Able Wedding Services - Suggestions For A Perfect Wedding

Suggestions For A Perfect Wedding

Banquet & Reception

Choosing and planning a location to host your wedding and/or reception is something that should be done immediately. Meet with your clergy to find out available dates and times. Also, review your equipment needs and find out what will be provided at the facility: chairs, tables, stage, microphones, lighting and so forth. You can rent the extra equipment from a party rental store. If your budget permits, select a store that delivers and picks up. Be sure to have a backup plan if your wedding is outdoors in case of inclement weather. Also consider if you will have enough shade and/or the ability to keep the climate at a comfortable level.
When choosing a location for your rehearsal dinner or wedding breakfast, be sure to visit your intended site. You will want to ensure that your needs can be met. Be sure to consider the menu, size of the facility, parking, accessibility, atmosphere and other aspects of importance.
The most important things to consider in hosting a banquet or reception are the number of people invited, the formality of the event and the budget. Other questions to ask: Will someone else be using the place before or after us? Can we use the room if we arrive a little earlier or stay a little later than planned? How much time will we have to decorate beforehand? What is the overtime charge? Is there adequate parking? Are the restroom facilities satisfactory?
Once you've narrowed your choices down to a few favourites, be sure to personally visit each site before making a reservation, keeping in mind size, layout and ambiance.
Be flexible. If you've found your dream location but it's not available when you want it, you may need to shuffle your plans a bit. This is one area that gets sticky the longer you wait, so deciding on a different day or time may be something you'll have to consider.
Be honest about what you can afford. This saves everyone time. A realistic budget serves as an important guideline, and time or money-saving recommendations can be made when caterers and site managers know your price range. Often times reception facilities will offer packages that cover all of the services and items you will need.
Be sure you understand when overtime goes into effect. If your reception lingers on longer than expected, be prepared to pay a larger bill. The typical wedding reception should last between three and four hours. This should be ample time for all of your invited guests to wish you well and enjoy some time to socialize.
If plans are made in advance, a video history of the bride and groom can be shown. A professional videographer can take still photographs of the bride and groom, set them to music, and create a keepsake video montage that will be cherished for years to come.

Bridal Attire

Shop early. The ordering and fitting process can take up to six months. Ask about any extra costs up front; many brides are surprised to find out at their fitting that gown alterations cost extra. Ask about this and any other fees when ordering your dress.
Take along a few pictures of your favourite styles. This will give your consultant ideas about what you're interested in. It also helps avoid wasting time on styles you already know you don't want. Obviously, you want the dress to be figure flattering. A few suggestions: A-lines and princess cuts are slimming and create the illusion of height. A Basque waist and full skirt emphasizes hips. Dropped waists look good on almost any figure, and big sleeves look elegant on those with small shoulders and arms.
Get as much information as you can about the clothing before you leave the store, including cost, alteration charges, pick-up date and return policy. Make sure the pick-up date is well in advance of your event, and get a copy of your order or receipt with a guaranteed delivery date. Most shops request a 50 percent deposit upon ordering, and bridal apparel purchases are generally non-cancellable.
If you are unable to find the perfect dress and veil consider having them custom made. A professional seamstress can create a one-of-a-kind gown and veil that will meet your exact wishes.
When shopping for bridesmaid dresses, remember that if the men will be in tuxedos the women should be in longer dresses that are still shorter than the bride's dress. Choose a style that will flatter all your bridesmaids, paying especially close attention to the backs (that's what the guests will see during the ceremony). Each bridesmaid can purchase her own shoes, but have them all dyed at the same location to guarantee both comfort and the right colour.
Bridesmaids' dresses should be selected about the same time you choose your wedding dress. You will want to find out what colours will be available before making your decision. If you have your mind set on a particular colour you may be disappointed to learn that it isn't in fashion this year. However, you should be able to find colours that are close to what you have in mind.
If the men's clothing will be rented for the event, orders should be placed six to eight weeks in advance. A week before the event, go to the store for personal fittings.
Shortly after your wedding, you must have your gown professionally preserved. Not all dry cleaners are up-to-date in this area, so find one who specializes in this service. Make certain that the dry cleaner will not only clean and remove spots from your special dress, but also preserve it with a process to prevent yellowing, and enfold it in acid free paper that won't react chemically with the fabric.

Cakes & Candles

The wedding cake is often considered the focal point of the reception and a final remembrance of a couple's wedding day. It may be ordered from a caterer, a bakery or a patisserie that specializes in wedding cakes. Hotels that cater weddings sometimes provide a cake made by their own chefs as part of their service. The top tier of the cake is traditionally saved and frozen for the bride and groom to serve when they return from their honeymoon, or on their first anniversary.
Before ordering the cake, you will need to choose from a variety of shapes, sizes, flavours, colour schemes and decorations. It can be as big or small as you like: a five-tiered beauty complete with handmade sugar flowers and bows, or a simple one-tiered cake topped with fresh flowers in season. If it's variety you like, consider a cake with different flavours in each tier - a sort of Neapolitan-style cake. Favourite cake flavours include lemon, chocolate, hazelnut, butter rum, almond, orange and spice. Another idea: how about a cheesecake for your wedding cake? It can be topped with a cream cheese frosting or decorated with fresh fruit or flowers.
Order early, especially if you're planning a summer wedding. Three to four months before the wedding, reserve the cake, including the approximate number of guests. Then call back and confirm with actual numbers several weeks before. Prices are usually figured on a per-slice amount, so be sure to ask how big the slices will be.
Ask your baker to provide you with instructions for cutting and serving your cake. The bigger and more elegant the cake, the trickier this job becomes. Decide who will serve the cake, and supply the instructions to that person.
Have your cake delivered to you, even if it costs a little extra. The last thing you need to worry about on your wedding day is a lot of extra details and you will want a professional to be responsible for getting your cake to you in perfect condition.
Mints or truffles can be coordinated with your colours and decorations. You may want to use these as accessories to place by the cake, drawing attention to your elegant cake and adding a special touch. Consider candy bars with personalized wrappers that detail your names and wedding date.
The cutting of the cake is generally the highlight of the reception. The groom places his hand over the bride's hand on the knife and together they cut the first piece. This sharing of the first piece of cake symbolizes the bride and grooms willingness to share their lives with each other.

Catering

When catering for a crowd, the most important considerations are space, menu and service. Professional caterers can help with big parties and take the worry out of cooking and cleanup, as well as providing necessary tableware. Depending on available space, the caterer will advise you on a seating plan that is suitable for the number of guests you've invited. If there will be more than 50 people at your event, you should definitely have a seating plan and place cards. Try to put people together who you feel will like each other, and give special thought to potential problems like family feuds.
You can estimate the number of guests at the first consultation, and give the caterer a more accurate number as the event approaches. Your contract should stipulate a cut-off date for specifying a firm number.
What to serve should be determined by the time of day you decide to host your event. Hors d'oeuvres are good for afternoon parties, while various foods and drinks are appropriate to serve at breakfast, lunch or dinner time events. If you're serving a full meal, it's a good idea to send an RSVP card along with the invitation, although many people won't respond.
Ask caterers for suggestions on accommodating extra people. Some businesses provide an additional 10 percent and apply it to your bill. Get estimates from various caterers for the same menu and ask about prices, portions, and what's included. If the food will be delivered, ask how it will be transported to ensure it arrives at the right temperature.
Discuss your reception in detail with your caterer. Take advantage of his or her knowledge and experience about receiving line procedures, and ask for suggestions on menu and location favourites.
Consider setting up a series of food stations rather than one long buffet table. This not only cuts down on long lines, but also pleases guests by offering them more variety. A few ideas: pasta, salad, meat and dessert tables.
Consider a theme. Many caterers offer theme catering. Theme catering is something unique and different you may want to consider to add a nice touch to your next celebration.

Decorations

Decoration and party supply shops provide a wealth of supplies and ideas for nearly any event. You can get lots of decorating ideas by visiting rental shops while still in the planning stages. In addition to streamers and bells, many party shops can help coordinate your event by offering matching napkins, tablecloths and plastic dinnerware. Pick up a few brochures while you're browsing to compare styles, variety and prices.
Reserve rental items as far in advance as possible. Outdoor events are especially popular during the summer months, so the sooner you reserve your items, the better off you'll be.
Ask about deposits and whether rental fees include delivery, setup and pickup. Many rental shops will deliver and set up items for an additional fee. Have someone supervise and direct delivery so everything will be set up the way you envision it. If you're planning on having someone pick up or return items to save money, be sure that person is reliable. You will be charged for items that are damaged, broken, lost or late, so make sure they're returned safely.
Choose decorations that will complement the reception site you've reserved, keeping in mind that prices will vary depending on the formality of your event.
If you're going to be decorating with lots of balloons, consider renting a helium tank to save money. Balloons are an excellent and inexpensive way to decorate for any event. They can be used to draw attention to things you may want highlighted: an arch over an entrance, buffet table, a photo display. Balloons come in virtually every colour to match your party scheme. Heart and other shapes of balloons are becoming increasingly popular. Be sure to check guidelines at the site you've reserved, however, to make sure balloons are allowed.
A big backyard is ideal for hosting a party under a rented tent, and rented portable heaters can do wonders in terms of comfort and atmosphere. Nearly everything you need for a party can be rented, including plants, fountains and waterfalls.
If you really want to add a touch of class to your wedding, consider a live dove release. Doves mate for life and beautifully symbolize your commitment to each other.
A personalized, hand-carved ice sculpture can add class and romance to a reception or other special event. Ice sculptures usually range in size from two to five feet in height and are carved from 300- to 600-pound blocks of clear ice. You should request that a drawing of the final design be supplied before contracting the sculpture, and specify that the sculpture be hand carved rather than cast in a mould.

Flowers

It is recommended that you choose a florist that specializes in weddings not one that merely "does them on the side". Book your florist well in advance, especially if you will be having a summer wedding.
Bring along fabric swatches, photos or descriptions of wedding attire, colour samples and favourite flower suggestions when meeting with your florist for the first time. This will give him or her the best idea of what you've got in mind, and you can be advised on the best flowers for different uses and occasions. A formal bouquet can consist of a long-stemmed arm arrangement, a spray or an elegant cascade.
To stay within your budget, choose flowers that are in season rather than those that need to be imported. Bulb flowers such as tulips, anemones and daffodils are good choices for spring, as well as roses and blossoms such as peach, cherry and apple. Lilies, stephanotis, varieties of carnations and roses are good choices for summer through autumn. An assortment of white flowers, including roses, stephanotis, carnations, orchids and gardenias are best for winter, complemented by a touch of evergreen.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen should have boutonnieres and corsages that coordinate but are different from the bride's and grooms. Mothers, grandmothers, servers and other special people should also have corsages. Fathers, grandfathers and ushers should wear boutonnieres.
Make arrangements with your florist to have a bouquet for your bridal portrait. Since bridal portraits are often taken days or even weeks before the wedding this detail is often overlooked.
As an additional keepsake of your wedding, have your bouquet professionally preserved. Several drying methods are available including: sand drying, silica gel, freeze drying and also the unique avenue of pressed floral art. Each option offers different benefits in floral preservation. Certain flowers preserve better with each technique. Contact your preservation specialist for care and handling tips and instructions on appropriate framing and displaying.
If you plan to preserve your bouquet, order a smaller replica for the bouquet tossing ceremony. The florist can make a cheaper version at a lower cost.

Gift Registries

Friends and family should be notified by word of mouth about where the couple is registered after the engagement has been announced. Registries are usually a free service, and you can register at more than one location. Registering allows guests to know the gifts you would most like to have, and allows you to choose the styles and colours you desire.
Be sure to choose and list items of all prices in order to accommodate the budgets of all your guests. The cheese grater your little sister brings to the wedding will mean as much in future years as the flatware set from your great aunt.
When you are ready to register, use your imagination. Nowadays you can register at all sorts of places: department stores, travel agencies, grocery stores, music stores - wherever your lifestyles and interests lead you! When someone asks you what you'd like for your wedding, you can answer by telling them where you're registered. They will appreciate knowing.
You can register in several different cities. For example, you could register for linens in his hometown and china where you live. Many stores now have computerized listings, so out-of-town guests can make purchases at a branch of a store where you've registered. The computer will keep track of those purchases, too.
Check your registry lists occasionally to update them with items you have received. This way guests will see which items you've already received and can plan their purchases accordingly. China, stemware and crystal, linens, silver and flatware are common items selected through a registry.
It is a good idea is to write thank you notes as soon as gifts are received. Waiting until after the honeymoon can create an overwhelming experience. It also shows your appreciation for the gifts received.

Homes & Apartments

The first question you will need to answer regarding your new residence will be whether to rent or buy. Both options offer their advantages, but which makes the most sense depends on many factors. Your combined income will be your first consideration. How much can you afford to pay each month in rent or toward a mortgage? A general rule of thumb is to plan on spending no more than 30-35 percent of your combined monthly income to cover all debts. This would include rent or mortgage payments as well as car loans, credit cards and any other outstanding debts. Knowing how much you can afford each month will help you determine what possibilities are available.
There are many other factors to consider before making your decision. How long will you be living in the area? When you graduate will you likely receive job offers in another area? Are you in a stable career and unlikely to be moving anytime soon? If you are likely to be moving in the near future, renting might be the better option. Another important consideration is location. What area do you want to live in? Can you afford to buy in that particular neighbourhood or would renting be more within your means?
Renting is often the more affordable option for new couples. Location will obviously be your first consideration when choosing an apartment. Living far from work or school can create a lot of unnecessary commuting. Apartment communities offer many amenities that most newlyweds can't afford to purchase. Swimming pools, health spas and fitness centres are available at many of these newer communities. When looking at a potential apartment, it is wise to talk with current residents to determine how satisfied they are with the living arrangements.
Purchasing might be more realistic than you would imagine. A loan officer will be able to help you determine what type of loan and how much you can qualify for. They are committed to helping you get into a home without getting in over your head. Initial consultations are free and can be very informative. You will want to be prepared with information about your combined income and outstanding debts so that the loan officer can determine how much you can afford to pay each month toward a mortgage.
Once you have determined a realistic price range you will want to find a real estate agent to work with. Trying to buy a home without the help of a professional estate agent can prove to be a costly mistake. The seller pays all commissions so these services are free to the buyer. A qualified agent will be able to find several homes that meet your needs and fall within your price range. This will allow you to get an even better idea about what you can afford to buy.

Honeymoon Planning

Often times, a newlywed couple does not leave for the honeymoon trip until a day or two after the wedding. Many local hotels or bed and breakfasts offer special honeymoon packages that allow the couple to start the honeymoon before actually leaving town.
It is important to make sure that your out-of-town guests are comfortable and well taken care of. Most hotels offer free airport shuttle for your wedding or business guests.
Be sure to ask about discount rates for several guests reserving rooms at the same location. This doesn't just save money - it allows guests to get acquainted and simplifies transportation arrangements. But make sure you've got firm commitments before making final reservations.
Guests will greatly appreciate a "welcome basket" in the mail prior to the celebration, complete with an itinerary, city map and perhaps a few lists on special restaurants in the area, entertainment, and suggestions for sightseeing in the area.
To help wedding attendants keep on top of the details their positions involve, you might want to present each of them with a planning calendar.
Some hotels and motels offer special services for your guests, like providing transportation to and from your event. Ask what kinds of amenities are provided. The basic complimentary items include toiletries, writing supplies and fruit baskets. Some hotels provide in-house dry cleaning or beauty salon services. Arranging for a newspaper to be delivered at the door each morning and other small niceties will make your guests feel special.
Sit down with your fiancé? and discuss the kind of trip you have in mind. Once you've narrowed your choices down, ask if there is a honeymoon-package price. Many businesses will throw in a discount or free gift if they know you're newlyweds.
Planning with a travel agency will help you save money. Agencies can provide information about different vacation packages, reduced airline fares, and resort discounts. They will make your reservations for you, arrange for your transportation, and take care of many other details at no cost to you.
Select your travel agent carefully. You want someone who is willing to work within your budget and who takes your ideas into consideration. Ask for recommendations from people you know who had a good travel experience. A good agent will give helpful advice on currency exchange, passports and clothing requirements. If you're planning a honeymoon, a good agent will also mention it to hotel personnel when making reservations. Newlyweds often get special treatment.
Leave a copy of your itinerary and phone numbers with your family, and arrange for someone to keep an eye on your home or apartment while you're away. If you plan on driving, have your car thoroughly checked before leaving on your trip.

Invitations

Once you've decided on the invitation style, ink colour and font you desire, check and re-check the wording you've requested to be printed. Pay special attention to dates, times, and spelling of names and places. Make it clear whether a period is required after an initial.
When ordering the announcements, order 25 to 50 extra. Order extra envelopes to replace address errors and make last-minute additions. Otherwise, you may have to place an entirely different order, which can often cost as much as the first 300 invitations you initially purchased. Also, request that the printer send your mailing envelopes in advance so you can begin addressing them immediately.
When writing thank you notes, don't mention if a gift was duplicated or exchanged. Also, don't mention when a gift has been damaged in transit, unless it is insured. Thank you notes should be written within two weeks after receiving a gift and no later than a month after the honeymoon.
Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks before the wedding. Envelopes should be handwritten in black ink, not typed, and should not include abbreviations, except for Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., or Jr. The outer envelope should have your return address, while the inner envelope is simply labelled "Mr. and Mrs ... Children's names are written on a line below that of the parents. The inner envelope should be left unsealed; it will hold the invitation and enclosure. Invitations should face the envelope flap, and tissue paper should be placed over the writing. It's safe to invite more people than you expect will attend, since experience shows approximately 25 percent of those you invite won't be able to make it.
Consider ordering thank you notes from the same company that supplies your invitations. Many printers offer a discount when they are chosen to supply all of the stationary needs.
You'll want to start writing thank you notes as soon as you receive the first wedding gift, otherwise, you might never catch up. Tackling just a few thank-you notes at a time will help you to be more personal and sincere than if you try to finish a whole stack in one sitting.

Jewellery

Shop early to allow time for sizing and engraving of the bride's and groom's rings. Some engraving considerations might include your wedding date, initials or a short message of love. You may want to consider matching rings for you and your fiancé. Whatever you do, be sure to have your rings insured as soon as possible. Discuss this detail with your insurance agent.
Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride should move her engagement ring to her right hand. Once the ceremony is over and the wedding ring has been placed on her left hand, the engagement ring can go back on the same finger as the wedding band.
When looking for a ring, consider the "four C's." Cut: A well-cut diamond creates scintillation and sparkle when placed in the light. Colour: The best colour for a diamond is no colour - it allows white light to pass through it effortlessly. Clarity: Most diamonds have tiny natural marks called inclusions. The fewer the inclusions and the smaller they are, the better the diamond. Carat-weight: A standardized system has been developed to measure gems. One carat equals 0.2 grams. A carat is divided into 100 points. Fifty points, for example, weighs half a carat.
Diamonds come in many shapes and are recognized by different names. A round diamond is called a "brilliant." A square shaped diamond is called "princess." Elliptical diamonds are called "marquise," and a rectangular shape is known as an "emerald" cut. Heart and pear shaped diamonds are called just that - "heart" and "pear," while diamonds that look like eggs are called "oval."
Although the most popular stone for brides and grooms is the diamond, many couples are now opting for different gems. Like the diamond, each of the other gems has a history and meaning. Here are just a few: amethyst - perfection; aquamarine - intelligence and courage; emerald -happiness in the home and successful relationships; garnet - loyalty, stability and true friendship; ruby - true love; sapphire - truth and faithfulness. Many women choose to wear their birthstone. The following is a list of birthstones and their corresponding months.

January	Garnet	July	Ruby
February	Amethyst	August	Sardonyx or Peridot
March	Aquamarine	September	Sapphire
April	Diamond	October	Opal or Tourmaline
May	Emerald	November	Topaz
June	Pearl, Moonstone or Alexandrite	December	Zircon

Music

Having a good relationship with the musicians or disc jockey you hire is important for the success of your event. Never choose a band or musician until you've heard them play. What is their style? How versatile can they be? A good band or entertainer will be able to adapt to the setting, and you should be able to dictate what type of music is played during different stages of the celebration. Go over song choices in advance, but allow some flexibility with the order of songs.
Reserve your musicians as soon as possible - especially if your event has been planned during a peak season. Many popular bands or musicians take reservations as much as a year in advance. Also, check with your facility for time limitations with music. Some ordinances require that music be stopped as early as 10 p.m. if the facility is located near homes or other private living quarters.
Before deciding on your choice of music, ask if there are any selections that your church won't allow. Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" from the opera Lohengrin and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's Dream are both popular wedding pieces that many churches consider inappropriate.
Background music is usually played during the first hour of your event. This allows guests to introduce themselves and mingle, so make sure the music during this stage of the party doesn't overwhelm guests or interfere with socializing.
It's likely that you will have people of various ages at the celebration, so keep that in mind when selecting music. Choose songs that will appeal to a wide range of ages and musical tastes. If there will be dancing, intersperse softer tunes with current favourites.
Things to include in contract:
- Name of band leader and band.
- Number of musicians playing.
- Hourly and overtime rates.
- Will we be billed for partial hours played as whole hours?
- How many breaks will be taken by musicians, if any?
- When is payment due?
- Explain your wishes carefully.
- Get written confirmation of booking and fee.

Photography

Review samples with a few photographers before deciding on the style (formal, casual, traditional or contemporary). Ask for references, and look closely at pictures in the albums. If you like the photographer's style, it's a good sign you'll be happy with the job he or she does for you. But you'll still need to discuss your expectations and ask about both formal and candid pictures.
Make arrangements to have a bouquet for your bridal portrait. Since bridal portraits are often taken days or even weeks before the wedding this detail is often overlooked.
Before choosing a photographer, make sure you can select the pictures you want. Also, get a firm price in writing. Ask how many pictures will be included in the album; what the charge is for extra prints, and make sure the photographer will take the pictures you request. Once you're in complete agreement, make sure you get the exact photographer you want by including a "no substitute clause "in the contract.
It's a good idea to assign someone to assist the photographer, pointing out special people to include in the photographs. Let the photographer know in advance about special considerations, such as divorced or deceased parents. By all means, give the photographer a list of people you want included in the pictures before the wedding day. This will help ensure your satisfaction.
Decide beforehand when you want photos taken. Pre-ceremony photos will save time and allow you to get to the reception faster, but can also ruin the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the ceremony.
Candid photographs add a nice touch to any wedding album. The majority of wedding photographs consist of formal, posed portraits. You may want to discuss with your photographer your desire for candid shots during the festivities.
Consider requesting a few pictures be taken in black and white. These will give your portraits a classic look, one that you'll be proud to display for years to come.
It is very important to plan enough time for photography. If you are being married in an LDS Temple be sure to allow two hours between your ceremony and wedding breakfast or luncheon. Also ask the members of your wedding party to arrive at least two hours before your reception for photographs. Nothing is more frustrating to professional photographers than being rushed when trying to capture the most important day of your life. It is also rude to make your guests wait while you take photographs after the scheduled starting time.

Transportation

Hiring a limousine, horse-drawn carriage or private jet to transport you or your guests adds elegance to your special day. Before making reservations, be sure to ask questions. If you're told the limousine seats six people, inquire whether that means five in the back and one up front with the driver; it depends on the rental company and type of car you're ordering. Also, if it's a horse and carriage you've got your eye on, don't forget to request one with a hood - you never know when it's going to rain.
The arrival of the wedding party at the ceremony starts with the mother, maid of honour and bridesmaids, followed by other attendants. The bride should follow in the third car, accompanied by her father. The groom and his best man should make their own travel arrangements, but should arrive no later than 30 minutes before the ceremony.
Ask friends and relatives who live close by to help with the transportation of outof-town guests. Make a list of people who need to be picked up and give a copy of that list to each driver. They should know where to be, when to be there, and who they are bringing with them. Maps and directions can be included in the list if they weren't included in the invitations.
Many transportation companies offer a wedding package including pickup at the bride's home, followed by trips to the ceremony and the reception. After explaining your plans, ask whether, in your case, an hourly charge would be more economical than the wedding package. Also ask what the charge is if you exceed the allotted time, whether the gratuity is included in the fee, and whether extras (like a TV, VCR, tapes and CD player in a limousine) will be included.
Signs, photos, flowers, tin cans, shoes and shoe polish are appropriate items to use for decorating the bride and groom's getaway car. Heavy-duty tape, twine, soap and shaving cream can also be used and safely removed. But avoid using paint, which can damage the car, and balloons, which can scare the driver and cause an accident.
Reservations should be made at least six weeks in advance.
If you want to add a touch of class to your special event, you should consider a professional valet service to handle all of your parking needs. A valet service is surprisingly affordable and will not only class-up your event, but will also eliminate unnecessary headaches.

Tuxedos

The type of tuxedo or formal wear should be determined by the setting, time of day, degree of formality and season of the year. For weddings, the groom, best man, ushers and fathers should all wear the same type of suit. Ushers' ascots or ties should be alike, but should differ from the groom's and best man's.
The groom's clothing should be classic - black, dark blue or gray. Shoes, socks and other accessories should not detract attention from the bride. The tux can be single- or double-breasted, and the lapels can have little points, or notches. A standard wraparound is also a good choice.
Instruct each participant to pick up his own tuxedo. They should be fitted for the entire outfit before leaving the store. The best guideline to looking great in a tux is getting a perfect fit. Last minute adjustments or replacements usually aren't a problem, but getting everyone fitted in advance helps avoid the hassle altogether.
Formal wear shops can supply out-of-town guests with measurement cards you can slip into the mail. Most clothing and alteration shops provide complimentary fittings, so encourage participants to send their measurements back to you early.
Ask for group discounts when you're going to be renting formal wear from the same shop. Many formal wear stores provide group rates, discounts or rebates for events like yours.
If you would like to have a truly unique wedding experience, consider kilts. Scottish kilts add a special touch to any wedding and are sure to create an event that will long be remembered.

Video Services

The professional videographer you choose is at least as important as the professional photographer you use. Your videographer will capture the sights, sounds, and emotions of each wedding day event and craft an unforgettable record of your important day that will become a cherished family heirloom. If you feel that a well-meaning relative or friend can produce a video that will compare in quality to a professional production, you are going to be very disappointed.
Because professional quality wedding videography is a highly complex process, you are strongly advised to take special care in selecting a videography company with many years of experience and an excellent reputation among former customers, photographers, reception centres, caterers, and other industry professionals who see and evaluate videographers every day. Wedding videography is a profession, not just a hobby.
Make sure the videographer's equipment is state-of-the-art. Verify that back-up equipment will be on site. Ask to view samples of previous work. Find out how long he or she has truly been in business. Look for professional creativity, bright, clear, rich videography, and special effects that enhance the scene, not detract from it. The audio should also be crisp and clear.
A traditional wedding video includes a photo history (baby pictures of bride and groom, pictures taken while dating, etc.) The video is often set to music chosen by you and your fiancé, with special effects between pictures generally included. This can be shown at the reception. Your videographer should offer a wide range of productions from which to choose. Such productions may include Bridal Portrait Video, Courtship photo transfer, Love Story, Coverage of a special luncheon or dinner, formal videography session, coverage of rehearsal events, bridesmaids' Spa Day, bridal shower coverage, video recap of the entire day, inclusion of credits at the end of your video, and a showing of completed productions at luncheons, receptions, or other key events. You should decide how many locations you want the videographer to include. A fun idea is to have your videographer interview some of your guests. You may also decide to bring back some of your favourite honeymoon pictures to create a separate honeymoon segment.
Inform your officiate and anyone in charge of scheduling and overseeing special use of the facilities to be used for your wedding if you are planning to have a videographer. Different churches have specific rules or guidelines as to how videographers and photographers are to conduct themselves. Some locations restrict the use of cameras and camcorders, so you should make arrangements accordingly.
Make arrangements for the videographer to visit the site before the ceremony unless he or she is already familiar with it. When possible, your videographer should attend the wedding rehearsal to become familiar with the ceremony and discuss specific production issues with officiate, bride, and groom. Make sure your photographer and videographer have worked out their respective time and logistics needs to avoid confusion on your special day.