My wife’s best friend who was her maid of honor is getting married in India. My wife would have been her friend’s maid of honor, but we just had our first baby born last week - the wedding is the last week of December. What is an appropriate gift and traditional Indian gift that my wife could give to her close friend, besides money?

I want to do a candy bar at my reception instead of the regular favors. Has anyone ever done this at their wedding? How much candy did you use and how much did it cost?

Ah, the wedding dance! The very essence of romance! Something that is so often overlooked! The soundtrack to a wedding is a vital part of the reception. Pick it well and years from now people will bob their heads give a mysterious grin, and say “remember Bob and Sally’s wedding? This song reminds me of them” while staring wistfully into the distance.

Play bad music and people won’t even remember you got married. Just kidding. They might, but they will wish they didn’t.

Before the wedding party starts their march down the aisle, you will want to have some great background music playing.  You want something soft and upbeat.  Many people like to have the harp, organ, or piano going during this time.  This will keep the wedding party quiet and anticipating the big moment.

For the walk down the aisle, you can have the traditional wedding march or you may want to have something a little more personal.  Some people like to have a gospel hymn or orchestral music playing.  Others will want to have a harp or organ playing. Others prefer songs that mean something to the couple, it is up to you. 

When it comes time for the reception, you will want to have some form of band or DJ to keep the party going.  You want to have a mix of music so that you are not excluding anyone from the fun. A rule of thumb is keep things light and fun, no one wants to hear a speech by the groom to music that you would slaughter a goat to.

Figure out what types of songs you want to be played and then give your DJ or band an idea of what you will accept. You want to have songs about love and romance for your wedding reception so that people can have fun.

Think about if you want to pay tribute to someone special in your life.  You may want to include a special song that will honor a family member or someone that has died.  This is your day and you can include these special moments in your wedding day.

Do not let the song choosing put a lot of pressure on you. You want to make sure that you are at ease and making this a fun topic that you can get the entire wedding party in on.

My fiance is Latin, and I need to have a good mix of gringo and Latin music at my wedding (Salsa/Merengue, etc.). Any suggestions, besides the obvious Suavemente??

By: Miss Teacher

I am in my mid 20s and lots of my friends are getting married, but one thing that is really bothering me is that all of them are expecting gifts, expensive gifts, not just at their wedding showers, but at their engagement parties, their bachelor/bachelorette parties and then also at their actual weddings. When I was growing up my parents taught me that a gift at the shower or at the wedding itself if you weren’t invited to the shower was good etiquette, but my boyfriend get so embarrassed when everyone else brings gifts to every occasion and I insist that we are fine. Are we wrong for not bringing $50+ gifts to every event or are our friends wrong for expecting gifts at every event surrounding the wedding?
To add to the earlier details, are showers and weddings 2 separate events requiring 2 different gifts off of the couple’s registry? Typically everyone brings a registry gift to the showers, and then another to the wedding. At the bachelorette showers invitations go out with requests for lingere and “gifts meant to be enjoyed on the honeymoon” and for the bachelor parties bottles of liquor or adult themed gifts… It adds up when you consider we all for the most part just finished school and my boyfriend and I are both still in school (PhD studies) without full time employment.
One last thing, I don’t even live in the country (I go to a university abroad), but I still get invites and send gifts, as if the situation wasn’t complicated enough. Answers for my specific situation and in general for people who do attend all of the events are appreciated.