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1S - Sunday, January 18, 1987 - North Shore News

| Marriages are made in Heaven.

NOW THAT the big question has
been asked and the wedding date set,
it is time to get down to planning
what will hopefully be a day to
remember forever.

But although marriages are said to
be made in heaven, it takes down-to-
earth advice to make sure the

special day does not turn in

to a disasterous flop.

Judi Ainsworth, who has
been involved with wedding
planning for the past eight
years, advises couples to
start their planning as soon
as they set the date.

Most bridal experts sug-
gest at least six months to
a year to attend to the
many details that come
with the special day. But
planning can be made
easier.

The key to a smooth,
successful wedding is
organization and
efficiency.

‘With so many things
to do — invitations,
ceremony and reception
arrangements, flowers,
guest lists —- six months
might not seem enough time
for preparation.

‘WEDDING BUDGET

One of the first things to
°. do— usually soon after a date
is set — is discuss the wedding
budget with fiance and parents
-t0 decide on reception details.

Where the reception will be
held and how much it will cost
are good starters.

_As well, the bride should
soon start to think about who
her attendants will be, and

veil for herself and dresses for
attendants.

‘Planning the wedding day
events should start right away,
y advises Ainsworth. -_

\%. .“For.one'thing there are
“one: month,: usually
\ four,” she says.;“‘If you

leave it too late you
may not get what

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begin selecting a gown and.

only five Saturday nights in ~ arrive at least.six weeks before. the.

And do not book a hotel or other
facility for the reception until you
have had a good look at it. Meetings
with staff are advised to iron out
small details.

CHECK LIST

Experts suggest the following
things be done about three months
in advance.
© Complete the guest list, which you
started the day you set the wedding
date.
® Order your chosen wedding invita-
tions, announcements and thank you
cards.
© Take a trip to a florist’s shop to
select and order the necessary
flowers.
© If you are taking your honeymoon
out of the country, it is a good idea
to ensure all needed documentation
is together to avoid possible airport
delay.

If a proper honeymoon is not
possible immediately after the wed-
ding, take a mini honeymoon right
after the reception is finished. If you
have a reception at a hotel, find out.
if the hotel offers an overnight
‘honeymoon’ package.

Often, hotels will throw in a

special honeymoon package with all
the usual goodies if the reception is -
held at the hotel. This can be a tem-
porary ‘trip’ celebrating the marriage
until the couple can get away in pro-
per fashion. .

**A lot of hotels have packages put
together that they will give you if you
have a reception there,’’ says
Ainsworth. “Everybody has things
like that.”

THE CAKE

‘Wedding cakes are a very impor-
tant part of the big day and it is im-
portant to have one the couple likes.
The cake and any accompanying
pastries should be decided on and
ordered from the baker about two
months in advance. .

_. Also about two months before the®
wedding, the invitations should: be.

addressed and mailed to ensure they °-

wedding day.

If necessary, limousines and cais-
should be arranged two months in_
advance.

Transportation to and from the
wedding should be planned a few
weeks before the big day. Those in
the bridal party will need to arrive
at the. same. times. ‘. .

-At this point, it.is'a good idea to-

~ check with the florist, caterer, hotel,

band and so forth to make sure there
are no last-minute details to handle.
Any rehearsals should take place
about one or two weeks before
fs, the wedding and a party...
ey after the practice is a_
customary event

to wish for a
smooth

», wedding.

—— Tennyson.

To avoid wedding day mishaps, all
details should be in writing. Things
to be specified should inctude
delivery date and time and other
needed information.

As well, provide the delivery peo-
ple with a map and instructions on
how to reach your home or reception
location. This can only help things
run smoothly.

On the fateful day, ‘the bride
should be ready well in advance of
the ceremony to have the necessary
pictures taken. The bride should
leave for the church or ceremony
location so she arrives about five
minutes before the service starts.

REHEARSALS VITAL

But despite careful planning, the
best-laid plans can go wrong — the
best man can lose the ring or the
maid of honor could pass out from
all the excitement. .

Generally, the best man should
keep the ring in‘his pocket not on his
finger where it can easily slip off. It
is best to avoid this scenario but if
the ring really is lost.then borrow a
ing from an attendant or parent and
carry on.

To prevent flustered bridesmaids,

. Make sure everyone in the bridal par-
ty is included in rehearsals so they
know just exactly what will happen
and when. |

As with the planning; organization
is the key to a successful ‘wedding
day.

Michele McKinnon, who has been
planning major events for four
years, says that making a trusted
relative or friend a trouble-shooter
helps avoid problems.

“Tf something goes wrong you can
point to that person to take care of
it.’’

As well, she says, it is a good idea
to make lists of things that are the
most likely to. be forgotten.: This
way, it .is less. likely things are left
cundone. Q

“MY would say the bride shouid not
“be. running : around doing “things
: herself,”?: McKinnon: says. .“‘You
should just be concemed with’ getting
“yourself ready.2”...

PROF ESSIONAL HELP

Leaving most of the’ arrangements
in the hands’of professionals is one
way to make sure all details are con-
sidered: ‘*We._ know -all: the little
things that make’a reception: go off
‘smoothly and without ahitch,” says
Ainsworth.” ;

Making’ a getaway from the recep-
tion is always one of the most
overlooked parts of the wedding day.
The couple should decide in advance
when they want to get changed,
throw the bouquet, enjoy the last
., dance and leave their reception.
Guests traditionally wait for the
bride and groom to leave before they
- head ‘for home themselves, and
- guests should be informed if the cou-
ple is leaving late.

.Before the reception, the bride and

0 nsure their bags-are

will. have everything
trusted friend can be
enlisted to make sure the bags get to

«the-reception and are kept well out

of harm’s: way, 90-0