One thing that is oven overlooked is that one of the primary goals of etiquette is to make life as pleasant and sociable for everyone. The whole reason behind having a set of manners is to give our society a set of agreed upon guidelines to help us act in a way that will make our daily interactions with others easy and enjoyable. To put it another way, if we did not have etiquette, everyone would have to make up their own rules as they went along, which would mean that their intentions would be unclear to everyone else. It is like visiting a foreign country with different customs; you are likely to offend people inadvertently if you are not familiar with their set of manners.

What etiquette is not is a tool to put other people down. The idea is not to be able to “catch” someone in the act of using the wrong fork, but rather to help the diners know which fork to use for which course. Once learned, basic social manners quickly become second nature, which makes life much easier. So how does this apply to wedding etiquette? For starters, it means that wedding etiquette should never be used to put someone down or humiliate them. An example of this would be the mother in law who critiques the bride’s bridal attire by saying that everyone knows that only pearls are proper for weddings. Not only would she be mistaken (crystal bridal jewelry is always appropriate too), but by trying to correct another person’s etiquette, she is showing her own lack of manners.

There certainly may be instances during the course of planning a wedding where the bride or her mother realizes that someone else is committing a breach of etiquette. The trick, then, is to graciously get them to change their plans without being rude and telling them flat out that they have no understanding of what is polite or correct. A lot of this depends on your relationship with that person. Let’s say that the bride has mentioned to her mother that she plans to include her bridal registry information on the wedding invitation. Now her mother knows that this is a horrible faux pas that will be sure to offend some of the guests. And yet, if she were to blurt out, “How rude! Don’t you know anything about proper wedding etiquette?”, that she would be breaking the rule of etiquette which says that etiquette should not be used as a club to beat a person down.

But to take no action would be to allow her daughter to do something offensive and in poor taste. The polite way to inform another of their breach of etiquette is with extreme tact and gentleness: “Darling, I am sure that it is very common these days to print the registry information on wedding invitations, but some of your older relatives will find it in poor taste. Why don’t you just put the registry details on your wedding website and I will make sure to spread the word to anyone who asks?”

Etiquette does provide kind ways to help others out of their social miscues with grace and tact. It also says that there are times (like when someone drinks the water from the finger bowl) that the best thing to do is simply to overlook an etiquette accident. Taking care to treat your family and friends with kindness is far more important than always being “correct”, which is a great lesson for everyone involved in planning a wedding.

About the Author Laura Firenze

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry,receptions and gifts. Bridal jewelry which is handcrafted with luminous freshwater pearls or sparkling Swarovski crystals is always in good taste.

For more on wedding etiquette visit:

Plan Weddings Now for wedding guest etiquette tips.
New and Blue for rehearsal dinner attire ideas.
Utah Weddings for receiving line etiquette tips.

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Your nieces and nephews can have a place in your wedding ceremony no matter what their age. The most common role for young children is ring bearer or flower girl. Do not feel as though you have to choose between your nieces and nephews if you have a large family. While too many bridesmaids can end up being a bit silly looking, a large group of children in your bridal party will inspire many smiles and “awwwws”. Some brides who have a very large group of young relations to include in their wedding will decide to have only a maid of honor and best man for the groom, forgoing the rest of the bridesmaids in favor of having a wedding party comprised of all of their nieces and nephews.

The most common role for young children is ring bearer or flower girl. This tends to work the best for children who are between the ages of three and eight years old. The flower girl (or girls) can either carry a small bouquet of flowers or a basket of petals to toss (if permitted by your venue). They are usually dressed in sweet little dresses with patent leather shoes and possibly wear a floral wreath in their hair. The bride should plan on giving flower girl gifts to the little ones. Traditional flower girl gifts include silver lockets or very dainty pearl pendants.

The ring bearer theoretically carries the wedding bands down the aisle to the altar (I say theoretically because the rings on the pillow are often fakes). If you had two little boys and wanted each to be a ring bearer, they could each carry a small pillow, one with the bride’s wedding band, and one with the groom’s ring (or the facsimiles). When you have a larger number of nephews, they can be pages. This works best when the wedding is a large and formal affair. Pages traditionally help to carry the bride’s train. It is very sweet when the bridal gown features a grand cathedral length train, but would be rather impractical for a little sweep train. In that case, simply have the young men dress all alike and walk down the aisle in a group. Even without a specific task, your nephews can still be a part of the fun.

Older nieces and nephews can be invited to participate in the wedding as junior bridesmaids or groomsmen. This is a bridge position for a child who is too old to be a flower girl or ring bearer, but too young to be a full fledged bridesmaid or groomsmen. The typical age range for junior attendants is around nine to fourteen. Once they are about fifteen or sixteen years old, they are ready to be regular bridesmaids or groomsmen. The junior bridesmaids will wear dresses which are similar in style to the bridesmaids’ dresses, only a more demure and age appropriate. Since mens’ formal wear varies so little, the junior groomsmen can wear the same type of suits as the groomsmen, or they can wear a jacket and trousers instead of a full suit.

Even tiny children can play a role in your wedding as long as you don’t expect things to go perfectly. There is nothing more adorable than a very young niece or nephew riding down the aisle in a fancy wagon or sleigh pulled by an older sibling. I have even seen babies pushed down the aisle in flower bedecked strollers! It is wonderful fun to include as many of your nieces and nephews in your wedding as you like.

About the Author Bridget Mora

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaids jewelry and flower girl gifts at SilverlandJewelry.com.

Gift Ideas for Nieces and Nephews in Your Wedding

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No conversation about wedding flowers would be complete without mention of roses. They are the most popular flower for weddings, and make wonderful additions to all of your floral arrangements for the ceremony and the reception. Roses can range in color from a cool and elegant lilac to a brighter passionate purple. The roses in the purple and lilac family also tend to be among the most fragrant. The various shades intermix very nicely for bouquets and centerpieces with a nice depth of purple color.

Tulips are another very popular wedding flower that can be found in purple. Whether your preference is the classic Dutch tulip or the baroque parrot tulip, purple tulips are fantastic for a wedding from the winter months into the summer. For the most drama, choose tulips in a dark inky purple that borders on black. They would be a sophisticated accent for an evening wedding, and pair nicely with other striking accessories, such as wedding jewelry that is handmade from dark purple crystals.

If your style is old fashioned or vintage, you will have some lovely purple wedding flowers from which to choose. One of the prettiest is the charming look of a big bouquet of ruffly sweetpeas. You couldn’t find a more delightful bouquet for a spring wedding. Another wonderful flower with a vintage flair is stocks, which comes in several shades of purple. Multiple blossoms grow along one tall stem, making stocks an excellent addition to centerpieces or ceremony arrangements, much in the same way that florists use gladioli for height.

Some brides love sophisticated and glamorous wedding details, from their handmade wedding jewelry to their letterpress wedding invitations to their unique and stylish bouquets. If this sounds like you, then you will adore the look of exotic orchids. Phalaenopsis orchids come in a rich medium purple, and unique Vanda orchids are a dark purple with white accents. Either looks fantastic in a dramatic flowing bouquet, and used in the centerpieces as well. Another great option is purple mini calla lilies. They work beautifully for bouquets with a single type of flower, and the small size of mini callas also makes them a natural addition to mixed flower wedding centerpieces and bouquets.

Speaking of small, one of the most darling purple wedding flowers is muscari, which is also called grape hyacinth, due to the fact that it resembles a small bunch of purple grapes. Muscari can be used to add texture and variety to wedding arrangements that feature a range of purple flowers. It is also a lovely choice for creating flower girl wreaths and bouquets for a spring wedding.

There are still more gorgeous purple flowers! Bright anemones add cheer and color to winter weddings, while foxgloves and pansies are charming for spring weddings. Whatever the style of your wedding, and whatever the season, purple flowers can add immense style and beauty.

About the Author Laura Firenze

Laura is interested in wedding planning and wedding trends including jewelry,receptions and gifts. Handmade wedding jewelry has always been one of the most important parts of the bridal ensemble.

Purple Wedding Flowers Photo by WeddingsbyColor.com

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First the short answer: No. It is not necessary to include “and guest” on every wedding invitation. Your wedding is really about sharing a special moment in your life with those that are nearest and dearest to you. Strangers whom you have never met are really not a part of that equation. Many brides and grooms would prefer not to invite their guests to bring along their own guests, but are afraid that it would be somehow rude to draw a line about who may come to their own wedding. Fear not; etiquette is on your side on this one. It is absolutely acceptable not to put “and guest” on the wedding invitations of single friends and relatives.

The key to pulling this off with a minimum of hurt feelings is to know where the line is and to stick with it in an evenhanded manner. In other words, it would not be fair to allow some single guests to bring dates but not others. It is along the lines of a wedding’s policy on children: you either have them, or you don’t. Period. This way even if your guests do not like your decision, they will at least see that it is fair and consistent.

Bear in mind that not all unmarried people are single (it should go without saying that a married couple would always be invited as a pair). The guests whom you invite to your wedding are at least in theory special people in your life; before mailing out invitations, take the time to do a little research into their romantic status. An unmarried couple who live together should definitely be invited as a pair, just like a husband and wife. It is definitely a nice gesture to also invite partners in long term relationships, even they do not live together. The names of those partners should appear on the wedding invitation. In other words, they are wanted and invited, not random “plus ones”.

All of this sounds great in practice, until you start getting calls from your single friends asking if they can bring someone along to your wedding. Then what? Hold firm in your decision and apply it evenly. One easy out is to simply say that you cannot afford any extra guests or that you are at the max capacity for your venue. Those are pretty hard statements for anyone to question.

You might also point out to your unattached guests that a wedding can be a great place to meet someone new. Love is in the air, and everyone is dressed their best. The single ladies will be decked out in their prettiest dresses and most glamorous accessories, like Swarovski crystal bracelets. The single men will be looking sharp in their handsome suits. A few spins around the dance floor, Swarovski crystal bracelets sparkling in the light, some shared laughs, who knows…the next great love could be the one that blossomed at your wedding. Now isn’t that better than trying to scrounge up a last-minute wedding date who doesn’t know anyone and would probably prefer to stay home? With that argument in hand, you may just convince your single friends that you are doing them a favor by skipping the “and guest”!

About the Author Laura Firenze

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Make any outfit more fabulous with stacks of sparkling Swarovski crystal bracelets.

Wedding Guest Favor Ideas

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1. Coasters make a very practical wedding favor choice and can be personalized in a variety of ways. To personalize your coaster you can use special wording or a poem, choose coasters to match your wedding theme and even add a picture which makes your coaster double as a picture frame too!

2. Salt & Pepper Shakers are very practical. Just about everyone uses salt and pepper daily and they can be found in just about any theme imaginable!

3. Recipe Card Holders are a unique favor and can be used not only as a wedding favor but make a great bridal shower favor as well. Guests can share their recipe for marriage success with the happy couple and then take home a useful favor that they can use for years to come while preparing their own recipes.

4. Magnets are useful and affordable. Magnets come in handy for posting notes and pictures on the refrigerator where they will be seen daily. They come in a variety of styles and sizes and are easily personalized.

5. Kitchen Timers are a different, at the same time extremely useful favor. Even if your guests do not bake, a kitchen timer comes in handy for anyone from your personal friends to co-workers needing to manage their time better while performing certain tasks. It’s a great productivity tool that all of your guests can use.

Your guests will not only remember your special day often they will also appreciate that you put thought into giving them a gift that they can actually use.

Practical, Useful Wedding Favor Ideas

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Don’t make the speech inappropriate for anyone in the audience. If you have your eighty year old grandfather in attendance, you will need to make sure your speech is clean enough for him to hear. Similarly, make sure that you avoid jokes that only a small percentage of the audience will understand, this can make people feel very left out.

Also make sure that you do not let the speech go on too long. Remember that a short speech is usually much more popular, so make sure that you keep things brief. If you are nervous, it will make things a lot less scary. A bridal speech should last anything from two to seven minutes, any longer than that and you might see some people starting to look a little bit dazed.

With that out of the way, let’s start with some definite do’s! First, do start off with some humor. If you can get everyone laughing along with you, you’re half way there. Take some time to think about some funny stories which brought you and your new husband together.

Another thing that you should definitely do is thank everyone who helped you with the wedding. With everyone in attendance it’s very easy to thank them all quickly.

When you are looking at the do’s for your wedding speech, why not think about memorizing it? A memorized speech will be a lot more effective than one that you have written down and it’s not as hard to do as you might think. This will allow you to deliver your speech whilst making eye contact with your family and friends. It will have a much greater impact.

It’s very important to map out your bride wedding speech way in advance of the big day. It’s one of those rare occasions when you can address a lot of the people you care about in one go, so make sure that you represent yourself well. Although it’s much easier to write than you probably think, you should still take your time to prepare it properly.

About the Author Gabriela Novak

For more information about writing the perfect bride wedding speech why not visit this site http://www.brideweddingspeechtips.org – You’ll find tips, advice and other helpful bride wedding speech resources.

Brides Wedding Speech Essentials- Toasting Glasses

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The next thing to consider would be your invitations and color scheme. There are several beautiful love bird themed invitations and thank you cards that match almost every color palette. When deciding on the colors for your ceremony, almost any color will work with a love bird theme, however natural colors are beautiful. Greens, browns, gold tones, and blues carry out the nature feel of a love bird wedding. If you are choosing to go with a more contemporary love bird theme, you may want something a little bolder, or something as simple as the classic white.

Decorations are next on the checklist for your wedding. These can be as creative as you are willing to go. You can incorporate birds’ nests into your décor, artificial of course, if you really want a unique look. This can even be carried over into the reception by using small branches with bird nests as the center pieces for your tables. If you want decorations that are a little more traditional, ivy and green plants work wonderfully. You can also incorporate some flowers as well. Another great decoration for your wedding and reception alike are to have several bird figurines around, and you may want to consider adding a few bird houses in as well. You can find them in most any color. There is also the option of having real birds, in beautiful cages, at the reception. Place card holders for the reception are also a great way to tie in your theme. There are several bird nest place card holders available. You can even get creative with the flower girls basket and the ring barer pillow. The possibilities are endless.

Favors are another big part of any wedding. There are several neat items available for a love bird themed wedding. You could go with something like love nest soaps, which are small egg shaped soaps that are contained in an artificial birds nest. If you want something a little more traditional why not go with love bird salt and pepper shakers. Mints are a great option as well, they are available in several flavors, and you can get the mint tin customized with your wedding date and theme.

Love bird wedding themes can be such fun to plan. Details are the key with this type of wedding, so look for anywhere that you can add something unique and special. Always remember with this theme or any other theme, your wedding day is your special day, so be sure to follow your heart.

Erica A. Brooks is the owner of SimplyElegantBridalAccessories.com where she offers brides elegant Love Bird bridal accessories, bridal favors and inexpensive wedding ideas to help them to plan the wedding of their dreams while saving money.

Love Bird Theme Wedding Favor Ideas

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Before the show

1. Make a list of what services you are looking for. Do you have a photographer yet? If not, put that on the list. If you don’t have flowers yet then put that on the list also.

2. Print out labels with your name, phone #, email address, and wedding date! (If you have room add your address also.) Many of the booths have drawings for prizes. They have forms to fill out to register for the drawing. By printing out labels you can just stick that to the vendors form and then get to the important stuff…checking out the vendors products and/or services! I’ve noticed some people just print out paper with their info on but labels are better as you can stick them onto the vendors form. If you don’t want to print out your own check out online companies like Vista Print where you can often get some printed for free!

3. Check out the wedding shows website to see what vendors will be there. If you need a photographer then check out all the photographers that will be there. If you need a cake…do the same.

4. Decide what you’re looking for in the vendors you still need. For example, for a DJ do you want one that plays games with the guests to get them involved or one that plays songs to keep the dance floor packed? Do you want a photographer that provides you with albums or do you just want a full resolution disk of your photos to do what you want with? Make a list of what you are looking for and questions you want to ask them.

5. Once you see what vendors will be there in the categories you need then check out their websites. By doing this you can get a preview of their work and get an idea if it’s a vendor you’d like to work with. Add the vendors you’re interested in to your list of services needed.
wedding flowers, bridal flowers

At the show

1. Bring with you the list of services needed and vendors you’re interested in as well as your labels. Also bring a notepad and pen to take notes.

2. Bring a camera to take pictures of any ideas you want to incorporate into your wedding.

3. Bring your checkbook. Many vendors offer specials if you book while at the show. However, don’t book a vendor just because of a show special. If you have any doubts about them…wait until you get to have a one on one meeting with them to book.

4. Bring your mom or a friend whose opinion you trust. Plus, as a bonus, they can help you carry things!

5. Register when you get to the show and be sure to grab the map or program they provide so you can locate the vendors you’re interested in.

6. Many people attending bridal shows head straight for the cake vendors because they are giving out free cake. I know it’s tempting to do this…but if you already have a cake vendor booked…don’t get caught up in the long lines just for a free piece of cake! If you do need a cake vendor then definitely check them out, but keep them for the end of the show as that’s when the lines will be the shortest.

7. Take notes! You will probably meet with multiple vendors offering the same services so be sure to take notes so you remember who you like and why. And be sure to ask the questions you listed before the show.

After the show

1. Pull out the brochures and/or business cards from the vendors you liked.

2. Call or email those vendors to set up consultations so you can see more of their work and so you can get to know them to make sure your personalities “click”!

I hope these tips help you! Now find some bridal shows to attend and have fun!

About the Author

Melissa Miville is owner and event planner of Stylish Occasions by Melissa Miville. Melissa specializes in wedding day coordination as well as full and partial wedding planning. Check out her website at http://www.yourstylishoccasions.com and her blog at http://stylishoccasions.wordpress.com to get more info.

If you want to have a eco-friendly wedding visit Charm City as she shares information on how to attend the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Bridal Show.

Bridal Show Planning Tools

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Photo booths are a hot new trend for weddings. They not only provide something fun and interactive for your guests, but they are a great way to create a photo montage of your big day. Many photo booth companies provide you with a CD compilation of your day’s photos, and others will even place them online for you and your loved ones to access, share, and print. Many companies offer a scrap booking option too, a must have if you want to create a detailed archive of special notes and pictures from your wedding day.

Choosing the right photo booth for your wedding is a delicate process. You want someone you can trust, but you also want to make sure the photo booth you rent meets your desires. There are a few things to look for when choosing a photo booth company:

Do I Want a Vintage or Digital Booth?

Vintage
-Some folks like the classic look and feel of a vintage photo booth. If you are looking to invoke nostalgia, a vintage booth is perfect for you. Their old school look and feel will remind you and your guests of days when these were a common site. One drawback is that they are bulky and are limited in where they can be placed. They also tend to cost somewhere in the range of $1500-$2000+ for an event. However, if you love the idea of having a classic booth and those unforgettable photo strips, then this is for you.

Digital
-For others who don’t have their hearts set on the classic look, a digital booth may be the answer. Digital booths have the advantage of being light weight and highly mobile, and thus are cheaper, usually ranging from $1000-$1200 for an event. Additionally, these booths can create high resolution photos and can fit 8-10 people, sometimes more. If you are looking for something with a little more bang for your buck, and are willing to spare the vintage look for a more modern curtained booth design, then a digital booth may be right for you.

What to Look for in a Photo Booth Company?

Photo Resolution
-You want to make sure that the booth you choose provides high photo resolution. This will ensure the clearest, sharpest pictures. Some companies may try to charge you extra for “high resolution” photos, but there are many companies out there that provide the same resolution or better, at no greater cost.

Booth Size
-Most classic booths are a little smaller inside than digital booths. Make sure you ask your classic booth provider how many people fit inside before booking with them. Typically, it’s 2-4 people at a time. Digital booths have a little greater range. These booths can fit anywhere from 4 or 5, all the way to 15 people in some cases. A bigger booth usually means more money, but once again, some companies provide large booths at no greater cost than other’s small booths.

Photo Archive
-Some Vintage and most Digital photo booth companies will provide you with a CD of all your event’s photos. You can take this and copy it, print the pictures out, and share at will. This is a great benefit if your chosen company provides this service. Some companies take it a step further and offer online password-protected galleries. You and your guests can log into the gallery with your chosen password and view all your wedding images. You will all be able to share, save, and print these pictures for usually 2-3 months after your event.

Booth Attendant
-Some companies will offer a booth attendant to watch over your booth. The last thing anyone wants on their big day is something extra to worry about. Be sure to choose a company that provides a trained booth attendant for your event.

Scrap Booking
-Some companies will offer scrap booking options. Scrapbooks are a perfect match with photo booths. Most companies will offer double prints with this option and your guests can take the doubles of their pictures and add them to your book with a memorable note. This is a great way to create a special keepsake from you wedding.

Choosing a photo booth company for your big day is a tough decision. Be sure you know all the facts before choosing a provider. You will find that some companies want to charge you extra for upgrades that you can find for free elsewhere. Be sure to make sure you know what you are getting for your money. Most importantly, get what you want. It’s your wedding! If you are in love with the vintage booths, go ahead and choose one, even if you can’t cram 10 people in there. Likewise, if you love the idea of an online gallery or a booth attendant, go for the digital booth. Either way, you are going to have hundreds of priceless memories to look at after your big day.

About the Author Kristian Meiswinkle

Working out of Somerset County, NJ, East Coast Photo Booths provides classy photo booths, with all the extras, for the best prices on the market. We serve NJ, PA, NY, CT, MA, and DE. For photo booth rental information, professional service, and a great way to make your wedding even more memorable, visit our website at http://ecphotobooths.com

For more unique wedding reception ideas visit Sparkalatti as she shares a clever wedding photobooth idea.

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