Bridal Guide 2012 by I-75 Newspaper Group

A Union Of Two BRIDAL GUIDE

2012

A special publication of the I75 Newspaper Group of Ohio Community Media Piqua Daily Call • Troy Daily News • Sidney Daily News

Take the time to savour the subtle glances & tender exchanges, for they are the memories, the feelings that last forever.

BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Dance the night away BY DANAE KING For Ohio Community Media References, a contract and dedication to getting the job done right — these are just a few qualities to look for when searching for a DJ for your wedding. Scott Oglesbee and his wife Kimberly own SK Music Productions in Piqua and have been in the business for 16 years. “We take care of people,” Scott Oglesbee, owner of SK Music Productions, said. “We’re professional.” Trying to find the perfect DJ for your wedding can be difficult, below are some tips from Oglesbee about what to expect. The first thing to do is book as soon as possible, as DJ’s can become booked fast. When looking for a DJ,

something to make sure to ask for is references, reputable DJs should have references. “I can give people references,” Oglesbee said. “As many as they want.” In addition to references, a contract with a DJ is a good thing to have, as it insures both parties, Oglesbee said. The venue is also an important part of the DJ’s work, and it’s important for the DJ to be familiar with the venue before the event. Oglesbee said he likes to be familiar with the venue and talk to the people who run the venue to find out their requirements. Things that may be important for a DJ to know is whether there is a dedicated source of power, how much set up time will be allowed and where to set up. What a DJ wears to the wedding is also im-

Ohio Community Media

Miami County • SK Music Productions (937) 773-8739 • CosmicBill DJ Service (937) 440-8248 • Kilroy Productions Mobile DJ Service (937) 773-0039 • A Songbird & Karaoke DJ Honey (937) 339-6766

Shelby County • Inreality Digital DJ (937) 726-1529 • Sound Surge Pro DJ Service (937) 726-9991 portant. DJ’s should wear dress similar to the guests’, such as tuxedos. Oglesbee and his wife handle everything at an event — from start to PROVIDED PHOTO finish. Guests dance to the sounds of SK Music Productions at a recent wedding the At the beginning of company DJ’d. the ceremony, Kimberly greets and queues the guests and Oglesbee plays piano. “We use a combination of live music and dancing,” Oglesbee said. Oglesbee plays the piano during the cereA natural place%to%be mony, cocktail hour and dinner and then they switch to DJing. Small Outdoor/Indoor Wedding Ceremonies See Dancing /Page 3

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Dancing Continued from page 2 Oglesbee also acts as an MC, introducing the couple, speakers and special dances. Depending on the event, the Oglesbees can entertain at an event for up to seven or eight hours. “I want start to finish music, no dead air,” Oglesbee said. He and his wife strive to provide constant entertainment, which Oglesbee said usually averages 22 to 23 songs per hour. “It’s what the bride and groom wants,” Oglesbee said. Oglesbee thinks it’s important to meet with the bride and groom at least once, but preferably

twice, before the big day. The first time is a preliminary meeting and then one approximately 30 days before the wedding to discuss matters such as the itinerary. Customers can go to the company’s website, skmusicproductions.com, and select songs they want at their event from 30,000 songs on the website. Oglesbee also carries 250,000 songs with him. “I’ll take a request if it’s in the genre the bride and groom selected,” Oglesbee said. “I don’t play songs they don’t like.” If Oglesbee thinks a song requested by a guest is questionable, he asks the bride and groom if they would like it

played. He also goes over music in the preliminary meetings. “We ask if there’s something they absolutely don’t want played,” Oglesbee said. Another thing Oglesbee offers is the promise of no surprises or added costs. It is a good idea to ask prospective DJs if they charge for anything beyond the price they state, such as for a microphone or lighting. Another added cost that may be unexpected is food. Ask DJs if they expect to be fed during the wedding. If the DJ plans to take a break, it may be a good idea to ask PROVIDED PHOTO if they have music lined up for the time they’ll be Scott Oglesbee of SK Music Productions performs at the piano during one of his recent disc jockey events in Columbus. eating.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Honeymoon in Ohio BY LAURA WILLIS Ohio Community Media Looking for a honeymoon destination that won’t break your budget? Consider one of Ohio’s many unique vacation spots. No matter what the season, Ohio offers a variety of interesting vacation opportunities. Check out the state’s Discover Ohio website, www.discoverohio.com. There, couples will find honeymoon ideas from taking a tour of Ohio’s own Napa Valley, which features more than 100 wineries, to Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to Amish County and the Appalachian historical area. Or call 1-800BUCKEYE to speak to an Ohio Travel Counselor. Some Ohio honeymoon destinations to consider: • Zoar If you love small town charm and history, Zoar is the place to be. A small town with population of less than 200,

this German settlement just 12 miles south of Canton offers historic value and peaceful activities. For the honeymoon that has that getaway charm in the social atmosphere, stay in The Cobbler Shop Bed and Breakfast, which offers private bathrooms and 19th century charm. Named one of the five small towns that you’ll love by Midwest Living, Zoar has 24 historic buildings including a Cider Mill, Town Hall and more. The town offers a peaceful, but historic getaway for anyone to enjoy. Contact info: (330) 874-2600 1 (800) 287-1547 121 East Second St. Zoar, OH 44697 www.cobblershop.com • Put-in-Bay Tired of traffic and ready for the water? Putin-Bay offers a traffic-reduced environment that adds charm to your honeymoon. Put-in-Bay is filled with tourist attractions from everything from climbing up a Inter-

national Peace Memorial to crawling down into cave tours. Put-in-Bay, just a ferry-ride away from Lake Erie’s shore, gives honeymooners the chance to find fun in the day and relax at night in a special honeymoon cabin. The Arbor Honeymoon Cottage is located on 20 acres of rural land and even has access to 800 feet of a private beach. The one bedroom house has plenty of amenities, from bicycles to a fully-equipped kitchen and is right next to a six-acre vineyard, LAURA WILLIS/STAFF PHOTO perfect for any quiet hon- Ash Ridge Cabins in Laurelville, near Hocking Hills in southern Ohio, offers honeymoon. eymooners plenty of privacy. Contact info: and just relax, Hocking has cabins that are se- ing colors.” (419) 285-6181 Contact info: www.vineyardohio.ho Hills is a great Ohio des- cluded in forests or tination that anyone peaceful meadows. The (740) 332-1015 mestead.com Ash Ridge Cabwww.pibinfo.com/lodg- would enjoy. Ash Ridge owners Joshua and Julie Cabins, located in Lau- Flournoy, who situated ins 17171 Sam Carr Road ing relville provide several their “cabins with two Laurelville, OH 43135 • Hocking Hills www.ashridgecabins.com Ready to enjoy the out- cabins which are suitable things in mind: view and doors? Laurelville, near for any inexpensive, yet privacy, feel that they acHocking Hills State Park private and secluded complished both with fly- See Honeymoon /Page 6 is a great option for a honeymoon. Offering firehoneymoon. Offering places and hot tubs in great places to hike, shop, every cabin, Ash Ridge

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The best wedding songs of 2011

Honeymoon Continued from page 5 • Cedarville You don’t need to go far to find a suite with pure honeymoon bliss. Located in Cedarville, the Hearthstone Inn is the perfect place to stay “inn” for your indoors honeymoon retreat. Offering a fourstar environment, which shows off Ohio themes, this inn even has Deluxe King Jacuzzi Suites that “will pamper you, soothing the body and refreshing the spirit.” Even though it’s close to home, Cedarville offers many attractions that are the perfect way to get out of the inn for just a few hours before missing the amenities of Hearthstone. Try walking to the Cedarville Opera House, which opened in 1888, to see plays or musicals. Contact info: 937-776-3000 10 South Main St. Cedarville, OH 45314

hearthstoneinn.com • Honey Run Claimed as a “serene oasis in nature and wildlife,” Honey Run is the perfect place to celebrate your honeymoon. Located in Amish Country in eastern Ohio, this romantic getaway includes a spa, with comfort and privacy at it’s finest. The inn has casual upscale dining to make your honeymoon meals a delight. You can even create your own spa package, and get pampered and calm your mind with many treatments including couples massage and more. Retreat back to a room, cottage, or even a Club Level Honeycomb. The Honeycombs offer luxury and view on the secluded rolling hills. Contact info: 330-674-0011 Ohio Amish Country 6920 County Road 203 Millersburg, OH 44654-9018

Ohio Community Media

From the first dance, to the last dance of the evening, you want only the best songs for your big day. Music sets the mood, and whether it be romance and love or breakin’ loose on the reception dance floor, good tunes are essential! Here are some picks for the top wedding songs of 2011. Some are classics, some are new, all are sure to bring on the happy tears or happy dancing feet. • Giving Myself Over to You: Jennifer Hudson • 1,2,3,4: The Plain White T’s • Everything: Michael Buble • You are so Beautiful: Joe Cocker • Mama’s Song: Carrie Underwood • Today was a Fairytale: Taylor Swift • Teenage Dream: Katy Perry • You & Me: Dave Matthew’s Band • I got a Feeling: Black Eyed Peas • Just Dance: Lady Gaga LAURA WILLIS/STAFF PHOTO

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Don’t want a cake? There are alternatives BY TRESA ERICKSON You’re getting married soon, and the time has come for you to select a wedding cake. While you understand serving cake is tradition, you’re not real fond of the idea. Isn’t there something else you could serve? Of course there is. There are so many alternatives to wedding cake. But before you start looking into them, you need to determine why you are opposed to the idea. Do you dislike the taste of cake in general or the look of a traditional wedding cake? If you like cake but not the standard tiered wedding cake with lots of frosting, you have many options. You can ask your baker to do something different and design you a unique cake, perhaps a replica of your wedding rings or fa-

vorite flower. You can serve smaller singlelayer cakes in various flavors at each of your reception tables — this has become a big trend in recent years. You can fill several tierd platters with cupcakes of every flavor. The choice is yours, and if cake is not for you, there are alternatives. Before you axe the cake altogether, remember your guests. Some will expect wedding cake and be sorely disappointed when you don’t serve it. For their sake, you might want to arrange for a small wedding cake. For those more daring, dessert options run the gamut from pastries to pie. Sit down and rank your dessert faves. Have your spouse-to-be do the same. Then compare the lists. Do you see anything in common? Per-

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To give your guests more choices, consider serving your top choices buffet style. Arrange for an ice cream bar, for example, with several flavors of ice cream and toppings. That way, guests can create their own ice cream dishes from sundaes to banana splits. Instead of serving one type of pie, set up a pie bar with several types for guests to feast on. They might have a sliver of peach pie, a sliver of apple and a sliver of pecan. Still not sure what to serve? No problem. Set up a coffee and dessert bar with various sweets from pastries to puddings. This will satisfy a large number of sweet tooths.

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Ohio Community Media

The sky is the limit when it comes to food BY TRESA ERICKSON You just got engaged, and already friends are asking you when the big day is, where the wedding will take place, who is going to be your best man and maid of honor, and so forth. You have so many decisions ahead of you, including the food you serve at your reception. There are many factors that could influence the menu choices for your wedding from your cultural heritage to your budget. Some cultures have traditional wedding foods. Some don’t. Some brides have more to spend than others and can afford to hire a world-famous caterer to host a seven-course meal for their family and friends. In addition to culture and budget, the tone of the wedding venue will play a role in your deci-

sion as well. Formal venues like banquet halls and hotel ballrooms might call for a formal meal, whereas a more casual affair on the beach might call for a clambake or barbecue. Are you planning to get married in blue jeans in a local park? Then sub sandwiches or fried chicken might do the trick. Timing is also a factor. A late morning wedding might call for a brunch buffet, whereas an evening wedding might call for a sit-down dinner. A wedding at 1 p.m. might not call for anything but wedding cake and punch, while a wedding at 8 p.m. might call for drinks and hors-d’oeuvres. If you’re not serving a meal, make sure you make that clear on the invitations. You don’t want guests to have to leave early just to fill up their empty tummies. What you serve may

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also be dictated by who is doing the serving. If you have the funds for a caterer, then you might have more choices available as to what you serve. Just make sure you select a reputable caterer and get all the details in writing. If you are planning to do most of the cooking yourself, then you will have to choose foods you can make within the time frame you have. You may want to enlist the help of others to ensure you have great food for your big day. As you are reviewing your options, don’t forget about your own preferences. If you’re not one for formality and your groom isn’t either, then by all means, skip the formal sit-down dinner and

opt for a buffet instead. If you thirst for adventure, make sure you reflect that in your food selections. Go ahead and serve squid along with the usual seafood fare. The sky is the limit when it comes to reception food. You can serve practically anything you want, whether your grandma’s chicken and dumplings or a local caterer’s seafood faves. Just make sure you take your budget, tastes and other factors into consideration. And yes, it may be your wedding, but you will not be the only one eating at your reception. Remember your guests too and try to choose foods that will accommodate a wide range of tastes.

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For keeps — quotes on the matter of marriage BY TRESA ERICKSON When a bride and groom exchange vows, they hope it is forever, but no one knows for sure. While some couples remain together “until death do (them) part,” others split up within days after. The reasons behind the success of one marriage and the failure of another are not always clear, but here are some quotes on the matter. “I used to believe that marriage would diminish me, reduce my options. That you had to be someone less to live with someone else when, of course, you have to be someone more.” — Actress Candice Bergen, married to Louis Malle from 1980 until his death in 1995 and to Marshall Rose since 2000 “People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a husband or wife. The rules are the same. Look for something you’ll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.” — Humorist Erma Bombeck, married to Bill Bombeck from 1949 until her death in 1996

Cosby, Camille 1964

“Don’t marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can’t live without.” — Evangelical Christian author James Dobson, married to Shirley Dobson since 1960 “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” — Writer Ruth Bell Graham, married to Billy Graham from 1943 until her death in 2007 “Every good relationship, especially marriage, is based on respect. If it’s not based on respect, nothing that appears to be good will last very long.” — Singer-songwriter Amy Grant, married to Vince Gill since 2000

“What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow.” — Writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, married to Sophia Peabody from 1842 until his death in 1864 “I think what makes our marriage work amid all the glare is that my husband is my best friend. He inspires everything in my life and enables me to do the best that I can. I want to hang out with him more than anyone.” — Singer Faith Hill, married to Tim McGraw since 1996 “I have a terrific marriage, but unlike a lot of relationships where they ebb and flow, no matter what happens you fall deeper and deeper in love

every day. It’s kind of the best thing that can happen to you. It’s thrilling.” — Actor Hugh Jackman, married to DeborraLee Furness since 1996 “One of the good things that come of a true marriage is, that there is one face on which changes come without your seeing them; or rather there is one face which you can still see the same, through all the shadows which years have gathered upon it.” — Writer George MacDonald, married to Louisa Powell from 1851 until her death in 1902 “I’m most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don’t have that, you really don’t have very much." — Actor Bob Newhart, married to Ginnie Quinn since 1963

“My husband is a homebody and has nothing to do with the celebrity world. We’ve been married 44 years and have worked so well together because we’re not in the same business.” — Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, married to Carl Dean since 1966 “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” — Comedienne Rita Rudner, married to Martin Bergman since 1988 “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people

together through the years.” — Actress Simone Signoret, married to Yves Montand from 1951 until her death in 1985 “And in a marriage you can’t TRY and be married. You’re married or you’re not married...as far as I’m concerned." — Singer-songwriter Ringo Starr, married to Barbara Bach since 1981 “I suppose it’s about keeping love alive, learning how to fall in love over and over again, not taking each other for granted, forgiveness, trust.” — Actor Patrick Swayze, married to Lisa Niemi from 1975 until his death in 2009

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Home sweet home, or is it? One of the first decisions newly engaged couples may need to make regarding their wedding is where to have it. For some, the answer is clear: any place but their home. For others, the wrestling begins. Should they have their wedding at home or someplace else? If you are among them, here are some factors to consider. Budget Depending upon the number of guests invited, having your wedding at home may be less or more costly. The longer your guest list, the more items you may have to rent from tables and chairs to a catering kitchen and tents to lights and port-apotties. You may also need a cleanup crew for before and after the event as well as a landscaping crew if you are having your wedding outdoors. You may have to hire a valet parking service and purchase a generator to provide the extra power needed for the event. All of this can really add up. Space The more wedding guests you invite, the larger space you will need for your wedding. If you are having your wedding outdoors, this may not be an issue, unless you have a very small yard. If you are having your wedding indoors, on the other hand, you will need to ensure you have enough space for your guests to move around and mingle. Squeezing 50 people into your 10x10

foot living room could result in some leaving. Location Not every home is located in an idyllic setting. Some are near noisy highways or airports. Some are situated in really busy urban environments, and others, in remote regions. Make sure the home where you intend to get married is located in an area your guests can find and will feel comfortable mingling in. There’s nothing like the shrill of an ambulance or a round of gunfire to scare off guests. Safety Accidents are always a possibility no matter

You should check with your vendors to make sure they have adequate coverage as well as with your own insurance agent. You may need to purchase an additional policy for your wedding. where you may have your wedding. Depending upon the setup of your home, you may have to take extra care to avoid them. If you have invited several seniors, you may need to remove or tack down area rugs, install handrails in your bathroom and so forth. If you have invited several young children, you may need to drain or gate off water features, install safety covers on your outlets and so forth.

Other Considerations Even if your home meets the space, location and safety requirements, you may still encounter some hurdles. Some officiants will not preside over weddings that do not take place on their church’s grounds. Will yours? Some cities require permits for large events like weddings. Does yours? Some neighbors are very particular

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about what goes on near their homes and will put up a great fuss. Will yours? The potential for damage and bad weather can also be factors. The more people traipsing in and around your home, the more likely things will get broke. Are you

prepared for this? If you are having your wedding outside and the weather turns sour, can you move everything inside? Determining whether to have a wedding at home is not a decision to take lightly.

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Veiled intentions — choosing the right style BY ANN BARE The date is set, the venue is booked and the dress is selected. There are many details to still consider — some more significant than others. Somewhere between the afterthought of “Does this gown make my thighs look big?” and “How will I wear my hair?” comes the consideration of head covering/hair ornamentation. For centuries a veil has been the common accoutrement for a bride’s attire, but that isn’t necessarily the case with today’s variety of selections. Veils historically served the purpose of keeping demons away

from the bride (or so they thought); of covering the bride in humility, subservience, chastity or modesty; or of concealing the bride’s face for a variety of cultural or religious reasons. Since today’s bride and groom often have a majority of their photographs taken before the wedding ceremony, a veil no longer conceals the blushing bride from her soon-to-be husband. In fact, most brides simply choose a head covering or hair ornamentation that will complement their gown and bring out their finest features. Should a bride decide to wear a veil, she has many options. A blusher

may be worn to cover the face and lifted during the ceremony to reveal the bride’s beauty. The veil length is generally influenced by the length of the dress (the veil should not be longer than the dress) and whether the wedding

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is formal or semiformal. Lengths cover the gamut from shoulder (22 inches), elbow (25), waist (30), mid-hip (33), hip (36), fingertip (45), waltz (mid-calf) (54), ankle (70) and chapel (90) to cathedral (108 inches). The in-

dicated inches are the conventional, predetermined length of that particular style. Of course, depending on the bride’s height, an ankle-length veil measuring 70 inches may be deemed a cathedral length for a shorter bride if, in fact, the veil touches the floor. The conventional nine-foot cathedral length (which no longer is worn only in cathedrals) can be modified to personal preference; Princess Diana’s veil was 25 feet long in her 1981 wedding while TV celebrity Star Jones wore a veil 27 feet long in her 2004 wedding. Options to wearing a veil abound. A small hat, tiara, ornamental comb

or bejeweled headband may be the simple, flattering touch a bride needs to complement her gown. Perhaps a piece of heirloom jewelry can be converted into a stunning barrette or hairpiece for a sentimental touch. Small flowers can serve as a fresh, “green” accent for a natural impression. It goes without saying that wedding days are special, and selecting an appropriate hairpiece deserves extra attention. With the intention of accenting her beauty, complementing her dress and attracting the eye of her mate, a bride has many options. Even the smallest detail will add to an unforgettable day.

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Our portable photo booth is a HUGE hit at wedding receptions. Just let the guests pile in and take "candid" shots. It's a party by itself! But best of all, the bride and groom get to take home a scrapbook keepsake of all their guests having fun and wishing them well.

BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

Do-it-yourself invitations Make the first impression count for your wedding by sending out trendy invitations. With all the stress of planning a wedding, make it easy for your guests to remember your special date. Do-it-yourself creations are a great way to put individuality into your invite. Brides can make them stand out by using high contrast patterns, which are proven to “trigger” the memory. Or help your guests remember that special date by sending an unusual shaped invite like a perfect square or oblong rectangle. But before you get too ahead of yourself on the DIY invitations, remember one thing that may

slow you down — your home printer. Save yourself the time, frustration, and expense by using a hometown printing company. ”Surprisingly people will think they can print off invitations on their home printer,” said Amy Nelson, five-year customer service representative at Western Ohio Graphics. “Then they realize that the printer may not work.” Wedding invitations could present printing problems with ink, sizing, or getting the straightline cut. Using a printing company will take the hassle out of the printing

process, without surrendering your individual design. ”Many come and tell us that they want to design on their own,” Nelson said. Nelson said the best way to order individualized prints is to save the document into a .pdf file. “If you’re not too savvy on the computer, Western Ohio Graphics can help tweak or even give ideas and templates. There are endless options,” Nelson said. “Some people do pictures, others just the basics.” These endless options include a variety of sizes,

colors, paper types and envelopes to seal the deal. “You can design on your own and bring it in on a jump drive or e-mail it to us,” said Nelson. “And we can work from that.” And another benefit of using your own design is the cost. Designing your own invitations is inexpensive, even when printed from a company, because you are only paying for paper, ink, cutting, and envelopes, as opposed to the fees you may find in using a traditional invitation ordering company. For brides who need a

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imprinted on the outside,” she explained, which means the bridal couple just has to come up with the wording. Staples will then print the invitations. The copy center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Staples in Troy also has a copy center and pre-packaged wedding invitations. Both stores have a variety of cardstock and envelopes that may be purchased, also.

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little more assistance creating an invitation, Staples has the answer. the option of purchasing a packet of invitations and envelopes that already have a wedding design imprinted on the outside. The bridal couple will just have to come up with the wording. In Sidney, copy and print supervisor Katy Osbourne is available to assist brides with their invitation project by using a special wedding packet. “We have invitations and envelopes that have a wedding design

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BRIDAL GUIDE

Ohio Community Media

January 2012

First things first Finding the perfect dress BY PATRICIA ANN SPEELMAN Ohio Community Media pspeelman@sdnccg.com Trends come and trends go. But all brides want to look stunningly beautiful when their soon-to-be husbands see them coming down the aisle. And the first thing they look for is the perfect dress. “The girls go on the Internet; then they come in and show us pictures,” said Ronette Kill, manager of the Bridal Emporium in Wapakoneta. “A lot of times, when a girl comes in the door, we can tell what she’ll look best in.” Kill says that choices in gown styles are “all over the board” although, most brides still choose floorlength dresses. “Destination brides may pick out more simple gowns,” she said. A newer trend is dresses that are worn off the shoulder. They are designed to be worn as strapless or one-shoulder dresses. A belt can change the whole look of the en-

semble. In many cases, the bride can make choices that allow her to be her own designer. “Someone may have worn a dress strapless, but you wear it as oneshoulder, with flowers on it. Add a belt and you have your own design,” Kill said. Brides can choose shoulder straps in various widths. “Changing the style of the dress gives you your own look. Say the girl wants a little color on the dress. That’s where the belt comes in,” she added. Colored dresses, though, aren’t as popular as they once were. Most women select white or ivory because they are traditional colors. Bridegrooms, too, have many more choices than ever before. Tuxedos are available in any number of styles and cuts. “They’re coming out with one that fits a little tighter, a slimmer cut,” said Juanita McCrum, owner of Ron & Nita’s in Sidney. “It fits more like a young man’s suit.” Bert Harrison, the owner of Barclay’s MenWomen Clothiers in

Piqua, said that black is the number one choice of color, but that some wedding are going into silver, dark gray, chocolate brown or tan color schemes for the men’s apparel. Suppliers to Ron & Nita’s expect to see an increase in the rental of LUKE GRONNEBURG/OCM PHOTO tuxes in pastel shades. At left, Kelsey Anthony, of Wapakoneta, models a dress at the Bridal Emporium “Some are going away in Wapakoneta recently. from renting tuxes and buying suits for the wed- noted that changes in want to be unusual.” Crum agrees. ding party instead. A suit vests have more to do Harrison said that the “When they go in the can be worn again,” Har- with fabrics and textures choice of tux or suit is dressing room as a caterrison said. than with colors although often based on how formal pillar, they come out as a He said that traditional Harrison noted that some a bride wants her wed- butterfly when they put ties are still more popular models are available in ding to be. on a tux,” she said. “They than bow ties, but Mc- more than 30 colors. “A tux will always be just change. It’s neat to Crum sees the latter “A lot of guys are more formal,” he said. Mc- watch.” making a slow come-back. adding pocket squares to “And the four-in-hand go with the girls’ outfits. ties are slimmer, not as It’s a splash of color,” Mcwide, in stripes and col- Crum said. “Some guys ors,” she added. wear hats. We have those. Both shop owners And also canes, if they

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

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.

Be open Don’t pick the dress. Let it pick you. Go ahead and page through all of

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.

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

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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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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.

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.

J’

BY TRESA ERICKSON

Many things go into finding your perfect bridal gown. Make sure you start your shopping early and be open to try new things. Also bring a guide you will be honest with you. And have fun!

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BRIDAL GUIDE

Ohio Community Media

January 2012

Ohio Statehouse perfect location for weddings COLUMBUS — The Ohio Statehouse, with its obvious grandeur, is ready to serve as your perfect wedding location — an experience that will be unparalleled, state officials said. The Statehouse is available for ceremonies, receptions or both. The elegance of the Ohio Statehouse captures the most esthetically pleasing dream, officials said. The Statehouse embodies the perfect locale for a wedding ceremony and reception with its Greek Revival architecture and appealing exterior landscape. The beauty of the day becomes elaborate. The unity of bride, groom, friends and family will never fade. The opportunity to wed or hold a reception in the Statehouse lay hidden from July 1870 until May 2007. Don’t settle for anything less than a most

ROBERT BOWER/AP PHOTO

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Ohio Statehouse is ready to serve as your perfect wedding location . memorable wedding and reception, officials said. Couples may choose from a variety of venues including the Capitol Atrium, North and South Atrium Porches, Rotunda, State Room, Ladies’

Gallery and the Exterior Plazas. For more information, visit www.ohiostatehouse.org or contact Sherri Wilburn at swilburn@csrab.state.oh. us or (614) 752-9777.

Christa, left, and Kenny Sarkela talk at Idaho Falls Care and Rehabilitation in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Dec. 19, 2011. The couple are nurses who met while working there and were married at the facility in November with the residents they care for attending the wedding.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

Bridal shower trends BY TRESA ERICKSON Not so long ago when a couple announced their engagement and the bride selected her maid of honor, the maid of honor would start planning the bridal shower. She would invite all of the bride’s closest female friends and family members together to toast the bride and share good times with her. While some brides today continue this tradition, others take an alternative route. One of the biggest trends in bridal showers today is the couples shower in which friends and family gather to-

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gether with both the bride and the groom. With more grooms taking an active role in the wedding planning and more couples footing the bill for their wedding themselves, it is only natural that some couples would want to share the shower experience. Couples showers can be held at someone’s home or at one of the couple’s favorite venues. For those that prefer the traditional womenonly bridal shower, a hot new trend is to center it on some activity, like bowling, making pottery, going to the spa or volunteering for an organization. This requires less planning and provides for a fun, stress-free experi-

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brides are already living on their own and have the items needed to set up house, gifts can range from the unique to the wacky. The key to any good shower is to involve the bride or couple. After all, they are the guests of honor.

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ence for one and all. Guests can participate in the activity and share a meal afterwards, either at the venue or at a restaurant. If time and budget permit, destination showers are another idea. The bride and a select group of friends and family can take a little trip together. They can hop a plane and spend a few days at the beach or take the train to a ski resort. The sky is the limit. For brides that prefer to stay home, themed showers continue to be popular. Themes can run the gamut from kitchen gadgets to entertainment to the bride’s favorite things. And because many

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

C o vi n g t o n E a g l e s B a n q u e t H a l l

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Brian Joseph, owner of Diamond Galleria in Troy, carves wax to form a custom piece of jewelry. Joseph, a goldsmith, says the same process is used to create custom jewelry, for example engagement and wedding rings, as is used to build a home. “When you erect a house, for example, you start with pouring the foundation, put up the frame, walls, etc.The same process of addition is used in custom jewelry fabrication. To create a ring you may form a shank from sheet, build the setting and the process of carving the wax to form the custom piece of jewelry — you must take an idea and then get the image of the piece in your mind’s eye, then remove the excess material until you have created that image.” Carving wax is ideal for creating complex curvilinear forms, sweeping curves, etc. It is capable of being highly detailed, machined, and is very forgiving, if too much material has been removed you can build it up again by simply adding more wax and reforming to achieve the custom piece of jewelry you desire. Joseph can be seen creating custom jewelry daily at Diamond Galleria.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

Ohio Community Media

January 2012

Wide selection of reception venues in area STAFF REPORT Ohio Community Media

PROVIDED PHOTO

The Fort Piqua Plaza Conference and Banquet Center in downtown Piqua is among the many facilities in the area available for wedding receptions.

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w w w. t r o y h ay n e r. o r g. Outside and inside options. Shelby County • GreatStone Castle in Sidney, 429 N. Ohio Ave., Sidney, (937) 498-4728; fax: (937) 498-9762; info@greatstonecastle.co m; www.greatstonecastle.com. Indoor facilities for up to 130 guests; outdoor weddings for groups

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9812 Country Club Road, (937) 773-7744; www.piquacountryclub.com and pcc@choiceonemail.com • Woodbridge Forest, located nine miles east of Troy, (937) 875-0408, www.woodbridgeforestweddings.com. Space for more than 400 guests. • Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main St., Troy, (937) 339-0457,

ney, 9900 Sidney-Freyburg Road, Sidney (937) 492-2883; fax: (937) 4922 9 1 9 ; www.shelbyoaks.com. Seating for up to 400. Area • La Piazza, New Bremen, (419) 629-3800; www.lapiazzanewbremen.com; seating for groups of up to 50. • Marley’s Downtown, 15 Perry St., Wapakoneta, (419) 7387020. • Romer’s Catering and Entertainment Facilities; Greenville, (937) 548-2202; St. Henry, (419) 678-8482; and Celina, (419) 584-0606; www.romerscatering.com and angela@romerscatering.com. • The Grand Plaza Banquet Hall and Meeting Rooms, 913 Defiance St., Wapakoneta, (419) 236-0426 or (419) 2360424; seating for up to 500.

innbetween@swohio.twcbc.com 16488 County Rd. 25A Botkins, Ohio

The iLiad is known for unique, upscale Bridal floral designs. We love making Bridal bouquets and you will love carrying yours. Our corsages and boutonnieres aren’t just little flowers to be churned out; they will be part of your Bridal pictures. Our centerpieces do not sit on the tables, they make them. Your day is special and your time is limited. Come to us for the florals you deserve and for the peace of mind of knowing that at least one thing is taken care of. Let Becky and Ann do the worrying.

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Piqua, (937) 773-8871; thefortpiquaplaza.com and banquetcoordinator@piquaoh.org. Seating for up to 350 people. • Indian Hills, 8212 Lauver Road, Pleasant Hill, (937) 676-5103. • La Piazza, Troy, (937) 339-5553; www.lapiazzatroy.com; seating for groups of up to 80. • Orrmont Estate in Piqua, 1612 S. Main St., Piqua, (937) 778-1021; www.orrmont.com and info@orrmont.com. Seating for up to 250. • Piqua Country Club,

2247838

Couples looking for sites to hold their wedding receptions have a wide range of choices in this area. Listed below are sites in Miami and Shelby counties, as well as some locations a little farther away. Miami County • A Learning Place Banquet Center, 201 R.M. Davis Parkway, Piqua, (937) 773-6851; www.alearningplace.org; seats up to 550. • Buffalo Jack’s, 137 S. High St., Covington, (937) 473-2524; www.buffalojack.com • The Centre at Miami Valley, Comfort Inn, 987 E. Ash St., Piqua, (937) 778-8100; seating for up to 200. • Cooper’s Farm Banquet Facility, 3155 State Route 48, Ludlow Falls, (937) 698-6135; www.coopersfarmandcatering.com. Seating for up to 240. • Fayevores Banquet Center, 2334 S. Miami St., West Milton, (937) 6 9 8 - 4 0 1 9 ; w w w. f a y e v o r e s . c o m . Seating for up to 275. • Fort Piqua Plaza Conference and Banquet Center, 308 N. Main St.,

up to 225. Canal Lake Lodge, six miles south of GreatStone, accommodates up to 50 for an indoor wedding; outdoor weddings up to 300.• Hampton Inn, 1600 Hampton Court, Sidney, (937) 498-8888; www.sidney.hamptoninn.com • Palazzo Banquet Hall, 309 S. Main St., Botkins, (937) 693-6325. • St. Michael’s Hall, 33 Elm St, Fort Loramie, (937) 295-3193; • St. Remy Hal, 108 E. Main St., Russia, (937) 526-4336; stremyhall@yahoo.com. • Sidney American Legion Post 217, 1265 N. Fourth Ave., (937) 4926410; seating for more than 300.• Sidney Eagles, 433 E. Court St., (937) 492-8333. • Sidney Veterans of Foreign Wars, 2841 Wapakoneta Ave., (937) 4923878. • Shelby Oaks in Sid-

January 2012

BRIDAL GUIDE

Ohio Community Media

The art of compromise BY THRESA ERICKSON You’ve seen enough to know that weddings can bring out the worst in people. Joining two people from different backgrounds in holy matrimony is rarely smooth sailing. What should be a union of two often turns into a union of families, and that can make for very difficult times. Even when the families take a step back to respect the wishes of the bride and groom, things can get out of hand. Although the wedding is theirs, brides and grooms can get carried away and alienate others with their wedding choices. How do you avoid this? You learn the art of compromise. Compromise, a settlement of differences by mutual concessions. That’s right. Differences and concessions.

With so many people involved in the planning of a wedding, it is not uncommon for differences to occur. Whether concessions are made depends upon the willingness of the parties involved. Are you willing to consider options other than your own? Are you willing to consider that the options of others might be better? Just because you want round tables at your reception does not mean you should have them. They may not be available or work for the space. Don’t assume there is one and only one way to do things. There might be several. You should take the time to listen to all of the options available before determining what is best for your purposes. Compromise cannot work without concession. It may be your wedding, but that doesn’t mean you

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have all of the best ideas. The more open you are to getting the feedback of others and pursuing what works, the easier the planning will be. Of course, not all opinions are feasible. You must be able to separate the good from the bad, the essential from the non-essential, the important from the not so important. If an idea will not work, there’s no use in considering it. If an idea will work but you have your heart set on something else, it’s fine to axe it. It is your wedding, and you don't have to concede on everything. Do remember, however, that your wedding will be just the first of many good days to come. The fact that you have to simplify the wording on the invitations for your parents’ sake probably won’t matter to you 10 years from now.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

Ohio Community Media

Color cues BY TRESA ERICKSON

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Brides can pull their color pallete from many things ranging from the season of their wedding to their favorite colors. What flowers are in sea- gold would work well. son and what are you Season can also make a hoping to incorporate difference. Winter colors into your wedding? If you differ dramatically from have your eye on a lot of summer colors. Maroon pale pink blooms, then and silver might serve a you will definitely want November wedding well, to work that color into but not a May wedding. your palette, or at the Still having trouble severy least, choose a complementary palette. Location and season can also provide color cues. Check out the venues you have selected for the ceremony and the reception. Do any of the colors there appeal to you? If you are getting married in a gazebo surrounded by yellow tulips, 433 E. Court St., Sidney, OH perhaps a cream palette (937) 492-8333 with accents of maize and

Wedding colors: modern wedding color palettes Black + White + Hot Pink Good for: Modern spring weddings Tips for pulling it off: Keep the look formal with classic patterns like damask and stripes while adding a style boost with an ultra-contemporary color like hot pink. Purple + Lime + Black Good for: Hip garden weddings Tips for pulling it off: Colors this bright can overwhelm easily -- unless you mix in a neutral like black or gray. Gold + Silver Good for: Formal winter weddings Tips for pulling it off: Whoever said you shouldn’t mix your metals? This glittery mix adds a punch of style to any affair. Use

a variety of textures -from crystals to ruffles -to keep things from looking too two-dimensional. Cherry + Yellow + Black Good for: Upscale backyard weddings Tips for pulling it off: When you're playing with primary colors, it's easy for things to get out of hand. Put a damper on the over-the-top hues with a solid neutral like black. Orange + Yellow + Aqua Good for: Low-key summer weddings Tips for pulling it off: Stuffy couples need not apply. This is a combo that's all about fun, vibrant color. A fun, patterned wedding cake and energetic lighting will bring it to life.

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You recently got engaged, and the excitement is brewing. You can’t wait to start the wedding planning. One of the first decisions you’ll face is selecting a color palette. There are so many shades to choose from. How do you decide? While some brides have no trouble selecting a color palette, others struggle with it. The good news is that there are many facets from which you may take your color cues, starting with your color faves. What colors are you drawn to? Gold? Orange? Red? If you love red and can’t picture yourself getting married without it, then you have already won half the battle. All you need to do now is select one or two more colors, and you will have your palette. If the red is rather intense, you might opt for some neutrals like white, silver, black or gray. Don’t have a favorite color? No problem. Look to your choices in apparel for your color cues. Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and once you select a style and color, take your cues from it. If the dresses are purple, you’ll want to make sure you work in some shade of purple into your palette. The same goes with the tuxes. If the groom has chosen gray tuxes, then you’ll want to make sure gray is either part of your palette or goes well with it. Flowers also provide important color cues.

lecting a color palette? Consider current trends. A couple rounds of shopping should clue you in to these. Check out any supplies you might already have on hand, such as some tablecloths you borrowed from a friend who just got married. Think about all of the items you have selected thus far from the wedding dress to the wedding cake. If you’ve got a lot of ivory and cream going on, you might want to select a color that pops. Keep in mind that just because you select a color palette early on doesn’t mean it will work. Be willing to make some changes the deeper you get into the planning. That pale green you chose for your accent color might turn into forest green once you select the invitations. Light green lettering doesn’t show up nearly as well on crisp, white paper as dark green does. Whether you choose the color palette or let it choose you, be open to change. You never know. That burgundy you’re hoping for might serve your April wedding better as fuschia.

January 2012

BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

Wedding DJ releases book to help brides plan a stress-free wedding

MOLINE, Ill. — A newly published book, “The Secret to Making Your Wedding Fun, Memorable & Stress-

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first dance to the last one. Miller owns and operates one of the Midwest’s top disc jockey and special event entertainment companies, Master DJ & Visual Effects Inc. He has been performing since the age of 14 in many different areas of live event performance art. His

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“The Secret to Making Your Wedding Reception Fun, Memorable & Stress-Free!” aims to provide brides a glimpse of what their guests might be thinking but wouldn’t dare tell them. Oftentimes a wedding is actually a burden to the guests, and it is up to the event host to make sure they overcome this unspoken feeling. The book offers suggestions on choosing the best venue for your reception, to selecting your wedding team, to how to take your wedding from ordinary to an extraordinary party that your friends will envy. A core part of the book also includes sample wedding reception timelines from actual events to assist with planning the flow of the night. The book contains 25 pages of song lists of popular wedding music suggestions for everything from the

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“The Secret to Making Your Wedding Fun, Memorable & Stress-Free!” authored by Justin Miller, shares with newly engaged couples what their guests are truly thinking at their wedding reception, a sense of obligation and burden.

guests are truly thinking at their wedding reception, a sense of obligation and burden. It reveals to brides how to take their wedding from ordinary to an extraordinary party that their friends will envy. Research shows 26 percent of wedding proposals occur in November and December. This means that a great deal of new “holiday brides” just started planning their wedding, are stressed, and probably have no clue where to begin. This new book is designed to help brides-tobe focus on what is often the most memorable part of their wedding, the reception. How a guest feels at the reception is often ignored, but should be the focus of every detail of planning the event and is the secret to planning an amazing reception.

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January 2012

A paid day-of coordinator not the answer BY CARLEY RONEY Scripps Howard News Service Q: I’ve been so stressed with all the things I have to do — book a wedding venue, find vendors, send out invitations — that I’m considering hiring a day-of coordinator. I’m not sure we have room in our budget. What are my options? A: Fees for day-of coordinators can range from as low as $200 to well over $1,000 for the day. But hiring one may not help that much. Most of your worries seem to be about all the things you need to do before your wedding. Day-of coordinators can only help you on your wedding day (directing your guests and vendors, coordinating the day’s events, putting out any last-minute fires). Many planners offer combo packages that include several hours of planning help before the wedding but aren’t as pricey as a full-time planner. Or enlist your bridal party and family

(and your groom!) to help with all the planning todos. Another great resource: Other brides’ recommendations for vendors and venues in your area on TheKnot.com. Q. Should we send thank-you cards to guests who came to our wedding but didn’t give us cards or gifts? A. All attendees deserve a handwritten thank-you note — regardless of whether they gave you a gift. Now, before you roll your eyes and ignore this advice, remember: Guests may have traveled or taken time off

from work to be there. Keep it simple, and say something like, “Thanks for coming! It meant so much that you could be there to celebrate with us.” Try to include something personal, too, such as how you loved their dance moves or the joke they told in the receiving line. Just resist the temptation to throw in a “PS: We’re registered at Macy’s.” Q. I’ve had my eye on blue shoes for my wedding, but blue isn’t one of my colors. Do I have to wear shoes to match? A. Go for the blue shoes. We absolutely love

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the idea of doing something completely different with your shoes. They’re part of your outfit. It’s your wedding and you can do whatever you want, so have fun. With your choice, you have an added bonus. They can be your “something blue.” Q: We want to have a small destination wedding, followed by a bigger at-home reception. Is it OK to invite fewer guests to the DW? I’ve heard that you should invite everyone to both. A: You definitely don’t need to invite everyone

to both. The fact that you’re even having a party at home afterward should be enough to settle any hurt feelings. In fact, most people will be relieved (no offense) not to be on the guest list to a destination wedding, because they tend to cost guests a lot. The real trick here is the shower; you should invite everyone you plan on inviting to the shower to the at-home reception as well. Q: I definitely don’t want my fiance to see me in the dress on the day-of, but what about

before that? A: It’s really your choice. There’s no etiquette rule in the books for this, so go with your gut. If you’re superstitious, keep him clear. But if you want his opinion on the dress, let him in on the decision-making process Show him photos of dresses you’re thinking of trying on. Having his feedback before you shop will help a lot. Or bring him along to the bridal salon to get his thoughts. We know of a few grooms who have accompanied their fiancees to weigh in on the dress.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

Must they eat cake? Continue the celebration The engagement is announced, the date is set, attendants are selected and now the wedding plans begin. Dresses, tuxes, ceremony site, reception site, invitations, menu, guest list, flowers, cake... Cake? Do you have to have cake? Does every wedding celebration have the ceremonial cutting of the tiered cake? Not anymore. Tradition has given way to personal preference and unique alternatives. Choices are as varied as the bride’s and groom’s personalities. So what are your options? They run the gamut from elaborately decorated tiers to decorated sugar cookies. Cutout cookies can be in the shape of a heart, mini wedding cake, boat or other related theme. Flavor options include Grandma’s favorite sugar cookie recipe, gingerbread, brownies, pumpkin, sour cream-any rollout recipe that lends itself to cookie cutters. The decorated cookies can then be personalized with the couple’s names, initials or wedding date. The unique confections can be displayed on a central table, serve as centerpieces on guests’ tables or placed at each place setting. Rather than serving cake slices, some couples opt for a tiered display of doughnuts or cupcakes. In addition to the unique presentation, one advantage to serving cupcakes or doughnuts is the variety available for individual preferences. Serving

dessert is also easier since guests can help themselves to their favorite treat. A dessert table is another popular option for the wedding meal. The couple can offer their favorite selections of cheesecake, fluff, mousse, trifle, pudding and other sweets. Displayed on varied levels of pedestal plates, the desserts create an unexpected, attractive presentation. Covering the table with coordinating fabric and interspersing small bowls of mints, candies and nuts complete the festive look. Having a small cake on each table allows guests to serve themselves. These cakes, which can double as centerpieces, can be simply decorated eight-inch layer cakes or they can be thematically decorated-purses, hearts, ships, dresses, baseballs,

etc.-to reflect the couple's unique interests. The originality of the creations will be a topic of conversation long after the wedding day. Not to be tossed aside, however, is the traditional tiered cake. Flavors, fillings, textures, frosting and design all work together to present a culinary delight. No longer do guests anticipate a white cake with white butter cream frosting at a wedding. Bakeries offer such a wide range of options that no wedding cake should ever be predictable. Brides and grooms have the opportunity to add a distinctive touch to their wedding day celebration. Not only will guests remember what the bride wore, but they will undoubtedly remember how personal and unique the reception wasespecially the dessert.

After all of the showers, parties and wedding festivities, many couples have had enough and are ready to get on with the private celebration of their union at their honeymoon. You may feel like this is where you will be and scoff at your mother’s suggestion for a post-wedding brunch before you dash off on your honeymoon. Before you put the kibosh on the idea, consider the following. A post-wedding brunch offers the bride and groom many opportunities. It gives them the chance to connect with guests they missed out on the day before and catch up on all of the details of the event, like little Jimmy breaking hearts on the dance floor. It also gives them the chance to personally thank all of those who as-

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sisted with the wedding preparations and those who took time off to travel to the wedding. A post-wedding brunch also offers benefits for attendees. It gives someone like Aunt Gladys who may have wanted to be a part of the wedding festivities the opportunity to do so and provides outof-town guests with a good breakfast before they set off for home. It also provides guests with another opportunity to connect and catch up with each other. While some couples choose to end the public celebration of their union with their wedding reception, others choose to continue the celebration the next morning with a

post-wedding brunch. Should you decide to go this route, keep it simple. The wedding is over. There is no need for you to get all gussied up and put on an elaborate affair. Most guests will be leaving for home right afterwards. Restrict invites to out-of-town guests and close family and friends and select a time for the brunch between 8 and 10 o'clock. This will give guests plenty of time to sleep in. Finally, serve a wide range of breakfast foods to suit all tastes. A post-wedding brunch can be a fun way to unwind before you take off on your honeymoon. Give the idea some thought, and if time and budget permit, go for it!

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Ohio Community Media

January 2012

The etiquette of a quickie marriage

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used or personalized. No one wants a coffeemaker back with a soiled filter in it or towels with someone else’s initials on them. Stores such as Things Remembered, which specializes in engraved gifts, have replacement plates to cover inscriptions and for etching new messages, says Julie Adamo, assistant manager of the chain’s location at The Mall at Robinson, Pa. Her store doesn’t see a lot of returned purchases because of dissolved relationships, she said. One option for the Kardashian-Humphries gifts that Kardashian reportedly mentioned last week was that she donate them to charity. But this could create more harm than good. “It’s really taking a gift that’s intended to be for your marriage and using it in a way that there was no intention for it to be,” Post says. Who gets the tax write-off for the donation? What if the gift goes to a charity the giver doesn’t support? And since they were given to the couple, what if the husband doesn’t agree? “It gets to be very dicey territory very quickly.” TMZ reports that Kar-

dashian has decided to award $200,000 — a representative value of the gifts — to the Dream Foundation, which fulfills wishes for adults with life-threatening illnesses. As for the engagement ring, brides in most cases shouldn’t feel guilty about keeping it, as long as the wedding actually happened. “It’s your ring because it was an engagement ring that comes with a promise of getting married,” Post says, so it doesn’t matter if the union lasted a few months or 50 years. A woman should, however, consider returning it if it was a family heirloom. Jewelry from a marriage-gone-sour can take on a new use and sentiment through repurposing, says Amie Guarino Yadouga, designer and jewelry stylist at Louis Anthony Jewelers in Upper St. Clair, Pa. The store doesn’t have a blanket policy for handling returned engagement rings from broken marriages because it’s not something encountered too often, she says, but staff would deal with such matters on a caseby-case basis if they occurred.

A source told People magazine, as reported in its current issue, that Kardashian wants to keep her $2 million sparkler “for sentimental reasons.” If so she’ll have to pay her ex-beau the money he spent on the rock, according to a clause in the couple’s prenup, TMZ reports. In Pennsylvania, if a prenup doesn’t spell out the fate of an engagement ring or wedding presents, they may be categorized as conditional gifts, or gifts exchanged based on a condition occurring, say Gary Gentile and Mark Alberts of Gentile, Horoho & Avalli, a family law firm that specializes in divorce. So if a wedding took place, it’s arguable the condition for the ring and presents has been met. What happens to all a

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couple acquires while wed depends on each state’s law and the individual prenup, they say, and the length of the relationship doesn’t affect the validity of the marriage. But opting for an annulment over a divorce could make a prenup tough to enforce. An annulment says a marriage didn’t happen, Alberts notes (which could have something to do with why Kardashian didn’t pursue one). With so much riding on what happens after the goodbyes, separated spouses should try to incorporate each other’s input as much as possible into the decisions. “It’s definitely one of those things, whether it’s the close family or friends figuring it out or the lawyers, it shouldn’t be just one person says and therefore it is,” Post said.

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They say that breaking up is hard to do. Now imagine it if you’re TV star Kim Kardashian, who turned her “I dos” with NBA player Kris Humphries into matrimony mania with an E! television special documenting the August ceremony, uber-expensive decor and fashions by top designers and a guest list that seemed more suited for the Academy Awards. But just 72 days after Kardashian had people salivating over her bounty of gifts, trio of Vera Wang gowns and 20.5-carat engagement ring, her fans and critics alike are wondering what will become of them since she filed for divorce last week. Whether one is a celebrity or a commoner, etiquette experts say there is a generally accepted protocol that parting pairs should follow when figuring out what to do with their presents. If the marriage ended within six months of the wedding, any gifts that have not been used should be returned to the

sender, says Lizzie Post, co-author of “Emily Post’s Etiquette, 18th Edition.” The couple should also include a note thanking people for the gift and explaining that the marriage has ended and their support is appreciated. Even if thank-you notes already have been sent, this is the acceptable course of action. If gifts came from a registry with a single store, they likely could be shipped back to the company, which could then credit the people who bought them, said Kenny Cohen, owner of Contemporary Concepts in Pittsburgh. If they were purchased at different places, they would need to go back to the giver to return. But refunding gifts from failed marriages isn’t something his store deals with a lot, Cohen says, nor does he think people who split after the wedding should feel pressured to hand them over. “If the couple had paid for a wedding, and the people attended the event and the celebration, they got their money’s worth, so to speak,” he said. Things get a bit trickier if items have been 2248053

BY SARA BAUKNECHT Scripps Howard News Service

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

Ohio Community Media

The perfect choice Over the top... Is it worth it? BY TRESA ERICKSON

BY TRESA ERICKSON

After years of dating, you finally proposed to your girlfriend and she happily accepted. You are both excited and looking forward to the wedding planning in the months ahead. One of the first decisions you will make as the groom is who will serve as your best man. There are a number of people who could fulfill the role; you just have to decide who would make the best fit. If you have several close family members and friends, you may find it difficult to select a best man. Make a list of candidates, keeping in mind that your best man does not have to be a man or a family member. Your sister Rita or best friend Katie might make a perfectly good best woman. Before you begin narrowing your list, you must consider the duties your best man will have to perform. The responsibilities of the best man vary from wedding to wedding. Traditionally, they include: • Hosting the bachelor party • Picking up and returning all tuxedos • Helping transport guests • Getting the groom where he needs to go on the big day • Assisting the groomsmen on the big day and keeping them on track • Bringing the rings to the ceremony • Witnessing the marriage license

• Paying and tipping service providers as needed • Toasting the bride and groom at the reception • Driving the newlyweds to the airport after the wedding if needed Depending upon your schedule, you may have the best man do more or less for your wedding. If you have a long list of duties, you will want to select someone who is dependable and has the time to get everything done. In order to narrow your list of potential candidates, consider their qualifications in relation to the duties you would like them to perform. Be realistic in your assessment. Your younger brother may be very dependable, but with school and work, he may be too busy to take on the role of best man, especially if it involves several duties. Your older, more-established brother might make a better choice. On the other hand, if all you are looking for is someone to host the bachelor party and stand up with you on your big day, then your younger brother might make a good choice. Pay attention to the distance factor. If your brothers live in the Pacific Northwest and the wedding is in Miami, they might be too far away to be a good best man. Choosing a close friend who lives nearby and has easy access to everything might be better, especially if you

want them to take an active role in the wedding planning. Whoever tops your list, make sure they want to serve as your best man. For one reason or another, some people simply prefer being a wedding guest rather an attendant. Keep that in mind and make sure you find out what the frontrunners think before you make your final decision. Should you be unable to select just one person, don’t hesitate to divide the duties among two or three people. Rather than one best man and two groomsmen, you could have three best men. Selecting a best man takes time and effort. Be prepared to do the work, or you could end up being disappointed, and always have a backup choice. You never know when illness or some other unforeseen event might come up and take precedence over your wedding.

Many a young girl dreams of marrying her prince one day in a lavish wedding. Planning such a wedding requires time and money, and lots of it. The more elaborate the wedding, the higher the price tag. Experts suggest that the average price for a wedding today runs anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000. For many folks, the figure is staggering. For others, it is a mere pittance. There have been many weddings costing in the millions of dollars throughout history, but the most expensive to date belongs to that of Vanish Mittal and Amit Bhatia. The six-day affair was held in France in 2004 and cost $55 to $60 million. Mittal’s father, the Indian Steel Maharajah, picked up the tab for the affair, which included performances by Sha Rukh Khan and Kylie Minogue. Next to a multimilliondollar wedding, a $12 million wedding dress might seem like nothing.

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The cake appeared in 2006 at the Luxury Bridal Show in Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Decked with jewels, it was not intended to be eaten. The tab for flowers for the average wedding can run in the hundreds of dollars, but the most expensive wedding bouquet cost way more, about $125,000. The red and white bouquet features 90 gemstones, nine diamonds and a star-shaped ruby and is on display on the sixth floor of the Ruby Plaza in Hano, Vietnam. Money is not always an object in wedding planning. But many are asking the question if over-the-top weddings are worth it.

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January 2012

Picking out the ‘forever ring’ BY DANAE KING For Ohio Community Media Trends change over time, but a wedding ring is forever. It can be tough to bring together trends and timelessness, but local jewelers share what’s popular, what’s timeless and where the two intersect. One trend that may stand the test of time is creating a custom ring. “Everyone has their own style,” Jason Townsend, vice president of Harris Jewelers in Troy, said. “More and more people are creating custom bands that fit their personality.” To accommodate guests who want a custom design, Harris has a computer system with the latest technology and they do all the custom design and production of the rings in the store. “We find different designs they like and incorporate the designs on our custom design computer program,” Townsend said. “We then make several images to find the perfect ring for them.” Once the customer has chosen a custom design,

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Harris Jeweler CEO Mark Harris shows a platinum sapphire diamond ring with 35 year customers Teresa and John Freisthler of Sidney. According to Teresa, the Freisthler’s bought their engagement ring from Mark’s father H.M. Harris years ago. a hand carved wax model is made of the ring to make sure the customer is satisfied. Then Harris makes the custom ring in the store. Customers who make a custom ring chose their metal, stone, cut, style

and every other aspect of their ring. As far as metals, white gold is extremely popular for wedding and engagement rings right now, replacing yellow gold, which was more popular in the 90s,

Townsend said. White gold holds up very well and is more durable than yellow gold, Townsend said. Platinum is also becoming more popular for women’s rings. “Platinum stays bring

and white,” Townsend said. “It’s a pure white noble metal.”

The trends differ a little for men’s rings, as additional types of metals are offered for men. Titanium, ceramic and tungsten are some more modern options for men, said Braeden Windham, salesperson at Allison’s Custom Jewelry in Sidney. Ceramic rings are light weight and heat resistant, Windham said, whereas Tungsten rings are harder and more durable. Tungsten rings can’t be sized, as they are forged. However, Harris will replace the ring with a new ring at any point in time. “Some men get a secondary ring in tungsten when they get a ring in white gold to match their wife’s,” Townsend said. The most popular stone for bridal rings is diamond, Townsend said. Although there have been more people branching out with different color stones. See Rings /Page 28

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January 2012

Continued from page 27 Most men typically purchase an engraved band, however, if they do opt to include a stone, they go with diamonds, Townsend said. Rubies and sapphires are some of the more popular stones when customers chose to go with a stone other than a diamond for a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engagement ring. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sapphires are more desirable,â&#x20AC;? Townsend said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re extremely durable.â&#x20AC;? Princess and round are the most popular shapes for rings, Townsend said. A radiant cut or antique cushion is also becoming a popular choice. Solitaire bands, or a single diamond, are very popular as well, Windham said. With a solitaire style, both the princess cut and the round brilliant cut are popular. Windham also noted rings that feature a large diamond and small side diamonds as popular. An antique cushion cut is also common, this cut is similar to a square princess cut, but with rounded corners. As far as different ring styles go, Townsend said antique or vintage styles are very popular right

now. Another option for wedding rings is to match an engagement ring to a wedding band, for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eighty percent of the rings in the case have a matching wedding band,â&#x20AC;? Townsend said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If not we can make one.â&#x20AC;? Townsend said when a customer comes in, Harris first likes to find out a little information about the bride and groom, such as likes and dislikes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We then find the perfect mounting for the brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality,â&#x20AC;? Townsend said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then we find a diamond that is just as perfect as she is.â&#x20AC;? There are several trends, but a few types of rings are always popular, making them timeless. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solitaire rings are classic pieces, as well as three-stone,â&#x20AC;? Windham said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You really canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong with those, they are timeless and age appropriate.â&#x20AC;? Townsend agreed that the classic Tiffany solitaire is timeless, he also said that round diamonds are always popular. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A straight-line diamond engagement ring or tiffany solitaire engagement ring is always a timeless piece,â&#x20AC;? Townsend said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a popular trend.â&#x20AC;?

Perfect partY

Keeping kids entertained BY SABRINA ROCCO St. Petersburg Times The thought of having to sit still through an elegant wedding reception makes most children recoil in horror, especially when the only music is smooth jazz and the most appealing thing on the menu is a bowl of bouillabaisse. As soon as the little ones realize that the nearest chicken finger and coloring book are miles away, a meltdown might well commence. (And mommies and daddies will probably melt down, too.) If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having a pack of kids at your wedding, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to provide entertainment for them. That way, parents and other guests can enjoy the reception. Here are some ways to keep the tykes busy. â&#x20AC;˘ Kid-friendly foods.

Set up a bar with foods you know most kids fancy: macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, french fries, maybe a few pizzas. You could even set the bar low so they can fill their plates without interrupting parents for seconds, thirds, fourths. â&#x20AC;˘ For dessert, have a cookie-decorating table with an assortment of cookies, frostings and sprinkles. When kids are craving dessert, your banana-walnut wedding cake is probably not their ideal treat. Plus, cookie-decorating is an activity that will keep them entertained. â&#x20AC;˘ Activity stations. Put out three or more tables with an activity assigned to each one â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a coloring table, a PlayDoh or Lego table, a puzzle or game-board table. Kids can navigate the

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January 2012

Wee ones welcome if you plan right BY TRESA ERICKSON While some couples opt not to have children at their wedding, others do. They take great delight in young children and can’t fathom having a celebration without them. If you share in this feeling and would like to have children at your wedding, make sure you plan for them accordingly. If at all possible, hold your wedding in the morning or afternoon. The later your wedding is, the more likely your young guests will become tired and act out of sorts. Those accus-

tomed to going to bed around 8 o’clock may even fall asleep during the celebration, forcing parents to leave early. Look for a venue that is child friendly. Don’t select a hotel with a lot of fine antiques. Young guests will be too tempted to touch all of the wonderful things surrounding them. Select a hotel with modern decor and make sure there are rooms nearby where young guests can nap if needed. Ask your ushers to seat all parents with young kids near the back of the room during the ceremony so they can leave quickly

if needed. Provide ample entertainment. Even the best-behaved children act up when they get tired and bored. To prevent this at your reception, hand out crayons and coloring books to little ones at tables and set up an area where children can play after dinner. If most of your young guests can handle sitting by themselves, you could set up a separate table for them where they could sit, draw and color together. Just make sure you have an adult on hand to supervise the action. If you have the

Planning your Big Day in 2012

budget, consider bringing in a clown, magician or some other form of entertainment for your young guests. If you are having your reception outdoors, rent a bouncy castle and find a volunteer to supervise the operation. You might even arrange for a group of volunteers to serve as babysitters and whisk the kids off to another room for hours of fun while their parents enjoy the reception. Finally, make sure you have plenty of food and drink on hand. Provide snacks and beverages for young guests before dinner to alleviate any hunger pains

they might be having. Then serve them a meal they will eat. Children do like to eat, but that doesn’t mean they will like what you are serving at your reception. For the best results, consult with your caterer and create a child-friendly menu for younger guests. Serve chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese in lieu of lemon chicken and rice. Your younger guests will appreciate it, and so will their parents. These are just some of the accommodations you can make for your young guests to ensure everyone has a good

time. Keep in mind you may need to take fewer or additional measures depending upon the number of young guests at your wedding. If you are planning on five or six youngsters, then you may be able to have an evening wedding at an elite hotel. If you are planning on 10 to 20 youngsters, then you may need to set your wedding for an earlier time and bring in some entertainment. If your budget allows, you could always hire a professional on-site babysitting service and leave the supervising and entertaining to them!

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Ohio Community Media

Circle of love BY TRESA ERICKSON When a couple gets married, they usually exchange rings as a symbol of their union. Wedding ring styles can run the gamut from simple gold bands to custom diamond creations. Whatever the choice, whatever the price, wedding rings have long been a part of the celebration and there are many superstitions surrounding them. Following is a brief description of some of them. Don’t drop the ring According to superstition, it is bad luck to drop the ring during the

wedding ceremony. Whoever does so will be the first to die. If the ring does happen to get dropped, neither the bride nor the groom should pick it up. Whoever is officiating should. Superstition also has it that a wedding ring dropped in a cemetery that rolls across a grave indicates death — death of the bride if the grave is of a female or death of the groom if the grave is of a male. Wear the ring on the right finger In most countries, wedding rings are worn on the ring finger, or the fourth finger, of the left

hand. This stems from the ancient belief that the vein of that particular finger on the left hand ran straight to the heart. In other countries, the ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. This stems from the belief that the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand are sacred to the Trinity. Don’t take the ring off Taking the wedding ring off could lead to loss or damage, a sign the marriage will come to an end. Lost or damaged wedding rings should be replaced as soon as possible and vows renewed.

In some areas, it is acceptable to remove a wedding ring after the birth of the first child. Superstition also has it that a wedding ring suspended on a lock of hair over the womb of a pregnant woman can determine the sex of the baby. Spinning clockwise denotes a boy; spinning counterclockwise denotes a girl. Other superstitions There are many other superstitions regarding wedding rings. Rubbing a wedding ring over a wart or sty will remove it, while sleeping with a bite of wedding cake pulled through a wed-

ding ring will bring dreams of the person’s future spouse. Some couples have a faux wedding ring baked inside their wedding cake. The guest that finds the ring will be married within the year. Pearls are shaped like tears, and therefore, not a good idea for wedding rings. Sapphires and aquamarines, on the other hand, symbolize marital bliss and make an excellent choice for wedding rings. Of course, all of these

are merely superstitions. Brides and grooms do lose their wedding ring from time to time, and while it might lead to some tension with their partner, it usually does not spell the end of their marriage. It gives them the opportunity to get a new ring, perhaps even one better than before. It is fun to learn what superstitions brides and grooms once observed. Many seem silly today, but that wasn’t the case at the time.

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BRIDAL GUIDE

January 2012

The second time around can be just as special You’re getting married again, but this time, it is for keeps. You have found your soul mate, and the two of you want to express your love for each other and exchange vows in front of everyone you know. You’re definitely going to have a wedding, and as the bride, one of the first questions you have is what type of dress and accessories to wear. This is your second wedding, after all. You’re not supposed to wear white, right? Wrong! The notion that women getting married again should not wear white is passé. A symbol of joy and commitment, white makes an excellent choice for a wedding dress color the second, third or subsequent time around. Offwhite, ivory and pastels are also popular. Brides can even disband with light colors altogether and go for bolder, deeper colors, like burgundy, dark green or red. The dress chosen should reflect the time, size and tone of the wedding, as well as the bride’s personality, lifestyle and fashion sense. It should also flatter her body type, playing up her strengths and downplaying her weaknesses. As for accessories, brides getting married again may go with almost anything but a blusher. Experts advise against this and suggest brides that want to wear a veil let it trail down their back. For those who choose not to wear a veil, hats, hair ornaments and fresh flowers make excellent substitutes.

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