Wedding Guests: Biggest Mistakes Wedding Guests Make

short summer wedding dresses

In the course of wedding planning, you'll probably come across a guest or two whose inappropriate actions, odd requests, or rude behavior seems appalling. Don't be shocked -- while you may know the ins and outs of wedding etiquette, some of your friends and family may not be aware of what's acceptable. What can you do? Be proactive. Here's how.


Not Sending RSVPs
What they did: Anyone who's ever planned a wedding knows the importance of a punctual RSVP -- from plotting your seating chart to giving the caterer a final headcount, it's hard to proceed without a firm grasp of who's coming. Unfortunately, some of your guests may treat the RSVP as a novelty rather than a necessity.

track your RSVPs
Keep your invites organized with our wedding guest list manager.
How to deal: Give it a week. After that, it's time to give them a call. Recruit your maid of honor to help you with phone duties if you're really struggling with missing RSVPs. Or, better yet, send out a group email (use a blind CC) saying that you need to know by [insert deadline] if they're planning on attending. Keep the tone nice, but firm. Then, you only have to call those who don't reply to the email (which really is a double-duty foul).
Stop the cycle: Make the reply-by-date as early as possible, say two weeks from the date you intend to mail the invitations. That way, when your guests see that the deadline is quickly approaching, they'll (hopefully) stick the reply card in the mail right then and there.

Sending RSVPs With Extra Guests
What they did: The good news is that the guest has returned the RSVP. The bad news is that she'd love to attend. . .with a person you never invited -- maybe never heard of. Whether she believes every invite bestows the right to bring a date, or a child, adding a name on the RSVP puts everyone in an awkward position.
How to deal: To avoid potential hurt feelings, you need to establish a no-exceptions guest list policy (significant others only if engaged; no children under 18). Then, call the misguided guest to explain the circumstances. Apologize for the misunderstanding, and tell her that unfortunately the limitations (a small reception space or a tight budget) require a strict guest list. The person most likely didn't intend to thwart your list with the addition of another guest, and will gladly come to the wedding solo.
Stop the cycle: Tell your parents, wedding party, and other close relatives and friends, so that they can spread the word when asked. And, of course, address your invitations in a direct manner (don't write "Smith Family" unless they really are all invited). The earlier that a guest knows who's actually invited, the less painful the conversation will be.

Bombarding the Bride
What they did: As soon as they received the invite to your wedding, the phone calls began. Guests are treating you like their personal concierge, with questions about transportation, accommodations, and fun things to do while they're in town.
How to deal: Make sure every guest has all the info they need by creating a wedding website. Include a link to the hotel where you've reserved a block of rooms, local museums and restaurants, and driving directions. Put together a welcome basket for out-of-towners with the weekend's itinerary, so that no one feels the need to ask you about the wedding game plan.
Stop the cycle: Some technophobes might still pester you with questions. Go over the guest list with both sets of parents, and decide which key invitees, if any, are not likely to check your website. Print out a copy of the info listed on the site and mail it to them.

Buying a Non-registry Gift
What they did: Some guests feel that buying a present from the registry is impersonal. Instead, they go and purchase a gift with a little more -- er, imagination.
How to deal: Shopping off the registry can result in a pleasant surprise, or leave a couple cringing. You cannot, however, be anything but gracious for any gift you're given. While they're typically expected, wedding gifts are technically not required from a guest. If someone has eschewed the registry and bought you a present you know you won't use (or, even worse, they've given you a gift you know you'll have to hide), check whether they sent it with the receipt. If so, they may have realized their gift might not be your style, and it's fine to return the present. Otherwise, write a thank-you note for the thoughtful gesture, and keep the gift for as long as you can stand having it around.
Stop the cycle: Register at an off-the-beaten path store that offers unique gift options like a local museum shop or a boutique home store. That way, the guest can get you something a bit more personal that you actually love.

Showing Up Late
What they did: You know how some people show up late to movies because they know there will be 20 minutes of trailers? Some guests
may have a similar notion for your ceremony. We know one maid of honor who saw a late guest stroll in directly behind the bride as she walked down the aisle with her father!
How to deal: For those who are really late, ask an usher or your day-of coordinator to hang out near the rear of the ceremony site so they can make sure your processional goes undisturbed, and to have them help any late guest quickly and quietly find a seat.
Stop the cycle: Give yourself a slight buffer for your friends and family who are never quite on time. If your invites say the ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m., plan on walking down the aisle about 15 minutes after that.


Bringing a Big, Heavy Gift
What they did: It doesn't sound so bad: Someone brought a huge gift to the wedding. While you really can't complain about receiving presents at your reception -- or, at all for that matter -- it can be a pain to lug them home.
How to deal: Ask one of your attendants to store all the gifts in one place -- preferably a locked, separate room in your reception space -- so that nothing gets left behind. At the end of the evening, that attendant can account for all the gifts and then take them to the most convenient location (probably your home rather than your honeymoon suite).
Stop the cycle: Online registries have made it easier than ever to send gifts wherever you want. Promote this gifting tool by including links to your online registries on your website.

Giving Unexpected Toasts
What they did: Weddings can be emotional events, and the toasts are an opportunity for your closest friends and family to share sentiments with the rest of your guests. Those same emotions (and maybe too much alcohol) can do funny things to any otherwise reliable guest, and some may feel compelled to grab the mic when they weren't asked to toast. Embarrassing stories, offensive anecdotes, and rambling rants have all worked their way into wedding toasts.
How to deal: Unfortunately, you need to just grin and bear it. If the toast seems like it will never end, have the best man signal the band or DJ to carefully cut in. The other guests will appreciate the gesture too.
Stop the cycle: Head off unexpected toasts by making sure the emcee of the evening (your DJ or bandleader) has a list of approved toasters. Tell them not to give the mic to anyone who's not scheduled to speak, no matter how persistent their plea for the microphone.

Guests: The Complaint Department

prom gowns outlet

Pretty much every bride knows she should not, under any circumstances, play a singles dance or put Aunt Florence next to the groom's frat buddies. But no matter how much care couples take in picking a DJ or planning the seating arrangements, wedding guests still encounter plenty of things that get under their skin. Since few would feel comfortable saying anything other than "Your wedding was beautiful!" to the bride's face, we've encouraged them to kvetch to their hearts' content here so you can avoid these nuptial no-nos and throw a wedding that's fun for everyone. Please note: Some names have been changed to protect those guilty of gaffes.

Gripe 1: Choosing Sides
"At many ceremonies, all the bride's friends have to sit on one side of the room and all the groom's friends sit on the other side. That sucks, because sometimes you're friends with both of them -- how do you choose? That moment of indecision is just weird for me. Plus, one side is usually much less crowded and people sit there thinking, 'Gee, the groom doesn't have many friends.' All of this can easily be avoided by just letting guests sit where they want." -- Angie, 35

Gripe 2: Sound Check
"A close friend of mine hired this awful singer with a really flat soprano voice for the ceremony. I bowed my head and tried to think about something else so that I wouldn't burst out into hysterical laughter. However, when she got to the chorus, I glanced at my date -- big mistake -- and we both totally lost it. I was trying to control my laughter, but tears were pouring down my face. So I did the only respectable thing I could do at that point and pretended to be crying, loudly. The moral of the story is that brides should really check out the musicians they hire in advance." -- Tina, 32

Gripe 3: Far Side
"I hate when there's a long distance between the ceremony and reception. I went to one wedding(maternity hospital gowns tori spelling) where the ceremony and reception were over an hour's drive apart from each other and no transportation was arranged. We kept passing churches on the way to the reception and saying, 'Why didn't they get married there?'" -- Jennifer, 34

Gripe 4: Theatrical Weddings
"The worst was this wedding(wedding dress 2012) where the lights dimmed, and then this guy dressed up as something out of Phantom of the Opera came out and performed songs from the musical." -- Joe, 39

Gripe 5: Class Act
"I was at a wedding in Malibu and it was beautiful…until the DJ let it rip with 'Baby Got Back.' It must have been the bride's request, since she and her gaggle of friends began squealing and ran onto the dance floor. There she was, in her beautiful white Vera Wang wedding gown, with her hand in the air and her ass swinging back and forth. It was nasty. I'm not Miss Proper, but it just seemed out of place to be rump-shakin' at your own wedding." -- Colleen, 33

Gripe 6: Camera Shy
"I hate intrusive video cameras, when the guy shoves the mic into your hands and says, 'Do you have anything to say?' What if you don't have anything to say? What if you're camera shy? What if you're drunk? I think it's better if he just tips the mic in your direction so you can grab it if you want to or say 'no thanks' with a smile." -- Brett, 35


Gripe 7: Seating Siberia
"There's always that one table: The people kind of know each other but not really -- or they're all the extra people who couldn't be seated with people they know due to space constraints. It's always a random mix of cousins, college friends, neighbors, work friends, and distant relatives. The guests always know they're the misfit table, and it's always awkward to sit there trying to make conversation with these people you have no interest in. Lack of thought in the seating plan has one of the most painful, sometimes embarrassing, results for a guest who often wonders, 'Why am I stuck behind a pole at a table with a bunch of strangers?'" -- Megan, 27

Gripe 8: Love Mismatch
"I was at a wedding where the bride had told her single girlfriends that they'd be seated with single guys for a little matchup. But when they got to the reception, the 'singles table' was all women and one single guy. What a shame because the truth is, people go to weddings to meet someone or at least have a little flirt. I think she should have put close to equal numbers of guys and girls at the table!" -- Gina, 34


Gripe 9: The Wedding Singer
"I can't stand bands or singers who are way too high on themselves, like they think they are performing at Carnegie Hall. This is a wedding, people! You are wedding singers, not Earth, Wind & Fire!" -- Rebecca, 29

Gripe 10: Singled Out
"I remember one friend's wedding at which the DJ was given names of single female friends to bellow over the microphone to make sure they were participating. The horror!" -- Gina, 37

Gripe 11: Wallflower
"I loathe the 'everyone get up and dance with your spouse' portion. More often than not I am sans date -- so I'm either forced to sit alone like a loser and watch everyone dance, or I'm forced to dance with a loser who has been thrust on me by a relative with that look of pity in her eye." -- Cathy, 29

Gripe 12: Sappy Speaches
"I can't stand any speech that's longer than four minutes -- especially sentimental ones where a brother talks about not being sure he could ever fill his big bro's shoes." -- Walter, 24


Gripe 13: Sub-par Bar
"I hate bartenders who don't know how to make good drinks or, worse yet, bartenders who skimp on the alcohol and give you mixed drinks that are watered down. I'm not sure if they're being cheap or if they just don't want someone to get smashed and say what happened at the bachelor party. Either way, I want my cosmos the way I like them." -- Diny, 33

Groomsmen: Top 5 Trends

Bye-Bye Bow Tie

gowns for debut

Today, being a stylish groomsman has a lot to do with what's worn underneath the jacket. We're seeing tuxedos with long (not bow) ties, and with vests instead of cummerbunds. "More and more grooms are ordering cravat [long] ties, non-pleated shirts, and three-button jackets, which is a more modern option," says Brian Regenstreich, manager of Zeller Tuxedos in New York.

Make every groomsman's boutonniere different, but match them with the bouquet of the bridesmaid he escorts down the aisle.

Beyond the Tux
If you're having a casual affair, go ahead and ditch the tuxes. Instead, dress the guys in blazers, and match something in their outfits (a pocket square, a tie, a belt, their socks!) with the overall color scheme. For a great casual look, have your party wear khaki pants they already own, and ask them to all get the same navy blazer. Another way to coordinate? Order extra fabric from the bridesmaid dresses to make matching ties for the groomsmen -- this is a great way to tie the party together.

Don't Forget Gramps
Many grooms are paying respect to their elders by getting them matching tuxedos. "More and more grooms come in with their grandfathers," says Regenstreich. "If the grandfather is not officially in the party, at least he'll feel like he's part of the celebration with the tuxedo he wears." If you don't want him to look identical to the party, have the grandfathers wear the same style tux and shirts, but a slightly different shade of tie than the groomsmen. That way they'll still be noticed as special, but they'll be distinct from the party.

Wearable Gifts
If your groomsmen are white-collared business types, chances are they spend a lot of their workweek in a suit or blazer. Give them a unique, personalized gift that will add to their wedding day style and that they'll also be able to use again and again. Cufflinks with their initials are a great gift, or you can go for styles that suit the personality of the guy who'll wear them. For the banker, get dollar signs or 'buy' and 'sell' links; for the sports fan, a baseball and mitt. The men in your party will appreciate the thought, and they'll also be thankful that they don't have something identical to the other five groomsmen at your wedding.

Vary the Boutonnieres
It's nice to have the wedding party somewhat coordinated, but it's totally acceptable to have the best man's boutonniere be different than the other members of the party. Another idea? Make every single groomsman's boutonniere different, but match them with the bouquet of the bridesmaid he escorts down the aisle. Decide what each pairing will be by using different colors of the same flower, or all different flowers in the same color. If the men in your party object to donning flowers of any sort, or if you want a more masculine look, consider boutonnieres of wheat, herbs, or leaves.

Junior Bridesmaid: Her Duties in Detail

flora gown

A girl (typically aged 9 to 14) who is too old to be a flower girl and too young to be a full-fledged bridesmaid can join up as a junior bridesmaid. Younger members of the bridal party often treat their roles with great seriousness and love to get in on the action. Here are some of the junior bridesmaid's traditional duties:

While junior bridesmaids are not expected to give showers, they should plan to attend and help out with cleaning up, favormaking, and more.
At bride's request, go bridal gowns online shop and give input (especially if the junior bridesmaid is a sister or daughter).

Buy a short wedding dresses similar (or the same) in color and style to the bridesmaids', plus a matching corsage (or bouquet).

Attend the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Help out the ushers by seating guests.

Hand out programs at the ceremony or bubbles, confetti, rice, and other send-off props afterwards.

Walk down the aisle in the procession, and stand at the altar/stage along with the other attendants.

Stand in the receiving line, if requested by the bride.

Write to the bride and her parents to thank them for including her.

If the Bridesmaid Is Your Child

When the junior bridesmaid is your own child, here are some special activities to make her feel even more a part of the festivities:
Escort the bride down the aisle and stand with her at the altar.
Read a poem (perhaps one that she wrote or chose herself) or other passages.
Perform a song or dance or play a musical instrument during the ceremony.
Participate in a "family vows" exchange: After the couple swaps marriage vows, the kids gather around. The groom then pledges to take care of the bride's children, and the bride promises to take care of his.

Winter Weddings: Top 9 Winter Wedding Favors

Gingerbread Cookies

flora gown

Treat guests to this quintessential winter indulgence. Package the cookies in cellophane and tie each off with a ribbon that matches your wedding colors. Guests can grab the sweet treat and tuck it in their purse or pocket as they leave.

Chocolates

Everyone loves chocolate, and for that reason, it's a wedding favor staple. Chocolates in the shape of snowflakes make decidedly elegant (and wintery) favors, perfect for a ball room wedding(deep purple prom dresses 2012). Display them in individual boxes at each place setting or on trays near the dessert table.

Mini Ice Wine Bottles

Ice wine, produced from grapes that have been picked while still frozen on the vine, has a taste that's sure to wow. Give mini ice wine bottles to all your guests as a sweet thank-you and personalize the labels with your names and wedding date.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Packets of hot chocolate mix are perfect for welcome baskets and reception favors alike. Buy them prepackaged decorated with snowflakes or personalized with cute sayings, like "The Perfect Blend," and don't forget the marshmallows.

Chestnuts

Give out chestnuts wrapped up in small pouches, or take another approach and look into having your caterer set up a roasting station so that guests can take home the freshly warmed treats at the end of the night.

Soy Candles

Capture the crispness of winter with soy candles in spiced sugar plum, cedar, or orange clove scents to give to your guests. Attach place cards to each or package them in pretty boxes that match your color scheme.

Individual Pecan Pie Tarts

Not to upstage the cake, but individual pecan tarts can leave a lasting impression. Place them on a dessert table in small boxes for the taking, or leave one at each place setting.

Citrus Marmalade

Whether you buy it or make it yourself, citrus marmalade is an in-season favor that looks great in a favor display. Package the sweet spread into mini jars; cover each jar lid with fabric to match your wedding day colors; and tie them off with a thin piece of raffia and a small note thanking your guests for their attendance.

Chocolate-Covered Cranberries

You can't go wrong with cranberries coated in chocolate. Tie them off in small bags and place one at each setting, or arrange for your coat-check person to hand them to your guests on their way out the door at the end of the evening.

The Cost of Favors

flora gown

Favors can cost as little as $1 per guest and can climb into the $10-$20 per guest range. Depending on your budget and your priorities, you may choose to make your favor, DIY-style, or pay the extra to have someone else create and package them up for you. A couple wedding(short summer wedding dresses) favor cost tips to keep in mind.

Favors are almost always cheaper when bought in bulk.
If you wish to give more expensive, high-end favors, consider giving one gift per couple by placing the favor between their two dinner plates, and tagging it with the couple's names.
Consider giving out eatable favors and leaving goodie bags for each guest to package up themselves and take home -- saving you the time and energy of tying and packaging it up for them.
Package With Care
You most certainly can judge a favor by its cover. Whether it's eatable or a small take-home, find a way to package your favor in a pretty way. Visit your neighborhood fabric store to find ribbons that match your wedding day colors, and personalize each gift with a favor label. A few packaging ideas:


Pretty brown boxes tied with colorful ribbon
Clear cellophane bags with custom-made monogram stickers
Tiny galvanized tin pails filled with treats
Slim silver canisters topped with a personalized sticker
Hand it Over
Once you've found the perfect favor that reflects you as a couple, and that you know your guests will appreciate, take some time to figure out how you'll give out your wedding favors. Here, a few ideas to ensure your favors won't get left behind.

Place your token of appreciation at each place setting on each guest's napkin.
Set up a table with a framed card that says "Please Take One," "Be Our Guest," or simply "Thank You" for when guests exit the reception.
Instruct the waitstaff to pass the favors on silver trays before the meal or in between courses.
Attach favors to the escort cards; this works especially well for small items or for favors that double as escort cards.
Personally hand out favors to guests as they leave the reception. Keep in mind that this is one of the more hands-on ideas, so be sure you are up for the task.
If you're not up for handing out the favors, but you still want that personal touch, have the coat check attendant, doorman, or even one of your bridal party members do the deed.

Ceremony: Jewish Wedding Resources

floral gowns

Planning a Jewish wedding? Here are some must-have resources:

Books
The Complete Jewish Wedding Planner by Wendy C. Hefter (PSP Press, 1992)
The Everything Jewish Wedding Book by Helen Latner (Adams Media Corporation, 1997)
Under the Wedding Canopy: Love and Marriage in Judaism by David C. and Esther R. Gross (Hippocrene Books, 1996)

Religious Organizations
Conservative Movement: The Rabbinical Assembly, 3080 Broadway, NY, NY 10027 (212) 280-6000
Orthodox Movement: Rabbinical Council of America, 305 Seventh Avenue, NY, NY 10001 (212) 807-7888
Reconstructionist Movement: Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, 1299 Church Road, Wyncote, PA 19095 (215) 576-5210
Reform Movement: Union for Reform Judaism, 633 Third Avenue, NY, NY 10017 (212) 650-4000

Ceremony: Jewish Processionals, Recessionals & Seating

Here's the nitty-gritty on who sits where and who walks when at a Jewish wedding. But remember, these are just guidelines -- feel free to adapt these rules or make up your own.

Taking Sides

peach prom dresses

The age-old tradition of bride's side and groom's side of the sanctuary still stands, but the usher need not ask guests whose "side" they are on. For Jewish services, the groom's side makes up the left and the bride's side fills the right when looking from back to front. However, should someone express a preference for one side or the other (many guests will just say off the bat that they are friends or relatives of the bride or groom), they should be seated where they choose (makes sense, yes?). If one side of the family will have many more guests than the other, ushers should even out the sides; they can explain that everyone will be sitting together, and that guests will have the best possible view this way.

The Jewish Procession
For Jewish services, the wedding party ( silver prom dresses)enters in this order:
Rabbi and/or cantor
Grandparents of the bride
Grandparents of the groom(The grandparents are seated in the first rows; groom's family on the left, bride's family on the right)

Next to come down the aisle and remain standing under the huppah:
Groomsmen (in pairs)
Best man
The groom, escorted by his parents (father on his right, mother on his left)
Bridesmaids (starting with she who will stand farthest from the bride under the huppah)
Honor attendant(s)
Ring bearer and/or flower girl (child attendants can be seated with their parents once they reach the front)
The bride, escorted by her parents (father on her right, mother on her left)
The Jewish Recessional

After the ceremony, the procession is reversed, and the men in the wedding (backless wedding dresses)party escort the women:
Bride and groom
Bride's parents
Groom's parents
Brides grandparents
Grooms grandparents
Ring bearer and flower girl (optional)
Honor attendants (maid/matron of honor and best man)
Bridesmaids and groomsmen
Rabbi and/or Cantor

Wedding Receptions: Jewish Reception Rituals

flora gown

You signed the ketubah, raised the huppah, exchanged rings, and stomped on the glass -- but wait, the wedding's(by flora gown) not over yet! There are a few more rituals left to make your reception a true simcha (joyous celebration).

Blessing The Challah
The wedding(buy flora gown) meal begins with a blessing over the challah, an elaborately braided bread. The couple's parents or another honored guest can make the hamotzi, or blessing.

S'eudah Mitzvah
This is the food portion of the reception -- chicken and fish, both fertility symbols, are ever-present dishes at Jewish weddings. The first course at Sephardic weddings is called Sutlach, a sweet rice pudding made with coconut milk, honey, and almonds -- all symbols of a sweet and prosperous life. If you're wondering whether or not to serve a kosher meal at your wedding, take it from us -- kosher doesn't mean unappetizing. Dry brisket and lead latkes aren't your only options -- there are plenty of yummy kosher treats to satisfy the crowd. Imagine seared salmon and sundried tomato and artichoke penne. Or rosemary chicken and roasted veggie couscous. How about garlic marinated Romanian tenderloin, or even spicy tuna sushi? Decide whether you want a meat or a dairy meal. (Remember, fish and eggs are parve, which means they go both ways.) Find a glatt-kosher caterer: if that's too hard-core, ask your caterer to devise a "kosher-style" menu that adheres to kosher rules but isn't cooked in a kosher kitchen. Eliminate treyf no-nos like pork and shellfish. No lobster salad or oysters Rockefeller? Who cares? Hey, you might even save a few shekels.

The Hora
No Jewish wedding is complete without the Hora, or chair dance, most likely derived from the tradition of carrying royalty on chairs. A few strong and brave guests hoist the bride and groom high above the crowd on chairs to the infectious sounds of "Hava Nagila". Friends and family dance around in an ecstatic circle as the elevated couple tries not to look (or fall) down.

Mitzvah Dances
Entertaining the bride and groom on their wedding day is not only a mitzvah (good deed) but also an obligation. At traditional Jewish weddings, the couple is seated on chairs and guests dance before them with masks, silly costumes, and props.

Mezinke Tanz OR Krenzel
The Mezinke Tanz is one of the concluding dances of the night and honors parents who have married off their last child. The dance is also known as Krenzel (Yiddish for "crown") in reference to the crown of flowers often placed in the mother's hair during the dance. The proud parents are seated on chairs in the middle of the dance floor while friends and family dance around, kissing them as they pass in front.

Birkat Hamazon
The traditional way to end the festive meal is with the birkat hamazon, the blessings after the meal. Booklets of prayers, called benchers, can be handed out to guests. After the prayers, the seven wedding(buy flora gown) blessings are repeated, giving friends yet another opportunity to participate. Finally, the blessing over the wine is recited as two glasses of wine are poured together into a third, symbolizing the creation of a new life together with a new marriage.

Wedding Receptions: How to Find a Wedding Caterer

flora gown

It's time to roll up your sleeves and focus on finding a caterer who can cook up the feast of your dreams. Tackle this major to-do as soon as possible; the best caterers can be booked up to a year in advance. Here are how-tos:

Finding
Ask recently married friends for referrals.
Check The Knot Local Wedding(buy flora gown) Resources.
Hotels, country clubs, and large special-event facilities will probably have in-house caterers. If not, they will certainly have preferred-caterers lists.
Ask your favorite restaurant to cater the affair. If they don't do weddings(buy flora gown), confident establishments will point you towards a trustworthy joint that does.
The photographers, florists, videographers, and bridal salon owners you're speaking with will likely keep a list of reputable caterers they've heard of through the industry grapevine or know personally.
Visit the website of a reputable professional organization, like the International Caterers Association or the National Association of Catering Executives. They can refer you to catering pros in your area.

Making Appointments
When you call to make appointments, try to schedule tastings as part of the interviews.
Before you leave, don't just take a business card -- ask each caterer to draw up a rough outline including the cost per person; menu options; exactly what the fee includes (alcohol, rentals, tips, etc.); service and presentation style; and less-expensive alternatives.
Check references. Find out: a) Number of guests they had, the venue, and menu items b) Was the meal tasty, well presented, and served hot? c) How was the service and table-clearing? and d) Were there any surprises on the final menu or final bill?
Be sure to get the 411 on a particular catering firm through the Better Business Bureau before you make any moves to hire them.

Wedding Receptions: Creative Cuisine

flora gown

There's a familiar staple at weddings (buy flora gown)that caterers go to great lengths to disguise. But no amount of smothering in sauces or garnishing with parsley will prevent guests from knowing what the main course is: chicken. And while we can all agree that this innocuous bird rarely offends dining guests, when it comes to receptions there are alternatives aplenty that will please even the most discerning palates. We've sampled the options and bring you the latest on food trends from several wedding industry notables, to help you plan your menu.

Creative Cocktails
There's more to beverages than iced tea and an open bar. Usher your guests into the reception with an eye-catching cocktail. Special events designer and planner David Tutera is a whiz when it comes to whetting whistles. He's planned parties for the likes of Elton John and Prince Charles, and created signature cocktails for celebrity brides Angie Harmon and Toni Braxton. "For specialty drinks, you're either going to use vodka or champagne," says Tutera. One of his tricks is serving cocktails that match the color scheme of the wedding. "They add that little detailed touch," he says, "and eliminate the need for a full bar." Another bonus according to Tutera: "People look great holding them in photos." Don't stop with the reception. Serve a different signature drink during each of your wedding events -- from the rehearsal dinner to the morning-after buffet.

New Ways to Nosh
The idea of cocktails is so appealing to some couples that they base their entire reception upon them. "Cocktail parties allow for more variety of food, which in turn allows for more creativity in the menu and presentation," says Alison Awerbuch, partner and chief culinary officer for Abigail Kirsch Catering and Events. The environment at a cocktail reception is casual, with no assigned seating and a constant flow of food, conversation and, of course, spirits. Awerbuch recommends a three-phase cocktail party that evolves over the course of the reception.
During phase one, bite-size hors d'oeuvres are served. "We incorporate many different ethnicities into our hors d'oeuvres with hints of authentic spices, cooking methods, and ingredients," says Awerbuch. "Asian, Latin American, Indonesian, Moroccan, and Mediterranean are all popular." Examples include Portobello mushroom steak fries with balsamic aioli, crisp nori tuna with wasabi, tobiko and papaya relish, and Moroccan spiced lamb pastels with preserved lemon chutney.
"In the second hour we butler small vessels that are like an amuse-bouche or tiny starter you would get in a restaurant," continues Awerbuch. Four to eight different items are presented at once. Guests are greeted with everything from martini glasses to skewers made from sugarcane that serve up such dishes as passion fruit vodka lobster martini on coconut jasmine rice and lemongrass-threaded carpaccio of tuna drizzled with mint chili vinaigrette. If the reception will last for several hours, couples should bear their guests' appetites and dinner hour in mind by adding some food bars to the mix.
"In the third and final phase we switch to butlered hors d'oeuvre sweets that are interesting and unique combinations of flavors, and hot, cold, and frozen items," says Awerbuch. The offerings range from an amethyst cachepot filled with purple berry shortcake infused with lavender cream to warm banana wontons drizzled in chocolate with peanut nougatine.
Awerbuch is seeing more couples entertain with multicourse wine tasting dinners. Much like a chef's tasting menu, signature dishes are each served with a complementary wine choice. The meal can include from four to seven courses. "Typically, you start with a hot fish course, then a vegetable, followed by an entree. After the entree, a cheese course and a dessert," Awerbuch advises.

Make it Personal
Treating guests to some of your favorite dishes is another way to go. When formulating a menu, Awerbuch considers the bride and groom's favorite fare, as well as family culture and travel experiences. Guests learn more about the selected dishes through an explanation written on the menu card or announced during a toast. For a couple who shared a love of sailing and planned to pilot their way across the ocean during the honeymoon, Awerbuch whipped up something special: She transported the entire wedding party to the high seas through a dinner that kicked off with miniature raw bars shared among every four guests. "There were hammered buckets filled with crushed ice and brimming with jumbo steamed shrimp, oysters, clams, and lobster," she recounts. "In each bucket were miniature bottles of Tabasco, cocktail sauce served from scallop shells, netting, lemons, seafood crackers, and oyster forks."

Comfort Food
Perhaps your tastes are simple, and you hanker for grilled cheese sandwiches accompanied by tomato soup after getting hitched. Awerbuch suggests serving chilled heirloom yellow tomato soup in a shot glass and warm Grafton cheddar and bacon panini on grain bread, or what she describes as designer comfort foods. "This trend is about taking more traditional items and contemporizing them," she says. Great news for lovers of macaroni and cheese!

Precise Presentation
Details, details, details. Weddings are full of them. When it comes to reception fare, don't scrimp. "People get so caught up in menu selection, they forget about presentation," says Tutera. "There are ways to make your food thematically, seasonally, and colorwise match your wedding," he says. Tutera begins with a look at the current season's hues and fashion trends. When visualizing the overall look of your tables, consider using various shapes and different colors for the dishes. Elements from the wedding can also be reflected through food presentation. If your dress has distinctive buttons or corset ties, mimic the design on serving plates. This can be as simple as lining up morsels symmetrically, adding flourish with a garnish, or drizzling balsamic vinegar. "There are teeny ways to make it visually happen," says Tutera. "It looks spectacular and entices you to see what the next course will be."

Dessert Decadence
Whether they've saved room or not, guests always manage to devour dessert. When it comes to wedding cake, Sam Godfrey, founder of Perfect Endings, has a motto: It's dessert first and art second. Godfrey is seeing a resurgence of what he calls vintage flavors at weddings -- those cakes from your childhood that set your heart racing. These can be anything from old-fashioned coconut, layered chocolate, banana, poppy seed, red velvet, or pound cake. "Your wedding is an introduction to family and friends of your taste and style," says Godfrey. "Even if it breaks any of the cardinal rules, choose something that you enjoy eating and don't be shy about it." As for the exterior, Godfrey says simplicity is waning. Simple and beautiful can be striking, but it gets a little boring after a while. People are daring to be bold and more detailed.
Beyond the wedding cake, Godfrey recommends offering a dessert buffet. "Use the buffet to supplement the cake, not replace it." Godfrey has included nostalgic desserts ranging from homemade Ding Dongs and cupcakes served with milk to a variety of beautiful petit fours, which he calls dessert hors d'oeuvres. "They're colorful, bite-size jewels of pastry."
For chocolate lovers, fountains of the rich milky stuff are taking center stage at receptions. David Schoffstall and his wife Wendy of Chocolate Fountain Fun say the multitiered fountains of flowing chocolate tend to draw a crowd. "It's fun to watch and tastes so good and fresh," says Schoffstall. Couples offer a variety of "dippers" for guests, such as fruit, pretzels, and marshmallows, to be plunked into a white or milk chocolate mixture of Ghiradelli chocolate. Schoffstall recommends using wooden toothpicks for more secure spearing of dipping elements, and says to avoid splatter by not placing a chocolate fountain outdoors on a windy day.

Late-Night Eats
The evening doesn't have to end with dessert. Brides and grooms who like to kick up their heels until the wee hours can keep the festivities rolling with after-party sustenance. "We serve everything from kitschy gourmet hamburgers and milkshakes to a buffet with omelets and sweet, savory crepes," says Awerbuch of postreception grub. Or break out the decadent fare while the reception is still in full swing.
Toward the end of one of our favorite weddings(buy flora gown), after guests had loosened up and danced for hours, waiters offered wrapped hamburgers from McDonalds on silver trays. This was an upscale affair in a fancy ballroom, and yet the couple had enough confidence to know that this unexpected treat was just what the crowd would be hungry for.

Take Out
Don't forget the doggie bags! Remind guests of the delights they've experienced by sending them home with a bite or two. Awerbuch packs giveaways such as brownies made from the mother of the bride's recipe, or hand-painted monogrammed cookie lollipops with an accompanying note from the happy couple.

Wedding Receptions: At-Home Wedding Secrets

flora gown

When it comes to weddings(buy flora gown), there really is no place like home. Maybe your parents have an amazing lakeside house, or Grandma has that perfect country cottage. But odds are your childhood homestead isn't quite prepared for 150 wedding guests, 75 cars, 20 waiters, 15 tables, and 1 happy couple. Although it may be more work (and more expensive) than you anticipated, you won't regret saying your vows in the place that means the most to you. It's all about being prepared for what it takes to throw a wedding in your very own backyard.

You Need Room to Say "I do"
Does your setup have enough space for all your guests? If not, you'll have to start trimming the list. Don't mistake overcrowded for cozy. If you plan to use a combination of indoor and outdoor space, know that if the weather takes a turn for the worst, everyone will need to fit indoors. Will there be enough space in, say, the living room, to set up white folding chairs with a wide enough aisle? The general rule is six to ten square-feet of floor space per guest for row-seating.

real home weddings
See how other couples pulled off their own amazing home weddings.

You Can't Do It All Yourself
Since you're so accustomed to your home, hiring a wedding coordinator will give you a fresh perspective on the property and what you can and cannot do. You will also need people to cover all the basics: setting up, cooking, serving, parking cars, and cleaning up. Hiring a cleaning crew may be the best decision you'll make. In the days leading up to the wedding, the last thing you (or your parents) want to have to do is a massive house-scrubbing.

You'll Need to Tend to Your Lawn
Your yard will be on display, so give the space a manicured look. Whether that means dragging out the lawnmower or hiring a landscaper, you'll want your lawn to be in peak form. If you're planning on a spring wedding, start preparing in the fall. Talk to your professional landscaper about reseeding, replanting, and sodding.

You'll Need to Plant Early
Most perennials need a winter to take hold, and it takes some time for annuals to fill out. Make sure to find out the appropriate planting times for the flowers you'd like, so they'll be in full bloom on your wedding day. For a spring wedding, cool-season flowers like tulips, daffodils, and lilies of the valley will be in bloom (which need to be planted the autumn before). For summer, try annuals like geraniums, Gerbera daisies, and African daisies, which should be planted after the threat of frost; you'll probably want to plant perennials for fall, like Japanese anemones, chrysanthemums, and blue salvia -- these should also be planted the fall before.

Your Wedding Officiant May Not Comply
Make sure your wedding(buy flora gown) officiant will give you his or her blessing at your chosen location (some aren't able to perform the ceremony outside their place of worship because it's not recognized by the church). You'll want to give yourself plenty of time to find a licensed officiant who will do the honors.
Wedding Guests May Try to Stay At Your House
Try to dissuade them from this idea. Unless you're marrying at a 25-room estate, the only people who should be staying at the wedding site are the homeowners and their immediate family (the bride or the groom, other siblings). You don't want to be fighting your cousin for shower time the morning of your wedding. What you should do is recommend a hotel that's as close to your property as possible.

You'll Need to Rent Everything
Your must-have items are tables, chairs, dinnerware, napkins, table linens, place settings, barware, portable bathrooms, and a tent. Rent enough chairs so everyone can be seated for the ceremony. If you need more room for the reception, remove most of the chairs after the meal, keeping just enough around so half the party can sit during the festivities.
You'll Probably Need a Generator Too
Most homes can't accommodate the amount of power necessary to light a tent or provide power to a catering kitchen. You don't want to risk a power outage, or even worse, blowing out the whole neighborhood! Check with your caterer to see if you need to rent extra coolers, grills, or roasters. Don't wait on this; you'll want to start researching and reserving equipment six months before your wedding.

Wedding Vendors Need to Check Out Your Home
In order to determine what extras they'll need to bring, vendors should stop by for a visit. Have your caterer survey your kitchen to make sure it is well-equipped and large enough to prepare the menu. Otherwise he may need to bring in a completely functional traveling kitchen.

The Ground May Not Be level
Chairs, tables, the dance floor -- you don't want any of these items to be on uneven ground. Professional tent companies can ascertain whether or not they need to put down a foundation or if they'll be able to lay a dance floor directly on the ground. Your other vendors (caterers, florist, band) need to determine what is necessary to keep floral arrangements and the cake table from tipping over.

You May Need a Permit to Party
From the city permits to fire department inspections, make sure everything is in order. Bring in an electrician to inspect your area, find out if local noise ordinances require a permit or place restrictions on noise, and determine if you need to file for a permit to park cars along your street. The last thing you want is cops crashing your party.

Port-A-Potties Have Gone Luxe
You'll want to account for three bathroom trips per guest. Most septic tanks can't handle that many flushes, so portable bathrooms are a must. A general rule of thumb is to have one bathroom for every 35 guests. Keep in mind that your guests will need a place to wash their hands and do a mirror check, so keep the area well lit. Upscale portable bathrooms are now available that have lighting, sinks, heated water, and even air-conditioning. Don't forget to make them even more home-like by including an amenity basket filled with hair spray, tampons, Band-Aids, and breath mints in the ladies' room.

You Can Save on Decorations
What makes your home unique -- an elegant dining room, a massive oak tree in your backyard, a gorgeous lawn, or a spectacular view? Play up that feature to create a homey feel. It adds to the trend of making it look like you've emptied Grandma's china cabinet of all its unique and beautiful pieces. Use different centerpieces and mix-and-match vases. Bring in fresh, home-grown-type flowers or play with outdoor lighting possibilities. Garden lamps, paper lanterns, and tiny white lights strung on branches will create a stunning atmosphere.

Have a Plan B That's as Good as Plan A
Unexpected weather can bring about unique challenges. Always plan for the worst by making sure guests will be covered in the event of a sudden downpour. If there's no way to pitch a tent at the ceremony area, arrange to have the ceremony at a house of worship in case of rain -- make sure to have an insert in each invitation that gives the alternate address and a number to call to find out if the ceremony has moved. If a tent is your Plan B, make sure it has sides to keep out a driving rainstorm. Stifling heat can pose just as many problems as rain, so make sure ceremony chairs aren't in direct sunlight and that there are plenty of shaded areas, cool drinks, and even hand fans available. If it's a warm day, extra electric fans and portable air conditioners can be brought in; on wintry days, propane heaters can warm up the place.

You May Have to Include Your Neighbors
Let them know of your wedding(buy flora gown) plans well in advance. They may be planning to host a party the same night. Also, make sure they know the ceremony time so nobody's mowing their lawn during your vows, and ask if they'd offer their driveways for extra parking space. But you can't rely on neighbors' generosity completely. Make sure there's enough street space for parking, or arrange for guests to park at a nearby lot like at a school or church, and provide round-trip shuttle service. If you want valet parking, hire a reputable company. You don't need a Father of the Bride scenario on your hands.

Insurance May Cover Home Repair
From guests dancing on your lawn to vendors traipsing in and out, your home may take a bit of a beating. Find out what your homeowner's insurance covers. You may want to consider getting a supplemental policy. Check with your domestic insurance company to see if your policy covers third-party liability, and with your vendors to make sure they have their own insurance policies, as well. Click here for more wedding insurance tips.

It's All Worth It
We want you to be prepared, not scared. Having a wedding at home -- even at your new home as newlyweds -- is an amazing idea, and an event your family will always remember. The best thing about having your wedding at home is how personal it can be. Nothing compares to getting ready in your childhood room and coming down the staircase in your gown. Find the right people to help, and you'll walk down your homespun aisle stress-free.

Handmade Ball Gown Wedding Dresses

Handmade ball gown wedding dresses are very popular. These dresses are inspired by fairy tales. Usually, they are made of expensive fabrics, but they also use satin and lace. The skirt of the dress comes to the ankle or the owner of the land. The dress is well-suited to the trunk, and usually has a neckline. It also thrives in a very full skirt. In addition to traditional hand-ball dresses, there are wedding dresses with strapless necklines that have tons of shiny ornaments. Gloves and scarves are also often used. There are a few women; however, who prefer to wear skirts, silhouettes, organza, and these dresses with crinolines.

Again, before buying a dress that is hand-made, one must first consider some important factors. For example, if you're too short, you may not be able to balance it properly so that it cannot be the best choice to suit you. In addition, if you're fat, it will only make you look weird. On the other hand, if you're skinny, you can effectively increase the waist, wearing the right handmade prom dress. You will also fine in this wedding dress, if you have big breasts. In addition, we must consider space and time. Obviously, you cannot have your wedding outdoors, if it rain, and you should check the width of the corridors of the church. You should also think about the reception. You afford to pay to move and dance with ease?

In addition, you can choose a prom dress too. This allows you to look fabulous and interesting. It will be more dramatic if you use a pair of dazzling diamond earrings or a necklace with them. We also recommend using your hair in a bun with clips or crystal. You can use the tiara to look like a princess bride. However, multi-layered skirt is something that almost every bride wants. Handmade wedding ball gowns with layers of fabrics are fantastic and unique. In this case, you must complete accessories and footwear. Dancing shoes are perfect, and then you can use sneakers or high heels.

When buying hand-made party dress, you should consider your budget. These dresses can be very expensive. Stick with your spending cap to avoid financial problems. Search across all the different stores and websites that sell handmade prom or wedding dresses. You'll find a variety of ball gowns in offline and online stores. You always need to remember to deal only with reputable sellers. In addition, make sure you inspect all the details of the dress.

Flaunt the Perfect Ball Gown

Ball gowns have been a charm amongst all the other evening dresses. They have been in fashion since a long time. The very famous story of Cinderella also revolved around the ball and the ball gown. When a girl is dressed in a ball gown, she is meant to look her best and attract attention no matter what. But sometimes making a selection for a ball gown becomes a little difficult.

A ball gown can be a hit only if it reflects the most feminine part of a girl's personality. Today you can find a huge variety of ball gowns in the market available in a variety of styles, colors, designs, makes, sizes and fabrics. Out of this vast variety you will definitely find the perfect gown for yourself, but for that you need to look for it in the right direction. If you are a plus size lady and you go wish to go for an A-line dress, it would be a wrong choice. So it is very important to first know your body type and then search for the gown that will best suit you. Now for doing this you can either consult a professional designer or you can continue reading this article.

There are a number of things that you need to keep in mind while selecting the perfect ball dress. The first and the foremost thing is to decide what style of the gown you wish to have. If you have a pretty and slim body shape, an A-line ball dress will be the perfect one for you. The skirt will fit your bodice from the waist and form an "A" shape.

For the women who have smooth and white skin can go for an evening gown with a halter neck. Such a gown will leave their back and shoulders naked and create an appeal. This kind of an evening gown will make a women look extremely sexy and charming.

After you are done selecting the style of your gown, its time you decide on the material you want for it. The material is one of the important things that you would want to focus on in order to look your best. The truly classical ball gowns are made of satin, and reflect a sense of wealth and grace. You can find evening gowns in materials such as silk, satin, velvet, and taffeta.

After the material comes the cut. Going for the right cut can work wonders. The cut of the dress will depend on whether you're going for a classical look or a modern look. The classical look would be the best choice for those who have prominent curves and well defined figures. While the modern styled ball gowns may be the best pick for the women who are thin or petite.

Let us hope that after reading this article you know what style, fabric and cut you would want for your ball gown. Keep the important considerations in mind and go ahead and get your perfect ball dress out of the clutter and flaunt it like a princess.