Expect the unexpected. Your wedding day can be full of unexpected surprises. Be ready! Your maid of honor should be equipped with all the essentials to handle any wedding day snafu. Here’s a few tips for your bridal emergency kit.

-Sewing Kit… Fallen hems and popped buttons may seem like a tragedy but a sewing kit armed with plenty of safety pins and small scissors can save the day.

-Clear Nail polish… Stocking runs can be nipped in the bud with a bit of clear nail polish. Be sure and keep it handy.

-Make-up… Nuff said.

-Extra stockings… In the event a pair of nylons are ruined beyond repair, have some extra stockings on hand to save the day.

-Bobby pins… A bad hair day can spoil the fun for someone. Have some bobby pins and perhaps some hairspray at the ready.

-Tissues… Nuff said… again

-Earring Backs… Visit your local jeweler and pick up a few extra earring backs. A lost back in the midst of getting ready is easily resolved.

-Aspirin… Keep some pain reliever at the ready. Not a bad idea to include some band aids and deodorant as well.

-Lint Brush… For those pet lovers a lint brush can come in real handy especially if your wearing darker colors.

-Phone Book… Keep the important phone numbers, such as your caterer, close at hand.

-Eye Drops… Consider the kind that removes redness.

-Breath Mints… With all the hugging and kissing it’s a good idea to keep a container of breath mints at the ready.

These are the essentials of any Bridal Emergency Kit. Please share anything we’ve missed.

There are always a lot of questions about who pays for what when it comes to a wedding. Here are some traditional guidlines that you can use or modify to suit your situation.

Wedding & Engagement Rings

* Bride’s Engagement & Wedding Rings: THE GROOM
* Groom’s Wedding Ring: THE BRIDE

Wedding Gifts

* Gift for the Bride: THE GROOM
* Gift for the Groom: THE BRIDE
* Gifts for the Bride’s Attendants: THE BRIDE
* Gifts for the Groom’s Attendants: THE GROOM

Invitations and Announcements

* Invitations: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Announcements: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Postage: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Wedding Stationery: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY

Attire and Accessories

* Bride’s Gown & Accessories: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Groom’s Tuxedo & Accessories: THE GROOM
* Attire for the Groom’s Attendants: THE GROOM’S ATTENDANTS
* Attire for the Bride’s Attendants: THE BRIDE’S ATTENDANTS
* Attire for the Groom’s Family: THE GROOM’S FAMILY
* Attire for the Bride’s Family: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY

Flowers and Decorations

* Flowers & Decor for the Ceremony and Reception: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Flowers for the Bride’s Attendants: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Boutonnieres for the Groom, Fathers and Grandfathers: THE GROOM
* Boutonnieres for the Groom’s Attendants: THE GROOM
* Corsages for the Mothers and Grandmothers: THE GROOM
* Bride’s Bouquet & Flowers: THE GROOM

Ceremony and Reception

* Ceremony Location Fee: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Officiant’s Fee: THE GROOM
* Marriage License Fee: THE GROOM
* Reception Location Fee: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Food & Beverages: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Photographer and/or Videographer: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Entertainment for the Ceremony and Reception: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Limousine/Transportation Rentals: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Any Other Applicable Ceremony/Reception Costs: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY

Other Expenses

* Engagement Photos: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Engagement Party: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Wedding Cake: THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
* Rehearsal Dinner: THE GROOM’S FAMILY
* Honeymoon: THE GROOM

Bridal Shower and Bachelor/ette Parties

* Bridal Shower: THE BRIDE’S ATTENDANTS
* Bachelor Party: THE GROOM’S ATTENDANTS
* Bachelorette Party: THE BRIDE’S ATTENDANTS

Out-of-town Attendants and Guests

* Accommodations for the Groom’s Attendants: THE GROOM
* Accommodations for the Bride’s Attendants: THE BRIDE
* GUESTS are responsible for their own transportation/travel AND accommodations
* ATTENDANTS are responsible for their own transportation/travel expenses

There are a lot of wedding photographers out there that can do a wonderful job of capturing your wedding. But how do you find the one that is right for you?

Most photographers have portfolios or websites that you can look through to see individual pictures that they have taken over time. However, the best way to see if a photographer is right for you its always best to see an entire photo album of a single wedding. By looking through the photos from a single wedding you get the opportunity to see how a photographers captures an event from start to finish. What elements did he focus on? What elements did he miss?

So when you go looking for a photographer look for a complete presentation, not just a handful of glamor shots.

Weddings are getting larger and more extravegant all the time. But, it is possible to live a green life and have a fabulous wedding. Everything from using live plants to recycled paper for your invitations can all help you have an elegant wedding with a smaller environmental footprint.

This Green Life has an article on one woman’s attempt to create an event that reflects her personal values and a lode of information on how to make the food, flowers, goodie bags and rings environmentally sound.

This Green Life - Cause for Celebration

Two for one tip today for wedding guests.

1. RSVP as soon as possible. Even if you can’t go, you should acknowledge the invitation and your intention to attend or not as soon as possible. Many wedding event locations have limited space and charge per person attending. By being prompt with your RSVP you allow the hosts to plan appropriatly.

2. Do not bring uninvited guests. If your invitation lists you and your spouse or date, do not assume that the host “meant” to invite your children or friends as well. As with the RSVP, many event locations have limited space or charge extra for additional guests. It is impolite to place your host on the spot by calling and asking to bring additional guests as well. And definitely do not add additional names to the reply card and send it with your RSVP.

Just about every bride knows the rhyme…

Something Old, Something New, Something borrowed, Something Blue…

But what does it mean? This lovely custom is about the bride, on her wedding day, wearing something old for strength and unity, something new for hope, something borrowed to depend upon friends and family, and something blue to signify fidelity and love.

The last line of this rhyme is very often left out. Know what it is? Visit A Brief History of Wedding Jewelry in our learning center to find out.

One that couples neglect when planning their wedding budget is tipping. From caterers to waiters to clergy members, it is customary to provide an additional tip on top of the regular costs and rates.

Be sure to allow an additional amount above the quoted price One of the areas that couples tend to neglect when planning their wedding budget is the subject of tipping. From caterers to waiters to clergy members, it is customary to provide an additional tip on top of the regular costs and rates.

When planning out your budget, be sure to allow an additional amount to the quoted price, so that you aren’t caught unaware and short of cash. The following is a general idea of the amounts you should set aside for different wedding suppliers. Remember, these amounts are not set in stone and should reflect the level of service you receive at your wedding and reception.

* Caterer and/or Banquet Manager - 15% for extra special service. Usually, the gratuity is already included in the set fee. Be sure to check on this. If it hasn’t been, add 15% to the price.

* Bartenders - 15% to 20% of the liquor bill.

* Bridal Consultant - 15% for extra special service.

* Powder Room and Coat Room Attendants - 50¢ per guest. You could also arrange to pay a flat tipping fee instead.

* Clergy members - $20 or more donation, depending on the length of the ceremony.

* Civil Ceremony Officials - $10 and up. However, look into this first. Some judges cannot accept money.

* Florist - 15% directly to the driver who delivers the flowers.

* Photographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service.

* Videographer - 10% to 15% for extra special service.

* Cake Decorator - 10% to 15% for extra special service, or for a difficult/very large cake.

* Musicians or D.J. - 15% for extra special service.

* Limousine Driver - 10% to 15% paid directly to the driver.

The wedding ceremony rehearsal is a common practice. But how often do you rehearse the rest of your big day?

With speaches, toasts, poems being read, and songs sung by family and friends, it pays to take the time and have everyone rehearse everything at least once just to get accustomed to standing in front of a group and speaking. Let’s face it, not many of us are comfortable speaking with 100 people staring at us.

And while you are at it, rehearse the drive to the church, to the reception house, and anywhere else you may need to go on your wedding day. It’s amazing how easy it is to get lost when you are excited and thinking about the rest of your life together.

Everyone wants a beautiful bouguette of flowers for their wedding and as decorations for the ceremony and reception. But do you know what the various flowers stand for?

Rose : Love
Blue Violet : Constancy
Carnation : Distinction
Forget-me-not : True Love
Gardenia : Joy
Lily of the Valley : Happiness
Orchard : Beauty
Red Chrysanthemum : Sharing
White Daisy : Purity
White Lilac : Youthful Innocence

Weddings are expensive. Not just for the bride and groom, and their parents, but also for those that you invite to be a part of your joyfull day.

For bride’s maids they have not only the expense of a dress they may only wear once, but also shoes, hair dressers, bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts, possibly even travel and lodging expenses. And while the groomsmen tend to have it easier with rented tuxedos, these are still expenses that many people in your bridal party aren’t ready, or able to, cover themselves and this may keep them from accepting your invitation to be a part of the ceremony.

So why not set aside part of your wedding bedget to help cover the expenses of your friends? You may not need to cover all of their expenses, but everyone can use an extra $100 when looking at clothes you may only wear once in your lifetime.