Ask The Celebration Advisor: Do the brides and brooms parents, grandparents sit at the head table??? What is the proper etiquette for their seating arangements??? Please e-mail ASAP, Please and Thank you!!! ~Dianne

The Celebration Advisor: Wedding reception seating etiquette can be a tricky issue, but it's best to keep in mind the golden rule of head table seating:  the head table is reserved for the bride, groom, and wedding party. This includes groomsmen and bridesmaids. While parents and grandparents may have a table reserved for them, it is typically a separate table situated close to the head table.

Here are a few other etiquette tips for wedding reception seating. Hopefully this will clear up many issues that you may have.

Order of Seating at Head Table — Regardless of the shape of the head table, the order of seating always allows for the maid/matron of honor to sit on the groom's left and the best man to sit on the bride's right. Spouses may sit with members of the wedding party if space is available at the head table. If not, spouses (and sometimes children) are seated together at a separate table.

Seating Parents and Grandparents — Parents and grandparents are usually seated at the same table. The bride's parents and grandparents are seated together, often with their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren if space is available. The groom's parents and grandparents are seated at another table, often with their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren if space is available. If space is an issue, families are seated together accordingly (parents and children along with any additional guests of that group).

Seating the Minister — The minister and his or her spouse are generally seated at the table of the bride's parents. Grandparents may also be seated at this table as it is common to seat families together.

Seating Divorced Parents — This one is not as tricky as you would expect. Divorced parents and couples (remarried or not) should not be seated at the same table unless their relationship is exceptionally jovial. All divorced partners and their new spouses are seated as individual families. (i.e. the married couple, their children, their parents, and any additional guests of that group).

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Hello, can you give any ideas for a bachelor's party? thanks ~ secil

The Celebration Advisor: Sure! Here are a few tips for a bachelor's party that will make "The Hangover" look like a chick flick.

10.  Keep beverages on tap at all times.
Alcoholic or not, men drink and men drink a lot so keep the beverages flowing.

9. Think outside the box for entertainment.
Of course you have your scantily-clad standards, but try to provide other forms of entertainment too. Think party bands and awesome games. We're not talking Pin The Tail On The Donkey here. Think of games that require a certain machismo to pull off. Make sure it's macho. Make sure it's easy to do while drinking.

8. Amp up your drinking games.
If you're going to have alcohol at your bachelor party,  you have to play a drinking game. It's like bachelor party etiquette: 101. Keep in mind, though, that you have to make your bachelor party the best. Amp up your games. Go frat boy on their butts with Beer Pong. You could also gather the guys in front of a chick flick and have everyone take a certain number of drinks per "girly" word like "love", "trust," or "relationship." Let's face it. That may be the only way some of the guys make it through a romantic chick movie.

7. Food, food, food!
Oh yeah. And FOOD!!! Guys only drink so much because they're washing down all of the food that they eat. It's simple science really. *grins* Flush out the pork rinds, pizza, and greasy finger foods with a little fluid. Always keep the food coming and the drinks flowing if you want a bachelor party that NO ONE will whine about. A simple party credo for men – "If it's green, it's trouble. If it's fried, get double."

6. No girls allowed!
Yeah, some of the more *cough* attached men will want to bring their partners, wives, girlfriends, et al. to your bachelor party. No! While it's not as unheard of as before to have the feminine of the species running around, it's a party pooper if you want a raucous night with the guys. Even if you don't want it to be too outlandish, the last meeting of the "he-man woman haters club" is officially YOUR bachelor party.

5. If it can be delivered, it's golden.
Don't worry about having the food picked up or making a last minute beer run. If you plan on making this an all-nighter, you're not going to want to wake up and clean up the ruins of a guys' night out. Keep it simple by hiring a caterer to bring over the food, that is unless you have a chef among you that wants to spend his time in the kitchen instead of with the guys. If you hire a caterer (a smart move), let them what kind of spread you would like and stick to that. It's really THAT simple.

4. Have a designated drive (if alcohol will be present).
If you plan to drink, plan on having a driver or a bunch of overnight guests. No one wants to get hurt or have a friend hurt, especially that close to the groom's big day.

3. Keep it simple.
Guys don't require a whole lot. Shocking, I know, but true. Most men do not want a lavish spread and a fancy party that lasts three days and requires the most expensive ball room in the city. Some guys like that (which is great—go for it!) but most just want a fun night with their Y chromosome having friends.  Work with your vendors to keep the night flowing smoothly. Don't overthink it.

2. Keep the entertainment coming.
Don't stick to one activity the whole night. Plan a few activities that are relatively short but entertaining at the same time. If you don't get to all of them, fine. It's far better than having a bunch of bored men lounging about, staring somewhat enviously at the fly on the wall's level of entertainment.

1. Have fun!
I think this one speaks for itself.

You may also be interested in these cool ideas for bachelor parties:

Asian Inspired Bachelor Party
Fishing Themed Bachelor Party
3 Tips for Bachelor or Bachelorette Parties

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I'm the father of the groom, the wedding will be in formal attire and the rehearsal dinner will be semi-formal. Is it appropriate for me to wear a dinner jacket to the rehearsal dinner? If not, what do you recommend? Thank you for your advise!! ~ FV

The Celebration Advisor: Yes, a dinner jacket is appropriate attire. For a semi-formal rehearsal dinner, consider lightweight fabrics in standard colors such as navy blue, black and charcoal gray. Dinner jackets in these colors conform to most formal and semi-formal standards of rehearsal dinner attire. We're sure you'll look dapper!

Something to consider is the type of pants that you will be wearing. Jeans/denim are NOT appropriate for a semi-formal occasion. Semi-formal rehearsal dinners call for a more formal fabric such as khaki or cotton slacks.

A simple suit would be the best attire for a rehearsal dinner. It doesn't have to be your best suit (save that for the wedding) but it can be the runner up. The rehearsal dinner is where you can don your best khaki colored suit, gray suit, or some other neutral color that you are not likely to wear to a very formal occasion. Stray from tuxedos. They're too ritzy for a semi-formal rehearsal dinner.

You'll look great for certain. If you need help picking out appropriate formal wear, contact a local formal wear shop near you. The experts there will be happy to help you create a smooth and refined look.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I will be proposing to a Vietnamese girl within the next couple of months. While her family has been here since 1976; I would love to be able to perform the traditional betrothal ceremony for her parents. Any help or advice you could give would be greatly appreciated…Especially where to purchase the gift boxes, gifts, and red cloth coverings for the boxes. Thanks, Jeff in Minneapolis/Saint Paul Minnesota

The Celebration Advisor: Great question, Jeff. Respecting your future wife's heritage is an excellent idea and one that shows how much you love and respect her as well. We recently brought to light some interesting Vietnamese/Chinese wedding traditions. You obviously know some of the basics which will help you when you discuss which supplies you need.

I'm not sure where you are in Minnesota but here are a few places to look to get you started:

• A local or regional Vietnamese newspaper
• Chinese stores such as those in the China Town areas of major cities
• Large malls with unique outlet stores with International imports
• Borrow from another Vietnamese friend or ask her family if they have any / know where to look
• Order online from Vietnam (be prepared for shipping costs)

An excellent bakery in Owatonna Minnesota called The Perfect Day Cakes does a lot of interesting theme cakes. There are many bakeries in Minneapolis and bakeries in Saint Paul that would also be able to help make the sweet treats for the celebration and even the engagement party.

Good luck and congratulations!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: How could I eloquently ask for cash gifts and/or store certificatest instead of presents at the wedding? ~ Casey

The Celebration Advisor: Typically, giving cash wedding gifts is a big no-no according to traditional wedding etiquette. However, modern weddings are seeing a huge spike in the request for cash gifts or gift cards instead of presents. Don't stress about cash wedding gift etiquette though! When you're in a pinch and need to find out how to go about asking for cash instead, simply remember these things.

* You will want to make this request where you would have announced your registry. It is also a traditional duty of the maid of honor and best man to spread this information around. Make sure those two parties are aware of your wedding gift suggestion as well.

* You can politely request money without asking for cash outright which would likely offend older guests. Instead, list things like these where you would normally announce your registry:

• "Bride and groom respectfully request cash gifts in lieu of wedding presents."
• "Bride and groom respectfully request cash gifts or gift cards to *your favorite 'home' store* in lieu of wedding presents."

You can also substitute your name and your groom's name for "bride and groom" as this will personalize it a bit. Keep in mind though that personalization is great for younger guests but maintaining a more traditional tone will help soften any offense that older guests may have.

* You can announce that you will be having a cash money tree at your wedding/wedding reception instead of wedding gifts. I have been to many weddings that prefer this option because it's fast and easy. Still, guests should be warned in advance.

I hope your wedding goes as smoothly as announcing your cash wedding gift preference. Best of luck!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I am the Mistress of Ceremonies at an upcoming wedding, and I am having trouble finding the "proper" etiquette for seating a grandfather (grandmother not living).  The bride want's the other grandmother ushered in with her husband following; but in the case where there is just a grandfather and no grandmother, how does that work? Does he just follow the first set of grandparents down the aisle, or what? ~ Suzanne C.

The Celebration Advisor: Suzanne, this is (as you know) a rather interesting situation. In Christian ceremonies (different for Judaic), grandparents tend to be seated just before the processional begins. To ease the bride's concern, here are "proper" wedding etiquette options for seating her grandfather.

**Since the bride's grandmother will not be ushered by her husband, it is perfectly acceptable to have the single grandfather follow the others down the aisle. This will typically be the most acceptable and best regarded option.

**If the bride's grandmother and grandfather were to walk together, the bride should ask someone to usher her single grandfather. This could be a female family member not in the wedding party (an aunt, a close cousin, etc.). It should never be a member of the wedding party as this would cause them to have "double duty". Her grandfather may request to walk alone but the option should be provided just in case.

**Though it is less traditional to have a man walk first, you could seat the single grandfather first if he is the father of the mother of the bride. The matriarchal lineage dictates the order of the wedding processional, especially seating grandparents and stepparents. Even if his wife has passed, her grandfather may be seated before the set of grandparents. Again, this is a less traditional processional and should only be used if the grandfather or the bride is sensitive to having him walk alone.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: My husband and I are moving to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and will be getting married there a few weeks later after all of the details are wrapped up. A few of the guests will be longtime residents of there, well Edmond anyway. I want a very contemporary wedding cake design with a unique flavor. Is OKC too tradition for that to be ok with those friends? ~ Aria

The Celebration Advisor: The simple answer is that you're fine with the wedding cake of your choice. Whether contemporary/modern or traditional, people in OKC tend to have open minds about wedding cakes. Of course, you know your wedding guests and their mentalities so it's easier to judge your decision about wedding cakes based on what you know about your friends.

Remember to keep in mind that this is YOUR wedding day, not theirs. There is no wedding cake etiquette that says you have to have a certain flavor or design at the reception so go with what you think everyone will like but the ultimate choice should be what you like and what you want. Thankfully, Oklahoma City bakeries provide many different options for the wedding cake so you can even get the cake of your dreams locally!

People in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City metro area are pretty cool with contemporary wedding cakes. You'll find many wedding cakes at OKC wedding receptions that are decorated with color, very unique cake toppers, multiple tiers, and some that are a unique shape. Don't be afraid to step outside of the box with your wedding cake. You're good to go!

Here's a quick hint though: Oklahoma City wedding cake bakeries have seen and created a multitude of contemporary wedding cakes. Bakers and pastry chefs here know the local tastes and that doesn't just refer to flavor. They can give you excellent advice on popular wedding cake styles, designs, flavors and accessories for the perfect contemporary wedding cake. Modern wedding cakes feature a lot of different aspects so be sure to talk them over with a local baker before you make your final decision.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: I'm taking my wife on a special date for our 10th anniversary. Is renting a limo going to be too showy for something like that? We live in Worcester, Massachusetts. ~ Ron

The Celebration Advisor: Actually, renting a limousine is a perfect way to make the evening more special! It's a very sweet thought that will stir up a lot of sweet feelings in your wife. As far as renting a limo being "too showy", that all depends on what the rest of the evening holds but the answer is still probably going to be "no, it's actually really nice." Consider things like this before calling a limousine service in Worcester MA:

*Are we going somewhere special for dinner? — Arriving in style is a great way to show your wife that you really are trying to make your evening together as special and romantic as possible. If you roll up to McDonalds, probably. If you take her to a fine restaurant, it's practically expected to arrive in style. You can't get much more stylish than limos.

*Is my wife easily embarassed? — If your wife is the reclusive type who tends to be very reserved and shy, something so elaborate may not be her speed. If she is one who loves attention or loves to feel special for a day, renting a limousine for a night out in Worcester is probably right up her alley!

*Will we run into anyone that we know? — If this is the case, see the above question. If your wife wants to be able to show her friends what a wonderful husband you are, it'll be a great treat for her if you "just so happen" to run into a few of her friends.

*Are we staying the night away from home? – Many couples like to shake it up by visiting a resort, a luxury hotel or spa when celebrating a big number anniversary like yours. If you plan to stay away from home for the evening, consider the cost of renting a limousine either twice or keeping it (and the driver) for the night. After all, you will want a way to get home!

Aside from these things, you are on the right track! Renting a limo from Worcester MA limousine services is a fun and exciting way to live it up for an evening. It is a fantastic way to show your wife that she is the queen of the evening and the most important woman in your life. Way to go!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: PLEASE HELP! My husband and I married in September, 2008 in Jamaica after quick planning. Mainly due to the fact of illnesses in the family. (I took my father-in-law to chemotherapy 3 times per week for 2 years; which turned into taking my mother-in-law to her various appointments. She has been hospitalized 8 times in a year and half. My brother had prostate cancer and had surgery in January. My uncle broke his neck. My husband spent a week in the hospital with blood clots. My mother had open heart valve replacement in May. All six different hospitals, WHEW. Three years went really fast and have no idea where the time went. Now everyone is holding their own and I'm not running as much, leaving time to try to plan for family and friends who long awaited to watch our wedding video. What would I call this celebration? It will be more like an anniversary.Thank you for your advise. Deb

The Celebration Advisor: Deb, good question! This party theme is of particular importance because you all will FINALLY be able to watch the much ballyhooed wedding video. (Yes, I said "ballyhooed".) Is it safe to assume that you need this title for party invitations? If so, you're in luck! I just so happen to have a few. Since you said this is more of an anniversary, consider these suggestions:

• "Celebrate The Day" Party
• "My Favorite Romantic Movie Night"
• "Watch The Wedding Video" Party (Simple but effective)
• "Reliving The Wedding (With You There!)" Party
• "Our Just-Like-A-Second Wedding Party" (Because now your guests will be there)
• "Our Fairytale Wedding Video Watching Party" (Have the front of the invitations say "once upon a time you were invited to…" and then they will open it to this party theme)
• "Second Time Around" Party

Now, you can always go with some of the more simple and obvious theme like "anniversary party" or "wedding video watching party" but spicing it up a little is always fun. Two suggestions for whatever you choose are (1) to make sure that they know you are throwing the party so that everyone could feel included and (2) use a little imagination.

If you feel a little more explanation is in order, put a little description on the inside of the invitation. A few words will actually make the invitations more sentimental because you can personalize these and include your thoughts on desiring your family's presence at this party because unfortunately they couldn't be at the wedding.

Oh yeah, and have fun!!!

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Hi, Is it appropriate to wear a nice style black dress (knee length) to a GA wedding. The ceremony & reception are indoors and start at 5:00 p.m. The mother of the groom & her mother shared that they didn't think it was appropriate. I emailed the bride and she indicated that it's absolutely fine & appropriate and that i would probably not be the only one wearing black.

We are from the north (Maine)and I have heard that it's o.k. to wear black, especially if it's in the evening. If the bride is fine, should i worry about what the brides parents might think? My thoughts are that black is in now, but i don't want to offend anyone. I was hoping to get a perspective from the pros. Thanks for any
advice/feedback.~ Sharon

The Celebration Advisor: Wearing black? A woman after my own heart! The answer to your question is a simple one. Wedding attire etiquette is on your side with this one. Yes, it is now acceptable to wear a formal black dress (knee-length or longer) to a wedding. However, traditionally one would stray from black as it is a color reserved for highly formal occasions or funerals.

Though you are well within wedding attire etiquette to wear black, I would consider the mindset of the people at the wedding before making your decision. Southerners are big into the more traditional wedding etiquette and way of doing things. Therefore, the mothers of the couple will not be the only ones judging you based on a black dress. Southerners usually associate dark colors with funerals. Therefore even for an evening wedding it will not be well regarded in the South to wear black wedding attire.

If you are attending a less traditional wedding (which can be assumed since the bride is ok with it), you will be okay to wear black according to wedding attire etiquette. The bride is right that many women wear black to weddings these days so you will not feel alone. Just consider the understood practices of Southerners for this wedding.