Brides & Grooms

BRIDES E& 2016|The Times

BRIDES &

Table of contents

grooms Staff Publisher

6 | Setting the scene Choose a venue that feels right for your special day.

Charlotte Atkins

General manager Norman Baggs

10 | Breaking tradition

A growing number of brides are embracing color, flair and even sexy in their wedding gowns and ensembles.

16 | Maid of honor tips

5 secrets to being the best maid of honor.

18 | Picture perfect

Advice on what to ask photographers before you hire them.

22 | Something sweet

Creative suggestions for bridal shower ideas.

26 | Without a hitch

An experienced wedding planner can make your big day easier.

28 | Mr. & Mrs. Aderholt Bradee and Drew recall their wedding day and what made it memorable.

Editor

Keith Albertson

Creative Director Steven Welch

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32 | Past and present

Advertising director Jenny Syversen

Advertising sales Melisa Sizemore 770-535-6344

36-38 | Her perspective

Celebrate your way, while keeping traditions alive.

One bride offers her take on her wedding experience.

Want to place your engagement and wedding announcement in The Times newspaper? It’s easy.

All you have to do is going www. gainesvilletimes.com and download the announcement forms from our website. Scroll to the bottom of the home page and click on “Anniversaries PDF” “Engagement PDF” or “Wedding PDF.” Fill out the form and email it to us at couples@ gainesvilletimes.com.

43 | By the numbers

Statistical highlights from The Knot’s annual research.

44 | His perspective

One groom offers his take on his wedding experience.

48 | Helping Hand

How groom-to-be can reduce stress for his bride.

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50 | The right sound

Finding the perfect musical act or DJ can be frustrating if you’re not prepared.

54 | What’s a groom to do?

Make sure you’re involved on your big day.

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Brides

The wedding is one of the most special days in a couple’s life together. It is her time to be celebrated as a bride. It is his time to become a husband. So that’s why The Times has created this beautiful guide to getting married in North Georgia. Because we are a whole new Times. Your Times.

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Photo by Carrie Jean Photography

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One of the newest wedding venues in North Georgia is The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville – A Smithgall Woodland Legacy. It offers a scenic woodland setting as well as modern facilities.

Setting thescene Choose a venue that feels right for your special day

By Charlotte Atkins BRIDES & GROOMS

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Chota Falls offers 150 acres in Rabun County for outdoor, mountain views, waterfall and vineyard chapel weddings and receptions.

Convenience and charm on Historic Green Street is what Gainesville Civic Center offers couples planning their special day.

Photo by Carrie Jean Photography

The Walters Barn in Lula offers an elegant pastoral setting for weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners.

N

orth Georgia can provide some of the most beautiful backdrops for your wedding, whether you are looking for something along the lakefront, in the mountains, something pretty and pastoral or urban and centrally located.

Set amidst green pastures and blue skies The Walters Barn in Lula offers a scenic locale for your wedding or rehearsal dinner. The venue is managed

by Soirees Southern Events.

Depending on weather and time of year, indoor or outdoor

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options are available for your dream day.

The barn can seat 200250 guests comfortably inside depending dance floor and music needs. Day of coordination and floral services are available as well.

One of many five-star reviews of the venue on WeddingWire by a bride named Ashley reads, “The Walters Barn was everything we had ever dreamed of for our big day, plus more.

Words cannot begin to describe how beautiful this venue is.

From how gorgeous the barn is

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In Cornelia, Community House is a 1930s building that offers 2,500 square feet of space on two levels.

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to the beautiful ponds on the property to the grand entrance, it was perfect!”

For more information on The Walters Barn visit www.soirees-southernevents.com Lake Lanier can also provide a beautiful backdrop for your special day and Lanier Islands on the southern edge of the lake offers some 20 venues throughout the 1,500-acre resort for your rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and reception. Lanier Islands is a popular lakeside destination.

“With 38,000 acres of water surface to

explore, stone accents blended with rustic wrought iron embellishments, a Lake Lanier wedding is a physical manifestation of Southern romance,” touts the venue.

Whether your vision of an ideal ceremony is in a wooded lakeside hideaway or along the lakeshores, Lanier Islands offers an abundance of options. You can exchange your vows aboard a luxury yacht, which is just one option among its outdoor ceremonies. Or grand ballrooms offer a sophisticated reception setting.

Lake Lanier also serves up a team of wedding specialists and event planners, an on-site executive catering chef, plus an extensive list of affiliations with professional florists, photographers, DJ’s, musicians and more.

In addition to the wedding itself, Lanier Islands is also ideal for group accommodations for the wedding party or for the bride and groom’s Southern style honeymoon, spa services before or after the wedding, and a variety of other recreation

North Georgia Wedding Venues Directory Northeast Georgia History Center 322 Academy St. Gainesville, GA 770-297-5900 www.negahc.org

Brenau University 301 Main St. SW Gainesville, GA 770-534-8420 www.brenau.edu

Four Oaks Manor 3198 Hamilton Mill Road Buford, GA 770-614-7328 www.fouroaksmanor.com/

Waters Mill 751 Wesley Chapel Road Dahlonega, Ga 678-725-9245 www.watersmill.com/

Buford Community Center 2200 Buford Highway Buford, GA 678-889-4627 www.bufordcommunitycenter.com

Carl House 1176 Atlanta Highway Auburn, GA 770-586-0095 www.carlhouse.com/

Cold Creek Farms 491 Shoal Creek Road Dawsonville, GA 404-580-3484 www.coldcreekfarm.com

Bradford House & Gardens 6648 McEver Road Flowery Branch, GA 770-967-7821 thebradfordhouse.com

Chateau Elan 100 Rue Charlemagne Drive Braselton, GA 678-425-0900 www.chateauelan.com

The Barn at Price Mountain 604 Price Mountain Road Pendergrass, GA 706-870-5421 pricemountainfarm.com

Royal Lakes Country Club 4700 Royal Lakes Drive Flowery Branch, GA 770-535-8800 royallakesgolf.com

The Ark @ Lake Lanier 6250 Old Dawsonville Road Gainesville, GA 404-285-3266 https://www.facebook.com/ thearkatlakelanier/

Juliette Chapel 497 GA-52 Dahlonega, Ga 678-978-8490 www.juliettechapel.com/

Robson Event Center 431 Green St. NW Gainesville, GA 770-654-9789 www.robsoneventcenter.net

Lake Lanier Olympic Park 3105 Clarks Bridge Road Gainesville, GA 770-535-0397 www.lakelanierolympicvenue.org

The Walters Barn 7743 Persimmon Tree Road Lula, GA 770-654-9789 www.soirees-southernevents.com/

Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Gainesville 1911 Sweetbay Drive Gainesville, GA 404-888-4760 atlantabg.org/visit/gainesville

Riverside Military Academy 2001 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA 800-462-2338 www.riversidemilitary.com Smithgall Arts Center 331 Spring St. SE Gainesville, GA 770-534-2787 www.theartscouncil.net

Chattahoochee Country Club 3000 Club Drive Gainesville, GA 770-536-4461 www.chattahoocheecountryclub.com

Lanier Islands 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy Buford, GA 770-945-8787 www.lanierislands.com

Gainesville Civic Center 830 Green St. Gainesville, GA 770-531-2680 www.gainesville.org

Jaemor Farms 5340 Cornelia Highway Alto, GA 770-869-3999 www.jaemorfarms.com

Martha Hope Cabin 528 Prios St. NE Gainesville, GA 770-531-2680 www.gainesville.org

Reunion Country Club 5609 Grand Reunion Drive Hoschton, GA 770-967-8300 www.reuniongolfclub.com

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Glen-Ella Springs 1789 Bear Gap Road Clarkesville, GA 706-754-7295 glenella.com

White Oaks Manor 211 Burgundy Way Dahlonega, Ga 706-867-6697 www.whiteoaksbarn.com/

Sautee Mountain Retreat 595 GA-255 Clarkesville, GA 404-985-7859 www.sauteemountainretreat.com

Cavender Castle 121 Cavender Castle Drive Dahlonega, Ga 706-864-8594 www.cavendercastle.com

Brasstown Valley Resort 6321 U.S. 76 Young Harris, GA 706-379-9900 www.brasstownvalley.com/

Frog Town Winery 700 Ridge Point Drive Dahlonega, Ga 706-865-0687 www.frogtown.us Three Sisters Winery 439 Vineyard Way Dahlonega, Ga 706-865-9463 www.threesistersvineyards.com Densmore Farm 852 New Bridge Road Cleveland, GA 706-969-2200 www.thedensmorefarm.com/

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Braselton-Stover House 5257 GA-53 Braselton, GA 706-654-5405 www.braseltonstoverhouse.com/ Alpine Wedding Chapel Munich Strasse Helen, GA 706-878-5683 www.alpineweddingchapel.com/ Cornelia Community House 601 Wyly St., Cornelia, GA 706-778-8585 www.corneliageorgia.org

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Lanier Islands is a popular wedding destination. Located on the southern edge of Lake Lanier, it offers some 20 venues throughout the 1,500-acre resort for the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and reception.

options. For more information, visit www. lanierislands.com/weddings Convenience and charm are what Gainesville Civic Center offers couples planning their special day. The city’s firstclass facility offers a variety of spaces, from intimate and cozy to the Grand Ballroom.

Located along Gainesville’s historic Green Street, the Civic Center is convenient to Downtown Gainesville and numerous accommodation options. For assistance booking your event, call 770.531.2680 or email civiccentermanager@gainesville.org Another option nestled in the mountains of Northeast Georgia, Chota Falls offers a scenic 150-acre wedding site in Rabun County for outdoor, mountain views, waterfall and vineyard chapel weddings and receptions, as well as marriage vow renewal ceremonies. Chota Falls offers several customized wedding packages for your ceremony. Whether you are considering an intimate afternoon gathering for a dozen or an elaborate exclusive weekend-long event with several hundred guests, you may just decide this idyllic award-winning mountain getaway is perfectly suited to your needs.

An online testimonial from Sabrina and Josh W reads, “Blessed with unrivaled natural beauty and imbued with a powerful spiritual essence, the 150-acre estate affords visitors its magnificent waterfalls and miles

of secluded paths that meander alongside pristine mountain creeks and flowing streams. Multiple facilities can provide a range of spectacular settings for your unique and most memorable venues. It was more than we could have ever hoped for.”

For more information, visit www.

Chotafalls.com Another choice for celebrating in nature is the Juliette Chapel nestled on a wooded site in the Appalachian foothills of Dahlonega. If charming and intimate are what you a looking for, consider the chapel.

If you love the great outdoors, you’ll appreciate the rustic, yet elegant facilities that celebrate simplicity and the beauty of nature all around.

The staff says the site is suited for intimate gatherings of up to 70 seated guests, or more for strolling, cocktail receptions. The facility is rented by the day and includes use of the chapel, reception building and outdoor spaces. You are welcome to utilize their package offerings or handle the details yourself by utilizing their local vendor list. For more details visit www.juliettechapel.com In Cornelia, Community House is a popular wedding locale. Built in the 1930s, the building overlooks Big City Park with landscaped grounds and a large rock fountain on the front lawn.

The Community House offers with

2,500 square feet of space on each level.

The newly renovated building features a commercial kitchen and an elevator. The entry hall greets guests with a stone stacked fireplace. For more information, visit the city’s website at www.corneliageorgia.org The Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville – A Smithgall Woodland Legacy – offers brides and grooms one of the newest venue options in North Georgia.

In addition to the woodland gardens, the Gainesville location offers a variety of options for private rentals. Say “I do” under a cathedral of trees with woodland blooms or host a party inside the striking event space overlooking a terrace pond.

Contact the Private Events team for more information or to schedule a visit by calling 404-888-4762 or emailing mrichards2@atlantabg.org North Georgia is home to numerous vineyards and wineries that can make for beautiful wedding and reception venues.

Area parks offer outdoor settings and of course North Georgia is blessed with beautiful churches ranging from quaint and charming to large and magnificent.

What’s important is to find that place that speaks to your heart and matches your budget and then get it booked as soon as possible because many get reserved far in advance.

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tradition breaking

While classic and chic never go out of style, there’s a growing number of brides embracing color, flair and even sexy in their wedding gowns and ensembles

By Charlotte Atkins

Photos by Carrie Jean Photography

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The Gown: After the wedding Ah, the wedding dress. So many careful hours of research, fitting and refitting for only a few hours of glory.

But once your special day comes and goes, deciding what to do with the gown can be a difficult choice for many brides. Should you keep it stored away as a memento of your wedding day or let it go?

Keep It

When deciding to keep your gown, it’s important to determine why. Are you hoping to one day hand over your dress to your daughter or a niece? If so, then keeping the gown in a basement, attic or back of the closet may not be an ideal storage option.

Garment professionals recommend you properly clean and store your gown for optimal life span. Simply shutting it away and forgetting about it can lead to a ragged, faded garment after even a short period of time.

Danny Dunagan, Gainesville mayor and owner of Three D Cleaners, says it’s important to have your wedding gown professionally cleaned and preserved after the wedding.

Three D has for 34 years offered wedding gown services, from dress preservation to pressing and dry cleaning.

“Wedding dresses not properly cleaned and stored in acid-free chambers will yellow over time,” says Dunagan. “A dress, to be preserved, has to be cleaned and free of any food or beverage stains before putting away. The majority of the dresses that we preserve are both dry cleaned to remove certain stains like lipstick, perfume or body oils and then wet cleaned to remove stains that the dry cleaning process may not remove and then carefully inspected and put in an acid-free wedding box.”

Donate It

If you have no future plans to give away your dress to a family member or friend, why not donate it to charity?

Organizations like Brides Against Breast Cancer use donated dresses to put on their Nationwide Tour of Gowns effort, which raises funds to contribute to programs for cancer patients and their families.

Check in with North Georgia charitable organizations or consignment shops to see if there is a need for donated dresses in your area.

Sell It

Vanessa Henderson’s red two-piece wedding jumpsuit with a detachable satin train is a bold, vivid choice for a wedding ensemble.

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Another option for your gown after your wedding is selling it to make back some of your own costs. This may be a great option if the dress is valuable and if the company you bought it from has a flexible buy-back program.

There are also a variety of online options for selling your gown. Many companies buy and sell pre-owned wedding dresses – just don’t expect to get top-dollar out of these bargain services.

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Rita Workman of Hana Couture turns classic white into a statement with this mermaid-style wedding dress featuring satin and lace panels. The top is adorned with a crystal trim and a Swarovski crystal pear stone. The back is a corset lace

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he centerpiece of most weddings is the bride and her gown. Few will dispute that what to wear is usually a well-thought-out choice that reflects the bride’s personal style and taste.

Whether designer or off the rack, traditional white or ivory still dominate. But the truth is many brides are breaking with tradition and going bold and colorful and even sexy.

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Attendees at the Gainesville Civic Center’s 2016 Bridal Expo were treated to an inspiring wedding fashion showcase that illustrated just how stunning breaking with tradition can truly be.

Oakwood Occasions partnered with fellow expo sponsors Carrie Jean Photography, American Spa and Salon, Greg Hall & Company as well as several

jewelry, custom shoe and veil and headpiece designers to put both nontraditional and traditional looks on parade.

The Bridal Fashion WOW Show – featuring designs by Vanessa Henderson of The House of Van Miller and Rita Workman of Hana Couture – was fresh, exciting and exemplified the diversity in today’s bride and today’s bridal fashion.

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Henderson is known for her timeless designs, sophisticated knot dresses and couture aesthetic. Designing has always been her life’s passion. Over the years, she’s gained recognition for her cutting-edge bridal looks in many shades and colors. Now at Van Miller, she’s making her mark with her trendsetting designs, couture opulence and comfortable yet edgy ready-to-wear ensembles.

Among those looks on display at the Gainesville expo was a red two-piece wedding jumpsuit ensemble with a detachable satin train. Another was a yellow silk strapless sunflower gown with large hoop. Then there was the hot pink floral print dress for the bride who loves flowers.

“The appeal of nontraditional gowns in 2016 is they allow a bride to be as formal or as casual as she wants to be,” said Henderson. “I find that more and more brides have moved away from the big church affair on the weekend to any day of the week. My gowns allow them to choose their own color and style.”

Workman’s designs are inspired by everything that surrounds her – colors, shapes and art. Her focus is to create custom wedding dresses that enhance the beauty and uniqueness of each bride.

“I feel that every bride deserves to choose her look for that special day. Some brides are more exuberant; therefore they want to be different and go with a nontraditional approach,” says Workman. “I think most brides stay with the traditional look, because they spent all of their youth planning for the dream wedding and a traditional dress is always part of the dream.”

She says her approach depends on the case. “If it is a custom design, I want to listen to the bride and her desire to recreate her love story with the gown. When I create a dress for a collection, I get my inspiration from everything around me, but I always focus on what a bride may want for her special day.”

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This yellow silk strapless sunflower gown by designer Vanessa Henderson of Van Miller, showcased in front of the Gainesville Civic Center, features a large hoop skirt.

So while classic, chic and traditional never goes out of style, there’s a growing trend of brides who love color, flair and the opportunity to add their unique personality to their wedding.

Sexy is in, too, for some brides.

Sexy in bridal gowns isn’t new, but barely there looks have leaped off the celebrity backs of Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez and made their way from red carpet to wedding.

What about scandalizing your grandmother, priest or old Uncle Harry? Can you look good on your big day while quenching your thirst for ooh-la-la trends and appeasing the more demure gathered for your wedding?

Absolutely, designers and bridal experts said. Others are more pointed: Be yourself and to heck with what anybody else thinks.

Of course, we don’t all have the bodies — and lifestyles — of Bey, Kim and J. Lo at a time when attention to the body in bridal as opposed to the dress

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Three D Cleaners

has increased.

“It’s more about the body now,” said Vera Wang, whose spring 2016 bridal lookbook is filled with sexy sheers that show all. “What we’re trying to do more is really capture a certain sense of intimacy in body language.”

So how do we adapt sexy illusion looks, sheers and cutouts to our shapes, as well as to any outside pressures for a more modest approach?

There’s strapless, for instance, and then there’s plunging in necklines and backs.

If you’re looking to make a statement up top but need a bit more coverage for certain relatives, or the church, mosque or synagogue, add-on pieces are plentiful and a lot more stylish than they used to be, said Anja Winikka, site director for the bridal world’s TheKnot.com.

“The idea that ‘it’s my rite

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Preserving Gowns for 34 Years 3623 Mount Vernon Rd. 678-450-4857 1865 Thompson Bridge Rd. 770-503-0084 1290 Thompson Bridge Rd. NE 770-534-2172 1550 Limestone Pkwy.

770-536-1299

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Association News & Events Designer Rita Workman shows that traditional can merge with of passage and I’ll translate a trend the way I want’ includes some pretty sexy styles,” she said. “You can add a stole or a cardigan without spoiling your look.”

Elle Strauss, fashion director for Brides magazine, urged brides who plan to plunge to pull back elsewhere. “If you’re going to do a plunging neckline, keep everything else really simple and chic,” she suggested.

“The hair and makeup. You’re not necessarily going to do a full lip or too much eye makeup.

The plunging component is your statement.”

Sexy is one thing, Winikka said, but surveys done by TheKnot.com show that more brides respond to questions about their dresses with: “I just want to look like me.”

Ultimately, Strauss said, a bride has to be true to herself when choosing a gown. “You should dress for yourself,” she added. “You shouldn’t be worrying about Uncle Harry.

This is your red carpet day.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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sassy in this ballgown-style wedding dress featuring several layers of tulle and satin and Chantilly lace adorned with Swarovski crystal.

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Make it a wedding weekend getaway: Learn more about our exclusive spa packages, world-class Legacy Golf Course, renowned lakeside restaurants... and so much more!

Set upon the shores of stunning Lake Sidney Lanier, nestled in the foothills of North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Lanier Islands is the epitome of romance. With the magnificent lake views and luxurious accommodations, you will feel worlds away, while staying conveniently close to home. Lanier Islands Weddings provides a breathtaking backdrop for memories that will last a lifetime.

7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA 30518 770.945.8787 • www.LanierIslands.com

Call one of our wedding consultants today!

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5 BRIDES & GROOMS

secrets to being the best maid of honor

BY SOLVEJ SCHOU | Associated Press toast.

The first time she gave one of those speeches, at age 27, it was “terrible,” too improvised. She nailed it this last time, she said, by sticking to a friend’s advice: Tell stories.

Her best friend loved it.

“The guests could not stop laughing, and her husband still jokes that she did not shed a single tear the entire wedding

Jennifer Paik has been a maid of honor not once, not twice, but an impressive four times, most recently for her childhood best friend’s Newport Beach, California, yacht wedding three years ago.

The hardest part of the gig, according to the 34-year-old New York City real estate consultant? Writing and delivering the maid of honor’s wedding

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except during my speech!” Paik said.

Five more tips from wedding experts on how to be a good maid of honor:

SUPPORT THE BRIDE While a maid of honor has many traditional duties, from helping the bride shop for a dress to organizing the bridal shower — plus holding the wedding bouquet and the groom’s ring — her main role is making sure the bride is happy.

So be enthusiastic.

“Even if the ideas the bride has sound horrible to you and are not your style, remember that to her they’re great,” said wedding planner Elizabeth Brandon, owner of the Los Angeles-based Wink!

Weddings. “Try to take everything with a grain of salt. This day is about her.”

On the day of the wedding, ask the bride for a list of the people with whom she’d like to interact, since she’ll be bombarded all day. If her new mother-in-law ticked her off during the week, steer her away from the bride, said Brandon.

“You can take the mother-in-law over to that amazing cookie bar while the bride stays on the dance floor with her champagne and is happy,” she said.

EASY ON SHOWER AND BACHELORETTE PARTY

Being head bridesmaid means running interference between the bride and her other bridesmaids or any meddling family members.

“Be kind to your bride and help with internal squabbles among the bridesmaids,” said Yolanda Crous, features and travel director of Brides Magazine. Get together with the other bridesmaids and let everyone vent, she says. “Feel free to let loose.”

“It can be super-easy to get carried away and plan a bridal shower that you think is perfect and would make Martha Stewart proud. But if it’s one the bride doesn’t want, you would be in a world of trouble,” Brandon said.

She warned against any out-of-left-field “ta-dah!” moments, such as a surprise dance that could make a bride want to sprint for the hills.

And don’t be afraid to ask the bride for help if your schedule is packed.

“You might say, ‘Can I have a couple of bridesmaids co-host with me?’” said Brandon, who planned her own LA wedding 11 months ago. She chose her then 20-year-old sister as her maid of honor, and asked one of her best friends to organize the shower.

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BE A BUFFER

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MAKE THE BRIDAL SUITE FUN, CLEAN, WELL-STOCKED On the day of the wedding, the bridal suite is home base for the bride and her bridesmaids to get ready.

Have an emergency kit on hand in case she spills something, loses a button or needs a bobby pin, said Crous.

“Bring some snacks,” and keep the bride and bridesmaids from drinking too much, she added.

Brandon suggested making “the best getting-ready music playlist ever.” And tidy up afterward.

KEEP TOAST SHORT AND SWEET Finally, when it comes time to hoist the Champagne and toast the bride, keep it short, said Crous, and don’t embarrass her.

“Don’t do the thing where you dredge up things from the bride’s past to be funny,” she said. “Humor is great! But be funny and kind. You’re better off doing something simple and emotional and from the heart.”

For Paik, being there for her friend of 25 years was more than worth the effort.

“Though she would be the first to describe herself as neurotic and demanding, she was the ideal bride — decisive, mindful of everyone’s time and money, and flexible,” Paik said.

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Picture perfect 5 questions you should ask wedding photographers before you hire them

Your wedding photos are perhaps the most important keepsake from your wedding. That is why it is necessary to make sure the people you hire to photograph your big day are not only highly qualified, but have the creative ability to tell your story through imagery.

By Carrie Jean

Photos by Carrie Jean Photography

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our wedding day is the most important day in your life. It’s a day that every girl dreams of from the moment that they realize the existence of boys and fairytales.

Some girls plan their dream wedding day from the time that they are very young, and when their prince charming finally arrives, they are more than ready to put their wedding plans into action.

All of the work, research and coordination that goes into every single detail of a bride’s dream wedding day has taken hours, days, months and even years of research and planning. Why would you not want to make sure that every single memory, moment of wonder, smile, laugh and tear is captured just as you remember it?

Not a moment or detail is missed. That is why it is necessary to make sure the people you hire to document your big day are not only highly qualified, but have the creative ability to not only capture your day, and are able to tell your story through imagery in a unique and stylish way. They are responsible for creating your first family heirloom! They need to treat your day as a precious gift. because that is exactly what it is.

That is why it is important to really get to know your wedding photographer to ensure they not only are highly skilled, qualified and experienced, but that their personality clicks well with both of yours.

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If they cannot get you to crack a smile during conversation, then how are they supposed to instruct you through posing and movement to genuinely capture your true emotions on that day?

With this in mind, it is important that you know who will be working for you and that their style and the caliber of their work meets the expectations that you have for how your wedding day should be captured.

When meeting with potential photographers – there are several key questions that you should consider asking :

1. How many weddings have your photographed in your career?

It is important to know that the photographer you are hiring does have experience. If you have looked through their website, Facebook, Instagram, etc. and all you are seeing is the same three to five photos circling through, then it’s probably safe to say that this photographer has very little experience and is still working on developing a portfolio, skill and style.

An amateur photographer who has little or no experience could be a very big risk and miss out on a special moment.

So if you are to hire an amateur photographer, be sure you are aware of those risks. This is not to say that hiring an amateur or inexperienced photographer is a bad idea, as it may save you money overall, but they may miss something key to your day due to lack of experience.

When researching photographers, the key representative of the quality of work is a portfolio. It represents their artistic style, skill level and ability to capture key elements of the day – from details shots of the rings, the dress and flowers to key moments, such as the look on the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time, their first kiss, first dance and the cake cut. These moments

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cannot be replaced, and being sure the photographer’s style matches what you are wanting to represent your day is highly important and should be seriously considered as a major factor in deciding who you should go with.

2. How would you describe your weddingphotography style?

A photographer’s shooting style is a key indicator on whether they will capture your day the way your wanting.

If the photographer’s style is more photojournalistic, they may prefer to blend into the background of the day and capture what unfolds naturally.

Another photographer who is more choreographed may prefer to take on the approach of organizing and taking charge of the scenes, posing groups together and setting up creative shots. This type of photographer has no problem getting to know your Memaw

and playing with your niece and nephew to make them comfortable enough with the situation before taking photos of them.

Make sure the photographer you hire has a style that you like and that reflects what you want represented for your wedding day. This involves not only how they approach shooting the day, but that style also might involve how they edit images after they are taken. It is a good idea to understand what the editing style is. Usually this can be identified by reviewing work on their Web and Facebook page and making sure it is appealing to you. If their shooting and editing style does not draw you into the story the images tell, how could they possibly do the story of your day justice?

3. What is included in your wedding packages?

It is important to know what a photographer has to

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offer you so you know exactly what you are paying for. Some photographers offer only the coverage of the wedding day and a disc of images.

Other photographers include additional items such as a wedding albums, prints and engagement and/or bridal sessions in their wedding packages.

Be sure you have a clear understanding of everything that is being included in the package, and what is not being included. Never assume things are going to be included in the package if they are not noted in the paperwork/contract. This is one mistake many brides make in assuming every photographer and studio are alike and work under the same pricing and package design.

It is the photographer’s responsibility to explain everything to you included in the package. But if there is anything that doesn’t makes sense or that you do not understand, it is your

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responsibility to ask questions.

Never be afraid to ask questions to get a better understanding. It is definitely better to be sure of everything than to find out later that something you thought or assumed would be included is not.

4. Do you provide a contract of your services?

Most photographers will provide a contract you need review in detail before signing.

It is important to review each portion of the contract to ensure you understand what you are agreeing to. There often is fine print with specific details covering such items as deposit amount, what the plan is if the photographer were to become ill or is unavailable on the wedding day, as well as what the stipulations are if the wedding is canceled. This should also include the package breakdown, as well as insurance coverages, liabilities and any other specifics the photographer may choose to include.

5. What kind of products are available for purchase after the wedding? Do you have samples I can see?

Many photographers include additional items in their packages. It is important to consider what they have and what they are making available for you to purchase. Do they offer a wedding album? Do they offer wall items such as canvas, acrylic or metal prints? Do they offer small prints?

These are all things you may not think about right away but you will want to consider for purchase after the wedding day.

Artwork items can display your wedding day and tell your story with beautiful imagery and high quality products. These items are your first family heirlooms you will pass down to your children and grandchildren someday. One day these items will be all they own of you! Be sure that they are able to have something that represents you and your style, as well as the

beautiful imagery itself.

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life (so far)! It is a day you as a bride have dreamed about, planned, prayed about and practiced for since you were a little girl. Why leave capturing this momentous occasion, a once-in-a-lifetime moment, to chance? Make sure you

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know the person or team you are hiring to capture it. They should take time to get to know you and your fiancé. They should really have the desire to learn about you and your love story to truly be able to retell that beautiful story to someone else through their imagery.

Don’t leave your memories to chance!

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Look for a creative location for a bridal shower.

Liberty Candy in Flowery branch was a sweet choice.

S

From left, Amber Reese, Piper Densmore, Kim Reese and Noel Reese at Piper’s shower.

omething sweet Creative suggestions for bridal showers

“My favorite color is pink, and I have a major sweet tooth, so Liberty Candy Company was the perfect place to kick off this season of wedding festivities,” said honoree Piper Densmore.

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By Charlotte Atkins Friends of brides have long staged and hosted creative bridal shower experiences that are remembered for years to come.

That’s why when Kim Reese was looking for a special theme and venue for her friend Piper Densmore’s bridal shower, she thought about Liberty Candy Company on Main Street in Flowery Branch.

The charming boutique, where hand-crafted artisan chocolates and candy share space with vintage candy brands from decades gone by, offered a sweet backdrop for Piper and her friends and family to gather and celebrate.

“My two daughters, Noel and AmberLeigh, and I hosted the shower,” said Kim. “I knew I wanted to do something different and since it seems showers have become more activity driven, I immediately thought of Karen and Liberty Candy as she has helped me with other special projects and has always been more than accommodating.”

Shower activities included games, such as guess the number of candies in a jar and a ring toss type game where the guests tried to get a ring around a jar full of candy, as well as food and gifts. A highlight of the party was when the guests made their own chocolate hearts

2016

One shower activity included making candy.

Bride-to-be Piper Densmore flanked by Michelle Densmore, left, and Kim Reese.

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with molds. They got to pick what type of chocolate (white, dark or milk, or a combination), as well as their mix-in’s, such as potato chips and nuts.

“Karen was great to work with the bride’s color scheme and served lollies and chocolate-covered Oreos that fit the theme perfectly! She also made sweet gift bags for the ladies to take home with a custom sticker for the event, as well as candy in the color scheme.”

After having recently served as her sister-in-law’s maid of honor, Piper appreciated a hostess who sought the most unique and fun venue possible.

“When Kim presented the idea of having it at Liberty Candy Company, I was ecstatic. My favorite color is pink, and I have a major sweet tooth, so Liberty Candy Company was the perfect place to kick off this season of wedding festivities. Liberty had opened around the time I was living and working in Flowery Branch after college, and I loved stopping in and picking up treats to take to my sweet fiance in Savannah,” said Piper. “From the recently updated facade, to the pink and white interior décor, it’s the perfect place for a girly get-together. Tasting treats as well as actually making treats made this

bridal shower as memorable and fun for my guests as it was for me.”

Liberty Candy owner Karen Ching said the bridal shower was a hit.

“The bride’s colors are pink and gold, so table runners, balloons and decorations were easily color coordinated. We even had gold and pink chocolate-covered shower favors. Among other games, we had a chocolate-making activity in the candy kitchen, letting them make their own chocolate heart or candy bar,” she said. “It was so much fun and such a great group of people.

The bride was truly glowing and smiling the entire evening.”

Here are some things to remember when throwing a bridal shower: ■■ Decide on a date that is ideal for attendees — usually a weekend day when getting off of work isn’t an issue.

■■ Choose your venue and make sure you book it months ahead of time.

There’s nothing worse that having to go to your backup plan just because you didn’t plan ahead.

■■ Plan (and stick to) your budget.

Set a budget for the entire event and make sure you follow it during both the planning and execution phases. Fellow bridesmaids or friends will likely pitch in to help you avoid overspending on this special event.

Shower Ideas Spa Party

A spa bridal shower is a great way to relax the bride during this anxious time. Consider booking your local spa or hiring a couple of professionals to come to you. A DIY spa station could include a massage table, a facial space and a mani-pedi seat. Be sure to play relaxing music and deck your place out with soothing decorations.

Wine Tasting

North Georgia is home to numerous wineries. So you could do your event at one of the area wineries. Or you could do brunch somewhere and then rent a limo or van and then do a bit of wine tasting at areal tasting rooms. Check online at www.georgiawine. com for wineries in your area.

Food Party

What bride doesn’t love food — especially healthy food to help her stay trim and fit for her special day?

Set up a food-themed party to let your guests indulge on deli sandwiches, cheese and

crackers, vegetables and fruit salads.

Perfume Bar

If your venue allows it, a perfume bar is a unique addition to your bridal shower.

This is a great complement to a spa location. Ask the company’s management if they would permit you to put together a table area full of perfumes for sampling throughout the shower.

Garden Party

North Georgia is scenic pretty much any season of the year, but spring, summer and fall all offer the chance for outdoor events. A garden party can be set up on the lawn with a white tent in numerous back yards. One of the most notable gardens in North Georgia is the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville. You can contact the Private Events team at 404-888-4762 or mrichards2@ atlantabg.org Just use your imagination to create a special shower experience for the bride so that it will become part of her special wedding memories!

Liberty Candy worked with the bride’s color scheme and served chocolatecovered Oreos and lollies.

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Hitched

without a hitch Wedding planners can make your big day easier

By Charlotte Atkins

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2016

While there are resourceful DIY brides out there who revel in creating every detail of their weddings, and Pinterest may make it look easy, many find that having the help of wedding professionals can lessen the stress of a stressful day. They make sure the celebration and ceremony go as planned so that brides and grooms can simply get married and enjoy the day without fretting logistics and details.

Dannella Burnett of Oakwood Occasions is a full-service event planner. She recommends enlisting a professional planner for weddings.

The best way to find the right one for you is to ask those who have gotten married of late or who have attended weddings.

“Word of mouth is probably the most common and best way to find wedding planners to interview,” she said. “Ask friends whose weddings you enjoyed attending as a guest or that had a similar look and feel as the wedding in your vision or where you saw the bride simply enjoying her day with the comfort and knowledge that the details were in good hands.”

She says the right planner can save couples money, both with preferred pricing with other vendors or by making sure monies are spent filling in gaps between vendors and by avoiding overlap or unnecessary expenses.

“The ability to enjoy their wedding and allow family members/friends to enjoy the wedding as well without the worry of the details on the day of the wedding,” is why couples should consider a wedding planner,

Burnett explains. “While brides may have been dreaming of their wedding since they were little girls, this is the real thing and it’s going to happen one time. A planner can make sure it happens true to the bride’s vision.

The right planner will preserve their money, their message and their mind!”

What qualities should you look for in a planner?

“Someone with experience, a planner

who asks a lot of questions and listens for your answers,” Burnett says. “A planner who is confident enough to share their recommendations with you on vendor selection, budget, timeline, planning, but listens to you and finds the right answers for your vision, budget and remembers it’s your wedding. The planner will leave an impression on your day, same as the officiant, the photographer, the DJ/musicians. The right selection of these key players is important.”

Here’s Burnett’s suggestion for questions to ask: ■■ Does the planner work alone or are there others on their team?

■■ Are they a licensed business and do they carry insurance?

■■ Will they coordinate the rehearsal as well as be on site for the full day of the wedding?

■■ How often will you meet or review details?

■■ Will you meet in person or over the phone?

■■ What experience do they have?

■■ What are some of their best experiences with weddings/planning?

■■ What is an example of something that went very wrong and how did they handle it?

■■ Can they provide references?

■■ Ask for a written proposal of what services are included in pricing, and what may be additional charges.

Burnett says she considers it an honor to get to help brides and grooms create their wedding day and to allow them to “simply enjoy the experience as it unfolds.”

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2016

Bradee &Drew

Aderholt

A couple’s wedding day perspective

By Charlotte Atkins All brides and grooms want their wedding day to be perfect. Perfect is in the eye of the beholder, of course.

Memorable and meaningful might be a better goal.

That was how Bradee Burrell Aderholt approached her big day. She had been counseled to soak up the details and not let the day be a blur. So she did. Here are some of the memories that stand out for her now: ■■ “Everything seemed absolutely perfect in my eyes. Starting off with getting ready with my bridesmaids, to dancing the night away with them. Normally the next line would say “and everything in between was a blur” but it was just the opposite. I was given great advice to soak up every second — and that is just what I did.”

■■ “Seeing Drew tear up during our first look was exactly what I had wanted to happen (I hope I’m not the only girl who wants to see their future husband cry during the first look). There is just something that gets me when a man who normally doesn’t show

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The big day

Bride: Wedding Day doesn’t have to be a blur.

Groom: But it will be exhausting.

2016

Photos by It’s The Reason Photography

any emotion cries.”

“Family is very important to me and I wanted to have a “moment” with each of them on my wedding day. My mother, who is my absolute best friend, was there to watch the curls go up, the makeup painted on, button the buttons on my dress and place the handmade veil in my hair. She prayed over me before the ceremony, and gave me a high five right after I got married, then danced the night away with me on the dance floor.

■■ “Having these moments with her and many more on the wedding day made my heart so full because she worked just as hard as I did to make my wedding day the best it could be.

There is just nobody like my momma.”

■■ “My sweet daddy. He wanted to help in any way possible on the wedding planning, but

my momma and I kept telling him “Don’t worry about it! We got it.” So to truly include him in the wedding planning, for Christmas I gave him dance lessons to practice our first dance to “My Girl” by the Temptations. We must have practiced our dance every night for weeks and weeks while momma filmed us.

“Talk about making a memory! I would put my feet on his shoes, like I used to do when I was a little girl, and dance the night away. (I realize I have said dance the night away three times already, but that is the truth; we love to dance!) It was so incredibly special when “My Girl” started playing at our wedding for the “daddydaughter” dance. He swung me around like a princess for the three minutes and 48 seconds of the song and we had an

absolute ball!”

■■ “The last part of my wedding day and probably the most memorable part occurred right after my dad gave me away. Instead of going to sit beside my momma, he walked up on stage and sang with my favorite quartet from our church. They sang the song “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” which was the song sang at my parents wedding in 1980. How my dad walked me down the aisle, gave me away, and then got on stage to sing in front of nearly 300 people is just beside me. He is incredible.”

The reason perfection may be an unrealistic goal is that with weddings there are so many details and sometimes things happen beyond our control. Even though the Burrell-Aderholt wedding looked to be picture perfect there was still room

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Bradee made sure she had good family photos from their wedding day. This favorite has the newly wed couple and their parents kissing. Left are Tim and Kim Aderholt and on the right are Steve and Carol Burrell.

for surprises.

Bradee’s and Drew’s came in the form of shoes. This is more a lesson for the groom.

“Our first unexpected situation happened with Drew’s shoes. He normally wears a size 11, but his tux shoes were two sizes too small. The problem was he did not try his shoes on until the day of the wedding, so there wasn’t any time to get him the correct size. Plan B consisted of Drew wearing his black penny loafers from high school. I am a shoe fanatic, so I instantly noticed the shoes during our first look and that’s when he told me the story. Hey, if that is the only thing to go wrong on our wedding day/planning process then I’m one lucky girl!”

In retrospect, Bradee says the No. 1 thing she wished she had planned better were the photographs.

“I wish I had planned better for the pictures! I put together a list of the types of pictures I wanted and gave it to my photographers. They did an excellent job of fulfilling my requests. However, where I messed up was when I only requested mostly candid photos and portrait photos with our families. I desperately wish I got more portrait photos of Drew and me. Those are the type of photos we will want to look back on — not to mention they are timeless. I still

regret it to this very day. Whatever you do brides, please get some portrait photos!”

From Drew’s perspective, he says he had no idea how tired he was going to be after the big day.

“I wish I would have known just how exhausting the day was going to be. From the pictures (taking pictures isn’t my favorite thing to do) to trying to talk to 200 plus guests, to dancing, and then just the general emotions I was experiencing. I was absolutely drained by the end of the day.”

Since Bradee and her mom planned most of the wedding, Drew said he didn’t have to do much heavy lifting.

“The main thing I had to do was plan our honeymoon and convince Bradee to let me pick the song for our first dance. She insisted we dance to a song that was a little too girly for me. In the end, she let me choose our song and I surprised her with it. We were building a house while planning our wedding so we both agreed that I would handle the building process, and she would handle the wedding planning.”

Brides and grooms will tell you that navigating the guest list and guest and family dynamics is sometimes the most challenging part of the wedding celebration. And many couples would like to have more people join

in their celebrations, but budget and logistics simply do not make that possible. So tough choices have to be made.

For Drew and Bradee, they took on their guest list during a road trip and made the most of their travel time. Says Drew, “Shortly after Bradee and I got engaged we went on a trip to the beach. Our six-hour car ride consisted of Bradee creating a guest list, which ultimately ended with an Excel spreadsheet of 650-plus names. The guest list was the most stressful part for Bradee and her parents, so I did my best to just go with the flow and be of any help I could.

Bradee started to narrow people down by groups on her side of the guest list, and if she needed to cut people on my side of the list, she would simply ask. If I didn’t want to take that certain person off the list, I would try to find someone else I could remove. It all worked out in the end.”

The bottom line is this day is the beginning of the bride’s and groom’s marriage. The planning process is part of the journey, but ultimately it is a celebration of their love.

But as Bradee points out, it shouldn’t be a blur. Take the time to savor the moments with family, with friends ... and most of all with each other.

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2016

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2016

Past & present

Celebrate your way, with nod to traditions

By MELISSA RAYWORTH | Associated Press

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2016

Your wedding day? It’s “your” day. It’s all about you.

Your wedding day? Your mother has been planning it since the day you were born.

It can be challenging to celebrate your unique romance while somehow pleasing — or at least not alienating — your relatives. Do you plan the traditional ceremony and reception that your family might recommend (what’s wrong with a poufy white gown and platters of prime rib?) or do you break the mold, and perhaps some hearts, by doing something completely different?

Fortunately, today’s trend toward personalized weddings can make it easier to blend past and present for couples willing to get creative.

Five ways to bring some family tradition into your wedding while staying true to your vision for the day:

The religious (or not so religious) ceremony Your parents may prefer a more (or less) religious ceremony, or they may expect a different religious tradition to be the focus of the day.

Some brides and grooms have found ways to straddle the line by incorporating religious traditions sensitively and selectively.

“Religious elements are always the greatest sign of respect for your elders and family,” says California-based wedding planner Deborah Moody.

“You can bring in that cultural, historic part of who you are,” she says, without having a fully religious wedding ceremony.

Britni de la Cretaz and her husband, Ben, opted to get married in a Cambridge, Mass., restaurant rather than at a synagogue. But after researching the meaning of the chuppah, the Jewish wedding canopy, they decided to include one in their ceremony. They also signed a ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract, but opted for a secular humanist text in English that spoke of their mutual commitment.

“My family would have preferred that we have a more

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Jewish ceremony,” de la Cretaz says. But “we wanted the ceremony to represent all parts of ourselves and ultimately, it was our day.”

Your style, with heirlooms Melanie Tannenbaum Hepler was just 3 when her grandmother died, leaving her a necklace to be worn on her wedding day.

Hepler loved the sentiment, but the necklace wasn’t her style.

Her mother suggested having the pendant sewn inside Hepler’s gown for her wedding on Long Island, N.Y., in 2014.

Christy Cates plans to honor her deceased parents in a similar way at her upcoming wedding.

She is choosing a new gown that she likes, but “I have the lace from my mother’s dress and a piece of my father’s shirt that I am going to have sewn into my dress,” she says. Both pieces are heart-shaped.

Cates and her fiance, William Russell, also designed their own engagement ring, but used a stone belonging to his mother and added the same engraving that her parents put on their wedding rings: Eternal Love.

“I love that it’s a new family heirloom,” she says.

Kirsten Han and her husband, Calum Stuart, celebrated their very modern, global relationship by marrying in a cathedral in his native Scotland. He wore a kilt, while she wore a white gown for their ceremony and changed into a Peranakan kebaya gown from her native Singapore for the reception.

“I wasn’t brought up Peranakan myself,” she says, “but because I’m really close to my granddad, it felt right. My bridesmaids had the regular ‘Western’ gowns, but Peranakan brooches and jewelry.”

Beyond dresses and jewelry, Moody, who is executive director of the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants, also encourages clients to bring family history into the reception through decorative fabrics. Consider using white tablecloths with table runners made from a traditional fabric that echoes your heritage, she says. This “conversation

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starter for guests” brings “the culture into the reception without it being a dominant theme.”

Family-inspired foods Traditional foods or family recipes can be incorporated into part of the reception without dominating the event.

Think small bites during cocktail hour, on a dessert table or even as a midnight snack to keep the party going.

“My grandmother, who I was incredibly close to, was a major chocoholic. So we had nice chocolates on all the tables and served a chocolate cake,” says Julia Moss, who got married last month in southern California. To honor her grandfather, a baker who “made the world’s best banana cream pie, we gave little jars of banana cream pudding to all our guests.”

She explained the connections in short paragraphs in the wedding program.

Honoring lost loved ones There are many ways to honor loved ones who have died: pictures set in empty chairs, charms of remembrance on the bouquet, poetry readings.

Rebecca Bridge chose a venue in the Smokey Mountains to honor her deceased mother, who loved the area. Her ceremony, while not traditionally religious, included the Lord’s Prayer to honor her mom and fiance Mike Pantoliano’s deceased grandparents.

Serena Markstrom Nugent’s creative approach to honoring deceased loved ones at her wedding in Eugene, Ore.: “We made angel wings and wrote the names of the people they represented on them,” she says. “We gave the wings to people who were closest to the departed and asked them to save a seat for them. The wings were designed to rest over the back of the chairs and pews as though someone with wings were sitting there.”

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Photos by Rick and Anna Gordon of Rick+Anna Photography/rickplusanna.com

His & Her

perspectives

Getting married is a special journey for a couple. But the bride and groom often have different takes on the experience.

So newlyweds Gillan and Nathan Ritchie agreed to share their views on their wedding journey ...

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2016

Gillan’s main advice is to consider an all-inclusive venue where all the couple has to do is “show up the day of the wedding and get married.”

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2016

Bride Gillan Ritchie is shown with bridesmaid Jacquelyn Van Buskirk, left, and her maid of honor Danielle Ferguson.

Her perspective When and where did the proposal happen?

Gillan: We decided to celebrate our fiveyear anniversary (Oct. 20, 2014) by going horseback riding at Callihan’s Adventure Trail Rides in Blue Ridge. I remember it being so peaceful – we could see Tennessee across the valley when we reached the top of the mountain on our horses. I think the ride took about an hour, maybe a little more; Nathan had the most laid-back – and slowest -- horse of the bunch that loved to stop and eat every piece of grass. Once we returned, I had gone into the general store to purchase a Mason jar glass and use the restroom. I left the store to look for Nathan. I remember stepping off the front porch, and I could hear him whispering my name. I turned around and he stepped out of the barn with a ring box. He opened the ring box and smiled. The rest is history.

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How did you pick a date?

How did you pick the venue?

Gillan: We always knew that we wanted to get married in October. We had started dating in October, our proposal happened on an anniversary. To say that October has a lot of meaning for us would be an understatement. We also wanted it close to the date of our original anniversary. We had a date in mind when we visited all the venues.

Most of the ones we toured were already booked for certain weekends for October 2015.

Gillan: We toured three venues total: Vinewood Plantation in Newnan, Victoria Belle Mansion and Vintage White Barn in Newnan and Little Gardens in Lawrenceville.

I emailed and called a few more, but they were either out of our price range and never got back to us.

Gillan: There are several things to think about when you are picking a venue such as: ■■ How many people do you plan on inviting?

■■ What is your budget?

■■ Do you want the ceremony and reception at the same location?

■■ Is the venue all-inclusive?

■■ If it isn’t all-inclusive, are there fees for setup and breakdown, or are you responsible for that?

■■ Is there an on-site kitchen if you plan on bringing your own caterer and/or baker?

■■ Does the venue have a license to serve alcohol on the premises?

■■ What is the earliest you can arrive to the venue on the day of your wedding?

I won’t lie; Vinewood Plantation was our No. 1 choice for our venue. It was everything we wanted. It was a beautiful estate nestled in Newnan with a historic

How many venues did you tour?

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farmhouse, rustic barn and ancient pecan tree with rolling hills behind it. It was the perfect location for our rustic October wedding. The venue included vintage pub tables, oak bourbon barrels, strung cafe lights, burlap table runners, hundreds of Mason jars, old ironstone crockery, milk glass vases and tinware pitchers for flowers, metal lanterns, crates, vintage books and a variety of rustic chalkboards.

But that didn’t include anything else such as setup or breakdown, catering, floral arrangements, music or photographers. For an additional fee, the couple that operated the venue would be in charge of setting up and breaking down the ceremony and reception area, but that was very close to the top of our budget and in the end, we had to walk away.

We walked away from our first choice as a venue because we respected our budget. That’s another thing you need to consider when you are picking your venue: budget.

We ended up going with Little Gardens in Lawrenceville. It may have not been our first pick, but it was about compromise. It was a smaller venue, which accommodated our very small guest list; the venue was all-inclusive, so it came with everything but music, photography and an officiate; and it was within our budget.

So we had money left over to put toward our honeymoon.

Once we decided on Little Gardens, we were able to finalize our date based on the venue’s availability for October 2015. We settled on Oct. 25.

What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?

Why? Gillan: I don’t remember most of the wedding day except for my first meal with Nathan.

Our venue actually offered an option where we could dine at a sweetheart table on the second floor undisturbed. We chose to

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have our appetizers and salad upstairs so we could have a few moments together. Then we had a main course downstairs with the rest of the guests.

That moment upstairs away from everyone was the most memorable because I could sit with Nathan, take a breath and live in the moment.

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What was the biggest surprise or unexpected situation to arise during your wedding planning process or your wedding day? How did you deal with it?

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Gillan: We invited 75 people to the wedding and ended up with only 35 coming.

I think we were both a little shocked and disappointed but also stressed; our venue had a food minimum that we had to spend. We were afraid that we wouldn’t be able to meet it.

We didn’t want to spend all of this money on food and then it go to waste. Our reception theme was brunch so we had cheese platters, assorted pastries and breads, bacon and ham, chicken and waffle bites – just to name a few.

Nathan really wanted two things for the wedding: a liveaction omelette station and a cupcake tower, both items he got. We were able to put our extra money toward a second live-action station: crab cakes with hollandaise sauce. The money also covered the costs to pay the two chefs as well as the cupcake tower. It ended up working out because there was basically no food left at the end of the wedding!

The unexpected situation of the wedding day was finding out that the officiate forgot to turn on his mic. Some of the guests were not able to hear him or our vows, so it was a little upsetting, but at the end of the day, there was no way we were able to fix it.

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Any other advice?

Gillan: I would recommend that you really consider an all-inclusive venue. It was so

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great being able to meet with the wedding planner to pick out the menu, knowing it was made all in-house. Nathan picked out most of the foods because I have food allergies and I wasn’t able to eat most of what we wanted to serve to the guests. We didn’t even have to worry about flowers.

We met with the venue’s design studio and they helped us pick out the flowers centerpieces. Nathan and the woman assisting us were a huge help because I really struggled visualizing the end result for the flowers. I ended up letting him pick out most of the flowers because I ended up so overwhelmed. I just knew I wanted shades of orange!

The week of the wedding we dropped off our centerpieces to the design studio and our person effects – photos, guest book, wedding favors, departure favors – to the venue and that was it. Once we dropped off those items, it was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

All Nathan and I had to do was show up the day of the wedding and get married.

I could relax while my hair and makeup were done and actually enjoy the day with my husband, family and friends.

Looking back, we recommend having two photographers the day of your event.

Rick and Anna Gordon of Rick+Anna Photography did our engagement session as well as our wedding. It was wonderful

having two photographers, especially the day of, because they could be in different places getting lots of photos at different angles. Rick was able to focus on Nathan and the guys in the groom suite and outside while Anna focused on the bridesmaids and me. It was less stressful and we got so many wonderful photos.

You’ve read the bride’s perspective on their special day, now flip to page 44 to read the groom’s take on his and Gillan’s rustic fall wedding.

BRIDES & GROOMS

While Gillan enjoyed the festivities of her wedding day, she also relished the quiet moments like her private meal with her groom. “That moment upstairs away from everyone was the most memorable because I could sit with Nathan, take a breath and live in the moment.”

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A handsome stone & log structure built by the CCC in 1936 listed on the National Register

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The Community House, with 2,500 sq. ft. of space, is reasonably priced, and a local favorite for large events. The grounds are nicely landscaped and a large rock fountain graces the front lawn, making it a popular place for outdoor weddings. The newly renovated building features a commercial kitchen and an elevator.

The entry hall greets guests with a stone stacked fireplace.

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Grooms Grooms are often more engaged in the their wedding day than ever before. A trend is that wedding photos often include the groom and groomsmen having fun. Here groom Paul Nuclo and his three groomsmen - stepsons Ross, Wesley and Blake – go a bit gangster.

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By the numbers Much can be discovered by analyzing wedding statistics, including where most people are getting married, how much money they’re budgeting for their reception and how many people they are typically inviting.

These numbers may be helpful to you in planning your own wedding because you can gain an insight into how other people are approaching their own special day.

The Knot, the No. 1 multi-platform wedding resource, every year releases its Real Weddings Survey.

Last year’s edition covered every thinkable statistic related to the wedding day, from the most popular colors to the average number of groomsmen picked for the ceremony.

Here are some of the highlights from The Knot’s study, broken down into various categories: WEDDING COST ■■ • Average wedding cost: $31,213 (excludes honeymoon) ■■ • Most expensive place to get married: Manhattan, $76,328 average spend ■■ • Least expensive place to get married: Utah, $15,257 average spend ■■ • Average spent on a wedding dress: $1,357 ABOUT THE BRIDE AND GROOM ■■ • Average marrying age: bride, 29; groom, 31 ■■ • Most popular month to get engaged: December (16 percent) ■■ • Average length of engagement: 14 months ■■ • Most popular month to get married: June (15 percent) followed by October (14 percent) ABOUT THE WEDDING ■■ • Average number of guests: 136 ■■ • Average number of bridesmaids: four to five ■■ • Average number of groomsmen: four to five ■■ • Popular wedding colors: ivory/white (44 percent), blue (37 percent), pink (28 percent), metallics (26 percent), purple (23 percent) ABOUT THE LOCATION The top 10 most expensive locations to get married in 2014: ■■ • New York — Manhattan, $76,328 ■■ • New York — Long Island, $55,327 ■■ • New Jersey — north/central, $53,986 ■■ • New York — Westchester/Hudson Valley, $52,954 ■■ • Illinois — Chicago, $50,934 ■■ • New York — Outer Boroughs, $49,781 ■■ • Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, $44,090 ■■ • Rhode Island, $41,914 ■■ • California — San Francisco/ Greater Bay Area, $39,690 ■■ • New Jersey — South $39,191

Photo by Carrie Jean Photography

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Nathan Ritchie (left front) flanked by his best man Bryn Ritchie (right) and groomsmen Derek Van Buskirk and Brad Ludwin.

His perspective

Nathan Ritchie was full partner in wedding plans with Gillan Photos by Rick and Ann Gordon/rickplusanna.com

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When and where did the proposal happen?

Nathan: I proposed to Gillan at Callihan’s Adventure Trail Rides in Blue Ridge. We first went horseback riding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was very cool because at some points we were in Tennessee and other points we were in Georgia.

I was trying to propose while we were on the horses, but my horse was so slow and wanted to stop at every patch of grass and eat. We were also told to stay in a straight line so the moment was not right. I decided it would be better to propose after the horseback ride. I waited until Gillan went into the store to buy something and then popped the question when she was coming out of the store. The look on her face is something that I will never forget!

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Nathan: I felt very confident during the proposal. I knew it was something that I wanted. I was fairly certain that it was what she wanted as well. This may make me sound full of myself, but I was positive she was going to say “yes.”

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In what ways did you participate in planning your wedding?

Nathan: My initial thought about planning a wedding is that it cannot be that hard. I worked at country clubs for years prior to the wedding and had worked countless weddings.

Everything always went off without a hitch, which I found out was not the case on the other end when you are the one planning the wedding. I wanted to make sure ours went off without any problems and wanted to be very proactive in planning. I was a very active participant in planning our wedding, helping in all parts of the planning. I went to every venue and every planning session that there was. I did most of the menu planning as well as the flower arrangements. I feel as though there is a perception that the groom does very little planning for weddings. I like to think that I beat this stereotype by having a very active role.

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Did you and your groomsmen do anything creative for photos or the reception?

Nathan: We did some very creative things for the photos.

I did not think of any of them, but the photographer was fantastic at his job and we did some very interesting things. My personal favorite was the “mobster” look that we did in one of our photos. The other photos that I will never forget were the ones that were taken as we were putting on our ties and jackets. The photographer did a great job taking action shots of these movements.

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How did you navigate challenges like guest lists and family dynamics?

Nathan: We worked very hard with the wedding coordinator to make sure that we covered all of the family dynamics. The seating arrangement was the toughest part. We wanted to make sure that all parents and grandparents had a great view of the ceremony. My parents are divorced and we wanted to make sure that we gave them both great seats without having to sit them next to their current significant others. We found ways to cover all areas of this with no problem. The majority of the wedding was family, so the guest list was very easy.

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Getting ready for a wedding can be stressful, especially for the bride-to-be. But the bride shouldn’t carry that burden alone.

As I have been preparing for my upcoming wedding, here a few helpful pieces of information I’ve learned along the way. Grooms, get your notepads out.

Take on tasks that will lighten bride’s load.

It could be getting in contact with potential photographers or DJs. Maybe it’s working on the music playlist for the reception.

But whatever elements of the wedding you’re able to help lock in, that’s a few less things on your fiancée’s plate. And with so many decisions to be made, every little bit helps.

Don’t tell bride everything others have to say.

I’m not advocating keeping many secrets from your future spouse. But as your wedding approaches, not every opinion, piece of advice or expectation communicated by friends and family is helpful.

By not passing along every potentially stressful or hurtful comment, that’s one less thing your fiancée could potentially worry about.

Study up on decisions.

While your bride likely will have stronger opinions than you on many of the options you’ll be choosing from, it’s helpful to have a firm grasp of the options she is considering.

She’s likely to want your input so the wedding day is something you can enjoy, as well. Plus, if she’s having a difficult time making a final decision, she may want you to break the deadlock and help make the call.

Helping hand

By Clark Leonard

How to assist your bride to reduce stress before the wedding BRIDES & GROOMS

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Affirm your bride’s decisions.

Everyone involved has an opinion about your wedding, and some will communicate it vigorously. It’s not ill-intentioned, by any means, but they just don’t realize that numerous other people have already offered unsolicited advice that may or may not be workable.

That avalanche of opinions and expectations can sometimes be discouraging for your fiancée in the midst of the stress of wedding planning. It’s important to encourage your bride by affirming that these are your decisions as a couple and that she’s making good decisions. It’s vital that she knows her opinions, not the numerous ones in her ears on a regular basis, are the ones that matter most here.

Help your bride get away from it all.

If the wedding planning process is becoming overwhelming, or there’s been a setback in your bride’s vision for the big day, help her have an escape from the stress. It could be a special date night, a favorite snack or going for a hike.

Whatever you do, give your fiancée a chance to

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unplug from planning to enjoy a few hours without so much on her mind.

6. Plan a honeymoon where you can get away together, slow down and see something new.

A few of my married friends emphasized how needed the rest and relaxation of the honeymoon would be. Even a month out from the wedding, I already know they’re right.

By the time all the planning and other wedding stress has culminated and you’ve gotten to marry your sweetheart, it’s time to get off the grid. Enjoy each other and explore somewhere new to the two of you. You’ll both be refreshed and ready to get back to reality with a greater appreciation for each other and wherever you go.

Clark Leonard will marry Amy Kelley in 2016 in Cornelia. The couple met in the Lakewood Baptist Church parking lot in September 2014 and was engaged in August 2015. They enjoy hiking, cooking and traveling together.

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Before deciding on your final choice for music, make sure to ask some basic questions — along with any others specific to your wedding — to make sure you find the one most aligned with your nuptial needs.

Do you perform original music or play cover songs?

This is a question for a band you are consider hiring. You want to make sure their musical preferences match what you’re looking for. Weddings are generally an atmosphere where cover bands may be a better fit, but this is up to you.

What is your price range, and can I get a paper quote?

Making sure you have a written quote will help resolve any confusion come payment time.

How many weddings have you performed for in the past couple of years?

This answer may be one of the most important, as you want to make sure the company is experienced and up to the challenge.

Will you be providing the equipment and song list?

Can you take requests?

A “no” answer to any of these questions could lead to more work for you as you try to coordinate what will be played during your ceremony.

Do you only play one event per day?

You want to make sure you have the full attention of the musical act or DJ during your wedding.

Are you easy to get in touch with if I have questions during the planning process?

A good musical act or DJ will surely answer “yes.” A good follow-up question is for a list of references just to make sure you can conduct a little follow-up research.

Do you also do announcements?

It’s a great bonus to have your wedding band or DJ make announcements throughout the night.

That’s one less thing for you to worry about.

BRIDES & GROOMS

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What’s a groom to do?

Make sure you’re involved in creating your special day

By Associated Press

Kate MacHugh has a fabulous fiance, except when it comes to wedding planning.

“When I was a little girl I always envisioned it as ‘my wedding,’ where I would make all the decisions and my faceless groom would show up when I told him to in the suit that I picked out and he paid for,” said the Beachwood, New Jersey, social worker and bride to be.

“Flash forward to now — my fiance has an opinion on EVERYTHING,” MacHugh said, endorsing that approach with this caveat: “He’s a huge procrastinator and doesn’t understand that planning a wedding takes a boatload of work, time and coordination. He believes every small detail will fall into place without any effort on our part.”

So goes the dilemma of many modern-day grooms. No longer on the sidelines, they’re ready, willing and able to participate, but what’s a groom to do when he hasn’t been planning every detail of his dream wedding since boyhood, has never shopped for or worn a tuxedo and doesn’t

BRIDES & GROOMS

know his carats from his karats?

Some grooms are happy to leave the details to their partners, said Kristen Ley, a “wedding broker” who works with couples and vendors in the Atlanta area.

But if you want an active groom in the lead-up, get him in the planning loop from the get-go, she urges.

“If he doesn’t feel included, he won’t be, and when it comes time for him to chip in, the interest won’t be there,” Ley said.

It’s been awhile since Eric San Juan was a groom. He’s been married for 15 years, but he wrote a book aimed squarely at grooms: “Stuff Every Groom Should Know,” part of a series of handy manuals from Quirk Books.

Try these pro tips from San Juan:

POPPING THE QUESTION San Juan acknowledges there’s no one way, but he’s not a huge fan of stunt proposals. The kind that actually involve the public, that is, like asking via Jumbotron at a ballpark. Your proposal may just go viral for the wrong

reasons.

“You risk putting the person you’re asking in a really awkward situation. Maybe he or she isn’t in the same place. Maybe the answer won’t be yes,” San Juan said in an interview.

If you want the proposal photographed or filmed, find a photographer or videographer willing to shoot in secret to preserve the moment.

PICKING A TUX Do you even need one?

Traditionally, they’re worn after 6 p.m. Morning or afternoon weddings call for a morning suit, usually dark gray.

Renting a tuxedo is cheaper and ensures groomsmen will match, but a custom tux is a nicer fit and worth the investment if a groom thinks he’ll wear it again, San Juan said.

With arms down at the sides, fingertips should reach the bottom of the jacket, he said.

Pants should hit the tops of the shoes. Silk is the desired tux fabric for summer, while cashmere, wool and flannel are popular for winter.

“Most men are not particularly well-versed in getting a tux,” San Juan said. “Don’t go into the

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process with the I’m-not-goingto-ask-for-directions mindset.”

THE MAN CRY There may be tears and they may be yours, guys.

“The ideal man cry is a cry that is in control. It’s not blubbering,” San Juan said.

A groom should avoid talking if his voice is going to crack. He should pause to compose himself.

Man tears are awesome; “squeaky man voice, not so much,” San Juan said.

Dab, don’t rub. Surely the best man remembered the handkerchief to gently pat at tears. Rubbing reddens eyes.

DRUNK COLLEGE FRIENDS Stay on top of the toasts prereception to avoid the colorful or awkward ones. And grooms should rely on their best men to police the unruly.

“You can’t completely avoid some degree of madness when it comes to your friends, but hopefully the best man can handle it,” San Juan said.

As for a groom’s imbibing, he should pace himself. Don’t down a full drink after every toast. Old buddies taking an open bar to the limit is one thing. Joining them is a mistake.

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grooms

2016|The 2016|The TimesTimes BRIDES & GROOMS

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