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Monday, September 5, 2011

BASIC INFORMATION


So you are tying the knot,
well here are some basics you should know
about getting married:

Bridesmaids

You may have up to 12 bridesmaids

(depending on the size and formality of the wedding).

The bridesmaids pay for their own gowns,

share the responsibility for the shower,

contribute to bride's gift from all bridesmaids

and attend the rehersal and dinner.

Flower Girl

This young lady carries the basket

of flowers down the aisle or sprinkles

flower petals down the aisle for the bride to walk upon.

Best Man

He walks down the aisle with the maid/matron

of honor and stands next to the groom during

the ceremony. He holds the bride's ring until the

officiant asks for it and he signs the marriage

certificate as a legal witness. At the reception,

he proposes the first toast to the bride and groom.

Groomsmen

These friends or relatives of the groom

walk with the bridesmaids down the aisle.

They pay for their own attire rental.

Maid/Matron Of Honor

Before the wedding, she helps with addressing

the invitations and plans the bridal shower.

On the big day, the maid or matron of honor helps

the bride get ready, adjusts her train and veil during

the ceremony, holds the groom's ring and the bride's

bouquet, and signs the marriage certificate as a witness.

Ring Bearer

He/ They carries the ring pillow down the aisle.

He/ They can walk with the flower girl or after her.

Ushers

These gentlemen lead all the guests to their seats

and unroll the aisle runner before the processional.

You should have one usher for every 50 guests.

Bouquet

For ancient Greeks and Romans,

the bouquet was a pungent mix of

garlic and herbs or grains. The garlic was

supposed to ward off evil spirits and the

herbs or grains were to insure a fruitful union.

In ancient Poland, it was believed that sprinkling

sugar on the bride's bouquet kept her temper sweet.

Cake

The wedding cake has always played an important

part in the wedding. Ancient Romans broke a cake

over the bride's head to symbolize fertility or abundance.

Many other cultures dropped wheat, flour or cake on the

bride's head, and then ate the crumbs for good luck.

The early British baked baskets of dry crackers, and

every guest took one home after the wedding.

In medieval times, guests brought small cakes and

piled them on a table. The bride and groom then

attempted to kiss over the cakes. Eventually, a young

baker decided to put all the cakes together and

cover them with frosting, thus the tiered wedding

cake was born.

Dress

Traditionally, brides did not wear white
wedding gowns. Through the 18th century,
most brides just wore their Sunday best to
their wedding. Red was a favorite during the
Middle Ages in Europe. Other colors were worn
for symbolic reasons: blue meant constancy and
green meant youth. As years passed, white was
worn as a symbol of purity. Today, white merely
symbolizes the wedding and is worn by any bride,
no matter if it is their second marriage.

Kiss

The first kiss a bride and groom share at

the close of the ceremony has carried special

significance through the centuries. Many cultures

believed that the couple exchanged spirits with

their breath and part of their souls were exchanged as well.

Honeymoon

The first weddings comprised of a groom taking
his bride by capture. He would take her somewhere
hidden away so her relatives and villagers couldn't
find them. There they stayed for one moon phase and
drank mead, a wine make from honey, to make them
more amorous. Thus, the word "honeymoon" was born.
Today, the honeymoon is the time when the couple can
get away for awhile.

Ring

The wedding ring has traditionally been worn
on the third finger of the left hand because it
was believed that a vein in this finger ran directly
to the heart. The third finger of the left hand has
become the customary wedding-ring finger for all
English-speaking cultures.

Throwing Rice

One of the oldest wedding traditions, the custom

of throwing rice, originated with the ancient Hindus

and Chinese. In these cultures, rice is the symbol

of fruitfulness and prosperity. Tossing it after the

ceremony was believed to bestow fertility upon the

bride and groom. Eating rice and other grains was

throught to guarantee health, wealth and happiness

for the newlyweds. Today, rice tossing is being replaced

by the more ecologically friendly birdseed tossing,

or live butterfly release.

Veil

Mystique and romance has surrounded the

veil for more than one thousand years. Originally,

the veil is thought to have been used to hide the bride

from abductors, just as the similar dress of her bridesmaids

was meant to do. But a more romantic interpretation

evolved later which believed that concealment

(as the bride's face beneath a veil) rendered what

was hidden more valuable. Another early interpretation

of the veil was that it symbolized youth and virginity.

Budget Tip

Saturday night is the most expensive time to hold

your reception and the hardest night to find everything

you want available. To save money and frustration,

consider a Friday or Sunday night, Saturday or Sunday

afternoon or a week night. Morning and afternoon

weddings also call for lighter fare, so you'll be able to

save on the menu as well.

Tipping

Most gratuities will be included in the fees,
but it is customary to tip some of the following
professionals who helped to make your day special.
The following is a list for proper tipping protocol:

* Clergy Member -- usually a $10 and up donation.

* Limousine, D.J., Photographer -- 15%

* Waiters, Waitresses -- 15%

* Captains -- 1 to 2%

* Maitre D' -- 15%

Ceremony

A wedding ceremony can be held anywhere from
your local church to a park, lake or backyard. You can
invite as many guest as you wish as cost is not determined
by head count. The type of ceremony -Civil or Religious-
will have an impact on the cost. To save money consider
having an officiant preform your ceremony at the reception
site so you can avoid paying an additional location fee.

Rehearsal Dinner

The groom's Parents traditionally host the rehearsal

dinner, but depending on your situation, you may to

host or be involved in the planning of it. To save money,

there is no reason why you couldn't host a lunch or rehearsal

party in one of your parents' homes, and save on restaurant

cost. In fact, a home is quite often intimate and pleasant for

a small - to medium size group.

Flowers

You will purchase more flowers for your wedding

than most any other occasion in your life.

In addition to the bridal bouquet,

you will need the following:

* Bouquests for bridal attendants

* Boutonniere for groom

* Boutonniere for ushers and fathers

* Corsages for mothers

* Flowers to decorate the church

* Centerpieces for reception

* Bouquet and flower petals for flower girl

* Additional floral decorations for buffet tables & cake

Money Saving Tips

* Choose flowers that are in season at the

time of your wedding

* Use hand-tied stems rather than structured bouquets

* Use loosely cut flowers in vases rather

than sculpted centerpieces

WEDDING PLANNER

Your wedding planner will be your eyes,

ears and heart. It is the person not only in

charge of everything but the key to your

weddings success. If you are planning a

Destination Wedding you NEED a wedding planner.

Special thanks to

http://www.bridalassociationofamerica.com

for the information.


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