Bridesmaids’ Duties

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

A long time friend recently asked me, “So, Mary, what are the duties of the bridesmaids?” She’s getting married and has asked her bridesmaids to help her with Bridesmaid Gift Boxes but doesn’t know what they actually do! So for my friend, Cindy, and anyone else who is interested, here is a good sum-up of the bridesmaids’ duties, directly from theknot.com

“Offer to help with prewedding tasks. Try to be specific when you volunteer. For example, say, “Would you like me to help you shop for bridesmaids dresses/stuff invitations/pack for the honeymoon?” instead of just, “What can I do?”
Scout out bridesmaid dresses, shoes, jewelry, and other wedding accessories. Pay for the entire ensemble. (Break in your shoes before the wedding day — that will minimize slipping, blisters, and aching tootsies.)
Help to plan, cohost, and pay for the bridal shower and bachelorette party with other bridesmaids.

If the maid/matron of honor isn’t already handling this task, keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and bridal showers (so that the bride/couple can write thank-you notes); maintain RSVP lists.
Attend the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. (Keep abreast of all prewedding parties, and go to as many as possible.)
Run last-minute errands. On the day of the wedding, be on hand to confirm flower delivery times, meet and greet the ceremony officient, or satisfy junk food cravings.
Stand in the receiving line at the bride’s request.
Serve as auxiliary hostess at the reception by introducing guests, making sure they know where the bar is located, and inviting them to sign the guest book.

Hit the dance floor when the music kicks in. Dance with groomsmen during the formal first-dance sequence. Also, be on the lookout for toe-tapping guests who might need encouragement and/or a dance partner.
Give the matron/maid of honor a break by helping to carry the bride’s wedding gown train whenever necessary. Bustle the train before dancing begins, and be ready to help fix it if it comes unhooked. Accompany the bride on visits to the restroom, if asked.
Purchase a wedding present perhaps with one or several of the other bridesmaids. This provides more buying power, and two heads are better than one when it comes to wedding gift ideas. Sometimes the entire bridesmaid troupe pitches in for one knock-her-socks-off wedding gift.

Be a trooper, no matter how stressful the ordeal becomes. Try not to complain about the bridesmaid dress — even if the color is horrendous. Be gracious and tactful.
Provide plenty of emotional support during the planning and on the wedding day.”

Lots for young ladies to do, and I have three daughters in KK’s bridal party!

Three of my daughters below, at Maggie’s wedding.

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Image #1 www.primadonnabride.co.za

Image #2www.sheinspires.com.au

Image #3 chicvintagebrides.com

Image #4 dressek.com

Image #5 Patty Cloherty Photos

How Will You Ask Your Bridesmaids to Be in Your Wedding?

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

How will you ask your bridesmaids to be in your wedding? It’s a big time. If your bridesmaids are local, there is dress shopping, shoe shopping, and let’s not forget emotional support!

Then there’s the financial strain. Those, often hideous, bridesmaids dresses are not cheap…and neither are the shoes. Your attendants’ travel may be another expense, if they’re from out of town. Remember… the bride and her family are responsible for their lodging the night before the wedding and the night of.

Let’s not forget the parties! Your bridesmaids will certainly be invited to a wedding shower or two, as well as your bachelorette. They may even be hosting one of those events.

As for “bridesmaids invitations” to the big event, the jewelry route is an option. Below is a lovely necklace requesting a bride’s friend to “stand up” for her. This is a economical option. Not only is it an a beautiful invitation, but it can double as the “attendant gift” a brides traditionally give to her maids.

What about a humorous approach? These “rings” simulating a proposal, and are adorable. If you’re interested in purchasing something like them, there is a link below.

You might want a more casual approach, like the mug in our next photo. Cute, and definitely practical.

My daughter, Kathleen, who will be married July 3, 2015, made the most adorable notebooks and gave them to her bridesmaids when she officially asked them to be in her wedding. Inside, she wrote a personal letter to each, gave instruction as to their duties, (she is SUCH a big sister!), and then left space for their own personal planning pages. It’s truly a wonderful keepsake.

Maggie…You have big shoes to fill in your capacity as Matron of Honor at KK’s shindig!

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Image #1 jesscreates.com

Image #2 funny-pictures.picphotos.net

Image #3 www.zazzle.ca

Image #4 www.loveitsomuch.com

Image #5 marypkarnes photos

Image #6 patty cloherty photos

Wedding Rings

Posted on April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

Wedding Rings…NOT engagement rings…The next few posts will feature the most iconic image of all wedding symbols – the wedding ring. In my parents’ day, it was all about the matching wedding rings. There was the bride’s wedding ring with MAYBE a little bling like the ring above, and then a larger matching version for the groom.

In MY generation, we embraced the “Wedding Set”. The bride received an engagement ring from her future groom, and it came with it’s own, matching wedding ring. It was usually designed to fit snugly around the engagement ring. A company like Elegant Gems Jewellers do bespoke rings and you can customise it so it can be unique to you and your partner. The groom was then left to his own devices for his choice of wedding band.

I rather like the idea of a wedding band made of colored stones, like the sapphire band you see here. If I had to do it over again, I just may have made such a choice.

The stackable bands below are a favorite of mine – I hope my husband takes notice…I would love a combination of them, to wear as an alternative to the engagement ring/wedding band I regularly wear, of course…Maybe a future anniversary gift?? I believe that is the actual intention of the jewelry designer. I hear some have decided to give silicone rings! Some of them look fabulous, I hear!

Just can’t bear wearing jewelry? Maybe a “wedding band” tattoo is for you…NOT for me…I like jewelry too much…But just think, slipping off the wedding ring for no good purpose wouldn’t be an option for THIS husband… 🙂 I just wish my husband was as interested about rings as I am, as I found some lovely rings for him on manlybands.com, I’m just waiting for him to have a nose! Check back tomorrow, and hear about the many wedding rings I have acquired – all from the same wonderful husband, though.. I guess you could say I’m not very sentimental.

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Image #1 weddingideasblog.net

Image #2www.brides.com

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At Home Wedding Beauty Tips

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

Don’t scoff… there ARE “At Home Beauty Remedies” that really work. No one has to tell you that weddings are expensive! So why not save a little money and try some of these At home wedding beauty tips? The kool aid lip stain really works, although I hear if your lips are chapped, it stings… and be more than careful not to get any on your beautiful wedding gown.

Have you had a few late nights with parties, worries over pesky wedding details, or even a bachlorette party or two? Try “depuffing” your eyes with black tea bags! They work like a charm, and won’t break the bank.

Going somewhere tropical for your honeymoon? Or just want bikini-ready skin? Try this “At Home” recipe from glamour.com: “Do this before the wedding day (or any normal day) ! 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup raw oatmeal, 1 cup olive oil. mix and apply to skin gently and rinse off in shower. skin will feel like butter.” Of course you’ll have to do a few crunches to have a stomach as fit as the one pictured… I WISH it were so easy to just rub this concoction on… 🙂

The last photo gives a whole list of concoctions to try, and most of the ingredients are already found in your home frig or cupboard. Best advice…don’t wait until the week before the wedding to experiment. Try these things, (if you choose), a couple of months in advance. You don’t want any last minute break-outs or skin flare ups. And as with any new product, always try on the inside of your arm before on your delicate facial skin. Good luck, and remember, all brides are beautiful!

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Image #1 thebeautydepartment.com

Image #2 beautyhigh.com

Image #3 makeup.com

Image #4 glamour.com

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