Fall 2011 Bridal Tab by Freeborn County Shopper

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 8

Colorful Accents Chic for this Year's Bridal Gowns Almost as long as there have been bridal gowns, white or ivory have been the colors of choice for first-time brides. These light hues represent the purity and innocence of the bride. Although a few brides-to-be choose to forego wedding white for something a bit more flashy -- like pink or yellow gowns -- a popular trend today is to wear gowns with accents of black or other deep colors to add dimension to the white canvas. Considering the groom and groomsmen will be dressed in black tuxedos, black accents on a wedding gown have been growing in popularity and add a formal, regal look to a wedding. Darker color embellishments can add drama to a gown. Another advantage is they can call out pattern or adornments not easily seen on a white-on-white

gown. Furthermore, deep colors against the white backdrop of the gown show well in photography, particularly the black-and-white journalistic style that is very trendy as well. Women shopping for bridal gowns who are considering colored accents should be careful that these embellishments are subtle and do not overwhelm the gown -- or the person who will be wearing it! Popular enhancements include appliqués on the bodice or the train of the gown. Another idea is to select a white gown and then tie a black bow or sash around the waist or put a lace shrug over bare shoulders. Black-and-white lace gloves are also an option for those who want to add just a little splash of dimension. The same concept can be applied to any accent color.

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Burgundy or plum colors also work well to add the contrast of dark against light and aren't as extreme as black. Some brides can also opt for a paler, more pastel shade to serve as an accompaniment to the white gown. Many times the accent colors chosen are replicated in the hue of the bridesmaids'

gowns, so the entire wedding party looks cohesive. Because the spectacle will be the beauty of the gown, it's best to carry a neutral-colored bouquet in a small size. Or, a black-and-white gown can be accented with a small nosegay of red flowers or roses.

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A Special Supplement To THE FREEBORN COUNTY SHOPPER October 25. 2011

No Room Rental Charge

Wedding Guide 2011

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 2

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 7

Toast of the town - Toasting tips for Best Men & Maids of Honor Wedding days are typically steeped in tradition. Whether it's the hours before the wedding or the bride's attire or the first dance, it seems no aspect of a couple's big day isn't accompanied by some ages-old tradition. One of the more enjoyable wedding day traditions is the toast. Once the reception has begun, the maid of honor and the best man are trusted to toast the new bride and groom. Such toasts are typically heartfelt and humorous, but there are also a few guidelines to follow to ensure the toast is memorable for all the right reasons. * Stand up! Stand up when delivering a wedding toast. Sitting down won't command the guests' attention, and your voice likely won't carry as well if you're sitting down. * Don't go too long. A good

wedding toast shouldn't stretch beyond five minutes. Long-winded toasts could come off as rambling and incoherent, and the guests will likely tune out if the toast goes longer than five minutes. * Introduce yourself. Just because you're a maid of honor or a best man doesn't mean all of the guests know your relationship with the bride or groom. Make it brief, but provide an explanation of your relationship. * Keep the toast appropriate. Many adults who have been to a wedding or two in their day have a story about a wedding toast gone awry. While these stories are humorous, no best man or maid of honor wants to have similar stories told about his or her toasts. Make the toast appropriate, keeping in mind there might be some younger guests in attendance. In

addition, avoid references to past relationships. Such references are awkward and uncomfortable. * Don't make it an "inside" joke. Maids of honor or best men are typically close friends or siblings of the bride and groom. Such a close relationship makes it easy to tell an inside joke only a few guests will understand. Avoid such inside jokes, as one of the goals of the toast should be to illustrate your love and appreciation of the bride or groom in a way all guests can understand. * Make it personal. A personal anecdote is a nice touch. Such anecdotes can be about anything, whether it's the first time you met your friend's now-spouse or, if you're not related to the bride or groom, how you met. * Steer clear of the bar before the toast. Many a well-intentioned wedding toast has gone horribly

Pack an Emergency Wedding Day Kit

2012 Brides Booking Now

Brides- and grooms-to-be hope and pray their wedding day will go off without a hitch. After a year or more of planning and writing checks for so many things, couples hope that it all comes together in the end. For most it does. Others may need a little help keeping things on track. Although the idea is to hope for the best, being prepared for a few obstacles along the way can ensure the day goes smoothly. Many couples find it wise to pack an emergency kit, stocked with items to make repairs or handle tie ups with ease. Brides and grooms can use this checklist to compile a wedding day kit that meets their needs and customize with any specialty items. â€˘ needle and thread in white, black and the color of bridesmaid gowns â€˘ extra pairs of pantyhose â€˘ pain reliever pills â€˘ antacid â€˘ quick-clean detergent stick â€˘ bandages â€˘ powder â€˘ deodorant â€˘ double-sided tape â€˘ black buttons â€˘ sanitary pads â€˘ mints/gum â€˘ makeup for touchups â€˘ extra cash

â€˘ slippers or a change of shoes â€˘ umbrellas â€˘ hairspray â€˘ hair pins â€˘ names and phone numbers of all wedding vendors â€˘ static cling spray â€˘ hair dryer â€˘ contact lens solution/eye drops â€˘ nail file â€˘ nail clipper â€˘ straws (to sip drinks without ruining lipstick) â€˘ safety pins â€˘ black socks â€˘ earring backs

wrong thanks to alcohol. Maids of honor and best men should abstain from alcohol before their toasts to avoid embarrassing themselves and the bride and groom. If you're especially nervous, maybe a drink can help calm your nerves. But if you're going to drink before the toast, be sure to drink only in moderation. * Practice beforehand. Very few people can survive "winging" a wedding toast. Practice the toast beforehand so you're comfortable with what you're going to say before the moment arrives. * Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Weddings are typically laid back and fun affairs, so don't stress about giving the perfect toast. If the toast comes off as genuine and stays appropriate, it's a good toast.

Build Your Own Wedding Package. Call for a Consultation

Wedding Day Countdown Twelve to Eighteen Months â?? Set the date â?? Determine wedding budget â?? Select wedding site â?? Select officiant(s) â?? Select & reserve a reception site â?? Choose a caterer â?? Select ceremony musicians â?? Select reception entertainment â?? Choose attendants â?? Choose ushers and helpers â?? Select photographer â?? Select videographer â?? Choose a wedding consultant Six to Twelve Months â?? Choose wedding style & color â?? Decide on the size of the wedding â?? Determine guest list â?? Choose a florist â?? Order your wedding dress â?? Select & order bridesmaid dresses

â?? Confirm delivery date for dresses â?? Update your passports, if needed â?? Plan rehearsal/grooms dinner with fiance & all parent Three to Six Months â?? Purchase gifts for attendants & fiance â?? Select menâ€™s formal wear â?? Choose reception decorations â?? Reserve rented items â?? Order invitations & announcements â?? Select & order the wedding cake â?? Purchase wedding bands â?? Select a transportation service â?? Plan the honeymoon, make reservations â?? Register with bridal registries â?? Arrange out-of-town guest accommodations

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â?? Buy your trousseau â?? Have mothers buy their dresses â?? Make wedding day salon appointment â?? Have a complete physical exam One to Three Months â?? Select wedding reception music â?? Have final dressing fittings â?? Address wedding invitations â?? Mail wedding invitations 4 to 6 weeks, no later than 3 weeks â?? Get marriage license â?? Confirm appointments & arrangements â?? Confirm honeymoon arrangements â?? Prepare and send newspaper announcement â?? Make arrangements for parking, traffic Two Weeks â?? Confirm details with photographer and

videographer â?? Pick up wedding rings (if engraved) â?? Organize your trousseau and pack â?? Purchase travelers checks â?? Plan a seating arrangement for reception One Week â?? Talk with caterer, give final guest count â?? Have groomâ€™s formal wear fitting â?? Have groomsmen try on and pick up their formal wear â?? Confirm duties and time schedule with attendants and helpers â?? Finalize last minute arrangements for music, flowers, cake Your Wedding Day â?? Bring your wedding guide for important names & phone numbers â?? Stay calm and enjoy, this is your wedding day!

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 6

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 3

Plan Your Wedding Budget After you have talked about your plans with your families, create a tentative budget using the budget worksheet in this book. List what you expect to pay for each item. Record price quotes there also. As you fill out this sheet, it becomes a complete financial

Engagement Advice: Insure Your Ring When buying an engagement ring, make sure it's fully insured by your homeowners or renters insurance policy or additional jewelry insurance.

picture of your expenses. Working carefully with a wedding timetable allows you to get the best values, best dates and best services.

Wedding Budget Wedding Announcements Wedding Invitations Thank-Yous Wedding Program Postage Rings Photographer Videgrapher Rehearsal Dinner Food/Caterer

Estimated

Actual

Paid

Due

personal property, like jewelry. * Will the insurance cover They may only cover $500 to theft or loss of the ring $1000 on a stolen ring. If the wherever it takes place, even theft or loss occurs outside if it occurs in a foreign country? of the home, you may not be covered at all. * Can I receive a cash If you've recently become settlement for the value of engaged, you may want to Talk to an insurance agent to the ring, or must the ring be check your homeowners or see if you can amend a policy replaced with another? renters insurance policy. That's or purchase other insurance if because your engagement ring you want to protect your ring may not be fully covered by in case of theft or if it becomes that policy. lost or damaged. Here are some questions to ask if you're An engagement ring is a considering jewelry insurance. cherished gift and one you will want to protect. No one wants * Is there a deductible on to imagine their ring being the insurance, and if so, how damaged, lost or stolen, but much? the fact is that these situations can and do happen. * Do I need to have the ring appraised for insurance? Can I Typical insurance policies for use my own appraiser or does your home or apartment set the insurance company need limits for certain categories of to handle the appraisal?

* Does the policy cover repairs to damaged jewelry? * Can I purchase a "valued at" plan if my ring is one of a kind and cannot be replaced? This policy allows you to value your ring at a higher dollar amount than its appraised worth.

Beverages Cake Bride’s Dress Bride’s Veil Accessories/Shoes Grooms Tux Flowers Rentals Decorations Transportation Reception Site Fee Church Fees/Officiant Entertainment/Musicians Attendants Gifts Marriage License Honeymoon Other

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 4

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2011/Page 5

Bridal Shower Trends Not so long ago when a couple announced their engagement and the bride selected her maid of honor, the maid of honor would start planning the bridal shower. She would invite all of the bride's closest female friends and family members together to toast the bride and share good times with her. While some brides today continue this tradition, others take an alternative route. One of the biggest trends in bridal showers today is the couples shower in which friends and family gather together with both the bride and the groom. With more grooms taking an active role in the wedding planning and more couples footing the bill for their wedding themselves, it is only natural that some couples would want to share the shower experience. Couples showers can be held at someone's home

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or at one of the couple's favorite venues. For those that prefer the traditional women-only bridal shower, a hot new trend is to center it on some activity, like bowling, making pottery, going to the spa or volunteering for an organization. This requires less planning and provides for a fun, stress-free experience for one and all. Guests can participate in the activity and share a meal afterwards, either at the venue or at a restaurant. If time and budget permit, destination showers are another idea. The bride and a select group of friends and family can take a little trip together. They can hop a plane and spend a few days at the beach or take the train to a ski resort. The sky is the limit.

Whatever the choice of bridal shower, anyone can host it-family, friends, even coworkers. Brides, or couples, can have more than one shower. The bride's mother might throw one for family and

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friends, while her coworker throws one for business associates and colleagues. If the couple has a rather large circle of family and friends, they might end up having three or four bridal showers. It all depends upon time and preference. The key to any good shower is to involve the bride or couple. Whoever is hosting the shower should get the input of the bride or the couple and respect their wishes. After all, they are the guests of honor.

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For brides that prefer to stay home, themed showers continue to be popular. Themes can run the gamut from kitchen gadgets to entertainment to the bride's favorite things. And because many brides are already living on their own and have the items needed to set up house, gifts can range from the unique to the wacky.

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Grandma's favorite sugar cookie recipe, gingerbread, brownies, pumpkin, sour cream-any rollout recipe that lends itself to cookie cutters. The decorated cookies can then be personalized with the couple's names, initials or wedding date. The unique confections can be displayed on a central table, serve as centerpieces on guests' tables or placed at each place setting. Rather than serving cake slices, some couples opt for a tiered display of doughnuts or cupcakes. In addition to the unique presentation, one advantage to serving cupcakes or doughnuts is the variety available for individual preferences. Serving dessert is also easier since guests can help themselves to their favorite treat. A dessert table is another

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So what are your options? They run the gamut from elaborately decorated tiers to decorated sugar cookies.

“Let us design the perfect cake for your special occasion.”

Trust Your Wedding Dress To Us! See us before the wedding to have all bridal attire pressed. Your full service dry cleaners & launderers.

Cake? Do you have to have cake? Does every wedding celebration have the ceremonial cutting of the tiered cake? Not anymore. Tradition has given way to personal preference and unique alternatives. Choices are as varied as the bride's and groom's personalities.

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The engagement is announced, the date is set, attendants are selected and now the wedding plans begin. Dresses, tuxes, ceremony site, reception site, invitations, menu, guest list, flowers, cake...

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216 So. Broadway Ave. • Albert Lea • 507-377-2081

popular option for the wedding meal. The couple can offer their favorite selections of cheesecake, fluff, mousse, trifle, pudding and other sweets. Displayed on varied levels of pedestal plates, the desserts create an unexpected, attractive presentation. Covering the table with coordinating fabric and interspersing small bowls of mints, candies and nuts complete the festive look. Having a small cake on each table allows guests to serve themselves. These cakes, which can double as centerpieces, can be simply decorated eightinch layer cakes or they can be thematically decoratedpurses, hearts, ships, dresses, baseballs, etc.-to reflect the couple's unique interests. The originality of the creations will be a topic of conversation long after the wedding day.

Not to be tossed aside, however, is the traditional tiered cake. Flavors, fillings, textures, frosting and design all work together to present a culinary delight. No longer do guests anticipate a white cake with white butter cream frosting at a wedding. Bakeries offer such a wide range of options that no wedding cake should ever be predictable. Brides and grooms have the opportunity to add a distinctive touch to their wedding day celebration. Not only will guests remember what the bride wore, but they will undoubtedly remember how personal and unique the reception wasespecially the dessert.