Wedding Suggestions

[Sarabande]

Wedding planning is something definitely not my forte. The last wedding I attended was June 1994. The last wedding that I was a part of was my older Brother and that was 1984. At that time there was no rehearsal dinner, but a small reception after the rehearsal at my parent’s home.

People are saying that the dinner is a courtesy on our part to the people part of the wedding party. Just for the record, we are already giving small gifts to each person in the Wedding party over and above any reherasal dinner.

Links for nice Wedding program covers?

It’s also very nice of you and your fiance to give gifts to your wedding party. That seems to be the usual for almost every wedding I’ve been a part of, including my own. Traditionally, at least from what I’ve read and how the practice is done in my area, the couple will present gifts to their wedding party on the day/night of the rehearsal and the parents of the groom will host the rehearsal dinner, so they are often considered separate from each other. Of course, there are variations, especially as you have mentioned that both of your parents are now deceased. If you feel that you cannot afford to give a full-fledged dinner, then maybe do what your parents did for your brother’s rehearsal dinner… have a little reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages at your home or someone’s home which would be large enough to accommodate your wedding party. And if you can’t do that, then just don’t have anything at all. Present your gifts to the party at the rehearsal. I think most people wouldn’t be offended. I know I wouldn’t. People are on tight budgets these days. The only ones I know of, personally, who would be offended are those who are sticklers for “etiquette” and believe that things should always be a certain way. From dealing with my own wedding and now my sister’s which is coming up in a few months… many younger people have no clue about etiquette from RSVP’ing on time to knowing that you don’t bring along additional people who weren’t invited to the wedding, among many other etiquette no-no’s. We kept telling my mother that you have to spell things out on invitations and response cards nowadays. She insisted that people would know better (she’s a stickler for etiquette). Then the response cards rolled in… This was one time that Mom was not always right. lol!

In regards to program covers: I have a whole file folder of them from weddings that I’ve done through the years. I keep them to give to future bridal couples when looking for formats, etc. In my opinion (just an opinion) I find that the most simple program covers are the most elegant. It is usually just something with a lovely script font. Sometimes, it will include a monogram of the couple’s married last name. Some might also include a simple design.

 

[Sarabande]

It’s good that you are giving them gifts, but it still doesn’t mean that you should ever invite them to a rehearsal dinner and ask them to pay for their own meal. The wedding party typically spends a lot on a wedding- between getting gifts, showers, paying for tuxes/dresses, transportation/hotels if necessary, and so forth. So, if you do have a rehearsal dinner it’s not so much a courtesy, it’s a huge thank you for all their invested time and money in your wedding. That’s not to say you have to have one, just that no one should ever ask their wedding party to pay their own way.

This. Much more concise answer than what I gave.

 

[JMJSHJ]

On Saturday June 23, my Godmother hosted a Stag and Doe Cocktail party which my fiancee and I attended. There was about 25 people there. Some people bought actual gifts and many others gave cash. With the wedding only 6 weeks away, I want to know if we should send out thank you cards to the guests who gave us this or can we wait until after the wedding when many others will give us other gifts on the Wedding day itself!

 

[FullOfThought]

On Saturday June 23, my Godmother hosted a Stag and Doe Cocktail party which my fiancee and I attended. There was about 25 people there. Some people bought actual gifts and many others gave cash. With the wedding only 6 weeks away, I want to know if we should send out thank you cards to the guests who gave us this or can we wait until after the wedding when many others will give us other gifts on the Wedding day itself!

I sent out thank you cards for our wedding, similar situation, and a lot of people thanked me for the thank you card purely because it showed the extra effort they knew it entailed to do so in a time where we were busy doing last minute preparations.

 

[Pink_Lemonade]

On Saturday June 23, my Godmother hosted a Stag and Doe Cocktail party which my fiancee and I attended. There was about 25 people there. Some people bought actual gifts and many others gave cash. With the wedding only 6 weeks away, I want to know if we should send out thank you cards to the guests who gave us this or can we wait until after the wedding when many others will give us other gifts on the Wedding day itself!

I just had to look up what a Stag and Doe party is. I’m not sure what the proper thank-you etiquette regarding such an event is, but for bridal showers thank you notes should be sent as soon as possible after the event. Even wedding presents that arrive before the wedding should get a thank you note as soon as possible. Since there were not that many people there, I’m sure they would appreciate a thank you card for their generosity.

 

[Sarabande]

I just had to look up what a Stag and Doe party is. I’m not sure what the proper thank-you etiquette regarding such an event is, but for bridal showers thank you notes should be sent as soon as possible after the event. Even wedding presents that arrive before the wedding should get a thank you note as soon as possible. Since there were not that many people there, I’m sure they would appreciate a thank you card for their generosity.

I agree with this. I think the guests who attended the Stag and Doe party will appreciate the separate thank you. it does show people that you took the time to have a hand written note of thanks. That says a lot in this day and age when people seem to just think anything like this is too much of a bother. I’ve always made it a practice to send thank yous as soon as possible, at least within a month of receiving a gift, but even better if I can do it sooner. This way, you get it out of the way before things get too busy and everything is fresh in your mind with who gave what so that you can make your notes personal rather than canned.

 

[JMJSHJ]

Less than 1 month away!!!

Sent the thank you cards for the Stag and Doe and now am working on the Wedding programme especially with the new wording changes in the Mass. I am using MS Word 2007 and the programme is 20 pages with page numbering at the bottom of the page. I would like to know if anyone can tell me how I can print this document. I want it to be 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches (standard paper wide side in 2) in "book format (page 20 would be on the left side and page 1 on the right side).

 

[jilly4ski]

Less than 1 month away!!!

Sent the thank you cards for the Stag and Doe and now am working on the Wedding programme especially with the new wording changes in the Mass. I am using MS Word 2007 and the programme is 20 pages with page numbering at the bottom of the page. I would like to know if anyone can tell me how I can print this document. I want it to be 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches (standard paper wide side in 2) in "book format (page 20 would be on the left side and page 1 on the right side).

Yikes that would be tough. If you have microsoft publisher, I would move all your text there, it is much easier to format that way.

Otherwise go to page layout, orientation, and make sure your margins are the way you want them. (Use columns).

 

[dixieagle]

Less than 1 month away!!!

Sent the thank you cards for the Stag and Doe and now am working on the Wedding programme especially with the new wording changes in the Mass. I am using MS Word 2007 and the programme is 20 pages with page numbering at the bottom of the page. I would like to know if anyone can tell me how I can print this document. I want it to be 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches (standard paper wide side in 2) in "book format (page 20 would be on the left side and page 1 on the right side).

That is one LONG wedding program!

I did the programs for each of our daughters’ weddings and they were only 4 “pages” (one 8.5 x 11 inch sheet folded in half…the same dimensions you mention). Do you really need the new wording of the Mass, especially if there are missalettes or response cards? Ours had the cover with the bride/groom’s names, the church and date, the readings, celebrant, the musical selections and musicians/soloist, wedding party, tribute to deceased grandparents, a thank you, and the newlyweds’ new address.

The suggestion to use Microsoft Publisher is good; I use a Mac and had QuarkXPress, which I loved. I strongly urge you to keep it short and sweet, though… no need to do a book.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

ooh, this is a good one. We had about 120 guests, and it would have been expensive to get a cake to feed them all. So we got a relatively small wedding cake and then sheet cakes to feed everyone else. The cake people can tell you exactly how much the cake you order will feed.
(Also you might want to price out cupcakes to see if they are cheaper).

You can also do a larger cake, but with fake tiers and have one or two real tiers for the cake cutting (just make sure you know which are fake and which are real before you cut it.") and do sheet cakes for everyone else. I’m not a fan of eating fondant icing that’s used on most wedding cakes, so I like the sheet cake idea.

 

[JMJSHJ]

11 days away!!!

I have taken your advice and done it on Publisher which is good as it makes “book printing” so much easier. I even expanded the margins and shrunk the total pages from 20 to 16. The reason why its so long is because with my fiancee being Filipino, there are cultural customs that we wish to incorporate into the Wedding Mass. I have included brief explanations in the program for those who aren’t familiar (my side of the family).

However I would like to know one thing. On the 2nd page it lists a who’s who (bridesmaids, ushers, etc) and we have a soloist who will be doing the singing. The title that we have for her is Vocalist. Is that the best choice? What would you all suggest. She will be the only one singing and be beside the organist.

 

[Sarabande]

11 days away!!!

I have taken your advice and done it on Publisher which is good as it makes “book printing” so much easier. I even expanded the margins and shrunk the total pages from 20 to 16. The reason why its so long is because with my fiancee being Filipino, there are cultural customs that we wish to incorporate into the Wedding Mass. I have included brief explanations in the program for those who aren’t familiar (my side of the family).

However I would like to know one thing. On the 2nd page it lists a who’s who (bridesmaids, ushers, etc) and we have a soloist who will be doing the singing. The title that we have for her is Vocalist. Is that the best choice? What would you all suggest. She will be the only one singing and be beside the organist.

Vocalist is fine. I’ve seen that used in reference to me on programs when I sing for weddings. I also think “Soloist” (especially if the singer is singing solo music) or “Cantor” works. The other thing you can use would be to use the voice type the singer is. ie… “Jane Doe, Soprano” or Jane Doe, Mezzo-Soprano". That way you are not calling them anything that might be offensive to some. You are just calling them what their voice type is. There are some people who think if you call them “Vocalist” or “Soloist”, then you are making them into a “performer”. Most people probably don’t think that way, but I’ve heard the complaints from sticklers. They didn’t even like “Cantor” because the singer was a woman.

P.S. Can’t believe it’s only 11 days away!!! How exciting!!!

 

[jilly4ski]

11 days away!!!

I have taken your advice and done it on Publisher which is good as it makes “book printing” so much easier. I even expanded the margins and shrunk the total pages from 20 to 16. The reason why its so long is because with my fiancee being Filipino, there are cultural customs that we wish to incorporate into the Wedding Mass. I have included brief explanations in the program for those who aren’t familiar (my side of the family).

However I would like to know one thing. On the 2nd page it lists a who’s who (bridesmaids, ushers, etc) and we have a soloist who will be doing the singing. The title that we have for her is Vocalist. Is that the best choice? What would you all suggest. She will be the only one singing and be beside the organist.

So glad Publisher worked out for you. I used it in college to make a nature guide for my field biology class. Congrats on the upcoming wedding.