Winter 2010 BEYOND THE BOUQUET www.havredailynews.com A7 Help your flower girl be her best on your big day (ARA) — Children can add so much to a wedding day — from the ring bearer toddling down the aisle carrying a pillow with precious cargo, to the flower girl who sweetly perfumes your path to the altar some helpful hints that you can put in practice, whether the child is your own or the child of a loved one. Follow these tips, and you'll help ensure the youngest members of your wedding party have a standably nervous at the prospect of having all eyes on her as she precedes you down the aisle. Making her feel special, as if she is a little princess, will help boost her self-confidence. Brides spend lots of time and energy picking out dresses for their f l owe r g i r l s a n d junior bridesmaids, taking into account not only how the dress will fit in with the look of the wedding, but how it will complement the w e a r e r. Ac c e s s o r i e s a r e just as important, and the youngest m e m b e rs o f t h e wedding party should have some small items to highlight their attire, just as every bride should. Not only will jewelry enhance the look, it will be a keepsake of the day — look for pieces that are high quality (so that they will last a lifetime), but reflective of the we a r e r ' s a g e. Collections offers fine children's jewelry for girls that will be perfect for any wedding. The pieces are understated and elegant, but also feature the youthful spirit of b e l ove d D i s n ey characters - they make ideal flower girl gifts. Keep her involved Children love being involved in life's big moments and decisions as much as possible. Keep your flower girl or young bridesmaid part of the decision-making process as much as possible leading up to your wedding day. In addition to involving them in fun things like wedding showers, putting stamps on invitations and hair and m a ke - u p t r i a l s, g i ve yo u r young attendants some options that they can choose from. Will she wear her hair up or down? With flowers, ribbons or feathers? Yo u c a n a l s o g i ve h e r options about what kind of flower girl jewelry she might wear. For a special surprise, you could show her examples of earrings, necklaces and Collections well ahead of time, and then surprise her on the day of the wedding with the one she liked best. To look through the jewelry options that can become treasured wedding memories for your junior bridesmaids and flower girls, visit w w w. com. Make your day child-friendly Though you'll feel like your wedding day is flying by, it can be a long day for the littlest members of your wedding party. Even the best-mannered kids get tired and out of sorts after hours of activity, so it's good to take that into consideration. You'll be in a whirlwind of excitement, so make sure that you have a trusted attendant who can help accommodate children's needs. Think about scheduling your photos so that pictures with children will be taken first and quickly. They'll be energetic and happy, and if you can have the photos taken soon after hair and make-up are done, everyone will look picture-perfect. special for youngsters — both wedding party members and young guests — at the reception. Consider offering kidfriendly menu items, or have separate entertainment like balloon animals, a toy box or a coloring station with crayons and a paper easel to keep kids happy and occupied while adults enjoy the grown-up activities at the reception. Keeping the youngest members of your wedding party happy on your wedding day will help ensure the day is special, memorable and enjoyable for everyone. Courtesy of Family Features Stomach aches, headaches, sleep problems, poor concentration, moodiness, irritability, racing thoughts ... Getting married is supposed to be a happy time, right? So why are so many brides-to-be completely stressed out? Having to take care of endless details, manage vendors, handle family demands and meet the emotional needs of the groom — and fitting it all Say 'I don't' to wedding stress is about the bride and groom. You two need to decide what is meaningful to you and what will express who you are. If his mother wants Cousin Jennie to play her bagpipe as you march down the aisle and you don't care for the idea, it's OK to say no. Come up with a polite response such as, "Thanks for your suggestion, but we're going in a different direction with the plans." Feelings may by dropping tender petals in her wake. As special as you feel on your wedding day, you'll want even your littlest helpers to share in the feeling and know that you appreciate them. To ensure that your young attendants are happy campers on the big day, you'll want to help them look their best and make them feel that they have an important role. Here are positive experience that they — and you — will remember for a lifetime. Make her feel special Chances are you're not the only female in your wedding party who's doing something special, exciting - and intimidating - for the first time. Your flower girl or young bridesmaid is also experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime, princess-like moment, and may feel under- into an already busy schedule can turn any sweet-natured woman into either a blubbering mess or the dreaded bridezilla. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. Wedding consultants and planning experts agree that there are some ways to manage the stress and make the planning process more enjoyable for everyone involved. Expect stress: If you accept the fact that this is a stressful time, you can let go of guilt about it and take some precautionary measures to deal with it. Talk with your fiance and a close friend about helping you chill out when things get too tense. Come up with a nonjudgmental code word they can say to let you know it's time for a break. When you hear the code word, stop, take a deep breath and then set the planning aside for a while and do something non-wedding related. Be realistic: A lot of brides set their expectations so high that they drive themselves (and everyone around them) crazy trying to meet them. But unless you have unlimited access to money, you're going to have to adjust some of your plans. There are a lot of resources (Web sites, books, magazines, friends) that can help you pull off a lovely wedding on whatever budget you have. Don't try to please everyone. It's just not possible. Nor is it reasonable to try. The wedding get bruised, but ultimately it's your day, and it only has to please you and your fiance. Delegate, delegate, delegate. No matter how capable you are, no matter how nifty your organizer is, you can't do everything by yourself. Nor should you, so stop feeling guilty. It's OK to ask friends, family and the groom for help — as long as you do it nicely. Some churches or reception halls have a wedding coordinator available to help with details. They've done this hundreds of times — you haven't. Take care of yourself. It's always important to eat right, get enough sleep and exercise, but it's especially important during times of stress. You'll feel more energized, you'll be able to think more clearly and make better decisions. Besides, who wants to see a bride with dark circles under her eyes drag herself down the aisle? Keep things in perspective. The most important thing to remember is that the wedding is only a one-day event. It's just a party to celebrate the beginning of a life together. Too many brides feel enormous pressure to make the wedding perfect and they forget about building a solid marriage. Don't lose yourself in the details of this one day. You have a lifetime of new memories to create, this is only one of them. Courtesy of Family Features Stacy Mantle Teagan Fee getting ready to be a flower girl at Melanie and Brett Gilman's Wedding at Prairie Farms Golf Course on August 22, 2009.