"The Wedding Bouquet"

Yesterday, we talked about the garter.   Today it's only fair that we give equal time to the bridal bouquet.

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To the right, you will see a picture of my very own bouquet. If I had it to do over again, I would have more red on my bouquet, (that was my color, red!), and less white. My bridesmaids had the red bouquets, as they were wearing red. I would have given them the white ones. I think it makes a nice contrast against the ladies dresses, bride AND bridesmaids. I'm trying to steer Maggie in that direction, but we'll see...

I also like the ball style bouquets, although a more modified shape. I think Maggie does too.
Our florist has very generously offered to provide us with a "tossing" bouquet, so Maggie can keep her original, and have it preserved. I did the same, and kept several lovely flowers from my bridal bouquet in a crystal jar on my dresser for 27 years. It survived all our corporate moves, until one day, in my haste over an inconsequential thing, I knocked it over and it smashed to the floor. I cried.  Kenny gave me a hug and said, "That those dried flowers weren't really what defined our marriage."  And let's face it, they WERE looking a little ratty…  :-/    Below is a picture of some of my single friends trying to catch my bouquet.

"The Garter"

There are two traditions that no matter what part of our great country you live in, are observed at weddings.  One is the tossing of the bouquet to all the unmarried women at the wedding, and the other is the flinging of the garter to the unmarried men.

The retrieval of the garter can be a bit risque.  I chose to not sit on the chair provided, but to instead place my foot in the chair.  This enabled an easy retrieval.  I also placed it below my knee... I have been to some weddings where I blushed at the antics involved in obtaining the garter.

Rob has a very inventive idea to toss the garter to the waiting crowd, and if the weather's good, from a lovely venue.

Brides, consider buying two garters, (and yes, wearing both!), one to toss and one to save and maybe hand down to your daughters to wear on their big day.  It could become a family tradition, to wear the family heirloom, and toss and new one!

I didn't think of wearing two.  I wish I had.  Kenny had to toss my one and only garter.  I lost it forever.  But I had a second chance.   When I converted to being a Roman Catholic - we had to get married all over again -with witnesses and the whole 9 yards.  We even had a little reception after.  I feel very confident that church does not impose this requirement today.  But I tell you this because...I wore a garter that day, and saved it for my wished for daughters...

"The Knot"

 



      It's obviously a new age of wedding planning for brides than it was when I planned my own wedding thirty years ago. When Maggie got engaged, I joyfully went to Barnes and Noble and bought her "Brides Magazine" and a wedding planning/etiquette book. She graciously received them, but I needn't have bothered. All either one of us had to do was go on line.  The best wedding planning website out there, in my opinion, is theknot.com, followed by a close second, lover.ly.com.

The Knot promises a "Local and national wedding vendor resource that offers a gift registry, bridal gown search, local vendor information, and wedding etiquette."  Other invaluable tools are" My Guest list," "My Website," "My Checklist," and COUPONS!  If we're behind on an item on the "My Checklist," I hear about it...
Check it out, and keep scrolling for another picture...

The Gentlemen's Attire

Not nearly enough attention is given to the groom's and groomsmen's attire. It's all about the bride, as well it should be, but hey, they are going to be in the pictures too, and need to look their best.

The questions are important, but basic.... Tux, suit, or blazer and slacks?  Do you want the men's ties to match the female attendants' dresses?  Do you want the same number of groomsmen as the bridesmaids, or do you want a few extra male friends to be solely "ushers"?  (This is would entail not "Standing Up "with the bridal party during the ceremony, only escorting female guests to their seats.)
What ever you decide, keep in mind the time of day for the ceremony and reception.

Probably the most important detail I can share, and it's an obvious one, although I never even thought about it, is that if the bride wears a shade of off-white, the groom and his attendants' shirts must be also. Otherwise, the bride will appear dingy - horrors !

The picture on the right is of my handsome husband and HIS groomsmen 30 years ago.

My Cozy Mystery

Today's blog entry is devoted to my recently published cozy- mystery.  "What is a cozy-mystery?" You ask.  Well, even though I have been reading this genre for years,  I didn't know the term!  A "cozy-mystery" is a mystery that has no blood and gore, the central figure is a woman, and she is almost always in a nurturing role, i.e., a nurse, librarian, teacher, baker, caterer, A WEDDING PLANNER.  :-)

Please read below a brief description of my book:

Description

http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

Grace Mc Kenna is a spunky, beautiful wedding planner in exclusive Santa Barbara, California. It's not easy being 'wedding planner to the rich and famous', but someone has to do it.  Grace's seemingly ideal life is complicated by a handsome cop ex-husband, a mischievous 11 year old daughter, and oh yes, a murdered assistant who just happens to be the Maid of Honor in her latest wedding. Grace wants to solve the case when her best friend is accused of the murder, but is the cost too great?

You can click on the link above to visit the book's website, or search my name, Mary P Karnes, at amazon Kindle or Apple iBooks. It's soon to be out on Barnes and Noble Nook - 2-3 weeks!  At $2.99, it's a cheap date!

Maid of Honor

Attendants are a big part of your wedding.  They literally stand up for you.  They represent you, they support you.  Questions to ask: 1) Can your attendants be relied on?  I kid you not.  I know of a bride who had one of her bridesmaids just did not show the day of the wedding!  2) Are your attendants the whiney type?  Or will your day be all about you, as it should?   and 3) Can you depend on them to be responsible on the big day?  Or will they be the type to "overindulge"?  Maggie is very lucky.  She has four built-in bridesmaids, her three sisters, and her future sister, Amanda - Rob's sister.  She was able to ask two college friends as well.  They are all lovely, "reliable" girls.

But the maid of honor is the one who all the heavy lifting falls to.  That is Kathleen, or as we call her, KK.

I will give credit where credit is due, and Maggie DOES realize how lucky she is to have Kathleen in her corner.  Kathleen has organized everything from a family shower to the Bachelorette party to planning what to pack in the all important  "Bride's Emergency Kit."  (And all those pesky little details in between).  KK is pictured above, and to the left, is an old picture of the whole crew of "Karnes Girls."  From left to right, Tess, (now 17), Maggie - the bride, Julia, (now 14), and KK.  
http://my.bookbaby.com/book/simply-the-best

Above link: the mystery "Simply the Best" by Mary P. Karnes available in e-book format from amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple iBooks

"Wedding Rings"

 A wedding ring is so personal.  It's something that one hopes will last a life time.  Custom says once on, it's never to be taken off.  I recently discovered that a bride is supposed to take off her engagement ring prior to the wedding ceremony and wear it on her right hand.  Then after the groom places her wedding ring on her left hand, the bride can put her engagement ring on top of her wedding band.  You see, the wedding band is to be closest to the bride's heart.

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir here, but I didn't know this.

There are so many variables to consider.  What metal is your engagement right?  The wedding band should match your engagement ring. What metal is your groom choosing for his ring?  Do you want the metals to match? What do you wear more of, gold or silver?  What looks better with your skin tone?  Of course cost is a large issue.  Do you want diamonds, and if so, can you afford them?  Would you prefer a more precious metal, i.e., platinum, maybe necessitating forgoing the cost of diamonds on a gold ring?  Wikipedia states: "…Platinum's resistance to wear and tarnish is well suited for making fine jewelry. Pure platinum is slightly harder than pure iron. The metal has an excellent resistance to corrosion and high temperature and has stable electrical properties…"
Do you want to hand down your ring to future generations? If so, you may want to lean toward          platinum, given it's durability.  It's a happy conundrum to have.  Keep scrolling for more pictures!