Wedding Planner 2016

The

Wedding P lanner 2016

13 Tips For Finding That Perfect Dress

Farm-To-Wedding Cuisine Putting Local Food On The Menu For Your Big Day

Honeymoon Destinations From A To Z

Seasons Of Love

Drawing Inspiration From Your Favorite Time Of Year

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Landis Valley is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission with the active support of the Landis Valley Associates

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ON THE COVER: Mirriam & Alec Reside In: Alexandria, VA Wedding Date: October 18, 2014 Wedding Location: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church Harrisburg, PA Reception Location: Best Western Premier The Central Hotel & Conference Center, Harrisburg, PA

Supporting Those Who Serve Attention, military members! One national nonprofit organization is working with local partners throughout the United States to help military members and their spousesto-be to have an extra-special wedding day.

Brides Across America gives free wedding gowns to military brides during its Nationwide Gown Giveways, which are held twice a year. For more information on Brides Across America, to register for an event at an area bridal salon, or for information on hosting an event or donating a gown, readers may visit www.bridesacrossamerica.com.

Photo & cover photo by Joelle Lee Photography

In This Issue

FEATURES: 13 Tips For Finding That Perfect Wedding Dress 18 Farm-To-Wedding Cuisine 12

Planning Tools: 10

Obtaining A Marriage License In PA

Putting Local Food On The Menu For Your Big Day

22

Local Couples:

56

Seasons Of Love

64

Honeymoon Destinations

70

Wedding Reception Games

72 A Timeline To Keep

You On Track

77 Upcoming Bridal Shows

On The Web: Be sure to check out theweddingplanneronline.com for more planning tips and plenty of information on wedding day transportation, photography, and all of the other elements of your big day!

Ashley & Jesse Cortney & Colin Darcy & Jerome Jill & John Julia & Dan Shannon & Tim

Drawing Inspiration From Your Favorite Time Of Year From A To Z

To Add Fun To Your Celebration

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Marriage License Pennsylvania

Obtaining a

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The Clerk of Orphans' Court and/or the Register of Wills within each individual county in Pennsylvania handles information, forms, and the actual registering of marriage license applications. Both individuals must appear in person together to complete (and file) the application for marriage. A Social Security number and a government-issued photo ID are required for both parties. The medical examination and blood test are no longer required.

In Pennsylvania, if either party is under age 18, the consent of a parent or legal guardian is needed. Applicants who have been previously married must provide the following information concerning the dissolution of the most recent marriage: divorces - must present a certified copy of the decree (if maiden name has been resumed, that document must be presented); annulments - the same information as is required for divorces; and widowed - the date of death of the deceased spouse. Blood relatives down to and including first cousins may not marry under Pennsylvania law.

A marriage license becomes valid on the third day following application or the next business day if the third day falls on a weekend or holiday. The license is valid for 60 days from the third day following the date of application.

The wedding ceremony need not be performed in the county in which the license was issued. However, an out-ofstate marriage license cannot be used in Pennsylvania, nor can a Pennsylvania marriage license be used in another state.

Details, courthouse locations, and other information for separate counties in the area are listed below. All courthouse office hours listed are Mondays through Fridays, unless otherwise noted.

Details are available on each county’s government website, by calling the phone number for the Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court Office, or in person Mondays through Fridays during regular business hours, at least one half hour before closing time.

Adams County Clerk of Courts & Orphans' Court 117 Baltimore St., Room 103 Gettysburg 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-337-9806 www.adamscounty.us

Cumberland County Register of Wills/ Clerk of the Orphans’ Court 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 102 Carlisle 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-240-6345 www.ccpa.net

Berks County Register of Wills 633 Court St., Second Floor Reading 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

610-478-6600 www.co.berks.pa.us

Dauphin County Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court 101 Market St., Room 103 Harrisburg 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-780-6506 www.dauphincounty.org

Chester County Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court 201 W. Market St., Suite 2200 West Chester 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

610-344-6335 www.chesco.org

Dauphin County - Northern Branch Office Northern Dauphin Human Services Center 295 State Drive Elizabethville First and third Wednesday of the month, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-905-2700 www.dauphincounty.org

Lancaster County Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court 50 N. Duke St. Lancaster 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-295-3522 www.co.lancaster.pa.us Lebanon County Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court 400 S. Eighth St., Room 105 Lebanon 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

717-228-4415 www.lebcounty.org Montgomery County Register of Wills 1 Montgomery Plaza, Fourth Floor Norristown 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

610-278-3414 www.montcopa.org York County Clerk of Orphans’ Court 45 N. George St., Second Floor York 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

717-771-9288 www.yorkcountypa.gov

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13 Tips

for Finding That Perfect Dress

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We Create the Wedding Florals You’ve Always Dreamed Of

Look at magazines, blogs, and designers’ websites to get an idea of what kinds of dresses you are drawn to and bring photos to your first appointment. You can also consider creating a secret board on Pinterest so that you can easily show your salesperson your vision.

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5 If possible, schedule an appointment for during the week or early in the morning, when stores are typically not as busy.

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Wear the right undergarments to try on dresses so that you know what the dress will look like when you wear it on your big day.

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Keep in mind the time of year of your wedding.

When trying on gowns in the winter for an outdoor summer wedding, remember that it could be very, very hot. (And vice versa for trying on gowns in the summertime for a winter wedding.)

Free Consults

By Appointment

Bring helpers or don’t – shop however you feel comfortable. If you ordinarily shop with a lot of people and like to get a lot of additional opinions, consider sticking to that rule for wedding dress shopping. If you prefer shopping alone, however, go solo or take one or two trusted friends or family members along. Don’t feel like you need a large audience.

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Consider your wedding style and venue. Ballroom gowns might not be the smartest choice for a beach or farm setting. Envision your wedding setting and choose a dress to complement that atmosphere.

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Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have a magical dress-buying experience or to find the perfect option right away. Sometimes the process can take time. Try not to rush, even if you may feel like you’re on a tight deadline.

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Limit your appointment length to two or three hours per shopping trip.

Anything beyond that may result in brides forgetting what they have tried on and becoming overwhelmed with options. Trying on too many dresses can lead to confusion.

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On the flip side, remember that many brides end up choosing a dress that wasn’t even on their radar initially, so keep an open mind. A style that might not flatter you in normal dresses could look great as a wedding gown because of the layers and lining. And a dress that does not stand out on the hanger might look amazing once you put it on.

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Take pictures of the gowns you try on so that you can ruminate on your options later, if need be.

Try not to get fixated on a size.

Wedding gown sizes often run differently than street clothes. Trying on a dress that fits you comfortably is better than saying you want a smaller size because you plan on losing weight.

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Sit down in the dress when you try it on and be sure to move around a bit as well. Sure, you’re probably not going to be doing push-ups and squats in the gown, but you do need to make sure the fit will be comfortable for the big day, whether you’re sitting, standing, or dancing.

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If you’ve set a strict budget for the dress, remember to include extra costs.

Remember to factor in the costs of alterations and tax and delivery, plus shoes, a veil and hair accessories, and jewelry.

The Story

My Dress of

The story behind recent bride Ami’s feathered wedding gown is as unique as the dress itself.

When Ami married her husband, Chaz, in her parents’ backyard in Palmyra, Pa., on Aug. 15, 2015, she walked down the aisle in a dress with a story that was 10 years in the making. Here, Ami shares the tale of how she found her special gown:

I spotted my wedding gown while shopping for prom dresses when I was 18 years old. My mother and I had visited Renaissance Bridal in York, Pa., to try on dresses for my senior prom. While I was waiting for a fitting room, I was browsing through the wedding gown section and spotted a Jovani gown with a feathered skirt. I remember thinking that it was incredible and showing it to my mother. I commented that I would be wearing a dress made of feathers on my wedding day. I memorized the designer and dress style number of that feathered dress and headed into a dressing room to try on prom dresses. I may have only been 18 at the time, but that dress made a lasting impression on me.

I became engaged 10 years later. Chaz proposed to me on a Monday evening. The following day, I did a quick search on the Internet for “Jovani 5858” – the designer and dress number of that feathered wedding gown that I had coveted 10 years earlier. I scrolled through page after page of photos of the dress – each one stating that the dress was no longer available.

Then, an eBay listing appeared in the search results. I was surprised to see that the dress was my size, only worn once as a prom gown, and was listed for $200 or best offer. I, without hesitation, made the seller an offer of $150. Within minutes the seller had responded that my offer had been accepted. On Thursday morning, my wedding gown was delivered to my mailbox. I am so thankful and so surprised that I remembered the designer and style number for the past 10 years! This gown definitely spoke to me when I saw it the first time and then brought me to tears when I tried it on for the first time.

This dress is incredibly unique. The opalescent bead work, the intricate lace details, and the skirt full of feathers greatly appealed to me. I enjoy things that are slightly offbeat, and this dress is beautifully different from other wedding gowns I have seen.

Photo by With Love & Embers

Not every bride has had a dress in mind for 10 years, however. Ami offered a couple tips for brides-to-be who are embarking on a search for their own ideal dress: - Know your own personal style. Make a list of what you like and what you don’t like. Also, envision what you want yourself to look like on your wedding day. I knew that I wanted something less traditional and very original. This dress fit my personal style so well, and I felt so beautiful while wearing it.

- Don’t show your future spouse your gown! I’m not very good at containing my excitement about things and had asked Chaz if he wanted to see my wedding gown at least a dozen times before our wedding day.

Each time I asked, he said, “No. I want it to be a surprise.” I am so thankful that I didn’t show him this dress.

His facial expression when he first saw me walking toward him while wearing a gown of feathers was priceless.

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Weddings ~ Events ~ Celebrations

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Make History With Us...

Farm-ToWedding

Cuisine Putting Local Food on the Menu for Your Big Day

By Ann K. Charles In recent years, the trends of “eating local” and “farm-to-table cuisine” have taken the culinary world by storm.

However, for many of us in central Pennsylvania, where local farmers markets and roadside produce stands are plentiful, the concept of “eating local” is nothing new. As many of us enjoy purchasing corn, apples, and many other kinds of produce from area farmers to include in our everyday meals, on a larger scale, brides and grooms planning their weddings also have the option of enjoying local food during the festivities.

The benefits of incorporating local foods into a wedding day feast are many. Proponents of the local food movement laud farm-to-table food for its freshness and healthfulness. Because local food does not need to be shipped far, sellers do not need to employ techniques to increase its shelf life. Because of this, advocates point out that local foods are often more flavorful than products shipped from other locales.

Purchasing local foods also helps to support area farmers and food producers, thus bolstering the local economy.

Another benefit to showcasing local

foods, including those grown in the area and those produced by local companies, at a wedding is that it allows couples to share – quite literally – a taste of their hometown with out-of-town guests.

Embracing the popular farm-to-table trend, a number of reception venues and caterers in the wedding industry have made incorporating local foods a fundamental attribute of their menus.

“The best way to incorporate the farmto-table trend is to use a caterer who actually grows a large portion of their own produce,” suggests Charlene

Calvert-Campbell, president of Accomac Events in York, pointing out that Accomac Events has done so for the past five years. “In addition, it helps to know if your caterer is connected to a local farmer, like our neighbors at Lehman’s Farms,” she adds.

Molly Cook, assistant director at John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville, agrees that finding a reception venue or caterer with close ties to local farmers is key. “By working with local farmers, John Wright Restaurant receives seasonal food and vegetables to incorporate in our dishes to make sure they are the best they can be for our guests,” she explains.

Cook pointed out that working with local farmers also allows for opportunities to customize and personalize food offerings. “At John Wright Restaurant, most of our food comes from local farms and is able to be customized and made the way our customers prefer,” she notes. “By being able to customize our specialty meals for our weddings, we can satisfy anyone that needs organic or gluten-free options.”

Creative culinary artists can combine fresh, seasonal elements in surprising and tasty ways. For example, in the fall, when pears, butternut squash,

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Wedding P lanner 2016

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Contact us today to reserve your advertising space in the next issue.

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components, will be at the mercy of Mother Nature. Weather conditions impact growing seasons and can affect harvest times. That fact doesn’t mean that couples have to forego their farmto-table meal, however – just that they need to talk with the venue or caterer supplying their food to make sure that there’s a back-up plan in place in the event that the harvest of one of the meal’s ingredients is delayed due to weather conditions.

When making decisions about farmto-table cuisine, as when making all wedding food selections, a taste test always helps. Couples should meet with their venue or caterer in advance to talk through the entire menu and taste samples of the food that will be served at the wedding. That way, they know that the fresh, local ingredients will be prepared and presented in a way that does them justice. “If your foods are fresh, they can speak for themselves,” CalvertCampbell notes. “They don’t need to be smothered in butter or sauces.”

Couples who are proud of the fresh, local food they are serving their guests should feel free to let attendees know where the meal’s components came from. “Occasionally, we have couples

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pumpkins, beets, and other root vegetables are abundant, Calvert-Campbell recommends literally thinking outside the box. “(To go along with) a nice butternut squash hummus, think about baking off large carrots, beets, and potatoes to use as chips instead of crackers that have been living in a box,” she suggests. Other options proposed by Calvert-Campbell that are full of fall flavors include Gorgonzola cheese cups with York County pears, walnuts, and green salad as a bite-size tartlet; roasted pumpkin wrapped in maple bacon on a knotted pick; and a flatbread hors d’oeuvre with sweet potato and caramelized onion.

Keep in mind that “local food” doesn’t always have to mean vegetables. “One of our most popular dishes for weddings is stuffed chicken,” says Cook. “Our local harvest chicken breast comes from Lancaster County, and the stuffing is made from certified organic bread from The Lancaster Food Company. Another popular option is our Alfredo pasta, which is all-dairy and comes from Apple Valley Creamery in East Berlin.”

Another fun way that couples can “buy local” with regards to wedding cuisine is to serve products made by local companies and small businesses.

For example, a coffee blend roasted in small batches by an area micro-roaster can be a perfect complement to a slice of wedding cake, and guests will love to receive favors in the form of truffles from a local chocolatier.

There are a few things for couples to keep in mind before committing to a completely farm-to-table culinary experience, however. First, it is important to remember that many foods are only in season at certain times of the year. Local strawberries will not be an option for a farm-to-table menu served at a December wedding, for example.

Couples should research what local crops will be in season during the month of their wedding so they will not be surprised by any limitations the growing season will place on their menu options.

“A couple can’t expect to have fresh squash in April … or York County corn in May,” Calvert-Campbell points out. “If you understand what’s in season, you’ll know who is writing clean menus.”

Another potential drawback to a couple planning a meal heavily featuring locally grown food is that the menu, like the local farmers who grow the

The Parish Hall at Our Lady of Lourdes Church

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Located in eastern Lancaster County, the Parish Hall at Our Lady of Lourdes church is perfect for wedding receptions.

The Hall boasts seating available for small to large receptions and is an economical option for creative couples looking for an affordable venue they can dress up to fit their particular theme for the special day. The Parish Hall includes the use of a full-size commercial kitchen that is a caterer's dream! We also offer rooms available for showers and engagement parties. Beautiful views adjoin the hall, which makes it an ideal place for outdoor wedding party pictures.

who want their guests to know where the food comes from, so we list the products and the farmers in a frame in the front of the buffet,” explains Cook.

“For served meals, we place a list on the hors d'oeuvre table.” Giving credit where credit is due will let wedding attendees know that the food they are enjoying is fresh and seasonal, and guests will also know that they can swing by an area dairy to purchase some of the to-die-for goat cheese that was featured in an appetizer or visit a nearby orchard to pick up a bushel of the divinely juicy peaches that were included in a tasty dessert.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the food is one of the components guests will most remember about a wedding reception. Incorporating farm-to-table food items is one way for couples to ensure that their guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a menu that is both distinctive and delicious while helping them to celebrate the big day.

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Special Thanks To:

Call Allison for an appointment or for more information

Accomac Events 6330 S. River Drive, York, PA 17406 717-252-2288 www.accomacevents.com

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall 150 Water Street, New Holland, PA 17557

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717-419-9535

John Wright Restaurant 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville, PA 17368 717-252-0416 www.jwrpa.com

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Ashley & Jesse Manheim

& Hershey, PA

Photos by Jeremy Hess Photographers 2015/Amber Martin

Bride’s Hometown: Lebanon, PA Groom’s Hometown: Manheim, PA Reside In: Manheim, PA Wedding Date: June 27, 2015 Wedding Location: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Manheim, PA Reception Location: Historic Acres of Hershey, Elizabethtown, PA Photographer: Jeremy Hess Photographers Honeymoon: Hawaii (Maui and Kauai)

Ashley, a sales consultant, and Jesse, an auctioneer, first met when they were set up on a double date by Ashley’s sister, Kaila, and her husband, Ryan, one of Jesse’s friends from high school. Ashley and Jesse hit it off immediately over dinner and ice cream in Mount Gretna, Pa. “Practically love at first sight,” Ashley said.

The two became engaged on a 2014 trip to the Adirondack Mountains in New York. During a morning hike to Billy’s Bald Spot, Jesse proposed at the top of the mountain and then the two shared a celebratory toast from a bottle of champagne that Jesse had been carrying in his backpack.

Vendors Used: Catering: The JDK Group / Weddings by JDK (David Everett), Camp Hill, PA Coordinator: Susan Barry Events, Newmanstown, PA Photography: Jeremy Hess Photographers, Lancaster, PA Video: Willow Tree Films LLC, Philadelphia area, PA Florist: Wildflowers by Design, Manheim, PA Cake: The Couture Cakery, Lemoyne, PA Linens: Special Occasions, Lancaster, PA Invitations and Programs: Designs by Renée, Lancaster, PA Hair and Makeup: A Little Off the Top, Lititz, PA Eyelashes: Ooh La Lashes, Lititz, PA Farm Table Rentals: Weir Event Rentals, Hershey, PA Vintage Rentals: Swoon Vintage Rental, Hummelstown, PA Sweetheart Table Loveseat: Treasured Rentals, Lancaster, PA Corncrib Drapery: Shumaker PDT, Lancaster, PA Bride’s Dress: La Bella Moda, Conshohocken, PA Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo, Lancaster, PA Tuxedo Rentals: Shaub’s Classic Apparel, Lititz, PA Transportation: Unique Limousine, Manheim, PA Dance Lessons: PA DanceSport, Hummelstown, PA Music: The Love Jones Band, Williamstown, NJ

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Nearly 12 months later, Ashley and Jesse wed at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Manheim and joined family and friends at The Historic Acres of Hershey to celebrate the joyous (and, yes, a little soggy) day. Ashley answered our questions about the big day and the planning that went into it.

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If the old adage that rain on a wedding day is good luck, Ashley and Jesse hit the jackpot. “Our wedding day was one of the rainiest days of the summer. The forecast said there was a 100-percent chance of rain, and the forecast was right!”

Ashley recalled. “It rained all day, but we really didn’t let it bother us at all.” The two even managed to use the damp weather to create a unique memento of the day. “We set a jar outside and captured some the rain from that day, and we will save it as a keepsake to commemorate our wedding day,” Ashley explained.

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

The first thing we did was to search for a reception venue. With wanting to get married within a year, we knew that our options would begin to be limited for a Saturday wedding venue, as some venues are booked years in advance! After searching in the Lancaster/Lebanon/Hershey area, we discovered a brandnew venue, Historic Acres of Hershey, which wasn’t even built yet! Their design plan, style, and indoor/outdoor vibe were exactly what we were looking for. The size was also perfect - it can be difficult finding a venue that accommodates more than 200 guests.

How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

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We wanted a style of “rustic elegance” for our wedding. This style describes us as a couple and also worked well with our venue selection, which had a barn feel with crystal chandeliers.

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How did you select the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire and the outfits of the members of the wedding party? Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

For my bridal gown, I knew I wanted lace on the dress and a sweetheart neckline. The rest of the decision was based on what I saw while shopping. I found that A-line dresses and ball gowns were too overwhelming for me, but I still wanted fullness within the skirt. The fit-and-flare style turned out to be just right. I absolutely fell in love with the skirt of my dress, which had layered English netting.

For the groom’s and groomsmen’s attire, we wanted to go with a classic look, so we decided that black tuxedoes were the way to go. Jesse’s only request was that he wanted to wear black cowboy boots, and the boots added a great personalized touch to his outfit.

We ordered the bridesmaid’s gowns from Alfred Angelo. They had a variety of different styles to choose from, so each bridesmaid was able to choose her favorite style in the same color.

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

After looking through many options, I decided to meet with Amber Martin from Jeremy Hess Photographers in Lancaster. Her style of photography seemed fresh with a classic appeal. Her images seemed like they would be beautiful and classic five, 10, or even 50 years down the road. After meeting with Amber in person, we loved her personality and attitude. She really cared about our wedding and what was important to us.

How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

Our rustic elegance style really captured both of our personalities.

With Jesse being an outdoorsman, we incorporated antlers within the floral arrangements on the tables, as well as tasteful antler images on other details like signage, cocktail napkins, and matches. However, we still maintained a classy and elegant vibe through the use of antiques and metallic copper as an accent.

Also, I love to dance and take dance classes as a hobby. Jesse agreed to take ballroom dancing lessons for our wedding day, and we showed off some of our newly learned moves during our first dance, which made our first dance so fun and memorable.

What favors did you provide for guests?

We gave our guests small glass jars filled with a “Hunter’s Blend” salt, because it is something that we love to use personally when cooking. The seasoning is perfect for any meat, fish, or wild game - which we eat a lot of since Jesse is an avid hunter. We also liked the salt as a favor because it was something that the guests could take with them and actually use when they got home. We got responses from our guests that they loved the favor and wanted to know where they could get more!

What did you find to be the biggest challenge in planning a wedding?

Our biggest challenge or concern was estimating how many of our invited guests would attend the ceremony and reception. At the church and the reception venue, we had a maximum of about 230 guests that we could accommodate. Luckily, our estimate was right on the nose, and we came in just under 230 guests so everything worked out perfectly. However, waiting for that final guest count to come in was probably the most stressful part of the planning process!

If there was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?

If there was one thing that we wish could have been different on our wedding day, it was the rain. Luckily, the rain didn’t impact us too much because the ceremony and reception were inside. The only major thing that was changed was our cocktail hour, which was planned to be outside in the courtyard at Historic Acres of Hershey but instead had to be moved inside to the pavilion.

We accepted it and had an absolutely perfect wedding day!

Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc.?

The Wedding Planner

Find a “day-of” wedding coordinator. Between JDK Catering, which did an amazing job with setup and teardown, and Susan Barry Events, our day-of coordinator, we felt very confident going into our wedding day. JDK and Susan Barry Events worked together to outline every detail of the timeline.

We were able to relax knowing that everything was taken care of and that they would keep things moving on schedule throughout the ceremony and reception.

Any other tips for brides- and grooms-to-be?

Once your wedding day arrives, just try to relax and enjoy everything! Let the professionals do their jobs and know that they will be able to handle any obstacles that come up. Try to relax and soak up every moment of the day that you’ve worked so hard to plan. Also, take some time to enjoy a few private moments with your spouse. We had some alone time driving from the church to the venue and also taking our “first look” at the reception venue before the guests arrived. These moments are definitely some of the ones that stick out in my memory from what was an amazing day.

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Special memories last forever

Cortney & Colin theweddingplanneronline.com

Wrightsville, PA

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Photos by Emily Grace Photography

Bride’s Hometown: Lancaster, PA Groom’s Hometown: Willow Street, PA Reside In: Elizabethtown, PA Wedding Date: Sept. 6, 2015 Wedding & Reception Location: The John Wright Restaurant, Wrightsville, PA Photographer: Emily Wilcox of Emily Grace Photography Costa Rica Following a tradition they’d observed for several years, Cortney and her boyfriend, Colin, joined members of their families at Colin’s brother’s house to carve pumpkins on a fall day in 2014. After dating for more than six years, Cortney admits that she was beginning to wonder if Colin was ever going to pop the question, and nothing about Colin’s calm demeanor that day betrayed the fact that Cortney was in for a big surprise as she began to clean out her pumpkin.

Another night that Cortney, who works in administration at Willow Valley Communities, and Colin, a sous chef at Lebanon Country Club, will always remember occurred 11 months later when the two wed alongside the Susquehanna River and celebrated with friends and family at The John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville, Pa. Cortney shared insights into the couple’s planning process leading into their big day.

Vendors Used: Venue: The John Wright Restaurant, Wrightsville, PA Cupcakes: The Flour Child, Columbia, PA Bride’s Dress: The Bridal Emporium, Elizabethtown, PA Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo, Lancaster, PA Flowers: Wedding Flowers by Cyndi, Willow Street, PA Photography: Emily Grace Photography, Elizabethtown, PA Disc Jockey: Top Hat Entertainment, Lancaster, PA

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Colin had previously removed a section of the bottom of Cortney’s pumpkin and inserted a bag with a small box inside. As she scooped away pumpkin seeds and goop, Cortney saw the box and knew immediately that it contained an engagement ring. Both sets of their parents came over to join in the celebration. “It was a night we will always remember!” Cortney said.

The Wedding Planner

Honeymoon:

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

The first thing we decided on when we began to plan our wedding was the location and date. I knew I wanted to get married outside and by a body of water, and Colin agreed. I also wanted to get married in the summer, and our venue was booked for the summer until September, so that is how we chose our date. The first and only venue we checked out was The John Wright Restaurant. I had seen pictures of previous weddings there, and we both fell in love with that spot.

How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

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We chose a style for our wedding based around our venue and the time of year we got married. Since we got married along the Susquehanna River and I love the beach, we went with a nautical theme for our wedding. This included jars of sand with candles for our centerpieces, anchor-themed table numbers, and nautical knots tied around the bridal bouquets and the boutonnieres. Our colors were navy and coral/watermelon, which we thought were great colors to go with our nautical theme.

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How did you select the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire and the outfits of the members of the wedding party? Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

We had an idea of what we wanted when we first started to shop for the groom’s attire. Since it was the end of summer, we knew there was a chance it could be really hot so we opted for vests and no jackets for the guys. We chose a light gray suit since it was an outside wedding, and it went well with our nautical wedding theme.

I knew I wanted the bridesmaids’ dresses to be short, but that was all I had in mind. When we went shopping, I told the girls they could pick out their own style as long as it was short. However, they all ended up loving the same style, so everyone wore the same style dress, except for my sister.

She was the maid of honor and I wanted her to stand out, so she wore a different style dress. She also wore a watermelon-colored dress while the bridesmaids wore navy. .

For my wedding gown, I had a style in mind that I was interested in, but I was open to trying on different styles. We went to three different bridal stores before I fell in love with my gown. I knew right away that it was the dress for me and that all of the other dresses I had tried on did not compare to this one. When you are the bride, you just know when you have found the perfect one.

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

We chose Emily Grace Photography after doing an Internet search of local wedding photographers. We started looking at photographers early in our wedding planning process because I had heard that photographers get booked up quickly, especially in the popular wedding months. When I found Emily’s site and started browsing her pictures, I knew she was the photographer for us. She captured those special moments between a husband and wife that only a skilled photographer can capture. Her photos showed guests having a great time on the dance floor and dads seeing their daughters in their gowns for the first time. I loved the photos of all those “real” moments during a wedding day. Those are the moments that I wanted captured at my wedding, and I knew Emily could do that.

How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

We incorporated my tastes and personality through the nautical theme and my love for the beach. We incorporated Colin’s tastes and personality through the food that we had at our reception. He picked almost the whole menu. We had a buffet-style dinner, but he wanted a roast beef carving station, so we had that as well. I love cupcakes and Colin isn’t a huge dessert fan, so we had cupcakes instead of cake.

What favors did you provide for your guests?

We gave them a succulent plant in a pot and wrote our names and our wedding date on it. We added tiny starfishes to the pot to incorporate our nautical theme. We wanted to do something unique and different that we haven’t seen at a wedding before. It was a Pinterest idea, but we loved the idea because it was a lasting gift that our guests could remember our wedding by.

If there was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?

I would have added an extra hour on to our reception. The night just flew by, and there were some things I would have liked to do that we didn’t get the chance to because we just ran out of time! I know my guests and I would have enjoyed an extra hour of dancing as well.

Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc.?

Start early and do not wait until the last minute to get things done.

Make a list of when payments are due to vendors so you will be able to meet their deadlines. We found it helpful to use a wedding planning timeline that we found in Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc.’s Wedding Planner! [The wedding planning timeline can be found on page 72.] This helps you to stay on track of when items should be bought and vendors need to be contacted. According to the timeline, we stayed on track and that caused us less stress because we knew we had everything done when it was supposed to be, and we were not worried that it wouldn’t be done in time for the wedding.

The Wedding Planner

Any other tips for brides- and grooms-to-be?

Just enjoy every moment of the wedding planning process because your engagement period goes by way too quickly! Even if you do get stressed and just want your big day to be here (like I felt a number of times), just remember that this time in your life only happens once and you should make the most of it! And when your bridesmaids ask if they can do anything to help, take them up on their offer. It takes a load off you, and it allows for fun bonding time with your girls before your big day!

Everyone told me that my wedding day would fly by, and it sure did!

On your special day, you want to make sure you stop what you are doing, look around, and soak in the excitement and beauty around you. This is the greatest day of your life, and you do not want to be caught up in the small details that will not even matter in the end.

One last piece of advice - don’t forget to breathe.

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Darcy & Jerome Lancaster & Leola, PA

Photos by Kelly Lapp Photography

Vendors Used:

Photography: Kelly Lapp Photography, Lancaster, PA Catering: Stoltzfus Catering, Mount Joy, PA Dress: Reifsnyder’s Bridal Boutique, Lancaster, PA Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Angelo Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse Flowers: by the bride’s aunt, Laverne Oberholtzer of Elizabethtown, PA Cake: by the bride’s sister, Danelle Fernandez of Colorado Springs, CO Videographer: Treasure Box Family Life Productions, Lancaster, PA

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“We joke that we had an ‘arranged marriage,’ because we agreed to get married about three weeks after meeting for the first time,” explained Darcy, recalling the early days of her relationship with her husband, Jerome. “It wasn’t love at first sight, but certainly we were hooked at some point on our second date,” she added.

“Sometime during that second date, we both let our guards down and realized there was something special between us.”

It certainly seems like it was meant to be for Darcy, an elementary music teacher, and Jerome, a graduate student and future pastor.

The two met online on the first or second day after Darcy created a profile on an online dating site. Darcy later found out that one of her housemates knew Jerome and was already planning to match him up with Darcy, which only added to the sense that the two were destined to find each other.

“It was a whirlwind,” said Darcy. “Jerome proposed in his living room with an impossibly cheap engagement ring that made way for a better one a few months later. His earnest, nervous speeches melted my heart.” Five months later, the two wed in a traditional ceremony that included worship music and then celebrated with friends and family with a reception held at a nearby fire company. Darcy provided insight into the couple’s wedding planning process.

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Bride’s Hometown: Lancaster, PA Groom’s Hometown: Connellsville, PA Reside In: Philadelphia, PA Wedding Date: March 28, 2015 Wedding Location: Mellinger Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA Reception Location: Bareville Fire Company, Leola, PA Photographer: Kelly Lapp Photography Honeymoon: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

First we reserved the church. I knew it was a great place to get married. My older sister had her wedding there nine years prior.

How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

I don’t think we did anything that stylistically unique. We had a traditional ceremony with some time for worship music, which is something that was so important to me because I love worship.

For the reception, we went with a rather rustic feel, and my mother was the mastermind of a lot of the decorative details. She suggested using cross-sections of logs for the tables, brown paper, and lace.

She also crafted our seating chart cards. I wanted both candles and flowers on the tables, and my aunt made beautiful bouquets in jars.

My cousin lent us strings of Christmas lights to hang at the reception.

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How did you select the outfits of the members of the wedding party?

Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

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I selected the bridesmaids’ dresses quickly, knowing that they needed to be ordered soon. My sister graciously spearheaded the search for the dresses, and I loved the color.

For the groomsmen, we wanted something classic and not too pricey, so we settled on what the associates at Men’s Wearhouse guided us toward. Opting for suspenders instead of vests saved some money, and we bought the guys some wild purple socks.

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

I chose Kelly Lapp Photography because I’ve seen her work on Facebook and I attended elementary school with her, so I trusted her artistry and work ethic. When she was recommended by another photographer I checked with, it sealed the deal. Her second shooter for our wedding day, Laura Burkholder, was a classmate of mine from first grade through high school. Both Kelly and Laura were delightful to work with. They kept things running smoothly and were so joyful and relaxed, which was a blessing on the wedding day.

How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

Jerome was laid-back about preparations, just suggesting that his mother sing at the wedding and that the guys wear traditional tuxedos. We both like purple and have friends who are fantastic musicians, so we had great music and a lot of purple.

I selected most of the ceremony music, and Jerome chose the recessional and the music for the bridal party’s entrance into the reception. You can imagine the response of our white and black friends and family members when the bridal party strutted in with James Brown’s “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” blasting. I insisted upon dancing at the reception, but it was Jerome who wowed the crowd during our extemporaneous first dance.

What did you find to be the biggest challenge in planning a wedding?

Weddings involve so many people, and people all have opinions. It was a challenge to navigate those opinions while maneuvering within a budget and trying to decide what aspects were important to me personally. There are so many decisions to be made, and it’s hard to know which ones are even important. It was also a challenge to limit the guest list!

If there was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?

I would have left out the open mic at the reception and chatted with more wedding guests instead.

Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc.?

Stay away from people who upset you! And plan ahead. I spent a lot of energy in the weeks before the wedding pulling together the musicians, who were all friends of ours, because one of our singers backed out. It worked out for the best, and I was thrilled with the end result.

Also, Jerome surprised me by booking a massage for me the week before the wedding. That was certainly relaxing!

Any other tips for brides- and grooms-to-be?

The ceremony is so much more important than the reception! We can have another big party sometime, but I will always treasure the ceremony. My advice is to pay attention to the details of the ceremony - the music, readings, prayers, etc. It is so meaningful.

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Jill & John theweddingplanneronline.com

Lancaster, PA

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Photos by Kylene Lynn Photography

Bride’s Hometown: Columbia, PA Groom’s Hometown: Columbia, MD Reside In: Timonium, MD Wedding Date: April 18, 2015 Wedding & Reception Location: The Farm at Eagles Ridge, Lancaster, PA Photographer: Kylene Lynn Photography Honeymoon: Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun, Mexico

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Vendors Used:

Wedding Planner: Taryn Blake Events, York, PA Officiant: the Rev. Kelly Jo Singleton, Lancaster, PA Catering: Hess’s Barbecue Catering Inc., Willow Street, PA Photography: Kylene Lynn Photography, Lancaster, PA Disc Jockey: Roger Campbell, Top Hat Entertainment, Lancaster, PA Cake and Cupcakes: Byers Butterflake Bakery, Leola, PA Dress: Renaissance Bridals, York, PA Bridesmaids’ Dresses: www.donna-morgan.com Groom/Groomsmen Suits: Jos. A. Bank, Lancaster, PA Makeup: Kayla Hummer with A Little Off the Top, Lititz, PA Transportation: Newhurst Inc., Pine Grove, PA Other/private vendors utilized by Jill and John included James Burke (videography), Courtney Torborg (flowers), and Rhonda and Colleen (hair).

The Wedding Planner

Jill and John, who hail from different towns named Columbia (Columbia, Pa., for Jill; Columbia, Md., for John), first crossed paths during their senior year at Towson University, where they were both athletes. Track team member Jill and baseball player John remained friends after they graduated and officially began dating a few years later.

During their engagement, Jill, a disability examiner, and John, a beer distribution sales representative, returned to their sporty roots. “We both grew up appreciating our athleticism, and we enjoy exercising and its many health benefits. After the engagement, we decided it was the right time to get into shape all over again; however, this time we agreed we would make it a team effort,” Jill explained. “Wedding planning is a lot of work, and taking a break is important. When we found ourselves so overwhelmed with planning, we knew that going for a run or hitting the weights would help release some of that tension. Working out together during our planning days paid off both physically and mentally!”

All of Jill and John’s hard work on wedding planning paid off, truly hitting it out of the park with their Lancaster County farm wedding, complete with a barbecue meal and plenty of dancing. The couple took the time to answer our questions about the process of planning their big day.

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

Immediately following our engagement, we wanted to pick a venue and a date - they coincide when planning! We knew we wanted at least a year to plan and did not want a winter wedding, so we were anticipating April or May 2015, pending on venue availability. We had a few venues in mind, and nowadays venues tend to book fast, so we booked several tours right away.

We knew we needed to act quickly if we wanted our dream venue, and 26 days after the proposal, we put down our venue deposit and had a wedding date!

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How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

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From the beginning, we knew we wanted our wedding to be laid-back with a touch of tradition – not super fancy – and offer a good buffet-style dinner and a really fun time. The “rustic” theme seemed to fit us best – relaxed, unsophisticated, homey.

The Farm at Eagles Ridge has a ton of character on its own, and we chose to utilize the layout. We wanted guests to appreciate all that it had to offer – structural pillars outlining our dance floor, original barn wood, the spacious corncrib, and the simple backdrop of the pond during our ceremony.

We kept centerpieces and decorations simple. (This also helped keep costs down, which is a huge perk!) We opted for rustic elements like tree slices, terra-cotta flowerpots with miniature peach roses, and jelly jars with white candles. We served cupcakes for dessert, so we had two cupcake stands built from barn wood and garnished with burlap.

We went with Hess’s Barbecue to cater our wedding meal, which seemed fitting on a Lancaster County farm. Most importantly, it felt like a giant spring barbecue with our biggest fans! Our guests enjoyed a buffet-style meal loaded with pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, corn bread, and much more.

How did you select the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire, and the outfits of the members of the wedding party? Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

When selecting attire for our wedding, we wanted something that fit not only our personal styles, but also our rustic theme and color scheme. We knew sparkly items, satin dresses, lots of tulle, and tuxedos were out for us Jill had some ideas in mind - lace, slim-fitting, off-white, lightweight. Even though she tried on a few dresses, she ended up saying yes to the first dress she tried on, falling in love with the low-cut back, scalloped trim, and the way it looked bustled.

John knew from the beginning that he wanted a slim-fit suit versus a tuxedo.

Originally, Jill was set on light tan suits for the guys, but John suggested navy blue, ultimately selecting a two-piece navy blue suit with a subtle tan pinstripe and a tie that corresponded with Jill’s dress.

Once we established an April wedding, Jill fixated on pastel, spring colors and immediately fell in love with the peach/mint combination. We liked the idea of the matron of honor and best man wearing a different color, so we selected a mint dress for her and a corresponding mint tie for him. The girls wore one of two different styles of dresses to accent the color scheme and add some character to the wedding party. The groomsmen wore peach ties to match their wedding party partner. The navy suits really brought out the peach and mint colors and set the vibe for the pretty spring day!

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

We came across Kylene Lynn Photography on The Farm at Eagles Ridge blog. We decided to contact Kylene, really liking the idea that she was familiar with our future wedding venue, and her pictures were amazing.

Aside from a photographer who was prompt, personable, and friendly, we were looking for someone who provided an assistant on the big day and granted us the rights to the photos taken. We were super excited about the digital rights we earned to our photos – the online gallery made it easier for sharing with family and friends after the big day.

How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

We have similar tastes and personalities, but nonetheless our wedding was a mutual project that reflected both of us. We shared ideas with each other and found ways to incorporate them into our wedding.

Our music choices for the night allowed guests to enjoy a variety of tunes.

Although we listen to almost anything, we do have different tastes in music.

We trusted our disc jockey to take care of the majority of music for the evening – we agreed to let him spin whatever the crowd was into – but we took turns selecting the special songs. Roger Campbell with Top Hat Entertainment did a wonderful job of getting our crowd going and rolling all night. We trusted his knowledge and only provided him with a small song list to play throughout the night.

What favors did you provide for your guests?

We wanted our favors to reflect our theme or colors and found the “mint to be” idea appealing. Rather than using a pack of mints, we decided to give out something we both love – Keebler’s Grasshopper cookies! Our favor was simple, inexpensive, and edible – and who doesn’t like cookies?!

What did you find to be the biggest challenge in planning a wedding?

The biggest challenge was narrowing down the final guest list. We would have loved to have an unlimited number of guests at our wedding, but given that we would also be spending on the venue, additional vendors, food, etc., we had to come up with a comfortable number that was affordable for our parents and us. Creating the seating arrangements was difficult too, but looking back on it, it is really nothing to stress about! It is your day, and, unfortunately, you are not going to be able to accommodate every single guest.

If there was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?

Hire a loading crew! We created our centerpieces and brought in the majority of our decorations and props, so we were also responsible for packing it up and taking it all home at the end of the night. Although we got everything packed and loaded after the reception, we missed a little bit of the after-party because we felt it was necessary to assist with cleanup.

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Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc. ?

Take advantage of it when people (parents, bridesmaids, friends, a wedding planner) offer to help. And do not be afraid to ask for help from those in your wedding party; they agreed to stand by your side no matter what!

Have a first look! We met on the dock at the pond two hours before our wedding ceremony. It was a moment we will never forget, and it helped ease the ceremony jitters. Our photographer was able to capture the moment, and our parents and the wedding party watched in the distance. It was honestly the best moment of the day!

Finally, if you have to stress, stress up until the day of your wedding, but do not stress on the day of your wedding! We know it sounds like terrible advice, but it is true. We will admit that were some stressful moments leading up to the wedding, but, ultimately, the most important part of your wedding day is that you enjoy it. There will be hiccups, but keep in mind that they will probably be minor and they will go unnoticed by guests, who are there to celebrate you, the newlyweds!

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Julia & Dan Mount Joy, PA

Bride’s Hometown: Charleston, SC Groom’s Hometown: Royersford, PA Reside In: Schwenksville, PA Wedding Date: May 22, 2015 Wedding & Reception Location: Cameron Estate Inn, Mount Joy, PA Photographer: Epic Photography Honeymoon: Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa

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Vendors Used: Photography and videography: Epic Photography, Elizabethtown, PA Cake: Bause Catered Events, Pottstown, PA Cupcakes: ICED by Betsy, Royersford, PA Bride’s Dress: Jon’s Bridal by Suzanne, Allentown, PA Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Stephanie’s Bridal, Pennsburg, PA Catering: Cameron Estate Inn, Mount Joy, PA Flowers: Petals With Style, Lancaster, PA Hair and Makeup: Artistic Design Hair Studio, Allentown, PA Officiant: Michael Dunstan, Bethlehem, PA Favors: White River Designs

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“It was a perfect moment,” said Julia, describing when Dan, whom she originally met through a mutual friend from grade school, proposed to her via a beloved holiday decoration. Dan’s mother had given the couple a beautiful rocking horse Advent calendar that featured little drawers containing a different decoration for each day. When Julia opened the drawer for Dec. 11, she found that the daily Christmas decoration was sharing its space with another sparkly surprise – an engagement ring. When she turned around, Dan was down on one knee.

During their year-and-a-half-long engagement, Julia, a hair stylist, and Dan, a dispatcher, collaborated to plan a wedding and reception that drew heavily on influences from their heritages (Japanese and American for Julia, Portuguese and German for Dan), as well as their own favorite things. From paper crane decorations to special floral arrangements to scrumptious cupcakes from their neighborhood bakery, the details of the day spoke to who Dan and Julia are, as they celebrated their new life together with their families and friends.

“I was just so happy to see all of our planning, decorating and guests all come together in one beautiful day,” said Julia. She took the time to share more details of the big day and the planning that went into it.

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

The first thing we wanted to do was find the wedding venue. We wanted a venue that hosted both the wedding and reception since we were going to have a lot of out-of-town guests. We knew we wanted to get married spring or early summer but were not picky about any specific day, so we picked the date based on what the venue had available.

We wanted to choose the venue first mainly to get a better idea of what colors we could use to decorate and to pick up the ambiance of what our bridal party would wear.

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How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

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Our wedding’s style was based on our personalities, families, and international backgrounds - Dan has a Portuguese and German background and I have a Japanese and American background. Our favorite unique touch was having Dan’s mother, Anita, sing “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri right before the bridesmaids walked in. Her voice was so beautiful and set the tone for a perfect day.

Our welcome wedding bags were full of Portuguese, Japanese, and German treats. Our table cards were Japanese origami cranes, which were all handmade by family and friends, so this really gave a personal touch to our day. Another personal touch was having all of my girls get ready in floral kimono robes, and all of Dan’s groomsmen wore Sanuks, a brand of shoes that he loves.

Also, because Dan’s father is from the Azores, a set of islands that are famous for their flowering bushes of hydrangeas, we had Petals With Style design the different arrangements with an abundance of hydrangeas.

How did you select the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire and the outfits of the members of the wedding party? Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

The groom’s attire we knew we wanted gray, so it was easy to check that decision off the list. I wanted a lace dress but was unsure of the style. I really think the secret is having an experienced bridal consultant who knows what is best for you. I tried a few bridal shops and each consultant would take me from dress to dress, and I would end up with five or six dresses that were lace and beautiful but I was overwhelmed with so many options. Suzanne at Jon’s Bridal was the best consultant I dealt with; she looked at me and knew what dress was going to look good on me. She came back with it, and I was in love!

The bridesmaids’ dresses were a lot more difficult to pick out, since I was very picky and stuck on a shade of yellow that was now discontinued. After accepting that they were not going to be yellow, I went with a beautiful blush color that would complement yellow flowers.

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

I did a lot of Facebook “stalking” in the Lancaster area, and I loved Jamie and Andrew’s style of photography at Epic Photography.

They really grabbed candid moments.

How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

We included everything we love: our families, friends, and food! We love these delicious cupcakes from a small shop in Royersford by our house, and the owner, Betsy, was such a joy to work with. It’s amazing how many different flavors of cupcakes this woman can make! She provided us with 13 dozen cupcakes, and we did about seven different flavor options. A couple of our favorites are the Sweet Piggy, the Couch Potato, and the Bananatella. These cupcakes were definitely a wonderful thing to share with all the family members and friends who were there to celebrate with us.

For our ceremony, we wanted something different than a unity candle - something that was more “us.” We did some research and came up with the Covenant of the Salt. From the earliest times, salt has been known as a preservative and purifier that prevents decay and corruption. It is eternal, enduring, and never changing, and they say the only way to break this covenant is to retrieve all your own grains of salt. The bride and groom each have a glass of salt representing one’s life and then pour the salt into one glass to blend these two lives together.

What favors did you provide for your guests?

We gave our guests unique candles with orchids inside them. We wanted to provide something useful for our guests and something that did not take up a lot of space on the table. We wanted to stay away from the traditional favors that you always get at weddings, so this was the perfect budget-friendly favor.

Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc.?

Make a wedding binder and stay organized! My wedding binder made it easy to multitask, because I brought that thing everywhere with me. I also followed a very thorough timeline that I found, and it really helped me not feel so overwhelmed. The stress is inevitable, but I think what really helped me was that you have to have a mindset that something will go wrong. Perfection is impossible because you cannot be in five places at one time.

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Hershey, PA

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Photos by J&D Studio

Vendors Used: Caterer: The Uncommon Caterer, Harrisburg, PA Bride’s and Bridesmaids’ dresses: David’s Bridal, Harrisburg, PA Photographer: J&D Studio, Harrisburg, PA Cake: by friend Wes Hellberg Disc Jockey: B&B Light and Sound, Sinking Spring, PA Tent: Hess Tent Rental, Lititz, PA Flowers: Weddings and Blooms, Mechanicsburg, PA, and Sam’s Club, Harrisburg, PA Bridal Hair: Holiday Hair, Hummelstown, PA Officiant: Pastor Jeffrey Fisher

53 theweddingplanneronline.com

After meeting on the job, line cooks Shannon and Tim perfected the recipe for love. “We cooked together and built a strong friendship for two years before transitioning to dating and beginning a relationship,” Shannon explained.

Tim proposed late one night after the couple had survived a rough day at work. “We were hanging out on the couch, and he got down on one knee and asked,” Shannon recalled. “The proposal was sweet, simple, and perfect for us!”

During their 14-month engagement, the culinarily talented duo cooked up plans for a spring celebration that treated their guests to a healthy portion of fun in the form of dancing, games, and a photo booth. “We loved our wedding day and honestly wouldn’t want to change anything,” Shannon said.

She provided details about the big day and the couple’s wedding planning journey.

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Bride’s Hometown: Short Gap, WV Groom’s Hometown: Harrisburg, PA Reside In: Hershey, PA Wedding Date: April 17, 2015 Wedding & Reception Location: Historic Acres of Hershey, Elizabethtown, PA Photographer: Joseph and Deborah McDowell of J&D Studio Honeymoon: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding?

The two most important things to start with are researching wedding venues and also to start compiling the guest list. It is important to have an idea of how many guests will be attending so that you will know if the venues you are interested in can accommodate your group.

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How did you choose a style for your wedding? What unique touches did you add to your wedding?

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We chose to go with the very popular “rustic” theme. Tim and I both love the outdoors and the natural look of burlap, wood, lace, and wildflowers. We also liked the rustic approach because every single detail did not need to be absolutely perfect.

We came up with a motto throughout all of our planning and crafting for when things didn’t go exactly according to plan: “If it doesn’t turn out perfect, it’s OK because it’s RUSTIC!” We brought the outdoors inside as we put a huge tent right overtop the beautifully landscaped patio area at Historic Acres of Hershey. It was unique and truly special to us.

We had so many unique touches at our wedding that our family was involved in! My brother built cornhole boards for guests to enjoy during the cocktail hour. My parents made an incredible wooden backdrop for our photo booth. The photo booth props were all handmade by a friend. The wood logs we used for centerpieces were all handcut by my uncle. We also had an amazing wooden guest book that we can hang in our house as a reminder of our special day!

How did you select the bride’s dress, the groom’s attire and the outfits of the members of the wedding party? Did you know what you wanted in advance or base your decision on what you saw while shopping?

I did a little research on dresses before going to the store. I had an idea of my likes and dislikes, but what I ended up choosing was really not at all what I had pictured myself wearing. However, we all loved the dress once I put it on. It was the right fit for me, my boots, and the overall style of our wedding.

The bridesmaids’ dresses were pretty easy to pick out. I told the girls that the color of the dress should be mint, and they quickly found one they all agreed on! It was the right color, and the lace on them blended in beautifully with the lace bridal gown. The girls also wore boots, which looked so cute with the knee-length dresses.

Tim wanted to buy a suit rather than renting a tux, so he and the groomsmen all bought black suits and shoes. Tim and I went shopping together to find shirts and ties for the guys to match the bridesmaids’ dresses, and I think we found a pretty great match!

Out of the many skilled photographers in the area, how did you choose one?

J&D Studio was recommended by a friend who had her wedding photographed by Deb and Joseph. We looked through the amazing photos on her website and scheduled a meeting with her. After talking with her and going over pricing, we knew we had found our wedding photographer. Deb and Joseph are so talented and will do whatever it takes to get the best pictures!

What favors did you provide for your guests?

We saw the idea of doing a popcorn bar online and thought that would be a great wedding favor! We wanted to give something that people could use - or eat, in this case. We got a personalized stamp with a design featuring our initials inside of a Mason jar and stamped brown paper bags for guests to fill with popcorn, seasonings, candies, and nuts. The caterer took care of the entire thing for us!

What did you find to be the biggest challenge in planning a wedding?

The biggest challenge that probably every couple will encounter is having all of the last-minute details to finalize the week of the wedding. It seems that no matter how much work and preparation you put in ahead of time, there will always be last-minute things to take care of.

Do you have any tips for managing wedding planning stress, pre-wedding jitters, etc.?

Get your bridal party, close friends, and family involved. We had several people helping out with building, crafting, organizing, and lending us things for the day. It really helped knowing that we weren’t the only two people working to make the day successful. We are so lucky we had people willing to help out!

It’s also very important to stay organized and make a to-do list to keep you on track. It felt great to get things marked off the list and helped to keep the stress level down.

Also, plan a great honeymoon to keep you excited during the stressful and busy times.

Any other tips for brides- and grooms-to-be?

Put your main focus on the parts of the day that are most important to you. Don’t worry about the little things that may not go exactly as planned, because chances are your guests won’t even notice. When the big day comes, relax and take it all in, as the day will go by fast.

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Seasons

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Dazzling Weddings and Designs!

By Candace Engle One thing can be said of most weddings regardless of size— there are a lot of details to attend to! Dates, venues, colors, flowers, attire, favors, food, cakes, showers, photography, invitations, oh my! One way to cohesively tie these details together and filter down the myriad options is to choose an overall theme for the event.

The word “theme” may scare some people, but a subtle or natural theme won’t overshadow the nuptials. For that quirky couple, a 2016 “Star Wars” wedding will be fun and memorable, but for the bride and groom just looking for the key element to make all the smaller details fall into place, a theme drawn from the seasons may be just the ticket.

Here in Pennsylvania, we have the advantage of four seasons, each with its own lovely attributes. Brides- and grooms-to-be need not feel obligated to strictly adhere to the chosen theme, but they may find inspiration with a helpful starting point. Be inspired with these seasonal ideas!

Spring Rustic Chic/Garden Party Spring colors lend themselves to a romantic rustic chic wedding.

Light or faded pastel colors go well with distressed woods, lace, and other rustic and romantic elements, and many tend to be flattering bridesmaid dress colors, as well.

Bridal Shower – A late winter/early spring tea party bridal shower may be the perfect classy and understated prelude to a spring garden party wedding. Vintage floral teacups add an ideal shabby chic element.

Flowers – Early spring blooms like peonies, lily of the valley, hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are readily available for use in bouquets or décor.

Favors – Hanging birdseed ornaments, small potted plants in tiny terra-cotta pots, or flower, herb, or vegetable seed packets may be given to guests to enjoy beyond the spring season.

Venue/Décor – There is always a chance of inclement weather, but late spring may be the perfect time for an outdoor wedding. Central Pennsylvania abounds with historic or rustic farm and homestead options that allow for indoor/outdoor mingling. Centerpieces and other decorations may include metal watering cans, chalk painted Mason jars full of spring blooms, a rustic birdcage card holder, or a cake topper decorated with birds or bunnies.

Photography – Outdoor shots with floral backgrounds and blooming blossoms, photos with umbrellas, and a shot of the couple’s rings on the stem of a tulip or daffodil can make for colorful, beautiful photographs.

“The spring season definitely inspired our wedding, particularly our colors.

When we settled on a date in April, we immediately thought of pastel colors.

We wanted something off the path of the typical light purples, blues, and pinks.

Thanks to Pinterest, Jill became obsessed with the light peach and mint combination. The colors felt warm and calm, and they simply looked good together. We liked the combination of colors for flower arrangements and absolutely loved the way our bouquets and boutonnieres turned out. We got extremely lucky on April 18 when there was not a cloud in the sky, the sun was out, and it was 75 degrees. From our wedding party attire to the flowers and weather, we had the most perfect spring day.”

– Jill and John, Timonium, Md.

Summer Nautical/Beach/Backyard Cookout The bright hues of summer can paint a fun and festive atmosphere for a wedding. Whether planning a destination wedding to a beach or taking advantage of the backdrop of boats on the Susquehanna, couples that love warm weather have a host of options to capture the essence of summer in their wedding details.

Invitations – The classic white or cream wedding invitation gets a boost of color for summer wedding invites. Navy and coral, turquoise, pops of citrus colors, bright pinks and greens, as well as fun embellishments like anchors, starfish, shells, palm trees, and tropical flowers add some flair.

Fun Details – A sparkler sendoff, miniature tubes of sunscreen for guests, sunglasses, Adirondack chair place card holders, yard games, fans, and flip-flops can send the message that the day is indeed a celebration and that guests should feel comfortable and have a good time.

Food/Drink – In addition to a number of in-season fresh vegetables for the reception dinner, summer receptions can include s’mores, fresh fruit, lemonade and sweet tea, signature blackberry cocktails, coconut icing on the wedding cake, or tropical or backyard cookout fare.

Favors – Honey, jam, herbs, barbecue seasonings, s’mores kits, flip-flop shaped bottle openers, infused sugars or oils in miniature jars, lavender soap, seashell- or watermelonshaped cookies, or personalized beverage holders are just some of the possible favors for a summer wedding.

“I have always wanted a summer wedding because that is my favorite time of year. I love the warm weather! We picked the first Sunday in September because I knew the weather would still be warm, but hopefully not too hot.

It turned out to be a beautiful day! Our nautical/beachy theme went along with my love for the summer and our venue. We got married along the Susquehanna River, so we had sand and shells as our centerpieces. We also had nautical knots around our flower bouquets.

The groom and groomsmen wore gray suits with no jackets because of the weather and also because it looked less formal for the outside wedding. The wedding colors were coral and navy. The bridal bouquets had succulents in them, so as favors, we gave our guests a succulent plant in a small pot.”

– Cortney and Colin, Elizabethtown, PA

Country Chic/Haute Harvest Harvest season has become an increasingly popular time of the year to get married, and it’s no wonder. The often warm days and cool evenings of fall combined with the colorful changing leaves can provide an enticing backdrop for the big day. There may even be an added bonus in avoiding peak vacation and wedding time, as well as extreme temperatures, for the best guest turnout.

Attire – Fall wedding colors can range from warm neutrals and harvest colors to rich, saturated jewel tones. Plum, cranberry, and emerald are just as comfortable against the backdrop of changing leaves as red, orange, gold, and brown. Shawls, chic suede booties, or cowboy boots can add coziness to the look.

Flowers/Décor – The décor for a fall wedding may or may not include pumpkins and gourds. Certainly these items are readily available, along with hay bales and corn stalks, but woodsy floral arrangements that include hypericum berries, twigs, and seed pods, as well as flowers ranging from calla lilies, roses, and dahlias to sunflowers, daisies, and chrysanthemums provide couples with many other options.

Food/Drink – Pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies can easily take the place of the traditional cake for a fall wedding. Apple cider and wine, a caramel popcorn station, and hot cocoa pair well with savory comfort food appetizers and entrees.

Photography – Fall outdoor photographs can be some of the most stunning around, if the weather cooperates. The changing leaves, brilliant colors, gorgeous sunsets, and soft light of fall provide a perfect setting for wedding photographs.

Autumn

"We chose fall because of the cooler temperatures and the rich, warm, delicious colors. We had an outdoor wedding at Fort Hunter in Harrisburg in October to enjoy the backdrop of the changing leaves. The reception was held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in downtown Harrisburg. The bridesmaids’ dresses were a rich, chocolately brown, and our bouquets and boutonnieres had calla lilies and other flowers in shades of autumn orange that were also reflected in the centerpieces. We chose a chocolate cake frosted in chocolate icing adorned with the calla lilies for an elegant fall look."

– Melissa and Chris, Middletown, PA

Winter Holiday/Winter Wonderland Brides embracing the magic of the holiday season or the beauty of a winter landscape can have fun with elegant longsleeved wedding gowns, faux fur wraps, and color palettes ranging from deep blue and silver or sophisticated black and white to woodsy neutrals or the more traditional seasonal colors of burgundy, gold, and green. Holiday doesn’t have to mean Christmas, as New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day weddings can also provide seasonal inspiration.

Décor – A potential benefit to choosing a December wedding date is that many venues decorate for the holiday season, and twinkly lights, wreaths, Christmas trees, and other decorations may already be in place. Centerpiece options include glass ball ornaments, pinecones, berries, and evergreens, or couples may opt for winter white and silver décor with “snow”-covered branches, sparkly snowflakes, white hydrangeas, and the glow of candles in clear or frosted sconces. Some wedding décor may be able to be used as holiday home décor after the wedding, as well.

Music – Sprinkling a couple holiday songs into the reception repertoire can be a nice touch for couples who are fond of the Christmas season. The holiday stylings of crooners like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin will fit right in with other music over dinner.

Favors – Mugs, ornaments, fuzzy socks or mittens, reusable hand warmers, and a host of scrumptious sweets like cookies, candies, and cocoa are all reminiscent of the season. Or, because Christmas is the season of giving, some couples may choose to donate to a charity in lieu of a traditional favor.

Honeymoon – Winter can be a great time to enjoy a ski resort or a popular vacation destination like Disney World or the Napa Valley off-season, with fewer people and cooler temperatures.

“We are very excited about incorporating seasonal details into our December wedding.

As part of my bridal attire, I have chosen a pretty rhinestone headband that looks like it is made of delicate silver snowflakes. I plan to carry a bouquet of light pink roses accented with cranberries and pine branches for a wintry feel. For centerpieces at our reception tables, we are making snow globes out of Mason jars. We decided to name every table at our reception after a Christmas movie; my favorite table name/guest combination so far involves having some of our friends who are priests and nuns seated at a table named "The Bells of St. Mary's." I think it would be fun to have a hot chocolate bar and Christmas cookies and perhaps even a gingerbread house or two! I am also sure that a number of the songs we dance to at our wedding will have a Christmas theme.”

– Julie and Keith, Lancaster, PA

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

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Honeymoon Destinations From A to Z

Finding super spots to visit during your post-wedding trip can be as easy as A, B, C!

A D

is for Aspen, Colorado.

is for Dublin, Ireland.

G

is for Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

B

is for Bridgetown, Barbados.

E H

is for El Paso, Texas.

is for Heidelberg, Germany.

C F I

is for Coronado, California.

is for Florence, Italy.

is for Ithaca, New York.

Thoughts on Planning a

Great Honeymoon is for Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

K

“We stayed at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa. This was an easy choice because Jerome had worked there over a year ago. It was the most amazing place either one of us has stayed.

The staff was the epitome of professional and decorous, without being stuffy or pretentious. It was a relaxing time and exciting to be in such posh surroundings. We stayed in Lancaster for our first night after the wedding, but I neglected to plan ahead and at the last minute procured a regular room at Eden Resort. They immediately upgraded our room when they saw us walk into the lobby decked out in our wedding clothes. To our surprise, our regular room was exchanged for a fantastic townhouse at no extra charge!”

- Darcy and Jerome “We went to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. We decided Mexico would be a good place to go for our first time out of the country.

Our travel agent suggested that Playa Del Carmen would be a very relaxed place where we could enjoy a beautiful beach at an allinclusive resort.”

- Shannon and Tim

is for Lexington, Kentucky.

“We went to Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa. We wanted somewhere that we could get to in less than six hours and somewhere tropical for ultimate relaxation.”

- Julia and Dan “We went on our honeymoon in Hawaii. We spend four nights in Maui and four nights in Kauai. We chose this location because Hawaii was the only state out of all 50 that Jesse had not been to before!”

- Ashley and Jesse

M

is for Melbourne, Australia.

“We visited Costa Rica. We wanted to go somewhere warm and tropical, and neither of us had ever been to Costa Rica. My travel agent friend suggested this location because of its beauty and many sightseeing activities. He also said Costa Rica is an up-andcoming tourist location. It is a very beautiful country!”

- Cortney and Colin

65 theweddingplanneronline.com

L

is for Key West, Florida.

“We went to Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun, Mexico. We knew prior to selecting our honeymoon destination that we wanted it to be relaxing, a time to remember, and all-inclusive. We did our research and decided to explore Mexico, since neither of us had been there before. We did not want to waste too much time in the air getting to our destination, so we settled on a resort on the eastern side of the country, with plans to be sitting on the beach by noon on the first day of our honeymoon!”

- Jill and John

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Games Wedding Reception To Add Fun To Your Celebration

By Chelsea Peifer

For couples wondering how to entertain wedding guests who might not be interested in dancing at the reception, or for any couple that loves game nights and good competition, offering a few games at the reception is an excellent way to get people laughing and having a great time.

Keep the games casual and optional and do not pressure guests to participate. Consider the venue and your overall vision and choose games that will fit the reception setup and timeline and also reflect your personalities. Here are a few ideas: • Wedding guest bingo. One variation of this great icebreaker is to print bingo cards listing interesting facts about your wedding guests. The guests need to find a person who can sign that space. Facts can range from obscure

things that the bride and groom know only one guest has done (“recently met Joe Biden” or “climbed Mount Everest”) to broader facts (“owns a motorcycle” or “married his or her high school sweetheart”). The first person to hand in a finished bingo card could win a small prize purchased ahead of time or be served the first slice of cake.

• Lawn games. Outdoor receptions with ample space provide an ideal setting for cornhole sets, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, quoits, bocce, giant Jenga, or other favorite picnic games. Include signage directing guests to the games and have the master of ceremonies make an announcement reminding guests that lawn games are available.

• Kissing game. Whether you and your future spouse are anticipating or dreading the wedding reception tradition of guests clinking glasses to have the newlyweds kiss, this game can put a

fun spin on things. In advance, write down the names of married couples that will be attending the reception and put the names into a hat. When the glasses inevitably start clinking, the bride and groom will pull the name of a couple from the hat every time the glasses clink. The couple whose name is drawn has to stand up and kiss before the newlyweds can kiss.

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â&#x20AC;˘ Shoe game. The bride and groom sit back to back, take off their shoes, and give one shoe to the other person so they are holding one of each. The master of ceremonies asks the couple a series of questions (the maid of honor can write this list so it remains a mystery) that can include anything from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who says â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I love youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; more often?â&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who is a better driver?â&#x20AC;? Each member of the couple will hold up the shoe that corresponds with his or her answer. Make sure the couple is positioned where everyone can see which shoe they hold up to answer. â&#x20AC;˘ Board games. Put a stack of fun, quick board games on a table with a sign that says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tired of dancing? Play a game!â&#x20AC;? While Monopoly or Twister might not be the best bets, Apples to Apples, Scattergories, Bananagrams, or other family favorites should be a hit. â&#x20AC;˘ The limbo. Give the band a break or have the disc jockey incorporate this classic into the lineup of music. But know your crowd and do not include this activity if you can foresee that only a handful of guests would willingly participate. â&#x20AC;˘ Photo scavenger hunt. Print a fun list of items for guests to capture in pictures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a group hug, the first dance, a bridesmaidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bouquet, a selfie of the whole table, someone making a toast, and so on. The scavenger hunt list can either be printed for each guest or just one per table, or it can be posted on a large chalkboard or sign where guests will easily see it. Include disposable cameras at each table or simply create a social media hashtag (#smithphotohunt) so the pictures can be easily uploaded, viewed, and judged later to decide on a winner.

Your

Wedding Planning

Check List

There are so many things to think about when planning a wedding. We have provided this handy checklist so you can stay on top of your to-do list and have your planning go as smoothly as possible. Everyone has a different vision, so this is just a starting point. Amp up or scale back as you see fit!

9-12 Months Before

❍ ❍ ❍

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍

❍ ❍ ❍

Announce your engagement to your family and friends.

Determine the approximate size, style, and formality of your event.

Work out a budget. Decide who is paying for what.

Start the guest list to know an approximate count for booking venues.

Decide on an approximate date for the wedding.

Choose the members of your wedding party.

Hire a wedding planner, if you wish.

Research and visit ceremony and reception venues. Note: If you are hoping to book a popular venue, especially if you are set on a particular date, this step should be completed earlier.

Book your ceremony and reception sites.

Create a wedding website, if you wish.

Begin looking at wedding gowns.

Start thinking about where you would like to take your honeymoon.

Research florists, bands/DJs, and photographers and begin getting quotes.

Research caterers (if separate from the reception venue) and bakeries for your cake. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

6-9 Months Before ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍

❍ ❍ ❍

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

4-5 Months Before

Purchase a wedding dress.

Shop for and order bridesmaids’ dresses.

Send out save-the-date cards.

Book a photographer and/or videographer. Note: If you are getting married during the peak wedding season, you probably want to complete this step sooner, especially if you have a particular photographer in mind.

Get engagement photos taken and submit your announcement to your local newspapers.

Start finalizing the guest list and collecting addresses.

Book a caterer, set up a tasting, and begin choosing your menu.

Choose a honeymoon destination and update your passports if necessary.

Book a wedding officiant.

Choose musicians for your ceremony and book reception entertainment.

Meet with a florist and start choosing flowers.

Create a wedding registry at several different stores/websites.

Block off rooms at a nearby hotel for out-of-town guests. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

✿ Flowers

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍ ❍

❍

❍ ❍ ❍

❍

❍

Begin premarital counseling, if you wish.

Choose and purchase wedding invitations.

Book your honeymoon accommodations and buy plane tickets.

Reserve a site for the rehearsal dinner.

Buy wedding shoes and try on veils and other accessories with your gown.

Book a hair and makeup appointment at your salon.

Book limos, carriages, a trolley, town cars, or other modes of transportation for your wedding and reception, if needed.

Meet with bakers, have a cake tasting, and decide on your wedding cake design.

Meet with the officiant and begin discussing ceremony details.

Give your wedding guest list to the host of your bridal shower. ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

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❍

3 Months Before ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

❍ ❍

2 Months Before

1 Month Before ❍ Get your marriage license. ❍ Purchase gifts for the wedding party and your parents. ❍ Have a trial run with your hairdresser for your hair and makeup. ❍ Send out final payments to vendors. ❍ Call any guests who haven’t RSVP’ed. ❍ Give final counts to caterers/venues. ❍ Determine a seating chart. ❍ Get menu cards/programs printed, if you wish. ❍ Get place cards/escort cards printed. ❍ Look into the business of changing your last name (if you are planning to), as well as some of the other details of your status change. ❍ Write vows, if you are going that route. ❍ Have a final dress fitting. ❍ Prepare a shot list for your photographer. ❍ _____________________________

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

After the Wedding

Pack for your honeymoon.

Enjoy a bachelor/bachelorette party.

Pick up your dress.

Pick up tuxes/suits.

Gather any items that need to be transported to your venues (guestbook, photos, favors, etc.).

Have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Make any additional payments that haven’t been paid.

Confirm, confirm, confirm.

Prepare envelopes with tips for vendors.

Pack your emergency wedding day kit.

Try to get some sleep. _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

❍ Complete paperwork for changing your last name, changing insurance, etc. ❍ Send out thank-you notes. ❍ Get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved. ❍ _____________________________ ❍ _____________________________ ❍ _____________________________

Day of the Wedding

❍ Be sure to eat and drink plenty of fluids. ❍ Get your hair and makeup done. ❍ Enjoy your day! ❍ _____________________________ ❍ _____________________________ ❍ _____________________________

73 theweddingplanneronline.com

❍ Practice walking in your wedding shoes if you purchased high heels. ❍ Finalize ceremony music and readings. ❍ Go for dress fittings. ❍ Enjoy your bridal shower. ❍ Determine a day-of schedule and send it out to your vendors. ❍ Review your reception playlist with your band/disc jockey. ❍ Mail rehearsal dinner invitations. ❍ Finalize honeymoon details/itinerary. ❍ Choose the groom’s and groomsmen’s attire. ❍ Begin a beauty regimen (teeth whitening, pedicures, etc.). ❍ _____________________________

Week of the Wedding

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

The Wedding Planner

❍

Finalize your menu options.

Send out wedding invitations.

Choose ceremony music.

Finalize flowers.

Arrange for rental items for your reception, if necessary.

Start looking for wedding favors.

Purchase undergarments and other accessories, as well as bridesmaids’ accessories.

Purchase wedding rings and send them to be engraved, if you wish.

Make an appointment for a dress fitting for alterations. _____________________________

Two Hearts One Beat Creating a

Harmony

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FEBRUARY 28, 2016

The Philly Bridal Show and Expo The Racquet Club of Philadelphia 215 S. 16th St., Philadelphia, PA www.bridalevent.com

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

Bridal Shows JANUARY 2-3, 2016

Maryland Wedding Expo at Timonium 2016 Timonium Fairgrounds - Exhibition Hall 2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD www.marylandwpa.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Best Wedding Showcase Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster, PA www.bestweddingshowcase.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

Wink 104 Bridal Showcase Radisson Hotel Harrisburg 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, PA www.wink104.com

JANUARY 3, 2016

10th Annual Wilmington Downtown Bridal Showcase Doubletree Hotel Downtown Wilmington 700 N. King St., Wilmington, DE www.bridalevent.com

JANUARY 9-10, 2016

14th Annual Eastern Pennsylvania Bridal Expo Lehigh University Rauch Fieldhouse 123 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA http://www.jenksproductions.com/pabridal.html

JANUARY 10, 2016

Wedding Wonderland York Expo Center - Memorial Hall 334 Carlisle Ave., York, PA www.weddingwonderlandpa.com

JANUARY 10, 2016

Bliss Philly Bridal Expo Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue 4200 City Ave., Philadelphia, PA www.bridalevent.com

JANUARY 10, 2016

Berks Bridal Expo The Reading Country Club 5311 Perkiomen Ave., Reading PA www.berkscountyweddings.com/expo

JANUARY 17, 2016

fun101.3 Wedding Show Eden Resort & Suites 222 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA www.fun1013.com/page.php?page_id=681

JANUARY 17, 2016

Best Wedding Showcase Central Hotel Harrisburg 800 E. Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA www.bestweddingshowcase.com

JANUARY 17, 2016

The Lehigh Valley Bridal Showcase ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA www.bridalevent.com

JANUARY 24, 2016

Great Bridal Expo Loews Philadelphia Hotel 1200 Market St., Philadelphia, PA www.greatbridalexpo.com

JANUARY 24, 2016

The Signature Wedding Showcase The Desmond Hotel 1 Liberty Blvd., Malvern, PA www.bridalevent.com

JANUARY 30-31, 2016

Baltimore Wedding Experience Baltimore Convention Center 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD www.weddingexperience.com

JANUARY 31, 2016

Best Wedding Showcase DoubleTree by Hilton Reading 701 Penn St., Reading, PA www.bestweddingshowcase.com

JANUARY 31, 2016

The Greater Northeast Philly Bridal Showcase The Radisson Hotel Philadelphia NE/Trevose 2400 Old Lincoln Highway, Trevose, PA www.bridalevent.com

JANUARY 31, 2016

Celebrations Unlimited Wedding Expo Celebrations Hall 27994 Great Cove Road, Fort Littleton, PA http://celebratewithease.com/

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

The Delaware County Bridal Show and Expo Concordville Inn Route 322 and Route 1, Concordville, PA www.bridalevent.com

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

Best Wedding Showcase Wyndham Garden of York 2000 Loucks Road, York, PA www.bestweddingshowcase.com

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

The King of Prussia Bridal Showcase Sheraton Valley Forge 480 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA www.bridalevent.com

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

Plan It Expo Doubletree by Hilton Center City Philadelphia 237 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA http://planitexpo.com

FEBRUARY 28, 2016

AACA Museum Wedding Show AACA Museum 161 Museum Drive, Hershey, PA http://www.aacamuseum.org/private-events/ wedding/weddingshow/

Bridal Fair and Event Extravaganza 2016 Allentown Brew Works 812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, PA www.thebrewworks.com/events/bridal-fair/

MARCH 6, 2016

The Wilmington Luxury Bridal Show and Expo University and Whist Club 805 N. Broom St., Wilmington, DE www.bridalevent.com

APRIL 10, 2016

The King of Prussia Bridal Show Crowne Plaza Valley Forge 260 Mall Blvd., King of Prussia, PA www.bridalevent.com

APRIL 17, 2016

The Annual “I Do” Delaware Bridal Show and Expo The Christiana Hilton 100 Continental Drive, Newark, DE www.bridalevent.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Bucks County Bridal Showcase Aldie Mansion 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA www.bridalevent.com

MAY 1, 2016

The Big Philly Bridal Show and Expo Marriott Philadelphia Downtown 1201 Market St., Philadelphia, PA www.bridalevent.com

JULY 17, 2016

Best Wedding Showcase York Expo Center - Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York, PA www.bestweddingshowcase.com

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Lace Trim - Medallions - Ribbon - Bows - Bridal Loop for: â&#x20AC;˘ Wedding Gowns â&#x20AC;˘ Invitations â&#x20AC;˘ Veils (Create your own Mantilla Veil) â&#x20AC;˘ Table Runners â&#x20AC;˘ Shoes â&#x20AC;˘ Flower Bouquets â&#x20AC;˘ Attendantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dresses â&#x20AC;˘ Favors, Centerpieces & Tables

We have so much more than lace!

1044 Martindale Rd. Martindale, PA 17549 GPS: Put in Earl Twp. then street address Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9:00 to 4:00 Mon., Fri., & Sat. by Appointment

S910140

Since 1880 Classic Apparel For Men & Women 11 S. Broad St., Lititz, PA 17543 717 626-4609 S910697

of Lancaster County, Inc.

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Elegant Formal Wear for all Occasions

T U X E D O R E N T A L

77

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Camp Hill Banquet Facility

Elegant Community Room

Seats 200 People Large Functional Kitchen

Paul Grego Owner/Operator 717-842-0093 paulgrego.wel@gmail.com www.weddingerrandslancaster.com S906383

For further information Camp Hill Recreation Office 717.737.4548 Email: Alogar@camphillborough.com www.camphillborough.com

S911457

Room is located at Camp Hill Borough Building 2145 Walnut Street, Camp Hill

â&#x20AC;¢ Charters â&#x20AC;¢ Schools â&#x20AC;¢ Sports â&#x20AC;¢ Social Events â&#x20AC;¢ Weddings

Bus, Inc. Est. 1939

S910904

theweddingplanneronline.com

WEDDING SHUTTLES

717-244-4591

or email Kim Chronister at kchronister@redlionbus.com

Who will

JEREMY HESS PHOTOGRAPHY

you trust to deliver a memorable event?

DANIEL MAST PHOTOGRAPHER

With options to fit any style or any budget, Greenfield Catering and The Hamilton Ballroom are the perfect union! t 'VMMZ DVTUPNJ[BCMF NFOVT

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S909091

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Brides of Today Specializing in gowns for the confident and curvy woman

The Wedding Planner 79 theweddingplanneronline.com

349 Buck Road Quarryville, PA 17566 717.786.0190 â&#x20AC;˘ www.bridesoftoday.com S911424

Banquets & Special Events

Affordable Luxury & Lifetime Memories

Available for members & non-members

We treat your celebration with the specialized attention it deserves.

Book your 2016 wedding reception now and receive *

15% OFF

Wedding Reception Banquet & Party Facilities

Wedding Receptions & Private Parties • Seating for up to 100 Guests • Menus for Every Budget • Sound System & Dance Floor • Catering & Bar Service

Your total food purchase FREE tasting & menu choices & FREE planning of your special day with our in-house chef.

• Experienced Event Coordinators • Plenty of Parking • Heated Indoor/Outdoor Deck Available • Non-Smoking

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American Legion Post 329 240 North Hanover Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (located behind the Turkey Hill on North Market St.)

S908262

717-367-1295

Weddings

by Hess’s

For a Day to Remember!

We are Dedicated to Your Needs • Menus from Elegant to Charming Country Style • Variety of Beautiful Displays • Plus: Tables, Chairs, Faux Marble Dance Floor, Tents & More to Accommodate Your Reception

Call us for a FREE Consultation 717-464-3374 Willow Street, PA www.hessbbq.com We Will Help Make Your Wedding All You Wish It To Be!

Our Trained Staff Will Ensure Your Wedding Meal is a Complete Success!

Of Lancaster, Pennsylvania S910403

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*when you book before April 30, 2016

323 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602

(717) 394-7811

www.irisclublancasterpa.com S910065

LANCA STER / YORK / HARRISBURG / CAMP HILL / READING

The Wedding Planner

P E N N S Y LVA N I A B R I D A L S H O W S There is so much to see, do and taste at the Best Wedding Showcase. It is an exciting destination, with everything imaginable to plan an amazing wedding. You will be inspired as you gather unique ideas, sample sweets and savories, enjoy decor design and inspiration,

advice from the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most trusted wedding professionals, brought to you all in one place.

CODE WP6

January 3, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; LANCASTER: Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center January 17, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; HARRISBURG: Premier - Central Hotel Harrisburg January 31, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; READING: Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center Reading February 21, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; YORK: Wyndham Garden (formerly the York Holiday Inn) July 17, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; YORK: York Expo Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Memorial Hall East August 7, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; LANCASTER: Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center September 18, 2016 - CAMP HILL: Harrisburg Radisson Hotel Harrisburg

W W W. B EST WEDDI NGS H OWCAS E.CO M (717) 733 - LOV E

b r i d e s @ b e st w e d d i n g s h o w c a s e . c o m

S910855

Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free.

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FREE TICKET

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We know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love

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Honeymoon Destination Wedding

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for adults only romance on your

and

Honeymoons and destination weddings worldwide are more relaxing when planned by a Boscovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel Specialist. Experience 24-hour room service,

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Boscovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel, Camp Hill Camp Hill Shopping Mall 717-763-1100

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Amy Bressler

Colonial Park Mall 717-540-4222

bostravcolonialpark@boscovs.com

*With the purchase of a honeymoon booked with Boscovâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Travel. See your Boscov's Travel Specialist for complete details.

S911647

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The Wedding Planner 83 theweddingplanneronline.com

S909188

S903731

The Wedding Planner 84 theweddingplanneronline.com