Mother Lode Weddings by kevin white

Serving Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador Counties

Complimentary Bridal Guide

Contest

Cover Model

Wedding

Love

How We Met & Fell In

Whoopsies

Brides

Tell All

2013 ISSUE MotherLodeWeddings.com

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Weddings Mother Lode

Editors Note Congratulations on your engagement! Planning your wedding should be a joyful experience rather than a stressful overwhelming one. So, we have created an informative and fun wedding magazine, full of useful information, helpful tips and visual inspiration to help the bride and groom in planning their dream wedding in the Mother Lode. We want to simplify the wedding planning process by bringing you all the resources you need, give you creative ideas, save you time and money, and introduce you to some really fantastic vendors. Remember to just relax and enjoy this wonderful time in your life. It is meant to be a beautiful celebration of your love towards one another, among family and friends.

Magazine

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Enjoy! Kevin and Michelle

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 Erin Milnik Photographs Still Memories Photography Joleen Willis Photography Erin Milnik Photography

Cover Photo

48-49 47 44 36-40 31 28-29 26 16-25 14 13 11 8-9 Up!

Wedding planning checklist

A wedding cake tradition Wedding whoopsies Brides tell all

The bouquet Color Palettes

Wedding Day Timeline Real Weddings

The high price of cheap wedding photography

How the honeymoon began

Model Bobbi Bankston Dress The Clothes Mine Photographer Still Memories Photography Hair Sheree Richards MakeUp Ursula Bahamondes Mother Lode Weddings has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the infor mation contained herein, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or ommissions.

How we met and fell in love Bridal Shows

from the ground

Building your wedding

Contents MotherLodeWeddings.com

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How we met Nicole & Coltin

My husband is an identical twin. In 2002 I met his twin brother, who never mentioned he had a twin. I ran into Coltin (thinking it was Trentin) at a Halloween party a few months later and went up to talk to him- which was quite funny. After that encounter I didn’t see them again until 2003 when I was looking to rent a room in the town he lived in. The twins and two of their good friends they were living with at the time had a room available and I went to look at it. Coltin didn’t get there until later that night when I was about to drive home- really excited about the big, beautiful house- ready to move in! Once he got there he was so talkative, charming and funny that we ended up talking in the kitchen until the wee hours of the morning. We saw each other every day after that (I ended up not moving in because we started dating) and we have been together ever since.

Bradlyn & Nick We met at a mutual friend’s house up in Confidence. The night we met, Nick kept telling his friends and my best friend “I’m going to marry that girl someday”. We exchanged phone numbers and went out on a few dates. A few months later he sent flowers with a note asking me to be his girlfriend. On our one year anniversary, we took a spontaneous trip to the ocean. He took me to my favorite place, Monterey Bay Aquarium. We had dinner and went out to the beach. He kept giggling and I was wondering what he was up to. That’s when he pulled a ring out of his pocket and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. And of course I said yes.

& Fell in love

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How the Honeymoon Began So why is it called a honeymoon?

We’ve all heard the term, but how did the term ‘honeymoon’ come to be? The phrase has remained, but the tradition is far different from what it used to be. In ancient Northern Europe, during the month after the wedding, the newly married couple would drink wine made from fermented honey, called mead. A months time was referred to as a moon, during this period (think of the moon going through it’s full phase). Another ancient Northern European custom, was when the groom would abduct or capture the bride from a neighboring village and then carry her off to a secret location for one month. He hoped the bride would become pregnant, before the brides family had located her. Both these ancient Northern European practices, date back to the history of Atilla, king of the Asiatic Huns from A.D. 433 to A.D. 453. In the Victorian era, the honeymoon began to really take shape and become the beloved tradition we now know. During the engagement, and up until the ceremony, the bride and groom were kept separated, and the honeymoon was the first real time that the two of them could get away together and get to know one another. Bridal tours also came about in the 19th century. These were trips that were paid for by the groom’s family, and would last anywhere from a few weeks to several months! The Victorian middle class couldn’t afford such an extravagance as the rich, so they would take minibreaks that were post-wedding trips only lasting a few days. Once automobiles, trains, and airplanes became the ‘norm’, couples were now able to choose more exotic, far-away locales to honeymoon. So there you have it! Pack your bags, and have some fun enjoying the modern-day take on this age old tradition. MotherLodeWeddings.com

The High Price of Cheap Wedding Photography Why is it that most wedding day horror stories revolve around the photography or an incompetent photographer? Stories like lost or damaged memory cards, blurry, dark or unedited photos, never receiving the photos, etc. The sad but true fact is that most brides living the post-wedding-photography nightmare admittedly gave in to the” save-money-with-cheapphotography” mindset, a mistake that ended up costing them more than their cheap or free photography. The sad truth is, cheap or even free is too high a cost when your first family heirloom is at stake: your wedding photographs. How does cheap/free photography approach us? We have a friend or acquaintance that has a nice camera. They’ve even taken lots of great pictures of their kids/ dog/sunset. They offer to photograph your wedding because they think it will be fun to do or say it will be their gift to you. Or, you price shop around for the cheapest so called ‘professional’ photographer, not taking into account their experience, equipment or quality of work. Or, you find ample ads for cheap photography on Craig’s list, willing to stay the whole day and give you 1000’s of images. Their website is all of landscapes, but photography is photography, right? WRONG. You can be sure if their pricing is cheap, there is a reason. Understandably, the “save-money-with-cheap-photography” theory makes sense at first glance: wedding photography IS expensive, and why not save those precious budgeted dollars? Any budget minded bride with an excel sheet sees the benefits, but will ultimately learn the cost of cheap or free photography the hard way. Save yourself from post-wedding disappointment and consider this list when comparing your cheap/free amateur photography to that of a real professional. 1. Experience. It’s true, you will pay for it, especially for a good wedding photographer. Important moments on your wedding day will only happen once, and a professional wedding photographer will know how to anticipate these moments. Not only will they be aware of them, they will also be in the right place, at the right time, with the right lens, and the correct lighting. If one of those things is missing, your moment (never to happen again) is lost. There are many key shots that happen during the wedding day, and not only antici14

pating them, but also knowing what they are, will be 2nd nature to a seasoned pro. Likely, a friend or amateur will miss these shots simply for not knowing. And if they do know, will they have both the gear and technical know-how to catch that moment both bright and clear? Or will it be blurry and dark? Shooting professional wedding photography is a skill, acquired through many years of training and experience. You are paying for that talent, time and expertise. You are also paying for all the memories of your special day, which is priceless. Make sure to thoroughly check out their wedding portfolio and you may even want to ask to see an entire wedding they shot, to see how and if they edit all the images, when looking for a wedding photographer. 2. Gear. In our technical era, almost everybody has a nice camera. It’s not uncommon for many of the guests at your wedding to be toting prosumer or even professional camera bodies. In all likelihood, at least one friend of yours will have a nice camera. They are probably also a hobbyist, and offer to be your wedding photographer. The difference between a pro and a hobbyist, is that the pro will come prepared with not only a professional camera body, but also professional lenses that will do a variety of different things. They will know when and how to use them. They will bring gear for lighting and lighting modification, and know how to use these things for the most flattering results. They will also arrive with a back up of all these items, so that if something fails, they will not miss your moments. Your friend will likely have ONE camera body and lens. Even if your friend has a nice camera, they’re still not properly equipped. What kind of lenses will they have? Will they have professional lenses that provide sharp crisp images or non professional lenses that can give you fuzzy images? Will they be lenses that zoom in close during your ceremony to get your expression as you exchange your vows, or will all your shots be from the back of the church, you and your betrothed an ant dot? Will they have lenses that let in enough light so that when you get your images back you won’t be dark? Even in a dimly lit church that doesn’t allow flash? A little food for thought: would you hire your friend with the nice pots and pans to cater your wedding? cont. pg 33

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Colton & Nicole

Venue / Catering Photographer

Lazy Z Resort www.lazyz.com

Still Memories Photography

www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com

Cake

CornerSpace Cakes

Flowers

Mountain Laurel Florist

209-532-4112

www.mountainlaurelca.com

Sound Extreme Productions

www.soundextreme.com

Hair / Makeup Flawless Hair and Makeup Design www.flawlesshairandmakeupdesign.com

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Kevin & Sarah Photographer

Erin Milnik Photography www.erinmilnik.com

Coordinator

Shannon Metcalf Events

WhimsicalUmbrellas

Flowers

Bella Umbrellas

Natalie Galasso Designs

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Seth & Sonya Venue / Catering Photographer

Greenhorn Creek Resort

www.campsrestaurant.com

Still Memories Photography

www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com

Cake

CornerSpace Cakes

Hair

Sheree Richards

209-532-4112

209-768-4077

Flowers

Mountain Laurel Florist

Makeup

Amanda Ragan

www.mountainlaurelca.com

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Ryan & Annie Venue

Bava Family Farms

Florist

Twigs & Stems

Photographer

Joleen Willis Photography www.joleenwillis.com

Makeup Artist Dress

Makeup by Christa Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bridal

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Nick & Katie Venue / Catering Photographer

Ironstone Vineyards

www.ironstonevineyards.com

Still Memories Photography

www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com

Flowers

Mountain Laurel Florist www.mountainlaurelca.com

Sound Extreme Productions

www.soundextreme.com

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Wedding DAy You want the day you’ve been dreaming of your whole life to FEEL like a fairytale, but let’s face it, any of us who have been in a wedding know that a wedding day can be chaotic. It’s such a fast moving day, and brides, after all your planning, you DESERVE to slow down and savor it. How is this possible? The answer is a well thought out and executed schedule. I’ve heard of brides protesting to schedules, reasoning that they “don’t want to be rushed,” or they “want their day to happen naturally,” and while this is understandable, I promise you the only way to slow down and savor that day, is to actually plan and schedule time to do so. If you’re working with a planner, she will likely have a role in contacting and confirming with your other vendors when and where they will be arriving. And even if you don’t have a planner, you may want to consider a “Day of Coordinator.” This person will have less to do with your decor and vendor decisions, but they are critical in taking the day out of your hands and making sure everything runs smoothly. Even if you opt to have neither a Planner or Day of Coordinator, it’s wise to pass this role on to a family friend (NOT your mom or someone intimately involved), some brides even surrendering their cell phones as to not be bothered with last minute details. True story, a bride manning her own cell phone got a call moments before she was to put on her dress, a guest checking in at their hotel and wondering why their room wasn’t paid for. Brides, that is not your concern, nor should you be bothered with it during these precious moments of your day! The other vendor that you will want to work closely with and collaborate on the planning of the schedule is the photographer. Wedding photography has changed drastically in the last 10 years, and is playing a very large role in most wedding days. Your photographer will want to make sure there is enough time to deliver the kind of photographs you hired him or her for, and to do that they need time. Also, if you’re in communication far enough in advance before the wedding, your photographer, who understands lighting, will help you choose the best time to have your ceremony. Furthermore, they will break the day down, letting you 26

Timeline

know where they will be and when. A photographer has many roles on your wedding day, part of that being able to photograph all the beautiful details you’ve planned and made. To do this they must be sure that you’re not doing something important (like putting on the dress) without them. Typically when a wedding day runs behind, it happens at the very beginning of your day. Brides, you must be in close communication with your hair and make up artists before the wedding day! It is crucial they arrive with enough time to do their job, without making you behind, but they can’t do this if they don’t know when they must be finished. Remember, it typically takes a bride two and a half hours to get her hair and make up done before she even puts on the dress! As photography has taken on an even greater wedding role, many couples have opted out of the traditional “seeing each other for the first time” when they walk down the aisle. They value creative portraiture, but they also want to be present at their wedding and enjoy ALL of their reception. These couples have decided to forego the traditional seeing each other for the first time” when they walk down the aisle” and have done what’s now called a “First Look”. This is when the photographer chooses a secluded spot and arranges for the bride to approach the groom from behind, gently tapping him on the shoulder and whispering in his ear when he can turn around. Meanwhile, the photographer shoots from a distance, getting all the precious aftermath. I am absolutely astounded with the beauty of the First Look, because rather than taking that nervous, very public, walk down the aisle, you’re in a private setting where you can both express and freely show your emotion. What happens is the most beautiful, candid, un-staged imagery. All who have done a First Look say it was the best decision they made for their wedding day, that getting special private time away from everybody else. All agree, that the wedding day flies by so quickly and publicly. That moment alone, is one of the things they remember most completely and enjoyed the most, the day of. And all agree, it didn’t take away from the walk down the aisle, which was still special. An added bonus, is that logistically speaking, your First cont. pg. 41

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Capturing Real Moments

Photography Still Memories

www.stillmemoriesphotosite.com MotherLodeWeddings.com

209.536.0428

Color Palettes Before you start choosing your wedding décor, you will need to choose a color palette. Choosing the perfect color scheme can be difficult, especially if you’re uncertain about your theme. It can also be helpful because once you’ve chosen your colors, you can then start to envision the scene – your bridesmaids dresses, invites, shoes, floral design, details, etc. When deciding on a color palette, there are some questions you should ask yourself. 1. What time of the year will your wedding be? Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter. Think about colors that will complement the season you have chosen. Spring and summer colors tend to be lighter or softer, while fall and winter colors are usually darker and richer. 2. Where will you be having your wedding? Will it be an indoor venue or an outdoor venue? Check your venue surroundings to see what colors may compliment the setting you choose and the colors that are already in and around there. 3. What is your wedding style? Do you prefer something more bold or vibrant with one or two accent colors, or something more romantic or elegant with an assortment of soft muted colors? A couple of places we have found to be helpful in choosing a wedding palette, are bridal magazines featuring real weddings, and pinterest to see what creative ideas previous brides have put together for their weddings. We have also put together an assortment of color palettes here, just to give you a few ideas. The possibilities are endless. Have fun with it. Bride Tip: Limit your primary/main wedding colors to just two or three, so it won’t look confusing, and keep your colors consistent throughout the wedding.

Turquoise, Tangerine, Ivory Simply Love

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Yellow, Mocha, White Rustic Charm

Pink, White Tickled Pink

Green, Black, White Classic Romance

Plum, Antique Gold, Ivory, Green Royal Autumn

Chocolate, Gold, Cranberry Fall in Love

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The Bouquet The bouquet holds a tremendous amount of value. The most consistent detail of the day is the bouquet, and yet it is the one thing that often gets overlooked. If you look at a typical wedding, you will notice the bouquet is everywhere! Wedding photographers take detail shots of it, it’s in the bridal portraits, and most importantly: the bride and groom portraits. While some brides may not realize this, it’s the most photographed detail of the entire day. So, it’s extremely important that bride’s invest in what they really want since it will show up in a majority of their images. A bouquet essentially tie’s an entire wedding together and makes a huge impact, so when choosing a florist, make sure to find one that can deliver what you’ve always envisioned in your heart. The Origin of the Wedding Bouquet Flowers are incorporated into the wedding ceremony as a symbol of fertility. The first bouquets consisted of herbs and, later, orange blossoms.

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wedding photography pg. 14 3. Posing and Coaching. Of all the days you want to look your best, your wedding is probably one of the most important. Although there’s no doubt you’ll be stunning, trusting a professional to pose and direct you will show off all your best angles, and also get you and your groom moving and interacting in a way that’s comfortable and intimate in front of the camera. Your friend or amateur photographer likely has little practice in bridal posing and coaching, and will likely waste precious wedding day time trying to figure it out, or, worse, not give you any direction at all. 4. Family Photos. How often are all these people in one place at one time? A professional photographer will add value to your photography by providing you with usable, gift-able family portraits. They will be comfortable directing and arranging lots of people who, let’s face it, just want to party or might be a little bit tipsy already. Your friend will likely be overwhelmed with this task, not know what order to go in, or even where to start. Your friend, too, might be anxious to get to the reception as well, ready to be a guest now that the ceremony is over, even though a professional would know most of the candid coverage is about to start.

5. Lighting. One of the key elements of wedding photography is lighting. Without proper lighting, your photos will lack the emotion, depth and mood, of one of the most important days of your life. Your friend (if they haven’t started partying at your reception) will likely not have the proper gear necessary, and you will end up with dark or harshly lit photos. A professional will know the right camera settings, as well as have the required lighting, to create the most beautiful images. 6. Post-Processing. A wedding photographer will come home with easily over 1000 raw images to sort through and edit. A friend or amateur may not have the professional software required to sort and properly edit them. Even if they do, this is a very time-intensive process. Your friend will likely not have realized until this moment what an undertaking this is. With their job, family, and life, there is no telling when you will get your images. They may even become so overwhelmed, they give up and give you nothing at all, or give you your images, unedited. With a professional, they will have a workflow and schedule in place to move through your images efficiently, edit them to perfection, and then turnover beautiful cont. pg 43

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Bridal Tip

- On your RSVPs, put a line for a requested song. This way you know what the audience wants to hear and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get excited when their song comes on!

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Black Bear Inn Arnold, California

arnoldblackbearinn.com MotherLodeWeddings.com

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...Timeline pg. 26 Look frees up time for you to take most if not all of your pictures before the ceremony, so after your walk back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. you don’t have to miss any of your party! Once to your reception, a good DJ or MC will keep the flow of your party moving and entertained. The reception contains many “mini-ceremonies” which they will know how to space apart to keep your guests entertained and on to the next moment. If you have the luxury of planning your day from scratch, here are a few tips that will help you savor the day and be present: 1. Hire a Planner or Day of Coordinator. 2. If possible, have your entire wedding at ONE location (don’t travel to multiple locations for prep, ceremony and reception. This literally eats up your day and adds loads of stress). 3. Consult with your planner and photographer well in advance for a preliminary schedule (ideally before you plan the ceremony time or send out invites). 4. If possible, set up most of the reception and decor the night before. 5. Have a Thursday rehearsal so you can rest and take care of last minute details the day before your Satur-

day wedding. 6. Pass out printed schedules to everybody at the rehearsal. 7. Leave everything you need at your venue the night before your wedding (dress, shoes, jewelry, etc…). 8. Get your nails done the day before the wedding. 9. Communicate to your family before the wedding, who’s to be in family photos to avoid confusion. 10. Inform your hair and make up artists what time they must be done at, and give them ample time to do their job in. 11. Coordinate with your planner that your bouquets will be delivered long before posed portraits are to take place. 12. Plan time for your photographer to sneak away to take your un-touched details shots. 13. Surrender your cell phone. 14. Add an intimate First Look to your wedding day. 15. Take care of most, if not all the photos before the ceremony. 16. Consult with your DJ and make sure he has a schedule to keep the night moving.

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...wedding photography pg 33 wedding day imagery in a timely manner. 7. Album and Design. Professional photographers are the only ones that have access to professional labs and album makers, because they have to go through an interview process to be accepted as a client. A professional will have design experience to lay out your album and have you proof it. This is also a very overwhelming task if taken on by a friend or amateur, often not happening at all, or printed at cheap inferior, novelty labs. You don’t want your precious wedding album falling apart or fading within a couple of years. 8. This is probably the most important point: the strain on your relationship. Say you did take your friend up who offered to photograph your wedding. Possibly all SEEMS well on the wedding day, or maybe your friend gave up and became one of the guests by your first dance. Do you say anything? Do you ask them to keep photographing? What about when it’s 8 months past your wedding and you still haven’t received your images? Do you feel comfortable asking? Probably not, since there is no contract or obligation on your friends part. When you do get them, and many of the photos are un-usable (dark, blurry, orangetinted) there will be such a strain on your relationship because of your disappointment, and your poor friend who meant well, but has now realized they were not prepared for the job. Brides, save yourselves! Any amount of money spent on a photographer is wasted if you don’t like, or can’t use those pictures! Real professional photography and their experience, is an investment that will pay off in years, of images to look at and share with your children and grandchildren. Remember, your memories are at stake, and that what you have to show for the wedding itself, is the photographs. Creating the perfect wedding day without quality professional photography, would be a waste of all that effort and leave you empty handed or with bad pictures afterwards. If you value photography at all, do not sacrifice quality to fit your budget.

Origin of the Tiered Wedding Cake The origin of the tiered wedding cake lies in Anglo-Saxon times. Guests would bring small cakes to the wedding and stack them on top of each other. Later, a clever French baker created a cake in the shape of the small cakes and covered it in frosting. It is now known as the “tiered cake”. MotherLodeWeddings.com

Wedding “ Whoopsies!”

o you’re a bride-to-be, and you have a list of a million things you have to do. You’ve never done this before, and the most important day of your life is something you definitely want to get right. And we’re here to help! Here’s a list of some common wedding mistakes to avoid. 1. Be smart with your budget! One very common mistake is to get carried away and end up starting your new life together in massive debt. Plan a budget and stick to it. There may be a few unexpected things that come up, but if you can prioritize what’s really important, you can then be more flexible with something that’s lower on your list. 2. “I can remember all this!” You may be the most organized person you know, but even the most savvy planner can have something slip through the cracks. Make a list! When you wake up in the middle of the night thinking of something you want to ask the florist, write it down. Keep a pad and pen with you so that when you suddenly remember something to add to your to-do list, you can add it right then and there. Your brain is going to be overloaded in the coming months, so make it easy on yourself my making a list. 3. “But what about Aunt Edna?” Too many guests is another easy mistake to make. It creates a trickle-down effect of problems from the reception hall size, to catering, to the open bar. Then “poof!”, you’ve exceeded your budget. Make a guest list and stick to it. Don’t feel obligated to invite everyone. Just stick with those near and dear to your heart and you’ll stay well within your budget. 4. Be on the same page. You and your fiance need to be together on this one. Discuss all decisions with him. Also, your attendants can’t read your mind. Tactfully tell them your wishes and things will go much more smoothly if they all know what to expect. Then take them all out to dinner to let them know you really appreciate their help. Do the same with your parents if they’re footing the bill for your big day. 5. “I can do this all myself, right?” In one word: No. Professionals are good at what they do for a reason, and many a harried bride has come scrambling to them at the last minute asking them for help with something they thought they could do themselves. The pros have the experience, the know-how, 44

and the ability to make your day go smoothly and give you one less thing to worry about. Your peace of mind will be well worth the price. They know what they’re doing, and have done it many times before, so don’t be afraid to ask for any tips or advice. They’ll be happy to help! 6. Leave a paper trail. It may be easier to pay in cash, but what if something goes wrong? Protect yourself against any charges you may need to dispute later by paying with a credit card. Also, consider getting an airline rewards card so you can rack up the miles for a nice trip later for the two of you! 7. “Do I have to?” Thank You notes. As old fashioned as it may sound, yes, you have to. Memories of your wedding can go sour in your guests memories without the simple gesture of a Thank You card. Make it a priority to do so, when you return from your honeymoon. Graciously thank them for their gift and their presence on your special day, and they’ll always remember it warmly. Be sure to also thank those who helped with the planning, the decorating, the bridal shower, etc. Let everyone know that you couldn’t have done it without them!

Bridal Tip

When going to bridal shows, type up address labels in advance, so you don’t have to spend time filling out all the prize registration forms.

Bridal Tip

Ask your caterer to pack up some food for the two of you. Most newlyweds don’t find the time to eat and are starving when they get home. “Love is like a butterfly, it settles upon you when you least expect it.” -Anonymous

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A Wedding Cake Tradition

avor the flavor of your wedding cake…. one year later! One of many endearing wedding traditions is to share a slice of wedding cake with your new love on your first anniversary. So how do you preserve your wedding cake on your big day so when the time comes, it doesn’t taste like…well… year-old cake? First, consider what type of cake you’ll be having. Is it delicate white fruit or cream filled cake with butter cream frosting or whipped cream? Or something more substantial like chocolate or carrot cake? The latter, or cakes with more fat in them, will freeze a bit better than the more fragile cakes, and although it won’t taste bakery fresh, it could stand the test of time a little better. Plus, you could always wash it down with some champagne, right? So how to keep the cake as fresh as possible in the freezer? First, ask the caterer to set aside the top tier after you’ve taken photos of it, that way it won’t be accidentally cut and served. Plus, it’s easier to keep the cake portion fresher if it has the protective layer of frosting on it. After the caterer removes the top tier, have them put it into the fridge or freezer right away so the icing will harden. After it hardens, remove any ornate decorations and wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap, so little or no air can get in. Don’t use tin foil, as this could cause freezer burn. Then seal the cake in an airtight container or freezer bag. Label it clearly, or put it in it’s own little box so you’ll know exactly what it is and won’t accidentally throw it away while cleaning out the freezer 6 months later. On your 1 yr anniversary, thaw the cake in the refrigerator for several hours (or even overnight), crack open some champagne, pull out the photo album and enjoy your first milestone together! Bon Apetit!

Bridal Tip

Instead of saving the top tier of your cake, you can always order a small replica of your wedding cake for your first wedding anniversary. It won’t take up space in your freezer and it will taste fresher.

Dave Cook

“To love another person is to see the face of God” -Victor Hugo MotherLodeWeddings.com

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 Write your guest list

Plan the rehearsal dinner Arrange transportation to and from the wedding and reception

3 Months to 1 Month Prior Obtain the marriage license Purchase the wedding rings

Make a bridal registry Decide on bridesmaids

Have the mothers of the bride and groom choose their dresses

Choose the remainder of your wedding party

Confirm all catering, floral, and travel details

Start shopping for your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses

Create your wedding programs

Begin thinking about your preferred honeymoon location

48 48

6 Months To 3 Months Prior

Plan and invite everyone to the rehearsal dinner

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1 Month to Two Weeks Prior

Visit makeup artist and hairdresser

Plan makeup and hairstyling, book professional stylist if desired

Savorevery everywonderful wonderful moment Savor moment of your special day! of your special day!

Purchase wedding accessories like favors and place cards

Get dressed for your wedding and...

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in Your Shoe

“Love reminds you that nothing else matters”

“Something old” represents the bride’s link to her -Amy family and past. The bride may choose toBushell wear a piece of family jewelry or her mother’s wedding gown. Why isnew” the represents Bride onhope thefor Groom’s Left? “Something good fortune and success in the future. The bride often chooses the Because grooms in Anglo-Saxon England often represent item. Finalize all details with the cater- wedding had togown defendtotheir brides,the thenew bride would stand to “Something borrowed” usually comes from happily er and give an updated guest count the left of her groom so that his sword arma was free. married woman and is thought to lend some of her good fortune and joy to the bride. Confirm all plans with your florist “Something blue” is a symbol of love, fidelity, and Obtain your tickets for your honey- purity of the bride. “A sixpence in her shoe” is to wish the bride wealth in moon her future life. Finalize all music with the DJ or entertainment provider

2 Weeks Ahead

“I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you”

1 Week Ahead

-Unknown

Pack for your honeymoon

Origin of Tossing the Bouquet

Give the wedding party their gifts Hold the rehearsal dinner Attend bachelor/bachelorette party

Day Before

Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that stems from England. Women would try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers believing it would bring them some of her good luck. To escape from the crowd, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.

Relax with family and friends Get wedding manicure The bride should stay with loved ones and retire early

Your wedding day Stay calm! Enjoy a healthy breakfast

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