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Bridal Guide Spring 2014

kpcnews.com

THE

HERALD

REPUBLICAN

The

Star

THE NEWS SUN

Vintage:

Here’s to your special day! Putting together the perfect wedding takes much planning. That’s why we have created this guide. We want to make sure your special day is a wonderful one and that you remember it forever! Our spring 2014 Bridal Guide will help you make many of the biggest decisions that lie ahead. From finances, jewelry, food and more, we strive to make your wedding day memorable, stress-free and fun! We also hope you will enjoy a few special stories about local people and their experiences with getting married. As you read through these pages, we hope you will find the information helpful as you plan for the big day. This guide is also available online at kpcnews.com. Best wishes to all of the happy couples out there in northeast Indiana from all of us at KPC Media Group!

the trend in bridal jewelry BY OCTAVIA LEHMAN olehman@kpcmedia.com

AUBURN — Bridal jewelry is returning to a simpler time, said Emma Metcalf-Taylor, the owner of Lyn-Maree’s Boutique in Auburn. At her downtown Auburn store, Metcalf-Taylor has set up her own Bridal and Bridal Party Collection, carrying a variety of pearl, rhinestone and colored rhinestones. MetcalfTaylor said some women are returning to simpler trends, choosing instead pearls and vintage necklaces. “Brides are selecting a vintage look, opting for bird-cage head pieces instead of the traditional long veil,” Metcalf-Taylor said. “The want a vintage classical look.” Metcalf-Taylor said once a bride finds a piece of jewelry she likes, she can order the piece in several different

On the cover: Becky Nixon and John Darragh paused with their dog, Scout, after their Nov. 16, 2013, wedding in Auburn. Nixon-Darragh photos courtesy of Colagrossi Studio.

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Pearls are a popular trend in bridal jewelry.

colors to match a bridesmaid’s dress. Though some may opt for a vintage look, Metcalf-Taylor said it’s all about a bride’s preference. “People can select what they like. It’s

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See JEWELRY page 3

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Some men get

JEWELRY From page 2

not all about the trends,” she said. She likes when her customers use their creativity. One customer opted to give her flower girl a clutch handbag instead of a basket. The bride filled the clutch with flower petals that were used during the wedding. The clutch then was given to the flower girl as a gift. According to Jill Maier, VP of design at Carolee, “vintage remains a strong trend in bridal jewelry. Brides are favoring art deco, estate-inspired silhouettes when it comes to jewels.” The mix of crystal and pearl is a signature look at Carolee. Popular items are: • florette bracelets; • delicate drop earrings; • vintage-inspired necklaces. Many brides are choosing just one or two standout accessories, balancing a modern detail-oriented ceremony and reception with a minimalist, classic ensemble. Maier also notes, “The beauty of this jewelry is that it’s distinctive without being overwhelming. It can be worn alone and looks great layered.”

creative

with their wedding proposals BY MIKE MARTURELLO mmarturello@kpcmedia.com

Chris and Sara Lake, Albion It was a warm evening on July 24, 1999, and I didn’t anticipate anything different from our usual Saturday night date. I suggested our favorite restaurant; Chris smiled and said that was a good idea but that he had already made reservations for us somewhere else. He asked me to look in the back seat of his car, and there were two dozen roses that I had not even noticed (Surprise No. 1). The attached note expressed his hopes that I would enjoy my night full of surprises. Before I knew it, a horse and carriage pulled up beside the restaurant, and it was for us (Surprise No. 2). The driver was friendly, and we sat back as she trotted us around the streets of downtown. After a bit, she needed to stop because something

Chris and Sara Lake

was wrong with the reigns. She pulled over, and we climbed out to stretch. Chris walked over toward the corner of the lot, and I was just a few steps behind him. He asked, “Have you ever seen See PROPOSALS page 4

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PROPOSALS From page 3

this sign?” He motioned for me to come toward him. “Look up there,” he said pointing at the sign that stretched over Jefferson Boulevard. I looked up, and I saw these words running across the sign: “Sara, I love you. Will you marry me? — Chris” (Surprise No. 3). I turned around and he was on one knee with a little white box. (Surprise No. 4) I was so surprised, and I remember thinking that something like this only happens in the movies! I didn’t hesitate with my “Yes!” However, he did have to ask me if I was going to open the box because I was so happy that I hadn’t even looked inside. We climbed back into the carriage, and Chris revealed to me all of the planning and preparations that had been going on for quite some time. The driver took us back to the restaurant, and we had our first dinner (Surprise No. 5) as an engaged couple. We were married May 20, 2000, and we will celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary this year!

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Toby and Joyce Baker, Ashley Looking back … I was just a kid with no money trying to be poetically creative. I was a lowly associate working my way through college as a cashier for Sam’s Club at the time. I had heard a number of stories, reviewed scenes in dozens of movies and tried to visualize how I might design this scenario that would hopefully be retold time and again to many of her closest friends. Of course all of that would be contingent upon the answer, but I was confident, if anything, in that part alone. How it would all happen was a different outcome entirely. In trying to think this through, I had delusions of grandeur as would any amateur romantic, but was snapped back to reality at the first glance of my most recent paycheck. “What to do?” I thought. “No fancy dinner, no ring in a cannoli, no espresso under the sunset or wine by candlelight.” It was raining, chilly, and my slender bank account just pointed its slender finger and laughed at me. Then, in a grinch-like fashion … light dawned and a slippery grin donned

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Toby and Joyce Baker

my mug. I raced home in my five-speed 1991 Ford Escort, picked her up from her apartment, and headed to Kmart for some “shopping.” Joyce didn’t really feel it that night, so while she headed in one direction, I explained that I had to pick something up and that I would meet her in front. I raced to the item, hoping they still had one left, for that time period, it was incredibly popular, especially among the ladies. I sprinted to the car, craftily hid the gift behind the seat and raced back to the front of the store just in time to catch her walking out. She had this suspicious smile on her face as if the game was afoot, however it slid from her glowing cheeks when she noticed that I had nothing clasped in my hands. We neared the car, and as I readied the door key my heart went into hyperdrive and I lost control of my breathing. I grabbed her hand, and choked up the words, “wait … just a mmmm-moment.” I opened the door, reached behind the seat, and saw the glow rise in her countenance once again as I knelt on one knee asking Joyce to do me the honor of becoming my bride while offering her a hot-offthe-press videocassette of “Waiting to Exhale,” which ironically enough has more to do with break-ups and woman power than marriage and strong relationships … but what did I know? She, very gracefully dismissing the absence of a ring … lovingly said, “Yes.” I promised to replace the cassette with a ring, and she promised to stick with me for life or longer. See PROPOSALS page 5

PROPOSALS From page 4

Mark and Joy Davis, Fort Wayne In November of 2010, Joy Bauer was sitting in a rental house with 12 other women in Chicago on their annual Christmas shopping trip. She finally decided she was ready to put herself out there, and told everyone in the room, “I am ready to date, if you know someone, set me up.” Mark Davis, recently divorced, was also asking his friends if they knew of anyone he could date. Ironically, Sara Fox, a family, friend and Gretchen Wilhelm, a previous co-worker, both told him to go out with Joy Bauer from Cromwell in the same week. Gretchen gave Joy’s email to Mark and they went out on their first date the Saturday after Thanksgiving and hit if off. On Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, Mark Davis arranged for over 50 friends and family members to be at Skully’s Bar to surprise Joy for her Birthday. When she walked in the room, she was completely overwhelmed to see her grandmother, mom and dad and friends that had traveled over three hours to be there. Her surprise was escalated when Santa Claus comes from around the corner ringing his bell and saying there is one special forgotten present from the North Pole for Joy Bauer. As she unwrapped two bags and opened two boxes her heart was ready to leap out of her chest and Mark looked stunned. It was a beautiful diamond. After Santa’s encouragement Mark asked Joy to marry him and when she said yes, he put the ring on her finger. Love is out there, and the right one is worth the wait.

Mark and Joy Davis

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Musical Illusions, Angola, pictured, offers a special-effects light show to go along with its disc jockey service. Tom Saggars, co-owner of the DJ service, recommends couples research music for their weddings, especially by word of mouth.

variety Go for

BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com

with wedding DJ music Your Bridal Flower Headquarters

ANGOLA — When it comes to picking wedding music, Tom Saggars suggested going with a variety to satisfy different tastes. Saggars, Angola, co-owns and operates Musical Illusions with his business partner, Doug Werker, Albion The duo has operated in the disc jockey business for 30 years. “All new DJs are digital,” Saggars said about the industry’s trends. “We tend to go for the older crowd, but we do it because we enjoy it and music.” Saggars likes to offer variety in tunes, including some top 10 hits. He also offers a light show with lasers and strobe lights. In picking a DJ, he said to ask what they offer, including along the lines of those special effects. Saggars strongly suggested doing a little research. “I recommend contacting the DJ service and meeting with them well in advance. If you don’t feel they’re a good match — go to the next one,” he said. A simple way to pick music, Saggars said, is by word of mouth. “Talk to your friends, rather than in the phone book. Take into account what your friends and

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MUSIC From page 6

family like. Go for variety,” he said. As far as what tunes are most popular to spin in the world of DJs these days, Saggars said they fluctuate. “Most requested change. ‘Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll’ went by the wayside. Now it’s ‘Electric Slide’ or ‘Cha-Cha Slide,’” he said. Another DJ of 23 years, Wes Farver, owner of Starbased 1 Mobile Sound Co., Montpelier, Ohio, said in his business it’s all a matter of keeping it fun and it’s no different for a bride and groom. “It’s the bride and groom’s day. You have to let them go through the flow,” Farver said. “In choosing a DJ, choose a professional company,” Farver said. Farver said he’s done everything in offering his services from weddings to wakes. Trend-wise, Farver said he’s noticed people are leaning more toward hip hop and dance tunes. The top songs at weddings? “‘The Cupid Shuffle’ or ‘The Wobble’ have become really special,” he said. For more details, call Saggars at 665-8312. To contact Farver, visit starbased1@ msc.com.

For A First Class

The following is a list of the top 20 requested wedding songs for 2013 according to online sources: 1. Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin’”

12. DJ Casper, “Cha-Cha Slide”

2. Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”

13. B-52s, “Love Shack”

3. LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock, “Party Rock Anthem”

14. Rihanna featuring Calvin Harries, “We Found Love”

4. LMFAO, “Sexy and I Know It”

15. Def Leppard, “Pour Some Sugar On Me”

5. Cupid, “Cupid Shuffle” 6. AC/DC, “You Shook Me All Night Long” 7. Bon Jovi, “Livin’ On a Prayer” 8. Neil Diamond, “Sweet Caroline” 9. Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, “Moves Like Jagger” 10. Van Morrison, “Brown Eyed Girl”

16. Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean” 17, Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe” 18. Pink, “Raise Your Glass” 19. Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, “Give Me Everything” 20. Lady Gaga featuring Colby O’Donis, “Just Dance”

11. Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)

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A wedding BY BOB BRALEY bbraley@kpcmedia.com

is just the

beginning

While it’s natural for couples to focus on the wedding as the big day, it’s important for them to remember it’s supposed to be the first day of the rest of their lives. That’s why premarital counseling is important, said Pastor David Mathews of Woodruff Grove United Methodist Church. “You want to try to get them to look ahead as much as possible,” he said. There are a variety of things couples need to think about that can get lost in the rush and excitement of wedding preparation, Mathews said. But it’s important to take time to look at some of the pitfalls, obstacles and hurdles couples will face so they’re better METRO CREATIVE SERVICES prepared for what they’re going into, he Much planning goes toward the big day, but preparations for life after the said. wedding day are important, too. Mathews almost always has one or two premarital sessions with a couple the wedding is just the beginning, the wedding is celebrated, so making it unless they’re coming a long distance for Mathews said. The marriage is the reason work is what matters most. the wedding. “I like to get to know the couple,” he said. But it’s more than just getting to know them. Premarital counseling is something almost all pastors require before performing a ceremony, he said. Things such as family interactions can make a big difference in a marriage, Mathews said. So can other considerations, such as children. Mathews said one of the most important things he focuses on in sessions is finances. With money issues the number one cause of divorce in the United States, it’s important for couples to understand how they each approach it and what they can do to use financial challenges to grow together. Mathews recommends Financial Peace University to couples for help with finances. He also may encourage them to read a particular book if he thinks it will help them. Like most clergy, Mathews also brings a religious component to his counseling. “I want to find out where God is in their lives,” he said. Most couples either are involved with a church or have family members who are, Mathews said. That involvement tends to lead them to a particular building or pastor for their ceremony. But counseling is important because Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 7

wedding

Paying for a

takes planning

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Couples need to work with a strict budget when planning their weddings. Some save ahead while some seek loans

to pay for their wedding. BY AARON ORGAN aorgan@kpcmedia.com

Declaring eternal love is costly. A recent survey by popular marriage websites TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com say the average wedding costs more than $25,000, honeymoon not included. American couples on average spend between $19,000 and $32,000 to say “I do” and dance the Electric Slide, the survey said. Who’s buying? Whoever is opening their checkbook, as with any major expenditure, it’s important to have a budget. The Knot (www.theknot.com), an online portal for bride-to-be to research any and everything wedding-related, says budgeting for a wedding should be done responsibly. Traditionally, the site says, a bride’s family covers the cost of the ceremony venue, the bride’s dress, arrangements for the ceremony venue and reception, bouquets for bridesmaids and flower girls, wedding photos and video, wedding transportation, the reception and an engagement party. The groom’s side, then, will pick up the cost of the marriage license and officiant’s fee, the groom’s outfit, the bride’s bouquet and See Paying page 9 Page 8

Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

PAYING From page 8

boutonnieres for the men and corsages for mothers and grandmothers, the honeymoon and the rehearsal dinner, the site says. “But remember,” the site says, “these ‘rules’ are made to be broken!” With costs able to grow with each add-on, The Knot suggests tossing out the traditional idea that the bride’s parents pick up the major cost of the wedding’s tab. As many couples are now helping to pay for their big day themselves, the site suggests the couple establish a budget and determine who can afford what. With costs divvied out, determining how, exactly, to pay for the big day is another story. Unless you or your family are sitting on a small fortune, it may be necessary to explore alternative options. A recent trend to cover the cost of the wedding is a loan. A local veteran loan officer said he reviews a few applications per year for a loan to fund weddings, a move the loan officer said was not at all common two decades beforehand. “We don’t get a tremendous amount, but on a rare case we get requests,” said the loan officer. “It’s started to become a little more common, because I don’t know where people are coming up with the money to pay for these weddings.” The loan officer said he most commonly comes across requests for home equity lines of credit, which allow for draw periods of several years to borrow on. Those lines of credit are popular, the loan officer said, and could be used for weddings without the bank necessarily knowing. In any case, whether you’re paying for a wedding upfront or borrowing, options are available. The loan officer suggested, though, with lending to be fiscally responsible. “Everybody’s situation is different, in my opinion,” he said. “If they do it, I think they want to have a plan to pay it off timely. You don’t want to drag it out for 10 years.”

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Becky Nixon and John Darragh were married Nov. 16, 2013. Although they live in Chicago, they decided to marry in the Auburn Presbyterian Church, her longtime church home. Friends and family from out-of-town were fascinated by the extensive, world-class collection of classic automobiles at the ACD Museum in Auburn.

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Themes

add fun to weddings

BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Every couple wants their wedding to be memorable. The goal of planning a wedding is to create an experience that everyone will remember for years to come. For some couples, a theme wedding is the best way to accomplish just that. When it comes time to select a theme, the day the wedding takes place may dictate the theme. For example, if the wedding takes place on Halloween, the ideas for the theme are easy. Many other couples choose a theme that highlights a specific interest or hobby or something that is dear to them. Here are some popular wedding themes. â€˘ Holiday: The Christmas season lends itself well to wedding planning. The colors (red, green, gold) are already established, and most churches and buildings are already decked out in

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A masquerade theme might be an entertaining theme for a coupleâ€™s nuptials.

holiday finery, cutting down on the amount of flowers and embellishments couples need. Because the holiday season is so busy and a popular time for socializing, couples who want to tie the knot

during this time of year should send save-the-date cards well in advance. Another option is to have a â€œChristmas

Because your big day is a historic occasion. (Z H T\ZL\T HUK OPZ[VYPJ I\PSKPUN [OL /PZ[VY` *LU[LY OHZ H \UPX\L HTIPLUJL MVY `V\Y N\LZ[Z [V L_WSVYL -VY PUMVYTH[PVU JHSS _ VY ]PZP[ ^^^ M^OPZ[VY`JLU[LY JVT

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THEMES From page 10

in July” wedding, featuring the same holiday themes but without the hectic nature of the holiday season. • Vegas: Couples who want to tie the knot in Las Vegas but want to ensure all their loved ones can attend can recreate the magic of Vegas wherever they may be. Casino-inspired games and big buffet meals can make guests feel like they have stepped into a casino on the famed Vegas strip. In addition, an Elvis impersonator is essential to a Vegas wedding. • TV show: Some couples elevate certain television shows to cult status. Whether it’s “Friends” or “Star Trek,” popular television shows have been transformed into festive wedding themes. Whether the idea is to go daring and exchange vows in costume or simply name reception tables according to characters or show locations, couples can include a little television fun in the event. • Fairytale: Many men and women envision a fairytale wedding complete with horse-drawn carriage and the “happily ever after.” This is what makes Disney properties as well as the various castles around the world popular backdrops for wedding events. Those planning a fairytale wedding need only look to favorite stories or movies for their inspiration. • Interest or passion: Love to climb mountains? Avid about scuba diving? Couples who share a particular interest can include elements of this sport or hobby into their wedding. Invitations and decor can hint at the theme, and then special activities can further enhance it. Fish bowls as centerpieces may call to mind underwater adventures, while surfboard-shaped invites may set the scene for a beachside party. Theme weddings can add an extra spice to the festivities and incorporate couples’ interests into the event — making it even more special.

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Horse-drawn carriages are perfect for a fairytale theme.

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Northeast Indiana Real Estate Guide Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 11

Wedding reﬂects BY JULIA NIXON

Throughout her life, our daughter, Becky, was sentimental — about our family, about her grandparents, about her friends. In her husband, John, we saw that same affection for family and family history. As they planned their wedding together, they carefully made decisions which personalized both the ceremony and the reception … and reflected their love of family and friends. Becky’s grandmother, Peg Nixon, died last February, not long after Becky and John had shared the news of their engagement. Becky’s wedding gown included fabric from a dress of Peg’s, sewn into the underneath side of her own gown … a swatch of blue, in front, just above the hem … a bit of Grandma, close by. As we planned for out-of-town guests, many of whom came from a distance, we created gift bags filled with “sweet treats” from Noble County: Sweet Tooth chocolates; Maple Farms maple creams; Lavender Lane lavender sachets; Orchard Hill apple butter; and Kraft caramels. For the Nov. 16 ceremony at our church, Auburn Presbyterian, Becky and John chose passages of scripture, poetry and other readings, expressing their beliefs about marriage and their love of family and friends. To celebrate the joining of our two families, they planted a small tree together with soil from outside each of their childhood homes. At the ceremony’s conclusion the newlyweds greeted and thanked wedding guests individually at each pew. At the reception, in the foyer of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, guests found personal, handwritten notes awaiting them, thanking them for their presence and acknowledging the role they had played in Becky and John’s life. The outside of the envelope directed guests to a certain “street” in the reception hall. Autumn-wreathed lanterns illuminated each table, beside a decorative tabletop stand, from which Page 12

love

of family, friends

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLAGROSSI STUDIO.

Becky Nixon graduated from East Noble High School in 2002 and Hanover College in 2006. She and John Darragh met at Chicago’s Mercy Home for Boys and Girls when she worked there as a volunteer following her college graduation. Becky received her M.S. in occupational therapy last summer at UIC and now works with children with developmental delays as an occupational therapist at Aspire, also in Chicago. John is a graduate of the University of Illinois and IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

unique street signs hung. Becky and John recalled real street names from their own pasts to identify guests’ assigned tables: W. Ohio Street, 60th Place, Hemlock Drive, Winnemac Avenue, Jackson Boulevard, Arcadia Court, and many

more … evoking memories of family homes and apartments of years past, from Bluffton and Kendallville to Orland Park and Chicago.

Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

See LOVE page 13

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLAGROSSI STUDIO.

Pictured in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse are the attendants for the Nixon-Darragh wedding: Mitch Bauer, Laura Nixon, Joe Dela Pena, Kim George, Dan Darragh, Colleen Darragh Hicks, Brandon Newton, Allison Rainey English and Henry Chu. Allison English is an Episcopal priest in Santa Monica, who co-officiated at their wedding with the Rev. Lyle Ewing, pastor at the Auburn Presbyterian Church.

At the reception, in the foyer of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, guests found personal, handwritten notes … The outside of the envelope directed guests to a certain “street” in the reception hall … Becky and John recalled real street names from their own pasts to identify guests’ assigned tables.

• LOVE

From page 12

As guests entered the reception hall at the museum, they met several preceding generations: entryway tables featured framed photos of the couple’s parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles and siblings. It was a photographic family tree, rooted in more than a dozen other wedding days spanning the past century. Each bridal couple and their wedding date were featured on an accompanying nameplate. For example: “Robert Nixon and Helen Hill, June 4, 1942, Becky’s Grandparents.” Finally, in lieu of favors, Becky and John made donations to four charitable causes close to their hearts: Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Alliance for Lupus Research, PAWS and Freedom Indiana. Cards explaining each cause’s mission were at each guest’s place. Guests left behind bits of themselves — multi-colored thumbprints — on a

tree design, later framed and displayed in Becky and John’s Chicago apartment. From the day of their engagement to the day of their wedding, Becky and John found ways to demonstrate their appreciation of family, family history and their new life together. Jim and Julia Nixon, parents of the bride, live in Kendallville.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLAGROSSI STUDIO.

In lieu of wedding favors at the reception, Becky Nixon and John Darragh made donations to four charitable causes close to their hearts: Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (where they met), the Alliance for Lupus Research, PAWS (the animal shelter in Chicago from which they adopted their dog, Scout), and Freedom Indiana.

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Page 13

Wedding insurance expands as nuptials get pricer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Worried about the groom getting cold feet? There’s an insurance policy for that. With the cost of the average American wedding reaching about $26,000, insurers have been selling a growing number of policies to protect against losses from extreme weather, illness and, in one firm’s case, even a sudden change of heart. Cheryl Winter spent $500 for Hartford-based Travelers Cos. Inc. to cover her daughter’s $50,000 destination wedding last October in New Orleans, where her biggest concern was a potential hurricane. The weather cooperated, but the limousine never showed up. Her daughter took a taxi cab to the church, and they used the insurance policy to claim the deposit money they couldn’t get back from the limo driver. “No one wants to be walking in the French Quarter in a long gown and high heels,” said Winter, who lives in the Houston area. The insurance is offered by a small number of U.S. companies. Insurers declined to provide data on the number of customers beyond saying they are growing steadily. It can cover losses from issues ranging from bankrupt wedding halls to cancellations forced by unexpected military deployments. See INSURANCE page 15

This Oct. 12, 2013, photo provided by Julia Bailey shows Shannon and Justin Peach riding in a carriage after their wedding in New Orleans. Shannon’s mom, Cheryl Winter, spent $500 for Hartford-based Travelers Insurance to cover her daughter’s destination wedding, where her biggest concern was a potential hurricane. The weather cooperated, but after the limousine failed to show they used the insurance policy to claim the deposit money they could not get back from the limo driver.

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Travelers says issues with vendors account for about a quarter of the claims, with most of those related to issues with photographers or videographers. For Travelers, an insurance giant with annual revenue of $26 billion, the policies will not make or break the bottom line. But the wedding insurance it began selling in 2007 is also a way to connect with a couple who might later think of the company for home insurance and other life milestones. “It could be the beginning of a relationship with a young couple,” said Ed Charlebois, a Travelers vice president for personal insurance. Wedsafe, backed by Aon, also offers wedding insurance, which differs little from the specialty insurance that firms may offer for other kinds of events and celebrations. For parents concerned about a relationship souring before the exchange of vows, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. offers change of heart insurance. It’s been available since 2007, but the program administrator said the fraud rate soared in the early years as policies were bought for couples who were known to be fighting. That coverage now applies only if the bride or groom calls off the wedding more than nine months beforehand. “Coverage does not exist once you hit the altar,” said administrator Rob Nuccio of R.V. Nuccio & Associates. “The only ones who were buying it were the ones who knew they would have a claim.” Kyle Brown, director of the Bakersfield, Calif.-based Bridal Association of America, said he recommends wedding insurance, but he estimates policies are taken out for less than half of 1 percent of the more than 2 million weddings held annually in the U.S. “Nobody likes to think about the bad side,” he said. Winter said some people told her insurance would be a waste of money for her daughter’s wedding, but she read various reviews and decided it was worth protecting the investment. She’s planning to buy a policy for another daughter’s wedding in 2015.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLAGROSSI STUDIO.

Becky Nixon and John Darragh share an affection for family history and family memories. As guests entered the reception hall at the ACD Museum, they viewed an extensive display of family wedding pictures: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, reaching back for more than a century. Each wedding photograph was labeled, helping guests link ancestors of the bride or of the groom. Handwritten notes to each guest, just outside Willenar Hall, directed guests to their “street,” eight-top tables with streetsigns over vintage lanterns surrounded by autumn wreaths. The collection of street names was gathered from the couple’s past — from small towns in Indiana to Chicago and its suburbs.

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www.sprinklingcan.com Page 15

Edible

wedding favors

won’t collect dust

BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Do you have a shelf or cabinet that’s filled to the brim with wedding favors such as engraved ice cream scoopers, cake servers, cheese spreaders or tea light 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 collecting dust in someone’s home. Edible gifts also can be thoughtful — and flavorful! Guests may look forward to an edible favor because it’s a memento of the special occasion and it won’t become a permanent fixture in their homes. There are many edible favors from which to choose. They can also be customized according to the theme of the wedding.

Chocolate It’s difficult to find an edible 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 refrigerated to avoid melting. Ideas for chocolate favors include individually packaged truffles, gourmet brownie bites, candy-covered chocolates with an inscription, chocolate covered apples, chocolate coins, and other similar creations. Chocolate molded designs (much like those chocolate Easter bunnies) are another idea.

Cookies Sweet cookies also make good edible favors. Butter cookies are a favorite because they are sturdy enough to cut into different shapes. Professionally iced, these cookies can be a masterpiece to behold. Some couples opt for customized fortune cookies that express personalized sentiments to guests.

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Edible wedding favors may include decorative cookie baskets featuring gourmet cookies from a favorite bakery.

Make-your-own Sometimes it’s less expensive to give guests kits that they can take home to create their own edible treasures. Options abound and can include everything from personalized packets of hot chocolate to tea bags. Other couples choose among mixes for making cookies or cake.

Candies It has become popular to have a self-serve candy bar at many weddings. Guests are invited to step up to the See FAVORS page 17 Page 16

Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

FAVORS From page 16

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. Designer Chinese takeout-type containers are available from craft stores and can be the perfect way for guests to make that candy portable.

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

customs

Many

followed in weddings BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Chances are those who have attended a wedding have witnessed some popular traditions take place. The bride wears a veil, a court of wedding attendants accompanies the bride and groom, and birdseed, rice or flower 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 rice: Today it has become de rigueur to blow bubbles, toss birdseed or release doves when the bride and groom leave the house of worship newly betrothed. That’s because savvy 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 Middle Ages, when wheat or rice where thrown to symbolize fertility for the couple. • Bouquet: Nowadays, the bride

carries a beautiful bouquet of flowers. But the purpose of the bouquet held different meanings in the past. Saracen brides carried orange blossoms for fertility. Others carried a combination of herbs and flowers 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. • Bridesmaids: There may be arguments over dresses and how many bridesmaids to have in a wedding party now, but in ancient 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 rings: Wearing of wedding See CUSTOMS page 18

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Making your own wedding favors can be inexpensive and fun. Spring Bridal Guide • 2014 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 17

CUSTOMS From page 17

rings dates back to ancient Egypt. The round shape of a ring symbolizes eternal love. The ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it is believed this finger has a blood vessel that goes directly to the heart. â€˘ Wedding cake: The traditional wedding cake evolved from Roman times when the cake was originally made from wheat. It was broken over the brideâ€™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 finding their own husbands. â€˘ Father accompanying the bride: This tradition symbolizes that the brideâ€™s father endorses the choice in husbands and is presenting his daughter as a pure bride to that man. â€˘ Kissing the bride: In older times, a kiss symbolized a legal bond. Therefore, the bride and groom kissed to seal the deal on their betrothal. There are many traditions surrounding a wedding that people simply accept. But understanding their origins can make the ceremony more meaningful.

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METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

A wedding cake once symbolized fertility for the happy couple.

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It takes planning to accommodate

out of town guests BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

When your parents or grandparents got married, there was a good chance that their closest relatives and friends lived nearby — in the neighborhood. Attending the wedding was easy, and everyone headed home afterward. This scenario is not too common nowadays. Many families have spread out across the country, or even the world, making travel a significant component of modern weddings. As a result, couples must take accommodations into consideration when planning their nuptials. Couples cannot expect relatives to travel to their wedding, party into the wee hours of the morning and then be responsible for finding a place to stay. It is common courtesy for hotel rooms to be made available to out-of-town guests. Although most couples reserve a block of rooms for guests, a bride and groom really looking to go above and beyond will choose to cover the cost of these rooms as a gift. To ensure there will be available rooms for guests, it is important to contact an area hotel (or hotels) well in advance of your wedding. To start, find out if the reception site you will be using has an agreement or relationship with an area hotel. In some cases, nearby businesses will offer a courtesy discount to facilitate foot traffic. A wedding consultant should know about packages that may include discounts on lodging. If there is no package deal, start cold-calling hotels. If you have a discount program or frequency rewards card with a particular hotel chain, start with them first. Most hotels require a minium of 10 rooms be reserved to secure a “block.” There’s a good chance the greater the number of rooms reserved, the more competitive the nightly rate will be. Find out about cancellation policies or when guests need to make a reservation in order to secure the discounted rate. You can include information about hotel reservations right in your wedding invitation, including a code or number to mention to get the wedding discount. If you’re tech-savvy, you may have a link to the hotel’s booking Web site or information on your wedding Web page. Either way, be sure there is ample time

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Most brides and grooms reserve a block of hotel rooms for their out of town guests.

for guests to make a decision concerning their hotel reservations. As an added courtesy to guests, you can arrange shuttle bus service between the reception site and the hotel. This way guests who may have imbibed too much during the party do not need to worry about transportation to the hotel. However, they will have to make arrangements to retrieve their cars the following day.

It may pay to have your wedding on a Sunday so guests are entitled to the free breakfast many hotels offer to business customers during the week. Otherwise, find out if there will be a meal available to guests the following day and offer to pay for it. The more pleasantries you can provide to your guests, the more they will feel pampered and believe the decision to travel for your wedding was the right one.

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Page 19

Here are some

reception foods

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Avoid raw food like sushi.

to avoid

Couples often fret over what to serve their guests at the reception, and rightfully so. Reception costs can comprise a majority of the wedding-day budget. When spending $100 or more per guest, you want to ensure you’re getting what you paid for and that guests enjoy what they’re eating. Filet mignon may be a good choice, but steak tartare is probably best avoided. Find out which foods to avoid serving your wedding guests. • Exotic cuisine:You may be a risk taker when it comes to cuisine, but others may not share your zeal for exotic foods. Now is not the time to introduce guests to the wild and wacky. If you’ve seen an exotic dish on the Food Network or the Travel Channel, give it a try another time. • Anything on fire: Why risk an accident for a spectacle? Baked alaska, cherries jubilee, apples flambe … these are foods that might provide a show, but the cost of that show may not be worth it in the end. • Raw food: Clams on the halfshell or sushi-grade tuna may seem like good ideas, but keep in mind that it is hard to ensure quality when feeding 200 people at the same time. Foods that require special refrigeration or immediate service for freshness are best left for other occasions. Don’t risk food poisoning on a room full of people unless you want your wedding to be remembered for stomach cramps. • A long, sit-down meal: Two or three courses is fine, but if guests have to sit through a never-ending parade of courses, that limits their ability to mingle and have a good time. • Anything too elaborate: The faster servers can get food out to guests the better. If they have to sit there piping mashed potato roses on dishes or assembling intricate canapes, the delay might not be worth the presentation. And See FOOD page 21

Page 20

FOOD From page 20

remember, the more bells and whistles, the higher the price tag. • Fast food: This is your wedding, and you want the food to fit with the scale of the day. A formal wedding generally includes a formal meal. Although it may be alright to include some fast food inspired dishes at the cocktail buffet, steer clear of burgers and fries for the main meal. • Themed food: Don’t dye that baked potato purple because you want the wedding to be a plum-colored affair. Also, it’s best to avoid themed food, unless it is part of a cultural wedding or can be pulled off with class. It’s much easier to pass off crepes and croissants for a Parisian wedding than giant turkey legs and tankards of ale for a Renaissance-themed one. • No food at all: Whether your wedding is small or grand in scale, guests will expect some sort of food. Be sure to have some butler-passed hors d’oeuvres or some well-placed pickings for guests to grab while mingling. After all, they will need something to provide the energy to mingle and dance, and food can help buffer the effects of too many cocktails.

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METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Have a nice sit down meal but try to keep it to two or three courses.

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Page 21

gowns

Tips for trying on

BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Finding the perfect gown is what every bride looks forward to.

Planning a Wedding? Remember, the dry cleaners!

Many brides-to-be look forward to the day when they visit a bridal salon and are able to try on gowns for the first time. There are certain tips that can make the day go much more smoothly and potentially reduce the amount of time it may take to find the perfect gown. • Wear a supportive, well constructed strapless bra or corset in your correct size. If you will be wearing a petticoat, also have the right size available. • Go without face makeup when trying on gowns so they remain clean. • Try to wear your hair similar to the style you have in mind for your wedding. • Note that the size of the wedding gown you will wear is typically one to two sizes larger than your day-to-day clothes. Proper measurements can be matched to designers’ size charts. • It’s best to limit the number of people with whom you shop to 1 or 2 trusted friends or family members. An entourage can be confusing. • It’s always better to order a slightly larger gown and leave room for alterations if you are between sizes.

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METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

Try to limit the number of people you bring with you when trying on dresses.

Some use wedding day as a way of

giving to charity BY METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS

During a time when bridezillas are glamorized and over-the-top celebrity weddings are broadcast for the world, some couples are opting to do something more altruistic on their special day. With more than $125 billion spent annually on weddings, engaged couples are welcoming the opportunity to give back as part of their wedding 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 socially 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, the premier source for online charitable giving, there are even more opportunities for engaged couples to make a difference with charitable giving. “The I Do Foundation has always envisioned a world where charitable giving was a more integral part of many life events,” stated Executive Director Grant La Rouche. “With our new home at JustGive, we are well-positioned 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 charitable donations. The foundation’s highest earning wedding raised more than $50,000 alone. Here’s how it works. • In place of traditional favors, couples can make charitable donations to honor their guests.

• Couples can create gift registries with major retail 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, including those that sell stationery, honeymoons, jewelry, and more, help generate donations with every purchase. Couples can choose to support one of the foundation’s popular charities or a charity that is near and dear to them. The I Do Foundation has developed a list of more than 40 innovative nonprofits and grouped them into six giving 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.

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