Wedding Attendants Tips

What's Expected of the Wedding Party?

Planning a Green Wedding

As you are planning your ecologically friendly wedding, it is often a challenge to uphold your beliefs and still plan the wedding of your dreams. However, recently a new wedding party favor idea was introduced that is absolutely the most darling idea for any bride looking for unique accents in her wedding, even if she isn’t going “green”. This most delightful wedding party favor is not only fun for adults but for children that are involved in your wedding. This unique wedding attendant gift is a wonderful way to send your love for the environments, your newlywed spouse and your family and friends home in one tiny little package.

Now this gift for your wedding attendant may be small but it sure packs a powerful surprise. In one of the most unique wedding attendant gifts and wedding party gifts available for the “green” wedding theme, a tiny hand painted flower pot is a small package that is individually wrapped with its own potting soil and a tiny seed. Once the seed is planted, they need only wait one week to see the really surprise, when the tiny seed breaks free, the word “love” is written right on the sprout itself. This creative, elegant and amazing wedding party favor is a great gift to send home with everyone that has been involved with your wedding plans.

Why Not Provide A Friendly Competition?

A paintball competition is an exciting bridal party luncheon idea that provides the most competitive and heart-pounding fun for everyone. Not only is a paintball competition a wonderful way to introduce your entire bridal party to one another but it creates instant fun and competition between the two different attending groups.

There are many different locations that can be chosen for a bridal attendant’s luncheon and for some, this sport is too rough so you will need to consider the different members of your bridal party to make sure it is a good fit for everyone involved. However, if you have the right group of people, a paintball party can create an event that will be talked and laughed about for years to come. Don’t forget the purpose of the wedding attendants’ luncheon, and arrange for a quiet time after the game to share lunch and to honor the friends and family that you have chosen to stand next to you on the most important day of your life.

The wedding attendants’ luncheon is intended to be a special time for the bride and groom to honor the members of their wedding party and to say thank you, with special wedding attendant gifts, for being a part of their special day. It is a good idea to hold the bridal party luncheon even a month or so prior to the wedding, following this timeline gives everyone an opportunity to build friendships that might not have developed without this special event.

Las Vegas Destination Wedding

Las Vegas ” and use it throughout the entire wedding planning- wedding attendant luncheons, wedding attendant gifts, wedding invitations, decorations and such.

Destination weddings provide the perfect underlying theme for any wedding and surrounding wedding events, using the destination as the theme allows for the creation of many unique wedding planning ideas for both the wedding itself and the wedding attendant gifts.

A Great Way to Bring Friends Together

If you and your groom are both uninterested in participating in bachelor and bachelorette parties, why not consider a combined “thank-you” event for your wedding attendants? Traditionally held for the bridesmaids as a Bridesmaid Luncheon, this event is a special time that focuses on the love, support and friendship provided by the bridal party during the preparations and organization of the wedding.

Combined bridal party luncheons or wedding attendant luncheons, can be a fun way to introduce the wedding party to one another, create a festive atmosphere as the wedding gets closer and can help to create new friendships before the day of your wedding. This is a wonderful time to deliver the wedding attendant gifts to each member of the bridal party.

For many bridal couples, the idea of bringing their childhood friends, business associates and relatives together as members of their wedding party can seem a bit intimidating as not everyone knows one another; hosting a combined wedding attendant luncheon provides the perfect format for introductions, building of new friendships and a great way to relax together before the wedding date.

It is traditional to host the wedding attendant luncheon within a month of the wedding date. However, if many of your bridal party have to travel a great distance to attend the wedding, it would be best to schedule the luncheon within two or three days of your wedding.

Beach Party

If you are holding a beach themed wedding, keeping the theme universal makes the planning and preparations much easier. When you begin planning the bridesmaid luncheon, why not consider combining the male and female attendants “thank you” party into one competitive and fun event. Planning the wedding attendant luncheon for your entire bridal party can be a great deal of fun and take very little effort as long as you identify your main goal of the event and create an entire afternoon around that activity. Since you are hosting a luncheon, a beach barbecue would be a thematic and fun.

An afternoon activity that would provide lighthearted fun and competitiveness between the two sides of the bridal party could include a “sand castle building” competition at your local beach. This unique and exciting activity would provide a great opportunity for everyone to meet and get to know one another and express their creative side along the way. Additional activities that could be included in the day’s itinerary could include a game of beach volleyball and a bonfire. However, if you intend to build a fire on a public beach it is often a good idea to check with your city council to discover if any special permits are necessary prior to hosting your event.

Taking time to locate beach themed wedding attendant gifts for each member of your wedding party is actually easier than you might think; many online and retail wedding planning outlets have unique and creative wedding party favors to give to your friends and family on this special day.

The Maid of Honor - Her Role and Duties

The maid of honor is considered a position of honor; pardon the pun, in your wedding party. A bride will typically ask a close female friend or relative to fulfill this position. In some cases, the mother or daughter of the bride will be asked to serve as maid of honor. (It’s worth noting, however, that if the woman you ask to fulfill this position is married, she should be called your Matron of Honor).

The Maid of Honor has a variety of typical responsibilities. Her primary part is to be the leader of the support for the bride. She will coordinate the bridesmaids to make sure they make it to their fittings, pick up their dresses on time as well as arranging for any pre-wedding grooming preparations like hair, make-up and nails. The Maid of Honor will also be responsible for making the arrangements for the bachelorette party.

During the wedding, the maid of honor will help the bride with pretty much everything. She will adjust her train, hold the groom’s rings, hold the bride’s flowers during the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate as an official witness of the wedding. A word to the wise, don’t let the maid of honor schedule any kind of night before the wedding party – the best thing for the prospective bride (and groom for that matter) is a good night’s sleep.

Wedding Party Guide

• Be sure to attend all fittings for the dresses and suits to avoid any surprises on the big day.
• If jewelry and accessories are coordinated, do not add or subtract anything without consulting the bride and groom.
• Pregnancies happen, be sure to let the bride know as soon as possible, especially if it means alterations to the dress or plans.
• Destination weddings automatically require additional costs for travel and lodging, be sure to discuss this.
• Bridesmaids and Groomsmen are expected to cover their own expenses; if this is an issue, please discuss it BEFORE finalizing plans.
• If readings, singing or other additions are planned for the ceremony, be sure to clear the selection with bride and groom to avoid any unpleasant surprises
• Guests of the bridesmaids and groomsmen are usually okay, but it’s always good to clear questionable additions with the bride and groom.
• Punctuality and attention to detail are the key words to success as a wedding attendant.
• If you have questions or concerns, don’t wait until the last minute to discuss them.
• Unforeseen events and emergencies happen – accept that and work with the bridal couple in the event of unforeseen events.

Gifts for the Wedding Party

• Cufflinks
• Watches
• Engraved Pocket Knives
• Monogrammed Money Clips
• Specialized Key Chains
• Personalized Coffee Mugs

• Bracelets (Engraved or Not)
• Watches
• Charm or Charm Bracelet or Both
• Hair Combs
• Specialized Key Chains
• Personalized Coffee Mugs

The Best Man in Your Wedding Party

A best man is someone the groom chooses to stand up for him and to be his main support during the ceremony and the weeks leading up to it. He may choose his brother, his best friend, his father or even his son. The best man will handle carrying the bride’s ring during the ceremony, he’s in charge of making sure the groom gets to his fittings, picks up the suit and is dressed and on time for his ceremony on the day of the wedding.

The best man is also in charge of the bachelor party. The bachelor party is a considerable event in the year of celebration leading up to the wedding ceremony. The best man will handle the standard organization of the bachelor party including location, events and invitees. The best man will also give a toast during the reception and he will sign the marriage license as one of the two official witnesses to the marriage ceremony.

Small Children as Wedding Attendants

Traditionally, a flower girl represents the promise of new life and fertility for a bride and groom. She spreads flower petals along the path that a bride takes towards her new life. The ring bearer offers similar promise as he carries the symbols of that new life down the path that the flower girl has just laid.

Including a flower girl and a ring bearer in your ceremony is also a way to let children in your family participate. For bride and grooms on their second marriage or with children from a previous relationship, it’s a way to make their children a part of the ceremony. It’s important to remember that very young children can have severe stage fright when it comes to the actual ceremony, so make sure that their part is not so important that it messes up your ceremony if they fail to perform. In some cases, let them walk down the aisle together or even with the bride or maid of honor, because they can provide comfort for the children. A word to the wise, don’t have a late in the evening wedding where children are involved – cranky children are worse than children suffering from stage fright when it comes to a wedding ceremony.

What's Expected of the Wedding Party?

When you ask someone to be an attendant at your wedding, do they know what it is you expect? It’s always best to clearly define your expectations for your attendants when you are asking them to be a part of your wedding. For example, many bridesmaids are expected to purchase their own dresses. If you are asking someone who cannot afford to purchase their own dress, then you need to work out these types of details. If the groomsmen are going to be required to rent tuxedos, then you are going to want to try and have all of them rent their tuxedos from the same shop in order to ensure matching styles and colors.

Destination Wedding Tips

• One person should be the coordinator to make sure that conflicting arrangements do not happen by accident.
• The bride, groom and wedding attendants should arrive no later than 24 to 36 hours before the planned wedding date. It’s actually best to arrive at least 2 days beforehand, especially if you are planning a rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
• Wedding attendants should bring all of their attire with them, whether it is a rented suit or not – do not rely on picking it up at the last moment at the destination.
• Guest travel plans should be coordinated as well to help avoid delays that can impact the wedding. Request that no one plan his or her arrival on the day of the wedding.
• Destination weddings will usually involve at least 2 to 3 days of travel and lodging, coordinating the plans for the wedding attendants and guests may earn a discount from both the airlines and the hotel.
• If the bridal couple is planning to cover any portion of the travel arrangements, designate one credit card in order to more clearly track the billing.
• Communicate frequently to ensure that all the plans are clearly understood and that nothing has been left to chance. Email lists are a good way to keep everyone in the loop.

Wedding Duties for the Mother of the Groom

It is often difficult to know what the duties and responsibilities of the mother of the groom entails.

Her first duty upon hearing of the engagement is to contact the bride's family and introduce herself and her family. If they live too far to get together for the first meeting, a friendly letter will be fine.

If there will be a meeting, either make reservations at a nice but cozy restaurant (not too upscale, you really don't know what the bride's family prefers) or a meal at your home. Your son and future daughter-in-law may enjoy attending this meeting but it is not a necessity.

Another duty for the mother of the groom is to make sure the bride has a guest list of people to invite to the wedding among the groom's friends and relatives. The groom's mother should find out the total number of guests so that she will not be suggesting too many invitations.

Etiquette suggests that the groom's mother choose a dress to complement the colors of the dress of the mother of the bride. The length is determined by the length the bride's mother chooses. Do not match the color of the dress of the bride's mother, however, just complement.

If you have guests coming to your son's wedding from out of town, you will be taking care of the reservations to make sure they have a place to stay.

After many of the details are out of the way and the wedding is about to happen, it will be your family (parents of the groom) who will host a rehearsal dinner. The type of meal and venue will be your choice.

At the wedding, your official duty will be to help greet guests in the receiving line.

Bridal 911

Make sure you´re prepared for emergencies on your big day: take along a purse or bag containing items such as Band-Aids, clear nail polish, needle and thread, aspirin, an extra pair of hose, and other things that might come in helpful in a pinch. Give them to a bridesmaid to keep for you.

Choose Well for Your Friends!

When you´re picking out bridesmaid dresses, remember that your friends are on budgets. Even if they´re absolutely gorgeous, don´t pick a gown that is going to make it difficult for them to purchase. They´re mostly likely only going to wear it once, and they´re not going to love you if you pick something that costs two hundred dollars or more, especially considering that they also have to pay for shoes, bridal shower, shower gift, wedding gift, lodging, transportation and more. Don´t forget to pick out a nice bridesmaid gift for your friends as well!

Bridesmaids of Different Shapes

If you have bridesmaids of varying shapes and sizes, keep in mind that it´s unlikely there´s one dress that´s going to flatter everyone. You want everyone to look their best, right?

It´s a nice idea to pick the designer, fabric and color, then let your bridesmaids choose the cut that looks best on them. You can give them as much or little leeway as you like, but remember that a comfortable bridesmaid is a happy bridesmaid!

Best Man 101

The duties of a best man include being an assistant to the groom and the head of the groomsmen; he also is in charge of the bachelor party, getting the groom to the church, paying the officiant, signing the marriage license, holding the rings and giving a toast at the reception. He has a lot of responsibility and its also traditional to give him a nice gift at the rehearsal dinner to say thank you for all of his hard work!

Shopping For Wedding Attendant Gifts on a Budget

Planning a wedding on a budget is not an easy task, often it feels like you have to give up on your dream wedding to remain on budget. But don’t despair, this is not necessarily the case, with a little planning, preparations and hard work it is possible to create the wedding of your dreams without creating a financial nightmare. When you begin shopping for wedding attendant gifts, visiting bridal websites provides many valuable and inexpensive bridal attendant gift ideas without breaking the bank.

One of the most wonderful aspects of wedding planning today is the extensive wedding themes that a bride has to choose from when planning the wedding and buying wedding attendant gifts and wedding party favors. For the bride that has already decided upon a theme for her wedding, she need only enter the search words on any wedding site and she will be redirected to the area of the site that focuses specifically on her theme topic.

One of the most inexpensive and yet, fun wedding attendant gift ideas is the thematic name card holders, designed to coordinate your wedding theme. These tiny wedding party gifts can be used at the luncheon to establish the arranged seating for your guests and can then be taken home to use as a picture frame. Be sure to bring your digital camera with you to the bridal party luncheon so that you can have someone take pictures of the bride and groom with each member of the wedding party. Enclose a copy of each wedding attendant’s picture in a small note thanking them for attending the luncheon and for their participation in your upcoming wedding.