Special Ways to Include the Grandmother of the Bride

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There is a lot of focus on the role played at a wedding by the mother of the bride. But there is another very important family member that should not be overlooked, and that is the grandmother of the bride. Find special ways to include your grandmother in your wedding.

Some women are very close to their grandmothers, and other see them only once in a while. Whether you are one of lucky ones that has a close relationship or not, you will want to find ways to honor your grandmother at your wedding. There are many things that a bride can do to show her love and respect for the older generation.

A very simple thing to do is to give your grandmother a corsage to wear at the wedding. You should also ensure that she is seated at a place of honor during both the ceremony and the reception. This means that your grandmother should sit in one of the first few pew or rows for the marriage service, and at a table near the bride and groom's table for the wedding dinner. As a general rule of thumb, always seat elderly guests away from the music speakers during dinner so that they can hear the conversation at the table. These may sound like very obvious suggestions, but it would be very easy to forget to make the arrangements during the whirlwind of planning a wedding.

Often the bride and groom will give special gifts of jewelry to their mothers before the wedding. When shopping for wedding jewelry gifts, remember to pick up a little something for your grandmothers as well. Choose something that reflects her personality. If you are unsure, pearls are always a lovely and classic gift for a woman of any age. However, if your grandmother is anything like mine, she would prefer her jewelry to shine and sparkle!

A wonderful way to honor your grandmother is to incorporate a detail from her wedding into your own nuptials. If you are fortunate enough to have her bridal gown, it would be quite a tribute to your grandmother to wear it for your wedding. A talented seamstress will be able to refit and update a vintage gown to make it perfect for a modern bride.

Your grandmother will be touched if you decide to carry a replica of her wedding bouquet. She will no doubt recall her wedding flowers with great fondness, and would be tickled pink to watch her granddaughter carry those same blossoms down the aisle. Another way to honor your grandmother would be to dance your first dance to the same song that she and your grandfather chose for their song.

A very easy thing that a bride can do to make her grandmother feel included is to simply include her. Ask her opinion on the food or the flowers. Invite her to a gown fitting if she lives nearby; email her a picture of your gown if she lives far away. You could also ask your grandmother to take on a ceremonial role at the wedding, perhaps as the person in charge of the guest book.

Even if your grandmother is no longer living, it does not mean that you cannot still honor her memory in your wedding. One bride I knew decided to have her wedding on the birthday of her beloved grandmother. Other nice tributes include having her picture displayed at your wedding or lighting a candle in her memory.

Grandmothers are very special people. When you are planning your wedding, take the time to find ways to show your grandmother how much she means to you. Including your grandmother in your wedding will help to make a special day even more meaningful.

Let us know if you need assistance in any area of planning your wedding.Take advantage of Bridget's experience helping clients select jewelry and accessories. Gifts of jewelry are a wonderful way to show your grandmother and mother how much they mean to you at your wedding.

How to Pose a Bride and Groom

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Of all the pictures taken at a wedding, the one most important is the portrait of the bride and groom. Some wedding couples depend on a relative or a friend to take a few good photos for their album and others reserve a professional photographer to do the honors. This article is for both the real and wanna-be photographers at the wedding.

A good time to photograph the bride and groom is after the ceremony and before the reception. Ideal is an open lawn away from any building. Other photogenic locations are at the edge of a treed area, under an arcade or
at home in the backyard. Important is to choose an evenly lit background: one that does not contain light and dark areas. Place the couple in the shade at least thirty feet away from any background objects with their faces toward the main source of light.

Turn the bride thirty degrees away from the camera and fluff the train behind her so that only half of the train is visible from the camera position. Never pull the train around to the front of the bride since this is most unnatural and would never occur in real life. Pose the groom slightly facing the bride and have him offer his arm for her to pass her through. Make sure her ring is visible. The groom's outside hand can be in his pocket or touching the bride's hand. The bride should shift most of her weight to the foot furthest from the camera and the groom should have his weight evenly distributed on slightly spread feet. Never let his hand drop straight down at his side. The bride may hold her bouquet in her outside hand at a level below her waist with some daylight or background showing between her elbow and her waist. An alternate place for the bouquet is on the ground next to the groom's feet. Turn their faces toward the camera but not fully straight on, but at a slight angle toward each other. Their expressions should show their happiness, but not laughing.

Angles other than the view straight on without changing their positions often present another good composition for a portrait. Consider also a view from behind the couple, requesting them to turn their heads directly toward each other, giving the photographer a profile of their faces. A variety of shots are possible with this pose. A medium shot (at the knees) with their faces closer together and an even closer pose with the cheeks almost touching make wonderful portraits. Try having them look into each other's eyes with his arms around her. Natural light from the side is the most beautiful source as long as the reflector of some sort balances the light. Watch your cropping in the viewfinder carefully and leave some space over their heads. Pay attention to the position of the feet (no soles showing) and be sure only the sides of the bride's hands are presented to the camera. The groom's coat collar should fit snug to the neck.

A beautiful portrait of the bride and groom can be their most treasured reminder of the most important day in their lives. You can make it happen.

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