THE BIG PICTURE

Your wedding ceremony and celebration are the stage on which you and your new husband will first act as host and hostess to friends and family. While this thought may be intimidating, do not let it stop you from imparting your distinct style and taste to your wedding celebration.

Planning a wedding that expresses your likes and dislikes is a great preparation for your married life together. Whether your ceremony and celebration are in your back garden, at the ballroom of your country club, or in an exotic location that you are in love with, it is important to make it personal, a reflection of yourselves. Do not be guided by what you think a wedding should be; rather, let it reflect who you are.

How to identify what is right for you can be as easy as flipping through the pages of grace ormonde Wedding Style, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, Elle Dcor, or even Bon Apptit. Create two folders and pull out two kinds of pictures from the magazines: those with the things you love, including pictures of flowers, foods, furniture, and colors, and another with all the things you do not like. Both are equally important. A picture tells a thousand words, so take the folders with you when you meet with your bridal salon, caterer, or florist, to best convey the ideas that appeal to you. The more information you have on hand, the...

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