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SPECIAL BRIDAL & WEDDING GUIDE Planning a day

Berthoud Resident Berthoud, CO 80513

Berthoud, 80513

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February 12, 2015

State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015 Page 3

Congratulations to all our Berthoud brides and grooms The Surveyor welcomes engagement and wedding announcements.

INDEX Love is in the air .......................4 Cash registry .............................5 Destination wedding .................6 Colorado inspired weddings .....7 Wedding dress for success ........8 Advantages to a wedding video10 Negotiate with vendors ..........11

Please support the advertisers in this special bridal magazine Banner Health Berthoud Drug Berthoud Inn Brookside Gardens Centerra Fabulous Finds First United MethodistCchurch Lifestyle Consignment Rib House Robin Events Rental Ron R Jewelers Sleep Store Snap Fitness Women’s Clinic

Go to our website at berthoudsurveyor.com and click on submission forms on the right side of the home page.

Use the appropriate eform to write your announcement and send it to editor@berthoudsurveyor.com along with contact information and a photo (jpg) or bring it into our office at 440 Mountain Ave., Berthoud.

Questions? 970.532.2252 State of the Union 2015© is published in Berthoud, Colorado by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor.

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Page 4 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 14, 2013

State of the Union

Ah, sweet matrimony ... love is in the air W hen people have finally found “the one” with whom they are ready to spend the rest of their life, they are excited about the celebration and ready to go for it. Friends Guest and family Columnist have each had their say in what marriage is like. You have heard the jokes, the cheers and the “just wait.”

What if you could not only see yourself as Pastor Emily the beautiful Hagan bride in the mirror, but also see the ideal picture of your marriage and create steps to make it happen? We think you can.

Traditionally, as couples approach marriage, they are offered premarital counseling. Counseling is wonderful and has its place in many areas.

Often counseling is closely connected to and related to therapy. In therapy a couple or individual needs help. Many couples through the years to whom I

have offered pre-marital counseling have said, “We don’t need that.” People often think that marriage — starting out — is like a new car: everything is in tip-top shape, no adjustments necessary. There are relationships that do need therapy and counseling; some relationships are deeply broken. For these times it is important to seek the help that is needed. However, a different approach may be called for in new relationships — coaching.

Coaching begins with a sense of wholeness. The coach recognizes that the individual, relationship, team or group that is being coached, is whole and complete. The coach, like any athletic coach, works to get the most potential out of the individual or relationship. Every bride is beautiful, and the beginning of a marriage offers beauty as well. When you approach marriage with a sense of hope and excitement, it is exciting to have someone cheering you on. A coach not only cheers you on and encourages; they also offer tools to make the most of your relationship.

Coaching is a process of growth and discovery in which the coaches, or in this case the about-to-be-married couple, work with a coach to learn the most direct route to where they want to be. The tools and skills sound simi-

lar to tools used in many areas; deep listening, powerful questions, and action and accountability are all part of what is used to get at the best possible outcomes. The gift of a coach is to see you for who you really are, and in the coaching environment, the coaching relationship helps you to begin unlocking hidden potential. Instead of working from the past, coaches move from the present forward. Imagine stepping into the venue of your wedding looking forward to the rest of your marriage.

Although coaching as a unique discipline is relatively new, it has already begun to specialize. There are life coaches, professional coaches, relationship coaches. When looking for a coach, there are a variety of things to think about. You want to feel comfortable with the coach, you want to be able to afford the coaching, and it is really helpful to have a sense of the outcomes you want. When thinking of weddings, outcomes vary from person to person and couple to couple.

For some it is most important that the photographer gets every shot; for others the place is the most important; some couples want the most beautiful

Nine — twelve months • Visit clergy to discuss service and facility.

• Start working on a guest list.

• Work up a budget.

• Find a reception site • Choose your attendants.

• Shop for reception entertainment.

Six — nine months • Book your caterer.

• Book your photographer/videographer.

• Shop for your wedding gown.

• Plan ceremony music; select musicians.

• Shop for your honeymoon.

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LOVE

cont. on page 5

• Select a florist.

• Finalize arrangements for church and ceremony.

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and delicious cake.

What we value and appreciate can be vastly different. In coaching, and specifically pre-marital coaching, the outcome you are going for is your own.

What gift will your marriage be to one another? When it comes to money, what do you really, really want? What is your ideal picture of intimacy? Sharing these answers with one another and looking together into your beautiful future will help you from the very beginning to achieve the greatness you want.

Building on the foundation you have already established will help you continue to say, “I’ve found ‘the one,’ my partner is amazing, and I look forward to the time we spend together doing what we always imagined we would.”

As you prepare for your big day, if you decide to engage in pre-marital coaching, you will have guidance and support. You will gain new awareness and be offered accountability by someone outside your relationship to make it what you want it to be.

For more information about coach-

Four — six months • Order invitations and party favors.

• Make sure all deposits have been made and contracts signed.

• Shop for groom’s and groomsmen’s tuxedos.

• Organize accommodations for out-oftown guests.

Two — four months • Address invitations. Send out six-eight weeks prior.

• Buy attendants’ gifts.

• Select a baker and order wedding cake.

• Buy wedding rings.

• Buy accessories (cake knife, toasting glasses, guest book, etc.).

• Make plans and reservations for wedding rehearsal and dinner.

One — two months • Arrange final bridal and attendants’ gowns fittings.

• Confirm all reservations for ceremony, reception and honeymoon.

• Obtain marriage license.

Two weeks • Pick up all gowns and accessories.

• Make sure photographer and/or videographer has a list of photos and events to be captured.

• Make sure musicians have the music specified.

One week • Confirm seating arrangements and final count.

• Have rehearsal and dinner.

• Pack for honeymoon.

• Relax and get plenty of rest.

Remember, you have planned for this event with the help of many qualified individuals. On this, the most exciting day of your life, concentrate on being happy, no matter what happens. Enjoy the new life you are beginning with your true love.

State of the Union

LOVE

cont. from page 4

ing, I suggest looking at the International Coaching Federation. You will find a great deal of information about choosing the right coach for you, what you can expect from coaching, and how coaching differs from other disciplines.

At First United Methodist Church we are excited to be able to offer premarital, or relationship, coaching. If you are interested in learning more, and would like direction about next steps to get a coach, feel free to contact us to help you be sure you get the right match for you. Coaches invest money, time and work to achieve their goals.

The coach helps to discover tomorrow’s hidden gifts today.

If you want help to build on your relationship, there are great resources for coaching right here in your own backyard. Coaching costs generally range from $50-$300 per session, based on the experience of the coach and the hoped-for outcomes of the coach. Most coaches offer a complimentary session to be sure the coaching relationship is a good fit for all. Every bride is beautiful. Marriage can be, too.

Consider pre-marital coaching to help you take the next steps toward the future you dream of when you look at yourself in the mirror, wearing your wedding dress.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015 Page 5

Cash registry: It does exist Special to the Surveyor

It is sometimes difficult to ask for what you truly want as a gift. After all, you don’t want to seem like you are picky, overly choosy or ungrateful when receiving gifts. So for holidays and birthdays you may make do with keeping mum and being thankful for those sweaters or knickknacks you don’t need.

But what about when it comes to your wedding?

Industry experts say that more and more couples are coming into the marriage with their household already established. Whether they’ve chosen to live together during their engagement or have already accumulated their own housewares, there’s a good chance a new toaster or set of towels is not high on their priority lists. What many couples need and can use is cold, hard cash.

But it’s not so easy to ask for cash in a tactful way. That’s where specialized gift registries come into play.

With the services of a cash or other type of gift registry, like Deposit a Gift (www.depositagift.com), couples can create a customized registry and website and ask guests to help build their dreams one dollar at a time.

Instead of shower or wedding guests showing up with a gift box or bag in tow, they simply deposit money toward an item the couple is saving for. This may be a new set of cabinets for their newly purchased home or a tool to place in the

garage. With a brief description and a price attached to the registry item, guests can help fulfill the dollar amount needed for the couple to later purchase things they truly need.

Couples can use the registry as a savings account and watch the dollar amount grow. Later on they can go out and purchase the items they need or use the money for another purpose. There’s no need to worry about duplicate blenders or engraved flatware that may never

be put to use. Also, precious time doesn’t need to be spent before the wedding sorting, storing and exchanging items that were gifted.

There are also advantages for the people doing the gifting. With the ease of a few mouse clicks, they’re able to deposit money into the registry account.

That means no fussing with stores or gift wrap, and certainly no lugging large gifts to a remote bridal shower location — a task not easily done in heels.

A site like Deposit a Gift will charge a minimum service fee to oversee the bank account where the funds are being stored and for credit card and other processing charges. The fee can be paid by the person establishing the registry or the gift-givers. The money is held in an FDIC-backed bank account and can be withdrawn whenever you choose to cash out the account and the method of payment.

Cash registries provide a polite way of asking friends and relatives for the items you can really use to start your new lives together as a married couple. Furthermore, the same registry concept can be applied to any major events in life moving forward, from the birth of children to birthdays to holidays.

Learn more about cash registries at sites like DepositAGift.com, OurWishingWell.com and GoGift.com

Page 6 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015

State of the Union

The destination weddings of Colorado

M

any brides and grooms dream of an exotic honeymoon, but some couples choose to get the party started early by having a destination wedding.

The benefits of a destinaSurveyor tion wedding Columnist are vast, and often have to do with time.

Instead of spending an afternoon celebrating with friends and family, a destination wedding allows a Heidi couple to spend Kerr-Schlaefer days celebrating with their loved ones.

A “destination wedding” often brings to mind white sands and palm trees. For example, Kina Palmer, owner of Travelhound, a Berthoud travel agency, recently booked clients on a destination wedding in Costa Rica.

“They loved it,” she said.

However, the destination of many weddings is more and more frequently the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Christine Forster of My Big Day, LLC, an events company in Loveland said she has more out-of-state ,clients who have booked weddings in the Colorado mountains in 2015 than she’s ever had before. She’s helping out-of-state couples plan weddings in Estes Park, Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek and Granby. Forster is also planning a handful of Colorado mountain weddings for Coloradans who live on the Front Range.

Forster said the draw is Colorado’s beautiful summers, the mountain scenery and the many activities available for wedding guests.

“Outdoor weddings are really popular right now,” said Forster.

“And Colorado’s weather is usually accommodating.”

Colorado’s ski resorts always see their fair share of weddings during the year. Hundreds of couples have tied the knot on top of Steamboat Springs Ski Resort, Copper Mountain has built a wedding pavilion at the top of one of its runs, and Telluride Ski Resort has been a wedding destination for everyone from regular folk to celebrities. Some resorts have event coordinators on staff to help with wedding planning.

However, ski resorts aren’t the only players in the Colorado destina-

Weddings by the Numbers Think you know weddings?

Here are some common statistics.

25 — The average age of a first-time bride.

175 — Average number of guests invited to a wedding.

75 — Percentage of brides who will receive a diamond engagement ring.

2.4 — Number, in millions, of weddings performed in the U.S. each year.

16 — Average number of months for an American engagement.

15 — Percentage of weddings that include ethnic customs.

12 — Average size of the wedding party.

80 — Percentage of weddings performed in a church or synagogue.

64 — Percentage of couples living together before marriage.

10.2 — Percentage of weddings taking place in August, second only to June as the most popular month.

4,000 — Dollars spent on the average honeymoon.

Wedding in Grand Lake, Colo.

tion wedding game.

Lisa Levy Kral was married this past summer at the Grand Lake Lodge in Grand Lake, Colo. This venue has been the site of weddings and other family gatherings for nearly 100 years.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Levy Kral Photographer, Elevate Photography, Denver

The former Chicagoans now live in Denver, but Matt and Lisa Kral have friends and family spread across the country. Their families are extremely important to them, so they wanted a

DESTINATION

cont. on pg. 7

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State of the Union

DESTINATION

cont. from pg. 6

wedding venue where everyone could come together in one place. They fell in love with Grand Lake and the historic lodge.

“Almost all of our wedding guests were from out of town,” said Lisa, “But it was like no other wedding they’d been to and no other place they’d seen.”

Like many mountain weddings, Lisa and Matt’s friends and family spent more than just a day or two at the wedding venue and even longer in Colorado.

“Our guests loved the location just as much as we did and can’t wait to get back to the Colorado Rockies to experience more,” said Lisa. “Most of them continued their mountain adventure following the wedding in order to take in even more of the mountains’ majesty.”

The Grand Lake Lodge wedding schedule fills fast, so brides must plan ahead. Towns like Breckenridge have a lot of large resort hotels, so booking space in larger ski towns can be less difficult. However, the popularity of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains as a wedding destination means couples must be diligent and book their ideal location as soon as they discover it.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015 Page 7

Colorado inspired weddings all the rage

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor Coloradans are proud of their state. The flag logo appears on everything from ball caps to finger nails, and now even brides are getting into the act. The “Colorado wedding” is all the rage with brides from Durango to Fort Collins.

What’s a Colorado wedding?

It’s shabby chic, but not cheap. It’s pretty, but not overly girly. And, above all, it’s laid back.

Last year, Christine Forster, owner of My Big Day, LLC in Loveland, told us that outdoor weddings were trending in Colorado and this year she says things will be no different; couples tie the knot in outdoor pavilions, in meadows, under waterfalls, and even on ski slopes.

Amanda Disney, event coordinator and guest relations manager at Brookside Gardens in Berthoud, says she’s seeing a lot of rustic weddings that use burlap as table runners, decorate with lace and dainty trinkets, and make bouquets from weeds. In keeping with this theme, popular colors with Brookside brides have been bright yellows and sage.

“A lot of this stems from Pinterest,” she said. “There’s a lot of bohemian stuff on Pinterest right now, like barefoot weddings with flowery headdresses. We’re seeing a lot of rustic style with family in mind. Brides and grooms are very family oriented right now.”

Weddings have taken on a holistic, natural and nature-inspired feel, and this earthy style has led to some brides giving out plants as party favors to their guests. “‘I saw this on Pinterest’ is usually the first thing a bride says to me,” said Disney who, despite having been married for five years, still pins items to her Wedding Board on Pinterest.

Forster says her brides have been trending away from the rustic theme of 2014, but are still keeping things laid back.

“My brides’ colors are all over the place, but everything new is old again,” she said. “Classic is definitely back in style. I’m seeing classic, simple weddings with one color palette and one pop-up color.”

When it comes to desserts, cupcakes are still king, but Forster has two couples doing pies as dessert at their weddings this year. And expensive flowers don’t seem to be high priority for Forster’s brides, and she is seeing the same wild bouquets described by Disney.

“It’s all about a mix of all kinds of flowers. Bouquets tend to be wild looking and eclectic right now,” she said.

While classic seems to be making a comeback with her brides, Forster does see the biggest trend as being unique.

“It’s a race to be different,” she said. “Brides and grooms really want their wedding to reflect their personalities, and they want to do something that none of their friends have done before. So I’m seeing things like photo booths and candy bars going away because they got so popular at every wedding.”

It appears being distinctive is the name of the wedding game in 2015, and Pinterest is still king when it comes to wedding planning.

Page 8 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015

State of the Union

Wedding dress for success: Stay true to your personal style Special to the Surveyor For most brides-to-be, the choice of a dress is among the first and most important decisions in planning a wedding. With thousands of choices in every price range, finding the perfect wedding dress can be a difficult and time-consuming process. But by making some decisions before setting foot in a store, the search will be both easier and a whole lot more enjoyable.

First things first Start by knowing your limits. To avoid disappointment down the line, determine the maximum amount that you can spend on a dress — and don’t forget to include all the little extras, such as undergarments, shoes, jewelry, veil, and/or hair ornaments.

Next, take an inventory of your personal style.

If you know you’re not comfortable in strapless or sleeveless dresses, for example, you can immediately eliminate these options. The trick is to rule out a few style options before hitting the magazines or stores and then be open to all other options.

Firm yet flexible There will be no shortage of opinions — from mothers, sisters, friends, and store personnel — about your choice of a wedding dress, but the decision, ultimately, is the bride’s alone. A great strategy is to be open to suggestions about dresses to try on, but reserve the right to choose the look that feels right to you. With so many potential op-

tions, you might want to consider bringing along a camera and taking photos of yourself in the dresses that could be “contenders.”

Go for a flattering fit Remember: Your goal is to find a dress that flatters your body and expresses your personal style — not to fit into a particular size. If you look ghostly in white, feel free to choose a creamier shade or a dress that has decorative accents of a different color near your neck, shoulders and face.

Similarly, there’s no rule that a wedding dress has to be floor-length. If you’re planning a daytime or more casual wedding, you might want to consider a tea-length dress (one that falls a few inches above the ankle) or go even shorter.

Comfort is key Style and fit may be the two most important factors in choosing a wedding dress, but comfort should be a close third. Ask yourself if you will be comfortable in a particular dress, given the setting in which your wedding will take place.

For instance, if you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, you may want forego a dress with a long, trailing train that could trip you up on your walk to or down the aisle. Even if you’re planning an indoor event, having a dress and shoes that are as comfortable as they are beautiful will greatly increase your odds of enjoying your special day to the fullest.

A Place for Your Wedding

For a peaceful, spiritual and affordable venue in Berthoud consider exchanging your wedding vows at Berthoud United Methodist Church.

Reception facilites are available for an additional cost.

Pastor Hagan is available to officiate with pre-marital coaching.

Saturdays available for 2015 include June, 20, June 27, July 18, July 25, August 8, 15 and 22.

First United Methodist Church of Berthoud Our Mission: Nurturing + Sharing + Serving Through God’s Love For more information call 970-532-2142 or email secretary@berthoudumc.org Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. • Berthoud UMC.org 820 9th Street • PO Box 506 • Berthoud, CO 80513

State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015 Page 9

Page 10 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015

State of the Union

Advantages to a wedding video

Special to the Surveyor

In a financial climate where most people are pinching pennies, it comes as no surprise that many engaged couples seek ways to cut costs with regard to their weddings. Some couples are undecided whether certain components of their wedding are necessary.

The decision to hire a videographer is one such area couples fret over. After all, with a photographer snapping hundreds of pictures, having a video may seem like an unnecessary luxury. However, people often find that having a wedding video to cherish long after the day has passed is well worth the price.

There are several advantages to hiring a professional videographer to capture the day. A professionally produced wedding video is not the same as Uncle Fred carrying around his archaic camcorder and catching a few embarrassing dance moves during the reception. A professional video will showcase all moments of the wedding from perspectives not easily captured by photography. In addition to showcasing the images of the wedding, the video will also share the sounds and emotions of the day. Here are some things to think about.

• Choose a videographer who will work in conjunction with the wedding mood and parameters. You probably don’t want a videographer who uses bright lights that can be distracting. Nor do you want a videographer who pushes the camera in guests’ faces for a less-than-candid interview. Today’s professionals are inconspicuous and simply record the events as they unfold.

• The videographer often works in tandem with the photographer. Some photographers have a videographer on staff. But it is fine to bring in your own if you like the quality of the photographer’s photos but not the videographer’s work.

• A videographer will capture the things you may have missed during the busy day. He or she can serve as the eyes and ears for the things you’re not seeing and hearing.

• Although ours is an increasingly digital world where people capture photos and videos on their smartphones and other devices on a regular basis, a wedding video can serve as a family memento. What other time, apart from the holidays, do you have all of your friends and loved ones together in one place?

• Although no one wants to think of a friend or relative passing away while planning their wedding, the fact remains that after a few years some of the people who attended your wedding may no longer be around. Having a wedding video may be the only last moving image and sound of a special person who is no longer in your life.

• Sound is a portion of the wedding that photos simply cannot capture.

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To relive the music and the words of the day, a videographer is a necessity.

Professionals who use wireless microphones will produce a video with the best sound quality.

• You can work with a good videographer so it’s not simply a video with close-up shots of your face or unflattering perspectives. Talk about your preferences and even fears about being filmed (some people just don’t like watching themselves on TV), and the videographer can no doubt find solutions that will accommodate your needs.

• There are many things that you will not see at the wedding but may have liked to, such as the first gasps of wonder upon guests walking into the reception room, or the tears on the face of an aunt who was sitting too far back in the church pews. This is where a wedding video can prove invaluable.

• Modern videographers offer high-resolution, edited movies. These can be delivered via Blu Ray DVD and ensure the best quality for your package.

Although brides and grooms may be cutting costs with regard to their wedding, they may not want to pass on the wedding video

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State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 12, 2015 Page 11

How to successfully negotiate with wedding vendors Special to the Surveyor The average wedding tends to be one of the most costly ventures in a couple’s life together. Many couples seek ways to cut costs, and negotiating with prospective vendors is one way to do just that.

Too often couples overlook haggling for better prices because they may be intimidated by the process or simply want to plan the most memorable day regardless of cost. Many vendors build some wiggle room into their prices, and the key for cost-conscious couples is to find the right strategy to unlock that lower price.

• Explore your options. Weddings are big business for vendors, and the competition is stiff. Visit a variety of vendors and compare their services and prices prior to making any decisions. This will give you an accurate range of costs and information for future negotiations. Vendors may be willing to match competitors’ prices, so knowing what the photographer down the street charges can provide you with some negotiating leverage.

• Dress modestly for meetings. It’s tempting to want to dress to impress, but very often wedding vendors judge potential clients by their appearances. If you walk in with a designer handbag and driving the latest model luxury vehicle, a vendor may get the impression you have extra money to spend. While you do not have to play the pauper, dress modestly so your appearance doesn’t hurt you at the negotiating table.

• Never take the first offer. A good business person will tell you there always is room for negotiation. Avoid the loaded question of “What can you spend on

this?” by the vendor. Instead, let them bring up a price first, and realize this first quote can almost always be negotiated down.

Inform the vendor that you would really like to work with them but he or she needs to lower the price.

See if they can offer a different package or provide a discount.

• Negotiate the big-ticket items first. Discounts on bigticket items, such as the reception venue, will save you the most money. For example, you will save more by getting 20 percent off at the catering hall than if you save 20 percent on your wedding gown. Once you free up extra Before signing, find out if there is room for negotiation with wedding vendor pricing. money, you may find you don’t have to negotiate as hard with smaller vendors.

• Walk away if need be. Always have a Plan B in place. This way if you tell a vendor their price is too expensive and you have to pass, you really have a fall-back option. Some vendors will sweeten the deal, but others will actually let you walk out the door. And remember, you’re more likely to get a better price by being amenable and well-mannered than making threats or arguing.

• Some deals aren’t actual discounts. A vendor may be able to work with you by offering additional services in lieu of actually taking money off of the price tag. Extra photo prints, a dessert bar and an extra hour of time in the limousine may seem like great deals, but that’s only the case if you truly need these bonuses. Even if it’s a great deal, you’re still spending more than you had hoped.

Wedding prices can be overwhelming. However, negotiating for lower prices is always an option for cost-conscious couples.

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