ATTENDANT DUTIES:(Emily Post)

Typical Responsibilities of Attendants

• Pay for their wedding attire and accessories (excluding flowers).
• Arrange and pay for their own transportation. (Wedding hosts should provide the
Accommodations.)
• Be timely and communicative regarding travel arrangements and acquiring attire.
• Understand the specific duties involved (see below).
• Arrive at specified times for all wedding-related events.
• Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; attend other pre-wedding events when feasible.
• Give an individual wedding gift to the couple, or contribute to a group gift from all the attendants.
• Assist the bride and groom whenever possible.
• Be attentive to other guests at the wedding and reception.
 
Specific Duties
Maid or Matron of Honor
• Helps the bride select the bridesmaids' attire.
• Organizes the bridesmaids' gift to the bride.
• Makes sure bridesmaids have their attire.
• Holds the groom's wedding ring and the bride's bouquet during the ceremony.
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate.
• Stands in the receiving line, if there is one.
• Helps the bride during the reception (gathering guests for the cake cutting, dancing, and the bouquet
toss).
• Helps the bride change into her going-away clothes, and takes care of the bride's wedding dress
and accessories after the reception.
Nice, but optional
• Helps address invitations and place cards.
• Assists in hosting or organizing a pre-wedding party, if the bridesmaids decide to have one.
Bridesmaids
• Attend the bridesmaids' luncheon, if there is one.
• Supervise flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s) if asked.
• Assist the bride at the reception as requested.
• Participate in activities such as a receiving line and a bouquet toss.
• Contribute to the bridesmaids’ gift to the bride.
Nice, but optional
• Host a shower, bridesmaids’ luncheon, bachelorette, or other pre-wedding party or get-together.
Best Man
• Coordinates the groomsmen and ushers' gift to the groom.
• Organizes the bachelor party for the groom, if there is one.
• Makes sure that the groom's wedding-related payments are prepared; delivers prearranged
payments to officiate, assistants, musicians, and singers at the ceremony.
• Sees that the groomsmen and ushers arrive on time and are properly attired.
• Instructs the ushers in the correct seating of guests.
• Keeps the bride's wedding ring during the ceremony.
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate.
• Drives the bride and groom to the reception if there's no hired driver; has the car ready for the
couple to leave after the reception and may drive them to their next destination.
• Offers a toast to the bride and groom at the reception; dances with the bride, the mothers, the maid
of honor, and other single female guests.
• Gathers and takes care of the groom's wedding clothes (returning rental items on the next business
day).
Groomsmen and Ushers
• Attend the bachelor party, if there is one.
• Contribute to the ushers' gift to the groom.
• Lay the aisle runner, if one is used, before the processional.
• Greet guests and escort them to their seats.
• Know the seating order; review special seating arrangements prior to the ceremony.
• Hand each guest a program, if programs are provided.
• Remove pew ribbons, close windows, re-roll the aisle runner; retrieve any programs or articles left
behind after the ceremony.
• Help guests who need directions to the reception site.
• Be on hand to assist any guests who are infirm or disabled.
• Dance with the bride, the mothers, the bridesmaids, and other single female guests.
• Coordinate the return of rental clothing with the head usher or best man.
   

Photo credit: Melissa Mayrie Photography

 Addressing and Sending Invitations
http://emilypost.com/advice/addressing-sending-wedding-invitations/

Opening a wedding invitation is unlike opening any other piece of mail. Much care goes into addressing both the inner and outer envelopes. Several enclosures usually accompany the invitation itself, and there is a thoughtful order to how they are placed inside the outer envelope, and even a few things to think about when you stamp and mail them.
Before You Begin

• Allow plenty of time to address, assemble, and mail all invitations.
• Order extra envelopes—inner and outer—in case of errors.
• Consider the reply address you will wish to use. Guest responses and gifts are likely to be sent to the return address on the outer envelope. If guests should reply to a different address, use it for the reply card envelope or list it below the RSVP line on the invitation.
• Organize the master guest list in a useful form, such as on file cards, in a computer database, or on a spreadsheet.
• Extra tip: When response cards are used, lightly mark the back of each card with an identifying number (keep track on your master guest list) in case guests neglect to write in their names when RSVP’ing.
• Make sure your addressing and/or assembly area is clean (be careful with beverages!) and wash your hands before you begin.

How to Address the Envelopes

• Double-check the spelling of your guests’ names before addressing the envelopes.
• Invitations are always addressed to both members of a married couple.

The inner envelope
The inner envelope bears the title and last names of the specific people invited. This allows the host to be very clear about who is invited, and by omission, who is not invited.
If children are invited but are not receiving a separate invitation, their names may be written on a line below their parents’ names on the inner envelope. If no inner envelope is used, children’s names are written on the outer envelope below the names of their parents.
For example, the inner envelope for Mr. and Mrs. James Darling and the two Darling children, Sarah and Jonathan, would be written:
Mr. and Mrs. Darling
Sarah Darling
Jonathan Darling
It’s also fine to write familiar names for close family: Aunt Martha and Uncle Bill.
The outer envelope
The outer envelope is addressed conventionally using titles, first, (middle), and last names.

• An invitation to an unmarried couple residing at the same address is addressed with both names connected by “and.” Use one or two lines, depending on length.
• No abbreviations or middle initials are used when addressing formal invitations.

While titles are abbreviated (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr.) all other words such as “Street,” or “Boulevard” is spelled out. State names may be written in full or use the two-letter postal code abbreviation. Middle initials aren’t used, so either write out the middle name or omit it. Generally, an invitation to parents and children is addressed to the parents:
Mr. and Mrs. James Arthur Darling
Forms of Addresses
Following is list of the most common forms of address.  
To a married couple
Invitations are always addressed to both members of a married couple, even though the bride may know only one or knows that only one will attend.
To an unmarried couple living together
Invitations to an established couple who are unmarried but live at the same address are addressed to “Ms. Nancy Fellows and Mr. Scott Dunn,” on one line.
To a married woman doctor or two married doctors
If the woman uses her husband’s name socially, the address is “Dr. Barbara and Mr. James Werner.” If she uses her maiden name both professionally and socially, it is “Dr. Barbara Hanson and Mr. James Werner.” If the husband is also a doctor, the address is either “The Drs. Werner” or “Drs. Barbara and Robert Werner.”
How to add “and Guest”
Since it’s awkward and impersonal to address the outer envelope as “Mr. James Smith and Guest,” the two-envelope system works well. Address the outer envelope to “Mr. James Smith” and the inner envelope to “Mr. James Smith and Guest.” If you’re only using one envelope, include a short note with your invitation: “Dear James, You’re welcome to bring a guest to the wedding. Please let me know. Best, Laura.” If there’s time and James supplies the information, you can send his guest an invitation, too.
How to Stuff the Envelopes

1. When two envelopes (inner and outer) are used, insert the invitation (folded edge first for a folded invitation, left edge for a single card invitation), so that you see the printed side of the invitation when the envelope flap is opened.
2. When there are enclosures—reply card and envelope, map, printed directions, etc.—they are placed on top of the printed side of the invitation, with their printed sides up, in size order with the smallest on top. Again, when the flap is opened, the printed side should be visible. If the invitation is folded, insertions are stacked in size order—smallest on top—but within the fold. Tissues are optional. If used, they are placed on top of the invitation and below any enclosures. If the invitation is folded, they are inserted into the fold.
3. The inner envelope is then placed unsealed in the outer envelope, so when the outer envelope flap is lifted, the name(s) of the guest(s) is visible.
4. Before sealing the outer envelope, double- and triple-check that the names on the inner and outer envelop match up.

Mailing
Before you buy stamps, take an assembled invitation to the post office and have it weighed. It’s likely that the inserts, or even an unusually shaped envelope, will call for extra postage. The post office usually has wedding-themed stamps that will cover the cost of most invitations with enclosures. Some post offices may be out of stock, however, so leave time to find them at another branch or to order them online.
Remember that maps and other inserts sent to out-of-town guests will make those invitations heavier than ones sent to local guests and may require a postage adjustment. In that case, be sure to assemble two sets and have both weighed.
Lastly, ask at your post office if it is possible to have your envelopes hand-stamped. This produces a different postmark (often considered more attractive) than if your invitations were run through an automatic sorter.

The Knot discusses top Wedding Trends of 2020.
Click link below
www.theknot.com/content/new-wedding-trends

 After the excitement from your engagement wears off and the reality of wedding planning begins, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed. Here are a few tips.

1. Start a wedding planner. You can either purchase one or make your own with a binder full of your wedding ideas. Be sure to add dividers for each vendor category.  Put pockets in it as well to hold all quotes until you secure each vendor.
2. Pick your wedding date ( I have noticed a trend of couples picking their dates based on the venue they want and their availability)
3. Have an engagement party (Invite your family and friends to join in the celebration)
4. Set your budget (This is the dreaded topic but necessary. You cannot start planning with out it) Before finalizing your budget, do some research on items you  know you will need and want for your wedding. This will give you an idea of the going rate of some items and it will enable you to set a realistic budget.
5. Meet with a Wedding Planner. (You may not have a budget for a full planner but should consider a Day of coordinator. Also, a wedding planner can be hired as a consultant to guide you in the right direction with vendors, setting up your budget and much more)
6. Make a wedding website ( weddingwire.com, theknot.com)
7. Start gown shopping (Please take your planner or maid/matron and or mom) Do not take to many ladies with you. Your gown sets the tone for the wedding so choose wisely. Also, be willing to try on different styles.
8. Research and Select your wedding ceremony and reception venue
9. Start working on your guest list (you actually start working on this prior to selecting your venue(s)
10. Select your photographer
11. Take your engagement pictures
12. Start working on your wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen) The average size is 5 or each side. Remember, the bigger the wedding party, the more bouquets you must purchase, the more expense in the rehearsal dinner and remember, you must purchase  each of your wedding party a Thank you gift.
13. BREATHE!!!!