Summer 2009
Ever After
1
Contents E A
Summer 2009
Volume 1, Issue 1
Let them
Eat Cake Variety of current cake style trends.....
4
To Toss or not to Toss Alternatives to tradition...........8 Honeymoon Timeline A Vintage A planning guide......10 Touch How to choose what to serve.....
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Take our quiz
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Wedding P’s and Q’s........... EverAfter is published annually by Northern California Publications ©2009 Publisher: Carol Peterson General Manager: Jerry Urban Editorial Coordinator: Ella Eagar Production/Graphics Manager: Jeri Luce Production: Glenn Harrington, Christie Lefforge, Cassie McCampbell 2
Summer 2009
Advertising: Katherine Crosthwaite, Ella Eagar, Jerry Urban Advertising Assistant: Linda Hood
For advertising information call (530) 877-4413, ext. 3012 Northern California Publications 5399 Clark Road, P.O. Drawer 70, Paradise, CA 95967 Phone: (530) 877-4413 FAX: (530) 877-1326 Printed by Paradise Post Printing www.paradisepost.com
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Cover photo courtesy of Madison Grace Photography
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Summer 2009
By Tresa Erickson
W
hen you think of a wedding cake, what comes to mind? Three tiers of vanilla cake sandwiched between plastic columns? Lots of thick, white frosting and pale pink or yellow rosettes? A plastic bride and groom sitting on top? For many of us, this is the description of a traditional wedding cake, but it doesn’t have to be. Today more and more couples are choosing a wedding cake with a bit more style. Wedding cakes today not only look good, but taste good. They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors. From raspberry vanilla cheesecake to chocolate mint sponge cake, you can have just about any kind of wedding cake you want. Some of the current trends include: • Multi-flavored cakes. If you have several favorite flavors and you are having a hard time selecting just one for your cake, this option is ideal. Try choosing a different flavor for each layer of your cake. Or ask the baker to insert a cream filling in one of the layers and preserves in the other. You can even choose a different flavor of icing, like white chocolate or strawberry cream.
• Unusually shaped cakes. Oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal—you name it, and you can have it. You can also mix and match shapes and sizes to create an unusual cake. For a modern cake, select oval layers for the bottom and middle, and a heart layer for the top. Follow a current trend and choose a large square for the bottom, a slightly smaller square for the middle and an even smaller square for the top. Then ask the baker to stack them on top of each other, and voila…a stack of presents. After they are iced, the presents can be tied together with a bow of sugared fruit.
• Colored cakes. The icing on your cake does not have to be white, nor do the rosettes have to be pastel. You can have chocolate icing with red rosettes, or vanilla icing with a touch of lemon and tiny purple rosebuds. You can even match the colors of the icing on your cake to the colors of your flowers, bridesmaids’ dresses or decorations at the reception. Just make sure you take a color swatch to your baker.
• Designer cakes. Wedding cakes don’t have to be plain. Add a unique touch to your cake with fresh fruit or flowers. For a stunning look, ask the baker to put a single rose on top or a cascade of lilies down the side. If you prefer something a bit sweeter, toss on some frosted nuts or chocolate candies. Try something different and bring in a photo of your gown and have the baker copy the pattern onto your cake. • Personalized cakes. Feeling sentimental? Find a photo of your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding cake and have the baker copy it. Then serve the first slices to your parents or grandparents at the reception. If you have extra layer cakes, find good photos of you and your fiancé, and have them transferred to the cakes. Choose an unusual topper, like two plastic gold wedding rings, or have your and your groom’s initials intertwined in icing.
T
he styles and choices of wedding cakes today are endless. You can have just about any flavor and size of cake you want, and you can customize it to meet your needs and wants. If you are having an intergalactic wedding, you can order a cake that looks like a spaceship. If you are having a Christmas wedding with a French flair, you can order a traditional French holiday cake buche de noel. If you would like to follow the Bermuda wedding cake tradition, you can order a tiny tree for your cake topper and then plant it in your yard to signify the growth of your marriage. With just a little creativity, you can have the wedding cake of your dreams.
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Ever After
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hances are an engagement ring accompanied your proposal. If not, you don’t want to wait too long before getting your engagement ring and wedding bands. But don’t rush into it, either; you’re going to be wearing these rings for the rest of your life, so take the time to find rings you’ll love as much today as you will years from now. Today, it’s quite common for couples to shop for engagement rings together, says Amanda Gizzi, public relations manager for the Jewelry Information Center, New York. “It’s becoming more socially acceptable for couples to know they’re going to be getting engaged,” she says, adding that couples may narrow down the choice together, but at the end of the day the man is going into the store alone to make the final choice. Men also are stepping up in the wedding-ring department. Brides often go for a band that will match her engagement ring, says Gizzi, but men are looking for something that fits their unique sense of style. Whether it’s wide bands, carved or hammered textures or even diamonds around the band, men are taking more of an interest. One thing that helps with ring shopping is a budget. You can have some leeway, says Gizzi, but if you know how much money you have to spend, you’ll be able to get the best ring for your money. Whatever ring you choose, no matter how big or small, make sure your personal style is shining through. 6
Summer 2009
E A
Rent A Suit
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Miscellaneous&Tips Ideas Gift Registries
•The Galley in Chico 551 Country Drive 343-8820 Everything for the kitchen and the chef that demands only the best!
Websites Worth A Visit
Something a little different...
WWW.
•madisongracephotography.com •firstreetgallery.com Personalized •personalwine.com cake topper made •vino100.com to you and your groom's likeness.
•Back at the Ranch in Paradise
Order ahead, handmade onsite. 872-8889
6194 Skyway, Downtown 877-4461 Not just ranch stuff, here, look closely for unique art, linens and glassware!
•Zucchini & Vine in Chico 204 Main Street 345-3551 Gourmet Cookware, fine china, stemware and sumptuous foodstuffs, be sure this place is on your list!
A Western
Wedding... available from
•Bed, Bath & Beyond (national) in Chico 2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway 892-2034 Linens, cookware, stemware, bath ensembles and more!
6194 Skyway, Downtown Paradise
877-4461
Shop online: www.backattheranchshop.com
Back at the Ranch Ever After
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To To toss toss or or not not to to toss? toss? By Tresa Erickson
T
he wedding is just weeks away, and you and your fiancĂŠ have just a few more decisions to make. First up is selecting activities for the reception. Of course, you want to have the traditional first dance and cake cutting ceremony. As for the bouquet toss, you're not quite sure if you want to do that. The thought of dragging all of the single women onto the floor and tossing your precious bouquet to them just doesn't seem right. The tossing of the bouquet dates back to the garter ceremony of the 14th century. The wedding party would often go with the bride and groom to the bridal chambers, and once there, the groomsmen would try to remove the bride's garter. In fun, the bride would toss her garter to the masses. Over time, the garter was replaced with the bouquet in many wedding traditions and the bride would throw it to bestow luck onto her friends. Whatever lady caught it would be the next one to marry.
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Summer 2009
Today, many brides continue to look forward to the tossing of the bouquet. Rather than throw their own wedding bouquet, some have their florist make a smaller bouquet that they can toss. At receptions where there aren't a lot of single women, brides may choose to have a Jack and Jill toss and ask all of the singles in the room, men and women, to come out onto the floor for the toss. This tactic takes some of the pressure off and turns the toss into more of a fun game than a serious competition.
guests who have traveled to the wedding from out of state. The person who has traveled the farthest receives the bouquet as a token of the bride's appreciation. Brides who are uncomfortable with singling out guests may choose to give their bouquet to their parents. They may do this publicly at the reception or privately at their parents' home. Either way, the gesture will serve as a wonderful token of the bride's appreciation for her parents' support over the years.
Instead of dragging all of the singles onto the floor, some brides may ask all married couples to come onto the floor and present the bouquet to the one that turns out by process of elimination to have been married the longest. Not only does the gesture serve as a sign of appreciation, but it honors the couple for their long-term commitment to each other. This concept a l s o works with
There are alternatives to tossing your bouquet to a group of single women who rather not be in the limelight. Keep the preferences of your guests in mind as you make your decision. You may just discover that having a garter toss in lieu of a bouquet toss would make for far more fun.
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One month ahead: Follow-u up visit • Soothe and moisturize skin with second complimentary 5-minute hydrating facial. • Begin a nail regimen with the Salon Formula Nail. • Strengthener, Hand Treatment and Foot Balm. • Tone up skin with LUXIVA Firming Body Gelee.
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Two weeks ahead: Follow-u up visit • Receive final 5-minute hydrating facial. • Explain final wedding details. • Discuss remaining concerns regarding skin care and make up. • Practice applying wedding-day make up.
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Ever After
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Honeymoon Timeline By Ronda Addy
Y
ou are nearly done planning your wedding, but wait, haven’t you forgotten something? The honeymoon. By setting up everything in advance, you won’t find yourself stuck out in the middle of nowhere in the most unromantic spot in the world. As with planning a wedding, there is a timeline for planning a honeymoon. It generally goes like this:
Six to Eight Months in Advance • Determine the type of honeymoon you would like to have. • Begin investigating possible destinations. • Set a budget. Figure in different expenses such as plane tickets, meals, car rental, taxes and gifts. • Find a travel agent who specializes in the type of honeymoon you want to take. • Check out your frequent flyer miles.
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Summer 2009
Four to Six Months in Advance • Book your tickets. Ask about special honeymoon discounts or packages. Get confirmation numbers • Reserve your hotel room. Be specific about your requirements, such as a non-smoking room with an ocean view. Ask about any honeymoon specials or discounts. Get a confirmation number. • Book your car rental, if needed. Once again, get a confirmation number. • Make a list of all confirmation numbers. Take the originals with you and leave the list with a friend or relative. • Find out what vaccinations and health certificates are needed. Unless you are going to certain thirdworld countries, you do not need to be vaccinated this far in advance. Your doctor will know when your vaccinations will need to be administered. • Start learning the language if you are going to a non-English speaking country.
Three Months in Advance • Make sure you have valid passports and the names match those on your tickets. • Make sure you have applied for all needed visas. • Confirm your airline reservations. • Consider getting travel insurance. • Finish up any needed reservations.
One to Two Weeks in Advance • Stop newspaper deliveries. • Make arrangements to have your mail held. • Pick up tickets from your travel agent. • Make copies of your passports, credit cards, insurance, traveler’s check numbers and will. Keep one in your luggage and give one to a friend or relative. • Make sure you have enough medication to last you while you are gone. Keep all medication in their original bottles. • Confirm that the house or pet-sitter has keys and knows when to come over. In the case of a pet sitter, make sure they have the vet’s phone number. • Set out clothing to be packed. Pack your carry-ons.
Three Days in Advance • Reconfirm any overseas flights. • Buy reading material for the trip. • Make arrangements for transportation to and from the airport.. • Check weather forecasts. • Prepare a list of people to receive postcards. • Get your home ready for your absence. Eat or throw out perishable food. Water the plants. Set any timers.
Day of Departure One to Two Months in Advance • Buy your luggage and all other travel accessories you will need (camera, film, electrical adapter). • Go to the bank and get currency of the country you are visiting. • Make sure all of your credit cards are valid. • Book any tours, theater tickets or activities that need advance reservations. This is especially true during peak travel seasons. • Confirm all reservations. • Make arrangements for the boarding of pets. • Give someone a copy of your itinerary. Be sure to include the phone numbers of where you will be staying.
• Confirm domestic flights. • Make sure all luggage is labeled with your names and the phone number of where you will be staying. Do not put your home address on your luggage. • Arrive early to the airport. • Let the ticket agent know you are on your honeymoon. Sometimes, upgrades or special V.I.P. treatment is given to newlyweds.
Now sit back, relax and enjoy your honeymoon. Bon voyage!
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Ever After
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~ When considering your beverage service read on for unusual tips & ideas ~
E
tched glasses are a nice memento for your family and/or guests, but they can be costly. An alternative would be to rent stemware from the local party supply house. If renting, keep in mind your and your fiancĂŠ's style, and the style or theme of your wedding. A Western wedding (visit Back at the Ranch in Paradise) might call for a heavier stemmed glass or something very cute would be small canning jars ~ especially for the beer drinkers! If you are serving food in addition to cake ~ yes, even the petite hors d'oeuvres ~ with the wine be sure to pair the food and wine properly to achieve the best complement of flavors. Consider working with a local wine shop (for example, Creekside Cellars in Chico, or the Wine Room in Paradise) and schedule some tasting sessions. Be sure to bring along a couple of members of the family or wedding party to help with the selection. Keep in mind that not everyone at your wedding drinks wine, but will want to take part in the toast to the bride and groom. Be sure to include some sparkling cider or other festive beverage so as not to leave anyone out of this celebratory part of the reception! How much wine do you buy? A typical wine bottle will hold about five 5oz. glasses of wine. A typical wine glass holds between 6 and 8 ounces. When purchasing wine, calculate the
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Summer 2009
number of guests and plan that between 50% and 60% of them will drink wine, and the larger percentage of those drinkers will consume two glasses of wine. In this case, you are needing between 20 and 25 bottles of wine. It is safe to purchase a quantity that is larger than you might need so long as you advise your wine servers to not open all the bottles at once, but rather a few at a time. In most cases, you will be able to return unopened bottles ~ to be safe, ask ahead of time, at the time of purchase. If you selected (at your tastings) both a red and a white, consider buying more white than red, keeping in mind your menu. When including a full bar at your reception, seriously consider hiring a professional event bar service: they will do all the work for you. You need only provide them the number of guests, whether you want a "call" bar or a "well" bar, and the placement of the bar at the reception site. They will bring everything needed to create, pour, dress and serve the beverages. A classy touch, though is to have your wine served from a wine bar and the alcoholic beverages served from the bar site: in pri-
vate settings, such as weddings, wine service is usually staged a little more elegantly.
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By Ronda Addy Bspecial rides and grooms want their big day to be for them and their guests. One way to make it special is to serve good wine. You taste and select the food and the cake for your wedding, so why shouldn’t you do the same with the wine? Before you start shopping for wine, you need to check with the venue where your reception will be held and make sure they allow alcohol on the premises. If so, the number and types of wine available will depend upon where you live. If you live in an area with several continues next page
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wine. In the winter, you will want to keep guests warm and serve red wines instead of white. People are likely to drink less in the afternoon, so if you are having an afternoon wedding, you may need less wine.
T
he time of year and day you are having the reception can also influence the wine you serve. In the summer at an outdoor reception, you will want to keep guests cool and serve lighter, refreshing 14
Summer 2009
There is no sure way to determine how much wine you will need. The average bottle provides four to six glasses, and you will probably need half a bottle per guest. Chances are you will not use all of the wine, so don’t let waiters open all of the bottles at the start of the reception. As the reception draws to a close, tell the waiters not to open any more bottles. There is no reason why you have to take out a mortgage to serve good wine at your reception. With all the choices available, the hardest part will probably be limiting your choices. To make the selection process easier, consider throwing a wine-tasting party and inviting some of the wedding party and guests over. After all, they are the ones who will be drinking the wine. Offer several different choices in brown bags with labels. The favorites will be the first bottles empty.
vineyards, you will probably have more choices. When selecting wine for your reception, you need to take several factors into consideration, including the preferences of your guests, the time and length of your reception, the type of food served, and most importantly, your budget. The guests you invite to your reception will play an important part in your decision. How many actually drink wine? Do they enjoy drinking a glass or two, or do they just sip enough to be social? Do they prefer red, white or dessert wine? Would most of them be happier with beer? Would they care if you didn’t serve any wine? Answering these questions will give you some idea as to what kind of and how much wine to order.
give you a good deal and allow you to return unopened bottles.
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re you serving chicken, beef or fish at your reception? The wine and food should go together. Unless you have daring guests who like to try new things, you should stick to old favorites like Merlots or Chardonnays. You have enough things to spend money on at your wedding. Don’t go overboard with the wine. Negotiate with your caterer or supplier to get the best deal you can. Find out what kind of package deals they offer. If you are planning to use an outside wine supplier, look for one that will
inQuizitive? Wedding P’s and Q’s
By Tresa Erickson
Have you recently become engaged and are looking forward to planning your wedding? Whether you’re in the initial stages or nearly through, planning a wedding can be a lot of work. For many, etiquette is a must. How well do you know your way around the traditional wedding dos and don’ts? Take this quiz and find out. 1
What is not an appropriate way to recognize a deceased family member? A) Reserving an empty seat at the ceremony B) Placing a single flower upon the altar C) Mentioning the deceased’s name in the invitation
7
What shouldn’t the bride wear on her wedding day? A) Watch B) Earrings C) Necklace
2
Who gives the first toast at the reception? A) Bride’s father B) Best man C) Maid of honor
8
Who should raise their glasses during the first toast? A) Bride and groom B) Best man C) Maid of honor
3
How should thank-you cards be written? A) Typed B) Handwritten C) Either is acceptable
9
What should be included with the invitations? A) List of gift registries B) Directions to the ceremony and reception C) Note requesting that children remain at home
4
What does the bride pay for? A) Invitations B) Officiate’s fee C) Limousine
5
Who should not host the bridal shower? A) Bride’s friend B) Maid of honor C) Bride’s sister
11 What is not a responsibility of the maid of honor? A) Holding the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony B) Making the travel arrangements to the ceremony C) Helping with the thank-you notes
6
What is considered to be a no-no on the gift list? A) Money B) Appliances C) Furniture
12 Who pays for the honeymoon? A) Bride B) Bride’s parents C) Groom
1-C, 2-B, 3-B, 4-A, 5-C, 6-A, 7-A, 8-C, 9-B, 10-C, 11-B, 12-C
Answers:
10 When should the wedding cake be cut? A) Beginning of the reception B) After dinner C) Either is appropriate
How well did you do? Don’t worry if you missed some. These rules apply to how things are traditionally handled—none of them are set in stone. Many couples, in fact, choose to break with tradition, so go ahead and do things as you see fit. Ever After
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Come to for your Rehearsal and Wedding Party
The Gooney Bird Bar & Grill is located in a 1940’s farm house with a beautiful backyard patio perfect for your wedding occasion and for parties up to 125 persons. Inside or outside accommodations available. Call for details.
(530) 892-9534 3312 Esplanade, Chico