Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the details are nothing new. The people who tailor your gown and cut your cake samples have done the same for countless brides before you, so it’s no surprise that they often hear the same queries. Check out the following frequently asked questions, and their solutions, to learn how to make your skin glow, keep your wedding under budget, and whether to dress your groom in a tuxedo or a suit.
CAKE
Q: The wedding cake looks perfectly pristine. Are you sure I can eat that?
A: Plymouth-based Gateaux, Inc. owner Robin Martin promises that everything on her cakes is edible, even if it requires close inspection to determine it is, in fact, frosted. Realistic-looking flowers are usually made of gum paste that dries like porcelain. The cake is coated in a white layer of Swiss fondant to cover up buttercream frosting, which is pale yellow and dotted with air bubbles. (“When you’re completely Type A like I am, that [original look] is not good enough,” Martin says.) But not to worry: She says fondant tastes like Oreo cookie filling.
Q: Have you ever dropped a cake?
A: “Never,” Martin says. But she quickly knocks on wood to protect her 14-year record. “The only people more superstitious than baseball players are cake decorators.”
RENTAL/DECOR
Q: How much does a tent cost?
A: It depends on the size and location, but it averages $25 per guest. According to Après Party and Tent Rental, Twin Cities vendors are very competitive in their pricing.
Q: Do I have to wash the dishware and china?
A: No, but items should be food-free and placed back in the crates in which they came.
WEDDING PLANNER
Q: How can I stick to a small budget?
A: Amy Fuerstenberg, wedding coordinator and co-owner of Minneapolis-based Mi Mi Design, recommends carefully managing the guest list. The larger the headcount, the larger the bill for food, centerpieces, favors, and a long list of other expenses. Brides might also want to consider shortening the event or hosting it outside the Twin Cities, Fuerstenberg says. Most venues and vendors charge less outside the Metro area.
Q: How can I make my reception more distinctive?
A: Wedding receptions tend to look the same because table linens are always white or ivory, Fuerstenberg says. Because linens cover so much surface area, choosing linens in a variety of colors or patterns dramatically transforms a space.
BRIDAL GOWNS
Q: How long will it take for my gown to arrive?
A: Brides are always surprised by the long wait, says Rayna Reichert, manager at Priscilla of Boston in Edina. Wedding gowns generally take five to six months to come in, and bridesmaid dresses average three to four months. The holdup stems from the fact that most of the dresses aren’t ready-to-wear; few stores in the cities keep an inventory of dresses. In many cases, gowns are made entirely by hand.
FLOWERS
Q: Which flowers are in season, and when?
A: It’s not an issue anymore. Flowers can be shipped from all over the world—you might receive orchids from Taiwan, for example—and the relative cost of ordering flowers from overseas isn’t as high as you might think, says Debbie Turner, founder of Debbie Turner Originals in Chanhassen.
Q: How can I trim my flower budget?
A: Check on the price of individual flowers. Turner says many clients are surprised to learn that calla lilies, for example, are quite expensive. Or, for example, instead of choosing 15-inch centerpieces made entirely of roses, Turner suggests using hydrangeas, greens or even carnations. Brides often overlook carnations, Turner says, but the flower is now available in unusual colors, such as lime green and a “fabulous” deep purple. “Sometimes I sneak it in and they have no clue a carnation is in there,” she says.
HAIR/MAKEUP
Q: Should I wash my hair on the day of my wedding?
A: Slightly dirty hair provides extra texture that helps hold the style, according to Julie Swenson, hair and makeup artist at Smart and Chic Bride in Minneapolis. But if you insist on washing your hair, the staff certainly won’t protest! Hair products can also provide texture to keep your ’do in place.
Q: How do I achieve that “bridal glow” for my skin?
A: Start a basic skincare regimen of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing at least six months before the wedding day.
Q: What can I do to make sure my makeup lasts all day?
A: Swenson suggests hiring a professional to apply airbrush makeup that lasts 12 to 16 hours. Primer for the face helps prolong makeup wear, and waterproof makeup prevents smearing and smudging.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Q: How much will photography cost?
A: Prices vary quite a bit. Stacey Thon, a principal photographer at Twin Cities’ Staja Studios, says brides should shop carefully because there’s no standardization in packages and pricing. One studio may seem like a great value and well within your budget, but the price might not include albums, enlargements, and other products that must be purchased a la carte after the wedding.
BANDS
Q: I can’t find the right sheet music for my favorite love song. Can my band improvise?
A: Diane Martinson of Diane Martinson Music reports that almost half of each wedding ceremony consists of special song requests. Clients simply send Martinson an mp3 file ahead of time and she’ll arrange the tune for any mix of instruments. (Martinson says her most-requested song is still Ave Maria.)
INVITATIONS
Q: When should I send out my invites?
A: Invitations should ship out six to eight weeks before the wedding date. Alexis Harsh, proprietor of Watermark Stationery in Wayzata, cautions that brides should give themselves plenty of time to stuff and send the invites, especially since etiquette dictates hand-writing or printing each address rather than using labels. Save-the-date cards can go out six months to a year before the wedding.
Q: How much do invitations cost?
A: The national average is about $5 to $8 per set, which consists of an invitation, RSVP card and its corresponding envelope; but they can range anywhere from $2 to $25 per set.
FORMALWEAR
Q: Should the groomsmen wear tuxedoes or suits?
A: More men are now opting for suits, says Hammer Made founder Jason Hammerberg. Groomsmen might be more interested in classic black suits they can wear again and purchase at prices only slightly higher than tux rentals.
Q: Should the groom dress differently from his groomsmen?
A: Definitely, Hammerberg says. The bride doesn’t need to monopolize the spotlight, and her partner should be a clear standout. “A lot of people forget about the guy, including the guy,” Hammerberg says. “You should look and feel your best.”
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