Wedding Potpourri
The Perfect Answers to her Questions
You proposed! She’s going to be your wife and now it’s time to plan the “Big Day”. Your wife-to-be is very excited and wants to include you in the plans, naturally. She is going to ask you a lot of questions during the decision-making process. But before you answer her questions with the first response that comes to mind, remember this: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF HER LIFE. SHE HAS PROBABLY BEEN DREAMING OF THIS DAY SINCE SHE WAS 12, AND PLANNING IT SINCE THE DAY YOU STARTED DATING. With this in mind, here are the “Perfect Answers” to the questions your bride may ask:
Q: Where should we have our reception?
PA: Where do you imagine it to be? As long as the budget allows, it should be at a place that can make your fantasy wedding come true.
Q: What flowers should we use for the décor?
PA: Find the flowers that go best with the colour scheme and the mood you want to convey.
Q: Should I let my hair down for the wedding or pin it up?
PA: Whichever style makes you feel like a princess, because that’s what you’ll be on that day.
Q: What kind of pictures should we get: B&W / colour, Posed or candid?
PA: Whatever best captures the true spirit of our special day. We should be able to remember it forever.
Q: Should we recite the traditional wedding vows or recite our own?
PA: Hmm, traditional vows are romantic because millions of couples around the world get married to these exact vows every day. However, our own personal vows let us express exactly how we feel about each other. This is a tough decision, I think you should decide. I will be happy either way.
Notice that you haven’t actually answered any questions, but allowed her to make these BIG decisions, which really is best since it is “her day”. But let it not be said that you did not positively contribute during the planning process.
The Do’s & Don’ts of Surviving Your Bachelor Party
Don’t have someone the bride hates plan your bachelor party – that’s asking for suspicious questioning.
Don’t do anything that your bride will divorce you for if she should find out – just use common sense.
Don’t invite your father-in-law if you are not going to behave – he may not finish paying for the wedding.
Don’t have the bachelor party the night before the wedding – you don’t want to be drunk / sick on the “Big Day”, very tacky indeed.
Don’t take pictures of the party – why would you want hard, cold evidence?
Don’t tell your bride what everyone else was doing at the party and pretend you were just an innocent bystander – it is better to keep your mouth shut, she’s not stupid.
Do have fun – this may be the last time she ever lets you out of the house unsupervised again!
BRIDE’S CALENDAR
12 MONTHS BEFORE
Buy a wedding planner or date book.
Consult with your fiancé and all parents about the wedding’s budget and style – from colours to cake.
Select your attendants.
Decide on the wedding and reception sites and reserve both.
Book the wedding consultant, caterer, photographer, florist, and musicians.
9 MONTHS BEFORE
With fiancé, visit your clergyman or justice of the peace.
Choose and order your dress and accessories.
Register for gifts.
Inquire about wedding insurance.
Begin your guest list; have your fiancé start his.
Consult a travel agent about your honeymoon.
6 MONTHS BEFORE
Plan details with your wedding consultant.
Book your calligrapher, portrait photographer, and limousines for the wedding party.
Order your invitations and announcements.
Complete your honeymoon plans with your fiancé.
Set the date to order attendants’ dresses.
Discuss the rehearsal dinner with your fiancé.
3 MONTHS BEFORE
Finalise your guest list.
Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
Order your wedding rings.
Make an appointment with your hairdresser.
Talk to your fiancé about reserving a block of rooms for out-of-town guests.
6 – 8 WEEKS BEFORE
Mail / deliver your invitations.
Buy the groom’s wedding gift.
Choose gifts for your attendants.
Have your final dress and headpiece fitting.
Have your portrait taken
Pick up the rings.
Plan your bridesmaids’ party.
Write thank-you notes as you receive gifts.
Send announcements to newspapers.
2 WEEKS BEFORE
Get marriage license with fiancé.
Confirm your honeymoon reservations.
Submit your request lists to your photographer, videographer, and musicians.
Address your announcements to mail on your wedding day.
Arrange to move your belongings to your new home.
1 WEEK BEFORE
Pack; get your going-away outfit ready. Purchase your traveller’s cheques; inquire about ATMs near your honeymoon site.
Give the final guest count to the caterer.
Give the bridesmaids’ party.
Check final details with your wedding consultant.
Keep up your gift acknowledgements.
Remind your attendants of the rehearsal details.
-Alison Young, Wedding Consultant for Jamaica I Do,
Ocho Rios. E-mail: JamaicaIDo@hotmail.com
