Issuu

Bridal guide

Page 1

$1.00 A special supplement to The News Sun, The Herald Republican and The Star on August 24, 2016

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Weddings

More Than A Dozen Reception Spaces

| Capacities Ranging From 100-1000 Guests | All-Inclusive Wedding Packages

For more information, visit www.memorialcoliseum.com/weddings

260-482-9502

Page 2

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Mike Marturello mmarturello@kpcmedia.com Special Sections Editor

Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com 102 N. Main Street, Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-0400

Terry G. Housholder thousholder@kpcmedia.com President/Publisher

Randy Mitchell randymitchell@kpcmedia.com Chief Executive Officer

S. Rick Mitchell rickmitchell@kpcmedia.com Chief Financial Officer

Andy Eads aeads@kpcmedia.com Advertising Director

Ann Saggars asaggars@kpcmedia.com Creative Manager

Tracey Robideau trobideau@kpcmedia.com

Churubusco News Editor

Patrick Redmond predmond@kpcmedia.com Reporter

Megan Knowles mknowles@kpcmedia.com Online and Social Media Editor

Mariah Miller mmiller@kpcmedia.com Reporter

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Jenny Ernsberger Jonathan Anderson Jeff Jones Cindy Miller Terri Myers Michele Trowbridge Shira Pacult Machle Waid The Bridal Guide is a special supplement to the The News Sun, The Herald Republican and The Star which are publications of KPC Media Group Inc. ©2016 All rights reserved

Welcome Putting together the perfect wedding takes much planning. Our Fall 2016 Bridal Guide will help you make many of the biggest decisions that lie ahead. In this fall’s section, we take a look at unique weddings and special venues throughout northeast Indiana. Two of our editorial staff members, Megan Knowles and Nicole Minier, share their special days in their special settings. Also, through the lens of Tracey Robideau, special sections designer for KPC, we take a look at some venues where she has photographed weddings recently. As you read through these pages, we hope you will find the information helpful as you plan for the big day, and find the advertising messages useful with your wedding needs. This guide is also available online at kpcnews.com. ON THE COVER: Paul and Jessica Slone of Avilla were married at the Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville in May. Photo by Tracey Megan Designs and Photography.

Special Sections Graphic Designer

Big Things come in Small Packages

Store St S ttooorrree

Yoou Yo urr u

d on am Di

123 S. Main • Kendallville • 347-0450

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 3

Bridal Guide ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY PATRICK REDMOND

Bryce Newton and Erin Carpenter are shown in a couple of different settings for their engagement photographs.

The engagement photo evolving BY PATRICK REDMOND predmond@kpcmedia.com

KENDALLVILLE — Like everything

else in modern photography, the engagement photo has come a long way since the digital revolution swept through the

industry. Once little more than a precursor to the wedding, the engagement photo has these days taken on a life and a purpose of its own. An engagement shoot can almost be like a magazine fashion shoot, with multiple locations and outfits. The photos are used not only to announce the wedding, but they decorate pre-wedding web pages, social media, cards and invitations. With so much riding on them, it’s important they’re done right. Almost nowhere else in modern photography are more fads apparent than in the field of engagement photos — sun flares, chalkboards, spot color — to name just a few of the trends. Tempting as fads might be, don’t forget that the real purpose of the engagement photos is to get at least one or more good, clear, portraits of the bride and groom-to-be, so don’t be afraid to ask for at least one, straightforward, traditional, “look to the camera and smile” portrait. Trust me, in years to come, these shots are often the pictures most likely be to seen sitting on the mantle framed. To get started, do your research. The web offers quick access to hundreds and hundreds of examples of engageSee ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS page 5

Page 4

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Bridal Guide ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS From page 4

ment photography and can give you a few ideas about what you would like out of a photo session. Photo web sites like Flickr and PX500 have special groups devoted to nothing but engagement photography. They’re a great place to spend an hour looking at some of the best the world of engagement photography has to offer. Engagement photos are really nothing more than a good couple’s portrait. Portraits are my favorite form of photography. The web can help you find photographers in your area. Sometimes, an engagement shoot can be part of the wedding package offered by a photographer. It’s also a good way to audition a photographer for the wedding. Questions the engagement session can answer include can you work with his person, do they seem to understand what you want out of your photographs, how creative are they, are they technically up to the challenge? LaGrange photographer Jim King of Stopher/King Photography recommends couples sit down with a photographer before the shoot to look at a few sample of the photographer’s work, and he suggests you ask to see a couple of pieces that are printed. Computers vary from brand to brand, and from screen display to screen display. Look to see that the photos have good, realistic skin tones, sharp focus and pictures that make you want to hang them on your walls. Make plans to print a couple of your photographs, and talk to the photographer about what options they have for you. Often, a good photographer is a skilled printer as well, or is a customer of one of many higher end photography print businesses that can offer you more options that might customarily be found at the your local big box store. Clothing choice is important too. Try to avoid wearing pure whites and pure blacks as both those tones can make the shoot that much more difficult. Have at least two locations in mind and talk with your photographer about those locations. Finally, light, especially on location, can

PATRICK REDMOND

Bryce Newton and Erin Carpenter are shown in one of their engagement photographs. It is important to have photos taken in a variety of settings and with clothing changes to reflect the personality of the couple.

be everything, and bright, overhead light like you’ll find around noon tends to be some of the most difficult light to work in, and often, the least flattering light

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

available, so if possible, schedule your shoot for later in the afternoon or earlier in the morning. Finally, have fun. It shows.

Page 5

Bridal Guide OUTDOOR WEDDINGS

Outdoor weddings fun, not without risk Planning, flexibility essential BY MEGAN KNOWLES mknowles@kpcmedia.com

Outdoor weddings are growing in popularity, with 43 percent taking place in the out-of-doors, several online sources say. This may be due in part to the fact that while many couples continue to have their receptions at traditional venues such as banquet halls and country clubs, 40 percent are looking for a reception venue that is more fitting to their unique personality, according to wedding website The Knot. But outdoor weddings are not without their risks, and a couple considering one must plan ahead and be willing to be flexible. My now-husband and I were engaged in May 2015. We decided quickly that we wanted to get married in May of 2016 and not long after decided to have the wedding and reception outside. Kegan and I are a fun-loving couple — we met playing a card game at a local game store and often spend our free time

LIFE’S MOMENTS BY EMILY

Megan and Kegan Knowles walk down the aisle after being married May 14. The tent they were married in provided a cozy space away from the cold and rainy weather that day.

playing games together and with friends. What better way, we thought, to celebrate our new life together than to have a reception where we could focus on fun and games? We quickly envisioned an

Located 10 Minutes West of I-69 on US 6

Banquet Reservations

260.347.6910 615 Professional Way Kendallville, IN

Page 6

A Grand Occasion will work directly with you and/or your client to create just the right look for your next event. Whether it’s a Wedding, Anniversary, Baby Shower, or any other special gathering, A Grand Occasion can assist you in creating the ambiance you are looking for.

Full Service Wedding Rental & Event Planning Company “While you celebrate, we coordinate” Coldwater, Michigan

(517) 278-8402 www.grandoccasion.net

Decorations, Linen Rentals, Arches, Tents, Centerpieces, Tableware, Chairs

•

Decorations, Linen Rentals, Arches, Tents, Centerpieces, Tableware, Chairs

Decorations, Linen Rentals, Arches, Tents, Centerpieces, Tableware, Chairs AGrandOccasion_49706

Bridal • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc. 1/6 Guide pg. V Sig.

outdoor reception where guests could dance or spend their evening playing games such as cornhole or giant Jenga and just having a good time. We figured May, though somewhat unpredictable, was generally decently warm and avoided the heavy rains of April. Our first obstacle was the type of ceremony to have. My family is Catholic, but you cannot have a Catholic wedding outside. Instead, we decided to be married by a Methodist pastor who is the head of a church I attend. Our next obstacle was the tents. Though the park where we were married had a pavilion, we knew we would need tents in the event of rain. Because of the variety of tent sizes, we needed to not only figure out a guest count and number of tables, but the size of the tables and how they will fit into the space. I wouldn’t have gone without them, however. A representative from our DJ company said they had covered many outdoor weddings without them, a risk we (thankfully) weren’t willing to take. Getting married at the park provided its own challenges as well. In our case, we were one of, if not the first, couples to get married there, so issues like parking we had to figure out from scratch. Electricity was a tricky thing as well, because we had to determine the capabilities of the pavilion and whether that would be enough to support the See OUTDOOR page 7

Bridal Guide OUTDOOR WEDDINGS

OUTDOOR From page 6

decorations and the DJ. Generators were an option and were used, but we tried to limit them to reduce noise. The other challenge to our dream wedding was the access to the site. Being an open venue meant we ran the risk of having decorations damaged by weather elements or vandals. Though we had local law enforcement make extra patrols around our site, I was still concerned. Therefore, while we hung the lights the day before, all the decorating for the wedding was done the morning of, with the help of some wonderful family friends who were able to take my instructions and present everything better than I could have ever imagined. As the big day approached, we felt pretty confident that we had everything under control. Unfortunately, the one thing we didn’t — the weather — was not working in our favor. The days leading up to our wedding were filled with rain. A moat began to form around the pavilion and the tents had to be moved in order to keep them out of the water. My dad and fatherin-law made pathways out of boards to help people navigate around the soggy spots. And I freaked out — while I had wanted to feel like a princess on my wedding day, I didn’t want it to include a drawbridge and a moat. Fortunately, the water miraculously dried out in the hours between set up on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. However, there was a different problem. Despite being the sixth warmest May on record, the day of our outdoor wedding registered at 47 degrees. But the show went on. The tent where we said our vows was filled with people, donning coats but showing their support. The bridesmaids were troopers in their cocktail-length dresses. For the reception my parents had insisted on propane heaters, which helped keep guests warmer. As the night went on and people left, the heaters were moved to one central location and eventually turned down as the dance floor was filled with people. People were bundled up, but many still danced, ate and socialized until the late evening. Reader Jody Conkey had the opposite problem. “The biggest challenge of our outdoor wedding in June was weather,” she wrote in an email. “June can be an

LIFE’S MOMENTS BY EMILY

Despite a high of 47 degrees, guests had a great time dancing the night away. Propane heaters provided warmth, while simple decorations turned an ordinary pavilion into a fun setting for a wedding reception.

unpredictable month. … Our day was beautiful and extremely warm at 89 degrees.” Conkey said the weather created the challenge of keeping the drinks, and guests, cool. “A large kiddie pool with ice saved that day!” she wrote. “Also a large tent for shade.”

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Careful planning and willingness to change those plans were essential to making our outdoor wedding a success. And though our wedding day wasn’t the exact backyard party we had envisioned in our minds, it was filled with fun and family and had great touches of our personality — and we couldn’t ask for anything more than that.

Page 7

Bridal Guide LOCAL WEDDINGS • UNIQUE LOCATIONS

unique venues

local weddings with

TRACEY MEGAN DESIGNS AND PHOTOGRAPHY TRACEY MEGAN DESIGNS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeff and Heather Clark of Butler pose at the Spencerville Covered Bridge for their wedding photos.

TRACEY MEGAN DESIGNS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Billy and Brianna Domire of Angola said “I do” during a lakeside ceremony near Metz. Page 8

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

TRACEY MEGAN DESIGNS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Paul Slone poses with his groomsmen at the Mid-America Windmill Museaum.

TRACEY MEGAN DESIGNS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Paul and Jessica Slone of Avilla were married at the Mid-America Windmill Museum in May. Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 9

Bridal Guide LOCAL WEDDINGS • UNIQUE LOCATIONS

Minier wedding day at the gun range BY NICOLE MINIER

A pair of rings, a little gunpowder, a lot of love — and we had ourselves a wedding. Most little girls imagine their wedding day full of church bells and bridesmaids and beautiful bouquets. My wedding day included eight boxes of ammunition, close family and friends and a Whitley County judge for the ceremony — and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. For those who know me, the fact that I spent a couple hours at a gun range before my wedding ceremony wouldn’t be a surprise. It was only fitting since a gun range was also the location of our first date. I didn’t have to choose between steak or salad, but 9mm or .45 caliber ammo — I guess I chose right. I’ve never concerned myself with doing everything society says I should. It started when I was little. All the girls in my class had Barbie dolls — I didn’t care, I liked playing outside and collecting rocks and bugs (really, I did).

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Matt and Nicole Minier pose for a photo in wedding attire with their children. From left: Allison, Daniel, Nicole, Matt, Lucas and Macie.

In high school, everyone shopped at the “in” stores like Hollister and the Buckle. But me, a 6-foot-1 clumsy basketball

Middaugh hall

~ Seating 300 ~ ~ air Conditioned ~ KitChen available ~ ~ open to all CatererS ~ Reception Hall Rental For Every Occasion at DeKalb Co. Fairgrounds

708 S. Union St., Auburn, IN • Call 925-0024 for reservations

player, did most of my shopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Why? Because finding shirts long enough to go past my belly button and women’s shoes bigger than size 11 are harder than finding a needle in a haystack. When my husband and I got engaged we decided we wanted something simple and nothing extravagant. Not because our relationship wasn’t worth it, but because marriage to us meant more than the wedding day. We set the date for just a few months out. Why? The sooner the wedding, the less time our family members had a chance to add more and more on to our wedding. We weren’t talked into a DJ at the reception or a big wedding party. We got everything set — shooting range in Huntington in our wedding clothes before the ceremony, quick ceremony at a beautiful park nearby, then home to Whitley County for a reception with extended family and friends. About a month before the big day, we found out I was pregnant with our daughter. Ironically, what wasn’t intended as a shotgun wedding ended up being just that — a wedding with guns and an unborn baby in tow. In our “Brady Bunch” relationship of his, mine, and ours, there was no better way to blow off, literally, some anxiety before we said “I do.” And me being the picture lover I am, it was also a fun place See MINIER WEDDING page 11

Page 10

Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Bridal Guide LOCAL WEDDINGS • UNIQUE LOCATIONS

MINIER WEDDING From page 10

to take wedding photos. At the conclusion of the four-minute long ceremony at the park (yes, four minutes long) we pulled the trigger on our marriage and it’s been everything I imagined it would be. Between my $60 dress and the pulled pork sandwiches we had at the reception, our wedding probably cost less than $700 total. But you can’t put a price tag on all the memories we’ve had since that day. And to me, that’s what matters. Make your wedding what you want it to be, not what society says it has to be. Do you want to have a traditional wedding in a church with 400 spectators? Great! Do you want to run off to Vegas by yourselves? That’s great, too. Make your wedding whatever you want it to be. There’s $50,000 weddings that end in divorce and courthouse elopements that last a lifetime. Your wedding day isn’t just about the day, but the marriage that ensues.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Churubusco News editor Nicole Minier and her husband Matt spent the morning of her wedding day at Roush Lake Shooting Range in Huntington before the ceremony.

Do you have

Vacancies for Rent? Call today for a great advertisement price!

TUXEDOS

Feel every bit as good as you look...

in a comfortably fitted classic tuxedo, a formal style or one of the new contemporary looks.

Michael Kors - Tony Bowls - Calvin Klein - Stephen Geoffrey - Mossy Oak - Free Tux Per Every Six Rented - Order your Groomsmen's Gifts - In-Store Alterations

KPC Classifieds

- Vest or Cummerbund included in price - Returns not due until Monday - Special Price for Ring Bearers

Competitive Prices & Unbeatable Service. No need to drive to the big city. We have what you want at the right price.

Potential renters are searching! Make it easy to find you...

jimsformalwear.com

Located between the Theaters Downtown Angola 260-665-6903 Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. email: mitch@mitchellsangola.com www.mitchellsangola.com

Call today to get your ad in the classifieds!

877-791-7877 Bridal Guide • Fall 2016 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 11

Bridal Guide FIRST ANNIVERSARY

One year celebrated, many more to go BY MARIAH MILLER mmiller@kpcmedia.com

I’ve been married 365 days, and now it’s time to celebrate the first wedding anniversary. My, oh, my does time fly. It’s a cliche, but a very true cliche especially as we grow older. As time passes and life gets busier and busier, my husband, Austin, and I try to remind each other to take time to enjoy the life we’ve made together among the exciting hustle and bustle of work, family, remodeling a home, preparing for the future, etc. That’s why we’ve planned a trip to celebrate our first anniversary. Austin’s conservative attempt to convince me of a staycation was short lived — he’s an accountant. Who came up with that dreaded nonsense anyway? For me, I use any excuse to travel, and this year we’ve gone with the all-inclu-

sive resort route. Chalk it up to sitting on a beach for a week with a book in hand. So the trip is booked, and now it’s time to think about the gift. Traditionally, the first wedding anniversary theme is paper. Apparently it symbolizes the strength in paper that comes from the interlaced connection of the paper’s individual threads. According to several websites, the tradition of giving specific anniversary gifts based on the number of years a couple has been married dates to the Middle Ages. When looking at the list of traditional gifts the items begin simply, with paper and flowers, and gradually increase in value. The practice of giving peculiar gifts on various wedding anniversaries originated in Central Europe. It was custom for friends and family members

Planning

Wedding?

to present a wife with a wreath of silver when she had lived with her husband for 25 years. The silver symbolized the harmony that was assumed to be necessary to make so many years of matrimony possible. Then, on the 50th anniversary of a wedding, the wife was presented with a wreath of gold. Hence arose “silver wedding” and “golden wedding.” This practice has been carried over into modern times. We’ve got a long way to go, and after trying to convince Austin to start backwards with the 60th diamond wedding anniversary — because who knows if we’ll be alive to make it that long — that was quickly dismissed and, well, paper it is. I guess it’s good to start small and recognize how new and young the marriage is. Life will continue to get busier and there will be ups and downs, but we’ll always remind each other to slow down and take it all in.

Remember, the dry cleaners! Specializing in:

• Before the wedding, steaming & pressing of wedding gown & bridal party gowns. • After the wedding, cleaning & acid free preservation of the wedding gown. Monday-Friday 8:00-5:30 • Saturday 9:00-Noon Wednesday 8:00-Noon

114 E. William Street • Kendallville

347-0454

WEDDINGS • RECEPTIONS CERTIFIED WEDDING CONSULTANTS SPECIAL EVENTS

12th: Silk, linen

2nd: Cotton

13th: Lace

3rd: Leather

14th: Ivory

4th: Fruit, flowers

15th: Crystal

5th: Wood

20th: China

6th: Iron

25th: Silver

7th: Wool, copper

30th: Pearl

9th: Pottery 10th: Tin, aluminum

260-925-2818 Page 12

1st: Paper

8th: Bronze

233 S. Main • Downtown Auburn Open evenings til 6 p.m. Find Us On Facebook

Traditional wedding anniversary themes:

11th: Steel

35th: Coral, jade 40th: Ruby 45th: Sapphire 50th: Gold 60th: Diamond

Bridal Guide BUDGET

How to build your wedding budget METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Couples engaged to be married have a lot on their plates as they begin planning their weddings. Whereas tradition once demanded parents of the bride pay for a couple’s wedding, nowadays more and more engaged couples are completely or partially financing their own nuptials. That means prospective brides and grooms must develop wedding budgets that won’t ensure their first act as Mr. and Mrs. is paying down debt. In its 2015 Real Weddings Study, online bridal resource The Knot found that many couples still receive substantial financial support from their parents to pay for their weddings. The survey found that, on average, the bride’s parent’s contributed 44 percent of the overall wedding budget in 2015, while couples financed 43 percent (the remaining 13 percent was financed by the groom’s parents and additional sources). Couples who hope to follow that formula or pay for their weddings on their own can heed the following tips to build wedding budgets that won’t break the bank but will still ensure a day to remember forever. • Examine your collective finances. Few couples know the details of each other’s finances before getting engaged. While some may still hesitate to share their personal financial information upon getting engaged, an open and honest discussion and examination of each person’s finances is the only way to develop a realistic wedding budget that both partners can live with. Once couples know what they can contribute, they can then consult their parents to determine if their mothers and fathers are intending to contribute. • Develop a preliminary guest list. A preliminary guest list can give couples an idea of how large and expensive their weddings will be. According to the Real Weddings Study, the average cost per wedding guest in 2015 was $237. While that cost can vary greatly depending on geography and other factors, couples should keep that figure in mind when drafting their guest lists. If need be, keep costs down by trimming the guest list so it includes only close family members and friends. • Don’t count on gifts. Many

Average wedding costs $32,641 METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding cost, excluding honeymoon costs, in the United States in 2015 was $32,641, an increase of more than $1,400 from the year prior. Couples did not figure to fare much better in Canada when tying the knot in 2015. According to the Annual Reader Survey from the Canada-based online wedding resource Weddingbells, couples expected to pay slightly less than $31,000 for their weddings. However, those estimates included honeymoon costs. While no information is available regarding the cost of couples justify runaway wedding budgets by telling themselves that they will ultimately get the money back via wedding gifts. While many guests will give financial gifts, counting on such windfalls is a recipe for accruing debt. Do not build potential wedding gifts into your wedding budget. If you do so and your expectations fall short, you could be facing considerable debt upon returning home from your honeymoon. • Gather quotes before choosing where to tie the knot. Where couples get married will have a great impact on how much money they will spend on their weddings. For example, the Real Weddings Study found that, in 2015, the average wedding

weddings in specific Canadian cities, the 2015 Real Weddings Study found that couples looking to tie the knot in New York City’s Manhattan borough can expect to pay well above the national average. Manhattan weddings cost couples an average of $82,299 in 2015. That’s over $20,000 more than in Chicago, the next most expensive city to tie the knot in 2015. Couples who want a more affordable place to get married than the Big Apple may want to look into saying “I do” in central Illinois, where the average wedding cost was $21,818, more than $10,000 below the national average. in Manhattan cost couples slightly more than $82,000, while the average Alaskan wedding cost just over $17,000. Venues within the same city can vary greatly with regard to pricing and offerings as well, so couples should give themselves ample time to gather quotes and find an affordable venue they like. • Build extra costs into your budget. When determining a budget you can live with, remember to include a little extra for unforeseen costs. Weddings are large undertakings, and it’s reasonable to expect some unforeseen costs to arise. Building such costs into your initial budget will make these unforeseen circumstances that much easier to handle.

Family

Restaurant Est. 1878

St. James Restaurant

• Bridal Showers • Rehearsal Dinners • Receptions - Up To 80 Guests • Special Menu or Family Style Call for Reservations 204 E. Albion St., Avilla •

897-2114

www.stjamesavilla.com Page 13

Bridal Guide REGISTRY

Build a registry you can relish METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Registries are a wedding tradition, not unlike a couple’s first dance or the best man/maid of honor toast. But as practical as wedding registries are, many couples approach their registries with a degree of hesitation, fearful that they might appear presumptuous or simply uncertain about what to include on their lists. The following tips can help engaged couples build a registry to relish and utilize for years to come. • Establish an online registry. Whereas guests once had to visit a couple’s favorite retailer(s) and ask what remained on their registry, online registries now allow well-meaning family members and friends to peruse potential gifts from the comforts of home and ship gifts directly to the couple. Online registries even indicate which items have already been purchased, saving couples the trouble of returning duplicates while reassuring buyers that their gifts are fulfilling a need or want. • Share your registry information on

your wedding website and stationery. Guests need to know where you are registered, so share that information on your wedding website and include it on your save-the-date cards and invitations. • Register with multiple retailers. By registering with more than one retailer, couples can give their guests more options to choose from. Try to include one brick-and-mortar store, ideally one with a national presence, so guests who prefer to shop in-person won’t be forced to buy online. • Don’t be afraid to list expensive items. While few guests will break the bank to buy wedding gifts, that does not mean couples should avoid including expensive items on their registries. Some couples might feel it’s inappropriate, but it can actually prove practical. Many stores offer couples steep discounts on items they listed on their registries that ultimately were not purchased. If you have your eye on an especially expensive item, include it on your list without worrying about how

it may look to your guests, as they will understand when you explain the post-wedding discount you’re eligible for. • Don’t limit your registry to expensive items. While it’s perfectly acceptable to include expensive items on your registry, remember that variety is the spice of life when adding items to your registry. Include items at a range of price points for guests working with various budgets. Don’t hesitate to include low-cost items, as some guests may enjoy building a wedding gift basket with various affordable items from your registry. • Remember that no gift is too obscure. Thanks to the Internet, just about any item can now be tracked down by ambitious gift givers. If you want to include items that might not be available at run-of-the-mill retailers, choose an online retailer such as Amazon to host one of your registries. Such sites are great places to find specialty items or more obscure offerings that might be out of stock at more traditional retailers. • Encourage donations. If you are truly hesitant to ask for gifts or you’re tying the knot later in life and already have everything you need, encourage guests to donate to a favorite charity in lieu of making a donation.

Baking & Catering Catering For Any Occasion

Weddings ~ Anniversaries Graduations ~ Holiday Parties Featuring Homemade Cooking • Baked Goods Available 5427 CR 68, Spencerville 1/2 mile west of Spencerville 260-238-4304 Fridays 6:00 AM-5:30 PM

dutchheritagebakingandcatering.com Page 14

METRO CREATIVE SERVICES

A wedding registry provides a practical way for well-meaning wedding guests to show their love for brides- and grooms-to-be. Metro

Bridal Guide WEBSITE

Information to include on your wedding website METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Personal websites are an invaluable resource for couples planning their weddings. Wedding websites provide a great platform for couples to share all sorts of information regarding their big day, making them an essential element of modern-day wedding planning. Wedding websites need not feature all the bells and whistles of more permanent sites. But while there are specific guidelines governing what to include on wedding websites, couples should be mindful to share certain information to ensure their guests stay in the know about the pending nuptials.

The participants Wedding websites can be used to inform guests about the couple getting married as well as the various participants, such as the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Extended families of the bride- and groom-to-be may not know much about their loved one’s betrothed, and the wedding website can help guests get to know both people getting married. Include information about the bridal party as well. A brief story about each bridal party member’s relationship to the bride and/or groom can be a great way to illustrate just how much each person in the party means to the couple tying the knot.

The big day Invitations were once the go-to source for information about couples’ wedding ceremonies and receptions. But unlike invitations, websites won’t get lost around the house or in the mail, making them more reliable resources for guests. Include all the pertinent details about the big day on your website, including the time and location of both the ceremony and the reception. Include directions to and from the venue (both the ceremony and reception venues if they will be held at separate locations), and include a Google maps feature if possible.

RSVP info Save guests the trouble of returning RSVP cards by including an RSVP section on your website. Establish an email address solely for RSVPs, and check it regularly so you can update who is and who is not attending your wedding. Couples can save the expense of postage by requesting that guests RSVP exclusively through their websites. Just be sure to include that

request with the invitations if you still plan to mail more traditional invites.

Accommodations Many couples arrange for discounted hotel rooms for their out-of-town wedding guests. Include this information on your wedding website, and aim to include at least two hotels where guests can register under your party and receive discounted

lodging. In addition to the hotels you arrange a deal with, include some extra information about other lodging options in the area. Out-of-town guests will appreciate having as many options as possible, and couples providing that information saves guests the trouble of researching certain neighborhoods to determine if they are safe or close to the ceremony and reception sites.

Sturges-Young Civic Center & Auditorium

Your Special Event Is Our Specialty • Showers • Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners • Weddings • Brunches • Off Premise Catering With our convenient location, affordable rates and professional attention to detail, your event, no mater how large or small, will be a memory of a lifetime.

201 N. Nottawa Road, Sturgis, MI 49091 269-651-8541 • www.sturgesyoung.com

THE SERVICE YOU NEED, THE QUALITY YOU DESERVE

SHIGS PIT BARBECUE

MAD ANTHONY BREWING CO. PERSONALIZED CATERING SERVICES

We know that every bride has a different vision for their big day. whether you are looking for a casual luncheon or a fine dining experience we have the menu flexibility and catering staff available to make it happen. We have the trained culinary staff necessary to tackle almost any request. We pride ourselves on offering high quality, affordable, options to suit almost any budget. Here’s to the most beautiful and affordable wedding and reception of your dreams.

Our Promise to You: Individualized customer attention Delicious, quality food and menu choices To be accessible and responsive to your questions and needs Professional presentation Attentive staff We’re a preferred vendor at numerous regional venues. Call us at (260) 387-5903 to learn more.

Call our Catering Director, Christy Mommer at (260) 387-5903 to learn more or to set-up a consultation

PROUDLY SERVING: AUBURN ANGOLA WARSAW FORT WAYNE and the surrounding areas

Page 15

Hold Your Wedding Hold Your Reception!! WE HAVE THE IDEAL PLACE Mid-America Windmill Museum Baker Hall

A 60x100 ft. building finished, air conditioned, or heated; spacious grounds and many windmills to browse around and see.

Call For Information/Reservations 260-349-9220 www.midamericawindmillmuseum.org

2224 SR 8 West, Auburn, IN 46706 Phone: 260.925.3000 Page 16

www.TaylorRentalUSA.com KPC Media Group PROOF