Bob Walker's Official New Orleans
Area Wedding Guide
General Wedding Information
INSURING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER....
While Protecting Yourselves Financially
While insurance is probably considered by most people to be a financial
burden, it is a product that should not be ignored. Insurance provides protection
against unexpected losses. As newlyweds, there are several important types
of insurance you will need to consider:
1. AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE provides a number of coverages. Liability insurance
is a requirement in many states. If the vehicle is being financed, the mortgage
company will require comprehension and collision coverages. Other coverages
available include uninsured motorist, medical payments, towing and road
service, and rental reimbursement.
2. HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. Some of you will start your new life together
in your own house, while some will rent. In either case, you can purchase
insurance to protect your property.
If you're buying your home, your mortgage company will require you to
carry homeowners insurance. This covers the house itself, contents of the
dwelling, and liability (in case someone is injured in or on your property).
Additionally, they may also require you to carry flood insurance, which
is separate from homeowners insurance.
If you rent your home, renter's insurance is available to cover your
possessions inside your residence. The building itself will be insured by
whoever owns it.
Whether you're buying or renting your home, any articles of excessive
value (jewelry, fur coats, guns, etc.) will have to be mentioned specifically
in order to be covered. The insurance company may require an estimate of
the value of each.
To protect yourself further, it's a good idea to videotape or photograph
your possessions in detail.
3. HOSPITALIZATION AND MAJOR MEDICAL. Health insurance is a necessity,
due to the high cost of medical care today. Hospital room and board costs
around $300. per day on an average, and the hospital may require a substantial
deposit if you have to be admitted. Disability coverage is also extremely
important. If, for some reason, you are injured and you cannot work, disability
will pay you a certain amount of money as long as you are disabled.
Many businesses offer group health insurance to their employees, which
also covers spouses and children. If your employer does not have a group
health plan, an individual policy can, and should be, obtained. As health
plans vary, your insurance agent will help you decide which plan is best
for your family.
An important point to remember about health insurance is that, in general,
coverage cannot be obtained for any condition once that condition already
exists. This is especially important to remember in terms of eventual family
planning. Once you find out you are "expecting", you will not
be able to obtain maternity coverage. Be sure to plan ahead!
4. LIFE INSURANCE is designed to protect your family. The younger you
are at the time you purchase life insurance, the lower the premium. Also,
many policies build up cash value over a period of time, and you can borrow
from them if you get into a financial pinch.
5. RETIREMENT. It's never too early to begin. The more you put aside
now, the more you have later. Numerous plans are available at savings institutions
and through your insurance company.
In planning for your upcoming wedding and your life together, don't
forget to modify any existing insurance policies you have, and other important
documents, to reflect your new status. You should make any necessary changes,
such as name change, address change, add your spouse to your auto policy,
and change the beneficiary on life policies, if desired.
Insurance of all types should be reviewed annually. It's there for your
protection. Insurance is a method of financial planning. It provides you
with the stepping stones to insure your future.
BRIDAL CONSULTANTS:
The Bride's Advocate
The procession music is playing. Everyone is watching as the flower
girl slowly walks down the aisle. The beautiful scent of flowers fills the
air. Then suddenly the music changes. Everyone rises as their eyes turn
toward me. My heart is pounding. This is it!
My wedding day!
How many Brides have envisioned themselves in this very scene? Each
and every one wishes for the perfect wedding.....a day in which everything
runs smoothly, nothing goes wrong, and everyone remembers what to do.
There are so many details that need your attention. Wouldn't it be wonderful
to have someone take care of the details and to assist you in planning your
perfect day?
Well, now there is someone who can guide you through your planning days,
as well as keep your wedding day flowing smoothly. The assistance of a Wedding
Consultant/Coordinator can ease the pressures that pre-wedding details usually
bring to the Bride and her family.
THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH
The wedding consultant/coordinator is the Bride's advocate. They are
not the employees of a florist, caterer, reception hall, bridal shop, or
any other such services. They are independent professionals who are employed
by the Bride as her personal mentor. A wedding consultant/coordinator offers
advice, assistance in preparing a budget (and keeping the Bride within it),
organizing and maintaining timetables and schedules, coordinating the ceremony,
supervising the reception, and even passing on discounts and gifts in some
cases.
The wedding consultant/coordinator will work with the Bride from the
very first decision to the very last detail, and handle as much or as little
of the actual planning that the Bride desires. But, even though the consultant/coordinator
can handle all the arrangements for the Bride, the Bride has an active role.
The consultant/coordinator is able to handle research and legwork, but all
decisions are made by the Bride. This service can be an asset to any Bride
who attempts to plan her wedding, no matter how intimate a ceremony she
desires.
Weddings today are ever increasing in size and formality. The trend
is back to the large wedding celebrations that were a thing of the past.
Even second marriages are opting for the more formal style wedding that
they may not have had before. But along with the splendor and magnificence
of the weddings of today come the anxiety of organizing the menagerie of
details.
The typical couple of today are marrying at a later age than their parents
did. Among those is the first-time Bride, who wants the wedding of their
dreams, and a new breed of duo-career couples, too busy to plan the details
of their formal affair. Details such as finding a budget and sticking to
it, ceremony etiquette, consumer information on necessary services, price
shopping, organizing a daily schedule, the legwork and the state of mass
confusion can leave the Bride overwhelmed and frustrated with little time
for herself, her fiance, or family. What should have been fun can turn into
a nightmare.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
According to the Association of Bridal Consultants, "a wedding
consultant should not be considered as an extra expense". The wedding
consultant/coordinator fee can be either a percentage of your total wedding
cost, a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or a combination of these. The initial
consultation is usually free, but in most cases can be applied to your balance.
As a matter of fact, your wedding consultant/coordinator can actually save
you money. Many times because of their frequent use of wedding services,
consultants/coordinators receive discounts and complimentary gifts to pass
on to their Brides. These are savings that the Bride may not normally receive
on her own. The savings to the Bride helps the consulting/coordinating service
pay for itself, making it affordable to the Bride on any budget.
An additional benefit is that your consultant/coordinator normally knows
the local merchants, and has already compared the quality and price, enabling
her to recommend the best value to the Bride for her budget dollar.
Some consultants/coordinators also offer services to the Bride who has
planned her own wedding, but would like someone to coordinate her ceremony
and supervise the reception. Also, they can assist the Bride and mother
who prefer to do the planning themselves but may need guidance in constructing
a budget, etiquette counseling, and referrals to the appropriate services.
A wedding consultant/coordinator can be there for you every step of
the way, and help you enjoy one of the most special days of your life.
THE GROOM'S CAKE
A growing tradition at many wedding receptions is the Groom's Cake.
Unlike the formal, many-tiered Bride's Cake, the Groom's Cake is usually
chocolate (although originally most all Groom's Cakes were dark, rich fruitcakes).
The cake often depicts a theme pertinent to the Groom's interest. Popular
choices are hunting or fishing scenes, his college mascot or logo, sailboats,
even a football, basketball, or baseball. But for a couple with a sense
of humor, don't be surprised to see a cake resembling a ball and chain,
or even a bed with a tiny wedding veil and a top hat perched on the pillows!
CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is "beautiful
or expert handwriting". The word calligraphy is derived from the Greek
kalligraphia, or "beautiful writing".
Calligraphy's origins date back to the Egyptians, who communicated in hieroglyphics,
and the Babylonians, who recorded their history in cuneiform. Both methods
were based on pictographs, symbols which resembled the object or person
being described. These pictographs evolved into a written, phonetic alphabet
designed by the Phoenicians and later adopted by the ancient Greeks and
Romans.
Calligraphy flourished under the influence of the ancient Romans, and later
was revitalized and further embellished by the monks and scribes of the
Middle Ages in Europe, who produced elaborately illuminated and lettered
documents.
Today calligraphy remains a vital art despite the advent of word processors
and laser printers. The elegant lettering performed by calligraphers can
be the finishing touch for wedding invitations.
A professional calligrapher can hand-letter the addresses on wedding invitation
envelopes in a variety of ink colors to customize your special announcement.
This service also saves time for busy Brides and harried mothers who can
spend their time on other preparations and leave the writing to a professional.
Calligraphy can also complete the lovely appearance of certificates, adorn
a dinner table with lettered place cards and menu placards, or delight a
loved one with a favorite verse hand-lettered on fine paper.
Re-discover the lovely craft of calligraphy; you will surely enjoy your
customized lettering.
WEDDING CUSTOMS...
THE CUSTOM OF GIFTS FOR THE ATTENDANTS...Both the Bride and Groom give
their attendants some lasting memento of the wedding. This gift is often
in gold, silver, or crystal.
THE TRADITION OF THE GARTER...In Old England attendants tossed the stockings
of the newlyweds, with the catchers being the next to wed. Today's tradition
says the man who catches the garter will be the next to wed, or, alternatively,
have good luck his whole life.
THE TRADITION OF THE CAKE SOUVENIR...It is a custom to provide tiny
cake boxes or bags, in which the guests may take home a piece of wedding
cake. Tradition says that placing it beneath the pillow will cause one to
dream of the person he or she will wed.
THE CUSTOM OF THE GUEST BOOK...The guest book, signed by all the guests
at the reception, makes a wonderful and sentimental souvenir of the wedding
day. It's nice to ask a special person to preside over it.
THE TRADITION OF SERVING ALMONDS...Serving sugared or candy-coated almonds
at weddings is a tradition around the world. In many older cultures, almonds
are considered symbolic of wishes for a happy and fertile marriage.
THE TRADITION OF THROWING THE BOUQUET...In past ages, a Bride's adornments
were believed to have mystical value, so everyone tried to grab a piece
of her clothing. In good-natured "self-defense", Brides began
throwing their flowers away from themselves, giving the crowd something
to fight over, and she could escape intact. Today the unmarried friend who
catches the bouquet catches "luck" in romance.
THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "BRIDAL"...In many older cultures the
actual marriage consisted of the sharing of food and wine, or other alcoholic
drinks, made by the Bride and Groom. At one time the wedding drink was known
as "brideale". This tradition continues symbolically when the
Bride and Groom cut the wedding cake and eat the first piece.
THE TRADITION OF PROTECTING THE BRIDE FROM "EVIL SPIRITS"...Years
ago it was believed that demons lived below the ground. The aisle runner
protected the Bride from the demons. They were also believed to lurk around
doorways, so the Groom would carry the Bride across the threshold of her
new home, thus foiling the evil spirits.
THE CUSTOM OF THROWING RICE AT THE NEWLYWEDS...For many years, and especially
in this country, rice has been thrown over the couple to shower them with
fertility. In other countries, however, other things thrown over the couple
to offer them the same wish include raisins, figs, wheat, and dates.
THE CUSTOM OF THE TOAST...According to superstition in the old days,
the devil hated the sound of a bell. When the toast is raised for the Bride
and Groom, glasses are clinked together so the bell-like sound will keep
the devil away.
THE TRADITION OF THE WEDDING KISS...In the Roman Empire, the kiss was
the actual wedding, in a ceremony that consisted of simply the exchange
of rings and a kiss.
THE CUSTOM OF THE DOWRY OR TROUSSEAU...This would enable the Bride to
survive if she had to live without her husband, for some reason.
THE TRADITION OF WEARING THE WEDDING RING ON THE THIRD FINGER OF THE
LEFT HAND...The ancient Egyptians believed a vein in that finger ran directly
to the heart. They named it the "vena amoris", the "vein
of love".
A TRADITION NO LONGER OBSERVED, THANK GOODNESS...In the Roman Empire,
guests would break the wedding cake over the head of the Bride, then gather
up the crumbs for good luck.
ONE ORIGIN OF THE HONEYMOON...In the (very) old days, a man would kidnap
his chosen Bride, than run off to marry her. Wisely, they would delay coming
back home to give the Bride's parents a chance to cool off.
THE TRADITION OF SAVING THE TOP OF THE WEDDING CAKE...The mother of
the Bride or Groom takes the top of the wedding cake home and freezes it.
Upon returning from the honeymoon, it is given to the Bride and Groom to
put in their freezer. They thaw it out and eat it a year later to celebrate
their first anniversary.
WEDDING MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
(and some to forget!)
Just like snowflakes and fingerprints, no two weddings are exactly alike.
Something always happens - whether planned or unplanned - to make each wedding
unique. Here are just a few true instances:
The Groom with orange, spiked hair, along with his tuxedoed attendants
who wore rat-tails and shaved heads. Their photo in the wedding album will
look like a clown show in years ahead!
The amusing sight of an unmarried, older sibling of the Brde or Groom
dancing with a broom, because "they ain't got nobody".
The Mother-of-the-Bride who insisted upon dancing with her new son-in-law
to the song "I've Got Friends In Low Places".
The Bride who tossed the bouquet high in the air behind her, and it
got shredded to pieces in the ceiling fan.
The reception during which the Bride, grinning from ear to ear, sat
down and opened all of her presents in front of her guests, looking like
a kid under the tree on Christmas morning. Tacky, tacky! Gfts are not opened
at receptions.
The Groom who removed the Bride's garter from her thigh with his teeth!
The Groom who was "missing in action" at ceremony time at
a certain hall. They finally found him in his dressing room...on the floor...passed
out drunk.
The wedding reception at which the tiered wedding cake collapsed as
soon as the Bride and Groom arrived.
The many weddings where the Groom rubbed a piece of wedding cake in
the face of the Bride when they cut the cake. After meticulously applying
makeup for her wedding day, this does not sit well with any Bride (and usually
lays the groundwork for their first argument as husband and wife afterwards).
The wedding which included 24 bridesmaids and 24 groomsmen (a florist's
and tuxedo shop's delight).
The reception where the Bride and Groom arrived at the reception hall
twenty minutes late, and assumed they still had a full three-hour reception
coming to them. Some halls allow for late arrival, but their's didn't. The
hall shut down the reception at the contracted time. A big argument erupted,
and it ended with (believe it or not) the Groom and the Best Man being arrested
and hauled away in a police car!
The four-hour reception where the photographer was still taking the
preliminary photographs as the four hours came to an end. The hurried last
song of the reception was the Bride and Groom's dance. The cake had to be
cut after the reception had ended. The Bride's mother was furious.
The money dance at an Italian wedding that racked up over $1500 for
the Bride and Groom.
The many times during the money dance where a laughing guy will dance
with the Groom, apparently thinking that it was a funny idea no one had
done before.
The Bride and Groom who hired a top-notch video photographer to record
their wedding, and a baby in the church screamed and cried through the entire
video!
The many receptions at which small children ran around and yelled in
groups, generally "whooping it up" and having all the fun they
usually do at the playground.
The unique weddings where the Bride and Groom, the parents, the wedding
party, and other VIP guests are introduced to the crowd in sequence by the
band or DJ as they enter the reception hall. The crowd applaud each person
announced, and most enter "putting on a few steps", while eating
up the attention.
The reception which was held in a certain community facility where the
low rental fee called for cleanup afterwards by those renting the room.
The reception was over and the guests had gone. And there they were....the
Bride in her gown (with a cigarette dangling from her mouth), and the Groom
in his tux, along with their parents and children at the hall, pushing brooms
and mops and cleaning up.
My favorite, though, was the reception held in a gymnasium. The Bride
stood on the basketball free-throw line to toss the bouquet, threw it backwards,
and it went through the goal!
Weddings come in all types: large and small, formal and casual, conventional
and creative. No two weddings are alike. And that's the way it should be.