One of my favorite touches at both weddings was a table of photographs. The groom’s mother and I collaborated on a photo album of our children as they grew up. Pictures of the two of them together were framed in different sizes and shapes. This gave the guests something to look over as they waited for the party to finish photographs in church.

Eat, drink and be merry. The reception site and time of the ceremony may dictate the format of the reception. Many couples opt now for a sit-down dinner which can be a very expensive choice. The bridal party frequently can’t enjoy a full meal because of the emotions of the moment and dinner limits the ability of people to mix and meet. We chose an old-fashioned cake and punch reception for both weddings and had plenty of time and space for socializing and dancing. Again, I began buying ingredients well in advance to save on last-minute expenses. In mid-summer, I added an extra bottle of soda and juice to every grocery trip. My son-in-law-to-be found a special on canned nuts and sent me a half-dozen cans. We bought chocolate molds and one of the bride’s maids had a candy-making party with her friends, making beautiful, custom candies, which could be stored in the freezer until the wedding. A month before the Christmas wedding, I began baking cookies and freezing them. Whenever a friend offered assistance, I sent over a gelatin mold of fruit juice for ice rings to be stored in their freezer.