Child Attendants
Kids can be adorable, but also unpredictable! Keep your tots at four years of age or older, and leave the more important roles to the grown-ups. Here are some roles to give the wee ones:
Flower girls – They traditionally come down the aisle just before the bride, scattering rose petals or handing out long-stemmed roses as they go. They can carry a decorated basket, little bouquet or pomander ball and wear dresses that have a hint of the bridesmaids’ dress color.
Ring bearer – Usually a boy carrying a satin pillow on which symbolic replicas of the wedding rings are sewn or tied. The real rings will usually be safely in the hands of the best man and maid of honor. These little gents are often donned in a suit or tux with a mini boutonniere on the left lapel.
Pages (train bearers) – In a very formal ceremony, you might have a pair of youngsters follow behind you to help carry an especially lengthy train. These are traditionally boys, but it’s fine to ask girls, too.
Candle lighters – In a Christian ceremony, preteen kids (nine to twelve years of age) from each family could be asked to light altar candles just before the mother of the bride is seated.
Special Roles
Give others important to you a chance to be a part of your wedding, too. Younger relatives can be asked to pass out ceremony programs or yarmulkes, or oversee the guest book at the reception.
Ushers are in charge of seating the guests and, sometimes, rolling out the aisle runner. The groomsmen often double as ushers, but you might want to separate the duty if you have other men you’d like to include.
Ask that close friends or family members read scripture passages, poems, or other meaningful words during your ceremony. If you know of anyone with musical talent, they might be up for singing or playing an instrument.
Your Parents’ Roles
Traditionally, the father of the bride footed the wedding bill and mom did all the work planning the big day. Today, especially with more couples handling the bill and planning themselves, parental involvement depends more on the closeness of your relationship, their availability and how much extra help you need.
Parents can assist in any area of your wedding planning they (and you) feel comfortable with. Mom can help you shop for the wedding dress, for example, and join you at the florist to give her opinion on the colors and styles. Parents also often assist in gathering contact information and compiling your guest list. Dads will usually give toasts and speeches at the reception and rehearsal dinner, and the father of the bride is often her escort down the aisle. If you have a receiving line, mom and dad will normally line up with you to greet your guests.
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By: Crystal and Jason Melendez , authors of e-Plan Your Wedding:
How to Save Time and Money with Today’s Best Online Resources.
For more information, please visit http://www.eplanyourwedding.com
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