| Wedding planner shares some industry 'do's and don'ts' |
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By: By SHARON PETTY
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This is the biggest day of your life and where do you start? The following are a few do's and don'ts I have observed in my 10 years experience in the wedding industry.
DO have your wedding later in the day, unless you like getting up at 3 a.m. An hour or two of free time will relieve some of the stress. Everything you do will take longer than expected. I suggest 4 p.m. or later. This is also a cooler time of day if it is an outdoor wedding in the summer and guests will be more likely to attend if it doesn't cut into the middle of their day.
DON'T have too many attendants. You will just have more personal feelings to consider when making decisions. They all want you to use their suggestions. A good solution is to consider just your siblings or family to stand with you so you won't have to pick between friends. Contemporary weddings have brothers of the bride or sisters of the groom standing by their sides. Also, having male and female couples on each side solve some of these problems. I have observed that the pictures are easier to arrange if able to have an even number of attendants.
DO consider the bridesmaids wearing the same color dress but in different styles. Most bridesmaids' fashions now come in separates, so the top could be a more flattering style for each body type. Also consider separates so the she can order different sizes for top and skirt for an easier fit.
DON'T wear your headpiece or tiara too close to your forehead. Attach at the middle of your head, or further towards the crown, is better. Too close and your face will be covered by the sides of the veil during the ceremony and you'll find yourself pushing it back over your shoulders. You would also want your face to be seen from the side by your guests and in the pictures.
DO wear strapless dresses fitted tighter at the waist and trust that your hips will hold up the bodice. Making the top tight on the bust line just flattens your figure and does very little to hold up the strapless top.
DO let children be themselves in a wedding. Children give a wedding an innocence that people love. The uncertainty of their behavior is a highlight for the guests. Normally, if you try to control the child, they will simply "pitch a fit" and ruin the wedding. Let them be; they'll make much less of a scene.
Another tip: Tape a dollar to the floor and tell them if they stand on it during the wedding, they can have it.
DON'T ask mothers to carry anything down the aisle to light a unity candle. A more poised way is to have a small lit votive sitting at the unity candle to simply dip the appropriate candle into the votive to light, then place in the stand.
DON'T wear heavy make-up for the wedding, if you don't customarily wear it. It's not good if no one recognizes you, especially your groom. Also if you don't normally wear heels, your wedding day is not a good time to start. The only time anyone will see your shoes is in the garter toss. Consider changing to your heels just before the toss. Walking in heels in grass is hard on your heels and you.
These suggestions are from personal experience of brides I have encountered in my years in the industry. Remember, this is your wedding and the flavor of your day is purely personal. There are no set-in-stone rules, but etiquette should always be considered. No matter how your wedding day unfolds, you will be making memories that will last your lifetime and then passed down for generations.
Enjoy.
For more information e-mail sharon@carriagelaneinn.com
About Sharon Petty
Sharon Petty's experience in the wedding industry started over 10 years ago with The Bride's Storey, a bridal shop, Carriage Lane Inn, a Bed and Breakfast and Reception House and even years before that as a wedding and gospel vocalist. More information can be obtained at www.carriagelaneinn.com or by calling 615-890-3630 for an appointment to tour the facilities.
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