Wedding Menu Tasting Tips

As wedding consultants, we are attending many menu and cake tasting appointments with our clients. We usually will distribute a stack of index cards for our clients to rate the food and write their reviews. When the food is served at the table, we first vote among all attendees of the display of the food. After all, first impression is important. Then, we will each take a bite of the food. Based on the taste of the food, we write our reviews. After we finish eating one category (e.g. hors d'oeuvres, appetizer, salad, soup, intermezzo, entree and dessert), then we go over the reviews of each dish, conclude the selection of each category, then try on the food of the next category. We take pictures of each selected item and keep them in the client's file, so we can remind the catering services and their banquet service team on the day of. 

Here are some tips about the menu selection:

Seafood-
If you want to select a seafood for your guests, sea bass is our top choice. 

Salmon and sword fish's textures are not preferred for most Asian guests. If the chef cannot control it well on the wedding day, it will taste like rubber - very hard to chew.









Cake- 
As for cake, we recommend you to match your theme color inside out. If your theme color is pink, it's best that you have a vanilla cake with raspberry or strawberry mousse filling. It will look good on the picture. We do not recommend to have chocolate cake because when you eat your first slice of cake in front of your guests, your teeth will be covered with chocolate - not so pretty. 

Hors d’oeuvres-

Hors d’oeuvres may be served or displayed for a maximum of two hours. Count the number of people who have RSVPed to your event. 

For assistance with determining the amount of hors d’oeuvres needed for your event, use the following formula: When no dinner is being served, guests generally consume 10-12 hors d’oeuvres per hour. With dinner, offer 6-8 hors d’oeuvres per hour per guest. 

100 guests x 7 hors d’oeuvres each = 700 hors d’oeuvres per person 

700 hors d’oeuvres per hour x 1 cocktail hours = 700 hors d’oeuvres for the event 

Now select your menu: 100 tomato bruschetta, 100 chicken satay, 100 canapés, 200 coconut shrimp, 100 deviled eggs, 100 dumplings, etc. You can reduce your hors d’oeuvres count by adding in dips or carved meats.

Wine- 
A good way to select wines for your wedding is to taste a variety for the best pairing with your menu. Look for at least one red wine and one white to serve at your celebration. Two wines that go very well with many different types of foods and that can be served year-round are Sauvignon Blanc for a white and, among reds, Pinot Noir. Both of these are lighter in body and less fruity than Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. 

  

Wedding Gown Shopping Tips

This is probably the most exciting and yet stressful experience in your wedding planning - finding the perfect wedding gown!

Before you make an appointment with any wedding gown stores, I recommend you flip through some bridal magazines and get a general ideas of what style(s) you like and bringing in pictures to show your consultant the day of your appointment. This will help give your consultant to understand what styles tend to catch your eye. If you are one of our clients, we will submit the pictures for you prior the appointment. So by the time you arrive the store, your pre-selected wedding gowns are already waiting for you in the dressing room.

Do not go to a wedding gown store without an appointment. You will need a designated consultant to help you selecting and trying all these wedding gowns. It usually takes at least an hour...sometimes up to 4 hours trying on all these dresses. Without an appointment, the process will take longer. In the busy wedding season, you might not have any consultant available to assist you nor a dressing room for you to change. 

Going alone to an appointment is not a brilliant idea. First of all, you will not be able to see the back of the dress...and most of us will ask for a second, third, or even sixth opinion when we purchase a wedding gown. Wedding gown could cost you thousands of dollars. So this is not a small expense of your wedding budget. I recommend you bringing people with you to help you making your decision since the selection can be overwhelming.

Make sure you bring your heels with you and proper bra for the gown. Be on time for your appointment.  If you are any later than 20 minutes from your scheduled appointment time, don't be surprise some stores might release your appointment to another bride on their waiting list.

I would suggest bringing a strapless bra and a pair of heels to get the full effect of the gowns. You may also want to try on veils and accessories to match your wedding gown.

Can I Take Pictures At A Wedding?

Weddings are wonderfully happy celebrations but they can be confusing and stressful as well at times. Photography, while being something everyone wants from a wedding, can be one of these major stressors. The professional photographer is trying to capture the event around venue rules and guests are often snapping away oblivious to the venue rules or couple's wishes. This handy guide will help you navigate the ins and outs of taking your camera to a wedding when you are a guest. 

1. Ask the Couple
Ask the couple if it is okay for you to bring a camera to the wedding and take pictures. This includes your cell phone if you plan on using it to take pictures. There are several reasons why a couple may not want you to take photos at the wedding. Some professional photographers request that no other cameras be allowed because other people's flashes can ruin a photo. The wedding venue may have strict rules about flashes or when photography is allowed. The couple may also prefer no cameras because of guests shifting out of seating, numerous flashes disrupting the ceremony, and the noise many cameras make. Whatever the reason, honor the couple’s request if they ask you not to bring a camera.

2. Turn Off Camera Sounds
If your camera has the capability, turn off all beeps and other audio sounds of your camera. Shutter snaps can be loud enough in echoing church or wedding hall without the added beeps of focus confirmations. Turning off the camera sounds is just good manners, same as turning off your cell phone sounds.

3. Turn Off the Flash
If the couple doesn't mind that you bring your camera be sure to turn off the flash. Yes it is likely to be very dark (at least as far as your camera is concerned) at indoor weddings or outdoor nighttime weddings, but most religious ceremonies frown on flash as it is considered an interruption to a sacred event. Unexpected flash can also ruin the paid professional photos that the couple is paying a lot of money to get. Turn up the ISO on your camera and turn off the flash. Your photos may be a bit grainy but remember that there are many options for noise reduction in editing.

4. Stay in Your Seat
Remember that if you get out of your seat during the ceremony, either just standing up or moving into the aisle, you are blocking the view of the guests seated behind you and possibly the official wedding photographer or videographer. Even if you manage not to block anyone's view, think about how you will look on the official video if you keep popping up and down out of your seat. If there is not any assigned seating be sure to get a seat with a view you like when you first sit down.

5. Share With the Couple
You have taken photos and you got some pretty good photos. Now share with the couple. It can take a week to a month to get the professional photos (editing a few thousand shots takes a lot of time) so the couple will appreciate being able to see your photos soon after the wedding. If you and the couple both use a social network such as Facebook or Google Plus, or if you use a photo hosting site like Flickr, sharing your photos of the wedding is as simple as an upload and tagging.

Bye Bye Unity Candle and Sand Pouring!

Tired of seeing the unity candle or sand pouring at weddings?  Instead of your traditional wedding ceremony addition, why not try this unique and romantic idea of a love letter and wine box?   

This lovely alternative requires only a few small items: a wooden wine box, two love letters (from the bride to the groom and vice versa) in sealed envelopes, a few small nails, and a bottle of the couple’s favorite wine.

Here’s how it works: Prior to the wedding day, the bride and groom write love letters to one another expressing the reasons they fell in love with the other, their hopes and dreams for their future together, and anything else they want to share, and seal them in individual envelopes.  Then, decorate the wooden wine box with whatever you want – line the inside with foam or some other material, stick in a CD mix of special songs, other romantic momentos, etc.  The box will essentially be a relationship time capsule.

During the actual ceremony, have your officiant share with the guests the reason and meaning behind your wine box.  Then, with everyone witnessing, the bride and groom will place their letters in the box along with their favorite bottle of wine.  The box is then nailed shut.  The officiant can start with the first nail, with the bride and groom (and maybe even bridal party) following.

The box is not to be opened until a special wedding anniversary (5, 10, 20, 25 – it’s up to you!). The one exception being if you hit a rocky patch in your relationship.  At that point, open the box, uncork the wine, and read the letters you wrote to each other while drinking a glass of the wine . Hopefully this would remind you of the reasons you love each other and how meaningful your relationship truly is, and start you on the road to getting back on track. 

Information provided by Rev. Sherrien Shui

Why Fresh Flowers Do Not Belong on Cakes?

Most cake decorators are ecstatic when a client actually asks for sugar flowers. It is a fairly rare occasion for most decorators. More common is the client who says they plan to use fresh flowers provided by their florist.

When putting fresh flowers on a cake the most important thing to keep in mind is that the cake will be eaten. Therefore, you must be sure that any flowers put on the cake will not contaminate the cake.  It is very important that a barrier be placed between the flowers and icing.  You can use a doily, parchment circle, wax paper, etc.

Flowers can be wired and taped into corsage-like arrangements, made into small bouquets and placed on the cake, arranged in floral foam that has been hot glued to a plastic lid or container or placed loosely on the cake.  Whichever method you choose to decorate the cake with fresh flowers, make certain they DO NOT touch the icing.  Also, NEVER poke fresh flowers into a cake.

Flowers are grown using pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals.  Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the flowers do not touch the cake.  Even if they are organically grown, it would be difficult to know for certain they had never been exposed to toxic substances.  Also, I have read that organic flowers that are available usually do not include the showy flowers used on wedding cakes. 

There are toxic flowers and non-toxic flowers.  Regardless, they should never touch the cake.  Just to be safe, always use something to lay them on or to put them in so that they never touch the cake.  In addition to doilies, parchment paper, wax paper, etc. you can also use floral foam, floral picks, water tubes, small plastic containers with floral foam to hold arrangements, etc.    For the weddings we designed, we tell our florists how we want them arranged and then they arrange the flowers in florist foam that has been adhered to a plastic lid or container.  This permits the foam to be soaked with water thus enabling the fresh flowers to stay fresh for a longer time while, at the same time, avoiding any water from leaking onto the icing.  In this way, the flowers stay fresh and we do not have to be concerned about the possibility of the cake becoming contaminated.

A lot of the most popular wedding flowers are toxic. They contain poisons that can seep from the flowers and into the cake. Symptoms of ingesting poisonous flowers are not pleasant. They include pain in the mouth, upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, and possibly even a trip to the Emergency Room. It can turn out to be bad news for a cake decorator if someone gets sick from the cake. Here is a list of some popular wedding flowers that are considered toxic. For a more complete list of poisonous flowers, you can find it on Wikipedia.

• Asparagus fern  
• Anemone
• Azaleas 
• Bird of Paradise
• Bleeding Heart
• Buttercups
• Calla Lily
• Clematis
• Creeping Charlie
• Cyclamen
• Daffodils
• Daisy
• Delphinium
• Dieffenbachia
• English Ivy
• Frangipani
• Geranium
• Gloriosa lily
• Holly Berry
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Iris
• Ivy
• Larkspur
• Lily of the Valley
• Mistletoe
• Morning Glory 
• Oak Foliage & Acorn
• Philodendron
• Poinsettia 
• Poppy
• Ranunculus
• Rhubarb Leaves
• Shamrock 
• Star of Bethlehem
• Sweet pea
• Tulip
• Umbrella Plant  
• Wisteria
• Wood Rose

THE ABOVE LISTS INCLUDE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF FLOWERS THAT BELONG TO EACH LIST.  THERE ARE MANY MORE FLOWERS THAT COULD BE ADDED TO EACH LIST.  

                    

Unlike bakeries, floral shops do not have the need or desire to wash every flower that comes through their doors. They don’t need to make sure every flower is dirt free or even bug free. If you want to place fresh flower on your cake, I would suggest you to request using certified organic and are non-toxic flowers. 

WHEN USING FRESH FLOWERS, TO BE SAFE, ALWAYS PROTECT THEM FROM TOUCHING THE CAKE OR ICING. 

Day-of Wedding Coordination is a Myth

Many brides call or email us asking for the "Day-of" coordination service. What is it? The TRUTH is it doesn't exist.Then why do so many brides want it? Where did this term come from? The term was introduced and perpetuated by wedding publications and blogs.

They've convinced the bride that they can plan their own wedding and simply bring in a coordinator to handle things for them on the wedding day. Jumping on that bandwagon were newer, inexperienced planners who wanted to build up a portfolio. So along came the $500 "day-of" coordinators.

Let's break it down, shall we? You can expect your coordinator to work, at the very least, 10 hours on the wedding day. If you hired an established planner, his/her hourly rate is between $50 and $200 an hour. Planners charge different rates based on experience and region. We'll just base this exercise is on $50 an hour. 

10 Hours x $50 = $1,000

That sounds accurate, right?

Now let me explain the difference between the EXPERIENCED COORDINATOR and the $500 COORDINATOR.

EXPERIENCED COORDINATORS: They have been in the wedding business for years and can identify every single problem before the wedding day arrives. Their experience allows them to manage 10 to 15 vendors prior to and on the wedding day. The experienced coordinator is also calm and resourceful, which allows them to problem-solve when things turn bad.They have an extensive vendor list that they can turn to if one your vendors has to be fired and a replacement needs to be found FAST. They have extensive knowledge in floor plans and timelines. Another advantage the experienced planner carries is insurance, which is required by almost all venues. The experienced coordinator can charge anywhere from $50 to $200 an hour for their expertise. On your wedding day, you can expect that your coordinator will work at least 10 to 14 hours.

$500 COORDINATORS: They are most likely new to the business. Their list of vendors is minimal, if they have one at all. They have very few weddings under their belt, which means they don't have much experience. Because of that inexperience, they may not be able to direct a large number of vendors requiring their leadership. Their knowledge of contracts and timelines is minimal. They may not have the insurance required by your venue. The "Day-of" planner charges $500.

Here is where it gets interesting. In order to be present at your wedding, your wedding coordinator has to do more than just show up on the wedding day. Why? What's so hard about just showing up? Let me pose a few questions for you to consider. Humor me, it's all going to make sense. Here we go:

• Should your coordinator know who all of your vendors are? Well, of course they should. They would have to spend hours calling each one, introducing themselves to them, discussing their duties, delivery, set-up and start times.

• Should your coordinator have copies of -- and have read -- all of your vendor contracts? In order for them to fully understand what each vendor's scope of work is, delivery and set-up times, and even the amount of hours of service they are providing, they would have to spend hours reading and comprehending these contracts. Without these contracts, they're not able to create an accurate timeline of your day.

• Should your coordinator know the physical aspects of your venue? It's essential. They have to visit your venue prior to the wedding day. Together with you and the venue managers, it's mandatory that they perform a detailed walk-through includes the vendor's meal room and the loading area. It's their job to know your venue like the back of their hand. If they just show up on your day, how do they know where the load-in dock is? How will they direct the vendors on delivery and set-up? Can they tell the DJ or band where the electrical outlets are for their use? By meeting with the venue managers prior to your wedding, they know your floor plan. They would know where there is an extra chair if an unexpected guest arrives. And by the way, they spend time revising and reviewing many versions of your seating chart in order to know that. They definitely will sort your guest list by last-first name alphabetically and by table numbers since the majority of your guests expect the coordinator to help them find their escort cards and seats.

• Should they make a timeline for your wedding day? ABSOLUTELY. I've been planning weddings for over 10 years, and it takes me an average of three hours to draft the perfect timeline. Yup, I'm serious. After the preliminary timeline has been made, the coordinator need to review it and confirm the detailed activities with the bride, groom, their wedding party, all vendors and the venue manager. Then,the coordinator will update all changes and send customized timeline and instruction to your wedding party, ushers, attendants, officiant, venue, caterer, photographer, videographer, florist, rentals, ceremony musicians and DJ. Everyone follows the coordinator's timeline and directions. Moreover, the coordinators have to be super flexible and be able to adjust it as the day goes on, especially if problems arise.

• Will your coordinator direct your rehearsal? They absolutely should. The only reason they wouldn't is if your ceremony takes place at a church. At any other venues, don't expect the venue manager will coordinate the rehearsal for you... it's not their job. An experienced coordinator will take their time to send you a ceremony diagram and go over the details with you. My clients and I work together to decide who stands where, who walks in first, last and in between. We also determine if there is a table needed for a memorial, or a unity candle. With preparation, your rehearsal should last only an hour. This ensures you get to dinner on time and start having fun.

• Who sets up your guestbook, place cards, favors, toasting flutes, framed photos, signage, cake knife and server... and all those special little items you that require attention? Your "day-of" coordinator does. But how do they get them? The experienced coordinators will attend and direct your rehearsal, and gather all these accessories at the rehearsal. They show up on the wedding day setting up all these items. If your coordinator only shows up on the wedding day, how would these items get to your venue during the preparation time? Who is going to bring them? Will the items be delivered on schedule?

We've addressed some very important questions and scenarios. We hope it's much clearer for you to understand what tasks your coordinator must perform prior to your wedding day. Are you still not sure? Let me break down the required tasks and time spent performing those tasks.

• Contacting your contracted vendors and obtaining their contracts -- 3 hours
• Reading and fully comprehending contracts -- 3 hours
• Venue walk-through -- 2 hours
• Creating and revising a timeline to perfection -- 5 hours
• Assisting you in creating your ceremony order and flow -- 1 hour
• Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner coordination...and gather the accessories -- 5 hours
• Pre-planning with the bride on ceremony lineup, seating chart, floor plans, place setting, etc. -- 3 hours
• Wedding day coordination -- 10 to 14 hours (with 1 assistant)
• Total hours required to PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY on the wedding day: 36 hours 

36 hours X $50 = $1,800.00
1 day of assistant for 10 hours x $20 = $200
Total $2,000.00

That's far more accurate. And we haven't included the costs for our assistant, our insurance and our overhead costs.

We know that every bride expects her "day-of" coordinator to handle all of the tasks outlined above. When it's broken down, she is charging you $500 for 36 hours of her time. The $500 does not include the costs of their phone, website, advertising, computer, transportation, fuel costs, paper and printing. After the costs of doing business are accounted for, you are paying them $3.00 an hour. That's just crazy talk! It's less than minimum wage. Even employees at McDonald's make more than $3.00 an hour.

How hard would you work for your boss if he told you he wanted you to perform the tasks of a $50.00 an hour employee, but he's only going to pay you $3.00 an hour to do it? Eventually you will be tired and disgruntled. So is the $500 coordinator.

A word to "day-of" coordinators out there offering this service: If you are reading this, ask yourself, "Am I not worth more?" Your future is based on the reputation you build with venues and vendors. If you place yourself in a situation ripe for disaster, you place your reputation at risk. Your career will not thrive on bad reviews. For clients and the industry to value you, you must first value yourself. Offering at least "month-of" services, and charging properly for it, allows you to perform a thorough job for your clients, and it raises the level of professionalism in the industry.

A word to brides who want a "day-of" coordinator: Be careful, you may get what you pay for. We've actually received calls from brides who thought we were too expensive. They have called us after their wedding to say, "I should have listened." By then, it's too late. You only get one opportunity to do it right. Don't put the success of your wedding day in the hands of the $5-an-hour wedding coordinator. If you aren't paying them what they are worth, the odds are they don't have your best interests at heart.

Sherrien Shui
@ The Resort of Pelican Hills

Engagement Party

Learn Engagement Party Etiquette

Kick off your journey down the road to wedded bliss with an engagement party that gets your family and friends mingling with your fiancé's nearest and dearest. Start your celebration off right with these preparation tips.

How should I decide on my guest list?

Round up your favorite people to share in your joy at this pre-wedding bash.

- Include your parents. If your parents and your fiancé haven't already met, get them together before the engagement party so they can start welcoming each other to the family.

- Wedding guests only. It's best not to invite anyone to your engagement party who isn't invited to the wedding, so now's the time to start hashing out the guest list.

- Pick the essential people. Engagement parties are typically smaller than wedding ceremonies, so choose the most important people from your list.

- Throw another party. If you simply can't see your granny partying with your college pals, you can hold separate parties for family and friends. Relatives and friends alike will want to meet your wedding attendants, so if you've chosen them already, invite them to all engagement parties.

Who hosts the engagement party?

The bride's parents get first dibs on throwing an engagement party, but you and your fiancé can also choose to host your own. Any other friends or family members who feel an overwhelming urge to give a party in your honor can do so -- assuming you're up for another round of congratulations.

How should I invite guests to my engagement party?

It's always a good idea to send invitations so guests can keep track of your party's vital statistics. Notify guests at least a month in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.

- Stay on a budget. Remember that you have a multitude of parties on the horizon. Save up now so you can spend more on the main event. 

- Buy from the shelf. To save money, you can buy preprinted invites from a card shop and fill in your party information.

- Make your own. Buy pretty printer paper and print the invitations from your computer, or brush up on your arts-and-crafts skills and make them by hand. You can even go high-tech and send email invites for an informal engagement party.

In what order should I introduce guests?

Many of your guests will be meeting each other for the first time, so be a gracious hostess and introduce them properly. Traditionally, you should introduce any members of the clergy first. From there, the order of introductions is based on age, and women before men. When you're introducing two people whose ages you don't know, introduce the one who's closer to you first -- for instance, your best friend would precede a co-worker.

Get your family and friends almost as excited about your wedding as you are by rounding them up for a fun-filled engagement party, then let the wedding festivities begin!

Plan Your Engagement Party With Precision

When planning your engagement party, you'll need to consider everything from food to formality.

Who do we invite?

Sit down with your fiancé and come up with a guest list. Make sure you only invite those people who you plan on inviting to the wedding. Consider family, friends, co-workers and obligatory invites.

What about invitations?

Depending on the formality and size of your party, you can e-mail, fax or phone your engagement party invitations. However, the most popular way is still via the postal system.  Consider using pre-printed invitations and simply fill in your information. This is a very budget-friendly option. Make sure you send your invitations two to four weeks before the party. It's best to allow a month so that out-of-town guests can make travel and lodging arrangements.

Do we need a theme?

While a theme isn't necessary, it's a lot of fun and is helpful when planning your party. If you have a theme, you can plan the invitations, food, music and entertainment around it. Theme ideas include:

• Hoedowns
• Costume parties
• Victorian themes
• Sock hops

What kind of food should we serve?

You can coordinate the food with the theme. If you're having a hoedown, why not serve barbecue and corn on the cob? If you host your party at a private club or a hotel, you may be forced to use their food, so ask what choices they offer. Remember, a buffet is less expensive and more party-friendly for mingling.

Where should we have the party?

Location is very important, so consider all of your choices before deciding. Here are some options:

·       Your backyard

·       A hotel ballroom

·       A friend's house

·       A local restaurant

If the location you choose is out of the way or is hard to find, make sure to include a map with your invitations.

What sort of entertainment should we have?

Music is a must. If you don't want to go all out and hire a band or a DJ, why not recruit one of your funny and bold friends to spin the night away? It'll be a blast! If your party is formal, you might opt for a harpist, a jazz trio or a saxophonist to provide beautiful background music for your party.

Should we serve alcohol? 

This depends on your beliefs, budget and guest list. Consider all three before offering alcoholic beverages. If you do provide alcohol, you also should provide transportation home for tipsy guests. 

Think About Engagement Party Basics

Congratulations! You're engaged. Now, it's time to celebrate your good news with an engagement party. Planning this celebration can be a piece of cake if you follow these simple gala guidelines.

Why should we have an engagement party?

You have this soirée to:

- Share the news of your upcoming nuptials with your future wedding guests. 

- Introduce your families to each other. 

- Celebrate before settling down for serious wedding planning.

If your parents haven't yet met your fiancé's parents, you might want to introduce them before the party takes place. Suggest that everyone meet at your favorite restaurant or set up a three-way phone call if one set of parents lives far away.

When should our engagement party take place?

Etiquette gurus say that an engagement party should take place no later than two months after the big announcement. If you're planning a long engagement, you may want to rethink this suggestion. Shoot for a celebration about one year before your wedding date.

Anyone can throw an engagement party, but tradition dictates that the bride's parents should host the first one. The groom's parents can throw their own party later, or the two can come together to host the fête jointly.

Nowadays, the couple tying the knot can even throw their own engagement party. You can make your party as formal or casual as you like. You can host a BBQ or rent out a restaurant. Whatever works with your budget and your personalities.

How much should we spend on the engagement party?

This depends on your budget. Remember, this is just the beginning of your wedding festivities, so you'll have a lot of financial responsibilities within the next year. If you're working on a tight budget, invite only your closest friends to a party at your home. If you feel like you need to include everyone, have a more informal get-together at a restaurant or bar where guests can pay for themselves. Just be sure to make the situation clear to your guests ahead of time.

Will our guests bring us gifts?

Your guests aren't required to bring gifts to your engagement party, but that doesn't mean they won't! You may want to go ahead and start your bridal registry to guide your guests in the right direction. 

Announce Attendants at Your Engagement Party

If you've already selected bridesmaids and groomsmen, your engagement party can be the perfect time to reveal your choices. Everyone's already gathered together and in a celebratory mood, so the stage is set to honor these special people.

How should I prepare to announce my attendants?

Ask those you've chosen for your wedding party if they'd be willing to serve in that capacity before you make it official. As bridesmaids, your friends and family members will be signing on for a number of responsibilities and expenses. They'll surely be honored by your request, but respect their right to turn you down if they don't have the resources. To avoid an awkward situation for everyone, run your plan by them in advance.

How can I help the announcement go well?

Choosing your wedding party is a fun but sometimes touchy process. Plan in advance to help your newly selected attendants receive a warm reception from the rest of your engagement party guests.

- Be considerate. Of course you can't ask everyone you know to be in your wedding party, but consider who might expect to be included and take their feelings into account. If some close family members or friends aren't on your list, consider making your introductions at a dinner for members of the wedding party only.

- Provide alternatives. Before the party, ask friends you weren't able to include as attendants to participate in the ceremony in a different way -- such as singing, reading or handing out programs.

- Calm their nerves. If some of your bridesmaids are shy, this public announcement might make them uncomfortable. Let them know your plans beforehand so they won't feel put on the spot. Be respectful of their feelings, but remind them that they'll have to stand in front of all those people and more on your wedding day, so the engagement party might be a good time to practice being in the limelight.

What should I include in my introductions?

Set the tone for a close-knit wedding party with thoughtful introductions of each of your attendants.

- Explain your relationship. This is your chance to tell everyone why the people you've selected are so special. When you introduce each attendant, explain her relationship to you and include a brief story about why she's an important part of your life.

- Highlight your choices. Compliment each of your bridesmaids on a distinctive trait -- a flair for writing or cooking finesse, for instance. This will make your attendants feel appreciated from day one and help them get to know one another.

- Bring them all together. Introduce your bridesmaids to each other, as well as to the groomsmen, your parents, your future in-laws and anyone else they'll need to know as the planning progresses. This is especially useful if any of your attendants are from out of town and won't get many opportunities to see the other major players in your wedding before the ceremony.

Introducing your attendants early on will help all of the events surrounding your wedding run more smoothly -- from the bridal shower to the bachelorette party to the ceremony itself.