We’re Having a Formal Wedding Reception. Is It Okay to Serve Beer?

Yes, you can serve beer at your cocktail hour and wedding reception but you may want to serve it in glasses and not bottles. There’s something about people walking around in tuxes and evening gowns holding bottles of Corona (or any other brand) that I think is tacky.

Simply ask the caterer to serve beer in glasses. There shouldn’t be an extra charge for this.

If your reception site is planning on serving beer in glasses, but via a keg, that’s fine but I’d keep the keg out of site behind the bar if your wedding is more black tie than backyard.

Karen from Grapevine, a stationery company based in Boston, designed really cool labels for beer bottles that read “I Do Brew” and the couple slapped them on beer bottles -- they owned a brewery -- so serving bottles of beer felt right even at their formal affair. If your venue is set on serving bottles of beer than think about customizing a label. It will add another personal touch to your big day.

I Want to Share My Father-Daughter Dance With My Dad and Stepdad. How Can I?

Well you have two options. You can dance two separate dances and choose a special song for each one or you can begin dancing with your dad and have your stepdad cut in about half-way through.

Talk to your band/DJ to find out what they recommend. Two special dances plus the groom and his mom’s dance make about 8-10 minutes and to be honest after about the first 30 seconds no one is really paying attention. To keep your guests in the party mood you may want to choose one song.

But if you’d prefer two, break up the dances. Share the first dance with dad between the first and second course and the second dance with your stepdad between the second and dessert. Or vice versa.

Do I Have to Carry a Bridal Bouquet?

As with any other wedding detail you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, but you may feel awkward walking down the aisle without something to occupy your hands. Have you noticed that Kate Middleton always carries a clutch? I read it’s so that she always has a place to put her hands. Some sort of royal style tip.

Bridal bouquets come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so if you are trying to avoid a large cascading or round bouquet you can carry a posy (small, tight bouquet) or a single flower with a long stem like a calla lily.

You can talk to your florist about carrying smaller flowers such as lily of the valley which won't weigh much and can make a very romantic and lovely looking small bouquet.  Click through bridal bouquet galleries on wedding planning sites to get ideas and talk to your florist about your concerns.  He or she will be able to help you find the perfect style for you, your dress and your wedding.

What Do We Do If a Guest Shows Up With an Uninvited Date or Their Kids?

Make them feel welcome.

On the day of your wedding you don’t want to focus your energies on arguing with a guest so just let it go and let the caterer figure out the seating issue. If you want to say something you can but unless you ask them both (or the family) to leave you’re probably going to get into an argument with the end result that they’re staying. Why not enjoy your wedding and say something after you return from your honeymoon.

As for costs, the caterer will probably tack on an extra fee for the adult guest but kids will either eat free if they are under 3 or pay a reduced rate.

This situation is also ideal for your wedding planner (day-of or full service) to handle or designate a member of the bridal party or close relative/friend handle any situation that arises.

Remember this is your wedding day. Don’t let anyone ruin it for you.

And if it’s an RSVP card that comes back with uninvited guests listed as attending you can call the invited guest and tell him or her that you’re sorry but they can’t bring a date or their kids because the space doesn’t allow for it.

Preview WEtv's New Show Amsale Girls

I just came back from a party celebrating the launch of a new series on WEtv, Amsale Girls. The show is centered around the Amsale bridal salon on Madison Avenue. The salon sells Amsale, Kenneth Pool and Christos wedding dresses.

They showed a different clip than the one below and it was hysterical. I have to admit, while I work in weddings I don’t tivo every wedding-related show but I definitely want to catch this one!

The girls are hilarious and smart and have a great time and you’re sure to enjoy watching the antics that take place while they’re at work and out and about in Manhattan.

Here’s a preview of the show:

Do I Have to Serve Wedding Cake? And If So Can I Serve Another Dessert Too?

Sort of and absolutely! The wedding cake is a wedding tradition, makes a great photo-op and is a showpiece/centerpiece for the reception. After the wedding dress it is the most popular item at the wedding guests want to see.

If a large tiered cake isn’t for you order a small three-tiered cake and cut it for the tradition of it and then either serve a sheet cake or another dessert you like.

If you just don’t want a cake at all then don’t have one and serve your guests any dessert that will complement the main course.

Another options is to create some type of dessert buffet -- bakery bar, cookie bar, ice cream sundae bar, pie bar or candy bar, though a bar candy is more as a treat or for guests to put in a bag as a wedding favor.

As for a tier of cupcakes, ask the baker if they can make an extra large cupcake for the cutting ceremony or cut into one of the ones on the tier.

Do I Have to Hire a Second Photographer for Engagement Portraits?

Most wedding photographers will list an engagement portrait session under their services. Some photographers will throw in a “free” engagement portrait session when you book them for your wedding.  I put free in quotes because while the shoot itself may not cost anything you’ll have to pay for any prints you order.

An engagement session can be shot any time before your wedding and many couples will use these photos on their save-the-date cards or wedding website. If that’s what you’re thinking of doing you should book the shoot at least six to nine months before the wedding so that you have time to order save-the-date cards with the photos on them.

An engagement shoot is also a great way to get to know, and get comfortable with, your photographer. Remember that he or she will be with you -- literally in your face -- all day on your wedding day so it’s important that you hire someone who doesn’t annoy you.

If you are expecting your wedding photographer to shoot your engagement session make sure those details are in the contract, including if the shoot is in a studio or on location, how much it will cost to do the shoot and how much print orders will cost.

I’m not having a big wedding but I want to invite a lot of people to my bridal shower. Can I?

Yes and no. Technically if someone gets invited to the bridal shower they also get invited to the wedding, but if you're having a small destination wedding or it’s well known that your wedding, held locally, will be limited to immediate family you can have a bridal shower with uninvited wedding guests.

It’s not appropriate for a bride to host her own shower so have your closest friends, or your mom or his, host it in your honor.  It is common for his mom to host the bridal shower if she lives in another area and the guests are her friends and relatives.  The mother of the bride should be invited too.

Also, if you’re having a small wedding and want a bachelorette party you can have one. And unlike a bridal shower, the bride can host her own bachelorette party.

So You Want To Work in the Wedding Industry

If you love weddings and want to work as a wedding vendor the best place to start is as an intern to see if this is really something you want to have a career in.

Whatever your current job is, and past positions, see how those skills and experiences can translate to wedding-related position.

Email or call companies that you want to work for and ask if you can set up an informational interview to learn more about the day-to-day tasks and what it’s really like to do that job. Remember that wedding jobs shown on TV or in the movies are not what it’s like in real life.

Since most weddings are held on weekends see if you can find an internship or shadow a vendor to see what the job entails without having to quit your current job.

Once you’re ready to either find an internship or part-time/full-time position check out Wedding Industry Jobs, a new job board site that only lists wedding-related positions from across the country.  You can search by job title, company, location and type of position (full-time, part-time, internship, etc…)

Above all remember that planning other people's weddings is not like planning your own. You are not the star, the client is. If you want to be in the wedding industry because you loved planning your own wedding then start planning another party for you and your new hubby, such as an anniversary party or a vow renewal.

An Easy Way to Save Money on Your Wedding Dress

Did you know that many bridesmaid dress designers offer their dresses in white or ivory? Ever since Pippa Middleton wore a stunning ivory dress to her sister Kate’s wedding (you remember, she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey in April) brides have been picking white or ivory for their bridesmaids’ dresses.

But why not choose one for yourself?

Bridesmaid dresses can be short or long, strapless, embellished and are available in a number of fabrics, including organza, taffeta, satin and jersey, and cost a few hundred dollars at most.

The ordering process will work the same as a wedding dress in most salons. You have to have your measurements taken and the dress will take 6 to 8 weeks to arrive. Once it does you’ll need to find a good tailor to ensure a perfect fit. Unlike bridal salons bridesmaid dress stores usually don’t offer alteration services but will be able to recommend one in the area.

As for some ideas for bridesmaid dresses in white for the bride I think it’ll make a great story and will try and pull one together this week!