No, we’re not talking about father/daughter, mother/son, and wedding-party-conga-line. So if we aren’t talking traditional reception dances that follow the first one, where are we going with this? Well, where does your life go after your wedding? Onward – except now as a pair. So instead of seeing your moment in the ballroom spotlight as simply the first dance of the evening, see it for what it really is: the first dance of your married lives. And if there’s a first, that means there are supposed to be more. You can dance anywhere – and you should. Even the grocery store, should you happen to hear an elevator version of your wedding song. But any song will do. Just don’t save it for other weddings. Be that couple everybody yearns to be – the ones who create romance out of thin air. It doesn’t matter if no one else joins in, like they say – dance like nobody’s watching. Pretty much the polar opposite of that first time, but more romantic without Uncle Sheldon and his giant Nikon.
So stay connected by having a second dance. And a third. And definitely jump on the occasional conga line.
You have the ring and you’ve told your family. The next step many brides take is to select their attendants. These women (and sometimes men) will be an integral part of the next year of your life, and it is important to choose wisely.
Brides who choose their maids without forethought often end up with attendants who are not up to the task, or who are initially excited, but lose interest in participating as the big day approaches. Even worse, brides can lose friends in the stressful situations that can arise as the wedding is planned. All the drama is easily avoided if you select your wedding party carefully. Here are five tips to help you avoid inviting conflict down the aisle:
1. Take your time. Immediately after he proposes may seem like the perfect moment to ask your friends to stand up for you, but it is wiser to share the news of the engagement without raising the subject of the wedding party. Your emotions will be running high, so wait for things to settle down before making any decisions. Keep in mind, while you can always ask someone to be in your wedding, it is not an invitation you can take back.
2. Think about your friends’ life situations. Is one of your candidates already committed to two other weddings this year? She may be relieved just being one of your guests. A friend working three jobs to pay off her credit cards? Maybe now isn’t the time to ask her to buy a pricey dress and a plane ticket. The same consideration should apply to people with demanding schedules, and/or small children. These friends can still be included in the planning, and can be lifesavers with tasks like monitoring the guest book, or handing out programs.
3. Contemplate your maids as a group. Will everyone get along? It’s wise to think about how they will work together. If two of your close friends aren’t speaking, don’t let them turn your wedding into an episode of ‘The Hills.’ Ask one to be a bridesmaid, and invite the other to do a reading, or participate in another way. The same goes for feuding relatives, and ex co-workers on shaky ground.
Two bridesmaids and an honor attendant. The perfect support team for this bride.
4. Remember, although being a bridesmaid is an honor, it is also a job with responsibilities. If you will need a lot of help, make sure to select one or two bridesmaids you can really count on to hold everything together. Although you love her, the friend who skipped off to Bali the night before her IRS audit may not be a wise choice.
5. Lastly, don’t let anyone pressure you to include someone you wouldn’t have picked on your own. Attendant spots are not guaranteed to women whose weddings you were in, nor to your fiancé’s cousin twice removed (no matter what his Mother says). Your bridesmaids are your pillars of strength during the wedding planning process, and you want to be enthusiastic about each of the wonderful friends who accompany you down the aisle. Resentment and guilt have no place at the altar on your wedding day.
As you pick your attendants, follow your heart, but don’t lose your head. Keeping these points in mind, you will be on your way to creating an enthusiastic, supportive, and helpful bridal party.
Like these cupcakes, sweepstakes are a safe bet for your wedding.
Congratulations, you’re engaged! With that handsome guy or gal on your arm, it feels like you’ve won the lottery, right? So why not ride that lucky streak you’ve got going? With your status changed to “newly engaged,” you and your wedding have just become eligible for all sorts of promotional contests, sweepstakes and competitions offered by companies across the country. Now don’t roll your eyes and leave Ed McMahon waiting at the door, he’s here to help! Whether the prize is a lovely gown, an island honeymoon, or a registry’s worth of goodies, it is most definitely worth filling out a few forms here and there. Some couple is going to reap the rewards, why not let it be you?
“But wait,” you’re thinking. “I’m planning a wedding. I don’t have time to surf the internet looking for contests.” Lucky for you (streak! told you!) the awesome folks at About.com have a whole section devoted to nothing but sweepstakes, with a category devoted to all things wedding. So what are you waiting for? Get to clicking! Luck in sweepstakes is like luck in finding “the one.” He/she didn’t just fall into your apartment, right? You got out there. Because you gotta play to win.
