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I just got engaged...when should I start shopping for my wedding dress? Julie C- Boston, MA
It is safe to start shopping eight to twelve months in advance. However, start shopping after you have confirmed specific details: Where will
the reception take place- indoor? outdoor? What time of year will the wedding take place? Details like these will help you find the perfect dress for the big day.
Just don't wait too long to begin shopping - it normally takes four to six months to have a dress made and fitted.
I have just asked my dearest friends to be my bridesmaids...what next? Sharon F- Miami, FL
Bridesmaids are an important part of a wedding & should be put in touch with each other early on. Your bridesmaids should be kept
up to date on all wedding plans as they develop. It is a good idea to send a letter including all details of the wedding so far, and the names, addresses, and phone
numbers of all the bridesmaids. This will come in extremely handy when they are planning the shower! If you have picked out the bridesmaids dresses, it is nice to
include a photograph, a swatch of the fabric, and any details about fittings. Finish off the letter with a personalized note letting them know how much it means to
you that they are involved in this special time.
I am in the midst of picking out my wedding cake- but they seem so expensive! Is there a way to have a funky cake without the sky-high price?
Lindsey S- New Haven, CT
There is a way to have the funky cake without the expensive price tag. What you can do is order a smaller cake to display during the cake cutting,
then serve guests from sheet cakes. Guests will never be able to tell; after the official cake cutting, have the display cake whisked away to be sliced out of the guests' sight.
I am just beginning to plan my wedding- and I can't decide if I should hire a wedding coordinator. Any advice? Laura P- Newport, RI
If a wedding coordinator is in your budget- I strongly recommend hiring one! Think of all the time and money that goes into planning a wedding- a wedding coordinator is
there to make sure on the big day that everything goes smooth and as planned- without you having to worry about a thing! I would definitely hire a planner if: a) neither
you or your families have the time to plan a wedding b) neither you nor your families have the desire to plan a wedding; c) you're planning a destination wedding; or d)
you simply want the help of a seasoned professional. They'll do the legwork, hire vendors, negotiate contracts, and may even cut you some money-saving deals.
Are save-the-dates important to send out before the actual invitation? Jess A- Los Angeles, CA
Save-the-date cards are always a great idea, but they? more a must for certain situations, including: 1) if many of your guests are from out of town; 2) if you'r
wedding is on a holiday weekend ; or 3) if you are marrying in a popular seasonal location (Newport in the Summer). Save the date cards allow people to plan ahead, and are typically printed on
casual stationery. They should include information about local hotels and travel agents. Ideally, you should send these six months before your wedding.
I am Christian...my fiancee is Jewish. How do we go about having an inter-faith ceremony to fit both of us? Kaitlyn M- Greenwich, CT
The first thing you must decide is if you want a civil or religious ceremony. If you choose a religious ceremony, you also must decide whether to have one officiant or two.
Sometimes two separate ceremonies are held, but usually a wedding with clergy from both religions working together is the nicest way to handle the situation. In most cases, the families want the
essentials of the traditional Jewish and Christian ceremonies. Working with clergy, who have the most experience in this area, is usually a good idea.
My fiancee and I are from New York planning a wedding in Newport. Are we responsible for paying for our guests lodging? Meghan S- Manhattan, NY
No. Whether the wedding is in the couple's hometown or far away, you are not expected to pay for guests' lodging. The best thing to do is find a local hotel that offers a group
discount rate, and provide the information on the save-the-date cards. That way guests will get a discount rate, but they are still responsible for paying their own way. How long should guests wait
between the ceremony and the reception?
A few of our guests are from out of town and we don't know how long is too long...any suggestions? Emily G- Boston, MA
Ideally, your guests should wait as little as possible between your ceremony and reception. An hour is usually acceptable, however if there o way around a delay, try to give guests
something to do in the meantime -- for example, if many guests are staying at the same hotel or the reception is at a certain hotel, see if you can have a "hospitality" room or suite set up with light
fare and cocktails. If you're only concerned about a few out-of-towners, ask some local friends and family who know them well to keep them company until the reception begins.
My finacee' and I would love to have a huge elaborate wedding- but it is just not in our budget. I have heard that when getting married out of "peak-season" reception sites have
less expensive sites...is this true? Devon W- New York, NY
In most parts of the country January, February, and March are the least popular for weddings (June, August, and September lead the pack, but December has been gaining in
popularity because of the festivity of the holiday season). Due to less demand, you're more likely to get discounted prices on your reception site, along with most of your other wedding services.
I am not sure which vendors I have to tip on my wedding day...is there a standard list of who and how much? Toni G- Newport, RI
Here is a tip for you... don't add pressure to your wedding day & designate someone to be in charge of tipping! The host of your wedding (often a dad) or the wedding consultant
is the perfect person for the job.
Hair, Makeup & Nails:
Whether you are at a salon or having a stylist travel on site, 15% to 20% is a standard tip.
Wedding Coordinator: No matter how extensive or basic their jobs are, coordinators normally don't expect a tip. If you'd like to show your gratitude, you can include a monetary
thank-you in a note.
Delivery People (florist, bakery, party rental):
Show how thankful you are for all of their work by offering at least $10 to each delivery person.
Officiant:
Although it may seem odd to slip an envelope to the officiant, it is the proper thing to do. It's tradition for the best man to hand over the tip, which should be between $100 and $200.
Transportation:
If all goes as planned (which we're sure it will!) add about 15% to 20% to the bill.
Musicians (ceremony and reception):
Tipping the musicians is completely optional. If you should decide to tip calculate $20 to $25 for each member.
Photographer/Videographer:
This is also completely optional. If they did an amazing job and you want to tip, about $20 - $25 per person is acceptable.
Caterer & Waitstaff:
If your caterer has to work out of a tent or minimally equipped kitchen it's nice to show you appreciate all of their efforts. Figure
the tip according to the number of waiters -- decide on a dollar amount ($20) and multiply by the number of servers working at your reception, plus some for
the catering manager.
Bartenders:
Again, look at the bill -- sometimes at hotels and clubs a gratuity is included in the liquor bill. If there isn't one, leaving 10% of
the total liquor bill for the bartenders is a nice gesture.
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