Is it polite to inquire about the attire the band or DJ will wear on my wedding day?
Yes it is perfectly fine to inquire about the attire of your band or DJ. If you’re having a very formal event you shouldn’t leave this detail up to interpretation. Do ask your band how they plan to dress or make it clear what the tone of your event will be.
Who should walk me down the aisle, my absentee father or my stepdad who has always been there for me? Or could I have them both?
Today’s bride can have anyone walk down the aisle with her. If you feel uncomfortable leaving your stepdad out, you don’t have to! Have your father walk you halfway down the aisle. Then let your stepdad escort you the rest of the way.
If my dad was not there, could I have my mom give me away?
You most certainly can have your mother give you away.
Could I pass on the bachelorette party in favor of a Prayer Night? Would people think I’m weird?
If it’s your wish to have a Prayer Night in lieu of a bachelorette party then go for it! As far as being concerned that people will think you’re weird, don’t worry about that. Hopefully you’ll be including the individuals who love and care for you the most. Chances are they know your faith and style so it will make sense to them how you choose to celebrate.
When was the tradition of “Wedding Favors” started and by whom?
It is believed that the European aristocracy began the tradition of bestowing wedding favors upon all of their guests. They were called bonbonniere and consisted of small boxes of crystal or porcelain, which held delicate confections such as cubes of sugar, then considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and royalty. **This information was provided by: www.trulyweddingfavors.com **

Things I think I know about Wedding Planning and don’t…There are hundreds of things to be considered to plan, not just the Rehearsal Dinner…….. List three that are not the first to come to mind.
1. The details : A lot of brides don’t consider the small details that often fall through the cracks i.e. Who will transport your gifts from the reception.
2. The budget: Many brides aren’t aware of how much things actually cost i.e. The price of your wedding floral doesn’t just include the cost of the flower. Labor, shipping, vase rentals, and the season can affect those costs.
3. The importance of making decisions quickly and to prioritize i.e. When choosing a wedding professional that you love, make sure you book them as soon as you are sure so that they will be available for your day. Prioritize items in the order that mean the most to you so you can spend your budget wisely.

Info Courtesy of : Romance Stuck

OK SJE fans, what’s your favorite wedding fact?  Feel free to share!

Engagement Parties

At Korean- American engagement parties the families are formally introduced to each other at the bride’s family house or at a Korean restaurant.  The bride also typically wears a traditional Korean dress called the hanbok (engagement dress).  Also at the engagement party it is custom for the bride’s family to give the groom a nice watch and suit (or even a tux for the wedding day).

A Wild Goose

This beautiful tradition is where the groom gives the bride’s mother a wild goose.  Traditionally the groom will give his future mother in-law a live goose, but now in today’s society they give them a wooden goose.  This symbolizes that he will care for his fiancé for life such as wild geese mate for life. Please visit Wooden Goose for a traditional wooden goose.

Dates & Chestnuts

This tradition is held a few days after the reception and only family is present.  This also symbolizes children.  The couple visits the groom’s family for the p’ye-baek. Here the bride offers dates and chestnuts to the groom’s parents, while sitting at a low table.  The bride also offers the grooms father a cup of wine and the groom offers to his mother. The parents offer sake in return, and as a final gesture they throw the dates and chestnuts at the bride, who tries to catch them in her large wedding skirt. In today’s society the bride’s family can also be present for this tradition.

Blog inspired by “The Knot”

Today we thought we would introduce you to a term often used in the printing industry to refer to a type of print used on invitations.  The term is thermography or thermographic printing as defined below:

Thermography printing is a type of printing process which uses heat to melt powdered ink onto the paper, resulting in a raised effect. It is also known as offset thermography and raised printing.

Happy Monday to all of our SJE blog readers!  I can’t believe we are over half way through May.  Where does the time go?

We have spent a lot of Mondays giving etiquette advice to the bride and groom and today I wanted to put the spotlight on the guests.   The following are ways to make sure you are the perfect guest for the next wedding you attend:

1.       RSVP: As soon as you get the invitation go check the calendar and let the bride and groom know if you will be attending.    It’s important for the bride and groom to have the final head count for the venue, caterer, and décor items.

2. Respect the Invitation: NEVER invite yourself to a wedding or invite other people.  If the bride and groom would like you to bring a date or children it will be indicated on the invitation, or have an option for you to add either the name of your guest or plus 1. 

3.       Treat the Wedding as if it was Your Wedding:  Don’t show up late for the wedding, turn your cell phone off, and dress properly for the wedding.   Remember to respect the couples’ day.  They have spent a lot of time, energy, and money to making the day special and you don’t want to be the guest to ruin it for them.

Selecting godparent-sponsors for support during your nuptial festivities and to guide you through your married life.

The Godparent presents the couple with a Bible or prayer book to encourage them to pray.

A veil ceremony to symbolize God’s Protection

God-parents sponsors drape the bride’s veil over the shoulders of the groom while the couple kneels.  This symbolizes that although the couple may shoulder unexpected burden in marriage they will always be covered and protected by God’s Love.

A cord ceremony is to symbolize that marriage is for life.

The cord is a fabric cord, floral garland or long rosary wrapped around the couple to bind them as husband and wife.  The cord is tied in a figure eight, the mathematical symbol of infinity, to symbolize eternity.

A coin ceremony is to symbolize the sharing of worldly goods.

The thirteen coins presented to the bride by the groom symbolize the groom’s commitment to take care of his bride and make his wealth hers.  The passing of coins back and forth is a symbol of sharing worldly goods, for richer or poorer.  The reason for thirteen coins is because it represents Christ and his twelve apostles. There is also a treasure box, in which the coins are kept in.

A money dance to symbolize prosperity and financial security

Relatives take turns dancing up to the bride and groom and pinning money on their clothes, which allows the couple to spend a few moments with each of their guests. After the money dance, the groom is ridiculed by his friends, tossed in the air while being covered with the veil, and given an apron and broom.

Other traditional dances

At wedding celebration in Mexico, the guests form a heart and the newlyweds dance in the middle.

Another Mexican wedding dance is the Snake Dance, La Vibora.  This is where single women form a line and pass under the couples clasped hands.  When the music stops, one woman is captured in the newlywed’s arms and is given the bouquet.  The single men perform the same dance.

Cake Tradition

A Latino tradition is a cake pull.  One ribbon has a fake diamond ring attached.  Before the cake is cut and served, single women at the reception pull out the ribbons. The one who gets the ribbon with the ring will marry within the year.  If her marriage doesn’t take place, tradition calls for the bride to throw a party in the girl’s honor.

I hope you learned as much as I did and if you know of any wedding traditions please share! Viva el Amor!

Photo cortesy of Style me Pretty, Honolulu magazine, and  A Pertura Photography

Information provided by Edna R. Bautista in “Viva al Amor”

Photo Courtesy of Project Wedding

Hello SJE fans! It’s a rainy Monday here in Houston but that won’t stop us! On Saturday Team SJE was at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in the gem exhibit for a ceremony and reception that simply sparkled. Of course the gems surrounding the guests were beautiful but I think the real beauty of this intimate affair was its simplicity. Stay tuned for pictures!

Every Monday we like to highlight wedding etiquette. This Monday’s etiquette piece will address vendors you hired for your big day like your band, d.j., photographer, and event coordinator.

1. Should your vendor expect to be served dinner at your reception?
Your vendor should not EXPECT to be fed at your reception. However, some vendors will have a clause written into their contract stipulating that they’ll receive a meal during your reception. So don’t forget to add them to your guest count. Common courtesy does dictate that you should feed your vendor. Although some vendors bring their own food, you should never assume they will. You wouldn’t want your vendor passing out during your festivities, right?  We recommend that you consider this detail before your big day.

2. Should I tip my vendor?
Well, it depends. Gratuity situations should be approached on a case-by-case basis but you may use these tips as a guide:

*Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist
Protocol: Expected
Standard: 15 to 25 percent

*Delivery and Set-up Staff
Protocol: Expected
Standard: $5 to $10 per person

*Officiant
Protocol: Expected
The standards: Donate $500+ to the church or synagogue or for a nondenominational church, between $50 and $100

*Ceremony Musicians
Protocol: Optional
Standard: $15 to $20 per musician

*Photographer/Videographer
Protocol: Unnecessary, unless the photographer is not the studio owner
Standard: $50 to $200 per vendor

*Reception Staff
Protocol: Expected
Standard: 15-20 percent of the food and drink fee (based on labor not the cost), or $200 to $300 for the maitre’d.

*Reception Attendants
Protocol: Optional based on contract
Standard: $20 – $25 per bartender or waiter; $1 per guest for coat room and parking attendants; $1 per car

*Reception Musicians
Protocol: Optional, yet preferred
Standard: $20 – $25 per musician; $50 – $150 for DJ

*Transportation
Protocol: Expected
The Standard: 15 – 20 percent of the total bill

*Wedding Planner
Protocol: Optional
Standard: Up to $500, or a nice gift

*Information courtesy of the TheKnot.com

Photo Courtesy of reception-wedding.com

A wedding dress is not complete without the flowers that go a long with it.  The bridal bouquet is a standard in any wedding, but just like most of our beloved wedding traditions we have know idea where it came from. The bridal bouquet dates all the way back to ancient times when women carried aromatic bunches of garlic and herbs to keep evil spirits away.  In ancient Greece, the bride and groom wore garland around their necks to symbolize new life, hope and fertility.  The wedding bouquet took on a whole new meaning in Victorian times.  Flowers became a mean of communication secret messengers between lovers.  Each flower had its own meaning.  In modern times we pick our flowers base off of color, design or what we love.   

Inspiration courtesy of www.perfect-wedding-day.com

Welcome to another glorious Monday SJE fans! We hope your weekend was awesome. The sun is shining and the weather is perfect for a lunchtime stroll.

Today we would like to highlight a piece of wedding etiquette that many brides have struggled over.
Should I have a cash bar at my wedding? The short answer is No.

Think of it like this: Would you ask for someone to pay for a cocktail at your home? We hope not. The individuals who come to your reception are your guests, and you should treat them as such. If your budget doesn’t allow for a full bar, then serve soft drinks, wine, or champagne. You could also cut back on the size of your guest list to accommodate a full bar. Don’t let anyone talk you into selling drink tickets or having the guests pay!

Inspiration for this post provided by: Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette
Photo courtesy of: Hostess With The Mostess