By CARLEY RONEY, Scripps Howard News Service
Ask Carley: It's OK to read your vows at ceremony
Q: My fiance and I are writing our own vows. Can we read them off paper at our ceremony?
A: Of course you can! You'll already be so nervous about speaking in front of friends and family that no one expects you to memorize your lines as though you were in a play.
Ask Carley: Don't tell guests not to wear white at the wedding
Q: What's a polite way for me to let my guests know that I want to be the only one wearing white at my wedding?
A: There's no polite way to do this, so don't. No rule says that only the bride can wear white at a wedding, but there's sort of an unspoken rule about this, and most guests are happy to oblige.
Ask Carley: It's not 'too girly' for groom to write thank-you notes
Q: I'm writing thank-you notes to my bridesmaids to go with the gifts I'm giving them, but my fiance thinks it'd be too girly if he did that for his groomsmen. Should he do it anyway?
A: True, a groomsman may not save a card forever the way a bridesmaid might, but being in the wedding party still merits a note of thanks, along with the gift.
Ask Carley: Can just one daughter, of four, be invited to shower?
Q: My parents are close with a couple who have four daughters. They're all invited to the wedding, but I'm having a small shower. Can I only invite the daughter I'm closest to?
Ask Carley: No, you can't ask guests to ship presents
Q: Can I ask guests to ship shower gifts directly to my home instead of bringing them to the shower?
Ask Carley: Should bride and groom exchange gifts?
Q: Do my fiance and I have to give each other presents the morning of our wedding?
A: This one is completely up to you. Some couples give each other gifts to wear at the wedding, like a pair of cufflinks for him or earrings for her. But this is by no means a requirement.
Ask Carley: Flower-free centerpieces for reception tables
Q: Floral centerpieces seem so "been there, done that." What are some other options for decorating my reception tables?
A: While floral centerpieces are still a popular choice, there are plenty of other ideas if you want to go flower-free.
Ask Carley: Picking china patterns
Q: Do we really have to register for formal china?
A: Lots of couples are opting out of traditional registry items in favor of more practical swag. The only problem? You might actually want that fancy china down the road, and buying an entire set can cost thousands (yikes!).
Dieting bride-to-be should buy gown that fits now
Q: Should I hold off on buying my wedding dress if I'm trying to lose weight?

