Th e Wedding Issue

Planning the perfect wedding has become more difficult, as many of the traditions that were once considered must-dos have been replaced with nouveau ideas designed to make a couple ¬– and their wedding – stand out. We’ ve put together some modern dos and don’ ts. There are fewer faux pas today than ever before, but with proper planning, you can pull off the perfect event.

BY MANDY WOLF DETWILER

PUT A RING ON IT

DO choose a ring you will love for the rest of your life.“ I would try to block out any negative feedback you get from other people and listen to your own intuition,” says Jacquelyn Koerber, chief operating officer of Koerber’ s Fine Jewelry.“ I can’ t tell you how many times I have a woman in our store that says she always wanted a certain style but got talked out of it because it might not have been the‘ in’ thing to do. This is your own very personal ring that you will wear every day for the rest of you life... make sure you absolutely love it.”

DON’ T forget to consider a matching wedding band to make sure you like the finished look as a set.“ If the engagement ring doesn’ t have a matching component, ask to see what your options are for selecting a wedding band,” Koerber adds.“ If you want something a little more unique, you could mix different textures, shapes or even metals with your engagement ring. For example, if you have a white gold engagement ring you could pair it with a rose gold wedding band.”

PICKING A DATE

DO consider what time of year you prefer, says wedding planner Jamie Lott of Events4U.“ More and more people are saying fall. They love the fall colors,” Lott says.“ The last few years we’ ve had a huge trend in mid-September through October. October has become the new June.”

DON’ T wait. Venues fill up during busy months, but so do service providers like florists, cake decorators and even the wedding spots themselves.“ You’ re probably not going to get the venue you want unless you’ re working a year ahead,” Lott says.

THE WEDDING PARTY

DO pick your closest friends. Bridesmaids and groomsmen shell out hundreds of dollars to be a part of a single wedding, and the workload itself can cause hard feelings.

DON’ T“ feel obligated to put someone in your wedding that you’ re not close to,” Lott adds.“ So many brides have somebody that they’ ve put in their wedding that they may not be very close to, but they felt obligated to because their aunt is going to be hurt if her daughter is not in the wedding. Your wedding day should be about the people you care about, and those are the people you want with you, especially the bridal party.

THE DRESS

DO try on several, and don’ t pick the first one you fall in love with. You can always go back to it. Make sure you consider the fit of your dress if you’ re following an exercise plan and dieting.

DON’ T ignore fittings.“ When I plan a wedding for a bride, I attend at least two of her fittings because I want to make sure that dress fits correctly,” says Lott.“ Bridal gowns tend to stretch a tiny bit once a bride has worn them for an hour or so. I like them to fit extra snug. I tease brides and say if they can’ t breathe, we know it fits!”

THE PLACE

DO chose a venue based on your budget and“ know everything about that venue before you sign. Read that contract thoroughly,” Lott advises.

DON’ T leave a lot of time between your ceremony and your reception. Though it’ s your day, your guests are giving up time and money to celebrate. Make it easy on them.

INVITATIONS

DO“ remember you don’ t have to break the bank to be satisfied with your( invitation) choice and do keep it simple,” says Nicole Parr, a graphic artist with Louisville-based Phoenix Business Systems Inc.“ Your invitation is the first glimpse your guests will get of the look and feel of your wedding. An invitation is best when it reflects the mood and ambiance you hope to achieve on your special day.”

DON’ T“ be overwhelmed and distracted by the endless options of this saturated market,” she adds.“ In the end, an invitation that represents the happy couple’ s personal style will be a treasured keepsake for years to come.”

86 EXTOL • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017