Dear Miss SOS:

I wish to make welcome guest baskets for those guests arriving from out-of-town and have them placed in their hotel rooms. What would be some ideas for what I should put in them?

This is a gracious addition to add to the enjoyment for your guests. In addition to a hand-written note thanking them for being present at your joyous event, you could include your region’s special foods (peanuts, cheeses, or fruit), soda, juice, cookies, crackers, chocolate, or candies that they might enjoy to snack upon after their arrival, menus of nearby restaurants and a local tourist map should they wish to explore during their stay.

Dear Miss SOS:

My husband-to-be is in the military and plans on wearing his dress uniform at our ceremony. It’s not a military ceremony but civilian. One of his Groomsmen is also in the military (same branch of service) and he plans on wearing his dress uniform too. Would this be considered proper, even though the rest of the Groomsmen would be in tuxedoes? What about boutonnières?

It is extremely proper for a member of our armed forces to wear their dress uniform, regardless if Groom, Groomsman, or wedding guest, even for a civilian wedding. No boutonnières may be worn with a dress uniform. However, your fiancé and his Groomsman may wish to bring a change of attire for the wedding reception as military protocol does not permit the drinking of alcoholic beverages while in uniform.

Dear Miss SOS:

My colleagues at work are aware that I will be getting married. My guest list is already stretched. Do I have to invite them?

Unless your colleagues have evolved into being personal friends that you socialize with outside the office (lunch buddies don’t count), it is not necessary to invite them to attend the festivities. The exception would be your boss or assistant, whom you can invite without setting off a chain reaction. In the meantime, stop talking about your wedding plans to your co-workers.

Dear Miss SOS:

I recently met with my florist and couldn’t believe the check-list she showed me of everyone that should be receiving corsages and boutonnières. Do I have to give everyone a flower that was on the list? I’m on a very tight budget. Also, where should corsages be pinned? On the left or right?

Flowers are a beautiful way to honor special family members. Traditionally, corsages are given to the mothers of the Bride and Broom. Though not required, you may also wish to provide a corsage to other honored guests, such as a grandmother, stepmother, sister or aunt.

Corsages should be pinned to the left shoulder or even the waistline of the dress. However, if the garment is made of thin or delicate fabric, the wearer may not want to put a pin through it, in which case she can use the corsage to adorn her purse. Or you can order a wrist corsage or a small nosegay for her to carry instead.

Boutonnières should be given to male members of the family. Those for the fathers of the Bride and Groom should match those of the ushers. And, though not required, you may also want to give boutonnières to grandfathers, stepfathers, brothers and uncles. They are pinned on the left lapel.

Dear Miss SOS:

I peeked at my bridal registry and about 75% of the items are still there. What can I do to kick-start it?

This is what occurs when a Bride takes the position that her bridal registry is a shopping list and not a convenience for friends and family who are seeking ideas for a wedding gift. A giver is not required to purchase any item that’s been registered and may instead opt to gift you with another item altogether that they believe you may appreciate or enjoy.

You are to do nothing to “kick-start” the registry but merely express your deepest appreciation and gratitude for any present that you may receive, whether it be an item you registered for or a hand-crafted afghan that your grandmother made.

PrescottWeddings.com FREE e-zine series “Making It Happen” is one of the best tools Miss SOS can recommend. It helps you plan your timeline, provides valuable hints on how to cut the cost and not the dream, lets you know what questions you should be asking, and gives other great information. Subscribe online at www.prescottweddings.com/signup.html.



Have a question? Write Miss SOS at hazel@hazellbowman.com