For Your Wedding Party - Post

PAGE 2
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PAGE 3
CONTENTS
The Diamond . . . . . . .5
The Announcement . . .6
The Name Change . . .8
The Hair . . . . . . . . . . .9
The Venue . . . . . . . . .11
The Caterer . . . . . . . .15
Rentals . . . . . . . . . . .18
The Shoes . . . . . . . . 20
Wedding Games . . . .23
Recycled Flowers . . .25
The Budget . . . . . . . .31
The Dress . . . . . . . . .34
The Cake . . . . . . . . .36
The Photographer . . .37
The Bouquet . . . . . . .39
Vow Renewals . . . . . .41
The Mattress . . . . . . .43
The Reception . . . . . .44
The Registry . . . . . . .48
Party Flowers . . . . . .55
The Countdown . . . .56
The Guest List . . . . . .58
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
PAGE 4
Advertiser Index . . . .62
THE DIAMOND
What To Look For
When Buying A Diamond
BY REMINGTON
WHITCOMB
RWHITCOMB@
POST- JOURNAL.COM
Before proposing, most
future fiances take a long
time to consider if they’re
ready to spend the rest of
their life with one person.
The decision on what
engagement ring is right
should be just as well thought
out.
“Sometimes I really wish
that schools or colleges
would give a really brief
course on what to look for in
jewelry,” said Chris Carlson,
owner of Carlson’s Jewelry
Smithing. “Behind buying a
home and a car, jewelry, particularly an engagement ring,
is usually one of the most
expensive purchases someone will make in their life.”
With so many different
options, it is easy to get confused or bewildered when
purchasing a diamond. As if
proposing were not nerveracking enough, the stress of
buying a diamond can be
overwhelming.
Carlson offered some simple tips and suggestions
which can help to ease worries when making the big
purchase. Without being an
expert yourself, some simple
knowledge can help you
make sure she’ll be happy
with the stone with which
you propose.
KNOW YOUR PRICE
Before even walking into a
jewelry store, Carlson recommends that you have a good
idea of what amount of
money you would like to
spend on a diamond.
“You should have an idea
of what style you would like
to get,” said Carlson. “With
engagement rings, you can
go from very basic to very
(detailed). When you’re looking for a stone on the more
basic side, it gives you a lot
more options when you’re
looking to pair it up with a
band. When you start moving toward a fancy stone,
you pretty much need a specific band to go with it. So
many people buy a very
fancy stone, then when they
look to pair it with a band,
the ring looks hodgepodged.
It’s not a good idea to break
the bank on the stone and
then be forced to purchase a
band that doesn’t feature it
well.”
With regard to buying an
appropriate band, Carlson
said that he prefers bands
which have at least six
prongs which make contact
with the stone. Because, theoretically, an engagement
ring will be worn for the
entirety of someone’s life,
bands with six points of contact to the stone give added
security that the stone will
never become loose.
See DIAMOND, Page 52
Chris Carlson of Carlson’s Jewelry Smithing holds an
assortment of engagement rings.
P-J photo by Remington Whitcomb
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((716)
716) 4
483-1435
83-1435
w w w. j a m e s t o w n a w n i n g . c o m
www.jamestownawning.com
PAGE 5
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
You said, ‘‘Yes.’’ Now you want the whole world to
know. Each newspaper has its own policies for publishing such information.
Contact the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal for
copies of announcement forms to use for your engagement and wedding.
Forms are available at the OBSERVER, 10 E. Second
St., P.O. Box 391, Dunkirk NY, 14048-0391, and at The
Post-Journal, 15 W. Second St., P.O. Box 190,
Jamestown, NY 14701-0190.
In this age of computers and fast-paced lives, rapid and
easy communication via the Internet saves time and
errand-running for many.
At right is the image from the Virtual Newsroom page of
The Post-Journal, which is similar to that of the OBSERVER. After going to the homepage of each paper —
www.observertoday.com or www.post-journal.com — click
on the “Submit News” block on the upper right corner of
the screen. The page at right is what you will find.
Click on the appropriate entry in the Family or Lifestyles
section and submit your engagement or wedding information via the Internet.
Choose your category — engagement or wedding —
and enter the details. Step two lets you send your photograph electronically as well.
If you wish to have your photo printed in color, prepayment of $20 is required.
Facial Expressions
Day Spa
“2 Locations 1 Great Name”
salon1jamestown.com
748 Foote Avenue Plaza
Jamestown, NY 14701
716.483.6000
721 West 3rd Street
Jamestown, NY 14701
716.483.2422
The friendly staff at Salon 1 can take the worry out
of your day and create a look as individual as you
are. We will be happy to assist you and the members
of your wedding party right down to the last minute
details. Our full service salon can do it all,
manicures, make-up, pedicures, up-do’s no matter
how large or small your wedding party.
33 Church St., Fredonia • 679-4464
www.dayspafacialexpressions.com
Relax & Replenish In
Anticipation Of Your Perfect Day
Featuring Our Bridal Package
“The Week Of The Wedding”
Facial • Manicure • Pedicure • Eyebrow Arching • Practice
Makeup And Free Makeup Application On Your Wedding Day
We Also Offer
• Spray Tan • Individual False Eyelashes
Plus New! Beautiful Lash Extensions • Massage
Call Today To Schedule Your Consultation.
Voted #1
Salon In Chautauqua
County In 2010,
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PAGE 6
Over 20 Years
In Business!
Gift Certificates Available
We Accept All Major Credit Cards
See how fabulous you can feel when you
spoil yourself with…
“The Lounge” at
Panache is a
second-floor,
private, plush
room that
welcomes you &
your wedding party
with breakfast,
lunch or a light
appetizer. “The
Lounge” is a room
that allows your
party to spend some of the most important
pre-wedding moments with each other. Your
day is scheduled ahead of time & services are
booked to best accommodate you & your
party! Each service provider will personally
greet you & escort you
to your service.
The entire event is
planned & set-up
around your ideal
time schedule.
We work very hard to
ensure that the start of the most important
day in your life is fabulous!
Wedding scheduling has begun for the
2013 Wedding Season
Jon Elder
Updos • Manis • Pedis • Makeup
C
O
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P
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N Expires 12/31/13
Book a bridal party of 6 or more
& the bride’s services are
FREE!
310 Sprague St., Jamestown, NY •
484.7355
C
O
U
P
O
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• Each Bride is given a personal wedding coordinator
that provides clear communication about your
wedding schedule
• Select a member of your bridal party to be the “go-to”
contact for your wedding party
• Ability to schedule manicure & pedicure and/or spa
services the week of the wedding, along with formal
styling & make-up the day of the wedding
• 20+ Highly experienced staff providing full salon
& spa services
• Show off your style this wedding season when you
book your wedding party at Panache Salon & Day
Spa
• Also offering Spa/Brida/Bachelorette/Baby Shower/
Birthday/Ladies Day/Just Because - Parties
PAGE 7
THE NAME CHANGE
The wedding was beautiful and the honeymoon more fun
than you could have ever dreamed possible.
Now it’s time to settle into your roles as husband and
wife. If you — our blushing new bride — have followed tradition and taken your husband’s last name, you have a few
contacts to make. It is important to acknowledge the legal
change of your name on records at various institutions.
Notes
Auto Insurance
Auto Registration
Bank Accounts
Business Cards
Business Stationery
Credit Cards
Dental Insurance
Dental records
Driver’s License
Employment Records
Homeowner’s Insurance
IRA Accounts
Investments
One Pratt Avenue
Chautauqua Institution
716.357.2224
Massages, Couples
Massages, Deep
Tissue Massage,
Reflexology,
Facials, Pedicures,
Manicures
PAGE 8
Leases
Library Cards
Life Insurance
Loans
Magazines
Medical Insurance
Medical Records
Memberships
Newspapers
Passports / Visas
Pensions
Post Office
Property Titles
Renter’s Insurance
Safety Deposit Box
School Records
Social Security Card
Taxes
Telephone Company
Utilities
Wills & Trusts
Bachelorette
Bachelorette Party
Party
John Robert’s
Salon & Spa
specializes in personal
attention and a comfortable
atmosphere to create an
ultimate wedding experience! Let
us help you make your wedding
the BEST it can be!
Classic Manicure & Pedicure
With French Polish $64.00
PURCHASE 5
And The Bride Is FREE!
Add A 30 Min. Massage For $40
60 Min. Massage For $65
Let Us Help You Choose
The Perfect Look!
Pre-trial Updo $25
Wedding
Wedding Day
Day Special
Special
Bridesmaids Formal Style...........................................$45
Brides Formal Style....................................................$55
Make Up Application..........................................$20
Make Up With Any Formal Style.............................Only $15
Additional Services Offered
Hair Styling
Color & Highlights
Massage
Pedicures & Manicures
8533 North Main St., Eden, NY 14057
Facials & Body Treatments
992-4310
Waxing
www.johnrobertssalonandspa.com
THE HAIR
Mission Possible: The Perfect Hair For Your Wedding
BY KYLA JOHNSON
OWNER, FORBICI HAIR DESIGN
The date has been set. The location
has been booked. The details surrounding one of the biggest days of
your life will slowly start to come
together. One item on that long to-do
list that many brides overlook are hair
preparations. The who, what, when
and where of wedding hair design is
intricate, but combing over those
details with your bridal party and stylist will be time well spent.
HOW TO PICK YOUR SALON
When you walk into a wedding
venue, sometimes you just “know”
that it is the one. The same thing goes
for hair salons! Make sure you spend
time visiting your options and getting
to know the stylists. Many stylists have
particular talents when it comes to cutting and styling for special occasions.
Don’t be afraid to ask for examples
of previous work. This will allow you
to learn about each business and
make the best judgment call for you
and your bridesmaids. Visit websites
and Facebook pages to get an
impression of what each salon is all
about.
“The atmosphere inside a salon can
set the tone for a bride’s entire wedding day,” said Kyla Johnson, owner
of Forbici Hair Design. “Getting to
know your stylists beforehand is the
best way to feel confident that your
hair is in good hands.”
Another thing to consider when
choosing
a
QUICK TIP:
salon for your
Be sure to book
wedding day is
any haircut,
whether or not
color
or waxing
they offer onservices
approxlocation bridal
imately
one
services. If your
week
prior
to
schedule
is
your wedding
tight, traveling
day to make
to your ideal
sure they are
salon may not
fresh but not
work for you.
last minute!
Depending on
the salon, you
may be able to arrange for them to
come to you. Talk about saving time!
By not having to worry about traveling, you can focus on other parts of
your big day.
See HAIR, Page 10
Priceless Studios Photography
PAGE 9
THE HAIR
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
From Page 9
The last thing to remember is to ask
what ser vices are offered at each
salon. If traveling to a salon is budgeted into your schedule, consider choosing a location that can accommodate
hair, nails and makeup into one
appointment.
This saves you the hassle of traveling to multiple locations and you can
avoid the risk of being late or having
to backtrack if something unforeseen
happens.
HOW TO PICK
YOUR UPDO STYLE
Now that you’ve made a decision
on where to go, it is time to decide
what to do! Most seasoned salons will
offer what they call “trial runs” to each
of their brides. This gives the bride
and stylist some one-on-one time to
decide which hair style is the best fit
for their body and their dress. If you
have your dress and your bridesmaids’
dresses selected, try to bring pictures
to show your stylist so you’re guaranteed to get the
best match.
“You want your
hair to compliment your dress,
Miss Laura for all your wedding needs! not overtake it,”
said Johnson.
“Many stylists
forget this and
will give a bride
an updo that disrupts the beauty
129 W. Main St., Sherman, NY 14781
(716) 708-9354
of their dress. We
Tues ~ Fri 10am -5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm
take special care
MISS LAURA’S PLACE
Call
Specializing in
Flower Arrangements
Wedding Cakes • Photography
PAGE 10
of this above all else. The pieces of the
puzzle have to be perfect,” she said.
You can bring your bridesmaids in
to select which updos are right for
them as well. Every woman’s body is
different, including their hair. It is
equally as important to do trial runs
with your bridal party to make sure
everyone looks their best at the altar
or in your photos!
Some popular wedding updos to
consider:
¯ Ballerina Bun
¯ Chignon
¯ Waterfall Braids
¯ Sophisticated Side Pony
By taking your time in choosing a
hair salon for your wedding day, you
are more likely to get the outcome
you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to
ask questions! If you take as much
care into selecting your hair style as
you do your dress, your walk down
the aisle will be a magical one for
sure. Every queen deserves a crown –
make sure yours is the perfect fit for
you!
THE VENUE
Finding That Special Place: The Venue Search
the pictures that are available here,
but because of the great menus we
have here as well,” said Weinert. “It’s
Be it a large wedding or small,
a good idea to reserve early because
there are opportunities at venues
a lot of people are interested in havacross Chautauqua County to create
ing their wedding here. It’s a very
unique place to have your wedding
a perfect day in the perfect place.
because you are not only lakeside,
From lakeside spots to vineyards,
historic churches, buildings and opera but you’re surrounded by historic
architecture. It’s a place where presihouses, steam line boats to nature
dents have slept, and world-famous
centers, Chautauqua County has a
academics, lecturers and activists
variety of options to accommodate
that special occasion called marriage. come here to speak. So, it adds a
whole other level of depth to a perAccording to Vanessa Weinert,
marketing manager for Chautauqua sons wedding.”
When considering a wedding at
Institution and the Athenaeum
Hotel, Chautauqua Institution is one Chautauqua Institution, or any
venue, the first step is to contact
of the great places to have a wedsomeone like Christine Hawkins. The
ding.
Athenaeum Hotel employs Hawkins
“Not only is it fantastic because of
BY DUSTEN RADER
DRADER@POST- JOURNAL.COM
as special events administrator so she
can assist brides and grooms throughout the process of planning a wedding.
“She can get them started on what
they are looking for in a wedding
such as what menu, what venue they
want to use on the grounds and any
other special needs they might have
for their wedding,” said Weinert.
“She can also prevent complication
and look at outsource referrals. She is
a wealth of knowledge when it comes
to planning your wedding.”
One of the most popular venues at
the Chautauqua Institution is the Hall
of Philosophy, which was built in
1906 and is reminiscent of an early
Greek temple.
Continued On Page 17
PAGE 11
THE VENUE
Peek’N Peak: Region’s Destination Wedding Location
Brides and grooms are invited to
plan their wedding at Peek’n Peak
Resort and Spa, the region’s destination wedding location, located in Findley Lake. With all the resort has to
offer, it makes for the perfect location
for you and your guests to spend a
weekend away and celebrate one of
life’s most special moments. Complete
with three unique wedding venues, a
variety of leisure activities, accommodations and amenities, Peek’n Peak can
create a wedding experience like no
other.
Each bride will be given one-on-one
attention with our talented wedding
coordinators to make sure that each
wedding and wedding reception is
catered to fit the unique style that each
bride envisions for her special day.
Brides are welcomed and encouraged
to set up an appointment to meet with
our wedding coordinators to discuss
the options of a wedding at Peek’n
Peak, as well as a tour of each unique
venue throughout the resort.
Venues at the resort offer intimate,
rustic, outdoor and elaborate styles,
sure to please those planning a destination wedding. The Crown Room is
located inside of the Olde English
Tudor Style Inn and will hold up to
125 guests, which allows for an intimate setting to celebrate with your
closest friends and family. The Lodge
is set to hold the largest of gatherings,
accommodating guest lists of up to
350 people comfortably. This setting is
rustic at its best, with high, wood-polished, cathedral ceilings, a large stone,
double-sided fireplace and floor-toceiling windows offering a view of the
expansive mountainside.
The Lodge Deck offers a different
setting for those who choose to host
their ceremony outdoors. And finally,
the retreat. Located on the far side of
the mountain, The retreat is outfitted
with cathedral ceilings and a floor-toceiling stone fire place. The balcony,
lined with brass railings, is where your
guests will relax at the full-service bar
which overlooks the center stage dance
floor. Another great option for an outdoor setting, the Retreat Deck, set so
guests can gather and witness and the
bride and groom pledge their vows to
one another at the base of the ski
slopes.
The retreat can accommodate up to
200 guests comfortably and offers
flexibility for your unique wedding
experience. The resort also provides a
PAGE 12
Peek’n Peak Resort and Spa
THE VENUE
complimentary dressing room for the
bride and her bridesmaids to get ready
prior to the ceremony.
Our a ward-win ning c hefs, Dan
Miller and Noah Sandstrom, are ready
to prepare a cuisine to fit your budget.
There are many packages to choose
from — whether it be a station buffet,
an hors d’oeuvres reception, or a luxurious black tie sit-down dinner. Packages can be customized to order as
well.
Brides and grooms are sure to see
themselves saying and/or celebrating
the “I do’s” in one of these three
unique venues each offering a different
experience, not only for themselves,
but for their guests in helping to celebrate such a special occasion.
By hosting a beautiful wedding at
Peek’n Peak Resort, the region’s destination wedding location, there are
many photo opportunities available.
From the expansive fairways of the
upper golf course to the beautiful vines
in front of the Tudor-style main Inn,
the bride and groom are sure to have
amazing photos to cherish for years to
come.
The resort offers many different
leisure activities that the wedding party
and their guests are encouraged to
experience during their weekend stay
at Peek’n Peak. Discounts are offered
to the groom and his groomsman for a
round of golf on one of our two championship courses, as well as discounts
to the Serenity Spa for the bride and
her bridal party.
The resort also offers a large indoor
and outdoor pool and hot tub, sauna
and fitness center, and for the young
and the young at heart, the resort has a
kiddie pool, playground, miniature golf
course and 115-foot water slide. New
to the resort are Segway adventure
tours throughout the slopes and trails
of the Peek.
These amenities are sure to entertain
guests of all ages for your special
weekend celebration.
The bride and groom are invited to
spend their evening in one of the luxury honeymoon suites and their guests
will be comfortable staying in one of
the newly renovated hotel rooms or in
a condo for larger groups.
Peek’n Peak is the all-in-one stop for
your destination wedding. With all the
Resort has to offer, choosing to host a
destination wedding in the foothills of
Western New York is sure to create
lasting memories for the bride and
groom and all those who attend this
special occasion. Call Kim Kantola,
wedding specialist, to schedule your
exclusive tour of the region’s destination wedding location today at 3554141, ext. 7414.
Candle Escents
Area’s Largest Candle Gift Shop
Visit Our Wedding Room!
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Unity Candles • Cake Toppers • Guest
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2777 Route 394 Ashville, NY
Denise Tewinkle- Candlelighter
[email protected]
Peak’n Peak Resort and Spa
PAGE 13
THE VENUE
Ambassador Center Prepared
To Make Dreams Come True
Ambassador Center
The Perfect Location for your Special Event
215 West Lake Road, Mayville, New York 14757
716.269.7829
Banquet Facility • Hotel
Restaurant • Lounge
Let us help you make this
special occasion a wonderful
experience from start to finish.
We offer personalized reception services and
accommodations for your guests.
www.chautauquasuites.com
PAGE 14
Located in Erie, Pa., the Ambassador Center showcases three unique ballrooms elegantly designed to fit the
style of any bride. Whether you’re looking to host a glamorous, intimate or even an outdoor wedding reception,
the Ambassador Center is prepared to make all of your
wedding dreams come true.
The Ambassador Center is the perfect location for all of
your wedding activities. Whether you host a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding reception or morning after
brunch, the Ambassador Center can accommodate all of
your wedding needs.
At the Ambassador Center, every bride works closely
with a professional wedding coordinator who will go
above and beyond to make sure that every detail is in
place and the bride is confident in every decision she
makes for her special day. Our wedding coordinators will
take the time to learn about the bride and groom and the
experience they hope to create for their special day. Our
wedding coordinators are dedicated to handling the
details so the brides can relax and have fun.
The Ambassador Center has the most experienced and
professional service personnel in the business. From planning a customized menu to coordinating your table
linens, flower arrangements and all of your event details,
the award-winning Ambassador staff is unsurpassed in
their ability to make your event unforgettable.
The Ambassador Center can accommodate up to 450
guests and has four unique venues. The charm and
grandeur of the spacious Crystal Ballroom is the perfect
setting for an elegant wedding reception. Combining style
and sophistication, the Crystal Ballroom boasts large Austrian crystal chandeliers and Axminster wool carpet from
England, with warm and elegantly appointed interior. If
it is a more exotic and intimate venue you desire, the
Hemingway Ballroom, Erie’s most unique reception hall,
featuring beautiful murals, and rich handcrafted
mahogany woodwork might be the venue for you. If you
are looking for a more charming setting, The Garden
Atrium is the perfect fit for you. The Garden Atrium has a
vaulted glass, retractable ceiling, sure to create the most
intimate of settings. Prefer to host your wedding outdoors? The Ambassador Center is also home to the Garden Terrace, a private, outdoor, intimate setting featuring
a Koi pond, outdoor fire pits and elegant outdoor lighting.
See VENUE, Page 43
THE CATERER
Catering Can Involve Creativity, Unique Themes
BY DUSTEN RADER
DRADER@POST- JOURNAL.COM
When planning that special wedding day, those who will host guests
may want to consider finding a caterer
to help select a unique theme that
represents both the bride and the
groom.
According to Robert Cross, owner
of 3C’s Catering, businesses such as
his generally have the ability to provide services for events ranging from
rehearsal dinners, to bridal showers
and weddings. In addition to feeding
guests, caterers can provide fine
China or even disposable dining ware.
But, one thing to keep in mind, said
Cross, is to think outside the box
when deciding the theme of the event.
“There’s a lot of different venues
that lend themselves to unique weddings,” said Cross. “I think that’s
becoming the trend. When we first
opened 16 years ago, a lot of the
weddings were the same venue, food
and decor. Whereas today’s brides are
becoming much more creative by
doing unique things to set their wedding apart.”
One way brides and grooms are
expressing themselves is via wedding
cakes.
“Groom cakes are becoming popular again and are usually something
that describes the couple or one of the
groom’s hobbies,” said Cross. “For
example, we’ve done ‘Star Wars,’
‘Star Trek’ and hunting theme cakes.”
Some of the unique wedding
themes that Cross has seen include:
Mexican, country western, industrial
and French.
“It runs the gamut,” said Cross.
“One that we’re working with right
now has an industrial theme. They are
using a lot of metal and other very
unique things for decor.”
Jon Elder
Brides are also getting creative with tenderloin for the two meats right to
the food that their guests are served.
Croquembouche traditional wedding
3C’s Catering and other caterers usu- cake, which is stacked cream puffs
ally have a standard menu to choose
with a caramel drizzle on top. It was a
from. But, half of the brides Cross
lot of fun, and that really is the trend,
works with basically create their own
to be really unique.”
menu, he said.
See CATERER, Page 16
“When they
come to me they
already have something in mind menu
wise,” said Cross.
“One of the fun
ones was the
French wedding
that we did last
Hall Rental Available
year. It featured
with Full Kitchen Facilities
completely French
food right from the
664-2893
Norby Road
hors d’oeuvres, to
Jamestown, NY 14701
969-9468
Cordon Bleu and
Allen Park
MEN’S CLUB
PAGE 15
THE CATERER
From Page 15
It is also important for
couples to consider the
location in which they wish
to host their event. In particular, 3C’s Catering utilizes
the Falcon’s Nest banquet
facility in Falconer. However, caterers also have the
ability to travel to various
locations.
So, one shouldn’t necessarily choose a caterer
based on the facilities they
provide, but rather the services they offer. But, the
most important thing, said
Cross, is to plan out a budget, to know how many
guests they are inviting and
to choose the manner in
which the food will be
served.
W E D D I N G S
A T
“Budgets aren’t only for
catering and the cake, but
for the whole wedding,”
said Cross. “It’s much easier
to determine what you want
for each portion of the wedding if you know how much
you want to spend. Know
your number of guests
when looking at venues,
and don’t try to put 300
people into a 225-person
venue because it creates a
lot of challenges. For food,
stations are popular
because a lot of people like
their guests to move around
and mingle.”
For more information call
267-4403 or visit
www.3cscatering.com.
See the caterer checklist
on Page 38.
C H A U T A U Q U A
A perfect setting for
a beautiful wedding
is the Athenaeum
Hotel at Chautauqua
Institution.
For more information,
call our Special Event Consultant directly
716.357.6389
PAGE 16
www.athenaeum-hotel.com
T H E SUNSET
THE
S U N S E T IINN
NN
Weddings • Banquets • Catering
Since 1
Since
1922
922
Overlooking
O
v e r l o o k i n g Beautiful
Beautiful
L a k e Erie
Lake
Erie
Photo: Jon Elder
t 'VMM 8FEEJOH 7FOVF 4FSWJDFT
t &WFOU $POTVMUBUJPO
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Jon Elder
1 9 9 0 Lakeside
1990
L a k e s i d e Dr.
D r. • E
Erie,
r i e , P A 16511
16511
814.452.3915
814.452.3915
www.sunsetinnerie.com
A Tradition Of Quality
For Over 90 Years
The Area’s Finest Inn & Restaurant
Featuring American & Continental Cuisine
Bridal Showers • Rehearsal Dinners
Weddings • Banquets
From Page 11
“It’s a beautiful building that is an outdoor facility with a
picturesque view that you can see the lake from,” said
Weinert.
In the event of uncooperative weather, the Hall of Christ
is available as an indoor facility.
“It’s a beautiful church that was built at the turn of the
century,” said Weinert.
Other options include a total outdoor weddings at the
Miller Bell Tower or Pier Building.
As far as the culinary aspect at the Athenaeum Hotel
goes, a new up-and-coming chef has been hired. Chef
Ross Warhol is the executive chef at the Athenaeum Hotel
and is in charge of planning the menus.
“He is currently cooking in Sweden for the off-season
and he will be back this summer,” said Weinert. “He also
cooked at the James Beard House, which is quite an
honor for an American chef in New York City.”
Weddings at Chautauqua Institution and the Athenaeum
Hotel are not available during the organization’s nine-week
summer season. The majority of weddings occur during
April, May and early June. Post-season weddings in September and October are available as well. Depending whether
guests want to have their wedding on a Friday, Saturday or
Sunday, there are different menu options. And, for Saturday
evening wedding receptions a 150-person minimum is
required, but for Friday and Sunday there is no minimum.
For more information call Hawkins at 357-6389 or visit
www.athenaeum-hotel.com.
On-site Catering For
Up To 150 Guests
24 Elegant Guest Rooms And Suites
Seasonal Outdoor Seating
Conference Room
DEDICATED TO YOUR SPECIAL DAY
Showers
Rehearsal Dinners
Weddings
716-679-1199
SINCE 1919
52 East Main Street
Fredonia, New York 14063
(716)672-2103
Email: [email protected]
www.whiteinn.com
5377 West Lake Rd,
Dunkirk
PAGE 17
RENTALS
Renting Can Be Easier Than Purchasing
coner, is a general rental
center that specializes in
POST- JOURNAL.COM
party items. According to
Tim Rowan, owner, he can
What matters most are
do anything from small
not the items that surround birthday parties to wedding
receptions for about 500
a bride and groom, but
rather the memories creat- people. But, it is incredibly
important to reserve well
ed during a wedding that
ahead of the event to
can last a lifetime.
That’s why couples may ensure the best availability,
want to consider renting
he said.
“When dealing with us,
instead of buying. The
reserve early with maxiextraordinary amount of
work and money that goes mum numbers because we
can always cut numbers
into planning a wedding
can be slightly alleviated by but can’t always add,” said
for the middle of NovemRowan. “You want to
hiring a rental business to
ber there’s really not a
reserve early because if
help host the event.
you’re planning a wedding whole lot of competition,
Rowan’s Rental, of Falbut if it’s the third week of
June then you better
reserve a few months
ahead of time.”
Rental businesses can be
very busy depending on
the time of the year.
2 9 6 LLake
296
a ke SShore
h o r e DDr.
r. W
W.,. , DDunkirk,
unkirk, N
NYY • 3366-5322
66-5322
According to Rowan, he
has done up to eight weddings in one weekend. But,
times have changed as far
as when weddings occur
throughout the year. It
used to be that summer
BY DUSTEN RADER
DRADER@
DDUNKIRK
UNKIRK MOOSE
MOOSE #89
#89
CONSIDER US
FOR YOUR
SPECIAL DAY!
• Finest Ballroom in
the North County
• Fully Stocked Bar
• Private Entrance
• Plenty of Parking
Featuring only the highest quality food
with the most professional service
Remember,
We do one Wedding at a time,
YOURS.
Please call Bill Winder at 366-5322 for more information.
PAGE 18
Jon Elder
was the time for weddings,
but fall has become more
popular, he said.
“September and October
have become more popular
for weddings than what
they were 15 years ago,”
said Rowan. “Outdoor
weddings can be a little
tougher because you don’t
know what the weather is
going to be like. So, then
you’d want to get into outdoor heaters for tents that
we carry. The sooner you
can put your reservation in,
the better off everybody is
r’s
MeedeRestaurant
We Invite You To Host Your Reception In
Our Beautiful Dining Hall In The Heart
Of Ripley, NY
• Home-Cooked Favorites
• World-Famous Desserts
•Elegant Options Within Your Budget
• Off Premise Catering Also Available
Banquet Facilities Serving 2-200 people
19 East Main St., Ripley NY • (716) 736-7381
RENTALS
going to be. Your selection
is going to be a lot better,
and so will availability.”
Some of the more popular items that people have
a tendency to rent for weddings are tables, chairs,
linens, dishes, glasses, flatware and serving pieces.
“It’s absolutely easier to
rent than to purchase for
weddings,” said Rowan.
“That way you don’t have
to store it or figure out
what you’re doing with it
afterwards. We also offer a
damage waiver that people
can take advantage of
which is 9 percent of the
rental. It will cover any broken items, and all they
have to do is send the
pieces back in. That’s so
we know that it was broken
and not missing because
we do not cover missing
items.”
One of the biggest reasons for going with a local
rental company such as
Rowans is that customers
are more likely to get personal service, said Rowan.
“I’ve personally been in
the rental business since
1986 when my parents
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
purchased it,” said Rowan.
“Now, I’ve taken over and
I’m accessible to anybody
and everybody that walks
in the door. So, if there is a
problem they are going to
deal with the owner and
for the perfect
not somebody else. And,
we try to make it as easy as
possible.”
A website is currently
under construction for
Rowan’s Rental that will
feature the wide variety of
items the business has
available. So, for now the
best way to get more information is by calling Rowan
at 665-5700. When the
website goes live it will be
www.rowansrental.com.
MAPLEHURST
Wedding C O U N T R Y
CLUB
• Receptions • Bridal Showers
Specializing In • Rehearsal
Dinners • All Occasions
- Open To The Public -
Capacity w/Dance Floor Is 225 People • Big Tree Rd., Lakewood • (716) 763-9058
PAGE 19
Intimate and Special are the
events we create for our
Bridal Couples.
Italian American Restaurant & Lounge
3155 Fluvanna Ave., Jamestown
Wedding Receptions
& Special Occasions
Come see the new LaScala and see what we
have to offer for your special day.
The whole restaurant can be exclusively yours!
Seating up to 400 people.
Our wedding reception at La Scala was an absolute success thanks to Melanie Yannie and her hardworking staff!
The food was excellent; our guests raved about how delicious all of the entrées
were. We were absolutely pleased with every food item we chose. Every dish the
chef prepared was delectable - from the vegetables to the potatoes to the pasta to
the meats. We were extremely satisfied. Every member of the staff who worked with us
that evening was friendly and extremely helpful.
They were always checking with my husband and I to see if we needed
anything, and were happy to help with anything. My husband and I were even
served our dinner!That gave us more time to socialize with guests, which was
appreciated. The bartender was also very nice! I was so pleased with every
individual who assisted with our reception. I could not have asked for more.
The decor was beautiful. Melanie and her staff took care of everything - table
arrangement, decorating, even setting out all of the wedding favors.I did not have
to stress one bit about rushing to decorate the room or get anything ready - it was
done for me, which was a relief. Melanie will work with vendors (cake, DJ,
flowers) to ensure that everything is set up and ready for the big day.
I would recommend La Scala restaurant to any bride and groom looking for an
excellent venue for their reception.The restaurant is classy and elegant, and the
staff aims to please. Melanie will work with you to make your dreams a reality.
And the process will be stress-free, which makes the evening even more enjoyable!
SHOES
Steps To Finding
The Cinderella
Wedding Shoe
BY SAMANTHA
CRITCHELL
AP FASHION WRITER
N E W YO R K — N o
offense to Cinderella, but
she sor t of had it backwards. The shoe should
be at the end of the to-do
list for a wedding fairy
tale.
After the engagement,
first consider the venue,
then the dress — then the
shoes and other accessories, experts say. Collectively, they should have a
complementary vibe.
“It’s all a picture that
c o m e s t o g e t h e r, ” s a y s
gown designer Reem Acra.
No flip-flops for a formal setting and dress, and
satin pumps would be silly
on the beach.
Ta n y a D u k e s , a c c e s -
Alicia & Jason Brown - August 2012
We Offer:
Beautiful Venue
Custom Wedding Packages
Bar Options
Menu Selections
Buffet Options
Plated Options
Customized Food Stations
On Site Bridal Consultant
We want to make that special day elegant in
every way. Let us help you create the Wedding
and Reception you always envisioned.
We will remove the stress for you. All you will
need to do is show up and enjoy your special
day! We offer A La Carte menus or All
Inclusive menus. Let us put our years
of experience to work for you!
Melanie Yannie
- Bridal & Event Manager
~ 716-664-7534 ~
[email protected]
Jon Elder
PAGE 20
SHOES
sories editor at Brides
magazine, suggests these
practical questions:
¯ How high for the heel?
Think of the proportions
of the dress, how tall you’ll
stand and if you are used
to wearing heels at all, she
says.
¯ Is the wedding outside? A lawn wedding, for
example, could be trouble
for a spiky heel. A wedge
would fare better.
¯ How formal is the
occasion? Fabric matters
here. “Satin is the traditional choice, and it’s a
safe bet,” Dukes says.
And then there’s deciding whether you ever
want to wear the shoes
Priceless Studios Photography
again.
“ M o s t w o m e n d o n’ t
wear their bridal shoes
again not because they’re
not wearable, but because
they’re a memento,” says
footwear designer Stuart
We i t z m a n , w h o g o t h i s
start in business in bridal
more than 25 years ago. “I
make every bridal shoe in
dyeable satin, so you
could wear them again,
but you’d lose the memento, and then you’d wear
those dyed shoes once
and ruin those ‘bridal
shoes.’ Most women never
throw them out.”
Weitzman says his success in this market is due
par tly to an obser vation
by Judith Leiber, founder
of the famous beaded bag
collection, who noted an
“ugly bluish tone” to most
wedding shoes. He created a pair out of Swiss
lace, won a design award
for them and the rest is
history.
See SHOES, Page 22
START YOUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER IN COMFORT
STORE HOURS: Mon & Fri 9-7,
Tue, Wed & Thurs 9-6, Sat 9-5, Sun Closed
2206 Foote Ave., Jamestown, NY, Route 60 South • 716-665-4545
“So Much More Than Just Floors”
www.moransfloorstore.com
Like us
Follow us
PAGE 21
THE SHOES
From Page 21
He sees as much variety
in wedding-shoe styles as
h e d o e s o n t h e s t re e t :
Wo m e n w a n t s a n d a l s ,
stilettos, platforms and
lace booties, but the traditional pump is the most
popular.
Shoes often spend most
of the big day covered by
the gown’s hemline, but
they can be a glimpse of
the bride’s personality. The
moment the shoes will
probably get the most
attention is right before she
kicks them off to dance,
says Acra with a laugh.
Crafting a head-to-toe
mood is a delicate balancing act between modernity
and timelessness, she
explains. Now, the shoe?
That’s a place to have a little fun.
“If I have a bride in the
showr oom, I m ig ht say,
‘Why not an orange
shoe?’” Acra says. “It’s fun
to have something different. I love playing with
shoes. I really prefer colored shoes or something
with bling or fun.”
M e t a l l i c s a re a g o o d
middle-of-the-road option,
as is blush pink, and even
black is doable, especially
if you add a black ribbon
sash around the waist of
the dress.
“I do think more out-oft h e - b ox c h o i c e s w i l l b e
revisited and worn again,”
says
Brides’
Dukes.
ON
ON
SSILVER
I LV E R CCREEK
R E E K THE
THE
LAKE
F I R E H O U S E LAKE
FIREHOUSE
23 JACKSON ST., SILVER CREEK • 934-3042
Banquets For All Occasions
Weddings
•Bridal & Baby Showers
•Reunions
•Communion
•All
Occasions
Call
For
Details
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
“Maybe something with a
lot of color, you’re more
likely to wear that again,
like a red shoe, or cowboy
boots or sneakers.”
She adds, however: “If
you want the memento,
your Cinderella slipper,
and you want to keep
them pristine, then white is
a valid choice.”
T he re i s m ore v ar i e t y
now than ever in gown silhouettes — including
shor ter cocktail dresses,
asymmetrical high-low
hemlines, slim columns
and mermaid shapes, in
addition to the ballskirt —
and that does mean almost
endless
choices
in
footwear.
Bring multiple pairs of
shoes to gown fittings to
explore the options, recommends Acra, who
chooses the overall look
for models in her bridal
runway shows and personally consults with some private clients.
The most important
thing, as with all decisions
on the bride’s look, is that
she is happy and comfortable in it, Acra says.
“ W h e n y o u ’ re w a l k i n g
down the aisle, really no
one will be looking at your
shoe. But you’ll remember
what you were wearing,
and if it was bright red,
when you talk to your children 20 years later, you
can say, ‘I was ahead of
my time.’”
Sheridan
VFW Post #6390
2556 Main Rd. (Rt. 20), Sheridan, NY • 672-6011
http://home.roadrunner.com/~shervfw6390/
160399
PAGE 22
WEDDING GAMES
Guests May Enjoy Games, Contests, Icebreakers
BY MELISSA
KOSSLER DUTTON
ASSOCIATED PRESS
At Ber nie and Jordan
Hajovsky’s wedding reception, it was useful to know
details about the happy
couple.
Guests had to answer
questions about them
before they could join the
buffet line.
The newlyweds hoped
the trivia game and other
activities would make the
reception more memorable.
“I really wanted people to
walk away feeling they had
been involved and that it
was the most fun wedding
reception they had ever
attended,” said Jordan
Hajovsky, of Austin, Texas.
Games, contests and
other icebreakers have
become increasingly popular at wedding receptions,
said Sarabeth Quattlebaum,
spokeswoman for the American Association of Certified
Wedding Planners, in Dallas.
“Couples want a party
atmosphere and have realized that the more guests
mix and mingle, the more
relaxed they’ll be,” said
Quattlebaum, owner of
Sarabeth Events in Keller,
Texas.
“This also adds a personal touch to their reception
party.”
Disc jockey Peter Merry
says more and more couples are asking him to help
organize reception activities, such as contests to win
table centerpieces or asking
guests to serenade the
bride and groom with
songs that include the word
love in the lyrics. Other
couples are incorporating
photo booths, where guests
can have their pictures
taken in silly hats and holding goofy props.
With guests from different
phases of their lives who
may not know each other,
brides and grooms want to
provide oppor tunities to
interact.
See GAMES, Page 24
Jon Elder
KOSCIUSZKO CLUB
252 Nevins St., Dunkirk, NY • 366-1044
Our Hall is available for your:
• We dding Receptions
• Baby & Wedding Showers
• Birthdays • Anniversaries
All Occasions Welcome
Seating up to 250 people
Call the Club 366-1044
For more details &
Banquet Menu
W
Home of:
Seafood & Steak House
The Best for
Your Special Day!
G ou rm et C a terin g Ava ila b le
Weddings
Rehearsal
Dinners
Showers & More
Rts. 5 & 20, Irving, N.Y. • Across From Lakeshore Hospital • 934-4826
PAT’S CATERING
Dunkirk, New York
“The Homemade Touch”
• Banquets • Graduations
• Picnics • Reunions • Weddings
YOUR PLACE OR OURS,
WE WILL SERVE YOU OR DELIVER
FOOD AT YOUR REQUEST
For More Information or Menu Call Pat Tripp
366-0416
PAGE 23
WEDDING GAMES
From Page 23
“If you can break down
any discomfort, guests will
stay longer and have more
fun on the dance floor,”
said Mer r y, of Dallas,
author of “The Best Wedding Reception Ever” (Sellers, 2010).
DJ Jimmie Malone, who
owns the company Exceptional Receptions in Binghamton, encourages couples to include activities to
set the tone and help balance the wedding’s “pomp
and circumstance.”
“It
keeps
guests
engaged,” Malone said.
Stephanie Goetz of Binghamton said the games at
her 2011 wedding “helped
break the ice. Between the
PAGE 24
Priceless Studios Photography
different families and
friends, the majority of people didn’t know each other.
It was a lot of fun.”
Malone sometimes leads
guests through an elaborate
game in which they must
pass a drink, a set of car
keys and a dollar bill
around the table. He keeps
the crowd laughing and
guessing about what the
items mean. At the end, he
announces that the person
holding the money is “$1
richer” and that the holder
of the drink must serve as
the table’s bartender for the
evening. The person with
the car keys? Malone tells
them jokingly, “Congratulations you just won a new
car.”
The centerpiece goes to
the “generous person” who
donated the $1.
If you can get guests
“laughing early in the night,
it sets the tone for the rest
of the reception,” he said.
At other receptions, he
has organized a version of
“L et’s Make a Deal,”
rewarding guests who can
produce an expired driver’s
license or the oldest penny
in the room.
Of course, the games
may not work for all the
guests.
“It’s very easy for people
to duck out,” Malone said.
“If a table chooses not to
play,” it’s not a problem.
Most times, the games
help create a sense of
camaraderie at the table
where guests may not know
one another, he said.
Along with trivia, the
Hajovskys arranged for an
instructor to teach line
dances. Jordan Hajovsky
loved watching her new
friends interact with her college friends and family.
“It got everybody on the
dance floor,” she recalled of
her wedding.
Quattlebaum likened the
trend to decades-old traditions such as stealing the
groom’s shoes at an Indian
wedding, or lifting the bride
and groom in chairs while
dancing at a Jewish wedding.
“These are all examples
of wedding guests coming
together as strangers and
doing something to unite
each one of them by working together toward a common goal or game,” she
said.
RECYCLED FLOWERS
Bouquets To Save: Flowers Made Of Recycled Stuff
BY SARAH WOLFE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Glynis Abapo knew just
what she wanted her dream
wedding cake to be: simple.
Three or four tiers. A rich,
white confection with white
peonies and peony petals
cascading down the middle.
The problem? The handmade sugar flowers cost a
fortune.
Abapo found her answer
in plastic flowers — specifically, the quirky yet elegant
creations crafted by Tennessee artist Lauren Karnitz
from materials that most
people throw away: milk
jugs, detergent bottles,
straws, wires, medicine bottles, even sucker wrappers.
The flowers were relatively affordable, says Abapo,
31, of Atlanta. And ecofriendly.
“And it was just beautiful
and just what I wanted,”
she says.
Karnitz, a 42-year-old oil
painter, has been crafting
roses, peonies, magnolias,
sunflowers and other hybrid
creations out of recycled
materials for nearly two
years. She stumbled into
the wedding flower business
as an experiment, but since
working with Abapo, Karnitz has filled orders for
cake flowers, bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres
from about a dozen brides.
“’Can I have that?’ is now
my signature phrase,” Karnitz says, laughing. “Meaning, can I have that peculiar
piece of plastic you are
about to toss?”
Most of her clients are
eco-conscious brides who
like the idea of reusing
materials for their flowers.
Other
green-minded
brides are making or buying
alternative flowers made
from fabric, paper, even old
brooches. Martha Stewart
magazine has a tutorial on
making paper flowers, while
websites like The Blue Petyl
offer dozens of combinations of brooches, buttons,
pearls and more, from about
$100 to $500.
See FLOWERS, Page 28
From Page 25
Mack’s
Mack’s
HOMETOWN MARKET
104 Church St., Sherman, NY 14781
716-761-MACK (6225)
Sunday 8am-7pm • Mon-Sat 8am-9pm
Call ahead for Meat & Cheese Trays,
Veggie Trays & Fruit Trays!
Priceless Studios Photography
LAKEFRONT
Katerina’s
Located
Above
Demetri’s
Family
Restaurant
A Picture Perfect Sunset Setting
Exquisite Dining Room & Lounge
Outdoor Covered Balcony
Breathtaking Sunsets
Seats up to 130 people
Wedding Receptions
Bridal & Baby Showers
Rehearsal Dinners
All Occasions Welcome
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
Sit Down or Buffet
Bar Packages Available
Let our Staff help with all your wedding plans
Call for a Banquet Menu 3 6 6 - 4 1 8 7 or 3 6 6 - 1 0 7 6
~ Handicap Accessible ~
Plenty of Parking
6-8 Lake Shore Dr. W., Dunkirk
PAGE 25
SHOWERS • REHEARSAL DINNERS • WEDDINGS
Let our team assist you in planning the perfect event
Basic & Upscale Buffets ~ Sit Down ~ Stations ~ Chocolate Fountain
Proudly Serving Western New York for over 15 years
We Are Pleased To Provide The Event Of Your Choice:
Buffet, Sit Down, Stations, Formal, Casual,
Pick Up & Drop Off
Vegetarian & Gluten Free Menu Options Available
Indoor/Outdoor At Fredonia Beaver Club
(180 Person Capacity & Full Private Bar Service Available)
Tri-County Country Club
(160 Person Capacity & Full Private Bar Service Available)
Or The Facility Of Your Choice
Contact Us For Menu Options, To Schedule A
Meeting/Tasting Or To Discuss Special Requests
SHOWERS - WEDDINGS - ANNIVERSARIES - BIRTHDAYS - RETIREMENTS
FUNERALS - OFFICE FUNCTIONS - HOLIDAY GATHERINGS - SPORT BANQUETS - PICNICS BBQS - CLAM BAKES - GRADUATIONS - PIG ROASTS - ANY OCCASION
Jim Fadale
716-785-8992
Shaun Heenan
[email protected]
PAGE 26
Spirits Low?
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At The
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Champagne
Local, Domestic &
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Cases
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174 E. Fourth St. Dunkirk •366-4311
159696
Liquor Packages
Available
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Wi n e s & S p i r i t s
PAGE 27
THE FLOWERS
Bridal designer Princess
Lasertron sells a felted
flower kit for bridal bouquets for $140.
Tr a d i t i o n a l w e d d i n g
flowers — everything from
table centerpieces to the
bride’s bouquet — typically run $2,000 to $2,500 —
8 percent to 10 percent of
the average $25,000 affair,
according to The Knot.
Like any other wedding
florist, Karnitz consults
with brides beforehand to
get a feel for their wedding
theme and size, and what
they want.
Then she gets to work at
h e r h o m e i n K n ox v i l l e
using a trove of discarded
junk. Slices of laundry
detergent bottles become
petals. Ribbon, electrical
conduit and copper wire
are transformed into stamens, pistils and stems.
“The blooms are all built
petal by petal, working in
the round, so all sides are
considered,” Karnitz says.
“Each petal provides a surface for the next, and so
on and so on.”
Her collection of recyc l e d re f u s e c o m e s f r o m
friends, family and even
complete strangers familiar
with her craft.
“It’s funny. Every time I
go somewhere I get handed bags of things,” Karnitz
says. “Like garbage bags
of milk jugs or, here’s some
little wires and stuff.”
It takes up to two hours
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PAGE 28
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
to make one corsage or
boutonniere, depending on
the difficulty. Providing
flowers for a cake can take
anywhere from 20 to 30
hours.
Costs vary. Boutonnieres
and corsages average $45
each, while cake flowers
run anywhere from $150
to $450 per cake depending on cake size and design
complexity.
K arnitz doesn’t dye or
paint her flowers but keeps
the colors of the recycled
materials. Many of her
designs burst with color,
like bright yellow peony
cake flowers made from
c re a m a n d y e l l o w m i l k
jugs, or an azure blue corsage constructed with blue
twist ties and accented by
a tiny yellow bumble bee.
“This is plastic as in,
‘Aha, that’s plastic!’, as
opposed to looking like
plastics or recycled art,”
Karnitz says.
For fall weddings, she
incorporates an earthier,
more neutral palate for cre-
ations like “pencil bloom”
boutonnieres, small round
blooms made from pencil
shavings and tiny cut-up
black straws anchored by a
swirl of red plastic from
bottles in the middle.
Her Double Beige
Bloom boutonniere — two
small blossoms of light
brown crinkled ribbon,
straws and plastic bottle
shreds — is tied together
with a sheer, brown, taffeta
ribbon.
“I know anyone can create flowers from plastic
m a t e r i a l s , b u t L a u re n’ s
come from very good quality,” Abapo says. “They’re
very unique and can catch
anyone’s attention.”
One of the best things
about recycled wedding
flowers, according to Karnitz, is that they last much
longer than real flowers
and can be displayed for
years afterward.
“You can have them fore v e r, ” s h e s a y s , “ t h i s
memento of your special
day.”
PAGE 29
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographer’s Checklist
Share a copy of this list
with your photographer.
Check those candids you
want in addition to the formal portraits of the bride
and groom.
During your interview,
confirm their professional
affiliations; discuss details
important to you and your
budget. Do you feel comfortable with the individual? If not, keep shopping.
Before the ceremony:
ı Bride in dress
ı Bride with mother
ı Bride with father
ı Bride with parents
ı Bride with honor
attendant
ı Bride with maids
ı Bride with grandparents
ı Bride at gift table
ı Bride and father getting in car
ı Groom alone
ı Groom with best man
At the ceremony:
ı Guests outside the
church
ı Bride and father getting out of car
ı Bride and father
going into church
ı Ushers escorting
guests
ı Groom’s parents
being seated
ı Soloists and organist
ı Groom with ushers at
altar
ı Mothers lighting family candles
ı Bride’s honor attendant
ı Bridesmaids
ı Flower girl and ring
bearer
ı Bride and father —
wedding march
ı Groom meeting bride
ı Giving-away ceremony
ı Bride/groom exchanging vows
ı Ring ceremony
ı The kiss
ı Bridesmaids coming
down aisle
ı Bride and groom
recessional
Posed photos before ceremony or at reception:
ı Bride and groom
together
ı Groom with parents
ı Bride with parents
ı Bride and groom with
all parents
ı Bride and groom with
honor attendants
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
ı Bride and groom with
all attendants
ı Bride and groom with
their families
At the reception:
ı Bride and groom
arriving
ı Bride and groom getting out
of car
ı The receiving line
ı Buffet table
ı Friends serving punch
ı Bride and groom at
bride’s table
ı Parent’s tables
ı Cake table
ı Bride and groom
dancing
ı Bride dancing with
father
ı Groom dancing with
mother
ı Bride and groom talking with guests
ı Bride and groom at
each table
ı Bride and groom cutting cake
ı Bride and groom
feeding cake
ı Bride and groom
toasting
ı Throwing/catching
bouquet
ı Groom taking off
garter
ı Throwing/catching
garter
ı Bride and groom
leaving
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PAGE 30
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THE BUDGET
Traditionally brides have been given their weddings as
gifts by her family, but today, with escalating wedding
plans and their cost, tradition is giving way to shared
expenses. Feelings will be spared if the engaged couple
and their parents all meet to discuss financial arrangements soon after the wedding date is set.
Each family must make their contribution to the wedding absolutely clear to avoid difficulties after arrangements have been made. While time-honored traditions
are valued, economic reality must be faced. The groom’s
family may be willing to pay a portion or all the expense.
In some cases the bridal couple choose to pay for their
own wedding.
Whatever the arrangement, a firm budget total should
be agreed upon before plans are made. Never pressure or
assume family members should feel obligated to finance
a fairy tale wedding just because that is your dream.
All weddings are beautiful and sustain a lifetime of
wonderful memories. The size and extravagance of the
event does not determine the success of the event or
marriage.
When a wedding is planned with mutual agreement
between the engaged couple and those who are going to
assist them with their wedding expenses, everyone feels
a part of the event. Of course, the bride and groom’s
wishes are of primary concern, but compromise is the
operative word when planning such a special family
event.
When finalizing your budget, be sure to add in a hefty
miscellaneous amount for those items that come in far in
excess of your estimates or for unbudgeted items. With a
clear focus on your maximum bottom line, your wedding
plans will take shape with considerable ease. Compromise will be much easier and all participants will know
ahead of time what is expected of them.
Traditionally, the following persons pay for the items
listed.
The Bride
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
Wedding ring for the groom, if appropriate
A wedding gift for the groom
Presents for the bridal attendants
Personal stationery
Accommodations for her out-of-town attendants
Physical examination and blood test
The Groom
❏ The bride’s rings
❏ Wedding gift for the bride
❏ The marriage license
❏ Gifts for the best man and ushers
❏ Flowers — bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage;
corsages for mothers; boutonnieres for men in wedding
party
❏ Accommodations for out-of-town ushers or best man
❏ His blood test
❏ Accessories for men in wedding party
❏ Fee for clergy or officiant
❏ The honeymoon
❏ Bachelor dinner (optional)
The Bride’s Family
❏ The entire cost of the reception including rental of
hall; caterer; food, including wedding cake, beverages,
gratuities for bartenders, waiters; decorations; music
❏ A wedding gift for the newlyweds
❏ The bride’s wedding attire and trousseau
❏ The wedding invitations, announcements, thank
you, napkins, etc., and mailing costs
❏ The fee for engagement and wedding photographs
❏ Bridesmaids’ bouquets
❏ Gratuities for policemen directing traffic and/or parking
❏ Transportation for bridal party from the bride’s
house to the wedding ceremony and from ceremony to
the reception
❏ Bridesmaid’s luncheon
❏ Household furnishings for bridal couple — from
linens, china, silver and crystal to furniture (optional)
The Groom’s Family
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
Clothes for the wedding
Any traveling expenses and hotel bill they incur
Wedding gift for the newlyweds
Rehearsal dinner
Any other expenses they elect to assume
The Attendants
❏ Their wedding clothes
❏ Any traveling expenses they incur
❏ Wedding gift for the newlyweds
The Guests
❏ Any traveling expenses and hotel bills they incur
❏ Wedding gift for the newlyweds
PAGE 31
THE BUDGET
Estimate
Wedding rings
Pre-wedding Activities
Wedding attire:
Gown
Tuxedo
Beauty
The ceremony
The reception:
Food
Beverages
Rentals
Stationery
Flowers
Photography
Videography
Transportation
Gifts
Other Accessories
Honeymoon
Other items:
Total Budget
PAGE 32
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PAGE 33
THE DRESS
Wedding Gowns Don’t Have
To Be Lavish; Think Simple
BY EMILY FREDRIX
ASSOCIATED PRESS
I’m practical. Never
dreamed of having a lavish
gown. Didn’t want to
endure a long hunt for bargains.
So four little words from
the saleswoman spoke to
me: “Bridesmaid dress. In
white.”
Yes, I’m wearing a bridesmaid dress to my own wedding. It’s simple, elegant,
relatively cheap and easy.
Talk about putting the
“bride” in bridesmaid.
When I showed up at my
local Macy’s bridal salon on
my first day of dress shopping, I explained that I
wanted something elegant,
good for an outdoor summer wedding, at a price that
wouldn’t rival the liquor bill.
What the saleswoman
suggested is a little-known
trick that can save hundreds
of dollars or more on a
wedding dress. Perhaps
even better, you can customize your wedding dress
however you like it; bridesmaid dresses are usually
basic — satin or silk, without the beads, lace and
other frills on many traditional gowns.
And at anywhere from
$100 to $300, there’s no
traditional price tag either.
Get a bridesmaid dress in
white, ivory or whatever
color you want. Wear it as
is. Or glam it up with accessories and have a unique —
and cost-effective — look.
It’s called a wedding
dress hack, I’d later find
out.
Happy with my plan, I
couldn’t help looking at the
women sorting through the
expensive gowns at the
store. Why would they want
to spend thousands on a
dress for one day? They
could spend far less, still
look amazing and save the
rest for their honeymoon or
a house. Why didn’t I feel
their urge to splurge? Was
something wrong with me?
Not at all, says Meg
Keene, author of “A Practical Wedding: Creative Ideas
for Planning a Beautiful,
Affordable, and Meaningful
Celebration.” I simply hadn’t bought into the wedding
myth, she says.
The myth is why so many
weddings keep getting bigger (hello Kardashians) and
prices keep going up.
Women see the glamour
and feel they are supposed
to have it, regardless of
cost, says Keene, who started the blog “A Practical
Wedding” when planning
her own nuptials in 2008.
Dresses are among the
biggest costs of a wedding,
averaging nearly $1,200,
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PAGE 34
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THE DRESS
according to The Wedding
Report, Inc., which tracks
industr y spending. And
don’t forget accessories,
headpieces and veils. An
extra $250, please.
The average U.S. wedding now costs more than
$26,000.
“There’s now this industr y around weddings,”
Keene says. “If the word
‘wedding’ is attached, people will pay.”
It doesn’t have to be that
way, especially for dresses.
There are so many other
options: bridesmaid dresses,
prom dresses, vintage, renting, borrowing and making.
Women like me who seek
out alternatives sometimes
wonder if they’ll look like a
bride. But, says Keene,
there’s no one way to look.
“You remember how your
wedding felt, not how it
looked,” says Keene, who
wore a $250 vintage dress
to her wedding.
After deciding that I
would customize a bridesmaid dress, I allowed
myself one indulgent experience at a designer wedding-gown studio so I could
get ideas. After trying on
half a dozen pouffy, fancy
gowns, I knew that ivory
looks just fine on me, a
sweetheart neckline works
well, and an A-line cut and
strapless are both flattering.
I took all that knowledge
back to my original salon,
to my saleswoman friend. In
minutes, I found the dress.
The sample was white with
a black floral print, but in
the mir ror I envisioned
myself in ivory.
With a deep purple sash,
maybe some silk flowers
stitched onto it. And maybe
some tulle underneath to
give me some pouf. It’s all
up to me.
Final price? The tag said
$205, but after a bridal
salon-wide sale of 15 percent off, it was $174.25,
before tax.
Bam.
Now I’m planning my
accessories. And talking
glowingly about my wedding dress rebellion.
The question I get is
always the same: “What
about your bridesmaids?
What are they wearing?”
Bridesmaids? I’m not
having any.
We’ve decided to elope.
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PAGE 35
THE CAKE
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Contact
Telephone
Fax or E-mail
THE WEDDING CAKE
Number to serve
Save top?
Size
Design
No. of tiers
Decorations
Flavors: Tier #1
Tier #2
Tier #3
Fillings: Tier #1
Jon Elder
Tier #2
ANNIVERSARY TIER
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Flavor
Icing
Icing
THE GROOM’S CAKE
No. of servings
Decoration
Total cost
Size
Shape
T
Date Confirmed
Flavor
Delivery person/phone
Icing
Delivery date
Decorations
Pickup/delivery
Cost
PAGE 36
Delivery location
Set-up location
DATES
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PAGE 37
THE CATERER
Caterer/Restaurant:
Contact Person:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Reception Time:
Date:
Last Date/Head Count:
Total Headcount:
Cost/Person:
Reception Location:
Room Reserved:
Set-up Time:
Space For Entertainment:
Dance Floor:
No. of Staff:
Total Cost:
Deposit Due Date:
Check No.
Balance Due/Date:
COST WORK SHEET
ITEM
Hors d’oeuvres
Lunch/Dinner
Dessert
Cake
Cake Cut Fees
Nonalcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic Beverages
Coffee/Tea
Linens
Decorations
Taxes
Gratuities
Overtime Charges
Total Food
PAGE 38
AMOUNT
SELECTION
COST ESTIMATE ACTUAL COST
THE BOUQUET
Brides Personalize Weddings With Handmade Bouquets
BY EMILY FREDRIX
Associated Press
When Carol Ann Vivrette
was planning her wedding
four years ago, her fiance
encouraged her to bring her
crafty nature to the day.
Hundreds of hours and yards
of yarn later, she had knit
and felted flowers for her
wedding party, from her own
calla lily bouquet to the corsages of her two grandmothers.
Why toss the bouquet
when you can keep it forever?
Instead of fresh-cut flowers, many brides like Vivrette
are making or buying alternatives out of fabric, paper
and even old brooches. The
results can be stunning —
colorful paper hydrangeas,
sparkling brooches, even
quirky buttons, hundreds of
them, forming a bouquet.
It’s a way to personalize a
wedding, and turn what can
be a costly, one-time expenditure into a family keepsake.
It also can mean a lot of
work. Vivrette, of Oakland,
Calif., began working seriously on her project six
weeks out and finished the
day before her wedding.
Part of the fun was that
the process became a family
affair: One friend helped
knit; two helped assemble
the pieces into boutonnieres
and corsages; and Vivrette’s
mother inserted and sewed
wire into the flower stems so
the bouquet could hold its
shape.
In all, they made 26 full
flowers and 11 boutonnieres
or corsages.
“I definitely feel more
loved and connected to them
in my wedding memories
than I might have if I had just
ordered flowers from a
florist,” Vivrette said.
Some brides choose an
alternative bouquet to save
money. Flowers for the average wedding can cost more
than $2,000, according to
The Wedding Report, which
tracks industry spending. Of
that, the bridal bouquet runs
on average $132; it and the
other bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages often
add up to more than $400.
Beyond cost, however,
brides might choose an alternative to the traditional bouquet to express their individuality, go lighter on the environment, or continue or
establish a family tradition.
All of those factors influenced Karyn Thurston’s decision to crochet flowers for
her wedding in Portland,
Ore., in February 2011.
Thurston grew up seeing the
fabric flowers her mother
had made for her own wedding and displayed at home.
An avid knitter, Thurston
also wanted to avoid having
flowers shipped to her winter
wedding.
Over four months, she
crocheted flowers for her
wedding party of 12 people,
including her own bouquet
— a mix of golden yellow,
rusty orange and a deep
gray blue. The time she
devoted to the project gave
her a chance to reflect.
“As I was going through
the process of making flowers, thinking about my hopes
for the wedding and our
marriage, I was crocheting all
that intention into these flowers,” she said.
The Internet is awash in
patterns, tutorials and howto videos for making bouquets out of things besides
fresh flowers. And if crafting’s not for you, you can
find handmade wares on
sites such as Etsy.com, where
prices range from $50 for
simple silk bouquets to well
over $600 for custom brooch
RCS
bouquets.
Some popular bouquet
options:
— Knit/Crochet — Tiny
stitches, an assortment of
colors and easy-to-follow
patterns can turn yarn into
gorgeous keepsakes. Novices
to experienced knitters can
find patterns to suit their
skills. Because the flowers
are small, you can make a
lot out of just a few skeins of
yarn.
Thurston spent under
$100 for yarn for the flowers
for her entire wedding party,
including wrist corsages and
flower headbands, bouquets
and boutonnieres.
See BOUQUET, Page 40
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PAGE 39
THE BOUQUET
From Page 40
Yar n stores also have
patter ns, and knitters to
help guide you. Many patterns online are free. On
Ravelry.com — a networking site for knitters and crocheters — there are more
than 2,600 free flower patterns.
— Fabric/Felt — Like
wedding dresses, fabric
flowers can keep for years.
And they can be made in
many ways.
Make flowers out of silk
and burn the edges slightly
to curl them for a natural
look. Have a favorite fabric
designer? Take the vibrant
floral patterns found on,
say, Liberty of London fabrics and incorporate that
into your wedding. A
bonus: Many of the patterns
for fabric flowers online
don’t even require sewing.
Felt — a thicker form of
fabric — works well too for
flowers because it holds its
shape. You can buy felt in
dozens of shades and thicknesses. Or, like Vivrette, you
can essentially make your
own felt by knitting flowers
and then washing them in
hot water. That process,
called “felting,” creates a
thicker, tighter fabric, akin
to what happens when you
shrink a sweater.
— Paper — Often, all
that’s required is the paper,
a pair of good scissors and
glue. Use recycled books,
crumple up tissue paper or
Jon Elder
fold paper with origami
techniques. Online, readymade paper bouquets are
among the less expensive
options — sometimes as little as $30 — because paper
is relatively cheap. Want to
make your own? Mar tha
Stewart has a gallery of 20
different types of paper
flowers, with directions,
from peonies and dahlias to
roses made out of coffee filters and accented with
water color paint.
— Brooches/Buttons —
To get “something old” into
your ceremony and add
some sparkle too, try incorporating family heirloom
brooches or old buttons.
Scour thrift stores or ask rel-
atives for contributions.
Some brides even assemble
a brooch bouquet as they
walk down the aisle, having
family members reach out
and contribute pieces. Or
buy online: The Blue Petyl
website, for example, has
dozens of combinations of
brooches, buttons, pearls
and more, from about $100
to $500.
— Buy a kit — Bridal
designer Princess Lasertron
sells a felted flower kit for
bridal bouquets for $140.
To outfit bridesmaids too, a
larger kit is available for
$420. Paper Source has kits
for roses, daffodils, magnolias and more; you can
make nine red roses for less
354 W. Main Street,
Falconer, NY
665-3501
[email protected]
Bridal Gowns • Brides Maid Dresses
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PAGE 40
VOW RENEWALS
I Do — Again! Vow Renewals Growing In Popularity
BY ALICIA RANCILIO
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — When
Letty Abraham of Sylvan
Lake, Mich., married her
husband, Mark, almost 22
years ago, she was determined not to make a fuss.
It was her second marriage, and she didn’t want
to go overboard.
“I had a big wedding the
first time ... My second
wedding I was over that,
and I wanted it more small
and intimate. We got married in Las Vegas. We had
family and friends there but
it wasn’t a really big deal,”
she said.
Still, it was important to
the couple to make their
union special, so they made
a plan early on to renew
their vows.
Fast forward 10 years,
and they were saying “I still
do” on a trip to Maui,
Hawaii. At that ceremony,
Abraham let herself cr y.
She and her husband were
so happy with their second
wedding to each other that
they decided to do it again
at the 15-year mark as
well.
“We’ll probably do it
again at 25,” she laughed.
Recommitting to a relationship through vow
renewals is becoming more
popular,
said
Susan
Southerland, president of
Just Marry!, Inc. wedding
planners in Orlando, Fla.
“In the last three to five
years they’ve become
extremely popular. We’ve
always done one or two
throughout the year, but all
of a sudden it’s become a
huge request.”
For one thing, it’s a great
way to reconnect.
Kathryn Quinn of East
L ansing,
Mich.,
is
approaching her 11-year
anniversary. She and her
husband recently renewed
their vows on a trip to the
Virgin Islands. They traveled with three other couples and all four renewed
their vows on the beach on
Valentine’s Day.
“I’m so glad we did it,”
she said. “This was our first
trip away from our children.
It was at a beautiful location. The vow renewal was
meaningful, and gave us a
chance away from our daily
life to really celebrate our
time together and be grateful for our relationship.”
Sometimes, a vow
renewal is not only a
reminder of how far a couple has come but a memory
to cherish.
Winifred “Wini” Brunston of Lancaster, Calif.,
lost her husband last year.
She enjoys looking back to
their 35th anniversary, in
2004, when they renewed
their vows in the same
small church where they
got mar ried. The same
couple who stood up with
them back then resumed
their duties.
Brunston feels marriage
vows mean more over the
years because “after being
together after all that time
you really know each
other,” and “it lets the
spouse know you still love
them enough to mar r y
them again.”
Anja Winikka, editor of
the wedding website TheKnot.com, believes one reason for the spike of interest
in vow renewals is that
some celebrity couples
have done it.
Tori Spelling and Dean
McDer mott filmed their
vow renewal for their reality
TV show. Holly Robinson
Peete tweeted photos after
she and former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete
recently celebrated their 17-
year anniversary by renewing their vows on top of the
Empire State Building in
New York. Mariah Carey
and Nick Cannon are the
most consistent; they renew
their vows every year.
“You hear about it, and
just like any trends in the
wedding industry and in
decor and fashion, celebrities certainly do influence
us in that way,” says
Winikka.
Southerland says she
recently helped a couple
who renew their vows
every year. “It’s always a
surprise, and the husband
plans it,” she said.
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PAGE 41
THE MATTRESS
Finding The Right Mattress For A Newlywed Couple
Jamestown Mattress, it isn’t
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“Bedding is something
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ding that fits your finances
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world together each new
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day.
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“But, to me, it all comes
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important that the couple
comes in together and they
lay on the bed together to
find the feel that they really
take a liking to.”
Jamestown Mattress is a
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PAGE 42
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VENUE
From Page 14
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Award-winning chef Manny Morales and the staff of the
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quality and service like no other venue in Erie, Pa. All
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PAGE 43
THE RECEPTION
Table 1
Table 9
Table 2
Table 10
Table 3
Table 11
Table 4
Table 12
Table 5
Table 13
Table 6
Table 14
Table 7
Table 15
Table 8
Table 16
PAGE 44
THE RECEPTION
The wedding ceremony went off with out a hitch, well
almost. Nothing is ever perfect you know. Now it is time to
get into some serious celebration. Destination: The reception. Whether you have chosen a live band or a disc jockey,
this reception planner will help the flow of your celebration
with a seemingly flawless sense of coordination.
Having details like these planned ahead of time will help
your master and mistress of ceremony work easily with the
staff you’ve hired for the entertainment of your guest.
Remember to be flexible, within reason, to avoid frustration.
Introduction of bridal party and parents, grandparents
from prepared list. Fill out list at right.
Florist:
Cake supplier
Introduction List For Reception
Bridesmaid #6
Groomsman #6
Bridesmaid #5
What time is the food to be served?
Groomsman #5
Name and title of person giving blessing
Bridesmaid #4
Toasts: Best Man
Groomsman #4
Others, if any:
Bridesmaid #3
Music to be played during meal:
Groomsman #3
Cake Cutting
Bridesmaid #2
Bride and Groom first dance music:
Groomsman #2
Bridal party dance music:
Bridesmaid #1
Father and Bride dance music:
Groomsman #1
Groom and Mother dance music:
Maid or Matron of Honor
Will you toss a bouquet? Time:
Best Man
Will you toss a garter?
Flower Girl
Will the garter be placed on the person who catches
bouquet?
Ring Bearer
Bride and Groom
Will there be a dollar dance or other opportunity for
guests to dance with the honored couple?
Family Members
Professional contacts, names and telephone numbers:
Bride’s Parents
Photographer:
Groom’s Parents
Videographer:
Bride’s Grandparents
Reception hall manager:
Groom’s Grandparents
PAGE 45
THE CEREMONY
Couples Seek Weddings On Farms
BY COLLEEN NEWVINE
TEBEAU
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rober t Pollock star ted
hosting weddings at his
Buttermilk Falls Inn and
Spa as a fluke. He bought
a 1764 house on about
100 acres in the Hudson
Valley, north of New York
City, and one of the guys
he hired to do work on the
property needed a place
for a wedding, so Pollock
agreed.
“Of course it poured rain
but we got through it,” he
recalled.
Po l l o c k a c c i d e n t a l l y
became part of a trend —
couples planning weddings
with locally sourced menus
and taking place at farms.
In Chicago, Paul Larson
is a farm-to-table chef in
the truest sense; he’s both
ex e c u t i v e c h e f a t B l u e
Plate caterers and owner of
a farm in Cassopolis,
M i c h . , w h e re h e g r o w s
microgreens and heirloom
tomatoes.
“When I moved out to
Michigan, they all laughed
at me because I was a city
boy wanting to be a
farmer,” Larson said. Now,
with the growing popularity of locavore dining, he
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PAGE 46
finds it an advantage to
offer catering clients produce he’s grown, or the
meat and dairy of his
neighbors.
Because wedding clients
tend to book far in
advance, Larson can order
seeds and grow an item to
order.
H e g re w b u t t e r n u t
squash and leeks specifically for one menu last
year, for example.
L a rson e stim at e s t h at
most of the couples booking Bl ue P l at e f or weddings are interested in food
issues on some level, from
dabblers to those serious
about sourcing the entire
meal from small farms
within a 100-mile radius,
donating leftovers, recycling wine corks and the
like.
Blue Plate tries to
accommodate couples
wherever they are on that
spectrum, Larson said.
That means communicating clearly about a couple’s priorities and about
what’s in season, and
accepting the need to
adapt if a particular item
comes in early or late.
Jane Eckert, who consults with farms on tourism
as owner of Eckert AgriMarketing, in St. Louis,
Mo., has seen an increase
in farms wanting to host
weddings but says “it’s the
brides who are driving it.”
“Brides are looking for
unique destinations and
f a r m e r s a re l o o k i n g f o r
ways to supplement their
income,” she said.
We d d i n g s a re s t i l l a
niche business for farms,
Eckert said; pumpkin
patches, hay rides, apple
picking and corn mazes are
more popular.
But once a farmer has
invested in the infrastructure to make visitors comfortable, such as putting in
bathrooms and a big parking lot, weddings can be a
logical next step.
“This appeals to the next
generation (of farmers)
that’s coming in. They
have an opportunity to
build a new business on
the farm,” Eckert said. “It
takes the right personality,”
she added, since hosting
weddings means working
with sometimes-demanding brides, working into
the night, and dealing with
the commotion of big parties.
Other examples of the
locavore wedding trend
around the United States
include the Jefferson Hotel
in Richmond, Va., which
uses local Rappahannock
oysters, Manakintowne
Farms lettuces, Dave and
Dee’s locally grown oyster
mushrooms; and produce
from the hotel’s own garden on wedding menus.
The hotel recently installed
beehives on its roof and
plans to harvest the honey
next spring.
See CEREMONY, 54
VOW RENEWALS
From Page 41
Whether you renew your vows annually or just once, in a small ceremony or as
part of a vacation, the cost of saying “I
do — again” can vary.
“You can do something that’s very simple, that’s just the husband and wife
standing up with a photographer, and
that can be less than $1,000. Or you can
do something where you’ve invited a
bunch of people. I’ve had people spend
upward of 50 or 60 thousand,” Southerland said.
And even a do-over bride can turn into
a Bridezilla, she says.
“That still is personality-driven, which
kind of makes me chuckle,” she said.
“I’m thinking, ‘Wow, you’ve known this
guy for a long time. What’s there to be
nervous about? So what if a flower falls
off an arch?’ Others are more laidback.
But you still have some very nervous
brides.”
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PAGE 47
THE REGISTRY
RSVP
Yes No
❏
❏
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
PAGE 48
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
THE REGISTRY
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PAGE 49
THE REGISTRY
Surprise Wedding Gifts?
BY BETH J. HARPAZ
ASSOCIATED PRESS
N E W YO R K — A s a
young bride-to-be, it never
o c c u r re d t o J o d i R . R .
Smith to put a pitcher on
her wedding registry.
But one turned up unsolicited amid the other gifts.
“At the time I thought it
was lovely enough,”
recalled Smith, of Marblehead, Mass. “The giver
had taken the time to look
at my wedding crystal and
found something that
would match it well.”
Still, Smith doubted
she’d get much use out of
it. But now, more than 15
years later, she says, “I
love the pitcher. We use it
anytime we can. It looks
beautiful on our table. We
have used it for orange
juice during brunch, water
and sodas for lunch, and
even as a decanter for red
wine.”
And so it often goes with
those surprise wedding
gifts, the ones you didn’t
register for and don’t quite
know what to do with.
Give that vase or griddle
or gadget a chance, and
your reaction might just
change from “What am I
going to do with this?” to
“I can’t live without it.”
But is it polite to give the
bride something she didn’t
ask for? Yes, according to
etiquette experts.
“ I n v i t a t i o n s a re n o t
invoices,” said Smith, who
runs Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “Registry information is a suggestion.”
Anna Post of the Emily
Po s t I n s t i t u t e , w h i c h i s
named for her great-greatgrandmother, agreed. “It is
always fine to purchase a
wedding gift off-registry,”
said Post. “The choice of a
gift is always up to the
giver.”
On the other hand, said
Post, registries make it easy
to figure out what people
want and need, “especially
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PAGE 50
in an age when people
may have a household
already or are merging two
households together.”
And if you’re considering going off-registry, you
might look at the list anyway to help guide your
choice.
“You do want to think
about what the couple
might actually like,” said
Post.
“I know that sounds
obvious, but you’d be
amazed at people who buy
something they themselves
would like,” instead of
considering the couple’s
interests and tastes.
Going off-registry may
be especially appropriate
for those who know the
couple extremely well.
“It is one thing for my
cousin or a work colleague
to purchase from the registry,” Smith said. “But I
would expect my sister or
my college roommate to
choose something special.”
If possible, though, con-
sider including a receipt so
the item can be exchanged
if it’s really not to their
taste or in case they get
duplicates, Smith said.
Sharon Naylor, author of
“T he U l tim at e We ddi ng
Registry
Wo r k b o o k , ”
points out that sometimes
guests have “no choice but
to depar t from the wedding registry. If it’s close to
the bridal shower date, all
of the ‘good’ gifts likely
h a v e b e e n p u rc h a s e d
already, leaving items that
are either too expensive —
the $700 cookware set, for
instance, or not expensive
enough, like the $3 spatulas and a ton of other little
kitchen gadgets.”
In that case, “a guest has
t o g e t c re a t i v e , s u c h a s
buying up all of those spatulas, whisks and measuring
cups, and packaging them
in a pretty off-the-registry
vase or ceramic mixing
bowl.”
Off-registr y gifts often
tur n out esp ecially well
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THE REGISTRY
You Might Just Love Them
when the givers are more
experienced than the newlyweds in running a household.
“Especially when the
couple is young, I think it’s
likely that they don’t realize
what would be useful,”
said Linda Carlson of Seattle.
“For my niece’s upcoming wedding, we sent the
place settings of china and
the platter on her registry,
and added the gravy boat”
— which wasn’t on the registry — “with a note that
said I thought every home
needed one for gravy or
sauce.”
Homemade gifts and
family traditions are another good reason to go offregistry. Carlson said that
for her niece’s shower, “I
sent a set of handmade
Christmas tree ornaments,
just as I had done when
one of her cousins was
married.”
B u t s o m e o f f - re g i s t r y
gifts really annoy brides,
Naylor says, especially
“when guests give decor
items. ‘It’s my house, and
she’s tr ying to decorate
it?!’ can be the complaint
of the already stressed-out
bride.”
S o w h a t ’ s N a y l o r’ s
advice to the bride who
feels like the surprise gift in
a color or pattern she didn’t choose is “stomping on
her wishes”?
Chill out and write a gracious thank-you note! You
might end up liking the
item.
“When someone gives
you something that you
didn’t register for, it’s not
always malicious or a ploy
to mark territory in your
home,” Naylor said.
“Some people have a
good-luck gift they always
give to couples they love
and want the best for.”
Naylor recalled receiving
a beige tablecloth from an
aunt just like the one the
aunt had given her own
daughters. “She was wel-
coming me into the family,” said Naylor, who lives
in Morristown, N.J. “And I
could live with the beige.”
In fact, after using it at
several holiday dinners,
including some that were
the last attended by her
late father, the surprise
tablecloth became her
favorite.
“I love it, still use it, and
would never want to get
rid of it,” she said.
Aimee Bennett of Castle
Rock, Colo., had a similar
experience.
When she and her hus-
band married in 2004,
they received “one shallow,
oblong pewter bowl. It
seemed odd, and I would
not have been surprised if
it was a re-gifting item. We
ended up putting it in a
cupboard.”
But one night she pulled
it out for a dinner party to
s e r v e b re a d . I t w o r k e d
well, and now she leaves it
out all the time, often as a
fruit bowl.
“Of anything in our
kitchen,” she said, “that
bowl probably gets the
most compliments.”
PAGE 51
THE DIAMOND
From Page 5
“Over the course of a
lifetime, a band’s prongs
can become brittle and
break,” said Carlson.
“When you have six
prongs, one or maybe even
two can break, and the
stone will usually stay put.
You’re going to want to
repair the ring as soon as
you notice a prong is broken, but with six prongs,
the stone shouldn’t move. If
you’ve got a band that only
has four prongs and one
breaks — chances are you
might lose your stone.”
Finally, with regard to
the idea that one should
spend two to three months’
salary on an engagement
ring, Carlson slightly disagrees.
“You should spend what
you can afford,” said Carlson.
“Because it’s something
that your significant other
will wear for the rest of their
life, I don’t think you
should skimp on it, but
there’s no right or wrong
amount to spend on a ring.
It’s not a bad idea to find
out what your significant
other might be interested in
PAGE 52
A box of assorted bands and settings is shown.
ahead of time, then begin
The cut of a diamond not
saving once you’ve done only determines how many
that.”
facets a diamond will have,
but also how well it can
KNOW YOUR “Cs”
potentially hide imperfecWhen buying a diamond, tions.
Carlson said there are four
“The most popular cut
“Cs” which one should right now is round, folconsider before buying a lowed by princess cut,” said
diamond: cut, clarity, color Carlson. “Round has 58
and carat weight.
facets, so it’s a very popular
cut.”
Carlson said that cut is
important because it helps
to determine how brilliant
the diamond will be. Cuts
which are too deep or too
shallow don’t have the
proper cleavage to refract
light brilliantly the way a
diamond should.
The color of a diamond
can vary between D and Z,
with D being colorless and
Z being light yellow. The
less color a diamond has,
the more ideal it is.
“I usually don’t go any
lower than an H,” said
Carlson.
“Because white gold is so
popular now, if you put a
stone with too much color
in a white gold band, it will
make the stone look yellow.
Your best bet is to get a
nice stone set into platinum
or white gold.”
When looking at clarity,
diamonds can either be
flawless, internally flawless,
very, very small inclusions,
very small inclusions, small
inclusions, or imper fect
eye-visible inclusions.
According to Carlson, flawless diamonds are so rare
they almost don’t exist.
THE DIAMOND
“Flawless diamonds you
almost never see,” said
Carlson. “Though you
want a diamond to be as
flawless as possible, sometimes it depends on where
the flaw is in the diamond.
I f y o u c a n g e t a m o re
flawed diamond, but all
the flaws are covered by a
prong on the band, it’s
almost like you have a
flawless diamond. Before
buying a diamond, you
s h o u l d re a l l y c o n s i d e r
where the flaws are. The
whole point of buying a
diamond is to get the light
to refract off of it. If it’s full
of imperfections, it won’t
sparkle.”
Finally, the carat weight
is usually the diamond “C”
w i t h w h i c h p e o p l e a re
most familiar.
However, Carlson had
one piece of advice to consider when determining the
right carat weight of a diamond.
“I tell people to consider
buying a smaller diamond
with a higher clarity and
color as opposed to a large r d i a m o n d w i t h m o re
flaws,” said Carlson.
“Big diamonds are nice,
but you want a diamond
to be able to catch and
refract light. A smaller diamond with good clarity
can do that, but sometimes a big diamond with
flaws can’t.”
Chris Carlson holds a princess cut stone, one of the most popular cuts of diamonds for
engagement rings.
to keep it beautiful.
“I suggest that everyone
brings their ring in twice a
year for cleaning and
inspection to make sure
they’re getting the most
out of their purchase,” said
Carlson.
“ H e re , I ’ l l c l e a n a n d
inspect any ring, regardless
of where it was purchased.
It’s very simple to do and
doesn’t take much time at
all.”
Likewise, there are activities where a ring should
be removed first. According to Carlson, cleaning
with bleach and excessive
time in chlorinated pools
and hot tubs can cause a
KEEPING UP ON
ring
to wear and degrade.
YOUR DIAMOND
Carlson
suggests removAlthough the initial purchase is over, a diamond ing the ring before doing
24 W. Main St., Fredonia • 672-4294
ring requires maintenance such activities.
thecakeryfredonia.com
• Traditional
Buttercream
• Fondant Icing
• 3-D Grooms Cakes
• Cupcake Displays
• Topsy Turvy
Designs
PAGE 53
THE CEREMONY
From Page 46
Grande Lakes Orlando
resort in Florida is preparing
to open an outdoor farm
and event space called
Whisper Creek Farm with
7,000 square feet of fruit
and vegetable gardens on
the 500-acre Grande Lakes
estate, which also includes
The Ritz-Carlton and JW
Marriott hotels. Wedding
guests will be encouraged to
peruse the garden, and even
pick and taste.
Mar y Ellen Murphy,
owner of Off the Beaten
Path Weddings, in Napa,
Calif., has been a wedding
planner for about two
decades. Although northern
California has long been a
food-focused place, she
said, she sees couples
increasingly interested in
making good food a focus
of their celebrations.
Farms appeal to couples
getting married, she thinks,
because so many people
work indoors and are
nature-deprived; it reconnects them to the earth.
“Seeing elegance out in
the middle of nature brings
back some fond memory of
childhood and how good it
felt to run around,” Murphy
said. “People want to bottle
that feeling and give that to
their guests.”
She recently helped her
publicist, Elana Free, plan
her wedding, with a farmlike vibe that drew on Free’s
childhood memories of vis-
In The Making
Wedding Cakes
Expertly prepared from
scratch.
Weddings are as
different and unique as the
couples that have them.
We custom design every
cake for our clients from
the inside out. Together we
can create a cake that is a
proper reflection of you as
a couple.
We also offer custom
decorated cookies for
favors, groom’s cakes, authentic Italian cookies
and dessert trays and tables.
Let us start with
your shower cake and
favors and flow right
into your wedding.
Now offering
gluten free baked
goods.
To Save Your Date Call
Tara at (716) 672-9872
Email:itmcakes@ gmail.com
PAGE 54
STPhotography, Suzette & Brock Tweedie
iting her grandparents’
ranch. “We would pick mulberries for hours during the
summer from which my
grandma would make delicious jam and pie. We gathered persimmons and walnuts, eggs from the chickens, pulled carrots from the
garden, milked the goats,
and even went scouting for
arrowheads,” Free recalled.
Free said her wedding
menu featured local peaches and watermelon agua
fresca at the welcome table;
locally sourced chicken on
the family-style, build-yourown-tacos dinner menu;
locally roasted coffee at an
espresso bar; local wine;
and a dessert bar with fami-
ly favorites made by relatives.
Buttermilk Falls, in Milton, N.Y., typically hosts
about 10 weddings a year,
getting some menu items
from its nearby Millstone
Farm — 10 acres of organic
herbs, vegetables and fruits
— and its restaurant,
Henry’s Farm to Table.
Chad Greer, who recently j oin ed as c hef, gears
l a r g e - s c a l e re c i p e s t o
what’s in season. At the
tail end of tomato season,
for instance, he liked making panzanella salad with
the resort’s own bread and
basil. He is lobbying for an
Argentinian barbecue so
he can do whole local pigs.
Wedding Cakes
at affordable prices. Professionally done
by the area’s only Certified Master
Bakers and Decorators.
Wedding Cake Specialists Since 1956
Ecklof
Bakery & Deli
832 Foote Ave. • 716•488•1516
ecklofbakery.com
WEDDING PARTY FLOWERS
Florist:
Address:
Contact:
Phone:
— Wedding Party Flowers —
Florist:
Address:
Kinds of Flowers:
Cost:
Color:
Ribbon:
Bridesmaids Bouquets
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Cost:
Quantity:
Color:
Ribbon:
Maid of Honor’s Bouquet
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Cost:
Color:
Ribbon:
Mothers and Grandmothers
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Cost:
Quantity:
Color:
Ribbon:
Groom’s Boutonnieres
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Color:
Cost:
Groomsmen Boutonnieres
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Ceremony Flowers:
Quantity:
Color:
Cost:
After Arrangement
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Quantity:
Color:
Cost:
Pew Markers
Style:
Kinds of Flowers:
Quantity:
Color:
Cost:
Other Rental Items
Aisle Runner:
Knee Cushions:
Cost:
Cost:
PAGE 55
THE COUNTDOWN
The following listing provides a suggested time frame in
which wedding planning may be accomplished. Tailoring this
guide to your wedding plans will help keep order to your
prenuptial activities.
Twelve to six months before wedding
❏ Select engagement ring.
❏ Choose type of wedding.
❏ Choose and reserve sites of ceremony and
reception.
❏ Interview and select caterer.
❏ Choose professionals for wedding day; interview
and select:
❏ Photographer
❏ Videographer
❏ Florist
❏ Musicians, disc jockey, band
❏ Set wedding budget; decide who pays for what.
❏ Announce engagement.
❏ Select bridal party.
❏ Choose colors and theme.
❏ Select wedding attire.
❏ Choose and order bridal gown.
❏ Order bridal headpiece and shoes.
❏ Choose and order bridesmaid’s gowns.
❏ Determine groom’s and usher’s attire.
❏ Discuss attire with parents.
❏ Create guest list.
❏ Research bids for invitations.
❏ Start planning for honeymoon.
❏ Start thank-you log.
Six to four months before wedding
❏ Complete purchase of bridal attire.
❏ Coordinate mothers’ attire.
❏ Finalize guest list; determine number of invitations
necessary.
❏ Give caterer approximate head count.
❏ Order wedding cake.
❏ Order invitations and other paper products:
stationery, napkins.
❏ Create maps and other inserts for invitations.
❏ Plan rehearsal dinner — usually given by groom’s
parents.
❏ Shop for wedding rings.
❏ Complete guest registries.
❏ Start making lodging and transportation arrangements
for out-of-town guests and attendants.
❏ Consult clergy or chosen officiant.
❏ Begin selection of wedding vows.
❏ Decide on decorations for site of ceremony.
PAGE 56
❏ Hire or ask someone to be your wedding
and reception coordinator.
❏ Recruit volunteers to assist coordinator.
❏ Determine all items that need to be rented and
make arrangements.
❏ Reserve special transportation for bridal party,
if desired.
❏ Make your doctor’s appointments for your license.
Three to two months before wedding
❏ Address invitations and announcements.
❏ Mail invitations four to six weeks before wedding.
❏ Plan bridesmaids’ luncheon and bachelor’s party.
❏ Give copies of selections and music for wedding
and reception to musicians.
❏ Finalize reception arrangements; rent all items.
❏ Check marriage license requirements.
❏ Finalize ceremony details with clergy or officiant.
❏ Make arrangements for rehearsal.
❏ Buy gifts for attendants and each other.
❏ Buy gifts for parents.
❏ Choose and arrange for wedding favors.
❏ Have fittings for bridesmaids and groomsmen attire.
❏ Make arrangements for floral pieces for wedding
and reception.
❏ Schedule beauty appointments. Try wedding hair-do.
❏ Have bridal portrait taken for wedding announcement.
❏ Finalize wedding announcement.
❏ Make wedding day transportation arrangements for
bridal party.
❏ Purchase cake knife and server, have engraved,
if desired.
❏ Finalize honeymoon plans.
❏ Reserve room for wedding night.
❏ Confirm time, date and delivery from:
❏ Bridal shop
❏ Florist
❏ Caterer
❏ Photographer, videographer
❏ Musicians
❏ Church
One month before wedding day
❏ Monitor RSVPs.
❏ Buy guest book; delegate guest book duties.
❏ Finalize all housing arrangements for out-of-town
guests.
❏ Pick up wedding rings, check size.
❏ Have final fitting for wedding dress and headpiece.
❏ Confirm men’s wedding attire order or readiness.
❏ Host bridesmaid luncheon.
THE COUNTDOWN
❏ Pick up decorations, rentals.
❏ Practice vows.
❏ Deliver hospitality packages for out-of-town guests.
❏ Make arrangements for guest book.
❏ Delegate card and gift table duty to volunteer.
❏ Coordinate receiving line; make chart.
❏ Write thank-you notes as gifts arrive.
❏ Confirm all purchased services.
❏ Arrange for photography at rehearsal dinner.
Your wedding day
Jon Elder
❏ Get blood tests.
❏ Get wedding license.
❏ Select all wedding day accessories: ring pillow,
goblets.
❏ Create timetables for ceremony and reception.
❏ Create seating charts for ceremony and reception
with table cards if appropriate.
❏ Shop and pack for honeymoon.
Last two weeks before the big day
❏ Finalize wedding count with caterer.
❏ Assemble favors.
❏ Pick up wedding attire, check fitting.
❏ Make wedding day schedule.
❏ Create responsibility lists; delegate duties to
volunteers.
❏ Print program.
❏ Start the day off with a good breakfast.
❏ Confirm flowers are delivered to site of ceremony
and receptions.
❏ Have volunteers finalize any decorations necessary.
❏ Assemble all bridal attire items in one place.
❏ Transfer your engagement ring to your right hand.
❏ Make sure groom has given best man your wedding
band.
❏ Give maid of honor groom’s wedding band.
❏ Take marriage license with you to ceremony.
❏ Pay professionals.
❏ Give wedding announcement to volunteer to mail
with your portrait or immediately after a photo of the
bridal couple is secured, unless newspaper has
other policy.
❏ Do hair and make-up.
❏ Wedding party should be dressed two hours
before ceremony.
❏ Bride starts getting dressed two hours before
ceremony.
❏ One hour before ceremony bridal party should be
given flowers and photographer can take
photographs of attendants, family, bride and groom
as outlined on photographer’s checklist.
❏ Have ushers ready to seat guest 45 minutes before
ceremony.
❏ Music begins 30 minutes before ceremony.
❏ Groom’s parents seated five minutes before ceremony.
❏ Mother of bride seated immediately before the
processional.
❏ Floor runner is put into place; then, groom and
groomsmen take their places.
❏ Processional and entrance of bride and her father
or escort.
After your wedding
❏ Return all rentals.
❏ Change legal name and arrange for change of all
business records.
❏ Write all remaining thank-yous.
PAGE 57
THE GUEST LIST
RSVP
Yes No
❏
❏
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
PAGE 58
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
THE GUEST LIST
RSVP
Yes No
❏
❏
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
PAGE 59
THE GUEST LIST
RSVP
Yes No
❏
❏
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
PAGE 60
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
THE GUEST LIST
RSVP
Yes No
❏
❏
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Groom
❏ Friend
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Family
❏ Thank-you sent
❏ Thank-you sent
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Friend
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
❏
❏ Groom
Name
Address
No.
Attending ❏ Bride
_______ Shower Gift
Wedding Gift
PAGE 61
Jon Elder
ADVERTISER INDEX
BEVERAGES
Main Wines & Spirits, 27
Omalia’s Wines & Liquors, 27
BRIDAL SHOPS / TUXEDOS
Fashions on Main, 40
Jim’s Dry Cleaners, 28
Veils by Roxanne, 40
CAKES / BAKERIES
Cakery, The, 53
Ecklof Bakery, 54
Farm Fresh Foods, 37
In The Making Wedding Cakes, 54
CATERERS / RESTAURANTS /
BANQUET FACILITIES
3 C’s Catering, 24
Allen Park Men’s Club, 15
Andriaccio’s, 12
Beaver Tail Catering, 26
Chautauqua Institution, 16
Chautauqua Suites, 14
Clarion Hotel, 63
Colony Restaurant, 23
Fireside Manor, 17
Gerry VFD, 27
Hotel Lenheart, 33
Katerina’s, 25
Kosciuszko Club, 23
LaScala, 20
Loyal Order of the Moose 89, 18
Mack’s Hometown Market, 25
Maplehurst Country Club, 19
PAGE 62
Meeder’s Restaurant, 18
Merritt Estate Winery, 11
Peek ‘n Peak, 64
Seneca Allegany Casino, 1&3
Sheridan VFW, 22
Shorewood Country Club, 2
Silver Creek Firehouse on the lake, 22
Sunset Inn, 16
White Inn, The, 17
FLOWERS
Flowers By Anthony, 30
M&R Greenhouse, 30
GIFTS / FAVORS
Candle Escents, 13
RCS Antiques & Auctions, 39
INVITATIONS / SCRAPBOOKS
Paper Factory, 42
JEWELERS
All That Glitters, 46
Kirk’s Jewelers, 47
Mathew’s Jewelers, 47
LIMOUSINE
La Grand Elite, 29
MISCELLANEOUS
Braserie, Dearie, 41
Jamestown Mattress, 43
Media One Group LLC., 33
Morans Floor Store, 21
MUSIC / DJS
Kyser Photography & Entertainment, 33
The Untouchables, 33
PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEO
Jon Elder Studio, 50
Kyser Photography & Entertainment, 33
Let’s Go Video, 50
Priceless Studios, 52
Reilly & Riley Photography, 51
ST Photography, 51
RENTALS
Everyday’s True Value, 35
Frantz & Russell, 34
Jamestown Awning, 5
Piede Brothers’ Tents, 35
Rowans Rental, 34
SALONS / BEAUTY / SPA
Facial Expressions, 6
Forbici Hair Design, 9
John Roberts Salon, 8
Panache Salon, 7
Salon 1, 6
Serenity Salon & Spa, 7
St. Elmo Spa, 8
TRAVEL
Thru the Grapevine Travel, 49
WEDDING COORDINATOR
Miss Laura’s Place, 10
The Clarion Hotel & Conference Center
Located on the Beautiful Shores of Lake Erie
The only thing we overlook is the lake!
2013 - 2014 Dates Available
Intimate to Lavish Weddings
• Customized Wedding Packages • Lakeside Pavilion Weddings Available
• On-Site Ceremonies • Two Elegant Ballrooms
• Complimentary Honeymoon Suite for the Bride & Groom
on the Night of Your Reception
• Bridal Showers &
• Special Room Rates
Rehearsal Dinners
for Guests
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT!
When planning your wedding at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, you are offered a
very personalized approach to designing your day. We recognize that by setting the groundwork for
creating a uniquely-you celebration, we also pay homage to who you are as a couple. We want to assist
you with the most urgent wishes whispered by your heart. We encourage you to celebrate your “couple
style” and personalize the details that reflect your inspiration and ideas. We believe that it is the details
that transform a very nice wedding into an unforgettable one.
Our breathtaking lake-view setting will capture your attention first, but it is the delectable,
palette pleasing food and our outstanding service which truly defines your experience. Each experience
is exclusively yours.
Warmest wishes,
Cristine
BY CHOICE HOTELS
30 Lake Shore Drive East, Dunkirk, NY 14048
(716) 366-8350 or (800) 525-8350
www.ClarionDunkirk.com
[email protected]
142888
PAGE 63
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