Ainsworth House & Gardens

Grooming Tips for the Groom: The 411 on Haircuts and Shaving

The same timetable your barber would give you how to get a haircut and shave to prepare for an especially important job interview or business meeting is that same timetable you can use for preparing for your wedding…or if you part of the groom’s squad.

What is the suggested timetable for getting a haircut before your wedding?
1. Get your hair cut now.
a. Most of us get our hair cut a little shorter than we actually want and let it grow out to our perfect look. If this is you, keep reading.
b. This gives you time to fix anything you don’t like…or your partner doesn’t like…
2. Keep track of how much time elapses after your haircut until you have your perfect look.
a. Your perfect look should include your best length and be easy to style.
b. Take note of how you were feeling during this time period between the haircut and the perfect look. Were you really stressed? Stress can change the rate at which our hair grows.
c. If you were incredibly stressed during this time, then you may want to add a day or two to the time between your haircut and perfect hair.
3. After you know how much time you need between a haircut and perfect hair day, then book your pre-wedding haircut at that same interval.
a. Let’s say that your perfect amount of time between haircut and your best hair is 11 days.
b. Then book your pre-wedding haircut 11 days before your wedding.

When should the groom shave before the wedding?
If you are going for a clean-cut look, shave the morning of your wedding.

If you want a little bit of stubble, then shave 2-3 days before your wedding. It depends on how much stubble you want and how fast your hair grows. Experiment and see what works best for you.

(Quick note: If you are planning on a spray tan before your wedding, then shave 24 hours or more before the spray tan.)

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

As a Wedding Guest, What Should I Wear?

That depends on the wedding dress code:
• White Tie
• Black Tie
• Black Tie Optional (Formal)
• Creative Black Tie
• Semiformal (Cocktail Party)
• Dressy Casual
• Casual (Oregon Casual and California Casual)
• Traditional
• Custom or Themed Wedding
• Garden Party

In this post, I will focus on the styles, colors, and fabrics for each dress code for women.
(Stay tuned for info on what men should wear for each dress code!)

White Tie: A long, formal dress is required.
Quick tips:
• Avoid a huge dress because it might be difficult to sit in comfortably.
• While heels are preferred, consider your comfort and safety. Walking on grass in stilettos can be exceedingly difficult!

Black Tie: A long dress or a dressy cocktail dress in muted colors. Heels are appropriate.

Black Tie Optional (Formal): A long, formal gown, a chic cocktail dress, or dressy separates in brighter colors or a print are allowed.
Creative Black Tie: Accessorize your formal look with fun statement jewelry, a handbag, and/or colorful shoes!

Semiformal (Cocktail Party):
Select a dressy fabric such as a chiffon or silk blend and then pick your look:
• A dress in tea-length, knee-length, or maxi
• a jumpsuit
• or separates

Dressy Casual:
Fabrics: Linen or cotton
Options: dressy trousers, separates, or a dress. Avoid sequins.

Casual:
Clarify with someone if this is Oregon casual or California/Hawaii Casual.
Oregon Casual: A sundress with casual flats or sandals is fine.
California Casual: A more bohemian look is fine.

Traditional:
If you are attending a wedding which is infused with a specific culture, ask what you should wear. For instance, to a traditional Indian wedding, a woman may be asked to wear a sari. Dress respectfully no matter what.

Custom or Themed Wedding:
A theme might be Renaissance Faire, Bridgerton, or a Harry Potter vibe. You could use accessories to transform clothes you already own to reflect the wedding’s theme.

For location themes, consider the colors of that area. For a beach-themed wedding, wear serene blues or greens. For a winery-themed wedding, consider the colors of the grapes for inspiration for your upscale look.

Garden: Cheerful floral prints in a suit, a jumpsuit, a midi-dress, or a knee-length dress are all fine.

Beach: Flat sandals with a maxi, midi dress, or knee-length dress.

The image is courtesy of Photography by Cambrae.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

October Wedding? Here Are the Best Flowers!

October is the perfect time to get married here in Oregon! The heat of summer has faded into memory. The days have fall’s crispness in the air. Flowers bloom in vibrant colors which makes everyone smile!

Let’s define a few flower terms. While in our grandmother’s day, they were pretty much stuck with selecting whichever flowers grew “in season” or naturally at the time of year they were getting married, we now live in a world in which if you want a flower and you are willing to pay for the privilege, you can get almost any flower you want for your wedding. Peonies for a winter wedding? Yes, but they are more expensive than in season flowers.

In season flowers means that they grow in the area close to your wedding which lowers the transportation costs to get to you for your special day. This lowers your cost per stem and means you can buy more flowers in your budget! While you may want to preserve some of your wedding flowers, you may want to give away the rest of your flowers after your wedding to a children’s hospital, a soup kitchen, or a senior care facility to brighten the lives of countless people you might not ever meet. You can have so much fun designing with October’s in season flowers—like the ones in the photo above the title!

I’ll divide these into flowers and foliage (or the greens which can be added to your bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and floral arrangements).

Flowers:
• Asters
• Chrysanthemums
• Cosmos
• Cyclamen
• Dahlias
• Ilex
• Japanese Anemones
• Lillies
• Lisianthus
• Orchids
• Pansies
• Roses (Garden Roses, Spray Roses, Standard Roses)
• Rudbeckia (or Coneflowers)
• Sunflowers
• Toad Lily
• Zinnia.
Foliage and greenery:
• Baby’s Breath
• Crabapple (green foliage with red berries)
• Eucalyptus (grows in Western Oregon)
• Heuchera (an evergreen perennial)
• Kale
• Lavender
• Ornamental Cabbage
• Pampas Grass
• Pussywillow
• Rosemary

If you have any other questions, please reach out to us.

Image courtesy of Kathryn Lee. © 2016-2024. Clarity Business Consultants, LLC. All rights reserved.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Hilarious Wedding Vows for Gamers, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Fans!

A little bit of levity in the form of a funny one line can enliven your wedding. By infusing the characters or concepts into your wedding vows, you can make your ceremony totally unique and memorable.

Here are some of our favorites!

Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Gamers
We belong together because we are as hot as young Han Solo and Princess Leia.
You're my favorite deputy - I love you to infinity and beyond!
I love you through Time and Relative Dimensions in Space.
Today we join our two hearts into one being and not in a Time Lord way.
I promise to pay all my debts to you - a Lannister always does.
I love you through Time and Relative Dimensions in Space.
I love you, by the old gods and the new.
Let what is joined never be parted - So say we all!
I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do we part, or you turn into a zombie. Because then we're going to have to start seeing other people.
I vow to stand by your side when the zombie apocalypse comes, and should you be turned into one, I promise to let you bite me, so I can be one and, therefore, stay by your side forever.
If you turn into a zombie or a vampire, I promise to let you bite me, so we can be undead together.
I vow to protect you from all the ills of the world, even if a scientist invented a way to clone dinosaurs and the dinosaurs escaped from his zoo and then they came after us - I would protect you as well as I could manage from said dinosaurs. That is how much I love you.

Image courtesy of Pexels.com.
© 2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

What Are the Birthstones and Birth Flowers for September?

September is our transition month from the warmth of summer days to the chill of fall mornings. We see the start of autumn with leaves turning to red and gold here in the Pacific Northwest. In September, there are amazing birthstones and birth flowers!

September has two birthstones and two birth flowers. Both of the birth gems are a deep blue—sapphire and lapis lazuli. The two birth flowers are Aster and Morning Glory. Let’s dive deeper!

September Birthstones: Sapphire and Lapis Lazuli
Sapphire
How did we get the word “sapphire” in English?
Our English word, “sapphire” for this blue stone has its root in the Latin word, “sapphirus” which means “blue stone.” Really creative name there, Ancient Romans!

What does a sapphire mean?
This true blue gemstone signifies sincerity (being true blue), truthfulness, constancy, nobility, and purity of the soul.
Is the sapphire a precious stone?
Yes. Along with diamond, emerald, and ruby, a sapphire is considered valuable and thus is a precious gemstone.

Lapis Lazuli
While the sapphire is a crystal, lapis lazuli is a blue metamorphic rock made of layers of dark blue lazurite, flecks of gold pyrite (fool’s gold), and white calcite.
What does lapis lazuli mean or represent?
Often used in jewelry for royalty, the rock represents wisdom, courage, strength, intellect, truth, and friendship.

September Birth Flowers: Aster & Morning Glory
Aster
What is an aster?
The aster is a star-shaped flower.
In which colors will an aster bloom?
White, yellow, pink, red, bright blue, or purple. They often have a white or a yellow center.
What does an aster mean?
Love, undying devotion, purity, innocence, wisdom, royalty, and sensitivity.

Morning Glory
This trumpet-shaped flower blooms when the sun warms the Earth in the early morning and often closes up tightly before the sun’s heat becomes too much for the little flower.
What does a morning glory mean or represent?
Since they bloom vibrantly at sunrise and fade during the day, this flower represents the fleeting temporary nature of life that is finite. To the Victorians who assigned meanings to flowers, the morning glory represents affection and love.
Specific colors have additional meanings. These include:
White: purity and innocence.
Pink: appreciation and energy.
Red: passion and strength.
Blue: lasting love and desire.
Purple: hope, grace, and wealth.

You could add any of these flowers to your bouquets or floral arrangements and add the birthstones to your jewelry.

The image is courtesy of Pexels.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide

3 Beautiful Mother’s (& Father’s!) Blessings for Your Wedding

At traditional Irish, Celtic, and Scottish weddings, the mother of the bride gave a heart-felt blessing over the bride and groom. Today, engaged couples often ask those who have been instrumental in their upbringing to bless them at the end of their wedding ceremony—mothers, father, grandparents, Boy/Girl Scout leaders, and others.
What are the traditional wedding blessings? Here are a few:

Mother’s Celtic Wedding Blessing
Happy is the bride that rain falls on
May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest day of your future
Be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May your hands be forever clasped in friendship
And your hearts joined forever in love.
Your lives are very special,
God has touched you in many ways.
May his blessings rest upon you
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

A Scottish Mother’s Blessing
A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage.
May you be healthy all your days.
May you be blessed with long life and peace,
may you grow old with goodness, and with riches.

Mother’s Blessing
There they stand, hand in hand, and exchange wedding bands.
Today is the day of all their dreams and plans.
And all of their loved ones are here to say,
God bless this couple who marry today.

In good times and bad times, in sickness and health,
May they know that riches aren't needed for wealth.
Help them face problems they'll meet on their way -
God bless this couple who marry today.

May they find peace of mind comes to all who are kind,
May the rough times ahead become triumphs in time,
May their children be happy each day -
God bless this family who started today.

As they go, may they know every love that was shown,
And as life it gets shorter may their feelings grow.
Wherever they travel, wherever they stay,
God bless this couple who marry today.

You can search the Internet for more and/or use these to write your own.

Image courtesy of Pexels.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Insanely Cool Idea: Have a Random Ring Bearer!

As wedding professionals at Ainsworth House & Gardens, a gorgeous wedding venue in Metro Portland, couples often ask us how they can make their wedding ceremony unique. What if the ring bearer was chosen by chance during the wedding ceremony?

Here is how it works:
1. Before your ceremony, select a chair that is on the outside aisle.
2. I strongly recommend that the chair be near the front of the gathering since there is a greater chance a person will be escorted to that chair by an usher or groomsman.
3. Tell the groomsmen or ushers to make sure that they seat a well-dressed man in that seat who is capable of walking up the aisle.
a. If there is someone you really want to be your ring bearer, tell the groom’s squad who this person is and seat them in that chair.
4. Tell the videographer and photographer to be focused on the person in that chair when you arrive at the rings part of your ceremony.
5. At this point, either you or your groom should take the mike and say a version of the following:
a. “We are now at the point where we give each other our wedding rings except we don’t have them. Could you all look under you chairs? One of these chairs has our rings taped underneath it. Could you—you lucky person, you—bring them up to us as our ring bearer? Thanks!”
b. When the person finds the rings, invite them to stand up and come forward to give the rings to the officiant.
c. The person is thanked by you and returns to his seat.
d. Your ceremony continues.
6. Could a woman be your ring bearer? Yes! It’s up to you two how much or how little you want to control the situation. If you want a specific person to be your random ring bearer, then make sure they are escorted to that special chair. If you want this to be completely random, than that is your option.

This has worked at other weddings; it is hilarious when the random ring bearer gets into the role and has fun with it.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Honoring the Mother of the Bride

Often, moms are our best friends and most ardent cheerleaders. For those reasons, brides and grooms seek ways to honor their moms during the wedding. Here are 20 tried and true ways you can honor your moms before, during, and after your wedding! Thank you for wanting to honor your mom!

Before the Wedding
1. Ask your mom if she has any wedding traditions she’d like to see you continue at your wedding..
2. Ask your mom to use her skills. If she’s great at organizing, ask her to create a planning spreadsheet for you. If she excels at crafts, ask if she’d make decorations, create Welcome Bags, or wedding favors.
3. Go dress shopping or tux shopping with her.
4. Add her favorite flowers or her birth month flowers to your bouquets, floral arrangements, and corsages. Let people know why those flowers are included in your wedding.
5. Borrow something from Mom. Carry her Bible, her cross, or her handkerchief with your flowers. Wear her father’s tie pin with your tux.
6. Wear a piece of her jewelry.
7. Give her engraved jewelry before your wedding
8. Ask her to help you dress on the day of your wedding. Then, let her get ready in another room.
9. After you are completely ready, let her have a First Look separate from your dad. Take photos!

During the Wedding
10. Have your mom or your mom and dad walk you down the aisle.
11. Add the Rose Ceremony to your wedding. Before you say your vows and while you two are giving out the roses to your moms, your officiant gives a speech on what the Rose Ceremony means to you two.
12. Ask her to give a reading, sing a song, or perform a musical piece during your wedding.
13. Ask her (or both moms) to give the Mother’s Blessing over you two.
14. She could sign your marriage certificate as a witness.

At the Reception
15. In a photo display at your wedding (or in a slide show), share photos of loving moments, happy times, and favorite laughs with your mother.
16. Schedule a time for Mother-Daughter and Mother-Son photos.
17. Thank her in a toast or speech. (If you would rather do this privately, say it to her before your ceremony when you are getting ready.)
18. Have her give a toast.
19. Have a Mother-Daughter Dance to your favorite song. Invite the other mom-daughter pairs to join you on the dance floor.
20. Instead of having a bouquet toss, give your bouquet to your mom. Acknowledge her in your speech as you do so. (She might preserve your bouquet after the ceremony.)

Image courtesy of Pexels.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

What To Do If Your Flower Girl Falls Asleep

Stressed out because your wedding start time is when your gorgeous Flower Girl usually takes a nap? Worried she’ll be conked out at exactly the wrong moment?
Never fear!

At Ainsworth House & Gardens, the winner of The Knot’s Hall of Fame Award for five years of exceptional weddings, we have solutions for you!

Option 1:
Replace the Flower Girl with an adult Flower Guy (or Guys). While this started as a trend at adults only weddings about seven years ago, it’s now become a trend at weddings open to guests of all ages. It allows a friend (or up to three friends) of the bride or groom to have a position of honor at the wedding and channel the friend’s or friends’ comedic talents in a positive direction. Whether the Flower Guy/Flower Man is flinging rose petals from a f***y pack or the tradition white, satin ribbon-bedecked itty-bitty basket, your guests will be laughing! YouTube has a ton of videos on this. Here is just one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDYV-ykWU-o

Option 2:
Have your Flower Guy carry the sleeping Flower Girl up the aisle.
This takes more planning.
Step 1: Find out from her parents at what point in her nap is the little lady in the deepest sleep. Ask the parents if they would be willing to adjust her naptime so that she is in the deepest sleep when she is supposed to be performing her duties at the wedding.
Step 2: Is there an adult male with whom she feels comfortable? Daddy? Uncle? Family friend? Let her get used to falling asleep on his shoulder. He then becomes the lead Flower Guy who carries the Flower Girl.
Both the Flower Guy and Flower Girl should be dressed in their event ensembles before she falls asleep.
See a video here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KbunlG5UTd8

If you have additional questions, reach out to me!

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

Wedding Tennis Shoes? Yep! It’s a Thing!

Can the groom and groomsmen wear tennis shoes during your wedding?

Depending on the dress code for your wedding, the answer could be yes, no, or maybe.

OK, let me explain.

If your wedding is casual, the dress code allows you to wear sneakers. We would suggest that these be new, right out of the box Air Jordans, Air Maxes, or your favorite athlete’s signature shoe so that your shoes reflect how you are honoring your wedding day.

After all, those battered old smelly sneaks hiding in the back of your closet since 2016 are probably not the best choice. Just sayin’…

If your wedding is a white tie or black tie, probably no sneakers.

Unless you are a billionaire media mogul and wearing sneakers is the ultimate power flex.

Enter Rupert Murdoch.

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, Rupert Murdoch paired Hoka running shoes with a tailored suit suitable for a boardroom meeting for his wedding at a Tuscan-style winery in Bel Air, California.

Why was this unusual? In most cases, a groom would pair a suit with a hard-soled leather shoe such as an Oxford or a Derby to complete a formal look. Since wearing the right leather shoes shows your good manners, wearing tennis shoes to a wedding in these very upscale surroundings might be the ultimate power flex.

Which tennis shoes pair with a tux or a nice suit for a wedding? According to wedding stylists, here is what to wear.
If you are wearing… then wear these shoes.
• Black formal tuxedo…Air Jordan 11 black-on-black “Jubilee”
• A black, sleek suit……Nike Dunks
• A black, formal suit…Converse Chuck Taylors
• A navy suit………………New Balance 990
• A burgundy suit………Addidas Samba by Wales Bonner
• A gray suit………………Vans SK8-Hi
• A beige suit……………..Addidas Sambas
• A femme suit…………..Jordan OG by Melody Ehsani

If you have additional questions, please reach out to us.

The image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Amazing Drone Tour of Ainsworth House & Gardens!

Did you ever want to tour a gorgeous wedding venue while still at home in your bunny slippers (or whatever)! Now you can! We just posted of an amazing drone tour of our fabulous wedding and event venue! Here’s the link:
https://vimeo.com/958066391?share=copy
After your tour, you can check out our Wedding Sites page on our website: https://ainsworthhouse.net/oregon-city-wedding-venues/

Here, you can review all of our different wedding venues. Most of our couples select the venue based on their number of guests.

Outdoor Venues
Up to 20 guests sitting or 40 guests standing: The Grove
Nestled in a grove of slender trees growing into Oregon’s blue skies, The Grove offers you an intimate setting for your exquisite wedding ceremony. You are welcome to festoon the wrought iron gazebo with festive flowers or twinkling white lights to complete your look.
Up to 75 guests: The Front Lawn
Is the number of guests larger than what can be accommodated in The Grove? Consider our spacious, emerald green Front Lawn! In the background of your photos will be the stately Ainsworth House, built in 1851 by one of Oregon’s founding families.
Up to 125 Guests: The Pine Tree Garden
Spreading out over nearly an acre, The Pine Tree Garden’s focal point is an almost 200 year-old Ponderosa Pine which towers over this venue. The tree was planted before Oregon became a state!

Indoor Wedding Venue
Up to 125 Guests: The Fireside Room
Located in our beautifully restored Event Venue, the Fireside Room gives you the opportunity to be married indoors any time of the year.

Indoor Reception Venue
Up to 125 Guests: The Garden Room, Conservatory, and the Fireside Room
Located in our elegant Event Venue, we have three rooms for your Reception (or Cocktail Hour), for serving your fabulous feast, and then for dancing into the night!

What if the weather changes?!?

This is Oregon and we are prepared to move your outdoor wedding indoors. Since yours is the only wedding at our site during your reserved time, we can move your wedding to our indoor venue easily.

If you have any questions, please contact me. I’m happy to help you!

Image courtesy of Photography by Cambrae.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

15 Super Cool Trends for Wedding Cakes!

At Ainsworth House & Gardens, winner of The Knot’s Hall of Fame Award for over five years of exceptional service to engaged couples, we are seeing some fabulous trends in wedding cakes this year!

1. The newlyweds order a small, single layer heart-shaped cake adorned with white Lambeth-piping which they cut for photos. Then in the kitchen, the catering staff cuts a large sheet cake which is served to the guests.
2. Fabulous cake flavors: Get creative!
• Salted caramel
• Pink champagne
• White chocolate, huckleberry, and lavender
• Honey and lavender
• Tres Leches Mantequilla cake with Peach Puree
• Lemon and thyme
• Lemon, lavender, and blueberry
• Lemon and orange
• Blood Orange Curd with Citrus olive oil and citrus praline buttercream
• Lime and coconut
• Apricot
• Savory flavors:
• Teas: Earl Grey tea, Black tea, Matcha Green, or Chai Spice
• Fresh herbs: sage, thyme, rosemary
• Cheeses: mascarpone or ricotta
• Apple and brie.

Cake decoration options:
3. Lambeth piping: This technique of creating scrolls and garlands from layers of royal icing was developed in the 1930s by Joseph Lambeth.
4. Pastel or bold colors (white could be an accent color)
5. Multiple layers
6. Cherries
7. Fresh strawberries
8. Fresh, local flowers on or around the base of the cake
9. Piped flower decorations
10. Sparkles
11. Pearls or pearlescent beads
12. Ribbons either as bows or long segments
a. Satin ribbons for a more formal wedding
b. Grosgrain for a more informal wedding.

Cake toppers
What you put on the top, flat surface of your cake will personalize your delightful dessert too. These could be:
13. Your initials
14. Your first names
15. “Just Married.”

There are so many ways to customize your cake to represent the two of you. Enjoy the adventure!

Image courtesy of Ainsworth House & Gardens.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

The World’s Longest Courtship

The world’s longest courtship took 73 years.

That’s how long it took Roland Passaro to go from saying “hello” to saying “I do” with his first high school crush, Elaine Hall.

They grew up a few blocks apart in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

They met in middle school when they were 15.

As Roland recalled, they used to dance at parties held at the YMCA. He said, “She was hot. She was the smartest girl in class and knew the answer to every question.”

Elaine has fond memories too. “Roland was as handsome as could be, he was the star player, and all the girls liked him but he liked me, so that was nice.”

At their 50th. high school reunion in 2003, they reconnected. Even though both had married other partners, raised children to adulthood, and enjoyed successful careers, each had a special place in their heart for their first crush. “There was an attraction between us that night,” Hall told the Washington Post. “When I went over to say goodbye, he leaned over and gave me a kiss.”

Their courtship progressed at a pace comfortable for those from the 1950’s. They wrote letters and enjoyed phone calls between her home in Pennsylvania and his in Florida. Elaine cherishes this as a "magical time." After a Christmas visit to his home in the sunny south, Elaine finally moved there to be with him.

They have so much in common. “We are both family-oriented--devoted to our kids and grandkids and now our great-grandkids,” said Roland.

Together, they are a partnership. Roland’s son from his first marriage, James Passaro, said that Elaine and Roland are "…so adorable at the golf course [because Elaine tells Roland where his ball landed since he] can't see very well."

Last October, they decided to get married.

On March 23, 2024, the two got married at the Grand Haven Village Center in the gated community where they live in Palm Coast, Florida. He was escorted down the aisle by his two sons and she by her two daughters.

It only took them 73 years to go from “hello” to “I do.”

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

Where to Find the Wedding Dress Code

Back in the day, the wedding dress code was always printed in the wedding invitation. As times have changed, this isn’t always so. Here are several ways to find out the dress code for an upcoming wedding you’ve been invited to attend.

Where the Wedding Dress Code is Found
1. Check the wedding invitation. The info might be on a little slip of paper inside the invitation rather than on the invitation itself. (It is also possible that there might be no information at all.)
2. Check to see if the couple has a wedding website. The dress code is probably listed if they do.
3. If the couple has a wedding website, find the name of the wedding planner and ask that person.
4. Call the venue. Ask which dress code this specific wedding will be.
5. Ask the bride or groom.
6. Ask the parents of the bride or groom. The mothers of either person often know a lot about the wedding.
7. Ask the maid or matron of honor.
8. In which season is the wedding? Indoor weddings in the winter are often more formal that summer day weddings…but not always so check.
9. What is the time of day the wedding will be held? Often, more formal weddings are held in the evening while more casual dress codes are utilized during the day. Always check!

Wedding dress codes range from the very formal white tie to very casual beach-themed weddings…even though the wedding venue might be miles away from the beach.

If you want to find out what each dress code requires, check out these two Ainsworth House & Gardens blog posts:
“As a Woman, What Should I Wear as a Wedding Guest?”

and

“As a Man, What Should I Wear to the Wedding?”

Reach out if you have additional questions.

The image courtesy of Photography by Cambrae.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

3 Insanely Smart Ways to Help Your Bridesmaids

As wedding professionals, we’ve had brides-to-be call us in tears that the girlfriends they asked to be bridesmaids have declined so we’ve developed solutions.

My suggestion is that you ask your friend to join you for coffee to find out why she declined your offer to be a bridesmaid. Gently ask why. Here are several of the responses the other brides heard and my suggested replies:

1. Being a bridesmaid can be extremely expensive. According to Priceline.com, the average cost to ATTEND a destination wedding is $2,700.
a. If the bridesmaid fears that the expense is due to a destination wedding, assure her that you very wisely selected Ainsworth House & Gardens, an elegant and historic wedding venue in Metro Portland. (You did select us, didn’t you?:-))

2. Your friend might be concerned about the costs of the dress (which can be $100-$500), shoes, bridal shower gift, etc.
a. Be gentle when ask this. No one likes to appear vulnerable. You may want to offer to contribute to her costs or pay for it all. The gift of her presence on your special day is all the gift you need from her.
b. You might consider hiring professionals to do each bridesmaid’s hair and make-up on your wedding day as a gift to your best friends!
c. Or consider buying jewelry, accessories, or a cute clutch as a gift for each bridesmaid!

3. If the bridesmaid fears that you, the bride, will select an outrageously ugly bridesmaid’s dress or one which could not be worn again anywhere EVER, share that you are giving her a ton of input in selecting her dress.
a. My suggestion is that you select either one color (e.g., peach) or two colors (e.g., green and blue) to create a group of mismatched bridesmaids.
b. Your bridesmaid can select 2-3 dresses which make her feel her most beautiful and most confident while staying in her price range.
c. Before purchasing a dress, the bridesmaid will take photos and send them to you.
d. You can screenshot all the different dresses which may have different fabrics, textures, or patterns. Then you can decide which dresses harmonize the best!

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