Bride
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Tips for making your wedding day run smoothly Creative cuisines for reception dining
2016
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Moments Magazine | March-April 2015
m North Atlanta Magazine
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Planning the ‘Big Day’ Tips to help make your wedding run smoothly
By Kayla Robins
Six months out
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ou’re getting married. Now what? Once the excitement of the big proposal and the phone calls to loved ones clears, a picture that remains for any engaged couple is the planning process. Since planning your wedding is not something people typically get tons of practice in, it may be vital to get help from someone who does have practice. A wedding planned well and with enough time can make for the actual day to be stress free and enjoyable. Last minute changes or realizing you forgot something can certainly make for the opposite. “I always say make sure you get your dresses planned,” said Jennifer Mineo, a local wedding planner who runs Events by Dezine. “Some dresses take months to come in once they are ordered, and you need time for alterations.” Of course, there is flexibility in planning a wedding since there is such an array of options in the ceremony and reception, Mineo said. “Some weddings are planned in three weeks, but keep in mind venues and all types of service providers book up way in advance, sometimes years in advance,” she said. You can always grab ideas and inspirations off sites like Pinterest or from other ceremonies you attend. You can do it all on your own or leave it up to a professional team. Either way, here is a basic timeline that Events by Dezine follows when creating a checklist for planning any couple’s special day.
• Set your budget • Create your guest list with addresses • Reserve your ceremony and reception sites • Order dress and accessories • Book all service providers including cake, florist, musicians or DJ for ceremony and reception, officiant, photographer, videographer • Send out “Save the Date” cards • Plan and book honeymoon
Four months out • Arrange for transportation for ceremony and reception • Reserve any rentals including tents, chairs, linens, tables • Order invitations and other specialty stationary • Purchase wedding rings • Choose and order attire for the wedding party • Create your wedding registry • Choose favors • Reserve accommodations for out of town guests • Book a room for the wedding night • Chose gifts for the wedding party
Two months out
• Finalize reception menu • Plan ceremony with officiant • Choose ceremony music, readings and vows or write your own • Try to book make-up and hairstylist • Schedule rehearsal time and dinner • Mail invitations 6-8 weeks prior to wedding day • Write thank you notes for gifts as they arrive
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One month out
• Order programs • Buy a guest book • Obtain marriage license within 30 days of wedding day. • Contact local newspapers if you want to publish a wedding announcement
One-two weeks out
• Finalize anything you have not been able to so far
One day out
• Confirm transportation arrangements • Give announcements to attendant to mail after the wedding • Get manicure and pedicure • Rehearse ceremony • Have rehearsal dinner. This is the time to give gifts to your attendants and parents if you wish to do so • Prepare tip envelopes for officiant and other service providers and make arrangements for someone to distribute them
Wedding day
Relax and get married! 2016
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Customize your ceremony to give it a unique touch
teeped in tradition, weddings have featured many of the same components for centuries. Those about to tie the knot may feel somewhat limited in their ability to shape their weddings into unique celebrations of their relationships and love for one another. Although it may not seem like there are many opportunities to put your own stamp on the wedding, there are plenty of ways to do just that. When looking to personalize your wedding ceremony, determine if there might be anything blocking you from doing so. For example, if yours will be a religious ceremony, there may be certain rites that need to be followed. Secular ceremonies may offer more opportunities to customize.
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Vows
Musical interludes
Vows are one of the easiest ways to put a personal touch on your wedding. You can select the words you want to exchange during the ceremony as well as any readings during the service. Work with your officiant to narrow down particular phrasing or sentiments that fit with your vision of the wedding and relationship.
Choose music that connects with your personalities as a couple rather than selecting standard songs merely because they are the easier route. Work with the organist or other musicians and request that they perform or play musical pieces that you enjoy.
Participants
Many couples like to incorporate candle-lighting components to their ceremonies. Lighting unity candles blends two families together into one in a symbolic way. Other couples choose different traditions, such as mixing two different-colored sands in a new vessel, to represent the joining of two lives together. You can consider these types of additions for your wedding ceremony or come up with your own unique tradition.
Wedding party members fulfill certain roles during the ceremony, but they are not limited to those tasks alone. Consider asking wedding party members or other friends or family members to take on specialized roles in the wedding. They may be able to do certain readings, escort guests to their seats, light candles, or sing and participate in other ways.
Candle lighting
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Factors to consider when hosting an outdoor wedding
any couples tie the knot outdoors, as nature can provide an idyllic backdrop on such a special day. In many ways, planning outdoor weddings is similar to planning weddings that take place with a roof overhead and four walls surrounding couples and their guests. But there are some distinct features of both indoor and outdoor weddings, and couples planning the latter would be wise to consider the following factors before they commit to a location for their ceremony.
Location
Proximity to your reception venue and the hotel where guests are staying is another factor to consider if you are planning on hosting an outdoor wedding. A remote location might provide stunning views and privacy, but guests might tire if the ceremony location is far from the hotel and/or reception
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venue. This should not be too big an issue if the ceremony and reception are held at the same locale, but couples should still look for nearby lodging before booking remote outdoor locations.
Weather
Weather is perhaps the biggest factor couples must consider when planning an outdoor wedding. Outdoor weddings are best held during those seasons when the threat of precipitation is insignificant and temperatures are mild, but it’s still necessary to have a backup plan just in case Mother Nature does not want to cooperate. If possible, find an outdoor location that provides access to an indoor ceremony facility in case of inclement weather. If that’s not possible, monitor the forecast as closely as possible and arrange for a tent to be erected should rain start to fall. (Note: The cost of
such tents can be considerable, so build this contingency into your budget.) If the forecast is calling for chillier temperatures than you had hoped for, email out-of-town guests a few days in advance to remind them to dress warm.
Logistics
No matter how beautiful a backdrop may be, photos of an outdoor ceremony can be compromised. Couples, along with their photographers, should visit the site in the weeks before their weddings to determine arrangements for the ceremony that will guarantee photos are not compromised by sunlight or shade. Facility managers can probably offer advice as to the best places to hold the ceremony and seat guests, but a runthrough at the location with your photographer in tow can help ensure your photos come out perfect.
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Navigating the rehearsal dinner Rehearsal dinners are a fun wedding tradition that typically take place the night before a couple walks down the aisle. The immediate families of the bride and groom as well as any additional members of the wedding party are on hand for the rehearsal dinner, which often follows a walk-through of the wedding ceremony. It is customary to invite anyone participating in the wedding, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls, and ring bearers, to the rehearsal dinner. In addition to those in the wedding, family members, such as parents of both the bride and groom and their respective siblings who are not in the wedding, also are invited to traditional rehearsal dinners. If your rehearsal dinner will take place at a restaurant, then try to find a restaurant that can cater to various tastes. Rehearsal dinner parties tend to be large, and within your party you may
have guests who are vegetarian or on gluten-free diets or those who need to avoid certain foods. While many rehearsal dinners are held at restaurants, it’s not unheard of to host a dinner party at home or at the home of the bride’s or groom’s parents. If you plan to go this route, just be sure to provide a variety of food. If you are hosting a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant, booking a reservation should be near the top of your priority list once you have chosen a date for the wedding. Try to book a reservation three to six months in advance of the dinner. to host
the dinner. Many wedding traditions have fallen by the wayside over the last several decades, and that includes who is picking up the tab. In the past, the brides’ parents paid for the wedding while the grooms’ parents were expected to pick up the tab for the rehearsal dinner. But many couples now pay for their own weddings, and those that are footing the bill should include the rehearsal dinner
in their wedding budgets. If parents offer to pay or split the tab, you can take them up on their generous offer. But it is still to a couple’s advantage to expect to pay for their rehearsal dinners. Rehearsal dinners are an enjoyable tradition that affords couples the chance to sit down with their closest friends and family members and enjoy a great meal together. Planning ahead can make the dinner even more enjoyable.
Let Big D’s cater your special day!
2016
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Ceremony in bloom Helpful hints when choosing floral arrangements
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hen planning their weddings, couples may find themselves becoming experts on subjects they previously never gave much thought. Thanks to the cost of weddings, today’s couples must make each decision carefully, and that may result in hours of research and discussion. One of the big decisions couples must make when planning their weddings concerns their floral arrangements. The right floral arrangements won’t break the bank but will add substantial aesthetic appeal to ceremonies and receptions. It can be difficult for couples to achieve that balance of cost and look on their own, so the following are a few helpful hints for couples when choosing their wedding day floral arrangements.
Work with a florist you trust and like
All florists are not the same, so finding one you can trust and will enjoy working with can make all the difference. Many couples have little or no experience with floral arrangements prior to planning their weddings, so it can calm couples’ nerves to work with someone they trust in such situations. Florists with significant wedding experience will no doubt make a host of recommendations based on couples’ budgets and preferences, so couples might be more inclined to listen to that advice if they are working with someone they trust. Ask relatives, friends or coworkers if they can recommend any florists whose wedding work they are familiar with.
Go big Some flowers simply bloom larger than others, and choosing such flowers may help you save money since you won’t need to buy as many flowers as you would if you were to go with smaller blooms. Once you find a florist to work with, discuss your options with regard to doing more with less. Many florists embrace the challenge to be creative within a budget, so you might just be surprised and impressed by what they come up with. Floral arrangements can set the mood for a wedding ceremony and reception, and even couples with little or no experience choosing arrangements can end up with stunning displays.
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Choose in-season or native flowers
Couples working with tight budgets may want to choose in-season flowers or those native to the area where they will be tying the knot. In-season and native flowers won’t need to be ordered or shipped in from afar, which can be costly. In-season and native flowers tend to be more abundant as well, and the greater their availability the less couples are likely to pay for them.
Waters Mill Wedding and Event Facility Let us accommodate you for your rehearsal dinner 706.867.7324 • 678.725.9245 751 Wesley Chapel Road, Dahlonega, GA watersmill.com
It’s Your Big Day...
Repurpose floral arrangements Another way to save on floral arrangements is to repurpose flowers throughout the day. Once bridesmaids no longer need their bouquets, use them to decorate gift tables or cocktail areas. Floral arrangements on display during the ceremony can be removed once you have both said “I do” and moved into the reception area where they can be enjoyed through the night. Go over any repurposing you plan to do with your reception hall manager prior to your wedding day so he knows where and when to move the arrangements.
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Hot trends in wedding cuisine Once a couple has officially tied the knot, the newly recognized man and wife and all of their guests will retire to a party room where they can mingle, dance and enjoy a good meal. In the past, standard fare like prime rib and roasted chicken dominated wedding menus. But todayﾃ不 weddings cater to
people of various culinary tastes, and couples and their guests can expect more upscale and creative cuisine to be rolled out for wedding receptions. The following are a handful of the more popular trends with regard to wedding cuisine.
Miniature bites
Many people say good things come in small packages, and when it comes to miniature versions of favorite foods, they may be right. Instead of large meals that fill guests up fast, they can munch on smaller bites of their favorite dishes. How about a piece of meatloaf topped with whipped mashed potatoes? A cherry tomato with a small piece of mozzarella cheese makes a mini caprese salad. Turning favorite foods into bite-sized adventures can add a touch of whimsy to the reception.
Breakfast for dinner
Some couples are circumventing high price tags for their weddings by choosing to hold the festivities at less expensive times of day. Brunch-themed weddings are a big hit with those who would much rather dine on a stack of pancakes than a dish of pasta. Omelet stations, croissants and a bevy of other breakfast table fare can be enjoyed any time of the day.
appetizers can be wheeled around so everyone can choose what they want and what they want to avoid.
Gourmet comfort food
Dim sum
People love familiar comfort foods, but now gourmet comfort foods are shaking up wedding receptions. Macand-cheese with gouda and brie or chicken pot pie with a puff-pastry crust are a few offerings that can add glamour to down-home cooking.
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Dim sum allows guests to sample different foods without filling up. Carts of dumplings and other small plates of
Interesting buffet stations
Keep guests on their toes with various meal stations. A bountiful display of artisanal cheeses, fruits and breads will be a cheese lover’s dream. These stations also can be appetizing focal points around the room and ensure all guests get a bite of what they like best.
Family style
Rustic and informal weddings have grown in popularity. Rather than food being brought to the guests or participants lining up in buffet lines, familystyle dining allows guests to share conversation and pass the peas at the same time. Larger, rectangular tables allow more guests to sit with one another and serve themselves food from community plates located in the center of the tables.
Food and beverage pairings
Food-forward wedding couples are offering guests mouthwatering appe-
tizers matched with a cocktail. A slider and a craft beer or a dumpling and a shot of saki are examples of this trend.
Nontraditional “fake” cakes
Instead of a multi-tiered, couples are now opting for something new. Desserts that mimic the look of cake, but aren’t quite that combination of sponge and frosting are trending. Crepes, pies, cookies, and doughnuts are acceptable and can add a creative spark to the cake-cutting ceremony. When offered along with dessert stations, guests can certainly get their fill of sweet delights.
Vegan and gluten-free options
Chances are one or more people attending the reception will be on a restricted diet. Rather than relegate these guests to dining on side dishes and patchwork meals, certain couples are building entire offerings around vegan and gluten-free foods.
Couples are getting creative with their food and beverage offerings at their weddings. Guests never know which culinary wonders they will encounter as they gather to wish the newlyweds well.
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1. Scheduling:
NEW
Finalize ALL measurements, deposits, and details no less than 30 days before your Big Day. (April, May, and June weddings NEW avoid prom chaos and finalize by March 15th.)
2. Style: It’s the groom’s day, too! Spare no expense to chose the style that looks and feels best on you. It’s OK for the dads and groomsmen to spend less and still look great
3. Pricing: What is included in the price you’re quoted? It’s an important question. “Add-ons, Add up”
4. Colors: When matching colors, fabric swatches are more reliable than your phone screen.
5. Pick Up: Renter beware: No one should leave the store without trying on his tuxedo. Avoid surprises on your wedding day.
6. Returns:
Fitz Tuxed
A nice touch to make life easy: Suggest the best man or a volunt eer return all tuxedos on the appropriate due date.
Fitz Tuxedoz & Suitz
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Since 1986
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Take Your Wedding Center Stage
We offer private dining and reception areas! Visit our website for more information and sample menus. Catering available on-site at Tam’s Backstage or on-location at your destination choice. On-Site Private Dining Room and Reception Area. Contact Lisa Head, Banquet Manager at
678-455-8310
Located in downtown Cumming on Ingram Ave. in the historic Cumming School building.
www.tamsbackstage.com 2016
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Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge hosts numerous destination weddings each year. We hope that you will join the many other couples who have shared their special day with us.
Amicalola Falls offers multiple settings, both indoor and outdoor for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner. Many of these will allow nature to be a part of your special day. Along with our full service catering and bar options, we have a variety of accommodations including a hotel, cabins, and camping sites for guests.
Amicalola Falls State Park also offers: • A Full Service Restaurant • Hiking Trails • Picnic Shelters
• 2 Unique Gift Shops • Interpretive Programming • Conference and Meeting Services
Located 15 miles from downtown Dawsonville, 19 miles west of Dahlonega, and 23 miles south of Ellijay, on Hwy. 52 in Dawson County, GA.
For additional information & Lodge reservations call: 706-265-8888 or 800-573-9656 16 Bride North Atlanta
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