Expert Advice from wedding guru, Sharon Naylor
ASK SHARON A QUESTION
Question:
What is proper etiquette for seating divorced parents of the bride/groom for the wedding ceremony in a church setting? What is the proper order of seating grandparents/parents/siblings? Groom's family first? Bride's family first? alternate?
Answer From Sharon:
The divorced parents will often put their troubles aside to share the front row. If the bride's father will escort her down the aisle, he will then take his place in the front row or pew. This does present a challenge, since his date or spouse would then need to be next to him, pushing the mother... Question:
We would like to have our ceremony and reception on the beach. I would like and try to work with one planner or one company that handles everything from the ceremony to the reception in Key West, Florida. There are so many choices of vendors that i'm finding it hard to even find out if i could ev...
Answer From Sharon:
I would contact a great wedding coordinator in the area who knows all about getting permits, and the best locations that provide beach access, vendors to hire, etc. Check with wedding couples here on Wedding Mapper, and go to www.bridalassn.com to find qualified, accredited wedding coordinators i... Question:
Hi Sharon,
My fiance and I are plannin our wedding for june 2011. We have a lot of details figured out but we were discussing the idea of having a unity part of our ceremony. Is there anything other than a candle that we can use for that part? Also, we have a son together who will be 18 mont...
Answer From Sharon:
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I'm glad you asked about the unity ritual for your service. What's becoming really popular right now is the unity sand ritual -- you and your groom each have a glass container filled with the same or different colors of sand -- usually two neutral col... Question:
My father's girlfriend and her 14 year old son finally moved in to my old house with him. She has 3 other grown children that live in the city. I've met all of my potential step-siblings a couple of times now (family vacation and Christmas) and I'm going to see them at least a few more times befo...
Answer From Sharon:
That's a fantastic question, and it's completely up to you if you'd like to invite them. Since it sounds like you're going to be socializing as a family for holidays and having visits often, it sounds like you're establishing relationships with your new step-siblings, so I would extend invitation... Question:
we are having a destentation wedding in St.Augustine beach,FL. then coming home to washington to have the reception..Can I still where my dress or is that tacky?
Answer From Sharon:
Yes, you absolutely can wear your dress at the post-destination-wedding celebration! Mist brides do just that, wanting to show off their style, and it looks fantastic even if guests are dressed only semi-formally. I was just at a post-destination wedding celebration where the groom wore a suit, t... Question:
Hi Sharon, Our wedding is in May, and as the Groom, my family is responsible for planning the rehearsal dinner. I'm working with my Mom & Dad, but not really sure where to start. I wanted to ask you what are the most important essentials that we cannot forget.
Answer From Sharon:
Start by finding a great location that works with your budget, maybe a restaurant's party room -- always try to find a private space in a restaurant, not a long table that doesn't provde the kind of privacy you need for toasts. Some restaurants can get loud. When you know the headcount allowed in... Question:
Hi Sharon, I didn't really see any topics on the rehearsal dinner the night before the big day. Our wedding is in May, and as the Groom, my family is responsible for planning the rehearsal dinner. I'm working with my Mom & Dad, but not really sure where to start. I wanted to ask you what are t...
Answer From Sharon:
Great question! Teh rehearsal dinner can be any theme you want it to be...usually planned to be very different in style and menu from the wedding itself. So if you're doing the traditional wedding reception with the cocktail party stations and the sit-down dinner of appetizer, beef or salmon, etc... Question:
My Fiance and I are getting married in June 2011. He wants to do a causual dress pig roast, hawaiian themed reception becasue we are going to hawaii for out honeymoon. My family if fighting me on it saying that some people are not going to like that option. Im also having a difficlut time to f...
Answer From Sharon:
Great question, and you're going to help a LOT of people with this one :] In one of my books, I wrote about a groom who wanted a Neew England clambake for the wedding reception, but all of that seafood was going to be too expensive for the wedding guest list. I suggested that they do the clamb... Question:
I trying to decide whether or not to invite children to our wedding and have an "all or nothing" question. If we invite young cousins/nieces/nephews of the bride and groom do we have to invite the children of every other guest, specifically co-workers's kids?
Answer From Sharon:
No, not at all! It's perfectly fine to draw the line where it works best for you. Co-workers and bosses rarely expect to have their kids invited, so you're going to be in the clear on that one. For our wedding, we allowed our closest family and friends to bring their kids, as well as a few nei... Question:
I am not a big flower person so i was looking at doing feather fans to walk with me and the girls but im affraid it will seam tackey the fans will match the wedding colors (help)
Answer From Sharon:
Feathers are in for weddings, and this sounds like a fabulous idea! Just be sure to keep the feathers on the subtle side, as an accent to a fabric or balsa fan, and not an oversized all-feather fan that can seem more costume-like. Feathers make great accents and are very popular now. Sounds like ...Sharon's Latest Book
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