This is part two and the conclusion of Wedding Etiquette Myths Debunked. Last week  I discussed issues like who pays for the wedding, whether should you invite everyone you know, and if you should cover the guests hotel accommodation expenses.  Read below for more wedding myths debunked.

6- In The Age Of Modern Technology, Thank-You Notes Are Not Necessary.

The time and energy spent on selecting the perfect gift hasn’t changed, and neither should the time and energy spent on crafting a thank-you note.  But that doesn’t mean you should send out pre-made thank-you notes either. Instead, buy a box of  fine stationary or blank thank-you cards, and write up a heart-felt letter to show your appreciation for the gift.

7- Couples of Different Faiths Should Choose One Faith To Base The Ceremony On.

Since a wedding is all about unity, it would only make since to combine both your religious beliefs and traditions into the ceremony.  Make sure that you discuss your plans and traditions with your fiance beforehand and find out if your church/synagogue/other house of worship can acommodate.

8- All Bridesmaids Must Be Female

This rule is as outdated as the rule that states that the bride must be given away by her father.  If you’re a bride and your best friend (other than your fiance) happens to be male, there is nothing wrong making him a bridesman or even a man of honor.

9- If You Can’t Afford Serving Drinks At The Wedding, Offer A Cash Bar

There is nothing more tacky than asking the guests at your wedding to pay for their own cocktails and wine.  If you can’t afford a bar at your wedding, then serve the basics: beer, alcohol, and non-alcoholic drinks. Another option is to offer a cocktail hour before the meal is served, and then serve wine with the meal.

The typical bridesmaid dress has come a long way from the pink poofy gown. Today’s styles are often shorter and much more chic. Today’s bridesmaid dresses come in a rainbow in hues including muted and classic shades, and thanks to the current trends in bridesmaid dresses, selecting the right style of bridesmaid dresses has never been more fun! Lets take a closer look at some of the most current trends and how to make them work for you.

A-Line Dresses The most universally flattering trend is the a-line dress. This silhouette works on all body types so it should be relatively easy to find a dress that everyone can agree on.

Strapless Dresses Another hot trend for bridesmaid dresses is the strapless look.  Whether the dress is short and sweet or long and elegant, this style is sure to be a favorite that they might wear again! A few things to keep in mind when selecting a strapless style — try to find  dress with a little bit of embellishment or detail like a sash in a contrasting tied at the waist and steer clear from dresses that are too short or bright. You want the eyes on you, not your bridesmaids!

Knee Length Skirts Long skirts are beautiful but can sometimes overwhelm the short bridemaids, and short skirts are too casual for most weddings- thats why knee length skirts are so popular! They are long enough without overpowering the bridesmaid wearing the gown.  Dress with knee length skirts are also appropriate and chic for women of all ages from 12 to 60.

The “Wedding March” is a wonderful song to walk down the aisle to, but if tradition isn’t your cup of tea, you probably want something different.  Maybe you’re looking for something a little more personal, like the first song you danced to as a couple, or perhaps you’d want to choose a song that describes your feelings as a couple.  If you decide to go this route, here are a few smart rules  to go by:

1- Agree On A Song

If you have different tastes in music genres, this may be a little tough, but you need to select one song that you can agree on, otherwise you both may have to settle for “Wedding March”.

2- Find A Talented Singer/Band or Piano Player To Perform The Song

There is nothing better than having someone sing or play the piano to your song. You could also hire a local professional orchestra to play.

3- Check With Your Officiant And Church

Its always a good idea to check with your officiant and church to see if they will allow you to bring your own music, and if so what are the rules and regulations?  You should also ask if there are any extra fees. If you’re getting married in another venue, the same rules apply.

4- Don’t Forget The Prelude And Recessional

Most weddings feature a prelude (the music played when guests are situated at the ceremony), a processional (the song played when the bridal party and bride walks down the aisle), and a recessional (the final music played when the ceremony ends).  The prelude and recessional choices can also be customized.

Choosing the perfect hairstyle for the big day really depends on a few things, including your personal taste, the vision or theme of the wedding, and your entire look. Traditional brides often choose a classic chignon, bohemian brides often opt for long romantic waves, and uptown brides prefer elegant up-dos. Once you settle on a hair style that complements the dress and veil, you’ll probably want to try re-creating the hairstyle a few times before the actual big day. This can be done with the help of a professional hairstylist or your friend. Still haven’t found your ideal look? Here are some top tips for inspiration!

1- Find A Style That Works With Your Hair
If you’ve got long curly locks, then maybe a super straight and sleek up-do isn’t such a good idea, at least for your wedding day. The ideal hairstyle should not only make you feel beautiful, but it also should complement the style and texture of your hair. The last thing you need to worry about on your wedding day is your hair frizzing out.

2- Consider A Half-Updo
Can’t decide between an up-do or leaving your hair down? Try a half-updo! This look is relatively easy to create and maintain. It’s also a romantic style that works with virtually all hair types and textures.

3- Trade The Veil For Accessories
Instead of covering up your glamorous hairstyle, why not play it up with a tiara, pretty comb or barrette? Don’t just use any hair accessory, you want something with timeless elegance. Choose just one accessory and make sure it complements the rest of your jewelry. And if you do opt for a hair accessory, remember to keep the rest of jewelry minimal.

While a camera can capture intimate moments in the form of still photography, it cannot capture those special moments you just want to rewind and watch. That is why many brides and grooms choose to hire a videographer to record the most important parts of the wedding and to format them into a “movie” that you (and your mother) can treasure forever. Since selecting the right videographer for your big day is a rather tough decision, here is a small list of questions you must ask and why they are key. Remember to add any important questions you or your fiance might have to the list.

1- How much experience do you have in videography for weddings?
She may have 10 years of experience in making Bar Mitzvah and Sweet 16 videos, but a wedding video is a whole other ballgame. Making the perfect wedding video sometimes takes more creativity, time, and flexibility. You need a videographer who not only delivers what the couple wants but who also has proof of successful events.  Don’t be afraid to ask for samples and/or references.

2- Are they familiar with wedding videography trends?
You’ve researched the latest trends in videography, and you have your heart your heart set on making an indie style wedding film. Can the videographer in question create it? Find out what they offer, how they do it, and how much time (and money) it’s going to take. A good videographer will want to work with you and not against you. If your personalities or style clash, it’s time to move on.

3-What types of videography packages do you offer?
Every company or individual should give you a choice of packages along with what they include and how much they cost. To ensure that you’ll get the best package for your money, you’ll probably want to interview two or three videographers before selecting one and signing a contract.

4- Will there be a backup if something should happen?
What it the videographer can’t make it or what if the camera stops working before or during a session? Any good videographing  company will have a just-in-case backup plan. If they don’t or they sound unsure, once again it’s time to move on.

As any engaged couple and wedding planner know, planning a wedding is a time-consuming activity. Unfortunately for some brides-to-be, planning a wedding can consume much more than time. There are a few smart moves to make to make this process easier and more manageable.

1- Plan From A Realistic Point Of View

Weddings and nuptial ceremonies have been around for a long time. And while traditions remain the same, time doesn’t, so it’s only natural that trends and tastes change over the course of decades. What may have been popular during your great-grandmother’s heyday may not be so cool now (i.e. dressing your bridesmaids in the same dress style). What else has changed over time? Let’s take a look at weddings then and now.

Then: The father-of-the-bride gave his daughter away.

Now: The bride can choose who will give her away or she can walk down by herself. Many of today’s brides often choose to be escorted down the aisle by a relative or friend she’s closest to, and others choose to walk alone.

Then: Couples exchanged vows inside a house of worship.

Now: You can get hitched almost anywhere! These days, weddings are a big deal, and many people want to showcase their personal tastes, which is not something most churches and synagogues won’t allow. And many of today’s modern couples would prefer to get married on a exotic island, hence why destination weddings have grown in popularity.

Then: No wedding was complete without a speech, formal sit down dinner, and flower toss.

Now: If you want the traditional speech and toast, a formal sit down dinner, and a flower toss, then by all means you should incorporate these traditions into your reception- but you don’t have to. These days, there are no rules for your wedding. It can be as big or as small as you want.  You can cater a gourmet meal or host a cocktail hour. The possibilities are endless!

Selecting the right wedding invitations and stationery is so important because that is what sets the tone for the wedding. You and your fiance should sit down and talk about both of your visions of the wedding and set a theme. If you haven’t already, then do so soon or at least before you start sending out the invitations. You will want the invitations to invoke the details of the wedding, which would include the theme and formality. When you purchase your invitations, you probably want to think about other stationery options like save-the-date cards, ceremony programs, and thank you cards. Lets take a look at all your options.

Save-The-Date Cards
Many engaged couples opt to send out save-the-date cards before the formal invitation to remind the guests of the upcoming nuptials. You send them out after you have the official date of the wedding but before the formal invitations are sent out. A save-the-date isn’t mandatory, but it is ideal for those who are planning a destination wedding. Be sure to send them at least 6 months before the wedding day or weekend.

Formal Invitations
After you’ve made the list, you can send out the formal invites about 6 to 8 weeks in advance. That should give invitees enough time to RSVP and let you know if they’ll be there. About three or two weeks before the big day, you should start to take the final count of how many people will attend.

Programs
Once you’ve got all the ceremony details, it’s time to start planning a program. The ceremony program usually outlines the important events in the order that will take place during the wedding. A proper program should include the full names of the couple, officiant, and wedding party.  Many couples also add song lyrics or hymns to give the program a personal touch, but it’s not mandatory.

Thank You Cards
You and your fiance will be showered with gifts, so it’s only fair to send thank you cards. Don’t wait until you receive all the gifts, instead send out a thank you card as each gift arrives-  send them within two weeks of receiving it. Don’t forget to take out the time to write a heartfelt message in the thank you card. Never send out a thank you card that lacks a personal, handwritten message from you or your fiance.

Wanting the love and support of those who are a part of your life is important to most couples. We invite wedding guests not only to be witnesses to the blessed union but also to share in the joy attached to it.  If you would like to make your guests more a part of the ceremony, read on for some ideas.

If you are having a small wedding ceremony, you may ask your guests to bless your wedding rings. You can do this by handing the rings to a person in the front row and asking they be passed from person to person and then brought back to the front. Each person can imbue the rings with love and good tidings. If you are having a larger ceremony and still wish to do this, then choose a few people and ask them to hold your wedding bands and bless them for you.

Having a candle ceremony is another way to incorporate those closest to you into the marriage celebration. It is very similar in nature to a unity candle ceremony, only in this case not only are two families joining but you are doing something that unites each and every individual in the entire room. Every guest is given an unlit candle when they arrive at the wedding ceremony. When the time comes either the officiant of the wedding or the bride and groom walk to a person in the front row and light that candle. This person then lights the candle of the person next to them and so on. Once every guest’s candle has been lit, the last person then passes the candle to the bride or the groom who then brings it up to the front of the church and lights the biggest and brightest candle that is centrally located. Many couples have their candle ceremony right before the procession takes place. The sight of so many lit candles is truly joyful to behold for everyone in attendance.

Another way to involve guests is to ask them to turn to their neighbors near the end of the ceremony, shake hands and offer peace or support to one another, such as by saying, “Peace be with you.”

Most engaged couples choose a spring or summer wedding, but there are still plenty of people who choose to get married during winter.  A winter wedding can be just as romantic as a summer one, perhaps even more so, not to mention that tying the knot off peak season thoroughly has its advantages, like off-peak discounts and the chance to coordinate your big day with a holiday, such as Christmas, New Year, or even Valentine’s Day! That said, there are a few disadvantages to be had, like selecting the floral and fauna. Fortunately, you still will find a lot of terrific ideas and options, even if you don’t live in Florida. Read on.

Go With the Classic Choices
Many of your favorite flowers are available in the winter. Go for the classic rose, the popular daisy, the unique snowball, or even the flower that’s not really a flower- the poinsetta. Other great options include tulips and jasmine. Talk with your local florist which are local and/or in season, so they can help you make a wise choice.

Have Fun with Color
While there may be an abundance of wedding flowers, the color choices? Not so much. But this is when creativity really pays off! If you’re going for a theme, of course you will want the flowers’ colors to reflect this. Regardless of choice, the hottest flower color choices include reds, deep purples, and creams/white. And don’t forget to add a touch of greenery with the flowers or décor; winter’s top picks in greenery include pine cones, holly, ivy, and magnolia leaves.

Add More Than Flowers to Your Centerpiece
Stretch your budget by incorporating other décor options for the centerpiece. Try candles- red or deep pink candles look fantastic for a Valentine’s wedding.  Or maybe try faux snow in vases for a holiday themed wedding.

Use Flowers That Have a Meaning
A flower is never a flower as each flower (and sometimes a certain color of flower) has a different meaning. Ivy means fidelity, a red rose means passion, and a purple tulip means royalty. If you want, choose a couple of flowers for your bouquet that mean something significant.