Random Facts About Important Stuff

Or, we could title this, Important Facts About Random Stuff; whatever suits you best.  In either case, it is fun information worth knowing.

Did you know that the bride and groom should not raise their glass when being toasted?  You are being honored and therefore it is considered rude to toast yourselves.  (Now that you know this, it will be interesting to see how many of you remember!)

The receiving line is a wonderful way to greet all of your ceremony guests and thank them for attending, but did you know it began with a different agenda?  It was believed that the bride and groom were blessed and those who touched them would receive good luck as well.

It was believed to be good luck to garner a piece of clothing from the bride and groom.  Often, as guests became intoxicated, guests would destroy the bride's dress to have a bit of lucky charm.  The tradition began of tossing the bride's garter into the crowd to keep them at bay.

When the officiant says, "You may now kiss the bride," it is not purely in celebration.  In Roman times, a legal bond is sealed with a kiss, therefore, you are signifying to your guests that you are entering into a life-long contract with each other.

As the mother of a 20 something, I wish to revert back to the original intent of a wedding shower when men would prove their interest by bringing gifts to the bride's father.  Food, land, livestock, and money were given as "payment" for the bride.  From this, the ritual evolved into the practive of men bringing gifts of clothes, jewels, gold, and dishes to the young lady to show he could provide well for her.  Gentlemen, I'm sure the ladies would love to revive this ancient tradition. 

We all know that whoever catches the tossed bouquet is expected to be the next to marry.  But, did you know that this young lady should also take a small slice of the wedding cake and sleep with it under her pillow?  Doing so will cause her to dream of her future husband on that night.  Hmm, I'd like for someone to try this and let me know how it turns out!

Oddly, it seems there is also a bit of superstition regarding the making of the bride's dress although the information seems confused.  Some believe that it brings good luck if the bride makes her own dress; others believe the opposite.  I can guarantee that it would be bad luck for my daughter to make her own wedding dress!

And for a little fun, check out these rhymes:

Marry in white, you will do all right
Marry in blue, your man will be true
Marry in brown, you will live in town
Marry in green, you should be ashamed to be seen
Marry in red, wish yourself dead
Marry in black, better turn back
Marry in yellow, not marrying the right fellow
Marry in gray, sadness will come your way


Marry on Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the very best day of all,
Thursday you will soon be counting your losses,
Friday your crosses,
and if married on Saturday, you will have no luck at all!


Ah, the good ol' days!

What are you thoughts on our new blog look? http://ping.fm/9fZlm

A Few Images from Heather and Jeff's Recent Wedding

Heather and Jeff - ceremony and reception at North Shore Golf Club, cake by Cakescapes, flowers by Phase 2 Floral, professional photography images by Laurie Marie Photography. Setup photos by me and my phone :)

Stunning cake.

Clark helps to swag the table overlays.

Ashley works hard to finish the swagging.

Prior to floral.

And after floral!

We've been blogged! Check it out at http://ping.fm/7UEfN

View our August Newsletter! http://ping.fm/fB5E6

A Great New Event Planning Company | Capital Club | Columbus, Ohio

Take a peek!

A Great New Event Planning Company Capital Club Columbus, Ohio

So you've been asked to be the best man...http://ping.fm/177fI

So You've Been Asked to be the Best Man...

Do a Google search on Best Man Duties and you'll find plenty of information - most with unrealistic expectations of what you're truly going to be asked to do and what you're willing to do.  Seriously, no bride is going to ask you to help pick out the tuxes!  Organize the fittings?  Yeah, right!

So realistically, what is your role?

A)  Talk your groom into hiring a wedding planner.  While true, this is a shameful tactic of garnering business for my industry, it is also our hand of friendship extended to you, the Best Man, in an effort to save you from doing mundane tasks leading up to and the day of the wedding so that you can focus on the hot chick on the dance floor.  Trust us.  Enlist the help of the Maid of Honor in your campaign for a wedding planner; she'll thank us too.

B) So by covering Item A, you are now able to cross about 8 things off of your Best Man To-Do list.  Moving on to the serious stuff that you might actually want to do, let's start with planning the bachelor party.  Yes, I'd thought you'd like that.  And, if you're totally unorganized (or just an awesome delegator) you can call a planner for that too. (Ask us about opportunities at Lambeau Field!)

C) Be a confidant of the groom.  We're not talking necessarily about the sappy stuff, although that may happen too, we're talking about just being there for him to bounce ideas.

D) Most Best Men are called upon to give a toast or speech.  If you've been asked to do so, give it some real thought and practice.  Off the cuff really doesn't work well.

E) Pay attention during the rehearsal.  You actually have an important job the day of the wedding . . . you're the keeper of the rings (the ring bearer is usually just there to look cute) so you'd better follow directions during the rehearsal so you understand the expectations.

F) Help the groom get dressed.  This may be literal or not, but in any case, you're expected to be there and be his right-hand man.  The most important part of this?  Help him stay relaxed, be his coach, psychiatrist, whatever he requires at the time.

G) Sign the marriage license as a witness.  That's why you're there! 

The groom selected you because you add value to his life and he wants you, out of his many friends, to stand beside him on this special day.  Take this seriously and relish the momentous occasion of which you are honored to be a part.

~Jami

Get the scoop on photographers! http://ping.fm/XAV9l

Not All Photographers are Created Equal

“Don’t worry my _________ is a wedding photographer."

Fill in the blank with whatever noun you choose, but know that you could very well be gambling with evidence of one of the most important days of your life.

That sounds harsh, I know, but I also know all too well how devastating it is to find out that your wedding photos did not turn out.  If you're a client of ours, you have probably already heard my spiel on hiring a photographer.  As a professional planner, I am bombarded by people who own a camera and consider themselves "professional wedding photographers".  They certainly want to get on our radar and why not, we have the capacity to recommend many clients their way.  But be forewarned; not all photographers are created equally.

My husband and I, with our two adult children, recently renewed our wedding vows after twenty-five years of marriage.  The main reason for doing so, was to show that we would make the same decision today as we did in 1985.  Renewing our vows was also a way for us to celebrate the wonderful years we've had together.  But, there was more.

Upon learning of our engagement late in '84, a friend who was a photography professor at a nearby college graciously offered to take our wedding photos for only the cost of the film and printing (no digital back then!).  While we had not seen any of her images, we were not concerned.  But something happened.  The film got damaged and alas, she had not a single image for us.  At most, we have probably half a dozen images the best man's wife took with her 126 camera.  And trust me, she was no photographer!

Just days after returning from our vow renewal in Colorado Springs, I found out that a very similar experience happened to my nephew and his new wife.  The bride, a photographer, had enlisted a friend and fellow photographer to capture the memories of her special day on film only to find out that the friend had used the wrong lens.  No photos.

While accidents can happen to anyone, there are ways to be prepared.  First, as the bride and groom, allow your planner to make recommendations of professionals with which she has confidence.  Second, ask if the photographer brings an assistant who will also be photographing.  Third, find out if they bring a backup camera...just in case.  Finally, if a friend offers their assistance politely decline stating that you've heard horror stories and don't want any remote possibility of something like that coming between your friendship.  Tell her you would much rather her celebrate with you by being a guest.

Twenty-five years later and I love our wedding photos!  A huge thank you to Tamera at Click Photography for filling that void.  However, my advice to my nephew and anyone else in the same boat is to get dressed up again and go get some photos!  In twenty-five years, it will not matter to you that it was three or four weeks after your wedding day.  You'll still have that big smile...from the bliss of being a newlywed!

Here's a small sampling of what a great photographer can do!