It's not a joke - is it just a southern tradition? I thought it was all over the country.

I've never heard of that either, and I've been to weddings down south!

It's supposed to be bad luck for the bride so someone else stands in for her.

Relax and enjoy the day, only you know when something that was supposed to happen doesn't. Enjoy, it goes by so fast!!!

make sure someone has those little shout wipes that are individually wrapped. I was a bridesmaid this summer, and about 2 minutes before we began the processional the bride got lipstick on her glove and purse, and some dirt on her dress. Badda boom badda bing - rho4life whipped out the shout wipes and it was still a white wedding!

have fun!

Hmmm, that does sound vaguely familiar, but not something we ever did in MI or that I did in NY...but all those "bad luck" things are just more not needed stress for the poor bride, IMO!!! :)

Our minister did not go through the actual vows or things we would say, but I did stand there and walked through the whole thing.

Here's a hint from a recent wedding I was a part of...
Make sure you know how everyone in the wedding party is getting from place to place. The last thing you need when everyone is all gussied up is trying to find a place to squeeze in a few bridesmaids!

So what happens, does the bride skip the rehearsal and just show up for the dinner and other night-before festivities? I've never heard of that either.

At the wedding rehearsals I went to, the bride and groom stood where they were supposed to, etc., but they didn't rehearse the vows, and the readers and soloists didn't rehearse their parts at that time.

Or even worse, get lost! My niece got lost getting to the wedding reception hall--she turned the wrong way at the turn, and was 20 minutes late! Also, make certain that there is transportation for the bride and groom to the reception site--in all of our excitement, we forgot to have our car at the church, so we rode over with my parents to the reception hall.

It's supposed to be bad luck for the bride to walk down the aisle prior to the big day. At all the weddings I have attended, as well as my own, the Maid/Matron of Honor stood in for the bride. No vows were rehearsed. The bride was there and socialized as well as provided input on where she wanted everyone to stand who they should be partnered with...

At the Priest's request my husband and I met privately with him before the rehearsal where we rehearsed most of the vows (he stopped just short of marrying us) and discussed what we (not anyone else) wanted out of the day. It was a great experience that I think everyone should have.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AOIIBrandi
It's supposed to be bad luck for the bride to walk down the aisle prior to the big day. At all the weddings I have attended, as well as my own, the Maid/Matron of Honor stood in for the bride. No vows were rehearsed. The bride was there and socialized as well as provided input on where she wanted everyone to stand who they should be partnered with...[QUOTE]

I think this is ridiculous. Everyone told me I should have someone else do it for me, but I wanted the practice. There are enough things to be worried about on the big day. You might as well make 100% sure you know exactly where to stand. Watching someone stand there doesn't help nearly as much as actually rehearsing. That's why it's a rehearsal.


We did that as part of our premarital counseling that was required by our chaplain. We had a few meetings about our relationship, then the last one was about the ceremony. We told him what we absolutely wanted to have, and we agreed on everything ahead of time so no one could change it without our knowledge.

The only time I ever heard/saw of the rehearsal/bride/bad luck thing was at my brother's first wedding in North Carolina. Her maid of honor stood in for her.

They ended up divorced anyway, so apparently it didn't help.

Question: What is the importance of a guest book? Is it mandatory to have one? My future MIL keeps insisting that I need one but I just don't see why. Can anyone explain?

To make sure you have all the guests preferred addresses for sending thank you notes (plus then they are all together). Also, an attendance record.

And believe it or not, in about twenty years, you might wonder, "Did Cousin Suzy come to our wedding or not?" The world's not going to come to an end if you don't have one, but I've yet to go to a wedding without one. It's usually considered an honor to be in charge of one.

I didn't know that not everyone knew about the stand-in! The bride can see how things will look from the guests' perspective that way. Learn something new every day!

But then I wouldn't have got to use my fun ribbon bouquet that my MOH made out of my shower ribbons. I KNOW you southerners MUST have the ribbon bouquet?!?! ;) :p

I've NEVER put my address in the guest book. Interesting.

I wish I could find a picture of the ribbon bouquet I made for my little's wedding in March. It was a monster, but really awesome looking!

Ooooh, I had my ribbon bouquets stylin' at my rehearsal. They were cute.

As for the guestbook, get one. You think you'll see everyone at the wedding, but it is nice to go back and see exactly who was there. I had two of my sisters standing at the guestbook and handing out programs. They got to see everyone, and I got to include some friends that I wanted to have in my wedding party but just couldn't have (I think 6 BMs was a lot!). If you don't like the idea of a guest BOOK, you can get the autograph frames from craft stores that people can write messages on for you and you can later put a wedding photo in it and hang it somewhere. That always looks nice, and it's a different memento.

I'm not having a guest book, nor am I having a ribbon bouquet, and I am doing the rehearsal myself...Oh the horror!:eek: :)

Then again, I am getting married 6000 miles from home and the 19 guests are all family and very close friends.;) I don't envy any of you planning your wedding for more than 25 people. I'm glad we decided "destination".

Best wishes to you(no stress!), and your daughter on her wedding! :)

Isn't tomorrow the big day? Good luck and best wishes!

ooh yay, Best Wishes to ASLFRose :) Have a great day!

Thank you! The place is crawling with Alpha Lambda AOIIs, Brandi!

We leave for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner in an hour. And I get to met AXOAlum in person--our wedding coordinator! :)

Best wishes to ASLF Rose, Carnation and the rest of the Carnation Caravan and Nation.

Have fun!!! :)

I'm so jealous, having them there will be one of the major parts of the day that she remembers. I know it was for me.

Have fun, and don't forget to post a few photos & details!!

ASLF Rose will look radiant, I'm sure!!

Same for me :)

Congrats and much love to the happy couple and their new extended family!

Last night's rehearsal went great - the wedding party is huge - this is the biggest attendant-size wedding I have done -- let's hope I don't screw it up today for the main event :D

Carnation is holding up great - I usually am either trying to get the MOB drunk... or worse... trying to sober her up :D :D Not the case here - she is a pro at this already!

Off to the church for the big day - I know Carnation really appreciates all your well-wishes & advice. She is just as great in person as she is on here ;)

Carnation-thinking of you and your family today as you make wonderful memories and welcome a new family member. Pics later, please!

Carnation, congrats to you and the happy couple.

And add me to the list of people who want to see pics :)

Today's the day! :D

Wishing ASLFRose and the new Mr. ASLFRose a long and happy life together! Can't wait to see pics!

OMG, it went so well! And we have the fabulous AXO Alum to thank for that--she is a wedding planner fantastica! What a total pro!!!!!

ASLFRose had a strapless white gown and a bouquet of red roses and red hypericum berries.The girls all had apple red strapless gowns and their bouquets were red roses, white lilies, red hypericum berries, and evergreen foliage with a silver Christmas ball and silver beading in each. The flower girls had kissing balls covered with white hydrangea florets and at the botton, 3 large silver Christmas tree balls. The guys had black tuxes with silver vests.

The rehearsal dinner was so much fun--a low country boil! And at the reception, we had a Christmas breakfast buffet with various breakfast items and hot cocoa. The big room was decorated with Christmas trees and red and silver candles and the fireplace had a roaring fire. :)

We just found out that a huge caravan of guests from Birmingham got caught accidentally in a Christmas parade in Centre, AL. They just played it off like they were supposed to be in it and leaned out the windows and waved and smiled to the crowd, LOL!

The last guest just left and we're in a state of suspended animation. :eek: Wow, there's still a week of school left and a lot of Christmas things to do. The happy couple is now in the Caribbean and we all thank you for all of your suggestions and best wishes!

12 weddings to go....

:o Thank you - it was a great wedding, and everyone was so cooperative! I have never had a bride that was so incredibly cool headed on the big day - she was a real dream to work with & her new hubby sure has a gorgeous bride!

I am SO LOL about the parade story!! That is hilarious - glad that they made a big show of things :cool:

ETA:
Major big YUM! The food was delicious & it was so perfectly fitting for the day! Mr. AXO & I were both thrilled with the theming of it. It will go into my big "recommended" book for winter weddings!

It sounds just beautiful, I'm glad it went so well. Please post pics when you get a chance.

Congrats on making it through! I'm glad everything went so smoothly :)