Summer Brides 2018

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

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Summer Supplement to the Pontotoc Progress | Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Cover photo provided by Trent’s Portrait Design

Madison Helms Taylor and Jake Taylor

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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Things to consider when choosing a wedding party

M

aking the important decision to get married can fill couples with joy and excitement as they imagine spending the rest of their lives together. Naturally, bridesand grooms-to-be are anxious to share the good news with others and include family and friends in the festivities. One way couples exemplify inclusion is by asking their closest acquaintances to be part of their wedding parties.

Being asked to serve as a bridesmaid or groomsman is an honor. Some couples may be tempted to ask every friend, sibling or cousin they have to be in their wedding parties, and some do. In fact, ancient Roman law required 10 witnesses to be part of the wedding ceremony. However, the larger the wedding party, the more people couples have to coordinate and the more personalities they must manage.

While large wedding parties are in style, there isn’t any one-size-fits-all formula to decide which size party is right for a particular situation. Trends vary based on geography and culture. These tips can help couples decide on the size of their wedding parties.

Match it to scope and style

Wedding planners may use a standard ratio for a proportion of guests to wedding party members. That ratio is one pair of wedding attendants for every 50 guests. This creates a balanced feel where the more people in attendance, the larger the wedding party and vice versa.

Consider your expenses

Wedding party members may be asked to spend considerable amounts of money to be in the wedding, but the couple will have certain expenses tied to the wedding party as well. These can include limousines to ferry people between the ceremony and reception, photography costs to arrange and photograph large wedding parties, the cost of boutonnieres and bouquets, attendants’ gifts, as well as extra mouths to feed at the rehearsal dinner. Small wedding parties can be easier on couples’ budgets.

Know your expectations

Couples should discuss what they expect from their wedding parties. Do couples want their loved ones to be very hands-on or waiting in the wings? For those who want a lot of input from their wedding parties, asking distant friends or family to be included may be impractical.

Select reliable people

Wedding party members should be people couples can rely on, and it only helps if wedding party members are not prone to overreacting. Choose a wedding party that can be trusted and people with whom you get along.

Wedding party sizes are up to the couple, but bigger isn’t always better.

Unconventional

Wedding Menu Ideas

Traditionally, one of the more memorable aspects of wedding receptions is the food. Whether it was fun, tasty or something entirely new for guests, food tends to leave a lasting impression. The experts at Boho Weddings say that, more than ever before, couples are seeking menu ideas that reflect their personalities as a couple as they seek to make a statement at their events. Celebrating with delicious, unique foods can make receptions that much more amazing.

childhood favorites

When it comes time for dessert, some couples opt to avoid or downplay wedding cakes in favor of something simpler. A cookie-and-milk bar, doughnut holes, soft pretzel stations, pie pops, or dessert shot jars push creativity and sweetness to new levels. Do-it-yourself dessert stations, such as s’more-making and ice cream sundae stations, also can be big hits.

bite-sized bursts

Tapas and a movement toward small bites has started to take hold at wedding receptions. Such a choice allows guests to try many different flavors without filling up too quickly. From sliders to mini grilled cheese to soup shots to bite-sized pizzas, many of these small bites feature flavors borrowed from familiar comfort foods - just presented on a miniature scale.

comfort stations and bars

Couples who love comfort food can put it on display with a crostini station, a mashed potato bar, a chicken and waffles station, a gourmet popcorn snack station, or a ramen noodle bar.

food trucks/carts

Outdoor weddings can be enhanced with the addition of trendy food trucks. These restaurants on wheels can inject burgers, sandwiches, international delights, crêpes, noodles, and so many more flavors into a wedding.

high-end options

Couples may want to give guests a taste of the lavish with olive oil and vinegar tasting stations, whiskey bars, French hors d’oeuvres, Kobe beef sliders, lobster tails, risotto stations, and more.

Couples are increasingly feeling less beholden to traditional wedding reception menus as they look to infuse their personal tastes into the foods they plan to serve their guests. Many catering managers and chefs welcome the chance to work with couples looking to create unique reception menus.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

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Photographic Memories Trent Baker’s lens catches unrepeatable moments in life and love

By Galen Holley

F

or more than a quarter of a century, Trent Baker has accompanied excited brides during one of the biggest days of their lives, and the images he has captured have become life-long, treasured keepsakes.

“One bit of advice I always give brides, even if they don’t choose to work with me, is that they should be sure to select a photographer they really like,” said Baker, opening the door of his studio, situated on a six-acre plot, on a historical estate named Rosalba.

“The rapport between a bride and her photographer is so important, and she needs to have complete confidence and trust in him,” Baker said. “His performance can make or break a bride’s wedding.”

Baker, 63, walked by a stunning portrait—a lovely, young bride, standing in a breezeway at Old Waverly Mansion, casually holding a bouquet at her waist. Soft, warm light washed over the girl’s graceful neck and shoulders, her eyes drifting left, her serene gaze conveying love and fulfillment.

The moment appeared completely spontaneous, but, as Baker explained, as with any work of art, the portrait required craftsmanship.

“I watch the light closely, and, in that moment, I noticed how nice it was, so I used it,” Baker said.

As a craftsman photographer, Baker incorporates techniques used by classical painters, including the addition or removal of light, posing the subject,

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and arranging various elements of the composition.

Baker pointed out a nearby portrait.

One side of the girl’s porcelain face was fully illuminated. The other side was immersed in soft shadow--except for a triangle of light, just under her left eye.

“That’s called Rembrandt lighting, just one of many techniques,” Baker said.

“The prettiest light comes from the north,” Baker said, noting that his studio, surrounded by wildflowers, rustic, wooden structures, and even a picturesque stream, was oriented to take advantage of the northern light.

Baker cultivates close relationships with brides, and, after the initial consultation, the first photographs he takes are usually at the engagement session.

“That’s an important moment, because I usually meet the groom for the first time, and we continue building that familiarity that’s so important to the whole process,” Baker said.

From start-to-finish, that process takes anywhere from 40 to 60 hours, Baker said. It includes ongoing dialogue about general expectations, in some cases, events leading up to the big day, like rehearsal dinners, as well as planning about how to make the bride’s wedding a seamless experience she will always cherish.

On the day of the wedding, Baker, along with his daughter and assistant, Tracye, spends about 11 hours at the bride’s side.

“We take photos of her dressing and

getting ready, as well as a portrait of her and her mother, and all aspects of the wedding, including the reception,” Baker said. “We don’t leave until the bride leaves. We give the bride everything we’ve got.”

Baker also has an important rule of decorum, one he said demonstrates his respect for the sacredness and beauty of matrimony.

“I never accept money at the wedding,” he said. “I’m happy to accept payment before or after the bride’s big day, but never at the event.”

Being part of the biggest day in so many young women’s lives has been an honor, Baker said, helping shape a singular, never-to-be recreated moment in time. He has tried to be thorough but never intrusive.

“I’ll sacrifice a picture for a moment,” Baker said. “It’s a wedding, not a photo session.”

Baker recently worked with a bride whose family was from out-of-town, he said.

“They didn’t know what to make of me, at first,” Baker said. “The grandfather was particularly wary.”

After the long process was complete, after the vows were exchanged and people were celebrating the beginning of the new couple’s life, Baker got an unexpected surprise.

“The grandfather came up and hugged me,” he said.

Baker patted the desk, and laughed.

“If you get a hug from gruff, old granddad, you’ve done pretty good,” he said.

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How to

Curtail Wedding Spending and Still Impress Guests

T

ying the knot can be an expensive endeavor.

According to The Knot 2017 Real Weddings Study, which surveyed nearly 13,000 brides and grooms in the United States who got married in 2017, the average cost of a wedding was more than $33,000.

That figure may surprise some couples planning their weddings, many of whom may not be able to afford spending so much on their ceremonies and receptions.

Couples may feel pressure to compete with friends and relatives whose weddings they have attended in the past, and that may compel some to stretch their budgets and even go into debt to finance their nuptials. However, there are ways for couples to curtail their wedding spending and impress guests at the same time.

trim the guest list

expand your venue horizons

A greater number of couples are looking beyond traditional wedding venues and opting for more unique locales to tie the knot. The 2017 Real Weddings Study found that 15 percent of 2017 weddings were held on farms, ranches and even in barns, while just 2 percent of weddings were hosted in such venues in 2009. The growing popularity of unique wedding venues may make some locations more expensive than couples anticipate, but a willingness to tie the knot in a unique venue greatly increases couples’ options, improving the chances they will find more affordable venues.

cut back on guest entertainment

Customizing experiences for guests is a major reason why today’s couples are spending so much more per guest than their predecessors. Spending for customized guest

5 Great Reasons To Take

engagement photos

D

uring their engagements, couples will make many decisions in regard to their weddings.

Wedding planning can sometimes seem like a runaway train of appointments, schedules and deadlines. As a result, some couples do not take the time to enjoy being engaged, which is a special and unique time in their lives.

Engagement photo shoots can be a unique way for couples to commemorate and enjoy the months preceding their weddings. Engagement photos memorialize the engagement and provide many additional benefits as well.

Engagement photo shoots give couples a chance to connect with their photographers. Booking an engagement photo shoot provides helpful information to both the couple and the photographer. The photographer gets to see how the couple interacts in front of the lens and can determine any insecurities or strengths and weaknesses couples may have. These lessons can be filed away and help make wedding day photos look better. Similarly, spending time with the photographer gives the couple an opportunity to develop a rapport with their photographer. If couples and their photographer don’t click, scheduling an engagement shoot well in advance of the wedding gives couples a chance to find someone else to take their photos.

An engagement photo shoot gives couples time to spend together. An engagement photo shoot is an ideal time to spend an afternoon in a special location focusing on each other without wedding planning taking up your time.

Photo shoots provide a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera. Professional photographs taken before the wedding enables couples to view how they will appear in pictures. Seeing these photos might help couples grow more comfortable in front of the camera. This practice can help couples temper their anxieties prior to the wedding. An engagement shoot also can be a great time for couples to speak with their photographers about angles or styles they prefer or dislike.

The bride and groom have save-the-date or social media photos. Engagement photographs can be used for save-the-date cards or social media postings (check with the photographer for licensing agreements). This can be a great way to spread excitement about the upcoming nuptials.

Photo shoots provide a chance to experiment with vivid backdrops. Engagement photography gives couples plenty of opportunities to experiment with different locales, which may not be possible come the wedding day.

Engagement photography can be a worthwhile inclusion in pre-wedding celebrations.

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The 2017 Real Weddings Study found that couples spent an average of $268 per guest in 2017. Many couples are recognizing that smaller guest lists are a great way to lower wedding spending, and The Knot study found that the average guest count decreased from 149 in 2009 to 136 in 2017. Trimming the guest list may seem harsh, but couples who work together need not cut their guest lists in half. By working together, couples can likely find between 10 and 15 acquaintances on their initial lists who won’t be offended if they’re not invited. Couples who spend the 2017 average per guest can save nearly $3,000 by removing just 10 people from their guest lists.

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entertainment, which includes things like photo booths, sparklers and video booths, tripled between 2009 and 2017. Couples may want to give their guests unique experiences, but should not stretch their budgets or go into debt to do so.

tie the knot in winter

Summer and fall were the most popular wedding seasons in 2017, and that does not figure to change anytime soon. Couples can take advantage of those trends by getting married in winter, a slow season for wedding venues and vendors, who might be more flexible with their prices.

The most popular months to tie the knot in 2017 were September, June and October, so couples who don’t want to wed in winter but want to avoid paying top prices should avoid those three months.

Weddings are expensive, but couples can find ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

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Getting Married?

Use this timely schedule to keep you on track

G

etting married is stressful. the plans that are to be made and finalized can seem overwhelming.

Make sure that day doesn’t catch you by surprise.

Buy yourself a large notebook and plastic tabbed dividers. Use that to keep up with all your invitations list, what you are shopping for in the house, any other call lists and information you may need throughout this hectic time.

Another helpful hint is to buy a canvas tote bag with plenty of pockets on it to keep your notebook in.

It can be used to carry your swatches of material for your bridesmaid dresses, and any other pressing projects that will have to be done through this time.

Here is a checklist on what to do, when, carry it with you and check off what is accomplished so you will know it’s done.

9 months

q Announce your engagement q Discuss the formality, size and location of the wedding and reception with both families. q Set wedding date and time. q Meet with clergyman and judge to confirm date and time. q Reserve ceremony site

8 months

q Discuss wedding budget with your parents. q Determine the approximate number of guests. q Select and invite attendants. q Select wedding and engagement rings.

q q q q

7 months

Have engagement party.

Begin making your guest list.

Discuss honeymoon plans.

Begin shopping for wedding attire.

6 months

q Talk to the wedding official and organist about music, decorations and procedure. q Select readings and music for the ceremony. q Select music for the reception. q Schedule rehearsal dinner. q Get a list of services and menu possibilities from the caterer or other reception contact.

5 months

q Register at gift and department stores. q Meet with caterer or club manager to plan reception details. q Meet with florist. q Meet with photographer. q Meet with baker. q Complete honeymoon plans and make travel reservations. q Make doctor and dental appointments. q Shop for your trousseau.

4 months

q Order invitations, announcements, thank-you notes and other stationery. q Select attire for groom and groomsmen. q Confirm delivery dates of all attire and schedule fittings for bridal and bridesmaids’ gowns. q Purchase wedding album and guest books. q Schedule wedding portrait.

3 months

q Address invitations q Select bridesmaids’ and groomsmen’ gifts. q Have formal portraits taken. q Make lodging arrangements for out of town guests and attendants. q Arrange transportation for bridal party to and from the ceremony and reception sites. q Coordinate menu plan for the rehearsal dinner with groom’s family. q Finalize the arrangements for flowers, menu, wedding cake(s) and music. q Change insurance policies, charge accounts, bank accounts, will, driver’s license and Social Security listing to reflect name and/or address change. q Write wedding announcement for newspapers. q Make appointment with hairdresser for the day of or day before your wedding.

2 months

q Have blood tests done, check your blood types, apply for marriage license. q Mail invitations q Send maps to out of town guests q Set up table for wedding gifts. q Record all gifts and write thank-you notes as gifts arrive. q Notify the wedding party of rehearsal time and invite guests to the rehearsal dinner. q Make rice bags for throwing as you leave the reception. q Make arrangements for dressing place for bridesmaids. q Make household check for home furnishings still needed.

q q q q q q q q q q

2 weeks

Double check everything.

Pick up marriage license.

Have final fittings for all attire.

Check all accessories for wedding outfit and for bridesmaids’ outfits.

Provide photographer with a list of desired photographs.

Send wedding announcement to photographer.

Draw up a seating plan for reception.

Make place cards for bride’s table.

Give caterer or reception contact a final estimate of number of people attending.

Pack for the honeymoon.

1 day before

q Have your hair done q Have a manicure, pedicure and facial. q Attend bridesmaids’ luncheon: give gifts to attendants. q Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. q Make sure everything you need for wedding day is packed in one place.

on the wedding day

q Arrive at church three to four hours before the wedding. q Take all photos you can before the wedding. q Take photos with groom after the wedding. q Relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy your wedding day!