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News from A Virtual Toast - A Virtual Toast’s concierge will help you plan your personal or business experience from start to finish, offering an array of event types, from graduation soirees, birthday parties, bridal showers, and any personal or business event that deserves a celebration! The experiences are sure to impress your guests. So get in touch today to begin planning your exclusive event. Learn More
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Today, we are celebrating Juneteenth. Ms. Elita Adjei talks about the food traditions of this extraordinary holiday.
Being from Houston, Texas, Elita Adjei learned to celebrate Juneteenth the way her grandparents and their parents before them had--with food and family. Join us as we dive into some of her favorite childhood recipes, why red food is a Juneteenth tradition, and the different ways every one of us can respect and honor this important holiday.
Have a festive and safe Juneteenth Holiday.
Photo by micheile
.com on Unsplash
Planning a wedding is not
a trouble-free task and can sometimes bring out the worst in people. During the
planning stage, the bride and groom must try to take note of a few procedures
to make guests, family and friends feel welcome, even if traditions are put
aside.
As wedding customs
continue to change, it gets harder and harder to keep track of what you should
do and should not do before, during, and after your wedding day. To help guide
you through the maze of rules and regulations, follow these tips, which you can
change to your preference:
Photo by Gayani
Anuththara on Unsplash
Invitations - Your first connection to
wedding guests is through invitations, which set the tone for your wedding and
should reflect the theme and scope of your affair.
· Write the guest
complete names on your wedding invitation. Some couples may opt to send
invitations by email. Invite only the people listed to the event.
· Avoid writing “and
Guest” on the invitation. Try to find out who your relative or friend will
bring to the wedding and include his or her name on the invitation.
· Wedding-invitation
wording is a preference. Most couples include their parents’ names on the
invitations. However, if a parent is deceased, his or her name should not
appear.
· If you know a guest is
not in a relationship, do not feel obligated to offer a wedding invitation
addressed for “two.” Subsequently, if you only invited one person but he or she
adds another guest when sending back the RSVP, call him or her to explain
financial or space constraints that prevent you from accommodating the guest.
· Do not mention gift
preferences or registries on the invitation or include them in the package. If
you have a preference, like monetary gifts or a donation to a charity, spread
it through word of mouth before the event.
· Do not use labels on
your invitations. Handwrite them, use a nice font and print the envelopes using a
computer, or get them done with professional calligraphy.
Financial Responsibility
- Finances can turn an engaging wedding plan into an unpleasant matter. By
keeping in mind some general guidelines, things will run more efficiently.
· Tradition once stated
that the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding. However, times have changed
and more couples are opting to pay for the wedding themselves, or the groom’s
family chips in.
· Traditionally, the
mother of the bride pays for the bridal shower. The bridal attendants may
contribute to the shower’s cost or assign jobs, such as purchasing favors or
decorating the venue.
· Bridal attendants will
split the cost of the bachelorette party, and the groomsmen will do the same
with the bachelor party.
· It is usually the
responsibility of the groom’s parents to pay for the rehearsal dinner. The
spouses or significant others of wedding party members should be invited to
dinner as well.
Here are some other items
and who should be financially responsible:
· Rice/birdseed/confetti
bags to toss after the ceremony — bride’s family
· If you are following
strict traditions, divide flowers between the bride’s family and the groom.
However, these days, flowers are included in a “package” and usually whoever is
paying for the wedding festivities covers the flowers.
· Marriage license —
groom
· Pastor/officiant fee —
groom
· Rings — bride and groom
· Bridesmaid
dresses/tuxedos — bridal party or groomsmen
Processional - If you are having a religious
wedding, consult your priest, rabbi, deacon, imams, or officiant concerning the
customary procedure for entering. Each house of worship may have rules concerning
processional order, music, photos, etc. Keep in mind that stepparents or
boyfriends/girlfriends of your parents should enter and be seated before your
biological family.
Photo by Haley
Hamilton on Unsplash
Mother of the Groom - Often the mother of the groom
does not know her place in wedding planning. She plays an important role and
can be as involved as the couple would like. Some of her chief responsibilities
include:
· Starting contact between her family and the bride’s family.
· Providing an accurate
and timely guest list.
· Organizing and hosting
the rehearsal dinner.
· Taking her place beside
the bride and mother of the bride in the receiving line to thank guests for
attending. Note that the mother of the bride dictates wedding day fashion, and
the mother of the groom will wear a gown of similar style and length.
Photo by Jason
Leung on Unsplash
Tipping - Gratuities are more often than
not included in the cost of wedding services. However, if a wedding vendor,
server, or other person has gone beyond the call of duty, extra tipping is
appropriate. Some people who should receive a tip on the wedding day:
· Coatroom attendant or
bridal party attendant.
· Pastor or officiant
should receive no less than $100 for his or her services.
· Limousine drivers
should receive 15 percent of the bill if a tip has not already been included.
· Organists and musicians
at the ceremony should receive at least $50 per person.
· If your reception
features a maitre d’ or headwaiter who oversees the staff, expect to tip this
person as well.
Thank-you note - For more thoughts on this subject,
click
here
Photo by Gayani
Anuththara on Unsplash
Planning a wedding is not
a trouble-free task and can sometimes bring out the worst in people. During the
planning stage, the bride and groom must try to take note of a few procedures
to make guests, family and friends feel welcome, even if traditions are put
aside.
As wedding customs
continue to change, it gets harder and harder to keep track of what you should
do and should not do before, during, and after your wedding day. To help guide
you through the maze of rules and regulations, follow these tips, which you can
change to your preference:
 |
| Photo by micheile .com on Unsplash |
Invitations - Your first connection to
wedding guests is through invitations, which set the tone for your wedding and
should reflect the theme and scope of your affair.
· Write the guest
complete names on your wedding invitation. Some couples may opt to send
invitations by email. Invite only the people listed to the event.
· Avoid writing “and
Guest” on the invitation. Try to find out who your relative or friend will
bring to the wedding and include his or her name on the invitation.
· Wedding-invitation
wording is a preference. Most couples include their parents’ names on the
invitations. However, if a parent is deceased, his or her name should not
appear.
· If you know a guest is
not in a relationship, do not feel obligated to offer a wedding invitation
addressed for “two.” Subsequently, if you only invited one person but he or she
adds another guest when sending back the RSVP, call him or her to explain
financial or space constraints that prevent you from accommodating the guest.
· Do not mention gift preferences or registries on the invitation or include them in the package. If you have a preference, like monetary gifts or a donation to a charity, spread it through word of mouth before the event.
· Do not use labels on
your invitations. Handwrite them, use a nice font, and print the envelopes using a
computer, or get them done with professional calligraphy.
Financial Responsibility
- Finances can turn an engaging wedding plan into an unpleasant matter. By
keeping in mind some general guidelines, things will run more efficiently.
· Tradition once stated
that the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding. However, times have changed
and more couples are opting to pay for the wedding themselves, or the groom’s
family chips in.
· Traditionally, the
mother of the bride pays for the bridal shower. The bridal attendants may
contribute to the shower’s cost or assign jobs, such as purchasing favors or
decorating the venue.
· Bridal attendants will
split the cost of the bachelorette party, and the groomsmen will do the same
with the bachelor party.
· It is usually the
responsibility of the groom’s parents to pay for the rehearsal dinner. The
spouses or significant others of wedding party members should be invited to
dinner as well.
Here are some other items
and who should be financially responsible:
· Rice/birdseed/confetti
bags to toss after the ceremony — bride’s family
· If you are following
strict traditions, divide flowers between the bride’s family and the groom.
However, these days, flowers are included in a “package” and usually whoever is
paying for the wedding festivities covers the flowers.
· Marriage license —
groom
· Pastor/officiant fee —
groom
· Rings — bride and groom
· Bridesmaid
dresses/tuxedos — bridal party or groomsmen
 |
| Photo by Haley Hamilton on Unsplash |
Processional - If you are having a religious
wedding, consult your priest, rabbi, deacon, imams, or officiant concerning the
customary procedure for entering. Each house of worship may have rules concerning
processional order, music, photos, etc. Keep in mind that stepparents or
boyfriends/girlfriends of your parents should enter and be seated before your
biological family.
Mother of the Groom - Often the mother of the groom
does not know her place in wedding planning. She plays an important role and
can be as involved as the couple would like. Some of her chief responsibilities
include:
· Starting contact
between her family and the bride’s family.
· Providing an accurate
and timely guest list.
· Organizing and hosting
the rehearsal dinner.
· Taking her place beside
the bride and mother of the bride in the receiving line to thank guests for
attending. Note that the mother of the bride dictates wedding day fashion, and
the mother of the groom will wear a gown of similar style and length.
 |
| Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash |
Tipping - Gratuities are more often than
not included in the cost of wedding services. However, if a wedding vendor,
server, or other person has gone beyond the call of duty, extra tipping is
appropriate. Some people who should receive a tip on the wedding day:
· Coatroom attendant or
bridal party attendant.
· Pastor or officiant
should receive no less than $100 for his or her services.
· Limousine drivers
should receive 15 percent of the bill if a tip has not already been included.
· Organists and musicians
at the ceremony should receive at least $50 per person.
· If your reception features a maitre d’ or headwaiter who oversees the staff, expect to tip this person as well.
Thank-you note - For more thoughts on this subject, click here
Best Selling Author Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku talks about the many ways to see your spouse.
You have just gone through an emotional
breakup, and your world seems to be falling apart with no end in sight. You are
beginning to feel that you will be without a partner for a very long time.
Nevertheless, there is always hope that you will get over this upset and begin
to move on. How to Get Past
Breakup by Dr. Alexander Ross will give you a new
perspective on how to look through a post-breakup.
Dr. Alexander Ross is a respected
Relationship Expert and Sexologist in the
The book explains in detail:
·
What to do immediately after a breakup
·
Strategies on how to work through pain and grief, move past Fear
and disappointment and take back ownership of your life
·
Learning How to Heal a Broken Heart
·
How to be the one that got away
To order your copy, click here
.jpg)
Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels
According to Samantha Bridal's Survey, the
average engagement period in
Most of the engagements happen during December,
the New Year, and on Saint Valentine’s Day. Sixty-four percent of the couples
are already living together before the actual marriage.
Many couples tend to open new bank accounts
and spend a lot of money buying furniture and household items. The couple also uses
this time to fulfill cultural obligations like payment of bride price and
marriage counseling.
Most couples spend money on engagement
rings, wedding rings, and any other jewelry. This is costly because real gold
and silver are quite expensive.
According to Samantha’s survey, 64% of couples are living together before marriage. Nowadays, courtship is done differently compared to the past. Many young couples prefer to live together before walking down the aisle.
For engagement and wedding ideas in
💓
 |
| Miss Know It All |
I came across an article and thought I had heard
everything. I have attended many weddings in my heyday and I must say, not one
couple solicited the type of gift they wanted. In fact, most of the couples did
not have a gift registry. You just purchased a practical gift that the couple
would need when setting up the house, namely bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom add-ons.
Moreover, if you were clueless as to what the couple really needed, you would
give cash or a gift certificate. I know I am dating myself. Today it is a gift
card. Nevertheless, that was then, and this is now where wedding traditions
have become informal and will vary according to the couple’s culture, ethnicity
or religion.
A bride and groom sparked a heated debate on
social media after asking wedding guests to pay for their honeymoon instead of
buying them a gift. I started to wonder if this was a trend among
couples. Many, many years ago, it would have been unthinkable or tacky
for a bride and groom to ask prospective wedding guests to pay for their
honeymoon. On the other hand, maybe I have been living under a rock too long.
One guest shared her dilemma in an Australian
Facebook group, after receiving an invitation to both the bridal shower and
wedding. However, she was left confused after the couple asked guests to
contribute to their honeymoon fund by transferring the money through an app
after they opted out of having a gift registry.
I must admit that I would never contribute to the bride and groom’s honeymoon. If a couple cannot afford to pay for their own honeymoon, then they should not go or plan it for another time. In addition, if the couple was living together, there is nothing new under the sun for them to discover about each other. I realize planning a wedding can be expensive, but you have to know what you can afford and not put that burden on your guests, especially if you are having several events that require gift-giving, namely an engagement party, a bridal shower, wedding rehearsal, and wedding reception. I have even read where couples are asking guests to pay for their own meals at the reception.
I decided to ask some of my associates on
social media what they thought. Some of the answers were edited for clarity:
Whatever money I would have put towards the gift, I would give to
them.
I am happy to contribute cash.
The bride and Groom should pay for their own wedding. They pay for
their own divorces.
I would be happy to contribute cash instead of a present. It is
less work for me.
Only if I can afford it. If not, I would contribute the money I
can afford towards their honeymoon.
I would give what I can.
Depending on whom it is.
I am fine with a vacation registry.
If I could I would give cash/gift cards over shopping - every
time.
Find the cheapest hotel room in town and give them the paper to
the day they get married.
I went to a wedding where you paid for your plate upfront.
Say, "Thanks but that does not work for me."
###
Would you contribute to a couple's honeymoon fund? Send your answers to info@oneworldsinglesblog.net and in the subject line write “Honeymoon Fund Answer.” We will post your comments in the near future. Please keep your answer to fewer than 25 words. Thank you.
Best Selling International Author, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, shares why it is important to open your eyes and your heart before you say yes and walk down the aisle.
Photo
by Anna
Shvets from Pexels
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Experience high-quality wine tasting from virtually anywhere. For more information, Click Here.
