Bridal june 2016

JUNE 2016

PAGE 2

BRIDAL GUIDE

JUNE 2016

BRIDAL GUIDE JUNE 2016

A special publication of the Le Center Leader, Le Sueur News-Herald and St. Peter Herald Publisher Chad Hjellming

Managing Editor Suzy Rook

Media Consultants Kathleen Davies Missy Daschner Gayle Stelten

Advertising Design Mary Jo Blanchard Nikkie Gilmore

Look for this section on

Bridal Guide June 2016 is distributed to subscribers and readers of the Le Center Leader, Le Sueur News-Herald and St. Peter Herald at no additional charge. All rights reserved. Š2016 All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertiser.

JUNE 2016

BRIDAL GUIDE

PAGE 3

How to build your

WEDDING BUDGET

Couples engaged to be married have a lot on their plates as they begin planning their weddings. Whereas tradition once demanded parents of the bride pay for a couple’s wedding, nowadays more and more engaged couples are completely or partially financing their own nuptials. That means prospective brides and grooms must develop wedding budgets that won’t ensure their first act as Mr. and Mrs. is paying down debt.

In its 2015 Real Weddings Study, online bridal resource The Knot found that many couples still receive substantial financial support from their parents to pay for their weddings. The survey found that,

on average, the bride’s parent’s contributed 44 percent of the overall wedding budget in 2015, while couples financed 43 percent (the remaining 13 percent was financed by the groom’s parents and additional sources). Couples who hope to follow that formula or pay for their weddings on their own can heed the following tips to build wedding budgets that won’t break the bank but will still ensure a day to remember forever.

• Examine your collective finances. Few couples know the details of each other’s finances before getting engaged. While some may still hesitate to share their personal financial information upon getting engaged, an open and honest discussion and examination of each person’s finances is

the only way to develop a realistic wedding budget that both partners can live with. Once couples know what they can contribute, they can then consult their parents to determine if their mothers and fathers are intending to contribute.

• Develop a preliminary guest list. A preliminary guest list can give couples an idea of how large and expensive their weddings will be. According to the Real Weddings Study, the average cost per wedding guest in 2015 was $237. While that cost can vary greatly depending on geography and other factors, couples should keep that figure in mind when drafting their guest lists. If need be, keep costs down by trimming the guest list so it includes

only close family members and friends.

• Don’t count on gifts. Many couples justify runaway wedding budgets by telling themselves that they will ultimately get the money back via wedding gifts. While many guests will give financial gifts, counting on such windfalls is a recipe for accruing debt. Do not build potential wedding gifts into your wedding budget. If you do so and your expectations fall short, you could be facing considerable debt upon returning home from your honeymoon.

• Gather quotes before choosing where to tie the knot.

Where couples get married will have a great impact on how much money they will spend on their weddings. For example, the Real

Weddings Study found that, in over $17,000. Venues within the 2015, the average wedding in same city can vary greatly with Manhattan cost couples slightly regard to pricing and offerings as well, so couples should give themselves ample time to gather quotes and find an affordable venue they like.

• Build extra costs into your budget. When determining a budget you can live with, remember to include a little extra for unforeseen costs. Weddings are large undertakings, and it’s reasonable to expect some unforeseen costs to arise. Building such costs into your initial budget will make these unforeseen circumstances that much easier to handle.

Budgets can help couples more than $82,000, while the av- stay on track and avoid debt as erage Alaskan wedding cost just they plan their weddings.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

JUNE 2016

Information to include on your wedding website Personal websites are an invaluable resource for couples planning their weddings. Wedding websites provide a great platform for couples to share all sorts of information regarding their big day, making them an essential element of modernday wedding planning.

Wedding websites need not feature all the bells and whistles of more permanent sites. But while there are specific guidelines governing what to include on wedding websites, couples should be mindful to share certain information to ensure their guests stay in the know about the pending nuptials.

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

The big day Invitations were once the go-to source for information about couples’ wedding ceremonies and receptions. But unlike invitations, websites won’t get lost around the house or in the mail, making them more reliable resources for guests.

Include all the pertinent details about the big day on your website, including the time and location of both the ceremony and the reception. Include directions to and from the venue (both the ceremony and reception venues if they will be held The participants Wedding websites can be at separate locations), and inused to inform guests about clude a Google maps feature if the couple getting married as possible. well as the various participants, such as the bridesmaids and RSVP info

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

ditional invites.

Accommodations Many couples arrange for discounted hotel rooms for their out-of-town wedding guests. Include this information on your wedding website, and aim to include at least two hotels where guests can register under your party and receive discounted lodging. In addition Registry to the hotels you arrange a deal Wedding websites also with, include some extra infor- provide a great way for couples

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mation about other lodging options in the area. Out-of-town guests will appreciate having as many options as possible, and couples providing that information saves guests the trouble of researching certain neighborhoods to determine if they are safe or close to the ceremony and reception sites.

to share registry information.

Include links that take guests directly to your online registries.

Wedding websites are a great resource for couples who want to share information about their weddings. As the big day draws closer, couples can update their sites to reflect any new developments.

JUNE 2016

BRIDAL GUIDE

PAGE 5

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COMPLETE The perfect dress is on the wish list of many a bride-tobe, but no bridal ensemble is truly complete until the bride chooses her veil.

Veils have been worn by brides at their weddings for centuries. Veils can be traced back to the Middle East, where veils helped protect against the weather while also preserving the modesty of the bride. In Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, veils were used as protection against evil spirits.

According to popular wedding website The Knot.com, until Vatican II, all Catholic women were required to have their heads covered in church, including during their wedding ceremonies. Veils were worn for this purpose, but they also symbolized trust in the groom and his love and

BRIDAL LOOK

companionship. Some Christians also see the veil as a visual representation of submission to the Church and to God. Others think of the veil as another beautiful accompaniment to their bridal gown, without attaching any additional meaning to the veil itself.

Veils come in various lengths and can complement the style of a wedding gown. They also tend to add glamour to brides’ looks. Here are the types of veils from shortest to longest.

• Blusher Blushers cover the face, though some extend only to mid-cheek on the bride.

• Flyaway Flyaways cover just the back of the head. Shorter veils may work better on petite women.

• houlder houlder veils are about 20 inches in length and will hit at the bride’s shoulders or

just below.

• aist aist length veils cascade down to the middle of the bride’s waist.

• Fingertip ese veils extend down 38 to 42 inches, brushing against the bride’s fingertips.

• alt nee For a dramatic look, many brides may opt for waltz-length veils, which fall to the back of the knees.

• hapel Floor eils that extend to the floor may be referred to as ‘chapel’ or ‘floorlength’ veils. Such veils cascade slightly behind the bride.

Veils can complete brides’ wedding day looks. Shorter veils may be comfortable to wear throughout the day and evening, but brides may want to consider detachable veils if they are selecting lengthier options.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

JUNE 2016

When to visit these A honeymoon provides a welcome retreat for couples after months upon months of budgeting, planning and ironing out the details of their weddings. On their honeymoons, couples get the chance to escape the pressures of everyday life and simply enjoy being alone with each other in special locations.

Honeymoon vacations can be expensive, and many couples want to ensure they get the best value for their trips. A honeymoon that is overshadowed by inclement weather can make this once-in-a-lifetime trip memorable for all the wrong reasons.

While not every hiccup can be avoided, couples can plan their honeymoons for those times of year when specific locales expe-

rience their best weather.

• amaica ouples tying the knot in the earlier part of the year may want to honeymoon in amaica. ith average tem peratures in the 80s year-round, amaica ma es for a great hon eymoon destination. anuary through April see less rain than other times of the year, and keep in mind une through the end of December is hurricane season.

• ustralia eople opting to get married in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere might want to escape the cooler temperatures and shorter days with a honeymoon south of the equator. Australia and New Zealand are beautiful spots to visit and enjoy summer when those in the Northern Hemisphere are mired

in winter.

• France aris and other French cities can be enchanting to visit any time of the year, but locals advise honeymooners visit in September when the climate is quite comfortable and tourism is minimal. Spring is another great time to visit France, especially for those people who want to spend plenty of time outdoors.

• Mexico reas of Mexico, such as popular anc n and o umel, tend to stay warm all year long, but they can be particularly hot in the summer. Spring brides and grooms may want to venture there before the summer season is in full swing. ouples might want to avoid vacationing in certain areas in March, as students visiting for spring break

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• awaii pring and sum mer can be ideal times to visit the islands of Hawaii, as the weather can be beautiful and travel tends to be less expensive during these times of year. Rains increase as autumn sets in, and Hawaii often sees the bulk of its vacationers during the winter, meaning higher costs and bigger crowds.

• taly pril through une and September through October are some of the best times to visit taly. Be aware that enice tends to be misty and damp during the late fall and early spring. taly, es pecially southern taly and icily, can get quite hot during the peak summer months.

Weather and tourism should be considered as newlyweds choose where to go on their honeymoons.

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The pros and cons of Friday weddings Couples give a great deal of thought to the day they choose to get married. Many engaged couples are more attached to a particular season than a specific day, but some couples will consider any time of year to say ‘I do.’

Weather factors heavily into many couples’ decisions regarding when to get married. According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, 39 percent of the nearly 18,000 U.S. brides and grooms surveyed chose to get married in the months of September, October or November, three months of the year when the weather tends to be both predictable and pleasant.

But more and more couples are paying more mind to which day of the week to get married as well. While Saturday is widely considered the most traditional day to tie the knot, couples may want to consider walking down the aisle on Friday. Friday wed-

dings can be just as enjoyable as Saturday weddings, but there are some pros and cons to choosing Friday over Saturday.

Saturday because that’s when the majority of couples prefer to get married. While each venue is different, couples willing to get married on a Friday might find Pros it far less expensive than getting Perhaps the biggest advan- married on a Saturday. tage to getting married on a Friday is the cost. Wedding venues PROS AND CONS tend to be most expensive on Continued on page 8

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Wedding planning can be intense and often requires dedication and many hours of work. Coordinating a wedding often requires that couples make many different decisions and spend a considerable amount of time in the wedding-planning trenches.

Couples expend so much energy planning their weddings that it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture - namely the relationship that is the basis for the marriage in the first place.

But as easy as it can be to get lost in wedding planning, couples can use this time together to connect on a deeper level and learn to work cooperatively.

• Divide and conquer. ep arate wedding planning duties so that both of you feel you are contributing equally and no one person gets overly stressed out.

Stress can lead to short tempers and arguments.

• Establish a mutual budget.

Even the healthiest couple ar

gues over finances from time to time, but budgetary debates should not set a negative tone for wedding planning. Couples should discuss their potential budget before they even begin to plan their weddings, and both partners should do their best to compromise while also understanding where the other person is coming from.

• chedule time for fun.

Do not let wedding planning be all-consuming. Schedule days that allow you to enjoy yourselves together without having to think about or discuss your pending nuptials. This may include date nights that may have fallen by the wayside since getting engaged or periodic day trips to get away from it all. Ex plore your mutual hobbies or try something new.

• earn to laugh at the little things. Not every detail will go off without a hitch. How you react as a couple may influence how much you enjoy your wed-

DURING WEDDING PLANNING

ding. Recognize that certain things will not go your way, but that unforeseen circumstances will not ruin your wedding day, no matter how unpleasant they may seem. augh at what cannot be changed and recognize that, in the long run, the details you think are major today may actually prove trivial when you look back on your wedding day in the years to come.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

PROS AND CONS Continued from page 7 Another advantage to getting married on a Friday is the opportunity to spend more time with guests. Couples who get married on a Saturday tend to be busy most of Friday and Saturday, and that leaves little time to spend with their guests, many of whom will return home first thing on Sunday morning. But by getting married on a Friday, couples then have Saturday to spend with their guests, and they can even plan a laid back get-together like a backyard barbecue or Saturday brunch with guests who will likely stay in town through the weekend.

Cons Likely because they are so extraordinary, Friday weddings may be less popular with guests.

Bridal party members may be obligated to take two days off from work in order to make it to the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night, and that might not sit well with friends and family who do not have much vacation or personal time. Even guests who are not in the bridal party may need to take a day off from work that they otherwise can avoid taking if the wedding was scheduled for Saturday or even Sunday.

Couples also should know that Friday weddings tend to begin later at night, as it’s customary to start the ceremony in the evening so guests who have

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Couples inviting several elderly guests or children may find that these people miss the ceremony and/or reception because of the later start time.

Brides- and grooms-to-be may find their options with regard to venues and entertainment are more limited when they choose to get married on a Friday instead of a Saturday. Some venues may only host weddings on Saturdays, while entertainers like deejays or bands who work day jobs during the week may not be available on Friday nights.

Couples considering tying the knot on a Friday should consider a host of factors before making their final decision.

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