Fall 2016 Bridal

Wedding Guide

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 8

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Fall 2016

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CAKES PHOTOGRAPHERS BEAUTY TANNING FITNESS VENUES RECEPTIONS

ACCOMODATIONS FINANCIAL INSURANCE SECURITY DECORATIONS RENTALS TUXES GOWNS/DRESSES

TRANSPORTATION TRAVEL MEMORIES HOME SOLUTIONS

A S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t To T H E F R E E B O R N C O U N T Y S H O P P E R O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 2

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 7

Pack an Emergency Wedding Day Kit Brides and grooms can use this checklist to compile a wedding day kit that meets their needs and customize with any specialty items.

t s i l k c e h c dryer edding kit

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o Hair n Curling iro g kit o in w e s i in oM s o Hair pin ins p ty e f a S o il holders ta ls all y il n p o r P e v o e umbers of n e n o h o Pain reli p nd o Names a vendors id c ta n A o wedding eye drops / n o s e ti g lu a o d s lens o Ban Mirror o Contact h s u r B o Comb o Nail file s e u r o Tiss Nail clippe o r te a w s o Bottled t o Tweezer ks withou in r s k d c a ip n s S to o o Straws ( r e ) d w o Po ing lipstick in u r nt o Deodora lack socks B o o Perfume k buttons c r la B o s k smudges o bac p g u s in r r r e a v E o (c o o Chalk d tape e id s ing dress) le d b d u e w n o o Do smears ads p y r a it n a over stick oS m e r t o p S o Gum o Mints s cling spray k c ic ti p ta th S o o o T loss o Dental F ps rsage pins o u C h c o u to r fo e o Makeup Scotch tap o h s o Extra ca hoes hange of s c o Scissors a r o s r e p p li S o e f pantyhos o s ir a p a o Extr as o Umbrell ay o Hairspr

Photo by Laurie Cook Photography

wedding budget The

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 6

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 3

Reconnect during wedding planning Wedding planning can be intense and often requires dedication and many hours of work. Coordinating a wedding often requires that couples make many different decisions and spend a considerable amount of time in the wedding-planning trenches. Couples expend so much energy planning their weddings that it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture - namely the relationship that is the basis for the marriage in the first place. But as easy as it can be to get lost in wedding planning, couples can use this time together to connect on a deeper level and learn to work cooperatively. · Divide and conquer. Separate wedding planning duties so that both of you feel you are contributing equally and no one person gets overly stressed out. Stress can lead to short tempers and arguments. · Establish a mutual budget. Even the healthiest couple argues over finances from time to time, but budgetary debates should not set a negative tone for wedding planning. Couples should discuss their potential budget before they even begin to plan

Donna Summer may have sung about making the most of life with her song "Last Dance" in the 1970s, but during a wedding reception most of the focus is on the first dance of the evening when the newlyweds take to the dance floor for the first time after tying the knot. Not only does the first dance give the couple an opportunity to shine on the dance floor, but it also can help set the tone for the reception to follow.

their weddings, and both partners should do their best to compromise while also understanding where the other person is coming from. · Schedule time for fun. Do not let wedding planning be all-consuming. Schedule days that allow you to enjoy yourselves together without having to think about or discuss your pending nuptials. This may include date nights that may have fallen by the wayside since getting engaged or periodic day trips to get away from it all. Explore your mutual hobbies or try something new. · Learn to laugh at the little things. Not every detail will go off without a hitch. How you react as a couple may influence how much you enjoy your wedding. Recognize that certain things will not go your way, but that unforeseen circumstances will not ruin your wedding day, no matter how unpleasant they may seem. Laugh at what cannot be changed and recognize that, in the long run, the details you think are major today may actually prove trivial when you look back on your wedding day in the years to come.

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A couple's first dance is significant. Traditionally, the first dance was performed to a slow waltz, but now the first dance is not governed by any rules. Many couples like to push boundaries or get creative with their first dances, and this can make the wedding even more memorable. In fact, some couples enroll in

dance classes or enlist the help of choreographers to ensure an epic opening dance number. Social media is full of videos of innovative couples performing spot-on dance routines from classic dance movies like "Dirty Dancing" or beautifully choreographed dances to popular first dance songs such as "At Last" or "Can't Help Falling in Love."

over the lyrics to make sure it's an appropriate wedding song.

the self-professed "worst dancer" can cut an impressive rug. · Work with a professional. If you desire something more intricate for the first dance and you have the budget to pay for some dance lessons, go for it. An instructor can take you through dance basics or help you choreograph a more polished piece.

Whether a couple wants to perform an intricate tango or simply wants to sway to the music on the first dance, here are some pointers to keep in mind.

· Tame those nerves. Practicing is a way to feel more confident in your steps, and that will help keep nerves at bay. Many couples experience a bit of stage fright. Just keep in mind that these friends and family are at the wedding to support you and not judge your dance moves. · Choose an uncomplicated routine. If dancing is not your strong suit, select an easy song that allows you to simply sway back and forth and move around minimally. Dancing takes practice, but with that practice even

· Choose a wedding song that has meaning. It may be fun to do a dance routine to DNCE's "Cake by the Ocean," but remember your first dance song will forever be linked to your life as a couple. Select a song that has deep meaning to you. Read

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First dances are memorable moments at wedding receptions. Guests can't wait to hear the song couples choose, and some couples exceed guests' expectations with their impressive moves.

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 4

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, October 25, 2016/Page 5

The Pros and Cons of Friday Weddings Some wedding venues may only host weddings on Saturdays, limiting the options available to couples looking to tie the knot on a Friday. Couples give a great deal of thought to the day they choose to get married. Many engaged couples are more attached to a particular season than a specific day, but some couples will consider any time of year to say "I do." Weather factors heavily into many couples' decisions regarding when to get married. According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, 39 percent of the nearly 18,000 U.S. brides and grooms surveyed chose to get married in the months of September, October or November, three months of the year when the weather tends to be both predictable and pleasant. But more and more couples are paying more mind to which day of the week to get married as well. While Saturday is widely considered the most traditional day to tie the knot, couples may want to consider walking down the aisle on Friday. Friday weddings can be just as enjoyable as Saturday weddings, but there are some pros and cons to choosing Friday over Saturday. Pros

Perhaps the biggest advantage to getting married on a Friday is the cost. Wedding venues tend to be most expensive on Saturday because that's when the majority of couples prefer to get married. While each venue is different, couples willing to get married on a Friday might find it far less expensive than getting married on a Saturday. Another advantage to getting married on a Friday is the opportunity to spend more time with guests. Couples who get married on a Saturday tend to be busy most of Friday and Saturday, and that leaves little time to spend with their guests, many of whom will return home first thing on Sunday morning. But by getting married on a Friday, couples then have Saturday to spend with their guests, and they can even plan a laid back gettogether like a backyard barbecue or Saturday brunch with guests who will likely stay in town through the weekend. Cons

Likely because they are so extraordinary, Friday weddings may be less popular with guests. Bridal party members may be obligated to take two days off from work in order to make it to the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night, and that might not sit well with

Did You Know? • According to The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding cost, excluding honeymoon costs, in the United States in 2015 was $32,641, an increase of more than $1,400 from the year prior. Couples did not figure to fare much better in Canada when tying the knot in 2015. According to the Annual Reader Survey from the Canada-based online wedding resource Weddingbells, couples expected to pay slightly less than $31,000 for their weddings. However, those estimates included honeymoon costs. While no information is available regarding the cost of weddings in

friends and family who do not have much vacation or personal time. Even guests who are not in the bridal party may need to take a day off from work that they otherwise can avoid taking if the wedding was scheduled for Saturday or even Sunday. Couples also should know that Friday weddings tend to begin later at night, as it's customary to start the ceremony in the evening so guests who have to work can still arrive on time. Couples inviting several elderly guests or children may find that these people miss the ceremony and/or reception because of the later start time. Brides- and grooms-to-be may find their options with regard to venues and entertainment are more limited when they choose to get married on a Friday instead of a Saturday. Some venues may only host weddings on Saturdays, while entertainers like deejays or bands who work day jobs during the week may not be available on Friday nights. Couples considering tying the knot on a Friday should consider a host of factors before making their final decision.

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specific Canadian cities, the 2015 Real Weddings Study found that couples looking to tie the knot in New York City's Manhattan borough can expect to pay well above the national average. Manhattan weddings cost couples an average of $82,299 in 2015. That's over $20,000 more than in Chicago, the next most expensive city to tie the knot in 2015. Couples who want a more affordable place to get married than the Big Apple may want to look into saying "I do" in central Illinois, where the average wedding cost was $21,818, more than $10,000 below the national average.

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• Though the idea that white wedding dresses symbolize virginity and purity is often cited as the reason behind wedding dresses being white, a 2014 exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London indicated that white wedding dresses were a symbol of wealth and had little, if anything, to do with virginity. The exhibit, titled "Wedding Dresses 1775-2014," noted that, during the 18th and 19th centuries, white wedding dresses indicated a family could afford to buy a dress the bride would wear only once. During that time, white dresses were especially

difficult to clean and that made it impractical for any but the wealthy to purchase dresses that would likely never be worn a second time. England's Queen Victoria, who married Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840, is widely credited with popularizing the white wedding dress. White dresses remain a traditional and popular choice today, though many brides opt for various shades of white if not an entirely different color.

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