"Where should the groomsmen hold their hands when they are standing at the altar?

This is a decision to be made by the Bride and Groom.  Either together in from of them or on the side, but never, ever in their pockets!

"What buttons do I button on my jacket?"

Well the rule of thumb with the men's jacket is as follows: Starting with the top button - it is Sometimes, Always and Never.  Which ever the groom decides is how the rest of the men should follow suit. 

Get to the Church on Time!

Too often I have heard people tell the Bride, "it is your day" and  "it is all about you" and most commonly said "they can't start without you".  This is true, that the wedding can't start without the bride, but do you want everyone to be upset with you.  Be respectful of others and other peoples time.  Being late on purpose is not a nice thing to do ever.  An organized person will make sure that they allow themselves enough time to "get to the church on time".

Consider ordering an extra boutonniere.

Some florist include an extra boutonniere, if they don't, make sure that you order one. They can break easily. In a pinch I have made a boutonniere by taking a flower from one of the bouquets. The grooms boutonniere can really take a beating with people hugging him.. Consider ordering an extra one for the groom.

Make sure that the person receiving the flowers has a list of what to sign for.

If you are having your flowers delivered somewhere other than where you will be, church, chapel, reception hall, make sure the person receiving them knows what you ordered.  How many bouquets, boutonneres, corsages and other. 

Do not let the guys pin on their own boutonnieres.

It is best if one person can be designated to pin on all of the boutonnieres, that way they will all look the same for the pictures.  The proper way to pin them on is from the back of the lapel, so that the pin does not actually show.

Be respectful of other people's time!

Be on time for appointments and especially for the rehearsal and the actual ceremony.  There is nothing worse than hearing someone tell the Bride, "don't worry if you are late, they can't start without you." That is true, they cannot start without the Bride, but the quality of the ceremony could change as people wait and get irritated and impatient.  It is a respect factor!

How about the Bride and Groom toasting their guests?

I think that is a well deserved gesture and could appropriately be done after the "Best Man's Toast".  Thanking everyone for being there and being part of your special day would be well received I am sure!

Don't be too late on those "Thank You" notes!

Although it is said that you have up to a year to send out your "Thank You" notes, I would suggest doing them as soon as possible.  It is true that a thank you note is appreciated whenever you get it, however, a timely one is much more impressive and really does show appreciation!

Don't forget the Marriage License!

Depending on the State in which you are getting married the requirements will vary.  Please make sure that you research this at least six months prior to the wedding to make sure that you have all of your "I's" dotted and your "T's" crossed.

A Wedding Day Survival Kit is a must!!

Make sure that you put a responsible person in charge of your Wedding Day Survival Kit.  It should be with you at all times on the big day.  Click on Wedding Day Survival Kit for a list of items to include. 

Have someone other than you proofread programs or invitations!

If you are creating your own programs or invitations, please make sure that an outsider looks at them. I had one couple who apparently did not proofread their programs very well and actually had the wrong year on them. I have had so many with spelling errors. Just let another set of eyes look at them before they go to press.

"Here comes the Bride" and her Father and Mother, too?

Depending on the relationship you have with your parents, you may want to consider walking in with both. After all, Mom did raise you too! But if you have been waiting all of your life for this moment with your Dad, by all means do it the traditional way.

Groom consider walking in with your Mother or both parents.

Guys are walking in with their parents more often than not these days. It is a nice gesture to walk in with Mom or both. Of course it all depends on your relationship and what you want, it is just something to consider.

Do you have people in your bridal party that are typically late?

If you do have poeple in your bridal party that are typically late, you are already asking for trouble. If you really feel obligated to include them, I suggest you sit down and talk to them and tell them how important it is to you that they be on time. If this is an option that does not work, then simply tell them that things are earlier then they really are. One person can cause alot of stress when everyone else is waiting for them, so consider wisely, who you ask to be in your bridal party.

Check "Days" not just "Dates"!

I called a florist to find out where the flowers were for a Friday wedding and the florist had the wedding down for Saturday. Needless to say at that point it was too late. If you verify the day along with the date, you should be able to avoid this problem.

Don't take for granted that the seamstress did her job!

I had the mother of a bride arrive with a gown on 3 inches too long. She was concerned about everyone else and never checked to make sure that her dress had been altered.

Photographers please be respectable.

Please make sure that your photographer is aware of any rules or regulations of the church, chapel or otherwise. Make sure he/she knows where they are allowed to stand and set up a tripod. Is flash permitted? Can photos be taken before or after the ceremony? Most importantly, make sure that they know what you want. What kind of pictures are important to you?

Guys check you Flys!!

Guys when trying on your trousers please zip up to make sure the zipper works. I had one poor groom who had to have his fly pinned shut. Can you imagine the wedding night!

Some traditions have lost their meaning over generations.

Some of the traditions that used to be popular in different cultures have lost their meaning over time. Make sure if you decide to implement a tradition that you know why you are doing it and exactly what it means. You may be surprised at some of the meanings.