Veronica,

Including your registry card in your wedding invite has been considered tacky. The most common “wedding” gift is usually money.  Registries are typically reserved for the Engagement Party and Bridal Shower.  Things have changed a little over the years.  Most couples have already been living with each other.  With that being there is a new alternative (although I am not a big fan)- when a guest responds to the wedding you can possibly send a hand written letter along with the registry card stating “the registry card is merely a suggestion.  Please do not feel an obligation to provide a gift from one of these registries.”  Also, ask your bridesmaid and immediate family members to spread the word about your registry.

- Michelle

Mandy,

Deciding on who to invite to your Engagement Party and Wedding is determined on a few factors.  When working in a large office it depends on how long you have been there and how close you are to your co-workers.  If you have been with the company for, let’s say, over 2 years and consider some of your co-workers your “friends” then

decide by asking yourself these questions… Have you ever been invited to one of their

personal functions (like a bar/bat mitzvah, communion, wedding, etc)?  Have you ever

spent time with them outside of the office for drinks or dinner (non-business, purely

fun)?  If you answered yes to one or both of these questions then typically they should be

invited to at least your wedding. It is also customary to invite your boss/bosses to your

wedding. Engagement Parties are a little different and have usually been reserved for

close friends and family.  If you are like most couples these days, where your Engagement Party is like a mini-wedding, than inviting your “friends” from work to this affair as well it a good gesture.  Inviting the boss or bosses (if they are not considered “friends”) to your engagement party is not necessary.  If you are a “boss” of some sort then you should really invite your “workers”, making sure not to leave anyone who works for you out.  When deciding who to invite, just reserve the roles, do you think they would invite you?

- Michelle

A lot of my friends and family are scattered throughout the US and even some other countries.  I know they won’t come, should I still invite them?

Tamara,

Having distant friends or relatives can make things difficult.  My philosophy is that if therelative or friend is very close to you then absolutely they should receive an invite.  You should include a personal note to them stating that you know they are far and they should feel no obligation to come.  On the other hand even if the friend or family

member is not as close to you as others, making them feel left out won’t just hurt there feelings but may cause friction in the family.  The way to look at it is even if you know they may not come, you may get one more gift you weren’t counting on.

- Michelle

Tara,

One of the hardest parts of planning a party, wedding or not, is how to sit the quests.  When you have decided to have seating you must keep certain things in mind.  Try to put yourself in their position, and consider where they would choose to sit. If your singles know and like each other then seating them together is fine. Even if they do not know each other - typically singles have more fun sitting with singles.  If for some reason you feel or know their personalities do not mesh, mix the singles among couples who you believe they will get along with. But don’t stick one single person at a table full of couples.  Make sure they have at least one other solo person to talk to.

- Michelle

Sharon,

Flower girls are typically between the ages of 4 and 8. If you have a “mature” 2 or 3 year old, that sometimes can work.  Let’s say her mother (a bridesmaid) or father (a groomsmen) is in the wedding party as well… Often times the young flower girl will walk down the aisle if the parent or parents are doing it as well.  If the girl is older than 8 you might want to consider making her a junior bridesmaid. Above the age of 8, as we all know, is the shy and “awkward” stage.  Why embarrass the young girl by giving her a title that is usually for a “baby”.

- Michelle