Divine Decorum: Expert Advice for Parties and Weddings

Q: I recently proposed to my fiancée and we have already scheduled the wedding date. We will be paying for the wedding and have not been on the same page when it comes to size and price of the wedding. I’m getting concerned that her dream wedding will put us into the red. How do I approach her without starting the fight of the century?

-Jeramie, Barrington, IL

Dear Jeramie,

Approach your fiancée by saying you want your wedding day to reflect both of you. Ask her to write out her wish list and the two of you can compare what you both want for your wedding day. However, keep in mind it is not uncommon for bridal couples to have two different visions for their special day. One way to prevent “fighting of the century” would be to hiring a wedding planner; she can pull together both of your ideas and probably save you money along the way.

Q: I am having a 40th birthday celebration and have two very different groups of friends attending my cocktail party. I’m concerned that there may be some “political” problems in the group and want to prevent any uncomfortable situations for myself and my guests. How can I take precautions to avoid a conflict?

-Samantha, Elgin, IL

Dear Samantha,

Nobody should ever feel uncomfortable at their own celebration party. Here are some tips to be sure all of your guests have fun and forget about the past. Keep the music sound elevated up to help prevent others hearing conversations that don’t concern them. Eliminate as much seating as you can to avoid any guests sitting next to someone they don’t care for. Instead, rent high boy cocktail tables for guests to stand around and mingle.

Q: My father recently lost his job and has gone back to college to get his masters degree. I would like to throw him a party celebrating his commitment to continue with his education, but don’t want to make him feel like it will be a party out of pity. Do you have any ideas how I could make this event a celebration of his accomplishments and not a focus on his recent bump in the road?

-Louise, Peoria, IL

Dear Louise,

Such a thoughtful idea to throw a celebration for your dad. Approach the invitations as your dad’s next step into the journey of life. Use lots of colorful decorations and be sure to have his friends fill out a guest book to congratulate his success of continued education. More people should think about going back to school. Perhaps, your dad may inspire a friend (or 2) to go back to school.

Have your party and wedding questions answered! Contact Christina at christina@christinacurrieevents.com to have your question featured in our weekly Q & A blog.