Exquisite Bridal 2017 (low-res)

EXQUISITE BRIDAL GUIDE 2017

2017

PUBLISHED BY SUN COMMUNITY NEWS & PRINTING

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2017 EXQUISITE BRIDAL GUIDE 2017 PUBLISHED BY SUN COMMUNITY NEWS & PRINTING

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engagement story

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Tips for trying on

wedding gowns Many brides-to-be look forward to the day when they visit a bridal salon and are able to try on gowns for the first time. There are certain tips that can make the day go much more smoothly and potentially reduce the amount of time it may take to find the perfect gown.

Photos by Aspiring Photography by Jessica

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Wear a supportive, well constructed strapless bra or corset in your correct size. If you will be wearing a petticoat, also have the right size available.

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Go without face makeup when trying on gowns so they remain clean.

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Try to wear your hair similar to the style you have in mind for your wedding.

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Note that the size of the wedding gown you will wear is typically one to two sizes larger than your day- to-day clothes.

Proper measurements can be matched to designers’ size charts.

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It’s best to limit the number of people with whom you shop to 1 or 2 trusted friends or family members. An entourage can be confusing.

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It’s always better to order a slightly larger gown and leave room for alterations if you are between sizes.

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Greer Cicarelli Photography

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Photo by Greer Cicarelli Photography

Flavorful wedding cakes A

tiered wedding cake is often a fitting conclusion to a wedding reception. Today’s brides and grooms are experimenting with cake flavors and designs so their cake is a unique representation of their persona as a couple.

It’s no longer necessary to stick with a white cake with buttercream frosting for your wedding day. Think about exploring other flavor and filling combinations that will tempt the guests’ taste buds. For those who can’t settle on just one flavor, how about having a different flavor for each layer?

Couples getting married in the fall may want to think about a spice cake that evokes the feelings of sipping a mug of spiced cider.

Cream cheese frosting is often a pairing with spice cake, or think about a layer of caramel that will make it taste like you’re enjoying a candied Halloween apple.

A hummingbird cake may fit the bill for a spring wedding. This is made with mashed bananas, pineapples and chopped pecans.

This cake is perfect when paired with cream cheese frosting.

Yellow or white cake are universal favorites for weddings. Some pizzazz can be added through the use of creative fillings. Consider something citrusy and summery for a summer wedding. Raspberry preserves

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or lemon curd are tart and sweet. For a tropical flair, mangoes or passion fruit can be mixed with touches of coconut.

A winter wedding can be accented with rich flavors, like a decadent chocolate cake filled with chocolate ganache and black cherries -- in a black forest style.

Those toasting to the good life may want an almond cake enhanced with some fine liqueur and simple chocolate buttercream.

Couples should sit down with their baker and sample a number of flavor combinations to determine a recipe that works for them.

Pastry companies also may be able to develop a cake that encompasses a couple’s favorite flavors or symbolizes a special moment in their lives. A Boston Cream Pie-inspired cake may liven up the wedding of a couple who became engaged in Boston. Maybe a cannoli cream filled cake will usher in memories of a trip to Italy.

Kids at heart can enjoy candy confection cakes filled with gooey chocolate, nuts and marshmallows.

Whatever the case, couples can use their cake as a centerpiece that wows the senses of taste as well as vision. Consider displaying this culinary masterpiece on a table with the seating cards placed around it so that it can be enjoyed the entire night.

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Centerpieces On A Budget

By Tresa Erickson

You’ve been working on your wedding for months now and it is na getting down to the wire ou can t put o se ecting the centrepieces or the tab es at the reception an onger our budget is tight so ive ora arrangements are simp out o the uestion uck or ou there are hundreds o ideas or ine pensive re ception tab e centrepieces search through brida maga ines shops and on ine wi provide ou with hundreds o ideas or wedding centrepieces some traditiona and some not so tradi tiona

Here are some ideas:

• Ba oons • Baskets o arti cia owers • Birdcages • Bow s o ruit • Board games and pu es especia or kid s tab es • Cand es with arti cia greener • Cards received prior to the wedding • Champagne buckets • ishes o persona i ed choco ates or other candies • ish bow s • ass bow s with oating cand es • urricane g obes with sand and seashe s • d books and maps • ens and ourna s or guests to write their good wishes • icture rames with various photos o the coup e • acemats eaturing artwork rom the coup e • otted p ants • Scrapbooks o the coup e s chi dhoods • Straw hats • ooden hearts and ove poems

o save even more mone ou might want to consider having centrepieces that wi serve a doub e purpose or e amp e the persona i ed choco ates cou d serve as wedding avours whi e strawberries dipped in choc o ate cou d work as a pre or post dinner treat nother trend is to have cakes on ever tab e as centrepieces which the guests can then eat at their eisure he wed ding cake can be sma er and with various avoured cakes at each tab e ou re sure to o er something that wi suit ever tongue uests wi en o comparing and sharing cake avours he sk is the imit when it comes to ine pensive wed ding centrepieces epending upon what ou decide ou ma even be ab e to create them ourse and save ourse even more mone

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Photos by Apiring Photography by Jessica

Photos by Apiring Photography by Jessica

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Brides look for

‘something blue’ — and more in jewelry As weddings become more and more personalized to the bride’s own tastes, blue and other colors have been making their way into the bridal picture, both in decor and in jewelry.

and rose gold metal is another color option that brides have gravitated to.

These trends also influence jewelry for bridesmaids and every member of the bridal party.

“In addition to our wide selection of pearl and crystal jewelry for brides, we have seen increased interest in sapphire and other colors like topaz for brides,” according to Jill Maier, Vice President of Design at CAROLEE.

While color is making news in bridal circles, pearls will always play a lead role in the world of bridal jewelry. Classic styles like single and double row chokers, often mixed with crystal, are truly classic and always appropriate for brides. But there are now many modern twists, both in design and in ways brides choose to wear pearls.

As the “jewelry destination for brides,” CAROLEE has for decades had its finger on the pulse of what brides want.

Sapphire blue stones are now a staple in their bridal collection, with stones set in silver and gold tone metal. Topaz stones set in gold have become popular,

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Modern brides often personalize their pearls by wearing bolder, longer styles, by mixing and layering different millimeters and by twisting, tying or knotting them.

The variations are endless with a 72” white pearl rope -- a staple for any bride -- as well as any post-wedding wardrobe.

Crystal styles -- teardrop earrings and necklaces, delicate Y necklaces, chokers and bracelets in floral designs -- are also beautiful and popular choices among brides. They, too, can be layered, mixed and matched with pearls.

The bottom line is that brides are more than ever expressing their personal style in every aspect of their weddings. Jewelry selection is a wonderful way to do this because it is a focal point that frames the face and will live forever in glorious photos of the memorable day.

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Photos by Seth Lang Photography

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Photos by Apiring Photography by Jessica

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Secrets to a long and happy marriage

S

ome might say a long celebrity marriage is one that endures the duration of the newly betrothed’s trip down the aisle. We’ve seen Britney Spears dissolve a marriage after 55 hours and Kim Kardashian call it quits after 72 days. It seems even money can’t buy matrimonial happiness.

But some couples have been together for 50, 60 years and say they’re still as much in love as they were the day they spoke their “I dos.”

What do they know that others do not?

According to clinical psychologist and relationship guru Dr. Phil McGraw, “We all need to be flexible and to compromise in marriage, but you’ve got to be true to your core traits and characteristics, what I call your authentic self.” Some couples enter a relationship projecting a persona they believe the other person wants -- one that really isn’t what they’re all about. This could be a woman trying to fill the role of her husband’s nurturing

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mom or a guy playing the protector to his wife.

In reality, marriage is more of a partnership, and truth and trust are often at the basis of good marriages.

There are many other “secrets” that marriage experts will offer to couples seeking the magic formula. Whether you’re pondering marriage or have already tied the knot, consider the following advice to make a marriage endure for the long haul. * There’s no such thing as the perfect marriage.

Some couples create an image of what they think marriage is supposed to be, and that image that often goes “poof” once reality sets in. Even soulmates are bound to frustrate or irritate one another from time to time.

• Couples should express their frustrations.

Bottling up frustrations can eat at a person and eventually destroy a marriage. Talking about the things that are bothering you with your partner opens up a discussion and can help you work through things.

• Divorce should not be seen as a viable option. Couples who want to bail on the marriage at every turn could be directing their energy toward divorce as the only solution instead of discovering ways to remove the cause of strife. Divorce can sometimes be the easy way out when you think about the work that goes into keeping a marriage working. Experts say that there are a few issues, like adultery, abuse and drug/alcohol addiction, that may be reasonable catalysts for divorce if personal safety and sanity is being compromised.

• Make time for romance. It’s easily said but not so easily done. Too often married couples forget what it was like to date when all of their attention was spent on each other instead of the house, kids, work, etc. Today there seems to be even more distractions, from e-mails to texts to pressure and obligations at the office.

Happy couples find the time to spend quality time with their spouses -- even if that’s only 10 minutes of alone time a day.

• Put “we” first. Many people operate on a

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Couples can realize that there are some thorns that come with the roses of marriage, and staying happy together does take work for it to all be worth it.

“me” mentality. When you’re part of a couple, give more to your spouse than you take. If he or she is doing the same, you’re working collectively for the benefit of the marriage instead of yourselves.

• Respect each other. Often couples having troubles realize they treat strangers better than they treat each other. Would use the insults or unflattering terms that you sometimes throw at your spouse with a complete stranger?

Probably not. Good marriages are based on a foundation of respect and love. It’s easy to lose feelings of love if the respect is gone.

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Photos by Apiring Photography by Jessica

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your own wedding tips for writing

Writing your own vows can be a way to include personal expressions of love into a couple’s wedding day. Public speaking is seldom easy, nor is finding the perfect words to convey feelings about a future spouse. However, with some practice and inspiration, anyone can draft personalized vows.

vows

A

wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many couples, so brides and grooms wish for the event to be momentous and memorable. As such, couples are increasingly integrating personal nuances into their ceremonies and receptions to tailor weddings to their unique visions. The desire to include personalized wedding vows continues to be a popular trend.

If you are considering personalized wedding vows, first realize that it may not be a simple task. That’s because you want the message conveyed to be dear to your heart, and that can be challenging when faced with the pressures and planning of the rest of the wedding. That isn’t to say that writing your own vows is impossible. Here are some guidelines for personalizing your ceremony with your own sentiments.

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• Jot down your feelings. Answer some questions about what marriage means to you and how you feel about your spouse.

Try to avoid trite sayings and think from your heart and personal experiences.

Think about what is the most important thing you want to promise to your future partner. These notes can serve as the starting points for the actual vows.

• Read inspirational writings. Perhaps there is an author or a poet who inspires you? You can quote certain writers in your vows or let the tone of their works help shape the words of your vows.

There also are suggested wedding readings and other quotes about marriage readily available at the library or

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with a quick search online.

• Decide on a tone. Although the day is based on love and affection, you may not feel comfortable spouting words of adoration in front of friends and family. Feel free to tap into your unique personality. Humor can be used if it aligns with the way you normally express your affections. Be sure to weave this tone into more traditional passages to create a cohesive expression of your feelings.

• Establish an outline. Put together all of the words and phrases you’ve jotted down into an outline to help you organize the flow of the vows, using these words as a blueprint for the vows and building

upon them. Make sure the vows will be concise. Aim for your entire speech to be around 1 minute in length to keep everyone engaged and the ceremony moving along.

• Put everything together. Draft your vows and then practice them by reading out loud. You want to avoid long sentences or anything that trips you up. Although large words may sound impressive, they could make the vows seem too academic and not necessarily heartfelt. Enlist the help of a friend or two to act as your audience to see if the vows sound good and are easily understandable.

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Photos by Greer Cicarelli Photography

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Merci!

By Tresa Erickson The wedding was beautiful and the honeymoon was a blast. But now those fun-filled days are over and you’re back home. Time to start your new life, and one of the first tasks you face is dealing with your wedding gifts. Remember that pile of gifts you received at your wedding? Well, not only do you have to open them, but you have to thank the people who gave them to you, and doing so by phone or e-mail just won’t do. A handwritten note on formal stationery is the best way to say thank you.

Fortunately, thank-you notes don’t have to be long. Most new wives have far too many things to do than to sit down and write each of their wedding guests a two-page thank-you letter. A few sentences of appreciation will suffice. You can also enlist the help of your husband to complete this task.

Few people like to write thank-you notes, but it’s a task that’s got to be done. The more organized you are, the better your thank-you notes will be and the faster you will finish them.

So grab your stationery and your husband and get busy!

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Organization is the key to writing thank-you notes. Hopefully, you’ve been keeping track of the gifts you have received up to this point and may have even sent thank-you notes for those already. If you haven’t, now’s the time to do so.

Grab a notebook, sit down with your husband and write down the following for each gift: • Giver’s name and address • Where the gift was purchased (if you can determine that) • Description of the gift • Date the thank-you note was sent After you’ve completed this step, you can start writing thank-you notes. Share the task with your husband. Let him do the notes for his family, while you do the notes for yours. Divide the notes for your friends between the two of you.

Start off your thank-you note with a personal greeting and then name the gift you received, thank the giver for it and for attending your wedding, and tell them how you plan to use the gift. If the gift was monetary, you don’t need to state the amount, just how you plan to use it. Write thankyou notes for the gifts you received damaged or plan to return the same as you would for any other gift. Be gracious, warm and appreciative. Do not, under any circumstance, inform the giver that their gift was damaged or that you intend to return it.

Mail your thank-you notes no later than two to three months after your wedding. The sooner you get them done, the better. Not only will the givers appreciate your prompt response, but they’ll be happy to know you enjoyed their gift and you’ll be relieved to have one more task out of the way.

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Greer Cicarelli Photography

HONEYMOONS On A Dime

Honeymoons don’t have to break the bank.

You can still have fun and celebrate the beginning of your life together on a shoestring budget. It just takes some advance planning and creative thinking.

Cut costs where you can Off-season prices are far cheaper than peak season prices. Schedule your honeymoon during the off-season, and to save more cash, consider going to a less popular destination. The rates will be cheaper, and there will be less people to contend with.

You don’t have to go all out to have a good time on your honeymoon. Think about your plans and find ways to save. Choose less expensive accommodations, especially if you intend to be out and about much of the day. Pack lunches instead of eating out. Take advantage of all free or low-cost activities.

Book way in advance

Stay close to home

Go during the off-season

By Tresa Erickson

While some newlyweds can still afford to cap off their big day in grand style with a trip for two to someplace exotic, there are many that can’t. Once they’ve paid for the wedding, there is little left for a honeymoon.

Fortunately, you can still have a great honeymoon on a shoestring budget.

Here’s how....

Leave at a later date

Who says you must leave for your honeymoon immediately following your wedding reception? Enjoy your big day and postpone the honeymoon of your dreams until you can afford it. Wait six months or a year to book the trip.

You’ll have more cash to spare and more time to find the best deals.

Generally, the earlier you book your honeymoon, the cheaper the rates will be.

Start looking for a destination long before your expected departure date and shop around for the best deals.

If you are really short on cash and can’t afford to go away, stay in. Check out the deals in your area and arrange for a mini staycation. Book a room at an inexpensive hotel and spend the day checking out attractions and activities you’ve never had time for.

If you can’t afford a hotel room, stay at home and have a candlelit dinner.

It doesn’t really matter where you are as long as you are together.

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