Wedding Newsletter?

Wedding Newsletters: Why You Need One

There are lots of people you need to fill in about the wedding -- bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, vendors. The most efficient way to do it? A newsletter. Here's how.

One of the toughest things about wedding planning is making sure everyone knows what's going on. Between your two (or more!) sets of parents, your siblings, and the wedding party (spread out over the continental U.S. Yikes!) how are you supposed to keep everyone on top of things? It's easy -- put together a newsletter. Here's our handy guide.

Why Do A Newsletter?

It's a way for you to let everyone know the wedding skinny all at once, in writing, so there's much less chance of last-minute confusion. Also, putting all the information together for your newsletter will probably help you organize it in your own head, too.

What Should Be In It?

A newsletter can be as simple as a list of everyone intimately involved in the wedding, what their role is, their phone number, and their e-mail address, so everyone can keep in touch and/or will know who to call (besides you, of course!) if they have questions or problems. You may also want to include information about your wedding vendors and who they are. Feel free to get creative -- if you send out a newsletter early in your engagement, do a little "getting to know you" section in which you include a photo of each attendant plus a paragraph about them and their relationship to you and your honey.
The newsletter is an invaluable place to give bridesmaids information on fittings and let groomsmen know which formalwear store you're using. You can request ideas, info, or help from specific people. And maybe most importantly, you can give everyone who needs it a detailed itinerary for prewedding parties and the wedding day, so no one will be clueless about where to go and when.

A newsletter can be as simple as a list of everyone intimately involved in the wedding, what their role is, their phone number, and their e-mail address.

When Should I Send It Out?

You might decide to do several installments -- one right after you've chosen your wedding party, one before the shower, and one a week or two before the wedding. You could get really into it and do monthly issues, or you might just do one sometime in the middle of wedding planning. It all depends on what information you feel you need to give out and how timely it has to be. For example, you won't know the exact times everyone needs to be everywhere on wedding day six months before the date, but you will know a week or two before -- and that's the prime time to fill in everybody else.

How Do I Do It?

The easiest way is to design and write the newsletter on your computer, and then print it out and make copies made to send out. If you've got a desktop publishing program like Quark Xpress (or one you can borrow at work), you can make it look like a real publication, with columns, headlines, the works. If everyone who needs to get it is online, just do a group e-mail!

Who Should Get It?

Everyone who would benefit from the information you include. Definitely everyone in the wedding party (that should include the parents of any child attendants), your parents, and maybe wedding professionals (florist, photographer, etc.) if the information is relevant to them as well. The exact mailing list for your newsletter is pretty much up to you.

reposted from the Knot

Wedding Guests: Reception Seating How-Tos

It's one of the final tasks on your to-do list. Here's how to make playing musical chairs a breeze.

If you're having 50 guests to a buffet, you may or may not want to give people specific seating assignments. But if you're having 100 guests or more and serving a seated meal, you'll want to make sure everyone's got a specific place to sit. Why? For one, people like to know where they're sitting -- and that you took the time to choose where and who they should sit with. It's also helpful if you're serving several different entree choices, because the caterer and wait staff can figure out beforehand how many chickens, filets, or veggie dishes a given table gets because they (you) know who's sitting there. Read on for tips on how to seat neatly.

The parent-seating question is a flexible one. Set it up in whatever way best suits everybody.

Start Early

We've been at kitchen tables the night before the wedding (or even wedding morning) with a bride and groom just starting their seating chart. Don't let this be you -- you've got more important things to think about at that point! Sure, it's fine to make last-minute changes, but try to get the chart mostly done at least a week before the big day.

Hit the Keys

Create a new spreadsheet. If you haven't already, insert a column into your guest list document categorizing all the invitees by relationship: bride's friend; bride's family; groom's friend; groom's family; bride's family friend; groom's family friend. This way, you'll be able to easily sort the list and break it down into more logical table assortments. Now you'll need to separate these lists into distinct tables.

Create a Paper Trail

If you're feeling more low-tech, draw circles (for tables) on a big sheet of paper and write names inside them (make sure you know how many people can comfortably be seated at each). Or you could write every guest's name on a post-it to place accordingly.

Head Up the Head Table

A traditional head table is not round, but long and straight, and it is generally set up along a wall, on risers, facing all the other reception tables. It may even have two tiers if your wedding party is large. Usually the bride and groom sit smack-dab in the middle (where everyone can see them), with the maid of honor next to the groom, the best man next to the bride, and then boy/girl out from there. Flower girls or ring bearers usually sit at the tables where their parents are seating, much to the relief of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Decide to seat this way, or plan a sweetheart table for a little one-on-one time.

Switch Things Up

But you don't have to do it that way. All the maids can sit on the bride's side, all the groomsmen on the groom's. Or maybe you're not into being on display, or you don't want your wedding party to feel isolated from other guests. Let your wedding party sit at a round reception table or two with each other and/or with their dates/significant others, and have the head table be a sweetheart table for the two of you. (How romantic!) Another option -- you two sit with your parents and let that be the head table, with the wedding party at their own tables.

Place Your Parents

Traditionally, your parents and your sweetie's parents sit at the same table, along with grandparents, siblings not in the wedding party, and the officiant and his/her spouse if they attend the reception. But if your or your honey's parents are divorced, and are uncomfortable about sitting next to each other, you might want to let each set of parents host their own table of close family and/or friends . This could mean up to four parents' tables, depending on your situation -- or have the divorced parent who raised you (or your honey) and his/her spouse/date sit at the table with still-married parents. (Phew, confusing!)
Remember, the parent-seating question is a flexible one. Set it up in whatever way best suits everybody. If you're unsure, don't hesitate to talk to the parents in question about it before you make your final decision.

Tame Tensions

There may also be situations in which certain family members just do not get along. Maybe they haven't spoken in years. Maybe the last time they saw each other there was a drunken catfight. Understandably, you want to keep them as far apart as possible. Think about these kinds of relationships (or lack thereof) before you even begin making your chart, so you can take them into consideration in the first place and begin by seating Aunt Hattie at table 3 and Aunt Lucy across the room at table 15. Trust us -- they'll appreciate it.

Play Matchmaker

Again, all your college or high-school friends will be psyched to sit at a table together -- and especially if you and your beloved went to the same school and have the same friends, this works out well. It also gives them all an opportunity to catch up with each other, because they may not have seen each other for a while. But again -- reception tables offer a cool opportunity to mix and match your friends and your honey's -- who knows who'll hit it off? Consider seating friends who don't know each other (yet), but who you think will get along exceptionally well, at the same table -- and the rest is history. It can't hurt!

Reposted from the Knot

Wedding Guests: How to Make Out-of-Town Wedding Guests Feel at Home

Chances are that many -- if not most -- of your dearest don't live down the road. Here's how to show your out-of-town wedding guests a good time.

For a significant number of your friends and family members, showing up for your nuptial celebration may mean hopping on a plane to cross state lines. These out-of-towners will go to a lot of effort and expense to share in your momentous occasion, so it's your job to welcome them, help them get around, and keep them entertained. With that in mind, here's how to put them at ease.

Essential Details

One of the simplest, yet probably most useful, things you could do for your guests is to provide a wedding itinerary. After sending out your invitations, mail guests an additional clever, elegant, or interesting communique with a complete rundown of the events leading up to and following your walk down the aisle. In addition, create a wedding web page for an easily referenced one-stop-shop for guests to check up on everything you have planned. In both cases, include key times, locations, who is hosting, what to wear, and so on for each activity. Tell your visitors about any free time they'll have, and provide suggestions for how to fill it. There may be events you have in mind (such as a brunch the morning after the wedding) that travelers should know about in advance so they can schedule their trips around them.

These intrepid travelers have come to see you, so make sure they do -- pull them aside for some one-on-one attention.

Be aware that since many of your guests are taking to the skies, they may be turning your nuptial event into a weekend getaway or part of a vacation. Also, remember that some of your guests may never have visited the area before. You may wish to add in "travel guide" bits of information to your prewedding itinerary to get guests excited about the journey. For example, if there are some great sights to see or points of interest to visit, tell your guests in case they'd like to do some exploring. Do some research and investigate which museums will have amazing exhibits showing, whether or not the local sports team is playing a home game, and what musical or other cultural performances will be happening.

Shelter & Travel

Though footing the bill for travelers' overnight accommodations and flights isn't your responsibility, you and your fiance should offer suggestions for how to find both (and tips on how to score good deals will no doubt be appreciated by guests). Be sure to put important details for airlines and hotels (website and street addresses, phone numbers, directions, and cost information) on an insert sent out with your invitations, or post it separately on your wedding itinerary or web page so guests can book their flights and rooms early and know how to get around once they arrive. Recommend different places for guests to stay. Look for locations near your ceremony and reception sites, and start calling around about six months beforehand to check on large-scale availability for the days surrounding your wedding, and to inquire about special group rates. To get the best deal for your guests, reserve blocks of rooms at a couple of hotels. Keep your guest's probable budget range in mind, and recommend both fancy fare for those flush with cash and a less expensive alternative for the budget-minded. For the best airfares, try getting in touch with the airlines directly. Inquire about frequent-flyer deals, special discounts, and group rates for those who may all be flying in from the same place.

Getting Around

Some out-of-towners will choose to rent cars (be sure to provide car rental info with your hotel and airline details), but for those who don't, you'll have to figure out how they'll get to and from the wedding. Cover all the bases: organize a fleet of relatives that will act as chauffeurs, talk to the hotel manager to arrange for a hotel shuttle, hire a car or limo service, or rent a few vans or a bus. It's also a kind gesture to have someone pick up nondrivers from the airport -- especially if they're new to the area or get nervous traveling. Recruit volunteers for this: parents, next of kin, and friends are likely targets. Put together a roster of arrival times, and have trekkers greeted at the gate with signs bearing their names (be sure to let guests know you've arranged this, and clue them in on who to look for).

Surprise Treats

Comfort the jet-lagged and travel-weary with a little something left in their hotel rooms. Imagine their delight -- walking into their temporary living quarters and discovering a basket of fresh fruit, a bouquet of flowers, a tin of local chocolates, or a bottle of chilled bubbly. What you choose to give depends on your resources, and can be as lavish as a free massage at the hotel spa or as simple as a plate of homemade chocolate-chip cookies. The purpose is to let guests know you appreciate their effort to join you for your special day. Create welcome packets of relevant information (phone numbers of the families of the bride and groom, the names of the other guests staying at the hotel, nearby hot spots to check out) to leave in guests' rooms with another copy of your wedding itinerary, plus local brochures and sightseeing maps. Enlist the aid of your wedding crew to assemble and distribute all these treats. Finally, add that finishing touch and pen a personal note thanking each guest for coming to celebrate with you.

Evening Entertainment

Leading up to the main event, you may have plenty to fuss over, but out-of-town guests may not. Don't leave them in the lurch with nothing to do. If many guests are showing up the night before the ceremony, suggest ways they can stay amused while you hold the rehearsal dinner. Ask a friend or relative to host a gathering like a backyard barbecue or pizza party to help guests get to know one another. Or arrange to have everyone meet together at a restaurant or bar. Better yet, create a more casual rehearsal dinner, and open up the invite list to include everyone who might be around. For guests who like to entertain themselves, be sure to supply a roster of your favorite restaurants, shops, and local movie theaters as a thoughtful gesture.

Time In-Between

Though recommended, sometimes it's not possible to have your reception immediately follow your ceremony. If there will be a lengthy break between your "I dos" and the party, or your ceremony is late in the day, try to come up with a game plan. During a lull, some people won't mind going back to the hotel and kicking back. But others may be interested in touring your stomping grounds. If guests will have the morning free, suggest a game of golf or a visit to a museum. With lots of spare time between the main events, you could organize an excursion, such as taking a group of guests to visit nearby attractions or to see a movie.

Quality Time

Remember the reason that these intrepid travelers have come is to see you, so make sure they do. Pull them aside amid all the revelry for some one-on-one attention, or make it a point to tell them at the receiving line how much seeing them means to you. Raise your glass during toasting time to acknowledge those who have come from afar, and consider setting up something special for journeyers, such as a brunch the morning after the ceremony (if you aren't already off to a magnificent honeymoon).

-- The Knot

Wedding Day Emergencies...solutions

Wedding Day Emergencies: 14 Swift Solutions

It's every bride's worst nightmare: Mere hours before the ceremony, you notice some makeup on your gown. Or ink on your sleeve. Or worse: a pimple. Relax, we've got fast fixes -- for these and other last-minute glitches -- that promise to have you and your groom floating flawlessly down the aisle.

Saving Your Gown

Ink Spot
You were signing a prewedding love note to your groom, and your hand slipped? Beware: Removing stains from your bridal gown can be a pretty tricky business. Water or liquid cleaner could leave a mark, and bleaches can irreparably burn the fabric.
Fast fix: Apply a touch of hairspray to a cotton swab, then rub lightly over the stain.

Removing stains from your bridal gown can be a pretty tricky business.

Water Mark
Sweat, tears, even good old Evian can leave watermarks on your gown. Immediately blot any wet spot with a clean white towel to soak up excess moisture. Beware: Attacking spots with a hairdryer may spread the wet mark even further.
Fast fix: Run a hand-steamer over fabric to lift out the watermark; some fabrics can be ironed afterward. As a preventative measure, be sure to ask your bridal salon about using steamers and irons on your gown when you pick it up after your final fitting.
Makeup Mess
With all those kisses you'll be receiving, it'll be hard not to end up with makeup on your gown.
Fast fix: Don't rub! Press a little club soda onto the spot, then sprinkle salt on top to soak up moisture. Let dry. If a hint of a spot remains, touch up with white chalk or talc.
Oil Stain
Whether from your perfume or a small bite of salad, a drizzle of oil can quickly ruin a pristine white gown.
Fast fix: Dip a cotton swab into cornstarch or talcum powder, then gently -- but generously -- apply it to the spot. The cornstarch or powder will absorb the oil. Wait 15 minutes for moisture to be absorbed, then dust off powder with a clean white towel. Repeat if necessary.
Blood Blotch
Did you prick your finger with a corsage pin and then touch your gown?
Fast fix: Wet a cotton swab with your own saliva, then gently rub it on top of the blood. The acids will break down the stain. Works best when the blood has not yet dried.
Stocking Run
Every bride knows that even the tiniest run in her hose can ruin an otherwise perfect ensemble. Okay, so you didn't listen to us and don't have three extra pairs on hand (or maybe you've run through them all already).
Fast fix: Carry along a bottle of clear nail polish to abolish your runs, as well as any that plague your mother or bridesmaids (just dab some on the end of the run), and consider stashing a couple spare pairs in the ladies room before the reception.

Looking Your Best

Broken Nail
Snag your finely manicured talon on your dress zipper?
Fast fix: Apply a drop of fast-bonding glue to the nail break, and position a tiny bit of unused paper from a tea bag on top. Then add another drop of glue. When it dries, file the paper down until you can't see or feel the edges, then top with a third and final drop of glue.
Swollen Eyes
Afraid you'll wake up wedding morning with eyes all red and puffy from a prenuptial-stress cry?
Fast fix: Sleep with your head propped up a few inches by a pillow to help drain excess fluid from the blood vessels around your eyes. If your peepers are still red and swollen when you awaken, flush with Visine and then relieve puffiness with cold, wet teabags to help tighten swollen tissue.
Lipstick on the Lam
Does your lipstick have a tendency to head south?
Fast Fix: Avoid feathering -- and ensure long-lasting wear by filling in your entire lips with a lip pencil that's the same hue as, or one hue darker than, the lipstick you plan to wear. This creates an adhesive surface on which to apply your color. When you've finished shading, apply lipstick with a lip brush for precise application, then line the outside of your lips. Last, remove excess color and smooth lip texture by blotting your lips with a tissue. Then add a dab of Vaseline to your teeth to keep them lipstick-free.
Sudden Breakout
Prewedding stress can wreak havoc on your skin, upping the chances of waking on wedding morning with a blemish.
Fast Fix: Cover a red pimple with concealer as close to your skin tone as possible. If blemish is dark, dab on a slightly lighter concealer with a small brush, then set with matching powder. If necessary, add a second layer of each. And remember, it's okay if you don't achieve total elimination. The point is to de-emphasize, not to remove. An overly concealed spot will only call attention to itself, which is not the goal you really had in mind. In case of an emergency -- say a glaring cyst-like pimple just days before the big event -- hightail it over to your dermatologist's office for a quick cortisone injection.
Shiny Face
Do you and your groom have a tendency to shine under high pressure and hot lights? You're not alone.
Fast fix: Come prepared with a small package of blotting papers, or keep a cotton handkerchief, loose powder, and big puff close at hand to banish perspiration or shine.
Razor Burn
Your guy tends to get terrible razor burn on his neck?
Fast Fix: Make sure his blade is clean and sharp, then instruct him to avoid pressing too hard on the skin, and also to shave with the grain not against it. Shaving in the shower can help soften stubble with steam. And an aftershave with ingredients like aloe and shea butter can help ease troubled dermis.
Shaving Nick
Hand slipped while shaving your leg? Worse, your groom got nicked shaving his face?
Fast fix: Splash the area with cold water, then apply a product that contains both alum (a hemostatic that helps stop bleeding) and potassium (an antiseptic that cleanses skin and closes up pores).
Conspicuous Tattoo
No matter how proud you are of the tattoo you sport on your right shoulder -- and the pain you endured to get it there -- showing it off during your wedding ceremony (even if the design features your groom's name inscripted in a heart) may or may not be appropriate.
Fast Fix: Use a thick yellow-based medical concealer (companies like Covermark and Dermablend make heavy coverage makeup used for covering scars) for camouflage. Ideally, you should purchase this makeup product in three different tones: the first product should be a perfect match for your skin tone; the second should be one tone lighter; the third, two tones lighter. Begin applying from the lightest shade to the darkest. First, using a concealer brush, apply the lightest makeup shade over the tattoo to form a base. The trick is to keep the makeup only on the tattoo -- not on the skin. Both a stiff brush and a fairly thick concealer will help on this count. Next, layer on the darkest shade and blend it in. Then gently blend skin-tone makeup over the top, and set with matching powder, using a puff.

reposted from the Knot

Transportation Basics

Transportation: The Basics

There's more to wedding day travel plans than trying to hide your car from the best man and his arsenal of aluminum cans. We've got the 411 on getting you and your bridal party around.

Early Decisions

Choosing your transportation begins with an assessment of who you have to take with you, and the size of your bridal party plays a big part. If it's just you and two bridesmaids, a slick luxury sedan will get you there in style -- the bride's parents can ride in a separate car. But if you've got a crowd, consider a trendy stretch SUV or Hummer that up to 22 people can pile into. Try to save a seat for the photographer: Candid, wide-angle, or paparazzi-style shots are a surprising favorite.
Afterward, make sure you remember you'll need to transport the two of you and groomsmen as well. Some couples opt for a car for just them and car or cars for everyone else. The choice is yours. If the reception is within walking distance from the ceremony, you can hire a choir, musician, or, say, mariachi band to serenade you.

Limo 101

Since limos are the most common choice, we thought nitty-gritty tips would help ensure your stretch goes smoothly. Ask for recommendations from recently married friends, the caterer, hotel concierge, or reception hall manager.

• Play the Blushing Bride. Ask about wedding packages. Some places will offer you complimentary champagne or upgrades just for asking; others will include a discount if you book for the bachelorette and bachelor parties too.
• Time It Right. Most limos have to be hired for a three- or four-hour minimum. If your travel plans consist of one 15-minute trip to the church, you might want to go for a less expensive option, like a Lincoln Town Car, which is still technically a limo. If there are several legs to the trip, renting the car for the night may make more sense.
• Book Early. Reserve your car at least six months in advance—or more like nine if your wedding is in April, May, or June, which is prom season. Comparison shop to get a decent deal as prices (and quality) can vary wildly. (Hint: Limos that aren't white often cost less.)
• Check the Fine Print. Read the contract word-for-word and ask for a statement detailing the costs of the deposit and balance due. Make sure the following is in writing: the date, hours, and pickup locations; amenities; the driver's name and attire; the make, model, and color of the car; plus cancellation and refund policies.
• Save Up Front. Place the smallest possible deposit on the bill—20 to 25 percent—to minimize your loss if the service winds up being less than great. Plan on tipping 15 to 20 percent, but check the contract to find out if gratuity is already included.
• Drop in on the Car. Make the final reservation in person, not over the phone. That way you can inspect the cars and ask which one you'll be getting. Most places won't guarantee a specific car, but you can get an idea of the fleet.
• Meet Your Chauffeur. Have a conversation with your driver ahead of time. Make sure he knows not just where you're going but how to get there. Let him know if you have a special request or heads-up (you'll be bringing sparklers back into the car after the ceremony, for instance).
• Assign a Type-A. Designate a bridesmaid to call the driver 20 to 30 minutes ahead of time to make sure your ride is coming on time.
• Prepare to Pester. Be sure to get an after-hours phone number of someone at the limo company in case any emergencies come up.

Making Your Exit

• Traditional Adieu. For their grand exit, most brides and grooms get into a formal car together, but there is absolutely no reason you have to stick to tradition. Use this opportunity to let everyone see you in your dream car. From a red-hot Ferrari to a Rolls Royce, you can rent cool cars from specialty car rental companies.
• Other Au Revoir Rentals. Take off on a vintage Vespa, or create a rustic feel by driving away in a friend's baby-blue antique pickup truck. Or how about a tandem bike for two fitness fanatics? Or sometimes simple is chic: a romantic walk, hand in hand.

Everyone Else

• Provide for Your Guests. If you've got a lot of people coming in from out of town, are hosting the wedding events at several different locations, or are having the ceremony in a hard-to-find or hard-to-get-to location, consider renting minivans and shuttle buses, which are good for getting guests to each spot and on time.
• Costs for Mass Transportation. Expect to pay $75 to $100 per hour for this kind of mass transit. For a fun alternative, charter a 1920s-style trolley or a double-decker tour bus.
• Bridal Parties Top the List. If you don't have a bus going back to the hotels and are leaving in a different car, you should at least make sure transportation is arranged for the bridal party: cabs, another limo, or just enlisting a friend or family member to take each bridesmaid are all acceptable options. Just let each girl know earlier how she should get home so there are no questions that day.
• Parting Ways. If you haven't rented a shuttle bus for your guests, you should at the very least provide a taxi phone number so that any guests who've imbibed can make it home safely. You can also plan ahead with a taxi company so that they always have one waiting out front, and they can radio more cars as needed after the party's over. Now get moving.

Transport tip: If you have lots of out-of-town guests, consider renting minivans or shuttle buses to get them around.

reposted from the Knot

Transportation: Costs, Tips & Trends

You know what you're wearing, what you're eating, and who's reading what at your ceremony, but none of that matters if you have no way of getting yourselves (and the wedding party) to the wedding site. (a great task for the groom). These 11 tips will get you ready to roll:

1. What It Costs

You're likely to be charged by the hour (ranging from $40-$75 per hour, depending on the type of vehicle and number of passengers), and you may be required to contract the cars for a minimum amount of time. A 15 to 20 percent gratuity may also be added to your bill. The parking service bill should also reflect a 15 to 20 percent gratuity charge. In this case, make sure guests know not to tip.

2. Ways to Save

Stick with your standard six-person town car instead of a stretch limo -- the former is actually a limo, just not as long. Leave out the TV, full bar, and sunroof. Or, let bride and groom get a ride and have the wedding party carpool it.

3. Parking Protocol

Having your reception at a hotel, restaurant, banquet hall, or special events facility? The site manager may be taking care of parking arrangements and staff. If not (or if you prefer to hire an independent service), here are some guidelines: Valets are attendants that physically park cars for guests upon arrival, retrieve them when guests leave, and staff the parking area for the duration of the event. Non-valet attendants direct traffic, hold signs, point you towards available spaces, and staff the area. The going rate? Around $20-$25 per attendant. Figure five valets (or three or four non-valets) per 100 guests. Knot Note: The parking service manager should check out the location to determine the number of attendants needed before quoting a price. And keep in mind that meager to non-existent parking facilities, massive guest lists, and complicated locations will require more manpower and add to the cost.

4. Guest Issues

Think transporting guests from ceremony to reception isn't your bag? Better hope all your guests are driving. Picture 150 people fighting for cabs during a conveniently timed, post-ceremony thunderstorm. Look into hiring a bus or a couple of minivans if you think this could happen. You also need to consider the distance between ceremony and reception. If the ceremony ends at 4:30 and the reception space (20 minutes away) won't be ready until 5:45, you risk having guests arrive while the space is still being prepared. Those early birds will have to make their own fun, which, trust us, doesn't look good on you. Try to time everything just right. Call the reception site to change the start time, if necessary.

Firm up transportation arrangements 4-6 months before the wedding.

5. Paparazzi Shots

Have your photographer ride along with you. Those glamorous in-car shots (pre- and post-ceremony) are fast becoming a new classic.

6. Sitting Around

Arrange for pick-up and drop-off service only, so that drivers aren't waiting around (and getting paid) for the duration of the ceremony and reception. If there will be no cars waiting, the couple should be assured a ride home (hotel, airport, etc.) when the festivities are over. This is something an honor attendant (usually the best man) should provide or oversee.

7. Prom Bookings

If your wedding falls during prom time or graduation season (late March to late June) you may want to book five or six months before your wedding date just to be on the safe side.

8. Be Prepared

We can't say it enough: prepare a call sheet with names and all pickup/drop off addresses and times, so that you can call to confirm these arrangements with the car company the day before the wedding (or on that morning). The drivers should have this information well in advance, as well as detailed directions to the ceremony and reception sites. Also, make sure that everyone getting a ride has a copy of the directions stashed in their pocket or purse, with an emergency contact number in case the driver gets lost.

9. Drink It Up

Stash some champagne in the car so that you can toast each other on the way to the reception. (The limo company may be able provide the booze and save you the trouble. Ask about this.)

10. Alternate Routes

Of course you're not limited to limos and cars -- we know couples who have gone by way of horse and buggy, sleigh, motorcycle and side-car, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, canoe, even tractors.

11. Let's Go

Want a carefree ride? So do your families and friends! Make sure you've arranged transportation for the bridal party and VIPs, like both sets of parents and grandparents.

12. "Just Married"

If you've always dreamed of departing in a car decked out with dangling aluminum cans, streamers, flowers, and a big "Just Married" sign, leave it to your male attendants.

-- The Knot

The New Rules of Wedding Etiquette

It’s inevitable that you’ll spread the excitement of your wedding to everyone in your social media network, so follow these rules to avoid a faux pas (or worse!) when it comes to sharing your wedding.

For the bride and groom:

Call your parents before pressing “post” or “tweet.”
Your close friends and family will want to hear it straight from you first.
A Facebook status or tweet might be the most efficient way to get the news out, but it’s not the most personal. You know which friends and family members would appreciate to hear the news directly from you; plus, it’s likely that older family members (like your grandparents!) don’t have Facebook or Twitter accounts and could miss the message altogether.
Change your relationship status in minutes or months...it's up to you!
There’s no wrong or right time -- some couples even do it at the altar!
Once you tie the knot, it’s up to you and your new spouse to decide when to change your relationship status or last name on your social media sites. For some couples, this can be a very important moment; for others, it’s no big deal. So if and when you’re ready to make the change, go for it!
Post pics of your engagement ring. (Everyone can’t wait to see!)
But keep the nitty-gritty details like cost and carat to yourself.
After you post your “engaged” status, your friends and family will be dying to find out what the ring looks like, so indulge them with a photo (you may want to prep with a manicure first!). It’s not bragging to share a pic with the exciting news. Leave out the other details, because how much it cost isn’t anyone else’s business -- the point is that it symbolizes the commitment you’re making. Everyone’s going to be checking out your hand for the first few months anyway, so make it easy for friends and family to admire from afar.
Designate a “tweeter of honor.”
Enjoy your day and stay off your phone while still keeping everyone updated.
Your wedding day will fly by, and if you’re focused on your phone or tablet the whole time, you’ll miss out on what’s important. Enjoy the guests who have come to celebrate with you, instead of everyone in your social media circles. Strike a balance and designate a tweeter of honor -- it could be another bridesmaid who isn’t your maid of honor (she’ll have plenty of responsibilities already!) -- to keep your social networks updated throughout the day so you won’t have to. Another option is to schedule tweets beforehand so they’re ready to go without the hassle.
Send out traditional paper invites for the main event.
Email invites are totally okay for pre- and postwedding parties!
Paper invites are the way to go for the actual wedding day. In today’s technology-based world, where your guests receive hundreds of emails a day, a physical invite has become that much more special. That doesn’t mean you have to go over the top with an invite that sings and shoots confetti either. Simple card stock and laser printing will do the trick. A paperless invite for the rehearsal dinner or morning-after brunch is a great option (especially if you want to cut down on stationery costs). Just because the invites are electronic doesn’t mean they won’t have style or be personal to you. There are plenty of sites that let you customize e-invites so that they’ll look beautiful and unique to you.

For the guests:

Wait to publicly post your congratulations.
If the couple hasn’t made the announcement, then you shouldn’t spill the big news for them.
It’s exciting when you’re the first to find out your best friend or sister is getting married, but hold off on the public congrats until they’re ready to share the news themselves. They might be waiting for an important reason (like they haven’t even told their parents yet!), and there could be hard feelings involved if others find out they weren’t in-the-know first.
Private message any wedding planning questions.
It can be awkward for the couple’s other Facebook friends who weren’t invited.
If you want to discuss wedding plans with the bride or groom, then it’s polite to do it in a private way. The couple may have hundreds of Facebook friends who aren’t on the invite list, and it’s not fair if each and every detail comes up on their news feed. Brides especially love to share wedding planning details, and she’ll appreciate a friendly ear to listen if you call to find out how it’s going. This is a busy time for the couple too, so don’t be offended if they don’t keep you up to date on every single detail!
Share pics of the bride and groom.
But respect their request if they ask you not to post photos before they do.
It’s great that you want to show what a great wedding the couple threw and Instagram the cake and the flowers. Some couples may want to wait to share photographic details of the wedding until they have photos from their professional photographer, so you should respect their choice. If you’re worried about whether you’re in the clear with posting photos, then wait until a close friend or family member of the couple does so first. Then you’ll know if it’s okay to post away!
Leave the phone in your purse or pocket.
Posting occasionally is okay, but the couple invited you to celebrate their day, not sit there on your phone.
The couple spent a lot of time planning an event that you would enjoy, so don’t spend the entire time on your phone posting about the wedding -- go have some fun! It’s okay to share the love a few times, but you shouldn't opt out of hitting the dance floor in favor of tweeting a play-by-play. Plus, having a phone or tablet out all the time can get in the way of photos, and no one wants to look back on their wedding day to see a guest more engaged with a device than their reception.
Follow directions for the RSVP.
The couple’s inboxes are already full of wedding-related details; a text, email or DM is likely to get lost in the mix.
Most paper invitations will include an RSVP card with an addressed envelope to send it back in, and couples will look for and expect responses by mail (before the deadline!). If you lose the card, then it’s okay to call and find out how the couple would prefer you to RSVP once you know whether you’ll be attending.

reposted from the Knot