For some brides there is no question about who will walk them down the aisle. If your parents are still together and you’ve always been a daddy’s girl, you’re all set. When that’s not the case you might find yourself trying to figure out who the heck is going to fill this role on your wedding day. While many brides these days are independent enough to want to march down that aisle themselves this article isn’t about those brides. It’s about the ones who can’t imagine walking down that aisle alone but for some reason don’t have a clear cut idea of who will do it.
Mori Lee Bridal SPRING 2015 Collection: 2725 – Majestic Embroidered Appliques Combined with Chantilly Lace on Net with Wide Hemline
Sure, tradition states that your dad walks you down the aisle but what if your dad isn’t actually your father? In the case of divorce and remarriage you may have both a father and stepfather who both mean a lot to you. If that’s the case, what do you do? Having both of them walk you down the aisle could be a bit awkward to say the least, but choosing one over the other could cause hurt feelings and tension within the family.
And then there are brides who don’t have the option of having their father walk them down the aisle because he hasn’t even been a part of their life. In my case, this applies, so when I got married the dad who raised me walked me down the aisle, as opposed to my biological father. But, if I hadn’t had that dad to fill the role who would have done it?
This is a question you may be asking yourself if you are planning a wedding and you are in this position. The right decision depends on you and what you want on the happiest day of your life. You could swallow your pride and ask the father that didn’t raise you to walk you down the aisle or you could choose another male family member or friend. No one can tell you what your decision should be as that is a very personal one that you have to decide on your own.
Mori Lee Blue SPRING 2015 Collection: 5311 – LARISSA SATIN WITH CRYSTAL BEADING ON ALENCON LACE
For brides who are renewing their wedding vows, something I plan to do with my husband within the coming months, there is a whole new opportunity to repeat the experience with whoever walked you down the aisle the first time or choose someone completely different. As I am in a position where my biological father has not been a part of my life, for my vow renewals I am considering asked a beloved relative that I lost contact with for years if he’d be willing to walk me down the aisle in place of the father who is a virtual stranger to me. That may be the right decision for me but you may disagree with me completely. Whoever you choose to walk you down the aisle should be someone who believes in you and your fiancé.
For the answer to any pressing questions you may have about planning your wedding be sure to visit Best For Brides.com where you will find expert wedding tips and advice.
So you finally took the plunge and popped the big question. Of course, she said yes! So now it’s time for you sit to back, kick your feet up and wait for the big day, right? Not so fast there, buddy boy – you’re not off the hook just yet.
Does the very thought of floral arrangements, coordinated colour schemes, wedding cakes and table linens make you want to run away and hide? If this sounds like you, I have assembled some tips and suggestions for all would-be grooms on how to navigate the crazy, hectic world of wedding planning. Ladies, it can’t hurt for you to read this as well.
Start off with an open and honest conversation with your fiancé.
First off guys, it’s important to recognize that it’s easy for us gals to get swept up in all the pre-planning excitement, particularly in the beginning stages of planning. A heads-up: you’ll probably want to take this into consideration when broaching sensitive topics.
During these early stages, it’s a good idea to choose a time to sit down and talk about how you both are envisioning your day. It’s important for both of you to share your thoughts, feelings and preferences for your wedding day. Of course, having this discussion all hinges on what may be a very difficult decision…
Are you all-in or all-out?
From my experience as an event planner, a lot of guys think they don’t want to be involved in the decision-making process until they start to see the event coming together in ways that are totally different from what you thought. You need to decide – together – whether you’d like to be actively involved in the planning process or prefer to leave most or all of the decision-making to your fiancé. Whatever the decision, choose wisely and don’t flip-flop. There’s nothing worse than bottling it all up only to lose your stuff over a disagreement on napkin folding (yes, it happens!).
So if you choose all-in, you’ve got to mean it and be prepared to be there every step of the way! If you opt for all-out, then remember that she will be making a lot of the decisions (along with her family and bridesmaids) and you may not get the things that are important to you. Whichever you choose, be sure to be open and honest with your fiancé and with yourself about how involved you wish to be.
Take care of the items that are important to you!
Do you have an idea of what style of suit you want to wear on the big day? Are you an audiophile with a strong preference in music selection? Perhaps there’s a certain photography style you prefer? Let your fiancé know your “must haves” and ideally, lighten her workload, by taking on these important tasks yourself! Not only will you score major brownie points, but if it’s something you’re really interested in anyway, you will be more likely to complete the task and complete it well. If you’re stuck doing things you don’t enjoy, like choosing invitations and things that are not important to, you might make quick and fast decisions just to get the task out of the way. A sure-fire way to make a mistake and possibly end up in the dog house or on couch duty.
Be prepared for tears and meltdowns.
Sorry guys, but even the most calm and prepared bride will likely shed some tears along the way. Yes, it may seem crazy to you (kind of like why we consider it a big deal whether a bridesmaid wants to wear her hair up instead of down) but these decisions are important to us and chances are our “less than optimal state of emotions” are related to all the stress of planning the most important day of our lives! Be calm and reassuring and listen to her thoughts – even if you think it’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard!
Take her on a date!
During the planning process, it’s easy to get swept up and constantly talk about the ever-growing to-do list and what decisions have to be made. Plan at least one date a month where wedding talk is strictly off limits. It will allow the two of you to reconnect and reinforce the bond between you. After all, once the wedding is over, you’ll need to make sure you still have other things to talk about =)
Yup, you’re going to go over budget.
Little things add up. So do big things. Ever been to the grocery store to pick up three things and leave with six because you “forgot” something or saw that chips were on sale? It’s kind of the same thing, but not.
There’s no two ways about it: weddings are expensive. The important thing is make sure your budget is realistic from the get-go. Be sure to leave some wiggle room for the unaccounted and inevitable extras that come up.
Plan the honeymoon!
This may actually be the most fun thing to plan! Imagine you and your future wife on a beach or exploring the world. Take that off her plate and handle the arrangements yourself (even better if you can surprise her!). But remember, this is not the time to scrimp and save and wait for a last minute deal. Find a reputable travel agent to help you put the arrangements in place so there are no surprises at the airport!
When in doubt, hire a wedding planner
Believe it or not, a wedding planner can actually save you money. Sounds counter-intuitive, but if wedding planning is not your thing, you’ll save time, money and a whole lot of headaches. A wedding planner can also act as a marriage counsellor and financial planner of sorts: helping guide you both through important decisions while simultaneously keeping you on-budget by finding great vendors who fit your price range. This means she (and by extension, you) will be able to truly enjoy the day together instead of worrying over trivial matters such as gathering the groomsmen for the ceremony or whether the guest favours are coordinated properly on the tables.
In Conclusion…
Guys, let’s face it – planning a wedding is a lot of work and can be a real test of your relationship. Adjust your perspective and focus on how close it brings you together, planning one of the most important day of your lives. Set realistic expectations on yourself and your future bride and communicate openly and often. Follow these not-so-simple rules my friend, and you will set yourself for total wedding bliss – and likely a much better honeymoon as well 😉
About the Author: Amy Stevenson has spent six years into this action-packed, thrilling and incredible industry and has been loving every minute of it!
Being the Lead Editor at EventSource means I get to experience a whole new level of wedding and special event amazing-ness! Every morning I open up my inbox to a whole new set of jaw-dropping event photos submitted by the industry’s top leaders and get to share their work with you! You can follow our work on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
With winter knocking on the door, you might wonder whether it’s a good idea to organize your wedding during the cold season. The answer is: Yes! There is hardly a better time to gather all your loved ones together than during the holiday season. The festive atmosphere is already there but you still have to take care of few things while planning your winter wedding:
1. Winter Photos Wedding Photos are a crucial part of the celebrations. Winter wedding photos are no different, except you have to make a few adjustments to accommodate to the climate change.
You can set your ceremony for an early time of the day – in this way, your guests will have the opportunity to take a photo with you, before the light outside fades. You should also get a nice warm jacket for between the photos!
Mori Lee Bridal SPRING 2015 Collection: 2722 – Larissa Satin Trimmed with Intricately Beaded Embroidery
2. Flowers
One major disadvantage of the winter weddings: you’ll have to double your efforts at finding the perfect florist!
Winter weddings are usually less desired than summer or spring ones and you can save a lot of money on the wedding venue or photographer, for example. This is not the case with flowers, however: they are far few flowers available during the season, so you’ll have to pay a little extra or consider getting different ones that you’d want at first. A quick tip: ranunculus and tulips are the most appropriate winter blooms!
3. Menu
Your guests will feel warm and cozy during your ceremony, that’s for sure. But you have to keep that special feeling after the reception, as well!
The rule for a winter-wedding menu is: mostly hot dishes. We are not saying that they are “forbidden” dishes but most people would appreciate a hot pureed soup more than an ice cream cake.
Bruschetta with melted cheese with mushrooms or mozzarella with tomato an excellent choice for hors d’oeuvres. Use your imagination! You can stick with the “winter-flavors”: pear, ginger, pumpkin, apple or mint.
4. Be prepared for some surprising “No”s
Weddings are special occasions for you, all your friends, close and not-so-close relatives. But bear in mind that the winter season is not everyone’s favorite. Moreover, it could be especially dangerous for your elderly guests. People, who live out of town might also decline due to the unpredictable weather conditions – airlines tend to delay their flights quite often during the winter.
Mori Lee Voyage SPRING 2015 Collection: 6794 – VENICE LACE APPLIQUES ON DELICATE CHIFFON
5. Winter fashion
Nothing more important on a wedding than the bride herself.
Thankfully, the winter bridal fashion includes both stylish and practical elements. You can wear long sleeves in a Princess Kate-inspired look. Otherwise, if your dress is strapless, you can warm your shoulders with a faux fur and still look gorgeously elegant. If you’ve decided on a short dress, you should probably consider getting tights or stockings – goose skin never looks good on photos!
Thicker, satin fabrics are the best choice for a winter wedding dress. You can combine your look with special “icy” crystal bangles to bring the winter spirit with you!
And as far as shoes are concerned, closed toe is your best friend during the winter season. There are literally thousands of designs, and feathers or crystal fans look absolutely stunning!
The big date is set, you’ve got a deposit on your venue and you’ve narrowed down it down to two choices for your wedding colors. Now it’s time to make the next important decision…your wedding party! Like any other choice for your wedding, this will take a lot of thought and heart from both you and your partner. It’s a decision that can impact the rest of your lives since you’ll have pictures and video of these people sharing your special day with you. Even though you’ve always pictured your cousin in your wedding as a little girl, the fact that you don’t talk to her much might not make for a great decision to add her as one of your bridesmaids now that you’re adults. Here are some helpful tips on choosing the right wedding party:
1. Include close family
If you have brothers and sisters, they should be the first ones you think of including. Or maybe you’re aunt is like a second mother to you or your significant other’s cousin was like a brother to him – whatever it is, think about adding close family before you go adding close friend. Family will always be there for you so it’s likely that they’re going to be there for your 10th anniversary. And don’t invite just any family members; make sure they hold special meaning for you and your fiancé.
We’ve all scene beautiful Pinterest pictures with large wedding parties, but just because it looks nice for pictures, doesn’t mean it’ll work for your wedding. Obviously, you can have as many as you wish, but having too many might cause problems in your wedding party. It’ll be hard to coordinate things with too many conflicting schedules and if you’re fronting money for things like dresses, flowers, etc. for your wedding party, it can get expensive. On average, people usually like to go with a wedding party of 8 (four guys, four girls).
3. Set your wedding party goals
According to the Knot, it’s good to ask yourself what kind of role you want your wedding party to play during your wedding planning journey. This way, you can choose responsible friends and family members who you know will want to help out and help you plan everything.
Of course, you’re going to want all those in your wedding party to be responsible, but you want the maid of honor and the best man to be especially responsible since they will have special duties at the wedding. You don’t want to choose a flake even if it’s your best friend. If this is the case, it’s totally acceptable to have two maid of honors and best men! Only because you want someone who will be there with you to go dress shopping, etc. And speaking of dresses, make bridesmaid dress shopping a whole lot easier by getting everything at Best for Bride!
Best for Bride is a bride’s one-stop wedding shop! With thousands of wedding gowns, mother of the bride/groom dress, bridesmaid dresses and all sort of accessories, it’s the only place a bride needs to go to find the perfect dress for her special day!
Recent Posts: The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings
