Now about these wedding plans...

[carnation]

Now we're down to 12 days. Part of the time I'm calm, part I can hardly teach because I'm obsessing about whether we've forgotten something! LOL because that's so out of character for me.

Her future MIL made her this gorgeous short satin cape that matches her gown perfectly! We don't know the exact flowers she'll carry with her AOII red roses--the florist wanted to wait and see which white flowers will be available.

Most of the attendants have gotten their dresses altered except Baby Berry, that's par for the course, and the only guy who hasn't been fitted for a tux is my husband. (That's par too.) About half of the bridesmaids won't make the bridesmaids' luncheon because they have late finals--they'll barely make the rehearsal.

With my sister, 2 pledge sisters, and AXOAlum at the wedding, I'll have plenty of support!

Looking forward to the low country boil rehearsal dinner...

[carnation]

We just came in from a giant shower...5 more days!

Does anyone have any final words of wisdom? As in "don't forget to..." or "make sure you..." ?

[AGDee]

My advice is always to not sweat it if things go wrong on the wedding day. As long as the couple ends up married, that is all that matters. So, don't lose perspective of the goal

As an aside, is it typical in the south to have showers so close to the wedding? In my area, you have your showers 3 to 4 months before the wedding, generally. Just curious!

[honeychile]

Carnation, if you knew what all went wrong on my wedding day, you'd love yourself silly! We still say "The programs weren't ready, the tables were sent up wrong, the glue in my hairpiece wouldn't dry - but it was a BEAUTIFUL day!"

Just go through your check list, make sure you have your hair & nail appointment (and do not let ANYTHING change that!) and do your best to relax! (You do have someone to stand in for your daughter for the Rehearsal, don't you? That always seems to be forgotten.)

AGDee, I had three showers, from different places/people, and they were each the three weekends prior to the wedding, FWIW.

[xo_kathy]

Originally posted by honeychile
(You do have someone to stand in for your daughter for the Rehearsal, don't you? That always seems to be forgotten.)

Is this a joke or some other southern tradition I'm clueless to?!

I wish I had exact advice on how to stay calm, but I don't. I have been told by everyone that I was the most calm bride they have ever seen. I just kept remembering that it was a joyful celebration, that I was marrying my greatest love, and, MOST importantly - I was the bride, and they can't start anything without me!!!! So if you are running late or anything, don't sweat it.

Have fun and enjoy the day - that's the most important thing!!!

[honeychile]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
Is this a joke or some other southern tradition I'm clueless to?!

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

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
Is this a joke or some other southern tradition I'm clueless to?!

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

[Speechpath]

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!!!

[rho4life]

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!

[xo_kathy]

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

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!

[Sister Havana]

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

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.

[trojangal]

[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! [/B]

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.

[AOIIBrandi]

Originally posted by Sister Havana
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.

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.

[Xylochick216]

[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.

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.

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.

[AGDee]

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.