Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • August 31, 2011 A wedding is a joyous event that couples want to share with as many people as possible. Couples commonly ask family and friends to take part in the ceremony as ushers, bridesmaids, or readers. Before enlisting the help of a child to fill such roles, couples should carefully consider whether a youngster is capable of participating in the wedding ceremony. Millions of people tuned into the British royal wedding in April. Among the participants were six young children: The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, and Master William LowtherPinkerton were bridesmaids and pages in attendance. The children were as young as three years old and as old as 10. Although the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were confident enough in the children’s maturity to include them in the wedding, some Children in a wedding means no kidding around measures were reportedly taken to keep the tots in line. For instance, Prince Harry reportedly delighted little Eliza Lopes with a pink “wiggly worm” so she wouldn’t be frightened by the crowds. Said wiggly worm made it into the official group bridal photo, being clutched by Miss Lopes. Couples who are worrying about all the details of their own weddings may not want to fret about children’s meltdowns or the bloopers that can occur when kids act like kids. Each child’s personal maturity level should be considered before enlisting their help. There are some other strategies to use as well. Young children serving as flower girls or ring bearers should be able to walk down the aisle without coaxing. If they cannot handle this task, they should not be asked to take part in the wedding. Should children prove competent to walk down the aisle unattended, couples can have them then make their way to the seats next to their parents, rather than awkwardly standing with the rest of the bridal party for the ceremony. A minimum age requirement for wedding participants might be a good idea. A child who is age five or up may be able to appreciate the importance of the event. Consult with the pastor or officiant of the ceremony. The house of worship or other ceremony location may have rules governing children in the ceremony. All people who have participated in the ceremony will be invited to the reception. If couples decide to have a kids-free party, then reconsider children in the ceremony. Think about another role for a young child that will not disrupt the proceedings. Perhaps he or she can help hand out birdseed or small bottles of bubbles to use when the couple has finished their vows. Or give children disposable cameras and allow them to capture a kids’-eye view of the wedding. Couples who choose to have children participate in the ceremony have to realize that there is the potential for slip-ups. Keeping an open mind and some patience can make for some memorable moments and a little humor as well. (ARA) You bought the dress, the shoes, and the special accessories. Now the big day is over and you’re left with yet another bridesmaid’s dress cluttering the back of your closet. No matter how many brides have told you that you will be able to wear that dress again, you have never worn that dress again. Halloween doesn’t count. Bridesmaids’ dresses are not just for weddings anymore Wouldn’t it be nice if you could? What if it wasn’t just another few hundred dollars down the drain? Design experts say go ahead and take those dresses out of the closet and introduce them into your wardrobe. “Take a look at the overall silhouette of the dress and say, ‘What changes can I make that still keep the silhouette?’” advised Rosalind Grenfell, academic director for fashion design and fashion retail management at The Art Institute of Colorado. If the dress is floor length, it’s time to cut it down to size. “Shorten the skirt to a mini,” suggested Zoya Nudelman, fashion design instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art -- Chicago. While you’re at it, Nudelman said any extraneous bows should be removed. Now that you have all that extra material left over after hemming your dress, it’s time to use it. “Make it asymmetrical; add a shoulder to a strapless dress,” recommended Marina Saba, fashion design instructor at The Art Institute of Houston. Beaded spaghetti straps can also be added to a strapless dress to change the look according to Nudelman. But you don’t have to have a tailor on retainer in order to make your bridesmaid’s dress not look like a bridesmaid’s dress anymore, especially if it’s already cocktail length. “Re-accessorize,” said Grenfell. “Put a shawl with it, change the shoes, or put a cardigan with it for a more casual look.” Nudelman also suggests chunky jewelry. Since most brides pick the same dress for all of their bridesmaids, even though women all come in different sizes, make sure the changes you make are enhancing your best features and that the new look will complement you and fit your personality, added Saba. Bridal gowns can also get a once over. “Some brides make their wedding dresses into cocktail dresses and wear them out on their first anniversary,” said Grenfell. Saba noted that if brides do go that route, they should choose a tailor carefully. “Make sure that you can retain some of the special effects of the dress while still getting more use out of it,” she recommended. Nudelman acknowledges most brides are too afraid to ruin the dress and choose instead to preserve it. To learn about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.