Women Dating Tips and Advice

Ok, so you found Mr Right, congratulations! Lets face it you have had ideas for the perfect dress, ceremony, and/or parts of the reception planned since you were three, … or twelve to fifteen if you were a late developer. Seriously, most women have thought and dreamed about at least some aspects of their wedding day long before they were in any position to contemplate being “Mrs Happily Ever After”. Despite divorce rates continuing to rise, and couples being much older when they marry, weddings have never gone out of style. Weddings are still about the couple making vows of love and fidelity, to the person they have chosen to spend the rest of their life with, in the presence of their closest friends and family.

All too often the wedding day becomes about the bride rather than a couple. This has become customary due to the tradition that it was the responsibility of the bride’s family to pay for the wedding. Therefore, they had the greatest role in organizing the day. Today many couples are paying for their own wedding and their parents attend as guests. The bride still appears to make most of the preliminary arrangements with the assistance of female friends and relatives. The groom comes along to approve the final decisions, if he is lucky, … or brave.

There are those that simply want a lovely day incorporating basic essentials of a wedding. These women rarely have the whole day planned, just one or two ideas that they really like and a definite idea of what they don’t. The rest is negotiable. Then there is “Bridezilla”! Her day, and everybody else’s, is planned and executed with military precision. God help the poor individual who slips up and causes a inadvertent pause to proceedings. Whether her guests and bridal party participants have a great time is incidental. What matters most for her is the event, and her image of how it will all appear. Sadly most people remember her day, but not fondly. It is more often the stuff of dinner party horror stories after a few wines have been consumed. What really makes a day stand out for all in attendance are the out of the ordinary moments that surprise and delight.

Every country has numerous books and magazines featuring articles covering every imaginable aspect of a wedding. These are well researched and an invaluable source of information for everyone from the bridal couple to the Master of Ceremonies at the reception. Check your magazines for information detailing the latest wedding fashion for the bridal couple, their attendants and also parents of the bridal couple. For brides, it is important to keep in mind that this will probably be the most expensive dress you ever wear. It will also be the one you are most photographed in. If you are planning to buy an off the peg dress, it is still helpful to consult a professional dressmaker. A good dressmaker or designer can and should advise on the most beautiful and appropriate style for you. Very often their suggestions include something you have never thought of before. Every bride wants to do something “different”. Whatever you can imagine wearing, no matter how original you think it is, someone, somewhere has probably done it before.

As for the bridal party, please resist the temptation to outfit your bridesmaids in the most awful dresses you can imagine. Yes, you will look far more gorgeous in comparison. However, they are in the photos too. Whatever they are wearing will reflect your taste and style. Do you really want to record a moment where your closest friends and female relatives are looking hideous? If they are still single, you could be asked to be their matron of honour.

Family, what a minefield, especially when organizing seating arrangements. So many couples receive ultimatums from various family members, “If he is invited, I am not coming….!”. When we bring it back to bare bones once again, it is about sharing a important milestone in life with those who are nearest and dearest to you. Remember guests, you are there by invitation, not to create your own drama show that distracts from the couple. If perchance you are invited to an event that you know will include someone you would rather not see, do try to remember it is not about you. Surely there are a lot of other people you can find to talk to, and enjoy the day with. There are also infinite possibilities amongst the people you haven’t met yet.

Including unique family traditions will endear you to family members and friends alike. Lets face it we’ve all been to a wedding, they tend to follow a similar vein. When something a little out of the ordinary happens, it can also provide an icebreaker for people meeting for the first time. An intimate wedding, remembered fondly by those in attendance, had the couples’ Great Dane heading down the aisle in place of attendants. Round his neck he wore an enormous red bow in the same fabric as the brides’ dress. Needless to say he was impeccably well trained and could be counted on to behave appropriately for the occasion. Sadly not all human guests can be relied on to behave so well.

It is always appreciated by the couple when they are sent duplicate shots of their day from their guests. Some of the most charming and natural shots are taken by those who love them best rather than a professional hired for the event. While a professional reloads their camera, children in the bridal party or the family group may be climbing a tree or chasing an animal. Guests photos more often show the family relaxed and laughing rather than posed and formal.

A recent addition to many reception dining tables has been disposable cameras. Most photographic companies have obliged by bringing out a range of more subtle packaging for these events. These can be selected to blend in with the table layout or colour theme for the day. Be prepared to lose at least ten percent of these as some of your guests will invariably have forgotten their own camera, or run out of film. Either way they will be eternally grateful for its addition to the table, even if they never admit to swiping it. Note to guests, no matter how informal the event it is always considered in poor taste to use this camera to take intimate photographs or yourself or other guests.

And one last tip … a wedding is only one day. It can be the most stressful event of some peoples’ lives as it is often the largest and most important event they will organize. If things don’t go exactly to plan, try to see the funny side. Marriage is a lifelong journey for two people. Many people set getting married as a personal goal. Being in a mutually loving and supportive relationship, and wanting to stay there, is far harder to achieve.