With wedding costs rising as each year goes by, a DIY wedding seems more and more appealing. Thus, making sense that couples everywhere have taken an interest in the do-it-yourself approach to planning. The concept is simple: Instead of hiring professionals to take on challenges like decorating and creating floral arrangements, you will handle the details yourself. The goal of this option is to save money and take more control over the finished look of the event. Naturally, this is not always the easiest way to plan. To see success, look over these foundational elements of the process.
Start With Inspiration
Beginning the DIY process from scratch can be overwhelming. When you’re looking at a blank slate, you may feel nothing but stress and anxiety. Even creative people struggle to come up with good ideas when pressed. Thankfully, the solution is as easy as finding inspiration. Whether you create a mood board or casually browse blogs and Pinterest accounts, looking at images that invoke ideas can be a lifesaver. Inspiration can come from all kinds of places, so don’t limit yourself to only wedding-themed outlets.
Review the Practical Details For Your DIY
Looking at pretty pictures is only the start of the DIY process. To see results, you must also review the practical side of things. An idea might look beautiful in a picture and be incredibly difficult to execute. Looking at information like the materials required, time involved, and effort needed to complete each project can make a world of difference in devising a strategy. The biggest mistake people make when exploring DIY options is assuming a task will be easy and discovering too late that it is far more involved.
Source Materials
Understanding the practical side of the process also includes developing a better understanding of the materials involved. If you’ve decided to make your own invitations, for example, then you should start looking at how much it will cost you to source the cardstock and envelopes you’ll need. You should also factor in additional materials like stamps, ink, and whatever else might be needed. Failing to consider the costs of all supplies can throw off your budget, so be as realistic as you can when coming up with numbers.
Get Help
The truth about DIY tasks is that you and your partner will usually not be able to complete most projects on your own. In fact, you’ll benefit from as much manpower as possible. Before you set any of your projects in stone, reach out to close friends and family members to see if anyone is willing to lend a hand. By having access to help, you’ll be able to come up with a timeline of exactly how long it will take to complete everything you’re setting your sights on. Should you be unable to find people willing to assist, adjust your plan accordingly.
Mix and Match DIY
An entirely DIY event is not an easy feat to pull off. The best way to see success is by mixing and matching the do-it-yourself approach with more traditional methods. For some people, this means letting a professional handle floral arrangements while taking on the task of selecting unique vases as centerpieces. At the end of the day, DIY approaches are meant to make your life easier. For whatever is too difficult to handle by yourself, hire an expert to handle the job.
The DIY wedding can be a fantastic way to take more control over the look and feel of your event while saving some change along the road. Naturally, opting to do certain tasks yourself is not as simple as most people would prefer. Thankfully, as long as you put thought into your plan, you’ll have an easier time using this approach to the fullest.
Wedding traditions are constantly evolving to match modern couples’ ideas. The white wedding dress didn’t become a trend until 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Brides in the 1920s wore a hat as part of their wedding attire. The pandemic gave us micro-weddings that are more intimate, which is a trend expected to stick around. Here are some trends to watch for 2025 weddings that you can incorporate into your celebration.
Guest Books Go Digital
Guest books can be impersonal and often don’t get looked at after the wedding. There have been some changes in guest books over the past few years, and now many guests can write a sweet note to the wedding couple instead of just signing their name. Today’s couples are getting creative with their guest books. Guests could sign a piece of fabric that will be sewn into a quilt as a reminder of the wedding. Voice messages recorded at the wedding are another great idea that is a little more modern. Maybe you could give your guests a place to record a TikTok greeting for your wedding, or you could ask all guests to take a picture in a photo booth for the record; one copy goes to the wedding couple, and the guest can take another copy home. Get creative.
Invites Also Go Digital trends
Digital invites are eco-friendly and easier to deliver in today’s technical landscape. You may want to print a few invitations for the more traditional guests and for yourself. Still, you can use digital info to give guests more information about accessibility, accommodations and detailed notes about your wedding to avoid having to print out pages and pages of stuff everyone needs to know.
Colorful Wedding Dresses
Wedding dresses don’t have to be all white in upcoming weddings. Wedding dresses of all colors are hitting the runway, with baby blue and pastel pink as two of the most popular colors. Floral prints with a white background are also making their mark in modern weddings. Be bold and do you with color for your big day.
Small Bouquets
Dainty and delicate flowers, like lily of the valley, lavender and violets, are taking the stage for small and elegant floral bouquets. This lets the bride and her dress stand out at the altar, without having the maid of honor needing an extra hand to manage a big bouquet. Many of these tinier flowers get lost amid roses and lilies, traditional bouquet flowers, so it’s fun to see them getting some attention. Brides are also choosing to use flowers from their own garden instead of spending money on flowers that won’t be appreciated for more than a day.
One Last Private Dance
Traditionally, the wedding couple opens the wedding reception with a first dance to get the guests out on the dance floor. In 2023, many couples are closing their reception with a private last dance after all the guests leave. The photographer and DJ stick around to let the couple enjoy a dance at their wedding without all eyes on them. Wedding receptions go by fast. This lets the couple have some time together to talk or gossip or just enjoy each other’s company.
Locally Sourced Food and Favors
Sustainability is one trend that keeps coming up. Every year, couples are finding more ways to be sustainable. Menus that focus on local foods are a great way to support community producers while having the best-tasting items for guests. Choosing wedding favors produced locally that guests can really enjoy when they get home is another trend that will hopefully continue. Get creative with your wedding by remembering that you don’t have to be traditional. Be a trendsetter with your ideas.
The holidays are a busy time for many, so something to keep in mind if you are planning for a big event. Once you or the one you love has accepted a marriage proposal, one of the first items of business is deciding on a wedding date. There are so many things to factor in when choosing a date. Your individual and collective schedule, venue availability, convenience for others, season, and budget are just some of the details to consider. A major holiday such as Canada Day, Canadian Thanksgiving, or Christmas can present some benefits and challenges to scheduling your nuptials. Here are some things you should think about.
Making The Holidays More Special
For most people, the holidays are a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate events of great significance. Your wedding will be a celebratory affair. Combining it with a holiday will make it even more so. Holidays that are about togetherness, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, are already a great opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your village. A wedding is all the more reason to gather.
An additional benefit is that future holidays and anniversaries will also be memorable. There will always be a connection between the sights and sounds of a particular season and your nuptials. The chance of you forgetting your anniversary is greatly reduced if it occurs on or near the holiday. Win-win!
Theme Inspirations
You’ll have to make a lot of decisions when it comes to theme, décor, colors, attire, and more. You can draw inspiration for these details from the holiday. While white is still a go-to for things such as a bridal gown or a cake, you might consider incorporating red, green, and gold if your wedding is during the Christmas season. Imagine having your reception tables inspired by the bright-red velvet of Santa’s suit. You may build your palette around orange, brown, and other autumnal colors for a fall wedding near or on Thanksgiving. Take your cues and aesthetics from holiday visuals to make your nuptials more special.
Guest Availability
One advantage of scheduling your wedding on a holiday is the availability of guests. Visitors from out of town may have to miss work and use PTO to be at your event. Many Canadians get time off of work for major holidays, freeing up their schedule for your special day. On the other hand, some guests may not be able to attend your celebration if it’s on or near a holiday. Before picking a day, think about the type of event you want to have. A Christmas wedding may not work for some families.
Travel Accommodations Holidays
It should come as no surprise that the holidays are busy times for airports, hotels, and other travel-related services. High demand for seats and rooms can drive up prices for travel and lodging, making a holiday wedding difficult for loved ones to participate in. It may also be difficult to book a block of rooms for out-of-town guests during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and certain other times of the year.
Vendors and Venues During The Holidays
Certain venues and vendors may be harder to book, as you’re competing with other weddings as well as holiday-related events put on by individuals, organizations, and businesses. For example, a caterer who would usually be available to prepare your reception menu may be booked solid by families and companies needing food for a New Year’s Day party or a Labour Day picnic. The availability of the desired venue or preferred vendors may cause you to push your ceremony to another day or year!
The Carpenters once sang “holidays are joyful,” highlighting the way something like Christmas or Halloween can put you in the mood to celebrate. Weddings are also joyous occasions, so combining your nuptials with a major holiday might seem like a no-brainer. There are advantages and challenges to combining these celebrations. Consider these carefully as you plan.
Since throwing a wedding often involves months upon months of planning, many couples experience higher levels of stress during this period. This is compounded by the fact that marriage is one of the biggest milestones a person can experience in his or her life. When it feels like a lot is riding on this decision, you may find yourself looking for all kinds of signs to help highlight whether you’re making the right choice. This is far from a modern practice, with wedding superstitions dating back as far as history allows.
While it is always best to take “old wives’ tales” with a grain of salt, it can be interesting to hear about some of the beliefs people have held over the years. Look over these superstitions and learn more about the myths that have governed marriage.
Superstitions Of No Knives, Please
Many people purchase household essentials as wedding gifts. Though a new set of cutlery seems like it would be a perfect present, this has not always been the case. Across the world, a number of cultures believe that a knife as a gift is an omen of bad fortune. The basic idea is that anything used as a tool for cutting acts as a symbol of severing the ties of the relationship. While a widespread belief, plenty of modern couples still ask for knives, scissors, and other sharp instruments on their registries.
If you’re worried about this superstition and receive a knife as a present, there is a way to counteract the bad luck. By giving the gifter a penny in exchange for the knife, you are technically purchasing the item. Many cultures believe that this small step will dispel any negativity surrounding the gift.
It Tolls for Thee
Bells are often associated with marriage. When a couple starts to get serious about dating, it is common for friends and family to ask if they “hear wedding bells.” Though it might seem like a normal part of many Christian weddings, ringing bells was once considered a way to keep bad spirits away from the couple. Beginning as a Celtic tradition in Ireland, bells would resound at the end of a ceremony in order to frighten away any supernatural entities looking to cause harm or mischief to the union.
Odd Superstitions
Nowadays, many couples will delegate the task of presenting the rings during the ceremony to either a young child in the family or a member of the wedding party. While it might seem like a small task, one superstition suggests it should only be completed by someone with a firm grip and excellent balance. According to some beliefs, dropping the rings on the way to the altar signals bad luck for the couple and the person who dropped the jewelry.
Though this superstition can be shrugged off, there are instances where dropping the rings can be problematic. Should a ring roll into a vent, between floorboards, or under a heavy piece of furniture, retrieving it might cause major delays.
The Old Switcheroo
In modern times, bridesmaids are usually the women who have a meaningful connection to the couple. However, this position actually came about due to superstition. In Ancient Rome, it was believed that a woman who was about to be married was likely to attract the attention of evil spirits. To trick the spirits, other women would be dressed in a similar fashion as the bride and would stand near her to act as decoys. While many bridesmaids complain about the dresses they’re asked to wear at weddings, most would prefer this problem to being used as lures for malicious entities.
Superstitions surrounding weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Though there is little merit to some of these beliefs, you may still feel compelled to follow them just to give yourself some peace of mind.
Have you thought of who will be apart of your wedding party? Once you and your significant other have agreed to tie the knot, it might seem like the pressure is off. After all, you’ve gotten past the pre-proposal anxiety of “Will they say yes?” and now it’s time to plan your nuptials. One of the most important things on your to-do list is asking people to be in your wedding party. If you’ve got several close friends or siblings, this next step might be a no-brainer.
If you or your partner proposed, there were probably special arrangements made for the occasion. Asking someone to marry you isn’t like asking them to help you with a back zipper or feedback on an outfit. While not as critical, asking people to stand with you and your partner on your big day is a special request as well. Finding special ways to ask loved ones can be part of the pre-wedding fun as well as a contributor to fond wedding day memories for the future. Here are some ideas to consider.
1. Plan a Special Meal
What better way to ask someone to be a bridesmaid, groomsman, or another participant than over a great meal? Canadians love having a special reason to get together, and asking someone to be in your wedding is as good a reason as any. Depending on who you’re planning to ask, you can have one big get-together for everyone or do it on an individual basis. You can save some money by asking everyone at one time, but if there are loved ones who can’t readily accept, a group meal may be awkward.
2. Send Gifts
Some couples will buy gifts for the people in their wedding party either leading up to the event or afterward as a thank you. Consider sending a gift along with a handwritten letter making the request. The gift can be something as simple as a coffee mug or a custom T-shirt that acknowledges the recipient as a bridesmaid, groomsman, etc. If you have the budget and a flair for drama, fancy accessories such as jewelry or cuff links can add an extra special touch.
3. Take a Trip
If you can afford a weekend escape, consider inviting your loved ones on a short getaway. Before this, consider the people you’re going to ask and the type of trip they’ll say yes to. For example, if the person you’re asking to be a best man isn’t into the great outdoors, an overnight camping trip might not be the best idea. You’re getting ready to embark on the great adventure that is married life. This getaway is a metaphor for the adventure ahead. Make the connection and set the tone before you pop the question(s).
4. Buy an Accessory
If you’re fairly confident the people you’re going to ask will respond affirmatively, consider making the request with an accessory that is significant to the big day. For example, if you’re planning to have the groomsmen wear the same thing, you could send each person the necktie or bow tie they’ll be wearing along with a handwritten note. This idea might work especially well if you’ll be doing a themed wedding that involves special attire or accessories.
5. Send a Scrapbook or a Digital Photo Album
If you have several pictures of you and the invitee from over the years, consider sending a scrapbook or a digital photo album. Though marriage is the next major milestone in your life, you can honor your history with pictures spanning your relationship. Wrap things up by asking them to be a part of your future by standing with you at the altar.
When you’re ready to begin assembling your wedding party, get creative with it. Weddings are special times to cherish the one you love with the ones who have loved you. Consider these ideas to make the request special for you, your partner, and your nearest and dearest.
As soon as you make the decision to get engaged, you start a subconscious countdown to your actual wedding day. Even if you won’t be walking down the aisle anytime soon, you still will feel a bit of pressure to get the ball rolling. There are countless tasks involved in the planning process, and waiting too long to start some of them can limit your options. Thankfully, there are a few easy things you can pursue to make the overall experience less taxing.
Since organization is key to planning any event, you’ll find certain tools and resources invaluable. Look at these tips and see how you can bring about some order.
The Timeline
One of the earliest tasks that couples need to sort out after engagement is picking a date for the nuptials. Once you’ve gotten this out of the way, you have a clear idea of how much time you have to work with for the planning phase. Most people find that thinking about large chunks of time in an abstract way can make the date more of a looming deadline than an event to anticipate with excitement. To give the timeline a concrete feeling, you want to bring it into the tangible world.
Whether you mark a calendar, download a timekeeping app, or design a poster that you can use to monitor progress, there are plenty of ways to make your timeline feel ordered. Think about the pros and cons of each approach, and it will do wonders to offer insight into which path will help best.
The Budget
Outside of the date itself, the budget is the other major thing that couples need to figure out early. Knowing how much you can afford to spend on your wedding will dictate a large chunk of other details. Naturally, not everyone is an expert when it comes to balancing a budget. If you and your partner both struggle with financial matters, you might need some extra help. Apps meant for managing personal funds can be a great place to begin.
Budgeting applications come in handy in a multitude of scenarios. While you might find one is useful for planning your nuptials, you can use what you learned and apply it toward bigger financial decisions you will need to make later.
The Contracts and Documents
As you get into the process, you’ll start to deal with more vendors. The more interviews and consultations you attend, the more paperwork you are likely going to find in your possession. From documents detailing services to contracts that you have created, losing even one paper can lead to some major setbacks. In this scenario, you don’t need any complicated applications or programs on your phone. Though digital solutions are available, a classic binder or folder is the safest bet.
Learn how to code your binder in a way that makes accessing documents a quick and effortless experience. If you can pull open a folder and spot the exact item you need, it can make you feel more on top of the process overall.
The Messaging Timeline
Coordinating with family members and friends is a big part of planning a wedding. However, you can’t always rely on a mass text message or email blast to get important details across. When you’re trying to keep all members of the wedding party in the loop, a phone app like WhatsApp or Signal can be a great solution. Regardless of service provider or location, all people on the chain can come together and receive updates in a straightforward and efficient way.
Though it might seem like planning a wedding is a process that has too many moving parts to keep track of, there are some easy steps you can take to make sense of the madness. Look at all of your options and see which works best for your planning style.
Wedding trends constantly change to meet the needs of modern couples. Nontraditional weddings are on trend for those people who don’t want to walk down the aisle in a white gown with matching bridesmaids. Here are some ideas to get you started on a nontraditional wedding that is more to your specifications.
Mix Up The Order of the Day
One of the latest wedding trends is to party before the ceremony. The reception comes first. At the end of the evening, the couple takes their vows before the guests leave. Couples are also taking a few moments at the start of the day to say their vows together in private before the celebrations begin. It’s kind of a chance to really enjoy the day as it should be instead of as a whirlwind of activity. There’s no reason to avoid each other until the ceremony unless you really want to be traditional.
Create Your Own Wedding Playlist
Who says you need a DJ to play the music at the reception? Make your own playlist to pipe in through the speakers at the reception hall. Rent a karaoke machine. Hire a standup comedian instead of playing any music. Play your favorite movies. Have card or board games on the reception tables to entertain guests.
Go Nontraditional And Skip the Cake Smash
Smashing cake in each other’s faces isn’t for everyone, especially when you’re wearing beautiful and expensive wedding attire. If you’re looking for an alternative to cake, whether you want to smash it or not, switch it up by serving doughnuts, cupcakes, brownies or even pies. Think about desserts that your guests will love and enjoy instead of formal wedding cake. If sweets aren’t your thing, go with a nice cheese board for dessert. Serve up a plate of pretzels or offer a smoothie bar with lots of fruit that will cleanse everyone’s palate.
Go With a Nontraditional Venue
Host your wedding party at a winery or a restaurant instead of the traditional wedding venue. Think about unexpected locations, a bowling alley, the game store, City Hall in the town next door or a private home that has a beautiful garden. Small weddings can save you money and give you the opportunity to really enjoy your friends and family who came to support you. If you really want to surprise your guests, don’t tell anyone why you’re gathering until you are together. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to find a venue that reflects you both and reduces your stress about the ceremony.
Plant a Tree
Forgo the candle ceremony for another option, such as planting a tree or holding a sand ceremony. Choose a tree that can be planted in a pot until you get settled as a couple. Once you buy your first home, you can set it in the yard as a reminder of the day you came together. In a sand ceremony, each of you pours colored sand into a vase together, symbolic of the blending of your two lives. Alternatively, create a time capsule of your wedding day. Ask guests to write well wishes that you can read in 10 or 20 years. Choose a few elements that you each can put in the box to be locked away until that milestone anniversary.
Make Your Wedding About You
It’s okay to kick the rule book out for your wedding. If you’re not into Pinterest boards and managing every detail, do what makes you happy. When you do the unexpected, your wedding will be more memorable. Get creative with your wedding. Include some fun and humor. Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event that should reflect you both.
Weddings and receptions can take inspiration from various sources, including cultural traditions, literary influences, and popular media. One custom that transcends boundaries is the wedding speech. Usually offered at receptions, a close friend or family member of the newlyweds is expected to say a few words. This is especially true for parents, best men, maids of honor, and other special people. Whether you’re a naturally gifted speaker or someone who struggles with speeches, consider these tips:
1. Make a Plan
There are very few people who can give a great speech off the top of their heads. A professional emcee may be able to do so, but unless that’s your job, you’re probably a loved one to the newly married couple. Your speech is an important part of the day’s events, and you want your loved ones to fondly recollect what you have to say. Plan your speech well in advance. This gives you time to refine what you want to say and solicit feedback, if necessary.
2. Start With Gratitude
You’ve probably seen an award show where the winner or guest of honor starts by thanking the people that helped them. You’re not accepting an award, but gratitude for the people that made the day a reality is a great place to start. This should include the newlyweds (especially the person that asked you to speak), parents, and other “very important people” as appropriate. Showing appreciation also gives you a place to start and get over your nerves.
3. Focus on the Couple In Your Speech
Your connection to one or both of the newlyweds is important, as it explains why you’ve got something to say. Your relationship can provide good fodder for a speech, but remember, the day is all about the newlyweds. You and the bride or groom may go way back, but the focus should be on the new union. If you don’t know the other person very well, you’ve got time to get to know more about them.
4. Mind the Time
There’s a good chance you won’t be the only person making a speech, so it’s important to mind the time. The ideal length for your speech should be around two to three minutes. Longer speeches may bore listeners and, worse, infringe upon other activities at the wedding or reception. Focus on the main point of what you intend to say and keep it short and sweet.
5. Joke Responsibly In Your Speech
Humor is in the ear of the listener. While most people can appreciate a funny speech, be mindful of jokes that may not land well with the couple or other guests. What you and a sibling or close friend consider hilarious may not be true with someone from a different generation or background. Good-natured ribbing can easily become teasing or bullying if you’re not careful.
6. Put It in Writing
It’s generally better to write your speech instead of attempting to memorize it. In the heat of the moment, your nerves may cause you to forget what you were going to say. Sometimes reading a speech can look awkward, but it’s better than rambling, especially if you’re drawing a blank. At the very least, write down your main points.
7. Practice Your Speech
Even the best speakers rehearse their speeches. The more you practice giving your speech, the more prepared and comfortable you’ll be. Rehearse your speech as if you’re giving it on the big day. Record yourself, so you can review areas for improvement, including the way you stand and over-reliance on filler words such as “um” and “like.”
Wedding speeches are a time-honored tradition of nuptials, including Canadian ones. If you’ve been asked to say a few words, consider these tips for crafting and delivering something special for your favorite newlyweds. You may not be able to buy the most expensive gift on the registry, but you can deliver a nice speech from the heart.
Once you and your significant other have agreed to tie the knot, you’re on a countdown to the big day. Your thoughts turn to all the details you need to figure out for your marriage ceremony. One of the big decisions to make is deciding who will be in the wedding party. As with couples all over the world, Canadian couples often look to close friends and family members to be bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other participants.
Asking a bestie or a sibling to be a maid of honor or best man is a no-brainer. You may be inspired to find creative ways to ask those closest to you to commit to being in the wedding party. The closest ones probably expect to be asked, but what about other people who are expecting to be asked to participate? How do you break the news to them? Consider the following suggestions.
Don’t Delay
If you’re asking someone to be in your wedding party, it’s important to do it as early as possible. Similarly, if you’re telling someone they won’t be in that number, it’s important to avoid delaying. Breaking the news gets harder to do the longer you wait. That person may be making special arrangements to be a groomsman or bridesmaid. Moreover, you don’t want them to find out secondhand from others.
Tell Them in Person
When it comes to potentially difficult conversations, it’s best to have a face-to-face meeting. Sending an email or text message is incredibly rude and may unintentionally suggest you don’t value your relationship with the person. If an in-person meeting is impossible because of geography, call them or set up a virtual meeting.
Be Direct and Up-Front
When you do meet with your friend or family member, honesty and directness are key. Don’t beat around the bush. Honor them by getting straight to the point. Hemming and hawing about it may sound like you’re being dishonest or hiding something from them. If you have neutral or positive reasons for your choice, be honest. If there are negative reasons for not including them, you can still be honest, but be intentional about your delivery.
Validate Their Feelings
There’s always the possibility your loved one won’t react well to the news. Not being a part of the wedding party can be very disappointing and feel like rejection. Let them vent. Acknowledge their feelings and remind them of how much you value your relationship. Reassure them their presence at the wedding is important to you and your spouse-to-be. At the very least, make space for them to be disappointed and listen.
Find Other Ways To Include Them
It’s common for friends to be asked to serve as ushers when you’ve reached the limit on groomsmen or bridesmaids. Does your loved one have a special talent, such as singing or playing an instrument? Ask them to do a selection or two in the ceremony. Perhaps that person has the gift of gab and would make a great emcee for the reception. You can also give them bridesmaid or groomsman-type duties like planning a stag and doe party or wedding shower. There are many ways for loved ones to be involved.
Expect the Best and Prepare for the Worst
Although this won’t be the easiest conversation to have, be optimistic. Your loved one may be very understanding of the choice you’ve made. They’ll appreciate your openness and warmth. If they respond with anger and hostility, you may be forced to take an honest look at your relationship.
Your nuptials should be a joyous occasion you and your partner look forward to. Although preparing for the big day should be fun, you may have to explain to friends and family they won’t be in your wedding party. Your decision shouldn’t end a relationship, so keep these suggestions in mind.
Eco-friendly weddings are on trend. Sending digital invites and using a website to provide information about your wedding is a great way to save time and paper. If you’re considering sending digital thank you notes, consider these reasons for handwriting your thank you notes.
Handwritten Notes Are More Personal
Setting words on paper takes time. It’s very easy to dash off a text or email. When you sit down to write thank you notes, it’s an investment in your time and emotions. You may have to think about what to write before you set it in ink. Handwritten notes are often more authentic and thoughtful than digital notes. The recipient will know you cared enough to take time out of your busy schedule to write a note.
Everyone Loves To Get Mail
When you send and mail a handwritten note, it stands out. Who doesn’t like to find something special in the mailbox? Think about how many emails or texts you get each day. How many of those do you really remember and save? Many people keep handwritten notes and cards for months, even years. A wedding thank you note is about more than just the gift. You can thank someone for showing up and supporting your relationship or for being there during your life. Reading those words may be just what the recipient needs to hear.
Handwritten Notes Show Gratitude
When you send digital missives, it’s easy to rewrite the note until you get it just right. When writing thank you notes by hand, you either get it right the first time or start over on a new card. After a while, that could be expensive. Handwritten notes can share your gratitude more authentically than digital notes.
Know Who Gets Thank You Notes
Every guest who showed up for your wedding should get a thank you note, whether or not they brought a present. You should also send thank you notes for each gift received at other wedding parties, like for your engagement or wedding shower. Even with smaller weddings, you want to keep up with those notes so you aren’t overwhelmed after the wedding.
Tips To Keep Up With a Mountain of Thank You Notes
You may have 100 or more thank-you notes to write after the wedding and honeymoon. You may be ready to be done with wedding planning and move on. The key to tackling this final task is to plan ahead. Start by ordering thank you notes when you order your invitations, even if you use digital invites.
Discuss thank you notes with your future spouse when you start planning your wedding. Ensure you’re both on the same page with how you plan to handle the notes. Buy stamps. Make address return labels. Track home addresses as you get gifts from your friends and family. This will make the job of writing notes much more manageable.
Have a page in your wedding planning notebook for people who need thank-you notes. Instead of waiting until after the wedding, write notes as you receive gifts. You can wait to mail them after the wedding. If you spend a half hour each week writing a couple of notes, it will dramatically reduce your time when you get home from your honeymoon.
Don’t Procrastinate
Plan an evening after the honeymoon when you and your partner will sit down and plow through the rest of your thank you notes. Maybe you can ask one or two friends to help you with the notes and to keep you accountable. Your friends and family will think you’re organized and on top of things when they receive handwritten thank-you notes.
With wedding costs rising as each year goes by, a DIY wedding seems more and more appealing. Thus, making sense that couples everywhere have taken an interest in the do-it-yourself approach to planning. The concept is simple: Instead of hiring professionals to take on challenges like decorating and creating floral arrangements, you will handle the details yourself. The goal of this option is to save money and take more control over the finished look of the event. Naturally, this is not always the easiest way to plan. To see success, look over these foundational elements of the process.
Start With Inspiration
Beginning the DIY process from scratch can be overwhelming. When you’re looking at a blank slate, you may feel nothing but stress and anxiety. Even creative people struggle to come up with good ideas when pressed. Thankfully, the solution is as easy as finding inspiration. Whether you create a mood board or casually browse blogs and Pinterest accounts, looking at images that invoke ideas can be a lifesaver. Inspiration can come from all kinds of places, so don’t limit yourself to only wedding-themed outlets.
Review the Practical Details For Your DIY
Looking at pretty pictures is only the start of the DIY process. To see results, you must also review the practical side of things. An idea might look beautiful in a picture and be incredibly difficult to execute. Looking at information like the materials required, time involved, and effort needed to complete each project can make a world of difference in devising a strategy. The biggest mistake people make when exploring DIY options is assuming a task will be easy and discovering too late that it is far more involved.
Source Materials
Understanding the practical side of the process also includes developing a better understanding of the materials involved. If you’ve decided to make your own invitations, for example, then you should start looking at how much it will cost you to source the cardstock and envelopes you’ll need. You should also factor in additional materials like stamps, ink, and whatever else might be needed. Failing to consider the costs of all supplies can throw off your budget, so be as realistic as you can when coming up with numbers.
Get Help
The truth about DIY tasks is that you and your partner will usually not be able to complete most projects on your own. In fact, you’ll benefit from as much manpower as possible. Before you set any of your projects in stone, reach out to close friends and family members to see if anyone is willing to lend a hand. By having access to help, you’ll be able to come up with a timeline of exactly how long it will take to complete everything you’re setting your sights on. Should you be unable to find people willing to assist, adjust your plan accordingly.
Mix and Match DIY
An entirely DIY event is not an easy feat to pull off. The best way to see success is by mixing and matching the do-it-yourself approach with more traditional methods. For some people, this means letting a professional handle floral arrangements while taking on the task of selecting unique vases as centerpieces. At the end of the day, DIY approaches are meant to make your life easier. For whatever is too difficult to handle by yourself, hire an expert to handle the job.
The DIY wedding can be a fantastic way to take more control over the look and feel of your event while saving some change along the road. Naturally, opting to do certain tasks yourself is not as simple as most people would prefer. Thankfully, as long as you put thought into your plan, you’ll have an easier time using this approach to the fullest.
Wedding traditions are constantly evolving to match modern couples’ ideas. The white wedding dress didn’t become a trend until 1840 when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Brides in the 1920s wore a hat as part of their wedding attire. The pandemic gave us micro-weddings that are more intimate, which is a trend expected to stick around. Here are some trends to watch for 2025 weddings that you can incorporate into your celebration.
Guest Books Go Digital
Guest books can be impersonal and often don’t get looked at after the wedding. There have been some changes in guest books over the past few years, and now many guests can write a sweet note to the wedding couple instead of just signing their name. Today’s couples are getting creative with their guest books. Guests could sign a piece of fabric that will be sewn into a quilt as a reminder of the wedding. Voice messages recorded at the wedding are another great idea that is a little more modern. Maybe you could give your guests a place to record a TikTok greeting for your wedding, or you could ask all guests to take a picture in a photo booth for the record; one copy goes to the wedding couple, and the guest can take another copy home. Get creative.
Invites Also Go Digital trends
Digital invites are eco-friendly and easier to deliver in today’s technical landscape. You may want to print a few invitations for the more traditional guests and for yourself. Still, you can use digital info to give guests more information about accessibility, accommodations and detailed notes about your wedding to avoid having to print out pages and pages of stuff everyone needs to know.
Colorful Wedding Dresses
Wedding dresses don’t have to be all white in upcoming weddings. Wedding dresses of all colors are hitting the runway, with baby blue and pastel pink as two of the most popular colors. Floral prints with a white background are also making their mark in modern weddings. Be bold and do you with color for your big day.
Small Bouquets
Dainty and delicate flowers, like lily of the valley, lavender and violets, are taking the stage for small and elegant floral bouquets. This lets the bride and her dress stand out at the altar, without having the maid of honor needing an extra hand to manage a big bouquet. Many of these tinier flowers get lost amid roses and lilies, traditional bouquet flowers, so it’s fun to see them getting some attention. Brides are also choosing to use flowers from their own garden instead of spending money on flowers that won’t be appreciated for more than a day.
One Last Private Dance
Traditionally, the wedding couple opens the wedding reception with a first dance to get the guests out on the dance floor. In 2023, many couples are closing their reception with a private last dance after all the guests leave. The photographer and DJ stick around to let the couple enjoy a dance at their wedding without all eyes on them. Wedding receptions go by fast. This lets the couple have some time together to talk or gossip or just enjoy each other’s company.
Locally Sourced Food and Favors
Sustainability is one trend that keeps coming up. Every year, couples are finding more ways to be sustainable. Menus that focus on local foods are a great way to support community producers while having the best-tasting items for guests. Choosing wedding favors produced locally that guests can really enjoy when they get home is another trend that will hopefully continue. Get creative with your wedding by remembering that you don’t have to be traditional. Be a trendsetter with your ideas.
The holidays are a busy time for many, so something to keep in mind if you are planning for a big event. Once you or the one you love has accepted a marriage proposal, one of the first items of business is deciding on a wedding date. There are so many things to factor in when choosing a date. Your individual and collective schedule, venue availability, convenience for others, season, and budget are just some of the details to consider. A major holiday such as Canada Day, Canadian Thanksgiving, or Christmas can present some benefits and challenges to scheduling your nuptials. Here are some things you should think about.
Making The Holidays More Special
For most people, the holidays are a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate events of great significance. Your wedding will be a celebratory affair. Combining it with a holiday will make it even more so. Holidays that are about togetherness, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, are already a great opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your village. A wedding is all the more reason to gather.
An additional benefit is that future holidays and anniversaries will also be memorable. There will always be a connection between the sights and sounds of a particular season and your nuptials. The chance of you forgetting your anniversary is greatly reduced if it occurs on or near the holiday. Win-win!
Theme Inspirations
You’ll have to make a lot of decisions when it comes to theme, décor, colors, attire, and more. You can draw inspiration for these details from the holiday. While white is still a go-to for things such as a bridal gown or a cake, you might consider incorporating red, green, and gold if your wedding is during the Christmas season. Imagine having your reception tables inspired by the bright-red velvet of Santa’s suit. You may build your palette around orange, brown, and other autumnal colors for a fall wedding near or on Thanksgiving. Take your cues and aesthetics from holiday visuals to make your nuptials more special.
Guest Availability
One advantage of scheduling your wedding on a holiday is the availability of guests. Visitors from out of town may have to miss work and use PTO to be at your event. Many Canadians get time off of work for major holidays, freeing up their schedule for your special day. On the other hand, some guests may not be able to attend your celebration if it’s on or near a holiday. Before picking a day, think about the type of event you want to have. A Christmas wedding may not work for some families.
Travel Accommodations Holidays
It should come as no surprise that the holidays are busy times for airports, hotels, and other travel-related services. High demand for seats and rooms can drive up prices for travel and lodging, making a holiday wedding difficult for loved ones to participate in. It may also be difficult to book a block of rooms for out-of-town guests during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and certain other times of the year.
Vendors and Venues During The Holidays
Certain venues and vendors may be harder to book, as you’re competing with other weddings as well as holiday-related events put on by individuals, organizations, and businesses. For example, a caterer who would usually be available to prepare your reception menu may be booked solid by families and companies needing food for a New Year’s Day party or a Labour Day picnic. The availability of the desired venue or preferred vendors may cause you to push your ceremony to another day or year!
The Carpenters once sang “holidays are joyful,” highlighting the way something like Christmas or Halloween can put you in the mood to celebrate. Weddings are also joyous occasions, so combining your nuptials with a major holiday might seem like a no-brainer. There are advantages and challenges to combining these celebrations. Consider these carefully as you plan.
Since throwing a wedding often involves months upon months of planning, many couples experience higher levels of stress during this period. This is compounded by the fact that marriage is one of the biggest milestones a person can experience in his or her life. When it feels like a lot is riding on this decision, you may find yourself looking for all kinds of signs to help highlight whether you’re making the right choice. This is far from a modern practice, with wedding superstitions dating back as far as history allows.
While it is always best to take “old wives’ tales” with a grain of salt, it can be interesting to hear about some of the beliefs people have held over the years. Look over these superstitions and learn more about the myths that have governed marriage.
Superstitions Of No Knives, Please
Many people purchase household essentials as wedding gifts. Though a new set of cutlery seems like it would be a perfect present, this has not always been the case. Across the world, a number of cultures believe that a knife as a gift is an omen of bad fortune. The basic idea is that anything used as a tool for cutting acts as a symbol of severing the ties of the relationship. While a widespread belief, plenty of modern couples still ask for knives, scissors, and other sharp instruments on their registries.
If you’re worried about this superstition and receive a knife as a present, there is a way to counteract the bad luck. By giving the gifter a penny in exchange for the knife, you are technically purchasing the item. Many cultures believe that this small step will dispel any negativity surrounding the gift.
It Tolls for Thee
Bells are often associated with marriage. When a couple starts to get serious about dating, it is common for friends and family to ask if they “hear wedding bells.” Though it might seem like a normal part of many Christian weddings, ringing bells was once considered a way to keep bad spirits away from the couple. Beginning as a Celtic tradition in Ireland, bells would resound at the end of a ceremony in order to frighten away any supernatural entities looking to cause harm or mischief to the union.
Odd Superstitions
Nowadays, many couples will delegate the task of presenting the rings during the ceremony to either a young child in the family or a member of the wedding party. While it might seem like a small task, one superstition suggests it should only be completed by someone with a firm grip and excellent balance. According to some beliefs, dropping the rings on the way to the altar signals bad luck for the couple and the person who dropped the jewelry.
Though this superstition can be shrugged off, there are instances where dropping the rings can be problematic. Should a ring roll into a vent, between floorboards, or under a heavy piece of furniture, retrieving it might cause major delays.
The Old Switcheroo
In modern times, bridesmaids are usually the women who have a meaningful connection to the couple. However, this position actually came about due to superstition. In Ancient Rome, it was believed that a woman who was about to be married was likely to attract the attention of evil spirits. To trick the spirits, other women would be dressed in a similar fashion as the bride and would stand near her to act as decoys. While many bridesmaids complain about the dresses they’re asked to wear at weddings, most would prefer this problem to being used as lures for malicious entities.
Superstitions surrounding weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Though there is little merit to some of these beliefs, you may still feel compelled to follow them just to give yourself some peace of mind.
Have you thought of who will be apart of your wedding party? Once you and your significant other have agreed to tie the knot, it might seem like the pressure is off. After all, you’ve gotten past the pre-proposal anxiety of “Will they say yes?” and now it’s time to plan your nuptials. One of the most important things on your to-do list is asking people to be in your wedding party. If you’ve got several close friends or siblings, this next step might be a no-brainer.
If you or your partner proposed, there were probably special arrangements made for the occasion. Asking someone to marry you isn’t like asking them to help you with a back zipper or feedback on an outfit. While not as critical, asking people to stand with you and your partner on your big day is a special request as well. Finding special ways to ask loved ones can be part of the pre-wedding fun as well as a contributor to fond wedding day memories for the future. Here are some ideas to consider.
1. Plan a Special Meal
What better way to ask someone to be a bridesmaid, groomsman, or another participant than over a great meal? Canadians love having a special reason to get together, and asking someone to be in your wedding is as good a reason as any. Depending on who you’re planning to ask, you can have one big get-together for everyone or do it on an individual basis. You can save some money by asking everyone at one time, but if there are loved ones who can’t readily accept, a group meal may be awkward.
2. Send Gifts
Some couples will buy gifts for the people in their wedding party either leading up to the event or afterward as a thank you. Consider sending a gift along with a handwritten letter making the request. The gift can be something as simple as a coffee mug or a custom T-shirt that acknowledges the recipient as a bridesmaid, groomsman, etc. If you have the budget and a flair for drama, fancy accessories such as jewelry or cuff links can add an extra special touch.
3. Take a Trip
If you can afford a weekend escape, consider inviting your loved ones on a short getaway. Before this, consider the people you’re going to ask and the type of trip they’ll say yes to. For example, if the person you’re asking to be a best man isn’t into the great outdoors, an overnight camping trip might not be the best idea. You’re getting ready to embark on the great adventure that is married life. This getaway is a metaphor for the adventure ahead. Make the connection and set the tone before you pop the question(s).
4. Buy an Accessory
If you’re fairly confident the people you’re going to ask will respond affirmatively, consider making the request with an accessory that is significant to the big day. For example, if you’re planning to have the groomsmen wear the same thing, you could send each person the necktie or bow tie they’ll be wearing along with a handwritten note. This idea might work especially well if you’ll be doing a themed wedding that involves special attire or accessories.
5. Send a Scrapbook or a Digital Photo Album
If you have several pictures of you and the invitee from over the years, consider sending a scrapbook or a digital photo album. Though marriage is the next major milestone in your life, you can honor your history with pictures spanning your relationship. Wrap things up by asking them to be a part of your future by standing with you at the altar.
When you’re ready to begin assembling your wedding party, get creative with it. Weddings are special times to cherish the one you love with the ones who have loved you. Consider these ideas to make the request special for you, your partner, and your nearest and dearest.
As soon as you make the decision to get engaged, you start a subconscious countdown to your actual wedding day. Even if you won’t be walking down the aisle anytime soon, you still will feel a bit of pressure to get the ball rolling. There are countless tasks involved in the planning process, and waiting too long to start some of them can limit your options. Thankfully, there are a few easy things you can pursue to make the overall experience less taxing.
Since organization is key to planning any event, you’ll find certain tools and resources invaluable. Look at these tips and see how you can bring about some order.
The Timeline
One of the earliest tasks that couples need to sort out after engagement is picking a date for the nuptials. Once you’ve gotten this out of the way, you have a clear idea of how much time you have to work with for the planning phase. Most people find that thinking about large chunks of time in an abstract way can make the date more of a looming deadline than an event to anticipate with excitement. To give the timeline a concrete feeling, you want to bring it into the tangible world.
Whether you mark a calendar, download a timekeeping app, or design a poster that you can use to monitor progress, there are plenty of ways to make your timeline feel ordered. Think about the pros and cons of each approach, and it will do wonders to offer insight into which path will help best.
The Budget
Outside of the date itself, the budget is the other major thing that couples need to figure out early. Knowing how much you can afford to spend on your wedding will dictate a large chunk of other details. Naturally, not everyone is an expert when it comes to balancing a budget. If you and your partner both struggle with financial matters, you might need some extra help. Apps meant for managing personal funds can be a great place to begin.
Budgeting applications come in handy in a multitude of scenarios. While you might find one is useful for planning your nuptials, you can use what you learned and apply it toward bigger financial decisions you will need to make later.
The Contracts and Documents
As you get into the process, you’ll start to deal with more vendors. The more interviews and consultations you attend, the more paperwork you are likely going to find in your possession. From documents detailing services to contracts that you have created, losing even one paper can lead to some major setbacks. In this scenario, you don’t need any complicated applications or programs on your phone. Though digital solutions are available, a classic binder or folder is the safest bet.
Learn how to code your binder in a way that makes accessing documents a quick and effortless experience. If you can pull open a folder and spot the exact item you need, it can make you feel more on top of the process overall.
The Messaging Timeline
Coordinating with family members and friends is a big part of planning a wedding. However, you can’t always rely on a mass text message or email blast to get important details across. When you’re trying to keep all members of the wedding party in the loop, a phone app like WhatsApp or Signal can be a great solution. Regardless of service provider or location, all people on the chain can come together and receive updates in a straightforward and efficient way.
Though it might seem like planning a wedding is a process that has too many moving parts to keep track of, there are some easy steps you can take to make sense of the madness. Look at all of your options and see which works best for your planning style.
Wedding trends constantly change to meet the needs of modern couples. Nontraditional weddings are on trend for those people who don’t want to walk down the aisle in a white gown with matching bridesmaids. Here are some ideas to get you started on a nontraditional wedding that is more to your specifications.
Mix Up The Order of the Day
One of the latest wedding trends is to party before the ceremony. The reception comes first. At the end of the evening, the couple takes their vows before the guests leave. Couples are also taking a few moments at the start of the day to say their vows together in private before the celebrations begin. It’s kind of a chance to really enjoy the day as it should be instead of as a whirlwind of activity. There’s no reason to avoid each other until the ceremony unless you really want to be traditional.
Create Your Own Wedding Playlist
Who says you need a DJ to play the music at the reception? Make your own playlist to pipe in through the speakers at the reception hall. Rent a karaoke machine. Hire a standup comedian instead of playing any music. Play your favorite movies. Have card or board games on the reception tables to entertain guests.
Go Nontraditional And Skip the Cake Smash
Smashing cake in each other’s faces isn’t for everyone, especially when you’re wearing beautiful and expensive wedding attire. If you’re looking for an alternative to cake, whether you want to smash it or not, switch it up by serving doughnuts, cupcakes, brownies or even pies. Think about desserts that your guests will love and enjoy instead of formal wedding cake. If sweets aren’t your thing, go with a nice cheese board for dessert. Serve up a plate of pretzels or offer a smoothie bar with lots of fruit that will cleanse everyone’s palate.
Go With a Nontraditional Venue
Host your wedding party at a winery or a restaurant instead of the traditional wedding venue. Think about unexpected locations, a bowling alley, the game store, City Hall in the town next door or a private home that has a beautiful garden. Small weddings can save you money and give you the opportunity to really enjoy your friends and family who came to support you. If you really want to surprise your guests, don’t tell anyone why you’re gathering until you are together. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to find a venue that reflects you both and reduces your stress about the ceremony.
Plant a Tree
Forgo the candle ceremony for another option, such as planting a tree or holding a sand ceremony. Choose a tree that can be planted in a pot until you get settled as a couple. Once you buy your first home, you can set it in the yard as a reminder of the day you came together. In a sand ceremony, each of you pours colored sand into a vase together, symbolic of the blending of your two lives. Alternatively, create a time capsule of your wedding day. Ask guests to write well wishes that you can read in 10 or 20 years. Choose a few elements that you each can put in the box to be locked away until that milestone anniversary.
Make Your Wedding About You
It’s okay to kick the rule book out for your wedding. If you’re not into Pinterest boards and managing every detail, do what makes you happy. When you do the unexpected, your wedding will be more memorable. Get creative with your wedding. Include some fun and humor. Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event that should reflect you both.
Weddings and receptions can take inspiration from various sources, including cultural traditions, literary influences, and popular media. One custom that transcends boundaries is the wedding speech. Usually offered at receptions, a close friend or family member of the newlyweds is expected to say a few words. This is especially true for parents, best men, maids of honor, and other special people. Whether you’re a naturally gifted speaker or someone who struggles with speeches, consider these tips:
1. Make a Plan
There are very few people who can give a great speech off the top of their heads. A professional emcee may be able to do so, but unless that’s your job, you’re probably a loved one to the newly married couple. Your speech is an important part of the day’s events, and you want your loved ones to fondly recollect what you have to say. Plan your speech well in advance. This gives you time to refine what you want to say and solicit feedback, if necessary.
2. Start With Gratitude
You’ve probably seen an award show where the winner or guest of honor starts by thanking the people that helped them. You’re not accepting an award, but gratitude for the people that made the day a reality is a great place to start. This should include the newlyweds (especially the person that asked you to speak), parents, and other “very important people” as appropriate. Showing appreciation also gives you a place to start and get over your nerves.
3. Focus on the Couple In Your Speech
Your connection to one or both of the newlyweds is important, as it explains why you’ve got something to say. Your relationship can provide good fodder for a speech, but remember, the day is all about the newlyweds. You and the bride or groom may go way back, but the focus should be on the new union. If you don’t know the other person very well, you’ve got time to get to know more about them.
4. Mind the Time
There’s a good chance you won’t be the only person making a speech, so it’s important to mind the time. The ideal length for your speech should be around two to three minutes. Longer speeches may bore listeners and, worse, infringe upon other activities at the wedding or reception. Focus on the main point of what you intend to say and keep it short and sweet.
5. Joke Responsibly In Your Speech
Humor is in the ear of the listener. While most people can appreciate a funny speech, be mindful of jokes that may not land well with the couple or other guests. What you and a sibling or close friend consider hilarious may not be true with someone from a different generation or background. Good-natured ribbing can easily become teasing or bullying if you’re not careful.
6. Put It in Writing
It’s generally better to write your speech instead of attempting to memorize it. In the heat of the moment, your nerves may cause you to forget what you were going to say. Sometimes reading a speech can look awkward, but it’s better than rambling, especially if you’re drawing a blank. At the very least, write down your main points.
7. Practice Your Speech
Even the best speakers rehearse their speeches. The more you practice giving your speech, the more prepared and comfortable you’ll be. Rehearse your speech as if you’re giving it on the big day. Record yourself, so you can review areas for improvement, including the way you stand and over-reliance on filler words such as “um” and “like.”
Wedding speeches are a time-honored tradition of nuptials, including Canadian ones. If you’ve been asked to say a few words, consider these tips for crafting and delivering something special for your favorite newlyweds. You may not be able to buy the most expensive gift on the registry, but you can deliver a nice speech from the heart.
Once you and your significant other have agreed to tie the knot, you’re on a countdown to the big day. Your thoughts turn to all the details you need to figure out for your marriage ceremony. One of the big decisions to make is deciding who will be in the wedding party. As with couples all over the world, Canadian couples often look to close friends and family members to be bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other participants.
Asking a bestie or a sibling to be a maid of honor or best man is a no-brainer. You may be inspired to find creative ways to ask those closest to you to commit to being in the wedding party. The closest ones probably expect to be asked, but what about other people who are expecting to be asked to participate? How do you break the news to them? Consider the following suggestions.
Don’t Delay
If you’re asking someone to be in your wedding party, it’s important to do it as early as possible. Similarly, if you’re telling someone they won’t be in that number, it’s important to avoid delaying. Breaking the news gets harder to do the longer you wait. That person may be making special arrangements to be a groomsman or bridesmaid. Moreover, you don’t want them to find out secondhand from others.
Tell Them in Person
When it comes to potentially difficult conversations, it’s best to have a face-to-face meeting. Sending an email or text message is incredibly rude and may unintentionally suggest you don’t value your relationship with the person. If an in-person meeting is impossible because of geography, call them or set up a virtual meeting.
Be Direct and Up-Front
When you do meet with your friend or family member, honesty and directness are key. Don’t beat around the bush. Honor them by getting straight to the point. Hemming and hawing about it may sound like you’re being dishonest or hiding something from them. If you have neutral or positive reasons for your choice, be honest. If there are negative reasons for not including them, you can still be honest, but be intentional about your delivery.
Validate Their Feelings
There’s always the possibility your loved one won’t react well to the news. Not being a part of the wedding party can be very disappointing and feel like rejection. Let them vent. Acknowledge their feelings and remind them of how much you value your relationship. Reassure them their presence at the wedding is important to you and your spouse-to-be. At the very least, make space for them to be disappointed and listen.
Find Other Ways To Include Them
It’s common for friends to be asked to serve as ushers when you’ve reached the limit on groomsmen or bridesmaids. Does your loved one have a special talent, such as singing or playing an instrument? Ask them to do a selection or two in the ceremony. Perhaps that person has the gift of gab and would make a great emcee for the reception. You can also give them bridesmaid or groomsman-type duties like planning a stag and doe party or wedding shower. There are many ways for loved ones to be involved.
Expect the Best and Prepare for the Worst
Although this won’t be the easiest conversation to have, be optimistic. Your loved one may be very understanding of the choice you’ve made. They’ll appreciate your openness and warmth. If they respond with anger and hostility, you may be forced to take an honest look at your relationship.
Your nuptials should be a joyous occasion you and your partner look forward to. Although preparing for the big day should be fun, you may have to explain to friends and family they won’t be in your wedding party. Your decision shouldn’t end a relationship, so keep these suggestions in mind.
Eco-friendly weddings are on trend. Sending digital invites and using a website to provide information about your wedding is a great way to save time and paper. If you’re considering sending digital thank you notes, consider these reasons for handwriting your thank you notes.
Handwritten Notes Are More Personal
Setting words on paper takes time. It’s very easy to dash off a text or email. When you sit down to write thank you notes, it’s an investment in your time and emotions. You may have to think about what to write before you set it in ink. Handwritten notes are often more authentic and thoughtful than digital notes. The recipient will know you cared enough to take time out of your busy schedule to write a note.
Everyone Loves To Get Mail
When you send and mail a handwritten note, it stands out. Who doesn’t like to find something special in the mailbox? Think about how many emails or texts you get each day. How many of those do you really remember and save? Many people keep handwritten notes and cards for months, even years. A wedding thank you note is about more than just the gift. You can thank someone for showing up and supporting your relationship or for being there during your life. Reading those words may be just what the recipient needs to hear.
Handwritten Notes Show Gratitude
When you send digital missives, it’s easy to rewrite the note until you get it just right. When writing thank you notes by hand, you either get it right the first time or start over on a new card. After a while, that could be expensive. Handwritten notes can share your gratitude more authentically than digital notes.
Know Who Gets Thank You Notes
Every guest who showed up for your wedding should get a thank you note, whether or not they brought a present. You should also send thank you notes for each gift received at other wedding parties, like for your engagement or wedding shower. Even with smaller weddings, you want to keep up with those notes so you aren’t overwhelmed after the wedding.
Tips To Keep Up With a Mountain of Thank You Notes
You may have 100 or more thank-you notes to write after the wedding and honeymoon. You may be ready to be done with wedding planning and move on. The key to tackling this final task is to plan ahead. Start by ordering thank you notes when you order your invitations, even if you use digital invites.
Discuss thank you notes with your future spouse when you start planning your wedding. Ensure you’re both on the same page with how you plan to handle the notes. Buy stamps. Make address return labels. Track home addresses as you get gifts from your friends and family. This will make the job of writing notes much more manageable.
Have a page in your wedding planning notebook for people who need thank-you notes. Instead of waiting until after the wedding, write notes as you receive gifts. You can wait to mail them after the wedding. If you spend a half hour each week writing a couple of notes, it will dramatically reduce your time when you get home from your honeymoon.
Don’t Procrastinate
Plan an evening after the honeymoon when you and your partner will sit down and plow through the rest of your thank you notes. Maybe you can ask one or two friends to help you with the notes and to keep you accountable. Your friends and family will think you’re organized and on top of things when they receive handwritten thank-you notes.
