Expert Advice from wedding guru, Sharon Naylor
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Question:
I am on an EXTREMELY tight budget. I am at the point where I hate the beach destination I've chosen & am now attempting to see what/if the hotel that I have blocked rooms from is offering me: a Friday night wedding, but I wouldn't be able to afford the reception so I asked her, since it will be a...
Answer From Sharon:
Hi Josephine: I need a little bit more information...where is the destination wedding? Are guests going to be flying there, or driving? It makes a difference, since wedding hosts really need to feed guests who have gone through a lot to get there. In any case, can you talk to your site cate... Question:
My parents were married for 27 years before their recent and extended divorce. My father is seeing another woman who has children of her own, but my mother is still single. My finance's parents are also divorced and both remarried many years ago. What do we write on the invitations as far as ackn...
Answer From Sharon:
When you have a tricky parental situation, that makes the invitation 'parent lines' a bit complicated. If both sets of parents are contributing equally to the wedding, it's a good idea to avoid the naming names hassle and just put the top line as: The loving parents of [bride] and [groo... Question:
My fiance has a huge family and i wanted to have a smaller wedding. Would it be wrong to invite just immediate family to the ceremony and then invite everyone else to the reception?
Answer From Sharon:
It's never wrong to do what's in your heart, so yes, if your fiance is okay with this, then I say go for it. You'll need separate invitations and a huge amount of organization. But be assured that many couples do plan their weddings this way, with just a handful of people invited to the ceremo... Question:
Hi Sharon,
I am getting married in December and I am in the process of preparing my invitations. My father passed away a couple years ago and I'm not too sure how I need to word my invitations. Proper etiquette would be to omitt my father's name on the invitation; however, I'm not too comfort...
Answer From Sharon:
Hi Jessie: I can help, but I need a little bit more detail. Is your Mom hosting the wedding, or are you and your groom going to be the names up top? I ask because you could word your invitations as such, IF YOU ARE THE HOSTS: Jessie [full name], daughter of [mom] and the late [dad] and... Question:
This is both of our 2nd marriages, after long-term and successful 1st marriages that ended for each of us with the deaths of our spouses. We are in our early 50's and are trying to figure out what would be the best thing as far as seating for our parents. Our wedding ceremony will be taking pla...
Answer From Sharon:
Nope, there's no protocol saying that both sets of parents have to sit at the same table. So you're free to set up your seating charts so that they can sit with their own closest relatives and friends. Everyone mingles during the reception, so as long as one set of parents goes to visit with t... Question:
How are the Bridemaid and the flower girl are suppose to came out.
Answer From Sharon:
Most processionals begin with the bridesmaids, and then the Maid of Honor follows them, and then the flowergirl(s) walk right before the bride so that she/they can sprinkle the rose petals for the bride to walk on. Question:
We are trying to select a venue for 09/1010 from venues in sc and ga what is your opinion on greyfield inn
Answer From Sharon:
I wish I could help you, but I'm not able to suggest individual venues for ceremonies or receptions. But you *may* find other brides here on WeddingMapper who have experience at these sites. One of the great perks of WeddingMapper.com is that you have access to a big community of current and rece... Question:
My fiance and I are trying to plan a ceremony in Cape May, NJ on the beach. We are trying to plan everything by October 3rd of this year(less than 3 months away). It is very stressful and we have very little help, and to add our family doesn't seem excited. We sprung the news on them only a week ...
Answer From Sharon:
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It sounds delightful, and you can definitely pull it off in just a few months. :) I highly, highly suggest that you hire a wedding coordinator to help you figure out the time requirements for your beach space, and that person would coordinate the decorati... Question:
Hi Sharon, We are in the process of booking a band for our wedding. The manager of the band we really want said that they are generally available for our date, and sent us a booking form that requires we submit an offer along with the detailed lodging we'll be providing. In an email he'd sent t...
Answer From Sharon:
Wow, I can understand the confusion here. I wouldn't know how to submit an offer either, since it's so odd that they want lodging. Is this is a situation in which you're booking a band locally and asking them to perform at a destination wedding a few hours away? I can help you if you supply more ... Question:
My fiance and I have been best friends for over fifteen years, romance has been the last couple of years. We were wanting a small intimate wedding. My mother has died and the rest of our immediate family is heavily disfunctional. We have little support and are paying for everything on our own....
Answer From Sharon:
A great wedding coordinator is definitely going to be able to help you find your locations and match you up with vendors who can perform outdoors, etc. Visit www.bridalassn.com and ask brides on this site who they used, and you'll find the perfect expert to guide you!Sharon's Latest Book
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