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Try to keep a few things in mind when laying out your wedding reception timeline.

• Traditions are formed over many years and generations. They trigger memories, they pay homage to people we love. They aren’t rules.
• Don’t assume everyone knows what’s going to happen next. Have an emcee or coordinator make announcements and guide guests from activity to activity.
• The timeline of activities for the wedding reception depends in part on the season (time of year) and the time of day.

With those things in mind, your traditional wedding reception timeline goes something like this…

Receiving line. There’s a good reason for the receiving line: it gives you the opportunity to greet, hug, kiss, and receive congratulations from everyone who has come to share your special day. You don’t have to worry about missing anyone (or mostly anyone) or rushing around the reception later, hoping to see everyone. Everyone understands the receiving line must keep moving, so they don’t expect to tie up the bridal party with long conversations. The receiving line is either immediately after the wedding, as guests are leaving to go to the reception, or at the beginning of the reception, as guests are arriving. Traditionally, it includes the entire bridal party, but can be trimmed down to the bride, groom, parents of each and the best man and the maid of honor.

Cocktails. The cocktail hour is exactly what it sounds like – approximately one hour, during which time cocktails are served with appetizers.

First Dance. After the cocktail hour, the bride and groom are introduced again (for anyone who wasn’t at the wedding itself), and their first dance as a couple commences.

Cheers and Toasts. Typically, toasts continue throughout the evening, but while everyone’s attention is focused on the bridal party, the parents of the bride offers cheers to the bridal couple and thank everyone for sharing their special day. Toasts by the best man and maid of honor will occur during dinner courses; you want to spread out the excitement and provide a focus while each course is served.

Dinner. Dinner is next, interspersed with more cheers and toasts by the wedding party. From the time the cocktail hour ends to the time dinner ends is usually about three hours.

Dancing and Socializing. When service of the meal is complete, the dancing and socialize begin. Interspersed during this time are any traditional social activities you’ve planned, such as throwing the bridal bouquet, the garter toss, and giving away the centerpieces.

Cutting the cake. This is usually approximately an hour before the planned ending time of the reception, but if you plan on the reception going to the wee hours of the morning, make it about an hour to an hour-and-a-half after dinner has ended.

More dancing and socializing. Have another half an hour or so of dancing and socializing before wrapping up the planned activities for the reception.

Last dance. This the signal that the reception is ending.

Sending off the bride and groom. The wedding coordinator (or whomever you designate) should usher everyone into two lines to form an “aisle” for the bride and groom to exit the wedding.

The wedding reception is really the party after the wedding, where you celebrate with friends and family. So just relax and enjoy it!

For a detailed calendar of what needs to be done before your wedding, get the Bride's Handbook Wedding Planning Made Easy.

Things to consider when selecting flowers for your wedding:

• the bride and the groom's favorite flowers and colors
• the appearance, size, shape, color and fragrance of the flowers
• the traditional significance of each type of flower
• select flowers with shapes and colors that compliment the bride's complexion, hair color, overall appearance and the colors selected as the central theme of the wedding

Consider buying flowers in season and locally grown, as this is cheaper and better for the environment, as the flowers don't have to be imported from another country or state. When interviewing the florists you are considering for your wedding party planning, ask them where they obtain their flowers and if they are locally grown.

It is recommended that the bride and groom make a consultation with florists at two or three different flower shops. Come prepared with your questions, your price range, and a list of your favorite flowers.

Think about the style your want to achieve when making your selection of wedding floral arrangements and design. If you are having a traditional and very formal wedding, your floral arrangements should be traditional. For a modern or contemporary wedding, the arrangements should reflect that theme.

Think about the time of day of wedding ceremony, wedding photographs and wedding reception. The goal is to have the flowers remain fresh and healthy for the ceremony, photographs and reception. Flowers like roses need water picks to hold water, and Gerbera daisies require a lot of water to remain healthy.

Keep in mind the location of your ceremony. Before making your floral selections, visit the location at the time of day your wedding and wedding reception will be held. Take pictures so you can show them to the florist. The floral arrangements should be complimentary to the colors and lighting of the church or hall at the time of day the event will be held.

Friends and family are always a good source of information. Get recommendations from them about the flowers that they had at their own weddings and what worked, and what didn't.

Discover ideas for floral designs in wedding magazines and on bridal websites. When you find something you like, print the picture so you can take it with you to the florist interviews or give them to your wedding planner, if you have one.

Remember to keep in mind the cost of each type of flower and the season. Flowers that are readily available are cheaper than more exotic and hard-to-find flowers that may have to be shipped in from remote locations. You may choose a different type wedding flowers altogether if you are having, for example, a winter wedding, as the availability of winter wedding flowers is different from what's available in the spring and summer. Flowers for a winter or fall wedding will have a unique color palette.

Consider all your wedding flower arrangement needs. Your floral advisor or wedding planner will, of course, go over the list with you as well.

• for ceremony: flowers for church pews, altar, registry table, front platform, outside church doors, church foyer
• for reception: floral centerpiece for each dinner table, special centerpieces for wedding party's table
• bridal bouquet
• bridesmaids' bouquets
• groom's boutonniere
• mother-of-the-bride and mother-of-the-groom corsages
• groomsmen's boutonniere
• boutonniere for father-of-the-bride and father-of-the-groom
• bride's bouquet for bouquet toss
• flower girl's flowers
• ring bearer's boutonniere

Enjoy planning your wedding. Take time to smell the roses!

Here are a variety of tips and suggestions for selecting the perfect bridal gown.

1) Talk to trusted friends and family about where they purchased their wedding dresses.

2) Ask to see photographs of friends, family and co-workers wedding dresses for ideas.

3) Research wedding dresses online. Ask friends and family to recommend bridal websites.

4) Purchase several good quality wedding magazines to search for ideas. Pay attention to the specific styles, fabrics, and colors that appeal to you. Cut out photos of wedding dresses that you like and place them in a notebook or scrapbook.

5) Have your mother and/or bridesmaids accompany you to various wedding boutiques. Try on various dresses. Avoid settling for first or second dress you try on. Don't settle shopping in just one boutique.

6) Consider putting several possible dresses on hold and return to the wedding boutique several days later to try on the dresses again with a fresh perspective.

7) Consider the style that you want:

• with straps
• with long sleeves
• with short sleeves
• high-waist
• low-waist

Consider the length that best suits your needs:

• floor length dress with long train
• floor length dress with short train
• floor length dress with no train
• ankle length dress with or without train
• knee-length dress

9) Think about the head-piece that you desire:

• long veil
• short veil
• no veil
• tiara

10) Think about the color that you would like:

• shades of white
• shades of ivory
• shade of cream

11) Consider the material/ fabric that you would feel most comfortable in:

• silk
• satin
• lace
• chiffon
• brocade
• organza
• taffeta
• velvet

12) Consider your body type and what dress style best flatters your figure.

13) Consider the month of your wedding and the typical weather at that time.

14) Consider the destination of your wedding:

• local wedding - traditional theme - cold or warm
• destination wedding - casual theme - tropical or cool

15) Consider any cultural or familial traditions that you want to uphold.

16) Try on your bridal shoes with your gown:

• flats
• small heel
• high heel
• sandals

17) Purchase jewelry that compliments your body type, face and your wedding dress.

18) Practice good time management. Begin looking for your dress shortly after getting engaged, so that you allow for plenty of time to shop at various boutiques and getting necessary fittings and alterations.