Ask the
Bridal Expert
Wow! Answers to
your questions from our very own in-house bridal consultant. Jennifer
Jinks trained as an event planner and put in her wedding planner dues
in Niagara at the prestigious Inn On The Twenty where she helped dozens
of couples plan their weddings. Now that she's working with The Niagara
Guide, we thought we would enlist her talents to help you with your
wedding questions.
Please note - we're
not going to plan your entire wedding. That's what paid
professionals are for. However, if you have SPECIFIC questions on
certain aspects of your wedding day, Jennifer will be pleased to answer.
If you have a question
you'd like to submit to us, please
click here and you'll be taken to a page with the question form.
Only questions pertaining to getting married in Niagara or questions
of a general nature will be answered. Thanks!
Here are some of
the questions we've been asked and answered:
T. B. writes: "I am getting married in 2005, and I am
started to look around for prices of halls etc. It just seems that everytime
I try to tell my Mom anything that I have found, she gets annoyed and
says "I don't care, do what you want", or "It's 2 years
away". It just doesn't seem that she's happy for me at all or that
she's not being supportive. I just want to know, should I even bother
asking her anymore or should I just plan it all by myself? But then
I'm scared that she'll get upset, it's just making me think that maybe
I shouldn't have a wedding cause no one seems happy. My dad even acts
that way sometimes. I don't know if it's because they don't have the
cash and they're worried even though me and my fiancee want to pay for
most of it. Any suggestions?"
Jennifer Answers: First off, you need to have an open conversation
with your mom about how you feel. Your mom probably has no idea you
feel this way and thinks two years is a lifetime.
What she needs to know is that you are being very smart about the reception.
By looking now you are not only going to get the date you want but will
be able to negotiate with halls on rates. By booking this far in advance
and getting the prices in writing, halls are obligated to the price
quote. In two years, the rates will rise and you will not have to worry
about it. Your budget will be set and you will be aware of how much
both you and your parents will need to save.
Planning the wedding is stressful enough, by not knowing how your parents
feel it will only make things worse. Talk to them and you will put yourself
and your mind at ease. Once you explain your emotions, everyone will
get excited for the big day.
Have a question for Jennifer? Click
here!
M.S. writes: "I am very close to my step father but my
father has a presence in my life as well. I have already decided on
the walk down the aisle but I am confused about what to do about the
father daughter dance. I would like to dance with both of them. Do I
pick on song and split or do two dances?"
Jennifer Answers: There are a few things you can do to make
both the 'fathers' in your life feel equally special. Here are my suggestions:
- You can chose one song that represents how you feel as a daughter
(ex. Wonderful World or Anne Murray's Can I have this dance) and dance
one half of the dance with your biological father and then the second
half with your step-father.
- If it is your biological father walking you down the aisle, then
have your step-father dance with you during the father-daughter song.
- Have two songs played one after the other for the two of them.
Then you can distinguish the two by your music selection.
Have a question for Jennifer? Click
here!
S.S. writes: "I did not intend to have my fiance sisters
as my bridesmaids, I am only having a hundred people attend the wedding
and my sister is my maid of honor and his dad is his best man, well
my fiance would like to include his two sisters in the wedding , is
there anything else that I could have them do?"
Jennifer Answers: I was so happy to see your question because
I have a ton of things you can do with your sister-in-laws to be!
- Let them do a reading at the wedding. They can chose the passage
or write/read a poem. This in turn gets them involved and they feel
like a part of the ceremony. (I did this myself when I had to chose
between 6 friends)
- Have them Emcee the wedding. I was at a reception two years ago
where the grooms sisters were doing a double emcee routine. It was
great.
- They can put together a slide show for the two of you. It is memorable
and putting it together allows you all to bond.
- Give them the option to do an individual speech. This will allow
them to express how they feel towards you both and you will make them
feel special by giving them the spotlight at the reception.
These are just a few suggestions on how to involve your future sisters-in-laws.
I hope this helps with your situation!
Have a question for Jennifer? Click
here!
S.C. writes: "What is usually the most difficult aspect
of planning a wedding?"
Jennifer Answers: For me, the hardest part of planning a wedding
is three fold - reception, ceremony and date. Once you get those three
put aside everything else comes together.
First check out where you want to have your reception, meet with them
and get availability dates. Then look for your ceremony location (be
it a church, garden area or even at the reception hall) and try to match
it up with the reception availability. Once those two are chosen, you
have a date! It's that easy!
Have a question for Jennifer? Click
here!
S.M. writes: "I have three best friends - one is married
and the other two are not. I want all three as my maid of honor but
I don't want the other two girls to feel bad about our friendships because
they are very very good friends as well!! Not to mention to have three
maids of honour sounds ridiculous. Do you have any suggestions?"
Jennifer Answers: You have a few options for your dilemma. To
start, you can ask all three friends to be your Maids of Honour since
deciding between them is too difficult. I was in my brother's wedding
just last weekend and his new wife had two Maids of Honour (her sister
and best friend). Next, you can ask the one you have known the longest.
By doing so, you can explain to the others that it was a history decision.
The last option is not to have a Maid of Honour. Don't choose and no
one gets hurt.
Being asked to stand by your friend's side at her wedding is an honour
in itself. All three girls should be thrilled that you have chosen them
to be a part of such a huge event in your life. Good luck.
Have a question for Jennifer? Click
here!
