Th e Wedding Issue
The Big Day
Do ’ s and Don ’ ts for planning , hosting the perfect wedding
Planning the perfect wedding has become more difficult , as many of the traditions that were once considered must-dos have been replaced with nouveau ideas designed to make a couple ¬– and their wedding – stand out . We ’ ve put together some modern dos and don ’ ts . There are fewer faux pas today than ever before , but with proper planning , you can pull off the perfect event .
BY MANDY WOLF DETWILER
PUT A RING ON IT
DO choose a ring you will love for the rest of your life . “ I would try to block out any negative feedback you get from other people and listen to your own intuition ,” says Jacquelyn Koerber , chief operating officer of Koerber ’ s Fine Jewelry . “ I can ’ t tell you how many times I have a woman in our store that says she always wanted a certain style but got talked out of it because it might not have been the ‘ in ’ thing to do . This is your own very personal ring that you will wear every day for the rest of you life ... make sure you absolutely love it .”
DON ’ T forget to consider a matching wedding band to make sure you like the finished look as a set . “ If the engagement ring doesn ’ t have a matching component , ask to see what your options are for selecting a wedding band ,” Koerber adds . “ If you want something a little more unique , you could mix different textures , shapes or even metals with your engagement ring . For example , if you have a white gold engagement ring you could pair it with a rose gold wedding band .”
PICKING A DATE
DO consider what time of year you prefer , says wedding planner Jamie Lott of Events4U . “ More and more people are saying fall . They love the fall colors ,” Lott says . “ The last few years we ’ ve had a huge trend in mid-September through October . October has become the new June .”
DON ’ T wait . Venues fill up during busy months , but so do service providers like florists , cake decorators and even the wedding spots themselves . “ You ’ re probably not going to get the venue you want unless you ’ re working a year ahead ,” Lott says .
THE WEDDING PARTY
DO pick your closest friends . Bridesmaids and groomsmen shell out hundreds of dollars to be a part of a single wedding , and the workload itself can cause hard feelings .
DON ’ T “ feel obligated to put someone in your wedding that you ’ re not close to ,” Lott adds . “ So many brides have somebody that they ’ ve put in their wedding that they may not be very close to , but they felt obligated to because their aunt is going to be hurt if her daughter is not in the wedding . Your wedding day should be about the people you care about , and those are the people you want with you , especially the bridal party .
THE DRESS
DO try on several , and don ’ t pick the first one you fall in love with . You can always go back to it . Make sure you consider the fit of your dress if you ’ re following an exercise plan and dieting .
DON ’ T ignore fittings . “ When I plan a wedding for a bride , I attend at least two of her fittings because I want to make sure that dress fits correctly ,” says Lott . “ Bridal gowns tend to stretch a tiny bit once a bride has worn them for an hour or so . I like them to fit extra snug . I tease brides and say if they can ’ t breathe , we know it fits !”
THE PLACE
DO chose a venue based on your budget and “ know everything about that venue before you sign . Read that contract thoroughly ,” Lott advises .
DON ’ T leave a lot of time between your ceremony and your reception . Though it ’ s your day , your guests are giving up time and money to celebrate . Make it easy on them .
INVITATIONS
DO “ remember you don ’ t have to break the bank to be satisfied with your ( invitation ) choice and do keep it simple ,” says Nicole Parr , a graphic artist with Louisville-based Phoenix Business Systems Inc . “ Your invitation is the first glimpse your guests will get of the look and feel of your wedding . An invitation is best when it reflects the mood and ambiance you hope to achieve on your special day .”
DON ’ T “ be overwhelmed and distracted by the endless options of this saturated market ,” she adds . “ In the end , an invitation that represents the happy couple ’ s personal style will be a treasured keepsake for years to come .”
86 EXTOL • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017