Advice for Grooms : The Perfect Wedding Day!

Yes, it's her big day... but HIS too!

Advice is often given out to the bride on how to prepare and get through a very big and sometimes nervous day... but let's not forget her CO-STAR... the GROOM.

Just as the bride has many things to remember and to do, the groom has just a very significant role as well. Some believe that all the groom has to do is just shows up, but, he has a very big role in ensuring the bride's happiness, which in turn, will ensure a perfect day for both!

Empathize with the bride, grooms, and be there for her and you will have a flawless wedding day.

Here are some tips...

1) Be a gentleman. All eyes are on you. Be diplomatic, charming & keep your cool, no matter

what happens!

2) Be romantic. Never miss the opportunity to be romantic with your bride. This will not only please her and make her day that much more memorable, but it will calm her down as well. There is always time for quick kiss, some sweet words, smiles and hugs.

3) SMILE! As I said, all eyes are on you, so make sure you smile, smile, smile... and not just for pictures. Let everyone know (especially your bride), that you are the happiest man in the world.

4) When the mother-of-the-bride enters: Greet her warmly, tell her how beautiful she looks and how much you are looking forward to the day. Escort her to her seat, if possible, but if time does not permit, make sure an usher does so. Same for her father, if applicable.

5) When the BRIDE enters: This is the most important entrance. Smile at her warmly. This will relax her and make her very happy. This is the most important smile that she is looking for. This ensures her that you love her and that you are in this together. Help her make it down that aisle. When she reaches the altar, whisper to her how stunning she looks and how much you love her.

6) Be confidant. At the ceremony, be as relaxed and confidant as you can. Looking happy and

relaxed will make the bride calm and happy as well.

7) Overcome nerves. Just imagining yourself as self-assured, confidant and charming will put you in the right frame of mind and it will show. Act and be in control and that nothing can phase you!

8) After the ceremony: tell her how happy you are that she is your wife and of course, tell her over and over again how much you love her!

Rita Wong

514.816.7482

www.ritawongevents.com

Christmas Gifts for the Bride-to-Be

Christmas is around the corner... and so is her wedding day!

Get her a gift that she can use for her wedding. She will LOVE it!

Here are a few ideas:

Jewelry

For someone you are very close to, perhaps your sister, a dear friend or your daughter, a family heirloom or a new piece of jewelry will make a very special and sentimental gift. She will look forward to wearing it on her special day and always.

Wedding Day Accesories

Perhaps she has been eyeing a special clutch that matches her dress perfectly, or the shoes that will complete her whole bridal look.

Bride and "Mrs." Apparel

She will love this! She is marrying her soul mate and will be so proud to let everyone know that she is his new wife.

Honeymoon Details

Think monogrammed details that she can carry with her as she enjoys her honeymoon as the new "Mrs.". A monogrammed travel kit with her new initials is beautiful AND functional. load it up with things she can use and enjoy on her honeymoon, such as a great book for the beach, crossword puzzles, snacks and perhaps a monogrammed journal to record all the memorable moments of her honeymoon.

Rita Wong

www.ritawongevents.com

514.816.7482

J Crew - Beautiful & Affordable Wedding Attire

I was in New York, Soho 2 weeks ago with my husband and as usual, we separated to do our own shopping. I walked and walked for hours discovering cute little boutiques and also well known retailers, like Uniqlo, Steve Madden, BCBG...etc.

Just as I was about to end that day's shopping spree, I came across J Crew, who has always offered a moderate-to-higher end selection of apparel from casual to dressy. The first thing I saw when I walked in was the big display above. J Crew now has a wedding collection and offers appointments with their wedding specialists to dress your entire wedding party... at VERY AFFORDABLE prices.

Next to the display were these 2 mannequins. Find your wedding dress, your flower-girl's dress, your maid-of-honor, bridesmaids and all the guys, young or old.

If you look at the wedding collection, you will find wedding dresses from $395 to under $1000!

They have many looks from classic to glamorous.

$995 - Silk Ottoman Vienette Gown

$425 - Silk Tricotine Avery Dress

$750 - Silk Tricotine Avery Dress

You may get everything else you need while you are there.

Be sure to check out the jewelry and accessories, as well as the beautiful selection of bridal shoes.

All affordable and all lovely!

www.ritawongevents.com

514.816.7482

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue

Where did this tradition come from?

The traditional saying was actually,

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed & Something Blue..., and a Sixpence in her Shoe.

It is said that a bride carrying each of these good look tokens will have good fortune in her marriage.

Something Old represents is starting a new life, but not leaving the past. The bride still carries on her family values and connections. This can be in the form of antique jewelry passed on from your grandmother, a love letter your dad write your mom, or an old piece of lace sewn into the hem of your dress.

Something New is optimism and hope for the future. Wedding dresses or your new ring can be a symbol of this tradition.

Something Borrowed has several meanings that connect the bride to her family and friends, but most generally, it represents the support and love from your family and friends in your new life. This may be represented by a piece of jewelry borrowed from your mom or a handkerchief from your dad.

Something Blue symbolizes love, fidelity, purity and all the right things you need for a solid marriage. The possibilities are endless. Shoes, underwear, nailpolish, or a blue ribbon sewn into your dress are ideas that brides have chosen.

A sixpence is a British coin (1551 - 1967) made of silver and worth 6 pennies.

This is a tradition from the Victorian era and can be traced back to England.

The coin represents wealth and good fortune.

Brides have been honoring these traditions for years and years as a token of good luck, but this is a lovely way of honoring people that are close to you as well.

Whatever you use, have fun with it and celebrate your memories for years to come!

Rita Wong

www.ritawongevents.com

514.816.7482

Wedding Love Notes

It is not uncommon for brides and grooms to be a little anxious the morning of their wedding.

Write him or her a little note the morning of your wedding and have your Best Man or Maid-of-Honor deliver it while they are getting dressed for the church. This simple act will calm them down as well as you and take any nerves away and make you want to run down the aisle!

Read Ezine's article on how to perfect the perfect wedding note.

Holiday Decor Idea - Simple and Lovely!

Holiday decor is a great way to put you in the warm and festive holiday spirit.

Decorating your home should be fun and affordable. All it takes is a few basic holiday pieces, some creativity and the festive spirit.

One tradition I always do is take a glass bowl and fill with ornaments.

This is a clean and easy table embellishment and just lovely in pictures.

I also take on a modern look and use the same ornaments to put in martini glasses around the house as well.

Colin Cowie, entertaining genius is a fan of this idea too. just look at this gorgeous silver pedestal bowl with simple silver ornaments, creating glamour and class. So simple and so affordable, using things you have already.

Wedding Dresses from Betsey Johnson and CHANEL

The minute I arrived in New York, it was off to the stores for me. It was like a wonderful dream looking at al the stores around me.

As I walked into high end stores like Gucci, Burberry, Chanel to the more affordable stores like Polo, BCBG and Betsey Johnson, I noticed that wedding wear is indeed a line that most big stores and chains consider.

Look at these 2 wedding dresses from Betsey Johnson.

First is a formal dress. Second is a destination wedding dress.

The big designers like Chanel made my mouth drop. Just look at these wedding dresses by Chanel!