Bridal 2017

SPECIAL BRIDAL & WEDDING GUIDE Planning a day

Berthoud Resident Berthoud, CO 80513

Berthoud, 80513

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©Berthoud Weekly Surveyor

February 9, 2017

State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017 Page 3

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

INDEX Traditional and non-traditional venues set the wedding scene........ 4 Reinventing the bouquet toss ........ 5 Break all the rules ......................... 6 Average wedding costs rise............ 7 Bride’s to do list.............................. 8 Hot trends in cuisine .................... 10 Groomsmen gift ideas ................... 11

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Page 4 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017

State of the Union

Traditional and non-traditional venues set the wedding scene

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor

Choosing a venue may be the most important part of planning a wedding.

After all, the venue sets the overall ambiance of the event. Whether it’s an outdoor venue, upscale or folky, North-

ern Colorado has many places to choose from, and several new options as well.

We explored some of the area’s newer wedding venues and discovered the benefits of each of these unique locations.

The Platte River Fort

The Platte River Fort in Greeley has only recently been discovered by couples seeking a unique location for their wedding.

The “fort” was built in 2001 as a replica of historic Bent’s Fort in La Junta, in Southern Colorado. The property became an event venue in 2015 and offers a variety of ceremony settings for brides and grooms, including riverfront, a historic western barn, an upper patio with mountain views, and a tree grove with pastures and Texas Longhorns as a backdrop.

Visit PlatteRiverFort.com to see photographs of this wedding destination or call 970-590-4414 to arrange a tour.

Sweetheart City Wines Sweetheart City Wines has been crafting wine in Loveland since 2009. This March they will open a 6,600-square-foot building at 5500 W. U.S. 34 in Loveland, near Devil’s Backbone. The facility will allow them to make their wine, provide a tasting room for visitors, and it will be home to a gift shop and art gallery.

In addition, weddings can be held on the eight-acre, riverfront property starting in April.

For more information visit their website at SweetheartCityWines.com or call 970-744-4907. See photos of the new Sweetheart City Winery on their Facebook page.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse It may not be the first place a couple thinks of when considering wedding venues, but Candlelight Dinner Playhouse provides services to anyone with need of a rental space, including wedding ceremo-

nies and receptions.

Imagine getting married on stage in a real theater. Couples can do this at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. And they offer weekday weddings, an affordable alternative when compared to the pricey weekend rates at most wedding venues.

They offer the perfect space for an “after the fact party” for those who elope or those who want to do a “six month after party” for those who couldn’t attend the big ceremony.

Candlelight recently expanded and one of their new rooms is perfect for this type of event. It has a private bar and projector screen.

In addition to weddings, Candlelight is a unique place to get engaged.

This can be arranged through the playhouse’s special-events manager, Allison Clark. One man proposed to his girlfriend during a presentation of “Peter Pan,” utilizing the production’s pirates to “kidnap” his bride-to-be during intermission. She said “yes,” and the couple has been celebrating their wedding anniversary at Candlelight ever since.

To learn more about weddings at Candlelight Playhouse visit ColoradoCandlelight.com or call Allison Clark at 970-744-3748.

State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017 Page 5

Many couples are ready to toss aside the idea of a bouquet toss and reinvent the tradition Add a twist to bouquet toss traditions

Part of what makes weddings such enjoyable events is the many traditions that are built into the day. Tradition lends familiarity to the proceedings and serves as unwritten cues for guests.

Certain traditions invite guest participation, and these can make great memories for both couples and their guests. Just because something is a tradition, however, doesn’t mean couples can’t put their own unique spin on things.

The bouquet toss is one tradition that may benefit from a little personalization. In a 2015 Jezebel poll of about 4,500 readers, 19 percent supported having a bouquet toss, while 81 percent were against it, suggesting this tradition is ready for some updating.

The bouquet toss traces its origins to Olde English times. In those days, women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. The bouquet is tossed to single women with the idea that whoever catches it will be the next to marry. This may have placated the throngs of single ladies in olden times.

Today, however, some single women are no longer interested in finding matches at a wedding and view the bouquet toss as a somewhat archaic tradition.

Others dislike the expectation that they stand on the

dance floor with the hopes of finding a spouse.

For couples who want to embrace the traditional bouquet toss while giving it a more modern twist, consider the following suggestions.

• Girls-only dance: Invite all of the women out on the floor — not just the single ones — and play a female-centric empowerment song or one that mentions ladies having a good time. This puts the emphasis on having fun rather than finding a spouse.

• Attach a prize to the toss. To encourage people to participate, explain the bouquet — and garter-toss winners get prizes; and the prize has nothing to with finding a partner.

• Wedding anniversary countdown: Invite all of the married couples to the center of the dance floor.

The DJ or band can play a beautiful love song and count up the years as the song plays. As each year is mentioned, couples leave the dance floor after their most recent anniversary has passed. The last couple on the dance floor marks the couple who has been married the longest. That couple gets to take home the bouquet.

• Have a bridal piñata. All guests can take a turn at hitting a bouquet-shaped piñata. It’s fun and entertaining, and doesn’t discriminate based on age or marital status.

With a little ingenuity, the traditional bouquet toss can be reborn.

Page 6 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017

State of the Union

Today’s brides and grooms break all the rules; aim for original

By Katie Harris The Surveyor

Gone are the days of puffy dresses, china sets, and sit-down dinners. Today’s weddings are all about breaking tradition, thinking outside the box, and having fun.

“It’s quite interesting how non-traditional weddings and themed weddings are taking over the wedding industry,” said executive wedding planner for Let’s PLANet, Suzanne Doles.

Doles said it’s not uncommon to see beautiful, budget-savvy weddings that break from the norm and incorporate personal touches.

She said do-it-yourself (DIY) project ideas abound on websites such as Pinterest, allowing couples to cut costs while adding unique touches to their wedding themes.

Hawley Vining, owner of Vining Events, agreed saying “Thanks to Pinterest, couples are incorporating more and more DIY projects into their weddings, including creating their own flower bouquets and centerpieces.”

Vining said DIY websites allow couples to add personal, sentimental touches to their weddings, often at much lower costs than ever before.

Another recent trend both Doles and Vining agreed on was the break from the glitzy, bedazzled, puffy dresses of past years.

“I’m seeing a lot of what we call vintage-fairytale style,” said Vining.

“The dresses are elegant with muted tones.”

Doles said simple silk, crisscross backs, and even short dresses have appeared in recent months.

In today’s weddings, the two agreed the two-dress trend has become popular — one for the ceremony and a separate, more dance-friendly dress for the reception.

In mens wear, patterned designs and textures are gaining in popularity, with personalized ties and mismatched suits, according to Doles.

She said bridesmaid dresses were also leaning toward non-traditional, with a variety of fabrics and designs coming into style.

A big change from the weddings of past decades has been the increased use of technology.

“Couples nowadays are green,” said Vining. “They are finding ways to be environmentally friendly, from online invitations to digital photos.

Being connected these days is huge because you may not get anything in the mail with today’s weddings.”

Vining said one wedding she planned recently used an app from the website www.WedPics.com, which allows wedding guests to hashtag their photos, then posts them to a website for the couple to view later.

Rather than hiring a photographer the couple in this case relied completely on the app for their wedding photos.

Drones are making appearances too, according to Doles, and provide incredible footage of today’s events.

She said she’s seen photo booths popping up as well.

When it comes to gifts, the industry is changing yet again.

“Nowadays couples live together before they get married,” said Vining. “They’ve already collected all the household goods they need.”

Vining said cash requests are taking the place of registries because couples would rather have money to put toward a house, a vacation, or even wedding costs.

“I see a lot of people having a jar out for charitable contributions in lieu of a gift,” said Doles. “Personalized gifts, foodie-friendly gifts, and keepsake items are also top favorites.”

According to Vining, one thing that’s definitely going out is the china set.

“People don’t hold formal sit-down dinners anymore, and they don’t have the storage,” she said. “Most couples would prefer a gift card to a nice restaurant.”

The trend away from formal, sit-

down meals is even becoming evident at weddings themselves. According to Vining, food is one of the biggest areas couples are thinking outside the box.

“I’m seeing action stations for appetizers, carving stations and fajita stations, as well as food trucks and family style meals,” she said. “Guests are spending more time up and about, mingling while they eat.”

Doles said desserts are becoming more creative, and traditional wedding cakes are being ordered less and less.

“Themed bars such as candy bars, mimosa bars, popcorn bars, sweet/ salty bars and doughnut bars are trendy, fun and creative,” she said.

Keeping with the social trend in food, wedding entertainment has seen a shift as well.

“Years ago all you needed were cocktails, dancing, and a sit-down dinner,” said Vining. “This generation likes to be busy, doing things. You see

RULES

continued on page 7

State of the Union

RULES

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017 Page 7

Average wedding costs continue to rise

cont. from pg. 6

a lot of yard games and trivia games. People like to integrate their guests.”

Vining said some of her favorite recent weddings were quirky, including one that replaced a rehearsal dinner with a wedding party bike ride, and another that opened up the floor to dozens of toasts from guests, ranging from comedic speeches to guitar ser enades.

“When it comes down to it, it’s the couple’s big day, and they should be able to do what they want,” said Vining. “It’s okay to break from tradition and think outside the box. Make your wedding represent who you are. That in itself is the latest trend.”

Vining Events and Let’s PLANet are both Berthoud-based businesses.

Hawley Vining can be reached on Facebook @ViningEvents or at

Special to the Surveyor

970-624-7591.

Suzanne Doles can be reached online at letsplanet.com or at 970-203-5884.

According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding cost, excluding honeymoon costs, in the United States in 2015 was $32,641, an increase of more than $1,400 from the year prior. Couples did not figure to fare much better in Canada when tying the knot in 2015. According to the Annual Reader Survey from the Canada-based online wedding resource Weddingbells, couples expected to pay slightly less than $31,000 for their weddings. However, those estimates included honeymoon costs.

While no information is available regarding the cost of weddings in specific Canadian cities, the 2015 Real Weddings Study found couples looking to tie the knot in New York City’s Manhattan borough can expect to pay well above the national average. Manhattan weddings cost couples an average of $82,299 in 2015. That’s over $20,000 more than in Chicago, the next most expensive city to tie the knot in 2015. Couples who want a more affordable place to get mar-

ried than the Big Apple may want to look into saying “I do” in central Illinois, where the average wedding cost was $21,818, more than $10,000 below the national average.

Move over June, there’s a more popular month for weddings According to the 2015 Real Weddings Study from the premier multiplatform wedding resource The Knot, the most popular month for couples to get engaged is December. Sixteen percent of survey respondents became engaged in the final month of the calendar year.

The survey also found the average length of a couple’s engagement is now 14.5 months.

Where June once was the most popular month of the year to tie the knot, today’s couples are now heading down the aisle most often in October. Seventeen percent of weddings now occur in October, closely followed by 15 percent in September.

And at what age are couples saying their “I dos”? The average marrying age for a bride is 29, and it is 31 for the groom.

Weddings by the Numbers Think you know weddings?

Here are some common statistics.

• 2.3 million couples wed every year in the US. That breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day • the average age of a bride in the US is 25.3 • average age of a groom is 26.9 • average number of guests invited to a wedding is 178 • one-third of those getting married each year have been married before • $72 billion per year is spent on weddings • the average wedding budget is $20,000 • $1,016 is the average cost of wedding rings for the bride and groom • traditionally, the father of the bride would pay for everything. Today, however, the bride and groom themselves pay for the wedding about 30 percent of the time; the bride’s parents pay about 17 percent of the time. As for the rest of the time, costs are covered by different sources — the bride and groom and one or both sets of parents, according to surveys by Bride’s magazine.

• $19 billion per year is spent on wedding gift registries • $8 billion per year is spent on honeymoons

Page 8 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017

10 – 12 months to go ...

• Work out your budget and establish your top priorities — where to save/where to splurge.

• Find ideas. Start browsing Pinterest, bridal websites, bridal blogs and magazines to identify your wedding style and color palette.

• Compile your preliminary guest list (you’ll need that guest count).

• Choose your wedding party — who do you want by your side at the altar?

• Find a venue for your ceremony and reception, and reserve your date. Know what questions to ask when evaluating a wedding venue.

• Do you need wedding insurance? It’s something to think about. Check with your venue about liability insurance and consider other options, like cancellation insurance.

• Now that you have a date, tell everyone to save it! For destination weddings or weddings around a holiday, consider sending out Save-the-Date cards or emails. Or create your own wedding website and let your invitees know about it.

• Find a dress and begin assembling the perfect accessories. Need inspiration? Attend a wedding dress trunk show or bridal fair.

• Find a vendor. Assemble an all-star vendor team. We’d start with: Caterer Photographer/videographer Officiant When you hire a vendor, get all the details in writing.

• Already feeling overwhelmed? Consider hiring a wedding planner.

• Another way to minimize stress: Start dreaming up your honeymoon ... and check out the Plan A Honeymoon section on HereComesTheGuide.com.

6 – 9 months to go ...

• Continue researching, interviewing and booking vendors. And don’t forget: When you hire one, make sure to put everything in writing.)

• Decide on arrangements with your floral designer.

• Do a tasting and choose your wedding cake with your cake designer.

• Hire the DJ/entertainment for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.

• Discuss the style and wording of your wedding invitations with a stationer.

• Create your gift registry (and don’t forget to update your wedding website).

• Arrange hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests and book your own suite for the wedding night.

• Shop for bridesmaid/flower girl dresses and give your attendants clear instructions on how to place their orders.

• Arrange and book any necessary transportation.

• Go over bridal shower/bachelorette details and the guest list with the person(s) hosting your party.

3 – 5 months to go ...

• Book the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner location(s). If you’re including entertainment or specialty details like a groom’s cake, now’s the time to lock in these elements.

• Put together your rehearsal dinner guest list.

• Make child care arrangements for your guests’ kids.

• Reserve all necessary party rentals and linens.

• Order wedding favors for your guests.

• Shop for and reserve men’s formalwear.

• Concentrate on finalizing the guest list. Get everyone’s mailing address.

• Invitation wording. Confirm your invitation text with the stationer, and consider additional stationery (programs, menu cards, place cards, thank-you cards, etc.). Schedule a pickup date for your invites.

• Ceremony readings and vows.

• Menu, beverage and catering details.

• Timeline of the reception formalities.

• Do a makeup and hair trial and book your stylists. While you’re at it, come up with your own beauty and fitness regimen to be camera-ready for the big day.

• Shop for and purchase your wedding rings.

• Finalize honeymoon plans and obtain all necessary documents (are you sure your passports are up to date?).

6 – 8 weeks to go ... You’re getting close ...

• Mail out those invitations. Have a game plan for recording the RSVPs and meal choices.

• Touch base with your vendors to confirm date, deposits and details.

• Start researching marriage license requirements and name - change paperwork.

• Begin your dress fittings. Be sure to buy the appropriate undergarments beforehand.

• So you think you can’t dance? Consider taking a dance lesson with your fiancé — a good way to break in your bridal shoes.

• Give the wedding party a nudge — make sure they’ve ordered all necessary attire.

• Write thank-you cards for shower gifts and any early wedding gifts received.

3 – 5 weeks to go ...

• Send out rehearsal dinner invitations. If your get together will be informal, feel free to send an Evite.

• Finalize and confirm: Wedding vows and readings with your officiant Shot list with your photographer/videographer Song list for ceremony and reception with your DJ and/or band/musicians Timeline for the reception and who’s giving the toasts

State of the Union Wedding night and honeymoon accommodations • Obtain marriage license and complete name - change documents, if applicable.

• Pick up your wedding rings and proofread any engraving.

• If you’re the traditional type, do you have something old, new, borrowed and blue?

• Purchase your guest book, toasting flutes, cake servers, unity candle, and all that good stuff.

• Buy gifts (optional) for the wedding party and parents of the bride and groom.

• Have your final dress fitting. Bring your shoes and accessories for the full impact.

• Sigh. Hunt down whoever hasn’t RSVP’d yet.

1 – 2 weeks to go …

• Give your caterer/venue the final guest count.

• Arrange seating and create the seating chart and/or place cards.

• Pick up your gown. Swoon.

• Confirm arrival times and finalize the wedding timeline with vendors and the wedding party — make sure your maid of honor has a copy too.

• Put together your own bridal emergency kit.

• Speaking of emergencies: Check the weather report, and if things look iffy contact your venue to make sure a contingency plan is in place.

• Start packing for your honeymoon. (See “weather report” above.)

• In desperate need of a facial or massage? Now’s the time to squeeze one in.

The day before …

• Make sure all wedding-day items are packed/laid out and ready to go. (Don’t forget the rings and marriage license.)

• Figure out tips and final payments for vendors. Put them in clearly marked envelopes and give them to the best man or another person you trust to hand out at the reception.

• Assign someone to pack up your gifts/belongings after the reception (don’t forget the top tier of your cake).

• Thank your BFF for agreeing to return your groom’s tux and other rental items the day after the wedding.

• Enjoy a mani-pedi.

• Attend the rehearsal and dinner. Now’s the time to give out wedding party gifts.

• Try to go to bed early ... you need your beauty sleep tonight.

Wedding-day advice

• Allow plenty of time to get ready.

• Do the rounds at your wedding — greet everyone and thank them for coming.

• Take a deep breath. Stop to appreciate your new spouse and the day you spent so much time planning.

• After the honeymoon/back to reality. Write and send thank-you cards. (Don’t procrastinate.)

• Complete your registry and exchange any unwanted or duplicate gifts.

• Have your wedding dress cleaned and preserved by a reputable company.

• Keep in touch with your photographer/videographer to work on albums, DVDs, etc.

• Enjoy wedded bliss ...

Page 10 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017

Hot trends in wedding cuisine Special to the Surveyor Once a couple has officially tied the knot, the newly-recognized man and wife and all of their guests will retire to a party room where they can mingle, dance, and enjoy a good meal. In the past, standard fare like prime rib and roasted chicken dominated wedding menus. But today’s weddings cater to people of various culinary tastes, and couples and their guests can expect more upscale and creative cuisine to be rolled out for wedding receptions. The following are a handful of the more popular trends with regard to wedding cuisine.

Miniature bites

Many people say good things come in small packages, and when it comes to miniature versions of favorite foods, they may be right. Instead of large meals that fill guests up fast, they can munch on smaller bites of their favorite dishes. How about a piece of meatloaf topped with whipped mashed potatoes?

A cherry tomato with a small piece of mozzarella cheese makes a mini caprese salad. Turning favorite foods into bite-sized adventures can add a touch of whimsy to the reception.

Breakfast for dinner

Some couples are circumventing high price tags for their weddings by choosing to hold the festivities at less expensive times of day. Brunch-themed weddings are a big hit with those who would much rather dine on a stack of pancakes than a dish of pasta. Omelet stations, croissants, and a bevy of other breakfast table fare can be enjoyed any time of the day.

Dim sum

Dim sum allows guests to sample different foods without filling up. Carts of dumplings and other small plates of appetizers can be wheeled around so everyone can choose what they want and what they want to avoid.

Gourmet comfort food

People love familiar comfort foods, but now gourmet comfort foods are shaking up wedding receptions. Mac-and-cheese with gouda and brie, or chicken pot pie with a puff-pastry crust are a few offerings that can add glamour to down-home cooking.

Food with a show

Instead of passed foods or buffet stations, couples are opting to make food an experience for guests. An oyster bar with a chef serving fresh seafood or a

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State of the Union dessert master whipping up flambé is a feast for the eyes and mouth.

Interesting buffet stations

Keep guests on their toes with various meal stations. A bountiful display of artisanal cheeses, fruits and breads will be a cheese-lover’s dream. These stations also can be appetizing focal points around the room and ensure all guests get a bite of what they like best.

Family style

Rustic and informal weddings have grown in popularity. Rather than food being brought to the guests or participants lining up in buffet lines, familystyle dining allows guests to share conversation and pass the peas at the same time. Larger, rectangular tables allow more guests to sit with one another and serve themselves food from community plates located in the center of the tables.

Food and beverage pairings

Food-forward wedding couples are offering guests mouthwatering appetizers matched with a cocktail. A slider and a craft beer or a dumpling and a shot of Saki are examples of this trend.

Nontraditional “fake” cakes

Instead of a multi-tiered cake or the cupcake fad that is starting to fizzle, couples are now opting for something new. Desserts that mimic the look of cake, but aren’t quite that combination of sponge and frosting are trending.

Crepes, pies, cookies and doughnuts are acceptable and can add a creative spark to the cake-cutting ceremony. When offered along with dessert stations, guests can certainly get their fill of sweet delights.

Vegan and gluten-free options

Chances are one or more people attending the reception will be on a restricted diet. Rather than relegate these guests to dining on side dishes and patchwork meals, certain couples are building entire offerings around vegan and gluten-free foods.

Couples are getting creative with their food and beverage offerings at their weddings. Guests never know which culinary wonders they will encounter as they gather to wish the newlyweds well.

State of the Union

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor • February 9, 2017 Page 11

Why go traditional?

Non-traditional groomsmen gift ideas for the fellas

By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor When it comes to weddings, the groom has it easy. Basically, he has to get the wedding license and then show up for the bachelor party and the wedding ceremony.

The other duty the groom has, however, is to secure gifts for all the males who are part of his celebration in his wedding party, including his best man, groomsmen and ushers.

Some wedding-related sites, including weddingwire. com, indicate the gift list should include the ring bearer and the bearer’s parents.

Your bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts should be a thoughtful token of appreciation for their time, effort and support, according to brides.com website.

Additionally, beau-coup.com recommends “It is customary for the bride and groom to give a gift to each individual in their wedding party as a ‘thank you’ for their involvement. Being in a bridal party can often be very time-consuming, and in some cases very expensive, so a gift for each of the bridesmaids and groomsmen is a great way to show your appreciation.”

It seems many grooms are stuck in a “same old way” rut when it comes to gift selection. Many, if not most,

take the easy way out. They give their helpful buddies a trite gift. Items falling into this category typically include a whiskey flask, beer mug and shot glass. Even if these items have the recipient’s name or initials, they lack inspiration. Also, many guys who have lots of friends getting married will put that flask, etc. in a dresser drawer next to the other similar ones he received at prior weddings.

Grooms should use some creativity and utilize available technology to find some ideas for their wedding day. Many gifts can have a name or initials added to, such as garment bags, baseball bats, robes, aprons for use when barbequing, cuff links and money clips.

Other ideas to consider are ballpoint pen sets, coasters, insulated travel mugs, picture frames, desk clocks, and duffel bags.

For other ideas, a groom can go to these websites: emmalinebride.com/groom/unique-groomsmen-gifts-2015/, realsimple.com/weddings/registry-gifts/groomsmen-giftsideas and www.groovygroomsmengifts.com/.

A bobblehead that is designed to look like the groomsmen is definitely non-traditional.