Archive for October, 2008
My friend Wendy arrived at her bachelorette party and got the surprise of her life. One of her friends, May, who helped to plan the party, greeted Wendy as she walked through the door and graciously pinned a sash from her shoulder to her hip and back up to her shoulder again. On her head she placed a tiara with a flowing white veil complete with a satin hand band and tulle fabric. May raved about the section of the department store where she purchased these items. The products were labeled unique women’s gifts.
We talked before about the importance of selecting the right kind of accessories for your outfit. You can make or break a first impression just by your choice of accessories. It is commonly believed that one rarely gets a second chance to make a first impression. In this culture forgiveness is often seen as a rare commodity. When an individual fails to create a successful first impression either by a flawed appearance or an awkward expression it leaves an enormous sense of embarrassment and lingers way too long for comfort.
The above scenario can be avoided by following one simple rule of thumb. It is better to be stingy on your clothes than on your accessories. Be a good negotiator and get good value for your money. You should aim not to have to break the bank in order to wear good quality wedding jewelry such as a three piece bridal pearl jewelry set. A bride most likely will have only one time to make a lasting impression. Therefore we say ‘cheers to the lovely bride’.
Bridal accessories are designed to enhance a beauty that is already there. Accessories were not intended to cover obvious flaws, but rather to bring out the best features on your anatomy. A good example is the amount of wedding jewelry that the bride wears on her wedding day. A matching set of pearls is considered quite appropriate. Less is usually better in most cases.
Most brides seem to know when to stop adding more jewelry and the majority tends to opt for pearls on their wedding day. Small pearl earrings along with a necklace of appropriate length and bracelets that are measured just right. Accessories are meant to compliment not overwhelm the item they are meant to accompany. One of the major rules of thumb is to skimp on anything BUT your accessories.
Tia and Gary were now man and wife. They had already exchanged wedding vows and had signed their marriage certificate. They posed for several pictures with relatives and friends and quite a few with just two of them. They went for what seemed to the guests like a very long ride while the guests chatted and greeted each other before getting into their vehicles and driving off to the reception hall.
The reception hall was quite impressive. There were colorful tropical flowers at the entrance of the building. The foyer was painted with pastel colors that blended well with each other. The floors were a kind of jazzy marble leading to a carpeted stairway to the upper level. The Horsd’oeuvres were appropriately served at different stations and were also thematized to match different cultures.
The wedding guests were invited to the third level where the reception program would begin shortly. Members of the bridal party were announced as the entrance door popped open to reveal each couple. The last to appear were the bride and groom. Everyone stood to welcome the newly weds. The bride smiled happily and her husband cautiously guided her to her seat at the head table.
A table was reserved for wedding gifts. The item that caught my attention was a silver bird cage with wedding cards. This I thought was the most creative wedding card holder that I have ever seen. It seemed to gently spin on its own, exposing each of the four sides of the cage and the delicately colored contents. This was truly a delightful sight to behold.
Cheers to a wonderful couple!
Kay and Aaron had decided against a big wedding with lots of guests and large expenses. They wanted instead a small gathering of their parents and siblings along with a few close friends. Quite contrary to what some people believe about civil ceremonies, this one was nicely organized and quite informative.
Small containers of soapy liquid were given to all the guests who wanted to celebrate with Kay and Aaron by blowing bubbles on the steps of City Hall.
We drove to the couple’s backyard where tables were arranged and banners were tied to two big trees with the name of the couple along with the date of their wedding. The food from the caterer was arranged in big containers on the porch. It was great to see the creative use of portable wedding totes and coolers with the different assortment of drinks. The reception was not too small or too big. It was just right!
The wedding ceremony was a delight. All members of the bridal party performed very well. The couple beamed with great pride as they signed the marriage certificate. They would be taken next on a scenic ride through Roger Williams Park where wedding pictures are enhanced by the beautifully kept flowers and shrubs.
It was time to head back to the reception hall where the guests were anxiously waiting for the bridal party to arrive. The table settings included dinner plates and soup bowls as well as champagne flutes. On the bridal table the dinner wares were quite similar, but the flutes were special. They were trumpet wedding champagne flutes with a circle of gold around the rim. They were an instant winner and were quite attractive to everyone who beheld them.
There were some eloquent speakers and some very fine toasts. I believe the bride and groom were satisfied that their special day had come to a successful end.
Janet and Jim wanted everything connected to their wedding to be unique and personalized. They generated a lot of precious time and energy into the planning of the actual ceremony as well as the reception. They wanted their cake to be the rich fruit cake that is typical of a Jamaican wedding cake. This rich cake was a little heavier than the ones most of their friends were accustomed to having at their friends’ weddings. The one common thing about the cakes from the two different cultures was that they were decorated with the same delicate icing.
Janet and Jim wanted the icing on their wedding cake to be mostly white with clusters of peach and cream roses at strategic areas around the various layers. On the top level, the couple planned to have a gorgeous wedding cake top complete with a fancy monogram. The thought of having an alternative to a stiff statue on top of their wedding cake was something great to anticipate.
One of the things that modern couples have to contend with when they decide to get married is to decide on the coordination of the wedding. The couple needs to ask if they want the added stress of having to prepare all the necessary items on their long check list and then to be responsible to see them being implemented on the day of their wedding. In my opinion, that’s way too much to place on the shoulders of the couple.
Getting married is stressful in itself. The stress is not considered to be labeled as “distress” but rather “eustress” meaning a kind of stress with a good ending.
Couples will be involved in the early parts of the planning for the event, but should relinquish the final execution to a responsible individual who is organized and can command respect.
Knowing what to do during the ceremony and who will be responsible to do it is a key component of the wedding ceremony as well as the reception. An example is; who is responsible for directing the guests to the signing of the wedding guests’ registry? And after the church ceremony who will take the guestbook to the reception hall? If the guest book is electronic who will be instructing the guests on its proper use? All of these questions and more, point to the wedding coordinator. The coordinator must be able to delegate responsible individuals to perform different functions and also train them to recognize when their task is completed.
More and more couples are opting to use electronic gadgets in their weddings. One popular use of an electronic gadget is for the permanent preservation of the signatures of
the wedding guests. This can be done on a personalized wedding signature platter. This platter is made of porcelain and can be displayed in the home of the special couple.
Many couples stick to the old method of asking their guests to sign a guestbook. Others are willing to explore new and innovative methods that are time saving and are just as effective. So, if you are a new couple that is exploring new options to be used in the place of the traditional guestbook; take the plunge and see if you are satisfied.