Q and A Time! And Last Call for the Cold Plasma Giveaway!

Wedding season is upon us!

OK, it really never ends anymore!

But before I go on...

The Perricone Cold Plasma Giveaway ends 4/28

Enter HERE!

 I first posted this back in September

{I think I hard 2 readers then}

but, I get this one particular question a lot.

So, I figured...let's revisit the mystery of the gift.

MYTH: The cost of the gift (received from the invited guest) should be equivalent to what the per-person cost of the meal is.

TRUTH: No. No. No. An invitation to a wedding is not a trade out. A guest is not expected to first of all even know what you are spending per-person, much less be forced to spend that amount on a gift. The bride or groom does not get to dictate the price range of their wedding gifts (even if they tried to do so with their registry!). Now, the expectations of gifts - money vs. actual gifts - and the "cost" of the gifts do vary from region to region, so you may need to adapt this advice to your particular area.

Happy Planning!

Mythical Mondays

It's time for Mythical Mondays where we clarify what really is and isn't true about...wedding planning.

MYTH: You have one year to write thank you notes.

TRUTH: A widely held belief that a bride and groom have one year to send thank you notes to their guests is beyond comprehension. How will the guest know you even received the carefully selected gift? Will you even remember what you received as wedding gifts in one year? How motivated will you really be in one year? 

The confusion comes from the notion that a guest has up to one year to send a gift. In actuality, the newlyweds should attempt to get out any thank you's within a few weeks of returning from the honeymoon (a couple of months is really the maximum). Thank you's for gifts received before the wedding should be sent promptly. This goes for engagement, shower, and wedding presents sent to the home.

Thank You Cheat Sheet

1. Email, texts, and a general shout-out on your wedding web site are not acceptable. The written word still rules here.
2. Mention the gift. If it is a monetary gift you do not need to mention the amount, rather call it the "generous gift" or something similar.
   
3. Include how you plan to use it
   
4. Thank the guest for their generosity.
   
5. Add a personal sentiment if possible.
   
6. Sign your married name only after you are officially married.
7. Use your maiden name for anything thank you notes written prior to the ceremony, even if it is a wedding gift (i.e., shower gifts, a wedding gift sent to your home that arrives in the days or weeks prior to the wedding).

Sample Thank You Note

Dear Uncle Jack,

Thank you so much for the place setting of formal china. We are so excited to host our first holiday meal on our china, and even more excited that you will be joining us. We are looking forward to seeing you there. Thank you for being a part of our wedding celebration.

Love,

Lisa

Wedding Myths

No one ever said planning a wedding was easy. Over the last few years, "big" weddings have become hugely popular for brides and big business for wedding vendors. During this time, a slew of "urban legends for wedding planning" have sprung up. Many brides get caught up in these myths as they seem simple enough and, on the surface, sometimes even logical. Don't be fooled. Dispelling the unfortunately too common fallacies of wedding planning will help you avoid disappointment and disaster.

MYTH #1: Friends and others can do the job of real wedding professionals.

TRUTH: The name says it all; they are wedding professionals, not carnival experts, or meeting planners or portrait photographers at chain stores. Hiring real professionals takes your wedding to that next level, and their experience provides skill, competence, and sophistication. For example, a photographer who shoots products or even posed family portraits may be skilled and talented but shooting weddings is a whole different ball game. Wedding photographers know how to get the shots they want, get them quickly, round up family, and keep the party flowing. Wedding professionals understand the flow of events and important timing elements on a wedding day. They are familiar with the emotions that go into the day and usually have a special knack for dealing with the bride, groom, wedding party, families, and even guests.

Are you married? Have you helped someone plan a wedding? Have you discovered any myths?

More myths to come...it's part of a series! Oh, and trust me there is a lot more to say, and I will say it!