Bringing Bliss and Dreams Together
NUPTIALS SOUNDS OF JOY
WINES & SPIRITS with BIN 26
PHOTOGRAPHY
1 0 1
AND LOTS MORE!
Content
WINES & Spirits by BIN 26................. Page 4 & 5 PHOTOGRAPHY 101 ........................ Page 6 CAKES by Ann ................ Page 8 & 9 Health Link ............ Page 11 Sounds of Joy ........... Page 12 Advertisements The Body Bar ................................................ Page 13 Nuptials Jamaica ........................................... Page 10 Face Artistry .................................................. Page 7 Beautiful Creations ....................................... B/Cover
Nuptials | 2
Editor’s Corner
WANT TO ADVERTISE? Call or Email us TODAY!!! Telephone (876) 370-1072 Email: nuptials.magazine@gmail.com www.wix.com/nuptialsjamaica/nuptials
We are so grateful for the responses and comments received from all our readers on our FIRST issue. We appreciate your support and look forward to hearing your future comments on all our upcoming articles. Best wishes,
Jennifer
Managing Editor: Jennifer Groves-Jackson * Graphic Designer Jason Jackson Nuptials Jamaica ® All Rights Reserved. © 2011 Nuptials | 3
WINES & SPIRITS
High End: Separate wine bar with 5 wines: (1) Light sweet white Wines are a must have for most wine, (2) Medium to full body dry social events, especially wedding white wine, (3) Light body Red receptions. Not having the right wine (4) Full body red wine (5) combination of wine and food Champagne can make or break any event. Nuptials Jamaica caught up with NJ: When we speak of vintage Christopher Reckord of Bin26 what does this mean? who gave his expert advice on wines and wine selection. CR: Vintage is the year when the grapes were harvested. NJ: How does one choose an affordable bubbly/wine for a wedding?
NJ: Where are the best wines coming from these days?
CR: Wow... tough question - I NJ: Wines can be red, white or mention recently in another pink. Why is this? Are they to be forum that with the technology chosen according to one’s taste available, it is getting harder to make bad wine these days. or the event? Really great wines come from CR: Yes, as I mentioned before every major wine producing it depends on your budget and country from certain producers. what you are trying to achieve. The question to ask is where are It should not be about what you the great VALUE wines coming like - they are for your guest. from? Chile, Argentina and Spain.
CR: I try my best to (a) get an idea of the mood that the couple is trying to set and then (b) I asked them to give me an idea of their budget. With 10 wine and spirits importers in Jamaica, there are a lot of choices on the market. Unfortunately not many persons know this and they end up going NJ: What are the different types to one person to buy whichever of wines available? product they sell. CR: All wines can be placed in 5 NJ: What wines should be served categories: at a wedding? These Categories typically are: (1)Sweet or Slightly sweet Wines; (2) Dry, light body white wines CR: Again it depends on the with little or no Oak (3) Dry, wow factor that you are trying medium to full body white wines to create - one can create with Oak; (4) Light body, low wow factor on almost any tannin Red wines; (5) Medium to budget. I have usually Two (2) full body red wines recommendations here: Basic: 3 wines - White, Red and Sparkling (notice I did not say Champagne. Sparkling wines can be bought from as low as J$900, but Champagnes start at around J$5000.00 per bottle.
few years of their vintage years. Only about 5 to 10% of the wines on the market are meant to age longer than 5 years. So be careful what you are buying and do your research.
NJ: What tips would you offer on buying wines? CR: In order to make a good recommendation for type and quantity of wine, I usually have a number of questions; I ask about budget, what type of food is being served, how many persons, are the majority of guests wine drinkers or not, how long is the event, is it mainly standing or sitting, what time of day is the event.
After a number of experiments NJ: Does the age of a wine affect with large and small events, I its quality? am beginning to realize that the bigger the guest list for the party, CR: Yes it does - most wines are the fewer wine choices you meant to be consumed with a should have unless wine
IS the primary focus of the event. Now I typical suggest 4 wines; a fruity light bodied and a full bodied white wine and a light bodied and a full bodied red wine. If there are a lot of new wine drinkers expected I usually throw an off dry white wine or blush in the mix. Persons come to mix and mingle and most are not too concerned about what wine is in their glasses as long as it taste good, so don’t break the bank for fancy wine, on the flip side don’t go with the cheapest product on the market either. How much to get?
NJ: What is your perspective on is the only place that one can go and be able to sit and enjoy wines? over 300 wines and a choice of almost a dozen wines by the CR: The world of wine is truly a glass in a calm relaxing safe fascinating one. What other environment. libation do we enjoy alone or as a group, that can appeal to all our senses and our intellect Chris Reckord is an entrepreneur at the same time? Each glass of and wine enthusiast. He is the wine we consume is connected founder and Executive Director to some specific geography, has Innovative Corporate some interesting history, is made of and truly enjoyed by people Solutions and Director of Bin 26 who are passionate about the Wine Bar. Chris also writes a wine subject, we are not talking about column every Thursday in the wine snobs here…. nobody likes Jamaica Observer and every wine snobs; more on this topic quarter in Wealth Magazine. another time. Just like art, wine Please send your questions and is subjective. There is no ‘best comments to creckord@gmail. art’ and likewise there is no ‘best com . Follow him on http:// wine’. Unlike art however, wine twitter.com/DeVineWines develops over time, sitting in the bottle or even sitting in the glass, it changes characteristics the instant it is exposed to air, hence the reason that you need to get rid of that open bottle sitting on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator for longer then 4 to 5 days.
Standing guests tend to consume more wine then when they are sitting, so factor 4 glasses per guest for a typical stand around cocktail party lasting 3 – 4 hours in he evening. One regular 750ml bottle of wine can comfortably pour five to six glasses. If wine is the only drink then buying one bottle per guest is recommended, with 2:1 red/white ratio. Of course this all depends on your target audience. The earlier the event the less people will consume – unless we are having a beach NJ: There are other players in or pool party for the day. the market with similar product REMEMBER: A white that’s “too offerings as BIN 26. What chilled” won’t be able to exhibit difference should our readers its full flavour and bouquet; and expect to experience on a visit a red that’s too warm won’t to BIN26 and where can they show its full potential. A handy find this sophisticated wine bar rule of thumb is to take whites and specialty wine store? out of the ice bucket a half hour before serving, and place reds in the refrigerator for a half hour CR: Bin 26 Wine Bar located before serving. in Devon House, Kingston is Jamaica’s only wine bar. This
FIND BIN26 ON FACEBOOK
Wedding pictures are tangible memories of your big day. Therefore it is no doubt that you want to ensure that this task is given to a professional photographer, don’t be tempted to use your good friend who owns a nice camera to take the photos of one of the most important days of your life. Nuptials spoke with Merrick Cousley of Merrick Cousley Photography who gave us some insight on how to choose your photographer and general picture ideas.
- know if you are good match personality wise. When do I book the photographer? Start searching and book your photographer as soon as possible, in fact not long after you are engaged. Good photographers are in high demand and are often booked solid at least six months in advance.
Always meet your photographer in person before the day if possible. If this is not possible you could arrange a video call either using Skype or MSN. This allows you to: - be more comfortable and relaxed on the day if he/she is not a complete stranger
- Exchange of vows - Exchange of rings - First kiss - Signing of marriage register - Pronouncement of husband and wife - Couple leaving ceremony
All photographers have different styles, ability and equipment for capturing images; ensure that you have seen a good sample (not just a website view but also prints), of the photographer’s past work and then you will know based on your taste if he/she is the best fit for your wedding. I know everyone must have a budget and may be restricted by it; however your pictures will be tangible documentation of your wedding memories, and as such are not to be taken lightly. Ensure that you consider the value you would like to place on your wedding photos and how important they are to you. Our first instinct when shopping in general is to find the least expensive (and believe me you will find vendors that will fall well below your budget), however when choosing someone to photo document your wedding day, you may want to think twice about skimming on price - more often than not you will get what you pay for. I am not saying that inexpensive photographers are not good at what they do (by the way expensive/inexpensive are relative terms), but rather drawing your attention to a mistake that couples often make by letting price be the only deciding factor and end up regretting it.
- Give away person shaking hands or hugging groom giving away bride (signifies leaving and cleaving)
- Bride and Groom portraits - Family photos - Reception details and speeches if applicable Other things to consider 1. Assign someone the duty of keeping the dressing room tidy this will make for better pictures 2. Leave the small details to your wedding planner or matron of honor. When you get too stressed it’s difficult to get natural and pretty pictures
What are the must have shots? There are numerous must have shot lists on the internet that may or may not be applicable to you, for example there maybe a list saying shot of bride’s mother crying. You take the list with this item to your photographer but on the day your mother does not cry, will you curse your photographer? While must have shot lists are a necessary guide, they are only limited by what actually happens on your wedding day. There are however certain events that most likely will take place and should be captured as best as humanly possible: - Bride walking down the aisle with give away person (father, mother, step etc.)
3. Take your time with the first kiss even if you are shy (photographer may not always be fast enough to capture a one second kiss) 4. Be natural
www.merrickcousley.com Tel: 876-314-4627, 876-247-0265 or 954-353-4916
PHOTOGRAPHY
101 Nuptials | 6
Face Artistry Look extra special on your BIG day with personalize and professional makeup services at an affordable cost. Making the Ordinary Girl, Extra-ordinarily Beautiful! Sonya Sinclair - Makeup Artist Contact Us: Telephone (876) 569-2616
Nuptials | 7
The Perfect Cake for the Perfect Bride by Ann-Marie Toomer Gayle Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding; from the dress to the flowers and everything in between which includes a beautifully designed scrumptious wedding cake. For over 15 years Ann-Marie Toomer Gayle of Simply Sensational Pastry has been providing brides from near and far with iconic and delectable wedding cakes. Nuptials had the opportunity to speak with her on how her business started and what should her prospective and current clients expect. Simply Sensational was founded by AnnMarie Toomer Gayle following the rave reviews she would receive from family and friends over the years. Today she conducts the business from the comforts of her home but it is her vision to expand further. Ann explained that Simply Sensational Pastry’s focus on quality and standards are never compromise. Each cake is created with the buyer in mind and they strive to make each product as enjoyable to you as we did in making it. Wedding cakes have certainly evolved tremendously from the days of simple icing and the mundane flowers stacked on pillars with staircases. She notes that today’s brides seek more creativity and uniqueness;
they desire a cake which captures their personality and the essence of their love. Simply Sensational Pastry is prepared to transform the vision of the blushing bride into elegance and splendour. Cost is always a concern and there is always a budget involved. Nuptials asked Ann how she works around this. She stated that “instead of five tiers of cake we may recommend that the bride on a tight budget do three tiers of dummy”. We believe that’s a good idea because it gives a sense of lavishness while the bride saves significantly. She was quick to explain that their packaging is professional and discreet only the bride and groom will know that some of the tiers are actually dummy cakes.
In addition to the basic chocolate and plain cakes, our most preferred cakes are cheese cakes (varying flavours), red velvet cakes, carrot cakes, lychee cakes, passion fruit cakes, black forest cakes and of course, our rich, moist and very delicious fruit cakes. A day’s notice is all they need for all cakes except for fruit cakes; for this type you need to place a minimum single order of five (5) lbs or over three days before the event if there will be no icing and one week if icing is required.
In commenting on the pleasure she receives from satisfied clients she had this to say “I am so happy when someone calls me or emails me and say, Ann this is the best cake I ever had, or when a bride runs up to me an hugs me when I return to package her cakes after her wedding and says, “I love it”, or “it was sooooooo delicious”.
For further information please contact Ann via email annmarietoomer@yahoo.com or by calling (876) 320 1059.
“This is what makes me feel as if my hard work was not in vain” says Ann Toomer Gayle. She continued “I can remember just recently a bride called me and said “is now the cake nice” after she settled down to cut up the cake for distribution. They specialize in cakes for all occasions – birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, christenings and showers of all types.
Simply Sensational Pastry …….. “Indulge yourself it’s that good”
Nuptials Jamaica
Wedding Planners & Consultants Services include: Decorators (Ceremony & Reception) Djs & MCs Caterers Designer Wedding Cakes Bridal Attire and Dress Rehearsal Bridal Make-Up Photography Ceremony & Reception Venue Sourcing Bouquets, Boutonnieres and Corsages Wedding Favors and wedding accessories Wedding Invitations & programmes Budget Creation and Control Contact Us today!! Tel: (876) 939-9324 or (876) 541-9152 Email: nuptials.magazine@gmail.com Website: www.wix.com/nuptialsjamaica/nuptials
FREE Wedding Planning Available!
conditions apply.
Nuptials | 10 Bringing Bliss and Dreams Together
HE AL LI T NK H
Everyday table salt comes from a mine and contains roughly 2,300 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon. Sea salt comes from evaporated seawater, and it also contains roughly 2,300 milligrams of sodium. That makes them, well, roughly identical. Advocates point to the fact that sea salt also contains other compounds like magnesium and iron, but in truth, these minerals exist in trace amounts. To obtain a meaningful dose, you’d have to take in extremely high and potentially dangerous levels of sodium. What’s more, traditional table salt is regularly fortified with iodine, which plays an important role in regulating the hormones in your body. Sea salt, on the MYTH #1: High fructose corn other hand, gives you virtually syrup is worse than table sugar zero iodine. The bottom line is this: If switching from table salt to Whether or not added sugar is bad for you has never been in sea salt causes you to consume dispute. The less sugar you eat, even one extra granule, then the better. Whether HFCS is you’ve just completely snuffed worse than plain ol’ table sugar out whatever elusive health has long been a contentious boon you hope to receive. Plus issue. Here’s what you need you’ve wasted a few bucks. to know: Both HFCS and table sugar, or sucrose, are built with MYTH #3: Energy drinks are less roughly a 50-50 blend of two harmful than soda sugars, fructose, and glucose. That means in all likelihood that Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, your body can’t tell one from and Full Throttle attempt to the other—they’re both just boost your energy with a cache sugar. HFCS’s real sin is that it’s of B vitamins, herbal extracts, supercheap, and as a result, and amino acids. But what it’s added to everything from your body’s going to remember cereal to ketchup to salad most (especially around your dressing. Plus it may be affecting waistline) is the sugar in these your health in ways not yet fully concoctions; a 16-ounce can understood by the scientific community. Is it a good idea to delivers as much as 280 calories minimize the HFCS in your diet? of pure sugar, which is about 80 Absolutely. It’s best to cut out all calories more than you’d find in unnecessary sugars. But HFCS’s a 16-ounce cup of Pepsi. What’s role as nutritional enemy #1 has more, a University of Maryland been exaggerated. study found energy drinks to be 11 percent more corrosive to MYTH #2: Sea salt is a healthier your teeth than regular soda. version of regular salt So here’s the secret that energy
Food MYTHS
drink companies don’t want you to know: The only proven, significant energy boost comes from caffeine. If you want an energy boost, save yourself the sugar spike and drink a cup of coffee. MYTH #4: Diet soda is harmless The obesity-research community is becoming increasingly aware that the artificial sweeteners used in diet soda—aspartame and sucralose, for instance—lead to hard-to-control food urges later in the day. One Purdue study discovered that rats took in more calories if they’d been fed artificial sweeteners prior to mealtime, and a University of Texas study found that people who consume just three diet sodas per week were more than 40 percent more likely to be obese. Try weaning yourself off by switching to carbonated water and flavoring with lemon, cucumber, and fresh herbs. MYTH #5: Low-fat foods are better for you As it applies to food marketing, the term “low fat” is synonymous with “loaded with salt and cheap carbohydrates.” For instance, look at Smucker’s Reduced Fat Peanut Butter. To replace the fat it skimmed out, Smucker’s added a fast-digesting carbohydrate called maltodextrin. That’s not going to help you lose weight. A 2008 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over a 2-year span, people on low-carb diets lost 62 percent more body weight than those trying to cut fat. (Plus, the fat in peanut butter is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat—you’d be better off eating more of it, not less!)
Nuptials | 11
Music can make or break your
wedding
As an important part of planning for a wedding,
• A disc jockey, to provide background music, while guests get ready to leave, or dancing music if they are invited to party. Sound of Joy continues to provide the best in live entertainment for weddings with years of experience, the best equipment, highly trained musicians, a wide repertoire and excellent customer service.
special attention needs to be given to music. Couples need to be guided by an experienced music director to discuss their taste in music, the size of the event, and the budget.
Joy A Simons Brown
The ceremony requires:
Sound of Joy Music Productions Ltd.
Managing Director
• A musical prelude
Email: soundofjoymusic@hotmail.com
• Interludes
Website: www.soundofjoyonline.com
• Processional and recessional music for the bridal party
Tel: 876 9422063
• Vocal items These are best delivered by competent live musicians, who can make adjustments and fill in at any time, so that the spirit of the occasion is maintained. The reception requires: • Music to be played on arrival of guests (may be recorded) • Live instrumental and vocal music by a small band as a great option for entertainment during dinner/lunch (if affordable) • A favourite song to be played for the couples’ first dance
Nuptials | 12
THE BODY BAR www.thebodybar.yolasites.com
WANT TO ADVERTISE? Call or Email us TODAY!!! Telephone (876) 370-1072 * Email: nuptials.magazine@gmail.com www.wix.com/nuptialsjamaica/nuptials Nuptials | 13