2017 osage bridal tab

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C1

Mitchell County Press-News

Volume 152 | Number 8 | February 22, 2017

A Souvenir Bridal Memories Section

C2 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

STEVEN THOMPSON PHOTOS, THE PRESS-NEWS‌

Doris and Don Adams, Riceville, celebrated 70 years of marriage on January 11, 2017. They were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Haven.

Riceville couple’s love endures

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C3

Mitchell County Press-News

STEVEN THOMPSON

THE PRESS-NEWS‌

‌RICEVILLE — Don and Doris (Moore) Adams celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, with their children, at their home in Riceville Jan. 11, 2017, which included a special Mass being said by Father Murphy.

Today, Don and Doris’s family has grown to include four living and one deceased child, 16 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild.

Where did the Adams clan begin?

Born into a family of four brothers and four sisters, Don’s family moved from Wisconsin to a farm north of McIntire, when he was 3 years old.

He attended Meyer School through eighth grade in 1938. From 1938 to 1941, he farmed at home and then worked for a neighbor.

In spring 1943, Don joined the Army’s infantry during the height of World War II. He spent time in England prior to become a replacement troop in Normandy, France, soon after the initial invasion.

Don went on to fight in both France and Germany and was in Germany when the war ended.

Doris also came from a large family. Her family moved from Brandon to the Riceville area when she was a sophomore.

She graduated from Riceville High School in 1945. After graduation, she worked as a secretary for the Riceville superintendent.

The couple met in a unique way.

While home on furlough, Don went to Riceville to visit a former friend and her family, who had previously lived around McIntire.

“An old neighbor had moved to Riceville and Don came to visit that girl.

She showed him a picture of me,” Doris said. “I was actually attending a

movie that night and Don’s friend’s brother came and got me out of the movie. It was pretty well love at first sight.”

“After we first met, I went back to finish my time in the service and I didn’t hear from her for over a year,” Don said. “I only saw her that one night.” Because of mail restriction during the war, there was no communication between the two.

After being discharged from the Army, Don arrived home Nov. 10, 1945.

The following Monday, he began working at Hormel in Austin, Minnesota.

It wasn’t until around Labor Day 1946 the couple would reconnect.

Again, Don went to see the old friend who had once introduced them in Riceville. The friend said Doris and her family had moved and gave him their new address, “and I went and looked her up,” said Don. The old flames quickly reignited. They were married Jan. 11, 1947, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Haven.

As newlyweds, the couple followed Don’s jobs, which included living in Waverly, where he worked for a plumbing and heating firm, and later moving to Cedar Rapids, where he worked for a cement block manufacturer.

In 1948, the couple returned to McIntire, where Don farmed for 18 years. After their farm was sold, Don went to work for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier for 19 years, first in McIntire, later in Osage.

Doris became a mother early on, when their first son, Donald, was born Feb. 25, 1948. John arrived Feb. 13, 1949, and a third son exactly one year later.

Having three boys in less than three years kept Doris very busy. She didn’t have running water until 1955.

“I carried water in and

The Adams family, from left: Jim, Donald Jr., Donald Sr., Doris, Diane and John. Pictured is son Dean. heated it on the stove and then carried it to the washing machine,” she said. “We had a lot of diapers with the three boys.”

Don bought Doris a clothes dryer. He financed it through a bank loan, making monthly payments.

Diane was born Sept. 18, 1955, followed by James on Nov. 23, 1962.

The couple worked hard to raise the family and found little time for entertainment.

“We would go dancing now and then, and we went to a few movies,” Doris said.

“I had a lot of sisters, aunts and uncles who would come for Sunday dinners.”

The Adams boys would all go on to serve their country — John and Dean in the Vietnam War, Don in German and James in the National Guard.

Tragedy struck the family in 1975.

Don and Doris were on their way to visit family in Florida when they learned Dean had been electrocuted while helping a friend put up an antenna.

The antenna had come in

contact with a high-voltage wire. It was a difficult time for the family, as Dean left a wife and young daughter.

The couple shared their secret for keeping their marriage thriving.

“We have just sailed along and not had a lot of problems,” Doris said. “We couldn’t have went our own way, we didn’t have enough money to go our own way.

We were busy all day long and didn’t have time to think about separating.”

“It would have been the farthest thing from my mind to separate,” Don said.

“I don’t think we argued much and we respected each other. When one of us made a kid mind, we both agreed.”

The amazing couple, whose sharp memories and wit charm guests, continue to live in their home in Riceville. Doris said she is thankful Diane takes her to get groceries and run errands.

They are also grateful for the 101 cards they received from family and friends CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌ wishing them a happy 70th anniversary.

Don and Doris Adams on their wedding day — Jan. 11, 1947.

C4 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

Love found on a JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌Arianne Norem and Dakota Broderick’s story starts during their first year of college at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo.

“We were at one of the parties at the ‘Hawkeye Towers,’ ” Arianne said.

“We locked eyes and the rest is history.”

Fast forward a couple of years, to a beach in the Cayman Islands, during a family vacation.

Arianne said Dakota had become obsessed with hunting for shells on the beach while the couple was in the country.

“He was trying to find the perfect one to take back home for us,” said Arianne said. “One of the nights we were walking along the beach, Dakota kept stopping, then would continue to walk, and then stop again, hoping to find the one. He bent down and yelled, ‘I found it…the perfect one.’

“I looked down and instead, he was down on one knee with the most beautiful ring, wrapped around this perfect little shell, from my perfect fiancé.”

Arianne is the daughter of Kenneth and Denise Norem. She is a graduate of Clarion-Goldfield High School and a 2012 graduate of Iowa Central Community College with an associate’s degree in general studies, a 2015 graduate of Buena Vista University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, psychology and sociology.

Arianne is currently enrolled at Iowa Central Community College, earning an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. She works parttime as a certified pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy and enlisted U.S. Air Force – Iowa Air National Guard 133rd Testing Squadron.

Dakota is the son of Terry and Pam Broderick. He is a graduate of Osage High School and a 2016 graduate of Iowa Central Community College with an associate’s degree in computer networking technology.

He is a full-time certified field service technician at DTS and enlisted U.S. Air Force – Iowa Air National Guard 133rd Testing Squadron.

The couple is planning

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Dakota Broderick and Arianne Norem a July 22 wedding at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Humboldt, with a reception at the Starlite Best Western in Fort Dodge. Their future plans include relocating to Waco, Texas.

Arianne plans to further her careers in dental hygiene and political science.

Dakota plans to serve 20 years in the Air Force, eventually attending college to earn a degree in electrical work.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C5

Mitchell County Press-News

‘Wedding Singer’ provides JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌Taylor Evenson and her fiancé, Adam Capps, started their relationship when meeting through mutual friends, just one year after Evenson had moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

“For our first date, he took me to dinner and we went to a Nashville Sounds baseball game afterwards,” Taylor said. “Here we are, almost four years later, planning our wedding. We couldn’t be more excited.”

Last March, the two traveled to Nassau, Bahamas for a getaway. “It was the first day of spring and two awoke early on a Sunday morning, the day before we left to go back home,” Taylor said. “As I was lying in bed, I heard music start to come from the living room of the condo we were staying in. The song playing was Adam Sandler’s “Grow Old with You” from movie The Wedding Singer.

“Adam came and grabbed me by my hand to lead me out the back door of the condo onto the beach. There was a path of red rose petals that led up to a giant bouquet of gorgeous flowers, a chilled bottle of Don Perignon champagne and a message in a bottle tucked into the white sand.”

Taylor continued, “As I started to read the message, Adam dropped to one knee and held out a beautiful ring he designed himself. I said ‘yes’ in a heartbeat.

“The memory of the proposal is still so vivid in my mind and I find myself replaying it over and over and just smiling. Adam is a romantic and keeps life from being anything but

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Adam Capps and Taylor Evenson ordinary. I feel so grateful we found one another.”

Taylor is the daughter of Ron and Jean Evenson, Osage, and is a 2009 graduate of Osage High School and a 2011 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College.

In 2015, Taylor graduated from Volunteer State College with an associate’s degree in veterinary technology. She is employed as a licensed veterinary technician at Animal House Veterinary Clinic in Nashville.

Adam is the son of Billie and the late Edwin Capps of Raleigh, N.C., and is a 2000 graduate of Wake Forest High School, Wake Forest,

N.C. In 2002, he graduated from SAE Institute of Technology with an audio technology diploma and in 2004, graduated from Wake Technical College with an associate’s degree. Adam is the production manager/ monitor engineer for country singer Randy Houser.

The couple is planning a July 1 wedding and reception at Ruby in Nashville.

Their future plans include purchasing their first home later this year in the Nashville area.

“One of our favorite things to do is travel, so I predict plenty of adventures in our future,” Taylor said.

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C6 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

Smoky Mountain engagement JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazatte.com‌

Katie Stricker first laid ‌ eyes on Trever Nelson at the Tree Town Festival in Forest City in May 2015.

Kayla said a couple of months after Tree Town, she decided to message Trever on Facebook.

Their first date was just a couple of months later on July 12, when the couple attended the races at the North Iowa Event Center in Mason City.

The big proposal happened while the couple was on Trever’s family vacation.

The couple was finishing a week in Tennessee with the last portion of the trip being spent at a cabin in Pigeon Forge.

“We began the morning of March 17, 2016, by drinking coffee on the porch that had a great view of the Smoky Mountains,” Kayla said.

“Once we went back into the cabin, there was a coffee cup left on the table outside.

Trever was very adamant I be the one to go back to the porch and get the coffee cup.

When I reached for the coffee cup, there was an empty ring box behind it.

“Once I turned around, Trever was down on one knee and his family was out on the porch as well, and of course I said ‘yes.’”

Kayla is the daughter of John and Wanda Stricker.

She is a 2011 graduate of Osage High School and a 2014 graduate of North Iowa Area Community College, with an associate’s degree in nursing.

She is taking online classes for her RN-master’s degree

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Trever Nelson and Katie Stricker. in nursing education.

Kayla is a registered nurse at Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage.

Trever is the son of Kim and Lorie Nelson. He is a 2010 graduate of Garner High School and a 2011 graduate of Northwest Iowa Community College.

Trever is employed at L.R. Falk, St. Ansgar.

The couple is planning a June 24 wedding at 99 Bottles Winery and Vineyard in Garner with a reception at the Ventura Community Center.

Future plans include buying their first house in Osage.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C7

Mitchell County Press-News

Online romance leads to engagement JIM CROSS

JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazatte.com‌

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌ or Joshua Johanns and Nuong Nguyen, F it was love at first click.

The couple started their dating relationship through Tinder, an online dating service.

“We both started online dating and were matched on Tinder,” Nuong said. “After months of talking back and forth, we went on our first date and have been inseparable ever since.”

To make their engagement special, Nuong said Joshua custom designed her engagement ring.

“He planned a night, where he took me to dinner at my favorite restaurant where we had our first date,” she said. “After dinner, we went home. He had rose petals and candles going up the stairs, even pictures of us.”

Nuong said Joshua then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

Nuong is the daughter of Phung Nguyen and Xuan Nguyen. She is a 2008 graduate of East High School in Des Moines and graduate of LaJames College of Hairstyling in Mason City.

Nuong is employed as a nail technician at

‌Within just a few short hours of talking online, Tina Johnson had exchanged phone numbers and was meeting her now fiancé, Christopher White, for dinner.

“We met at Applebee’s later that afternoon,” Tina said. “We have been together ever since.”

The day of their engagement, Christopher arranged a dinner date for the two of them at their favorite restaurant, the Boulder Tap House in Mason City, where Christopher was employed at the time.

He spoke to his manager, who came up with the idea to play a few songs on the jukebox.

Right before he asked Tina, all of this colleagues came to their section, while the manager blasted the song, “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” He followed up with “Marry Me and Marry You.” Tina is the daughter of Larry and Lynda Johnson and is a 2000 graduate of Osage High School as well as a graduate of North Iowa Area Community College. Tina is employed as a parts pro at Advance Auto in Mason City.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Nuong Nguyen and Joshua Johanns.

Tony’s Nails & Spa, Mason City.

Joshua is the son of Bill and Dawn Johanns, Osage. He is a 2006 graduate of Osage High School and a 2010 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa.

He is employed as a field engineer for Alliant Energy.

The couple is planning a Jan. 3, 2018, wedding at Sandals Ocho Rios, Jamaica, with a reception being held at Gilbert Sale Yard in Floyd.

Their plans include continuing to reside and work in Mason City and traveling before starting a family of their own.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Christopher White and Tina Johnson Christopher is the son of Lee White and the late Barb Ryan and is a 2008 graduate of Garner-Hayfield High School. He attended North Iowa Community College for one year.

Christopher is employed as a server at Ruby Tuesday in Mason City.

The couple is planning a Sept. 2 wedding at the Mitchell County Trap Range in Osage followed by a reception at the VFW in Osage.

Their future plans include to someday take a honeymoon to the East Coast.

They plan to reside in Mason City.

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C8 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

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Free consultations/tastings Fr PRESS-NEWS PHOTO‌

Jessica Goodale with her fiancé, Jereme Baldus, along with Kolbet Realtors, as they celebrate buying their first home in Osage.

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JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌Although they “technically” met in high school, Jessica Goodale and her fiancé, Jereme Baldus, didn’t really meet until much later.

“We started dating after I needed help with Taste items, while Jereme was working part-time at the grocery store,” Jess said. “I was always buying entire cases of products for baking cheesecakes, so Jereme always had to help me with special orders.”

Being a technology guy, Jereme shared with Jes a

Google Sheet with a list of pros and cons on reasons why the couple should get married.

“He obviously left the con column blank,” she said. “The pros were silly, sweet and included inside jokes and scenarios which reflected our relationship.”

Jessica is the daughter of Russ Goodale and Jodie and Les Zahn. She is a graduate of Osage High School and Des Moines Area Community College.

Jessica is a restaurateur, owning Taste, Unc’s Cheesecakes & Piggyback Smoke Shack in downtown

Osage.

Jereme is the son of Deb and Tom Baldus. He is also a graduate of Osage High School, as well as Brown College and North Iowa Area Community College.

Jereme is the technology coordinator for Central Springs Schools in Manly and Nora Springs.

The couple is planning a Sept. 22 wedding at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and a reception at the house of Jessica’s grandmother, known as “Tiny.”

Their future plans are to continue living in the community of Osage.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C9

Mitchell County Press-News

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Jordon Groff and Kayla Jeffrey.

5 years and question JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌After five years of being a couple, Kayla Jeffrey’s boyfriend, Jordon Groff, now fiancé, popped the big question.

Kayla said she and Jeffrey first met through her college roommate, who was from Osage.

“After bring together five years, Jordan finally got down on one knee and

popped the question,” Kayla said.

Kayla is the daughter of Bill and Holly Jeffrey.

She a 2011 graduate of Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock High School. She attended Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo and then transferred to Buena Vista University, majoring in elementary education.

Kayla is director/teacher at Growing Tree Preschool

in Osage.

Jordon is the son of Randy Groff and Virginia Van Deusen. He is a 2010 graduate of Osage High School.

He has been employed at Osage Co-op Elevator the past seven years.

The couple is planning a Nov. 11 wedding at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage with a reception at the Cedar River Complex Events Center.

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C10 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

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Cattle check leads to heart check JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

Jessica Rogers and her fiancé, Cole ‌ Smith, went out to check their cattle and came back an engaged couple.

“It was the fourth of July weekend,” Jessica said. “We were checking on our cattle, with the Ranger.

“Cole got out to get something from the back of the Ranger. He then came around to my side and got down on one knee.”

The two first met through mutual friends.

Jessica is the daughter of Melody Brown and is a 2012 graduate of Osage High

School. She played basketball while attending North Iowa Area Community College.

She is employed with Helena Chemical Company in Osage.

Cole is the son of Paul and Lesa Smith and is a 2008 graduate of St. Ansgar High School.

He is employed at KFS in McIntire. He also farms with his dad and uncles.

The couple is a planning an Aug. 19 wedding with a reception at Gilbert’s Sale Yard in Floyd.

Their future plans are to continue to live in Little Cedar and grow their farm.

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Mitchell County Press-News

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C11

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Tony Swanson and Stephany North.

Love found

JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌Stephany North and her fiancé, Tony Swanson, enjoy life and having fun with each other.

Their first meeting came at a mutual friend’s NIACC graduation party in 2010 in Osage.

The proposal came Friday, May 6, 2016, at the Buffalo Run Golf Club in Nora Springs.

“After work, we went golfing,” said Stephany said. “Tony had teed off of hole no. 7 and hit a very good shot.

“He went and put his club back in the bag and walked around to my side of the cart.

He got down on one knee and mumbled something along the lines of ‘I may have not gotten a hole-in-one, but will you still marry me?’ I think he was nervous and of course, I said ‘yes.’”

Two days later, on Sunday, the couple went golfing again and Tony actually hit a hole-in-one on the same hole, no. 7, where he had proposed.

Stephany is the daughter of Christine and Brian Huffman and Sheila North. She attended Osage High School and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in biology.

Stephany is employed as a laboratory coordinator at New Heaven Chemicals in Manly.

Tony is the son of Mark and Kristi Hestness. He attended Nora Springs-Rock Falls High School. He studied automotive at North Iowa Area Community College.

Tony is employed at Swanson Electric in Nora Springs as an electrician. He is also an active member of the Nora Springs Fire Department.

The couple is planning a May 20 weeding at the Best Western Holiday Lodge in Clear Lake.

The future plans include staying in Nora Springs and “hopefully have a few kids in the near future and raise them in this wonderful community, while working towards advancing our careers,” Stephany said.

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C12 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

Myers offers JIM CROSS

jim.cross@globegazette.com‌

‌OSAGE — Many brides today are seeking non-traditional locations, dresses, colors and invitations for their special day. In addition, many are starting to choose a non-traditional officiant to oversee the big day.

That’s where Osage resident Jerry Myers can be of assistance to the bride-to-be, with his business, Reverend SCARYjerry’s Wedding and Event Service.

Myers said he decided to become a licensed wedding officiant after receiving a call from a high school friend, who was getting married.

“One day, I got a call from a guy who was a very good friend in high school, asking me to meet him at the local courthouse, because he was getting married. He wanted me to be there for the event.” Myers said. “I asked him why he was getting married at a courthouse. He said it was because no one would marry him, because he was going to be in a same-sex marriage.

“I told him that wasn’t right and to wait while I got my license.”

Myers went online and decided to receive a license through the Universal Church of Life, based in Modesto, California.

That was 2010, when the Iowa Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages were legal in the state. Since then, Myers has completed close to 200 weddings, mainly occurring between April and September.

He has presided over several same-sex marriages, as well as a Christian-Mus-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌S

Reverend SCARYjerry conducting a service, where the couple is getting ready to participate in a Celtic handfasting ceremony during their wedding.

Jerry Myers, also known as Revered SCARYjerry, after he finished a wedding ceremony at Clear Lake. lim wedding which occurred in Mitchell County.

“Many people are not connected to a traditional church, so I offer a non-traditional, personalized wedding experience,” Myers said. “I spend time getting to know the couple. I then write something for the couple. I can be as religious or non-religious as they want.”

Locations of ceremonies are typically community centers or outside locations, although he has done a few in a church.

Non-traditional locations have included a

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Revered SCARYjerry offering a few words to the audience following the marriage ceremony of “Camel Joe” and “Mo Payne.” biker rally and jail. Myers will also dress accordingly for the wedding, even including a sugar mask for one particular wedding.

Something unique which Myers includes in many of his ceremonies is a Celtic handfasting ceremony. It is when a couple will

bind their hands together during the wedding ceremony (before, during or after reciting their vows), often to symbolize their connection and devotion to one another.

“I always tell couples the day is about and for them,” Myers said, “and the people who come are there to just watch.”

Myers said the thing he has enjoyed most about being a wedding officiant has been the lasting friendships which have developed.

“It has expanded my circle of friends and family,” Myers said. “I may have never met these people otherwise.”

One of the most poignant moments for Myers came this past summer when he married Nicole and Jason Brahm.

“They were a great couple to work with,” Myers said. “Three weeks after they were married, I got a call from Nicole. She said Jason had been killed in a motorcycle acci-

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C13

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Ryan McClennen and Melissa Dittberner. He is a member of roller derby team and she is the coach. They are also known as “Camel Joe” and “Mo Payne.” They chose to go down the aisle on roller skates, which also included most of the wedding party. dent, so, I did his wedding and his funeral three weeks apart. My wife, Erin, and I continue to be very close to Nicole.”

That is just one of many stories of friendships Myers has developed over the past seven years.

Myers had joked his tagline was “Marry, Bury and Baptize.” Last summer, he did two funerals.

With working full-time at Harley Davidson in Mason City, which includes Saturdays, Myers is not always able to perform a ceremony, so Erin has also become a licensed officiant.

“We have done some ceremonies together,” he said. “We have traveled as far as Des Moines and Minneapolis for ceremonies.”

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C14 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mitchell County Press-News

trends for 2017 LAUREN KAY

The Knot Wedding Network‌

‌From dangling décor to portrait booths and gifting lounges, here are the trends we’ve spotted for the year ahead.

Trends are getting bigger and badder than ever before (in the best way possible!). Some are totally over the top and others are just perfect for adding a personal touch to your celebration. When it comes to couples who are ballin’ on a budget, you may be thinking some of these are out of your financial comfort zone but there are infinite ways to pull inspiration from this year’s trend report and spin it to match your celebration style (and wallet). You have our full permission to steal these ideas for your wedding day.

Unique Invitations

Get your guests excited to celebrate from the very beginning— today’s wedding correspondence really stands out. Plexiglas invites, foil stamping and glow-in-thedark ink are a few of the stationery trends catching our eye for 2017.

Bespoke illustrations and bold envelopes (think: shocking fuchsia with white ink) are other ways to get noticed.

The Gift Lounge

This deconstructed welcome bag is perfect for destination weddings. Instead of stuffing and delivering a gift for your guests, let them do the work (they’ll be glad you did). Set up a room full of swag (snacks, drinks, local sweet treats) and guests can choose their favorite things. Best of all, you (or your family or wedding party) can greet guests in person when they arrive. If your friends and family are split between a couple of hotels, set up a table of goodies at the exit of your welcome party for a truly memorable party favor.

Asking for What You Really Want From cash to mountain bikes and even museum memberships, we love that couples can ask for just about anything under the sun these days—including nothing at all. Charity registries are on the rise along with experiences, like a pottery class or a private cocktail session with an expert mixologist.

Don’t worry, you can still register for classic wedding gifts like fine china, upgraded cookware and that fancy espresso machine you’ve had your eye on for years.

Or do both!

Metallic Dresses and Breezy Silhouettes Sparkly gowns—gold, silver and metallic beading—flooded the bridal runways. The ball gown is making a comeback too, perfect for a formal evening wedding. Also hot? Breezy silhouettes and airy skirts. These effortless dresses (think: flowing fabrics like tulle and organza) have an ethereal vibe and are well suited for a destination affair or even a second look. Detachable skirts, floral embellishments and off-the-shoulder looks will also be making their way down aisles this year.

Color Comeback

THE KNOT NETWORK‌

from floral arrangements to col- stations that feature your favorite ored linens. eats, like a raw bar with a waiter live-shucking oysters or wine and Going Green cheese pairings with an on-site Décor trends are going au na- sommelier. If you don’t want to turel. If you can’t celebrate under forgo a plated dinner, host a cool the stars, bring the outside in. cocktail hour and serve the main Add some oversize potted trees meal family style for a twist on the to a ballroom for an instant for- expected. est effect. Or incorporate natural elements like wood and stone Games Galore into your table settings. GreenIn an effort to entertain guests, ery (not just the color) continues couples are turning to the tried to trend—it’s easy to manipulate and true: games. From interacand can give your décor an undone tive Mad Lib wedding programs but beautiful look. Bouquets are to lawn games at outdoor cockgetting bigger too and some old- tail hours, games are being used school styles, like cascade and as a way to break the ice between pageant, are making a serious guests. This playful trend is a comeback. great way to get your friends and family mingling.

Neutrals and pastels have paved the way for a total return to color.

Expect to see pops of bold shades and bright color pairings. Pantone named greenery the Color of the Year—it’s vibrant and earthy, making it perfect for all seasons.

This fresh hue is symbolic of “the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger A Movable Feast purpose,” says Leatrice Eiseman, With food trucks and passed executive director of the Pantone multicourse meals, the sit-down Color Institute. We expect to see dinner is being replaced with this shade of green in everything more interactive options. Set up

bunnies to donkeys, couples are incorporating more than just their pets into their wedding. This is a trend to try if you’re hosting a rustic soiree or celebrating in a picturesque barn.

Fun Food Presentations

The new trend in food is equal parts yum and fun. Menus are being carefully curated with favorite eats and local specialties (think: deep-dish pizza for a Chicago after-party). But the presentation is almost upstaging the food.

Self-serve bars and food installations, like a hanging acrylic shelf piled high with cheese and charcuterie, are instant wows. Set up a doughnut wall with gourmet selections or treat guests to a full-service sundae bar. These Furry Friends interactive stations will give your Animal lovers take note: The friends and family something to hottest wedding guests have four do and talk about, long after the legs and supersoft coats. From wedding.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | C15

Mitchell County Press-News

THE KNOT

‌ hether you have $100,000, W $10,000 or $1,000 to spend, with careful organization, zealous budgeting and a few money-saving tricks, you can have the wedding you always wanted.

From the flowers and the dress to the venue and band, here’s how to budget for the wedding of your dreams.

Establishing Your Budget

Who’s Paying?

Talk with your families about who will pay for what: Some brides’ families still pick up the entire tab, but more and more groom’s families are participating, too. How do you bring up the conversation? For many couples, talking to each family separately is the best way to have truly open discussions. When you do talk, here are strategies for determining your initial budget.

Ask both of your folks if they’re planning to contribute to the cost of the wedding. If so, ask them to commit to a specific dollar amount, and then add up all the contributions to create your budget.

Alternatively, it may be easier to ask each set of parents to finance a particular aspect of the wedding (such as the ceremony, honeymoon or catering) instead of just committing to a dollar amount.

Decide how much you two can contribute between now and the wedding. (43 percent of the couples we polled in the The Knot 2014 Real Weddings Study say they’re planning to contribute financially to their wedding.)

Cost Considerations

If you’re planning on a formal candlelit dinner in the grand ballroom of that amazing hotel downtown, your budget is clearly going to have to be much bigger

than if you’ve sketched out an afternoon tea and dessert party in your parents’ pretty backyard.

In general, there are several major factors that will really affect what you’ll need to set aside.

Guest List Size

There’s a per-head cost for food and liquor, and these two are typically the biggest expense in the whole wedding, so changing the guest list size is the surest way to increase or decrease your costs. On top of that, the smaller the guest list the more you’ll save on all your other details, including décor, stationery, favors, and rentals, because you won’t need as much of everything.

Wedding Setting

Some cities and towns are just more expensive than others. New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are the obvious culprits, but small towns and remote destinations can entail greater costs

if things like flowers and talent have to come from afar. Tourist towns can also up your wedding price tag during peak season.

Likewise, certain venues are more expensive than others. Some— such as a city park—come with no (or low) fees, while others, like a grand ballroom, might cost you the equivalent of a year’s college tuition. Also, be aware that many popular locations have head count minimums, meaning they won’t host a wedding that’s too small, and some may also have a per-head minimum that requires your event to be a certain size.

Date and Time

Highly sought-after seasons and days of the week are pricier for obvious reasons. An evening reception is usually more expensive than a brunch or afternoon reception, not only because of higher catering costs for dinner, but also because people tend to drink less during the daytime,

how much you need to spend to get what you want. Set your expectations accordingly. Knot Note: The average wedding cost is $31,213.

Here’s a basic breakdown of what you can expect to pay: Reception: 48-50 percent Ceremony: 2-3 percent Attire: 8-10 percent Flowers: 8-10 percent Entertainment/Music: 8-10 percent Photography/Videography: 10-12 percent Stationery: 2-3 percent Wedding Rings: 2-3 percent Parking/Transportation: 2-3 percent Gifts: 2-3 percent Miscellaneous: 8 percent To avoid stress, allot 5 percent of your budget for a “justin-case” fund.

If you’re paying for your THE KNOT NETWORK‌ honeymoon yourselves, rememand many couples choose to go ber to budget for that as well. more low-key on elements like lighting, music and décor.

How Much Can You Save?

As soon as you’re engaged, start putting aside as much of Wedding Style The more formal the affair, the your income as you can for the more expensive, because you’ll wedding. Saving 20 percent of have to match the site, food, and your monthly income is a good— musical entertainment to the though lofty—goal. The longer overall upscale tone. The outlay your engagement, the more you’ll for a full six-course meal is typ- be able to sock away.

Ways to save: Limit your ically greater than for a cocktail soiree with mostly hors d’oeu- spending on small stuff (watchvres; the fee for a twelve-piece ing Netflix instead of going out, band is greater than that for a DJ curb your Starbucks habits and so or a quartet; all-out décor like on). These changes will hardly aflighting, specialty linens, and fect your quality of life, but after dramatic floral displays also will a year, the extra cash will cover run up the bill. Plus, fancier af- some wedding essentials.

Make the most of your fairs tend to be larger. money: Instead of stashing your money in a low-interest savings How Much Do You account, consider buying CDs Actually Need? or opening a money-market acJust like buying shoes, an count. The interest rate can be apartment, or a pair of jeans, double that of a savings account. when it comes to financing a Just check the fine print to avoid wedding, you should figure out penalties.

C16 | Wednesday, February 22, 2017

WEDDING PARTIES?

WE DO!

Mitchell County Press-News

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