Spring 2015 Bridal

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, February 24, 2015/Page 8

The Dress Dilemma Of all the elements involved in the planning of a wedding, the selection of the bridal gown can be one of the most time consuming. The search for the perfect dress usually gets underway soon after the engagement has been announced and continues for weeks and sometimes months afterward. If you have recently gotten engaged, here are some tips to help you with the search. START EARLY The sooner you start looking for a wedding dress, the better chance you will have of finding just the right one and the accessories to go with it. You will also have plenty of time for alterations. And should you

choose not to buy a gown off the rack and customer order one instead, you won’t have to worry about it not arriving in time. BE OPEN Don’t pick the dress. Let it pick you. Go ahead and page through all of those bridal magazines. The more you know about what’s out there, the better idea you’ll have of what you want. But don’t limit your shopping to any one style, color or designer. Just because a particular style of dress looks good on the page does not mean it will look good on you at the store. You want a gown that not only appeals to your tastes but flatters your figure. BRING A GUIDE

Find a trusted friend or family member willing to go shopping with you and help you decide. You need someone who can give you an honest opinion of each dress you try on, good or bad. Choose someone who will tell you what they think, not what you want to hear. SHOP AROUND Take several days to check out the selection and try on as many styles as possible. Ask if you can take photos of the gowns that really interest you. If not, bring a notebook so that you can jot down the name of the gowns you like best and where to find them. Don’t trust your memory to keep track of what you like and where to find it.

KEEP AT IT Continue your search until you find the perfect gown, and when you do, stop! Purchase the dress right then and there and turn your attention to the other tasks on your to-do list. Don’t continue to shop on the off chance you will find something better. Chances are you won’t, and when you return to the store to purchase the dress of your dreams, someone else may have already beat you to it. Shopping for a gown can take a lot of time. While some brides come upon the dress of their dreams within the first few hours of shopping, most don’t. Prepare for the task to take a while and enjoy!

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A Special Supplement To THE FREEBORN CO. SHOPPER February 24, 2015

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, February 24, 2015/Page 2

Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, February 24, 2015/Page 7

Let The Fun Begin!

Wedding Vibes You just got engaged, and the planning is already underway. While date, time and location might be first on the list, eventually you will make your way to the music. You'll need music throughout your wedding, and if you would like, you can leave everything up to the professional of your choice. You can hire a band or DJ and request they line up music for the entire event, or you can play a more pivotal role. Either way, here are some factors to consider. SETTING Where are you getting married? In a church? At a park? On the beach? Find out if there are any restrictions in place at the venue regarding music. Some venues may not permit live music, for example, due to space constraints or power supply limitations. If

there are no restrictions in place, consider the tone of the venue. Religious settings may call for more traditional music styles, whereas outdoor settings may allow for a wider variety of music styles. Keep in mind that sound will carry outside and extra care may have to be taken to ensure no noise ordinances are broken. Finally, check with your officiant. They might also have some restrictions in place regarding music. PREFERENCE What styles of music do you prefer? Live or recorded? Vocals or instrumental? Classical or jazz? Some couples opt for a DJ to spin tunes of their choosing, while others hire a band. Some do a combo, bringing in a musician for the ceremony and a DJ for the reception. It really is up to you, but keep

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in mind that you will have guests at your wedding and their tastes in music may differ vastly. If possible, try to have a wide range of music played at your reception to suit all tastes, especially if you have a dance floor. THEME Do you have a wedding theme? If so, you will want music that suits it. While you might like heavy rock, it may not work for your small country wedding. A violinist, on the other hand, might do a great job. BUDGET Cost is always a concern. How much can you afford to spend on music? Live music generally costs more than hiring a DJ, unless you have your sights set on a celebrity DJ. If

you would like to have live music but don't have a big budget, you might want to find a compromise. Perhaps you could have a harpist at your wedding ceremony and a DJ at your reception. If you know a friend or relative who is a talented musician, perhaps you could ask them to play at your wedding for a reduced fee or in lieu of a wedding gift. Whatever direction you take with the music for your wedding, make sure you do your homework. Get referrals for potential hires and take the time to check them out. Ask to see a performance and discuss the playlist in great depth. Select talented, reputable professionals who will listen to you and work with you to set the right tone for your big day.

Receptions used to be the place where guests mingled among food and friends and danced the night away before seeing the bride and groom off on their honeymoon. While great for guests who liked to dance, receptions did not offer guests who would rather not dance much to do other than to sit around and chat. If you were seated next to someone you knew, great. If not, you better prepare for a lot of small talk. But, now things are changing. Today many brides and grooms offer a variety of activities in addition to dancing to bring guests together and keep The

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them entertained. Couples are recognizing that guests may not know each other and are incorporating ice breakers into their receptions. These can run the gamut from mad libs to trivia quizzes to story time. Instead of making small talk about the flower arrangements, for example, guests can get to know each other as they reflect on an episode in their life in the year the penny next to their plate was made. Once the ice is broken, couples can keep the fun going with games that everyone can play. Bingo, garter relays, musical chairs, scavenger hunts and trivia quiz-

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While some couples opt for the traditional reception dinner and dancing, others are going for a more laidback atmosphere, providing a wide range of activities for guests to take part in. The choice is yours. You can throw in some ice breakers amid dinner and dancing, or you can go all out and provide games and activities from beginning to end. Consider the needs of your guests and plan accordingly.

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In addition to helping guests get to know each other through group activities, couples are also recognizing the need for individual activities other than dancing. They are setting up tables for guests to play cards and board games and TVs and game consoles for guests to play video games. They are bringing out the basketballs, lawn darts and croquet sets for guests who like to be outdoors. With more to do, many guests are staying longer, making all of the time and money spent in planning the

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Day-Of Wedding Kit Essentials

Wedding Day Countdown Twelve to Eighteen Months ❏ Set the date ❏ Determine wedding budget ❏ Select wedding site ❏ Select officiant(s) ❏ Select & reserve a reception site ❏ Choose a caterer ❏ Select ceremony musicians ❏ Select reception entertainment ❏ Choose attendants ❏ Choose ushers and helpers ❏ Select photographer ❏ Select videographer ❏ Choose a wedding consultant Six to Twelve Months ❏ Choose wedding style and color scheme ❏ Decide on the size of the wedding ❏ Determine guest list ❏ Choose a florist ❏ Order your wedding dress ❏ Select & order bridesmaid dresses ❏ Confirm delivery date for dresses ❏ Update your passports, if needed ❏ Plan rehearsal/grooms

Plan Your Budget After you have talked about your plans with your families, create a tentative budget using a budget worksheet. List what you expect to pay for each item. Record price quotes there also. As you fill out this sheet, it becomes a complete financial picture of your expenses. Working carefully with a wedding timetable allows you to get the best values, best dates and best services.

dinner with fiance & all parent Three to Six Months ❏ Purchase gifts for attendants & fiance ❏ Select men’s formal wear ❏ Choose reception decorations ❏ Reserve rented items ❏ Order invitations & announcements ❏ Select & order the wedding cake ❏ Purchase wedding bands ❏ Select a transportation service ❏ Plan the honeymoon, make reservations ❏ Register with bridal registries ❏ Arrange out-of-town guest accommodations ❏ Buy your trousseau ❏ Have mothers buy dresses ❏ Make wedding day salon appointment ❏ Have a complete physical exam One to Three Months ❏ Select wedding reception music ❏ Have final dressing fittings

❏ Address wedding invitations ❏ Mail wedding invitations 4 to 6 weeks, no later than 3 weeks ❏ Get marriage license ❏ Confirm appointments & arrangements ❏ Confirm honeymoon arrangements ❏ Prepare and send newspaper announcement ❏ Make arrangements for parking, traffic Two Weeks ❏ Confirm details with photographer and videographer ❏ Pick up wedding rings (if engraved) ❏ Organize your trousseau and pack ❏ Purchase travelers checks ❏ Plan a seating arrangement for reception One Week ❏ Talk with caterer, give final guest count ❏ Have groom’s formal wear fitting ❏ Have groomsmen try on

and pick up their formal wear ❏ Confirm duties and time schedule with attendants and helpers ❏ Firm up any last minute arrangements for music, flowers, cake Your Wedding Day ❏ Bring your wedding guide for important names & phone numbers ❏ Stay calm and enjoy, this is your wedding day!

Aspirin (or pain reliever of choice) Band-Aids Bottle of water Chalk (to cover up smudges on wedding dress) Clear nail polish (for stocking runs) Corsage pins Dental floss/toothpicks Eye drops Extra earring backs Extra panty hose Hair pins/ponytail holder Hand towelettes Hem tape Matches Mini sewing kit Safety pins

Scotch tape Sedatives (don't ask!) Small folding scissors Smelling salts (while we don't expect anyone to faint, it has been known to happen) Spot remover Static-cling spray Straws (so the bride can stay hydrated without messing up her lipstick) Tissues Tweezers Matron or maid of honor essentials for the bride: Breath mints/spray Cellular phone Comb/brush

Cash (because you never know) Hair spray Linen handkerchief Makeup (for touch-ups) Mirror Nail file Perfume Tampons/sanitary napkins Optional Items: Granola bars or other easy-to-carry snacks, Sunblock, Krazy Glue (for nail fixes, shoe heels, decorations, even jewels)

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper/Tuesday, February 24, 2015/Page 5

Sign Here, Please Signing the wedding guestbook has long been a tradition. In the past, guests signed the book after the ceremony, acting as witnesses. Today, guests are signing the book before the ceremony, providing a record of their attendance and offering their good wishes to the couple. While guestbooks continue to be popular, many couples are breaking out of the box and having guests sign something different.

wishes inside it. They can set up a recipe box and have guests tuck a recipe, along with their good wishes, inside it. They can set out some self-addressed, prepaid postcards and have guests mail the cards to them on their honeymoon. Fabric can easily be signed and makes a wonderful wedding guestbook alternative. All guests need are some fabric pens and a blanket, pillow, quilt or quilt squares to sign. T-shirts are another idea. Couples can set out a few inexpensive T-shirts for guests to sign.

Almost anything can serve as a wedding guestbook, as long as guests can sign it. Couples can set up a memory jar in lieu of a guestbook and have guests tuck good

Furniture is another great guestbook alternative. Almost anything will work for the project from benches to chairs to tables. Guests could sign an old steamer trunk, for example, and the couple could finish it by decoupaging it with postcards from their honeymoon travels. When selecting a piece of furniture to serve as the guestbook, couples need to make sure there is plenty of space for guests to sign it. Couples having a themed wedding will want to look for something that fits within the theme. Seashells, for example, work well for beach weddings. Guests can turn

the shells over, sign them and slide them into a wicker basket or a shallow bowl. Couples end up with a great accessory for their home and a memento of their wedding.

drop by a local pottery shop and arrange for a large platter, bowl or a set of coffee mugs for guests to sign. When the wedding is over, couples could return to the pottery shop to have the pieces fired.

Couples who are sports fans might want to look into having a jersey, pennant or some sort of equipment signed. Who could resist smiling during a game of bowling when using a ball, shoes and bag signed by the guests who attended their wedding?

These are just some ideas for guestbook alternatives. There are many others from wine bottles to rocking chairs. Whether you choose to go the traditional or alternative route, you will have a nice memento of your big day and all of the people who took time out of their busy lives to wish you well.

Ceramics are another idea. Couples could

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7 Tips for a Great Honeymoon A couple's honeymoon is their first real chance to relax and unwind after the hustle and bustle of wedding planning. Couples who want to make sure their first getaway as husband and wife goes off without a hitch might want to heed the following advice. 1. Start saving early. Honeymoons are expensive, so to afford the vacation of your dreams it's wise to begin saving for the honeymoon as early as possible. It may be well worth it to compromise and make sacrifices in other areas to ensure you have enough funds for your dream honeymoon getaway. Do not expect cash gifts at your wedding to pay for your trip. If you do, you may be sorely disappointed when the time comes to take off. 2. Read online reviews. Online reviews can paint an accurate picture of a potential honeymoon destination. Look at vacationer-supplied photographs to see how the accommodations match up to the resort's own marketing materials. You don't want too many surprises, such as service fees, dirty rooms or a lack of beach amenities, to ruin your trip. 3. Plan at least one exciting outing. While on your honeymoon, be sure to go on at least one adventure. Try an

activity you have never done before, such as snorkeling, traveling a zip line or swimming with stingrays. 4. Pack early. After a long wedding day and reception spent dancing into the wee hours of the morning, you probably do not want to spend time packing. Pack your suitcases and travel essentials in advance of your wedding day so you have more time to sleep in before you depart for the airport. Also, remember not to over-pack. You want to have room for the souvenirs you purchase along the way. 5. Enjoy your surroundings. Put down the smartphone or tablet enough to truly enjoy your surroundings. A honeymoon is an opportunity to relax, and that may not be possible if you're tied to your devices. Friends at home can wait for your status updates and wedding pictures. 6. Splurge on something expensive. Whether it's an ultra-fancy dinner or an exotic souvenir, indulge. 7. Leave your itinerary open. After scores of wedding appointments and watching the clock, it's nice to fly by the seat of your pants.