Wedding stationery. Invitations and printing costs also varied greatly from one printer to another. We visited several and requested samples from mail-order companies before selecting one. We opted for the “RSVP” and phone number rather than added expense and postage of a return card.

For the second wedding, the bride and groom made their own invitations, embossing the cards, then using their computer to print them. They printed the reception information on business cards.

I can truthfully say that the invitation list was the only area of disagreement and negotiations. With the size of the reception hall and food budget, I wanted to limit the guest list to one hundred and twenty-five. Both families alone totaled almost half that number and since this was the first wedding for both families, friends were important considerations. With much patience and cooperation on both sides, we were able to stay within limits. One hundred and fifty invitations were sent out, realizing some of those would not be able to attend and about one hundred people actually came. A plain thank you card from a local card shop was half the cost of cards ordered from the printer.

Tradition. Tradition is the number one foe or the best friend of the bride. Decide for yourself what you want at your wedding. It is your day and you should have a wonderful, memorable time. You don’t have to follow every tradition and you may wish to make some of your own. Bird seed has become a popular alternative to rice, however, it makes a mess, scratches cars and can hurt. We did not throw anything at the bride and groom as they left. In fact, they were among the last to leave. They were having such a good time, I finally suggested they go so that we, who were older and more fatigued from the day, could leave. At the summer wedding, small bottles of soap bubbles were distributed and the bride and groom left in a gale of bubbles.