CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING PARTY

One of the hardest decisions for both bride and groom is to pick the special people who will make up their wedding party. This is an especially hard decision if they have more than one friend!

Of course, the first priority should be siblings. If the bride has a married sister, she could be the matron of honor. An unmarried sister would be the maid of honor. Additional sisters and friends would be bridesmaids. Or it you have a very special friend, she could be the maid or matron of honor. The tricky part is keeping your wedding party at a reasonable number.

The groom usually chooses a brother or best friend to be his best man. Additional friends are groomsmen and ushers. Groomsmen can also double as ushers.

Additional friends can be used as greeters and guest book attendants.

One thing to keep in mind--the more people in the bridal party, the more expense involved. If you are trying to conserve money, you might encourage your bride to limit her wedding party to her very best friends. However, realize that she probably has best friends from every stage of her life since elementary school.

To look symmetrical the number of bridesmaids should equal the number of groomsmen. So hopefully the bride and groom will have the same number of best friends!

There have been situations I've heard of where the bride has a male as an attendant and the groom has a female. I've never been to a wedding like this, but apparently is has been done. Maybe some of you have seen that.

One thing the couple might consider is coming up with a special way of asking friends to be a part of their big day. They might ask them over dinner or coffee or with a card that states why that friend is special to them.

And hopefully, those friends not asked will not be too upset!

Can You Top This?

Since starting this blog, I have been hoping to collect some unique wedding ideas. Well, I certainly saw a unique idea the other morning on the Today Show.

The ceremony was conducted while the bride, groom, and minister were standing on top of the wings of 3 separate biplanes as the planes flew in formation. It was amazing. They started the ceremony on the ground, then strapped themselves onto the 3 planes and took off. They finished the ceremony with a ring exchange and kiss back on the ground!

I would imagine that finding the minister willing to perform this ceremony might have been a challenge!

Meet the Parents

Ideally, by the time of an engagement each person should have met the other person's family. If not, do so quickly. A lot can be learned about a future spouse by meeting his/her family:)

According to the traditional rules of wedding etiquette, after the engaged couple has told both sets of parents about the plans, the parents of the groom should contact the parents of the bride and give their congratulations (for what, I'm not sure--that they are acquiring a new son?)

My FS n L's mom sent a card with a picture of their family. I thought that was quite nice. I don't think she said congratulations--actually, I felt like congratulating her because her son had won my daughter's heart (LOL).

If the families live in the same town one set of parents might invite the other over for dinner or suggest meeting at a restaurant. This is a good way to get acquainted if you don't already know each other.

If the families live in different towns (or as in our case) different states, things get a little harder. Depending on circumstances (distance, cost, convenience, etc.) one family might travel to meet the other family.

In our case we traveled to meet FS in L's family because we had never met them, but also because our couple was going to live in their city after the wedding, and we wanted to see where they would be living!

Another thing you might think about is meeting somewhere in the middle between the two hometowns. Perhaps there is an interesting place to visit or a resort or nice hotel somewhere in the middle that would provide a pleasant meeting place.

The main thing is that it is important for the families to have met before the hectic wedding weekend begins.

There will be many things to discuss--after all your two families will be bound together for many years to come--sharing holidays, grandchildren and many other events.

If it is not feasible for the families to meet, at the very least the mothers should establish some form of communication--telephone or email.

More Picture Ready...

Just a couple more of my favorite Mary Kay products that I want you to consider adding to your skin care routine. Day and Night Solution, and the Microdermabrasion Set.

The Day Solution, with an SPF of 25, helps prevent lines and discoloration by blocking UVA/UVB rays and a calming peptide helps relax expression lines. And you are never too young (or old) to start blocking those damaging rays and relaxing those expression lines!

The Night Solution helps fade away lines and wrinkles while you sleep. It is packed with vitamins and antioxidants combined with collagen enhancing peptides.

The Day and Night Solution combines with TimeWise 3n1 cleanser, Moisturizer and a foundation of your choice to create the "Miracle Set." This set works together beautifully to bring you younger looking skin with improved firmness, fewer lines and wrinkles, and more even skin tone. You will notice visible results in 6-8 weeks.

For immediate results I recommend that you try the TimeWise Microdermabrasion Set. This 2 step process fights fine lines, refines pores and achieves beautifully smooth skin immediately. It is an immediate gratification product!

Of course there are also more expensive and more painful ways to achieve younger looking skin. But maybe we'll talk about that later.

In the meantime, start (or continue) your skin care routine and your diet and exercise plan. And stick with it. I'll be encouraging you as we go along. And I hope you will be encouraging me also!

Be Picture Ready continued

I found a pilates video and an exercise ball that I actually got as a Mary Kay star consultant several years ago. They are in great condition--just like brand new--due to lack of use:) So I'll be trying it out later today. Stay tuned for my report.

Diet and exercise are long term commitments both for your health and well-being as well as to avoid shock when you first view a picture of yourself standing next to Starry Eyed Daughter. Or the feeling of frustration that comes when you can't find a mother of the bride dress that hides all the rolls:) If you and your daughter live together or near each other, it would also be a great thing to do together whenever possible. More bonding time, etc.

However, there is an easier way to ensure that you are picture ready for the big day. And that is by instituting a good, comprehensive skin care program.

There are many skin care programs on the market. If you don't already have a favorite, let me suggest my favorite--Mary Kay--for both mother and daughter.

Every good skin care program has 5 essential parts

1. Cleanse

2. Exfoliate

3. Tone or Freshen

4. Moisturize

5. Protect

Mary Kay does all this in 3 easy products. The TimeWise 3n1 Cleanser takes care of the first 3 steps. There is a formula for normal-dry skin and for combination-oily skin.

Wash your face morning and night with this cleanser, follow up with the TimeWise Moisturizer in the formula that best suites your skin type and finish with a foundation (morning only, of course).

If Starry Eyed Daughter's skin is oily, she might try the Velocity Products.

These are the very basic steps to good skin care. And if you haven't started taking care of your skin, start now. I'll talk more about anti aging, wrinkle fighting products in future posts.

I am passionate about anti aging. I used to think I just wanted to grow old gracefully. But when I started growing old and found out that I didn't feel old inside, I found that I didn't want to look old either. And trust me taking care of your skin is much easier than diet and exercise:):)

Makeup for the wedding day is something all brides (and their moms) are concerned about. But that makeup will look much better if the skin it is applied to is in tip top condition. Start today!

If you don't already have a good skin care program I invite you to visit my MK web site www.marykay.com/kparson. You can do a virtual makeover and there is even a link for brides. So visit and have fun. Oh and if you visit leave me a note and tell me you were there! (and a disclaimer--this blog is in no way affiliated with Mary Kay Cosmetics except through me--a long time user and fighter of wrinkles and fine lines!)

Now before I leave you to go put in that pilates video, I want to quote a friend who made a most memorable comment after she saw her daughter's wedding pictures.

"I told my husband... I know when we got fat, but when did we get old?" (Thanks for the great line, Deb!) Let that not be YOU!

Be Picture Ready on the Big Day

Today I'd like to talk about how you will look the day of the wedding. Yes, I know that the wedding is a year or more away unless your Starry Eyed Daughter is like mine and wants to have her wedding in 8 months.

Remember, on the day of the wedding YOU won't be the one holding the camera. Consequently, you will BE in at least a few of the pictures! So let's start now on a health and beauty regimen that will insure that you will be picture ready on the big day.

I'll start along with you. I didn't quite make it weight wise for my first daughter's wedding, so maybe if I get started with you now, I'll achieve success by the time of my second daughter's wedding:)

The first step is a consistent exercise program. If you don't currently exercise, start off slow and build up your time and endurance.

My favorite form of exercise is walking--either outside or on a treadmill or using an elliptical. Start with 10 or 20 minutes and work up to 45 minutes or an hour at least 4 times a week. If you are not already doing that, you'll be surprised by how good you will feel, both physically and mentally. Not only is it good for your body, it is good stress relief!

Pilates is something I am going to try--anyone already do pilates? I'll let you know about my efforts when I get started:) And for you fitness buffs, there are weights, machines and gyms. Go for it!

Along with exercise, of course, goes a sensible diet. I'll be writing more about this also as I get more motivated to join you in this endeavor. Feel free to write encouraging tips and let me know how you are doing with your eating habits!

There is much more to write about this topic, but it must wait until later. Until then...