1Cover 1Cover
down the aisle SPRING 2014
Meet
Prairie City baker Linda Birkenholtz
Learn how to
merge finances Take a look inside a
Viking wedding
Bridal Sweet predicts ‘bling’ to dominate in 2014 A speciality magazine from the Newton Daily News
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 4
Wedding Feature See how Connie Porter and Patrick Knowles wedding on Oct. 5, 2013 made their wedding unique.
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Bridal Fairs With the growing trend of brial fairs, learn how two area fairs are becoming more groom friendly.
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Wedding Cakes Meet Prairie City baker Linda Birkenholtz and learn about her history making wedding cakes for more than 30 years.
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Couple Finances Find out how to save money as a couple after marriage and the importance of communicating your debts early on.
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Bridal Fashion Learn about this year’s trends in wedding fashion from the women at the Bridal Sweet in Newton.
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Save The Date Read four tips to remember when preparing your wedding and creating a ‘Save the Date’ card.
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Wedding Favors From pint glasses to golf balls, explore a range of wedding favor ideas that are inexpensive and creative.
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Wedding Music Discover what to consider when choosing the right music for a memorable ceremony and entertaining reception.
A speciality magazine from the Newton Daily News Publisher .........................................Dan Goetz Editor .......................................Bob Eschliman Advertising Director ....................Jeff Holschuh Contact: (641) 792-3121 or newsroom@newtondailynews.com
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Submitted Photo Wedding guests dressed in various costumes for the Porter-Knowles wedding ceremony. The guests who came without costume were supplied with spare costume selections, hats and masks for fun.
Far from the usual: By Kate Malott Daily News Staff Writer When most couples plan a wedding they think about catering options, color scheme and floral arrangements. But for Newton residents Connie PorterKnowles and husband Patrick Knowles, they had something a little different in mind for their Oct. 5, 2013, nuptials outside their home south of Newton. The two were married outdoors in a Viking-themed wedding, with the wedding party, bride and groom dressed in ceremonial Visigoth dress. The men in the wedding party shouted war cries as Patrick recited his vows, and the women did the same following Connie’s. “With some help, I made the costumes for the wedding party, and we borrowed a few pieces from a friend who does Renaissance fairs,” Connie said. More than 100 friends and family members joined Connie and Patrick for their day of celebration, and if they didn’t come dressed up, the couple prepared spare costumes, hats and masks so that everyone could enjoy themselves in the light-hearted day. The bride’s parents dressed as the couple from Grant Wood’s American Gothic and sisters dressed as a giant chicken and a nun. Others dressed to the occasion wearing costumes such as Superman, pirates, wizards, cowboys and Romans. “The wedding was very relaxed. My sons (Fred Horstman and Luke Smith)
One area couple marry in unique Viking-themed Style
gave me away and my daughter (Dani Smith) was my maid-of-honor, with one of my husband’s sons (Jordan Knowles) as his best man,” Connie said. “It was totally a family affair.” Following the ceremony, guests participated in unconventional activities, like a game involving a toilet plunger and toilet paper along with other yard games. A minstrel entertained guests with an acoustic guitar and mandolin, and a friend served as a DJ later in the evening. Like any reception following a ceremony, guests enjoyed an abundance of
food and beverages. While family members acted as chefs for the day, serving pulled pork, beans, potato salad, chips and homemade salsa, Connie and her mother made green tomato, zucchini and banana bread as well. The bride expressed her wedding day was ‘awesome,’ and better yet, it was stress and worry free. “It was all about having fun with our friends and loved ones,” Connie said.
Submitted Photo Pictured from left to right: Fred Horstman, Danielle Smith, Connie Porter - Knowles, officiant “Chewi” Lockhart, Jordan Knowles and Luke Smith make up the wedding party at the Oct. 5, 2013 Viking-themed wedding.
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By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
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Bridal fairs extend invitation to grooms By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer A bridal fair has been a time honored tradition for the bride to bring family and friends to help her plan for her special day, but in recent years, bridal fairs have been trying to add to the tradition by getting the grooms to participate. Using multiple marketing strategies, such as creating more prizes for brides who bring their grooms along or creating a relaxing experience for the groom. This year, the Pella Wedding Extravaganza had a “Man Cave” in the midst of the wedding extravaganza. The cave had couches and televisions, and was stocked with beverages and food for the future husbands. “We just wanted to give the grooms a relaxing experience, while their brides explore the vendors,” Event Coordinator Lowell Oliver- Shaw said. “What’s a better way for a groom to relax than with food, drinks, televisions and games to play.” The Marshalltown Bridal Expo will be Feb. 23 from 12 to 3 p.m. inside the Best Western Regency Inn. The expo has been giving perks to the grooms who came for the past few years. This year, the expo will be rewarding grooms by entering them into a drawing for a free one night stay at the Best Western Regency Inn. “In the past few years, we have seen a major increase of grooms come to the show,” Marshalltown Times-Republican Marketing Director Denise Kemp said.
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Jasper County baker inherits the tradition of making wedding cakes By Matthew Nosco Daily News Staff Writer If you’ve been to many weddings in Jasper County, particularly in the Monroe or Prairie City area, there’s a good chance you’ve sampled one of Linda Birkenholtz’s cakes before. Many small towns have them: that go-to lady who comes to mind when someone in the family is getting married, the person that you know can put together a great cake at a great price for the occasion. In Prairie City, that go-to lady has been Linda for more than 30 years.
She married into the business in 1973. Her mother-in-law worked with one of her sisters, running a dress shop in town. The ladies were far more diverse than just carrying attire though, baking wedding cakes and handling many of the other arrangements. When Linda got married, that was the last wedding cake the pair made, and Linda would later be given all of the tools of the trade the two had built up over the years. “I inherited her cake pans, wooden cake boards and everything she had,” Linda said. “A lot of it was hand-made by my father-inlaw.” So, when one
of her best friends had a daughter who was getting married, Linda put her skills to the test and made a twotiered cake for the wedding. “Her maid of honor really liked the cake … When her wedding was coming up, she called and asked if I could do it,” Linda said. “Mostly, it’s spread by word of mouth since then.” Over the many years in front of the baker’s oven, she has seen a number of trends come and go in the business. Three of the big new things in the wedding cake world right now are “fake cakes,” cupcakes and “rustic” simple cakes that leave off all the bells and whistles. Each of the options have allowed for brides to better control their price
points while still providing an aesthetically appealing and delicious product for their gusts. “The types of cakes that my mother-in-law made, they would run well over $1,200 now and a lot of people are looking for something simpler than that,” Linda said. “She had all of the elaborate trim, sugar bells and frills on her cakes … It could take several days to make.” These days, a lot of the phone calls that Linda gets are for the “fake cakes”. Essentially, the fake cake is a Styrofoam doppelganger, dressed up in frosting and decorations to appear to be a real cake. The top layer can be entirely real, or just a single wedge of it, leaving the options open for the ceremonially first cake-cutting slice. After the happy couple has sunk into the fake, it is rolled into the back where the caterers might normally cut and plate it before bringing it back out for service. Instead, custom sheet-cakes are cut up and served. The practice can save up to half of the cost from the traditional cakes and leaves just as much room for customization with flavoring.
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Tips for newlyweds about to merge finances Newlyweds often have a lot on their plates upon returning from their honeymoons. One of the more critical issues newly married couples must address is their finances and how those finances will be combined going forward. Combining finances can be a touchy subject for many couples, especially those who had not given much thought to their finances prior to tying the knot. But there are steps couples can take to make the process of merging finances go more smoothly. • Discuss finances early and often. Allowing finances to be the elephant in the room is a mistake, as couples do not want to begin their lives together treading lightly around an issue as significant as finances. Couples should discuss their expenditures and spending habits as early as possible, as one of the biggest hurdles newly married couples must clear is coming to grips with one another’s financial habits. When discussing finances, define both short-term and long-term goals and how each of you can adjust your spending habits to make those goals come true. • Pay off any debts. The cost of weddings has skyrocketed over the last several decades, and many newlyweds find themselves in a considerable amount of debt upon returning from their honeymoons. When merging finances, couples should prioritize paying down such debt, as debt is a significant source of stress for newlyweds and long-married couples alike. Newly married couples with little or no debt should avoid spending
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above their means in the months after they get married. • Make note of mutual expenses and open a joint account to pay for those expenses. Mutual expenses like mortgage payments, food and utilities should be the responsibility of each partner, and a joint account should be established to handle such expenses. When opening a joint account, discuss how much and how often each partner will contribute money. One partner might earn considerably more money than another, so work out a reasonable agreement that details how much each partner will contribute each month, and whether such contributions will be made on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. • Make concessions for one another. When merging finances, couples often discover that they don’t see eye-to-eye on how each person spends money. Couples who successfully merge their finances often note the importance of making concessions with regard to their partners’ spending on certain hobbies or luxuries. As long as those hobbies are not putting couples in debt or jeopardizing their financial goals, couples can make concessions so their partners continue to be happy and enjoy their favorite activities. Merging finances is an issue that looms for many newlyweds or couples about to tie the knot. Though it’s not always easy, merging finances early and discussing goals can ensure newlyweds get off on the right financial foot. Courtesy of the Metro Creative Connection
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According to TheKnot.com, the most popular day to get married in 2013 was
October 12 The next most popular date in 2013 was June 1 Though this might lead many to conclude that fall weddings were more popular than summer weddings, that’s not entirely true. TheKnot.com notes that June was the most popular month to marry in 2013, followed by September and October. In addition, where couples are tying the knot tends to influence when they exchange their vows. For example, November and December are the most popular months to tie the knot in Florida, where late-spring and early summer temperatures can be especially harsh.
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Bridal Sweet predicts bling this season By Ty Rushing Daily News Staff Writer A wedding day is an important milestone for any couple but let’s get serious for a moment. One person in that room is most important, and it’s not the groom. Luckily, for all those future blushing brides out there, the Bridal Sweet has all the tips you need to ensure you’re fabulous and showcasing the latest in bridal fashion. Owner Judy Swenson and bridal consultant Lydia Goetz provide the scoop on what’s hot and what’s cooling down in gowns, accessories, shoes and bridesmaid outfits. “Bling,” Lydia and Judy agreed. For the un-initiated, “bling” is a term associated with flashiness, real or faux-
stones and reflective materials and the Bridal Sweet has all of the bases covered. There’s the stone-encrusted, six-inch high heels, dresses with clear stones in the trim, Australian net headpieces adorned with bright stones and much more. Judy also explained some of the other hot trends, one of which is the “mermaid” dress. It fits tightly around the top along the neck area and above and has a skirt that flares out around the ankle. “Lots of ruching, which is like pleating or gathering, (ruching) is very flattering to the figure,” Judy said of the mermaid, which emulates the look of its namesake fictitious creature. Another issue brides will have is straps or no straps?
“Strapless is still big,” Judy said. “Strapless has been big for 14 years and we are starting to see some covering of shoulders with shoulder straps. They are making a comeback, finally.” One trend, which Judy said she foresaw, is showing less skin along the neckline area of the dress. “This is called a Bardot neckline, which just means it’s a covered neckline. No cleavage showing,” Judy said. “With the higher necklines, we see lower backs. You see a lot of back.” Something else that is beginning to grow in dresses is color. Vivid colors along the trim of the dress, or cream, mocha, sorbet, pale blue and other
BRIDAL SWEET See Page 10
Ty Rushing/Daily News Bridal Sweet gown designer Kanya Nanne and bridal consultant Lydia Goetz modeling the newest trends in both wedding and matron dresses. The Bridal Sweet offers accessories such as shoes, jewelry and vails.
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Bridal Sweet
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lightly colored gowns are starting to gain momentum for those who want to ensure all eyes are on them for the walk down the aisle. For the bridesmaids out there, Judy said the “ugly dress” days are over. “They are better, they used to be really bad,” Judy joked. “I would say the trend is short. Lots of ruching. Chiffon has been more popular than satin or taffeta. So, lots of ruching, lots of gathers and shorter cuts right below the knee or right above and just about any color that you can imagine.” Right now, various shades of purple, such as plum, lavender and the sort are the trending colors. Other popular colors are fuchsia and black, which is never out of style. Footwear is also very important for bridesmaids. “Shoes are very blingy and they are very high, “Lydia said. “They are very bright colors, and with the short dresses, you can see the shoes (more than in the past).” Lydia also noted that mothers’ dresses have also changed drastically in appearance. “A lot of mothers are younger and younger and they want to look good,” she said. “They are now very elegant and less old-school.” While the traditional veil is still the premier choice in head wear, Judy talked about some of the up and coming styles. “You’re seeing a lot of headpieces,” she said. “A lot of the French netting, which goes over the face, has been popular. Flowers in the hair, especially after the girls have went down the aisle with a veil on and they take it off at the reception and put the flower in.” “There also are a lot of headpieces that go in the air and give you a little bling or a lot of bling, depending on what you want to do,” she continued. As far as jewelry is concerned, bling and color are all you need to know. Bold accessories that accent the dress are what is in. “Bling-Bling,” Judy said as she showcased an expansive display of earrings, necklaces and braclets. The Bridal Sweet is located at 105 W. 2nd St. N. in Newton. It provides dresses, tuxedo rental, invitations, accessories, alterations, custom design and many more wedding-related services.
Ty Rushing/Daily News Bridal Sweet gown designer Kanya Nanne showcases one of the latest trends in bridal fashion, ‘bling.’ 2014 is suppose to be the year of bling and colors.
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Save-the-date card etiquette
Many couples find that tradition reigns supreme when planning a weddings. Certain traditions, such as fathers walking their daughters down the aisle and grooms sharing a dance with their mothers at the reception, are moments to cherish. Though such traditions have withstood the test of time, couples still have some opportunities to embrace relatively recent traditions. One such recent tradition is the save-the-date card, a precursor to wedding invitations that simply lets guests know when the wedding is so they can clear their calendars and be there on a couple’s big day. While save-the-date cards are best kept simple, there are a few rules couples should follow before sending their cards out to loved ones. • Finalize the guest list
before sending save-the-date cards. Couples must finalize their guest lists before sending their save-the-date cards. Doing so avoids the potentially messy situation that would no doubt arise if a person were to receive a save-the-date card but then not make the final guest list. Trimming the guest list often comes down to finances, so couples also want to agree on their budget before sending out their save-the-date cards. Once the guest list has been finalized, couples can send out their save-the-date cards as soon as possible. • Confirm addresses. Couples should confirm their loved ones’ addresses before mailing any save-thedate cards. This can be easily accomplished by sending mass emails to friends and family members or contacting
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individuals via private messages sent on social media sites. Postage to send savethe-date cards can be costly, especially for couples with large guest lists. Confirming addresses can save couples money on potentially wasted postage should the cards be returned because they were sent to the wrong address. • Keep things appropriate. Save-the-date cards need not be as formal as wedding invitations, but they should still be appropriate. Guests often keep save-the-date cards on their refrigerators, where people of all ages can see the cards. So while cards can be light-hearted, they should still be family-friendly. For example, photos of the bride- and groom-to-be decked out in swimsuits should be avoided. • Don’t overdo it with information. Save-the-date
cards don’t need to include as much information as the more formal invitations, which tend to include information about the ceremony, reception, hotel, directions, and other relevant wedding details. A save-the-date card only needs to include the date of the wedding, including the month, day and year so guests are not confused if the cards are going out well in advance of the wedding day. Couples can include a link to their wedding Web site on the backs of their save-the-date cards, which makes it easier for guests to learn more details about the wedding without inundating them with information too early.
Courtesy of the Metro Creative Connection
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According to TheKnot.com, the average cost of a wedding in New York City in 2011 was almost
$66,000 making the Big Apple the most expensive city in the country to get married. That’s considerably more than the runner-up, the Windy City, where couples spent just more than $53,000 to get married. However, how much money a couple spends on their wedding depends largely on where they decide to tie the knot. Couples across the nation spend an average of roughly $27,000 on their weddings.The state of West Virginia is the least expensive place to get married in the United States, spending an average of $14,203, nearly 80 percent less than their counterparts who walk down the aisle in the Empire State.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEDDING RECEPTION FAVORS Planning a perfect wedding is no small undertaking. From scheduling venues and hiring vendors to tasting menus, lots of decisions must be made when planning a wedding. But when the pieces fall into place, the entire day can be magical. One of the final components of weddings are the favors guests will take home with them as mementos of the festivities. Though favors don’t require immediate attention, that does not mean couples should wait until the last minute to made decisions regarding their wedding favors. Brides- and grooms-to-be should not underestimate the importance of handing out wedding favors, a tradition with a rich history. A wedding favor is considered a symbol of good will to guests, and there are many different wedding favors on the market. Finding the right one can take a little work. It is usually a good idea to find something that suits the theme of the wedding and is both long-lasting and practical. Try to avoid anything that is too kitschy. A couple’s budget should be considered when choosing wedding favors. A couple may want to give their guests lavish gifts but should only do so if their budget allows. It may be challenging for couples to find favors that fit the theme of their wedding, as well as their own personalities and budgets. But it can be done. The following are some favorfinding guidelines. Be creative Wedding favors can be just about anything, so there’s no need to stick to Jordan almonds or wine bottle stoppers. The more creative couples are, the more receptive their guests will likely be. For example, for an autumn-theme wedding, fill mason jars with the ingredients for a spiced cake and give the recipe directions on a tag. For a summer wedding, gift guests with a sun and surf survival bag, full of sunblock, a beach towel and sunglasses.
Complete the theme Some weddings follow a particular theme from start to finish, and wedding favors should stick with that theme. Couples who will showcase their love of travel on their wedding days may want to give guests keychains or purse holders that feature popular landmarks around the world. Those who are admitted beach bums may want to present a small fishbowl with sand and a goldfish inside, reminiscent of days at the seashore. Go traditional Couples who opt for universally appealing favors can lean toward some popular options, such as silver cake servers, candlestick holders, decorative photo frames, or engraved keepsake boxes. Aim for favors that have utility. Otherwise, favors may end up collecting dust on someone’s shelf. Food and beverage gifts Food favors mean guests can enjoy their gifts and not have to worry about finding space inside their homes to display trinkets. Food favors can be lavishly decorated cookies, fine chocolates, petit fours, small bottles of champagne or cupcakes decorated like the wedding cake. Favors are often integral to wedding celebrations. Selecting a favor that will be appreciated and fit with the wedding is often a fun and stress-free part of planning a wedding.
Courtesy of the Metro Creative Connection
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How to approach music on your wedding day Music often plays an important role on festive occasions, and wedding days are no exception. The right music can make a wedding day that much more meaningful, while the wrong music can make a couple’s big event memorable for all the wrong reasons. Though music selection might seem like one of the easier decisions couples must make, those about to tie the knot typically must make a host of music-related decisions regarding their wedding day, including whether to choose a live band or a deejay to perform at their wedding receptions. While the reception is when music might be most on display, couples planning their weddings must think beyond the reception when setting the musical tones for their weddings. Ceremony The ceremony itself often sets the tone for a couple’s wedding day. A beach wedding,
for example, often creates a laid back atmosphere, while a ceremony held in a large church or temple often sets a more formal tone. Music played during the ceremony also goes a long way toward setting the tone couples hope to establish. When choosing music for the ceremony, couples should first consider the venue where they are tying the knot. Some, such as houses of worship, may have rules pertaining to what can and cannot be played inside the venue. Classical, hymnal or processional music often makes the best fit when weddings are taking place in more formal venues. Outdoor weddings tend to give couples more leeway. But in general couples don’t want to choose any music that’s too loud or overthe-top for their ceremonies. Keep in mind that while the music played during the ceremony can set the tone for the day, this music can vary significantly from
the music played during the reception. A favorite performer may not be appropriate during the ceremony, but that doesn’t mean the couple can’t dance to that artist’s music during the reception. Live musicians can add a more elegant feel to the ceremony, but such performers also can be costly. Playing prerecorded music may not be as elegant as having a live performer, but it can cost a lot less and still make for an enjoyable day and evening. Reception Many couples prefer deejays to live bands for their wedding receptions. Deejays can play favorite songs as couples and their guests know them, while bands can only play their own renditions of those songs. Another thing to consider when choosing between a deejay or live band for the reception is the venue itself. Some venues are smaller and unable to accommodate a full band, while others may
not have ideal acoustics, making it difficult for a live band to sound as good as they might in a more musicfriendly environment. The formality of the event should also come into consideration when choosing between a live band or a deejay for the reception. Deejays spinning the latest top 40 hits may stick out like sore thumbs at especially formal weddings, while a classical orchestra likely won’t fit into the laid back theme of a beach or destination wedding. Couples tying the knot outdoors may need to consider equipment when choosing bands or deejays to play their weddings. For example, some venues do not provide equipment, such as microphones and speaker systems, to couples for their ceremonies. Renting such equipment can be costly, but couples can often skirt such charges by hiring deejays or bands who lend couples their equipment during the ceremony.
Deejays or bands who will loan and set up the necessary sound equipment for outdoor ceremonies merit extra consideration. When discussing music to be played during the reception, couples must consider their own musical tastes as well as those of their guests. A wide range of popular music tends to go best at wedding receptions, as guests are more likely to dance to songs they recognize. Avoid any music that has the potential to offend guests, opting for lighter, happier tunes instead. Whether hiring a band or deejay, couples should make a list of no-play songs or artists and make sure that such lists are included in their contracts. Music plays an important role on couples’ wedding days. Though choosing music for the ceremony and the reception is often fun, couples must take such decisions seriously. Courtesy of the Metro Creative Connection
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