Brides Attire
First, any bride can wear white. It doesn't matter if this is your first, or fourth wedding it's up to you. In regards to a long dress, short dress, pantsuit, or ball gown, this really depends on the style of your wedding. A Vegas chapel may not warrant the same type of bridal attire as a ceremony with full mass and the Pope presiding. Consider the location and ceremony time from 6:00 P.M. on is considered more formal when selecting bridal (and groom) attire.
Jewelry During Ceremony
Where does your engagement ring go during the ceremony? This question
comes up time and time again, and the answer is anywhere but on the finger that's about to receive your wedding band. Some brides put it on another finger or hand for the ceremony, or give it to their maid of honor or a family member to hold until after the ceremony. Regardless, it goes on top of (after) the wedding band following the ceremony.
Also, it is not proper for the bride to wear a watch on her wedding day this is one day that should be timeless, so let someone else keep track of the time that day.
Maid of Honor Duties
Usually one close friend or sister is chosen, but sometimes brides choose to have two Maids of Honor. Perhaps the most honored role a friend can play, the Maid of Honor (or Matron of Honor, if married) stands by the bride during the ceremony and is usually involved in throwing the bridal shower and bachelorette party. When a bride's best friend is a male, sometimes they nonetheless choose to have him play this role. In these cases, the role can be referred to as the Honor Attendant.
Bridesmaids' Duties
Duties of a maid or matron of honor and additional bridesmaids depend on the individual needs of the bride. While one bride might ask that you simply stand with her at the altar, another might assume you'll plan the bridal shower, bachelorette party, make hair and nail appointments, and so on. Traditional tasks include holding the groom's wedding band until the ring exchange during the ceremony, holding the bride's bouquet during the ceremony, and planning the bridal shower and bachelorette parties with the help of the other bridesmaids.
Best Man Duties
The duties of a best man vary with each groom. Usually the groom's best friend or brother is chosen to play this honored role. A groom might ask his best man to organize the bachelor party, arrange transportation for the couple, hold the honeymoon documents, and pick up tuxes, or simply help him get to the church on time. It's more important that the best man be someone the groom can count on for the days leading up to the wedding. Probably three of the more traditional tasks that fall to a best man include giving the first toast to the couple at the reception, and holding the bride's wedding band until the exchange of the rings during the ceremony then decorating the newlyweds car.
Junior Bridesmaid
For those too young to be a full-fledged bridesmaid and too old to be a flower girl, the junior bridesmaid is a perfect role. Most often the junior bridesmaid walks down the aisle unaccompanied by a groomsmen, but can be so accompanied if your wedding parties are uneven.
Flower Girls
Usually filled by a favorite niece or cousin, the flower girl is generally between the ages of four and eight. She follows the bridesmaids down the aisle, carrying a bouquet or basket of flowers. Usually, brides choose to have between one and three flower girls.
Ring Bearer
Like the flower girl, the role of ring bearer is often filled by a favorite nephew or cousin, usually between the ages of four and eight. The ring bearer carries a pillow with the wedding rings attached (although many couples attach faux wedding rings, to the pillow and entrust the real rings to the Best Man).
Groomsmen VS Usher:
A groomsman is first someone who is important to the groom, and whom the
groom wants to be a visible part of his wedding. He may be a close friend,
brother, cousin or father.
But a groomsman does more than stand around and look pretty. He also serves
as advisor to the groom beforehand, helps the groom be organized, aids with any
wedding planning details he can, and helps seat guests at the wedding if there
are no ushers.
Ushers:
Ushers serve as the official greeters of all guests at the ceremony and as such
should be in place one hour before the ceremony begins. Very often a head
usher is appointed to oversee the ushers, which relieves the best man of both
having to attend to the groom and keep watch over the ushers.
Many weddings use the groomsmen as ushers also.
Wedding Announcements
Wedding announcements are appropriately sent from the day of the wedding up to one year following the wedding. No gift is required from the recipients; this is simply a gesture on your part to alert those not invited to the wedding of your recent nuptials.
Dance Lessons
Take a few dance lessons. For the bride & grooms first dance together as
husband and wife, a few dance moves or a romantic dip is a guaranteed crowd
pleaser. Dance lessons can be found for a small fee at dance schools or even free through dance videos from your local library, colleges and even your local dance clubs/halls.
7 Tips For A Great First Dance!
1. Get lost in the moment and your guests will too. Many couples don't enjoy their 1st dance because they are nervous about the watching guests. When you enter the dance floor, keep your eyes above the crowd. Gaze into your partner's eyes as you dance. Share a Kiss to ease the stage fright.
2. Make sure it's easy to move in your wedding dress. Be sure at your fitting that it is easy to move in all directions (especially going backwards!!!) Bustle the train. The hem of your dress should be at least ½ inch off the floor, so it will move out of the Groom's way.
3. Smile and keep moving. Dancing is like a shark; you need to keep moving and always show lots of teeth! Even if you have no clue about dancing, smiling and enjoying the moment will make for a better show.
4. Start dancing together NOW! Whether or not you take dance lessons, you and your fiancé should try dancing together and THINK FUN! Never be critical with one another. The trick to getting your fiancé to love dancing is to show him that it is as fun as driving a Jag or playing a video game.
5. Be sure your shoes 'work' for dancing. Shoe soles should be smooth and slide smoothly on the floor. Rubber soles can make you stumble. If the bride's shoes are mules they can make clomping sounds and come off while dancing.
6. Be sure you are facing your guests at the end of your dance. Often a groom dips the bride at the end of the dance not facing the audience. Ideally you should be facing the largest group of people. Find a "cue" in the music, so you have a marker when it is time to position yourselves for the dip.
7. Get professional help! You would not learn to drive by yourself. Even 1 or 2 hours will make you more confident. 5 lessons will make you one of the best dancers you know!
Written by: Kim Bosch van Drakenstein of First Dance Impressions
