Ask AANW: Is It ok for the best man to be taller than the groom?

Question: I and my fiance will be getting married soon but the person he wants use as his best man is his best friend and he is taller than the groom, is it ok? --Chiamaka   Hi Chiamaka, Thanks for reaching out to us. There's definitely nothing wrong with having a best man towering over your groom. However, people might focus on him and his height on your day that anyone else on the party (especially if he's the tallest of everyone on the bridal party). That being said, nothing like having someone who truly knows you, cherishes your friend and respects you beside you on your day. Someone who has been there all this while , one that can calm you down when you start to panic and who knows how to deal [more]

Bachelorette Party Drama: Who's Right?

**Here's a story about a demanding bride in my opinion. I have heard similar and in some cases, worse ones than this. All this makes me wonder about bachelorette party etiquette, costs of the festivities (should it be imposed or not) etc. Seems to me someone needs to have a real heart to heart talk with Dupe** Dupe and Chioma are best friends and Dupe is engaged to be married in a few months. It falls on Chioma the maid of honor, to arrange the bridal shower/bachelorette party. Dupe is specific in her requirements of how and where she wants the party. She tells Chioma that she wants to to do a weekend away to Las Vegas for the party where they go clubbing, out to shows, etc.. After [more]

Bridal Archetypes: Where Do You Fit In?

Brides come with many different personalities, backgrounds, and levels of taste. There truly are significant bridal personality types. Do you fit in one or more of these categories? THE SUPER-ORGANIZED BRIDE: In your hand you always carry your wedding planner book completely intact and perfectly organized. It is filled with all the information you have collected over the years to make your wedding the perfect event. You have control of every detail, and when you meet with the right vendors, you book their services because they fit within your well-structured wedding ensemble perfectly. Your big day will go perfectly and will be a detail-driven and exciting event for all to see firsthand. For example, what would happen if an invited guest arrives with a date who was not RSVP‟d in advance? Well, [more]

Wedding Planning 101: A 12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist

You've said yes to the big question, now what? If you're starting to become overwhelmed with the thought of planning your big day, sit down, take a deep breath and look over this 12-month planning guide. You'll see that planning a wedding is simply a matter of getting organized. You can do it! 11-12 Months Before the Wedding Officially announce your engagement. Your own personal wedding site is a great way to share the plans as they develop. Your out of town family and friends will definitely appreciate it! Set a time and date for the wedding. Decide style of ceremony (size, setting, formality, etc.) Contact wedding a officiate. Arrange for your families to meet if they haven't met before. Develop a budget and [more]

Tips For The Bride and Groom: A Complete Guide To Help You Select A Caterer

Many people discover that their catered event is the biggest expense of their wedding or party. The cost of your wedding reception or party includes the food, beverages, kitchen staff, waitstaff, rentals, the decorations, and the cost of the reception site itself. About 50% of a couple’s wedding costs are the reception. It is very important to know how to interview and to choose a caterer. SITE/AVAILABILITY When you are selecting a facility such as a winery, hotel, country club, park, resort, reception hall, or restaurant you need to know whether the site includes the caterer. Some reception/facility sites have their own in-house caterer and they do not allow outside caterers to provide the food on their site. The site that your choose should match the formality of the event, the theme [more]

Tips For The Bride and Groom - How to Hire a DJ

It's hard enough planning a wedding ceremony, but then you also have to plan a reception! That means choosing food, drinks, decorations, locations, entertainment… While it may seem terribly important to pick exactly the right flowers, what's really important is that you pick the right people. This is by no means a comprehensive list of rules but the most important ones to consider. If all else fails, trust your instincts and use common sense. Remember, a DJ can make or break the your reception. Rule 1: Meet your DJ. No matter how well respected a DJ company (independent or not) is, reputation does not guarantee success. Be sure to meet your DJ! Large DJ companies are constantly hiring new employees, and each of those new employees has a first show. Do you [more]