Weddings 2017

Weddings

Cover photo by Sarah Goodwin

Florists recall wedding experiences Page 2

Choosing the right food Pages 10, 12

Planning the prefect wedding Page 11

FEBRUARY 2017

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

The Farmville Herald Ricky and Rachel Yezzi embrace each other during their photo shoot.

I TAKE CARE OF THE TO-DO & YOU TAKE CARE OF THE I DO!

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‘I still can’t get enough of it’ Jones, Allen offer tips for brides to be

BY JULIA MCCANN Special to The Farmville Herald

JULIA MCCANN

Various shades of color define this floral arrangement from Carters Flower Shop.

Some lucky people know when they’re children what they want to be when they grow up. Florists Carolyn Jones, of Carters Flower Shop, and Sidney Allen, of Rochette’s Florist, were among the lucky.

Both started in the business at a young age — Jones in a volunteer position at a flower shop and Allen at Rochette’s Florist, which he now co-owns along with his parents.

“My grandmother was the driving force to why I love flowers,” said Jones.

“We planted flower gardens together.

Her idea was that flowers weren’t to be cut and brought inside except for special occasions, but I always wanted

to bring them but she does it in and arrange like a champ.” them.”

“When I first “I’ve been went (into the reared in the business), I had business — I done as many have yet to as seven wedgrow up,” said dings in one Allen, a thirdweekend,” said generation floRochette Alrist. “I’ve been len, the shop’s instructed and namesake and trained by my co-owner. “Now mom, my aunts, we do maybe flower school five or six a JULIA MCCANN month.” and I’ve been Third generation florist Sidney Allen and Carters to workshops “You name throughout my Florist Owner Carolyn Jones stand outside Farmthe occasion life. My mother ville Presbyterian Church. and we’ve done has been an it,” said Jones. advocate for education.”

“We’ve had Halloween weddings, I’ve Both flower shops offer customized had Christmas weddings, we’ve had orders, delivery, online services, balbrides married on the beach, one in a loons, stuffed animals, gourmet items tree stand with the camo and blaze orand more. Both also offer wedding ange flowers to get that hunting theme.” services.

According to both long-standing “It’s neat that my mother is doing flower shops, wedding trends have third-generation weddings,” said Allen. shifted in recent years.

She’s hands-on with the consultation “Destinations and outdoor weddings and making sure the bride and groom are more popular now,” said Mrs. Allen. have everything they wish to have. My “When I first went in business, they hands are too big for making corsages were unheard of.”

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3 She added, “Styles of bouquets have changed tremendously. They were done mostly in bouquet holders and the Lady Distyle cascade was more popular back in the 70s and 80s. Now it’s more of the hand-tied wildflower look.”

Jones concurs that bridal trends have moved to a “rustic elegance” design aesthetic and acknowledges the shift from church weddings to outdoor venues. Though that can produce beautiful results (both of Jones’ daughters were married outside), there can be a downside to the “outdoor wedding” trend.

“If I could say anything to a bride, I would say to picture in their mind the worst possible day — the rain or the snow,” said Jones. “If they can live with that, then anything the day brings will be beautiful.”

Another challenge, according to Sidney, is “trying to imagine the picture that’s inside the bride’s head and re-create that.”

“Our happiest customers give us a description of what they want or what they don’t want and let us use our imagination and creativity to come up with our designs,” said Sidney.

Jones recommends coming in 3-6 months

prior to the wedding to have the first floral appointment. For her, some of the most memorable weddings were family weddings, including her niece’s.

“We camouflaged the whole gym with cedar trees and birch branches,” said Jones. “We had huge kissing balls hanging to drop the ceiling. When you walked in the gym, it did not look like a gymnasium and the smell of the cedar was just unbelievable.”

Sidney cites the physical labor behind the floral business as the toughest part of the job.

“Those 5-gallon buckets of water — they don’t lift themselves,” he said. “My hands stay constantly cut up and bruised. I don’t think people understand or appreciate the physical labor behind what we do.”

But all of the bruises and strains are worth it, according Sidney.

“Watching people’s faces light up when they get a flower arrangement,” said Allen. “I still can’t get enough of it.”

Both florists are gearing up for Valentine’s Day, the busiest single-day holiday of the year.

Carters Flower Shop is located at 711 W. Third St. and Rochette’s Florist can be found at 100 JULIA MCCANN S. Virginia St., both in Farmville.

Sidney Allen begins an arrangement with sunflowers at Rochette’s Florist.

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Tips on choosing the right photographer

BY SARAH GOODWIN Sarah Goodwin Photography

You have hundreds of wedding plans to make. Deciding who will bring your memories to life is one of your most important. When the flurry and excitement of your wedding day is over, it is beautifully captured images that help you revisit the emotion of the day and an heirloom for generations to come.

So, how do you choose the best wedding photographer for you?

DO YOUR RESEARCH Look at photos you love to identify what appeals to your style and vision for the wedding. Soft and pastel? Bright and clean? Old film? Photographers have various artistic styles and perspectives they specialize in when it comes to shooting and editing. There

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are also digital, film and hybrid shooters, which make a difference in the process, editing and pricing. If your wedding is a garden party full of bright colors, monograms and cupcakes, you probably don’t want to choose a photographer whose style is dark, moody and cinematic. Look at their images and see if you can envision your wedding day in them.

Look outside of your immediate area.

Local talent is great, but if you expand your search, you can find some amazing photographers that are a perfect fit for your style and your budget. I travel all over Virginia, out of state and internationally for weddings. Once you have a few favorites narrow the list down and start reaching out to them.

INQUIRE & CONSULT Start inquiring. Photographers who are in demand book up fast, sometimes a year or more in advance. Set up a consult in person, phone or Skype to ask any additional questions and to “meet” the photographer.

Ask questions that are important to you, not necessarily a checklist from the internet. Great questions to start with are about the wedding day process, do they use digital, film or both, do they have experience in your wedding location or similar situation, how to book them and what collections they

Sarah Goodwin

may have to fit your needs and budget.

Ask to view portfolio images from an entire wedding or on a blog. You are looking for consistent quality and editing throughout the wedding day.

No two weddings are ever the same as there are so many variables, including location, venue, lighting, weather, style/

See PHOTOGRAPHY, Page 6

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ‘Choosing a photographer is like choosing your favorite ... jeans’ colors, timeline, etc. For example, if you are getting married in a historic church with the reception in a ballroom, both will require flash or off-camera lighting, so you want to make sure your photographer has the equipment as well as the experience in this type of location.

Choose an experienced professional who can deal with many different lighting environments and situations, as well as someone committed to professional and timely response on the business end. That’s not to say you should not give a chance to a budding photographer; we all started somewhere.

MAKE THE CONNECTION Choose vendors you like and trust. Choosing a photographer is like choosing your favorite pair of jeans.

It’s all about the style, the color, the quality and the fit.

You want to be comfortable around them, they will be spending the majority of the day with you. You want to SARAH GOODWIN trust that all of your vendors have your best interest Choosing a photographer is like in mind, providing helpful information and resources choosing your favorite pair of jeans. when available, producing quality work and business It’s all about the style, the color, the management. As a photographer, I want to make sure quality and the fit. we are a good fit too.

SARAH GOODWIN

If you choose someone new to weddings, just make sure you are well aware of their level of experience and possible limitations in certain situations.

SARAH GOODWIN

Ask questions that are important to you, not necessarily a checklist from the internet.

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Farmville offers wonderful wedding shopping

BY JOY STUMP Executive Director of the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce

Brides and grooms who are planning weddings benefit greatly from all Farmville has to offer.

They are able to shop and plan for everything they need to have the perfect wedding, without having to travel all over or order items online and not have the advantage of seeing things firsthand.

It’s such an exciting time and most brides start their wedding journey looking for their dream dress and Farmville has Caryn’s Bridals, Formals & Tuxedos. Brides, bridesmaids and grooms can always find the perfect look for their big day. People travel from all over to this wonderful shop and we are so lucky to have it right here.

There is so much that goes into

planning a wedding and all the activities leading up to it and many couples consider getting professional help. The Game Day Weddings event planners can help assist couples to navigate through the innumerable decisions that have to be made. Farmville is fortunate to have several wonderful wedding venues to Joy choose from, includStump ing The 1752 Estate, The Barn at Timber Creek and Carolyn Baldwin Lake Pavilion, to name a few. What wedding is complete without beautiful flowers, and couples are lucky to get to choose between Rochette’s Florist and Carters Flower Shop for the flowers that best fit their needs.

Courtney Vogel Photography can be there to capture the whole day with her artistic photos, and Farmville even has a special baker to make a personalized wedding cake. Couples can talk to Maria’s Sweet Creations to get the cake of their dreams. For fun at the party, DJ Baddog can spin exciting tunes to get all the guests dancing the night away.

Getting married is not just about the wedding, because there are showers

and rehearsal dinners and parties leading up to it. What a fun time! Farmville is up to all of it.

Obviously, everyone needs to look their best and have new elegant clothing and this can always be found at Vellie’s Boutique or at Belk. Beautiful accessories can be obtained there, too. Many women stop by The Outer You Salon to make sure they are looking their absolute best. Farmville is a

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8 great place to have these events as the Virginia Tasting Cellar, Charleys Waterfront CafĂŠ and The Woodland Community Center all offer beautiful venues.

If the men in the party are not invited to the shower, they can enjoy their time at The Manor Golf Course, or at the municipal golf course the Town of Farmville offers.

Farmville even has a great party rental company, Awesome Party Supplies, to help supplement any wedding or shower with a full range of items to make your party shine. B&M Nursery will rent plants to decorate the

venue also. If the couple wants to have personalized items with their name or wedding date, Judy Ellington Designs can produce these articles.

We are also lucky to have several hotels here in Farmville to house the guests that travel to be part of the festivities. Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn (Choice Inn) and Days Inn all offer rooms at reasonable rates to journeyers. If guests prefer a smaller and more personal feel, there is the Longwood Bed & Breakfast as an option.

Farmville has so much to offer couples getting married.

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How to choose the right dress

BY CARYN KAYTON Caryn’s Bridals, Formals & Tuxedos

Finding “the dress” is not easy.

Shopping for a wedding gown is an exhilarating experience, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many dresses to choose from. Where do you even start?! Here are a few tips to guide you in your journey to picking your dream dress.

First things first, set a realistic budget for your gown. It’s a rare bride who can shop without concern for cost. Knowing what you are comfortable spending is the key to a successful shopping experience and it’s important to know what the budget is before walking into a shop. A little wiggle room is one thing, but if your budget is $1,300, don’t try on a $5,000 dress just for fun — you don’t want to discover that the $5,000 one is the dress you can’t live without.

Focus on finding the silhouette that works best for you. This does mean stepping out of your comfort zone a bit and trying on new shapes — the results may surprise you! The basic silhouettes of wedding gowns are ball gown, A-line, sheath, fit-and-flare and mermaid. The first time you go shopping, try one of each and it will quickly be clear which one works best for you. Once you have a figure-flattering silhouette, then you can switch gears and hone in on the

specifics like fabric, beading, neckline, etc.

Ask questions of your consultant, and give her constructive feedback.

The consultant is there to help you find that perfect match, so don’t keep your thoughts to yourself. Tell them what you’re loving and what you’re not.

Ask yourself plenty of questions: “Do I feel beautiful in this?” “Am I comfortable?” “Can I dance?” “Can I sit down?”

“Does it suit my venue?” Most wedding dresses are going to be beautiful, but if you don’t feel confident then it’s not the one for you.

Don’t be discouraged if the gown you adored on Pinterest ends up falling flat in person. There are many different styles of gown, so be open to liking new things! Envision how you want your dress to look — urban, traditional, sexy, vintage, on-trend — and be sure to communicate this to your consultant. You can’t be sure what elements you’re going to fall in love with until you actually start seeing them on you.

While it can be tempting to bring all your best friends with you, large groups often lead to confusion and frustration.

Too many people can mean too many opinions. We recommend inviting one to two guests to the appointment. Choose a friend or family member who knows you well and will support your decision, not argue for their own vision.

Start shopping early. Ordering a wedding gown takes time, so start looking about nine months to a year in advance if possible. It can take upwards of six months for your dress to arrive once ordered. Altering a wedding gown typically takes a month, too, so starting early ensures that there will be plenty of time for you dress to be tailored perfectly.

Have fun! After all, it is a shopping trip! And when you find the one, stop shopping. Don’t spend your time looking for a dress you might like better — time to get excited about showing everyone the gorgeous dress you’ve already fallen in love with!

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Don’t be discouraged if the gown you adored on Pinterest ends up falling flat in person.

10

Choosing the right wedding menu

BY NIKKI KAIN The Fishin’ Pig

The most important aspects of every wedding are the union of the bride and groom and the opportunity to share that special moment with family and friends; a well-selected menu that tastes as good as it looks comes in as a close second.

Of course it’s important that your guests enjoy the cuisine, but it’s even better if the menu reflects the mood of the entire wedding — and the tastes of the bride and groom. There’s no formula for choosing a perfect menu, but sticking to a few simple guidelines goes a long way.

The venue, time of day and overall style and theme of the wedding are all factors that should be considered when deciding what type of meal to

serve your guests. An early-afternoon reception at an upscale winery calls for heavy hors d’oeuvres that pair well with the wine, while dinner service with multiple proteins and substantial side options makes more sense for an evening wedding at a rustic outdoor venue. Your menu should match your taste as a couple and coincide with your lifestyle and relationship.

Do you spend your time together outdoors before hearty dinners at the kitchen table, or mingling at cocktail parties and eating out with friends downtown? Stick to the style and taste that’s working so well for you as a couple and keep it authentic by choosing food that you both really love.

It’s also important to harmonize your menu with the other elements of your wedding. If your goal is for the dinner to be a key aspect, splurge a little and

Nikki Kain

add in a carving station; if you’re more concerned about having an amazing band, go with more basic selections.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a simple menu, so long as it is presented well and is pleasing to you and your guests. Conversely, remember that you don’t have to be stuck with a menu that feels lackluster just because you’re working within a limited budget.

There are tons of available options for kicking things up a notch without breaking the bank, you just have to ask your caterer for creative suggestions. Choose someone that has experience making the food you’re interested in, and take advantage of their expertise — they’re likely to recommend their tastiest and best selections, because their primary goal

is serving a great meal.

A smaller, more cohesive menu is better than an overload of options that don’t pair well together. For a seated dinner we recommend serving two proteins (usually poultry or seafood and pork or beef) accompanied by at least two sides, but no more than four. Similarly, guests will appreciate five or six well-planned hors d’oeuvres much more than a dozen random selections. Do keep dietary restrictions in mind, but don’t plan your whole menu around a small group of people. Most caterers are happy to offer a separate entrée for guests with allergies or aversions to the food being served.

While planning your wedding menu, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.

Consult the caterers, wedding coordinators and venue hosts, as it’s very likely they’ll have invaluable suggestions and solutions to problems you might run into. The vendors are there to make your day come together exactly as planned, and they are invested in providing you with the best experience possible. Most importantly, remember that it’s okay to bend the rules. Your wedding is a joyful celebration and the menu you select should reflect the aspects of your relationship that make your union so unique.

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Choosing a wedding planner there. From ensuring grandma gets seated with the VIPs, to prompting the flower girl to start down the aisle, a wedding planner will be invaluable when it comes to orchestrating the processional, recessional and reception sequence of events.

BY TERESA DODSON AND CYNTHIA FAVRET Game Day Weddings

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting experiences that a couple or a family can share. But sometimes the details and decisions can be overwhelming.

There was a time, not long ago, when wedding planners were part of only the most extravagant weddings.

Today, however, they have become an integral component of weddings of every size, shape and budget.

Whether you need hands-on help from the engagement to the reception or someone there just for the big day, wedding planners can provide support and relief as you prepare for the wedding of your dreams.

Here’s how.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR A wedding planner’s primary goal is to keep all of the moving parts in order. He or she serves as liaison for wedding vendors, guests and most importantly the bride and groom. Whether coordinating timelines or mending the strap of a dress, a wedding planner will

PEACE KEEPER

Game Day Weddings owners Cynthia Favret, left, and Teresa Dodson say wedding planners can provide support and relief to the bride-to-be.

be your go-to problem solver and master schedule keeper.

CHOREOGRAPHER Lights, camera, action! A wedding planner will make certain everyone knows where to be and when to be

Let’s face it: weddings can be stressful. Childhood dreams can conflict with budgets, causing tension.

Unexpected weather and travel delays can threaten to ruin the festive mood. One of an event planner’s most important jobs is to anticipate conflicts and address them with an unbiased and experienced view.

PENNY PINCHER Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that costs can quickly escalate if not carefully monitored.

Through their experience, wedding planners accrue clever ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.

They also have long-standing relationships with caterers, photographers and other professionals and can help secure discounts and packaging options to save money on services.

12

Picking a menu that fits your style

BY ARLENE AND ELTON LAYDEN Piggin’ Out Catering

Planning your wedding can be a stressful time. Everyone dreams all of their lives about making it the perfect day.

By the time you start to plan the event, many feel like it will never happen.

This is where you need to be patient

and make a list of potential caters, florist, wedding planner and venues.

Once you’ve made the contacts, then you need to follow your heart on the people you talked to and make a decision on who can best meet your needs.

Being comfortable with someone you can trust and like will help you enjoy your special day. Picking a theme, colors, venue, etc. should be a fun time with the right person. When going with

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13 a barn wedding or country wedding, you want to pick a menu that fits that style.

Barbeque, a whole pig on the grill, coleslaw, baked beans and pig picking cake is always a big hit.

When picking an elegant site, like a country club or other venue, the steamship round roast beef, along with sautéed vegetables and roasted potatoes always work.

The right planner can give you a lot of great ideas allowing the couple to pick what’s right for them. Always remember to make sure of any food allergies anyone make have when planning the menu.

We always want to make that first impression to be the best one. When it’s said and done, you want to look back and say, “This was that perfect day I have dreamed of all my life.”

Arlene Layden and Elton Layden pose while catering.

When going with a barn or country wedding, you want to pick a menu that fits that style, such as barbeque, a whole pig on the grill, coleslaw, baked beans and pig picking cake is always a big hit.

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Make every anniversary count Wedding anniversaries provide opportunities for couples to reflect and relive the excitement of their wedding days.

Anniversaries can easily be forgotten amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, but many couples are making concerted efforts to ensure their anniversaries are celebrated as the special occasions they are.

A first wedding anniversary is a special one. Some couples celebrate their first

anniversaries by enjoying a piece of wedding cake that has been properly preserved in the freezer. Couples may also dance to their wedding songs or enjoy a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. The first anniversary also is a time to pull out the wedding video or photo album and reminisce about the wedding day.

Anniversaries are a great way for couples to celebrate their time together by stepping away from emails, text messag-

es, work obligations and even mundane everyday tasks to once again remember a day and moment that changed their lives forever. Those who may need a little inspiration celebrating their anniversaries can consider these suggestions.

• Have dinner at your reception site.

Find out if the reception site, which may be a catering hall or restaurant, serves dinner or brunch. Make a reservation and enjoy celebrating in the spot where the memories all began.

• Take a second honeymoon. Honor wedding memories by booking a second honeymoon at a special location.

• Throw a party. Use your anniversary as an excuse to have friends or family over for a party. Be sure to include your wedding song on the music playlist.

• Create a romantic evening. Rekindle the romance by pulling out all the stops, complete with a nice homecooked meal, candles and mood music.

A first wedding anniversary is a special one. Some couples celebrate their first anniversaries by enjoying a piece of wedding cake that has been properly preserved in the freezer.

Wedding anniversaries present ideal opportunities for couples to reminisce about their trip down the aisle and all the entertaining moments from the wedding.

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Tips for a special mother/son dance Weddings celebrate the unions of happy couples ready to pledge their lives to each other. In theory, the wedding day spotlight should be shared equally by brides and grooms. But brides often eclipse their grooms, as guests are drawn to stunning bridal gowns.

Though grooms might play second

Though grooms might play second fiddle for much of their wedding days, there is one moment when all eyes are on the groom and a special lady in his life.

fiddle for much of their wedding days, there is one moment when all eyes are on the groom and a special lady in his life. The mother/son dance is a wedding tradition that many grooms embrace as their opportunity to show their mothers how much they love and appreciate them. The mother/son dance is an ideal time to create a special moment, and the following are some tips to personalize the dance.

• Precede the bride and her father.

Make your own tradition and switch up the timing of the dances. Be the first to take a spin on the dance floor and set the tone for the other traditional songs to come.

• Create a photo montage. Work with an entertainment company or photographer to create a slideshow of images showing you and your mother together and separately. If possible, include some photos that were shot during the wedding ceremony, asking the photographer to capture the look on your mother’s face during pivotal moments of the ceremony.

• Show off your dance skills. One increasingly popular wedding trend is for

fathers and brides to choreograph the father/daughter dances. Grooms and their mothers can follow suit, particularly if you both have some stellar dance moves.

• Let mom choose the song. Give your mother the opportunity to express her sentiments to you, as mothers of the groom do not typically toast their sons during weddings or even rehearsal dinners.

• Invite other son/mother duos up.

If the idea of dancing alone with your mother is a bit intimidating, give other mothers in attendance an opportunity to share the spotlight.

Grooms may not garner the bulk of guests’ attention on their wedding days.

But they can take steps to make their special dances with their mothers more memorable and unique.

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16

Merging finances after getting married

Couples can spend months or even years planning their weddings. While planning a wedding requires lots of hard work, couples may also want to give some thought to life beyond their wedding day.

One of the more important matters couples must consider is how to manage their finances once they tie the knot. Discussing money can be a tricky issue, particularly when couples have long been accustomed to handling their own accounts and being responsible for their own income and expenditures. Bringing another party into the equation can complicate matters, particularly when one spouse may not have the full picture of the other’s spending and saving habits. In fact, the financial resource Bankrate.com says some of the most common financial problems newly married couples encounter include overspending and

managing debt.

When deciding how to merge their finances, couples can experiment to see what works best for them. It may take some trial and error before couples find a solution that works for them, but it’s important that couples keep the lines of communication open and express a willingness to compromise with regard to managing money.

The following are some tips for couples who want to make the transition to sharing finances go as smoothly as possible.

START THE CONVERSATION EARLY According to a recent poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, more than two-thirds of engaged couples had negative attitudes about discussing money with their soon-tobe spouses, with 5 percent saying even having the conversation would cause

them to call off the wedding. If money is causing this type of issue before the wedding, delaying the conversation until after tying the knot can be a big mistake. It’s better for couples to begin financial discussions and start brainstorming long-term goals and plans as soon as they get engaged. Don’t hide negative financial information from a prospective spouse. Being open and honest — even though it can be challenging — is the best way to proceed.

DEAL WITH DEBT Hiding debt is a big mistake. Discuss debt early on and come up with a way to pay it off together. The experts say, like it or not, once you’re married, your spouse’s debts become your problem.

His or her credit score can impact your ability to get credit as a couple.

It’s best to handle debt efficiently regardless of who is responsible for

the debt.

DECIDE WHO IS THE MONEY MANAGER One person may be better or more organized when it comes to paying bills. Whether you keep separate accounts or combine them, it is easier for one person to take the lead and manage the finances from month to month.

Money can funnel into a joint account specifically established to pay bills.

DEVELOP A JOINT BUDGET Not only do finances need to be merged, but so, too, do lifestyles.

Couples must be on the same page regarding their spending habits and keep luxury or personal expenditures in check. Work out a budget and savings plan together.

Managing finances is a conversation that newlyweds need to have as soon as possible.