Q: Hi Carrie,

How many people do I need to help out at the guest book table and take the gifts from the guests before the ceremony? Are there any people that are good for this job such as friends or family? And do these helpers need boutonnieres too?

Thanks,

Vicky

A: I do not recommend putting out the guest book at the ceremony site. It creates a bottle neck and will most likely delay your ceremony. I recommend you put out the guest book during the cocktail reception, this is perfect because it gives the guests a full hour and they can sign at their leisure. In addition keep p it out during the reception for anyone left over who did not make it to the guest book table.

As far as asking someone to help with the gifts and the money-box. This is definitely important and you really only need one person to stand and watch over the gifts and especially the money-box. You do not want it to go missing. I advise ONCE THE CEREMONY BEGINS TO HAVE THAT PARTICULAR PERSON GRAB THE BOX AND SIT DOWN WITH IT DURING THE CEREMONY. This way you know it is safe and not left unattended. Once the cocktail hour begins they can then hand it to the guest book attendant to oversee. After the cocktail reception this money box can be relocated to your honeymoon suite. The benifit of putting it in your room is you will have extra cash for your honeymoon. As far as the actual wrapped gifts have your coordinator get help from the venue staff to load up in a car or store in a safe place.

You can ask extended family such as cousins, nieces, aunts or even close friends to help out with these duties. And, yes I suggest you get personal flowers for them to show you appreciate their help.

• Q: Hi Carrie,

I am struggling with coming up with some fun and or unique ideas for ceremony aisle decor. Any tips and suggestions would be wonderful! My theme is a "GREEN" wedding set in a garden location. I really LOVE DAISIES!!!!

-Jen-

A: Ah, yes I can definitely help in this arena. Below are some unique and fun suggestions:

• Potted herbs or flowers you can plant in your garden after your wedding.

• Topiary trees made of ivy, angel vine, bay leaf, bay laurel or flowers.

• Galvanized Buckets or Mason Jars filled with fresh herbs or garden roses hanging from every chair with recycled ribbon. Instead of taking off the lid on the Mason jars, punch holes in the metal lid with a screwdriver.

• Use Shepherd hooks and small wrought iron pieces- hang flowers, pots of yellow and white daisies, fabric, vines, or lanterns. Don't be afraid to hit flea markets, thrift stores, and garage sales to find containers you may use. You never know what treasures you may discover and just think you will be recycling something old.

• Make small wreathes of daisies, hanging them from every third chair. Use strips of recycled fabric or twine to hang them, this will continue the GREEN theme you are going for!

• Instead of an isle runner use biodegradable confetti from ecoparti.com

• Make wedding cones for the chairs filled with daisies arranged like they were hand picked. Use recycled paper from books you and your fiance may have. Make sure you tea stain the paper to give the cones that vintage feel.

There are so many more ideas you can create.... from umbrella arches, urns, colonnades, old tree branches tied together to make an arch, to fabric hanging from an old oak tree as your ceremonial focal point!. My recommendation is be creative and have loads of fun with your ceremony decor. Talk to your wedding consultant and/or floral designer they should be able to help you and create something which reflects you and your fiance.

Good Luck,

Carrie Goff