Wedding Guide

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS

Wedding Guide

MARCH 23, 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 路 TRENDS IN DJ SERVICES 路 TO C H A N G E Y O U R N A M E O R N O T ? 路 C R E AT I N G A D R E A M W E D D I N G 路 THE SCOOP ON PROPOSING ...AND MORE!

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Wedding Guide WHAT’S INSIDE 2

Fun Wedding Facts

3-5

Bringing the past into the future through flowers

6-7

DJ Kelly Kel brings ‘passion for music’ to weddings, parties

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Love and Money

9-11

Whether to change your last name and why

12-14 Mother and daughter create dream wedding 15

Ideas for celebrating a first anniversary

16-17 Banquet Center offers many options for newlyweds 18

Make every anniversary count

19-21 The Scoop on proposing 22

Should you get stuck on the magnetic eyelash trend?

23-24 Saying ‘I do’ again

Fun Wedding Facts The story of why the wedding ring is worn on the left hand can be traced back to ancient times. In that era, the Romans believed that the vein in the ring finger (the fourth finger) on the left hand ran directly to one’s heart. Because of this belief, they called that vein the “vena amoris,” or vein of love.

This trend of brides wearing a white wedding dress began in 1840 when Queen Victoria wore a white silk gown to her wedding to Prince Albert, according to cnn. com. Prior to that, average women wore their best, colored dresses and royalty and the wealthy displayed their wealth by wearing furs and jewels. With Queen Victoria, she wanted to show her country that she was going to rule with “good sense and prudence.” Indian brides in a traditional Hindu ceremony wear red to reflect the color of the rising sun and to represent prosperity and fertility.

Breaking a glass and shouting, “Mazel Tov,” is a traditional part of Jewish ceremonies and its meaning is deeply historical. It commemorates the fall of Jerusalem and the temple, but also the separation of souls of the bride and groom. By shattering the glass and congratulating the couple, they are recognizing that two separate souls are coming together as one, according to chabad.org.

Ancient Romans started the tradition of the groom carrying his bride over the threshold, according to www. theknot.com. It was a way of showing that the bride was not upset about leaving her father’s home to join her husband’s household. It was also a way to prevent evil spirits from entering the marital household through the soles of the bride’s feet.

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Bringing the past into the present through flowers

omething old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe — these were all four good luck objects that were part of an Old English rhyme.

Imagine if the bride’s bouquet incorporated this Stacie Smith theme by using a Daily News treasured piece of community editor

jewelry from a passed loved one. Melinda Arntz is the owner of Hometown Floral. Located at 224 W. Main St. in Stanton; and she creates beautiful floral arrangements by doing just that.

“I did a string of pearls once that was part of a Victorian wedding,” Arntz said. “(The bouquet) turned out beautiful.”

Arntz has been designing floral arrangements for 33 years between RusSee Flowers, Page 4

With Arntz’s vision and Buskirk’s ability to build items, the two have created some memorable arrangements and settings for weddings including Arntz’s niece who was married last summer at Egypt Valley Country Club. — Submitted Photos

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tic Floral that was once open in Stanton, a stint as a floral designer and wedding planner in Mount Pleasant for four years and then 23 years at Wishing Well Floral in Vestaburg before opening her own business three years ago. Early in her career she was given scrap pieces and told to make something from nothing. She said it was the best lesson she learned, creating something out of nothing.

Having 33 years under her belt has given her the wisdom to understand what will work well and how to work with a budget. Knowing a bride’s budget is crucial to know the type of flowers to order and how that budget can be spent on each member of the bridal party and priority guests. Arntz and her employee, Kylee Buskirk, both emphasized the importance of being flexible when it comes to a vision of a wedding’s flowers.

“If they (brides) would use a little imagina-

tion — don’t look at Pinterest and get stuck When it comes down to it, both Arntz and with it,” Arntz said.

Buskirk dream of arranging flowers for a bride Flexibility is an important factor due to dif- who provides a budget and gives them creferent growing seasons. Buskirk recalled a ative license. They were able to do so for Arttime when there was a high demand for GerSee Flowers, Page 5 bera daisies and they were unavailable due to a fire at a large supplier out of Canada. When explaining this to customers, there was confusion and amazement that a fire in Canada resulted in a shortage of Gerbera daisies in Stanton. Arntz also had a bride who ordered coral colored roses for her bouquet and because many floral shipments come in the country through Miami and there had been a hurricane at that time, there was a last-minute scramble to create the bride’s bouquet but Arntz came through.

“My supplier in Grand Rapids happened to have a pack of them (coral roses) but they were a week old,” Arntz said. “I assured the bride that they would be fine, but brides need to be aware of that — if there is a hurricane, nobody is shipping out.”

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nz’s niece who married last summer at Egypt Valley Country Club.

Arntz doesn’t hesitate to say that floral design and her shop are her life. She has spent the greater portion of her adulthood bringing joy, comfort and happiness to numerous clients. Buskirk says she started at Rustic Floral when she was very young.

As she remarked, “This is what I

have always done.”

Buskirk has been with Arntz since she opened three years ago, but they met at Rustic Floral.

Through the years, they have developed a system that works well for the pair when they have two and three weddings a day during the busy season beginning in May through October. Arntz will often get a vision of what she wants to

create for a client and tells Buskirk that she “needs to sleep on it.” She will later text or discuss her vision with Buskirk who will make the ideas come to life. It includes using power tools to build archways, trellises and

more.

“I conquered my fear of the table saw,” Buskirk said. “And now I have a staple gun, so there is no stopping me now.”

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DJ Kelly Kel brings ‘passion for music’ to weddings, parties

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here’s more to DJ-ing a wedding reception than setting up your cousin Fred’s laptop and opening iTunes. Those who demand a professional, fun experience know enough to contact professional musicians or a DJ with the right equipment, knowhow and a sincere drive to “make the Mike Taylor customer happy.”

Daily News correspondent If you can find a

DJ with a real passion for the job, so much the better. That’s one of the reasons DJ Kelly Kel (Mikel Cloman) has built such a successful business for himself over the past decade.

“I’ve always had a love for music,” Kel said. “Years ago, I worked for KRESA (Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency) in Kalamazoo and we created an incentive type approach for our students. We incorporated music as a way to engage students and DJ Kelly Kel has spent years developing the skill set needed to “get the party See Passion, Page 7

started” at a variety of social events. He focuses, he says, on gauging crowd reaction and playing the tunes that help fill a dance floor. — Courtesy Photo

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called it ‘Leo’s Lounge.’”

“I would bring my equipment on Fridays; it was great watching everyone come together. This summer marks Hypeman Enterprise’s 10th anniversary as a business overall. My wife is my biggest supporter as she helped start the business and is always pushing me to be a better person. Over the years, I was fortunate to work with other companies, but decided to take a leap of faith and start my own company. We are so thankful as we are growing in so many ways.”

Though Kel DJs all sorts of events, he says weddings and receptions require a special touch. Kel makes it a point to ensure the event runs smoothly and efficiently. Though he rarely creates a playlist ahead of time, he does make sure he gets a list of “must-play” tunes from the

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wedding party prior to the reception.

After that, he gauges which tunes to bring out based on the response of the audience.

“It’s all about reading the room,” Kel noted. “As well as getting a feel for the energy in the room.”

That said, he keeps a few well-known crowd favorites on “speed dial,” so to speak. “Love Shack,” “Brick House” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” are among the tunes that never fail to fill the dance floor.

There really is more to the job than simply providing great music, however. Knowing how to work an audience also is key to getting the party started.

“What makes Hypeman Enterprises stand out is my passion for the music, serving and giving my all to the clients, professionalism, flexibility, and I consider myself very interactive,” Kel said. “To get the audience in the party mood, I try to find that song where there’s a universal theme, and it brings everybody to the dance floor. I tend to lead the dances and bring excitement. We want this night to be memorable.”

Previous Hypeman Enterprises clients attest to the professionalism and enthusiasm he brings to any event.

“Hypeman Enterprise is seriously the best DJ out there,” said former customer Brittany Bell. “His name says it all. [He] and his partner are so outgoing, and keep the crowd moving. There was not one time that the dance floor was empty.”

“Mikel was amazing the whole night,” client Arielle Grace Miller noted. “He had everyone on the dance floor the entire time. My husband and I have never danced as much as we did last night.”

Kel says that working with his “amazing” clients and having a chance to share his love of music is just about the best way to make a living he can think of. Of course, when the party’s over, that’s when the real work begins.

“The worst part, based on my experience, is I’m always the first one to set up and more than likely the last one to leave.”

But that’s a small price to pay for following a dream and doing a job you love.

For more information or to reserve your date, contact Kel at (616) 617-4953, email hypemandj@gmail.com or visit Kel’s Facebook page using the search term hepemandjkellykel.

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Love and Money:

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8 Tips for Couples to Improve their Finances

hen love and romance are in the air, talking about finances may be the last thing on one’s mind. However, experts say that regular conversations about money are essential for healthy finances and healthy relationships.

Unfortunately, 47 percent of Americans say their spending equals or exceeds their income, and 45 percent do not have enough savings to cover at least three months’ worth of living expenses, according to a 2018 study by the Center for Financial Services Innovation. To help you and your partner get the conversation started and get your finances on track, the professionals at Wells Fargo are offering eight tips: 1. Pay yourself first: With each paycheck, set aside some income for savings -- about 5 to 10 percent is a good target. Whether it’s for a rainyday fund or the downpayment of a house, you and your partner can discuss how to prioritize savings for the greatest impact. This may also be a good time to discuss whether it makes more sense to have a joint account or retain individual

savings accounts.

2. Track your spending: Do you know where your money is going each month? Online tools and apps make tracking easier than ever before, helping you gain insights into your individual and combined spending habits so you can adjust where necessary.

3. Create a safety net: Do you have emergency savings that would cover three to six months’ worth of expenses? This is a basic measure of financial security that you and your partner can work on building together.

4. Pay down your high-interest debt: Honest conversations about debt can be especially hard for many couples. But transparency is not only ethical, it can serve as the first step to confronting the issue head-on. To tackle debt proactively and save money in the long run, it helps to be strategic, starting with the highest-interest debt that’s costing you the most first.

5. Pay on time, every time. If you’re like many couples, you have dreams for your future. Pay-

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ing bills on time will improve and maintain your credit score, which will open the door for greater financial opportunities down the line and help you make these dreams a reality.

6. Know where your credit stands: Check your free credit report annually and spot trends.

7. Review your insurance annually: Protect what counts, by checking your coverage annually and making updates to your policies as your circumstances change (i.e. you get married, buy a home, have children, etc.).

8. Save for a better retirement: Save at least 10 percent of your income each year for a more comfortable retirement. More tips and financial resources can be found by visiting www.wellsfargo.com.

Bottom line: while it’s not always easy to address financial matters, doing so can save your relationship headache and heartache down the line.

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n the five months Belleville’s MaryRose Nieman Nelson, born Mary Rose Nieman, planned her wedding, she was juggling decisions on decor, location and her last name.

Traditionally, women abandon their maiden name to take on the last name of their husband, but not everyone adheres to the custom.

MaryRose kept going back and forth on keeping her maiden name or taking her soon-to-be husband Samuel Nelson’s last name.

“I felt on the fence about changing my name. Sam didn’t care either way, but I felt torn between having the same last name as him and the convenience of keeping my own,” she explained.

Ultimately, she decidMeghan Nelson ed to take Samuel’s last Daily News staff writer

See Last Name, Page 10

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When Dustin Robison and Ashtyn Mitchell of Tomball Texas were married on Nov. 12, 2016, Ashtyn planned taking the last name Robison, but she was attached to her maiden name and decided to keep it—at least for the time being. — Casi Howard Photography

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name, but she wanted to hang on to her maiden name and moved it to her middle name.

She never liked being called Mary, though, and she insisted on being called by her first and middle name, Mary Rose, so she thought she’d combine her middle and last name.

In the end, she decided to change her legal name to MaryRose Nieman Nelson.

While her married name was the best option she could think of, the state of Michigan wasn’t as big of a fan.

“The Secretary of State didn’t like that even though the Social Security Office didn’t care,” she

said. “I wasn’t able to combine Mary and Rose on my driver’s license or passport.”

Changing her name on her passport also meant she lost her 10-year visa for India and all the stamps she accumulated from her travels.

Looking back, she said she wishes she would have just kept her name the way it was before she signed her marriage certificate on July 28, 2018.

“I just feel like it was a lot of unnecessary work to get me this long time confusing name,” she said.

Ashtyn Mitchell of Tomball, Texas had every intention of taking her husband Dustin Robison’s name when she married him on Nov. 12, 2016.

Right after the wedding, she changed her name on social me-

Samuel Nelson and MaryRose Nieman Nelson were married on July 28, 2018, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. MaryRose wanted to change her first name, middle name and last name all at once, but looking back doesn’t know if it was worth the hassle. — Brian and Stacey :: Photography and Cinema

dia to Robison and in public went She said her husband is also by the new Mrs. Robison. close with her family and under“After a while, though, I realized stood her attachment to her last I missed my maiden name a lot,” name.

While Ashtyn is happy keeping she said. “I’m very close with my family, and it was hard to make that break.”

See Last Name, Page 11

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Grenville’s Susan Benoit, back center, has a different last name than her husband Eugene Kroesing, right, son Matthew Kroesing, left, and daughter Riley Kroesing, front, but she said she is proud to keep the name associated with her French Canadian heritage.

— Submitted photo

her maiden name, for now, she said she thinks she’ll eventually hyphenate it as Mitchell-Robison.

“I want to have the same last name as my kids for doctor visits, traveling, etc.,” she explained.

“And honestly, I know that it’s possible I’ll change my mind and move to Robison in the future.

We’ve only been married for two years, so it may feel more comfortable later.”

Like Ashtyn, Susan Benoit of Greenville still has her maiden name, but she doesn’t plan on changing it anytime soon.

On July 28, 2014, when Susan Benoit married her husband Eugene Kroesing, she didn’t change her name at all.

She decided to keep her name for a combination of reasons, including not wanting to go through the hassle of completing the paperwork as MaryRose did.

“I like my maiden name as it reflects my French Canadian heritage, and also, my sister and I are the last of the Benoits,” she continued.

In Quebec, Canada, where she was married, the process for changing a surname is different than in the U.S. There is more paperwork and a fee, which was another hindrance to her adopting the last name Kroesing.

“Now, the Quebec government requires you to keep your maiden name,” Susan said. “You can change it, but I believe you have to go to court and the filing fee is $138.”

According to the Quebec government’s website, individuals over 18 must submit a request for preliminary analysis for a name change, and once the preliminary analysis is cleared, he or she then submits an application for a name

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change along with $138.

Susan said her husband would have preferred for her to change her last name, but it didn’t make a huge difference to him.

Even with two kids with the last name Kroesing, she said keeping her maiden name hasn’t been a problem.

“Occasionally, I get asked if I am their mom, and I sign any notes to teachers with my name and mom afterward,” Susan explained.

Susan’s advice for women considering keeping their maiden name: Do it if it feels right.

“It is not any harder to keep it, and it lets them keep their own identity,” she said.

Likewise, Ashtyn advised engaged or newly married women to think of a name change as a personal decision and not to worry about what others will think.

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Mother and daughter create dream wedding

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iffany Muston had a dream that began in early childhood. She wanted to be a Cinderella bride.

Muston and her mother, April Carlson of Gowen, made this dream come to fruition when Muston married her husband Alex in February. Carlson is a crafting and artistic queen. She is self-taught in multiple disciplines

including piano, cello, sewing and crocheting.

Her limitless imagination and creativity were successfully put to the test when helping her daughters (yes, plural) plan their weddings.

Carlson is the mother of four — two daughters and two sons. It was always an agreement that Carlson and her husband would gift their daughters with weddings. Being the creative woman she is, Carlson hoped to make her daughters’ wedding dresses. While her eldest daughter opted to buy her dress, Muston knew exactly what she wanted her mother to create.

Muston originally planned to wed her fiance May 4 but a job opportunity for the couple pushed their wedding date up to Feb. 2. Carlson’s other daughter is getting married April 6, so she had to adjust her schedule to get Muston’s dress, flowers, decorations and food ready in a much shorter time frame.

“I had to call my other daughter and explain that I had to set her things aside,” Carlson said. “She was fine with it and that freed up some time because I was just focusing on

one wedding.”

Carlson had envisioned sewing a dress for her younger daughter but Muston had something else in mind and requested that it be crocheted. Muston also had a clear vision of how Stacie Smith the dress would look and it Daily News reflected her favorite movcommunity editor ie, “Cinderella.”

“What I loved most about Cinderella’s wedding dress was the collar that goes over the shoulders,” Muston said. “My mom used to make me these little wedding dresses that fit on my Barbie dolls — she crocheted them.”

The most amazing part of this process is that a pattern didn’t exist for Muston’s dream dress.

Carlson created a freestyle pattern, using the classic movie as a guide. She purchased spools of a thread that is similar to what is used to created doilies. With that, she crocheted together moffitts, which are small pieces that are eventually sewn together to create a larger piece.

She experimented with moffitts in small, medium and larger sizes. Muston preferred the smaller pattern her mother had crafted.

Carlson then purchased fabric to sew together the slip that served as a form underneath the moffitts. She used the same fabric to create the collar that Muston wanted to bring her vision to reality.

By completion, Carlson had crocheted 4 1/2 miles of thread and spent a total of $45 and three months to make her daughter’s one-ofa-kind Cinderella dress. Carlson also used a metallic thread to create a train that could be buttoned to and removed from the back of the dress. Carlson and Muston’s ingenuity didn’t stop with the wedding dress, but encompassed all of the wedding and reception. Carlson and her husband presented both of their daughters with a budget and explained that if they undertook some of the work, they would have more room to work.

“We told them we wanted to do this and gave them a budget,” Carlson said. “They both had to get creative and they stayed very close See Dream Wedding, Page 13

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between the two families and the bridal party. Because of this, both women said it helped keep the stress level low and it was an opporContinued from Page 12 tunity to make lasting memories and emphato budget and made it happen. We did all the sized the importance of having fun.

Along with a wedding dress, all of the flowflowers ourselves, all the decorations, all the ers, table settings and programs, Carlson and tulle and the lights.”

“I have all the big ideas and everyone else crew also made all of the food. This included helps me carry them out,” Carlson added with a decorative and unique dessert as well: Jell-O a laugh.

Muston shares her mother’s creativity and See Dream Wedding, Page 14 enjoyed the process of making the decorative items for her wedding. It was clear speaking with both women that this was a bonding experience for mother and daughter and bringing both families together prior to the wedding.

“We didn’t order the flowers as bouquets, we just ordered lots and lots of flowers,” Muston said. “My mom and I made my bouquet together — it was just red roses and baby’s breath between them.”

Muston and Carlson both talked about how making everything come together was a team effort and it was a great way to break the ice

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cakes. In some references, these are also called Raindrop cakes. The recipe involves making a clear gelatin mold that has been flavored and is then injected with colored gelatin to create a pattern. For Muston’s wedding, it was a flower.

During all of this flurry of activity, the first of several winter storms hit the area and that meant a delay in the flower delivery. Carlson didn’t let

this get to her and she called FedEx and learned that due to icy conditions, their delivery would not be on the planned day, which delayed creating the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres.

Flowers are live plants and as such, customers can go to the FedEx distribution center in Grand Rapids and pick up their items. This option is exclusive to medicine and live plants.

How Carlson managed to create such a well-oiled machine is admirable. Decorating for the reception had to be done the day of the event and she found a system that worked for them by dividing people into teams who worked in shifts.

Their work did not

go unnoticed.

“It worked — we were able to get everything done and it was absolutely beautiful,” Carlson added humbly. “Greenville Community Center even posted it on their Facebook page and commented on how beautiful it was.”

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Ideas for celebrating a first anniversary

A

romantic night out is how many newlyweds celebrate their first anniversaries.

Couples approaching their first anniversaries may be amazed at just how quickly their first year as husband and wife flew by. Many would admit it feels like just yesterday that they were reciting their vows and dancing the night away in the company of friends and family.

Couples about to mark their first anniversaries often look back on a year of new experiences. A first anniversary is a milestone that should not be taken lightly, and there are plenty of enjoyable and meaningful ways to celebrate your first full year of wedded bliss. · Enjoy a night of reminiscing and cake. If you saved the top tier of your wedding cake, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw. Serve a slice for yourself and your spouse while you sit down to recall the little details of your wedding. Review your wedding album or pop in your wedding video to relive the magic of your big day once more. · Plan an escape vacation. Why not make it a tra-

dition to travel on your anniversary? You can have a new honeymoon where you go to a romantic destination and participate in some romantic oneon-one time each and every year. Return to your original honeymoon spot or find a new locale. · Dine at your wedding hall. Some wedding venues double as restaurants or may serve special brunches or dinners on occasion. Make reservations and honor your first anniversary in the spot where you first celebrated your union. · Trade paper gifts. The first anniversary gift is paper, and you can interpret this in various ways.

Declare your love in a full-page ad in your local newspaper, or treat your spouse to some tickets to a show or a sporting event. If you want to put your thoughts on your first year of marriage down on paper, use some stationery to jot down an impromptu poem or love note. · Throw a big bash. Invite many of the same people who attended the wedding to a party at your home or another venue. Share a spotlight dance to your wedding song and be sure to toast all of the

people who helped make your first year so special. · Enjoy a fancy meal. Use your anniversary as an excuse to try that exclusive restaurant that may be a little too extravagant for just any occasion. Indulge in an expensive meal and a nice bottle of bubbly. · Relax with a spa treatment. Reserve a couple’s spa day at a nearby resort or stand-alone business.

Explore the services they offer, from massages to facials to relaxing body wraps. · Have an adventure together. Do something exciting for your first anniversary so you will remember it forever. Adrenaline-inducing activities, like scuba diving, riding roller coasters, helicopter tours or bungee jumping, are thrilling ways to mark a year of wedded bliss.

There is no limit to the number of ways couples can commemorate their first anniversaries. From romantic to wild, these activities can keep the spark alive.

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Banquet Center offers many options for newlyweds

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hen it comes to weddings and receptions, one question always comes up early in the planning process: where will it be held?

Hall, home, back yard, lakeshore? The possibilities are endless.

Outdoor receptions can be fun, but of course, that puts your event at the mercy of the elements. Nothing Mike Taylor shortens a fun gathering Daily News correspondent like an unexpected summer

storm. On the other hand, who wants to be cooped up indoors on a beautiful summer’s evening?

Enter the Log Cabin Inn Banquet Center, 6484 E. Bluewater Highway in Muir. The facility, which opened in 2014 and has done a booming business since, can seat up to 300 guests. It also offers a large deck and outdoor seating, making it the perfect choice for those interested in indoor/outdoor options.

According to Log Cabin owner Toni Feehan, the center celebrates its fifth year of business in May with an open house featuring music, a

food vendor truck and other activities. Depending on the weather, a car show may also be part of the fun.

The center provides almost all the necessities required for any successful reception, party, wedding or other events.

“We use round tables for the guests,” Feehan said. “And of course, rectangular tables for food, gifts or whatever else the guests need.”

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Wedding Guide

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for the center to be booked as much as a year creates a lovely ambiance and serves as a foin advance. cal point for traditional wedding photos. The deck also makes a nice backdrop for photos, “Right now, I’m booked through 2020,” FeeContinued from Page 16 han said. “I advertise in the Daily News, on Feehan added.

WION radio and in some shopper’s guides.

Guests often wind up dancing on the deck, Linens for the tables also are available for We keep really busy.” as well. The center also offers an indoor rent. All of this is set up ahead of time by the For more information or to reserve a date dance floor. center’s staff. At the end of the night, clients In addition to providing advice and guidfor your event, contact Feehan either through have the option of cleaning up themselves or the center’s Facebook page or by calling (989) ance when it comes to planning the use of allowing the center’s staff to take care of these the facility, Feehan maintains a list of referrals 853-1100. details. for bands, DJs, photographers, caterers and “It’s up to them,” Feehan said. “Sometimes, other wedding-related they just take the decorations off the tables FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1958 and we do the rest. If people don’t want to do information.

Along with wedthe cleanup, they just forfeit part of the refund on their deposit. Sometimes, people get pretty dings and receptions, tired by the end of the party and decide they’d the hall often hosts company Christmas INC. rather not deal with it, which is completely parties, luncheons, OK.” family reunions, speThe center also features a full kitchen, with cial birthdays, annifreezers, refrigerators, lots of counter space versaries and celebraand even a double-oven, all of which are Jon Leslie AGENT tions of life events. Of Judy Leslie Swartz AGENT available to clients. course, with all this A large fireplace provides not only addi125 E. CASS ST., GREENVILLE Helping You with All Your Insurance Needs 616-754-9359 going on, it’s typical tional warmth in the winter months, but also 259772

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Wedding Guide | S A T U R D A Y , M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 1 9

Make every anniversary count

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edding anniversaries provide opportunities for couples to reflect and relive the excitement of their wedding days. Anniversaries can easily be forgotten amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, but many couples are making concerted efforts to ensure their anniversaries are celebrated as the special occasions they are.

A first wedding anniversary is a special one.

Some couples celebrate their first anniversaries by enjoying a piece of wedding cake that has been properly preserved in the freezer. Couples may also dance to their wedding songs or enjoy a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. The first anniversary also is a time to pull out the wedding video or photo album and reminisce about the wedding day.

Anniversaries are a great way for couples to celebrate their time together by stepping away from emails, text messages, work obligations, and even mundane everyday tasks to once again remember a day and moment that changed their lives forever.

Those who may need a little inspiration celebrating their anniversaries can consider these suggestions.

· Have dinner at your reception site. Find out if the reception site, which may be a catering hall or restaurant, serves dinner or brunch. Make a reservation and enjoy celebrating in the spot where the memories all began. · Take a second honeymoon. Honor wedding memories by booking a second honeymoon at a special location. · Throw a party. Use your anniversary as an excuse to have friends or family over for a party. Be sure to include your wedding song on the music playlist. · Create a romantic evening. Rekindle the romance by pulling out all the stops, complete with a nice homecooked meal, candles and mood music.

Wedding anniversaries present ideal opportunities for couples to reminisce about their trip down the aisle and all the entertaining moments from the wedding. They’re also opportunities to connect as a couple and focus on each other.

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The Scoop on proposing

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never thought I’d be writing something like this — offering advice to men (or women) on how to propose to their loved ones.

Why? Because after a long string of failed relationships, I came to the realization that marriage might not be in the cards for me.

But lo and behold, I found there was, indeed, a card, and I didn’t hesitate to use it.

For some of you reading this, you may be thinking about “popping the question,” and stressing (perhaps a lot) about how to go about doing it, along with the when and where.

Though there are a thousand ideas - some clever, others straight to the point - the most important thing to keep in mind while you’re weaving your plan is that YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU WANT TO MARRY THIS PERSON.

day where there were no other big celebrations going on, that when I remember when I proposed, it was just that moment, that memory that will stick with us. I wanted it to just be about us.

I caution you, however, to not pick a date where something tragic happened or something she wanted to forget happened to your potential spouse. Nothing WHEN to propose I thought this would be the eas- would spoil the moment more iest part of the proposal plan. But than popping the question on the it was more difficult than I expect- anniversary day that her beloved ed it to be. Many people decide pet, Rover, died or it just hapon a red letter day, such as New pened to be the same day the diYear’s, Christmas, the person’s vorce from her previous marriage birthday, or the anniversary date was officially over. Be sure to do of when they first met or their first a little reconnaissance before dedate, which is totally fine.

Though it was only a couple days off from our anniversary day of our first date, I decided I wanted my proposal date to be on a When I decided to propose to my fiancé, I was absolutely, 100 percent, give all my money to the bookie, sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. And months later, that is still true (thank goodness!).

So if you are concrete on your plans to propose, here are some ideas you might consider.

My fiance showing off her ring in front of the Los Tacos outdoor restaurant in Cancun, where I proposed to her last summer. — Ryan Schlehuber | Daily News

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ciding on a date, is all I’m saying.

Another thing to remember — for the rest of your Ryan Schlehuber life, perhaps “Scoop” Daily News — is the date sports editor you proposed.

Obviously, the wedding date and the anniversary of your first date may be more important to mark on the calendar than the actual date of when you proposed, but, as a precaution, I’d mark that date as a “remember this or you’ll be in See Proposing, Page 20

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Proposing Continued

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the doghouse” date … just in case. God help you if it comes up in casual conversation or a fun trivial game and you can’t answer it right.

WHERE to propose This may be the most important detail in your proposal plan, depending on how romantic you want to be, or maybe how nostalgic you and your companion are. But it also can be the least important detail, as the “how” part may be what she will remember most.

I chose to propose to my fiancé during a vacation to Mexico. For me, it was exotic, romantic, relaxing and a place we’d always remember fondly. What was great about this plan was she and I were already dressed up that night for a nice dinner so we were photo-ready afterward.

I had other ideas of where to propose, like the very spot I first gazed my eyes on her, which would be a side street in Greenville during a farmer’s market. Obviously, it’s not the best of romantic scenes, but it still would’ve been touching to her. I also thought of Mackinac Island, where pretty much any place — except for the horse barns maybe — is a great spot to “bend the knee.” Setting up a photographer there after the big scene would be a nice touch, as well.

A couple things to avoid, in my opinion, is doing it in front of a large crowd or in a busy place. When I got to Mexico, I first thought of bending the knee during our dinner, but it was so busy and noisy that I decided instead I wanted to do it at a more quiet, outdoor setting, and found a great spot where there was water, wonderful small flood lights and See Proposing, Page 21

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The when, where and how part of planning a proposal are crucial in their own fashion, with the higher importance depending on the couple. For me, the when and how was easier than the where. I decided on bending the knee at night after dinner, when we were all dressed up. I wanted to do it earlier enough in the vacation so we could just relax and enjoy it from there. Here, I’m with my fiance and her daughter at the Tulum ruins, south of Cancun.

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Though it had a few kinks in the plan, my proposal to my fiance went well and I wouldn’t have changed anything. If I learned anything, it is to just roll with it and appreciate the memory you make when you decide to propose to your loved one.

a great backdrop of stone walls.

HOW to propose You can have everything go perfect but if you don’t deliver on the “how” part of this plan for happily-ever-after, it’s going to haunt you. I don’t want to scare you … well, maybe a little … but I stressed over my delivery A LOT. So much so I put it off the first two nights in Mexico.

Thankfully, I had a go-to person - my cousin - who is like a brother to me. Whether he intended to, he calmed me down just by talking me through it, helping me with ideas and just supporting “the plan.” Having a person to lean on for ideas or just for that person to be there when you’re stressing out helps.

Together, we came up with

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019 |

the idea of hiding the ring in my back pocket and telling our small group of his family and my fiancé and her daughter that we’re going to take group photos since we were all dressed up and at a really beautiful spot at night. First up was me, my fiancé, her daughter, and as we got into our pose, I snuck out the ring box, bent the knee and proposed, all the while my cousin was capturing the moment on video, which everyone else thought he was just taking a photo.

Her reaction and expression was priceless. The when, the where and, thankfully, the how came together perfectly. It became one of the most memorable experiences of my life and watching the video makes me smile ear to ear every time.

Now one thing you must keep

Wedding Guide

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in mind is not everything will be perfect. You can’t prepare for your niece to haphazardly walk in front of the camera for a split second or your fiancé’s daughter, feeling suddenly awkward, shyly walking to the stream of water and loudly telling our group about the rocks at the bottom of it. But it’s those little not-planned incidents that really make the entire experience. It can make you smile, laugh and cry with wonderful feelings.

So when planning your proposal, be mindful of the details of when, where and how, but also be able to roll with the small wrinkles that may creep up when you’re executing your plan. Most of the time, those small wrinkles are what can make the proposal priceless.

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Should you get stuck on the magnetic eyelash trend?

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omen have long relied on false eyelashes to intensify their natural lashes with thickness and length. False eyelashes have come in many varieties through the years, from the classic adhesives to lash extensions individually woven onto lashes in specialty salons.

A new contender in the lash market, magnetic lashes are the latest trend to make news. But do magnetic lashes have staying power? And what are the health concerns, if any, with magnetic lashes?

Instead of fussing with glues and lashes, which often requires a delicate touch and lots of practice to master, falsies not lining up, or painful tearing out of natural lashes when it comes time for removal, magnetic lashes offer a new twist. These products work by sandwiching natural lashes between a false lash set that adheres with small magnets. To apply, one simply places the top lash and the bottom lash on the lash line with her natural lashes in between. The false lashes, which are reusable, click into place and are designed to be easily removed by sliding the magnetic strips apart.

As more people embrace magnetic lashes, some

may begin to wonder if there are any potential health concerns associated with them. Magnetic lashes seem to present some of the same concerns of other false lashes and eyelash extensions. False eyelashes and eyelash extensions can cause various issues, advises Consumer Reports. Eyelash extensions have reportedly caused irritation to the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) or cornea (keratitis). The irritation may be caused by direct contact from the lashes themselves or hypersensitivity to the substances used to attach them. Also, the College of Optometrists in England has warned that “repeated use of eyelash extensions or false lashes can cause traction alopecia, a condition where the hair falls out due to excessive tension placed on the hair shaft.”

False lashes have been associated with other problems as well. According to a study from Guillermo Amador, a Ph.D. candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, changing the proportion of eyelash (which ideally is one-third the width of the eye in length) can increase airflow around the eye and lead to more dust hitting the surface of the eye. Consequently, this air and dust can dry

out the eyes quickly.

While many proponents of magnetic lashes say they are easy to use, less messy and more convenient than glue varieties that may cause allergic reactions, there are those who lament that the magnetic lash strips, which need to be straight, do not bend with the curvature of the eye. This results in a less-than-natural appearance. There’s also the risk of a disruption in the lay of the natural lashes because they’re anchoring the magnetic sets. Exercise caution to reduce yanking on natural lashes during application and removal. False eyelashes should be cleaned and only be applied after freshly washing your hands.

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am getting married soon and it is not the first time, I am not a young bride and my fiance and I did things in a very unconventional manner. I had two sons from a previous marriage who were 13 and 8 when I met Zach.

Zach never had children, though he desperately dreamed of being a father.

Stacie Smith We were 40 Daily News community editor when we met.

I figured we would be a family of four. But in August 2015, and we welcomed our son, Paxton.

On my 45th birthday, Zach proposed. Initially, Zach envisioned a full wedding with a big guest list and a celebration following.

None of that entered my mind. I felt self-conscious inviting people to another wedding and I really wanted something very personal and intimate this time.

I started scouring online for destination wedding ideas. I had written about a destination wedding for a previous wedding guide

23

do you. I am a little more reserved and not the frilly, princess-y type.

I started a Pinterest board and over the course of a year, I was getting overwhelmed with ideas. I was sure I would look like a fitness model despite eating like a sumo wrestler and having the energy of a three-toed sloth. Surprise, surprise, I have not lost weight and I really don’t care, but I did put off buying a dress or even going to a store to try on a dress.

Zach and I exchanged ideas on what we envisioned and I finally decided I was going to wear something that was comfortable and budget friendly. I decided on wearing ivory so I could be fun with color with shoes or maybe a sash to match Zach’s tie. I also felt a bridesmaid dress was better suitSee Again, Page 24

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Saying ‘I do’ again

and the bride said more than once how she would do the same thing if she had to plan it all over.

As I explained to Zach that I was riddled with anxiety about the idea of a full-blown wedding and reception, he agreed that we could have a wedding that was well suited for both of us. The dream destination for both of us is Italy, but costs and residency restrictions had us checking closer locations.

I mentioned Mackinac Island, but he wanted to go somewhere new to both of us. We made a mutual decision based on weather and a place we both have wanted to visit.

So…what does an older, notfirst-time-around-bride wear? I think brides should wear what makes them happy and if that means a princess ball gown at 75 at your third wedding — girl, you

Wedding Guide

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Again Continued

from

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ed to my taste.

There is maybe an inch in height difference between Zach and me. While he doesn’t care if I tower over him, I feel oafish when I do.

I would have loved to wear sandals but I decided to go a bit more formal. Macy’s read my mind and sent a text message of great sales on shoes. I checked another item off my list with the purchase of silver, blingedout, kitten-heel shoes.

Because we did opt for a destination elopement, we had to find a place to stay for six people. Regardless of price, hotel costs can

add up quickly with the addition of food for six people (ahem, I do eat like a sumo wrestler).

For the first time, I ventured into the world of Airbnb and VRBO. We found a great place nestled in the hills with gorgeous views and a full kitchen. That doesn’t mean we won’t go out to eat at all because it is important to enjoy the local fare but knowing most meals can be prepared, will make things far more cost-effective.

We selected a destination within a reasonable driving distance so my mom could make the trip with us. I did look into airfare but it got too costly and then we would also need to rent a

car. Currently, we are discussing driving another 6 hours so our boys can see the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. It boils down to cost, time and availability of lodging.

Because we are not going the traditional route, we planned our wedding through a company who plans elopements. We opted for a package that includes photos, the ceremony, flowers, the venue, two wine glasses, a bottle of wine and a gluten-free cake (yep, I’m one of those brides). We wanted the day to be simple and not stressful because it is the marriage that matters, not just one day of our life together.

My fiance proposed to me on my 45th birthday at The Blue Cow (one of our favorite restaurants) in Big Rapids. We are eloping this spring and getting married this time around has been a bit different but very much to my liking and style. — Stacie Smith | Daily News

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