WEDDING DETAILS

RODGERSTUDIO

The State Journal • February 13, 2012

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PAGE 2 ■ WEDDING DETAILS ■ FEBRUARY 13, 2012

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FEBRUARY 13, 2012 ■ WEDDING DETAILS ■ PAGE 3

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contents 3Make your own wedding invitations 4-5Helpful tips for engagement photos 6The why’s of wedding customs 7Coloring the wedding: Bridesmaids 8Making a dream honeymoon possible 10-11The full do-it-yourself wedding 12-13Unique touches for your reception 14Making wedding memories: Cuisine 15Feed on these wedding favor ideas 16Making wedding memories: Video 17Getting married during the holidays 18Have your cake and share it too 1950 timeless fi rst dance classics back cover

DKY:On average,

7,000 couples marry each day in

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wedding details

Cost-conscious cou-ples today seek dif-ferent ways they can reduce expenses on their weddings.

Do-it-yourself weddings have grown in popularity, and creating personalized wed-ding invitations is one way to save money and dream up something special.

Wedding invitations can range in prices depending on the service used. Many brick-and-mortar printing compa-

Make your own wedding invitations nies have gone by the wayside, and online printing sources have replaced them. The re-duced overhead means that many online retailers can pro-duce wedding invitations at a lower cost than in years past. That doesn’t mean they are cheap, however. Couples can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $500 on invitations de-pending on style and quantity, according to estimates from many printing company Web sites. Expect to pay around $90 (U.S.) for postage if mail-ing 100 standard invitations that do not require extra post-age and include stamped re-sponse cards.

In order to avoid overpay-ing for wedding invitations, or simply to create a personalized invitation, many couples are opting to go the do-it-yourself route. DIY invitations are even more common thanks to the popularity of scrapbooking

and papercrafting. Although people may have different standards in terms of quality

for their invitations, it’s impor-tant to realize the invitation is the fi rst thing guests often see

concerning the wedding, and they will help set the tone of the upcoming nuptials.

DIY:Mix and match pre-made with

homemade


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wedding details

Design it yourself, but hire a printer

Couples can visit websites that enable them to choose paper type, ink color, a cer-tain template, wording, col-or scheme, embellishments, dye-cutting, and many other different options. Then the couple sits back and waits for the invites to come in the mail where they are put together before being sent out. These may be the most expensive, because a printer is still doing much of the work.

Mix and match components

Couples who want to be a little more hands-on can purchase card stock and en-velopes separately and de-sign their own invitations ac-cording to color scheme. Clip art included with some word processing or design software can embellish invites that are then printed on a home print-er. Ribbon can be added by punching holes into the in-vite and threading the ribbon through.

Do it all yourselfThe truly crafty couple can

make their invitations from scratch. This involves draw-ing out a template, cutting the card stock to fit, selecting en-velopes, creating and execut-ing response cards, and deco-rating the invitations as they see fit. This will require some tools, including scrapbook-ing or papercrafting supplies. A paper trimmer will help en-sure straight cuts, and decora-tive-edged scissors can help hide any small mistakes in the edges. While this may be a cheaper option if couples get good prices, it also entails the most work and the greatest margin of error.

Use wedding invitation kits

Many stationery shops, craft stores and office supply retailers offer all-in-one kits that can be purchased. These feature a standard design with the accoutrements of that par-ticular design. Most will come with envelopes and small re-sponse cards. The couple sim-ply uses the template provid-ed to create text on a personal computer and then the invite can be run through a home printer.


sive purchases of your wed-ding, they are solely in charge of capturing lifelong memories of one of the most spe-cial days of your life.

When choosing a photogra-pher, look through sever-al different pho-tographers’ web-sites or even ask former brides for their recommendations about local photographers. Facebook is an excellent place to start looking too. Check out their work and see if it is your style.

The best wedding photog-raphers are booked months and even years in advance. Once you have a date set, the photographer should be next on your list to call. Book them early.

Some photographers are skilled at taking posed pho-tos while others are better at documentary, candid pho-tos. Pick which one you like best and make a meeting with that photographer. The pho-tographer should show you a current portfolio and be able to talk with you about the de-tails of your wedding. You can point out different photos that you like best so the pho-tographer will have a better idea of what you are wanting.

Make sure your person-ality is compatible with the photographer. You will be spending a lot of time with them on your big day so you will want to be comfortable around them. The more com-fortable you are with your photographer, the better your pictures will turn out.

In that same meeting, ask the photographer what a nor-mal wedding day schedule would be so that you can plan ahead. Ask them how long it will take to get group photos before and/or after the wed-ding. Schedule plenty of time for photos so that your pho-

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wedding details

Helpful tips for engagement photos BY HILLY DOBNEROWNER/PHOTOGRAPHER

OF HILLY PHOTOGRAPHY

There are two crucial parts of planning a wedding: First, fi nding a wonderful spouse and second, choosing the per-

fect photographer. After your wedding, those are the only two decisions that you will be left with for a lifetime. Don’t be stingy on either!

Though your photographer will be one of the most expen-

tographer isn’t rushed, mak-ing your photos look rushed. In the end, you will want the best quality.

Ask about the photogra-pher’s specifi c experience with weddings. Shooting a wedding is unlike any oth-er photography experience. There are a lot of great pho-tographers out there who just can’t get the feel for shooting a wedding and you only want the best to shoot your big day.

Give the photographer a list of photos you can’t live without. Be specifi c and let them know who the key play-ers are in your wedding so that they won’t miss a special picture to you. It is impossible for the photographer to know all of the people at your wed-ding, so help them out, espe-

cially if you are planning a large wedding.

Ask if the photographer will be coming with an assis-tant. A second shooter makes all the difference in getting shots from unique angles and can play a key role with your photography. They provide a second pair of eyes and an-other camera as a back up to the lead photographer.

Most importantly, remem-ber to have fun with the pho-tographer. The process may take a while but be patient, it will be worth it. Relax and enjoy getting into large group shots with all of the people who care most about you on your special day.HILLY DOBNER IS THE OWNER AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF HILLY PHOTOGRAPHY IN FRANKFORT.

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TIP:Find and

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early


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wedding details

The why’s of wedding customsChances are, those

who have attended a wedding have wit-nessed some popular traditions take place.

The bride wears a veil, a court of wedding attendants accompanies the bride and groom, and birdseed, rice or fl ower petals are tossed. But have you ever wondered why? The wedding customs are ripe with tradition and harken back to days when superstition and myth often ruled the day.

Throwing riceToday it has become de ri-

gueur to blow bubbles, toss birdseed or release doves when the bride and groom leave the house of worship newly be-trothed. That’s because sav-vy individuals found that raw rice can pose a hazard to birds pecking in the area. However, rice throwing is an old custom that dates back to the Mid-dle Ages, when wheat or rice where thrown to symbolize fertility for the couple.

BouquetNowadays, the bride carries

a beautiful bouquet of fl owers. But the purpose of the bou-quet held different meanings in the past. Saracen brides carried orange blossoms for fertility. Others carried a com-bination of herbs and fl owers to ward off evil spirits with their aroma. Bouquets of dill were often carried, again for fertility reasons, and after the ceremony, the dill was eaten to encourage lust.

BridesmaidsThere may be arguments

over dresses and how many bridesmaids to have in a wed-ding party now, but in an-cient times it was “the more the merrier.” That’s because bridesmaids were another measure to keep the bride safe against evil spirits. Essentially the bridesmaids were decoys for the spirits – dressing like

the bride to confuse the spirits or maybe help deter them to leave the bride be.

Wedding ringsWearing of wedding rings

dates back to ancient Egypt. The round shape of a ring symbolizes eternal love. The ring is worn on the fourth fi n-ger of the left hand because it is believed this fi nger has a blood vessel that goes directly to the heart.

Wedding cakeThe traditional wedding

cake evolved from Roman times when the cake was orig-inally made from wheat. It was broken over the bride’s head to ensure fertility. All of the guests eat a piece for good luck. Single women used to place a

piece of wedding cake under their pillows in the hopes of fi nding their own husbands.

Father of the brideThis tradition symbolizes

that the bride’s father endors-es the choice in husbands and is presenting his daughter as a pure bride to that man.

Kissing the brideIn older times, a kiss sym-

bolized a legal bond. There-fore, the bride and groom kissed to seal the deal on their betrothal.

There are many traditions surrounding a wedding that people simply accept. But un-derstanding their origins can make the ceremony more meaningful.

DYK:Wedding rings date back to ancient Egypt


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wedding details

Coloring the wedding: BridesmaidsBridesmaids are an impor-

tant part of the wedding party, and most brides opt to have a handful of close friends and family members play a special role in the wedding. Choosing a gown and a color that will fl atter all of the bridesmaids typically takes a little work.

An overwhelming major-ity of couples choose to have a formal wedding. The aver-age number of bridesmaids for these formal weddings is

four. Considering around two million weddings take place in North America every year, that’s a lot of bridesmaids for whom gowns and other attire must be planned.

Many bridesmaids wor-ry about the gowns they will wear come the big day. Hor-rible bridesmaid dresses have been the butt of jokes for years, and many people have their own stories of garish gowns they’ve been asked to don

for a wedding. Some have said that brides in-tentional-ly choose u g l y gowns for their brides-maids to en-sure they’re not outshined come the wedding day. Although this may be the case for some, most brides as-

pire to select gowns that will be flattering for all. And

color scheme is integral in the choice of gown.

Every well-planned wedding carries a col-or scheme throughout.

This includes the col-or a bride selects for her

bridesmaids to wear. But not every color accentuates everyone’s features. Therefore, some experimentation might be necessary to find a color that is fl attering to all and fi ts with the color scheme.

Depending on hair color and skin shade, there are many flattering hues available for gowns. When making this de-cision, consider bridesmaids’ ethnicity and skin tone.

African-AmericanWomen with dark skin and

hair may really shine in jewel-colored gowns, including sil-ver, gold, purple and salmon. Very pale colors may be daring and conspicuous.

Asian and olive tonesThose with a slight yellow

tone to their skin will look good in many colors, includ-ing red, navy, peach, and fuch-sia. However, avoid colors in light yellow, aqua, gray, taupe, or mint, which may make the bridesmaid look washed out.

Fair skinLadies with pale skin will

benefit from richly colored gowns in jewel tones. Pas-tels may work, but be care-ful about those depending on

hair color. Pink or red-hued gowns may clash with some-one with auburn hair. Yellow and green may not work with a fair brunette. Gray and silver may wash out someone who is pale and blonde.

Once a color is chosen, brides also need to consider the season. Certain colors may look out of place depending on the season. For example, an evergreen or deep blue may seem wintry during a sum-mer wedding. Similarly, rus-set or brown may work for the autumn but not for a spring wedding. Many brides gravi-tate toward mid-level blues, greens, pinks and purples for their weddings, simply be-cause those colors transcend the seasons.

After colors are worked out, the style of the gown deserves consideration. Because not ev-ery bridesmaid has the same physical attributes, many brides are now open to select-ing a color and length and al-lowing the bridesmaid herself to choose the exact style. This way someone who is busty won’t feel uncomfortable in strapless, and someone who is thin won’t be overwhelmed by a lot of ruffl es. The intent is to have bridesmaids feel beauti-ful and comfortable, and dif-ferent styles can help.

Making the effort to choose a gown color and style that is fl attering to all in the bridal party will help the ladies feel they are truly a special part of the wedding.

for a wedding.

maids to en-sure they’re not

pire to select gowns that will be flattering for all. And

color scheme is integral in the choice of gown.

wedding carries a col-or scheme throughout.

This includes the col-or a bride selects for her

bridesmaids to wear. But not every color accentuates everyone’s features. Therefore,

TIP:Consider

how a color complements

the season


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wedding details

Making a dream honeymoon possibleBY MAUREEN HALSEY-WRIGHTWWW.MEMORABLETRAVELS.COM

Even with the down economy, you can still have your dream honeymoon. A qualifi ed travel consultant can help you to fi nd the best value and plan a most romantic and memorable honey-moon within your budget. You can fi nd all of this right here in Frankfort, from local travel agency, Memorable Travels. Here are some things to consider when planning your special trip:

Start planning earlySix to nine months is recommended

and can offer you the best pricing and availability options. However, if you have less time, we can still help you get the best price possible. To save money, try to avoid travel during holidays.

Decide your wedding localeAre you getting married here or do

you want a destination wedding with a honeymoon all rolled into one pack-age? Many Caribbean and Mexican re-sorts offer free destination weddings.

Where do you want to spend your honeymoon?

Do you want a warm tropical beach, a chalet in the mountains, an intimate setting or a party atmosphere? Do you want to travel to Europe or are you in-terested in a cruise? How about a hon-eymoon safari on the wild side in South Africa?

Set a ballpark budgetThis helps us guide you to the choice

that will give you the most for your money. Do you want an all-inclusive package, moderate or deluxe resort/ship, etc?

Choose your length of stayOther than the number of nights you

want to be away, consider these things as well: If you go to Europe, your fi rst night is on the plane on the way over. If you go to Hawaii, your last night is on the plane on the way home. If you go to the Caribbean and Mexico, fl ights are all on the same day each way.

Choose the type of lodgingyou want

Do you want ocean view, garden view, a suite, perhaps a n over water bun-galow or an inside, outside or balcony cruise cabin? What amenities are important to you? Remember, your choice will affect how many days will fi t into your budget.

Find a qualifi ed travel consultant to help you

Your consultant should have exper-tise in a variety of destinations, fl ex-ibility by being available when needed, and take pride in providing one-on-one special attention with custom tailored itineraries that fi t perfectly into your dreams as well as your budget.

Consider a honeymoon registry

Do you have enough towels, sheets, toasters and blenders? What better gift than your perfect honeymoon getaway? Many couples receive gifts covering a signifi cant portion of their travel costs. Memorable Travels offers a free honey-moon registry to all couples. We do not charge you or your donors for this ser-vice.

You might ask yourself if you could save money by doing all of this yourself. According to Maureen Halsey, own-er and travel consultant with Frank-fort travel agency Memorable Travels, a good travel consultant is your advo-cate and puts your interests fi rst. Rath-er than paying more for your honey-moon, you are likely to pay less and get more. A travel consultant brings you discounted hotel/cruise rates and air-fares, all in one package deals, specials and promotions and does not charge for their services.

When it comes to your wedding and honeymoon, some things are too im-

portant to take on yourself. Planning your perfect honeymoon takes time and energy, which are hard-to-come-by resources while you are also plan-ning your wedding. This once in a life time event will create memories that last a lifetime, so it should not be left to chance. Your travel consultant is there for you before, during, and after your trip. And the bonus peace of mind

comes at no extra charge. A knowledge-able travel consultant will save you money and time.

Here’s to a most romantic and mem-orable honeymoon. Photos here are of some of the most popular honey-moon destinations. To see photos from around the world, and also what our clients say about various destinations, visit www.memorabletravels.com

perhaps a n over water bun-galow or an inside, outside or

TIP:Planning 6-9

months ahead offers the best

trip pricing


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Did you know?It has become tradition for

married couples to jet off on a post-wedding vacation.

This honeymoon is a way for the bride and groom to en-joy quiet time together and start off their married life to-gether on a deeper, more inti-

mate level. Although the word “hon-

eymoon” has happy connota-tions today, the original mean-ings of the word may not be so blissful.

There are varying accounts of the evolution of the word “honeymoon,” but many be-lieve it to be a Norse tradition

deriving from the word “hju-nottsmanathr.”

Northern European his-tory describes women being abducted from their families and forced into marriage with a man from a neighboring vil-lage.

This husband would take his new bride into hiding and

stay there for a while until it was certain the bride’s family had given up the hunt and re-treated.

It was also tradition for Scandinavian couples to drink a sweet, honey-infused wine known as mead for a month after getting married.

This may be where the

“honey,” for the sweet drink, and the “moon,” for the one-month period of time, origi-nated.

Others say “honeymoon” refers to a sarcastic quip that a marriage starts out sweet as honey, but then wanes much as the moon will each cycle.


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wedding details

The full do-it-yourself weddingThose thinking

about tying the knot in the months to come may be dis-couraged by how ex-pensive weddings can be.

But with a little ingenu-ity and a hands-on approach, couples can have a wedding that is inexpensive and mem-orable at the same time.

According to CostofWed-ding.com, on average, U.S. couples spend $26,542 for their weddings. Weddingbells magazine states that the aver-age cost for a wedding in Can-ada is $23,330, up from $20,129 in 2010. These amounts do not include the cost for an engage-ment ring or wedding bands. With such a high price tag, some couples may wonder if

they can afford their dream wedding or if there are ways to cut costs. Having a backyard, DIY wedding can be the an-swer.

Although some may envi-sion a backyard wedding with picnic benches and Dad at the grill, it can be a much classier affair than that. Smart couples are realizing that the money they would normally spend on a big wedding at an out-side venue can be put to bet-ter use, either through buying a new home or fi xing up one they may already own. Fur-thermore, for couples who are picky about details, having a DIY event ensures that they can control the details and have them as personal as they would like.

Getting startedA DIY wedding is one that

will take much more work than simply hiring vendors

and leaving the details to them. But the money saved with sweat equity can be sub-stantial. A well-planned wed-ding is the best start.

Grab a notebook and start making lists of all the things you will need:

• location• tables and chairs• linens• food• silverware and glassware• invitations• photography• music• offi ciant• music• centerpieces and other decor• cake or dessert• lighting• attire• fl owers

Work in advanceMany items necessary for a

wedding can be bought in ad-vance. Some couples fi nd that purchasing low-cost items at discount stores turns out to be less expensive than rent-ing. For example, inexpensive glasses and silverware can be bought at dollar stores or chains like Ikea. Later on these items can be kept, sold or even donated to shelters.

Tablecloths don’t have to be the traditional kind. It may be less expensive to purchase

pieces of fabric from a fabric store and dressing them up oneself. Candles can be stock-piled relatively easy and pro-vide a very affordable means of ambient light. Plan out

centerpiece ideas and fi gure out which components can be bought and stored. Then items can be assembled at leisure. Wedding stationery is one thing that will have to

DYK:The average

cost of a wedding is $26,542


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be bought well in advance so there will be time enough to printout save-the-dates, invi-tations and response cards, as well as mail them.

An informal wedding may mean couples can get sim-ple attire. Buying off the rack may mean a smaller price tag for gowns. Gentleman may be able to fare with sportcoats and slacks. Purchase ward-robe essentials several months in advance to be sure there will be time for alterations, if necessary.

Enlist the help of family and friends to get many of the tasks completed. Upon ask-ing, many couples fi nd there are members of the family who have skills in certain ar-eas, which can be tapped for the wedding. There may be a gourmet chef, a disc jockey, a photographer or even some-one who can officiate the vows. Having these people on board means a great reduction in costs.

Readying the venueBecause couples will be

doing the work themselves, it’s best to start several days in advance of the wedding (weather permitting). Be sure the grounds are well groomed

and landscaped. Ensure there are no tripping hazards and that there is a sturdy surface for placing tables or creating a dance fl oor.

It may pay to ask an electri-cian or someone who dabbles in electric work to help string some lights to better illumi-nate the area, especially for when the sun goes down.

Set up the tables and chairs to fi nalize placement the day before. Figure out where the ceremony will take place. A small arbor can mark the area and make a nice photo back-drop. Dress the tables with lin-ens and settings the morning of the wedding.

One splurge couples may want to make is hiring a wait-staff to help set up food service areas, serve as bartenders and clear away dishes and other messes. This way the bride and groom can mingle with guests.

Other tips and tricksHere are some other ways to

save money on DIY weddings.• Using fruit is less expen-

sive than using flowers for centerpieces.

• Include postcard response cards in wedding invites. The postage is less, and you don’t have to spend money on an

extra envelope.• Be sure to check with your

town if you need a permit or variance for having so many cars parked by the house in the event of a backyard wed-ding. Otherwise you could be facing a fi ne.

• Many different foods can

be cooked in advance and fro-zen instead of hiring a cater-ing service.

• Consider favors that also double as table centerpieces.

• Bouquets can easily be made with store-bought fl ow-ers, some fl oral tape and deco-rative ribbon.

• Restrict the bar to wine and beer, and you’ll save mon-ey on expensive liquors.

A DIY wedding can be a fun, memorable event that costs a couple a fraction of what it would be to have it held at an expensive location.

wedding details


Radiant,Beautiful Brides��

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Brittany’s

wedding details

Unique touches for your receptionOver the course of their

lifetimes, many people will be wedding guests on several occasions. During the height of wedding season, weddings can run into one another, as the format and the festivities are similar at various ceremo-nies. Couples interested in set-ting their nuptials apart may want to enhance the wedding reception with a few unique ideas.

Who hasn’t attended a wedding that seems formula-ic? The couple enters, they do their spotlight dance, there’s food, a bouquet toss and then the cake cutting. Guests may actually be able to predict what’s coming next. While it is often customary and easy to follow tradition, that doesn’t mean you cannot buck with tradition and offer a few cre-ative ideas to make your event stand out.

Here are several ideas you can introduce into your wed-ding to add something special to the reception.

Skip the big entranceThose who were kind

enough to attend the ceremo-ny have already been introduced to the newly minted happy cou-ple. Instead of spending the cocktail hour in the isolation of the wedding suite, mingle with your guests from start to fi nish. So much time is spent pos-ing for pictures or being out of touch with guests, the cocktail hour can be a great time to sit and chat. Being with guests during the cocktail hour means you don’t have to make that big entrance from behind closed doors. Guests will have all eyes on you when you step on the dance fl oor for your fi rst dance together.

Dance to an upbeat number

Guests are expecting a slow, sappy tune. What they may not expect is an upbeat song that shows you are willing to have a little fun. If you haven’t mas-

tered the waltz but enjoy a lit-tle quick step now and again, feel free to choose a tune that shows your excitement and love for each other.

Encourage couples to dance together

It’s often customary for the bridal party to join the bride and groom on the dance fl oor midway through the fi rst dance. However, that leaves spouses or significant oth-ers waiting in the wings while their dates tango with grooms-men or bridesmaids. Instead, don’t have assigned partners. Rather, encourage your bridal party members to dance with whomever they choose.

Swap out the garter/bouquet toss

If you’re part of a couple who feels the garter and bou-quet toss has become trite, there are other ways to create special moments in your cele-bration – ones that don’t single out the singletons who haven’t yet found their special some-ones. Use this time to present a small gift or token of your affection to someone on the guest list who has served as a

mentor or source of inspira-tion.

Leave guests with an extra goodie

Some couples feel the more they offer the better guests will view their wedding. Spending more money doesn’t neces-sarily mean guests will have a better time. If you want to go above and beyond the ordi-nary, fi nd one thing that you absolutely love and offer that at the party. It could be a fl am-be presentation, a chocolate or candy bar, a carving station with your all-time favorite food (even if that’s PB&J), or a carnival-inspired automatic photo booth.

Hire a live performerAlthough it’s hard to beat

the performance quality of your wedding song being per-formed by the original art-ist, unless you’re cousins with Celine Dion, chances are she won’t be available to sing “My Heart Will Go On” at your re-ception. However, a live band adds a certain level of excite-ment that a disk jockey may not be able to provide. Those who are adding a cultural or

ethnic component to their wedding may want to hire a dance troupe or another type of performer, like a bagpiper, as an added measure of enter-tainment for guests.

Let them eat ... cookies?

Some people just don’t like cake. Therefore, why should a couple have to cut a seven-tiered white confection? Tow-ers of different types of treats can be created from just about anything and serve as the per-fect backdrop for that classic cake-cutting photo. A pyra-mid of cream puffs, stacks of brownies, a cookie castle, or cereal-cake concoctions can work. Some bakeries will dec-orate a “dummy” styrofoam cake, and then you can serve apple pie a la mode.

Stage a costume switchLet’s face it, dancing all

night in a long gown takes some stamina. As the bride, have a more comfortable cocktail dress available to switch into for the latter part of the reception. It will also add some variety to your wed-ding photos.

introduced to the newly minted

with your guests from start to fi nish.

TIP:Prevent a

predictable feel by revamping

1 element.


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wedding details

Making wedding memories: CuisineDespite the months of plan-

ning and poring over every minute detail of a wedding, it has often been said that what people remember most about wedding receptions is the food and if they had fun.

Therefore, instead of worry-ing about choosing Jordan al-monds over chocolate truffl es, or whether the cake should have an extra tier, cou-ples may want to pay more attention to se-lecting their recep-tion menus.

Although certain foods are wedding staples, it could pay for couples to think with their stomachs in-stead of their heads when selecting wedding day fare. Having a selection of foods that taste as good as they look is a wise idea.

Whether you are cook-ing yourself, having a family member serve as chef or rely-ing on the menu of the recep-tion hall, think about foods that will please guests and select those items, regardless of them being fancy. Here are some other tips.

You want foods to be fi ll-ing but not so much so that guests have to waddle to the dance fl oor. If you’re planning on several courses, keep por-tion sizes small to offer a taste of the different items offered.

Classic foods can work well as wedding fare. Roasts, barbecued meats and favor-ite pasta dishes can make guests feel like they’re dining at someone’s home and not at a wedding.

Choose items people have heard of. Instead of torna-does of beef, select a hearty prime rib. Just because a dish sounds fancy doesn’t make it taste better. If a guest doesn’t know what he or she is eating, it can be uncomfortable. Now is not the time to experiment with exotic foods, either. Oth-erwise, some picky eaters may be left hungry.

Think about the foods you

love and see if they can be in-corporated at the wedding. Although a breakfast bar at an evening event may seem fun-ny, waffl es and omelets may appeal to a greater number of guests than a gourmet fi sh creation.

Don’t make vegetarians an afterthought. Too often, veg-etarians must eat whatever the kitchen can pull together, which is usually a compila-tion of the vegetable garnishes from the meat dishes. Make an effort to have a true vegetarian dish that is intricate and deli-cious.

Mashed potatoes are a crowd pleaser. Serve little portions of mashed potatoes in cocktail glasses and en-able guests to top as they see fi t with bacon bits, cheese or chives.

No idea is silly, and serv-ing any type of food in a hors d’oeuvre style can make it ac-ceptable at a formal affair, whether that food is pizza or

caviar-topped crackers and if you have a favorite restaurant that serves delicious food, fi nd out if they will cater your wedding.

Just because it isn’t on the menu doesn’t mean it can-not be prepared. Talk to the catering manager and let him

or her know your preferences. Provided you’re willing to pay a little more, there’s a good chance you can have items that aren’t on the standard ca-tering menu.

Think outside the box for your cocktail hour “bars.” A bread bar, a dipping station,

milk and cookies service, or vegetable bar are options that go against the standard.

Although it’s your wedding, ultimately the goal is to please the guests. By choosing foods they will love and rave about, you’re guaranteed positive re-marks on your wedding.

have an extra tier, cou-

with their stomachs in-stead of their heads when

TIP:Don’t fi ll the menu with exotic foods


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Feed on these wedding favor ideasDo you have a

shelf or cabinet that’s fi lled to the brim with wedding favors such as engravd ice cream scoopers, cake ser vers, cheese spreaders or tealight candle holders? If you do, you’re not alone.

As couples pore over guest favor options, many select trinkets or knickknacks that, while thoughtful, end up col-lecting dust in someone’s home. Edible gifts also can be thoughtful – and fl avorful!

Guests may look forward to an edible favor because it’s a memento of the special oc-casion and it won’t become a permanent fi xture in their

homes. There are many edible fa-

vors from which to choose. They can also be customized according to the theme of the wedding.

ChocolateIt’s diffi cult to fi nd an ed-

ible favor more universally beloved than chocolate. Rich and inviting, chocolate has long been given as a symbol of love and devotion. Chocolate candies and baked goods can work well for wedding favors, provided the favors are refrig-erated to avoid melting.

Ideas for chocolate favors include individually pack-aged truffl es, gourmet brown-ie bites, candy-covered choc-olates with an inscription, chocolate covered apples, chocolate coins, and other similar creations.

Chocolate molded designs

(much like those chocolate Easter bunnies) are another idea.

CookiesS w e e t

cookies also make good edible fa-vors. Butter cookies are a favorite be-cause they are sturdy enough to cut into different shapes. Professionally iced, these cookies can be a master-piece to behold. Some couples opt for customized fortune cookies that express person-alized sentiments to guests.

Make-your-ownSometimes it’s less expen-

sive to give guests kits that they can take home to create their own edible treasures. Options abound and can in-clude everything from person-alized packets of hot choco-late to tea bags. Other couples choose among mixes for mak-ing cookies or cakes.

CandiesIt has become popular to

have a self-serve candy bar at many weddings. Guests are in-vited to step up to the display and serve themselves from a series of different confections. Autumn weddings could have Halloween-inspired candies or those in fall hues.

It’s easy to follow a color theme when you have a bevy of different candies at your disposal.

Many discount stores sell inexpensive jars and candy dishes to house the candy. De-signer Chinese takeout-type containers are available from craft stores and can be the perfect way for guests to make that candy portable.

Other ediblesFrom cupcakes to maple

syrup to personalized bottles of barbecue sauce, couples have so many options for guest favors at their disposal.

cause they are sturdy enough to cut into different

DIY:Let guests

fi ll and take their own treat bags.


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wedding details

Making wedding memories: VideoIn a fi nancial climate where

most people are pinching pen-nies, it comes as no surprise that many engaged couples seek ways to cut costs with re-gard to their weddings. Some couples are undecided wheth-er certain components of their wedding are necessary.

The decision to hire a videogra-pher is one such area couples fret over. After all, with a pho-tographer snap-ping hundreds of pictures, hav-ing a video may seem like an unnec-essary luxury. However, people often fi nd that having a wedding video after the day has passed is worth the price.

There are several advantag-es to hiring a professional vid-eographer to capture the day. A professionally produced wedding video is not the same as Uncle Fred carrying around his archaic camcorder and catching a few embarrassing dance moves during the re-ception. A professional video will showcase all moments of the wedding from perspec-tives not easily captured by photography. In addition to showcasing the images of the wedding, the video will also share the sounds and emo-tions of the day.

Choose a videographer who will work in conjunc-tion with the wedding mood and parameters. You prob-ably don’t want a videogra-pher who uses bright lights that can be distracting. Nor do you want a videographer who pushes the camera in guests’ faces for a less-than-candid interview. Today’s profession-als are inconspicuous.

The videographer often works in tandem with the photographer. Some photog-raphers have a videographer on staff. But it is fi ne to bring in your own if you like the quality of the photographer’s photos but not the videogra-

pher’s work.A videographer will cap-

ture the things you may have missed during the busy day. He or she can serve as the eyes and ears for the things you’re not seeing and hearing.

Although ours is an increas-ingly digital world where peo-ple capture photos and videos on their smartphones and oth-er devices on a regular basis, a wedding video can serve as a family memento. What other time, apart from the holidays, do you have all of your friends and loved ones together?

Although no one wants to think of a friend or relative passing away while planning their wedding, the fact re-mains that after a few years some of the people who at-tended your wedding may no longer be around. Having a wedding video may be the only last moving image and sound of a special person who is no longer in your life.

Sound is a portion of the wedding that photos simply cannot capture. To relive the music and the words of the

day, a videographer is a ne-cessity. Professionals who use wireless microphones will produce a video with the best sound quality.

You can work with a good videographer so it’s not sim-ply a video with close-up shots of your face or unfl at-tering perspectives. Talk about your preferences and even fears about being fi lmed (some people just don’t like watching themselves on TV), and the videographer can no doubt fi nd solutions that will accommodate your needs.

There are many things that you will not see at the wedding but may have liked to, such as the fi rst gasps of wonder upon guests walking into the recep-tion room, or the tears on the face of an aunt who was sit-ting too far back in the church pews. This is where a wedding video can prove invaluable.

Modern videographers of-fer high-resolution, edited movies. These can be deliv-ered via Blu Ray DVD and en-sure the best quality for your package.

The decision to

ing a video may seem like an unnec-essary luxury. However,

DYK:Good

videographers offer high-res, edited fi lms.


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wedding details

Getting married during the holidaysAlthough prime wedding

season runs from May through October, many brides- and grooms-to-be choose to tie the knot during the winter, with the holidays providing a pop-ular backdrop to the wedding festivities.

Holiday weddings are of-ten joyous affairs. People are jolly, decorations abound, and there’s a chance that some snowfall can make your pic-turesque photo dreams come true. And considering most churches and reception sites are already trimmed in sea-sonal decor to accommo-date various holiday parties, chances are you can save a

little money on fl oral arrange-ments and extra accessories.

Having a wedding during the holidays also makes it easi-er to plan out themes and color schemes. For those who have diffi culty deciding on bubble-gum pink bridesmaids gowns or teal table linens, working with the colors of the winter season makes planning sim-ple. Choose among burgundy, berry red, forest green, gold, silver, cream, and light blue to set the mood of the event. Deep red gowns complement any skin tone, and bouquets full of green and white fi ll call to mind a light snow dusting evergreen boughs.

When selecting wedding invitations, be sure to choose a design that will set the in-vitation apart from the holi-day greetings already being delivered to wedding guests. You may want to forgo a folded card or any holiday inspired embellishments on the invitations alto-gether. Instead, go with a clas-sic white or o f f - w h i t e card. A bor-der of snow-f lakes or a mention of a holiday theme in the invitation wording will clue in guests to the wedding’s holi-day theme. Because the holi-days are already a busy time of the year, there are a few other considerations couples should heed when planning.

Push up the dates you do all of your meetings with vendors. The season is awash in parties and other festive events; therefore, reception sites, caterers, fl orists, limou-sine services, and disc jockeys may book quickly. Try to se-cure as many vendors as pos-sible as soon as you set your wedding date.

Consult with a clergy member to discuss having a religious wedding during the holiday season. Certain dates may be restricted due to litur-gical requirements or simply because of special church-re-lated events.

Wedding guests are likely to be busy themselves dur-ing the holiday season, so be sure to send out save-the-date cards to advertise your wed-ding well in advance of send-ing out the actual invitations. When invitations are mailed, do so about 3 months before the wedding.

Flowers may be more ex-pensive this time of the year, so spread a tight budget by including candles, greenery (like evergreen branches or holly) or simple poinsettia

plants with other more tradi-tional fl owers.

Be sure to factor weather into the planning. If gowns will not have sleeves, be sure to select shrugs or capes that can be worn for warmth. Muffs or full-arm gloves can be elegant and warming as well.

Get creative with wedding cakes to tie into the theme. An all-white cake can look like it’s covered in snow. A cake can be shaped into a wrapped gift or

a giant ornament.Also keep in mind that this

is a busy travel season. There-fore you may want to wait un-til well after New Year’s before embarking on your honey-moon. Otherwise you could pay a premium for airline tick-ets.

A wedding during the hol-iday season can be magical and something that adds even more sentimental value to an already joyous time of year.

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in the invitation wording will clue in

TIP:The holidays are busy so

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wedding details

Have your cake and share it too!During a time when

bridezillas are glam-orized and over-the-top celebrity wed-dings are broadcast for the world, some couples are opting to do something more altruistic on their spe-cial day.

With more than $125 bil-lion spent annually on wed-dings, engaged couples are welcoming the opportunity to give back as part of their wed-ding day. Charitable weddings are in vogue, and, thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to use your wedding as a vehicle to raise money for charity.

The trend of charitable weddings – celebrations where couples incorporate their so-cially conscious values into their wedding planning – has exploded over the past few years. The I Do Foundation is a leading voice for charitable weddings, and more than 10 percent of engaged couples visit each year to learn how they can personalize their weddings by giving back to a charity of their choice. And now that the I Do Foundation has teamed up with JustGive.

org, there are even more op-portunities for engaged cou-ples to make a difference with charitable giv-ing.

“The I Do Foundation has always envi-sioned a world where charita-ble giving was a more integral part of many life events,” stated Ex-ecutive Director Grant La Rouche. “With our new home at JustGive, we are well posi-tioned to build on our success with weddings for other areas of charitable giving.”

The I Do Foundation has helped couples raise more than $20 million in charita-ble donations. The founda-tion’s highest earning wed-ding raised more than $50,000 alone. Here’s how it works.

In place of traditional fa-vors, couples can make chari-table donations to honor their guests. Couples can create gift registries with major re-tail partners that donate up to eight percent of all revenue from gifts. Wedding guests can choose to make donations in lieu of giving gifts.

Participating vendors, in-cluding those that sell statio-nery, honeymoons, jewelry, and more, help generate dona-tions with every purchase.

Couples can choose to sup-port one of the foundation’s popular charities or a charity that is near and dear to them. The I Do Foundation has de-veloped a list of more than 40 innovative nonprofi ts and grouped them into six giv-ing areas. You can choose to support one or more of these groups, or you can direct your donations to a general focus area, like social justice or the environment.

Charitable weddings offer another reason to celebrate a happy couple’s nuptials. More information can be found at www.idofoundation.org.

with charitable giv-

part of many life events,” stated Ex-ecutive Director Grant La

DYK:Some vendors

will donate revenue to

charity.

1. “At Last” (Etta James)

2. “As Time Goes By” (from Casablanca)

3. “Come Rain or Come Shine” (Ray Charles)

4. “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion)

5. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John)

6. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (Elvis Presley)

7. “Chances Are” (Johnny Mathis)

8. “Close To You” (The Carpenters)

9. “Could I Have This Dance?” (Anne Murray)

10. “Dream A Little Dream” (Mamas & the Papas)

11. “Embraceable You” (Nat King Cole)

12. “Endless Love” (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)

13. “Fascination” (Jane Morgan)

14. “Fever” (Peggy Lee)

15. “Forever and Ever, Amen” (Randy Travis)

16. “From This Moment” (Shania Twain & Brian White)

17. “Forever” (Kenny Loggins)

18. “Grow Old With Me” (Mary Chapin Carpenter)

19. “Here And Now” (Luther Vandross)

20. “I Finally Found Someone” (Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams)

21. “I Only Have Eyes For You” (The Flamingos)

22. “I Will” (The Beatles)

23. “If I Loved You” (from Carousel)

24. “In My Life” (The Beatles)

25. “It Had To Be You” (Harry Connick, Jr.)

26. “Lady In Red” (Chris DeBurgh)

27. “Love Theme To Romeo & Juliet” (from Zeffi relli’s Romeo and Juliet)

28. “Marry Me” (Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson)

29. “One Moment In Time” (Whitney Houston)

30. “Our Love Is Here To Stay”

(Billie Holiday)

31. “So This Is Love” (James Ingram)

32. “Some Enchanted Evening” (from South Pacifi c)

33. “Something” (The Beatles)

34. “Somewhere” (from West Side Story)

35. “The Best Is Yet To Come” (Frank Sinatra)

36. “The Rose” (Bette Midler)

37. “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)

38. “True” (Spandau Ballet)

39. “Unforgettable” (Nat King Cole)

40. “Up Where We Belong” (Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warrens)

41. “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” (Captain & Tennille)

42. “Wedding Song (There is Love)” (Petula Clark)

43. “We’ve Got Tonight” (Bob Seger)

44. “We’ve Only Just Begun”

(The Carpenters)

45. “When I Fall In Love” (Nat King Cole)

46. “Will You Marry Me?” (Vonda Shepard)

47. “Woman” (John Lennon)

48. “Wonderful World” (Louis Armstrong)

49. “You Are So Beautiful” (Joe Cocker)

50. “Your Song” (Elton John)

wedding details

50 timeless fi rst dance classics

TIP:If the song is meaningful,

don’t be afraid to go classic.

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WEDDING DETAILS