Ask Rosemary

Rosemary is our resident expert on party planning, party favors, fun recipes and great gift prize ideas.

If you would like to Ask Rosemary for ideas to help plan your next party please fill out our Inquiry Form detailing your information. Your question and Rosemary's response will be listed below within one week.

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Rosemary, We are planning a housewarming party but our house is very small and would like to only ask for gift cards to place that we need things from such as: a new toilet or patio funiture. Would this be rude? How can I word that in the invitation? Thank you!
	It is difficult to ask for what you want to be given as a gift. However, you could play up the theme of the "fund". Have an object decorated in the entrace foyer or some part of the house where the guest enter. You could decorate a cardboard box and label it the Wish List Fund. On the invitation you could include: We want to share our new home with you. Come visit and enjoy the refreshments. In lieu of gifts we are asking for gift cards for our Wish List fund. We are trying to purchase patio furniture and a new toilet.

I am giving a bridal shower with a group of hostesses. One of them wants me to put "come and go" on the invitation. Is that proper? I feel like that is just telling people to drop off your gift and get on out of here, however, her view is that it will let people know they aren't obligated to stay if they can't for whatever reason...which I know is the intent. Any ideas on a less abrupt wording choice? Need help! She wants to put a start and end time AND "come and go" on the invitation. Example: May 5, 2007 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come and Go Meaning the shower will be going on between 2:00 and 4:00, but you don't have to come to stay if you don't want to. There just seems like a better way to say that than "come and go" to me, but I'm at a loss for words.
	I guess I don't understand this question. Are you saying that the hostess would like you to put a start and end time? If this is the case, there is nothing wrong with that. If the intention is for guests to come, drop off a gift, and leave this is definitely inappropriate. Thank you for the clarification. This is rude and totally unacceptable for a shower. You could host the party as an open house if it were not a shower. There is no way people can "come and go" and still follow the traditional shower gathering.

My husband and I just celbrated our 20 anniversary with a renewal of vows ceremony. Although we asked for no gifts ..we did receive some gifts. What do I write for a thank-you note?
	Congratulations! You would write a regular thank you note. It could be something like: Thank you for sharing a very special time in our lives. Your kindness is very thoughtful and much appreciated. If there was a gift other than money your could write: Thank you for sharing a very special time in our lives. We love the "clock". Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

A long time friend is throwing my daughter a very nice bridal shower at a local resort. In many ways, it will be nicer than the wedding itself. How do I appropiately thank her?
	First and foremost you want to have your daughter write her a thank you note that is very special. Then you may want to purchase a memorable token she can treasure. You could give her an engraved charm with a friendship theme or a photo frame with a photo of that special day. You could even have your daughter ask her to read something at the wedding. You did not indicate the part she has played in your daughter's life so far. There are beautiful friendship gifts available at our gift shop www.thegiftsgallery.net or elsewhere.

I am filling out the rsvp card included with the wedding invitation. My question is when completing my name Ms Kathy Foreman, I check accept, list 2 guests. Do I also include my guests name on the line with mine?
	It is proper to respond as the invitation is addressed. So if the invitation was addressed to you and guest you do not need to include the name of your guest.

My husband asked me to marry him again! We've been married for 15 years, and we never had a wedding the first time around - and this was his gift to me for our 15th anniversary! My first question is, how do I let people know that there are 10 rooms being held at the hotel, where our reception is, if they want to stay the night? I only have a few away guests. And, my husbands gift, I can't tell you how excited I am that he ask me - again, but I can't share in this excitement, because there are family members that think this wedding is ridiculous and a waste of money and they have no problem expressing their opinions to me,{which by the way, my husband and I our the ones paying for this}. How do I handle their remarks and not get bummed out?
	Congratulations! This is a very wonderful time in your life and there is always some sort of snide remarks when people do not understand. I would not let anyone ruin this for you. If remarks are made that are "anti" wedding I would respond (if you have to) by saying the choice of attending is solely up to you. We are going to be there because it is our choice. I also would just include the fact that there are some rooms set aside for out of town guests in the invitation. You could get a postcard from the hotel. You waited for 15 years for this wonderful moment. Enjoy it. It is obviously something you wanted for a long time.

I'm writing to you all the way from South Africa I have searched the web for ideas but to no avail for a beautiful words to remember my mom by. My mother passed away September 1998, it's been a good couple of years but I'd like remember her on my wedding day in my speech without making anyone sad. Could you please advice (we're getting married July 29th, 2006).
	Dear Desiree, I would suggest mentioning some joyous events that your mother was a part of and how she enjoyed her life and made it possible for you to be in the position you are today. Your mother will always be with you because you have made it possible for her to continue to roam the earth in your heart.

I have an up coming wedding in Las Vegas... I was planning on putting together a thank you gift bag for all of my guests... I was planning on putting custom playing cards, chocolate dice and a custom casino chip for rememberance... I wanted to include a nice thank you note that in corportated being in Vegas... Please help
	You could write something like: Thank you for sharing our special beginning. We are definitely high rollers and we ante up nicely with you in our lives. Our progressive payoff is your kindness and love.

Rosemary I have a question, this is causing major problems with me and my son. My son's father and I were never married, he never paid child support or was really there for my son as a father. My son knows his father and loves him very much. I am married now and have been for 15 years my husband has been the true father to my son. And he acknowledges my husband as his father also. Here is the problem on the wedding invitations I want my and my husbands name first before his biological fathers, My son said the bio father comes first I don't agree could you please help with this matter.
	This is entirely up to your son. The problem is he is emotionally thinking instead of viewing the situation the way it should be. Your husband provided the home for your son and raised him along side of you. There is always so much confusion during the planning of the wedding. I would tell your son to let his conscience be his guide. Explain to your husband that this is not an insult. Does your son bear the surname of his biological father?

My daughter is getting married in August, we are trying to keep the cost of favors down. Is it ok to give one per couple, and then to the singles? Also are favors required at all, we getting close to our budget and if we had to cut something we would rather cut the favors.
	Favors are an added treat to the wedding. There is no need to give favors. However, there are some ideas that are not expensive. You could make the teaspoon favor. Get the plastic spoons in the color of the dresses and some round netting circles. Fill each spoon with the hershey kisses and tie the netting around them with a ribbon. Attach a small paper with the couples name and wedding date and pretty on the ribbon. They are not too costly and they look pretty around the table. You could also get the votive light candies that are 4 for a dollar and wrap them in the netting circles with ribbon and the tag. If you still think you have to cut something out, you can omit the favors. If you decide to do them, it is ok to give one to a couple and then one to each single.

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