Your Flower Girl

Your Flower Girl


Perhaps you already had someone special in mind when you decided to get married. Maybe you are dreading having to choose between nieces, cousins, or family friends. Either way this article will provide you with some advice that may make your job of selecting a fower girl a little easier. Remember, it is OK to have two or more flower girls if you wish. The main thing to consider is whether or not your chosen flower girl(s) can get down the aisle without becoming confused or scared on your wedding day.

Even though these tiny ladies look very cute in their little dresses, two and three year olds may be a little young to ensure a smooth flowing wedding ceremony. Typically the youngster you choose to be a flower girl should be somewhere between the ages of four (4) and eight (8) years old. A girl outside of this age group may be better suited to attend your guest book, hand out programs, serve as a reader, or act as a junior bridesmaid. As always, flower girls are a completely optional memeber of your wedding party. It is OK to not have a flower girl at all if you don't know any girls that are the appropriate age, or if you don't have any young girls that you are really close to.


Regardless of who you select, your flower girl will naturally draw the attention of your guests. Therefore it is necessary to prepare her for her role in your special day. You may want her to practice her role two or three times a week prior to your wedding day depending on the childs age and maturity level. Don't call it practice. Just encourage her to "play wedding". If her parents are not in your bridal party seat them near the aisle. That way she can see her parents as she makes her way down the aisle during the ceremony. Also, if she becaomes too restless, having her parents near the aisle will also make it easier if she needs to sit down during the ceremony. Ask your bridesmaids to look after your flower girl(s) during your wedding ceremony. Your wedding director or wedding planner can help you orchestrate supervision of your flower girl.


Another way you can help your flower girl understand her responsibility for your special day is to buy her a book about being a flower girl. There are several books about flower girls available. Some favorites include The Flower Girl by Laura Godwin, The Little Flower Girl by Linda Trace Brandon, and 10 Neat Things About Bring A Flower Girl by Penelope Colville Paine. These wedding books can be purchased from Amazon by going to http://www.amazon.com/ .

A great place to find flower girl dresses is at Celebration Bridal in Lynchburg, VA. You can visit the Celebration Bridal website at http://www.celebrationbridal.com/ .


For more tips and advice call an Armistead Events Professional Bridal Consultant at (434) 665-1792. http://www.armisteadevents.com/ .

Carla is in the news!

Carla Armistead, renowned wedding planner and co-owner of Armistead Events, was featured in an article in a supplement to the Amherst New Era-Progress entitled With this ring; Everything you need for your special day. This special section of the paper was the annual wedding supplement. Carla's article starts on page 2. Its the second part of the two part article, Planning is the key to happiness. Reporter Scott Marshall collected the information for his part of this article called You can't start too early in a phone interview with Carla. The article stresses how the best weddings begin with early planning and features a recount of a wedding Carla directed and entertained at in Pittsburgh, PA . The preparations for the wedding were interrupted by an impromptu visit from, now President, Barack Obama, his entourage, and the US Secret Service! It's a great read. The article was published in the February 26, 2009 edition.

Should I Substitute My Wedding DJ With An Ipod?

An iPod is a device that stores and plays music. If you think that an iPod (or other portable music player) is a viable, inexpensive alternative to hiring a professional wedding DJ, think again.

Music is merely one element used by a professional wedding DJ to entertain you and your guests. An iPod, or any other form of music media, is just a tool used by a professional wedding DJ like a camera is a tool used by your photographer. An iPod playing on its own without a professional at the controls will entertain as well as a camera set to auto will take great pictures. You may get lucky a few times, but overall your wedding day will suffer. A professional wedding DJ can use music to set a mood and change attitudes when appropriate during your wedding ceremony and wedding reception. A professional DJ is familiar with the music and knows when it is appropriate to play particular song selections. An iPod plays music without consideration for emotion or judgement. A professional DJ is as essential to entertaining your guests as your photographer is to taking quality photographs.

The iPod is less expensive than a DJ... or is it? You are still going to need a sound system to play the iPod through. You will need to rent a mixer, a power amplifier, speakers, speaker stands, cables, and possibly a table to set the mixer and iPod on. You will probably want to rent a microphone too. The clerk at the pro audio store will want to know what size system you need based on the shape of the venue and the number of guests. That's easy enough to determine, but do you know if the components you rented are compatible together? For instance, is the output on the mixer XLR or quarter inch. If it is quarter inch is it a balanced or unbalanced output? Will the inputs on the power amplifier match the outputs on the mixer? If they don't what type of adapter do you need. Are they in the boxes with all the other stuff the audio store gave you? By the way, how do you plug the iPod into the mixer anyway. The holes are different sizes!

At least you saved money right? The rent on the sound system is only $400.00 to $600.00. You should be able to set the sound system up after a few hours of trial and error. And, if you get stuck, the audio guy can send a technician out to do it for you for $75.00 an hour. Oh yeah, there's a delivery charge as well.

Now that you have your iPod system set up who is going to operate it? You will need to designate a guest to do this. He or she will need to cue the music for your special dances and make announcements for your other activities. Does he know how to use the microphone. Does it need phantom power? If its wireless does he know what batteries to use or how to turn it on and off? He will need to adjust the microphone signal on the mixer to avoid feedback. It's that annoying squeal. Does he know what the potentiometers and faders do? Does he even know what they are? Well at least you didn't have to pay someone that is a trained and experienced emcee. The guests won't mind. Will they?

Your "guest DJ" will be expected to coordinate with the other vendors at your event to ensure your event runs smoothly. Will he be able to cover if dinner is a little late? Will he be able to guide the bride and groom through the cake cutting? Will he be able to organize your wedding party for introductions and organize your guests for a grand exit all while making sure the music doesn't stop?

When all is said and done, iPod weddings don't come off looking frugal or inexpensive, they come off looking cheap. Is that the legacy you want your wedding day to leave?