, the person who serves in this capacity will help the bride plan the wedding, including being there to offer insight when shopping for a wedding dress. This person also may coordinate the bachelorette party and periodically speak with bridesmaids to ensure everyone is on schedule. The maid of honor will typically give a bridal toast during the reception. Best man Don’t let the title fool you, as many couples now choose to have a best woman. Like the maid of honor, the best man may be asked to help with wedding planning and is typically tasked with organizing the bachelor party and toasting the groom during the reception. The best man also can help to ensure groomsmen are on schedule with tuxedo fittings. Bridesmaids/Groomsmen Bridesmaids stand beside the bride during the wedding ceremony. They can help with planning and help to resolve any last-minute issues that may arise on the big day, such as a vendor arriving late. Groomsmen stand next to the groom
Wedding day transportation options Metro Creative
during the ceremony and may be asked to help the best man plan the bachelor party. Both bridesmaids and groomsmen also may be asked to help host events leading up to the big day, such as a shower or engagement party. Ring bearer/flower girl The roles of ring bearer and flower girl are typically filled by young relatives of the couple, such as nieces, nephews or young cousins. The flower girl walks down the aisle in advance of the bride, spreading pedals as she goes. The ring bearer carries the wedding rings down the aisle. Parents If they choose to do so, parents of the happy couple can help to pay for the wedding. The custom of the bride’s parents paying the entire bill has largely fallen by the wayside, as many modern couples now pay for their own weddings. Parents can offer to pay for the engagement party and/ or rehearsal dinner, but such generosity is not expected of them. Serving in a wedding party is a unique and humbling honor. The roles of each person in the party vary, and party members who want to do their best for the couple can study up on their responsibilities in advance of the big day.
Weddings involve many moving pieces that must all come together successfully for one glorious day. Transportation is among the details that need to be sorted in advance, particularly when wedding parties and guests must move between ceremony and reception sites. It is customary for the wedding party, which tends to include a couple’s parents, to be provided a ride to both the ceremony and reception. Furthermore, couples may have to figure out what to do when the wedding is over, particularly if the reception and ceremonies are a good distance apart. Here are a few transportation options couples can consider. Limousines Limousines are classic modes of transportation to and from momentous events. They typically feature seating to accommodate six or more people. Limousines typically bring the wedding party to the ceremony, then wait for the duration and transport everyone to the reception. Then the cars will leave from there unless other arrangements are made. Party bus Many couples opt for a party bus to transport themselves and/or their wedding parties. Party buses are larger than limousines, and as their name implies, often establish a festive atmosphere. Couples may ask their wedding
party members to meet at the ceremony location, and then a party bus will take everyone to the reception location after vows are exchanged. Party buses often play music and have refreshments available. They can be entertaining on long rides. Shuttle bus Couples can consider providing a shuttle to and from the airport or between other points to facilitate ease for the wedding party and guests. A shuttle can take individuals from the reception site to a nearby hotel if overnight stays have been booked. A shuttle can bring certain individuals back to the ceremony site, a transportation hub or another centralized location where they can get to their own private vehicles and back home. The couple also will need transportation home or to embark on the honeymoon, so it’s helpful to have reliable taxi service numbers or rideshare options at the ready. Transportation is not a glamourous part of wedding planning, but it is a necessity that should be ironed out well in advance
Can anyone be a wedding officiant? Metro Creative Though it’s been awhile since the poll was conducted, in 2017 the data-tracking firm Wedding Report surveyed couples who had recently tied the knot, and one of the questions participants answered concerned who officiated their weddings. Roughly 25 percent of couples indicated a friend or family member had served as their wedding officiant, and that figure pales in comparison to older studies, one of which determined the number was around 40 percent. But anyone who has attended more than one wedding in recent years has likely noticed that it’s no longer unique to see laypersons officiate a wedding instead of more traditional officiants, which historically has meant clergy or other individuals with some formal affiliation with a house of worship. Though local or provincial governments may have their own unique rules and restrictions, in many places it’s easy and open to anyone to become a licensed officiant. Couples who want a friend or family member to officiate their wedding are urged to make that request well in advance of their wedding, which can assure the person has ample time to complete the licensing process.
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o Couple w/wedding party o Couple w/all parents o Couple w/bride’s parents o Couple w/bride’s family o Couple w/groom’s parents o Couple w/groom’s family
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AT THE CEREMONY
o Guests outside of church o Ushers escorting guests o Bride’s mother being seated o Groom’s family being seated o Bride and her father entering
Plan a wedding that is uniquely yours!
PHOTOS CHECKLIST
Here’s a list of some commonly requested photo options you can share with your photographer. Pick the ones you want, come up with some ideas of your own, or discuss options with your photographer — they’ve got a good eye, and lens, for this sort of thing. While it may not be feasible to get all of these pictures taken, work with your photographer to narrow down the ones you definitely want. You’ll only get one shot at this, so make sure you get the photos you want.
OF THE BRIDE
o Bride alone o Bride w/her mother o Bride w/her father o Bride w/both parents o Bride w/Maid of Honor o Bride w/bridesmaids o Bride fixing her make-up
and hair
o Attendants receiving flowers o Parents receiving flowers
OF THE GROOM
o Groom alone o Groom w/his mother o Groom w/his father o Groom w/both parents o Groom w/best man o Groom w/groomsmen
o Groomsmen getting
boutonnières
o Parents receiving flowers
OF THE COUPLE
o Bride & groom o Bride’s and groom’s hands o Bride & groom looking at
each other
o Couple w/honor attendants
church o Groom and groomsmen at altar o Attendants coming down aisle o Bride and her father coming down aisle o Giving-away ceremony o Altar during ceremony o Bride & groom saying vows o Ring ceremony o Flower girl and ring bearer o The kiss o Bride & groom coming up aisle o Bride & groom leaving church o Bride & groom getting into car o Bride & groom in decorated car
AT THE RECEPTION
o Couple arriving o Couple entering reception
o Receiving line o Couple in receiving line o Parents in receiving line o Buffet table o Cake o Friends serving punch o Couple seated at table o Bride dancing w/her father o Groom dancing w/his mother o Couple talking w/guests o Couple cutting the cake o Couple feeding each other
cake
o Couple toasting o Bride throwing bouquet o Groom removing bride’s
garter
o Groom throwing garter o Couple dancing
OTHER REQUESTS/NOTES
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GROOM’S CHECKLIST So, you finally got up the nerve to pop the big one. Now it’s time to start doing some heavy wedding lifting. Here’s a list of your most essential to-dos.
12 MONTHS BEFORE
Figure out where you’re going to have your ceremony and reception. The best spots fill up fast, especially for summer and fall, so decide your wedding size and start looking. Organize your guys. After you ask your best man to do the honors, make up your groomsman list. For crowd control, you’ll want at least one usher per 50 guests. Get what you want. Crazy as it seems, people start buying you gifts immediately, and registering may be the only way to keep your friends’ and relatives’ questionable tastes in check.
9 MONTHS BEFORE
Meet and greet suitable officiants. Priest, rabbi, justice of the peace, officially sanctioned Elvis impersonator – the choice is yours. Book the talent. It’ll probably fall to you to choose the band or disc jockey. Be sure to get references and hear music beforehand – and run it by your bride before you sign on the dotted line. Start drawing up your guest list. This is some-
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thing you’ll probably want to get your parents in on, too.
6 MONTHS BEFORE
Plan your honeymoon. If you’re leaving the country, now would be a good time to check or find your passport – or get them if you and your girl don’t have ’em – and see what kind of shots or visas you might need. Who’s driving? Arrange for transportation to the ceremony and reception. Think limousine or horse and buggy. While you’re at it, figure out where you’re going after the reception – airport? hotel? – and make plans for getting there. FYI, tradition dictates that your best man drives you.
3 MONTHS BEFORE
Get ready for the freeloaders. Your out-oftown guests need a place to stay, so unless you’ve got a couple dozen spare bedrooms, decide on a hotel and reserve a block of rooms. Let them know this in your invitations. The guest list should be finalized — i.e., it has the bride, groom and parents’ approval. Time to send out the invitations. Get dressed. So what will it be? Tails and top hat or traditional Scottish kilt? Decide and buy (or rent), then pick out your groomsmen’s getups.
Make Your Event MEMORABLE!
Give a jeweler your finger to be measured. Let your fiancée do the same, and then order your wedding rings. Decide on inscriptions. You may have to get your blood tested. It’s the law in some states.
6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE
Get a sparkling smile. Cut down on coffee and try a whitening toothpaste. Want to really shine? Consider a professional bleaching with a dentist or use an over-the-counter whitening system. Don’t be cheap. This is one of the most important moments in your life, so put some real thought into the matter and then buy your bride a wedding gift. Don’t be cheap, part 2. Search high and low for the perfect groomsmen gifts. These guys are going to put out come D-Day to make sure you look your best. Make sure you get them something decent to show for it. Pick up your wedding rings and put them in a safe place. While you’re at it, check the engraving carefully for typos.
2 WEEKS BEFORE
Do something really romantic with your wifeto-be. But before you do, pick up your marriage license.
Have a good time, but don’t do something stupid. It’s your bachelor party and last chance to go crazy before you say “I do.”
1 WEEK BEFORE
Get ready to relax. Double-check the honeymoon reservations, start packing your bags, and pick up traveler’s checks. Pay your officiant. Put his or her fee in an envelope and give it to your best man for postvow delivery. You are expected to speak to the crowd at your wedding reception. Sound sensitive and intelligent, start coming up with that impromptu toast to her family now. Rally the troops. Give your groomsmen the rehearsal dinner low-down and make sure everybody’s got his monkey suit pressed and ready. By the way, get a haircut already.
THE DAY BEFORE
Make her cry. Write a sweet little “I love you” note (or other touching trick) and leave it somewhere she’ll find it on wedding morning, particularly if you won’t be seeing her before the ceremony.
Courtesy of TheKnot.com
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Creative and delicious catering for every occasion and every budget Julie Scribner Michelle Neubauer
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