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Etiquette to Reduce your Wedding Guest List

May 1, 2012 By

Wedding experts always say this: if you really want to save big money on your wedding, trim the guest list. As you know, expenses on invitations, favors, catering and so on are multiplied by the number of guests you’re having. And the more people, the bigger the venue required. This translates to a heftier wedding price tag as well. The only problem is, most of the time, this advice is more easily said than done, especially if you have a huge family or you know a lot of people. So what can you do? Check out the wedding etiquette below on reducing the wedding guest list.

Set expectations right away
Right after you announce your engagement, spread the word that you’re having a small and intimate wedding. It’s wise to let people know as early as now that you’re not going to invite too many people. This will definitely reduce the amount of awkward conversations with people who assume that they will be invited to your wedding. It often happens that these conversations result in invitations that you didn’t plan on issuing. Your neighbor’s quip on how she can’t wait to see you on your wedding gown is hard to dismiss with a frank “I’m not inviting you” reply. But if you set expectations early, she would know better not to give that kind of compliment.

Divide the guest list fairly
If you insist on inviting 500 people to your wedding, what would stop your groom from doing the same? Even if you’re the boss of him and he succumbs to every one of your wish, it’s not really nice to have a lion share of the guest list. Divide it evenly so it would be easier for you to cut down the list. And you can always make this excuse “I really would have wanted to invite you but you see, we’re only allowed to invite 50 people each. My relatives alone are more than that.” It makes people feel better that you did want to invite them but you just couldn’t do so.

Establish the rules and follow them
Another practical trick to reduce the guest list is to set the rules and have the discipline to follow them. For example, you and your groom can decide that the wedding is off-limits to second cousins, parents of friends, and friends of friends. Make sure that the rules are applied to both of you and to everyone. You can’t say you’re not going to invite your second cousins and then sneak an invitation to one of them.

Deal with the plus ones accordingly
According to common courtesy, if your friend is seriously involved with someone, that someone should be invited to your wedding. But what about that friend of yours who calls her dates flavor of the month? You’re not being rude if you exclude her newest conquest.
All these things can help you cut down the guest list without stepping on people’s toes. Remember though, this is only one of the many ways you can save money on your wedding day. Explore other options as well.

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Wedding Handbags For You And Your Bridal Party

February 7, 2009 By
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When you are considering gifts for your bridal party, consider wedding handbags for you and your bridal party.  You will need somewhere to hold makeup and other small necessities on your wedding day, and having the bridal party having matching wedding handbags will keep the overall look of your bridal party consistent.

This white satin beaded clutch is non-dyeable, and measures 7 1/2″ x 5″ in size.  It is a perfect gift for your bridemaids and maid-of-honour.

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After Six Dress For Your Bridemaid

January 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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When it comes to style, the After Six bridesmaid collection stands out for it’s simple elegance.  Your wedding day is a special time, and these beautiful dresses will be sure to please the eye of your guests as well as your bridesmaids.  The best part is that an After Six dress will be a beautiful addition to your bridesmaid’s wardrobe for years to come.

This After Six dress is very contemporary with it’s rich chiffon fabric.  The tea-length dress features a V-neck and shirred waistband, perfect to hide any imperfections of the belly.  Although the dress length is a standard 42″, it does come in a 47″ length also.  This After Six dress is a halter style A-line dress that is perfect for all body types.  There are over 50 colours to choose from, with a beautiful Tangerine shown in this picture.  Many sizes are available for all body types from size 0 to plus sizes ranging up to 28W.

There are many styles to choose from when you pick an After Six dress, and each one is sure to please.

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Wedding Colours – The Harmonious Colour Scheme

December 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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When choosing your wedding colours, you have a number of options:  the harmonious colour scheme, the tonal colour scheme, the complementary colour scheme and the triadic colour scheme.  To understand how to use colours properly, you must consider not just colours, but your neutrals as well.  The neutral colours are white, black, and brown, in all their various shades. 

The harmonious colour scheme refers to choosing colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel.  One example would be yellow, orange, and red, which is often seen in a fall wedding theme.  Blue, green and purple are also harmonious colours in nature.  Sometimes with a harmonious colour scheme, there are various “shades” of blue and purple, with accents of green.  Think of a bridal bouquet with various blue and purple flowers, and the accent of the greenery to get an idea of what it would look like. 

You can also have combinations like purple-red-orange, or yellow-green-blue, in a variety of shades to create a harmonious colour scheme.  Also, it is not necessary to use all three colours, it works just as well to use two colours next to each other on the colour wheel. 

When creating a harmonious wedding colour scheme, it is important to keep the colour tones the same.  For example, if you are using soft colours, keep them all soft.  If you are using bold colours, keep them all bold.  Although you can go with various shades of one or two colours, you want to keep the overall tone within a small range of colour.  A pale pastel yellow next to bright orange would not work as well as matching bold yellow and bold orange—as show in this bouquet of orange roses and yellow calla lilies. 

Alway remember that your harmonious colours can be paired with any of the neutral colours.  Harmonious colours work gently together to give you an overall beauty to your wedding decor–whether you choose a bold colour tone, or a soft colour tone.

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How Do We Announce Our Engagement?

November 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment
When you are first engaged, you will want to tell anyone who will listen how happy you are to be engaged. Although announcing your engagement need not be a formal thing, there are some things to consider before announcing your engagement.
In the past, it was common for the man to have a formal interview with his prospective father-in-law to ask him for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The custom of the groom asking permission from the bride’s father before proposing is alive and well, and one you may consider in your engagement process. In the past, the bride might not even know the groom or know of his interest in her. Today, the couple decide to get married, and then the prospective groom approaches his soon-to-be father-in-law to get his blessing on their union.
Did You Know…..
  • 47% of grooms asked for permission from the bride’s father before proposing
  • 62% of grooms got down on one knee to propose
  • 88% of brides received an engagement ring at the time of engagement
  • 30% of the time the ring was picked out together

– Weddingbells’ 2008 Reader Survey

Whether you choose to ask the bride’s father or not, it is tradition to tell the bride’s parents first. Then the groom’s parents are told the happy news. Usually the engaged couple visit each set of parents to tell them the happy news. It is important to share this information with each set of parents on the same day, so there are no hurt feelings or offence taken for any delay.

If the parents are in a different city or part of the country and personal visits are not practical, a phone call by the couple to the parents is in order to share the happy news. It is proper etiquette that the parents are always the first to learn of the engagement.

It is also proper etiquette to let family and friends know of the engagement at roughly the same time. So the couple must decide how they will spread the news throughout their family and friends, but it should be done at roughly the same time so there is no offence taken. Your options are a personal visit by the couple to those closest to you, a phone call by the engaged couple to friends, or a letter or email announcing the engagement.

Usually, the announcement is coordinated with a public notice of the engagement in the newspapers where most of the family live. If the engaged couple’s family live in two different cities, then newspaper announcements should be in both city newspapers, for example. The traditional way of making the announcement is for the Mother of the Bride to take responsibility, and make a formal announcement in the newspaper. For example, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Susan to Mr. Tom Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Jones. A look in your local newspaper will show alternative engagement announcements for you to choose from.

Another option is an engagement party. Traditionally, this should be a party given by the bride’s parents, and both sets of parents should know of the engagement. The Mother of the Bride issues the invitations, keeping the purpose of the party a secret. Then, at the party, either the Father of the Bride, or the Fiancé will announce the upcoming marriage. Sometimes, the couple opts for a separate party with all their friends, and sometimes it is a combined party.

The main thing to remember from an etiquette point of view is that the parents must be told first, and then family and friends be told next at roughly the same time. How you choose to do this is up to you. The engagement ring should not be worn until the engagement is formally announced.

After the engagement has been announced, it is customary for both sets of parents to meet. If geographical distance is not a hindrance, the engaged couple should arrange a dinner party with both sets of parents invited. The purpose of this meeting is to allow the parents to get to know each other.

The final preparation for announcing your engagement should be a list of people that you want to make sure to tell of your engagement. Note next to their name what method you will use to tell them. Certain people you will want to tell personally, and others can be notified as part of a group at an engagement party, or through phone calls or email. Making the list may seem unimportant, but it IS important to make sure you don’t forget anyone and create hard feelings. In addition, this list will become your starting point for your wedding guest list. Your parents will help you to make sure you don’t miss a distant relative or other important person, so get their help in creating this engagement list. Either when you announce your engagement to your parents, or when the parents meet for dinner, creating a wedding engagement list will give you an activity to do together.

This way the parents have a say in who gets informed of the wedding, and from it you will get an idea of who they think is important for the wedding guest list. The wedding guest list is strictly for the couple to decide, but this early input will put the parent’s minds at ease that you are organized and taking control of the wedding planning process, and may stop future interference in planning your perfect wedding.

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The Wedding Gown For Your Body Type

November 6, 2008 By 10 Comments
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You are getting married. You are excited. You dream about looking beautiful as you walk down the aisle. It’s all about The Dress. But as you inspect your dream to see what you are wearing, it kind of fades away. What will you wear and how will you choose your wedding gown?

There are thousands of websites with many wedding dress designs. There are hundreds of bridal magazines full of thousands of wedding dresses. How do you choose?

The first thing to consider is your body shape. Are you an hourglass? A spoon? A ruler? A cone? Your body shape will not change if you are planning to ‘lose weight’ before your wedding day. You will only be a size or two smaller in the same body shape. Consider: What style dresses do you look best in now? What necklines suit you best? What skirts do you look best in? What style clothing works best with your upper torso (neck to waist)? or your lower torso (waist to feet)?

When wearing a gown, you want to have balance between your upper and lower torso. If the upper torso is larger than the lower torso, you want to elongate the upper torso. You do this through the neckline (V as opposed to box-neck), the bodice style (a vertical design), and possibly through a drop waist in the skirt. Your lower torso would best be served through a fuller skirt, bringing more width to the lower half of your body.

If your lower torso is larger than the upper torso, you want to broaden the upper torso through a wider neckline, or off the shoulder style bodice. The bodice itself can have a style and embellishments that “fill up” the space of your upper body. Your skirt should skim the hips comfortably, and drape straight down to give your lower half a more slender look.

How do you dress an hourglass figure? 

An hourglass figured woman has a bust, defined waist, curvy hips and shapely legs. Her bone structure is small, and sometimes she has a big buttock. This type has curves, so it is best to show them off. Because of the defined waist of this body type, choose a wedding dress style that draws attention to the waist. Your dress should be semi-fitted (as opposed to too tight or too baggy). An A-line dress with (or without) a dropped waist would suit and hourglass figure beautifully. A more dramatic style would be a mermaid or trumpet style dress. A sweetheart neckline would show off the bust very nicely. DON’T: a ball gown or empire-waist.  

How do you dress a spoon shaped (pear) figure?

A spoon shape figured woman is small and slender through the neck, shoulders and bust, has a shapely waist, and is fuller in the lower hips and thighs. When choosing a wedding gown, you want a full skirt that de-emphasizes your hips, and a semi-fitted or tailored bodice that shows off your small top-half. The neckline can be wider to help broaden your shoulders and bring balance to the full skirt. A basque waist, strapless ball gown, or an empire waist dress style are the best bet for a spoon shaped figure. DON’T: mermaid or trumpet style dress.  

How do you dress a ruler shaped (straight) figure?

A ruler shaped woman has an upper and lower torso that is equal in width. She has an average bust, an undefined waist, a flat buttock, and slender legs. When choosing a wedding gown, you want to aim for lengthening your upper torso. This can be done through a neckline that falls below your collarbone to help elongate the neck, or by having a drop waist skirt. Your skirt is best in a straight style, as it will slenderize your look. Avoid gathered or pleated fabric at the waist. An empire waist gown will give you a long, lean look. DON’T: Princess line, or basque waist will draw too much attention to the waist.  

How do you dress a cone shaped (inverted triangle) figure?

A cone shaped woman has a broader top and a narrower bottom. Broad shoulders, a medium bust, an average waist, narrow hips, and shapely long legs are all attributes of the cone shaped figure. When choosing a wedding gown, you want to aim for balancing out your top and bottom halves. Choose a full skirt to balance the width of your shoulder. Your neckline should elongate you, like a deep V-neck. You don’t want a neckline that makes your shoulders look broader, and you must stay away from off the shoulder style bodices. The bodice style and neckline should both work to elongate your upper torso, with a vertical style. A ball gown style, or an A-line silhouette would both look great on this figure. DON’T: Sheath style dress, spaghetti straps.

When you look at bridal magazines, analyze the wedding gown styles. Using the above guideline, look at how the designers use these techniques to achieve the results they do. Look at the bridal jewellery the models are wearing. Are they wearing necklaces, tiaras, bracelets, or earrings? Do certain styles of dress tend to have certain kinds of bridal jewellery? Once you have educated yourself on dress styles and jewellery, you are ready to go out and start shopping for your own wedding dress and bridal jewellery.

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What Colour Should My Wedding Gown Be?

November 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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Choosing a colour for a wedding gown is a very personal thing, and many colours are available for bride’s to choose from.  For many centuries, brides were married in the nicest clothes they owned.  Often they made their own wedding dress or gown from the nicest fabric they could afford to purchase.  The key element of the wedding ensemble was not the dress, but the fact that the bride was allowed to wear her hair loose on her wedding day.  The tradition and practicality of wearing one’s hair tied back in a ponytail or braid was commonplace in everyday life, and the wedding day was the day to wear the hair loose. 

 

In Roman times, wedding gowns were yellow in colour and they wore a yellow veil that covered them from head to toe.  Other cultures have specific colours or embroidered costumes that they wore as their wedding dress—like the colour red worn in many parts of Asia.  European and British ancestors often wore pale pink, yellow or blue dresses. 

 

Traditionally, marriages were for political or social gain, and it was important to have the best wedding gown possible to show off the family status.  They tended to be the height of fashion, with the richest fabrics, and the boldest colours to make a statement.  Yards and yards of the finest materials—damask silk or velvet—and trimmed with furs, and gems were commonplace.  Those of the lower classes would emulate the higher classes by having a bit of rabbit fur to trim their dress, or by having long sleeves and thereby using more fabric. 

 

During the 17th century, wedding dresses became more brightly coloured and had more pattern to them.  Blue was a popular colour for many brides because in paintings, the Virgin Mary’s robe was always blue, and blue denotes constancy.  Traditionally, black, purple, and green were avoided because they were either mourning colours or considered unlucky. 

 

In the 18th century, for example, one description of a Quaker bride’s dress was a light blue brocade dress with matching high heeled shoes, a short blue bodice, a white satin stomacher embroidered in multicoloured threads, and a black hood lined with white silk.  The groom was dressed in a peach coloured cloth lined with quilted white silk. 

 

Wedding dresses and gowns tend to follow the latest styles, and in the early 1900’s, all wedding dresses were dresses—knee length in front, and a longer in the back.  It wasn’t until the 1940’s, that wedding dresses started to become wedding gowns, and the trend to full length dresses has continued to this day.

 

For a number of centuries, royalty in Britain wore silver.  Over time, the silver royal gowns were trimmed with white.  Queen Victoria changed this tradition by being married in a white wedding gown.  This started a trend of white wedding gowns that is still alive today. 

 

The tradition of wearing a silver wedding gown for so many centuries has continued in the tradition of wearing silver jewellery, and having silver handbags, and shoes with the white gown.  Silver and cream coloured wedding gowns are still traditional along with the more popular white wedding gown.

 

As we move into the 21st century, the traditional “white wedding” is slowly making way for more colour in the gowns the brides are choosing.    The length of wedding dresses has also changed in the last number of years.  With destination weddings becoming more and more popular, shorter wedding gowns are practical for beach wedding ceremonies, and we are seeing a resurgence in popularity for the shorter wedding dress. 

 

Today, brides are free to choose any style or colour of wedding dress they desire.  Some weddings are themed medieval or renaissance, and the dresses match the theme.  Some weddings are very modern, and the wedding dresses reflect that haute couture styling.  Those who grew up with and love the Disney influence in our culture, often opt for the ‘fairytale princess’ theme and their wedding gown and wedding decorations reflect that theme. 

 

No matter what colour you choose for your wedding gown, wear it with pride and style.  Plan your wedding to reflect your personal style, your taste, and your personality.   Whether you love tradition, or love the modern, there is the perfect wedding gown out there for you, and in the perfect colour. 

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