Make it yours

Hi y'all!

I met with a bride, her mother and father last night to go over details for their September wedding at the beautiful Piedmont Driving Club. Our discussion continually went in the direction of what is the 'norm' for wedding reception practices?

Do you have to announce the entire bridal party?
Do couples normally decided to do a garter toss in addition to the bouquet toss?
The first dance as a married couple, father-daughter dances, mother-son dances get a biiiiit long. What should we do?

I'd like to address these questions- but simply put: It's YOUR wedding and all these things come down to personal preference.

Traditionally, when choosing to announce the entire bridal party, the brides parents are announced first, followed by:
-grooms parents
-each bridesmaid w/ the groomsman that escorted them from the ceremony
-the maid of honor and best man
-and ....the main event the new Mr. and Mrs.

The garter toss is optional. As is a bouquet toss. Your wedding. Your decision. For the indecisive brides, think ask yourself, do you feel comfortable with your new husband under your dress in front of your guests? Will your husband feel comfortable doing so?
The garter toss today is done for fun symbolizing the groom tossing away his single life for married life. Tossing of the bouquet is a tradition that is said to brings luck and more specifically- a glimpse into the future of the lucky recipient.

An interesting alternative to the traditional 'first dances' that this particular family came up with is:

Dance/song #1 traditional bride and grooms first dance
Dance/song #2 father cuts in on the groom to dance with his daughter and the groom invites his mother on the dance floor. Halfway through this song, the father of the groom will then cut in to dance with his wife, the groom will cut back in on his new father-in-law to dance with his bride and the mother of the bride will be invited by the father of the bride to dance. (At this time, the bridal party will join the dance floor with their respective attendants/ushers)

This option, while it is a lot of shuffling around, can be good for keeping the 'traditions' moving along without...for lack of better word, boring your guests with song after song of watching others dance. It moves things along just ever so slightly quicker to allow all the guests to celebrate together.

All in all, it comes back to your personal style, wishes and vision.

delightful inspiration

inspiration. It can come from just about anywhere. Sometimes we have to search for it and sometimes we get surprised by it as if it were the one searching for us. And just sometimes- inspiration has been there all along, engrained in you. My grandmother must have used the expression 'Love you like the dazzling' a million times in her life here on earth. A love that is like the dazzling is the greatest of love. I wish to share with you tips, tricks and wisdom to share this love and make it your own.  My love for event design, planning and coordinating has always been present, but it wasn't until I graduated College and began a career working and traveling on privately owned motor yachts that I knew it was how I wanted to spend my days, nights and yes, weekends. I had the pleasure of exploring many places throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean, taking bits and pieces of inspiration from each to share with you! Undoubtably, my future posts will be strewn with these aspects to showcase not only my experience, but to provide you with inspiration for your next event!

like the what?

Hi, I'm Hannah. Creator of likethedazzling. 

Surely most of you, if not all are wondering What Is Like The Dazzling? What does that mean? And so here it is....like the dazzling started as a term of endearment. My grandmother would tell me growing up, "I love you like the dazzling". I have come to believe that there is no greater love than a love 'like the dazzling' nor is there anything more special. Like the dazzling is all things beautiful. all things memorable. things cherished. and just simply dazzling!