Real Weddings: My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to witness and be part of the wonderful wedding celebration of Pete and Penny. Both the bride and groom are long-standing members of the Greek community in Calgary, Alberta, so it only made sense that the wedding would take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in a rich cultural celebration full of tradition and family heritage.

The bride spent the morning with her bridesmaids getting ready at her Koumbara’s house (kind of like your godmother/religious sponsor and maid of honor all wrapped up in one). With the main wedding color being bright fuchsia pink, the bridesmaids’ bouquets were made up of hot pink gerbera daisies, while the bride’s was made up of a combination of white and pink, always classic, roses. Once ready, they arrived in style at the church in a Bentley Rolls Royce.

Four talented young musicians from Balmoral Traditional Learning Centre (where the groom’s brother teaches) provided the ceremony music, including selections from Pachebel’s Canon in D as the processional, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (J.S. Bach) for the signing of the marriage license, and Trumpet Voluntary (J. Clarke) for the recessional. The girls were placed in the choir loft at the back of the church, and as one wedding guest exclaimed, it sounded like “angels from heaven” as they played.

The ceremony itself was beautiful and poignant, with most of the words in ancient Greek. It is a ceremony that has remained unchanged for centuries and is full of symbolism. It included the Service of Betrothal, where the priest blessed the rings followed by the Koumbaro (couple’s religious sponsor and best man) swaps the rings three times between the bride and groom’s fingers, representing the Holy Trinity. It was followed by the Crowning, where the bride and groom are crowned with flowered crowns, or stefana, which are joined by a white ribbon. The ribbon represents the couple's unity and the crowns signify the couple's new role of king and queen of their dynasty (their home and future children); which they should rule with wisdom, justice and integrity. Finally, the priest led the bride and groom on the Ceremonial Walk, where they circle the altar three times, taking their first steps together as man-and-wife.

At the end of the ceremony, the couple escaped the church only to be literally showered by uncooked rice tossed from the many guests who had attended, for good wishes of fertility and felicity.

The reception was also rich in tradition. Held at Calgary’s Glencoe Club, guests had their photos taken upon arrival and wrote messages that will be matched up with their pictures later. One special feature on the signing table was framed photographs of the bride and groom’s engagement photos, along with wedding photos of both of their parents. A simple, yet effective idea to include family heritage.

The delicious cake was made by a friend of the bride. Covered in white fondant, the fuchsia and black geometric designs and pink gerberas helped continue with the bride’s vision for the decor. Although cut prior to dinner, it was served along with the late night snack.

After an amazing dinner, the party really got started! Music is a huge part of any Greek wedding and there was dancing long into the night. A combination of traditional Greek dances and pop music was played throughout the evening to keep everyone entertained. And what Greek wedding would be complete without the breaking of plates for good luck! When guests finally left for the evening, they were able to take favors of olive oil or ouzo, direct from Greece, to which bonbonierres were attached (an odd number of almond candies coated in white chocolate that are wrapped in netting).

It was a wonderful day with an incredible ceremony followed by a fabulous evening of fun and laughter! Even the weather was beautiful with sunny skies, perfect for the wedding photos. What more could a couple ask for? On behalf of Creative Weddings and Occasions, we wish Pete and Penny all the best as they begin this new chapter of their lives together. Congratulations!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

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Five Reasons To Hire A Wedding Planner

[Editor’s Note: I stumbled across this article the other day by Laura Hart and quite frankly, it says it all…]

Five Reasons To Use A Wedding Planner
By Laura Hart

A wedding can be an incredibly scary undertaking, especially when you’re not sure where to start.

Weddings are among the most beautiful, yet most stressful events we have to look forward to in our lives. So why not invite a professional to lend a hand? There are a plethora of things in our daily lives that we need help with. A wedding should be no exception.
It can be scary to put your special moment into someone else’s hands, but with a little research, I think you will agree that going it alone is a far scarier prospect.

Time
Planning a wedding takes an incredible amount of time, especially if you want it done right. Depending on the type of wedding you are looking to have, you may find it difficult to plan it all on your own. Having a wedding planner is like having a personal assistant who is there to do all of the calling, ordering, and looking after details that you may not have time to deal with.

As human beings, we often fall victim to procrastination. In what can be an extremely high-stress situation, there is little room for putting things off. Many women go into the wedding planning process without knowing the first thing about timelines, and that can lead to some preventable disasters down the road. Do not waste another minute worrying about what you don’t have time to do. Get back on track by hiring a wedding planner.

Knowledge
Here’s a novel idea: Wedding planners plan weddings! Have you or your friends and family ever planned a wedding before? I’m going to venture to say the answer is no, and even if the answer is yes, I’m sure it hasn’t been many. So why are you leaving one of the most important days of your life up to amateurs?

Well-known and respected wedding planners have been doing their job successfully for quite some time, so they know where to find the best flowers, the best photographers, and the most original centerpieces. It is their job to listen to your dreams and make them a reality, so why would you settle for anything less? There is very little that a good wedding planner can’t do. Let them be the professionals they were meant to be, and give yourself a chance to enjoy the engagement.

Support
Let’s face it; men are not always the best partners when it comes to a planning wedding. They would rather let you choose the color combinations, flower arrangements, cake flavors and seating arrangements. After all, this is your wedding, not theirs. Many brides rely on mothers, sisters and best friends to help with the details, but I say you should turn to someone who can provide the ultimate guidance and be completely honest.

Wedding planners are as much there to lend support as they are to take control. Sometimes planning a wedding can seem like an impossible task, but a wedding planner has numerous lists giving him or her instant access to the best of everything, including books full of stunning displays to bring your ideas to life. Go ahead and add another friend to your wedding entourage – after all, it’s true what they say about safety in numbers.

Affordability

Weddings can be an expensive undertaking, and while hiring a wedding planner can seem like a superfluous cost, it could save you money in the long-run. Wedding planners have valuable connections with every central name in the business, which afford them discounts and special advantages that would not be open to just anyone.

They will also work within a budget, so as long as your eyes are not bigger than your wallet, they should be able to give you everything you desire, and perhaps a little more. Also, it is not uncommon for so-called “professionals” such as photographers or deejays to take advantage of unsuspecting brides and grooms. A wedding planner will ensure that you only receive the best.

Attention to Detail
Any event has the potential to look nice, but it is the attention to detail that really gives a special occasion some life. We all know there are certain things that must be covered when planning a wedding. These include finding a dress, choosing colours, picking flowers, selecting locations for the ceremony and reception, and so on. But beyond that, how do you make your wedding memorable?

This is what wedding planners were made for. A vast portion of their job is to take the wedding of your dreams and make it better. Let them.
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Leave it to the Pros

Your wedding day should be the most fantastic day of your life, yet we always hear those bride horror stories – don’t let that be you. Make your first wedding phone call to a wedding planner because as the newly engaged, it is your responsibility to relax and enjoy. Before you know it, it will all be over.

[Weddings require a tremendous amount of planning – way more than most brides can even begin to comprehend. This is where the knowledge and expertise of an experience and certified planner can be instrumental in making your wedding a success!]

When you’re ready to get started, or even if you’re part way through the process and need some help, contact us now at 403-619-0528 or at Creative Weddings and Occasions to book your FREE initial consultation now.


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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

You are welcome to use publish any of the articles above in other blogs or e-zines, but please ensure the signature file above is printed along with the article.

'Say Yes To The Dress’ Five Rules To Wedding Dress Shopping

Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day. You should be a vision of radiance, making your groom feel like he is the luckiest guy in the world as you walk down the aisle towards him. It’s your moment, and you deserve to look your absolute best!

However, with so many options on the market, how do you go about finding “the dress”?

Recently, Randy Fenoli, of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress and fashion director of Kleinfeld Manhattan, did an episode on his advice to brides on how to shop for their dress. Here are his five rules to wedding dress shopping success:

1. Don’t try on a dress that is outside of your budget. If you fall in love with something that you can’t afford, everything else will pale in comparison and leave you feeling disappointed. Don’t set yourself up for disaster!
   


2. Don’t keep secrets from your consultant. Your consultant is working with you to make the most of your appointment and help you find exactly what you’re looking for. She/He is an expert in the field. Not being honest and sharing pertinent information, such as that you already have a dress that you have your eye on, or style concerns will limit the effectiveness of your shopping time.
   


3. Leave the entourage at home. The best dress shopping experiences are usually limited to one or two people supporting you. The more people you bring with you correlates to the more opinions that will be expressed which will often leave you feeling confused and possibly even overwhelmed. Include one or two people who are closest to you, and who will support you and your decisions, putting aside their own agendas and what they would choose for themselves.
   


4. Once you find the dress, stop shopping. With so many options out there, some brides find the dress of their dreams, but are afraid that they missed something and feel the need to keep looking. This can only lead to disappointment. If you find another dress, then comes decision time. If you choose to go with the second dress, then it means forfeiting the deposit already paid on the first dress. Trust yourself and your instincts and stop shopping when you find the dress!
   


5. Always wear underwear. What can we say? Your consultant will be in the room with you helping you in and out of the dresses.
   

Randy’s rules are great, but if I may, here are some of my own words of wisdom to keep in mind when you go shopping for your wedding dress:

• Make sure you establish a clear budget before you step foot in the bridal salon. Know what your price point is, and be sure to include room for alterations and accessories.
  


• Start shopping early. Unless you’re buying off the rack, you’re best to start at least eight to nine months before you’re wedding.
  


• Shop with an open mind. You probably will have preferences about the styles you like, but don’t rule out suggestions that your consultant makes. Trust her to lead you in the right decision.
  

Your dream dress is out there. It’s just a matter of finding it. Keep Randy’s rules (and mine) in mind and your shopping experience will be far more successful and enjoyable!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

You are welcome to use publish any of the articles above in other blogs or e-zines, but please ensure the signature file above is printed along with the article.

Allow Your Wedding To Tell A Story

Let’s face it! No one wants their wedding to be considered boring or, worse yet, the same as their friend’s nuptials. Everyone wants to avoid the trap of a “cookie-cutter” wedding, but few know how to actually go about it.

David Tutera, host of My Fair Weddings and international wedding planner extraordinaire, believes the key is creating a memorable wedding celebration is turning it into a story. As a child, he was captivated by stories. Now, he incorporates the same idea into plan ning weddings for his clients. “I believe every wedding is a story, too, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. And the storytellers? The Bride and Groom! Every couple’s wedding story should create a narrative that welcomes guests to join and enjoy its gradual, magical unveiling.”

So where does one begin in creating a story? Probably the best place to start is to think back to your relationship. What moments stand out in your history? What details are important to you? Ideas you may want to think about include:

• How did the two of you meet? Where did your first date take place? What made it significant or memorable?
  


• What kinds of things are important to the two of you? What are your favourite foods? Are there any special interests or hobbies that you share?
  


• Where did the proposal happen? What made it special?
  

The answers to these questions can act as the basis for your story and personalize your wedding to make it more unique. For instance, maybe your first date took place at an amusement park. What a fun idea to return to the same amusement park for the ceremony and reception. (Can you imagine the wedding pictures? It would also give your guests something to do between the ceremony and reception.) Other possible examples are the top of a mountain, or a beautiful lakeside ceremony.

Getting married in your tropical dream destination might be an important part of your story. If so, make sure to include cultural elements from the area to add to the atmosphere.One story-telling idea could be to include special traditions from the area. This can be especially meaningful at a destination wedding. Lisa and Kent recently married at the Marriott Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii. It had been Lisa's dream to get married in a tropical location on a beach. After scouting a lot of potential destinations, they finally decided on the beauty of Hawaii. Once they decided on the destination, they wanted to make it a special experience for the two of them, but all of their guests as well, so they decided to include many of the local traditions that make Hawaii such a special place. Talking with Lisa recently, she said one of the best parts of the entire day was her reception luau. From the hula and fire dancers, to the food and music, it was a wonderful way to celebrate their wedding and include the culture of Hawaii in the celebration. Talk about creating memories!

Another example is from one of our recent weddings. The bride and groom wanted to bring out their "fun" personalities. It started at the beginning of the ceremony with a special video that the groom (and some of his talented friends) prepared showing him getting ready for the wedding. Prepared ahead of time, it gave the illusion of him getting up in the morning and working through a checklist of things to do berfore the ceremony, including getting his haircut, mowing the lawn, working out, and reading a manual on understanding women. Of course, he gets so involed with all of these other tasks, he's almost late for the wedding, and it showed him frantically trying to get to the church. It had the guests in absolute hysterics right up to the point where the video ends and he bursts through the side door of the sanctuary ready to get married. It was an absolute hit and the guests loved it!

At the same wedding, it was a well-known fact that the groom was a cookie fanatic. Capitalizing on the groom’s special interest, the couple opted to forgo wedding cake, and instead, broke a cookie in half, and dunked their portion in champagne flutes filled with milk. It was cute and memorable, but better yet, it suited the two of them perfectly!

There are so many ways a wedding can be made special and more meaningful. Your history with each other can serve as the basis for coming up with ceremony and reception ideas that are unique to the two of you and will make your wedding more memorable for your guests. All it takes is some brainstorming and some creative ideas, and before long you’ll be writing your own wedding story!
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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

You are welcome to use publish any of the articles above in other blogs or e-zines, but please ensure the signature file above is printed along with the article.

Idea To Include Family Tradition and Heritage In Your Wedding Reception

I just got home from an incredible wedding we did today for a fantastic couple! They had a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony today in a beautiful church in Calgary. For anyone who has attended an Greek Orthodox wedding, you know that the ceremony is full of rich traditions and symbolism, right from the wearing of the crowns joined by a single ribbon, showing that they will be the heads of their new household, to the ceremonial walk, where the priest leads the couple around the altar three times to represent their first steps together as man and wife. As the couple and their families had both been members of the church since they were children, the priest had watched them grow up physically and spiritually. He knew them well enough to include personal experiences from their childhood, and make it more personable and meaningful for the couple, their families, and everyone in attendance.

For the newlyweds, family and tradition were both extremely important to each of them. After such a culturally rich ceremony, they wanted to find ways to continue with traditions during their reception. One idea was to include wedding photos of both sets of their parents, as well as one of their engagement photos on their signing table. It showed the history as well as the beginning of a new family - an absolutely beautiful idea that is easy to do, relatively inexpensive, yet extremely effective! (The best kind!!!)

Another friend of mine has used a similar idea in her home decor. She has her wedding photo, but like a family tree, has gone back and used both her parents' wedding photo and her hubby's, as well as the wedding picture of all four sets of grandparents. Talk about showing your family heritage!

As more and more couples are looking to make their ceremonies their own, it doesn't mean that we have to forget about the past. Sometimes the best ideas come from going back to the basics...

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

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Ten Tips To Ensure Your Guests Have a Blast At Your Destination Wedding

[Editor's Note: Our guest e-zine author, Muriel MacRae, is the owner of Del Sol Travel as well as my business partner at Del Sol Destination Weddings. She has been helping couples plan and organize their dreams weddings throughout the world in exotic locations, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica. An expert in terms of dealing with some of the challenges of group travel, she is well versed in finding resorts that perfectly match the needs and wants of her clients. Furthermore, her expertise in wedding planning makes her more than just your regular travel agent.]

Every couple who is planning a destination wedding worries about getting their guests to attend their destination wedding. Will they like the location? Does it cost too much? Am I imposing on them to expect them to travel so far? Will they have a good time?

Here are ten ways to get you guests to not only attend your destination but to have a fantastic time while they are there:

1. Once you have decided on the location and the date of the wedding, send out a “Save the Date” e-mail or card. For best results, try and do this a minimum of 12 months prior to your wedding so guests can prepare and plan accordingly to attend. [Editor's note: The more time your guests have to plan ahead and save, the more likely they are to be able to join you for the celebration.]


2. In choosing a location, make sure that it is one that your guests will enjoy. Consider the cost, the travel time to get there, and the activities available for the guest once they do get there. You may enjoy the rustic Eco Lodge in the middle of nowhere but your guests might not. Try to plan a location where the travelling time is within three to eight hours and with a limited number of flight connections whenever possible. Many of your friends and family will not want to spend two out of seven days sitting on a plane or in airports waiting for flights. You might have always dreamed of staying at a certain five-star luxurious resort, but if the price is astronomical, a lot of your guests will not be pleased. Be sure to also check that a variety of activities will be offered at the resort or can at least be found in the nearby area. For example, if most of your female friends love shopping, and the closest shopping area is 75 miles away, some girls could go into withdrawal. Your golfing friends won't be happy either, if they have to go without a game for seven days.



3. Work with a travel agent who is familiar with destination weddings and planning travel associated with destination weddings. Such a person can arrange group rates for your entire party as well as give you valuable advice in making your special day fantastic. You may think that the resort you saw on the internet is a real find, only to find out when you get there that the service is terrible or the food is really bad! You can do it all yourself, but is it worth it? You have heard the horror stories where reservations were dropped by the hotel or passengers have missed flights because there wasn't enough time left for proper connections. You don’t want that to happen to you or any of your family members, especially at your destination wedding! Make sure there is someone who will be looking after you and each of your guests in case something goes wrong.


4. Think about saving money for your guests by choosing an All-Inclusive package which includes airfare and hotel accommodation as well as food and drinks. It is usually way cheaper than purchasing these items separately.


5. Try to choose a resort in the area that is more economical as some of your guests will not have the resources to stay at the pricey resort you have chosen for your wedding. They will appreciate the fact that you have given them an option. [Editor's Note: Although many of you want to keep costs down for your guests, you do have to remember that there is often a huge difference in resort ratings between here and in the Caribbean and Mexico. While a three-star resort in the United States or Canada might work perfectly well for that budget-conscious couple, few people would be satisfied with less than 4.5 stars in the Caribbean or Mexico.]
   
6. Keep your guests updated about your wedding. Send out frequent updates. You may even want to create a free wedding website complete with wedding details, personal stories, registry information, and a photo gallery. Use a free site such as the link for Honeymoon Wishes on either Del Sol Destination Weddings or Creative Weddings and Occasions websites, http://www.ewedding.com/ , http://www.momentville.com/, or The Knot Wedding website at http://www.theknot.com/. Another site for a small cost is http://www.weddingtracker.com/. As well, a lot of couples are using a Facebook Fan Page and finding that also works well.


7. Arrange to have the resort hand out an itinerary to your guests at check-in time or be hand delivered to each room by a member of your wedding party. It is also recommended that you hand out a special welcome bag as a special "thank you for coming” which can include such items as flip-flops, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent, bottles of water, candy, small mementos, fun items, or a local craft.


8. Plan activities which your guests will enjoy. You are asking your friends and family to spend a fair amount of money as well as giving up their vacation time to be with you so you want them to enjoy themselves. Create an itinerary that is suitable for all age groups. Make sure that the events you plan do not always start early in the morning as many of your “night hawk” friends will wants to catch some extra shut eye. Also make sure to give everyone some free time so they can do some things on their own.






9. Plan a welcome party with local food and music as a great way to get everybody to meet each other and begin the week in a fun-filled way.


10. Be a gracious and thoughtful host. Remember that the people you have invited to your wedding are your guests and it is your job to ensure that they enjoy themselves and have a good time. They have given of their vacation time and resources to be with you on your wedding day, and you want to make sure that they know how much you appreciate them for being there. Thank them for coming and tell them how much it means to you both. Don’t be resentful that you do not have of lot of private time as a couple. You have the rest of your life to spend together. Include a surprise during the week to add to the excitement.

Enjoy this special time in paradise sharing your vacation with your best friends and family. Remember to thank people for all of the things they have done for you. Make this event memorable and one that will be talked about for years when your guest tell others what a “blast” they had at your destination wedding.

If you want your guests to have a great time at your destination wedding and are not sure where to start, let us help you with your travel arrangements and planning by calling 403-477-0643 or e-mail Del Sol Destination Weddings to set up your FREE initial consultation.

If you wish further assistance in planning your wedding or decorating for you big day, please contact Cathy at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at cathy@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com .

Including Children in Your Wedding Party

Children can be a wonderful addition to your wedding party. They are always cute and adorable, but even more so all dressed up in their wedding finery. With their innocent charm they can steal the limelight and make your guests “ooh” and “ahh”.

There are several steps that you can take to ensure that your young people will be successful in their roles as part of your wedding party. The preparation and careful decisions you make ahead of time will make things flow much smoother on your actual wedding day.

1. Perhaps most importantly, you must choose children who are able to handle the responsiblity, and let's be totally honest here, and sometimes "boring" aspects of the day. Is the child old enough to walk down the aisle unattended (or at least with the support of an older sibling leading the way)? Will they be able to get through the ceremony and photographs immediately afterwards before requiring a nap? Even children as young as four and five years of age can have problems going down the aisle amidst a bunch of strangers. Consider carefully whether the children are able to handle their assigned tasks when deciding on whether to include them or not.

2. It is critical that children are familiar with their roles on the big day! There are some great books for young children to help prepare them for their job duties. Linda Trace Brandon has written a wonderful story entitled, The Little Flower Girl. Linda Godwin has written a similar book for boys called The Ring Bearer. Both books are available through http://www.amazon.com/.

3. Another effective strategy is to buddy up the child with another wedding party attendant. That long walk down the aisle can be a lot easier if they see a familiar face at the end with a warm smile that they recognize. It gives them a target to aim for and someone they can stand with throughout the ceremony. (Although once the bride has made it down the aisle and the officiant has welcomed everyone, there is nothing wrong with sending the younger children to sit with Mom or Dad in the first row of chairs/pews.)

4. I can't stress the importance of having a rehearsal prior to the wedding and making sure that the children are included in the rehearsal. This should involve a complete run-through of walking down the aisle, and where to stand. If possible, even run that aspect of the ceremony a couple of times to make sure that everyone (and not just the kids) are familiar with the routine. Also, be sure to include, how to stand, where to put your hands, and how to smile, etc. It sounds silly, but you'll be glad you did when you see the wedding photographs afterwards.

5. For the ring bearer, get some dummy rings and put them on the pillow that he will carry, allowing your best man or officiant to hold on to the real ones. Is it really fair to ask a small child to carry a pillow with such expensive jewellry on it? If you are adamantly opposed to using fake rings, then at least make sure that the ribbons are tied with a double knot (that someone will have to untie at the front in an unobtruive manner) to prevent them from getting lost.

6. Make arrangements with your photographer for any of the photos including the children to get done first and out of the way so that mom and/or dad can sneak them away for some down time, or possibly even an afternoon nap, to rejuvenate them before the evening activities.

7. Plan entertainment for all of the children at your wedding. Try and come up with some way to keep the young people amused, especially once the speeches start. Some ideas include putting activity bags at their place setting with coloring books and crayons, hiring a clown or face painter, providing an alternate room with a DVD player and TV (with adult supervision), or hiring babysitters who can play organized games or supervise kids.

Just like the adult members of your wedding party, the little guys need to understand their jobs and the responsibilities that go with it.Flower girls and ring bearers can add so much to your wedding day. Just like the adult members of your wedding party, the little guys need to understand their jobs and the responsibilities that go with it. With proper planning and preparation, adding the special children in your lives to your wedding party can be an easy and rewarding experience.

Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at Creative Weddings and Occasions.
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