Bridal guide for web upload

February 26, 2016

Top trends in wedding gowns page 4 What’s new in wedding flowers? page 10

A special supplement of the

CommunityAdvocate Above: Robert and Rebecca Daszuta celebrate their Aug. 15, 2015 wedding in Westminster.

PHOTO COURTESY OF D.J. STONE PHOTOGRAPHY

2 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

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Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 3

‘You’re invited’ Top trends in wedding invitations The days of homemade wedding invitations are over. Wedding couples have figured out that you can’t beat the crisp details and fine papers of professional invitations for their big day.

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The look and feel of a wedding invitation are the first introduction to your wedding style, and today’s couples want that first impression to be perfect - and expensive-looking, even when invitations are bought on a budget.

As you start looking for your wedding invitations, keep the following top trends for 2016 in mind to help you navigate the vast world of invitation styles you’ll find online and in invitation sample books or to help you work with a custom wedding invitation designer to create a style that’s all your own:

persands to convey the sense that they are joining their lives together.

• Pretty fonts. Basic italics aren’t good enough anymore.

Now the trend is for artistic lettering, and that may be a custom design for your wedding.

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Accents • Again, lace overlays and ribbon ties.

• Sparkle. Adding a bit of glitter to an invitation provides a dash of fashion style and excitement for the festivities to come. Sparkle may be on the tie, or “belt,” to the invitation package, or it may come courtesy of shimmery metallic paper.

• Rustic wedding invitations are tied with twine for that outdoorsy feel.

These wedding invitation trends also come into play for engagement party and bridal shower invitations. It’s also a trend to maintain your wedding invitation design in your printed items for the wedding day, such as your place cards, menu cards and any signs you’ll display as wedding decor. Your invitation choice, then, directs the look and feel for your wedding, so invest plenty of time in exploring your options and choosing the design that works best for you.

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Motifs • Lace is a top motif for wedding invitations, both as a design printed on the card itself and as an actual lace overlay or ribbon wrap. With vintage and rustic elegant weddings being a top trend today, lace is the perfect accompaniment to convey a romantic feeling in your invitations.

• Vintage florals. Think garden roses and rosebuds, gardenias - any flowers you’d find in an English garden, printed romantically on the invitation as a floral burst at the bottom corner or as a border of tiny blooms and greenery.

• Laser-cut designs. Intricate cutouts created by laser add texture and color contrast to invitations in an array of designs, from lace to flourishes to an architectural motif - for example, the illustration of a lattice on your gatefold invitation cover.

• Other top invitation motifs include birds, leaves, nautical anchors and seashells. And many couples are using am-

Vintage style is a top invitation trend for 2016 weddings.

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Invitation style • Pocket invitations are a top trend for 2016 weddings, with the opened invitation revealing slots containing pretty insert cards. When you have pockets for your reception card - and especially for your response card - your guests can easily find the information they’re looking for, and those cards are kept organized and safer for their returning of their RSVP card to you. Plus, the color contrast of an insert card against the pocket designs adds depth and color pairings that impress.

• Gatefold invitations. If you prefer not to have insert cards, all of your information will be printed on the front of your invitation, and with gatefold invitations that close at the middle of the card, you get extra room to print details on the insides of those gates.

• Postcards. Not just for savethe-dates, postcard-style invitations revel in their simple elegance, providing the basics of your wedding date, time and place, with the URL of your personal wedding website included for guests to visit for added information. An idea for this style of invitation is to feature a photo of the two of you on the front of the postcard, something that old-world etiquette rules would never entertain but has become a large and acceptable trend today.

Colors • Mary Tipper, president of Elegant Wedding Invites, said of the top invitation color trends, as well as top wedding colors overall: “Blue is a classic color for wedding planning, and we’ll see more navy, royal and powder blue. We (also) saw the outbreak of blush and peach, with more shades of pink and red added, like sangria and burgundy. Berry shades will be immensely popular.”

• Other top colors include neutrals, such as champagne and brown, Tiffany blue and English garden shades, such as lavender, sage green, pink and ivory, to call to the trend in vintage-inspired weddings.

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Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Top trends in wedding gowns Full, glittering, cropped – it’s all in the details oday’s top wedding gown style has been described as “light and airy,” “modern minimalist” and “ethereal,” but what exactly makes a wedding gown all of these things? It’s a delicate design at the bodice - as opposed to the stiff, constructed bodice style of years past - and a fuller flowing skirt, as opposed to sleeker sheath dresses. Brides want their wedding gowns to be fairy tale pretty and to look stunning from all angles. Diane Forden, editor in chief of Bridal Guide magazine, said that wedding gowns “run the gamut from classic ballgowns to short, flirty dresses, romantic and vintage to city-chic. It’s up to the bride to decide what dress looks and feels best on her.” She encouraged brides to try on many different styles of dresses (including ones they don’t think will look good on them) to find “The One.”

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Here are some of the top trends in wedding gown designs: • Fuller skirts. In today’s gown style, tulle skirts designed in layers add volume, movement and softness to the full-length gown look.

• Glam vintage style.Think “The Great Gatsby” - long, elegant dresses with intricate beading reminiscent of the 1920s and ‘30s. Hand-sewn beading in masterful artistry is a top look this year, making the wedding gown even more special to wear.

Also included in this look are sequins, tiny pearls and lace.

• Drop-waist dresses. A dropped waist elongates the figure, leading into a full skirt. This, especially, is one of those gown styles that Forden referred to - the dress that might not look good on the hanger, but is in fact extremely flattering.

• Long lace sleeves.The Duchess

Today’s top wedding gown style has been described as light and airy, modern minimalist and ethereal.

Gowns page 5

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Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 5

Top trends in wedding gowns

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Brides want their wedding gowns to be fairy tale pretty and to look stunning from all angles.

Gowns Continued from page 4

of Cambridge set the standard with her lace-sleeved wedding gown, and it’s a trend that hasn’t faded. In fact, lace is even more popular now. We’ll see lace collars, especially, for a regal wedding day look ala Kate Middleton.

• Illusion sleeves. “Illusion” material is a sheer fabric that allows for a sense of being covered up, but it is sheer, light, airy and delicate. Illusion material is used for pretty cap sleeves over the shoulder and as the material for the popular cape or jacket trend seen on bridal fashion runways.

(The bride, then, gets two looks for her wedding gown: one with the illusion jacket and one without.)

• Off-the-shoulder sleeves.

The exposed shoulder is all the rage in wedding gown styles, with the look encompassing many styles from strapless to a dropped loop of fabric extending from each strap, revealing the shoulder. Off-the-shoulder sleeves are seen in all manner of gown styles, from vintage to modern to rustic.

• Back details. An open back is one of the most popular looks for wedding gowns in 2016, with the bride’s back “framed” by the keyhole or portrait opening of the back of the dress.

Intricate, artistic lace often surrounds the open back, adding softness and romance to what might be considered an ultrasexy show of skin. Lace makes exposed backs look prettier and

more princess-like.

• Dresses in color. While white and ivory will always be popular wedding gown colors (especially given how many different shades of white and ivory there are), today’s bride is open to a wedding dress in color. She pays no mind to the symbolism of the white dress and instead chooses her gown shade to complement her skin tone and meet her dream dress vision.

Top colors of wedding dresses seen on the bridal fashion runways: blush colors of pink, pale blue, lavender, gray, silver, tan, mauve and mint green, for something different and more personalized.

• Metallics. Gowns with sparkle are in, with perhaps a shimmering wrap effect around the hips, in material that glitters in the light, making this more of a look for nighttime weddings.

Top colors in metallics are gold and copper, which are warmer shades that work year-round.

• Crop dresses. These two-piece dresses for the unconventional bride feature the bride’s exposed stomach, most often in a very subtle way, just for a glimpse of skin at the midsection, above a short or full skirt. This is a top choice for destination weddings, as well.

Because vintage dress styles are in, more brides are commissioning replicas of their grandmother’s or great-grandmother’s wedding dresses, bringing in vintage lace styles and that breathtaking beadwork that the ‘20s and ‘30s are known for.

Fitness is a gift you can give to yourself

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The timeline surrounding planning a wedding is always filled with thoughts of flowers, colors, cake tastings, dress fittings, and everything else in between. It’s so easy for a bride-to-be to forget about herself when working on one of the most important days of her life. However, the truth is, the most productive woman is a woman that remembers that she, in the most unselfish way, comes first. Her health, her overall wellbeing, her fitness … when these are in line, she is not only going to be a happy bride, she will be calm and able to handle any task or challenge that may be tossed her way.

Brides endure day to day challenges, while maintaining a career and sometimes a family. During this short moment in time, it is more important than ever to add a healthy daily fitness program that keeps you focused on an overall productive healthy lifestyle, versus a quick and disappointing weight-loss.

Making time for yourself, a mere 3-4 hours a week, to participate in some form of fitness that gets your heart rate up and your muscles activated … that’s the game-changer. The best way to ensure this happens is to keep it exciting! Don’t dread hitting the weights or the treadmill. Join a group fitness class with some friends … you’d be surprised how quickly it turns into something you actually look forward to … an escape. Treat yourself to some new workout clothes to get you excited. They don’t have to be designer brand, but colors and motivating messages sure to help!

And shift your focus. Don’t think about what you’re losing; think about what you’re gaining. A new outlook and more confident approach to life, while also making some really fun memories while you’re at it! Happiness is what the goal is, and that happiness will radiate from deep within your heart when the love for yourself is exercised as well as your body and mind.

Check out your local gyms for class schedules and remember, YOU’RE WORTH IT! Lauren Demers Studio Owner of Fit FRIENDzy Studios and Bride-to-Be 196 Boston Turnpike Rd., Shrewsbury For more information call 508-752-5456 or visit bethefitfriend.com.

6 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Photo Fabulous The photo booth gets a makeover edding guests love the photo booth, with all of its fun props such as hats, fake mustaches, Mardi Gras beads and silly sunglasses. This interactive element adds a sense of play to your wedding reception, and the photos that result from it show just how festive your wedding day was, as well as the personalities of all of your loved ones enjoying each other’s company.

Photo booths will continue to be a big trend in weddings this year, and they’re getting some unique new features to offer guests all the fun they’ve come to know from photo booths, but with a little something different.

Here are some new features of photo booths: • Video booth. Rather than getting still photos taken of them, guests can record a video message, sing a song and just interact for a video that’s taken of them. In the new high-tech video booth, video is high-definition for the best quality imaging. Having a video booth for your wedding adds a new dimension of fun, aside from guests striking silly poses. Your guests can also record video messages, captured right in the moment of their celebration, which lets you see and hear just

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Providing unique props is a top way to make your photo booth more modern.

how much of a great time they’re having. And since you will likely step into the booth, you can also capture your own real-time excitement. Neal Zipser of ShutterBooth said that some booths have both photo and video options, so that guests can choose what they’d like to do.

• Artistic backdrops. Oldstyle photo booths often had a solid-colored curtain as the backdrop, but now, you can get backdrops showing scenery or a pattern like a brocade wallpaper looking like a Victorian-era sitting room. You can also arrange for a 3D effect, such as a trellis with greenery and flowers, designed by your floral expert.

• Open-air photo booths. In this evolution of the traditional box photo booth that some couples find to be too “boardwalk attraction” for their wedding style, now you can get an open-air photo area that may be set up like a celebrity-style red carpet against a personalized branded backdrop. Guests feel like VIPs when their photos are taken at this type of photo area, and more people can fit into the shot than in a crowded, smaller traditional booth.

• Live viewing. Photo booth photos are displayed on a screen, visible to guests standing outside the photo booth,

for instant enjoyment. (A liveviewing option often prevents any drunk or disorderly guests from taking off-color photos, as well.)

• Photo access online. Guests will certainly get that expected photo strip of printed photos, but now they can also sign up on a laptop outside the photo booth to get an email notification that their photos are available online to view and share.

• New types of props. If you will have a traditional photo booth, but still want some

novelty to thrill your guests, look to evolving past the usual photo booth props that guests have seen at many other weddings. Go to Etsy and search “photo booth prop” to find unique wearables such as hats, floral pins, vests, apron-style tie-ons with images on them and more. Chalkboards are still a popular item for the photo booth, with chalkboard pens with a wide tip so that the guests’ wording and drawings can be seen in photos and video. It’s a common mistake Photo booth page 7

Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 7

Look and feel your best CARE Laser can help you feel more comfortable and confident on your big day Not too long ago laser hair removal was a “hush-hush” kind of treatment, and not many people could actually afford it or bear the painful technology.

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This is no longer the case as the industry has greatly evolved primarily due to advancements in laser hair removal technology which are making treatments more comfortable, effective, and affordable. People of all ages with hair that is bothersome or embarrassing are saying goodbye to their time-consuming, costly and often uncomfortable waxing and shaving routines because laser hair removal is offering them the long-lasting smooth skin results that they desire.

For soon-to-be brides and grooms, laser hair removal is a convenient, easy, and cost-effective solution for getting beautiful smooth skin before your wedding day and honeymoon.

“We generally recommend a treatment program of underarms and bikini area for our brides and neck and back for our grooms, as these are areas that tend to be most exposed in formal wear and on their honeymoon,” said Maral Ghahramanlou, vice president of Operations for CARE Laser U.S. “Ideally, we would like them to start a

Photo Fabulous Photo booth Continued from page 6

to offer regular chalk, which may not show up as well as a broader stroke.

• A personalized DVD. While not new, as this has been a feature of some photo booths in the past few years, more wedding couples are opting to purchase this option.

• Four-by-6-inch photos. Not the glorified bookmark, as the experts at Beyond The Booth call the traditional strip of tiny images. When those strip images are so small, you can’t see much detail. A larger photo lets all of the prop work and the guests’ messages or sign wording stand out, clear to see.

With new and better access to your photo booth photos, you might choose one of your fun couple photos as an image for your “thank you” notes, as well as for posting on your personal wedding website after your big day. With so many ways to share and enjoy your photos now, you’ll get even more value out of your photo booth investment.

CARE Laser can help the bride and groom look their best on their special day.

program 6-12 months out from their wedding date, but even if they can fit in a few treatments before their big day, their skin will look great, and they will be much more comfortable and confident.”

With everything else you have on your plate right now in preparation for your big day, wouldn’t it be great to not have to think about shaving? Plus, consider the things you’ll be able to pack on your honeymoon without all

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those shaving supplies taking up room in your suitcase. When you subtract the time and effort that you usually have to commit to getting rid of unwanted hair, laser hair removal equals less stress, more relaxation and lots more freedom to enjoy being husband and wife!

Laser hair removal truly is a smart choice for any bride or groom to effectively remove unwanted hair from lip, bikini line, underarm, legs, back and

more. At CARE Laser specifically, we offer state-of-the-art technology, the Soprano Ice Laser from “Alma”, and the most innovative approach to laser hair removal called the STAR-payment system. This one-of-a-kind program allows for flexible courses of treatment custom-designed to your needs, alleviates package limitations, and allows you to transfer treatment between various body areas or gift remaining sessions to friends or relatives, even the ones in your wedding party!

CARE Laser’s newest clinic is now open at 1 Kelley Square, Worcester, but for your convenience you can use any of our locations for your treatments, including in Boston’s Downtown Crossing, North Andover or Newton. To book a FREE consultation today, call us at (844) 5-LASER-4-U or visit www.care-laser.com.

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8 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Saving for the honeymoon Over the moon, under the budget After the whirlwind of wedding planning and the big day itself, as newlyweds, you look forward to relaxing on your honeymoon.

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After their May 2011 destination wedding in San Diego, the couple, who live in Maui, couldn’t afford the honeymoon they really wanted.

While they did a two-day staycation in Hawaii’s Big Island after their wedding, the couple wanted a European honeymoon.

Instead of forgetting about their dream getaway, the cou-

According to a survey by XO Group, Inc., the parent company of wedding resource The Knot, three in four couples take a honeymoon.

The itinerary? Maybe a beach getaway, sightseeing in a foreign city or hiking through a rain forest. Whatever the ideal honeymoon, chances are it ’s expensive, especially if you just paid for a wedding.

That’s what happened to bride Christina Yumul and her groom, Mark Weiss.

ple saved up and took the trip in October 2013. “My husband and I wanted to go somewhere completely different, so we decided to save up and spend a month in Europe,� she said. “One week in Paris, two weeks in Italy, one week in Prague and one week in Switzerland.�

Saving up for two years was worth it, she said, because

Don’t think you need to go on your honeymoon right away. Many couples wait and save money to take a nice trip.

they didn’t want to be budgetminded once they arrived at their destination. “You only go on a honeymoon once, so why not wait to do it right with no restraint?�

Yumul said. *Planning Timeline The extra time between the wedding and the honeymoon allows you to budget for expenses without lots of stress or financial pressure.

Yumul and Weiss, for example, each saved $50 a week and then deposited that collective $100 into a bank account designated as “trip savings.� The couple also stashed away spare change into their vacation fund. “Because we had two years to plan, the expenses didn’t come at once,� said Yumul, who explained they booked their plane tickets a year before the honeymoon and then, Honeymoon page 9

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Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 9

Saving for the honeymoon: Over the moon, under the budget Honeymoon Continued from page 8

a few months later, paid in advance for their hotels.

“By the time we arrived in Europe, the only expenses we had left were our food and the attractions,” she said.

“Plus, since we had saved up for it, by the time the credit card bills came at the end of the honeymoon, we were able to pay it off immediately. It wasn’t a debt that lurked and followed us.” *Savings Strategies Delaying your honeymoon can seem unnerving at first, but it’s a cost-conscious way to have a nice trip without going broke.

“Honeymoons should only be paid in cash,” said Barry Choi, budget travel expert from Moneywehave. com. “It’s OK to charge your honeymoon to credit if you’re paying off the full balance every month, but the last thing you want to do is to be paying interest charges long after you’ve returned home.”

Choi also recommended being smart about your credit card use, especially if it means earning travel rewards. Imagine paying for your wedding cake and your gown, for example, with a credit card that gives you bonuses.

“As your wedding expenses come up, charge everything to this card, and you’ll quickly accumulate a ton of points,” Choi said. “You could end up with enough points to book a free flight or at the very least get a few nights free at a hotel.” *Visualize Your Vacation Think about your dream trip. Where would you like to go? Beach, desert, urban locales? What do you want to do? Relax? Sightsee? Enjoy gourmet meals?

If money matters, Choi suggested setting a budget before you select a destination.

“The reason I suggest this is so you have a number that you’re comfortable with and you can start saving for that goal,” he said. “Many couples

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pick a destination first and fall in love with it. When they realize it’s out of their budget, some just charge it to credit, which is the last thing you want to do. By setting a budget first, you’re picking a

destination based on what you can really afford.”

Here’s a budgeting example from Choi: With a $6,000 budget and two years to plan for the honeymoon, you’ll need to save $250 a month;

with only one year to budget, you’ll need to set aside $500 a month.

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10 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Brides and bouquets What’s new in wedding flowers?

Look at a wedding photo taken back in the 1980s; you’ll probably notice that the flowers (and the hair!) look out-of-date. They’re huge and bulky and heavy, a more-is-more design that seems so wrong these days.

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Peonies are one of the top flowers used in elegant and romantic bouquets.

Luckily, today’s wedding flowers are light and airy, even when lush and full with blooms and greenery. And floral designers say the floral trends of 2016 are full of timeless appeal that will still look fresh many years from now.

For that delicate floral look, wedding couples are getting more for their money, and spending less. According to Shane McMurray, owner of the wedding survey website “The Wedding Report,” wedding couples spent an average of $148 on the bride’s bouquet in 2014, and less in 2015: $140. It’s not much of a drop, but the expense will continue to go down in 2016 to approximately $137.

So are brides’ bouquets getting smaller, to account for less money spent? Not entirely. The drop in spending comes from the choices of flowers. For that, we can thank the trend of English garden flowers.

Following the trend for vintage weddings, the top flowers used in these elegant and romantic pieces are garden roses, sweet peas and hydrangea, all inexpensive blooms. Pricy orchids don’t fit with the look, so they’re not pushing up the budget. A few gardenias and calla lilies do make their way into those hand-tied, just-picked-from-the-garden style bouquets, as a burst of bridal white adding style to the bouquet mostly made up of tiny blooms. Other top flowers are peonies, ranunculus, hydrangea, sweet peas and tulips, with peonies being a leading choice for all-one-flower bouquets.

We’re also seeing a trend in cascade bouquets.

Flowers page 11

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Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 11

Brides and bouquets: What’s new in wedding flowers?

Flowers Continued from page 10

Georgianne Vinicombe of Monday Flowers and Design says that the cascade is subtle, compared to those larger, draping cascading bouquets of the 1980s, and are again inspired by the English garden look, a style often seen on “Downton Abbey.” Cascade bouquets are designed to look like a waterfall of flowers hanging down in front of the bride. When the bride wears a simpler dress, they create all the drama.

White bouquets are still in, but they’re spending equal time on popularity lists with pastel-shaded flowers in pinks and light greens.

And then there are the bouquets and centerpiece flowers in bright colors. For spring and summer, think ocean blues and turquoise, coral, bright yellow, and bright orange. For fall and winter, think cranberry, as well as jewel tones like sapphire and deep purples.

As far as bouquet design, we’ll see less exposed stems at the bottom of the bouquet and more lace-wrapped stems, with jeweled accents in subtle style.

Centerpieces are larger than in years past, with more voluminous floral collections and greenery. Bringing the outside inside is a huge trend, with the look of a sea of flowers greeting guests as they walk into the reception ballroom.

The days of low-set bunches in small bowls are over, as more wedding couples want eye-catching centerpieces.

And floral garlands will be very popular in 2016, either as bloom-filled draping lengths, or in pure greenery. Consider covering staircase railings with garlands bursting with many flowers. Alternatively, a floral wall, a vertical display of all flowers or greenery that may be set behind the wedding cake or the sweetheart table, embraces this trend as well.

There is also a big shift in

F using symbolic flowers, such as the wedding couple’s birth month flowers, or the same types of flowers the couple’s parents or grandparents used in their own wedding designs. Talk with your wedding florist about the design you desire, and bring in plenty of photos that you find on Pinterest, bridal magazines or other sources to give your floral designer a better idea of your personal style.

Floral designers say the floral trends of 2016 are full of timeless appeal that are inspired by the English garden look, that will still look fresh many years from now.

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12 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

When is the big day?

What to consider when selecting a wedding date Jordan McMullen, a vegan food and fitness blogger, is starting to plan her wedding. Though she and her fiancé only recently got engaged, they’re already thinking of the ideal date to get hitched.

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They’d like to do it on a day that’s far away from holidays and their respective birthdays and at an outdoor venue in the Northeast, which means they need to pick a time of year that has warm weather.

The couple is also looking to use seasonal flowers and use local in-season foods, including fruit.

All couples have specific wedding wish lists of what they want and what they need to avoid.

One of the most important considerations is when to marry. From overly popular dates to holidays to local events, there are a lot of factors to think about when choosing your wedding day. Here’s a rundown of what to consider before selecting your wedding date.

Be flexible Don’t get fixated on a specific date, suggests wedding planner Danielle Rothweiler. If you’re too rigid, you may be excluding venues that you’d otherwise book Wedding date page 13

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Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 13

What to consider when selecting a wedding date Wedding date Continued from page 12

like a good idea, but will your guests be able to attend? And will those guests who show up be crowded at the bar looking at the big game? Save yourself the trouble of negotiating the details of this major football game by not holding your wedding that day.

for your event.

“Instead of ‘must-having’ Oct. 16, be open to Saturdays in October and so forth,” Rothweiler said. “The more flexible you can be the better off you are.”

Look for low stress Wedding planning isn’t a low-stress process, but you can take it easy on yourself by holding your wedding during a down time in your life.

“Definitely consider what time of year is least stressful for you and easy for you to take off from work,” says Mary Bradley, owner of Mary Bradley Events.

“You want to be as carefree as possible and focus on enjoying your big day.”

Choose off-peak days and times By holding your wedding on an off-peak day and time - for example, a Thursday evening or a Sunday brunch - “you’ll have better group rates, which is always a bonus for your guests,” said Nathan.

Rule out holidays Unless you specifically want a Christmas wedding or Valentine’s Day vows, “avoid major holidays, religious observance and big-event days,” said Marc Nathan of MNP Photographers, Inc., who explains weddings on religious and national holidays “can decrease attendance.”

Consider the weather Light snow might be OK at a winter wedding, but a blizzard could really put a damper on the celebration. Consider tropical weather patterns, too.

“Some of the most popular wedding dates fall in hurricane

A holiday exception There is one exception to the previous rule.

“As long as you’re planning a great party with drinks and dancing, a New Year’s Eve wedding is a great idea,” said Rothweiler.

Steer clear of local events Sure, a road race, a college graduation or an art festival won’t compete with your wedding, but it can be a hassle in other areas, such as travel and accommodations.

Avoid sensitive dates Marrying on certain dates - Sept. 11, for example - can make guests uncomfortable.

W

Avoid family birthdays and anniversaries Do you want to have the same anniversary as your aunt and uncle? Want to get married on your brother-in-law’s birthday? Don’t choose those dates. Further, don’t pick a wedding date too close to when your friends are getting hitched. You’ll feel stressed and bogged down by comparisons.

No matter what date you choose, realize that not every guest will be able to attend.

But it’s still worth carefully choosing a nuptial date to maximize the overall experience, guest attendance and your budget.

Wedding planning isn’t a lowstress process, but you can take it easy on yourself by holding your wedding during a down time in your life.

“It’s absolutely imperative to check the local calendars, keeping an eye out for any event that may cause road closures or booked-up hotels,” said Meghan Ely of OFD

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Avoid dates of major sporting events Getting married during Super Bowl weekend may seem

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14 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

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El Dorado Casitas Royale, in Mexico, has a spa with an entire floor dedicated to bridal services.

An all-inclusive, adults-only property, El Dorado Casitas Royale edges a sandy beach about 45 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico. Within its manicured grounds lie thatched roofed suites with swim-up pools, beach beds enveloped by billowing linen curtains and more than a dozen designated places to marry and hold receptions, including chapels, gazebos, piers and myriad romantic sandy patches.

Cavallo Point stands on a green swath of land surrounded by Marin Headlands and bordered

by San Francisco Bay’s stately shores. A former military base, the resort consists of either spacious, meticulously restored 100-year-old officer residences or newly built tranquil, eco-conscious rooms with majestic vistas and bamboo ceilings.

Destination options page 15

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Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 15

Destination Options: El Dorado Casitas Royale and Cavallo Point Temazcal, an intense multihour detox for the body and soul, is conducted by a Mayan shaman in honor of the fertility goddess Ixchel and within the confines of an igloo-like sweat lodge.

For the wedding day, Generations’ new spa installed an entire floor devoted to bridal services. Private bridal chambers with multiple rooms and salon facilities allow beauty services, food, drink and whatever else the bride wants to come to her.

During their stay, couples can venture on one-day excursions to many Mayan ruins,

Cavallo Point features magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Destination options Continued from page 14

Weddings typically occur in a refurbished nondenominational chapel or on a grassy hillside with eucalyptus trees that frame views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

However different, though, these award-winning resorts share key characteristics. Both offer exceptional food, stateof-the art spas, friendly service and customizable romantic

experiences rooted in their surrounding environments and cultures.

El Dorado Casitas Royale El Dorado Casitas Royale benefits from the adjacent presence of its sister resorts, the older El Dorado Royale and the brand-new Generations Riviera Maya. This means that Casitas retains the intimacy of a small resort while annexing the amenities

of a large complex. Casitas has seven high-quality restaurants, including elegant Italian, Pan-Asian and American.

The latest dining options at Generations Riviera Maya, which allows children, boast stunning decor, water views and gourmet offerings at five distinctly themed restaurants.

The Casitas spa expanded an already large menu of body, facial and beauty treatments to encompass therapies inspired by ancient customs.

entire resort LEED-certified.

The restaurant, Murray Circle, retained its original tin ceiling and other architectural details to create an atmosphere of casual refinement. A wide veranda, outfitted with comfy chairs and settees, invites visitors outside to linger over brunch or drinks while taking in the view. The cuisine fashions mostly local, sustainable food sources into inventive creations - for example, juniper-cured local black cod and Sausalito dungeness crab croquette.

The wedding menus, supervised by the same chef as the restaurant, also tap However different, though, these into local resources and award-winning resorts share key pur veyors.

Receptions characteristics. Both offer exceptional as large as 180 people food, state-of-the-art spas, friendly can start with cockservice and customizable romantic tails around the fire pit, experiences rooted in their surrounding move indoors into historic environments and cultures. rooms or take place on the hillside Mission Blue Lawn, with the tree-framed Golden local villages, lovely beaches Gate view. The turn-of-theand the famous archeological 20th-century chapel, with its site of Chichen Itza - all of indoor balcony for musicians which can be arranged on the and overhead photography, resort grounds. provides backup in case of Many hotels dot the Rivinclement weather. iera Maya shores. El Dorado The spa, housed in its Casitas Royale distinguishes own new building, revolves itself with strong dining and a around a large, airy lounge focus on memorable weddings with fireplaces and a large, and romance at a good value. warm outdoor meditation For more information, go pool fringed by trees. Its ofto http://www.eldoradospareferings range from classic sorts.com/hotels/El-Doradomassage and beauty services Casitas-Royale. to hypnotherapy and energy work.

Cavallo Point Offsite, the neighboring Cavallo Point embodseaside community of Sauies the Northern California salito, the cultural vitality of sensibility around luxury and San Francisco and the hikromantic inspiration. The air, ing trails of the surrounding moist from its immediate Marin Headlands and nearby proximity to San Francisco Mount Tamalpais are less Bay, is fragrant with eucalypthan 20 minutes away. tus, bay laurel, rosemary and Cavallo Point has few rival other greenery populating resorts in Northern Califorthe hilly grounds. The hotel’s nia until you head south to location affords an up-close Big Sur or north to Napa. view of the Golden Gate Even then, no other destinaBridge unavailable anywhere tion nails so much of what is else. The hotel restored the specific to San Francisco and original military buildings Marin. and built its new facilities to For more information, go to harmonize with the natural http://www.cavallopoint.com. environment, rendering the

16 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Say cheese Questions to ask your photographer You’ve found the perfect wedding photographer. You love his style, and the images you’ve seen on his website fit perfectly with your vision - all the beauty of your venue, artistic shots of the two of you that look like something out of a magazine, close-up photos of the food, shots of all of the action and interactions with your loved ones.

D

Don’t expect everything to go perfectly on your wedding day, however, there are some important questions to ask your photographer to ensure you get the kinds of shots you want: • What are some of your favorite settings of my wedding venue? You may have hired your photographer in part because he has worked at your wedding venue before, but now it’s time to talk details: the gardens, the fountains, side rooms with great architectural aspects. This is where you start mapping out the perfect setting for your all-important first look photos, and you can use your photographer’s experience at the site (including knowing about the lighting during sunset and more).

• How will you and your assistant be dressed? This is where your photographer needs input from you, to learn about your chosen dress code. Your photographer will be interacting with your guests, and it’s best if he’s in a fine suit or tuxedo to blend in while working.

• Do you have any meal requests or dietary restrictions? Not many wedding couples ask this question, and it’s an important one. If your photographer is given just the usual vendor meal (often a chicken and vegetables dish, not the same entree that your guests get,) and can’t eat it, his energy level may drop and he may not perform up to par in the later hours of the wedding. Always ask this question, and consider giving your vendors a guest-type meal if you’ve had any last-minute wedding guest cancellations.

• What do you need from me? If you’d like to display a slideshow of your childhood photos or engagement There are some important questions to ask your photographer to ensure you get the kinds of shots you want.

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You can use your photographer’s experience at the site, including knowing about the lighting during sunset and more. photos at the wedding, find out which format the photographer needs - images on a disk, images emailed in a particular size and resolution, the format for the soundtrack, etc.

• Are you OK with other people taking photos? This is a rather new consideration, as a great many wedding pho-

tographers dislike losing an important shot (like your first kiss) because guests are standing in the way with their iPads and other devices. It’s smart to ask your photographer what he prefers and when he would like the announcement made to guests to ask them to not Photographer page 17

Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 17

Say cheese: Questions to ask your photographer • When will our photos be ready? You likely asked this before hiring your photographer, but it’s a good idea to get a reminder of how many weeks or months it will take before all of your photos are edited and posted onto an online gallery. This will reduce the number of stressful phone calls to your photographer later.

• Do you have any questions for me? Your photographer wants to make you happy, so he may ask if you like more candid photos, or more posed ones, and which types of photos you definitely don’t want. This is a relationship you’re forming, and twoway communication always works to your advantage.

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use their phones and iPads yet.

• What time will you arrive at our pre-wedding locations to capture photos of the ladies and the men? You might assume it would take an hour, but it may actually take several hours, so you need to adjust your getting-ready time to match up with your photographer’s arrival.

• If my event lasts longer than expected, will you be able to stay? Some photographers book two, or even three, weddings on a peak wedding season day, so you need to know if he’ll have to rush out at the planned end time for your wedding to get to the next one. Important: He might not have other bookings yet, so ask him to let you know if he does book another wedding on your big day.

• Which kinds of filters will you be using on our wedding day? This is a new question for wedding photographers, since there are many new types of filters in existence. Some may blur the edges of your photos or turn candlelight and strung lights into little heart shapes.

Ask to see examples of different filter effects, so that you can list out the ones you like.

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18 • Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

Wedding planning What you can do yourself and what’s not DIY The champagne has been toasted.

The ring fits. And the excitement of your recent engagement has subsided just long enough for you to think about the vast work that lies before you.

I

It’s time to get down to the business of planning a wedding. One concern you may have repeatedly throughout this process is what you can get away with doing yourself and which jobs warrant hiring a professional.

Your wedding budget will more than likely take one of its biggest hits from hiring a photographer so much so that it may feel quite alluring to want to hire a friend who claims he is handy with a camera instead. However, more than any other expense of your wedding, this is perhaps the one place where it certainly pays to hire a professional.

Wedding photographers are trained and skilled in how to capture the most picturesque of moments: the first kiss, the bouquet toss and the giving away of the bride, among others. Professionals understand best how to manipulate light, as well as work with shadows and varying weather conditions, to provide the clearest and most beautiful depictions of your special moments. When all is said and done, these photographs will be one of the only physical remnants of the love felt that day, so it’s vital that they be done correctly.

Perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking questions any bride may ask herself is, “What if no one dances?” When you hire a DJ to take care of your music, you are hiring not only someone to hit the play button but also someone to help set the tone of the soundtrack of your wedding day. You are also investing in someone who is experienced in entertaining a roomful of guests. Most DJs act as master of ceremonies, as well, and work to keep guests excited and interested in the various wedding events. Though it may seem as if an iPod can suffice, it’s important to keep in mind how difficult it may be to gather a group of nervous guests onto a dance floor without the encouragement from a proper emcee. Therefore, it may prove worth the price to hire a professional DJ when it comes to the enjoyment of your guests and your stress level.

For the creative and penny-pinching brides, there are a few areas in your wedding that you can tackle yourself. Nearly anyone can become ordained to officiate a wedding. Having a close friend or family member officiate your wedding is a wonderful opportunity to not only save you money but also add a personal touch to your ceremony. Yes, you will have a few more tasks to wrangle than you would if you hired a professional wedding officiant, but many people say it’s worth it. First, becoming ordained to officiate a wedding can be done both easily and cheaply online through various organizations, many of which are nondenominational and some of which are attributed to specific religions. It’s important to look into any further legalities of your place of residence (or where you choose to get married) to ensure that the marriage is done legally. “Offbeat Bride” makes a great point regarding this vital

I

If you are looking to do some things for your wedding yourself, making bouquets may work for you.

part of the officiating process: “If you are doing research online regarding marriage law, only trust sources that are the legitimate website of the government in question.”

You will also be responsible for writing the ceremony.

However, this does give you the ability to make the tone of your ceremony much more personalized. Lastly, you will need to make sure to work with your DJ to provide appropriate amplification for the officiant. With a bit more legwork, the payoff can be enormous, with a customized ceremony that reflects who

you and your spouse are, at a fraction of the cost that comes with hiring a professional.

Many brides daydream about the beautiful flowers that will adorn their wedding day -that is, until the reality of the costly prices of peonies actually hits them. Hiring a florist to arrange your wedding flowers or create your bouquets certainly makes the process even costlier. If you are organized enough and have a very willing bridal party, doing your own flowers may work. But it’s important to think ahead. Focus on flowers that will be in bloom

during the season in which your wedding will take place.

It’s also helpful to do a dry run of any bouquets and centerpieces that you will be doing yourself so that the real deal is not so overwhelming.

DIY Network also has several suggestions for keeping prices low, such as mixing expensive and inexpensive flowers and utilizing less costly greens in bouquets and centerpieces.

There are many creative and affordable options that are available when it comes to your wedding flowers, certainly making it a doable option for most brides.

Community Advocate •

Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016 • 19

Wedding rules to break Say goodbye to the expected

The most incredible photos come from this private moment between the couple without all the eyes on them.

When Shuva Rahim and Scott Lewis married a few years ago, they skipped a lot of wedding formalities like speeches and dances, replacing those moments with dinner and conversation. he decision to skip some typical wedding customs is gaining in popularity, as more couples forgo traditions such as the garter toss or cake cutting.

“You can break any wedding rule you want to nowadays, as long as you don’t offend or hurt anyone intentionally in the process,” said Sandy Malone, blogger and star of TLC’s “Wedding Island” and Fox’s “Bodas Increibles.”

For example, Malone says it’s not expected anymore that a bride ask her sisters or sisters-in-law to be bridesmaids, “if you’re not close to them or you don’t have a large wedding party, but be sure to let them know what you’re doing early in the planning so there are no unreasonable expectations.”

Take a look at some traditions that wedding professionals recommend forgetting.

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Formal attire As a bride and groom, you don’t necessarily have to dress formally.

“Typically, most weddings are a formal affair and requires a certain style of dress,” said Danielle Farrell, event planner with The Betty Brigade, a personal assistance and concierge service. “However, if that isn’t what you want to do, then don’t do it.”

Take shoes for example: Some grooms wear sneakers and many brides don flip flops.

Skip the sit-down dinner Plated meals can be pricey.

Plus, they’re so scheduled that someone is always “done way before the last table is served,” said Johnna Guzman of Purple Fire Productions.

Try getting more interactive with your food options instead.

“Chef stations and creative food bars are much more fun and way less restrictive,” said Guzman.

Formal photos These days, couples don’t want overly posed pictures.

Instead they’re looking for more relaxed photo styles and willing to break with the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding. The result? First look photos of the bride and groom shot before the ceremony.

“I am a huge fan of the first look,” said Leann Moore of Whimsical Floral Design.

“The most incredible photos come from this private moment between the couple without all the eyes on them.”

Break gender rules If your best friend is a man, why can’t he be your “Best Man” in the bridal party? Don’t get hung up on the idea that ladies can only support the bride and guys have to stand next to the groom. Mixing gender roles is OK. The groom’s sister can definitely be the “Best Woman” in the wedding party.

Weddings Rehearsal Dinners Bridal Showers

Toss the tradition Instead of having a garter toss, more and more couples are tossing away that tradition.

“Every single one of my brides has vetoed this awkward moment,” said Guzman.

Don’t worry about wedding white Wedding colors may tradition-

T FOR

ally be white and ivory but those aren’t the only color choices.

“There is a plethora of fresh new colored wedding gowns,” said Moore, noting a light blue chiffon gown.

Many designers have added color including lavender, red, silver and blush to their bridal fashions.

Avoid strict venues Frustrated because your venue won’t stray from the standard menu? You’re not alone. Many couples are ditching venues and vendors that are too rigid.

“My clients look for flexible, fun spaces where we have more freedom to create and design versus traditional, expensive venues with rules,” says Guzman.

Forget the cake Who says you have to have wedding cake? You can serve cupcakes, cookies, pastries and candies. Some couples even host an ice cream sundae bar.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” said Farrell.

“It’s your day!”

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Weddings • Friday, February 26, 2016

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