Weddings MotherLode
Serving Tuolumne, Calaveras and beyond
7 Real
Weddings
Planning your dream wedding in the Mother Lode 1
www.motherlodeweddings.com
MotherLodeWeddings.com
fresh . fun . modern . timeless
Still Memories Photography www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com 2
MotherLodeWeddings.com
209.536.0428
Mother Lode Weddings Design/Publisher Kevin White Michelle White Advertising Sales Kevin White 209.768.0432 www.motherlodeweddings.com Editorial Contributers Michelle White Joleen Willis Christine Tuohy Debra Stephens Photographs Still Memories Photography Joleen Willis Photography Rich Miller Photography
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Wedding Planning Check-List
29 26 24 10 8 6 4 Up! How hard can it be?
Catering
Wedding Traditions
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real weddings
Cakes & SWEETS
Cover Photo Bride Vicky Wilson Photographer Still Memories Photography bouquet Mountain Laurel Florist Location Union Hill Inn
Floral Tips
Floral design
from the ground Building your Wedding
Mother Lode Weddings has made every effort to insure the accuracy of the information contained herein, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or ommisions.
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Contents MotherLodeWeddings.com
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Floral
Mountain Laurel Florist 209 . 532 . 9533 mountainlaurelca.com 35 S. Washington Street Sonora, Ca.
Columbia Florist
209 . 532 . 6871 columbiaflorist.net 22004 Parrots Ferry Road Sonora, Ca.
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{ { Blooms And Things 209 . 736 . 6771 bloomsandthings.com 82 N. Main Street Angels camp, Ca.
{ { Country Flower Hutch 209 . 728 . 9001 271 main street murphys, Ca.
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Design
Floral Tips So your big day is on the horizon, and with a million things to think about, here are a few tips on making one of those choices much easier. The flowers! Straight from the mouth of a local Sonora florist, here are a few things every bride should know. First, the biggest misconception is that the cost is going to be high. Set a budget for exactly how much you want to spend on flowers, put together a ‘wish list’, and most of all, be flexible. You may have your heart set on certain flowers that could be substituted with equally beautiful, similar ones at a lower cost. If you need to tweak things here and there to stay on budget, no problem! Just make sure you know exactly what you want, a minimum of two weeks before the wedding. After that, the florist will need to start ordering all the ‘ingredients’ for your fabulous flowers, so any changes after that are not possible. Other things to consider: The bouquet is the most important. Second, the centerpieces are
a priority. When your guests are sitting, waiting, eating, etc., they’re going to be looking at those arrangements! Which brings to mind something else you may not have considered. The time of the ceremony will have a lot to do with how your flowers look. If you have a summertime wedding in the mid afternoon, the flowers will need to be set up in the heat of the day, and by the time the reception rolls around, your guests will be sitting down to bouquets of wilted flowers. Understand that certain flowers don’t fare well in the summer heat, even in water, so plan your ceremony in the early evening instead. It’s also not wise to think, “Well, I can just do my own flower arrangements!” Professional florists are pros for a reason. They know the pitfalls of hundreds of different flowers, and can advise you on which ones will best suit you for your big day. Plus, they have the artistic eye to make them look photo-fabulous and that will leave a lasting impression on all of your guests!
Sonora Bridal Boutique
Sonora, Ca.
209.532.8114
sonorabridal.com
A full service Bridal Salon Where you will find everything for the Bride and her Attendants 6
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Union Hill Bata n n y ’ s mountain springs golf Inn
17566 Lime Kiln Road Sonora, Ca 95370 209.533.4709
Saddle Creek Resort
21645 Parrots ferry Road Columbia, Ca 95370 209.533.1494
Black Bear Inn
1001 Saddle Creek Drive Copperopolis, Ca 95228 209.785.8587 7
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1343 Oak Circle Arnold, Ca 95223 209.795.8999
WEDDING
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CAKES
cup
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CornerSpace Cakes Cakes / Desserts Sonora, Ca. 209.532.4112
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Alicia’s Cakes Cakes / Desserts Sugar Pine, Ca. 209.586.5400
cakes
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&
Devon’s Delectables Cakes / Desserts Columbia, Ca. 209.588.8130
Lunch Lady Cakes Cakes / Desserts Murphys, Ca. 209.768.1044
assorted
Sweets
{ {
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Jesse & Jennifer Sierra Glen Ranch
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Sonora, California
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Location
Sierra Glen Ranch
www.sierraglenranch.com
Photographer
Still Memories Photography www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com
D.J.
Sound Extreme Productions www.soundextreme.com
Videographer
Reel Eyes Media
www.reeleyesmedia.com
Florist
Columbia Florist
www.columbiaflorist.net
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Christoph & Kim Black Bear Inn Location
Black Bear Inn
www.arnoldblackbearinn.com
Photographer
Still Memories Photography www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com
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Arnold, California Caterer
Lunch Lady Catering
www.lunchladycatering.com
Flowers
Country Flower Hutch www.countryflowerhutch.com
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Location
Union Hill Inn
www.unionhillinn.com
Photographer
Still Memories Photography www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com
Flowers
Bear’s Garden
www.beargardenflorist.com
Hair/Make-up
Peter Matthew Salon 209.588.8640
Mike & Vicky Union Hill Inn
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Sonora, California
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Alex & Kathryn Kennedy Meadows, California
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Location
Dardanelle Resort Kennedy Meadows, Ca
Photographer
Still Memories Photography www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com
Entertainment
The Hills Brothers
www.thehillsbrothersband.com
Alterations/Tuxedo Sonora Bridal
www.sonorabridal.com
Rings
Diamond Concepts www.diamondconceptsjewelers.com
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Chad & Leah Lazy z Resort
Location
Photographer
www.lazyz.com
www.richmillerphoto.com
Lazy z Resort
rich miller
D.J.
Sound Extreme Productions www.soundextreme.com
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Twain Harte, California Flowers
Mountain Laurel Florist www.mountainlaurelca.com
Linens
RSVP Events 209-694-5977
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Cake
Devon’s Delectables
www.devonsdelectables.com
Dress
Sonora Bridal
www.sonorabridal.com
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Joseph & Vanessa mountain springs golf
Sonora, California
Location
Mountain springs golf
www.mountainspringsgolf.com
Photographer rich miller
www.richmillerphoto.com
Caterer
banny’s cafe 209.533.4709
Cake
safeway
www.safeway.com
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Garrett & Lauren twain harte tree farm, California
Location
twain harte tree farm
www.twainhartetreefarm.com
Photographer
joleen willis photography www.joleenwillis.com
Cake
alicia’s cakes
www.aliciascakesandcatering.com
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Plan your wedding with the most talented and unique wedding vendors. Mother Lode Weddings has gathered together the ‘creme de la creme’ of the wedding industry experts. Turning your ideas into a dream day is our sincere desire. motherlodeweddings.com
Become a fan on facebook to find out about our latest promotions, giveaways and bridal tips!
Mother LodeMW
Weddings
Serving Tuolumne & Calaveras Counties and beyond
Wedding Traditions Something borrowed, something blue… We've come to a time in our culture where it's ok for the newly engaged to pick and choose their wedding day traditions. Ceremony's have become so unique, truly representing who you, the Bride and Groom, are as a couple. All of us romantics have always enjoyed witnessing those vows in person, but now our advant garde culture of wedding attendees can truly delight in something personal: a mini vacay, the main attraction, a celebration with all the sights, sounds and tastes of who you are as a couple. You are welcome to savor those traditions that enrich your celebration, but can dismiss those that simply don't fit. One of our cultures longest standing tradition is that of "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…" with the original saying followed by, "…a sixpence in your shoe." As with many of our customs, we carried this one over with us from England, the saying 24
itself originating from around the 1550's (around the same time the bride started to wear a white dress, veil, and invite a bridal party). The saying was essentially a list of good luck charms for the bride to carry with her, but today the list is a sentimental way of the bride linking her past with her future, and also honoring those close to her. "Something old" is meant to especially honor the bride's past, many bride's choosing to wear their grandmother or mother's wedding gown. Many of us modern brides have also enjoyed looking for accessories or gowns in vintage shops and thrift stores, linking our love of all things vintage with an increasing awareness of a "green" culture. So many brides and those close to her have thought outside of the box for this one; I've even seen a quilt square safety-pinned to the petticoat underneath a bride's gown. "Something new" represents a bright future. Many times this is the gown itself, but it is also
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often a sweet gift of jewelry from the groom on the big day. "Something borrowed" is traditionally to be lent by a happily married woman, and is supposed to add to the bride's good fortune and joy. Many a bride has borrowed her grandmother's pearls on her wedding day, or pinned an heirloom brooch to her bouquet. "Something blue" is a symbol of purity, love, and the bride's fidelity, and for today's bride, a good excuse to find some dainty blue unmentionables, or maybe a baby blue garter. And for the original, "A sixpence in her shoe" (still widely practiced in British customs) was a good symbol of a financially secure future. Remember, tradition is meant to enrich, honor, and add to your celebration. If you find yourself dwelling on the small details and losing sight of the big picture, it may be time to start a new tradition of your own. Embrace what is important to you as a couple, and don't lose sight of your wedding day, and it's innumerable details. It’s only the springboard for the most important thing, your marriage.
Beautify & Relax at the
Spa Studio
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3 Salon
Refresh At Sutter Creek Sutter Creek, Ca 209.267.0887
Jillian’s Day Spa
Sonora, Ca
Murphys, Ca
209.588.8833
209.728.3939 MotherLodeWeddings.com
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Lunch Lady Catering
Wren Catering
209 . 768 . 1044
209 . 728 . 9736
Murphys, Ca.
Murphys, Ca.
{ {{ { 26
Alicia’s Catering
Dean’s Catering
209 . 586 . 5400
209 . 588 . 1233
Sugar Pine, Ca.
Sonora, Ca.
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Celebration Catering
Devon’s Delectables
209 . 928 . 4321
209 . 588 . 8130
Tuolumne, Ca.
MotherLodeWeddings.com
Columbia, Ca.
{
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How hard can it be? hiring a wedding planner may be the best decission you make
You meet, you fall in love, you get engaged! Sounds like a fairytale UNTIL the planning of your wedding begins and you begin to stress out! I can’t tell you how many times brides have said: “It’s a simple wedding, no need for help”. “I can do it by myself”. “My Aunt is good at coordinating, she will do it.” “I have family and friends that will pitch in”. These remarks are usually followed up later (sometimes only weeks before a wedding) with a phone call to me saying, “I should have hired you from the start!” HELP! It’s always great to have friends or family by your side to help out as long as it does not take them away from enjoying your special day. And when I say “special day”, that means YOUR special day. A day of sleeping in, pampering yourself, enjoying friends and family and thinking about nothing but what an amazing wedding day you are about to embark upon. It certainly does not mean getting up at the crack of dawn, throwing down rose petals, setting up tables, putting on chair covers, making calls to your vendors, etc., etc., etc.! After all is said (I DO!) and done; hiring a wedding planner will be the best decision you made. There are many small and large details that go into making sure your wedding day is perfect. A professional wedding planner can take care of all aspects of your wedding in a timely manner and keep you stress free! Remember, your wedding day is “the first day of the rest of your life”, so my advice to you is hire a professional wedding planner to ensure that the memories of your special day are “more than amazing” and RELAX!
R.S.V.P.
Events Wedding Coordinator / Designer
Debra Stephens 29
209.694.5977
rsvpdebra@hotmail.com
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Wedding Planning Checklist 1 Year to 6 Months Prior Choose a wedding date Decide whether you want an indoor wedding or outdoor wedding Select the colors, theme, and details of your wedding Choose and book a location and officiant for your wedding
Finalize your guest list Choose your invitations Mail invitations Purchase the wedding gown and veil Purchase the bridesmaids dresses
Choose and book your reception location
Purchase or arrange for rental of groom and groomsmen tuxedos
Select the caterer and choose a wedding cake
Book your honeymoon destination
Choose a florist and start planning your wedding flowers Book the musical entertainment and master of ceremonies Find a photographer and, or videographer
Plan the rehearsal dinner Arrange transportation to and from the wedding and reception
3 Months to 1 Month Prior
Write your guest list
Obtain the marriage license
Make a bridal registry
Purchase the wedding rings
Decide on bridesmaids
Have the mothers of the bride and groom choose their dresses
Choose the remainder of your wedding party Start shopping for your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses Begin thinking about your preferred honeymoon location 30
6 Months To 3 Months Prior
Confirm all catering, floral, and travel details Create your wedding programs Plan and invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner
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1 Month to Two Weeks Prior Plan makeup and hairstyling, book professional stylist if desired Purchase wedding accessories like favors and place cards Finalize all music with the DJ or entertainment provider
2 Weeks Ahead Finalize all details with the caterer and give an updated guest count Confirm all plans with your florist Obtain your tickets for your honeymoon
1 Week Ahead
Your wedding day Stay calm! Enjoy a healthy breakfast Visit makeup artist and hairdresser Get dressed for your wedding Savor every wonderful moment of your special day!
Sonora Wedding Faire Sunday~ February 26, 2012 Hours: 11:00am to 4:00pm Mother Lode Fairgrounds Sonora, Ca
Pack for your honeymoon Give the wedding party their gifts Hold the rehearsal dinner Attend bachelor/bachelorette party
Day Before Relax with family and friends Get wedding manicure The bride should stay with loved ones and retire early It’s never too early to start planning! 31
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Firefall Jewelers Custom Designers
Over 25 years of quality jewelry and 3 locations to serve you Angels Camp 1259 South Main Street 209.736.1550
Copperopolis 135 Stone Street 209.785.7888
Valley Springs 10 Nove Way / Suite L 209.772.7388