ADVICE

i do advice Lessons Learned

Real newlyweds share tips, tricks and what they wish they’d known before their own Central Ohio weddings. Find even more advice from the couples featured in this issue each Thursday on our blog at cbuswedmag.com/Bustled.

Fran Stricker

Fran and Sean Stricker were wed March 9, 2019, at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Grandview.

What are you happy you spent money on? I am so happy we spent the money on our videographer and photographer—so many beautiful and amazing memories— and I absolutely loved spending the money on our florist and Sadie Baby Sweets, who did the cake pops and cake.

What do you think you could have done without? I kept it very simple—we did not do party favors, no wedding programs, etc. I honestly was very happy with how everything turned out.

What was your biggest weddingplanning surprise? My biggest surprise was how much it all cost!

Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments? How did you resolve them? We had several silly arguments the week of the wedding. We would go on a walk to let out the steam and talk it through.

Any dress-shopping advice? Take your time! It is hard with all the choices out there. Also, don’t be afraid to try on something you don’t think is pretty on a hanger.

Do you have any general advice for currently engaged couples? Have fun! Keep things simple and do not get caught up on things that do not matter. It is the most special day of your lives and at the end of the day, the most important part is that you are marrying each other.

Do you have any general marriage advice, as a newlywed? Have fun! Make each other laugh. Remember why you fell in love with each other.

Sara Novak

Sara and Stephen Novak were wed June 15, 2019, at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center.

Looking back at your wedding, what would you do differently? Most planning was fairly smooth for us—we were lucky!—but if there was anything, it would probably be asking for more help from my bridal party when planning and putting things together. What are you happy you spent money on? Our venue! So much was included—coordinator, catering, set-up and tear-down, hotel, etc. If nothing else, get a day-of coordinator! Did you experience any wedding-day snafus? We had to move our ceremony inside due to weather, but we had picked the venue because we also liked the indoor option, so it was all right. Did you and your fiancé get into any silly arguments? Nothing too much. He’s more of a minimalist than I am, so he felt some things were unnecessary, but ultimately, he didn’t mind having them.

What was your biggest wedding-planning surprise? There are tons of details to put together. Many can’t

be handled until the month of the wedding. Any dress-shopping advice? Try on styles you never thought you’d wear. I didn’t think a fitted dress would look good on my figure, but that’s what I ended up getting because it showed off my small waist that I didn’t know I had. Also … don’t go to more than two appointments in a day— they’re more taxing than you’d expect.

Do you have any general advice for currently engaged couples? Enjoy the process. This season only happens once, and it’s over as quickly as it starts.

Tyler Dehan

Tyler and Justin Dehan were wed on June 1, 2019, at the Wells Barn at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Looking back at your wedding, what would you do differently? Don’t stress about the small planning details as much. It doesn’t help. Just enjoy it! Oh, and delegate!

What was your biggest wedding-planning surprise? How many little details went into it! Just when I thought we were finished and nothing else could possibly come up, something did!

Did you experience any wedding-day snafus? Well, there was a miscommunication between vendors about who was responsible for the teardown of the flower arbor. With the help of my mom and maid of honor, it all was worked out. Thankfully we weren’t stuck taking that apart and transporting it ourselves!

Any dress-shopping advice? Enjoy every moment, and keep an open mind! I would redo that day 100 times if I could. What a special day with my mom, grandma, mother-in-law and maid of honor. I went in with a certain idea, but came out with something totally different, but perfect!

What do you wish you’d known before you started planning? Definitely would have booked my day-of coordinator sooner. Her timeline and list of to-do’s was so helpful.

Do you have any general advice for currently engaged couples? Stick to the timeline! Editor’s note: You can get a comprehensive timeline in our Wedding Planner workbook when you join our Countdown Club! Visit cbuswedmag.com/ Countdown for details.

Do you have any general marriage advice, as a newlywed? We enjoyed setting goals for ourselves, and as a couple, throughout the wedding and early marriage process. It helped us work toward something in common, and we enjoyed celebrating together once we met those goals!

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Snowden Gray Mansion

New & Noteworthy

Charting changes in Central Ohio

If there’s one thing that stays constant in the local weddings scene, it’s change. Fortunately, that change often brings a slew of new vendors, and 2019 has been no different.

Snowden Gray Mansion opened in Downtown Columbus this spring. Built in 1852, the historic home has been home to a Civil War-era governor, a railroad tycoon and even a sorority heritage museum. Today, it’s the perfect space for a wedding or shower and will even begin offering Airbnb room reservations in 2020. 530 E. Town St., Downtown, 614-388-8322, snowdengraymansion.com

In July, Via Vecchia Winery officially debuted its new space on the South Side. Check out our spotlight on the industrial-chic venue on Page 79.

Two new event spaces joined the ranks in September: Ampersand Flowers & Events in Worthington and Graduate Columbus in the Short North. Ampersand is a DIY flower bar that also is available for more traditional floral services. Its storefront just south of Old Worthington can host small parties, making it a perfect spot for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or even an intimate wedding and reception. Graduate Columbus, on the other hand, boasts two banquet rooms (each with an outdoor terrace), catering by Cameron Mitchell Premier Events and 171 guest rooms with fun, Ohio State-themed décor. Ampersand Flowers & Events, 5594 N. High St., Worthington, 614-601-6445, ampersand flowers.com; Graduate Columbus, 750 N. High St., Short North, 614-484-1900, graduatehotels.com/columbus

Another micro event space, [gath·er] in downtown Delaware, has expanded to become [gath•er] & Co. weddings + special events . The vendor group will offer curated wedding packages that include the venue,

a photographer, catering, dessert, flowers and rental pieces—perfect for the couple who wants a small wedding and not a lot of fuss. 53 N. Sandusky St., Delaware, 740- 917-9038, gatherdelaware.com/gather-co

Last up in openings, Noah’s Event Venue announced earlier this year that it would be building a companion location to its New Albany venue. The new space, in Dublin, was to begin construction in the spring and wrap by late 2019, but a November site visit indicated that construction had not yet begun. That’s not surprising, considering that the national venue chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May and abruptly closed several locations over the summer. The New Albany venue remains open; requests for comment from the Dublin venue were unanswered.

In other closing news, Little Bear Golf Club in Lewis Center announced via Facebook post in April that it was shutting down indefinitely.

Finally, several Central Ohio businesses are making changes. Our CupCakery has relocated from 16 N. High St. in Dublin to 54 S. High St., also in Dublin. The move puts the bake shop just 0.1 mile south, still in historic downtown Dublin. Its neighbor, White of Dublin, opened a sister location in October. White Bridal Boutiques, as the brand is known collectively, includes local shops White of Dublin and Off White, as well as the new White of Raleigh in North Carolina. In similar fashion, Gilded Social, the only Central Ohio boutique dedicated to formalwear for bridesmaids and other social occasions, is growing as well. The shop expanded its footprint in its Downtown location in November and celebrated with a grand opening party and sample sale. And on-site beauty service provider Eye Do Makeup & Hair has seen its own rebrand, to REFeyeANCE Makeup & Hair. The talent agency of hair and makeup artists operates in nearly 30 states in addition to Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Our CupCakery, 54 S. High St., Dublin, 614- 659-1555, ourcupcakery.com; White of Dublin, 23 N. High St., Dublin, 614-791- 2600, whitebridalboutiques.com; Gilded Social, 65 E. Gay St., Columbus, 614- 430-9659, shopgildedsocial.com; REFeyeANCE Makeup & Hair, refeyeance.com

style

GOWNS 22 • PRESERVATION 40 • ACCESSORIES 42 • RINGS 44 BRIDAL PARTY 47 • MENSWEAR 49 • BEAUTY 53 • FLOWERS 56