A Couple Suggestions

A dinner following the wedding rehearsal is not a necessity, but it is a lovely way to begin your wedding festivities and allows your attendants and families to relax and get acquainted.

It is traditionally hosted by the groom’s parents in a restaurant, hotel, private dining facility, or in their home. Catered rehearsal dinners at home are wonderful; your caterer can furnish an experienced serving staff to do everything, including the dishes. On this special occasion, the groom’s parents need play only one role-host and hostess!

Invitations should be sent two to four weeks before the wedding. A simple phone call informing the expected guest of the time, location, and perhaps formality of dress, is also appropriate. Invite all members of the wedding party and their respective spouses or guests.

If you’ve chosen to have fresh flowers, you may wish you could keep your beautiful fragrant bouquet to enjoy for years to come. Today’s methods of freeze drying make that possible! Freeze drying floral preservation employs expensive equipment handled by trained professionals who understand how various kinds of flowers and greenery must be treated to retain their freshly picked color and look.

Prior to your wedding, you should meet with your preservation service to choose how you would like to have your flowers displayed. They can be made into a centerpiece, a floral picture for your wall or displayed under a dome. They will be enclosed in a glass or acrylic dome or frame to protect them from dust and humidity. This way, your arrangement can become a family heirloom to pass on.

Planning ahead to have your bouquet preserved involves a few steps. First explain to your florist that you plan to preserve the flowers and ask your florist not to use a non-wilting spray to protect your flowers. It may damage the flowers you intend to preserve. Second, delegate someone to take care of the details concerning preserving your bouquet following the reception or you may want to consider purchasing a replica bouquet.

Your invitation is a preview to your ceremony. The style-whether traditional or contemporary-sets the stage for what’s to come.

This is your first opportunity to impress your guests. Many brides express their style with custom invitations. Handmade papers pressed with flowers, found at specialty paper stores, can offer an especially romantic touch.

First and foremost, even more important than the actual wedding event itself is your marriage and pledge to each other.

It is normal to stress about planning your once-in-a-lifetime wedding—after all you've been dreaming about this day for years—it's also important to keep everything in perspective and remember what truly is most important. The wedding event is one special moment in your life, a marriage lasts the rest of your lifetime—filled with many more special moments.