Weddings Expectations & the Guest List

Planning a wedding is a very exciting time. However, it is important to create three important lists.;  guest list, budget and wish list.

All go hand-in-hand  and everyone knows that you can’t include everyone on the guest list. It would be wonderful to share with all you know, but it is impossible and expense is the biggest reason. It’s a special day with special guests. Your whole dream day will hinge on the guest list, so be realistic with your available money.

 

John Lyons Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel

Create only one guest list; this is the one! Never exceed the capacity of your venue. These guests most be very special to the bride and groom. And remember, once a guest is invited and accepts the invitation, that guest is counted as attending and can never be uninvited. Never feel that you have to add a guest as a courtesy.

When your budget is established and your final guest list tally is in;  divide the number of guests into the budget and you’ll get your cost per person. Your total budget must include everything required for the day, so prioritize carefully.

Trimming your list is doable and sometimes those guests on the first draft are eliminated. You don’t have to invite everyone from your yoga class, office, home neighbourhood or workplace.  In fact,  you and your fiancé will have guests that have come to a beautiful celebration at a stunning location. The happy couple will be able to spend time with everyone.

 

October 11th, 2011

Be Cautious with Your Wedding Contracts

I cannot reiterate often enough, that in this economy, you need to know who the real wedding professionals are. In this day of  ”wannabe” vendors in this industry, there are less than desirable businesses out there that you don’t want to deal with. There are inexperienced and unreliable people and how is the bride supposed to know what is truth and what is fiction?

Ask for references and ask to see a wedding in progress, if that is applicable to the service in question. Ask questions and compare apples to apples. Know what you are contracting for and be confident in your decision, before you commit to a service.

Whenever I hear about or see a bride who  has been disappointed, I cringe at the lack of integrity from people who are spoiling the bride’s experience. My advice is that your wedding day is far too important to have it spoiled. Hire people you can trust because you don’t want to risk having your day ruined by someone who is not qualified. Seeing finished pictures, tasting the food,  knowing where the flowers originated from, all help you to know who you are dealing with.

The only fireworks you want to have during your wedding are the ones you pay for and enjoy. If a service provider clearly is a hobbyist  or you feel any doubt in your mind about them delivering your services- don’t contract them to do any work for you.

Qualified experienced professionals are not hard to find, and at The Wedding Guide, we only deal with reputable businesses, which eliminates those worries for you. But the above advice is still the same, as we all have different expectations.

Chalet Studio Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel

JUST AS YOU WOULD any other legal documents for large items you purchase- such as a car or home- be sure to have a written contract and/or a letter of commitment from each of your wedding services. This is the only way to assure that you and the service provider agree on all details. Include a departure, goods that will be delivered and time of delivery, contracted costs, overtime costs, deposits required, balance due and due date.

If you have a list of details (such as types of flowers in each bouquet or arrangements) or items to be included (like the total number of tuxedos and their sizes that you are renting) amend the contract to include that information. Both you and the service provider should sign and you should both have a copy. The contract should clarify any price increases and clearly state that you will pay the original quoted price.

Since your reception will likely be the most costly item in your wedding budget, that contract should contain the most details. If you are purchasing a wedding “package”, make sure that all those items are specifically listed in the contract, from the exact food items and courses that will be served that evening to the brands of liquor poured at the bar to the style of the service (white-glove, full tuxedo) that will be attending to your guests that evening.

If your reception facility is undergoing a renovation, that should be noted in your contract along with the completion date, as well as any provisions they will make should the renovation not be completed for your day. Any special considerations for your event that are being made by your facility should be noted in your contract. For example, if they are providing table arrangements for you or they are providing an extra bar during the cocktail hour, make sure the contract states that clearly.

Other services such as disc jockey and limousine services should provide times when all events are happening and when and where they will be to service you.

Have someone bring your contracts to the wedding to answer any last minute questions or concerns.

 

September 29th, 2011

The Art of Marriage by Wilfred Peterson

The little things are the big things.

It is never too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

The courtship should not end with the honeymoon,

It should continue through the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other,

not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice,

but in the spirit of joy.

Brandon Scott Photography, Windsor, Ontario- will travel

It is speaking words of appreciation,

and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo

or the wife to have wings of an angel.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience,

understanding and a sense of humour.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere

in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the Spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which

the independence is equal, dependence is mutual,

and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not marrying the right partner,

It is BEING the right partner.

This is “The Art of Marriage”

By Wilfred Peterson

 

September 27th, 2011

Relax and be a Spa Bride!

You want to look your best for your wedding day but you don’t know where to begin. For expert Beauty advice and treatments, as well as a relaxing experience to take you away from the hectic pace of wedding planning, make a date with a spa.

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SPAS: destination spas and day spas. A destination spa is a spa that guests come to from both near and far and are usually thee for a least one overnight and maybe for an entire week or two of vacation. These destinations spas are often located in scenic surroundings that may have natural features such as hot springs for therapeutic purposes or mountains for hiking and biking. Guests can choose from packages that can include both beauty and exercise regimens or exclusively one or the other.

 

For those who just don’t have the time or resources for a destination spa, a trip to a local day spa may be all you need to begin a new beauty regimen as you approach your special day. Many trips to the day spa begin with a consultation as to the services you’d most benefit from. 

Many of the services are beauty-oriented, including hair colouring and styling, make-up consultations, and application, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and body exfoliation while others may benefit your inner self as well. These include various types of massage and aromatherapy.

You may choose to visit the spa for one or more services, or for an entire day of treatments that includes lunch or dinner. Many have special cuisine catered in or actually have their own kitchen to prepare meals.

Day spas definitely do vary in price; services and equipment, so it is best to do your homework. Ask your friends about their experiences and spend time calling each day spa and inquire about the services you require vs. the services they provide.

 

 

 

September 27th, 2011

Guest Seating at the Wedding Ceremony

The bride’s family and guests sit on the left and the groom’s on the right. If one of you are expecting more guests than the other, you should ask guests to sit evenly distributed throughout the church.

Trevor Booth Photography, Windsor, Ontario-will travel

You should reserve seats for your immediate family. Seats can be reserved by marking them with ribbons or flowers.

The first and second rows are reserved for immediate family, parents, siblings and grandparents. If your parents are divorced, the parent you lived with sits in the first row with your stepparent. Your other parent and their family sit in the second row. The third through six rows are usually reserved for uncles, aunts, cousins, godparents and any other special guests.

In a Christian ceremony, the mother of the bride’s family is seated on the left (when the guests enter from the back). The groom’s family is seated on the right. For a Jewish wedding, it is reversed. If either the bride or groom have a much larger family than the other, it is a good idea to seat the guests on either side so it looks balanced.

If it is a formal wedding, the ushers will escort the female guests to their seats while her male escort follows them. If your ceremony is informal, the ushers can greet your guests at the door and say, “Please follow me”. For every 50 guests, you should have one usher.

 

September 26th, 2011
 
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