Wedding Etiquette: Q & A

The Best Advice On Handling Your Trickiest Dilemmas.

My cousin’s wedding is taking over my life! As a bridesmaid I have been invited to two engagement parties, three showers, a spa weekend and a bachelorette party. I love her, but is it OK to say “no” to a few events?
You can certainly forgo some of these many parties. Be honest and up-front but non-confrontational with your cousin. Consider saying something like, “Jane, I’m so thrilled to be part of your wedding. I need to let you know, though, that there are a few celebrations I won’t be able to make. I hope you understand.” Then give her the chance to respond. Reassure her that you will be there for her throughout the wedding weekend and for some parties. Do attend one or two pre-wedding celebrations (the bridal shower or bachelorette party perhaps); they’re opportunities to spend time with the rest of the wedding party in a more relaxed setting. Also, there’s no need to bring a gift to every event.

My groom’s college roommate passed away last year, and we would like to remember him in our wedding ceremony. My mother thinks this will put the emphasis on mourning rather than on celebration. Is there an appropriate way to commemorate him?
Your mother’s concern is understandable, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fitting  way to memorialize your fiancé’s friend. The important thing is not to upset people during such a joyful occasion—especially his parents if they attend. Something prominent, such as a large photograph displayed at the reception would likely be too painful a reminder. But you might make a short toast at the rehearsal dinner, particularly if the friend would have been one of the attendants and thus there with you. You could include in the program a brief remembrance of the role this man played in your soon-to-be husband’s life. Or you could light a candle before the ceremony and explain that this symbolic gesture is meant to honor him.

Our families have very different traditions. How can we make everyone feel like they are being represented?
Many couples mix it up, personalizing their ceremony and reception with elements that represent distinct traditions. If these are religious in nature, talk to your officiant to ensure that the ceremony site allows interfaith marriages to be performed. You can use your program to explain any rituals that your guests might be unfamiliar with. For example, one couple built their wedding around their families' British and Swedish customs. Their interfaith ceremony incorporated rites from both the Episcopalian and Lutheran, while the reception had food and music from both cultures.

By Patricia Canole

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Wedding Etiquette: Here Come The Bridesmaids

Here's Our Painless Guide to Casting Your Special Crew. 

By: Patricia Canole

Picking your bridesmaids can be tricky. Follow our advice to make the choice easier! 

·      DO carefully consider the people you’d most like to have by your side at the ceremony. Remember, once you’ve asked, there’s no backtracking or dis-inviting someone. Now is the time to determine your wedding’s style, budget, and size first; a small, informal affair with a bloated wedding party looks out of place.

·      DON’T think you have to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. If you must have your four best buds but there are only three groomsmen, have one usher escort a bridesmaid on each arm. 

·      DO be considerate of friends who can’t afford the financial burden of being a bridesmaid. You can include them in your ceremony by asking them to read a poem or piece of Scripture during the ceremony. At the reception have close friends welcome guests as they arrive and direct everyone to the guest book and place card table.

·      DON’T feel you have to ask someone to be your bridesmaid simply because you were in her wedding party. (Maybe she had a bigger wedding than the one you’re planning.) And if you two aren’t close anymore—her wedding was a few years ago and you’ve lost touch—there’s even less reason to ask her. Also remember that there’s no obligation to keep childhood pacts.

·      DO what feels right. Relax, this is your wedding! 


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Fashion: Bill Levkoff Bridesmaids

Dresses for Every Type of Wedding

By: Patricia Canole

Bill Levkoff has been celebrated as one of the leading bridesmaids dress manufacturers in the country—dressing generations of bridal parties for over 60 years. With a vast array of styles, quality fabrics, and colors to suit all needs, you’ll find Bill Levkoff offers a wide selection of options from traditional to contemporary for your bridesmaids. Today, the company continues with its tradition of high standards. In fact, the attention to detail has made a Bill Levkoff dress a favorite of many bridesmaids to be worn again and again.

Bill Levkoff Bridesmaid Dresses

Maids In Heaven When considering what your girls will wear, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Think about your wedding style. 

Is it classic, modern, or maybe even vintage? Your bridesmaids’ dresses should complement your style. If you’re wearing a breezy chiffon gown for a destination wedding, your maids might look out of place in formal taffeta dresses.

Color is an important issue.

If your girls range from fair to dark skin tones, be sure the dress color flatters all. Another option is to pick one color and let your girls choose the shade that suits them best, for an ombre effect.

Consider the time of year. 

Seasonal colors may play a role in deciding: Brilliant fall tones of orange and red for September/October, fresh, pastel spring hues for April/May.

Be flexible. 

Today, the majority of bridesmaids like to have some input on what they're wearing. And because the trend is to not have matching dresses, Bill Levkoff offers a wide range of styles in every color under the rainbow. You pick the color and fabric; each bridesmaid can then decide on the style that flatters her best.

We love Bill Levkoff & we're sure your bridesmaids will too! 

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