I Do — Spring/Summer 2024

PhoebeandJakeSlonakeron their weddingdayinJune2023 at The Farm at EaglesRidgein Lancaster. Seepage20.

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From venueillustrationsto personalizedcrests,custom wedding invitationsmakeaone-of-a-kind firstimpression

BY MADDY PONTZ

sabellaBarrdidn’t give muchthought to her weddingday before she got engaged butsheknew that she wanted tosendcustom invitations

AsBarrandhernowhusband,Alex Barr, plannedtheir July2021 wedding at theInn at Leola Village,sheprioritized workingwith Corkand Chambers, a Lancasterbasedcustom event designstudio

Featureslikehanddrawings, day-ofmapsand waxseals

“Inever daydreamed about mywedding,” Barr says “Iknew it wouldhappen someday, but I was never onethat had everythingplanned out. But I always knew thatI wouldhave Corkand Chambers involved some way, somehow onour weddingday. Custominvitations were somethingthat werereallyimportant to me. I wantedit to reflectusas a couple,beunique and set the vibe for our wedding.”

makethesecustominvitations by CorkandChambers one-of-a-kind.

PHOTO BY BRIANAWILBUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Emily Corcoranand VirginiaChamberlin, co-owners of CorkandChambers, worked withBarr to create a custom wedding invitation suite andday-ofsignage, featuring a cresthighlightingthecouple’s initials, anillustrationoftheir venueand a background selected to match thecolor ofherbridesmaidsdresses, amongother personalizeddetails

Each year, CorkandChambers works with approximately15 to 18engagedcoupleslike theBarrs. They bookaboutsixmonthsout fromeach weddingdate, so thatthey have plenty of time for thebrainstorming,design andcreation process.

“We docompletelycustom wedding invitations Everything we’re doingis

designedfrom a blankslate all oftheartwork,allofthe letteringiscreated basedon ourcouple’s vision,” Corcoran says “(Ourclients) want somethingthat nooneelse has Our couples really, truly want somethingthat they’re not gettinganywhere else.”

For past CorkandChambers clients, the pairhasdesignedcustominvitationsuites featuring everythingfrompetillustrations to personalizedcrests, venuepaintings to day-of maps, watercolors to modernlinedrawings.

ElisabethStuckey, ownerofElisabeth Stuckey Design —a luxurystationerbasedin Lititz sharesthat herclientscome to her because they also want somethingentirely one-of-a-kindandpersonalized.

“MostofthecouplesthatI workwithare looking for invitationsthat are personaland unique,andnotaninvitationthat lotsof otherpeoplecouldhave orcould just go onlineandpurchase for their wedding,” Stuckey says.

Stuckey continues, “They want something that theirguestshave never seenbefore,and they really want somethingthat speaks to theirpersonal selves theirstoryas a couple orthemeaningbehindthelocationoftheir wedding.”

BRIANAWILBURPHO TO GRAPHY

Lititz-basedluxury stationerElisabeth Stuckey says her clients wantinvitations thatspeak to their storyasa coupleor thelocationoftheir wedding.

PHOTO BY AMBER DAWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Endless options

Stuckey suggestsletterpress printing, envelopeliners (artworkthat isadded to theinsideofeachenvelope), wax sealsandsilkribbons asadditionaloptions for personalization.

Theuse ofribbonor a wax seal can add a romantic feel to weddinginvitations, Corcoran says

“Thelist(of invitation add-ons) honestly goesonandon,” says Julia Casolo, ownerof Julia Kay Design, whichcreates bothfullycustomand pre-designed, semi-custom wedding invitations WhilebasedinEaston, Casolohas workedwithmany couples gettingmarriedinLancaster County. Casolomentionshandmadepaper, vellumwrapsand overlays, couple portraits, diecuttingandvintage postage asadditionalcustomization options.

“Vintage postage isanother way to incorporate personalthings,” Casolo says. “For a couplethat got married in Maine, we did a bunchof Maineinspiredvintage postage, so that’s always a reallycool touchthat people can addon.”

Settingthetone

Theinvitation is generallythe first opportunitya couplehas to communicate what their guests can expectfromtheir wedding and a custominvitation suite can set the tone fora trulyspecialday.

“That’s the first thingthat our family andfriendsare opening, so I really wantedit to be somethingspecial,” Barr says ofher CorkandChambers designed custominvitations

“People want their guests to have a reallycool experiencearound their wedding, and so that startswiththe

invitation,whichisthe very first impression,” Stuckey says “Havingthat experienceof getting a reallybeautiful invitation inthemail. it reallyelevates that guest experience.”

From Casolo’s perspective,it’s somethingmore couples want, asshe has seenanincreasedinterestinher custominvitations overthepast year

“Ithinkcouplesandother vendors are reallystarting to prioritize wedding stationeryandthe impact they have on the overallaestheticof a wedding,” she says

Elizabeth Wyatt and Marcin Laszkiewiczhired Julia Kay Design to create custominvitations for their June2023 wedding at Historic Acres of Hershey, largelydue to theirspecific creative vision.

“(Invitationsare)the first impression andsneakpeekthat your guests get ofthe wedding, and we knew we wantedbeautiful, high-quality, unique invitations,” Wyatt says inanemail.

“I think couples and other vendors are really starting to prioritizewedding stationeryand the impact theyhave on the overallaesthetic of awedding. -JULIACASOLO, OWNEROFJULIA KAY DESIGN

“We gota lotofcomplimentsonourinvitations People mentionedhow high-end and high-quality they looked,” Wyatt says “We were also askedwhich website we bought themfrom,and I loved beingable totellthemthey were custommade right in PA.”

Andunlike so many otherelementsofthat specialday, weddinginvitations serve as ready-made keepsakes

“They reallyare oneoftheonly tangible itemsthat you have after your weddingday isdone,” Casolo says “It’s such a genuinememoryfrom your weddingthat you can literally keep forever in a frame.”

Thepriceofpersonalization

Custominvitations can costnotablymore thanthose purchasedfromlarge wedding websites.

The average costofcustominvitationsfrom Corkand Chambers isapproximately$2,500–$3,000, andcustom invitationsfrom Julia Kay Design costaroundthe same. To workwithElisabethStuckey Design, the average costis$6,000–$7,000

IsabellaandAlex Barr had CorkandChambers designcustom wedding invitationsthatincludedacrest withtheirinitials,anillustration oftheir venueandabackground that matchedthe bridesmaids’dresses.

PHOTO BY TORI CO.PHOTOGRAPHY

However, ifcustominvitationsare in a couple’s budget, they can add a personal touch to a day sometimesdriven by formality andtradition.

“It’s more andmore important for weddings to be so uniquely you,” Chamberlin says. “There are not reallyrulesorcustoms anymore,whichis so fun. You don’t have to includeanything, or you can include everything(in yourinvitationsuite).”

ShawneeRun Wedding Venue&

Dress

Ag ro wingnumber of bri desan d gr oo msar e te llingguests

wha t the y can — andcan’t — we ar to the we dding

BY REBECCA LOGAN

bbyBierowski remembers strollingaroundBrick GablesinLititz,picturing whather wedding reception wouldlooklike there.

“Ijustkindofenvisionedthis fallpalette veryrichcolorsandamber tones,” she says.

Thatplacidimage wasjarringly interrupted by memoriesof weddings she’dpreviously attended.

“Ihadbeen toseveralwherea few guests would wearalimegreendress or somethinglike that,”she says “Whileit wouldlookgreat ontheperson,ifthey

Colors were carefullycurated at theOctober2022 weddingofAbby andMattBierowski at Brick Gablesin Lititz. “Pleaseindulgeus bywearing neutral tones,” urged the couple’s wedding website, whichincluded 24 blocksof colors for inspiration.“Thiswill contribute to a beautifulaesthetic for our receptionandgroupphotos!”

DAHLIA

happened to beinadancephoto —or somethinglikethat—unlessit wasin blackandwhite,itkindofruinedthe aesthetic.”

SotheBierowskis—whomet at Penn State Universityandarenowbothdoctors andnewparentslivinginCherryHill, N.J. requestedthat guests wearneutral tones to theirOctober2022 wedding.They joinedthe ranksofcouplesaskingpeople to wear(ornot wear) somethingspecific. MarthaStewart Weddingslists “guest colorpalettes”asoneof“17trends you’ll see everywherein2024.”Themagazine putsitrightuptherewith oysterbarsand fancy zero-proofdrinkoptions forguests eschewingbooze

“Whilebridesmaidsare getting moreleewaywiththeir attire, guestsarebeingasked to consideradresscode,” notesthatmagazine.

Bierowski says she wantedguests to have ample

attireoptions. Herinvitations requested a“neutralpalette”anddirected folks to a websitewhere 24 different colorblocks were offeredasinspiration. Evenherbridesmaids wore different fallcolorsoffloor-length velvetdresses. Two were onesthe womenhad wornin previous weddings.Otherbridesmaids selectedfromdressesthatBierowski pickedouton Poshmarkandmailed to them to pickfrom.Aquick scrollthrough theBierowskiphoto galleryshowed severalguesttiesand scarvesthatalmost perfectlymirrortheshadeof at leastone ofthosedresses.

PHOTOS BY GARNET

Coordinationis key

When Mariettaphotographer Jenna Carroll gotmarriedon New Year ’s Eve several yearsago, herguests wore blackand white.That wasn’taparticularlycommon practicethen,she says,butaddsthat itis now. Shehasacoupleof weddingsbooked in NovemberandDecember forwhich attendeesaresupposed to wearthe same colorsshe requestedofguests.

“They’llusuallycommunicatethis upfront,”she says “Whetherit’s ona savethe-date oraninvite,they’llhave details like,‘Pleasecome wearingthesecolors.’”

Carroll saysattire requestsaremost popularduringtheholidays,althoughthe springandsummer gardenpartytrend istranslating to anincreasingnumberof peoplebeingasked to showupinflorals.

“It’s verybiginPhiladelphiaandit’s starting togetbigaroundLancaster County withalotoftheoldestatesthathave more gardens,” she says.“It’sbeenaround for maybea yearor two. Butit’s really gaining momentum.”

She’sallaboutthatkindofcoordination.

“Ilove it.Ithinkit’smoreaesthetically pleasing,” Carroll says.“I’maphotographer so Idoappreciate itfromthataspect. Ithink forthebrideandgroom,theylikeitbecause

theyhave a setstandard and expectation for theirguests.”

That wasthe case with Jessicaand AlexanderHutton,a Marylandcouple who Carrollphotographedin November at Historic Acresof HersheyinElizabethtown.

Theinvitation to theirclassy Christmasthemedday read:“Dress Code: Formal attire. No green velvet,deep redsuitsorfull golddressesplease.”Thebridesmaids,the groomandthemoms wore those.

“I wantedmyparty andmypeopletostandout. I always hate when you goto weddingsand you can’t tellwhoisinthe weddingandwho’s not.

- JESSICAHUTTON

JennaCarroll,a Marietta-based photographer, saidasking guests to wear or not wear somethingspecific has becomeincreasingly common overthepast year Shephotographedthe weddingofJessicaand Alex HuttoninNovember Guests were askedontheir invitationsnot to wear green velvet, red suitsor all-golddresses.

HaileySchaarandBradleyMcCauley kissamidaflurryofbutterfly nfetti at theirlate 2022 dding. Theirguests were asked to wearallblack.

“We wantourlovelybridal party,parents,flowergirls, ringbearerandobviously US to standout,”advised the couple’s website. “LOL, don’t forgetthis&share withothersthatwillbe joining! Youwillnot want to bethatonepersonthat missedthemessage!”

Theredidendupbeing oneperson,Schaarsays.

PHOTO BY KEZIAHRENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY THE JENNA CARROLL COLLECTIV

“I wanted my partyand my people to standout,” JessicaHutton says.“I always hate when you goto weddingsand you can’t tellwhoisinthe weddingand who’snot.”

She says shedidnot want toget fancy withtheinvitation wording, eventhough she’d seenplenty of TikTokvideosof coupleswhodid.

“Ididn’t want anyconfusionor questions,” she says.“I wasdirect. No this. No this.Andthat wasthat.”

Keepitsimple

HaileySchaar,whogrew upin Elizabethtown,alsochosegreendresses forherbridesmaidswhenshemarried Bradley McCauley, whogrew upinLititz. Shedidn’thave to worryaboutanyone showingupinagreendressthatmatched those, seeinghowherguests were all asked to wearblack to theirOctober2022 wedding.

“IthinkIjust sawapostoravideoon Instagram,mostlikely, saying youpayall thismoney for yourphotosandtheydon’t lookput togetherbecause everyone’sin different colors,”Schaar says “Andit got me to thinking,that’s reallynot toohard ofa request.”

Floor-length gownsandtuxes would have beenhard for some familymembers, sheadds.

“SoI saiditdidn’tneed to beblacktie, justblack,”she says “Whatever you’re comfortable wearing.”

Whenpeopleasked formoredetails, Schaar toldthemabutton-downblack shirt wouldbefine.

“Everyone wearsblack,”she says,adding that’s especiallytrue forthosewho work, likeshehas,in salons. “A third of my guest count washairstylists, so Iknewthat wouldbeperfect forthem.”

The results were worthit,she says.

“Youdidn’thave onepersonwitha bigfloralthingandthenabright blue overhere.…Italljustkind ofmeshed together,”

Schaar says “Not everyone kneweachother, but everyonecould takeaphoto together.”

Foranyonelooking to follow suit,she recommends touching basewith someguests.

“Becausesomeoftheolderpeople… don’tlook at websites.Theyjust seethe invitationandwritedownthedate,” she says “SoIdefinitely followedupwithalot ofpeopleand...any timeI saw someone andtheymentionedthe wedding,I’d say, ‘Hey,makesure you wearblack.’”

She says one familymemberoptednot to dressperthememo.

“Everyoneelsedidgreat,”she says “Eventhedistant relativesand some peopleon my husband’ssidewhoInever evenknew. Theyallshowedupinblack.”

Inpart,that’sbecause she remembered heraudience.

“Ifit seems toooutoftheballpark—in my case blacktie,longdresses, thatkind ofthing— keepitsimple,”she says.“I have proofthatit canturnoutgreatin photos.”

Invitepeople youknowwillbewilling to follow your requests,shesuggests.

“Unlessit’slikethatoneaunt who youjustneed to have there regardless,”Schaar says.“It’s yourday.

Youdowhat you want.Andif theyhave a

problem withit, unfortunately they’re justnot going to come.”

Bierowski says herguests were receptive.Shethinksthosespecificcolor blocksonthe websitehelped keepallbut a fewonthe samepage

“Ithink someone wore alightlavender dressor something,whichdidn’t totally fit,” she says.“But, forthemostpart, everyonedidit. No one cameina bright, limegreendress. And that was my goal.”

IDO Featured Wedding

Kevinand Lauren Wisser

Weddingdateandlocation: April22,2023

CEREMONY: ST JOSEPHCATHOLICCHURCH,LANCASTER RECEPTION: BLUESTONEESTATE,WILLOW STREET

Howdid youmeet?

“Wemetincollege. We both went to Bloomsburg University.”

Did you have a theme for your wedding?Ifso, why did you choose it?

“I’d sayourtheme wasclassic romance; we likethetimelesslookofclassiccolors, whichincludedblack,white,greeneryand gold.”

Were thereanypersonalelements youincorporatedinto the ceremony, receptionordécorthat madetheday extrameaningful?

“Weare very family-oriented,andour familiesmean so much us, so we wanted to finda way to expressourappreciationoftheir marriagesonourspecialday. Therefore, we printedanddisplayedphotosof ourparents,grandparents,aunts /unclesandsiblings fromtheir weddingdays.It wasabeautiful way to display generationsoflove andinspiration formarriage.

“Anotherfunandpersonalelementthat we incorporatedinto our wedding weekend wascreating my rehearsaldinneroutfitfrom my mother ’s weddingdress. We turned my mother ’s weddingdressinto anoutfitwithpantsandaskirt overlay. All ourguestscouldn’tbelieve it wasmadefrom my mother ’s dress!”

What isthe storybehindthe Ferriswheel?

“So, funny story: Kevin’sone fearinlifeisheights. We tookatrip to England fora familymember ’s weddinganddecided to do somesightseeinginLondon,whichofcourse includedtakingatriponthe London Eye. We enteredthepodswithabunchofour familymembers, and Kevinimmediately tooka seat onthemiddlebench,makingsurehedidnot getclose to theedge.When approachedthe very topoftheride, everythingstopped,andanannouncement ca overtheloudspeakersthatthere were ‘technicaldifficulties.’ Kevinstoodupand loudly exclaimed,‘Iknewit!’ Everyoneinthepod waslaughinganditturnedout to beagreatstory totell familyandfriends—once we goton solidland,ofcourse.

“Fast forward four years: We were planningour weddingand Kevin’s father plannedasurprise forus.His fatherhasmadeitatradition to do something special at eachofhischildren’s weddings. Therefore,oursurprise wasa Ferris wheelasa remembranceofoneofour favorite memories. We were able to bring theLondon Eye to our weddingbutinAmericanstyle!”

PHOTOGRAPHER: KATIEFRIPHOTOGRAPHY

FLORIST: PETALSWITH STYLE

CAKE/CATERER: TASTEFULOCCASIONS

VIDEOGRAPHER: STUDIO 57 PRODUCTIONS

HAIRANDMAKEUP: A FAMILYFRIEND

What was yourbiggest challenge inplanning your wedding?

“We wouldhave tosaythatthebiggest challenge we endured waslivinglong distancewhileplanning. Kevinlivedin the PoconoswhileIlivedinLancaster. Therefore,planning vendormeetings became selectiveoncertaindays andtimes.”

Would youchangeanything?

What advicedo youhave for engaged couples?

“Enjoy everymoment, especiallythe littleonesbecause theday goes by so fast. Rememberthat yourmarriageand commitmentare central to theday. We do recommendhiringaphotographerand videographer,if you can. Withourvideoand photos, we can reliveourspecialdayand catchaglimpseof everyone’sdancemoves.”

“Absolutelynot. We hadthebestday withthebestpeopleinourlives. Fromstart to finish, we feltloved, supportedandcelebrated by our friendsand family. We couldhave donewithoutthehurricanewindsand rainthatsuddenly cameonwhen KevinandIandourbridalparty were onthe Ferriswheel.BUT,theydo say rainon your weddingdayis goodluck!”

Elegant&Luxurious.

Riseabove theordinary and celebrate your weddingat TheInnatLeolaVillage. Experience Lancaster’s onlyboutique wedding venueofferingall-inclusive packag es,luxury lodgingsuites, anoutdoor ceremony garden &picturesque grounds, anonsitespa&salon, wedding coordinator, pastry chef & floraldesigner.

Let’sstartplanning the weddingof yourdreams today!

FOREVER

How to make that weddingbouquet lastlongafter you say ‘I do’

BY MARGARETGATES

t’s been32 yearssince Pam Brackbill walkeddowntheaisle holdinga bouquetofpink roses, white larkspur, QueenAnne’s lace and lisianthus, butthoseflowers— and the weddingmemoriesthey evoke— are still verymuch a partofherlife.

Brackbill’s preservedbouquet, encasedin a glass octagon with brass edges, has a placeof honorinhercurio cabinet Itnotonlyholds specialmeaning for Brackbillbutalso for her daughters Their self-described “sentimental” familyhas a longtraditionofpreservingand handingdownpiecesofthepast, especiallyas it relates to weddings.

For Brackbill, afloral designerand ownerof Lancaster-based Pam’s Petalssince2018, the bouquet can beasmeaningful to a brideas a wedding gownmade fromhermother’s dress.

“They’re unique to eachgirl,” Brackbill says. Many bouquetsnotonlyinclude favorite flowers and carefully selectedcolor schemesbutalso personal touchessuchas a grandmother’s handkerchiefor a memory charmhonoring a deceased loved one.

Sheoncehad a bridewhohad saved and dried everybouquetof flowers her future husband ever gave her Brackbill designed a weddingbouquetthat incorporated thedried flowers with freshones

“A lotoftimes I get some tears when I deliverthem,” she says. “It’sa very personal, veryspecialthing. I dothinkpreservingitis a beautiful thing.… It’sa sentimental,visual preservationoftheirday.”

It can also be a pricey one.

Wedding floralpreservation can encompass anything fromthe full bouquet, shadow box displays andpressed petal art to resinitems, includingcoasters, ringholders, trays and jewelry

Depending onthesize, scopeand format of theproject, couples can expect to pay hundredsand,in some cases, thousands Brackbillestimates that at least90%ofher bridesconsiderpreservingtheirbouquetin some way, butonlyabout30%actuallyendup

paying to have itdone.Occasionally, as a gift to a client, shemay create a shadow box that includesdried wedding floralsandother mementos oftheday suchasaninvitationor thecouple’s vow books. Butunlike fresh florals, it’s not somethingshetrulyenjoys doingenough to offer itasa paid service,she says.

PRE TT Y POSS IBILITIES

Quite theopposite istrue for Lancaster County native RyleighEdmonds.

“I’ve had a passion for dried flowers since I wasa littlegirl,” says the ownerofFlat Out Florals,a Phoenixville-basedcompany that creates keepsakes fromspecial-occasion florals “Ialways hung flowers in my childhoodbedroom,andthey stillhangthere today in my mom’s house.”

Edmonds can’t say where thatpassion came from,butshedoesknow it was reignited duringthepandemic,whenshehad plenty of freetime to pick flowers, press them in books and explore hercreativity again.

What startedas a sidehobby turned into anLLCand a full-time gigin2021. You can nowfindFlat OutFloralspiecesinWhirliGig UniqueBoutiquesinElizabethtownand Prussian StreetArcadeinLancaster.

Edmondsalso picks andpressesflowers from Masonic Village tosell at the Masonic Village Farm Market

Edmonds, whoisalsoa weddingplanner, has a specialplaceinherheart for bridal bouquets

“These bridesare always buyingthese expensive flowers andthenthrowingthem away at theendofthenight,” she says. “It’s so sad.”

Happily for those sad bouquets, more brides are seekingEdmonds’ services over thepast few years, she says And,what used to be a last-minute decisionisnow somethingthey are increasinglybookinginadvance.

Flat OutFloralsoffersa luxurylineand a more affordablestandard lineofproducts Withpricesstartingaround$400-$500, the luxurylineincludesmore designoptions and comeswithUV-protectingconservationglass framesandtheoption to upgrade to non-reflectingmuseum-gradeglass.

Withthestandard option,prices start at $100-$150andEdmonds sources a framein thestyleofthecouple’s choosingthat uses glass like thekind you wouldbuyin a store.

Bouquet recreationisthemostpopular request, Edmonds says, andit’s only available intheluxuryline.

Edmondsalso creates resinblocks and other resin products, includingringcones, trays, jewelryandjewelryboxes and phone cases. A few smalleritems, suchas bookmarks and keychains, are available for as littleas$15

“We don’t require a minimum,butmore oftenthannotthey’re not going tosendtheir bouquet for just a bookmark,” she says.

Like most floralpreservationbusinesses, Edmondspromisesthebest resultswhen flowers are delivered to her at peak freshness,

typically withinthreedays ofthe wedding.Shegives clientsdetailedpackinginstructions to ensure the bestpossibleoutcome.

Butwhat aboutbrideswho aren’t planningin advance?

Itemslike resinblocksare always anoption for those whoonlytake a secondlook at theirbouquetlongafter it’s seenitsbestdays, Edmonds says

“Sometimespeople willcome to usafterthebouquetis alreadydryand say, ‘Can you doanythingwith it?’ Yes, we can,” she says. “They might bedead to you but to methey’re airdried,and we can do a lotwiththem. We can take those dead flowers andmake them verypretty.”

OT HEROPTIONS

Pam Brackbillmay prefer workingwithfresh flowers over dried,butshedoeshave anothercreative outlet: painting and teaching watercolor.

She recently sawa postonInstagram from someonewhohad painted their bridalbouquet, so shepainted oneofher own creationsand gota lotofpositive feedback.Shenow plansonincluding a custom watercolorpainting withher bridalpackagesthis season.

“Watercolor I can dowith my eyesclosed,” she says

Brackbill says sheisalso willing to paint thebouquetsofnonclients fora fee that woulddependonthecomplexity ofthe project

Watercolorpaintings couldbe a more affordableoption for preservingthose floral weddingday memories, butthen againcostis a relative thing,Brackbill says: “How do you puta price onthese momentsin a person’s life?”

FLOWERS BY PAM’SPETALS PHOTOBY ALYSSA BUNTONPHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding flowerscanbepressedor driedand displayedinframes,shadow boxesor resin piecessuchas coasters,trays andmore PHOTOS

THEDIY Dry

Flowerpreservationistscanoftenmakesome formof keepsakefromsavedflowers, even yearslater. If you’re not ready tocommit to bouquetpreservationrightafter the wedding,or yousimply want to tryaDIYproject,here aresometips forsaving yourflowersafterthebigday.

PRESSTHE FLOWERSINBOOKS

• Leavealotofpages betweeneachflower, especiallythethickerones, sothepagescanabsorb themoistureandprevent molding.

•Opentheflowerandplace it face-downonthepage, makingsurenopetalsare bentunderneath.Dependingonthethicknessofthe flower, youmay want to thinitabitbeforepressing.

•Placethebookunder somethingheavy,suchasa cementblock,andleave it undisturbed forabouteight weeks.

HANGTHE FLOWERS TO DRY

•Separatethebouquetinto smallersections.

•Using stringorrubber bands to holdthe stems together,hangthepieces inadark,dryarea,suchas acloset.

•Dry for8-12 weeks to ensureflowersare completelydry.Any moisture remaininginthe flowerscancreate mold, especiallyif youareencasingtheminglassor resin

DRYTHEFLOWERS INSILICAGEL

Silicagelisagranular compound thatabsorbsthemoisturein flowers.Sprinklealayerina container,addcutblooms faceup,thengentlysprinklemore silicageluntilthebloomsare completely covered.Dryingtime variesdependingonthetypeof flower.

STICKTHEMINA VASE WITH WATER

It’s certainlynotthe preferredpreservation method,butit’s the easiest. Lettheflowers absorbthe wateruntil theydie,thendumpoutthe water, putthe vasesomewhere andmove onwith yourlife,sa Ryleigh EdmondsofFlat OutFlorals. The stemsmaygetmoldy,alongwith someoftheflowers,butthe waterwill helppreservesomeofthe colorand eventuallythebouquetwilldry. Edmonds recentlyhadaclient whoputherbouquetina vaseafterher weddingeight yearsago andneverthrew it away. Edmonds wasable to make ashadow framefromwhat remained.“You’d besurprised,”shesays.

Ryleigh EdmondsofFlat OutFloralsoffers thesesuggestions forbridalbouquet flowersthat work well forpressing:

DELPHINIUM

FEVERFEW

ROSE S/SPR AY ROSE S

RA NUNCU LU S

LISIANTHU S

LARKSPUR

EU CA LY PT US

ANEMONE

LILY OFTHE VA LLEY

HYDRANGEA

SW EETPEA

ASTILBE

Phoebe andJake Slonaker

Weddingdate andlocation: June3,2023

TheFar m atEagles R id g e,Lancaster

Howdid youmeet?

“WemetontheBumbleapp. We coincidentally were working at the samecompanyin Houston at thetime.So,I’d bother Jake alldayonour workIM chatand my persistence eventually wonhim over.”

How did you endupinHouston?

“Wearebothengineers, so we bothmoveddown fromthe Northeast (Jake’sfromPrinceton, New Jersey,andIgrewupinLancaster) for workinthe oiland gasindustry.”

Did youhave atheme for your wedding?

Ifso,whydid youchooseit?

“Nospecifictheme,but wewere going fora whimsical,happy, summeryvibe—I wanted everything to feellikeus— forthere to benodoubt whose weddingourguests were at.”

What was your colorscheme?

“Pinks, purplesandblues.”

Howdid youchooseafloral gownandthepinkdress for your reception?

“SinceI waslittle,IknewIdidn’t want a typicalwhite gown—itjustdidn’t feel likeme.As we startedtryingon wedding gowns,this rangtrue—Ijustdidn’t feel like myselfinanyofthewhite gowns(no matterhowelaborate)that we triedon.

So, my momandI went onalengthy hunt fortheperfectcolorfuldress. As soonas Iputthis MoniqueLhuillier gownon at Casa de Noviain Houston, we fellinlove. Thepattern,silhouette andsleevesare so romanticandtimeless—it waslike nothingelse we’d seen.

Whileshopping forcowboyboots fo husbandin Austin, Texas, abouta beforethe wedding,themostbeautiful pairofwhiteostrichcowboyboots displayedinthewindowandinthat momentthevision forthe se came together...andI wasonthehunt fortheperfectpinkdress. Thedress chosescreamedPhoebeand fordancingthenight away in cowboyboots!

I absolutelylove playingwith color, especiallythecolorpink.

So,it was so muchfun to do something unexpected forourgueststhat felt so true to me.

Flowersseemed to bea central partof your wedding.

The flowers were oneofthe most important things to me. I spent countless hours onPinterestandInstagramtrying to naildownourinspiration. Petals withStyledidthe mostamazing job bringingourvision to life;they exceeded all expectations. The wayStacia was able to create a bouquetthat blended in soseamlesslywith my floraldress was unbelievable.Onethingthat made it so special was the abundance of

Were there any personalelements youincorporatedintothe ceremony, receptionordécorthat made the day extra meaningful?

“AninstrumentalpillarintheBelser family(couldn’t resistthepun)is music,specificallybrassinstruments. Startingwith my grandpaandhis brotherandtheirtrumpets, almost alltheirdecedentshave playedbrass instruments.(Our familyquartetplayed at Christmas Mass for overadecade at St John Neumann.)QuintEssentiallyBrass, aLancasterbrassquintet,played forthe ceremonyandthecocktailhour.They areunbelievablytalented.Theyplayed ‘Jupiter’as my dad walkedmedownthe aisle.It wasprobablythemostmagical momentof my life,andI was overcome withemotion.

My momandIhave always sharedalove forbutterflies, so we DIY’dabutterfly seatingchartonavintageflower cart& watercolorbutterflyplace cards.

We tried to incorporatelittlehintsof Texasandourpersonalitythroughthe catering. MountainLaurel Catering went above andbeyond to helpachieve (our)visionandintegrateitinto the menu.Some examplesarethat we hada margaritabar(named Kesha’s Cantina afteroneofourdogs).Theyalso serveda varietyofPB&Js(whichareourinitials andourcouplename) at cocktailhour.”

PHOTOGRAPHER: JEFFFRANDSENPHOTOGRAPHY

FLOWERS: PETALSWITH STYLE

CAKE: CAKE&CUP

HAIRANDMAKEUP: BARDOT

Howdid youdecide to incorporate your dogsintotheday?

“Asmostmillennialsdo, we treatourdogslike ourchildren, so havingthemthere wasamust!

Sogratefulthatthe Farmallows dogs. We drove them(KeshaandGrotto)upfrom Houstonthe weekbefore so they could get settledinand emotionally ready fortheirbigday.

Kesha evenbarkedrightafterI said,‘Ido’— you can’tplanthat!

My uncleisagreatartist. He hand-paintedsignsofourdogs forthelate nightsnackfromGrotto’s Pizza(myhusband’s favorite—andGrotto’s namesake—which we haddeliveredfromDelaware)and Kesha’s Cantina (margaritabar).”

What wasthebiggest challengeinplanning your wedding?

“Planningthe weddingfrom Texas was really tough.Becauseofthenature of my job, I wasn’table to makeitup to Lancaster veryoften. My mom, alongwith someclose familyfriends, worked overtime togetallthedetails andlogisticsjustright. Theday wouldn’t have beenwhatit waswithout everyonecoming together.Italsopushedus to reallytrustour vendors’ expertiseandtheyallblew us away.”

Would youchangeanything?

“Notasinglething.”

What advicedo youhave forengaged couples?

“Someadvice we receivedthat we’d be remiss not to passalong:Be reallyintentional aboutsticking togetherthroughtheentire wedding.It goes by so quicklyandit’s so easy togetpulledapart.Thedayisabout celebrating yourlove whilesurrounded by thosewhomeanthemost to you—it justmakestheday so specialwhen youare experiencing everybitofit together.”

13yearsago,Istartedthis businessoutofthepurelove andsatisfactionIreceived frommakingmyguestsfeel beautiful.Sincethen,so manylovestorieshavecome throughthisstudioandwe aresohonoredtobepartof eachandeveryone.

Ilove,love.Andthereis nothingmorespecialthanthe firsttimeabrideseesherself inthemirrorandrealizes that,todayandforever,sheis someone’s bride.

Whenyouworkwith EnvyStudio,wehopeyou feelthatloveasmuchaswe feelyours. We lookforwardto sharinginallyour specialmoments!

BY REBECCA LOGAN

The websiteforWhiteChimneysEstates notes that it was established in 1720 Italsomentions thatcouples who marry there might enjoy wearingvirtual reality gogglesto relive their big day

That mayseemanunusualjuxtaposition. Butit’s notto Jessica Meyer, proprietorof the more-than-300-year-oldproperty that’s now a weddingand event spacenearGap

“Ialwaystell my children, you needto understand where you camefrominthe past toknow where you are going,” Meyer says “And you have toembrace the future. Keeping a propertylike this isvital.Andto dothat you have to have a vision.”

Partof hers includesofferingWhite Chimneysclients the optionof360-degree footage that can beviewed inVR.

“I’m veryinterestedinanythingtechnologybased,” she says “Certainlyin the wedding world,peopleare lookingfor experiences.”

Recent technologicaladvances, including artificialintelligence,are shapingthose on many fronts.

“I’m fascinated by AI,” she says. “That’s somethingthat I think we’re goingtosee (cause) a change inallbusinessstructures.”

It’s alreadycomingup in weddingetiquette discussions. The Knot,for example, has cautionedagainst relyingonAIto craft weddinggift thank you notes. Butsomeone sittingdownandentering a promptto show gratitudefora setofplatesdoesn’tpackquite the samevisualpunch as a brideandgroom wearingVR headsets

Thelatter was the sceneall the way back in 1994 when many newsoutletscovered what they referredtoas the first virtual reality wedding. Thathappened inSan Franciscoandtookabout$1million worth of technologicaltinkering,several outlets reportedat that time. The brideandgroom wore headsets andstoodon“pods”on either sideof a giant screen.Guestsin the room

watchedthe wedding avatars interact in the underwater worldof Atlantis.

Reviewingoldnews clipsof fireworks goingoff behindthe coupleas they kissedin Atlantismakesitimmediatelyobvious how fargraphic technology has comesince then.

Fastforward toanother wedding that gota tonofpress coverage,including fromCNN, which in2022 reported:“Mybig fat digital wedding:CoupleplanIndia’s ‘first metaverse marriage.’”

In that case, the coupleactually wed in a smallin-personceremony. A heftyguest list was then invitedtoan hour-long digital receptionin a Harry Potter-inspired Hogwarts-esquespace.An avatarof the groom’s late father was there.

“It’sa novel enoughconcepttomake headlines today, butit’s likelytobesomething thatbecomesincreasinglycommonaspeople becomeused to spendingmore andmore of their timeinvirtual worlds,” reported Forbes magazineabouttheIndia weddingthat year

Perhaps.

Whenitcomes to VR, fewinLancaster County knowmoreabout the technologythanthosewhohave grownacompany called MajorMega, firstfromaLancasterofficeandinmore recent years fromthe RockLititz campus.It’s known forcreationslikethe Hyperdeck,which–as Hersheyparkputitin2019when announcing Hyperdeck washeadedthere– can“fullyimmerse fourplayers inadynamicvirtual world featuringafull-motion floorandmulti-sensoryeffectslikestrongwinds,heatand earth-rattlingmovements.”

MajorMega Co-FounderMichaelBridgmandidbroachtheVR subjectwithhisthen-fiancéea few yearsago. Thecouplehad planned to elopebutdecidedinstead to have asmall wedding.

“It was tough to organizelastminute so Isuggested we have it broadcastinVR forpeople to join remotely,” he says.

“She wasn’thavingit,” says Bridgman,whodidn’tpursuetheidea furtherwithhisnow-wife.The weddinghappenedinstead at her aunt’slakehousein New Jersey.

Meyerisaboutin-personcelebrations.TheVRpartshe’s promotingcomesafter.Itofferscouplesachance to noticeallthe detailsfromtheclouds to thegrass to the expressionsofthose watchingthebridalpartyheaddowntheaisle.

“WebecameinterestedinitbecauseI feellikeit’s so hard to capturethepropertyandshowcaseallits features,” she says.

Meyer says shedoesneed to be careful to ensurethatany360 recordingdoesnotsteponany toesofphotographersthatcouples hire fortheday.

Access to the technologyis, fornow, complimentary forthose whobookWhiteChimneys,she says.Equipment canbe setup neartheaisle.They ’veputitonthedonkeythatcouples canhire toservedrinks. Thelatter resultedin someof Meyer’s favorite 360 footage.

“The vantagepointoftheimageisfromhisbasket,” she says. “You can see everybody laughingandgrabbingtheir shots.It’s reallyunique.”

AsthatWhiteChimneys websiteputsit,it’sanother way to helpcouples remembertheirday “ForeVR.”

“It’scertainly something not everycoupleis going to beinterestedin,” Meyer says.“But forthosewhoare tech geeksmaybe?It’sacool thing.”

WhiteChimneysofferstheoption of 360-degreeweddingday footagethat canbeviewedinVR. Theycan record that footagefromvariousvantage points,includingadonkeythat couplescanhire toservedrinks.

PHOTO BY ANNIESHARP PHOTOGRAPHY

From ME to WE

H

ow premarital c ounselin g ca n help yo u stayhitche

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

Yourmarchdownthe aisleis but the firststepof a verylongjourney. That’s the goal.Butthe flushof romance, headypassionand giddyanticipation probably won’t sustain a couplepastthe paper anniversary unless they have back-to-earth tools to tacklelife’s challenges.

At thisstage, you likely know how your partnerlikestheircoffee,theirbinge-worthy TV shows, food aversions,andtheiresteemed friendsand relatives But you may notfully graspthenitty gritty oftheirdeeply held beliefs, past experiences— aka baggage— and theirnonnegotiables That’s whenpremarital counseling can help to digdeeperinto the relationship to fleshout eachpartner’s approach to marriage.

“Ithink everyoneshoulddoit,” says Tina McFalls,a hairstylistand business ownerin Lancaster

McFalls says premaritalcounseling was required by herProtestantpastor, andthat the several weeks of sessions was helpful “It wasa wholelistofquestionsabout everything from finances to careerpaths,” she recalls “Not

everyone hasthought abouttheday-to-day as wellaslong-term expectationsofeach partner.” Whileher marriage endedafter 23 years, she maintainsthat couples can reallybenefit from premaritalcounseling.

StanShantz recently retired afternearly20 years as a pastor at James Street Mennonite Church. He providedpremaritalcounseling to countless couples. Hesays that couplescould benefit fromthemuch-usedPrepare/Enrich assessmentevenbefore gettingengaged

Itmay takea few years, but “stuff arises in a relationship,” he says.

“Downthe road,I hope a couple remembers something I saidduringtheirpremarital counseling.”

“ThePrepare/Enrich assessment isnot a pass/fail test,” Shantz explains. “Itisjust to understandpotentialconflict.”

According to thePrepare/Enrich website, theassessment provides insightsinto the relationship, includingcommunication,conflict resolution, finances andspiritualbeliefs. It states:“Research hasshownthat takingthe Prepare/Enrichassessment prior to marriage reducesa couple’s risk for divorce by 30%.”

d

What typesofpremarital counselingare available?

There is a broad range ofpremaritalcounseling andguidance available, with varyinglevelsof religiousinfluence If your wedding venueis a church,ask a person oftheclothifthey offer premaritalcounseling.Somechurchesprovide their services free to members orcharge a fee of around$200ifthecoupleis gettingmarried at that church.

Shantzpointsoutthat premaritalcounseling can bequite timeconsuming fora pastor, in addition to hisorher regularchurchduties

“Iused to do four to six sessionsofone totwo hourseachwitheachcouple,plusthe rehearsal andtheactual wedding,” Shantz says “Itmade my schedule reallyfull,but I was happy to doit.”

Others, like CalvaryChurch, focus exclusively ontheir own “church family ” anddonot advertise orprovidepremaritalcounseling to the generalpublic,ministryassistant JudiBrady explainsinanemail.Itpaysto askaroundand see what’s available,once the wedding venue ischosen.

In2008, Jessica Northen, a Lancaster

registerednurse andmotherof two, attended fourone-hour sessions withherhusband-tobeandthepastorthat was marryingthem at a churchinPittsburgh.She says it was helpful in “seeinghow ourspending habits were vastly different”and“talkingthroughpracticalsteps that wewoulddoor say for each other to prove our faithfulness.”

Whilethe Northens’churchofferedoneonone counseling,others may conduct counselingin group sessions

Room for Zoom

These days, online telemedicineplatforms are also convenient andpopular venues for premaritalcounseling.Ours is a modernday wellness company offeringvirtualcouples therapy, including premaritalcounseling.Its goal is to “open a safe space for bothindividuals to communicate their wants, needs and fears.” With thehelpofone oftheir“worldclass therapists,” couples can workthroughcurrent recurring conflictsand future disagreementsthat may arise.Thefirstappointment is$50, andafter that it’s $200perhour forà la carte sessions.

Betterhelpisanotheronlineplatformthat pairs coupleswith a therapistandhelpsthemdiscuss theessentialaspectsofthe relationshipand prepare for theupcomingmarriage. According to their website,the goalsare to learneffective communicationskills, know what to expectafter marriage,and connectwith yourpartner This therapy ranges from$70 to $100per week,based onlocation,preferencesandtherapist availability. Membership can be canceled at any time.

Ofcourse, premaritalcounseling onlineorin person— may notbe for everyone.

“I never neededpremaritalcounseling,andI’ve beenmarriedthreetimes!” says Phyllis Paules of Ephrata.

While somecouplesmay balk at yet another wedding expense,giventheinvestment inthe event itself, adding a few hundred dollars upfront can be a worthwhileinvestment.

Do we reallyneed counseling?

“The relationshipisits own entity,” says Natalie Nesbitt, a licensedprofessionalcounselor and ownerof MainLine Marriage Counselingin Paoli.She providesguidance for couplesin Pennsylvaniaand New Jersey inperson andonline.

Nesbitt likens a marriage to a flower that requiresnurturing.Day-to-day challengeslike work,children,money and family can cause it to wilt, she says. Her approachis to help couplesnavigate whatever isdownthe road withoutruiningtheflower. She says couples can rejuvenate anddeepen —a relationshipwith counseling.

“The returnoninvestment ispriceless,” she says.

Shantzlikens a marriage to putting two systems together Rarelyare both systemsalike, he says Marriage isbuilding a new system “where each person brings theirbackgroundand experience” to the relationship

“It’s notthinking alike, butthinkingand working together,” he says

What is yourlove language?

Nesbitt uses“TheSeven Principles for Making Marriage Work” by JohnGottmanas a workbook.Gottman says thebasis fora happy marriage is a deep friendship withmutual respectand a positive attitude.

Couples read a chapter, then go on a date using thequestions fromthe workbook to steerthe conversation.Later, they meetwith Nesbitt to discuss theiranswers

“It’s perfect,” Nesbitt says ofthebook.

Another booksheusesis“Eight Dates: Essential Conversations fora LifetimeofLove” by the sameauthor Itinspirescouples to engage in meaningful conversationsthat address:trust andcommitment, conflict, sex andintimacy, workandmoney, family, fun andadventure, growthandspirituality, anddreams

Yet another crucialaspect to forming a successful union iseachperson’s “love language.” Nesbitt asks clients to take theonline assessment, whichtakesabout 10 minutes The quizwillsuss outwhat ismore meaningful to eachpartneras far as feelingloved: words of affirmation,quality time,physical touch,acts of service,or receivinggifts Knowingwhat each partnerprefers can help“to better connectwith yourloved ones,” the websitesays

Whileitmay seem overwhelming,asking toughquestions now andlisteningclosely to the answers before thebigday can helpdeepenand stabilizea marriage.

1. Finances

Money talk can be awkward initially, butitis crucialtoknow inadvanceif yourpartneris a saver or a spender, whoisincharge ofpaying bills, whatis a realisticbudget forthe wedding and beyond,andwillmoney bemerged orseparate.

2. Familyplanning

Are you compatibleon yourwishesfor childrenandpets?Isadoptionanoption? How will you raise (ortrain)them?

3. Conflict resolution

A large partofcommunicationislistening andempathizing,both important toany relationship. Shore up yourskills.

4. Faithfulness

Itmayseemcrazynow, butdownthe road oneorbothof you may betempted.Discuss now ifemotionalaffairs are equaltosexual infidelity Whatsteps will you take inbeing honestif yourdesires and emotional needs are notbeingmetinthe marriage? How will you talkto yourpartnerif you feelattractedto someoneelse?

5. Staying close

Dailylife work,children, caregiving,hobbies can take up a lot oftime. Weeklydate nights area great way toprioritizebeing togetherand havingfun,andpromote sexualintimacy andcommunication.

6. Deal breakers

Flirting,poormoney management,viewing pornography, allergiestoanimals, excessive timeapartandcountless otherthings can all bedealbreakers Discuss honestly before the wedding.

7. Religion,spirituality and values

Deeplyheldbeliefs deserve respect. A counselor can help you seehow these beliefs may playout inthefuture andwithchildren.

8. Leavingthepastbehind

Bothpartners bringpotential “baggage”from theirhome life growingupandpreviousadult relationships.Premaritalcounseling can help couples navigate negative experiencesand do betterthistime around.

9. Goals

Bothpartners are individuals and deserve to pursuetheirinterestsandpassions. Butit’s alsoimportant tohave dreamsand goals you can achieve together, like buying a house, starting a familyand traveling.Thethings you dotogetherwillforge a deeperbond.

10. Sexualpreferencesandfrequency

Somecouplesmaybetonguetied talkingabout sex, butengaginginhealthy communication isvitalto keepingintimacyalive. A premarital counselor can providetools tohelp couples maintainopenand honestcommunication throughoutthe marriage.

LOVESTORY Retellyour Wedding s by JDK

OurWeddingSpecialistsadorelovestorie s an d wantto knowallaboutyour s andhowthat t ranslatesintoyour mostspecialday!

Wehave a talente d teamof p assionate e ventmagi c makers whocannotwaittobeabletomakeyou r weddingda y betterthanyoucoul d imaginethroughourservicesof flavorfulfood,personabl e service,an d jaw-droppingdesign. Whetheryouareplannin g anintimateceremon y oran extravagantreception , wearecommitte d toprovidin g your daywiththepersonalizedattentionitdeservestocreat e an ex perienceyourguestswon' t beabletostoptalkingabout

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