Marry ME Magazine Spring/Summer 2012

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

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MAINE WEDDING INSPIRATION

5 Unique PLACES Make your wedding

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BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

to wed in Maine

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A PRODUCT OF THE BANGOR DAILY NEWS

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editor’s note

Welcome to 2012!

A new year full of possibility... and weddings! Is yours one of them?

On August 1, 2011, we launched our first edition of Marry ME Magazine. With the launch of Marry ME magazine came the intent to help couples currently planning a wedding. We decided to include content for the grooms (in addition to the brides). We tapped Maine photographers to provide us with local illustrations of weddings. We talked with experts throughout Maine about trends that would matter to couples.

moms. Read the love stories of four couples who chose Maine as the setting for their 2011 nuptials. Learn about some unique places to tie the knot (complete with tips on how to green your wedding). And check out our feature on invitations and how to make them pop.

Guys: the first issue wasn’t a fluke. We have some great content for you, too. Check out our Groom’s Corner for tips on your role in this crazy journey. Do you have some tips for other guys about to take the plunge? Tell us about it.

Don’t forget about the Marry ME website: www.marrymemagazine. com. We’re updating it weekly with stories and information that will be perfect for helping you plan. And did we mention that we’re on Facebook? It’s true. As you’re planning, check in with us to see what’s new in the wild world of weddings.

Don’t be a stranger. We want to hear from you. Tell us what you want to see in our July issue and feel free to submit your own images and stories! We can’t wait to see what you are planning.

Yours in planning,

And we had a lot of fun.

Inside this issue you will find content pertinent to your planning.

Check out our feature on dresses for the bride’s gal pals, guests, and

Marry ME Magazine Assignment Editor

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PHOTO: Rene Minnis Photography

love stories IN THIS ISSUE:

16 32 42 52

Courtney & Anthony Addy & Steve Amanda & Ryan Amy & Kartik

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58 XXX GUY’S CORNER: 20 21

Choosing groomsmen Tips for “a little off the top”

ADVICE & RELATIONSHIPS: 22 62 70 72

Ask the Expert: Venue questions Paula Paradis’s Etiquette Corner Thank you note etiquette Life after “The Dress”: Decompressing after the Big Day

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9 26 28 30 38 48 50 56 58

5 green places to wed in Maine Invitations: Savvy ideas for today’s couples Beautiful dresses on a budget Coordinating the wedding party’s “look” Celebrating your heritage at your wedding Value versus DIY: Knowing where to budget Photo tips Beauty secrets: Skincare Hairstyle trends for 2012

PLANNER: 73 74 75 76 77

Budget worksheet Guest list organizer Groom’s checklist Measuring up: Taking measurements for fittings Honeymoon checklist

ALL THE REST

6 PHOTOS: Top left Emily McIntosh Photography Insets, clockwise from top left René Minnis Photography Jen Dean Photography | BEL Portraits

Green Wedding Giveaway 14 | Bridal Shows of 2012 14 | Pre-wedding parties 24 | Ceremony Ideas: Love letter ceremony 60 | Fun and festive Earth-friendly favors 64 | Going beyond “wedding food” 66 | Rehearsal Dinner 68 | Honeymoon 4-1-1 71

photographers 1. Andree Kehn Photography Andree Kehn

8. Emily McIntosh Photography Emily McIntosh

Non-traditonal wedding photographer specializing in outdoor weddings, tented receptions and couples with a little quirky something-something. Just like you!

My life revolves around weddings between operating a photography business and working full time at the Henry’s Bridal Boutique. I love being “behind the scenes,” capturing the emotions and traditions of each different story.

www.andreekehn.com See photo on page 9 2. Atlantic Photography Don Powers Owner of Atlantic Photography in Orono, Don has been a photographer for over 30 years. He enjoys capturing images of life in Maine from wedding celebrations to the scenic coastline.

www.atlanticphotography.net www.fineartamerica.com See photos on pages 58, 67 3. BEL Portraits Bernie Littlefield Maine's only Certified Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman. Brides from across the country hire him because they enjoy images that blend the classic elegance of romantic imagery with edgy, artistic vision that's bold and fashionable.

www.emilymcintoshphoto.com See photos on pages 6, 59, 69

Hailey got her start in photography at age 10. She decided to take on photography professionally in 2010. Hailey works with natural light and loves the beautiful backdrop that New England provides.

We are a team of photographers. Though we have distinctively different styles we work together to give you great shots and most of all a great experience.

11. Jen Dean Photography Jen Dean

Debra Bell was bit by the wedding bug after her own wedding in 2002. Using an observant eye, she quietly captures planned and unplanned moments with grace and fun.

Jen Dean is an award-winning and nationally published portrait and wedding photographer, but most importantly she is passionate about capturing the memories of your own beautiful life.

6. Darling Photography Jennifer Storer Jenn is a Maine-based boutique photographer providing both beautiful images and an amazing experience for her clients. With her unique style she creates the perfect engagement and couples sessions. She is currently booked until 2013.

www.darlingphoto.net See photos on pages 37, 75, 78 7. Eager Eye Photography Rogier van Bakel

www.eagereyeweddings.com See photos on pages 37, 58

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19 Other photographers: Sue Vernon, mother of bride Elizabeth Johnson supplied us with a photo (see page 59)

www.jendeanphotography.com See photos on pages 6, 52-55 12. Joanna Thyer Photography Joanna Thyer Joanna has been photographing weddings for over 10 years and loves every minute of her job. She lives in Bangor with her husband and three children.

www.thyerphotography.com See photos on pages 59, 65, 78 13. Kranich Photography Douglas Kranich A customer’s complete satisfaction at a good value is my goal from start to finish. Service with a personal touch ensures that all those special images you desire are captured.

Phone: (207) 723-4108 E-mail: kranich29@yahoo.com See photo on page 10 14. MemoryMaker Photography Soubahn Phanthay

15. Patrick McNamara Photography Patrick McNamara

18. Sha~Lam Photography Becky Shea and Ken Lam

Patrick McNamara has been photographing weddings throughout New England since 1997. With an early background in advertising photography, photojournalism and fine art, it was natural to combine these elements to document weddings in a fun, fresh and creative way.

Becky and Ken joined forces establishing Sha~Lam Photography making their clients’ needs their number one priority. They take pride in capturing those special moments while making it an enjoyable adventure.

www.mcnamaraphoto.com See photos on pages 17-20, 38

www.beckysheaphoto.com Facebook: Sha-Lam Photography See photos on pages 20, 30, 70

16. Rachel Bell Photography Rachel Bell

19. Shane’s Wedding Photography Shane Corcoran

As a photographer and world traveler, the {not so} hidden romantic in me loves weddings. Filled with subtle moments, beautiful scenery, love and laughter…I simply can’t get enough.

Shane Corcoran is an artist with a uniquely creative eye. His focus is not only for the bride and groom but all intricate details and guests. He begins before the dress goes on and ends with the last dance. If you’re looking for a new approach, look into Shane.

www.rachelbellphotography.com See photos on pages 33-36

Portrait and wedding photographer making connections through images.

17. René Minnis Photography René Minnis

facebook.com/MemorymakerPhotography

René Minnis first picked up a camera in college and hasn’t stopped capturing the world through a lens since. Driven by creating photographs that bring people happiness, René does whatever it takes to “get that shot”. Quirky and fun, she can also be seen drinking coffee, knitting, or singing loudly to 80s music.

See photo on page 37

www.reneminnisphoto.com See photos on pages 5, 6, 10, 50

www.ShanesWeddingPhotography.com See photos on pages 9, 59

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European-born Rogier van Bakel brings the famous Dutch sense of light, order, and whimsy to wedding and portrait photography. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Wired, and other national publications.

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www.blushimagery.com See photos on pages 42-45

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10. Jameson Brown Photography Jameson Brown & Ashley Carlow

4. Bell Imaging & Design Debra Bell

Beth Fitzgerald, 34, is an award-winning Maine wedding photographer working from her downtown Portland studio. With 10 years of experience in weddings, she's captured over 300 brides. Her images are warm, fun and stylish.

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haileytashphotography.com See photos on pages 36, 58, 65, 74

www.jamesonbrownphotography.com See photos on pages 30, 31, 57, 59, 73, 76

5. Blush Imagery Beth Fitzgerald

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9. Hailey Tash Photography Hailey Tash

www.belportraits.com See photos on pages 6,58

www.bellphotostudio.com See photos on pages 58, 65, 78

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1. VESPER HILL CHILDREN'S CHAPEL Rockport Perfect for intimate weddings featuring nature's beauty.

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1. VESPER HILL CHILDRENS CHAPEL 2. CLAY HILL FARMS 3. NATURAL SPACES 4. COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS 5. NEW ENGLAND OUTDOOR CENTER

Whimsical & Unique

green

places to wed in Maine Story Debra Bell

The first big piece of the wedding planning pie is to choose where in Maine you’ll be wed. And there’s a facility to fit every type of style, theme, and budget.

But what if you want to set your wedding apart and stay “green”? Here are five unusual, quirky, and elegant options.

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2. CLAY HILL FARMS Cape Neddick

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Clay Hill Farms is well known for its green spaces. And for a green wedding, it's the place to wed.

PHOTOS: Top, Andree Kehn Photography | Bottom Shanes Wedding Photography

1. Central Maine: Vesper Hill Children’s Chapel This intimate setting in Rockport may only seat 50, but couples who have wed there have found a setting full of charm and beauty.

The chapel overlooks Penobscot Bay and is surrounded by a nicely manicured landscape full of flowers, benches and trees. Entrance to the Children’s Chapel comes in the form of two stone staircases leading to the chapel itself. As an open air chapel, the brown painted wooden walls are complete with carved initials and coastal weathering.

Merryspring Nature Park oversees rentals of the Chapel: (207) 236-2239.

3. NATURAL OUTDOOR SPACES From lighthouses to parks to your own backyard, there's plenty of natural spots to marry in Maine.

2. Southern Maine: Clay Hill Farms Clay Hill Farms in Cape Neddick is perfect

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for intimate weddings. Five minutes from Ogunquit and the interstate, it offers a couple the perfect entree to marriage.

Couples can choose to wed in a gazebo on the property, on Clay Hill Farm’s front lawn, or in the fairy garden. For couples privy to making a smaller footprint on the environment, the property offers local foods

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5. NEW ENGLAND OUTDOOR CENTER Millinocket What could be more majestic than marrying with Mt. Katahdin standing watch?

4. COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS Boothbay Harbor Get back to nature by marrying in a garden space.

PHOTOS: Top Left, Rene Minnis Photography | Bottom Left, Mim Adkins Photography | Bottom Right, Douglas Kranitch

in a menu focused on supporting Maine industries while also delighting the palate. www.clayhillfarm.com

3. State or locally run locations From lighthouses to city parks, state monuments to national parks, gardens to city squares, there is a venue to suit every wedding vision and every style of gala.

But before you settle on one spot, make sure you check with the town, municipality, or state agency that governs where you want

© Emily Delamater Photography

to wed. They may have restrictions that will, well, restrict your style of wedding.

A state park, for instance, may have restrictions about admittance. Find out about how admission is handled and what to tell your guests (including if they have to foot any of the bill... a good host would insist on paying their way).

A location such as Portland Head Light has restrictions on what can happen during the ceremony (including decorations and signage), and charges a modest rental fee.

4. Midcoast Maine: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

200 Sable Oaks Drive South Portland, ME 04106 207.871.8000 MarriottSouthPortland.com

Nothing says wedding like “flowers,” and at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor, they have plenty of flowers.

Not to mention beautiful, serene settings for a simple ceremony and reception, or a prewedding party.

Special planning goes into utilizing this space though. Be sure to ask about appropriate permits you’ll need for your event and for your professional photographer and videographer. The Gardens have rules on among nature’s most fragrant accents. www.mainegardens.com

5. Northern Maine: New England Outdoor Center Situated near the foot of Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin, the New England Outdoor Center provides nature lovers with an impressive venue to be wed.

Imagine saying “I Do” with a serene lake, tall pine trees, and the impressive peak of Katahdin rising above your ceremony. Ponder the appeal of a setting so close to nature, yet filled with modern amenities. Delight in the What makes this destination even cooler is that it comes complete with places for your guests to rest while also enjoying the great outdoors. www.neoc.com/plan-adventureweddings.php

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beauty of Maine’s North Woods.

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this. But you won’t regret the choice to wed

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ON THE COVER:

Cover models: Kelsey Curtis and Nastassja DeLoge Bridal gown: Kelsey looks ethereal in a Jim Hjelm ivory Alencon lace gown.

The lace is laid over a champagne charmeuse A-line bridal gown with halter neckline, crystal floral embroidery at waist, and a sweep train. Dress was provided by Spoil Me in Falmouth.

Flower girl dress: Nastassja looks adorable in a flower girl dress from The Henry’s Bridal Boutique and Formalwear.

Flowers: Fleur de lis Floral Design in South Portland, provided a beautiful seasonal bouquet filled with whites, greens, peaches, and orange blooms.

Jewelry: Rings were provided by Day’s Jewelers in South Portland.

Hair: Kelsey and Nastassja’s hair and makeup were done by stylist Erica Cole.

Location: We utilized the gorgeous property at Clay Hill Farm in Cape Neddick as the setting for our cover shoot.

Photo: DEBRA BELL

Publisher RICHARD J. WARREN Marry ME Magazine Editor BRIAN F. SWARTZ Marry ME Magazine Assignment Editor DEBRA L. BELL Marry ME Magazine Graphics Editors SHELLEY L. SUND BRIDGIT CAYER

Advertising Manager NICOLE C. STEVENS Advertising Sales BRIAN COTLAR, DORAIN FOSTER, NICOLE STEVENS

Creative Services FAITH BURGOS, BRIDGIT CAYER, JOHN KOLADISH, TONYA PICKERING, MICHELE PRENTICE, CHRISTOPHER QUIMBY, ALYSHA STELTZER, PAM TWEEDIE, SAM WOOD

Writers & Photographers Bangor Daily News DEBRA L. BELL, DAVID M. FITZPATRICK, BRIAN F. SWARTZ

Contributing Writers Diana George Chapin, Sheila Grant, Evan Kanarakis, Debra Walsh, Greg Westritch

Contributing Experts

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Timothy Ames, Nonantum Resort Jessika Brooks, French’s Point Mackie Hill, Simply Unforgettable Events by Mackie Paula Paradis, Paradis & Foster Event Management

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Contributing Photographers (for more information, see page 7) To advertise in our next edition, please call 207-990-8283, toll-free in Maine at 1-800-432-7964 ext. 8283 or e-mail advertising@marrymemagazine.com We welcome you to participate in this magazine! To contribute photographs, story ideas, and tips for our next edition, please call 207-990-8118, toll-free in Maine at 1-800-432-7964, ext. 8118 or email editor@marrymemagazine.com. © 2012 Bangor Daily News. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without express written consent. Requests for permission to copy, reprint, or duplicate any content should be directed to editor@marrymemagazine.com

bangordailynews.com 491 Main Street, Bangor, Maine 04401 To subscribe call 207-990-8040 or toll-free in Maine 1-800-432-7964.

Cover Photo: DEBRA BELL

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Giveaway

What's your shade of green?

A CONTEST OF COMMITMENT

THAT’S WHAT CLAY HILL FARMS IN CAPE NEDDICK, MAINE, WANTS TO KNOW. Clay Hill Farm has opened its fourth annual Green Wedding Giveaway to nominations through January 30, 2012. Contestants will compete for an allinclusive Maine summer wedding at Clay Hill Farm on July 8, 2012.

Perhaps you compost table scraps, don't use paper towels anymore to wipe up messes, or use renewable energy resources to heat your home.

According to Jennifer Lewis-McShera, the "contest challenges couples on the verge of a major life commitment to explore the parallel of a commitment to each other and a commitment to the Earth."

But that doesn't mean that you have to get crazy with Earth-friendly living. The contest doesn't

measure "green," it measures creativity, commitment and compromise: components of many successful marriages.

Marry ME Magazine is proud to be a media sponsor for the Green Wedding Giveaway and will be reporting on the giveaway throughout the year, so check in often!

To nominate (or self-nominate) a couple, visit greenweddinggiveaway.com Nominations must include a one-page essay that tells how the couple makes a difference in their everyday life and why they should win as well as a photograph of the couple that is relevant to the story.

Winners will be announced on March 4, 2012.

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Weddings by the sea

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Image: Thinkstock,Getty Images,PhotoObjects.net

green wedding

courtney & anthony

addy & steve

amanda & ryan

amy & kartik

love stories Four couples chose Maine as the backdrop for their 2011 weddings.

Read their stories and get inspired.

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love stories

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love stories

Courtney Hyde & Anthony Del Broccolo July 3, 2011 | York Harbor Inn

An East Coast state of mind IN YORK HARBOR Story David M. Fitzpatrick | Photos Patrick McNamara Photography

Not long after Courtney Hyde met Anthony Del Broccolo through an online dating site, they decided to really meet.

“He was a normal, funny, smart, cute guy, and it’s very hard to find that combination in southern California,” she said, even though he did correct her spelling during their online chats.

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She had him meet her at The Chimneysweep Lounge, a popular dive bar in the L.A. suburb of Sherman Oaks. “It was a test of Anthony, really,” she said of the bar. “If he was turned off by The Sweep, we were in for trouble.”

Anthony noticed two things when he saw her outside the lounge. First, she was beautiful. And second, she was checking the Patriots score — a woman who liked sports!

But he was from New York, so the Red Sox girl from Buxton, Maine got that most important question asked early: “Yankees or Mets?”

“Mets,” he replied.

“Good answer,” she said. “If you had said Yankees, I’d have walked out of the bar.”

Probably not; Courtney knew she’d met

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her best friend. Over the lengthy date, they discovered what they had in common — creative minds, oddball senses of humor, and love of sports, film, 80s music, reading, writing, and especially the TV show Mad Men, of which they’re both big fans. They began dating regularly and soon moved in together. Two years later, in February 2010, he planned The Big Question.

Courtney, who had a theatre degree, was finishing her degree in graphic design, and Anthony had just landed a job as a staff writer for the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. He’d planned to propose on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, because he thought Valentine’s Day was too cliché. He knew Courtney, with a nerd’s interest in the presidents, would love it.

It was a sneaky setup. Anthony claimed he’d been practicing drawing, and wanted to show Courtney his sketches. One of them was a caricature of him on one knee saying, “Courtney, will you marry me?”

She thought it was a joke until he

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The wedding had a retro Mad Men theme — the show that bonded them from that first date.

produced the ring; then she began hyperventilating. Anthony had worked with a jeweler to design it, which featured his great aunt’s diamond. It was overwhelming.

She happily accepted, and they decided on a July wedding in Maine — just five months away. Courtney flew to Maine for a week in March for some speed planning, and did the rest from L.A. And she loved it; it was all a giant art project for the graphic-design major.

They married in York Harbor on July 3. The wedding had a retro Mad Men theme — the show that bonded them from that first date. The big day went off smoothly, even with Anthony once again correcting Courtney’s spelling — this time in her self-written wedding vows.

“It’s a good thing he’s cute,” she said.

And, luckily, it even rained. “Anthony and I are a bit odd, so we were delighted to have inclement weather,” Courtney said. While it drizzled, they headed for the beach — in wedding gown and tuxedo, with red umbrellas.

That sort of laid-back attitude is one

reason they work so well together, even compromising at times. And the couple always makes each other laugh. “It’s ridiculous,” she said.

“I pity our neighbors who have to listen to my cackling.”

Anthony offered some advice to prospective grooms: “Support your wife and help her out where you can,” he said, “but when it comes to the final decisions, get out of the way and let her make them.

“And marry someone who’s a good designer,” he added. “She’s got a good aesthetic.”

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Officiant: Rev. Pat Smith, Union Congregational Church, York Harbor | Gown/dresses: David’s Bridal | Tuxedos: Men’s Warehouse | Rings: Media City Jewelry, Burbank, CA | Wedding Planner: Mindy Bisson, City Side Events, Scarborough | Flowers: Brenda’s Bloomers, Cape Neddick | Cake: Confection Art | Catering: The York Harbor Inn | DJ: Fred Pappalardo

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The details

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Choosing Your

GROOMSMEN Story Evan Kanarakis | Photo Ken Lam,

An important decision in the lead-up to a wedding is to decide what individuals will make up the bridal party. As with bridesmaids, the groom–to–be will often draw from his closest friends to select groomsmen, though it can be a popular gesture to choose a member of the bride’s family as well -typically a brother- if their friendship has grown in the time prior to the wedding.

Especially when limited by the number that will make up a bridal party, choosing a groomsman can be a delicate affair. If you’re lucky enough to have a large circle of friends, some people may be offended if they aren’t chosen. Others may be chosen as groomsmen but still taken aback that they weren’t selected as the best man. With all the stress and responsibilities that already exist in the planning of a wedding, bruised egos can make the entire affair much harder than necessary.

For this reason, irrespective of some couple’s desire to have bridesmaids and groomsmen matching in number, increasingly some grooms will just choose one groomsman (if they have a brother, choosing family is often an easy ‘out’ in avoiding any angst from friends!), or, as was the case in a wedding I recently attended, they’ll drop the term ‘groomsmen’ altogether and refer to their chosen friends collectively as ‘best men’, so as to

Just because an individual is your closest, dearest friend doesn’t mean they’re an organized, efficient person who can get up and speak effectively in front of a large group of people!

eliminate any hint of preference. Yet another thoughtful way to include a friend in the ceremony who couldn’t be part of the official bridal party is to ask them to deliver a reading during the service.

There are some practical considerations to make in choosing a best man as well. While the decision should always be based in matters of friendship, a best man will often be entrusted in organizing one’s bachelor party and delivering a speech at the wedding. Just because an individual is your closest, dearest friend doesn’t mean they’re an organized, efficient person who can get up and speak effectively in front of a large group of people! Personally, I think worrying about such matters is fairly irrelevant- a best man is selected because he’s a valued friend, and not because he’ll deliver the “perfect” speech. At the end of the day, you can always get around such hurdles by entrusting the task of organizing a bachelor party to all of your groomsmen, or asking a nervous best man to simply make a brief toast instead of a lengthy speech.

But always bear in mind this one simple rule: It’s your wedding day, choose the people that matter most to you.

Grooming for the Groom Story Evan Kanarakis

The must-have “groom”ing kit ...a day that will live on in countless photo albums...

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Shampoo Shave gel Shaving kit Cologne

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Hand lotion Lip balm Breath mints Toothbrush and toothpaste

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Image: Thinkstock, iStockphoto

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wedding isn’t just an occasion for a groom and his groomsmen to look their best; it’s also a day that will live on in countless photo albums, videos and memories for years to come. It goes without saying, then, that unless you’re sporting a particular style, it can’t hurt to spruce up a little. Given all the efforts and agonies a bride and her bridesmaids often go through getting ready, the very least guys can do is get a haircut and keep facial hair in check with a trim or shave.

Grooming is all about using common sense. The day before or of a wedding probably isn’t the best time to consider a radical new haircut or one’s first spray tan. Make an appointment in advance with your regular barber for your standard cut. There’s no need to be fussing around with a haircut on the day itself.

Some groomsmen will often go as a group the day before or morning of a wedding to an old-style barber for a trim and to receive a straight-razor shave. It’s a new experience for many and an enjoyable “old school” way of getting ready together. If you’re not used to a straight-razor shave or have sensitive skin, though, you may wind up with a serious case of razor burn at the wedding. If in doubt, skip the barber’s chair on the day of the wedding and go with your usual, at-home routine just to be safe. Looking good for the wedding needn’t be a risky affair.

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ask the expert

Three Maine wedding planners give advice about picking your venue

Mackie Hill is the owner of Simply Unforgettable Events by Mackie, a wedding planning business based in Bangor, Maine.

MACKIE HILL

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When it comes to choosing a venue there are so many options to consider. First, and foremost, is what you want your wedding’s “mood” to look like. Although you can dress up any space, it is much easier to spruce up a venue in the realm of your dream location rather than create your fantasy venue from scratch.

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There are three very important points to consider when you start looking at venues: Cost, location, and amenities.

“Cost” includes not only the cost of the venue itself, but exactly how much it will be to “dress” it. Dressing a venue includes the décor, menu, bar, and anything else that you may have to or want to add to make it “your” venue.

“Location” seems self explanatory, but remember that although you may think that having your reception on an island only accessible on foot during low tide seems amazing, your 75 year old aunt may not think so. There may also be rules and laws regarding the number of people, food and alcohol allowed as well.

Choosing the right location for the entire wedding is extremely important. As a planner, this is a detail I stress emphatically: Location, location, location!

Take into consideration every guest including the distance they are traveling, their needs — as well as yours — and the practicality of travel to and from that location, especially when alcohol is involved. Will you need lodging? Is there a shuttle? Do you need childcare? Is there a separate space? The list of considerations is long, but you and your planner can meet all of them, with a little time and thought.

“Amenities” includes any extras included when you book a venue. Some venues have inclusive amenities: You pay one price and the linens, meals, sometimes even a certain number of hours of bar service are included. Ensure you know these amenities up front for your budget. Not having to independently contract a bartender, order place settings, or hire a caterer can be budget friendly just crunch the numbers with your planner to be certain that the venue is actually worth the expense.

Q: I want to have my wedding on the coast, but I’m not sure I want a traditional reception venue. What could I consider?

There are so many options, especially in Maine. There are coastal wooded areas, sandy beaches, rocky beaches and quaint little towns to name a few. When making the decision remember the three points I touched on above.

Also consider: Do you want your reception indoors or outdoors, what time of day are you considering, how many people do you plan on inviting, and are there state or local laws that allow your celebration to take place in that location.

A few great ideas are coastal stables, coastal art galleries, bed and breakfasts, or a windjammer or sailboat. All of these venues are abundant in Maine. Ask your wedding planner for other ideas. Sometimes a new great venue is an everyday place that can be extraordinary with just a little help.

Q: I’ve seen pictures of people using tents at their reception. My wedding is in the fall and I’m worried it’ll be cold or windy. What can I do to make it comfortable for my guests?

A tented fall wedding can be fantastic, you just have to plan for the weather much more than say in the summer. Thankfully, all tent rental companies also rent outdoor heaters.

Make sure that you have a tent with easy roll-up or fold-back sidewalls that can adjust depending on the weather. Also, be certain that the heaters are installed properly, with plenty of ventilation and space.

A beautiful addition to the tented wedding

tradition is the clear tent. This tent, while more expensive, is completely clear and allows your guest to see all of their surroundings all night without feeling the cold night air. Imagine dancing under the harvest moon until midnight and not feeling a bit of a chill. Breathtaking!

If your budget needs to be more conservative consider tents with clear cathedral windows, affording a more modest view while still allowing some natural beauty to shine through.

Q: I want a really unique ceremony experience. How can I meld my vision with my budget?

This is a job that you and your planner should sit down and brainstorm about.

First, consider making your ceremony your own. Writing your own vows, adding a ritual that creates a new tradition, or including more of your family in the formalities can make a service very unique. In addition, consider non-traditional décor ideas.

Think about setting and theme. What natural surroundings can be enhanced to make them a beautiful and original addition to your ceremony? Using natural surroundings as the foundation can also be more budget friendly.

Consider: Hanging ribbons or paper poms from trees, lining a wooded path with luminaries, handing out blankets to your guests and having them sit in the grass while get married in the park, or simply walk as a group out onto a rocky beach barefoot and say “I do” to the sound of the waves. All of these ideas, plus many more, can be tweaked and adjusted to make your special day truly “yours.”

Jessika Brooks is CEO of The Retreat at French's Point in Stockton Springs.

JESSIKA BROOKS Q: Is there value in having my ceremony and reception at the same location?

There is significant added value to the overall experience of your wedding celebration by hosting it in a single location.

First, you’ll maximize enjoyment of the venue by not adding time for travel from one site to another. Depending on the distance between locations and traffic, this can add five minutes or an hour to the event timeline.

Traditionally, a wedding event lasts 5-7 hours. We find that many guests depart at the five or six hour mark and the nature and quality of the event changes after that time due to over-indulgence and exhaustion. If the ceremony is not at the same location as the reception, the delay between ceremony and the bridal party’s entrance at the reception is also delayed due to time needed for the post-ceremony photos of the bridal party. Inevitably, your guests will be waiting for your arrival before they get to celebrate with you. Because they made efforts to join your wedding celebration, you should be present to visit with them for as much time as possible.

At French’s Point, the majority of our clients opt to host their ceremony onsite at our Waterfront Gazebo with its commanding presence on Penobscot Bay. The transition from the ceremony to cocktail hour (which takes place before the reception) is seamless. During this time, the bride, groom, family, and wedding party have 20-40 minutes of photos (depending on the photographer and the cooperation level of all involved) while your guests enjoy cocktails and delicious hors d’ oeuvres on the waterfront terrace. We don’t want you and the wedding party to miss out on all of the delicious details, so we bring food and drink down during the photos as well.

Your guests can meander the bluff trail and enjoy the scenic views from the grandfather Adirondack chairs sprinkled about the estate.

If you are hosting your celebration elsewhere, ensure that your guests have entertainment, a variety of food and drink, and freedom of movement during the cocktail hour. That way,

Q: I am thrilled to be having an outdoor ceremony and reception, but what if it rains?

Q: How can my venue choice help me set my wedding apart?

Your choice of venue sets the tone for your event, so finding one that sets your celebration apart will take time and consideration. Are you looking for the rustic appeal of a Maine woods lakeside lodge, the aesthetic of a traditional New England barn, the historic formality of a restored Gothic church or the dramatic setting of a mountain-top luxury resort. Perhaps you’re looking for the contemporary vibe of a metropolitan cityscape, or breath-taking appeal of a private oceanfront estate?

Once you define your preference, you can begin to search. Even similar venues offer a significant range of appeals (pros and cons depending on your needs). Make your celebration stand out in the minds of your guests by finding a venue that will listen to your vision, desires and preferences, and help you create an itinerary that suits you as a couple.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions about customizing your celebration for this reason.

Guests appreciate and note your efforts to interject touches and details that are thoughtful and representative of the two of you. After all, this celebration is about the two of you!

Q: What is the benefit to having my venue cater my reception?

certain that in the event that your first choice is taken, there are other options for available

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TIMOTHY AMES

Q: If we have our wedding at the same venue, what will my guests do between the ceremony and reception?

they don’t feel like they are waiting for you or for dinner, and don’t feel trapped in their seat until the dancing kicks off.

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Timothy Ames is the Director of Sales at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Second, if the ceremony and reception are in the same location, the complexity of logistics for everyone becomes less significant. They have one less venue to find and you have one less set of directions to include.

Last, if you are able to find a wedding ceremony and reception venue that suits your budget, preferences and vision hosted at one venue you’ll simplify the process from the beginning. With so many details to attend to, the simpler and more convenient, the better.

dates.

23

When choosing a venue be certain that there

The advantage of having the venue cater your event is that they are ultimately respon-

is a backup plan in case of inclement weather.

sible for the overall experience of your guests.

The backup plan should meet your space needs

The Nonantum Resort prides itself on giving

and be a comfortable and beautiful space in the

couples the flexibility of custom designing their

event that plans change due to weather.

menu. Having full access to the Chef at all times. Food is one of the things that guests will

Q: How far in advance should I book my venue and what are the first things I should ask?

When planning a wedding, you should reserve your venue a year in advance to be

remember of your event. It’s important that the quality is never compromised.

Bachelor/ette parties

Engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor/ette parties, rehearsal dinners, bridesmaid brunch... there are more ways to celebrate than just the reception on the Big Day. Here is your primer for pre-wedding party bliss.

Pre-wedding

parties

Practice for the

Story Debra Bell

Big Day

Probably the most infamous of all pre-wedding parties, the bachelor and bachelorette parties are a chance to celebrate the groom and bride to have a day of fun before the wedding.

Who plans it: The groom’s attendants and the bride's attendants, respectively.

When to have it: The last couple months before the wedding. For the sake of the wedding, have these parties a couple weeks prior to the wedding.

Who comes: The guy or gal pals of the respective couple.

What happens: This is, simply, a night on the town to celebrate. It might be raunchy or sweet. But always fitting to the bride or groom’s personalities and interests.

Personalize your party to what the bride or groom loves to do — go paintballing, have a spa party, sing karaoke — and have a blast safely.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Engagement Party The kick off to the Big Day countdown. This party has traditional roots as it’s the first chance for the families to meet, if they haven’t already. It’s up to the host to decide how elaborate, or intimate, the fete will be.

Who plans it: Either set of parents or the couple.

When to have it: Within three months of the actual engagement.

Who comes: Only people who will be invited to the wedding should make the cut.

Who pays: Depends on who wants to throw it. Tradition holds that the bride’s family hosts, but it could be the groom’s parents, or the couple themselves.

What happens: Think of it as a supped up cocktail party. Guests enjoy food, drink, and conversation to celebrate your upcoming nuptials.

Continued on page 46

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PHOTOS: Thinkstock.com | Hemera

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

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25

Youinvited: are A couple’s printing primer

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Story Debra Z. Walsh | Photos Papier Gourmet

26

C

hoices abound in invitations. What type of paper, script or colors are available?

Should it read like your grandmother’s invitation or should you choose contemporary wording?

“It’s the first published piece of paper [regarding the upcoming nuptials] and can set the tone for the rest of the wedding,” said Valarie Kyros, owner of Papier Gourmet, a 15-year-old company in Portland considered the largest stationer in the state.

Regardless of the style selected, couples need to consider what appeals to them and what fits the type of ceremony and reception they are planning, says Annie Kassler, of Terrindell Design in Camden.

A bride has “millions” of options when choosing wedding stationery. Following are five options to consider when selecting the invitation.

Traditionally designed and worded invitations, much like those of generations past, continue to be popular with brides today.

Raised print on white or off-white-colored paper, simply announcing upcoming nuptials can provide an understated, but formal, preview of the coming event.

Couples also can consider invitations designed by nationally-known designers such as Vera Wang, known for elegant wedding stationery, or William Arthur, who is located in Maine.

Envelopments have become a popular

process, the paper is textured and the print is pressed into the paper, as opposed raised printing.

Coupled into the decision process is the choice of colors and the printing process which range from utilizing the talents of a hand craftsperson creating custom printing plates to flat printing done in an office.

To assure adequate time to select an invitation that becomes a keepsake, a couple should start the process at least six months before the wedding date.

Kyros says couples should select an “invitation you want to see in a picture frame 25 years from now.”

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

While some may see it as only paper, a wedding invitation should spark excitement for a couple preparing for the most splendid day of their lives.

invitation trend. The design, which incorporates a pocket fold, neatly holds the pieces in an invitation set, including the invite itself, reception card, response card and return envelope. Kyros says that the pocket fold design has become quite popular since it lends itself to a choice of color, shapes and sizes.

“The result is an invitation that truly is your own,“ said Kyros.

Another option is a themed invitation set, such as using script or graphics that connote a coastal or woodsy atmosphere, both popular in Maine.

The centuries-old letterpress process results in a “look unto its own.” In this printing

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Dressed Beautifully style

Ideas for maids, moms, and guests

Goddess Chic Greek goddesses awaken. This pewter floor length gown, has florettes on the left shoulder and an empire waist with ruching. This dress compliments all body shapes.

Designer: Bill Levkoff.

Cost: $229

Vibrant Vixen

Playful Partygirl

Shown in violet red, mom will look young and beautiful with or without the matching bollero. The florette at the waist removes as well and can be used for other clothing accents.

This dress is perfect for a guest who wants to party. This black party dress came with a light pink sash. We personalized it with a hot pink sash around the waist.

Designer: Private Label Occasion in Violet Red; Matching Jacket Cost: $209 (dress); $69 (matching bollero)

Designer: Jordan Fashions.

Cost: $179

Photos Debra Bell | Dresses courtesy The Henry’s Bridal Boutique and Formalwear and House of Brides in Bangor

Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of bridesmaids, moms, and guests like choosing attire for a wedding.

Since the bride will look stunning on the Big Day, it’s only reasonable that her attendants, moms and guests look their best too.

Brides can allay those fears by choosing styles that will

fit every body shape, budget, and lifestyle. Nothing is worse than a dress that is worn once and relegated to the closet.

To help inspire you, we’ve chosen six beautiful (and affordable) dresses that would be perfect for maids, moms, or guests. For more advice, check out pages 30-31.

Ruby Gem

Flirty Maid

Passion Frock

This cocktail dress in ruby will look good on a variety of body shapes.

Ruching hides bulges and accentuates the bust. Top it off with cute heels and a flirty evening purse.

This silver and champagne colored gown is flirty and fun and perfect for maids and guests.

Thinking about an outdoor wedding? This passion and black cocktail dress is cute for both bridesmaids and guests. A black band around the waist and ruching in the bodice and skirt flatter every shape.

Designer: Davinci Cost: $190

Designer: Bill Levkoff Cost: $189

Designer: Impression Bridal Cost: $198

5 SIMPLE STEPS

to coordinate the

WEDDING PARTY

“LOOK” Story Debra Bell

Gone are the days of wedding parties being clones of each other. The tradition started so that evil demons would not find the real bride and groom. But today’s couples can safely break with tradition.

Here are some simple ways to coordinate the whole party while also making them feel great.

1 Know the weather.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

No groomsman wants to be in a full tuxedo in August at 1 p.m. in an outdoor wedding.

Likewise, a maid could freeze in a tea-length cocktail dress for a November wedding.

Achieve practical style with alternatives to tradition. For outdoor summer weddings, consider putting the guys in khaki pants, a light cotton blazer, ties, and white shirts.

Ladies will love shorter, light-weight material for summer weddings. For fall or winter weddings, look to heavier coats for the guys, and longer dresses and pashminas for the ladies.

30

2

Let attendants be themselves.

OK, brides, be honest. We’ve all dutifully worn dresses to weddings that live in the back of the closet. Be kind to your bridesmaids and either choose a style of dress that they can easily wear again, or allow them to choose a dress within your vision. And let’s face it, different bodies showcase dresses differently. Grooms, consider choosing attire that your guys can wear again: for instance, a nice inexpensive suit. As a gift, buy them coordinating ties.

3

Respect the budget.

Weddings are expensive. With prewedding parties, trips, travel, lodging, and presents, attire will eat up one of the largest portions of an attendant’s budget. When choosing clothing, find something affordable for all involved. Need advice, ask your maid of honor or best man their opinion. Above all, understand that your friends are coming because they love you. Love them back by respecting their financial situation.

4 Follow the proper order.

5 Remember the other major players.

PHOTOS: Header, Sha~Lam Photography | (numbered 1-5), Jameson Brown

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Ring bearers, flower girls, junior bridesmaids, ushers, and parents all play a role in the wedding party. Alert them to your color scheme, attire styles, and take time to help them choose a beautiful outfit too.

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Brides and grooms take heed: select your wedding date, decide on the style of your nuptials, agree on attendants, and wedding colors before deciding on bridal party attire.

Grooms, it’s likely that your bride will take lead here. Choose the bridesmaids colors before the groomsmen. Then alert the guys to what they’ll wear. Order in plenty of time for back orders or fittings.

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| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

love stories

32

Addy Lord & Steve Holston August 13, 2011 | Clark’s Cove Farm

Rustic Peace in Walpole

Story Debra Z. Walsh | Photography Rachel Bell Photography

If Addy Lord hadn’t been bored, she wouldn’t have attended an engagement party and met her life’s partner, Steve Holston.

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Wed on Aug. 13, 2011, the Standish couple’s story began in September of 2007. Meeting up at a Sebago Lake party for another couple, Addy was “set up” with Steve, a landscape company manager.

“I wasn’t going to go to the party,” Addy recalled. “I didn’t know the couple very well. But, at the last minute, I was bored.”

Once there, she scanned the group of eligible men.

“Steve definitely caught my eye,” she said, giggling.

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| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012 34

Steve wasn’t aware of the plan until he arrived. When Addy was singled out, Steve said, “I went in to make my move.”

Their conversation continued all evening and Addy gave Steve her telephone number, which he lost. When he retrieved the number, “he called ASAP,” Addy said.

The couple discovered they shared a love of the outdoors, going hiking and camping for the next two years to places like Rangeley Lake, Acadia National Park, Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Hatteras.

The relationship took a fourmonth hiatus when Addy, a nurse, volunteered at a health clinic in Ecuador, something she had wanted to do since college.

“I didn’t like it obviously,” said Steve, but admitted he was proud of her efforts.

When she returned, the romance resumed. The couple moved in together. They got a black Labrador Retriever named Misty and played lots of Pictionary with friends.

Steve realized that she was the one, and proposed on Sept.

15, 2010 at Richardson Lake, a favorite camping destination.

The wind was blowing hard and waves were crashing against the boat, Addy recalled. Steve managed to tie up the boat and not drop the platinum cushioncut diamond engagement ring. As

they walked down a path, their dog Misty ran off toward some fly fishermen. Steve stopped Addy from chasing the dog and dropped on one knee, proclaimed his love and proposed.

“Meanwhile, the dog ran wild,” Addy recalled.

The couple wanted an “outside and rustic” ceremony.

Clark’s Cove Farm near Damariscotta offered a “minidestination” location with lodging for the wedding party and family. Its scenic apple orchard, garden and river were the perfect backdrop for the nuptials. The barn provided would house an informal, but elegant, cocktail reception.

Seven times a bridesmaid and an only child, Addy said that choosing her college friends as attendants was a “no brainer.”

Her two maids of honor were Sarah Betack and Eryin Martin along with four bridesmaids.

Steve’s best man was Evan Merritt, a friend since the pair were eight years old. Close friends were the four groomsmen.

The wedding day dawned with “perfectly clear skies.” A yoga instructor worked with the bride and bridesmaids in the orchard that morning.

“It was such a peaceful place before the wedding,” said Addy.

The girls frolicked among the trees while a photographer recorded their play.

The wedding day dawned with "perfectly clear skies." A yoga instructor worked with the bride and bridesmaids in the orchard that morning.

Meanwhile, Steve and his groomsmen golfed at the Bath Country Club.

When it was time for the late afternoon ceremony, they were “very relaxed.”

Justice of the Peace William Wilde conducted the ceremony with traditional

vows and a touching acknowledgement by the couple that their hands are the ones that will hold their children and each other as they age. Steve’s father, Drew Holston, performed several piano selections.

The barn reception featured carved

London broil, grilled seasonable vegetables and small baguettes with aioli served at several food stations.

Four years of exploring the outdoors with each other culminated in a picture perfect day for the couple, making memories to last a lifetime of love.

The details

Wedding Planner: Laurie Saunders | Bride’s Gown: Spoil Me Ceremony/Reception location: Clark’s Cove Farm, Walpole Flowers: Passion Flower Farm | Cake: Sara Coonradt, culinary student Bride’s engagement ring: Springer Jewelry Bride and groom wedding bands: Jarrod’s | DJ: Larry Weddleton Catering: Stone Cove Catering

inspiration: nature

PHOTO: Haley Tash Photography

“We create the perfect waterfront weddings.”

Steve DiMillo, Jr.

Dream no further.

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PHOTOS: Top Darling Photography | middle Memory Maker | bottom Eager Eye Photography

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

207-772-2216 25 Long Wharf Portland, ME 04101 www.dimillos.com

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Every couple wants their wedding day to be memorable.

And it can be unique simply by incorporating some ethnic traditions.

T

ypical American weddings borrow from many traditions: throwing the bouquet from the French; exchanging wedding bands and cake from the ancient Romans and Italians; wearing something blue courtesy of the biblical era. Yet, some traditions remain associated with specific ethnicities. Couples can make a bridge from their own past by

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Story Greg Westrich

38

Traditionally, “luck” in the wedding had less to do with the longevity of the marriage and more to do with fertility. Just because a couple chooses to honor their ethnic traditions doesn’t mean they have to believe everything their ancestors believed, or give a ritual or symbol the same meaning. Rather, incorporating such traditions into a contemporary wedding can lend the ceremony and celebration a sense of history and continuity with the couple's ethnic culture that may otherwise be lost.

incorporating traditions from either families’ ethnic past, or create their own traditions by borrowing ideas that they like from other traditions.

By incorporating traditions from an ethnic background, the wedding can become a bridge between generations and it is a perfect way to honor past family members, deepening the meaning of the celebration.

Borrowing traditions from other ethnicity’s can lend a sense of personal meaning to the ceremony and a unique twist on the day. A couple without Jewish heritage may choose to wed beneath a chupah because they like the symbolism of building a home together.

Similarly, the Jewish tradition of breaking a

glass at the end of the ceremony might appeal to couples who wish to consciously evoke the past.

About a third of Mainers are of French descent. Most of the French traditions that have not found their way into the broader American tradition have withered as fewer Franco-Americans live in tight-knit rural communities. A traditional French wedding was a potluck at the brides’ family’s home. The whole community would turn out to celebrate with feasting and dancing to local fiddle music.

Celtic weddings — Irish and Scottish — were often held on New Year's Eve for good luck.

The ceremony included handfasting where the bride and groom’s hands would be bound together with a length of cloth.

Handfasting symbolized the bonding of two individuals into a couple. Scottish weddings featured bagpipes and the family’s tartan pattern. Grooms and ushers wore a sprig of white heather in their lapel for luck.

In Scandinavian weddings, especially Swedish, the bride traditionally wore a small crown — like the good witch in “The Wizard of Oz”. Originally, the crowns were myrtle, but for several centuries now they have been bejeweled metal. The entrance of the church was decorated with a greenery-covered archway.

Like most cultures, the Swedes have traditions to bring luck to the couple. The bride’s mother gives a gold coin to be placed in the bride’s right shoe; her father, a silver coin for the left.

PHOTOS: Patrick McNamera | Rings iStockphoto/Thinkstock

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

love stories

42

love stories

Amanda Bosson & Ryan Barry August 6, 2011 | Bar Harbor

A Perfect Fairy tale in Bar Harbor Story Debra Bell | Photos Blush Imagery

For high school sweethearts, Amanda Bosson and Ryan Barry, Maine holds a special place in their hearts. And it’s not just because they chose to vacation in the state twice or because they love the outdoors.

It’s because Maine was their “perfect” wedding venue to start a new chapter in their 10 year “fairytale story” courtship.

While Amanda finished her law degree, Ryan prepared to pop the question.

Amanda found her “dream ring” at a Viginia jeweler, the Precious Gem, and Ryan worked with the jeweler to create an identical ring within his budget.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012 44

As part of his preparations, Ryan planned Amanda’s “bar trip” — her reward for finishing law school — to California’s wine country.. “He loves to plan trips and make things absolutely perfect,” she said.

And she was right. On the coastal, scenic drive between Napa Valley and the Big Sur, the stage was set for a magical proposal.

Much to Amanda’s surprise, Ryan drove past their destination and pulled into the Post Ranch Inn “treehouse suite.”

As they paused at a bench overlooking the Pacific ocean, he pulled out the ring he had hidden in a “secret compartment” of his laptop’s Pelican case. The mixture of the view, emotions and surprise caught her off guard.

“I almost fell off of the cliff,” she said. “I wish that we had gotten married right then and there.”

Once home, planning commenced. Priority one: the location. And Bar Harbor was the perfect spot. Amidst Amanda starting a new job, the couple focused on planning together to make their wedding an event no one would forget.

“Everything about Bar Harbor is ideal,” she said. “It’s so down to Earth and beautiful. It makes us feel at peace.”

The couple chose their favorite

spot: the Harborside Hotel and Marina to allow guests to “come and share somewhere special with us.”

For Amanda, it was all about her veil, “I wanted my veil to be elegant and modern – I loved it so much I wore it all night!”

For Ryan, it was all about his purple basketweave tie, which he chose especially to honor his grandfather.

The bridesmaids wore “pacific blue” dresses and the groomsmen wore navy blue basketweave ties dresses to complement the natural beauty of the ceremony. Ryan wanted his groomsmen to look “as handsome as possible and also have a bit of character.”

Weather forecasts predicted rain, but it wasn’t to be. While the ladies prepared at the Harborside’s spa, the guys headed off for a pre-wedding hike of Cadillac Mountain.

“I was picturing being so rushed to get ready, but that wasn’t what happened at all,” Amanda said.

“The ceremony was so serene and surreal. Something about the harbor is very spiritual and real to us, and we really wanted the natural beauty to be a part of our ceremony.”

The most important thing to Ryan and Amanda was to have the people that they love most

"What was most important to us was the spiritual connection with a natural spot.

We really wanted that to be part of our ceremony.”

celebrating their wedding with them. “I felt really lucky.” Ryan said.

“All of our plans centered around maximizing comfort and fun,” she said. “We’ve been to a lot of weddings where you either sit, or you dance. We didn’t want that.” The couple planned for

guests to be able to go “straight from the ceremony into the celebration,” Amanda said. With a “starry night” motif created

by Port Harbor Lights gracing the vaulted ceilings, guests and the couple alike marveled at the magic. “It was like a dream,” Amanda said.

After the wedding ended, the couple spent the night at the Harborside then headed off to prepare for their honeymoon in Hawaii, chosen because of its “beachy” feel and flexible options for fun.

“All of our plans centered around maximizing comfort and fun.”

The details

Ceremony/Reception: Harborside and the Bar Harbor Club | Flowers: Chelcey Dunham Fleurishes | Catering: Bar Harbor Club Cake: Celebration Cakes | Lighting: Port City Lighting | Reception music: Nite-time | Groom/groomsmen ties: Brooks Brothers Bride’s engagement ring: Precious Gem | Bride and groom wedding bands: Precious Gem | Wedding Gown: Camille Bridal, West Hartford, CT | Invitations: William Arthur | Calligraphy, place cards and paper goods: Michelle Dowling Calligraphy

PRE-WEDDING PARTIES

Continued from page 24

Bridal Shower This party has evolved over the years and now can be traditional (ladies only) or modern (guys and gals).

Who plans it: The maid of honor and bridesmaids.

When to have it: Within the last four months of planning. Definitely after the couple have registered.

Who comes: Traditionally, a bridal shower is attended by the bride, her best gal pals, and any other woman invited to the wedding. For coed showers, anything really goes. However, make sure all guests who are invited are also on the wedding invite list.

What happens: Depending on the theme and the type of guests invited, bridal showers are where the bride and her ladies relax, play some silly games, and enjoy delicious refreshments. For shower game ideas, visit www. bridal-shower-games.com.

Bridesmaid luncheon An older tradition, this is the bride’s chance to thank her attendants for their support, help, and financial investment in the wedding.

Who plans it: The bride.

When to have it: Days or weeks prior to the wedding.

Who comes: The bride’s attendants.

What happens: This is a chance for the bride to thank her girls. Gifts are often given.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Rehearsal dinner The final party before the wedding. This is often held just after the reception.

Who plans it: Tradition dictates that the groom’s family plans this party.

When to have it: The day before the wedding.

Who comes: Anyone who is participating in the wedding and extended family if they’re in town (and if the budget allows).

What happens: Gifts are often given and this party is a chance for everyone to celebrate the upcoming wedding.

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PHOTO: Thinkstock, iStockphoto

On Your Special Day

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47

Value

vs. DIY

Story Brian Swartz Engaged couples working with a tight budget can find ways to reduce expenses without compromising quality. This can be accomplished by striking a balance between value — hiring a wedding professional and do-it-yourself — utilizing the talents of friends and relatives to perform specific tasks.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Reception

48

V

DIY

Hold the reception at a site specializing in such events

Hold the reception at a local church or hall or in a backyard

Advantages: experienced kitchen and wait staff; a facility that accommodates many guests

Advantages: should cost less; relaxed surroundings

Disadvantage: the price varies with the menu and the number of guests

Disadvantages: possibly won’t accommodate all guests; no on-site manager to confer with should problems arise

Reception Entertainment

V

DIY

Hire an experienced DJ who has emceed many wedding receptions

Hire a friend or relative who has some experience as a DJ

Advantage: a reception wellmanaged by a cool, calm experienced professional

Advantage: should cost less

Disadvantage: price could be an issue

Disadvantage: no guarantee as to equipment quality or DJ’s ability to manage the reception

Wedding Site

V

DIY

Hold the ceremony in an ornate church or at elegant hotel or inn

Hold the ceremony at a local hall or park or at an architecturally simpler church

Advantage: beautiful surroundings; unique photographic opportunities Disadvantage: could cost more

Advantages: should cost less; unique photographic opportunities

Congratulations

Disadvantage: surroundings might be not as elegant as in a facility that often hosts weddings

on your big day!

Reception Meal

V

DIY

Have the meal served during a reception held at a facility specializing in such events

Serve a buffet or potluck dinner at a local church or hall or in someone’s backyard

Advantage: experienced kitchen and wait staff; food should be “hot or not,” depending on the dish

Disadvantage: no guarantee as to food quality or quantity

Photography

V

DIY

Hire a professional wedding photographer

Ask a friend or relative skilled with digital SLRs to take the photos

Disadvantage: could cost more

Advantage: could cost less Disadvantages: photo quality might be less than desired (or imagined), family dynamics may interfere

1) Have a skin consult

2) Grow longer, thicker eyelashes

3) Glow, glow, glow

6 months before the wedding: Schedule a consult to discuss your skin and how to make it virtually flawless for your big day. With a variety of products and services to offer you, from Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup and Microdermabrasion, to Fraxel® laser and Botox,® we’re sure to have everything you need to achieve your goals. (Mention this ad and receive your consult free,

4 months before the wedding: Who needs fake lashes on their big day when you can grow your own lashes 25% longer, 106% fuller, and 18% darker in just 16 weeks with Latisse!

This breakthrough FDA approved treatment will have you tossing your favorite mascara to the curb.

2 weeks before the wedding: Have a glycolic peel or microdermabrasion to reveal natural glowing skin so you can be the most radiant bride your guests have ever seen!

Call or stop by and make an appointment today.

Led by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, David A. Branch, MD

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Advantage: quality photos done by a professional who keeps cool under pressure and knows what to expect throughout the day

Just follow these simple steps...

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Disadvantage: the price varies with the menu and the number of guests

Advantages: should cost less; informal atmosphere; encourages friends or relatives who could not participate in the ceremony to play a role at the reception

It’s your day and all eyes are on you!

Surface Medical Spa can help let your beauty shine through as brightly as your happiness!

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palate pleasures

GOING BEYOND

“wedding food” Story Debra Bell

Set your wedding apart by choosing food that will delight your guests — and your — palate. And smart couples will think outside the “traditional” fare offerings found at most wedding receptions.

Go with what YOU like As much as your wedding is about the blending of two families, it’s also about you.

That’s why, when vetting caterers, ask them how to incorporate your favorite foods.

“Pick something that means a lot to you as a couple, or even an item that fits with your design,” said the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa’s sales manager Cindy Miner. “Labeling where [a food came] from can add an interesting design element to the event and provide some much-needed marketing for local farms and producers.”

The Regency Hotel and Spas provide a Farm to Table service on a small scale, but is part of a larger phenomenon.

Stations are a great way to allow guests to mix it up with different choices and stay within your budget. Consider mixing it up with foods you love and that your guests will too. A Mexican bar can have fajita or taco toppings while an Italian bar might feature pasta with a variety of sauces. Are you huge sushi fans?

Consider an on-demand sushi bar. Burger lovers will love a mini-slider station with a variety of toppings.

Stay local One way to satiate your guests — and your budgets — is to keep the food local. And locally purchased produce, butters and creams, meat, fish, and grains not only help the local economy, but are a good use of your food dollars.

By staying “in season” you’ll stretch your dollars further For instance, locally farmed haddock can be kinder on the budget than imported salmon.

“Ask your chef if the venue produces any of their own products on-site or at a nearby location,” Miner said. “Many small businesses are venturing into cultivating their own products as a signature service.”

Staying local also shows your guests that you appreciate them — and small businesses. Send guests home with Maine-made favors.

PHOTOS: Top, René Minnis Photography | Sushi, blueberries & cocktail, Thinkstock, iStockphoto

Create a “signature” drink Perfect for those foodies who want to celebrate in style. Consider making your favorite local micro-brew or wine your “it” drink. A signature drink doesn’t have to be alcoholic either. Perhaps your favorite local soda could be a signature option for those who won’t be drinking at your wedding. Kids will love this too.

Your signature drink doesn’t have to be unique to your wedding. You might choose a drink that will resonate well with your guests and rename it.

For instance:

The “Marry ME” Mojito The “I Do” Daiquiri The “Happy Ending” Hurricane The “Diamond”-tini The “So Happy” soda fountain

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Always seek the help of your local bartender or reception venue to develop the perfect “signature” drinks for your wedding.

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Tips for creating a signature drink

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love stories

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Amy Edwards & Kartik Pandya September 4, 2011 | French's Point

A Prescription for Romance in Stockton Springs

Story Debra Bell | Photography Jen Dean Photography for Russell Caron Photography

For Amy Edwards and Kartik Pandya, falling in love was just what the doctor ordered.

Amy, an intensive care nurse at Maine Medical Center in Portland, met Kartik a surgical resident through a close mutual friend.

“He was incredibly shy when we first met, it was the cutest thing” Amy said.

“I’m such an outgoing person; I took it as a personal challenge to bring him out of his shell.”

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“One of our goals was to make our family and friends feel truly included in our coastal wedding weekend.” The Retreat at French’s Point was the perfect backdrop for a classic Maine wedding."

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It was about two weeks after a Halloween party in 2007; Amy got a text asking her to dinner. He cooked a romantic homemade meal for her. “Kartik said that in his Indian culture sharing a meal with another person is a true expression of caring,” Amy said. “After that first date I was completely hooked.”

As Kartik continued his residency and she worked on a Family Nurse Practitioner degree, the relationship continued to grow more serious, yet after two years of dating there was still no signs of an engagement ring. Amy thought he would never “pop the question”. What she didn’t know was that he had already started looking at rings.

In November of 2010, almost 3 years to the day that they had started dating, Kartik surprised her with a weekend away in Bar Harbor.

“He proposed with a fake ring,” she said. “It was gaudy and yellow, the complete opposite of anything we had looked at, but I figured if this was the ring he had picked for me then I was ready to love it.” “After he took in about 5 minutes of enjoyment in my confusion about the ring he asked if I wanted the real one, it was perfect.”

The ring had been custom made in India by a family jeweler. Once she said yes, planning was underway. “I took charge, after realizing that my attempts to include him only led to more challenges than progress” Amy said.

However, she included him whenever possible, “he very was interested in cake tasting.”

The couple integrated their cultures through the music of Village to Village, a duo specializing in multicultural music, including music from Turkey, Greece, and a processional piece from Macedonia. An exotic touch was added with orchids, flowers that held special meaning for the couple. “It’s the first flower he gave me,” she said noting that he’s replace the original orchid twice. “ “One of our goals was to make our family and friends feel truly included in our coastal wedding weekend.”

The Retreat at French’s Point was the perfect backdrop for a classic Maine wedding.

Leading up to the wedding family and friends celebrated at a cottage on the ocean in Stockton Springs. They hosted a rehearsal brunch and then invited guests to join them aboard a catered

sunset schooner cruise out of Camden Harbor.

On the Big Day, Amy started off with a run down the beach before heading up to the Retreat to start preparing. “I was so relaxed, I was trying to enjoy every second of my day” she said.

“Watching it all unfold, with everyone you love waiting for you: That’s what I was looking forward to most. Walking the cobblestone path to where Kartik was waiting: That

was my fairytale moment.

He looked truly happy and I wanted to be there next to him.”

Cocktail hour, complete with fresh, local seafood and delights harvested from the gardens at French’s Point, was coupled with live music, and an attentive staff. The couple and their guests dined on a two course sit-down dinner prepared by the extraordinary chefs at the Retreat.

After heartfelt speeches, a

traditional cake cutting and couples first dance, Kartik led the way as he shed his quiet demeanor and hit the dance floor .“He went from this introverted, shy person when we first met to king of the dance floor, I love it.” “In fact, he was on the dance floor more than I was.”

The coup de grace was a special display of fireworks set off one hour after sunset.

“It was one of the things I

really wanted,” she said. “It was the cherry on top.”

The couple is planning a honeymoon over the holidays to Turks and Cacios. “Try not to stress about the details,” she said. ”When the day comes, the most important part is that you’re there and the person you love is there.

Everything else falls away.”

The details

Rehearsal dinner: Appledore Schooner cruise catered by Megunticook Market | Ceremony/reception/catering/decor: Retreat at French's Point | Flowers: Island Flowers Favors: Donation to Animal Refuge League | Cake: Nothing Bakes like a Parrott | Ceremony music: Village to Village, string duo. | Reception music: DJ Danny Dibiase Hair: Tammy Rodrique. | Make-up: Kimberly Sullivan | Bride's gown: Andrea's Bridal | Bridesmaid dresses: David's Bridal | Groom's and groomsmen attire: Mens Warehouse | Bride's engagement ring: Custom designed and created in India | Bride and groom wedding bands: Special order | Invitations: Charlie Herbst, Bayside Printing | Officiant: Scott Rodrique | Fireworks: Central Maine Pyrotechnics

Beauty tips for the Big Day Story NewsUSA | Photo Jameson Brown

You want everything to be picture perfect for your wedding, including your smile. But like everything else about your big day, that perfect smile could require some work ahead of time. In fact, experts suggest starting your entire beauty regimen six months before the wedding.

Here's a complete pre-wedding beauty checklist.

• Lips: Get soft, kissable lips by brushing away flakes of dry skin with an

Beauty secrets: Skincare

infant toothbrush soaked in baking soda and water. Apply healing ointment, and in no time, your lips will be ready for that "kiss the bride" kiss.

• Teeth: A cosmetic dentist can often correct an imperfect smile with veneers. But if spending painful hours in the dentist's chair getting your teeth ground down sounds like it would put a damper on all the joyful planning, here's good news: Veneers,

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Lumineers, and teeth whitening products can

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help make your smile more stunning.

• Makeup: Women with warm skin tones look best in makeup with pink, coral, peach, amber, brown and red with yellow undertones. If you have a cool skin tone, choose pink, berry, lilac, mauve or red with blue undertones. Do a test run of your makeup “look” before the Big Day.

• Skin: Make your face glow with a good cleansing program. Use a cleanser that's appropriate for your skin type in the morning, makeup remover and cleanser at night and a daily moisturizer. Use a gentle facial scrub once a week. Not sure what to use? Consult your local aesthetitian or salon for guidance. And no facials in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

• Hair: If you're planning to change your hairstyle or color, experiment several months before the wedding so you have time

Beauty secrets: Skincare

to correct any mistakes. Do a test-run on your wedding day hairstyle to make sure it is perfect for your look. And if you’re wearing a veil, take it along to your hair appointment.

• Nails: If you're a nail-biter, get weekly manicures to keep your nails healthy. Plan your last manicure a couple of days before the big day. Choose a pretty pale pink or splurge on a French manicure, not just because it looks great, but because the chips won't show as much and are easy to fix.

You'll have beautiful hands for the rehearsal dinner and any other festivities.

• Makeup. If you’re doing your own makeup, collect all items you’ll need:foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eye liner, mascara, lip liner, lipstick, lip gloss, and brushes. Pack it in a pretty bag and assign a bridesmaid to keep track of it.

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• Eyedrops and extra contacts • Toothbrushes and toothpicks • Hairspray • Sunscreen • Cotton swabs • Deoderant • Tissues • Fingernail clippers • Clear bandaids • Nail file

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Your “Day-Of” Beauty Kit

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Hair Trends for 2012

If the Royal We Wedding of 2011 has taught us anything, it’s that simple and elegant is back. And for hair trends in 2012, brides will be going back to basics.

Story Debra Bell

Braids

Hair bling

Loose, natural styles

Down-do

Forget Heidi or french braids. Today’s budding bride may use braids as a clever – and stylish – way to keep strays and frizz from ruining her wedding day tresses.

Today’s bride will have stylish and quirky braids applied to her do to add interest and accent the dress.

Brides with short hair, medium hair, and long hair alike will be going back to basics with their wedding hair. One of the trends falling off the runway is loose tendrils, finessed into flowing waves. Check out our cover look to see an example of loose, waves made to look gorgeous.

Brides are adding interest to their hair through the use of fancy hair pins, birdcage veils, and haircombs.

But a classic look that’s currently en vogue is the use of flowers in the hair. Think about this for the bride, or her attendants. Perhaps Mom doesn’t want to wear a corsage, but is going to have a gorgeous do. Accent it with a flower that will be in the bride’s bouquet.

Up-dos may get all the glory, but in 2012, down-dos are back in style. Loose curls, sculptured chignons, and flattened buns are all examples of gorgeous down-dos. Work with your hair style to ensure complete confidence.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Top from left, BEL Portraits, Eager Eye Photography, Hailey Tash, Jameson Brown, Emily McIntosh Bottom from left, Bell Imaging & Design, Atlantic Photography, Sue Vernon, Joanna Thyer, Shanes Wedding Photography | Hair clip, Hemera/Thinkstock

ideas

Unique

Looking for something unique for your wedding ceremony? Consider the

Love Letter and Wine Box ceremony.

ceremony touches Photo Debra Bell

This new ceremony takes the place of an unity candle or sand ceremony.

Here’s the gist: Before the wedding day, the bride and groom individually write a love letter to their mate. The

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letter can be simple or elaborate, detailing why

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they fell in love with the other, listing hopes and dreams, or simply reflecting on the new bond they’ll share. Each love letter gets sealed in an envelope and brought to the ceremony. The couple decorates the wine box — homemade or handpurchased — and chooses a bottle of wine to encase inside.

At a special moment in the ceremony, the officiant will initiate the wine and love letter ceremony, explaining the meaning of the wine box. The couple will take their sealed letters, wine, glasses, and other mementos and place them inside the box then seal it either with a key or with hammer and nails.

At the couple’s first anniversary — or another date they set — the box is opened, wine sipped, and letters read. To keep the tradition going, the couple should then replace the wine and letters on each anniversary.

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etiquette corner

Because the invitations reflect the tone of your wedding they should be considered early on in your planning activities. Once you have developed your guest list, selected your ceremony and wedding venues and decided on the degree of formality you wish to express throughout your wedding, you can comfortable begin to search for your invitations and other printed materials.

etiquette & tips

INVITATIONS Story Paula Paradis, Paradis & Foster Event Management

Placing the order

Consider these points as your shop for your paper trousseau.

Choose the right vendor Select a vendor that specializes in wedding invitations. The staff there will have the expertise and experience to help you with paper selections and correct wordings. Their advice can end up saving you time and often money as well. Figure in all of the options as you look at pricing and purchase 50 extra invitations and 100 extra envelopes to allow for addressing errors and last minute additions.

When you place your order, be sure that you send one of everything to yourself when the rest go out so you can monitor the delivery dates.

Be sure that you allow enough time to order, address and send the invitations packages. Double check with your print specialist on the time frame required for satisfactory order completions. Most experts agree that invitations should go out 6-8 weeks prior to the ceremony.

Consider purchasing special issue postage stamps rather than just ordinary stamps. Check with your local postal service for the options that may work for you. Be sure to check on delivery times if you select a personalized stamp pattern.

Always take a sample of your fully “loaded” invitation package to the post office to verify the amount of postage to put on each. How embarrassing to have it arrive at your guest’s home with “postage due”.

Always double-check the proofs of the invitation copy. Have someone else double check you as well.

It is easy to skip over and not notice ILLUSTRATIONS: THINKSTOCK, iStockphoto

You will likely be ordering more than just invitations so consider these other items as well: • Save the date cards • Insert cards (directions or other information) • RSVP cards • Place cards and table assignment charts • Menus • Thank you cards • Programs

errors in copy with which you are so familiar. A misspelled name can cause unnecessary delays and expense.

Whom to invite

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If children are being invited to the wedding and reception, their names are usually included on the inside envelope, clearly letting the parents know that the children are invited. If children are not to be included, just the invited guest’s names are on the invitation. This lets the parents know exactly for whom the invitation is intended. If children are not being invited to attend, for whatever reason, plan how you handle requests from guests who wish to bring their children. Have alternative plans in place in case this becomes an issue.

You are not obligated to invite a guest or escorts with your single friends. If you do decide to, find out beforehand whom they intend

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to bring and ask for their name and address; it is proper to send a separate invitation to that person. If the couple live together, you may send one invitation to them both, just as you would to a married couple (list their names alphabetically on the envelope).

Send invitations to the principals in the wedding even though they’ve been invited informally.

Your finance’s mother and your mother should receive three or four unsealed invitations as wedding mementos.

When you are ready to begin the selection of your invitations and paper trousseau, be sure to spend time with an experienced consultant who can make sure you have a perfect invitation for your perfect wedding.

2012 Bridal Shows

Lucerne Inn Bridal Show

Retreat at French’s Point Wedding Show

Maine Wedding Association Bridal Shows:

January 28 For more informatioom: www.fpmaine.com

Paradis and Foster Wedding Show February 11-12, 2012 BANGOR MALL, regular hours, Free

New England Bridal Expo February 19 RADISSON, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH Time: 1-4:30 p.m.; Admission: $6 March 4 RADISSON, 11 Tara Boulevard, Nashua, NH Time: 1-4:30 p.m.; Admission: $6 March 18 PORTSMOUTH HARBOR EVENT AND CONVENTION CENTER, Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH Time: 1-4:30 p.m.; Admission: $6

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April 15 CHURCH LANDING AT MILL FALLS, 312 Daniel Webster Highway (Rt. 3), Meredith, NH 1-4:30 p.m.; Admission: $6

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May 20 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Free

January 7-8 HOLIDAY INN BY THE BAY 88 Spring Street, Portland Sat., 6-9 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Admission: $10 January 14-15 SPECTACULAR EVENT CENTER 395 Griffin Road, Bangor Sat., 6-9 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Admission: $10 January 22 AUGUSTA ARMORY 179 Western Avenue, Augusta 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Admission: $10 March 25, HILTON GARDEN INN AUBURN RIVERWATCH 14 Great Falls Plaza, Auburn 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Admission: $10 April 1 HILTON GARDEN INN 5 Park Street, Freeport 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Admission: $10

4.

1.

Couples are opting for meaningful favors to celebrate their personalities and leave an eco-friendly footprint. Here are some ideas perfect for green wedding favors.

3.

5.

Earth-friendly Favors 1. Garden wedding? Plant the seeds of your new marriage by giving guests packets of seeds with your wedding date on them. 2. Give guests a taste of Maine with single-serve portions of local fare. 3. Supporting small business is good for your wedding and for Maine.

4. Planning a destination wedding? Put together boxes of Maine items with a fun monogram. This couple used gummy lobsters and pillow mints. 5. Function meets

2.

fun with a heart bottle stopper. This favor will be useful for years to come.

PHOTOGRAPHY: 1, Brian Gravel | 2, Joanna Thyer | 3 and 4, Bell Imaging & Design | 5, Hailey Tash

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Ways to reduce wedding day photo stress You’ve spent months planning your wedding and the Big Day arrives. Trust us, it’ll go by in a blur. That’s one reason why couples throughout Maine are investing in professional photographers to translate happy memories into cherished heirlooms.

During the planning process, it can be tempting to save money by utilizing the talents of a friend or family member to take the important images. Uncle Bob who is handy with a camera can certainly take the ceremony photos and group photos, right?

Not always. The skills and experience of a professional photographer can’t be replaced. After all, they’ve been there... they’ve seen it all. Their experience will keep the day’s events moving smoothly and professionalism will keep folks happy through myriad group portraits. And even low light or tricky lighting conditions will be easier for the pro to tackle.

Here are six ways to reduce your wedding photo stress (and enjoy the Big Day):

1

Put it in writing.

2

Allow time for fantastic photos.

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Put your wedding day itinerary in writing and send it to your photographer. When everyone knows what is supposed to happen and when, the event moves smoothly.

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Couples are always excited to get from ceremony to reception, but allowing an hour for photos will provide “breathing space”.

Keep guests happy with entertainment at the cocktail hour while you create beautiful images.

Don’t bog y down wit our pro h a long s hot list.

Limit y

3

our “mu st have the top ” list to 20 “mu st have Remem ” s h ots. ber, eve ry grou time sp p in g ent awa means y from guests.

4 ition. ce of trad fa e h t in Fly rnie Lit ner, Be

w mal rtraits o king for BEL Po ends ta m m o r c re ny fo tlefield, ceremo rst fore the e b ecial “fi s p e s g ima et that G . s a lt r u es g fo “rave” r rrangin ent by a m o to meet. m le ” p k u loo the co r fo e m ti private

Choose a photographer you connect with, not just the least expensive.

While budget should factor into the equation, so should your connection to the photographer. Talk with your prospective photographer. Make sure you like her. Then book her ASAP.

6

Allow your photographer the room to do her job.

PHOTO: Atlantic Photography

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Well-meaning guests will want to snap some of their own photos. However, it should never interfere with the work of your pro.

It’s only polite to allow your photographer to shoot unimpeded by well meaning amateurs.

Back your photographer if she has to ask Uncle Bob or Aunt Sally to move aside. After all, your pro is there to take your pictures.

And she makes a living from it.

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Planning a

flawless

Rehearsal Dinner Story Brian Swatrz

A wedding rehearsal’s raison d’etre lies in its noun: rehearsal, as in ‘‘practice until you get it right.’’

Sometime before the wedding, often the prior evening, the ceremony’s participants gather for a rehearsal that educates them about their roles — and introduces the officiant to everyone. How should a rehearsal be organized? Consider these suggestions:

• Hold it the day before the wedding.

Participants traveling from out of town will probably arrive that day to be available for the rehearsal.

• Schedule the rehearsal for late afternoon or early evening to accommodate participants working that day.

• Let everyone, including the officiant, know the date, time, and location — which, of course, should be the same site where the wedding will take place. Provide everyone with detailed directions, perhaps even a map.

• Let the officiant conduct, manage, and organize the rehearsal. Tell a “know-it-all” participant to keep quiet; as a professional who has likely conducted many weddings, the officiant knows how a ceremony should flow.

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• Ask participants to listen attentively to the officiant’s instructions. By doing so, everyone learns what to do — and this helps speed the rehearsal to completion.

• Rehearse the ceremony twice. The first “run-through” may evoke giggling and laughter, always great tension-cutters. The second “run-through” should flow almost seamlessly.

• Do not expect or demand perfection.

Remember that a wedding rehearsal is just that: a rehearsal for the “real thing.” Enjoy the camaraderie, jokes, laughter, and fun as family and friends come together to help the engaged couple have the wedding of their dreams.

• Limit rehearsal time to about 60-90 minutes. Young children — the flowergirl or ringbearer — might grow restless as time passes. And by late day, people are hungry, especially if the rehearsal takes place between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

68 • Practice, practice, practice, and then send everybody on their way with a heartfelt “thank you.”

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“True love stories never have endings.” ~Richard Bach

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PHOTO: Emily McIntosh

H

saying

Thank You Story Paula Paradis, Paradis & Foster Event Management

Your family, friends, and wedding guests went to great lengths and expense to choose a gift for your wedding. Acknowledging their thoughtfulness in a personalized note, is the least you can do. This handwritten note of appreciation, written in honor of every gift you receive, is a heartfelt and courteous gesture despite an in-person thank you.

For a gift given by a large group – eight or more people – it is acceptable to write one thank you note. However, thank each individual giver in person when you see them. When you receive a single gift from several relatives, co-workers or close friends, you should still write each one a thank-you note.

Follow these three-steps to writing thank-you notes: Name the gift: “Thank you for the lovely vase.”

Describe how you’ll use the gift: “It looks lovely on our dining room table. Right now it is holding some beautiful roses from our garden” Add a personal thought or two about your wedding or your relationship with the giver: “It meant so much to us to have you there, sharing our wedding day.”

Remember that writing thank you notes is just the process of putting your thoughts on paper. Think about the gift and the fond memories of the giver. Write those notes together. When they’re done, treat yourselves to a special evening.

PHOTO: Sha-Lam Photography

The most important thing about writing thankyou notes is to do it promptly. Acknowledge: • A gift received before the wedding within two weeks.

• A gift received on your wedding day within a month of your return from the honeymoon.

• A gift received after the wedding day within a month of its arrival.

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A Wedding at Penobscot Valley:

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Perfect.

• The spacious “Grandview Room” features banks of windows overlooking the golf course and the rolling hills of the Penobscot River Valley • Hand-hewn, outdoor pergola is a beautiful spot for your ceremony or photos • Full banquet kitchen, experienced staff-- everything customized to your wishes • Our experienced Function Manager takes the weight off of your shoulders, assisting with all the details-- from room setup and menu selection to flowers, music and the wedding cake.

• A full Couples Golf Membership included for the bride and groom with every wedding booked!

P enobs c ot Va l l e y C oun t ry C lub

366 Main St. Orono, ME • (207) 866-2060 • www.penobscotvalleycc.com

Honeymoon How to plan a great

Most importantly, relax and have a wonderful time. This is only one of many, many trips you will take together as husband and wife.

Story Sheila Grant

Early planning and good communication helps newlyweds enjoy their time away more, and create honeymoon memories to last a life time.

Is there some place you’ve always dreamed of going, or a specific activity (zip-lining in Costa Rica, snorkeling a coral reef in Turks and Caicos) that is high on your to-do list?

How much time can each of you take off from work for wedding preparation, the big day and a honeymoon immediately after the nuptials? How much will it cost? Depending on the destination, it could be more enjoyable and affordable to postpone the honeymoon until the savings account has recovered from wedding expenditures and each spouse can schedule more time off from work. Pay attention to annual weather patterns. Few people want to honeymoon on a tropical island during hurricane season!

“The only problem that we see with going right away is that most weddings are on Saturday, with most flights leaving on Sunday early in the morning, so sometimes it’s better to wait a day or two to give yourselves a little break from the stress of the wedding before traveling,” said Donna Demmons, office manager at All About Travel in Bangor. “It’s also less expensive to travel during the week.”

Demmons said most Maine couples want to honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort in a warm destination.

“The best prices are in Mexico, Jamaica, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic,” she said. Booking through a travel agent allows couples to pay a small deposit, make monthly payments, and pay the balance off about 45 days before departure. Prices vary by destination and season, with fall less expensive than spring travel.

“If they are booking way in advance, sometimes it’s a good idea to have the optional insurance, because almost everything is nonrefundable nowadays,” she said.

Demmons recommends packing over-thecounter medications, which can be expensive elsewhere. She noted that many resorts require long pants in restaurants during the evening. Create a master list. Choose clothing that can be mixed and matched. Remember airline weight limits; fees can be hefty on overloaded luggage. Put heavier items in first.

Rolled clothes take up less room and will be less wrinkled.

For passport information, visit http://travel.state.gov. For information on immunizations that may be required, visit the Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov and click on the Travelers’ Health link.

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the Dress Life after

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Story Diana George Chapin

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Marriage is a legal and spiritual contract that is, for many, simultaneously exhilarating and overwhelming. Soon after the wedding and honeymoon it is time to get down to the business of embracing your new lifestyle with commitment.

According to Emily Post’s Etiquette, newlyweds have a full year to complete their thank-you notes for wedding gifts. In the meantime there are some practical items that will require attention. Keep family and friends abreast of your new status by sending a mass email or postcard to all notifying them of any name changes, your new address, and contact information.

Head to the Department of Motor Vehicles and change your name on your driver’s license. Call ahead or go online to see if any special requirements apply. Bring along an official copy of your marriage certificate. Visit your local social security office to change your name on your social security card. Take your driver’s license, your existing social security card and an official copy of your marriage certificate.

Call your local branch office or check online to learn more about the process.

Two of the biggest challenges for newlyweds are managing finances and communications. “People are influenced by how they learned to understand relationships as they grew up in their family of origin,” says Fran Dunning, a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. “If our parents modeled a relationship differently than our spouses parents modeled

a relationship, there’s going to be conflict.”

Open communication and planning is key. Financial planning is a tremendous topic for newlyweds to tackle, but first the means to get through day-to-day operations need to be addressed. Consider joint banking accounts or change your name on all checking, savings, credit and debit accounts as well as investment accounts. Review life insurance policies and update the beneficiary areas.

Marriage assures certain financial rights and benefits, including tax benefits, estate planning and inheritance rights, government and employment benefits, decisionmaking benefits where medical care is concerned, financial support and consumer benefits such as family discounts from products from insurance to vacations.

There are legal and financial obligations that balance those benefits. Some of the obligations include liability for family expenses and debts, support of children that result from marriage, costs associated with holding property acquired during marriage and financial responsibility in the case of divorce.

“One of the big mistakes people make is that they have some incompatibilities that they haven’t discovered before marriage,” says Ezra Kreamer, a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maine.

“Newlyweds can really benefit from counseling to work through this. It’s important for people to know you go to counseling to be proactive—to be on the same page, to get a broader picture of who they are together.”

budget worksheet You’re engaged. The first step to a successful (and stress-free) planning process is to set a budget and stick with it.

Use our handy budget worksheet to help you get started:

Reception (48-50%) Venue

.................................. Budgeted amount: ______

Rentals

................................ Budgeted amount: ______

Beverages/Bartender Cake

Actual amount: ______ Actual amount: ______

........... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

.................................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Cutting fee

........................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Cake topper

......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Guest book

.......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Attire & Beauty (8-10%)

Stationary (2-3%)

Bride’s gown & alterations ....... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Headpiece/veil ......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Save the Dates ......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Bride’s undergarments ............ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Invitations & reply cards .......... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Bride’s jewelry ......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Hair, nails and makeup ............ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Thank you cards ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Programs ................................ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Other printed items ................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Bride’s shoes ........................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Pre-wedding pampering ........... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Groom’s tuxedo/suit ................ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Groom’s accesories.................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Ceremony (2-3%) Officiant fee/donation .............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Venue fee ................................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Ceremony accessories ............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Flowers & Decor (8-10%) Throwing bouquet .................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Bridesmaids bouquets ............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Jewelry (2-3%) Groom’s wedding band ............ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Bride’s wedding band .............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Engraving ................................ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Transportation and Lodging (2-3%) Wedding day transportation ..... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Wedding night lodging ............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Limo or car rentals .................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Guest Shuttles ........................ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Horse & carriage ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Wedding license ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Tips for vendors ....................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

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Actual amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Postage ................................... Budgeted amount: ______

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Bride’s bouquet ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Calligraphy .............................. Budgeted amount: ______

Out-of-town bags...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

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Special permits ....................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Flower girl flowers .................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Wedding party boutonnieres .... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Additional boutonnieres ........... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Corsages ................................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Ceremony arrangements .......... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Attendant gifts ......................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Reception arrangements .......... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Parent gifts .............................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Favors ...................................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Music (5-10%) Ceremony music ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Cocktail hour music ................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Reception music ...................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Photography & Videography (10-12%) Photographer........................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Engagement photos ................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Videographer ........................... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Reprints/albums/videos .......... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Newspaper announcements ..... Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Gifts (2-3%) Bride and Groom gifts.............. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Miscellaneous (8%) Wedding coordinator................ Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Fireworks ................................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Photo booth ............................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

Wedding insurance .................. Budgeted amount: ______

Actual amount: ______

PHOTOGRAPH: Jameson Brown Photography

guest list organizer Before you get busy planning the details surrounding your wedding day, it’s important to get organized.

Your wedding vision: small and intimate, big and jovial, mid-sized and fun-loving will depend on how

Guest list etiquette:

Be aware that about 20% of your guests may not come.

However, there’s always that chance that 100% will make it to your celebration. Be cautious about inviting B-listers until you’ve received confirmed “no” responses.

many people you invite to share your exciting day.

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

But before you break the news on Facebook (and get inundated with “where’s my invitation” queries), do some family and friend reconnaissance.

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Etiquette states that only women invited to the wedding shall be invited to the bridal shower. This tradition is in place for a reason: to avoid misunderstandings and the potential for hurt feelings. The last thing you want to be known as is a “greedy” bride (or groom).

Step 1:

It is in bad taste to invite people to your wedding via email or through Facebook. Think of it this way: you might save postage, but you’ll avoid all sorts of wedding crashers or unwelcome ex’s.

Step 2:

This organizer will help get you started. We highly recommend starting with this list and then developing a spreadsheet for easy reference.

The two of you draw up your list of “must invite” guests. This will include immediate family, close friends (the kind who would be family if you could will it), and other VIPs. Tell your families your budget and invite list size and emphasize this is not the time to share your news. Ask for priority invites (an A-list and B-list). Do not share who is on what list. Ask for mailing addresses for invitees.

Step 3: Develop your master list. If it’s over the invite

count, you’ll need to do some finessing.

Guest name:___________________________________________ Spouse/partner name: _________________________________ Children (if inviting): ___________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City/State/Zip: ________________________________________ Telephone/email: ______________________________________ Invited: ❑ yes

❑ not yet

❑ bridal shower

RSVP: ❑ yes (how many ____)

❑ no

PHOTOGRAPH: Hailey Tash Photography

groom’s checklist Step 1: Pick out an engagement ring and pop the question.

Step 2: Follow this list of “to-dos” before the big “I dos.”

Ongoing ____ Continue to date and have some “non-wedding planning” time. ____ Designate one night a week as your “wedding free zone.” ____ Provide mental and emotional support for your bride. ____ Wrangle your family members so they don’t stress out you or your bride. ____ Act as mediator so your bride doesn’t get overwhelmed.

9-12 months ahead ____ Help your bride pick a date for the wedding. ____ Discuss your budget (and who will pay for what) with your bride and all parents ____ Select ceremony and reception venues with your bride as well as other major vendors including photographers, videography, musicians, and caterers. ____ Enjoy tastings. ____ Decide who you will ask to stand up with you and ask them in person or over the phone. No email or facebook invites. ____ Begin compiling a guest list. Help wrangle your family as they compile their list. ____ Discuss honeymoon options with your bride.

2 weeks ahead ____ Arrange for wedding day transportation (if needed). ____ Attend bachelor party. ____ Confirm honeymoon reservations. ____ Start writing your speech for the reception.

1 week ahead ____ Remind ushers and groomsmen of rehearsal and rehearsal dinner details.

____ Arrange for passports, visas, and vaccinations (if needed) for your honeymoon.

____ Help your bride divvy up final payments (officiant, musicians, tips). Check your

6 months ahead

____ Finalize seating plans.

contracts and pay any vendor who requires payment in full before the wedding.

____ Register for items together. Select three stores and fill your registry with items of varying price points. she needs it. ____ Provide the master guest list to the maid of honor for the bridal shower. ____ Choose and order your wedding bands. ____ Choose your attire and make arrangements for rentals (if needed).

____ Pack for the honeymoon (and wedding night). ____ Get a haircut (seven days prior). ____ Prepare a speech for the rehearsal dinner.

Night before the wedding ____ Remind your bride how much she means to you. ____ Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

3 months ahead ____ Reserve a block of rooms at a hotel you both agree on for your guests. ____ Plan the rehearsal dinner with your parents.

6-8 weeks ahead ____ Help your fiancee with thank you notes from the bridal shower (address the envelopes for her and affix stamps.

____ Part ways to spend the night separately. ____ Do not get drunk. And if you do overindulge, drink lots of water and take a few aspirin before bed. ____ Pick up your rentals. Double check the fit and color.

Day of the wedding ____ Eat breakfast and relax. ____ Do a venue check to ensure everything is taken care of.

____ Pick up the wedding bands and check the engraving (if being engraved)

____ Send your sweetie a note to remind her how excited you are.

____ Buy gifts for your fiancee, groomsmen, and ushers.

____ Give yourself an hour before the wedding to get dressed and relax.

____ Start discussing your vision for the bachelor party.

____ Get Married!

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____ Get any final paperwork for the ceremony in order.

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

____ Continue to help your fiancee plan the wedding. Provide a shoulder to lean on if

____ Purchase traveller’s checks and last-minute items for the honeymoon.

PHOTOGRAPH: Darling Photography

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measuring up (For best fit, have someone assist you)

FOR LADIES

(For best measurements, have someone assist you) Height: ______________ Weight: _____________ Bust: _______________ Waist: _______________ Hip:_________________ Neck: _______________

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Bust Measurement:

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Stand naturally and with your heels together with arms resting at the sides of the body. Have a professional (or friend) measure your bust by positing the tape at the widest part of the back and the widest part of your bust. Keep a thumb inside the tape for a little measuring lattitude.

Hip Measurement

Waist Measurement:

Dress Length

Rest your hands at your natural waistline. Then loosely wrap measuring tape around that area. Do not suck in your stomach.

If you are 5’9” or taller with wedding day heels, order a dress with extra length — typically 5” longer.

With heels together, stand naturally. When measuring for a sheath dress, measure from the widest part of your butt.

For an A-line dress measure around the fullest part of your hip. Keep a thumb inside the tape for a little measuring latitude.

FOR GUYS

Height: ______________ Weight: ______________ Waist: _______________ Hip: _________________ Outseam: ____________

Chest:__________________ Over arm: ______________ Neck: __________________ Sleeve: _________________ Coat insleeve: __________

Height and weight

Over arm

Height: stand straight up with your back against the wall and measure from the top of your head to the floor (no shoes allowed). Weight: use an accurate scale and don’t lie.

Similar to taking the chest measurements, measure overarm dimensions by running the measuring tape over both arms. A typical difference would be about 8 inches unless you’re buff.

Waist To ensure a proper fit, measure above your hip bone across the navel (bellybutton area). Insert a finger or two between the measuring tape and body for extra room (so you can indulge and not feel restricted.

Neck

Hip

Sleeve

Place the meauring tape directly around your pants to the largest part of the seat of the pants.

With your arm straight down at your side, place tape at the base of the neck in back.

Run it across the top of the shoulder and down the arm until about 1 inch below the wrist.

Out seam Put on shoes that will be like the ones you’ll wear on the Big Day. Measure from the outside arch of your shoe up your leg and past the hip bone to your navel.

Chest Stand up straight and relax (now is not the time to flex those pecs.) With an undershirt on, place the meauring tape under the arms. With arms at your side, run the tape across the shoulder blades and around the chest. Insert a finger or two between the body and tape to ensure a little extra space on the Big Day.

Place the tape low on the neck (where your shirt collar would normally fall. Run the tape completely around the neck.

Allow a finger space between the neck and tape.

Coat in-sleeve: Only take this measurement if you think the coat will need to be altered. This measurement is the difference between the cuff of the coat sleeve to the underarm.

PHOTOGRAPH: Jameson Brown Photography

honeymoon checklist The honeymoon is like the icing on the cake: A sweet way to celebrate your new union and relax away those wedding planning knots. Here’s your helpful worksheet to ensure your packing is a little less stressful.

Carry-on Bag

(Make sure to check with your airline to ensure your carry on complies with plane regulations.) ❑ Plane boarding passes and other travel tickets

Checked Bag (per person)

Personal care items

Worried about your bag getting lost? If you’re

❑ Shampoo and conditioner

travelling in the U.S. consider shipping it to your destination ahead of you via UPS or Fed-Ex. You can track the bag and it’s unlikely to get lost in transit.

❑ Passport, visas (apply for these 6-9 months prior to departure) ❑ Driver’s license or state ID ❑ Credit, ATM, and telephone calling cards ❑ Money and traveler’s checks ❑ Hotel, theater, restaurant, or other reservation confirmations ❑ Phone numbers for: your doctor, emergency contacts, and credit card companies ❑ Cell phone and travel charger (leave home with fully charged batteries) ❑ Prescription medicine (in the original bottle) ❑ Aspirin, ibuprofen, Imodium, and

❑ Soap and face cleanser ❑ Deodorant ❑ Tooth floss (toothbrush and toothpaste will be in your carry on) ❑ Hand and body lotion

Note: Anything that is liquid and could spill should be packed in re-sealable plastic bags. ❑ Travel locks (combination locks are best)

❑ Lip balm ❑ Razors and shaving cream ❑ Travel medical kit (place in a mesh bag or a plastic container): Various sizes of and-aids,

and ID tags (with a visual ID item) on every

blister pads, antacids, antihistamines,

bag you carry on or check

diarrhea medicine, antibacterial cream,

❑ 2 to 3 pairs of shoes or sandals (break them in before the honeymoon) ❑ Enough clothing for one to two changes per day ❑ Formal clothes for a fancy night out (dress, jacket, khakis, etc.)

headache medicine, gauze pads and rolls, ace bandages, tweezers, small pair of scissors, nail file or clippers, antibacterial wipes, cotton balls or swabs ❑ Sunscreen ❑ Personal-hygiene items

❑ Lingerie

❑ Extra contact lenses or eyeglasses (if needed)

❑ Backup eyeglasses in a case

❑ Slippers

❑ Insect repellent

❑ Contraception

❑ Evening bag

❑ Hair dryer (check with your hotel

❑ Toothbrush and toothpaste

❑ Swimsuit (if appropriate)

❑ Small bag of makeup

❑ Electrical adapter for destinations outside

travel-sickness pills (if needed)

❑ Contacts, case, and saline

before packing)

the U.S. (if needed)

❑ Personal hygiene items

❑ Extra camera batteries

Have peace of mind while you travel

❑ Small camera

❑ Various sizes of extra re-sealable plastic bags

Make photocopies of all cards, travel and

❑ Any valuable jewelry

❑ Maps, guidebooks, and a translation

❑ In-flight reading

dictionary (if needed)

❑ A light jacket or sweater

❑ Books and magazines

❑ One complete change of clothing, including

❑ Travel alarm clock

underwear and socks ❑ Travel pillow and blanket ❑ Sewing kit ❑ Sunglasses

❑ Addresses of friends and family for postcards

all vital record documents (this inlcudes copies of your wills and life insurance information)

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❑ Video camera

❑ Camera film or memory cards and tripod

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

❑ Brush and comb

(a 3 ounce container or smaller is allowed)

with someone at home.

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traveler’s check documents, vaccination records, prescriptions, health-insurance card(s), and medical/trip insurance documents detailing coverage and contacts.

Take pictures of your luggage contents in case your suitcase is lost.

and stamps ❑ Comfortable bag for guidebooks, snacks, and other essentials

Once you reach your hotel, stash these

❑ Swiss Army knife

items in your in-room safe. For added

❑ Travel umbrella or rain poncho

security, leave copies as well as your itinerary,

❑ Romantic necessities (such as scented

contact numbers, and a sealed envelope with

massage oil, candles, the Kama Sutra, etc.) ❑ Location specific items (ie. ski honeymoon, beach honeymoon, hiking honeymoon)

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

inspiration: color

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PHOTOS: Clockwise starting from top Darling Photography | Darling Photography | Bell Imaging & Design | Joanna Thyer

Spring/Summer 2012 Marry ME Magazine Advertiser Directory

ACCOMMODATIONS Atlantic Oceanside 119 Eden St., Bar Harbor 207-288-5801 www.barharbormainehotel.com Bar Harbor Inn Newport Dr., Bar Harbor 207-288-3351 www.barharborinn.com Black Bear Inn 4 Godfrey Blvd., Orono 207-866-7120 www.blackbearinnorono.com Ducktrap Retreat 23 Whitney Rd., Lincolnville 1-800-498-6367 www.ducktrapretreat.com Four Points by Sheraton 308 Godfrey Blvd., Bangor 207-947-6721 www.fourpointsbangorairport.com French’s Point 249 Hersey Retreat Rd., Stockton Springs 207-567-3650 www.fpmaine.com Lucerne Inn 2517 Main Rd., Dedham 800-325-5123 or 207-843-5123 www.lucerneinn.com Marriott Portland 200 Sable Oaks Dr., South Portland 207-871-8000 www.marriottsouthportland.com Meadowmere Resort 74 Main St., Ogunquit 207-646-9661 www.meadowmere.com

Portland Regency 20 Milk St., Portland 207-774-4200 www.theregency.com Point Lookout Resort 67 Atlantic Hwy., Northport 1-800-515-3611 www.visitpointlookout.com Ramada Inn 357 Odlin Rd., Bangor 207-947-6961 www.bangorramada.com

Stage Neck Inn 8 Stage Neck Rd., York Harbor 207-363-3850 www.stageneck.com

Lougee & Fredericks 364 State St., Bangor 800-879-5996 www.lougeefrederick.net

ATTIRE

Montes Catering 72 Columbia St., Bangor 207-945-3990 www.montesinternational.com

GOLF COURSE

The Henry’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear 31 Washington St., Bangor 207-947-0701 www.bangorbridal.com Maria Antonieta Couture 15 Free St., Portland 207-871-8200 www.mariaantonietacouture.com Spoil Me 240 Route 1, Falmouth 207-773-0743 www.shopspoilme.com Willey’s Formal Wear 248 State St., Suite 19, Ellsworth 207-664-2525 www.mainegunshops.com/formal-weardefault.asp

BAKERY Cupcakes Too 510 Wilson St., Brewer 207-561-9626 www.myfruitbouquet.com Montes Catering 72 Columbia St., Bangor 207-945-3990 www.montesinternational.com

BRIDAL SHOWS

Thistles Restaurant 175 Exchange St., Bangor 207-945-5480 www.thistlesrestaurant.com

CHOCOLATIER Specialty Sweets Bangor Mall 849 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 207-990-0778 www.specialtysweets.com

Old Marsh Country Club 445 Clubhouse Rd, Wells 207-251-4653 www.harrisgolfonline.com Penobscot Valley Country Club 366 Main St, Orono 207-866-2060 www.harrisgolfonline.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

DJ

Anthony Johns Day Spa 1010 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 207-907-4263 www.anthonyjohnsdayspa.com

Dana Lavertu DJ 90 Ridgeview Dr., Veazie 207-947-5114 or 800-571-5114 www.danalavertu.com

Bar Harbor Inn and Spa Newport Dr., Bar Harbor 207-288-8455 or 800-350-3352 www.barharborinn.com/spa.html

High Tech Entertainment 177 Lincoln St., Bangor 207-949-4727 www.hightechmaine.com

Coco Cheveux 198 Maine Mall Rd., South Portland 207-899-4520 www.cococheveux.com

EVENT PLANNER

Surface Medical Spa 55 Broadway, Bangor 207-947-5657 www.surfacemedicalspa.com

Paradis & Foster Event Management, LLC Bangor, Maine 207-852-0872 & 207-852-3747 www.paradisfoster.com

INVITATIONS Bell Imaging & Design 890 Coldbrook Rd., Hermon 207-356-2353 www.bellphotostudio.com

New England Bridal Expo 866-493-0986 www.newenglandbridalexpo.com

FAVORS

Paradis & Foster Events LLC Bangor, Maine 207-852-0872 & 207-852-3747 www.paradisfoster.com

Specialty Sweets Bangor Mall 849 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 207-990-0778 www.specialtysweets.com

Creative Print Service 5 Dowd Rd., Bangor 207-947-2250 www.creative-ps.com

CATERING/RESTAURANT

FLORISTS

Catering by the Jade 178 Bangor Mall Blvd., Bangor 207-947-6969

Chapel Hill Floral 435 Hammond St., Bangor 1-800-564-5638 or 207-942-7386 www.chapelhillfloral.com

Papier Gourmet 26 Free St., Portland 207-871-9722 www.papiergourmet.com

Clay Hill Farm 220 Clay Hill Dr., Cape Neddick 207-361-1771 www.clayhillfarm.com DiMillo’s Restaurant 25 Long Wharf, Portland 207-772-2216 www.dimillos.com

Fleurishes Design 27 Thels Way, Bar Harbor 207-479-7210 www.chelceydunhamfleurishes.com Island Flowers East Side Dr., Verona 207-469-7967 www.veronaislandflowers.com

JEWELER Quality Jewelers 57 Washington St., Bangor 207-990-1199 www.qualityjewelers.com

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Ramada Inn Ellsworth 215 High St., Ellsworth 207-667-9341 www.ramada.com

Grace Restaurant 15 Chestnut St., Portland 207-828-4422 www.restaurantgrace.com

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

Nonantum Resort 95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport 207-967-4050 www.nonantumresort.com

York Harbor Inn 480 York St., York Harbor 207-351-1865 www.yorkharborinn.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY BEL Portraits 56 Main St., Winterport 866-243-4400 www.belportraits.com Bell Imaging & Design 890 Coldbrook Rd., Hermon 207-356-2353 www.bellphotostudio.com Shane’s Wedding Photography P.O. Box 813, York 207-337-1894 www.shanesweddingphotography.com

RECEPTION/REHEARSAL DINNER/BRIDAL SHOWER Atlantic Oceanside 119 Eden St., Bar Harbor 207-288-5801 www.barharbormainehotel.com Bar Harbor Inn Newport Dr., Bar Harbor 207-288-3351 www.barharborinn.com Black Bear Inn 4 Godfrey Dr., Orono 207-866-7120 www.blackbearinnorono.com Clay Hill Farm 220 Clay Hill Dr., Cape Neddick 207-361-1771 www.clayhillfarm.com

Ducktrap Retreat 23 Whitney Rd., Lincolnville 1-800-498-6367 www.ducktrapretreat.com

Peakes Hill Lodge 40 Peaks Hill Rd., Dedham 207-944-8319 www.peakeshilllodge.com

Four Points by Sheraton 308 Godfrey Blvd., Bangor 207-947-6721 www.fourpointsbangorairport.com

Penobscot Valley Country Club 366 Main St, Orono 207-866-2060 www.harrisgolfonline.com

French’s Point 249 Hersey Retreat Rd., Stockton Springs 207-567-3650 www.fpmaine.com

Portland Regency 20 Milk St., Portland 207-774-4200 www.theregency.com

Lucerne Inn 2517 Main Rd., Dedham 800-325-5123 or 207-843-5123 www.lucerneinn.com Marriott Portland 200 Sable Oaks Dr., South Portland 207-871-8000 www.marriottsouthportland.com Muddy Rudder 5 South Main St., Brewer 207-989-5389 www.muddyrudderbrewer.com Nonantum Resort 95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport 207-967-4050 www.nonantumresort.com

Point Lookout Resort 67 Atlantic Hwy., Northport 1-800-515-3611 www.visitpointlookout.com Ramada Inn 357 Odlin Rd., Bangor 207-947-6961 www.bangorramada.com Ramada Inn Ellsworth 215 High St., Ellsworth 207-667-9341 www.ramada.com Stage Neck Inn 8 Stage Neck Rd., York Harbor 207-363-3850 www.stageneck.com York Harbor Inn 480 York St., York Harbor 207-351-1865 www.yorkharborinn.com

Old Marsh Country Club 445 Clubhouse Rd, Wells 207-251-4653 www.harrisgolfonline.com

SHOPPING Bangor Mall 24 Bangor Mall Blvd., Bangor 207-947-7333 www.bangormall.com

TRANSPORTATION Oli’s Trolley 1 West St., Bar Harbor 207-288-9899 www.olistrolley.com

TUXEDOS The Henry’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear 31 Washington St., Bangor 207-947-0701 www.bangorbridal.com Willey’s Formal Wear 248 State St., Suite 19, Ellsworth 207-664-2525 www.mainegunshops.com/formal-weardefault.asp

VIDEOGRAPHY Digital Workshop 388 Mt. Hope Ave., Bangor 207-942-1826 www.maineprovideo.com

Look for the Fall/Winter edition of Marry ME Magazine on sale July 1!

SPRING/SUMMER 2012

&

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

marrymemagazine.com

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MAINE WEDDING INSPIRATION

marrymemagazine.com Weddings | Directory | Guy’s Corner | Love Stories | Planning | Style

5 Unique PLACES

to wed in Maine

Make your wedding

$3.99US

A PRODUCT OF THE BANGOR DAILY NEWS

To advertise in our next edition, please call 207-990-8283, toll-free in Maine at 1-800-432-7964 ext. 8283 or e-mail advertising@marrymemagazine.com We welcome you to participate in this magazine! To contribute photographs, story ideas, and tips for our next edition, please call 207-990-8118, toll-free in Maine at 1-800432-7964 ext. 8118 or e-mail editor@marrymemagazine.com.

Submit your Wedding, Engagement & Anniversary Announcement

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

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Say “I do” by the sea…

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Conference Center

offers full reception facilities, guest and honeymoon lodging and local activity planning to make your wedding a very special event for you, your family and friends. Our full-time event manager will assist you with your planning and supervise the day’s events to ensure its success.

• Dining accommodations for 300 guests • Hotel features 150 rooms with ocean views • Indoor and outdoor saltwater pools

| BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

• Fitness center, tennis courts, private pier

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Hotel & Conference Center

www.BarHarborMaineHotel.com 800-336-2463 • 207-288-5801 119 Eden Street, Bar Harbor

BDN MAINE MARRY ME MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2012

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