Wedding Planning

The Wedding Party: Who Does What?

There was a time when being asked to stand up in a wedding was an honor. Today, it can be more like a job. Couples often decide to assign major wedding tasks to their wedding party. Communication is the key to making sure your family and friends are not overwhelmed by the time or expense of standing up in your wedding so that expectations are managed on both sides.

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While many couples ask far more of their attendants than this partial listing, here's how tradition has broken down some of the major tasks of each party member:

• Best Man: Organizes bachelor party, Gives the first of the wedding toast
• Maid or Matron of Honor: Organizes bridal shower, carries flowers for the bride during the ceremony, makes sure her wedding dress train and veil stay smooth and don't obstruct the bride's mobility or view
• Bridesmaids: Attend to bride's needs during ceremony, pay for their gowns
• Groomsmen: Attend to the groom's needs during the ceremony, often act as ushers for wedding guests.

Don't overlook the importance of the little things at your wedding reception; especially your wedding favor. Obviously, the size of your wedding will determine how elaborate you'd like these gifts to be, as each guest will receive one. While favors are a small token of your appreciation, let's face it, everyone loves a present!

A classic wedding favor is a few white candied almonds wrapped in tulle, left with each guest's name card at the reception's dining table. You may also wish to have something more personal made that has your names and the date of the wedding printed on them. Matchboxes, silver key chains, and even champagne glasses are traditional choices.

Gourmet muffins, bagels, or doughnuts make a simple, yet practical favor that your guests will appreciate the next morning. Place two in a small cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon in the wedding color with a little note or poem from the two of you.

Here are some seasonal tips for personalized wedding favors:

SPRING

Tulip bulbs or wildflower mix.

SUMMER

Homemade lemonade or summer tea mix in personalized jars or beach motif candles. If your wedding is happening on the hottest day of the year, a personalized paper fan is a great way to keep guests cool.

FALL

Pumpkin scented candles in glass jars or a small tote of seasonal fruit to take home.

WINTER

Cocoa mix or spice tea mix in keepsake tins; gingerbread cookies or plantable spruce trees.

HOLIDAY

Ornaments painted with your wedding date and names. Tie on a pretty ribbon and hang them or tie them around each guest's napkin.

Many couples today launch a wedding website to share news about their wedding with friends and family. It's a great way to keep your guests informed as your day approaches. Here are a few tips for making your wedding website informative:

• Pictures! Lots of them! Photos of you both during your courtship, during the engagement, bridal showers, family photos, etc.
• Tell the story of how you met.
• Give locations of and directions to the ceremony and reception. Also include links to those locations' websites, if applicable.
• Provide links to places you've registered for wedding gifts - especially online with your uTANGO Guest Shopping link so you can earn your TANGO Bucks when your guests shop for presents.
• Have your wedding song play in the background (or make it available for downloading).
• Be sure to thank your guests and tell them how important it is that they can share your special day with them.
• After your wedding, upload an edited version of your wedding video.

One of the first decisions a bride-to-be needs to make is one of the most difficult... finding something to wear on the big day. While finding the dress of your dreams can be as difficult as finding the right person to marry, it doesn't have to be if you put some thought into what you want or can afford before you start the shopping process.

Designer dresses are made beautifully, but are often more expensive; be sure to factor this into your budget. Black tie weddings as well as evening weddings are generally ideal situations for a designer gown.

If you have the time to shop at consignment stores, or if you have a female relative who wishes to hand down her gown to you, a vintage wedding dress is a lovely way to marry classic with modern tastes. You'll most likely need tailoring done, and depending on the age of the dress, you'll need to make sure extra care is taken not to damage the gown. A vintage gown does not always mean less expensive. Often cleaning and alterations are expensive on these delicate gowns.

A casual wedding dress is the perfect choice for small or informal weddings. The shopping options broaden as well, as you can generally find a beautiful dress or gown online or in department stores and specialty dress shops. Read more about finding and buying the perfect wedding gown.

Your wedding vows are the opportunity for you and your partner to share with your guests exactly what you mean to each other and what you promise each other as you begin your life together.

Spend some time with your partner discussing exactly what you want for your wedding vows: Traditional vows are exceptional choices for couples who don't feel up to the challenge of creating their own...or are afraid they may be too nervous to speak.

If you do have a way with words you may wish to write your own vows to read aloud to each other or to give over to the officiant to read for you.

Whichever you choose, make sure not to overlook this part of your wedding. In a sense, it's the crux of the ceremony and a personal bond between you both.

When it comes to your wedding and reception, location is everything. Luckily, whatever you can dream up can be achieved with a little imagination and the right budget, of course.

For example, if you're having a church wedding ceremony, keep the reception in a location not far from the church, such as a local restaurant or hotel. Your church may even be amenable to an outdoor reception on the church grounds after a morning or afternoon wedding but this can come with certain restrictions.

Or, work in reverse: Some (non-denominational) wedding reception locations also accommodate space for indoor and outdoor weddings. Save time, energy, and money by planning your wedding reception and ceremony in two different areas of the building.

Planning a wedding? If you need help, check out some of our other articles in our Engaged Matters section of the site. From planning on a budget, honeymoon ideas, wedding etiquette, wedding toasts, proposing, wedding traditions and more, you can get the help you need to plan the perfect wedding and when you shop for your wedding or home through uTANGO, you'll get closer to your $1 million cash payout. Learn more about uTANGO.

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