While awaiting service in a local department store today, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation taking place between who I can only assume were a bride-to-be and her mother. It went something like this;
b-2-b; "Really, I can't wear white?"
mob; "Of course not, in fact your dress really shouldn't look all that bridey, and you shouldn't wear a veil either, this isn't your first time after all."
b-2-b; "Really? wow, I had no idea, are you sure?"
mob; "Darling, I've been there and done that, and I can tell you it's a big mistake. Listen to your mother and choose the ivory cocktail dress, you can't go wrong with ivory."
Now as much as I'm sure that mom often does know best, this is one time I really wanted to butt into a conversation with a big loud "WHOA!" What's with all this "shoulding" over second (even third or fourth) time brides?
Okay, I know as well as the next Wedding Planner that there are "guidelines" and "common practices" and certain schools of thought about what's generally considered as acceptable for second, third, even fourth time brides. But with polite apologies to Emily Post, I say it's time to take a big leap into the 21st century and shake loose those old rules. At least a few of them.
Color: White's right if it feels right. So's ivory, lilac, silver, even red or black.
Veils: There's nothing wrong with a short veil, but even I'd encourage a little moderation here.
Attendants: Hey, it's a celebration! And what's a celebration without friends and family?
Showers: Even if you're combining two households, a lingerie or bar shower can be lots of fun.
Tradition: Nothing at all wrong with toting out traditional vows, the boquet toss, garters, etc.
Basically what I'm advocating here is that we stop all this nonsense of "Shouldn't because you already did." SO WHAT if you already did? When you know better you do better, so cut loose whether it's your second, third, even fourth time down the aisle. Have fun. Express yourself. Live a little. "Shoulda, coulda, woulda" has no place in your planning. Do what feels right and you'll pull off a wedding without regrets. Moderation in all things is always a good guideline, and by all means, steer clear of an exact repeat of previous vows, gown styles, cakes ... you get the drift. A wedding is a time of joy, it's a celebration of love. It's a time to shake off the dust of doubt and dig into your new life with both hands wide open.
And if you need someone to speak with mom about it, call me, I'll kick those shoulds to the curb!
Lori
Showing posts with label wedding gowns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding gowns. Show all posts
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What I've learned from weddings
As a wedding planner, it's my job to remain objective and professional while planning and organizing the happy couple's big day. It's also fair to say that from time to time, pure emotion and romantic fervor enter the picture and throw objectivity (temporarily) out the window.
Weddings and the emotions they sometimes generate often defy explanation ... even for well seasoned wedding goers and planners such as myself. Because the wedding I planned and executed this past weekend is still so fresh in my mind, I offer these observations;
* No woman is so beautiful as a woman in love and about to marry the man of her dreams.
* The Father/Daughter dance is guaranteed to make me cry.
* Always have tissues handy for those who thought themselves too unemotional to need them.
* No matter when your last wedding dress fitting occured, THE DRESS will need some minor adjustment on wedding day. Have safety pins, needle and thread handy.
* Including a map with the invite does not guarantee guests won't get lost.
* For some guests, an invite stating a 3:30pm ceremony will still be interpreted as "3:30 ISH"
* Grooms cry too. Tuck a tissue (or three) in his tux pocket. He'll thank you silently.
* Sometimes the best vows are the ones you write just before you say them.
* Ditto for toasts.
* An officiant with a sense of humor is a good thing.
* Always scuff the soles of new shoes.
* Holding the bachelor & bachelorettes parties two nights before the wedding isn't just good planning, it's critical for "hang-over avoidance".
* Shout wipes and Tide pens are a wedding planners best friends.
* All the planning in the world can't overcome the last minute snafu. Go with the flow. Don't sweat the small stuff. Breathe.
Planning a wedding can be a time consuming, headache-inducing, money-swallowing, tearful experience. It can also be a joyous, glorious, beautiful, laugh-fest of love. It's your choice how you approach the experience. A little patience, an honest appreciation for your budget, and a thorough wedding planner can help ease the pain and expand the pleasure. Wedding planning is above all else, a labor of love.
I've loved every single minute of the past nine months working on the Willeford/Sepp wedding.
Congratulations to Tyler and Amy,
Love U Mean It!
Lori Lamb
Weddings and the emotions they sometimes generate often defy explanation ... even for well seasoned wedding goers and planners such as myself. Because the wedding I planned and executed this past weekend is still so fresh in my mind, I offer these observations;
* No woman is so beautiful as a woman in love and about to marry the man of her dreams.
* The Father/Daughter dance is guaranteed to make me cry.
* Always have tissues handy for those who thought themselves too unemotional to need them.
* No matter when your last wedding dress fitting occured, THE DRESS will need some minor adjustment on wedding day. Have safety pins, needle and thread handy.
* Including a map with the invite does not guarantee guests won't get lost.
* For some guests, an invite stating a 3:30pm ceremony will still be interpreted as "3:30 ISH"
* Grooms cry too. Tuck a tissue (or three) in his tux pocket. He'll thank you silently.
* Sometimes the best vows are the ones you write just before you say them.
* Ditto for toasts.
* An officiant with a sense of humor is a good thing.
* Always scuff the soles of new shoes.
* Holding the bachelor & bachelorettes parties two nights before the wedding isn't just good planning, it's critical for "hang-over avoidance".
* Shout wipes and Tide pens are a wedding planners best friends.
* All the planning in the world can't overcome the last minute snafu. Go with the flow. Don't sweat the small stuff. Breathe.
Planning a wedding can be a time consuming, headache-inducing, money-swallowing, tearful experience. It can also be a joyous, glorious, beautiful, laugh-fest of love. It's your choice how you approach the experience. A little patience, an honest appreciation for your budget, and a thorough wedding planner can help ease the pain and expand the pleasure. Wedding planning is above all else, a labor of love.
I've loved every single minute of the past nine months working on the Willeford/Sepp wedding.
Congratulations to Tyler and Amy,
Love U Mean It!
Lori Lamb
Thursday, August 21, 2008
I'm a Maid of Honor ... NOW WHAT?
The bridesmaid plays an important role at the wedding -- the perfect bridesmaid is supportive without being intrusive, offering her help to the bride-to-be at all stages of the wedding planning, and always available for a pre-wedding shopping spree or spa day!
The Maid or Matron of Honor in particular has a vital role in all preparations leading up to the day and plays a supporting role to the bride throughout the wedding day itself.
Here’s a guide to what you can expect to have to do during the wedding countdown;
Twelve to nine months to go
You may be asked to be involved in discussions and decisions in the planning stages and to be used as a sounding board for the bride’s ideas right from the start. Your main duty is to be the bride’s personal assistant: someone who can be relied on to chase vendors if required, or just to calm her down when stress gets the better of her. An important task for any Maid of Honor is to be an honest yet gentle critic when it comes to choosing the bride’s gown. Make sure she gives you some idea of what she is looking for. Then be constructive about the styles and colors that suit her best.
Outfits
Along with helping the bride select her dress, as Maid of Honor you likely be involved in choosing outfits for yourself and the other attendants. Ask the bride to tell you the colors and styles she’s thinking of, and offer to do some preliminary shopping with her. You can be especially helpful by getting the other bridesmaids to fittings on time.
Six to four months to go
If the bride’s trying out a new beauty or fitness regime before the wedding, your support will be very welcome! If she’s going to “bridal boot camp” or has taken up jogging, try to go along to keep up her morale, or at the very least, offer what encouragement you can.
Having a makeover is always a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon. Try out some new brands or even make-up artists for the big day and see what suits you, or just plain enjoy yourselves doing something girlie, a pedicure perhaps?
You might be asked to act as an intermediary if difference of opinion occurs, perhaps between the bride and her parents or parents-in-laws. Hopefully this won’t be necessary, but disagreements do happen from time to time, and your support will mean the world to the bride-to-be.
Now’s also the time to offer your help in planning a luncheon for the brides attendants. This can be held at the brides home, her parents home, or even a restaurant. Brides often use the attendants luncheon to give a small gift or token of appreciation to attendants.
Bridal Showers
Most brides will appreciate a bridal shower, which you as the Maid or Matron of Honor may host. A Sunday brunch, an afternoon tea, perhaps cocktails, almost any theme from lingerie to linens will be appreciated, especially by the first time bride. Before beginning plans for any shower, it’s always a good idea to ask the bride herself if she’s aware of anyone throwing her a shower. If you do host a shower, feel free to ask the bride what kind of shower she’d like, and whether or not she’d like it to be coed so that her groom can join in the fun. Be sure to review the guest list with the bride to ensure no one's overlooked.
The day before the wedding
If circumstances allow, you may want to spend the day or evening before the wedding with the bride, especially if she’s nervous or spending the night apart from the groom. Encourage her to talk about what she thinks tomorrow will mean to her -- the day itself will go so fast it’s a good idea to get some of the contemplation in beforehand. Be sure to ask if there’s any last minute details she needs you to take care of. Above all, your job as Maid of Honor is to calm and support the bride in any way possible.
Emergency kit
I’m a big believer in having a wedding emergency kit. One never knows when a button will pop, a headache will crop up, a stubborn strap will refuse to stay hidden. Here’s my suggestion for what to pack into your emergency kit;
* An extra pair or stockings or panty hose
* Tissues
* Baby wipes
* Breath mints
* Safety pins
* Comb/brush
* Lipstick
* Nail file
* Clear nail polish
* Hair spay
* Spare earring backs
* Double sided tape
* Aspirin/Ibuprofen
* Pen
* Small sewing kit with two needles
So there you have it. Your job as Maid or Matron of Honor is done, the bride and groom have said their vows and everyone’s off to the reception. Have you a prepared a toast to the happy couple? Nothing will be more appreciated than your sincere wishes of happiness. You’ve done a grand job … that smile on the brides face is (at least partially) thanks to you! Sip some champagne, slip off your high heels and take a much deserved rest.
Well done!
The Maid or Matron of Honor in particular has a vital role in all preparations leading up to the day and plays a supporting role to the bride throughout the wedding day itself.
Here’s a guide to what you can expect to have to do during the wedding countdown;
Twelve to nine months to go
You may be asked to be involved in discussions and decisions in the planning stages and to be used as a sounding board for the bride’s ideas right from the start. Your main duty is to be the bride’s personal assistant: someone who can be relied on to chase vendors if required, or just to calm her down when stress gets the better of her. An important task for any Maid of Honor is to be an honest yet gentle critic when it comes to choosing the bride’s gown. Make sure she gives you some idea of what she is looking for. Then be constructive about the styles and colors that suit her best.
Outfits
Along with helping the bride select her dress, as Maid of Honor you likely be involved in choosing outfits for yourself and the other attendants. Ask the bride to tell you the colors and styles she’s thinking of, and offer to do some preliminary shopping with her. You can be especially helpful by getting the other bridesmaids to fittings on time.
Six to four months to go
If the bride’s trying out a new beauty or fitness regime before the wedding, your support will be very welcome! If she’s going to “bridal boot camp” or has taken up jogging, try to go along to keep up her morale, or at the very least, offer what encouragement you can.
Having a makeover is always a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon. Try out some new brands or even make-up artists for the big day and see what suits you, or just plain enjoy yourselves doing something girlie, a pedicure perhaps?
You might be asked to act as an intermediary if difference of opinion occurs, perhaps between the bride and her parents or parents-in-laws. Hopefully this won’t be necessary, but disagreements do happen from time to time, and your support will mean the world to the bride-to-be.
Now’s also the time to offer your help in planning a luncheon for the brides attendants. This can be held at the brides home, her parents home, or even a restaurant. Brides often use the attendants luncheon to give a small gift or token of appreciation to attendants.
Bridal Showers
Most brides will appreciate a bridal shower, which you as the Maid or Matron of Honor may host. A Sunday brunch, an afternoon tea, perhaps cocktails, almost any theme from lingerie to linens will be appreciated, especially by the first time bride. Before beginning plans for any shower, it’s always a good idea to ask the bride herself if she’s aware of anyone throwing her a shower. If you do host a shower, feel free to ask the bride what kind of shower she’d like, and whether or not she’d like it to be coed so that her groom can join in the fun. Be sure to review the guest list with the bride to ensure no one's overlooked.
The day before the wedding
If circumstances allow, you may want to spend the day or evening before the wedding with the bride, especially if she’s nervous or spending the night apart from the groom. Encourage her to talk about what she thinks tomorrow will mean to her -- the day itself will go so fast it’s a good idea to get some of the contemplation in beforehand. Be sure to ask if there’s any last minute details she needs you to take care of. Above all, your job as Maid of Honor is to calm and support the bride in any way possible.
Emergency kit
I’m a big believer in having a wedding emergency kit. One never knows when a button will pop, a headache will crop up, a stubborn strap will refuse to stay hidden. Here’s my suggestion for what to pack into your emergency kit;
* An extra pair or stockings or panty hose
* Tissues
* Baby wipes
* Breath mints
* Safety pins
* Comb/brush
* Lipstick
* Nail file
* Clear nail polish
* Hair spay
* Spare earring backs
* Double sided tape
* Aspirin/Ibuprofen
* Pen
* Small sewing kit with two needles
So there you have it. Your job as Maid or Matron of Honor is done, the bride and groom have said their vows and everyone’s off to the reception. Have you a prepared a toast to the happy couple? Nothing will be more appreciated than your sincere wishes of happiness. You’ve done a grand job … that smile on the brides face is (at least partially) thanks to you! Sip some champagne, slip off your high heels and take a much deserved rest.
Well done!
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