Wedding myths and other fun stuff

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Ladies – it’s 2011 and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to wedding planning.  Today’s modern bride rarely follow any set of rules when it comes to wedding planning. It’s your day so do what you want.  I read this article in the High Profile section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and I thought it was perfect to share.

 

Wedding bells cause enough headaches without the noise of outdated or
misguided rules. Here are five wedding myths that happy couples and
their guests can banish from their to-do lists to save money, time or
grief.

Myth No. 1: Guests should spend on a wedding gift the same amount as
the per-person cost of being entertained at the reception.

The per-plate rule is outdated and impractical, said Mark Kingsdorf,
owner of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia and
a master bridal consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Guests should spend according to their personal relationship to the
bride and/ or groom and their financial situation. The closer you
are, the more you may wish to spend, but don’t worry about
expectations. “They’re inviting you because they love you, not
because they want a present from you,” Kingsdorf said.

Myth No. 2: The bride must wear white, and the guests better not.

The bride can wear whatever she pleases, and many brides today have a
pink or lavender underlay to their gowns for a blush tone, while
others add splashes of color with bright sashes or embroidery (and
still others walk down the aisle in fire-engine red).

Guests, meanwhile, may wear certain shades of white – but with
caution. The point is not to distract from the bride or her
attendants, Kingsdorf said. So if the bride is wearing a white ball
gown, a guest can get away with a knee-length ivory sheath,
especially if she adds colorful or chunky accessories that are
clearly unbridelike.

Myth No. 3: June is the best month for weddings.

The cachet of being a June bride has less-than-romantic roots: In the
Middle Ages, June weddings were advisable because brides were still
somewhat clean from their annual spring bath. Today, May and October
are more popular months to get married than June, according to Conde
Nast’s American Wedding Survey 2009.  And couples can often save money
getting married during less popular months.

Annual spring bath? Oh my I could make so many jokes
about this but I won’t….too funny.

 

Myth No. 4: The bride and groom shouldn’t see each other until she
walks down the aisle.

Because of superstition or to make a grand entrance, many couples
think it’s best to wait until the procession for the big debut – but,
in fact, it can be more romantic to have a “first look” with your
soonto-be spouse earlier in the day. “They can actually take the time
to connect together, by themselves,” said Christy Weber, co-founder
of JunebugWeddings, an online wedding magazine based in Seattle. It’s
also more relaxing to do the photo shoot before the ceremony rather than
slip away during the cocktail hour.

As a photographer, I always, ALWAYS suggest the first look.
It’s the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to see each
other before the craziness starts.  Also, after I shoot a few photos,
even I leave the room. It’s the ONLY opportunity for them to be alone
together until the end of the evening.

Myth No. 5: Guests want party favors to take home from the reception.

“How many little silver picture frames do you have at home with a
couple’s picture inside? None, because you got rid of them,” Kingsdorf
said. The best party favors are edible ones, like chocolates, so
don’t waste money on candles, bottle stoppers or any other trinkets
that turn into clutter, Kingsdorf said. A photo booth is one way to give
your guests something meaningful to take with them. Another option is to
make a donation to charity in lieu of party favors.

I find favors to be a total waste of money.  I’ve heard of people cutting their photo
budget in order to provide said trinkets that usually get tossed in the trash.  If you must
provide a favor, make it something edible, like a bag-it-yourself candy bar or personalized
M&M’s.  Few people turn away sweets.