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The Citizen, 2006-02-09, Page 41www.iCeCUitUre.COM A DIFFERENT KIND OF ICE COMPANY Adding SPARKLE GLAMOUR WONDER to your wedding HENSALL 262-3500 Lutthiv KG-01--bee We Treat You "Royally" etecut, contkdafite teems, tot y.ou mud gam gueAtis, • 18 fully renovated rooms • 11 singles queen size bed • 7 doubles - 2 double beds • non-smoking rooms • two sets of adjoining rooms • phone in room • modem ready • direct dialing • 4 piece bath • air conditioning • minutes from a variety of fine dining • 15 minutes from Blyth Festival Theatre • 5 minutes from Wingham Heritage Theatre ** Complimentary Features: in-room coffee - continental breakfast - Toronto Star ** No Pets Please Highway #4 South, R.R. #4 Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 www.winghamlindonmotel.com Phyllis Biggin, Manager (519) 357-1342 Fax (519) 357-4737 Lid E'elpr ottilne zees onsi621:1fies o parenis A wedding can be a wonderful and memorable experience for all of those involved. That's why you ask friends or relatives to share in the event and serve in your wedding party. Your offer is a wonderful hon- our, one that goes with it varying degrees of responsibility depending on the role each person will be play- ing. To help you decide who to ask to be in your wedding party, here is a list of titles and responsibilities for each participant's role. MAID OF HONOUR The maid of honour is a role typi- cally filled by a sister or a very close friend. It is the equivalent of the groom's best man. The maid of hon- our's role, therefore, is typically very involved. Among her many responsi- bilities, the maid of honour accompa- nies the bride on shopping trips for her wedding dress while also plan- ning the bridal shower, bachelorette party and co-ordinating the bridal party gift for the bride. Also, the maid of honour helps the bride get dressed on her wedding day, holds the groom's wedding ring dur- ing the wedding and may also help in the writing of invitations. The maid of honour will also typi- Laura could not stop thinking about the very first dress she tried on when she began searching for her dream gown shortly after her engagement last year. It was simple and strapless with a dropped waist. But she says she couldn't believe finding the perfect wedding dress could be that easy, so she trekked to four more shops and tried on 25 oth- ers, only to finally settle on her first love. cally act as a witness to the wedding and dance with the best man at the reception. If the woman you're asking is mar- ried, her title will be matron of hon- our. BEST MAN Perhaps the most well-known responsibilities of the best man are organizing the bachelor party and giving the toast at the reception. But the best man, who is typically a brother or best friend of the groom, also has a slew of other responsibili- ties. In addition to helping the groom choose his tuxedo and get dressed before the wedding, the best man coordinates the couple's gift from the groomsmen and takes care of the newlyweds' transportation to the air- port after the reception or the next morning. The best man may also hold onto any payment that's due to the recep-• tion site or the donation for the house of worship, and take care of any final financial details. He also holds the bride's wedding ring during the ceremony. BRIDESMAIDS Along with walking in the wedding procession, bridesmaids attend the shower and contribute to the bridal the choice is yours. Consider your religious affiliations, personalities, finances and family customs, and plan accordingly. Whether you choose a small service or a lavish affair, all is acceptdble. • Wardrobes can be as varied as the ceremony and party. In the past, white gowns signified purity and vir- ginity - not anymore. If you want to wear white, go for it. However, many encore brides choose to wear coloured gowns or even a pantsuit in lieu of a gown. Guys can .be formal in a tuxedo or casual in a dinner jack- et and slacks. • A second-time bride may choose to be "given away" by a father, brother of friend. It is perfectly acceptable for her to walk down the aisle solo. • The bride and groom can host their own affair, but parents on either side may choose to financially con- tribute. The best part? It was under her budget, she says. The truth is that finding a wedding gown that makes you feel like a princess does not have to be stress- ful. In fact, it can be a whole lot of fun - if you know the secrets of nav- igating the sea of bridal salons, designers and outlets. Even better, your dream wedding gown does not even have to cost Continued on page 17 gifts. bridesmaids, who are typically sisters or friends of the bride or groom, also dance with the grooms- men during the reception. To be further involved, each can be given specific roles, like reading a religious passage at the ceremony, providing assistance with choosing wedding vendors, or helping to address wedding invitations. GROOMSMEN Groomsmen are the male equiva- lent of the bridesmaids, typically having nearly identical responsibili- ties. Sometimes, groomsmen can act as ushers for guests arriving at the ceremony. Groomsmen walk in the wedding processional and attend and • help organize the bachelor party as well. FLOWERGIRL If the bride has a sister who is espe- cially young, that sister typically fills the role of flowergirl. Since most flowergirls are very young, their responsibilities are gen- erally limited to carrying a basket of flowers during the processional and, depending on the bride's preference, tossing flower petals on the ground to mark the bride's entrance. RINGBEARER Like the flowergirl, the ringbearer is a very young member of the fami- ly, only the ringbearer is a male. The ringbearer's role is to carry a pillow with the rings sewn on it dur- ing the processional. Some couples choose to have the ringbearer and the flowergirl walk next to one another during the pro- cessional. PARENTS OF THE BRIDE The bride's parents may be respon- sible for hosting the wedding, if they will be completely financially responsible for the event. In some cases, the father of the bride escorts his daughter down the aisle alone, but in other instances or in religious ceremonies, both parents may accompany the bride. In all cases, it's her preference. The mother of the bride may help fund or contribute to the planning of the bridal shower if the maid of hon- our needs assistance. These parents may also foot the cost of an engage- ment party or dinner to meet the groom's family. PARENTS OF THE GROOM The groom's parents should host a rehearsal dinner prior to the wedding. They may also choose to contribute to the wedding if they desire. In most cases, the groom's parents have limited responsibilities, but can be involved as much as the wedding couple would like. Traditionally, the groom's mother confers with the bride's mother on what colour gown she is wearing, so as not to go with the same shade. The groom's parents may walk down the aisle in advance of the rest of the wedding processional and take their seats. &14-aeffejor secar21-12e ‘ribles Many couples thinking of mar- riage may have previously taken a trip down the aisle. Second and third weddings are more common these days than ever before. According to gettingremarried.com, nearly 50 per cent of all marriages in 2003 were second weddings for at least one partner - if not both. Therefore, many wonder what is proper wedding eti- quette for an encore marriage. Actually, no rules are set in stone. It is up to the couple to plan a 'cere- mony and reception that fits their needs and comfort levels. While some couples choose to elope or have a very intimate affair, others treat themselves to an elaborate affair, even inviting their children to participate in the ceremony. Here are some tips to guide you if you are having difficulty deciding on the wedding that is right for you: • When it comes to the ceremony, C5efeCUSeperfea tveciihn. y gown Page 16. The Citizen. Brides and Grooms. 2006