Wedding Guide 2015 A Special Bonus Section to
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Wedding Guide 2015
July 15, 2015
404 Main Banquet Hall
It’s a conference center. It boasts an exquisite banquet hall. And it can host 75 to 350 people. It’s 404 Main Place in Azle and packages as well as hourly rates are offered by the facility. Offi ce and retail space is also available. Call 817-448-8459 or visit www.404MainPlace. com or head to Facebook to fi nd the ideal gathering spot for any need.
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July 15, 2015
Wedding Guide 2015
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How to fi nd the right wedding photographer Long after the fi nal toast has been made or the last couple has left the dance fl oor, wedding photos will help couples relive the wonderful memories of their ceremonies and receptions. Wedding photographers realize the important role photography plays in a wedding. Photos are how couples document their nuptials, and the right photographer can make all the difference. The following tips can help guarantee a successful wedding shoot and beautiful photos to recall the best moments of the day. • Seek referrals. There are scores of wedding photographers, and some are better than others. Word of mouth from other couples can help. Referrals can offer insight into a photographer’s personality and his or her abilities to work with the wedding party and guests throughout the day. • Communication is key. An important component of wedding photography actually starts well
before the wedding day. The way a photographer communicates with you about your wishes and desired shots is very important, as this is when to discuss specifi c shots you want taken during the ceremony, such as whether the bride wants to be seen and pose with the groom prior to tying the knot. In addition, this is a great time for the photographer to get familiar with each venue’s rules regarding vendors. • Choose a photographer who is confi dent and fi rm. A good photographer will be able to direct photo subjects and get everyone to participate and in line. Brides and grooms likely won’t want to handle such tasks on their own, so a confi dent and fi rm yet cordial photographer can be an invaluable asset. • Prepare a shoot list. Meet with the photographer before the wedding and provide a list of all the shots you absolutely need to get. This way the photogra-
pher can plan for these as well as capture the candid moments throughout the day. • Discuss a backup plan with the photographer. Mishaps happen, even on the most carefully planned wedding day. Discuss what the photographer does to safeguard your digital photo fi les. Are they backed-up to a cloud or a secured offsite server? Does the photographer bring along a second camera in case the primary one has a malfunction? What happens if he or she is ill on the day of the wedding? How is a replacement chosen? Understanding how the photographer adapts to unforseen situations can make you feel more confi dent in choosing one photographer instead of another. The camera gear should also have adequate memory to store all of the photos, and a few backup batteries can’t hurt, either. • Consider hiring a photographer’s assistant or second
shooter. The photographer is less likely to miss a shot or fail to capture various perspectives of the wedding if he or she works with a partner. While one photographer is doing close-up portraits, the other may be capturing candid moments from onlookers from another angle. • Know what each package includes. The photographer should clearly spell out which items and services are included as part of the contract. There should be no surprises when it’s time to pay the balance of the photog-
rapher’s fees, so go over each itemized detail to be sure the package in your contract is the one you really want. • Get to know the photographer as a person. It can be diffi cult to loosen up in front of the lens, particularly if you do not have a good rapport with the photographer. Do not judge the photographer on his or her body of work alone. You will likely grow more comfortable with the photographer if you get to know him or her in the months leading up to your wedding.
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Wedding Guide 2015
July 15, 2015
Weddings
Rehearsal Dinners Event Coordination
Although a large percentage of women still change their last names upon getting married, many carefully weigh the pros and cons of such a change before making their final decisions.
easier when women take their husbands’ last names than when they don’t. But some brides still prefer to keep their maiden names or hyphenate those names with their husbands’ surnames. Some may view changing their names as sacrificing their personal identities, while others may want to hold on to a family name they are proud of. Interesting names also can be hard to give up. Brides who find taking their husband’s name would be a tongue-twister may prefer to forego this tradition. Very often women who occupy positions of prominence in their professions keep their maiden names, feeling that taking their husbands’ names will affect the cache they have built up thus far. Women uncertain of what to do in such situations can keep their maiden names professionally and still change their names legally. Changing one’s last name is a personal preference and a decision that couples should discuss together. Discuss the decision well in advance of the wedding so that both parties are aware of each other’s feelings on the subject before tying the knot.
Pre-marital Counseling Showers
While many brides opt to take their husbands’ surnames upon tying the knot, over the years the popularity of such a decision has ebbed and flowed. Recent years have suggested the practice is once again gaining steam. A 2011 study published in Names: A Journal of Onomastics indicates that younger brides are more likely to embrace the tradition of taking their husbands’ names in marriage. According to the study, women who married between the ages of 35 and 39 were 6.4 times more likely to keep their maiden names than those who married between the ages of 20 and 24. Many brides view taking their spouse’s name as the natural transition from being a singleton to being a married woman. Other brides prefer they share the same last name as their future children, making the choice to take their husband’s name a logical decision. Some brides feel having the same last name as their husbands helps them feel more like a family. Changing one’s name also may make it easier to deal with various issues. Finances, travel and even parenting concerns may be
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July 15, 2015
Wedding Guide 2015
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Hollow Hill Wedding Venue
Guests await a ceremony in the Barn at Hollow Hill Farms in Weatherford. The venue offers the perfect setting for any wedding, reception or a country themed corporate or special event. Photo by Unbridled Dreams Photography
Did you know?
According to XO Group Inc., a global media and technology company and creator of the wedding website TheKnot. com, wedding traditions continue to evolve. In its 2013 Real Weddings Study, a comprehensive report in which nearly 13,000 brides and grooms married in 2013 in the United States were surveyed, TheKnot.com found that couples are increasingly
modernizing their nuptials and, consequently, leaving many once cherished traditions in their wake. Nearly 75 percent of couples surveyed admitted to living together prior to tying the knot, a living arrangement that might once have been a societal taboo but is now gaining greater acceptance. In ad-
dition, more and more couples are not marrying in religious institutions, as just 33 percent admitted to doing so in 2013, marking an 8 percent decrease from 2009. Another rising trend concerns the tradition of brides taking their groom’s last name. While 86 percent of brides took their new husband’s last name in 2009, by 2013 that figure had dipped to 80 percent.
Fringe’s Hair & Nail Salon Wedding Party Packages! Let us help you on your special day with hair & nails! Call for prices!
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Wedding Guide 2015
July 15, 2015
Star Bank
The team at Star Bank offers a variety of ways to take care of your financial needs: (front l-r) Natalie Weaver, Cassandra Greenwood, Gary Stone, Cathy Smalley, Megan Baker, Carla Allums, Ann Haley, Mari Alvarado, Dena Hall, Linda Baty, and Casey Jones.
Did you know? Similar in concept to bridal registries, charity registries afford charitable men and women an easy avenue to encourage their friends and families to donate to causes they care about. Charity registries need not be made in conjunction with special occasions, though some couples tying the knot have asked their wedding guests to make donations via their charity registries in lieu of more traditional wedding gifts. But men and women can establish charity registries simply to
raise awareness and money for a cause they care about. Justgive.org, a website devoted to helping men and women find, learn about and support virtually any charity, allows visitors to the site to establish charity registries to facilitate their fundraising efforts. Once the registry is established, men and women can share their registry information with loved ones, relating their own connection to the cause while encouraging those who can afford to do so to make a donation.
www.AandMGardens.com
July 15, 2015
Wedding Guide 2015
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Oak Knoll
If you’re looking for a venue for a beautiful, rustic, Texas wedding, look no further than Oak Knoll Ranch. Towering oaks shade an outdoor pavilion near the “Red Barn” from which rolling hills, a pond, and marvelous Texas sunsets stun. Find Oak Knoll Ranch at 478 Three Skillet Road in Springtown. You can call them at 817-597-6557. Find Oak Knoll Ranch online at www.oakknollranch.com or send them an email at oakknollranch@live.com.
Did you know? There are various theories as to the origin of the word ‘honeymoon.’ One such theory suggests the word traces its origins to the Old English phrase ‘hony moone,’ which suggests the honeymoon was initially steeped in cynicism. ‘Hony’ is a reference to honey and, the theory suggests, refers to the strong feelings of affection and sweetness newly married couples harbor and display for each other. However, ‘moone’ is a reference to how fleeting this period of
time is and how it is likely to change as quickly as the moon changes. One rosier theory as to the origin of the word ‘honeymoon’ suggests the word dates back to the fifth century, when calendars were based on the moon cycle. During this period, newly married couples drank mead (which accounts for the ‘honey’) throughout their first month of marriage (or for a full cycle of the moon), as mead was a beverage many believed to be an aphrodisiac.
Call today for a beautiful smile on your BIG day - be sure to ask about our Wedding Whitening Special.
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How to manage seating arrangements After all of the invitations have been sent and RSVPs returned, engaged couples who are including a sit-down dinner as part of their wedding receptions must fi gure out the seating arrangements for their guests. Such a task can be both fun and stressful. The fun of making seating arrangements stems from reuniting friends and family members who couples feel will enjoy one another’s company and make the reception that much more fun. But feuding family members can make the task of assigning seats somewhat stressful. Couples need not be relationship experts to plan seating arrangements that ensure guests have a good time. The following tips can help couples enjoy the process of mapping out their wedding reception seating assignments as much as possible. • Make assignments by hand. While there is software designed specifi cally to help couples map out seating assignments, many couples fi nd it easier to do the seating assignments by hand, which allows couples more freedom to rearrange tables. In addition, making the seating arrangements by hand ensures that couples spread out guests who might not get along. • Don’t seat guests in the hopes of quashing old confl icts. While the jovial spirit of a wedding ceremony and reception might seem like the perfect atmosphere for feuding friends or family members to bury the hatchet with regard to old confl icts, this leaves open the potentially ugly possibility that such confl icts might escalate. Couples don’t want their weddings to be remembered for all the wrong reasons, so keep feuding factions apart when as-
signing seats. • Keep special needs guests in mind. Some guests at the wedding may have special needs, and this must be kept in mind when planning seating assignments. Guests with medical conditions may benefi t from sitting close to the restroom, while those with mobility issues might be best served sitting in a spot where waitstaff can more easily recognize when they need something. Consider sitting older guests, whose vision might not be as strong as it once was, as close to the happy couple as possible so these guests can see everything and won’t feel left out. • Make sure the seating assignment table is easily accessible. The table on which seating assignment cards will be placed should be accessible upon entering the reception hall. A table that’s far off in the corner may confuse some guests, who might think the seating is a free-for-all and simply sit in the first empty seats they see. • Consider fl ow between tables when making assignments. While you might have aced the seating assignments at each table, don’t overlook the importance of mapping out tables as well. No couple wants their guests to feel isolated from friends or family members at other tables, so do your best to ensure there’s a good fl ow between the tables. Plan for tables of family members to be placed next to one another, and do the same with groups of friends. This encourages guests to mingle and can make the night much more enjoyable for everyone involved. Planning seating assignments for a wedding reception is no small task. But couples can employ several strategies to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Wedding Guide 2015
July 15, 2015
Rustic Elegance Country Chic Breathtakingly Beautiful
Just west of Fort Worth, Texas tucked into the rolling countryside of Parker County is a hidden paradise
A Timeless Back Drop for Special Events 1680 Mary Drive, Weatherford, TX 76085 www.hollowhilleventcenter.com info@hollowhilleventcenter.com • 682-233-3065 www.facebook.com/oldtownathollowhillfarm
July 15, 2015
Wedding Guide 2015
Did you know? Many people feel the type of flowers chosen for wedding ceremonies symbolize different things. While some couples may make their final decision on wedding day flowers based on cost, they may be surprised to know what different flowers have traditionally symbolized. For example, according to TheKnot.com, a multiplatform resource for all things nuptial, roses have long been considered a symbol of beauty and love. Writers and poets alike have long relied on roses as metaphors for emotion, beauty and true love. Lily of the valley is another popular flower that’s more than just a natural beauty. Though lily of the valley is one of the more expensive flowers couples can choose for their weddings, some legends link the flower to happiness, while followers of England’s royal family no doubt remember that lily of the valley was the flower chosen by Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton for her 2011 wedding to Prince William.
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For ALL your JEWELRY needs...
Tanco creaTions Jewelry Custom Designing • Fine Jewelry • Jewelry Repair 817-270-GOLD (4653) • 401 N.W. Parkway • Azle
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Banquet Hall Rental
(350 max capacity) Packages/Hourly Rates Available! Sound System Full Kitchen
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Office/Retail Space for Lease Booking/Leasing: Contact Gary Trojacek 817-448-8459
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Wedding Guide 2015
July 15, 2015
Engagement ring shopping guide Long before couples stand before an officiant and say, “I do,” many make another pledge to each other by getting engaged and agreeing to begin a new life together. In a 2011 survey by XO Group, Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., the average engagement ring costs Americans $5,200. Canadians spend around $5,000 as well. Considering an engagement ring is typically a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, many men say the high cost is warranted and are even willing to finance the purchase or push their budgets to procure a beautiful ring. Many engagement rings feature a 1-carat center stone with some smaller stones surrounding, accounting for a 1.4 total carat weight on average. It can take a groom-to-be around three months to find his (and her) ideal ring, sometimes longer. Considering a ring is such a significant investment, it pays to have some knowledge in gem selection. Start by answering a few questions Having an idea of what you want can help anyone get a better deal, whether one is shopping for a new sofa or an engagement ring. An informed shopper can avoid being taken advantage of or buying something that really isn’t worth the asking price. The 4 Cs is a good place for shoppers to get started. Various attributes affect the value, quality and beauty of a diamond. The 4 Cs stand for cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The cut refers to the shape of the stone as well as the skill involved in achieving the shape of the facets so that it reflects the light brilliantly. The color is designated by the International Gemological Institute. The grading color in a diamond determines how closely a diamond’s color approaches colorlessness. The diamond will be assigned a letter grade. The lower the letter in the alphabet, the whiter the stone. Clarity refers to the amount, size, type, and location of internal flaws in a diamond, also known as inclusions. The cost of the diamond increases when there are fewer inclusions in the stone. Finally, the carat weight is the size and weight of the stone. The larger the stone, the more pricey it can be.
Another question to ask is which style of ring your girlfriend prefers? Your fiancee-tobe may have a certain setting style and diamond shape preference. It pays to know what she wants, including the type of setting the stone will be encased in. You should also know whether she will be happy with a larger stone that may have some imperfections not easily seen to the naked eye or a smaller, flawless stone. Know your budget Many expenses are associated with planning a wedding, and some couples may not want to begin their lives together in debt. This may need to be factored in to the decision-making process. You should go to jewelry stores to price out different styles and see how diamonds compare. This way you will have an accurate idea of just how much rings cost. Carefully consider your options. Having an intimate knowledge of what your girlfriend will want can help you to narrow down something that is reasonable. It also pays to understand a jeweler’s return policy. Even if you may know what she likes, in the event that the ring doesn’t work out, find out if the style can be changed or if you can get a refund or make an exchange. Other tips for savings success There are ways to maximize your budget and still end up with a beautiful stone. • Ask for a stone that is slightly less than the next carat, for example 0.9 instead of one carat. This nearly indiscernible difference can add up to substantial savings. Experts say the price difference between a 1.90 carat diamond and a 2.0 carat diamond can be as much as $5,000. Also, choose a stone that has more surface area, which will make it appear larger even if it does not have as much sparkle. • If she prefers the look of platinum, realize white gold, silver or tungsten are more affordable options and will still give off that silvery hue she desires. Mixed gold colors, including white, pink and yellow, can be unique. • Try to buy a loose diamond.
You can inspect the entire stone and then shop around for an acceptable setting. This can save you money in the long run by buying the ring elements separately. • Get a parttime job at a jewelry store. This way you may be eligible for an employee discount and can put the savings toward the ring. • Don’t shy away from a warehouse store for a good deal on rings. As long as the diamond is to your liking and follows the requirements of the 4 Cs that you desire, it should not matter where the ring was purchased. • Make sure the store is ac-
credited by the Jewelers of America or is a member of the Gemological Institute of America. This way you know you are buying from a reputable source and the diamonds were acquired ethically. • Negotiate the price. Just because it is jewelry doesn’t mean you can’t comparison shop and
find out if another jeweler will match a competitor’s offer. Many stores will be willing to negotiate if it means making a sale. An engagement ring is a large purchase that requires ample forethought. Following some guidelines can yield the results couples desire.
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July 15, 2015
Wedding Guide 2015
Organization tips for couples planning a wedding Couples planning a wedding quickly realize just how challenging a task that planning can be. From paring down the guest list to arranging the music to choosing a menu for the reception, couples must make several decisions when planning their big days. Staying organized when planning a wedding is no small task, as the planning can be spread out over several months or even more than a year, making it difficult to keep track of what has and hasn't been done. The following are a few organization tips that should help couples keep on track when planning a wedding. • Write things down. Whether you write things down the oldfashioned way in a notebook or jot down notes in a tablet, write down your plans as you go. Write down important phone numbers, vendor information and all the other details you'll want instant access to. It's important that such notes are taken in something that's portable, allowing you to jot down notes immediately as opposed to forcing you to remember until you arrive home. • Create a to-do list. A to-do list is another great way to stay organized when planning your wedding. As you make certain decisions, simply strike those tasks from the list. This way you will know which tasks you've polished off and which ones you still need to work on. • Create a wedding calendar. Keep a calendar devoted spe-
cifically to the wedding. Include appointments with vendors and information regarding payment schedules and other deadlines on this calendar. If you set any deadlines for yourself, such as when you prefer to choose a band for the reception, jot these deadlines down on the wedding calendar as well. • Take a digital camera along when shopping for your wedding. Many couples want to explore their options before making any decisions with regard to attire, floral bouquets and other aspects of the wedding. But it can be difficult to remember all of the things you might have seen throughout the process. Bring a digital camera along when shopping so you won't have to rely strictly on memory when making your final decisions. As you take pictures, up load them to your computer so when the time comes to make a decision, those photos are easily accessible. • Delegate certain tasks. Even couples that consider themselves taskmasters can benefit from delegating some tasks when planning a wedding. This can save you some time and make it easier to keep track of everything. When delegating, ask friends or family to handle those tasks that don't require a personal touch. For example, ask a best man or maid of honor to arrange for guest transportation to and from the airport. It's not too much responsibility, but it's one less thing for busy couples to worry about.
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