Did you have a choreographed dance at your wedding? Would you?

1. Reply before the RSVP date. If you don’t RSVP but turn up anyway, no-one will talk to you and you won’t be allowed any food.

2. The bridal party selection is a diplomatic minefield. Sometimes close friends have to be passed over so that older friends and easily-offended relatives don’t throw a massive wedding tantrum

3. For the love of God, if there is a gift registry, use it. If the couple wanted a wide selection of thoughtfully selected toasters and wine glasses, they wouldn’t have done a registry.

4. With respect to the dress code, keep it classy (ladies). If you’d wear it to a club, don’t wear it to a wedding.

5. If confetti gets thrown at the couple when they leave the church, don’t throw it in the bride’s eyes.

6. Sit where you’re put. Even if you’re stuck on a singles table full of divorced hairdressers you have to stay there because the couple have spent approximately the length of their engagement working out the seating plan.

7. If there’s a buffet don’t charge in, grab all the smoked salmon, and then retire smugly to your seat. No-one likes a buffet hog.

Don’t speak up during the ceremony!
TheKnot.com says, “We’ve heard the horror stories — the “Are you sure?” from the minister, the “Don’t do it man” groomsmen comment and the vocal grandmother using her time as reader at the pulpit to offer her humble opinion. Yikes.”

Don’t stick your finger in the cake!
TheKnot.com says, “Believe it or not, guests do this. There’s nothing cute or okay about touching the piece de resistance of the reception menu. Besides the sanitary factor, wedding cakes are expensive and should only be handled by three people: the bride, the groom and the caterer.”

For the rest of TheKnot.com’s tips, check out the full article: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/attending-wedding/articles/ruin-a-wedding.aspx?page=2

The I Do Over team came together with Diann Valentine to create a chic, rooftop wedding for the Cartensen’s. Of course, Jim McCann, Founder of Celebrations.com and his team of experts had a surprise up their sleeve! It’s something extra special to gift the bride and groom at their wedding. The day started with dress fittings, then the couple met at a creperie where they tasted all different types of sweet treats to set up a crepe station at their wedding, but don’t worry there will still be cake!

Finally it was the day of the wedding and the rooftop was set with romantic purple drapes and white couches. Bursts of flowers covered the reception area, especially beautiful white orchids, Tracy’s favorite! Jim McCann along with Lena Katz, Celebrations Travel Expert, presented the couple with an I Do Over honeymoon to the Bahamas!

The Carstensen’s truly deserved their I Do Over wedding and the chance to make their wedding day a happy one.

We’ve all heard the stories about brides buying three pairs of wedding shoes before deciding the 4th was the right one. The key to finding your signature style and saving time & money? Be yourself on the big day.

We’ve broken it down to three steps:

1. What’s your look on any given day? Is it preppy? Are you into frilly, feminine pieces? Have Birkenstocks never led you astray? Is it all about your *insert luxury label of choice* bag?

2. Imagine the big day. Does your look fall in line with your usual tastes or are you switching it up for extra wow-factor?

3. Now for the fun part! Choose finishing touches that highlight your signature style.

Which bride are you?

Vintage Bride: You’re a sentimental creature and you’ve rarely seen an heirloom or antique that didn’t make your heart melt.

• Vintage style dresses by Whirlingturban
• Keepsake Bouquets made of clay flowers or jewelry.
• Pearls and more pearls…

Bohemian Bride: At one point or another you’ve found yourself in a thrift shop waffling between two pairs of ripped jeans wondering, “What would Denise do?” (Queue A Different World theme song.)

• Ododo Originals hair flowers
• An eclectic single bloom bouquet
• A babies breath headpiece from your florist

Luxe Bride: As far as you’re concerned labels and love are neck and neck. (Ok, maybe labels beat love – but only by a hair!! We’re not judging. )

• Dazzling wedding shoes from Aruna Seth
• Jaw dropping headpieces by Johanna Johnson
• Luxury Lingerie

Classic Bride: You’re a romantic at heart and you know Chivalry isn’t dead and your fiancé is proof!

• Couture headpieces and accessories by Enchanted Atelier
• Classic but shockingly chic dyeables
• Wedding sashes

Anti-Bride: You laugh in the face of tradition and sneer at any mother-of-the-groom who dares challenge you (respectfully and behind her back of course.) It’s all about the alternatives:

• A hat instead of a veil – I adore Preston & Olivia
• Sneakers, boat shoes, or rainboots instead of shoes
• A clutch a clutch-bouquet instead of a bouquet
  

I’ll leave you with a quote to remember: “To be a fashionable woman is to know yourself, know what you represent, and know what works for you. To be ‘in fashion’ could be a disaster on 90 percent of women. You are not a page out of Vogue.” ~Author Unknown

Image(s): Emma Case Photography, Perez Weddings, Andreas Photo , Tied Photography, kellanstudios , cappyhotchkiss

The I Do Over team wanted to create an atmosphere that echoed the Pepple’s personality. They first met in an art gallery, so why not make their wedding just as artsy as they are?! To shake off the couple’s shyness, Diann takes them to an acting class where they really break out of their shell. Then they head to a menu tasting and keeping with the spirit of fire at their first wedding, a mixologist concocts a blue flaming signature drink for their reception. Yum!

Jim McCann, Founder of Celebrations.com, sends the Pepple’s to Celebrations Expert, Jackie Lacey for their floral arrangements. Jackie shows the couple the different ways he plans on using flowers by twisting them to create forms of art. It was such a unique way to bring together floral arrangements, which definitely went along with the sweet, eclectic nature of both the bride and the groom. Even the bridal bouquet was one of a kind!

The ceremony was small, yet tasteful and the reception was like walking into an art gallery. The flowers were beautiful, modern, and elegant while sitting perfectly with the framed fabric on the walls. Of course, Jim McCann stepped in again to make this I Do Over wedding truly amazing. He presented the Pepple’s with a year’s worth of 1800-Flowers! Diann also gives the couple an I Do Over honeymoon to Aruba! The perfect ending to a truly amazing I Do Over!

Jackie Lacey is a true artist when it comes to floral design, so it’s no surprise that he created true works of art to adorn the I Do Over wedding he was assigned. With years of experience, impeccable taste, and, dare we say, a bit of floral magic, Jackie can knock any event out of the park. We sat down with Jackie to ask him about his I Do Over experience and pro tips on getting the most out of your floral decor.

Was the time constraint of the show an issue for you?

Time constraints are always an issue when you are dealing with something that is a one time thing like a wedding. When you add the element of television into the mix, you have to not only deal with what your tasks are, but how it will work for the camera and how it fits into the production schedule. It takes a lot of time just to get everyone involved together to discuss a simple change.

What are some tips you’d offer couples on how to communicate their tastes to their florist if they’ve never dealt with flowers before?

Do some research and be able to show visual examples of what you are talking about to every vendor. And most importantly, select vendors that you have researched or have been recommended by other trusted associates or friends. Once you have selected a vendor, allow them to make suggestions and guide you in the decision process based on all of the information and their prior experience. Allow them to do the job you hired them for.

How can you think outside the box with floral if you want a wow-factor wedding but don’t have a wow-factor budget?

The WOW to anything is not always how much you spend but how well you spend it. Use your budget for the maximum impact based on the venue, time of year, bride and groom’s personal style and wishes. Creating WOW is done with personal touches, attention to detail and planning. Plan ahead thoughtfully and with the luxury of time on your.

What’s the most extravagant wedding floral you’ve ever done?

I had the opportunity to design and present the bride with a wedding gift from her groom that housed a $15,000.00 diamond necklace. I designed a floral box that held the necklace and played music when opened. This was a lot of fun and completely nerve wracking at the same time.

What are your top favorite flowers to work with?

This is the hardest question so far. I am passionate about flowers of all kinds and it is always so difficult to narrow down the list for anything. I would have to say that I prefer to work with orchids, calla lily, hydrangea and roses. These are the standards, I know, but with these elegant and simple flowers you can create so many different styles.

Check out Jackie’s expert party ideas on Celebrations.com!