Wedding Planner 2011 by Gannett Wisconsin Media

wedding

2011

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and the beginning of ever after.

2011 W eddi ng Planner

Create your storybook wedding in Kohler, Wisconsin.

AmericanClub.com 800.344.2838 ext. 890

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Let Us Make Your Day Beautiful...

Congratulations! You and the person of your dreams are embarking on a new life together, and we couldn’t be happier for you. It’s time to create a day that you and your loved ones will never forget.

Specializing in weddings

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Your wedding is about you, which is why we hope our 2011 Wedding Planner will inspire you with ideas for showcasing your personal style and coming in under budget - no sacrifices necessary.

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From the photographer to the cake, we give you expert advice on how to pull off a perfect wedding no matter what your constraints. For the budget-conscious, we’ve peppered in “savings tips” to keep creativity up and costs down. Dive in. Heed some of our tips and have a fabulous wedding!

4-8 9-10 12-13 14-15 16-17 18 21-22

Do-it-yourself weddings The photographer The budget planner The hard decisions The cake The look The planning

2011 Wedding Planner is published by The Sheboygan Press. Contents of the section are for Sheboygan Press. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of The Sheboygan Press. For information, contact Dave Liebelt at 920-453-5120 or email dliebelt@sheboygan.gannett.com.

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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I do

(and I’ll do it myself): DIY weddings abound

2011 W eddi ng Planner

by DORIE TURNER | Associated Press Writer

After the I dos and ‘til death do us parts, they’re the two little words every bride waits to hear on her wedding day: “How creative!” At least, that’s what I wanted to hear after I got married last September before 90 guests in an outdoor ceremony at an antebellum mansion in downtown Memphis. Artsy to the core, I longed to create the perfect handmade wedding, with clever details that my guests wouldn’t see anywhere else. I wanted to highlight my personal style and undying love for being crafty and gluing

stuff together. And with a budget of $10,000, I wanted to save a little cash. Already an avid shopper at the online artists marketplace Etsy.com, I knew when my beau, John, proposed that it was the first place to start looking for unique items, and to get ideas for what I could make myself. Etsy sales have risen quickly since it began in 2005, reaching $180 million last year thanks in part to a burgeoning wedding section with thousands of handmade wares, said spokesman Adam Brown. Brides can peruse everything from typewriter-key cufflinks to a personalized ring-bearer pillow. .... continued on page 6

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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6 continued from page 4 ... Wedding blogs such as 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty and Etsy Wedding also promote handmade wedding fare and artsy style. Online bridal message boards light up with suggestions when brides-to-be ask about how to make their own table numbers, or craft lanterns out of baby food jars and tea light candles. Do-it-yourself wedding decorations and favors have become so popular that TheKnot. com and Martha Stewart Weddings - the arbiters in all things bridal - now have sections dedicated to brides looking to break out the hot-glue gun. “In generations past, weddings were very similar, but now people want to put their own unique spin on their wedding,” said Rebecca Dolgin, executive editor of TheKnot.com. “They want it to be different from someone else’s, and these DIY details really make that happen.”

2011 W eddi ng Planner

Here’s how I crafted my own handmade wedding: • I hired Etsy artists to create boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party and our families - something more permanent (and cheaper) than flowers that they could take home with them. The boutonnieres were roses made from folded roadmaps, and the corsages were flowers created from brown and green organza and brown pearls. (Corsages, $15 apiece. Boutonnieres, $8 apiece.) • I asked a friend who is a graphic artist to design our program based on a wedding invitation I had found online. It read like a story rather than the traditional order of ceremony, and it drew more comments than any other item at our wedding. (“Here’s how it’s going to go:...” the program read near the top.) We printed the programs at home on recycled card stock and used a paper cutter from a craft store to round off the edges. • After searching for nearly three months for the perfect cake topper, I realized I’d have to spend more than $100 and probably still wouldn’t get exactly what I wanted. So, I

turned a pair of bird-shaped salt and pepper shakers into a little bride and groom and mounted them on an antique letterpress stamp with the word “September.” I used polymer clay to create the groom’s top hat and shoes, and I recycled tulle and pearls from my mom’s wedding dress to decorate the bride bird. (About $25 total.) • Instead of a photo slideshow during the reception, we hung photos on long pieces of twine with clothes pins to create a more homey feel. I also made a sign that said “LOVE” to hang in the middle, using a fancy font I found for free online and flower-shaped

cardboard cutouts. • We decided to print our invitations and save-the-date cards at home, so we had a designer from PrintablePress.com create them and send us the PDF. We gussied up the envelopes with tree and bird stamps from Etsy and Target. ($175 for the design, $50 for paper supplies and $45 for stamps.) • I wanted our guests to fill out notes of advice to us, so I used a set of typewriterstyle stamps to make little note cards from our leftover card stock saying things like .... continued on page 8

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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continued from page 7 ... “wishes” and “thoughts” and “blessings” at the top.

2011 W eddi ng Planner

• John, a musician by hobby, wrote and recorded two processionals, for the wedding party and for me, on the cello. No need to hire a string quartet. Not everything that can be DIY at a wedding should be, though. There are some things best left to the experts. Dolgin recommends that brides - even the most frugal ones - hire people to take care of the food, cakes and photos. No matter how good a baker she is or how talented with a camera, the bride has too much to worry about on her wedding day (and the week leading up to it) to handle those items herself. In the end, many guests at my wedding gave me the best compliment possible with these simple words: “This wedding is just so you!” And it absolutely was. ●

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• Instead of a traditional guest book, we had a photo booth where guests could don pirate hats, sunglasses and feather boas. Guests got to keep one copy, and the other they glued into our guest book, where they could write notes. (About $1,400 for six hours of booth rental, which includes an attendant, unlimited photos, two sets of prints, a scrapbook and a digital CD of every photo taken. We provided the basket of costume pieces ourselves to save $400.)

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Capturing {

the photog rapher

}

your big day

by JULIA HAYS | Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)

As Joshua Stern of JS Photography in Cherry Hill, N.Y. puts it, “Once the day’s over, the music stops, the food has been eaten, what you’re left with to cherish is those photographs.” Couples can avoid scrambling searches and

Finding the photographer

Just like venues get booked, photographers have busy schedules as well, which can fluctuate with the seasons. Experts say October and May are the most popular months for weddings andrecommend finding a photographer once the ceremony and venue locations are booked, approximately nine months to a year in advance.

The photographer will not only be with you during the eight to nine hours of your preparation, ceremony and reception: The moments his or her camera captures will last a lifetime.

complications by approaching the task of finding a photographer with a plan in mind and a vision of what they’re seeking.

Knowing the demands of a desired photographer are important as well. As Bill Kovnat of K & K Photography in Cherry Hill points out, if a region has many bar and .... continued on page 10

2011 W eddi ng Planner

To couples out there preparing for their big day, the most important person to find after you choose a mate can be the wedding photographer.

10 continued from page 9 ... bat mitzvahs booked two to three years in advance, it’s important to book a desired date as soon as possible.

Can couples trust referrals?

Though the age of the Internet has helped couples do much of their own research, referrals from family and friends continue to be one way many photographers generate business. Photographers recommend referrals as well as research. Most say it’s good to get recommendations from clients who have worked with the photographer, seen the results and knew their attitude on the big day.

Style and personality

Most professional photographers have the talent, but it’s important for couples to also find one with similar taste. “Look to see if the style is more traditional, posed shots, or a photojournalistic style, like candids in a newspaper where the photographer is trying to tell the story of the event,” said Stern.

Much like a wedding guest or member of the bridal party, the photographer will spend hours with the couple, and should mesh with them.

Photographers are booked in advance to spend a day with a couple and may stick around to retouch proofs and complete albums. One suggestion Kovnat offers is booking an engagement photography session with a photographer to gauge comfort levels with the individual and to see their work style.

Important questions

The three Ps of booking a photographer for your wedding are prices, packages and proofs. Studying a package is important to know what services are included and which ones require additional costs. Things like retouching, artistic enhancements, online galleries, working overtime, turn-around time and receiving the photos’ negatives vary with each photographer. Album styles like traditional hardcover albums, story book albums or coffee table books can be priced differently, as can gallery-wrapped canvas prints. Kovnat says it’s important to sit down with a photographer to brainstorm ideas, discuss locations and times and to develop a script and multiple plans to make sure that on your big day the shutter goes off without a hitch. ●

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

Looking through albums can tell a couple how a photographer works, and it’s important to ask who will be shooting the event. Some places have multiple photographers.

“Following the event, we’re together anywhere from six months to a year,” says Kovnat.

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the budget

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Here is a basic breakdown of what you can expect to spend your wedding budget on. A good tip, and to avoid stress, allot about 5% of your total budget for a “just-in-case” fund.

Item

Wedding Ceremony Location Fee Officiant Fee / Donation Accessories (rings pillow, basket, unity candle, etc.) Organist, Vocalist Fees Miscellaneous Costs SUBTOTAL

Wedding Reception Location Rental Tables / Chairs Silverware / Cups Wedding Favors and Gifts Food / Caterer Bartender Beverages (cocktail hour) Disc Jockey (DJ) Live Band and/or Musicians Cake Cake Knife and Server Miscellaneous Costs

2011 W eddi ng Planner

SUBTOTAL

Attire Bride’s Ring Groom’s Ring Wedding Dress Headpiece / Veil Bride’s Accessories (shoes, gloves, jewelry, etc.) Hair, Makeup and Nails Groom’s Tuxedo or Suit Groom’s Accessories (shoes, tie, cufflinks, etc.) Miscellaneous Costs SUBTOTAL

Photo & Video Engagement Photos Photographer’s Fee Videographer’s Fee Miscellaneous Costs SUBTOTAL

estimated cost

actual cost

who pays?

Item

estimated cost

actual cost

who pays?

Flowers & Decorations Bride’s Bouquet Bridesmaid’s Bouquets Groomsmen’s Boutonnieres Ceremony Flower Decorations Reception Flower Decorations & Centerpieces Miscellaneous Costs (flowers for parents, grandparents, ushers, etc.) SUBTOTAL

Stationary Wedding Invitations Reply Cards Postage Reception Seating Cards Miscellaneous Costs (thank you notes, save the date cards, etc.) SUBTOTAL

Transportation Car Rental (Limo) Miscellaneous Costs SUBTOTAL

Honeymoon

Miscellaneous Costs SUBTOTAL

Marriage License Wedding Planner Fees Gifts for Attendants Bride’s Gift to Groom Groom’s Gift to Bride SUBTOTAL

TOTAL (for entire wedding)

Other Wedding Expenses

2011 W eddi ng Planner

Wedding Night Accommodations Travel Costs Honeymoon Accommodations Meals Spending Money Passport

QA & {

the decisions

}

with the Emily Post institute about wedding etiquette

BY ELIZABETH WILLIS | The Battle Creek Enquirer

Of course, something’s bound to go wrong the day of your wedding. The cake your aunt made arrives in a mushy pool. The microphone screeches as your best friend does the reading. The officiate loses your vows and tries to “wing it” from memory. Instead of worrying about the things that might happen, take the time now to avoid the awkward moments you can expect will happen.

2011 W eddi ng Planner

To help you through some of those tough decisions, we’ve enlisted the help of Emily Post, whose legacy of etiquette and manners live on in her great-great-granddaughter, Anna Post, and The Emily Post Institute. Anna Post has authored multiple books including, “Do I Have to Wear White,” published earlier this year, and answered some of the most common questions about wedding faux pas. Q: How do you trim the guest list? Anna: If the guest list is too large you have one of two choices: You can extend your budget or

you can limit your guest list. Ask yourself, ‘Which is more important, keeping to this vision of “my day” or sticking to our budget?’ If money is not negotiable, which is very common these days, look at how the list is divided. You might let the bride and groom chose 50 percent, and their parents the other half. If there are stepparents involved, the pie might be sliced even further. It’s nicer if you can do that beforehand. Q: How do you approach guests that haven’t sent an RSVP? Anna: Call them up and ask. Direct is best, I think, but a kind of direct that doesn’t reveal that they are annoying the pants off you. Try enlisting close friends and family, maybe bridesmaids if they are willing, to help. Plan to make those calls about one week before you really need your final guest list. Q: Is it OK to send first and second rounds of invitations? Anna: I think it’s often more trouble that it’s worth, not just in the form of potential hurt

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15 feelings. Send them all at once and expect that about 10 percent will not be able to attend. Q: How do you ask for cash instead of gifts, without sounding greedy? Anna: It’s not wrong to ask for it. It’s wrong to demand it. The choice of gift is always up to the person buying it. That said, most people would like to know what’s really useful to you. If that happens to be cash, traditionally information about your registry was given by word of mouth through close family. If you can paint a picture for your guests and maybe not use the word “cash,” tell them that their contribution will help pay for the wedding, or is going toward a down payment on a house or a kitchen remodel so they can see it’s going toward your new lives together. Q: Is it OK to get sponsors for your wedding or to ask guests to pay to attend? Anna: Absolutely not OK. The one exception is if you made a private arrangement with a photographer or a vendor to use your photos or whatever for their promotional purposes. It’s definitely not OK to put it on the invitation. If money is a concern, cut back on what you are offering. You might not have a full bar, but just champagne. I would also caution against having a cash bar. You’re essentially passing the cost onto your guests who are already paying to travel to your wedding and purchasing gifts.

Q: What do you do if someone shows up uninvited? Anna: This is one of the hardest because to turn someone away at the door is very difficult. At this point they’ve put you in a very tough spot. I think the gracious thing is to make room at a table. Follow up later and say, ’I appreciate you came, but it made if very difficult for me.’ Q: How does the couple broach the question, ’Who’s going to pay for this?’ Anna: It’s common today to have any type of financial mix, especially when family members might be divorced. If the bride and groom know that they need help, it’s best to have these conversations early on. Try to have a loose idea of how large or small the wedding could be and have some possible locations in mind. These conversations can be had in person or over the phone. Q: Who should walk the bride down the aisle if there’s more than one dad in the picture? Anna: This is a tradition that has changed in a beautiful and appropriate way. Anyone can do this now. Her biological dad might not fit in her life anymore. Or it might be that her stepfather walks her down the aisle and her biological dad gets the first dance. A lovely way to show that today, it’s not just a dad giving his daughter away, is to have all the families and children stand up and say ’we do.’ ●

WI-500122022 WI-5001220229 29

2011 W eddi ng Planner

Q: If someone is single, are you obligated to include ‘plus-one’ on the invitation? Anna: It’s OK to say no, so long as this person is not engaged, married, life partnered or living together with a significant other. They are

a package deal at that point. If someone asks for an exception, it’s best if you be consistent and say no, but end on a high note of ’I hope you understand. I hope you can come.’

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the ca ke

}

Sweet success Finding

with the

wedding cake

2011 W eddi ng Planner

BY JOJO SANTO TOMAS Pacific Daily News (Agana, GUAM)

If you are planning to take the aisle waltz and need to choose a cake, there are a few things to keep in mind... Use the advance time to plan out the cake itself, from design to color theme to flavor. Experienced cake decorators will have a portfolio of cakes they’ve done and some will post them online. If it’s your first time dealing with the cake maker, don’t hesitate to ask for references. And because cakes are supposed to taste good as well as look good, choose your flavors wisely. Fruit- and cream-filled cakes might not do well in warm weather, so ask for recommendations. Here’s a list of things to keep in mind when it comes to your cake: Cake toppers/ornaments. When picking an ornament or cake topper, consider the dimension and weight. Choices include “Bride

& Groom” ornaments or a floral pieces that matches your wedding colors. New techniques and molds allow for many types of edible ornaments, so check with your decorator. Otherwise, all ornaments, including flowers, should be removed from the cake before cutting. Fresh flowers as a cake top. When using fresh flowers, make sure they are arranged with picks or containers and not directly on the cake. Most fresh flowers and greenery are treated with pesticides, so be very careful. Cake table. Have a sturdy table ready upon delivery of the cake. The cake table should be covered and decorated before the cake is placed on top. Placement of the table is usually around the bridal head table. Make sure the wall background around the cake table is clear of fire extinguishers, restroom signs,

etc. Make sure there is a wall plug nearby if you are planning on using something electric such as a fountain. Cost. The design, flavor, type of frosting, the number of layers and the difficulty in constructing your dream wedding cake all add up. Decide on a cake budget before placing your order. You may have to make a deposit to confirm your order. Get a receipt with a description of the cake. Also, final payments vary. Two weeks prior to your wedding date is reasonable for a simple cake.

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Delivery. Make sure you ask if your cake decorator can deliver the cake and if there is an additional charge for delivery. Give directions to the reception and time for delivery. Also include a contact person to receive the cake. Cancellations. Make sure you understand the terms of the contract for cancellations. A percentage of most deposits are non-refundable. Business license and sanitation permits. Make sure your cake decorator is licensed and has a sanitation permit. ●

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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the look

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Bridal makeup tips

for the big day By WENDY CAMPBELL | (Pensacola, Fla.) News Journal The wedding day is one that calls for perfection. The bride must look her best. A photographer will capture her every move, so she wants to make sure her makeup is flawless.

2011 W eddi ng Planner

No matter your experience, you are wondering whether to count on yourself for the big day or look elsewhere for help. There is one thing to keep in mind — your wedding day is not the day for experimenting. “The wedding day is a big day for the bride and groom, but more so for the bride, in most cases,” said Sheryl Schwartz, image specialist with Studio Twenty-8 in Pensacola, Fla.. “A bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day. She wants to be wearing the perfect dress, the perfect shoes, and she wants her makeup to be flawless.” Should your dream wedding makeup be delicate or extravagant? Remember that wedding makeup is aimed at making you more beautiful, not changing you. If you normally don’t wear makeup or your everyday makeup is very delicate, this is not the day for extravagance. That wouldn’t be you, and friends and family would notice this fact. The same goes if you are usually seen wearing a lot of makeup. Don’t choose your wedding day to go delicate. Wedding makeup should be delicate, radiant and fresh. The colors depend on the appearance of the bride, her skin type. Makeup should also blend with the dress and accessories of the bride.

Dark lipstick usually isn’t a good choice because it tends to make people look older, especially if the lipstick is brown or purple. Don’t be afraid of a “controlled glow.” You will look young and fresh. If you don’t like strong makeup, use a natural or mineral kind. You will still get the color you need but without the heavy feel on your face. Foundation is the key. Choose a good color for your skin, and work from there.

The hair is next

“Doing someone’s hair for a wedding is something very special,” said Amy Johns, hair stylist with Studio Twenty-8. “This is such an important day. A bride wants her hair to look perfect for the wedding day. She wants to look great for the wedding photos.” Hairstyles vary from person to person. “A bride that has long hair most of the time will want it pulled up and fixed in a special way for her wedding,” Johns said. “Sometimes she will choose to let it all hang down, but especially for the more formal weddings, up is always a great choice for the hairstyle. You can leave some of the hair down and then add some ringlet curls if the hair is straight. And if the hair is already curly, pull some up and let some curl hang down. Sometimes people with short hair choose to add hair extensions so they have longer hair for the big day.” Source: www.wedding.theknot.com ●

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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{

the planning

}

Countdown

to your wedding day Asbury Park (N.J.) Press

12 months before

If you haven’t done it already, this is a good time to announce your engagement and introduce your respective families. Since most reception halls and churches have busy wedding schedules, it is also important to book your wedding location as early as possible, preferably at least a year in advance of your wedding day. It’s also a good idea to start putting together a guest list.

6 to 9 months

This is the time when you want to start booking some services, such as a florist, caterer, a DJ/band, and a photographer. However, some of the more .... continued on page 22

2011 W eddi ng Planner

To help you get a better understanding of how to plan a wedding and when you should be making certain decisions, here’s a timeframe you can follow that should ensure that your wedding goes off as smoothly as possible.

22 continued from page 21 ... experienced DJs and bands as well as photographers might have their schedules booked a year in advance, so this might be something you’ll want to consider doing shortly after you get engaged and choose a date. This is also a good time to order gowns for both the bride and bridesmaids, as some manufacturers require a few months to ship to bridal shops. You might want to ask someone such as your priest or rabbi to be the officiant of your wedding. You will likely save money, too, if you book your honeymoon around this time.

4 to 5 months

This is a good time to decide on wedding invitations. Also, now is ideal to start hunting for a wedding cake by sampling a number of different bakeries and their style of cakes before ultimately making a decision. Just to be sure, confirm that all of the bridesmaids have ordered their gowns and start looking for a tuxedo for the groom as well as the groomsmen. If you haven’t done so already, purchase your wedding rings.

2011 W eddi ng Planner

2 to 3 months

Finalize your guest list and mail out your invitations. If your guest list includes a considerable amount of people who are spread out geographically, mail the invitations as close to 12 weeks in advance as possible. This is also a good time to finalize your menu choices. Also, since it is tradition to provide gifts for those in the wedding party as well as the parents of the bride and groom, this is a good time to decide on and purchase those gifts. Just to be safe, confirm that all groomsmen have ordered their

tuxedos and finalize all transportation, both to and from the wedding and to the airport for your honeymoon.

1 to 2 months

Schedule the first bridal-gown fitting. Also finalize the readings you’d prefer during the ceremony and mail them out to anyone who has agreed to do a reading.

3 to 4 weeks

Confirm your honeymoon arrangements and see if your wedding rings are ready. This is also when you should get your marriage license and check the guest list to see who has and hasn’t RSVP’d. For those who have yet to RSVP, you might want to contact them so you can get a closer idea of what the head count will be. You should also prepare and order your wedding program around this time.

1 to 2 weeks

Get a final attendance count and submit it to the caterer as soon as you know of it, while also providing a final seating chart. Pick up the wedding gown and tuxedo. Make sure the wedding party picks up their attire. Also, finalize your vows and confirm all wedding-day details such as transportation, photo schedules, and addresses. Pack for your honeymoon.

The day before

This is mainly when you rehearse for the ceremony and make any final confirmations you might have to make. Also, make sure to get some sleep so you’ll look good in all of your wedding-day photos. ●

Racer’s Hall, LLC

Our facility offers many opportunities to accommodate your wedding. Our hall features an attached deck for outdoor enjoyment as well as a beautiful yard with a playground area for children. We can seat up to 200 people. The bathrooms are newly remodeled and wheel chair accessible. Visit our website for more pictures and details. Call us soon, as our Saturdays during the summer of 2011 are booking quickly. WI-5001222814

W4408 Cty Rd C Plymouth 920-892-6900 Visit us on the web at

www.racershall.com

What more could you ask for to complete your

Perfect Day •E Elegant legant W Wedding edding Receptions

• Rehearsal Dinners • Showers • Special Occasions • Professional Catering by J Enterprises

2519 S. Business Dr. • Sheboygan, WI 920.458.1352 www.lakeshorelanes.com

2011 W eddi ng Planner

• Up to 300 guests

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2011 W eddi ng Planner

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