Your Wedding Stationery - The Program

When considering your stationery suite for your wedding, be sure to keep in mind your color scheme as well as your theme and carry that throughout the entire day.  Just like your invitations, wedding programs are wonderful keepsakes for your guests.  Not only do they bring an exceptional level of detail to your wedding, they fulfill practical needs as well. They show the order of your service and songs, introduce the participants in the wedding, and thank your guests for celebrating with you.

No etiquette book will tell you that you must have a wedding program, but for certain ceremonies they are more necessary than others.

Photo Credit: designs by shay

Photo Credit: the-weddingvendors.com

Photo Credit: designs by shay

Photo Credit: aylee designs

~Peaceful Planning
Getting Married and need assistance? Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

Whose Right Is It Anyway?!

Although it's traditional for a bride's father to walk her down the aisle, that arrangement isn't ideal for everyone. Today's families can sometimes be complicated, remember that this is your wedding, and it's your decision to make. Do what feels right to you.


If you're on good terms with your father, ask him to walk you down the aisle if this tradition feels like the natural choice for you. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, walk down the aisle alone if you prefer it~if British royalty can do it, so can you.

Consider walking with your mother or with your brothers if walking alone isn't something you're interested in.  At the end of the day it's about what makes you comfortable on your day.  It's a true statement that brides want to make everybody HAPPY!!!!Your guests may not understand your decision and your family may not appreciate it; but the idea is to have your family's support as you walk into your marriage, and that's exactly what you will be doing.

Now for those of you that are blessed to be in the brides inner circle for her most important day; remember she wants to please you so make it easy for her to do so by remembering it's about her.  So to answer the question about Whose right is it anyway? It's HER right!!  The Bride's Right...

 

~Peaceful Planning

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

Holiday Party Planning DONT'S!

We ALL love a good party right?! Well, Thanksgiving and Christmas is here which means it's time to host those parties! As we prepare this holiday season, keep your etiquette in check and be sure not to do any of the following:

1. DON'T leave guests to awkwardly mingle at a party you're hosting. "If it's a crowd that doesn't know each other, it's important to give people something to go on," says Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and great-great-granddaughter of manners maven Emily Post. When making introductions, try to jump-start the conversation—explain where you know each guest from, or bring up something they have in common, whether it's the same alma mater or just an undying love for Michael Jackson.

2. DON'T get drunk if you're the hostess. "Hosting is a responsibility," cautions Post. "Know your own limits." Use caution when you're the guest a party too, and slow down once you feel yourself rapidly approaching that point where you think strip beer pong is a good idea. When you feel like one too many people has asked you, "are you OK?"—it might be time to put down the wine and grab a glass of water.

3. DON'T be a Debbie Downer when giving a toast. "Short and sweet" is key, according to Post. Stay away from anything that mocks the host and puts down the time of year or occasion being celebrated.

4. DON'T bring an uninvited plus-one to a party unless you've cleared it with the hostess. This includes boyfriends, children, and pets. DO bring a dish or a bottle of wine instead.

5. DON'T apologize profusely if someone gets you a gift and you're empty handed—or worse, lie and say your gift for them got lost in the mail/is being custom-made overseas/flew out of your car window on the drive over. "Just say thank you and leave it at that," advises Post.

6. DON'T forget to match the food you serve to the attire on your invitation if you're hosting this year. "If you invite people to a black-tie," Post says, "I would consider not having spaghetti at dinner."

7. DON'T forget to ask about your guests' food preferences and dietary restrictions—and try to make at least one dish they can eat. Not sure how to make vegan brisket? "Ask!" says Post. "Find out how to make something from your guest." The bonus: "the majority of people will almost always offer to bring a dish." If you're the guest, whether you're keeping Kosher, vegetarian, or South Beach, bring a dish or two and let the hostess know your situation beforehand—when you RSVP, not the morning of the party.

8. DON'T let the party drag on if you're hosting, and DON'T be the guest that overstays her welcome by four hours. "Don't walk up to your guests and take their drinks from their hands," Post cautions—if you're hosting, give guests the hint by cleaning up the bar and putting away food. Pay attention to those same hints if you're the guest. If you're still chatting away over a freshly-poured martini while your host has changed into pajamas, it's time to go. (funny)

9. DON'T be a doormat when it comes to having friends or family stay at your place over the holidays. "Stand up for your own sanity," Post advises. If you can't fit your in-laws and their two Saint Bernards in your studio apartment, say so. The same goes for guests that have overstayed their welcome. "The fish and the house guests go bad after three days," according to Post. Make it clear before their arrival that you would love to host them between certain dates, and point them to a hotel for the duration of their stay.

10. DON'T be a Fun Sucker...just enjoy the company and the festivities, and be glad that holiday stress comes only once a year!

~Peaceful Planning
(source:  Lizzie Post)

Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay

Raise your glasses! Let the toasts begin!

As an industry professional often times people come to me with various questions concerning etiquette.  Recently "the toast" was high on the must mention list.  We all agree that getting married is such an exciting and emotional event.  There's also a lot of work to do, so it's a very good time to use our emotional intelligence. If you struggle in that area hire a coach or seek the assistance of the wedding coordinator.


A suggested order for toasting during the Rehearsal Dinner is:

• The best man toasts the bride
  
• The bride toasts the groom
  
• The groom toasts the bride's mother
  
• The bride's father toasts the groom's parents.

During the Reception, the order might be:

• The best man toasts the bride and groom
  
• The groom toasts the bride and her family;
  
• The (two) father(s) toast the bride and groom
  
• The bride and groom toast each other.

Things to Remember:
1. Keep the toast at 2 minutes. A toast should be short, sweet and sentimental.
2. Stand and deliver! Sit down if it's for you. If you're giving the toast, you should stand up.
3. Make sure all the glasses are full before you begin.
4. First thing, announce your relationship to the bride and groom. Everyone may not know.
5. Use personal anecdotes; how the bride and groom met is always popular. Or how you met either of them, if you're not a relative.
6. Don't give a long string of characteristics. Rather choose a few adjectives, hitting the high points, i.e., she's lovely, vivacious and kind.
7. Use tasteful humor and don't do "in" jokes that only a few will get. You want to include, not exclude.
8. Stay PG-rated.  Yes, everyone has a past but now isn't the time to bring up that Miami trip in college.  It's your responsibility on this important occasion to make sure you are NOT offensive to anyone.
9. End on a serious note. Finish with a wish, a blessing, cheers! or congratulations. "To the bride and groom" always works. 
10. Practice your toast a lot beforehand. This is not the time to "wing it".
11. Do not mention past girlfriends, past marriage, or past relationships. Aside from it being ultra tacky, that's what the bachelor party is for.
12. And don't end with something negative which may slip into your mind if you aren't prepared like, "I like Judy, she's a nice girl but they called him "sling a lot" for a reason - so good luck" 

~ Peaceful Planning


Getting Married and need assistance?Email Me for current specials For All Your Event Planning Needs Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. Sharon Patrice, Owner Simple Perfect Peace Events Designs by Shay