Regional Optimist
www.newsoptimist.ca
The Battlefords, Thursday, February 16, 2017 - Page 25
Love is in the Air...
Happily ever after starts here Plan the perfect wedding in 15 steps
You’re getting married! Congratulations! Now it’s time to plan the wedding. Here are 15 steps you should follow (not necessarily in order) so that everything is perfect on the big day. Before you start, set your budget and stick to it at all costs. If you think you might lose your head, your best bet is to hire a wedding planner. on your 1 Decide theme. Hollywood glamour, car-themed, turquoise and white — you know the possibilities are endless! Draw up your guest
2 list and send invita-
tions. Will it be a grand affair or an intimate gathering? Who do you want by your side on your special day? Make sure everyone can make it by sending out save the date cards and invitations early. the wedding 3 Plan procession. Who
will you pick to be the best man, and who gets to be
the maid of honour? Have you found a flower girl and a ring bearer? the officiant 4 Select and the type of cer-
emony. Courthouse wedding or religious tradition? Officiated by a priest or by a friend? Make sure that the option you choose welcomes your personal touch. your venues. 5 Find Where will the cere-
mony and the reception be held — in a church, at the beach, in a grand hotel, at the park or in a cozy cabin? Will you need to rent any equipment? Dream up the floral
6 arrangements and
decor. Which flowers will be featured in the bride’s bouquet, the boutonnieres and the centrepieces? What kind of accents (balloons, candles, draperies) will create the perfect ambiance? your reg7 Prepare istry and your gift bags. What household
items do you and your partner need — a toaster, wine glasses, silk sheets? Open a registry to avoid receiving duplicate gifts. And remember to thank your guests with a personalized keepsake. an enter8 Secure tainment team. Do
you need a master of ceremonies? Will a DJ, a string quartet or a rock band be in charge of the music? a photogra9 Hire pher and a videog-
In a limo, a sports car or a hot-air balloon? your rings. 12 Purchase What will the objects symbolizing your union look like? Will they be golden, diamond-studded, massive or subdued? Choose wisely, because you’ll (hopefully!) be wearing them for life. for your out13 Shop fits. Bowtie or regu-
lar tie? White gown or colourful sundress? Your attire for the event should reflect your personal style and make you feel absolutely stunning! your beauty 14 Book appointments. Have
you called your hair stylist, your makeup artist and your esthetician yet? And what about the nail salon? Don’t forget to plan for trial sessions.
rapher. Who will immortalize your magical day? Take a look at several portfolios to find the pro that understands your vision.
10 Find a caterer and
a bakery. What will be on the menu, and how will food be served? Will there be a candy bar, or even a chocolate fountain? Don’t forget the cake! your grand 11 Plan entrance. Will you
arrive at the ceremony on horseback? On your bike?
Photo courtesy of Warne Photography
Write up your vows.
15 What words will you
choose to describe your feelings? Time to brainstorm! Finally, draft your prenuptial agreement and marriage contract — a task that’s decidedly unromantic, but essential nonetheless. Remember to book everything as early as possible to avoid scrambling for a backup plan. And one last thing: where will you spend your honeymoon?
Page 26 - The Battlefords, Thursday, February 16, 2017
Regional Optimist
www.newsoptimist.ca
Love is in the Air...
Setting your WEDDING DATE: four things to consider
Are you and your partner about to take the leap into marital bliss? Here are four things to look into before you send out your save the dates. 1. THE SEASON First, decide during what time of year you want to get married. Every season has its own charm, but know that the high season for weddings is over the summer. If you’re dealing with a small budget, consider an off-season ceremony to get the most bang for your buck. Winter weddings can be absolutely stunning. 2. THE DAY OF THE WEEK If you feel like getting married on a Monday, there’s nothing stopping you from doing just that! However, the traditional Saturday wedding is a convenient option if most of your guests work Monday to Friday. Getting mar-
Our BIGGEST Sale of the Year Save up to
50
Three tips to help you plan your DESTINATION WEDDING
%
on custom picture framing Sale February 16 - 28
Suite 2 2062 - 100th Street Custom Art Finishing & Gallery North Battleford, SK
Ask about using your Air Miles!
ried on a Saturday is more expensive than on a Friday or a Sunday though, and you’ll need to reserve early to ensure that your dream venue is available. 3. THE SCHEDULES Open up your planner and carefully study your own schedule, and then ask your close friends and family about their own plans for the foreseeable future. Remember to consider time off work, vacations and holidays, various appointments and other significant events (birthdays, baptisms, other weddings, etc.) that are already planned among those in your circle to avoid any major scheduling conflicts. 4. THE PROFESSIONALS Before you send out your invitations, make sure that the pros you want to hire are available on the chosen date. If you have your heart set on a certain photographer or caterer, secure their services as soon as possible so you don’t get left high and dry.
Do you dream of saying “I do” to the love of your life barefoot in the warm sand?
Let the experts plan your
WEDDING or
HONEYMOON in
PARADISE!
If so, know that getting married in paradise is relatively easy to do. Follow these three tips to plan an unforgettable ceremony under the sun. 1. DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS First, decide what you want and set your priorities. Brainstorm with your partner about your ideal destinations and discuss when you’d like to hold the ceremony. Draw up your guest list
and establish a firm budget to avoid getting carried away. 2. CALL ON AN EXPERT A travel agent can give you the inside scoop on the best deals and destinations for your special day. Thanks to his or her expertise, the agent will make recommendations based on your needs, your budget and your expectations. Most beach resorts offer all-inclusive wedding packages; if that’s
something you’d be interested in, ask your agent for details. 3. SEND OUT YOUR INVITATIONS EARLY Send out your wedding invitations as soon as you’ve settled on a wedding date. The earlier you inform your invitees about your plans, the better. Aim for at least six months notice to allow your guests to prepare for the trip.
Ask about our
“FREE TRIP for the BRIDE & GROOM” when booking your wedding group at
• 306-445-6248 • 1-800-667-6248 Located at the Co-op Mall North Battleford
Photo courtesy of Warne Photography
Call us to book your “Bridal” Event
We Can Do It All!
• 58 Room Hotel • 18 Hole Championship Golf Course • Licensed Dining and Convention Facilities
Send your invitations early to make sure that all of your loved ones can be present for your big day
For Your Garden Wedding Wide Assortment of Flowers, Shrubs & Trees Pond Products Beautiful Planters Indoor & Outdoor Decorating Items
Reservations
Located in Battlefords Provincial Park
1-306-386-2800 www.jackfishlodge.com
Gift Ideas
Northern Nurseries
10803 South Railway Ave. North Battleford, SK
306-445-3030
Regional Optimist
The Battlefords, Thursday, February 16, 2017 - Page 27
www.newsoptimist.ca
Love is in the Air...
The history of the wedding cake The tall, tiered wedding cake — with or without toppers — is one of the most widespread wedding traditions in the western world. You’ve probably tasted a slice or two over the years, but what do you know about the origins of this sweet nuptial custom?
Historians believe that the concept of wedding cakes can be traced back to ancient Rome. At that time, it was customary to break a wafer or loaf of sweet bread over the bride’s head with the goal of invoking happiness and fertility. In medieval Europe, wedding guests typically stacked
A SYMBOLIC GESTURE The tradition of the wedding cake being sliced by the bride and groom dates back to the Middle Ages. The gesture symbolized the first action taken by the bride
small pastries as high as possible, and the bride and groom would kiss over the resulting pile of sweetness. The higher the pastry tower was, the happier the couple would be. Sweet, tall, tiered cakes like those seen today in weddings across North America only became commonplace
around the eighteenth century. Nowadays, bakeries create wedding cakes that are true works of art. Anything goes when it comes to the shape, flavour and colour — and toppers are no longer limited to the tiny bride and groom model.
and groom as a legitimate couple. Traditionally, the groom rests his hand on the bride’s as a sign of fertility and protection.
When it comes to your WEDDING DRESS, white isn’t your only option If, at a time in the past, the boldest move you could make when it came to the colour of your wedding dress was to pick off-white instead of a pristine snowy shade, that’s simply no longer the case. Like most rules, the one that dictates the colour of your wedding dress is meant to be broken — and more and more bri des are taking the plunge. Read on for some inspiration. Did you know that the white wedding dress has only been popular in North America since the nineteenth century? Before then, it was customary for the bride to wear — you guessed it — a colourful dress! Today, the brightly coloured dress is making a comeback and designers from around the world are reinventing this vintage trend. While shopping for a non-white wedding dress might have been a tricky task a few decades ago, boutiques are now stocked with gowns in every colour of the rainbow — and then some. Whether you’re in the market for an electric pink ball gown or an emerald green A-line, your local bridal boutique is sure to deliver the goods. On the fence about your
colour choice because you fear you’ll shock your guests by choosing an unconventional gown? Remember that this is your day and that you have the final say on what you wear. That being said, there are ways to compromise: you
Icing on the
Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70 • Banquet Facilities up to 150 persons
• Kitchen Rental • Licensed
could incorporate a coloured sash or veil in your look or choose an all-white dress with colourful stitching. So, will you let your true colours shine through with your dream wedding dress?
North Battleford Royal Canadian Legion No 70 1352 100th Street North Battleford, SK
306-445-2173
Now Booking for 2018 Weddings
e k a C
A WIDE SELECTION OF CUSTOM, CREATIVE CAKE DESIGNS
• Wedding Cakes • Character Cakes •All Occasion Cakes “You can have your cake & eat it too!”
CATERING
LINDA SHEPPARD 306-937-2368
for any occasion
WeCorporate Coordinate Yours & Private Event Planners
on your wedding day, celebrate with fine dining without all the work! • Some spots still available for 2017 • We cater rehearsal dinners - call to reserve
We are your WEDDING PLANNERS
Peg Gilchrist
Kaelee Forgrave
Call for your FREE Consultation Phone: 306-445-8699
Everything from your Engagement Party through to the Gift Opening or Any portion of your plans
www.WeCoordinateYours.com
“Be Our Guest” For Special Group Rates and Packages Please contact: 1-866-446-8877
112 Beautifully Appointed Rooms Complimentary Continental Breakfast Large Indoor Salt Water Pool 100% Non-smoking Hotel Meeting Rooms Fitness Room Adjacent to the Gold Eagle Casino
COMING SOON
71-22nd Street Battleford Phone:
306-937-3123
Gift Registry
For your special day, begin celebrating with the
Wedding Registry at Home Hardware
11301 - 6th Avenue, North Battleford 12004 Railway Avenue, North Battleford, SK S9A 3W3 Toll Free: 1-866-446-8877 www.goldeaglelodge.com
306-445-3350
Page 28 - The Battlefords, Thursday, February 16, 2017
Regional Optimist
www.newsoptimist.ca
Love is in the Air...
The right way to wear a BOUTONNIERE Many grooms choose to follow the tradition of wearing a small floral ac cessory called a bouton niere on their wedding day. If you’re about to put a ring on your sweet heart’s finger, read on to find out how you should wear your bouton niere.
First off, know that this accessory isn’t an es sential part of the groom’s traditional attire and that many prefer to opt for the subtler handkerchief. So don’t worry — you’re free to wear whatever you think looks best. If you do choose to say yes to this floral adornment, here’s
how to wear it: • Attach it to the lapel of your suit or jacket • Always pin it on your left side, above your heart • Choose a delicate or magnetized fastener to avoid damaging your jacket • Make it match your bride’s bouquet (this is not
The traditional bridal veil just might be the most archetypal wedding ac cessory — which is why picking out this special ornament takes time and thought. Follow these three tips to find the one that will suit you perfectly. 1. AIM FOR BALANCE If your heart is set on an extravagant dress, opt for a subdued and sophis ticated veil that won’t out shine your splendid gown. A model with plain satin edging is a safe bet. If, on the other hand, your
dress is on the more clas sic side, feel free to add a touch of sparkle with some crystals, pearls or other trimmings. 2. PLAY WITH LENGTH Veils come in a num ber of lengths, from the coquettish birdcage to the majestic train. Every bride can find a version that will complement her dress flawlessly. Don’t be shy about trying on the various models available in your region’s bridal shops. 3. STAY TRUE TO YOUR STYLE Whether you’re a hope
less romantic or a thrillseeking rebel, choose a veil that showcases your unique personality. You can also select one-of-akind accessories (flowers, jewelry, nails) to create a look that’s one hundred per cent yours. If you’re still un sure what veil to choose, swing by your local bridal shop and take advantage of a professional sales person’s experienced eye. He or she will help you find your dream veil in a jiffy!
Guidelines for choosing your BRIDAL VEIL
Milbankes
optional!) • Match it to your wed ding’s colour palette WHO SHOULD WEAR IT? If the groom decides to wear a boutonniere, all male members of the wedding procession must follow suit. This means that the impor tant men in the groom’s entourage — his father, godfather and grooms men, for instance — should all sport the bou tonniere with pride.
PHONE FOR BRIDAL CONSULTATION • CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Photo courtesy of Warne Photography
Flowers • Gifts • Home Decor M E M O R A B L E M OM E N T S
Weddings
Book your spring
NOW ACCEPTING DEBIT & CREDIT CARDS
now!
Leave the cooking, serving and cleaning to us. Large event or small, we’ll make sure you’re the toast of the town.
1111-100TH STREET, NORTH BATTLEFORD 445-4444 WWW.MILBANKEFLOWERS.COM
1642 - 100th St. | North Battleford | 306-445-4042 or 306-480-7840
CAA has a BRIDAL REGISTRY
Before you walk down the isle...
Discounted Rates with Group Bookings
We’ve got you covered for your big day!
SASKATCHEWAN
Bride & Groom TRAVEL FREE*
through our door
• Organza • Decorating Ideas
*Some restrictions apply
• Wedding & Veil Fabric • Bridal Gown Patterns • Beading & Accessories
2002 - 100th St., North Battleford, 306-446-0344
caatravel.northbattleford@caask.ca
#
203-872-103rd St., North Battleford Phone 306-445-1966