Promises Wedding Guide 2019

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A publication of the Fredericksburg Standard

2019 Wedding Guide

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A license to get married No union is complete without getting a marriage license. The following are important reminders about applying for and using a marriage license: Where to go?

• Gillespie County Clerk’s Office is in Room 109 of the Gillespie County Courthouse. Mary Lynn Rusche is the county clerk, and personnel there are ready to assist applicants with paperwork.

• Office hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• To contact the county clerk’s office,

call 830-997-6515. Rusche asks that if anyone has any questions about types of identification needed for obtaining a marriage license, they call first to confirm the type of identification they have is proper. This saves them a trip to Fredericksburg and not having the right identification.

What to bring?

• Couples applying for a marriage license must both be present when the license is issued.

• Each should bring at least one form of photo identification (such as a driver’s

license or passport) or two other forms of non-photo identification (such as certified birth certificate, Social Security card, current utility bill or school report card, etc.). A Mexican Matricula Consular card will not be recognized as appropriate identification but a Mexican voter card can be used as a non-photo identification.

• Be prepared to pay the $71 cost of the marriage license. Payment can be made only by check or cash.

• A reduced marriage license fee of $11 is available to couples who complete the free eight-hour “Twogether in Texas”

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course and bring in a certificate of completion at the time of applying for their marriage license.

The course is free if done in person.

In Fredericksburg, the course is not religion-based and is offered through Victory Fellowship Church (414 East College Street). Their telephone number is 830-997-9717.

The course is also available through St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where it’s collated with counseling. A couple will receive two separate certificates. One, recognized by the Catholic Church, states they’ve completed the program. The other certificate for the county clerk shows that they’ve completed the “Twogether in Texas” program. St. Mary’s is at 307 West San Antonio Street, and the telephone

number is 830-997-9523.

• Applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age must bring with them their legal guardian at the time of applying for the license and the guardian is also required to show photo identification.

• The minimum age required to apply for a marriage license is 18 years. Anyone younger should bring with them a court order to obtain a license.

Common law marriages • Couples claiming to be married by common law should keep in mind that if they have a baby, the father must undergo an affidavit process to claim paternity unless the couple comes to the county clerk’s office some time before the baby is born and declares that they have been

married and living together since a certain date. That “informal marriage” fee is $36.

Someone claiming an informal marriage cannot claim a date that places them at less than 18 years of age.

Other things to know …

• Divorced persons applying for a license to wed again must be divorced for 30 days or longer, unless there is a waiver of that wait in their divorce decree.

• Same-sex marriage is accepted and has the same process as opposite-sex marriage.

• After a marriage license is issued, the couple is given the document to take to the person who will be officiating at the marriage ceremony.

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Honeymoon registry offers gift of experiences

By Erika Vela After going all in on the big day, there is sometimes little to no room for newlyweds to take an affordable dream honeymoon.

True, that may also be established by having a destination wedding, but even those can be costly.

There are many reasons newlyweds wait to go on their honeymoon or opt out of one altogether, mainly due to the cost of travel and leisure.

Some couples who have been cohabitating for some time before the wedding may not need the gifts of additional housewares or décor. The Honeyfund gives wedding guests an opportunity to provide the funds to go on a honeymoon.

Josh and Sara Margulis, founders of Honeyfund, a free honeymoon registry website, found themselves in the same position when they wed. The couple decided that instead of asking for gifts, they would ask their guests to contribute to their honeymoon by gifting travel experiences and aiding in the

coverage of expenses while they visited Fiji.

Honeyfund was founded by the Margulis in 2006 and was the first free Internet honeymoon registry website.

The website allows guests to contribute to the cost of a honeymoon instead of giving a gift.

They have appeared on the TV show “Shark Tank” and even won a $400,000 deal with shark, Kevin O’Leary, in 2014. O’Leary is an entrepreneur and financier, known for his role as an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank.

How It Works Registering for Honeyfund online is free and simple. The registration process is similar to signing up for a wedding website, social profile or other gift registry.

The website asks how many nights the honeymoon will

last and where in the world it will take place.

Receiving the funds and gifts may be done in one of two ways, either by personal bank account (from which they take 2.8 percent of the funds raised plus a 30 cent fee per gift) or by a selection of gift cards (entertainment, restaurants, retail, travel and more).

The bride and groom may create a wish list of sorts of items they would like their guests to help pay for such as spa services, meals while staying at a resort, sight-seeing adventures, excursions, rounds of golf and airfare, for example.

The couple can designate how many meals they will require and set a price range for certain wish list items. For example, $50 can pay for sightseeing tours; $200 covers the cost of a wine tour for two; and $75 could be gifted to cover one or more drink tabs.

Honeyfund also allows the option of linking other retail gift registries to the couple’s Honeyfund site. A Honeyfund can be established by visiting the website www.Honeyfund.com.

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‘I Do’ Couples share favorite memories, advice from their wedding day For some couples planning their wedding, the venue or the season is important while others say that sharing their special day with family and friends is the most important.

Four couples who married in 2018 share their memories of what made their wedding special, their favorite memory, how they selected the date and venue and if they have any advice for couples planning a wedding.

They also share some of their favorite wedding day “bloopers.”

Answering from their hearts were the following couples: • Angie Knaupp and Asa Daugherty were married on March 17, 2018, in Memorial Presbyterian Church. A reception, dinner and dance followed at Featherstone Ranch.

• Taylor Reid and Corey Howie were married on June 23, 2018, at First Baptist Church. Their reception, dinner and dance followed at the Gillespie County Farm Bureau Event Center.

•Valeska Danielak and Douglas Ottmers were married on June 12, 2018, at the Albermarle Inn

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Wynter Doyal and Brandt Kunz were married in St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Dec. 8, 2018.

— Photo by Lori Blythe Photography

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in Asheville, North Carolina. Dinner followed at the Grove Park Inn. •Courtney Ottmers and Derek Eddins were married on Oct. 20, 2018, in Bethany Lutheran Church. A reception, dinner and dance followed at The Barn at Swallows Eve. •Wynter Doyle and Brandt Kunz were married on Dec. 8, 2018, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A reception, dinner and dance followed at the St. Mary’s Holy Family Center.

Q. As you were planning your wedding, was there one particular aspect of the ceremony or reception that was the most important to you and why?

Angie: The fine details were all important to me.

From using my childhood pastor and church, to the COUPLES 

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Courtney Ottmers and Derek Eddins share a special moment after their wedding on Oct. 20, 2018, in Bethany Lutheran Church. — Photo by McKenzie Baird Photography

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COUPLES Cont. from 9

songs played and decorations used.

I wanted our ceremony and reception to really embody us as a couple, our lifestyle, and the type of marriage we wanted to have.

If I had to choose just one area, the scriptures that were used during the ceremony and the songs played were of the greatest importance.

Taylor: There wasn’t necessarily one particular aspect that I would consider most important.

We knew we wanted Corey’s dad to officiate the wedding so being able to plan the ceremony with him was super special.

Other than that, we just wanted a space big enough for all of our family and friends to celebrate with us.

officiant, but in addition, we each agreed to write a letter to each other that we read during our ceremony. It is the part I remember best.

I tease him that I didn’t make him cry when he saw me, so I got him with my words.

Second, we eloped but I wanted to eat wedding cake for days, so we had a three-tier cake that did not disappoint.

Courtney: Singing the Doxology at our ceremony. My grandfather taught it to us growing up and it has become really special to us since he passed. It was so neat to hear all of our favorite people sing it together.

Wynter: It was important for me to be married in the church.

St Mary’s was special to us not only for its beauty but also because Brandt’s parents and grandparents had been married in that church.

Valeska: We decided to use the

beautiful vows of our wedding

COUPLES 

Taylor Reid and Corey Howie spend a quiet moment on their wedding day on June 23, 2018. — Jennifer Lankford/Portraits by Jenn

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The Albermarle Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, provides the perfect backdrop for the wedding of Valeska Danielak and Douglas Ottmers. — Submitted photo

COUPLES Q. How did you go about selecting your wedding date and venue?

fulness.

Once we selected the venue, we found a date that worked with them and our favorite band (Jake Hooker and The Outsiders).

Angie: We visited Featherstone Ranch and fell in love with the location (it was as close to my families’ property as I could get) and peace-

Taylor: We both wanted a summer wedding, and both of our parents’ anniversaries are in June so we decided June was perfect.

Cont. from 10

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We also wanted a Saturday wedding, and the 23rd fit the bill. One, because his parents’ anniversary is the 20th and my parents’ is the 22nd, and two, because Corey loves Dr Pepper so why not get married on the 23rd.

Valeska: I love to travel and I set out to find a destination we could both be excited about and was new for both of

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us as a couple.

Since we both love the outdoors, especially mountains and forests, the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina, were a perfect choice.

Initially, I did not know it was such a popular elopement destination.

Courtney: I’ve always wanted a fall wedding and Derek wanted a spring wedding. So, we had a fall wedding.

We heard about the Barn at Swallows Eve from a friend who was also getting married there. We knew right away that it was our spot.

Wynter: Being that we wanted to get married at St. Mary’s, we found a date that coincided with our top venue options available.

After visiting these venues, we chose St. Mary’s Holy Family Center for its convenience. Many of the other COUPLES 

Celebrating their marriage on March 17 with a special moment were Angie Knaupp and Asa Daugherty. — Amber Kelley Photography

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COUPLES Cont. from 13

venues had beautiful views and outdoor setup options, but with our wedding being in December we knew that weather could be an issue.

We enjoyed that our guests could drive to the wedding and did not need to drive to a different location for the reception.

Q. What is your most treasured memory of your wedding?

Angie: I have so many. But my favorite memory was dancing with Asa to our favorite song, to our favorite band under the stars with our closest friends and family surrounding us.

It all goes by so fast; everything had finally sunk in at that point. I’ll never forget it.

Taylor: My most treasured memory

of the wedding is our first dance. It was an opportunity for us to be alone together in a way, and just be close to each other.

We kicked off the reception with the Grand March, which ended with us in the middle of a huge circle with all of our guests.

Corey’s best man wrote and recorded our first dance song, as well, so it was such a special and unique moment.

Valeska: Most treasured memory — 14

A sweet moment was captured during Angie Knaupp and Asa Daugherty’s engagement photo shoot. — Photo by JoAnna Robertson

Doug’s nickname is “grumpopatamus” so seeing him so happy for so long was really special.

Also, having my brother and sisterin-law be there as a part of our elopement/ceremony.

Courtney: We had a last dance at the end of our reception, just the two of us to our favorite song (which is also the song I walked down the aisle to).

Wynter: Before I walked down the aisle, my dad and I had a few minutes alone. We were able to watch the wedding party procession. It was very special being able to share that with him and take in the moment.

We decided to do the “Grand March” to begin the dancing. It was a lot of fun and got great participation.

Q. Did you have a wedding day “blooper?”

Angie: If I did, my wedding party did a great job of hiding it.

Taylor: Yes! The florist mixed up the date of our wedding and so when my Day of Coordinator went to pick them up, none of the bouquets were made.

Luckily, there was still plenty of time before the ceremony so the bouquets were ready in time for me to walk down the aisle.

Valeska: No bloopers. If it had rained as was forecast, the ceremony would have been indoors at the base of a large staircase. Navigating stairs in high heels could have gone badly.

COUPLES 

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COUPLES Cont. from 14

Courtney: We had historic flooding the whole week of the wedding. I, of course, panicked and changed some things about the reception, bought umbrellas, etc.

It didn’t rain.

Wynter: I ended up using a friend and retired florist for our flower arrangements.

When the flower shipment came in just a few days before the wedding, about a third of them were the wrong color.

After a few phone calls, the next day we had the correct color of flowers.

Q. Knowing what you know now, do you have any advice to give to brides as they plan their wedding?

Angie: Soak in every moment,

and don’t sweat the small

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stuff. If something goes wrong, laugh it off.

In the end, you’re married to your best friend and that’s all that matters.

Taylor: Something will go wrong. It isn’t going to go as perfectly as you planned, but it still is going to be the most perfect day.

When it comes down to it, and you’re walking down the aisle to the love of your life, nothing else will matter.

Your day is going to be wonderful and perfect, so try to soak it all up, as much as you can.

Valeska: My advice. Do what is meaningful and special for you. Trends come and go but wedding memories will last a lifetime.

Courtney: Something will go wrong, and that’s OK. Don’t let the small stuff and details stress you out.

Standing below the Eiffel Tower while on their wedding trip are Douglas and Valeska Ottmers. — Submitted photo

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Enjoy the day and try to soak it all in.

Wynter: We are so blessed to have the best family and friends that helped to make our wedding day perfect. They were all so generous with their time and resources, which made the entire experience less burdensome.

Although it is a stressful time, it is fun putting together such a grand party for your family and friends.

You will be given many opinions and recommendations. Take them all in but remember to do what makes you happy. _________ COUPLES ď‚„

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COUPLES

the reception (knowing that weather can be unpredictable).

Wynter and I also share an enjoyment for ice cream. So along with a traditional wedding cake, we chose to have a dessert bar that included ice cream and cookies.

Cont. from 17

Q. As the groom, was there a particular aspect of the ceremony or reception that was important to you and why?

Q. Did you have a wedding day “blooper?”

Asa:

Choosing the right pastor was very important to me. Angie’s childhood pastor who no longer lives in Fredericksburg was willing to make the trip for us, and he made it so special. The ceremony was us to a T. He also gave us great marriage advice.

Corey: Mainly just getting my dad to

officiate.

Douglas: The biggest one. Valeska

coming out in her dress and standing in front of me, seeing how beautiful my partner and best friend looked that day.

Derek: During the ceremony, we had our immediate families come up for a family prayer. That was a special mo-

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Sharing a special moment during their engagement were Courtney Ottmers and Derek Eddins. — Submitted photo

ment for us and we’re so fortunate to have such a close family.

Brandt: We wanted to have our ceremony in a church, so St. Mary’s was a fantastic option for us.

Our ceremony was in December, and we wanted our guests to have an easy route from the ceremony location to Wedding & Event Venue with Beautiful Views of Enchanted Rock and surrounding Hill Country

Asa: One of my groomsmen realized he forgot his sport coat about 45 minutes prior to the ceremony. He drove to the local Goodwill and was able to find one that actually fit and matched close enough and arrived 10 minutes before the ceremony began.

Corey: Two actually.

The first was my groomsmen were supposed to grab all of the suits from the hotel and bring them to the church, but they forgot mine. Luckily, the hotel was less than five minutes from the church.

The second was more of my groomsmen playing a prank on me. During the ceremony when it was time to exchange rings, my groomsmen acted

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like no one had the ring. I had no idea they were going to pull the prank, and honestly hadn’t even thought about the rings until that moment.

I had no idea where the ring was, and was freaking out. I told my dad just to go on with the ceremony.

Thankfully, Taylor and our wedding coordinator had the rings taken care of, and the groomsmen revealed their joke by showing that the last groomsmen had the ring tucked in his pocket.

A scenic Hill Country spot provided just the right back drop for the engagement photos for Wynter Doyal and Brandt Kunz. — Photo

by Marc Bennett/White Oak Studio

Douglas: I really don’t think we had any bloopers.

Derek: There’s always something. I

gave Courtney her ring and repeated my lines from the pastor and then when Courtney gave me my ring I started the lines for her on accident “I give you this ring …”

Brandt: There really aren’t any that

come to mind.

Our reception ran a bit long, which delayed our departure. It was important for us to have that moment captured. Lori Blythe, our photographer (who did a wonderful job), pulled me aside to share that we were getting close to the end of her contracted time and kindly offered to stay past to cover it.

Had she not done that and simply stuck to the plan, she would have missed us. I know that would have been a big blooper issue.

Q. Knowing what you know now,

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do you have any advice to give to grooms as they get ready for their wedding?

And yes, you will likely spend more than you planned.

Derek: The moment you see your bride

Asa: Pay attention to details, it goes

by fast so be sure to not get rushed when visiting with everyone who came to witness such a great celebration.

Corey: Enjoy it. It’s going to be crazy

and stressful but you’ll look back and realize what a fun season of life it was.

Especially enjoy the time with your guys during your bachelor party and getting ready for the wedding (day of).

Some of my favorite memories of hanging out with my guys is from those wedding moments.

Douglas: My advice would be to have fun, not worry too much about things and trust that your new wife will make all the decisions for the wedding.

walk down the aisle is unlike anything else. Take that moment in, you won’t want to forget it.

Brandt: It sounds cliché, but try to take it all in. There are so many things that are on your mind — staying on schedule, saying hello to the family and friends who are there to celebrate with you, is the temperature comfortable, does everyone enjoy what we are serving, is the photographer capturing all of these awesome moments.

Focus on your new bride’s happiness and remember why everyone that is gathered to celebrate you both.

If little things don’t go just as you had planned, you won’t remember when you are reminiscing years later.

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Picture perfect moments

By McKenzie Moellering

Standard-Radio Post reporter

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Capturing the picture-perfect moment during an engagement or a wedding ceremony can be tough.

Developing a relationship with a couple takes time but sometimes, to pull off a surprise, it takes extra communication.

The Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post spoke with three area photographers, Sandra Jacoby of SRJ Photography, Kayla Jane of Kayla Jane Photography and Lori Blythe of Lori Blythe Photography, about what they love most about what they do, fun experiences and unique surprises.

Here is what they shared: FSRP: What do you love most about taking engagement and wedding photos?

Sandra: I like taking wedding photos because they are the happiest days; you can’t fake the love on a wedding day.

Engagement sessions give them the chance to get to know me, me to know them and it’s like shopping for the big event. I also take bridal photos, which I love. The brides get to feel like they are the queen for the day and I get to do my best to capture that glow. It is very intimate. I am also one of the select few that get to see THE dress before the wedding day.

Kayla: I am a pretty emotional person and love all the feelings that go into the day. The moment when the bride’s parents see her for the first time and the groom seeing her walk down the aisle is always my favorite. The receptions are always a blast because everyone is having so much fun.

Lori: I enjoy being in the splash zone of some really beautiful emotions. The excitement in the dressing room, the parents that get choked up and the looks and expressions couples exchanged throughout the day. It’s like working on the set of a Hallmark Channel movie, except even better.

FSRP: How do you work with a couple to come up with a photography plan, from the types of shots to the location to the outfits?

Photographer Lori Blythe uses a church at Featherstone Ranch as a background at the wedding of Karyn and Landon Rode.

Blythe loves being in the splash zone of emotions at a wedding.

— Lori Blythe Photograpy

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S: Most brides have some sort of idea of what they are looking for, but I also have a list so they can pick what they like and don’t like. Some couples have special requests like having their mother and grandmother and their rings in the photos. Others do not have strong relationships with their families so I want to have an idea of what is important to capture.

K: Most brides really utilize social media and send me styles of what they want. Based on that, I can send color ideas for clothing and locations. I also like to go out to the ceremony site ahead of time to get more ideas.

L: I like to use the most natural light as possible. I often tell couples during engagement sessions to wear colors complimentary to their wedding colors. I also try to avoid the Texas Tuxedo, a nice suit coat and jeans.

The bride is wearing something super fancy so I sugMatt proposes to Amanda at Wildseed Farms in 2014. Sandra Jacoby, of gest for one day, going formal.

SRJ Photography, captures the surprise moment from far away. Jacoby FSRP: Have you ever been a part of a surprise enhad never met the couple prior to the engagement, relying on texting to PHOTOGRAPHY 22

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When working with a couple, photographer Kayla Jane encourages the brides to look for ideas on what moments they want to capture using social media sites.— Kayla Jane Photography

SRJ Photography used country grass during an engagement session for Mindy and Louis Eckert. — SRJ Photography

didn’t hear a thing and was totally surprised.

Cont. from 21 K: One time at a surprise proposal on gagement or wedding? top of Enchanted Rock, the groom sent What was that like and what did you as me a picture of what they looked like. I a photographer have to do to prepare so acted as if I was taking random photos you didn’t miss the special moments? and even asked if I could “test out my S: All three that I was a part of were camera” and took their photo. I basiso much but all made me so nervous! cally stalked them through the entire All three that I have been a part of were moment. for people that I didn’t know which was L: Surprise engagements are thrilling a struggle. There was a lot of texting and a lot of work. The guys are always back and forth and pictures of themreally nervous and it isn’t always easy selves and selfies of me so I could make to reassure them on how to pull it off. sure I got the right moment.

That nervous energy gets to me, too.

One engagement at Grape Creek was Like most things, the higher the risk, fun but it was so hard to not be obvithe better the reward. It is such a natuously staring at them. I hid in the vines ral high to witness the joy of a “YES!”. and the groom later told me he could hear my camera clicking but the bride FSRP: What is one of the more unique

PHOTOGRAPHY

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weddings or engagement sessions you have been a part of?

S: Weddings come in all shapes and sizes and I have done weddings for young people, old people, second weddings and more. I am sometimes not only the photographer but the cake cutter, the garter sewer, I have even had to make the bustle.

I did a wedding where the groom was running a 102-degree fever and one where the bride had a surprise reception dress.

K: One of the most unique would be one that was broadcasted on the radio.

They had local businesses sponsor the wedding in return for advertising.

L: I recently set up a proposal for PHOTOGRAPHY 26

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Moments to remember

Bride Emily Barke is lifted into the air by wedding guests during her reception held at Contigo Ranch in November 2018. — Lori Blythe Photography

Kayla Jane captures this intimate moment during a recent engagement session in the Hill Country. — Kayla Jane Photography

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Photographer Lori Blythe, left, helped capture the surprise engagement of reality TV couple Abbie Burnett, center, and John David Duggar. The couple used the Hangar Hotel as the setting for their engagement, due to their love of airplanes.

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Photographer Kayla Jane offers a variety of photography sessions from engagements to weddings. — Kayla Jane Photography

Newlyweds Jonathon and Ginny Brown pose with the Admiral Nimitz Hotel in the background. Photographer Lori Blythe encourages grooms, especially, to wear more formal attire for their special day.

Eleazar Vallejo awaits his bride, Brittany, Oct. 20, 2018 at Granado’s Hall. — SRJ Photography

Emilee Morey appears before her dad, Darrell Malinowski, for a first glance in Chappell Hill. Emilee was wed on Sept.

17, 2017. — SRJ Photography

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Cont. from 22

John David Duggar of TLC’s Counting On at the Hangar Hotel and Conference Center. It was the usual nervousness for any surprise, plus the high stakes of being on television.

The power grid was out that morning across Fredericksburg and we were panicking about how to pull off plans without air conditioning or lights. Luckily, the power came on just in time to light up the ballroom marquee.

FSRP: What was one of your worst experiences: S: Once I did a wedding and the mother of the bride was no where to be seen until 15 minutes before walking down the aisle. I have also had a dad ask his daughter if he was “Supposed to cry or something” when he saw her.

Not related to a client at all, I had a bridal shoot scheduled for weeks. At the same time, my best friend’s younger brother was put on life support and I had only left the hospital for the shoot because I didn’t feel like I could cancel it. During the shoot, he passed away, and having to keep it

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Following their wedding ceremony, photographer Kayla Jane captures this couple in a country scene. Jane said she loves capturing these moments as she is a naturally emotional person.

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together was so hard.

K: I haven’t had any bad experiences, thankfully, other than my camera being knocked off the table. Luckily, I had a lens filter, so my lens didn’t crack.

L: It had to be the time I slipped down the stairs in the rain before the wedding started. Instead of bracing my fall, I used my hands to protect the camera which meant my tailbone took a hard hit. I was in a lot of pain but tried not to show it. It left an awful football-sized bruise in more colors than a zombie makeover.

All photographers have enjoyed the experience of getting to know the community through photography and getting to celebrate these special moments.

View photos online at: www.srjphotography.com www.loriblythe.com www.kaylajanephotography.zenfolio.com

Kyle Clark used a paver at Luckenbach to propose to Brittany Talley in 2015.

Photographer Sandra Jacoby was able to capture the moment from afar. — SRJ Photography

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Sharing a piece of history In a world of sharing news and life events on popular social media sites, it is easy for couples to forget to announce their engagements and weddings in the newspaper.

By including engagement and wedding announcements in the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, couples are sharing their news and preserving a bit of history for future generations.

The Standard-Radio Post will run wedding and engagement announcements and photographs, as well as follow-ups on wedding parties and showers.

To help couples share their news in the paper, the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post has several options available for submitting the information.

There is no charge for having engagement and wedding announcements and shower stories published in the newspaper.

And while there is no deadline prior to or after the wedding, couples are still urged to submit the information and photographs in a timely manner.

The deadline for submitting articles and photographs for the “Gillespie Life” section of each week’s paper is noon on Monday.

Black and white photographs

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or color photographs can be Main Street. used, providing the picture is Forms are also available by telein good focus and is of good phone at 997-2155, by writing to quality.

P.O. Box 1639, Fredericksburg, TX Photographs that do not 78624 or by e-mailed requests to meet reproduction stanyvonne@fredericksburgstandard. dards will not be used. com.

Also, full-length wedding picIn addition, couples can visit tures will not be used. www.fredericksburgstandard.com Photographs can be submitted in for online engagement and weda variety of formats. Some couples ding forms. may choose to submit an Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post original photo with their information while others Daugherty-Knaupp Essence W may choose to submit united in marriage Choir to p the photograph on a CD fall conce or flash drive.

Also, e-mailed photographs will be accepted, provided that they are submitted in a jpg format at a minimum of 300 dpi resolution.

Couples are discouraged from submitting photographs that are reproduced on a home printer or copy machine.

In an effort to aid www.fredericksb couples in submitting information to the FredBRIDAL R ericksburg StandardLinens-n (990-1 Radio Post, engagement D er Küch and wedding forms are Harper News (997-4 Wedding writeups in the paper become an archived available at the newsWynter Doyal & Sierra Welch & part of the community’s history. paper office at 712 West C2

| October 24, 2018

|

Angie Marie Knaupp and Asa Gage Daugherty were united in marriage at 5 p.m. on March 17, 2018, in Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Karl Schwarz officiating.

The bride is the daughter of Michael and Patricia Knaupp of Fredericksburg, and the granddaughter of the late Milton and Edna Knaupp and the late Fred and Lois Whitewood Jr. After graduating from Fredericksburg High School in 2009, she attended Tarleton State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural services and development in 2013 and a master’s degree in agriculture and consumer resources in 2014.

She is employed as the executive director for United Way of Parker County.

The groom is the son of Mark and Ann Daugherty of Marathon, and the grandson of Bob and Alice Daugherty of Danville, Illinois, the late Gage Holland and the late George and Sandra O’Brien.

He is a 2010 homeschool graduate and is the owner and farrier at Daugherty Equine, LLC. He earned an associate degree in business administration from South Plains College in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas Tech University in 2015.

Two large floral arrangements were placed at the front of the church along with a large cedar cross draped with ivory fabric.

Graham Pearson played the guitar and Gale Reddick played the fiddle and was the vocalist for the ceremony.

Selections included “I

Wouldn’t Change You If I Could,” “Take Me” by George Jones, “My Love” by Marty Robbins and “Sugar Moon” by Jody Nix. For her wedding, the bride wore a sleeveless ivory crepe grown with back lace detail and buttons and long train.

She also wore a pair of boots which were a gift from the groom accented with their brand.

She wore a cathedral-length veil with lace trim to match the back of her dress. She carried a bouquet of ivory Malika roses, white peonies, sea holly, seeded eucalyptus, succulents and peach Hypericum berries.

The stems were wrapped in ivory and thin copper wire.

Holly Hill, sister of the bride, was the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Casey Murphy and Marty Dressen, sisters of the bride; Kendra Chamberlain; Alicia Meinzer, sister of the groom; Kristen Restani; Devon Riley, and Amber Ebert.

Junior bridesmaids were Ashley Dressen and Addison Hill.

They wore matching sleeveless charcoal grey floor-length dresses and carried smaller versions of the bride’s bouquet.

Hayden Hill, daughter of Luke and Holly Hill, was the flower girl.

She wore a long sleeve grey lace dress and flower crown and carried a basket of ivory rose petals.

Luke Daugherty, brother of the groom, was the best man.

Groomsmen were Hunter Meinzer, Josh Drake, Tad Menefee, Sid Cervantes, Colton Woodward, Levin Porter and Chad Ferguson.

Dean Murphy, son of Joe and Casey Murphy, was the ring bearer.

Ushers were Nathan Dressen, Luke Hill and Joe Murphy.

A reception, dinner and dance followed the ceremony at the Featherstone Ranch.

The round tables were covered with ivory tablecloths and held flower arrangements similar to the bride’s bouquet in ivory and copper ceramic vases and tea lights.

Photos of the bride and groom, their parents and grandparents on their wedding day added to the décor along with the couple’s new brand, which is a combination of the two family brands.

The bride’s cake was a threelayer textured round cake with beaded trim. Layers included

Congratulations to the Harper Homecoming royalty crowned on Oct. 12. Chosen were Slade Dermody as King and Kaylee Kramer as Queen.

The 1968 eight-man Regional Football Champs were introduced. Their 10-0 record led them to the highest achievement for eight-man teams that year.

St. James Lutheran Church will hold its annual fundraising dinner on Sunday, Oct. 28, and will have inside dining

grounds. Lots of things happening that evening; bring the kids for treats and games and lots of fun instead of the house-to-house treat-or-treat.

Hours are 5-8 p.m.

Community Choir practice will begin soon. Please contact friends and neighbors to join in. Practice will take place at the Baptist Church where the Community Thanksgiving Service is planned. Contact Peggy Ernst for more information or await additional news

also host its annual fundraiser The Harper cross country for the year on Friday, Nov. teams are headed to state, and 2. The Turkey Shoot will give the volleyball team won the hunters a chance to sight in district title. their guns and do a little target practice and greet old friends.

Refreshments will be available and if you have time to help these veterans, please call Kelton Kramer or Roy Kasper and ask to volunteer.

The Harper Pioneer Museum is asking for your help in locating any pictures, film, memorabilia, etc. of the 1963

Asa and Angie Daugherty — Amber Kelley Photography

white cake with peach filling and yellow cake with strawberry cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting.

The cake was placed on an embossed silver cake stand and decorated with white roses, sea holly and peach hypericum. The cake was topped with the couple’s brand.

In place of the groom’s cake, the bride’s aunts made pecan pies using the bride’s mother’s recipe. The pies surrounded the bride’s cake on smaller copper, silver and wooden cake stands.

Following a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the couple is at home in Weatherford.

The rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents at the Tatsch House in Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park on March 16.

Essence Women’s Choir has set its fall concert for 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Gillespie County Historical Society Hall.

Tickets are $20 at the door.

Seating is first come first served, and begins at 3:30 p.m.

This is the choir’s fifth year of performing as a group of women of all ages who love to sing together.

The choir’s director is Laurie Jenschke.

Theme for the concert is “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

The choir, small ensembles and soloists will be singing songs and reading poetry about all aspects of love.

Special guests performing during the concert and with the choir are violinist Theresa Britt and cellist Aurelia Rocha.

The choir’s accompanist is Deb Mayes, who serves as accompanist at Texas Lutheran University.

“We invite everyone to bring a beverage of their choice to enjoy the cabaret seating,” Jenschke said.

“Snacks will be provided. We want it to be a fun, relaxed concert for all who attend.”

By Peggy Ernst

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Call for details - Note: Names fur

Valeska Danielak and Douglas Ottmers chose Enchanted Rock State Natural Area as the site for their engagement photos. — Fire Rock Photography/Tiffany Hartmann

Gift registries Wedding planners recommend opening a gift registry as soon as there is an engagement for soon-to-be brides and grooms.

Choosing multiple stores and interviewing sales representatives can help a couple ensure they receive all they need to start their lives together.

The following is a list of places around the Fredericksburg area that will help with gift registry.

Der Küchen Laden 830-997-4937 258 E. Main St. Dooley’s 830-997-3458

131 E. Main St. Linens-N-More 830-990-1212 302 E. Main St. Segner’s Jewelers 997-2559 236 W. Main St. Walmart 830-997-2633 1435 E. Main St.

In addition, some couples choose to register out of town, ask for monetary gifts to help pay for the honeymoon or decide they have everything they need and register for donations to their favorite charity.

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Wedding trends of 2019

By Erika Vela Weddings over the years have seen trends come and go and in 2019, traditional is far from what will be popular.

These are four trends to be seen and sought in 2019.

Unique wedding locations and venues Brides are opting out of hosting their wedding in their hometowns and looking more toward the exotic.

Portugal, Spain, Greece and Iceland are a few popular wedding destination

searches.

Other than destinations, weddings in restaurants such as Taco Bell in Las Vegas, Nevada, museums in New York and barns in Texas are becoming increasingly popular.

Some weddings are now celebrated during the week versus a weekend extravaganza. (Venues are usually more affordable during the week.)

Alternative wedding rings All things rose gold and colored stones are allowing newlyweds to find ways of representing their unique love.

Mixed metals are being used to complete wedding band looks for men and women.

Morganite stones, rose gold, colored sapphires and other gemstones are being used to complete engagement and

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Brides and grooms are kindly asking guests to leave the photo-taking up to the photographer during ceremonies to aid in avoiding photographers missing out on capturing wedding moments.

wedding sets. Not to worry, traditional diamond rings are not a trend that will be going away anytime soon.

Mixed metals on wedding bands, odd-shaped stones, textured styles and antique-styled rings are other alternative options.

Wedding foods Besides being a part of the big day, guests go for the food, drinks and desserts. Couples are taking a creative spin on those things. Food trucks are invading weddings as becoming the source of the main meal or late night snacks. Tacos, nachos, Whataburgers and other fast foods are featured latenight snacks. Signature cocktails with cute names are also offered during the cocktail hour and reception.

Guest photo fun and rules Popular social media photo app, Snapchat, is taking on the wedding scene in style.

Its photo filters are creating fun and touch-ups while capturing wedding moments. Brides and grooms are even creating custom Snapchat Geofilters for their guests to use on the wedding day and weekend. The filters start at $4.99 and the prices go up as the user selects the area on a map of the wedding location they select to cover.

A new rule that seems to be making the rounds is asking guests to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony.

Brides and grooms pay a pretty penny for photographers to capture special wedding moments. To keep from seeing a wave of cell phones in shots of the bride walking down the aisle or guests blocking the photographer from the ring exchange, they are requesting guests to refrain from taking photos with their cell phones during the ceremony.

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Popping the question

By McKenzie Moellering

Standard-Radio Post reporter

When planning to get engaged, a couple has a lot of preparation and details to take care of to pull off a successful surprise.

Here are three couples’, Daniel Hofmann and Katie Murphy; Matthew Myers and Nichole Tyler and Jacob Pomaville and Meredith Davis, stories of their planning process and engagements.

Daniel Hofmann and Katie Murphy Engaged Dec. 24 FSRP: What was the moment that you knew you wanted to marry Katie?

Daniel: I knew I wanted to marry her when I couldn’t keep myself from saying “I love you” very early in our relationship, but one night, they came out and she said them immediately back to me.

FSRP: What was the process like of picking out a ring, purchasing it and then keeping it a surprise?

D: The ring process was probably a lot simpler than most.

I texted her sister for ideas, and went to a website I had seen advertised on Facebook. The second ring I looked at is the one on her finger.

FSRP: What ideas were you tossing around for time and location for the engagement?

D: I always knew I wanted the proposal to be during a children’s sermon at church.

I had originally planned to pop the question in February 2019, but the ring was burning a hole in my pocket.

I was trying to fall asleep two days before Christmas Eve and the thought of doing it then just walked into my head and it wouldn’t leave.

It was the perfect time, really — her family was coming to hear us sing during worship and the church was decorated for our favorite time of year.

On top of that, 500 people got to be a part of the moment with us, in addition to the 10,000 more on Facebook!

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Daniel Hofmann and Katie Murphy

Couples tell engagement stories FSRP: Did you know a proposal was coming?

K: I knew it was coming in the near future. We had talked about getting engaged once we had dated for a year.

After we got back from a vacation, I just felt in my heart that I was ready to say “yes” when Daniel was ready to ask but I certainly didn’t expect Christmas Eve! FSRP: When you talked about getting engaged, did you have certain expecta-

tions for the proposal?

K: It is such a sweet thing to me, because every time I thought about how we could get engaged, I just had this gut feeling that it was going to be at church during the children’s sermon. I never had mentioned it to Daniel, so when it happened, I was shocked and delighted that I was right.

FSRP: What was the exact moment like when you realized what was happening?

K: I thought the sermon was over, so when he said that we were going to end it with a happy ending, it hit me pretty quick what was happening.

I was surprised and almost giddy at how sweet it was. It was a jumble of happy thoughts along the lines of “It’s happening! Right now!” and then I had to force my brain to calm down and listen to what he was saying.

FSRP: What emotions were you feeling?

K: I was never one of those girls who planned out my wedding or had strong opinions on how I wanted to be proposed to so I had no expectations other than to be surprised.

Everything in that moment felt right and things could not have been more perfect.

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FSRP: How special was the moment between the two of you?

K: That moment was one of the most special moments we’ve ever shared — on par with when Daniel told me he loved me for the first time. The look on his face when I said yes, was just precious. I have never experienced anything quite like that before.

Matthew Myers and Nichole Tyler (Not engaged as of press time) FSRP: What was the moment that you knew you wanted to marry Nichole?

M: When Nichole and I started dating, we were best friends — and had been for nearly a year. I don’t think either of us was looking for a relationship right then, but God had other plans, and we started falling for each other.

I remember having the conversation that if we were going to be together, we really had to commit to making things work; I didn’t want to risk losing her.

That was nearly four years ago. So, I guess since then, everything she’s stuck by me through has just been a confirmation that God chose this woman for me — that we were made for each other and we can make it work.

When I graduated last year and started facing the real world with her, we met some real, tough challenges. And how wonderful she was, the way she stood by my side, the way we grew together. That was the how I knew.

FSRP: What was the process like of picking out a ring, purchasing it and then keeping it a surprise?

M: Getting the ring was an adventure. I’m super analytical, and also a perfectionist, so I knew it was going to take work. It had to be perfect — this was the one physical, ma-

terial thing I had to give Nichole to show her exactly how I feel about her.

I spent hours researching everything down to how the degree of the cut angles on the diamond would make it shine.

FSRP: What ideas were you tossing around for time and location for the engagement? Were there places that you immediately thought would be special?

M: I had a few ideas for location. My first idea was a dance hall — we first met at a dance hall, and we love dancing toENGAGED 34

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ENGAGED Cont. from 33

gether, either out on the dance floor or just at home.

I ended up deciding on the Century Tree at Texas A&M University — the tradition goes that couples who walk under the tree together stay together forever. I think it’s fitting for us, going back to the place we fell in love and physically

taking the first steps of choosing one another forever.

FSRP: Are there elements of the surprise that you have to make sure go according to plan?

M: Getting her to the middle of campus and keeping it a surprise is definitely going to be the biggest challenge. I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to blindfold her.

FSRP: Are there other people involved in the surprise or will it just be the two of you?

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M: I knew Nichole was going to be excited to tell all of her family and friends, but I also wanted the proposal to be an intimate moment between us.

So, I arranged to celebrate her birthday in College Station with her friends and family, and just before sunset I’m going to steal her away and propose.

FSRP: What other pieces of the moment are you preparing for?

M: Little things like candles lining the walkway to the tree, an umbrella in case it rains. I hired this photographer she’s obsessed with; he’s known for his candid photos.

Right now, the biggest thing I have to prepare for is not having my heart beat out of my chest.

Jacob Pomaville and Meredith Davis Engaged Dec. 5 in Cozumel FSRP: What was the moment that you knew you wanted to marry Meredith?

Jacob: I think knowing that she will always be at my side and doesn’t judge me for my actions and gives me sugges-

tions, is how I knew that she was the one.

FSRP: What was the process like of picking the ring, purchasing it and then keeping it a surprise?

J: I have never had to lie like my life depends on it to surprise her and give her misdirection. I’m a horrible liar.

FSRP: What ideas were you tossing around for time, location? How did you ultimately come to your final decision?

J: Being our first vacation together outside the United States, having a purpose of why she is the catch of my life.

FSRP: What elements of the surprise did you have to make sure went right?

J: Faking that I twisted my ankle to have the captain of the boat to slow down so I could get down on a knee was definitely a highlight. I also had to hide the ring and move it from multiple bags so she wouldn’t find it. I had “Catch of My Life” engraved on the ring. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, but I am so grateful I finally caught the catch of my life.” I proposed on our deep-sea fishing trip and she caught ENGAGED ▶ 36

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ENGAGED Cont. from 35

the only fish.

FSRP: How did you keep it all a secret?

J: Misdirection, I told her to take off Valentine’s Day weekend so we could go on a special trip. I told her it was too much of a risk to bring a ring outside the Jacob Pomaville and United States.

Meredith Davis FSRP: Did you know the proposal was coming?

M: I didn’t know that it was going to be while we were on vacation in Cozumel, but I did know it was going to happen eventually.

FSRP: What was the exact moment you realized what was happening?

M: He had told the captain of the fishing boat to stop because something was “wrong with his foot.” I was just about to get mad and yell at him because he wouldn’t tell me what was wrong and that’s when he pulled out the ring and got on one knee.

FSRP: What emotions were you feeling? What was going through your head?

M: At first, I didn’t know what to think because I couldn’t believe that it was happening and that he was able to pull off the whole surprise without me knowing, and then I started to get all nervous and excited!

FSRP: How special was that moment between the two of you?

M: It was super special because of where we were and that we were sharing a first-time experience of deep-sea fishing, and my first time ever salt water fishing. It made for a great way to start our journey with each other.

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Name change is the game Following most wedding ceremonies, newlyweds are often tasked with changing their name. Everything from a driver’s license to a passport to Social Security cards have to be changed. Wedding website, The Knot, offers a step-by-step guide on how to start and all the in-betweens.

• Obtain the marriage license: Before changing names, an original or certified copy of the marriage license is needed. The county clerk’s office can provide this if a copy was not mailed.

• Change Social Security card: Visit the Social Security Administration’s website and fill out an application for a new card. The number stays the same, but the name will be different. Documents can be mailed or hand delivered to a local Social Security Administration office. A new card will be mailed in 10 business days.

• Changing a driver’s license: Bring all forms of identification, but most suggest current license, certified marriage certificate and the new Social Security card.

• Changing bank accounts: If setting up a joint account, this is important to take care of. The fastest way is to go directly to the branch. Bring new driver’s license and marriage license. New checks and debit and credit cards will be mailed upon request.

• Other necessary entities include: Employers’ payroll, post office, electric and utility companies, schools and alumni associations, landlord or mortgage company, insurance companies, doctor’s office, voter registration, passport

and airlines (in order to transfer miles.) More information can be found online at www.theknot.com/content/namechange-101.

Out with the old, in with the new For couples looking for an easier way to change their name, Hitchswitch offers a name change kit.

The company offers three packages from $20-$90, and then does all the work. The individual enters their basic information and Hitchswitch then compiles the necessary documents to entities such as Social Security, passport, driver’s license, voter registration, credit cards, doctor’s officers and more. The individual then receives applications and pre-paid envelopes to send to the organizations with all name change documents. For more information, visit www.hitchswitch. com.

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What’s your Price Point?

Knowing the costs of a wedding helps establish a budget Newly engaged couples may experience an array of emotions when they sit down to plan their weddings. Some cannot wait to jump into planning and want to catalog every aspect of the process, while others may proceed with caution because they don’t know what to expect — particularly in regard to cost.

Many couples find it difficult to create their wedding budgets because they have no previous experience to draw on.

The wedding planning advisor CostofWedding. com indicates the average wedding cost in the United States is $26,720, with most people spending between $20,000 and $34,000.

Donna Solbrig, owner of The Party Affair, said Fredericksburg brides can spend anywhere between $15,000 to $50,000.

Such costs can vary greatly depending on couples’ preferences, including where they hope to tie the knot.

By breaking down wedding expenses, couples can get a clearer picture of how much they may need to pay for their weddings and where they may need to cut costs.

Reception site: Wedding reception venues may cost between $10,000 and $15,000. Fredericksburg venues range from $7,000 to $10,000, Solbrig said.

One local smaller venue, The Alegria Barn, is less expensive at around $5,000.

The average price for catering per person is roughly $70. Locally, catering can range from $15 to $100, depending on whether it’s Rabke Catering or David’s Pit Barbecue, yet plated dinners can run

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Costs can add up quickly, but with the right planning, ceremonies and receptions can fit any budget. up to around $100 each.

Bar service may be around $2,000 to $3,000 for a threeto four-hour party.

Some reception sites combine the room cost with the food and beverage costs, while others have a la carte fees.

Solbrig said many venues have their own alcohol licenses, and clients go through them for alcohol sales.

All venues require venue insurance, a liability that covers accidents over a 48-hour period.

Cake: Wedding cakes tend to be multitiered intricate designs, so they will cost more than birthday cakes. According to Statistics Brain, wedding dessert will come in around $390.

Solbrig said local prices range higher; ranging from $4$6 a slice is standard around the Hill Country. She said dessert bars are a growing trend to offer more variety to guests.

Music: The Knot says wedding bands cost around

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$3,500, which is more than twice as much as hiring a deejay. Soloists or ceremony musicians may cost around $650.

Locally, deejays can charge anywhere from $700 to $1,500, depending on strobe lights, karaoke and other options.

Planner: Many couples employ wedding planners to make planning their weddings easier.

Wedding planners cost an average of $1,300, says Thumbtack, a company that matches professionals with people who require their services.

Solbrig customizes her plans for each client, so prices can vary greatly. Caterers and staff depends on how many staff she herself has to hire.

Transportation: Limousines and other transportation prices vary depending on the vehicle(s) couples choose.

The Knot notes that budgeting between $400 and

$500 for transportation might be wise. Tour busses or late-night transportation can be anywhere between $200 and $400, depending on destination.

Gown: Brides-to-be should expect their gowns to cost around $1,100 and the veil or headpiece to be roughly $120, according to the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Solbrig said custom gowns can go all the way up to $10,000.

Photography/Video: Preserving wedding day memories costs around $2,000 and up for video and photography services. Smaller details, such as accessories, gifts, officiant fees, stationery, spa services, and favors can quickly add up, as well. Some cover rooms, hair and makeup for bridesmaids. Grooms can add in golf, skeet shooting or a fifth of whiskey for groomsmen.

Couples should be sure to leave some wiggle room in their budgets for incidental expenses that may pop up.

Expert Watch & Jewelry Repair -Rolex/mechanical watch repair, cleaning, and oiling -Replace watch movements and crystals -Watch band adjusting and pin replacement -Watch battery/gasket replacement

Young’s JEWELRY & GUNS 2022 Sidney Baker, Kerrville, TX (across from YO Hotel) 830-257-3663 • www.youngsjewelryandguns.com

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A plan for the perfect wedding After saying “yes” and the reality of planning a wedding comes into focus, couples can sometimes find themselves at a loss as to where to start.

The following checklist is offered to help couples plan for that special moment — their wedding day.

At 6 to 12 months • Set a date.

• Who will stand with you?

Choose, ask and confirm the bridal party and groomsmen.

• Announce the big news!

Plan an engagement party and don’t forget to announce the engagement in the local newspaper.

• Crunch the numbers.

This helps to stay on budget and avoid confusion or hurt feelings.

• Reserve venues.

Book locations for both ceremony and reception, and account for potential weather and size of attendance. Popular venues sell out quickly.

• Determine time and type.

Formal affairs are in late afternoon or evening, while more casual ones are usually in the morning or early afternoon.

The type of wedding decides if the reception should feature a formal meal or just cake and punch.

• Color it fantastic.

Choose wedding colors early and stick to them. Avoid trends and pick what feels right.

• Say “yes” to a dress.

Order the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ dresses and their accessories. Keep the

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Planning and coordinating a wedding takes time and attention to details.

Celebrating their marriage on March 17 were Angie Knaupp and Asa Daugherty.

— Amber Kelly Photography budget in mind.

• A celebratory trip of love.

Visit a travel agency or online sites and review options (and prices) for the honeymoon.

Both bride and groom should agree whether it’ll be a simple relaxing outing or an itinerary-filled adventure.

• Register gift wishes.

The bride and groom should visit their favorite stores and register for items that’ll be needed in their new life together.

• Decide the details.

Choose musicians, a florist, a photographer and a caterer. Sample their wares and check their references.

Keep their contact information handy for discussing details as they are decided.

• ‘With this ring, I thee wed …’

Shop and design/purchase wedding rings.

•Begin pre-marital counseling (required by some churches.)

At 3 months • Who’s coming?

Complete the guest list, count up the names and select and order invitations.

• Moms’ day out.

Mothers of the bride and groom should both get their dresses to compliment the rest of the wedding party in style, color, etc.

• Introducing Mr. and Mrs. …

In the groom and bride’s first appearance together as husband and wife, keep a running list of any needed items (i.e. chairs, tables, linens, etc.) and be sure to reserve them early.

• Bite the bullet.

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get fitted and order their tuxedos.

Spend a girls’ day with bridesmaids, getting dresses fitted and scheduling any future fittings.

Choose shoes and get them dyed, if necessary.

At 2 months and closing ...

•Mail out invitations to the pre-determined guest list.

•Visit the courthouse together, with photo identifications and fees in hand, to procure the official marriage license.

•Pay for honeymoon and finalize any side trips or relevant details to the trip.

•Help guests with reservations for flights or at local overnight accommodations.

Begin writing and mailing “Thank You” notes as soon as gifts arrive.

•Plan the rehearsal and dinner. The groom’s family traditionally arranges and pays for this, but the entire family can contribute to the set-up, planning and pulling it off.

•Give credit where it’s due.

•Buy gifts for the wedding party.

•Take care of final dress and suit fittings, as well as appointments for beauty treatments, pedicures/manicures and hair salon visits.

•Host a bridesmaids’ luncheon to show them support and appreciation.

•Buy a guest book, choose where to station it at the reception, and designate a “keeper” of the book who can encourage guests to sign.

At 1 month •Start a list of gifts being received.

TIMELINE ▶

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Go ahead and sign on the dotted line for the honeymoon. Mention to all providers that the guests planning to travel are newlyweds because many will provide free surprise perks along the way.

• Double-check and recheck.

Call and confirm dates and information with the photographer, musicians, florists, caterer and the church to ensure there’s been no double-booking or other potential disasters.

• ‘Your chariot awaits …’

Decide on transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites. Limousine? Horse-drawn buggy? Drive yourself?

Pick a final wedding cake design and groom’s cake design and any other pastries for the reception and get them ordered.

Get the groom and his groomsmen to

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TIMELINE

Hair and makeup timeline

Cont. from 41

At 2 weeks •Finalize transportation to the church, to the reception and off to the honeymoon.

•If planning to take the groom’s last name, brides should visit the proper offices to officially change their driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, passports and other official documents.

Also put in calls to credit card companies, utilities, doctors and dentist offices and others regularly contacted.

At one week •Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit.

•Start packing for the honeymoon.

•Give the caterer a final estimate on number of guests. Plan seating arrangements.

•Practice hair styles and/or makeup for the big day.

• But don’t forget…

•Brides should find time in the rushing about of final arrangements to take care of themselves.

Drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest each day and smile, knowing they’ll soon be united with the ones they love.

Hair and makeup are also important parts of the wedding that brides should plan for.

The following suggestions were compiled by hair artist Jamie Laratta with Hair By Jamie.

•As soon as a bride knows her wedding date, she is encouraged to contact her hairstylist/makeup artist to secure the date.

For those who do not have a preferred stylist, now is the time to book a trial run.

•A trial run puts everyone at ease.

It shows how a bride and the stylist/ makeup artist get along and if they will be the best fit for the style/look that brides are trying to achieve.

•Brides who already have a stylist/ makeup artist are encouraged to do The wedding day •With all the planning taken care of, the final hours leading up to the wedding should be a snap.

•Best advice for brides: NO amount of planning will guarantee a “perfect” ceremony or reception.

a trial run four to six weeks out from the wedding date.

“Styles and trends change, so doing it before then sometimes is okay, but that’s the preferred time,” Laratta said.

She added, “This makes the bride and the hair stylist/makeup artist have an easier, smoother time for the big day.”

•Pictures are always a good idea because it gets everyone on the same page.

•Good communication with a stylist is a must to receive the best service possible.

•For any changes that come up with the style and make-up application, let the stylist know as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day of the wedding.

Remember: It’s the mishaps that make things unique and memorable, but the bride’s reaction to these events becomes unforgettable in the minds of her family and friends. So, roll with the flow, smile and enjoy the spotlight (and the happily ever after, of course).

For a new & improved you.

Hayden Knopp, Personal Trainer 847-431-5753 haydenknopp@icloud.com

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1202 W. Austin, Ste. 200 Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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A live oak that spans generations at 4.0 Cellars provides a great Texas setting to see a new couple become a family. — April Mae Creative

That Perfect Place Venues to fit every size and budget abound Finding the perfect place for a wedding ceremony and reception is an important part of the to-do list. The location can add to the guests’ experience and give them a taste of Hill Country aesthetics.

Gillespie County has a variety of venues that fit most every budget. Here are some of what is

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available for rent in the area to host a party.

4.0 Cellars 10354 US. 290 East Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-7470 www.fourpointwine.com

VENUES ▶

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Historic St. Joseph’s Halle, one of Fredericksburg’s earliest structures, recently received a complete renovation and modernization.

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Alegria Barn 15475 Texas 16 South Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 210-383-3201 www.alegriabarn.com

870 Klein Road Stonewall, Texas 830-456-3990 www.featherstoneranch.com

Former Texas Rangers Heritage Center 103 Industrial Loop, Ste 700 (office)

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-1192 www.thrc.com

City of Fredericksburg Pioneer Pavilion or Tatsch House Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-4202 www.fbgtx.org

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Case Prices • Helpful, Friendly Service • In House Specials • Drive Up Window

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Alegria Barn, south of Fredericksburg, has a cozy, rustic feel indoors and buildings nestled in a beautiful Hill Country setting.

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Kairos The Celebration Barn

Exhibition Hall 530 Fair Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-2359 www.gillespiefair.net/rentals

1213 Kott Road Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-9515 www.kairosbarn.com

Gillespie County Farm Bureau Events Center Pape Events Center 237 Equestrian Drive Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-4396 www.gillespiefarmbureau.com

Gillespie County Historical Society Pioneer Museum 325 West Main Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-990-8841 www.pioneermuseum.net

Golden Hub Community Center 1009 North Lincoln Street Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-997-7131 www.goldenhub.org

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411 S. Washington St. 1425 E. Main St. 830-997-5822 830-997-9681 Fredericksburg, Texas • Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 - 9

Luckenbach Texas Dance Hall 412 Luckenbach Town Loop Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 888-331-8990 www.luckenbachtexas.com

The Moss Ranch at Enchanted Rock 7502 Ranch Road 965 Llano, Texas 78643 830-992-0425 www.themossranch.com

River Road Ranch 160 Glad Heart Trail Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 830-456-5756 www.riverroadranchresort.com

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Flawless STYLE for Your Wedding Day Shop the latest tuxedo styles from today’s leading formalwear designers.

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