Wedding (From Western Telegraph)

Wedding

The cake is another big item on the list - there are lots to choose from - traditional white tiers, or more modern and funky columns and stacks. Talk to a professional like Dec 'O' Cake in Pembroke Dock, who can offer all the choice and advice you could wish for. If you are catering for the wedding yourself, you can order the drinks on a sale or return basis. If the reception is to be held at an hotel, keep the manager informed about the number of guests who are coming to the wedding, not just the number you have invited. The traditional wedding party drink is champagne, but less expensive sparkling wines are perfectly acceptable. Soft drinks should always be provided for children and for adults conscious of the drink/ drive laws. It has always been traditional for the bride's parents to pay for the wedding. But today the parents of the groom may also contribute, as may the couple themselves. It is not unusual for the bride and groom to pay for the whole wedding themselves if their financial situation warrants it. If you are compiling a wedding present list, remember that not all your friends or relatives have bottomless wallets, so include a few smaller items! To avoid duplications you could use a loose leaf notebook, putting one item on one page. Once a relative chooses a gift, they simply pull out that page. Simple, but it avoids headaches of having three toasters etc. There are no hard and fast rules governing what you should ask for when putting together your wedding gift list. Anything can be added, from the practical to the funny, old or new, valuable or cheap. Obviously, your personal situation will affect the choices you make, but a sound principle to follow was laid down by William Morris, who wrote: "Have nothing in your home which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Aim for a list that gives the widest possible choice and price range; while there will be friends and colleagues who will club together to buy you a present, others will want to buy something on their own. If a major item such as a dinner service is on the list, make it clear that you're are happy to receive only one cup and saucer from the range. Finally, try not to make your list too long - this will ensure that the items you really want are chosen first and if necessary it can be added to at a later date. If you are organising the list yourself, first draw up a master list of items stating their make, colour, price and where they can be bought. Alternatively, you can enlist the help of your mother or best man to coordinate events. Keep a note of who has promised to give what, as this will be a useful source of reference when it comes to writing 'thank you' letters. If you decide to place your wedding list with a shop, it will save time if you think about the kinds of things you want before hitting the shop floor. It's also a good idea to arrange a list at one or two shops, one with a sensibly-priced households store and another with a specialist, more decorative gift-type shop. The service is free, and you will find that most stores prefer you to place your list with them eight to 10 weeks before the wedding. You simply wander around your chosen stores or shops making a note of the items you want. The list is typed; a master copy is held by the store and another is sent on to you. Friends and relatives can either visit or telephone (if paying by credit card) the store where your list is held to make their choice. As items are chosen, they are crossed off the list to avoid duplication, and a note will be made of the donor's name. There will always be friends and family who object to being directed by a wedding gift list, preferring to make their own choice. In such cases it is best to leave them to their own devices. However, do make sure that they see a copy of the list first. This will avoid duplication, and if you are using a store to organise your list do remember to inform them, so they can add it to their list as having been bought. All gifts should be sent to the bride at the address she is living at before the wedding, or to the couple's address after the big day. Many guests will want to deliver their present personally at the reception, so remember to have your bridesmaids or best man on stand-by to ensure that they are taken care of. Invitations for anything other than a very small wedding are usually printed or engraved. Good stationers, such as Cleddau Press, in Haverfordwest, will be able to show you a sample book, with a huge choice of top quality invitations to choose from. In usual circumstances, the invitations will be sent from the bride's parents. Transport to and from the wedding venue will need to be arranged. For most couples cars will be just fine, but for others wanting something more unusual consider a horse and carriage, or contact Top Notch, in Haverfordwest, for details of their stretch limousines, midnight blue Cadillac, Daimler or other limos, and really arrive in style. It is sometimes difficult amid the chaos of organising a big wedding to grasp that it is not mum's day, dad's day or anyone else's day. It's the bride and groom's day and with careful planning it will be a day for them to remember for the rest of their lives.