This bride had planned a very formal black tie wedding. She wanted the most elegant affair anyone had ever attended; fortunately, her dad had the checkbook to back it up.

She selected her parents' country club for her reception. She chose her invitations with great care knowing that her style selection would portray to her guests the formality of the reception. She wanted to be sure they portrayed the type of reception her guests could expect. Her flowers were to be primarily the sleek and sophisticated calla lilies. Her menu was trendy and expensive with a choice of main courses.

Every detail was falling nicely into place. The only area causing her difficulty was selecting the entertainment. She was sure she wanted a live band rather than a DJ. When her parents suggested the orchestra that played regularly at the Country Club functions, she declined feeling they were too old fashioned. She wanted a fun band that could play to every age group.

Needing some time off from wedding planning, The the bride and her fiance decided to take a break from all the wedding details and planned to spend an extended weekend at the nearby beach. They spent every night of their mini-vacation at the same club, listening to the same group. "These guys" are awesome", they thought. "This band rocks!" On their last night, the groom approached the lead singer and asked if they would play at their wedding reception. The band gladly agreed. Summer was nearly over and their future gigs were limited. The groom wrote a check for the deposit and and the bride hastily noted the date, time and location of the reception.
The couple's entertainment dilemma was solved.

As the guests entered the reception in their tuxedos and evening gowns, they were somewhat confused when they were greeted with music played by guys in ratty jeans and reggae shirts.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
We all know what happens when you assume.

Tip:
The bridal couple made a huge mistake by not specifying the band's attire. They assumed that the band would know enough to wear tuxedos to a country club function. The band had worn the jeans and reggae shirts at the beach and assumed the bride and groom would expecte them in that attire.

Written instructions clarify your expectations to your vendors, and are a must. The bride should have written a follow up letter to the band reiterating the date, time, place and expectations. Always ask your vendors about their standard attire. You may want to include it in your contract. It is important to note that many entertainers charge extra for tuxedos if they have to rent them. The bridal couple should be prepared to foot the additional cost if they insist on tuxedos