Over the course of their life-times, many people will be wedding guests on several oc-casions. During the height of wedding season, weddings can run into one another, as the format and the festivities are similar at various ceremonies. Couples interested in setting their nuptials apart may want to enhance the wedding reception with a few unique ideas.

Who hasn’t attended a wed-ding that seems formulaic? The couple enters, they do their spotlight dance, there’s food, a bouquet toss and then the cake cutting. Guests may actually be able to predict what’s coming next. While it is often custom-ary and easy to follow tradition, that doesn’t mean you cannot buck with tradition and offer a few creative ideas to make your event stand out.

Here are several ideas you can introduce into your wedding to add something special to the reception.

• Skip the big entrance. Those who were kind enough to attend the ceremony have already been introduced to the newly minted happy couple. Instead of spending the cock-tail hour in the isolation of the

wedding suite, mingle with your guests from start to finish. So much time is spent posing for pictures or being out of touch with guests, the cocktail hour can be a great time to sit and chat. Being with guests during the cocktail hour means you don’t have to make that big en-trance from behind closed doors. Guests will have all eyes on you when you step on the dance floor for your first dance together.

• Dance to an upbeat num-ber. Guests are expecting a slow, sappy tune. What they may not expect is an upbeat song that shows you are willing to have a little fun. If you haven’t mas-tered the waltz but enjoy a little quick step now and again, feel free to choose a tune that shows your excitement and love for each other.

• Encourage couples to dance together. It’s often cus-tomary for the bridal party to join the bride and groom on the dance floor midway through the first dance. However, that leaves spouses or significant others waiting in the wings while their dates tango with groomsmen or bridesmaids. Instead, don’t have assigned partners. Rather, encourage your bridal party

members to dance with whom-ever they choose.

• Swap the garter/bouquet toss for something more mean-ingful. If you’re part of a couple who feels the garter and bouquet toss has become trite, there are other ways to create special moments in your celebration – ones that don’t single out the singletons who haven’t yet found their special someones. Use this time to present a small gift or token of your affection to someone on the guest list who has served as a mentor or source of inspiration.

• Choose one special com-ponent as an extra goodie for guests. Some couples feel

the more they offer the better guests will view their wedding. Spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean guests will have a better time. If you want to go above and beyond the ordinary, find one thing that you absolutely love and offer that at the party. It could be a flambe presentation, a chocolate or candy bar, a carving sta-tion with your all-time favorite food (even if that’s PB&J), or a carnival-inspired automatic photo booth.

• Hire a live performer. Although it’s hard to beat the performance quality of your wedding song being performed by the original artist, unless

you’re cousins with Celine Dion, chances are she won’t be available to sing “My Heart Will Go On” at your reception. However, a live band adds a certain level of excitement that a disk jockey may not be able to provide. Those who are adding a cultural or ethnic component to their wedding may want to hire a dance troupe or another type of performer, like a bagpiper, as an added measure of entertainment for guests.

• Let them eat ... cookies? Some people just don’t like cake. Therefore, why should a couple have to cut a seven-tiered white confection? Tow-ers of different types of treats

can be created from just about anything and serve as the per-fect backdrop for that classic cake-cutting photo. A pyramid of cream puffs, stacks of brown-ies, a cookie castle, or cereal-cake concoctions can work. Some bakeries will decorate a “dummy” styrofoam cake, and then you can serve apple pie a la mode, if you desire.

• Stage a costume switch. Let’s face it, dancing all night in a long gown takes some stamina. As the bride, have a more com-fortable cocktail dress available to switch into for the latter part of the reception. It will also add some variety to your wedding photos.

(BPT) – There’s something magical about an outdoor wed-ding. Being surrounded by nature as you say your vows can make your day even more special. Whether you’re think-ing of holding your event at a neighborhood park, at a favorite garden, or on the shoreline of a local lake, there are some im-portant things to keep in mind so your day is perfect no matter what.

Many couples choose out-door weddings and receptions because the event can be highly customizable. Additionally, the venue provides the opportunity to save money because you can rent everything you need. Ac-cording to the American Rent-al Association (ARA), many rental businesses have Certified Event Rental Professionals on staff that are trained to help you choose the right rentals to plan your outdoor wedding without a lot of stress.

1. Tents protect from all types of weather

Making sure you and your guests are comfortable is very important, and renting tents is the easy way to add comfort and protection to your outdoor wed-ding space. During hot summer months, tents protect from the harsh sun. If Mother Nature de-cides to be testy, tents can pro-tect from rain and minor wind issues.

Your local ARA rental store can help provide insight into the type of weather to expect for the

time of year you’re getting mar-ried, and can give advice on any extras you may want to order. From simple open-air tents to options with flooring, fans or air conditioning, you will find the right one for your dream wed-ding.

2. Customize with the ideal decorations

A tent provides a blank can-vas, and from there you can cre-ate the atmosphere you desire. First decide on your vision. Are you thinking a casual outdoor event, or something more for-mal? How about a color scheme or a theme you’d like to follow?

Next, prioritize the most im-portant elements. For example, if you want a formal, ocean-themed wedding, you might want to rent chandeliers for in-side the tents, along with a foun-tain for the centerpiece and blue linens and sashes for the tables and chairs. Almost anything you can imagine can be rented, sav-ing you time and money.

3. Decide on the right food options

Serving food and drinks in an outdoor environment takes a bit of extra planning. Be sure to interview caterers who have ex-perience working outdoors with tented events and are familiar with the area where you’ll be getting married.

An experienced caterer can help ensure that cold foods stay cold and hot ones stay warm so that guests have an enjoy-able meal. If you’re planning to

provide the food yourself, make sure to rent the appropriate equipment to keep food temper-atures safe. To make food prep easier, consider renting a porta-ble kitchen if the facility doesn’t have an option for you to use.

4. Plan for a seamless expe-rience

Unless you’re planning a backyard wedding, most of your guests will not be familiar with the event space. Clearly mark any areas where guests might get confused or lost. For example, use signs to tell guests where the tents are located and provide luminaries and strings of lights on pathways to the bathrooms or parking facilities.

Being able to hear well can

also be an issue outdoors. Rent speakers for the ceremony and be sure to have the proper mu-sic equipment for the reception. Remember, most public outdoor spaces have noise ordinances, so check with the city to see about any restrictions or permits you may need.

Planning an outdoor wedding can be easy and affordable when you utilize a rental service. Re-member to plan ahead and give your local ARA rental store as much notice as possible so you can get everything you want for your big day. Visit www.rental-hq.com for more information.

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Enhance your reception with unique ideas for a memorable event

Before discussing table settings for their weddings, many couples find it helpful to brush up on some floral terminology before visiting florists.

It can make you appear more knowledgeable and prepared if you understand what will be discussed and are able to choose what you want. It also helps to ensure your money is being spent in the best way possible.

Here are some common and some lesser known florist terms that can be advantageous to know.

• Biedermeier: A nosegay arranged tightly with concentric circles of differently colored flowers. The flowers are wired into a holder with only one type of flower in each ring.

• Bouquet: A dense bunch of blooms that are kept together in a bouquet holder, wired or tied with ribbon.

• Crescent: One full flower and a flowering stem wired together to form a slender handle that is held in one hand.

• Garden: A centerpiece featuring wildflowers.• Nosegay: Small, round bouquets composed of densely packed

round flowers and fill.• Oasis: Specialized foam that is used in bouquet holders and

centerpieces to retain water and keep blooms fresh.• Pomander: A flower-covered ball that is suspended from a

ribbon. It is often carried by child attendants.• Posies: Smaller than nosegays but similar in design.• Presentation: A bunch of long-stemmed flowers cradled in the

bride’s arms. It’s sometimes known as a pageant bouquet.• Topiary: Flowers trimmed into geometric shapes.• Tossing: A smaller copy of the bride’s bouquet to use in the

bouquet toss.• Tussy mussy: A small, metallic holder to carry a posy.

Learn these floral terms

In recent years, wedding cakes have become more of an artistic centerpiece than just a confectionary treat.

The average couple will spend between $700 to $800 for their wedding cake. Al-though many catering halls or reception sites will include the wedding cake in a package deal, many couples choose to order their cake from a spe-cialty bakery who creates cu-linary masterpieces.

If television trends are any indication, many people are opting to spend several hun-dred to thousands of dollars on a customized wedding cake. These fondant and but-tercream creations may be elaborate in nature, so much so they’ll likely need to be ordered several months in advance.

Couples looking for some-thing a bit different for their upcoming nuptials, many want to consider these trends in wedding cakes.

• 3-D accents on the cake, such as graphic appliques.

• A black-and-white motif that gives the cake a simplis-tic, yet trendy appeal.

• A lot of bold color in the cake, instead of just white or ivory.

• Dramatic monograms that can add class to the cake.

• Painted cakes with ed-ible food coloring paint that feature beautiful landscapes or a portrait. A work of art, they’re both delicious to eat

and fun to admire.• Cakes that mirror the

style of the wedding gown, including fondant ruffles and appliques.

Many couples still opt for the traditional, and that is al-ways in style. Instead of ex-perimenting with the outside of the cake, couples can be creative with cake flavor and fillings. Imagine cutting open the cake to find red velvet or a chocolate ganache filling!

Planning a wedding is a tough job. Another thing the bride and groom should think about during planning is to try to heed a few guidelines to make guests, family and friends feel welcome, even if the couple plans to cast tradi-tion aside.

As wedding customs con-tinue to evolve, it gets hard-er and harder to keep track of what you should do and shouldn’t do before, during and after your wedding day. To help guide you through the maze of rules and regulations, follow these tips.

INVITATIONSYour first connection to

wedding guests is through in-vitations. These informational cards set the tone for your wedding and should reflect the theme and scope of your affair.

• Write full guest names on the inside envelope of your wedding invitation. Only the people listed are invited to the event.

• Don’t write “and Guest” on the invitation. Try your best to find out whom your cousin or friend will be bringing to the wedding, and include his or her name on the invitation.

• Wedding-invitation word-ing is a personal preference. Most couples include their parents’ names on the invita-tions. However, if a parent is deceased, his or her name should not appear.

• If you know a guest is not in a relationship, do not feel obligated to offer a wedding invitation addressed for “two.” Subsequently, if you only in-vited one person and he or she “adds” another guest when sending back the RSVP, do not hesitate to call him or her to explain that financial or space constraints prevent you from accommodating the guest.

• Gift preferences, registries or any other matters involving gifts should not be mentioned on the invitation or included in the package. If you have a preference, like monetary gifts or a donation to a char-ity, spread it through word of mouth prior to the event.

• Don’t use labels on your invitations. Handwrite them, use a nice font and print the envelopes using a computer,

or get them done with profes-sional calligraphy.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Finances can turn sweet wedding plans sour. By keep-ing in mind some general guidelines, things will move more smoothly.

• Tradition once stated that the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding. However, times have changed and more couples are opting to pay for the wedding themselves, or the groom’s family chips in.

• Traditionally, the mother of the bride pays for the bridal shower. The bridal attendants may contribute to the shower’s cost or be designated jobs, such as purchasing favors or decorating the venue.

• Bridal attendants will split the cost of the bachelorette party, and the groomsmen will do the same with the bachelor party, if one is held.

• It is usually the responsi-bility of the groom’s parents to pay for the rehearsal dinner. The spouses or significant oth-ers of wedding party members should be invited to the dinner as well.

Here are some other items and who should be financially responsible:

• Rice/birdseed/confetti bags to toss after the ceremony – bride’s family

• If you are following strict traditions, the flowers are di-vided between the bride’s fam-ily and the groom. However, these days, flowers are includ-ed in a “package” and usually whoever is paying for the wed-ding festivities also covers the flowers.

• Marriage license – groom• Clergyman/officiant fee –

groom• Rings – bride and groom• Bridesmaid dresses/tux-

edos – bridal party or grooms-men

PROCESSIONALIf you are having a religious

wedding, consult your priest, rabbi, deacon or officiant con-cerning the customary proce-dure for entering. Each house of worship may have rules concerning processional or-der, music, photos, etc. Keep in mind that stepparents or boyfriends/girlfriends of your parents should enter and be

seated before your biological family.

MOTHER OF THE GROOM

Oftentimes the mother of the groom doesn’t know her place in wedding planning. She does play an important role and can be as involved as the couple would like. Some of her main responsibilities include:

• Initiating contact between her family and the bride’s fam-ily.

• Providing an accurate and timely guest list.

• Organizing and hosting the rehearsal dinner.

• Taking her place beside the bride and mother of the bride in the receiving line to thank guests for attending.

Also note that the mother of the bride dictates wedding day fashion, and the mother of the groom will wear a gown of similar style and length.

TIPPINGGratuities are more often

than not included in the cost of wedding services. However, if a wedding vendor, waiter or other person has gone above and beyond the call of duty, extra tipping is appropriate. Here are some people who should receive a tip on the wedding day:

• Coat-room attendant or bridal party attendant.

• Clergyman or officiant should receive no less than $100 for his or her services.

• Limousine driver should receive 15 percent of the bill if a tip hasn’t already been in-cluded.

• Organist and musicians at the ceremony should receive at least $50 per person.

• If your reception features a maitre d’ or head waiter who oversees the staff, expect to tip this person as well.

THANK-YOU NOTESThese simple notes are

obligatory for each gift you receive. They should be hand-written and should mention the gift given. If a guest gave you money, do not mention the specific amount, but say how you plan to spend it.

Be sure to include your new address on the return-address label so your friends and fam-ily will know how to reach you!

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The Bride’s Guide

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Do this, don’t do that:Proper wedding etiquette can get complicated

(StatePoint) – All couples want their wedding day to be special. Whether it’s a formal affair or beachside barbeque, brides and grooms across America aim to make the cel-ebration of their love a day ev-eryone will remember.

“Not all brides may be able to arrive by hot air balloon, but that hasn’t deterred them from coming up with creative ways to add their own personal flair to their special day,” says Amy Myers, vice president of cre-ative services for Things Re-membered.

If you’re planning a wed-ding or looking for unique gift ideas, here are some trends to keep in mind:

• Online Invites and More: Nowadays, the Internet is al-most essential to wedding planning. In addition to wed-ding websites, more than a third of brides say they are us-ing social network sites to lo-cate products and services for their weddings, often paying online or by phone.

And more couples are opt-ing to send e-vites instead of mailed invitations, or request-ing that guests RSVP through a wedding website.

• Custom Logos: Couples want to put their stamp on ev-erything, so many are design-ing custom wedding logos to incorporate on everything from programs and invitations to guest books, cake servers and even reception champagne bottles. For example, Things Remembered, a personalized gift retailer, offers free wed-ding logo creation with pur-chases totaling $150 or more. Not only will they engrave lo-gos on champagne flutes, pic-ture frames and other wedding staples, they’ll give couples an electronic file of the logo to use in other materials.

• Coordinated Products: Brides spend countless hours on every detail of their wed-ding. Today’s bridal vendors are helping to make the process easier by offering complete collections of bridal products, so that the same beading de-tail on a wedding dress will be found on the cake server, the aisle runner, wedding invita-tions and more, creating a spe-cial synergy on the big day.

• Wedding Photos: Gone are the days of picking a few prints and putting them in a formal book of 8” x 10” pho-

to pages. Many couples are choosing digital photo packag-es that provide them with all of their wedding photos on CDs.

Some brides are opting to have photos printed in coffee-table books that incorporate multiple images with words, captions and design elements. Others are turning wedding photos into works of art by printing them on gallery-qual-ity photo canvases. If you’re a guest at an upcoming wed-ding, you can even purchase a photo canvas gift card at www.ThingsRemembered.com, which lets couples work with an artist to create a personal-ized home decor piece based on their favorite photo.

• Smaller is better: To-day, many brides are planning smaller weddings, allowing them to splurge more on the details. Destination weddings are also trending smaller, with people opting for beach wed-dings at nearby lakes or resorts instead of big trips like Ha-waii.

Couples increasingly are realizing that the small, often inexpensive details can make their big day unique.

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