There is an etiquette associated with being a
wedding guest. If you are attending a wedding in the near future, here are some tips and etiquette rules so you can be the kind of wedding guest that couples appreciate and love.
When invitations to weddings arrive in the mail, do you find yourself glancing telling yourself you will RSVP later when you have more time? If you want to be a fantastic wedding guest, check your schedule as soon as you get your invitation and send it back
immediately. Many couples rely solely on the RSVPs to get a head count for catering and seating so always send in the RSVP. If a situation arises where you will no longer be able to attend, call so they can take you off the final headcount and save money.
Be sure to
dress appropriately for the wedding. Wearing t-shirts, jeans,sweat pants, hoodies or sneakers is never acceptable and you may say "who would wear that" well I have seen it, and just because your son is 16 it is not acceptable for him to come dress in that manner also. If you are attending a religious ceremony that is different from your own, you may want to research what is deemed appropriate. For example, at a Muslim wedding, you would probably not want to wear a short skirt and sleeveless shirt, out of respect for the Muslim culture.
Never bring
uninvited guests. Someone's wedding is not a hang out event, or a community workshop. If the invitation says your name only, that means only you are invited. If the invitation states that you and one guest are invited, bring only one guest. Across the universe one plus one equals two not four and five! Do not call up the bride and groom and ask if you can bring an extra guest with you. If the invitation also includes your children, then if they start to get noisy or begin crying in the middle of the ceremony, immediately
take them outside.
Be sure to get to the
wedding on time. There is nothing more distracting than listening to the bride and groom reciting their vows and having somebody walk in during the middle of this interchange and you clickety-clack all the way down the aisle to find a seat. If you are unable to get to the wedding on time, then proceed to the reception site.
When taking pictures during the ceremony and reception, always be mindful of the professional photographer that is on hand taking pictures for the couple. Sure, you want to get great shots, but the couple is paying for the photographer to be there, so
stay out of the way.
Stay at the reception until the very
end. I have attended way too many reception where more than half of the guests leave after eating, leaving the room half empty. Keep in mind how you would feel if half of your friends or relatives left right after they ate. Have fun and be available to send the couple off at the end of the night!
Sure, there may be an
open bar, but that is not an open invitation to get drunk. Drink in moderation so you can avoid embarrassing yourself and the couple, and so you can get home safely afterwards.
If you follow these tips you are on your way to being a good wedding guest, and people would enjoy inviting you in the future, to other events
Here is a very nice, cute and unique holder for your cards, and cash envelopes to be used for your wedding. I have passed this link on to several brides, and they loved it. It comes in 8x10 or 11x14 in which I have seen the 8x10 and it is just right. The box is made of wood, and has a lock and key and it rotates on a lazy susan base, and it is really an attention grabber at the gift table. You can put your bridal portraits on it, or engagement pictures, family photos, or a combination, the list goes on and on. It really is an elegant way to secure your cards, and monetary. I have seen it used at a graduation party also, so if you get a chance check this link out http://www.theperfectcardbox.com/ and they also have a clearance section that some of the boxes are little dented or scratched, and the box can be painted to match your wedding colors which is another plus. 
I think it is a good idea to have name tags for everyone in your wedding party, and family for day of rehearsal. I have done so many rehearsals that have a large wedding party, and the only name I know is bridesmaid #1 or bridesmaid #6 and that is not a good thing. It is nothing personal, and I mean no harm but it's hard for me and others to remember about 25 people name in less than an hour whom I have never met in my life (smile) Sometimes the family is just meeting for the first time, and it is good to know grooms grandma, from brides grandma and the same with your bridal party, they have you in common as a mutual friend, but don't know each other. The name tags come in like a pack of adhesive labels, that you can write everyone's name, nick name, or if you want to give them a character name for that evening. The best thing, it's cost effective!!
Of course by old traditions we know that the father of the bride will walk her down the aisle, but so many traditions have change far. It is a natural tradition for a father to provide and take care of his family, but yet there are so many that are not. When making the selection of who will hold this position, it should not be based on what is politically correct, but what is correct in your heart. 
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Worthy Workshops is a variety of workshops facilitated by Sherika, with a goal to encourage, inspire, and catapult all to greatness, she will speak wisdom from a heart filled with love. The workshops available at this time include: Ladies “L” is for Love (promotes TRUE self-love), No More Baby Mama Drama (strategies and tips to maintain a healthy relationship with your children’s mother), Aspiring Creative Writers (exposure to traditional and non-traditional venues open to aspiring writers), Express Yourself Youth (techniques for young people to express their opinions and emotions positively in order to avoid being misunderstood), and finally Speak Life (exposes the dangers of negative speaking and the urgency of speaking positively in all situations).
Getting married on a Saturday is the most popular day all over the world, for so many reasons, one it gives your guest time to come in town that Friday, and get some rest and leave out on that Sunday and make it to work on Monday morning. With that date being so popular it is not hard for a venue to fill that date. If you still feel strong about getting married on a weekend, then I reccomend a Friday or Sunday wedding, which can save you a lot of money, and out of those two days, a Sunday wedding can save you much more. For example if there is a venue that charges $2,100 to rent on a Saturday but $1,000 on a Friday and $700.00 on a Sunday. WOW what a differene a day can make. If your wedding is filled with close family and friends, and you send them a Save-the-Date so that they can prepare in advance, I say why not aim for a Friday or Sunday. Also keep in mind that a lot of the wedding vendors will offer you a discount as well, but be advised you have to ask for these discounts, they are not going to volunter.
As a nod to Black History Month, next week (February 22 thru February 26) I will be featuring Black business owners, that are within our community or state. These will be small business owners that bring a unique and different service to the community, that some may not have been expose to. So please stay posted, to see what unique service that they offer.
There are so many beautiful colors out there that have been fused and blended together to create a brand new color, like for example a new color called Lemon Sprinkle, in which the first thing you think is "yellow" but it has a yellow tone, but yet have like a pink hue, so it's like really hard to figure out which is which, then a color called Coral of Craze which is hints of orange, pinks, and some peach, all mixed into one. Having these unique colors is a very good thing and out of the box thing to do, BUT just keep in mind that sometimes these new colors can cost you extra bucks. You may have to get your linen custom order or custom made, a lot of things for your decor will have to be either dyed or tinted, sometimes it is difficult to find accesories for your bridesmaids and the list can go on. If the new color is something that you really love, I would suggest 1. Let it be your accent color, so that way it is complimenting another color that is not difficult to work with, or 2. If it is your dominate color then try to make everything else around it stay in the neutral tones, far as linens and decor, and decide on what things that you would be willing to put the cost into getting customized in your unique colors. you can have a neutral table, with creams, and ivory and a centerpiece that reflect a neutral tone and maybe greenery, and let your menu card, and or napkins be in the unique color which will pop off of the neutral background, because custom napkins are cheaper than custom linens.
