Ooh La La Events

Maid of Honor: Continued

The MOH leads the bridesmaid troupe. She’ll make sure that every lady in your lineup has transportation and accommodations. (Keep in mind that Ooh La La Events is well-equipped to handle any of these tasks as well!) When the countdown comes, she’ll be the one to help keep you calm and remind you of how special the day is. During the ceremony, she holds the groom’s ring, and remind her that the safest place to keep it is on her thumb. If the wedding certificate is signed on sight, your MOH will be your witness. Now for the party. She’ll be in charge of keeping gift cards in a safe spot and will help serve as a hostess alongside you. Furthermore, she needs to remind you to eat, or to inform the wait-staff to keep your entree warm until you’re ready. After the best man gives a toast, she’ll have the option of toasting to you as a couple, which is a nice touch. She dances with the best man when the wedding party takes the floor for the first formal dance.

You’ll need her help changing out of your dress for the honeymoon, and she’ll be in charge of finding a safe place to keep it until you return. When you get back, she’ll be the one that helps bring you down to earth. She’ll have all of your gift cards and a compiled list of who to thank for which gifts. You’ll owe her a big thank you as she’ll have been your troubleshooter armed with tissues, hugs and good advice. She’ll have kept you laughing, because for a tense bride, laughter is often even better than venting.

Being asked to be the maid of honor is, well, an honor. However, when choosing your maid or matron of honor (MOH) it’s important for you to inform them of what the job entails. That way they can weigh their circumstances and either hop on board or gracefully bow out. After all, they’re your supporter before and after your big day – they don’t simply make an appearance. Here’s what you’ll need from them throughout the wedding process. A lot of these tasks can be taken care of by your wedding coordinator; it’s simply up to you to delegate certain jobs.

The MOH will be your go-to girl on shopping advice. That means she’ll help pick wedding colors, jewelry, bridesmaid dresses and possibly even your dress if you need help choosing. She needs to be aware that she’ll be paying for her own outfit, shoes included. As for gifts, she’ll help spread the word about where you’re registered, will help put together your bachelorette party and will host or co-host your shower. She’ll be in attendance at all of your pre-wedding functions and events. Basically your shadow. Maybe the most important thing she’ll do throughout all of your planning is be your sounding board and the one you’ll go to when you need a stress-relieving laugh.

More MOH tidbits to come…

It’s a simple calculation: more guests equals a higher wedding cost. That’s not to say that inviting loved ones to one of the best days of your life is less important than sticking to a budget, however the simplest way to minimize expenses is to go easy on the guest list. Early on, having a conservative mindset when considering invitations will make your wedding plans simpler as it gets closer to your big day. Here are a few good things to keep in mind as you sit down to create your list…
Make Categories

The top tier of a wedding cake is the most important, your guest list should be the same. Create tiers of importance for you and your fiancé. That way you’ll know your minimum and maximum numbers, and can work from there. First tier, people that you couldn’t imagine getting married without, like your grandparents. Second tier, close relatives. Remember the importance of family. Third tier, closest friends and extended relatives. Fourth tier, college friends, high school friends and new friends. Final tier, you and your family’s colleagues. Of course, sometimes these categories cross over depending on your relationships. Your best friend may be more important than an estranged uncle, but keeping a structure such as this will help. Remember, this has to be done for the groom’s side as well, so if your budget is 100 people, don’t be surprised when guests add up quickly.

Final Tips

Before making any tough decisions, do yourself a favor and align your mind, emotions and expectations so that you’re in sync with the parameters of your budget. Keep in mind that a wedding is not the time to reciprocate every social obligation weighing on you. It’s also not the time for your parents to accommodate their social obligations. They may be contributing financially, but this type of stress with detract from the point, which is witnessing a union. One final reminder: A wedding is not for the purpose of impressing anyone. Enjoy yourself, your planning a celebration!

Manners are how we live they are the principles of etiquette!