Preliminary Conversations

Preliminary Conversations

Considering a Holiday Weekend Wedding?

Although the couple might be thinking that a holiday weekend is a surefire way for guests to be able to attend, often the opposite is true.  Especially during the summer, holiday plans are often booked far in advance.  Although…

Wedding Size and Family

Disagreements over the size of the wedding?  Ultimately, the choice lies with the bride and groom, within the constraints of the budget.  Now, that isn’t to say that the couple ought to veto whomever they want from the wedding when…

Ask the Editor: What If I Don’t Like My Son’s Fiancee?

My son is getting married to a young woman who is a nightmare! She is demanding, selfish, and superficial.  We didn’t have a chance to meet her until they were practically engaged, and now that it is all happening, I…

Consider an “Off-Season” Wedding

Don’t care when you get married?  Think off-season. Depending upon where you live, there are generally a few months when it seems like no one is getting married.  For those in the northern half of the country, that is usually…

Ask the Editor: What Should I Call My In-Laws?

My fiancé and I dated for several years before getting engaged, and both know each other’s families well.  I have always called his parents by their first name.  When do I start calling them Mom and Dad?—Katy, Waterbury, CT No…

Ask the Editor: Help! My parents don’t like her!

My parents don’t like my fiancée.  They don’t really have a legitimate reason, other than that they just “pictured me with somebody different.”  My family is really casual and very outdoorsy, and Heather is very girly and prefers shopping to…

What Size Wedding do You Want?

Trying to decide what size wedding you want?  For most couples, they could go either way.  They have a small group of close friends, an average number of family members, and a large circle of acquaintances.  Although there was a…

How to Ask if Your Parents can Contribute to Your Wedding

First, how this conversation goes varies greatly on your relationship with your parents.  If, for example, you have always been close with them, and everyone is honest and direct, you really don’t need this question answered for you.  Approach them…

Ask the Editor: Bridesmaids and Family

My fiancé and I both have two siblings.  My two brothers will be groomsmen.  One of his sisters will be a bridesmaid, and the other one I chose not to invite.  I don’t know her that well, and as this…

Ask the Editor: Small Wedding with a Large Wedding Party

We are having a small wedding, about 50 guests, but both my fiancé and I have several very close friends.  Is it strange to have a wedding party of 12 when the guest list is so small?—Karen, Detroit, MI It…

Numerically Significant Dates?

Many couples choose to get married on numerically interesting dates, such as 10/10/10 or 9/10/11.  There is no real “luck “ associated with that, but can make it easier for people to remember your wedding date (and for you to…

Friends Left Out of Your Wedding Party?

Unfortunately, it is hard to avoid hurt feelings at any wedding.  Inevitably, any event with that much emotion and protocol surrounding it is going to offend someone at some point.  Which is not to say that you should shrug that…

Friends and Family – Are They as Much Help as You Think?

Photography by Anna Kuperberg Photography by Anna Kuperberg – see more at www.kuperberg.com Many couples are struggling with the fact that they want to cut down on costs, but still have the wedding of their dreams. How do you…

Commitment Ceremony Tips

Photography by Lori Paladino – see more at www.loriphoto.com For same-sex couples who do not live in a state that has legalized gay marriage, there is the option of holding a private commitment ceremony instead. While this is by…

Celebrations and Memories

When wedding photographer, Ken Mendoza of Duende Photo was hired to shoot an engagement party, little did he know that his photographs would play a major role in the wedding ceremony of the same couple a year later. Dina…