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!

• Don’t wait to register at the last minute. Start registering at least 7-9 months before your wedding. If you are having an engagement party, then register at least a month before the party.
• Keep gifts in a wide range of price points. When registering for gifts be mindful of your guests’ pocketbook. Consider registering for items in a low, mid and high price range. That way guests are not offended or embarassed because nothing on the registry is within their budget.
• Don’t call your wedding guest and tell them where you’re registered or include it in your wedding invitation. Often couples wonder how guests will know where your registered, however it’s the duty of your bridal party and immediate family to spread the word. Also, wait for the guests to ask where you are registered and then let them know. Another great resource to inform your guests of the registry is your wedding website.
• Write Thank You Notes. Hand written thank you notes are a must to properly acknowledge the receipt and appreciation of the wedding gift. Once you receive a gift in the mail or after a shower, immediately send a thank you note. Also, when you get back from the honeymoon,it can be one of the first things to take on as a married couple. Split the list and you both write personalized notes to your guests to say thank you.

Photo Courtesy of Inhabitat.com

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.

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

It’s Monday and what better way to start the week off than a fun fact about weddings?  In most weddings the garter is tossed, but most bride and grooms take part in this tradition with out knowing where it comes from.  The garter toss dates all the way back to the 1500s in France.  Originally friends and family would take the garter from the bridal chambers to prove the wedding had been consummated with an item of the brides clothing for good luck.  During the nineteenth century, more brides and grooms began to drift away from having people come to their room the night of their wedding; that’s when tossing the garter began to evolve at the reception.

Photo Courtesy of Hawthorne Photography & Article Inspiration Courtesy of Suite101.com

We now live in a world where e-mail is one the fastest, easiest ways to communicate, but does that mean you should use it for your wedding?   The following is a list of when and where e-mail should and should not be used.

When Not to Use E-mail:

For  Wedding Invitations. It is not appropriate to e-mail or facebook invitations to your wedding guests or your close friends.  The only exception is in rushed circumstances.  For example; there has been a shift in health, you are moving overseas.  Even though electronic invitations are cheaper, they are never the best route.

For thank you notes. ALWAYS write a hand written thank you note for the gifts you receive.   If your guest took the time to pick out a present for you, then always take the time to thank them properly.

When discussing personal or thorny issues. No matter what wedding drama goes on, never hash it out over e-mail.  Keep in mind e-mail is never private and can often be misinterpreted.

When groundwork has not been properly laid. Before you send out group e-mails make sure everyone is on the same page.

When to Use E-mail:

Save the Dates. It is perfectly acceptable to send out an informal notice to friends and family about your wedding date.

Wedding RSVPs. You can always give the option to your guests to RSVP to your e-mail, but still send out a formal RSVP card.

Invitation to informal wedding parties. For your bridal showers or engagement party e-mailed invitations can be an acceptable alternative.  Be sure not to send out group e-mails, send out e-mails with their specific names on it.

Information on Lodging. If your guest list is web-connected sending out an e-mail with lodging, directions and a map is acceptable.

Inspiration Courtesy of Emily Post Wedding Etiquette

Types of Bouquets:

Cascade
A waterfall-like spill of blooms, often composed of ivy and long-stemmed flowers, that is wired to cascade gracefully over the bride’s hands.
Nosegays
Small, round bouquets, approximately 16 to 18 inches in diameter, composed of densely packed round flowers, greenery, and occasionally herbs. Nosegays are wired or tied together.
Tossing
This copy of the bridal bouquet is used solely for the bouquet toss.
Tussy mussy
From the Victorian era, a tussy mussy is a posy carried in a small, metallic, hand-held vase. Today, the term is often used in reference to the holder itself.

Other Flowers or Arrangements:

Fish bowl
Low centerpiece style that consists of flowers clustered in a glass bowl.

Huppah

A wedding canopy decorated with flowers, that is an integral part of the traditional Jewish ceremony.
Ikebana
Japanese-style flower arrangements that are aesthetically in unison with space, size, earth, and air.

Photo Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

This post was inspired by The Knot.com

Photo Courtesy of the Knot

Good morning and welcome to the last full week of January 2010! Whew, time sure flies when you’re having fun. The Simply Jubilee team met so many beautiful brides of all backgrounds and cultures at the Bridal soiree this weekend.  It’s an awesome pleasure to live in an international city such as Houston.  Our rich population helped to inspire today’s entry, Indian wedding traditions.

 
Indian wedding traditions have a long history with meaning woven into every detail. Here we explore some of these beautiful traditions and what they mean.

 
The Ceremonies

In India the couple doesn’t choose their wedding date. The wedding date is chosen using a priest, fortune teller, astrologer or wise family member. This lucky day is chosen using factors like birthdays and phases of the moon. If this day falls on a weekday many couples in the US will hold two wedding ceremonies; one with close friends and family during the week and one larger celebration on the weekend.

Mehndi Party
The mehndi painting party usually happens two or three days before an Indian ceremony. Henna is painted on the female friends and family of the bride. The artist also paints the bride’s hands and feet to protect them from evil. The darker the henna, the more luck the couple will have.

Agni
In Hindu ceremonies a fire is lit and the officiant gives thanks to the fire god, Agni. In a Hindu tradition called saptapadi, the couple will take seven steps around this fire.

Tying it All Together
The hasthagranthi is a Hindu wedding tradition which involves typing the couple’s hands together with string. This is followed by Shakhohar, when the parents place their hands on the couple’s to represent their union as family. Then the couple is wrapped in a scarf to show their unity as husband and wife in a custom called gathbandhan.