Q&A
How do I select my
wedding attendants?
When selecting your
bridesmaids and
groomsmen, let your
mind, not your heart, be
your guide. When a
couple gets engaged, the
bride is often on the
phone the very next day
calling her best friends
to ask them to be in the
wedding. This is too
often done without
proper thought and
planning. For example,
the friend you want to
be your maid of honor
might have just moved
across the country, or
had her first baby, or
started a new business.
Can she afford the
travel expense, the
dress and accessories,
the time involved, and
the responsibility of
being a matron/maid of
honor? Before you put
your best friend into an
embarrassing or awkward
situation, think about
her circumstances, and
the demands you will be
placing on her. Yes, you
want her to share in
your joy and celebration
-- but maybe it would be
better if she handled
your guest book, or lit
the candelabra.
Also consider whether
the friends you want to
include know each other
and get along. Stress
is bad enough without
having to play mediator
between your attendants!
Are your friends
supportive of you? The
last thing you need is a
Prima Donna who doesn’t
seem to realize the day
is about YOU and not
her! What if you have a
brother you are close to
but your guy doesn't
want him as a groomsman?
Consider asking him to
be your "Man of Honor".
Whatever you decide, be
sure to select family
members and friends with
whom you want to share
your special time, and
not those you feel
obligated to ask.
There’s plenty of jobs
to go around, so you
don’t need to have
everyone you know stand
with you. Remember,
every job is important!
Now that you’ve thought
through whom you want to
ask, the next decision
is: What do they wear?
First, determine the
type of wedding you want
and select your own
dress. Your attendants’
attire should complement
your dress. Keep in mind
the different body
builds of your friends
when looking at styles.
The same goes for color.
Not everyone looks good
in orange or pink. Also
think about your
attendants' financial
means when selecting
attire. Can they afford
that $250 dress you fell
in love with? And even
if they can, is it money
well spent? Is the dress
something they can
possibly use later?
You might consider
selecting a designer, a
length and a color or
fabric, then allow the
bridesmaids to select
their own style. This
way they will be free
to select a garment that
suits their build. This,
in turn, will lead to
happy bridesmaids and a
wonderful look at the
altar!
If
you have a bridesmaid
who will be pregnant for
the ceremony, be sure to
allow for this when
calculating
measurements. You’ll
need to get all of the
measurements to your
chosen vendor as soon as
possible to allow plenty
of time for delivery --
especially if the
dresses need to be sent
on to the attendants.
When shopping for
dresses, don’t rule out
regular department
stores. Off-the-rack
dresses are usually well
made, sometimes fit
better, and often cost
less. Be sure to inquire
whether all of the
dresses can be ordered
at the same time -- this
will ensure that you
have a uniform dye lot.
Whatever you do, resist
the temptation to take
all of your bridesmaids
shopping with you. If
you have four
attendants, you will
receive four different
opinions, and you will
never be able to please
everyone. Consider
asking your coordinator,
mother or maid of honor
to accompany you. After
you’ve made your
decision, let your
bridesmaids know by
sending them a picture
or website address where
they can see the dress,
along with instructions
about measurements,
costs, down payments,
etc.
Good luck with all of
your decisions, and let
me know if I can help!
Tanya
2008 Wedding Trends
What’s hot and what’s not?
Colors are beautiful this year.
Blues, in any shade, are very strong, especially
when paired with metalliacs such as gold, silver, gray
and platinum.
Bold jewel tones are no longer just for the Fall
and Winter weddings, but are making very bold
statements. Most
popular are the rich purples (purple in any shade is
good), golds, oranges, and reds.
The hottest color for next season is purple from
pale lavender to deep eggplant.
Black, plum and navy, latte, coral and lavender,
mauve, sage and turquoise, emerald, burgundy and
chocolate are all the colors for the next four seasons.
You will be seeing more use of floral and
geometric patterns and a heavy emphasis on shiny
metallics.
A European trend is gaining popularity here in the
U.S.
That is to
choose deep, rich colors for their own wedding dresses
as well as the bridesmaids.
Traditional white will hold it’s top spot, but
will pick up the color in smart accent details.
Sashes, ribbons and embroidered detailing in
fantastic colors will be seen on wedding dresses and
complimented by everything from the choice of
stationary, linens, added décor and even the wedding
cake.
Look for multi-layers of fabric, including tinted
multi-layered voile and chiffon.
Chic brides will turn to colored crinoline
underskirts and accent colors featured on the soles of
their bridal shoes.
(As an aside, for fun, have each bridesmaid sign
the soles of your shoes and the name that shows the
brightest at the end of the reception will be the next
to get married!)
Vintage is in.
Look for influences from the glory days of
Hollywood
and beyond. Romance
is very evident in halter necklines, capelet sleeves,
light and airy styles, strapless gowns, plunging
necklines, antique lace, stain ribbons for straps,
ruffles, tea length dresses in Spring and Summer (great
for destination weddings as well as morning or afternoon
weddings), diamond or crystal or rhinestone accessories,
open-toed stilettos and dangling earrings.
(If you can’t find what you like at the store,
contact www.lesliesarts.com
for custom make jewelry.)
“Green” weddings are gaining popularity.
Brides are choosing to use their dollars to
“give back”, using products such as recycled paper
invitations (those made with flower seed imbedded are
wonderful as your guests can “plant” their
invitations and they add beauty to any garden).
Brides are utilizing more local organic foods,
antioxidant free meats, pesticide free floral and even
dresses made from natural fibers.
Color plays a big part in all parts of your
wedding, but especially in the décor.
Reception décor is gaining speed in moving to a
bold color pallet. Your
room will “POP” with color and your guests will love
it.
Personalizing more, items such as monograms,
family heirlooms etc. are in vogue.
Next year – look for a modern
twist to classic ideas.
Couples are turning from the round table look to
the square tables, using vintage accents, international
and ethnic themes.
Signature drinks and family recipes are in.
Work with your caterer to come up with a
signature drink that can be served either with or
without alcohol. More
couples are working in ethnic dishes, sometimes even
providing a special recipe to the caterer.
An elegant idea to add to the cocktail is the
addition of ports and cheeses along delicious chocolate
treats, which never go out of style!
More and more couples are cutting their guest
lists to 75-100 of their closest friends and family.
With wedding costs coming close to $150 per
person, the wow factor gets much larger with fewer
guests.
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