I don't know... I guess I didn't take my wedding so seriously. Ok, the bridesmaids are wearing black to an outdoor May wedding... the other colors are pastel green and yellow... (These colors aren't going to be worn with the black dresses?) I'm guessing the pastel green and yellow mean the flowers or the tableclothes, centerpieces, cake icing, or something, right???? And, it's probably just me, but I probably wouldn't try to match my dress to the decorations anyway. Plus, I really can't think of any color that compliments black, pastel green and yellow... maybe dark green? I attached another link with some dresses in the purple family that I think would look nice for a May wedding. The heck with the color of the program ink or party favors. Seriously, stay away from white, black and anything too bright and you should be fine. There are tons of Mother of the Bride and Groom dress sites to give you ideas. If it's a 4:00 wedding, generally dress for the evening... the formality of the dress will depend on the wedding. Here is a link that might be useful: Mother of the Groom

Unity Candle ceremony: Personalized pillar candle and individual personalized tapers and gave each child a personalized taper. The ceremony was actually a Family Unity Ceremony. All children write a congratulation and thank you note to the bride and groom. Once the Unity Candle was lit, take turns lighting their tapers from the pillar and in unison, recited the following: "As I light my candle from the Unity Candle, I feel the warmth, love and excitement of my new, larger family. Thank you(BRIDE'S NAME or MOM or MOTHER) and (GROOM'S NAME or DAD or FATHER) for having given me an extended family to love and be loved by. Congratulations! I love you! Groom: "(childrens names), I want you to know that I dearly love your mother. We have become very good friends over the weeks and months and we have learned to love each other. As you have so graciously shared this wonderful woman with me, so will I share the love I feel for her with you. Together, we will learn much more about each other. I promise also to be fair and to be honest, to be available for you as I am for your mom, and in due time, to earn your love, respect and true friendship. I will not attempt to replace anyone, but to make a place in your hearts that is for me alone. I will be father and friend, and I will cherish my life with all of you. On this day when I marry your mom, I marry you, and I promise to love and support you as my own." Bride: "(childrenÂs names), I want you to know that I dearly love your father. We have become very good friends over the weeks and months and we have learned to love each other. As you have so graciously shared this wonderful man with me, so will I share the love I feel for him with both of you. Together, we will learn much more about each other. I promise also to be fair and to be honest, to be available for you as I am for your dad, and in due time, to earn your love, respect and true friendship. I will not attempt to replace anyone, but to make a place in your hearts that is for me alone. I will be mother and friend, and I will cherish my life with both of you. On this day when I marry your dad, I marry you, and I promise to love and support you as my own." The bride and groomÂs children then responded to the following vows when read by the pastor: (ChildrenÂs names), do you promise to love your mother and her new husband? Children respond: "I do." Do you promise to support their marriage and your new family? Children respond: "I do." Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being their children, and to encourage them, support them, and accept them just as our heavenly Father accepts us? Children respond: "I do." (Children names), do you promise to love your father and his new wife? Children respond: "I do." Do you promise to support their marriage and your new family? Children respond: "I do." Do you promise to accept the responsibility of being their children, and to encourage them, support them, and accept them just as our heavenly Father accepts us? Children respond: "I do." Today is the wedding Of more than just two. We're blending our families With love that is true. Today marks the birth Of a new family: One that is special For all here to see Today's a Day of Love Not Just for Us by Nicholas Gordon. Today's a day of love not just for us, But for all of those who brought us here. So please excuse us if we make a fuss Over you, the ones we hold most dear. In you we see the love we replicate By joining on this day our separate lives. Our choice was neither accident nor fate, But homage to good husbands and sweet wives. We hope to make a family just like yours, And be to our children parents much like you. You have been to us wide-open doors Onto a serene and peaceful view. We look to you with gratitude and pride. What joy this day to have you at our side!

I would think in terms of these people's relationship to the couple and families, not their role at the wedding. Think about who you want at that dinner (including how big you want/can afford for it to be), not about who will be doing what at the wedding. If one of two nieces is a bridesmaid and another is serving food, I'd invite them both. I'd be more inclined to include a sibling who isn't an attendant than a friend from work who is serving cake. In any case, I would include all immediate family (and SOs) and grandparents, too. If someone's feelings are hurt, it won't matter that you followed some sort of iron-clad rule about who is to be invited to a rehearsal dinner -- even if there were one, which there isn't.

why is she carrying flowers? I don't know what their ceremony was, but in a Jewish wedding, both parents walk both the bride and groom down the aisle. So both MOB and MOG have flowers. I never understood only the dad getting to walk the bride down the aisle. Both my parents walked me down the aisle, in both my weddings ;-), and mom had flowers. I walked my daughter down the aisle with her dad, and carried a small bouquet. Her dad and I are both remarried. My hubby and my ex's wife walked down the aisle together. And his wife also had a bouquet. All parents, and step parents, were involved in the ceremony. --- Along the same lines, I don't see having the mothers coordinate with the wedding party colors as telling guests what to wear. Again, parents are part of the ceremony, and of course in lots of pictures. They should match or at least not clash with the colors of the wedding if there are colors of the wedding. I certainly would not expect to tell guests who are not part of the ceremony what color to wear. I don't even understand the bride being offended if someone wears white. Why would I care if a guest was wearing white?