Over the past few years, we have coordinated a lot of weddings… and we’ve seen a lot of First Dances. Some brides and grooms opt for a casual, school-dance-type First Dance, while other couples have chosen to put in some extra time and effort to learn a choreographed dance number to their First Dance song. Guests never fail to be amazed when Bride and Groom take to the dancefloor and WOW them with beautiful steps, spins, and dips!
If you’ve thought about choreographing an elegant dance for your wedding, or if dance lessons have been on your To-Do list for a while, we’re so excited to tell you about the team over at Arthur Murray in Richmond Hill!
{ the Dance Studio }
The Richmond Hill location of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio has been teaching the York Region to ballroom and latin dance for over a decade – 12 years to be exact!
With private lessons available for singles and couples, no dancer gets left behind. The staff at Arthur Murray are trained professionals – so it doesn’t matter whether you’re a natural born dancer, or you have two left feet, you’ll learn to dance on any dance floor – with any partner! (They make it super convenient too – with ongoing enrolment and flexible lesson times between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday to Friday)
{ the Lessons }
Regardless of whether your First Dance is set to the beat of Bruno Mars or Boston, your dance lessons at Arthur Murray will teach you the seamless transitions in a Waltz, Fox Trot, Swing, Cha Cha, Salsa, Hustle, Tango, or Ballroom Dance. If your barnyard-rustic wedding affair has left you planning to break down to Country Western – that’s on their repertoire as well! No song can stump these pros!
{ the Difference }
The focus of the Arthur Murray Richmond Hill dance instructors is on social dancing – to equip you with survival skills for any dance floor (regardless of whether it’s at a wedding, a black-tie charity affair, or in the comfort of your own living room, in pyjamas, with your main squeeze). This team is hand-selected, carefully trained, and so passionate about what they do – their enthusiasm for dance is highly contagious!
Not only is learning your First Dance a great opportunity to WOW your wedding guests, it’s also a pretty fabulous way to do something out-of-the-ordinary with your partner and/or meet new friends in group classes. Beyond its social benefits, dancing is a great physical workout – and a stellar confidence booster! So really… nothing but benefits all the way around!
{ the Q + A }
How do you get started? – Just get in touch with the studio! Set up an Intro lesson to determine your skill and comfort level (these determine which lessons are best for you)
How long does it take? – Instruction length depends on what you want to learn, and how quickly you can learn it. (FYI: you’ll be able to dance after your FIRST lesson – so even if your wedding date is fast approaching, you still have time to learn!)
How much does it cost? – Financial investment also depends on how much you want to learn, and how quickly you can learn it. You’ll be given a professional recommendation after your first lesson and you can decide whether it’s right for you at that time.
{ the Details }
If you have questions or would like to schedule your Intro lesson at Arthur Murray Richmond Hill, make sure to get in touch with them!
Okay… so this is a very sensitive blog post topic… and you’re welcome to agree to agree or disagree with any part of it – but don’t kill the messenger!
[Tipping your Wedding Vendors]
As I met with a couple the other night whose wedding day is quickly approaching, the bride-to-be posed a prominent question…. “Do I tip them?”
According to Wikipedia, “A tip (also called a gratuity) is a voluntary extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price of the transaction.” As a North American society, we tend to have a fairly generic view of tipping… someone provides a service, we pay them for the service, and sometimes graciously extend further compensation by way of “tip”. Most of us know to tip in restaurants. Some of us extend tipping to other service providers such as our hair stylists and spa estheticians. Few go as far as to tip the Tim Hortons’ staff or Starbucks barista in the morning, but it’s not completely uncommon. We see tip jars in pita shops, we are expected to tip the pizza delivery guy, and believe it or not, tipping is also considered proper etiquette when it comes to dealing with your wedding vendors.
Yes, I understand you’ve already paid what feels like an astronomical sum of money to those people coming together to create your Happily Ever After… and remember that tipping is ALWAYS at your discretion (legally, no one, not even a caterer can force you to pay gratuity – but unless you’re looking to get into a messy battle of proving why gratuities should not be paid, plan to work these numbers into your budget).
WedAlert.com tells us that caterers and bartenders should always be tipped. Further, they suggest that bridal consultants, powder room / coat room attendants, photographers, videographers, cake decorators, musicians (or DJ’s) should also be tipped, based on extra special services they provide.
As a Day-Of Coordinator, I’ve often found that tipping a limo driver is considered standard practice, and leaving a “donation” for ceremony officiants is considered customary (if it hasn’t already been worked into the fee for services provided).
While historically, tipping etiquette stated that you should not tip the owner of the business, times have changed and now any service provider (owner or not) can (and sometimes should!) be tipped. In some cases, service providers will not accept tips – this is up to their own discretion. Also, if you’re particular about who receives the tip (i.e. the girl who delivers the flowers vs. the owner of the floral shop) be sure to give the tip (or have your Wedding Day Coordinator give the tip) to them in person (don’t add it to the overall bill, as it won’t always make it into the right hands).
The average gratuity is considered to be 15%.
Completely unrelated, The Caketress posted this on her Facebook wall and I love it… so I thought I would share! enjoy!
Many of the couples I plan with choose to have a wedding reception Master of Ceremonies rather than just having the DJ do it (some DJ companies charge extra, so be sure to ask!). Often times, I tell couples that a friend or family member as an MC leads to a more personalized, intimate, and often humorous reception experience…. so if you have someone that’s up for the challenge, let them do it!
I’ve also been asked, numerous times, about how a wedding MC begins to put together his/her list of duties…. so it’s definitely time for this blog to be written.
Who is the MC?
If the DJ doesn’t end up being your event’s MC, typically you can ask any member of your friend or family to deliver these duties. Sometimes couples will opt to have 1 or 2 members of their wedding party act as the MC’s for the evening, while others like to designate someone who is special to them, but who isn’t a part of the wedding party.
How to pick an MC?
I always suggest that you choose an MC whose personality fits the desired feel of your wedding reception. If you want a funny, casual, interactive reception, choose someone who is outgoing, funny, casual, and interactive! If you’re looking for something more reserved and formal, choose someone more reserved, formal (usually older, but not always!) – pick someone you can trust not to embarass you or your guests (alcohol tends to play a role in this, so someone who doesn’t drink – or who monitors their drinking, is usually ideal!)
What does an MC do?
As a Day-Of Coordinator, it’s my job to make sure that the timeline of the wedding day is accurate, concise, and runs as smoothly as possible. It’s my job to make sure that hair and makeup are done on time, that flowers get to the hall when they’re supposed to, that the cake is set up properly, and that the groomsmen know when it’s time to stop drinking mimosas and start getting ready. After the wedding ceremony, once all the vendors have done their jobs, it’s my job to make sure that the timeline we’ve created for your Wedding Reception is executed seamlessly. If the timeline is like the play script, and you and your wedding party are the actors, I end up being the director… and your MC is the stage producer! Based on the timeline that you and I put together, your MC is the one who “delivers” your reception to your guests via microphone and (hopefully) some humour and entertaining antics!
Typical MC responsibilities include:
1) Introding themselves to guests as the MC for the evening (sometimes a background story on why the MC was chosen is a nice, personalized touch)
2) Inviting guests to be seated and delivering any house rules the venue may have stipulated (or the bride and groom have asked to share)
3) Introducing the wedding party + newlyweds into the hall
4) Saying grace or delivering a blessing before the meal (or introducing the person who will do this)
5) Introducing wedding speech speakers
6) Announcing reception “events” – i.e. cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, first dance, the bride and groom’s departure
7) Thanking guests for attending at the end of the night and officially “closing” the ceremonies
Where does the MC go?
If your MC is not a part of your wedding party at the head table, be sure to seat him or her near the head table, somewhere close to the podium. If you don’t have a Day Of Coordinator to help you with your seating plan, make sure to remember details like putting the podium near the DJ (if possible) – just in case there are problems with the sound system, microphone, etc. Seat your MC in an area where he or she isn’t interrupting many guests to make their rounds to and from the podium.
If you have Day-Of Coordinators, seat them near the MC as well, so that they can cue him or her when it’s time to make an announcement (this allows your MC to still enjoy being a guest at your wedding and not sit there the whole time, looking at their watch).
- on behalf of all MC’s, I say this…. if you can get your DJ to toss in a wireless microphone, it’ll make a world of difference!! – this allows for flexibility and creativity in delivering MC duties and speeches.
When does the MC speak?
The MC speaks throughout the evening – timing based on a reception itinerary that you’ve provided or that they have created (with your approval). Because the MC needs to be “around” throughout the entire night, do not choose someone who needs to leave the reception early. Avoid choosing someone who will be consuming large amounts of alcohol (unless, ofcourse, you’re comfortable with this!)
Tips for Wedding MC’s
1) Be humorous! – tell appropropriate jokes (use sites like THIS to get inspired!)
2) Keep it short! – when we get nervous, we tend to ramble… have a script and stick to it!
3) Be interactive! – don’t read from your script… make sure you use that shining personality that the bride and groom love about you :)
4) Give “well-chosen” advice…. (a special thanks to Kevin for this!)
Some advice for Him:
Never let her go to bed angry – you’re defenseless when you sleep.
If she says, “Do whatever you want to” – You’d better figure out what it is she wants you to do.
When you say “I do” she owns you from the nose down. What you think, and look at, is your own business.
What you think, and look at, can still get you in trouble – if she catches you thinking it, or looking at it.
“Do it when you get a minute” – Means “It should have been done already, and without me telling you.”
If you go shopping with her, she will inevitably leave you alone in the bra and panty section – Don’t Browse.
Then some advice for Her:
“Would you be mad if I decided to…….” – means he already did it, and doesn’t know how to hide it.
If you ask his opinion, and he says “I don’t care”, or “I don’t know” – he really doesn’t care, or know.
Men don’t have to know the rules of a sporting event to enjoy watching it.
Men really believe that: mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, and reading the paper, is doing their fair share.
Men don’t spend money on expensive toys just to make you mad – it’s genetic, they can’t help it.
Criteria for stopping while channel surfing: 1) women in bikinis, 2) a karate fight scene, 3) a beer commercial.
Another favourite “speech” of mine…. (Thanks to Mary for this!)
Women are often misunderstood by men. That’s why men should know the words used by women to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminologies..
Here are the top 9 words women often use to hide their feelings:
#1. “Fine”
This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
#2. “Five Minutes”
If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
#3. “Nothing”
This is the calm before the storm. This means something,and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
#4. “Go Ahead”
This is a dare, not permission. Don’t do it.
#5. “Loud Sigh”
This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
#6. “That’s Okay”
This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
#7. “Thanks”
A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say “you’re welcome”. (I want to add in a clause here – this is true, unless she says “Thanks a lot” – that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say “you’re welcome” … that will bring on ‘whatever’).
#8. “Whatever”
Is a women’s way of saying F-YOU!
#9. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it”
Another dangerous statement, meaning you knew it had to be done but you were lazy to do it and had to wait till i came home to do it. Men should automatically know it has to be done, also, this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘what’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to #3.
… in any case, you’ve chosen your MC to officiate your wedding reception because you love them…. so as an MC, know that there are very few things you can do “wrong” (though there are a few!) – relax, enjoy yourself, stick to the schedule, and have fun… after all, it’s all about the Bride and Groom :)
(and if you have questions about specific MC duties, feel free to email us at info@weddinggirl.ca!)
Dolcetto Designs is a relatively new online custom photo card business based out of the Niagara region, shipping all across Canada and the United States. We create modern custom invitations, announcements, thank you cards, etc. We are thrilled that our designs feature the beautiful photographic art of various photographers in the Niagara region, as well as across Canada. You are invited to visit our shop at www.dolcettodesigns.com
We are pleased to offer products to suit all budgets. We offer high quality post cards and fold over cards printed on card stock as well as cards printed on photo paper. We also offer the digital file, allowing the client to print as many copies of the image as they wish. This is the perfect solution for the DIY or bride on a budget.
One of the trends in wedding stationary is more customization. All of our designs can be fully customized. We work with clients one-on-one to ensure that each design is customized to meet their needs. We use your photo(s), colours, font choices, etc to create your perfect card. We can even adjust the layout to work with your photos and written details. Anything is possible. Therefore, if you have an idea we can create it!
The following are a few examples of ways that the “Laura and Shane” wedding invitation can be customized.
Photo cards are the perfect way to add that personal touch when thanking your guests. Sadly, thank you cards get the least attention when it comes to wedding stationary. When you give a photo thank you card, you are giving a keepsake to your guests, a lasting memory of your special day. It’s not surprising, that our photo thank you cards are the most popular item ordered. They’re a great way to give guests a sample of your wedding photographs, while saying thank you at the same time. The collage style is especially popular for destination weddings, since most of the thank you cards are going to people that weren’t at the actual wedding. A personal note of thanks can easily be written on the back of the photo. Another option is ordering fold over cards and writing your note of thanks in the inside. Photo cards are also the most appreciated thank you card, as guests love seeing photos of the bride and groom on their special day.
Ordering is easy and the turnaround time is fast. An electronic proof is always sent within 24 hours of ordering. From final proof approval, there is 48 hours until shipping for photo cards and 8 business days for card stock printed cards. The process is usually 1-2 days for digital designs.
We also have an extensive line of birth announcements, birthday invitations, etc.
Have a question or would like to chat? Shari can be reached by email at dolcettodesigns@gmail.com or by phone at 905-680-6284. All ordering can be done through our website at www.dolcettodesigns.com
Most of us know how much time, and responsibility goes into being a bridesmaid or groomsman, not to mention the financial investment of buying dresses, renting tuxes, paying for shoes, accessories, hair / make-up, planning pre-wedding events, etc. As a bride-to-be, it’s important to consider how you’re going to thank your wedding party attendants for all their hard work and support throughout your wedding planning process!
Thank Your Bridesmaids
First and foremost, remember to thank your bridal party throughout the wedding planning process rather than just on the day before the wedding! A simple Thank You Card or a bridal party get together is a sweet way to let your troops know that you’re thinking of them and that you appreciate them as they ride your wedding planning roller coaster alongside of you!
A special thanks to MapleSpice for submitting this blog post on how to thank your wedding party AFTER the wedding!
You have finally made it—you’re married! But, there’s one thing left to do—that is, thanking the other important people that helped you along the wedding way…your bridal party!
There are many ways in which you could go about thanking those special people, while factoring in your costs, originality and your tastes. Here are some suggestions:
Thank You Cards
Sending a card is probably the most cost-effective way to thank your bridal party for all of the hard work that they have done for you. If you are crafty and have some extra time on your hands, consider creating your own cards to showcase your originality! Purchasing some gift certificates to a spa or the movies, or even store gift cards as a little addition to your card is also a great way to show your appreciation. For some ideas, see the blog TigerLily wrote on embossing thank you cards on WeddingGirl.ca!
Souvenirs
This is arguably the most popular “thank you” to give to your bridal attendants. I still have my gift from my sister for being her Maid Of Honour all those years ago! With all of the selections that are available, there is definitely room for uniqueness when purchasing this type of gift—you could even engrave or embroider their names or initials on your gift, depending on what you have chosen.
Keepsakes
Ideally “decorative” by nature. Gifts in this category include: jewellery, drinking glasses/beer steins, candle holders and picture frames, to name a few.
Practical Gifts
While all souvenirs are generally keepsakes, some gifts, like the ones listed below, are meant to be used—so take full advantage! I would include gifts such as: environmental (i.e. bags/totes), gift certificates, clothing items (i.e. t-shirts), edible items (i.e. chocolates)…and the list goes on.
Try looking for the best deals for these types of gifts at wholesalers, at discount/dollar stores or even online. Some of the websites that I like are: Wedding Channel and the Canadian site Wedding Favours.
Wedding Wear
Some brides and grooms get together and purchase or rent items for their attendants to say thank you on their wedding day. For the bridesmaids, consider purchasing their dresses, shoes, accessories, even services such as hair or makeup. For the groomsmen, why not rent their suits, tuxedos or shoes on their behalf? With the economy just coming out of a recession, not all of your attendants might be able to afford paying for all of the costs associated with being involved in a wedding. By purchasing these items on their behalf, it shows your appreciation while saying “thanks for being there for us”.
Brunch/Dinner Party
If you are the more casual type, how about treating everyone to a nice brunch or dinner when you are back from your honeymoon? You could do this in a restaurant, or at home by having a BBQ party (if the weather allows, of course). Have your bridal party get together one final time in a relaxing setting and talk—what a great way to unwind after the wedding!
Lessons
Give the gift of learning and fun! Try purchasing dance lessons or cooking lessons. For the fitness fanatic, yoga lessons would be excellent for stress management, or even personal training sessions if they are really into getting fit! Granted, that these ideas are not for the frugal at heart and it definitely requires investigation into your attendant’s likes and dislikes, but taking lessons definitely maximizes the fun in gift giving. You could purchase the lessons for each attendant individually, or try scheduling a group session if your bridal party lives fairly close together. Try your local parks and recreation centre for more cost-effective lessons.
Unique Trips
Organize a weekend trip somewhere for your bridal attendants. This can be done with the whole wedding party, or as separate weekend trips for the bride and her bridesmaids and the groom and his groomsmen. It can be as intricate or as simple as you would like it to be, such as going on a cruise versus renting a cottage. If going away for the weekend is too difficult to plan, why not go out on a day trip? Try going on a helicopter ride around the city. For something even more casual, try going to an amusement park, or the beach, or even ice skating in the wintertime. Sometimes the best gift you could give someone is spending time with them.
Thanking your bridal attendants does not seem like an easy task. After all, how could you possibly even thank someone that has seen you at your best and your worst in the span of a few months? Be creative and think about what your attendants will like and what they will enjoy the most. And remember that no matter what gifts you choose for your attendants, they will always be your family and/or your friend and that is what is ultimately important—you are the best gift they could ever ask for!
Planning a wedding is an overwhelming task, which is precisely why many brides are opting to hire a planner to do the work for them. Between designing your event, researching vendors, attending meetings, negotiating, and making final selections, planning your wedding can become a full time (and highly stressful) job!
In doing your wedding vendor research, you aren’t going to love everyone you meet. Personality, service details, and pricing, all play a role in choosing one vendor over another. If you do choose to plan your own I Do’s, an inevitable component is to let some vendors know you’ve selected someone else.
If you’ve only interacted with the vendor on a minimal basis, an email or a note is more than appropriate to break the news. Be direct in your note. Remember, it’s not personal – it’s business! (most vendors are very aware of this). Thank the vendor for their time, compliment their work, and simply state you’ve chosen another vendor for your wedding day. For example, “I’ve found another photographer who is a better fit for my needs”, or “I have found a florist whose vision is exactly the same as mine.”
If, during your vendor selection process, you’ve developed a closer relationship with a particular vendor, take a more personal approach. Talk to them by phone or in person, but don’t send an email. Here, it is important to be sincere. Be honest about why you chose to go with someone else. This doesn’t need to be rude – it’s a great source of feedback for the vendor! Reasons for choosing someone else include pricing, style, selection, personality – all of which can be shared in the form of constructive criticism.
Your feedback can help a vendor land another client by altering his/her approach, details, etc. The truth doesn’t need to hurt, and it can be tremendously helpful!
Finally, when making vendor selections, inform everyone of your decision as quickly as possible. This allows everyone involved to move on quickly, smoothly, and to plan some fabulous nuptials!
The white dress. The gauzy veil. The grand pipe organ announcing your entrance with a tune that lets everyone know that you are, with out question, Getting Married. Traditional elements of weddings are evocative, emotional, and frankly, expected.
And yet, your big day is supposed to be all about You. The dress, the decorations, the venue are supposed to be representations you and your relationship with the person you’re marrying.
This is all well and good, if the elements you want for your marriage celebration are within the scope of what’s considered “wedding”.
But what if they’re not? Family, religion, budget – all can give a non-traditional bride a serious case of the vapors.
My fiancé comes from a traditional Catholic family. And it was very important to him to have what would be considered a Catholic wedding – a marriage ceremony preformed by a Catholic priest in a Catholic church. And as a bride coming from a Christian family, I didn’t have a problem with that. Although I had always pictured myself being married under a canopy of trees in a fall forest, without much religious aspect at all, this was important to him, and so I was happy to agree. From the beginning, all I asked was that I be allowed to walk down the aisle to the song I had always dreamed of. (Because it’s important to the story, and because I trust you hussies to not steal it, here’s a link to the song)
Unfortunately, we were both completely un-prepared for the rules and restrictions that come with a traditional Catholic wedding. I was willing to do the pre-marriage counseling, the interviews, the questionnaire, I was willing to arrange my ceremony and reception around mass times, I was willing to undergo the pressure to convert – but door after door was very firmly shut in my face at the mention of my non-liturgical song.
I was wrecked. On the most important day of my life, I was going to be lost. What part of my marriage ceremony was going to represent me if the one thing – the one thing I asked for was refused?
How do we brides balance what’s expected with what means something to us? It’s a delicate dance, and one that can suck all the fun out of planning your wedding. As my future father-in-law said, “there has to be some middle ground”. And I agree. For us, the middle ground was that song. And I was willing to fight for it.
By what must have literally been the grace of God, my fiancé and I found a Catholic church that is warm, welcoming, and has no problem granting us that middle ground. I am no longer suffering identity crises and stress headaches on a daily basis. My fiancé is no longer suffering guilt for wanting to be married within his Church. I’m actually starting to have fun planning my wedding!
We can’t, no matter how hard we try, please everyone. That’s something we brides have to accept. But in these months of give and take, we must make sure we’re not giving all of ourselves. The day is still ours. Stay true to yourself, and in the words of my fabulous mother, “just breathe”.
Though the topic of gifting at weddings tends to make us all cringe, I’ve decided it’s time to start talking. I’ve heard from so many people lately that the number of their friends getting married is on the rise, and for many of you, 2010 will be a year of “I Do’s”. So as heard on Rich Bride, Poor Bride – “It’s I DO, but at what cost?”. Weddings aren’t only expensive events to deliver, but also to attend.
Standard wedding gifting etiquette suggests that each wedding guest should monetarily cover a minimum of theirs and their date’s per plate cost, plus some percentage of “gift” above that. And don’t forget that not all wedding gifts are created equal, in that guests attending a casual backyard BBQ wedding are expected to gift substantially less than those attending an upscale, 5-diamond-restaurant-catered event. Ultimately, regardless of the extravagance of the affair, most of us have found ourselves in situations where we are forced to gift less than what we would like…. so here’s a compilation of wedding gifting ideas to try and offset budget with creativity and thoughtfulness for our loved ones’ nuptials. Furthermore, these ideas can be used by those who choose to stray from the standard “money-in-envelope” and add a little personalized touch of uniqueness and creativity.
The easiest place to start when gifting on a limited gifting budget? the couples’ gift registry. Most couples will have registered for gifts that range in price, and if they’ve registered for it then they obviously need and want it! Otherwise, a smaller registry gift is a comfortable way to offset a smaller monetary gift. Every newlywed couple needs some basics – towels, kitchen gadgets, baking utensils, etc.
You can turn a single item registry into a thoughtful, “themed” gift basket by considering the experience rather than the gift itself. For example, buy the couples’ pasta colander that they registered for, but turn it into everything needed for a romantic dinner. Fill the colander with items such as wooden kitchen spoons, high-quality dry pasta, gourmet sauce, a bottle of wine, and toss in a corkscrew with some candles (and a barbeque lighter or matches). Add into your card a note about “the ingredients for a happy marriage” and include a recipe for spicing up the sauce or the instructions for properly boiling the pasta.
If only miscellaneous items are left on the registry, be creative! Turn a soap dish into a spa-themed basket, complete with some luxurious bath soaps, monogrammed towels, a loofah sponge and some candles.
Turn a cozy blanket into a “movie night basket”, complete with a gift certificate to a local pizza shop (that delivers!), popcorn, some fancy sodas, theatre-style snacks and a romantic comedy on DVD.
If your friends are like me… they hate gift registries. Consider the types of people they are and gift accordingly. If the newlyweds are wine people, gift them a gift certificate for a winery tour. If they enjoy being pampered, consider buying them a couples’ massage at a local spa.
Some wedding gifts are more sentimental than others, and depending on your budget, you can offset price for sentimental value:
- Frame the couples’ wedding invitation or a poem
- Buy a bottle of wine that you believe will age well, and attach instructions stating that it is meant to be shared on their 10th or 20th wedding anniversary
- Fill a picture frame with gift certificates for photo printing
- Give the newlyweds a hard-bound classic love story (with a personal inscription with your best wishes on the inside cover)
One of the most creative gifts my groom and I received on our wedding night… a homemade “voucher” for a night out WITH our friends! The couple invited us out for a night-on-the-town complete with transportation, dinner, drinks, and a theatre show (all expenses paid!). What a creative way to offset gifting cash, and creating an experience TOGETHER at the same time!
Regardless of what you end up giving, be it money in an envelope or some contribution to the experience of newlywed life, remember that the wedding isn’t about the gift… it’s meant to be about the celebration. Don’t forget, many of us are in the same situation.. so make the best of it! If the bride and groom are good enough friends, they’ll even appreciate an I.O.U. with your best wishes!
The following E-Zine article was written by Stephanie Solda, a Journalism student at Sheridan College, with some etiquette advice from WeddingGirl.ca…
“Whether you are in a wedding or will soon be going to one, here are some helpful hints to best enjoy your time and help the event to run as smoothly as possible.
Bride & Groom Etiquette
As a bride or groom, the wedding day is incredibly busy and you have a lot to think about. After everything has been so meticulously planned, you want to ensure that it all goes off without a hitch. With all of the hustle and bustle, you don’t want to forget everyone who has come to join you on this special day. If you choose not to have a receiving line you must ensure that you visit every table to thank your guests for being there.
Even after the wedding day, as the hosts of the event, you should ensure you send out thank you notes within a reasonable amount of time. All of your guests will wait patiently for you to return from your honeymoon, but you should send out the thank you notes within a month of returning. Contemporary brides are opting to pre-print thank you card’s prior to the wedding and adding in personalized notes afterwards. Some brides are choosing to completely opt-out of personalizing thank you notes, and guests are given their cards at the reception alongside the expected wedding favour.
Wedding Party Etiquette
If you’ve been chosen to be in the wedding party, you should try to start the day off right. Ensure you are on time for any morning activities. For females it’s usually getting your hair and make up done; for males it’s usually as simple as getting dressed. Not only will you being late worry and upset the bride and groom, it could throw off the rest of the day. Also, photos are usually being taken during these activities and it will be noticeable for a long time if you aren’t in any of them.
A reminder to all party members: the bride and groom need you to help them keep on schedule. Most brides don’t wear a watch!
As a member of the wedding party you must also wait out the partying. The last thing any couple wants is their best man slurring and bowing to the porcelain gods by 9. Try to hold off any excessive drinking at least until the speeches and photos part of the evening is over. Most officiates and ministers will not legally marry a couple if they have witnessed the bride, groom, maid of honour, or best man consuming alcohol.
Guest Etiquette
As a guest the only thing you need to worry about is your gift for the happy couple. Oh and making sure you don’t hit on the bride or groom. In the past, the standing rule for any wedding gift was purchasing something, or giving a cash value, in relative accordance to the cost of a dinner, about $100. More recently, the amount per-plate has gone up to around $125 to $150 a person. A casual backyard wedding would call for a different gift than an upscale 6-course meal.
The guest’s name on the invitation should cover the cost of the date’s portion of the gift. Whether or not you would like to ask your date to chip in is up to you. A budget-friendly solution to wedding gifts could be to choose a gift off of the couple’s registry and help them out with items they need for their home, or even get a gift card for the store they’re registered at worth any denomination.
A great option would be to get couple-friendly gift certificates or gift baskets, such as a ‘romantic night in’ which could include wine, candles, chocolate and a great DVD.
If you do choose to venture off the registry, make sure that they will enjoy or even use the item. Also ensure that you take the price tag off of your purchase.
Whatever part you play in a wedding, remember to have fun and enjoy the festivities.”
