Perfect Wedding Guide Pittsburgh Fall/Winter 2016 by Perfect Wedding Guide

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fall/winter 2016

contents

my perfect planner

cakes

| catering

100

| celebrations

102

| ceremony

104

| dĂŠcor

106

| fashion

110

| at home

114

| honeymoon & travel

118

| music

120

photography & videography

122

planning

126

receptions

128

transportation

136

directory of wedding professionals

138

ceremony locations | chapels | counseling | officiants

creative touches | event dĂŠcor | floral | lighting | rentals

attire | formalwear | preservation | jewelry | lingerie

bands | dance instruction | disc jockeys | entertainment

George Bezek Yvonne Opalenik Natalie Bezek Maryann Evangelista

Publisher Associate Publisher Operations Manager Market Manager

Joseph L. Mathias IV Chairman Tammy K. Elliot President/CEO Jackie Warren Controller Rick Caldwell VP of Technology Samantha Crotty Social Media Manager Namiji Suarez Creative Director Ramus Shiurna Samantha Holton Graphic Designers Susan Southerland /Just Marry!, Inc. Contributing Editor/ Wedding Planning Expert JustMarry.com National Advertising Sales 770 989 7022 Perfect Wedding Guide is published two times per year by Strategic Marketing Group. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. Perfect Wedding Guide is a registered trademark of PWG Holdings, LLC™. The use of the trademark is strictly prohibited. The information contained in this publication is believed to be accurate. However, Perfect Wedding Guide does not guarantee its accuracy. Perfect Wedding Guide cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by the advertisers in this publication. Wedding professionals: Do you have a product or service to sell? Perfect Wedding Guide offers a comprehensive marketing program targeted to the brides in your area, with print ads, online bridal leads program, internet listings, hotlinks to your website, bridal events and more. For advertising that works:

412-854-3720 • pittsburgh@pwg.com 4017 Washington Rd, #125 • McMurray, PA 15317 4

bride to be: What an exciting time in your life! You are in love, engaged and planning your wedding. Lots to do. We at Perfect Wedding Guide are here to help in the months ahead leading up to your special day, to make it memorable and fun. Brides LOVE our unique shape and size.....we easily fit in your purse to carry everywhere you go. In this issue, you will find the best wedding professionals in the area. Check out our really nice local features and beautiful new planning pages - loaded with cool ideas, tips, how-to's, lots of photos & more. Visit our website at pittsburgh.perfectweddingguide.com to begin using our interactive planning tools and to view our local advertisers profiles easily by category. You can even view this magazine online! We are here to help you choose the best Pittsburgh vendor products and services.

Yvonne Opalenik

Natalie Bezek

Relax, and enjoy planning your wedding through Perfect Wedding Guide!

Yvonne

Maryann Evangelista

Associate Publisher

Honeymoon Checklist

Things you definitely don’t want to forget on your honeymoon. ___Digital Camera ___Camcorder ___Batteries ___Cosmetics ___Deodorant ___Hair Dryer ___Q-tips

___Corkscrew/Bottle Opener ___Shampoo & Conditioner ___Toothbrushes & Toothpaste ___Disposable Razors

The Beach ___Bathing Suits ___Sandals ___Coverups ___Sunglasses

___Nail Clippers/Scissors ___First-Aid Kit ___Feminine Hygiene Products ___Aspirin ___Antacids ___Extra Souvenir Bag ___Hairbrush

The Snow

___Sunscreen & Tanning Lotion ___Beach Bag ___Magazines

___Winter Jacket ___Hat ___Boots ___Gloves

___Sweaters & Sweatshirts ___Thick Socks ___Thermal Underwear

Keep all important items in a carry-on bag. ___Tickets ___Traveler’s checks/Cash ___Jewelry ___Identification (Driver’s licenses, Passports, Visas) 6

___Eyewear/Contact lens ___Any medication ___List of luggage contents (if lost or stolen.)

___List of lodging and transportation details ___Emergency contact ___Travel size hand sanitizer

TIP Email yourself all important information in case of lost or stolen.

Thank yow FOR HELPING US GET TO

This year marks twenty-ﬁve amazing years that Perfect Wedding Guide has been helping couples plan the perfect wedding! Since 1991, we’ve covered every aspect of the planning process from ideas to execution, Perfect Wedding Guide has been there. Now that we’ve marked one quarter century, we are looking forward to the next one. We would like to thank all of the couples and wedding professionals we have worked with over the past 25 years and to those we will work with in the future!

perfectweddingguide.com 8

412.431.1707 www.GloryInn.com 2119 Sarah Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Pittsburgh Perfect Wedding Guide Let us help you plan the day of your dreams! Find out ď&#x192;&#x17E;rst about upcoming bridal show news and get insider info on the wedding market. Stay on budget with access to great planning tools and connect with local wedding professionals. Comment and review bridal shows and events!

Brides, Couples facebook.com/PittsburghPerfectWeddingGuide 10

Here are some tips on what you can do before, during and after the wedding and what to avoid completely.

BEFORE I DO

Host or Co-Host the Bridal Shower

Keep a Record of Gifts

Schedule time for the Bridesmaids to get to know each other

Do some Dress Shopping

Spread the Word (registries, etc.)

Coordinate the Bridesmaid Duties

Be the Brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Right-Hand-Woman

Prepare the Wedding Emergency Kit

Attend Vendor Meetings

Plan the Bachelorette Party

Attend All Pre-Wedding Events (Engagement Party, Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner)

Say a Few Words (Rehearsal Dinner Toast)

THE BIG DAY

Know the Wedding Timeline (in the event there is not a coordinator present) 13

Fluﬀ the Bride’s dress for pictures during Ceremony

Be Point of Contact for Family, Friends and Vendors

Hold the Groom’s ring and Bride’s bouquet

Sign/Witness the Marriage License (if required)

Toast to the Happy Couple

POST WEDDING

Get the Bride’s Suitcase to the car for the Honeymoon

Make Arrangements for all gifts after the Wedding

WHAT NOT TO DO

Don’t Get Too Drunk

Don’t Complain…about Anything

Don’t Make Any Part of the Wedding about You (pre, during or post)

Don’t Embarrass the Bride in your Toast/Speech

Don’t Look Better than the Bride (or at least don’t try to)

Find more wedding planning, inspiration and tips at Perfect Wedding Guide and the Head Over Heels wedding blog. 15

Candidly Yours Photography • 412.496.9761 • candidly-yours.smugmug.com

Moio’s I talian Pastry Shop

412.372.6700 • moios.com 4209 William Penn Highway Monroeville, PA

Creating Delicious Wedding Cakes & Pastries For Over 75 Years

Pittsburgh

Wedding Spotlight Alicia & Cody Rothert

Featured Professional:

Candidly Yours Photography 412 496 9761 Wedding Date: October 24, 2015 Reception: Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at The Priory Bridal Gown: Custom-made by Dana Bridal Veil & Jewelry: Clarissa Boutique Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Angelo Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse Rings: Jerad The Galleria of Jewelry Photographer: Mike Leonardi Flowers: Primrose Cake: Priory Fine Pastries Videography: Just Hitched Films Hair & Makeup: Salon Ivy Guest Accommodations: Springhill Suites Rehearsal Dinner: Max’s Allegheny Tavern Honeymoon: St. Lucia Special Touches: • Instead of favors, we asked for donations to the Animal Rescue League • Our Red Heart Card Box was handcrafted by Cody’s Dad David.....and his Mom Kim hand-painted it. So pretty! • It’s a tradition with all of my Dad’s friends, that at every daughter’s wedding, they all gather around the bride sitting in a chair - and sing “My Girl” to her. It was so much fun to be serenaded!” - Alicia 21

“My Mom had a special handkerchief made from her wedding gown. She has 4 children - 2 girls, 2 boys. As each child gets married, their names and wedding date gets embroidered on each corner of the handkerchief. We made it a family tradition that each bride pins this under her gown as her ‘something old’.” - Alicia

Alicia & Cody 10.24.2015

CHANGING

NAME If you plan to change your name, be sure to contact:

Driver’s license

Contact your local DMV. Inform them you have changed your name and need the records to reﬂect the change.

Social Security

Call 800-772-1213, or visit www.ssa.gov for information.

Federal income taxes

Fill out your tax return with your new name. Social Security should forward the information you ﬁled with them regarding your name change to the IRS, so conﬁrm the IRS received the information.

Passport

Go to http://travel.state.gov/passport

State taxes (if applicable)

Contact your local tax offices. Inform them of your old name, new name and Social Security number.

Don’t forget to check:

• bank accounts • investments • credit cards • insurance • legal documents • other bills • other places your name is listed

on your favorite social media channels to get the best in visual inspiration for your big day!

/PerfectWeddingGuide /PerfectWedding /PerfectWedding /PerfectWeddingGuide

NEW YORK

SPRING COLLECTION 2017 The latest trends in bridal fashion straight from the runways of New York.

ISABELLE ARMSTRONG

CLAIRE PETTIBONE

SABRINA DAHAN

¡ A E D I NEED

FO R P AW

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The Susan Southerland Secret: Top 10 Art Details that Will Make an Impact in Designing Your Wedding

Our Perfect Wedding Guide FREE eBooks and How-to Videos with Susan Southerland are available for download.

Top10

The Susan Southerland Secret:

Art Details that Will Make an Impact in Designing Your Wedding

Whether you’ve had a vision of what your wedding will look like for years, or you’re terrified about the prospect of designing a wedding that shows off your style and personality, you will love the easy tips that follow in this free eBook.

Wedding Cake BY SUSAN SOUTHERLAND

The Susan Southerland Secret: Wedding Cake Inspiration From cakes inspired by your favorite hobby, to the lace appliqués on your gown you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to wedding cake design. Let the photos in this e-book serve as inspiration for you when choosing your cake.

The Susan Southerland Secret: The Delights Are in the Details Mort Studio

DÉCOR

by Susan Southerland

Photo by LLC / JanineGuy Photography Tami Melissa Photo by Photo by

Rochelle

of the most wedding common is incorporate floral. There are décor elements for any many ways personal selecting detail you can a future spouscolor that mean s in decorative fl represents e, to choosing s something to oral, from you a specifi first date. a significant event c type of and your flower that in your lives, such • Anoth er as your arrangemendetail to consid er is the ts. A low candles style of sets a roman arrangemen the floral elaborate tic, perso t surrounded crystals candelabra arrang nal tone, while by add a more ements tall and choose a style that elegant touch dripping with . Coup suits their tastes and les should personalitie s.

Mort Studio

THE DELIGHTS ARE IN THE DETAILS

Rochelle

On the art look and side, cou ples focu for som feel of the day. This s on the e than upon is easi your planothers, dep er The art ning pers ending details onality into two can be type and Des primary cate broken dow s. n gories: ign. Décor • One

Hear ideas on how to customize little, budget-minded details to make your wedding one of a kind!

The Susan Southerland Secret: Wedding Budget Boosters

Budget Boosters by Susan Southerland

Learn how to plan a meaningful budget, find professional wedding vendors that will help you maximize your budget, and four money-saving secrets for planning your dream wedding!

To view more titles, visit perfectweddingguide.com/resource-center/ebooks 37

Want to know the latest styles, trends and advice for planning your perfect Pittsburgh wedding? Then look no further than to our expert right in your backyard. Here, Tonya Edinger from “Weddings of Pittsburgh” in Pittsburgh, shares with us the secrets to your event’s success.

Ask the

Experts

Your Guide to Planning Your Dream Pittsburgh Wedding 38

My venue has a “wedding planner”. They told me they take care of everything and that I don’t need to hire a Wedding Planner. I am OK, right? Wrong! Here are a few questions to ask your venue when they say that. • Do you go dress shopping with me and help me choose a dress that rocks on my body? • Will you go with me when my bridesmaids are shopping for their dresses? • Will you be helping to plan my bachelorette party and bridal shower? • Will you help me figure out and write my invitations? • Will you keep me on budget? • WIll you take care of any reception guest who may get out of control? I am a Wedding Planner and my answer is YES to every single question above. If they answer one question NO, then they are NOT a Wedding Planner, but a venue coordinator and they are an advocate for the venue. A professional Wedding Planner will be an advocate for you, your fiancé, and your whole wedding team!

There are so many people sharing their opinions with me, I am getting overwhelmed. What should I do? I always suggest to include your fiancé in everything wedding planning because let’s face it, this is your first big party together, it sets the tone for all future parties you both have and two heads are always better than one!! You need to sit down and have a conversation and set boundaries with each other about whom you will and will not accept advice from. This doesn’t give you carte blanche to be rude or disrespectful. Always be courteous and respectful. Here are some ideas on what to say: “Thank you for your input. I can discuss that with my fiancé and see if that fits our theme.” When a family member suggests they or a loved one be in the wedding party, “Thank you so much, but, we have already made our selections for our wedding party.” Should you really want them in and forgot, maybe they could do a reading at the ceremony or greet your guests and be sure the guest book or picture is signed for nostalgia. 40

Invitation Management is stressing me out. How can I stay organized? Learn Microsoft Excel if you do not already know it. It will save you so much time and keep you and your wedding planning organized. Also, once you make this list up, you can use it over and over again. • Save the dates • Bridal Shower • Bridal Shower Thank You’s • Wedding Invitations • Bachelorette Party • Wedding Thank You’s • Christmas Cards • Baby Announcements

31% of grooms say they are stressed out by the guest list according to David’s Bridal’s 7th annual survey. What can we do to get that list more manageable? I recommend that my clients write down everyone they want and everyone both sets of parents want, especially if the parents are paying. If the couple is paying, parental choices may be limited due to budget. Communication is key in keeping peace and not incurring hurt feelings. As I look over my clients list and see the numerous names, I look them both in the eye and say take this list and put a check mark next to anyone you would love to have dinner with given the time. Right away this narrows it down.

What should I do if I get back an invitation and I can’t read the writing? Before you even get this far, remember the Excel Spreadsheet from earlier? Each name is attached a number, so on your invitations write that number on the back upper corner, BOOM! Now you know who it is, and if you can’t tell how many have RSVP’d you can make a quick phone call for the answer. It’s 2 weeks before the wedding and I still do not have all my RSVP’s in. Now what? Time to get on the phone and call all the people you have not heard from. Not doing so could potentially cost you $100’s of dollars if not $1000’s of wasted food. Your caterer will be calling you for a final count and you really need

to be accurate, otherwise you will pay for food that you will not get to take home. I bought the cutest shoes for the wedding. I am worried about blisters, what should I do? Rub stick deodorant around the edges of your foot where the shoes will come on you, wait for it to dry a minute or so, put the shoes on and wipe with a tissue. Works like a charm! I wear stilettos all day every day, because they make me feel good about myself and they are FUN. My deodorant trick has worked for years!

My fiancé and I do not want to be traditional, do we have to be? No. All weddings are different and as unique as the couple. You are not bound by what your parents had to do. You can use some tradition, go all traditional, or completely use your own ideas and unique theme. The sky’s the limit and perhaps your budget. Let your creativity soar! My (relative or friend) wants to be our photographer, cake baker, videographer..…should we let them? When I am asked this question, and It is

asked at almost every wedding, I always say NO to the “friendor” and here is why. A professional vendor has spent numerous hours perfecting their craft, studying the latest trends, getting certified, if possible. They carry liability insurance and work so very hard to ensure you the best of what they offer. A friend cannot and will not give you the level of expertise you deserve at this once in a lifetime cherished event. Here is a

good quote to remember, from Kurt Vonnegut, when contemplating using the “friendor” “you get what you pay for.” We want our guests to have the time of their lives, how do we accomplish this? Have a greeter! Ask someone in the family that you are close to welcome your guests and just say “thank you for coming, this way to sign their book.” It sets the tone and directs them where to go and what to do upon arrival. Most weddings lack this simple yet often forgotten or overlooked thoughtfulness. Next, you and your fiancé should be the first toast, a quick thank you for coming and let guests know you appreciate their presence at your wedding. Lastly, once you have finished eating, immediately go around to each table and thank all of your guests for coming.

Learn Microsoft Excel if you do not already know it. It will save you so much time and keep you and your wedding planning organized. Tonya Edinger Weddings of Pittsburgh Weddingsofpittsburgh.com

FREE CREATE A YOUR YO O R CREATE

WEDDING WEBSITE SHARE WEDDING DETAILS WITH FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR!

Share your history and keep your friends and family up to date with your personal wedding website! With over 100 beautiful wedding website templates to choose from, couples can: Document your Share your planning experience Add information love story on members or solicit advice with details on of your with your personal how you met wedding party wedding blog and the proposal

Chronicle your life's events with photos

Add your gift registry information

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pwg.com/wedding-planning-tools/wedding-website 46

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THINGS TO CONSIDER

When Hiring Your Wedding Officiant

The person who presides over your wedding ceremony holds a particularly important place in your big day. If you’re not getting married by a long-time clergyman in your family’s place of worship you’ll need to hire an officiant you likely won’t know. Here are some key things to consider when making the decision about which officiant to hire:

1. Your level of comfort with them. This is probably the most important thing to consider. You want to make sure the potential officiant’s personality fits well with yours and that you feel he or she is taking your wishes into account. 2. How flexible they are. Some officiants have a standard ceremony and they don’t want to deviate from it. If you like their standard ceremony, that’s not a problem. If you want something more customized, you’ll want an officiant who’s more flexible. 3. The number of weddings they’re officiating on your wedding day. Officiants often preside over more than one wedding a day. If your officiant is one of them, find out how close to your ceremony time any other ceremonies might be performed so you’re aware of possible time constraints. 4. Their fees and what those include. You’ll want to make sure you can afford the officiant of your choice. Find out what their fees include, such as pre-marital counseling and conducting the rehearsal. 5. What other couples have to say about them. The best way to find an officiant (like any vendor) is by word of mouth. Review testimonials and go into any interviews prepared. 6. Whether or not you’re inviting them to the reception or rehearsal dinner. It’s a nice gesture to invite your officiant to either the rehearsal dinner or the reception. If you do, you’ll need to account for an extra place setting (or two, if the officiant is allowed to bring a guest). 53

Real Weddings

Edgar & Macio

Edgar and Macio married in San Jose, California at the beautiful Dolce Hayes Mansion, where their love story ﬁrst began. Two years prior, at Dolce Hayes Mansion, Macio attended Edgar’s 40th Birthday party as a friends plus one. After meeting, the pair immediately hit it off. That night their relationship blossomed after they shared their ﬁrst kiss. Four months later they departed for a tropical vacation in the Caribbean. After an 8-course tasting menu, Macio arranged for a ring box to be placed on a plate of crushed ice and orchids. With the ocean, the sunset and the cliffs surrounding them, Macio asked Edgar to marry him. It was one perfect night! Fast forwarding to their wedding, it is no surprise that the love they have for one another manifests through their wedding photographs. If their love story wasn’t enough, the two hosted a Veuve Clicquot Lounge before the ceremony, the couples favorite brand of champagne. 55

Venue: Dolce Hayes Mansion Photographer: Clane Gessel Photography Cinema + Video: AVR Films Linens: Fine Linen Creation Floral/Decor: Designs by Edgar Wedding Cake: Jenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cakes 56

DJ/Lighting: Gatsby Entertainment Group Tuxedos: Tom Ford Shoes: Gucci Rentals: Allure Events Lounge: Veuve Clicquot

To see more photos from this real wedding, visit HeadOverHeelsWeddingBlog.com {search: Edgar + Macio}. To submit your wedding for an upcoming Real Weddings feature, email us at proďŹ les@pwg.com 57

TO ASK YOUR GIRLS TO BE BRIDESMAIDS By Samantha Crotty

Asking your girls to stand beside you on your wedding day is a big deal. Especially with so many different ways to do it. We’ve seen crafted boxes ﬁlled with sweet goodies, ring pops, fortune cookies, I mean the list goes on and on. In fact we’ve covered this topic in the past multiple times. So why do it again you ask? Because asking your besties to be your bridesmaids is an ever-evolving door. A door that needs fun and innovated ideas constantly. In this Facebook group that I’m a part of, I asked brides what ideas they had used to ask their bridesmaids the big question. The one that stood out most, because I haven’t seen it overly done, were longsleeve jersey shirts with custom Lily Pulitzer print names on the back. Liz Moll ordered the jersey from Pink Anchor Shop on Etsy. She requested that Stacy (the shop owner) add “EST. 2016” to commemorate the year each girl acquired their new title. So personal and perfect! 58

Now I’m sure you’ve seen proposal boxes all over Pinterest and the internet. You may even consider these ideas to be a bit overused. However this is a great way of giving your girls g super p p something personalized. Which they will love.

Labels with Love Now I am completely obsessed with these bottle labels! Whether you want to include them in your proposal box or have them at a bridesmaid luncheon, they add the perfect touch. They work on regular wine and champagne bottles, plus mini champ bottles.

Han’made Designs Nothing beats something personalized. Especially when you’re popping the question to girls. Just take a look at this adorable ivory tote made by Han’made Designs from Etsy.

To grab more inspiration, I recommend checking our Instagram and Pinterest to ﬁnd completed bridesmaid proposal boxes. Perhaps whatever you ﬁnd will provide you the inspiration you are looking for. 59

THE TRUTH BEHIND COMMON WEDDING TRADITIONS + RULES There are some rules that are meant to be broken. Even if you’re a traditional bride you might not always want to go by the book. Who even wrote that book? This is your wedding; be the author of your own fairytale. Here are just a few wedding traditions that’s okay to break.

It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. Truth: Traditions are constantly changing and it’s not bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. The bride has to have someone escort her down the aisle. Truth: You don’t HAVE to have someone walk you down the aisle. Everything has to be perfect. Truth: Is anything ever perfect? You need assigned seating. Truth: It’s okay to allow your guests to sit wherever they please. You have to have an even number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Truth: No, not true at all. You have to wear all white. Truth: Don’t feel obligated to wear bright white.

You have to have a garter and bouquet toss. Truth: This is a tradition that reveals who is getting married next. Rain is a bad thing. Truth: If you’ve learned anything from Luke Bryan it’s probably “Rain is a Good Thing.” Hiring your life-long friends as vendors is a good idea. Truth: You might think this is a good idea because it could save you a few bucks, but I don’t recommend it. Save the top tier of your wedding cake for your one-year anniversary or celebration of your ﬁrst born. Truth: This is a common tradition among many newlyweds; however, storing your cake in the freezer for a year or more might not exactly make your taste buds water. To ﬁnd out more about the truths behind traditions, be sure to visit Head Over Heels to continue reading. Trust us, you will want to read the rest!

PWG PERFECT PROPOSAL SPOTLIGHT:

Katie + Dustin • July 18, 2015 We here at Perfect Wedding Guide were thrilled to have so many fabulous entries for our Show Us Your Ring Contest! Four winners were selected for the spotlight, with one lucky winner getting a spotlight in our print publication. The big winners were Katie and Dustin, who got engaged in a rather unique and adventurous way. “Dustin and I are true adventure-seekers. When he oﬀered to take me sky-diving for my birthday, I didn’t think anything of it. I was so excited to try something new and experience such a thrill. Well, little did I know, Dustin had planned the thrill of a lifetime! That morning, he surprised me with our cute, matching KC shirts; he claimed it would look great in pictures during the jump. He was so nervous in the car, driving to the small airport, but he played it oﬀ as being nervous to jump! After taking our training class and waiting for what seemed like an eternity, we boarded the small aircraft. I never thought that I’d be cramped in a plane with ten other men when my boyfriend would pop the question, but it was so perfect. He held out the gorgeous ring half-way up our ascent, we sealed my answer with a kiss, and minutes later, we were jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet! What a rush! After landing, we retrieved the ring from the pilot, and I could not stop smiling! I am forever on cloud nine! “ - Katie Congratulations, Katie and Dustin! Thank you so much for submitting your engagement story to us. We hope to see many stunning photographs from your upcoming wedding! 62

Photographer: Staci Dabney Photography Location: SkyDive Kansas City Jewelry Designer: Karats Jewelers

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ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO

$10,000 WIN

cash

TOWARDS YOUR PERFECT WEDDING

For Sweepstakes rules, visit pwg.com/10k. 70

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

by Samantha Crotty

Whether you want to admit it or not, you’ve deﬁnitely envisioned yourself as a princess on your wedding day. The idea that most likely stemmed from watching Disney movies. The great news is you don’t have to be cliche when it comes to adding that princess touch to your big day. What do I mean by that? I simply mean you can add simple touches without picking out that yellow ballgown that is an exact replica to Belle’s. Let me show you more in-depth of what I mean. 71

My personal favorite, and the favorite of many, is Cinderella. When it comes to planning your Cinderella inspired wedding, think about utilizing the color blue in your decor items, picking a venue that is resemblance to a castle, select glittery shoes or select a old English style font for your wedding invitations. A great example of this can be seen in this image captured by RebeccaMarie Photography.

Another great Disney princess to draw inspiration from is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Think of using Belleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of reading by using books as your table numbers, having your bridal party wear pale yellow dresses, using red roses in your centerpieces or on your wedding cake, of beautiful glassware to signify Mrs. Potts and Chip.

Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love the little mermaid? Similar to all Disney movies, a young girl meets her dream man but faces a large obstacle that keeps them at a distance (she lives in the ocean and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a human). But through love and a little help from her Father, they end up getting married and living happily ever after. But how can you add this idea into your wedding without wearing a shell bra and dying your hair red? Easy! Ariel and the Little Mermaid are all about pastels, the ocean and seashells. 74

Using Tiana as your wedding inspiration is fantastic! Solely because of the New Orleans touch you can incorporate. The most obvious thing to include is a Louisiana location, think one of those stunning column lined Plantation homes. Then add in industrial lighting that hangs or simple bulb lights, lots of green and cajun food will add to the theme as well. All of these elements will keep the Princess and the Frog in your mind without going overboard.

Beautiful Songs FOR YOUR FIRST DANCE AS A MARRIED COUPLE

By Shannon Grogan

If you and your future spouse already have a “song,” choosing your ﬁrst song to dance to as a married couple will be a breeze. If you don’t have a song or your song isn’t really meant for dancing, you might be able to use one of these romantic song options: 1. “Amazed” by Lonestar 2. “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles 3. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong 4. “All I Want is You” by U2 5. “It Had to be You” by Frank Sinatra 6. “Love Story” by Taylor Swift 7. “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat 8. “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS 9. “You are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker 10. “Lucky Man” by The Verve 11. “The Power of Love” by Celine Dion 12. “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé 13. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie 14. “At Last” by Etta James 15. “Everything” by Michael Bublé 16. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boys II Men 17. “Wild Horses” by The Sundays 18. “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds 19. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley 20. “I Knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden Be sure to visit Head Over Heels for even more song options. Whether you’re looking for ﬁrst dance songs or Father/Daughter songs, we’ve got quite a few to choose from. 77

HOW TO DRINK AT A WEDDING & AVOID BEING “THAT GIRL”

We are currently entering wedding season and if you’re like me you have 4 save the dates on your refrigerator. With weddings, come receptions. With receptions, comes alcohol. We’ve all seen the girl that should’ve been cut oƤ three drinks ago. You don’t want to be her of the one that is falling all over the place and puking in the background of pictures or the reason the bride thinks her reception was ruined. Make it to the rest of your friend’s weddings without being embarrassed of the amount of alcohol you had at the last one. Prepare yourself. Food is the best way to soak up all the alcohol you’re going to be drinking later. Start your day eating a high-protein breakfast and drink plenty of �uids (water, not bellini’s, mimosas, or Bloody Mary’s).

Stay true to you. Know what you drink and stick to it. If there is liquor and you don’t normally drink liquor, don’t let a wedding be the place you try it out. If you like wine, drink wine. If you like beer, drink beer.

Drinking is not a competition. Your tolerance might not be as high as your best friends. Know your pace and stick to it! If your bestie is going to a bar for her next drink, don’t feel obligated to keep up. Also realize that wine has a higher alcohol content than most beers.

Equal parts. For every glass of alcohol drink a glass of water. This will keep you hydrated allowing you to take a few more trips to the bar.

Take care of the bartenders and they will take care of you. Yes the bartender will get paid a nice percentage of the bar tab but you’re an adult and they are dealing with a lot of drunk people. Consider dropping a nice chuck of change at the beginning of the reception and the bartender will make sure to take care of you the rest of the night.

Go for the gold. But BE. CAREFUL. This isn’t the Olympics, this is a wedding. When popping the bubbly, remember it will get you when you least expect it. So don’t over do it! So hot it hurts. No, really. If you know you will be sitting outside for the wedding ceremony in the dead heat of summer, you are going to need to hydrate. If you don’t, you will be hurting. If you plan to beat the heat, be sure to drink a lot of water.

Now you don’t have to be THAT girl and can attend all of the weddings you’ve been invited to. Happy Wedding Season!

by Shannon Grogan

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR

elieve it or not, wedding stationery doesn’t just mean wedding invitations. Today with some help from Statistic Brain, we’re going to give you a stationery primer to make sure nothing gets overlooked as you set your budget for this wedding service.

The main wedding stationery items include:

Engagement announcements. Average cost: $150 plus postage. Not every couple opts to send out formal engagement announcements, but it’s generally expected if you’re having a larger wedding with a lot of guests who will likely be attending.

Save the Dates. Average cost: $125 plus postage. You’ll want to choose a theme that reﬂects the overall feel of your wedding. Some couples opt to get engagement photos to use on their Save the Dates, which will add to the cost by at least a couple hundred dollars.

Invitations and Reply Cards. Average cost: $255 plus (extra) postage. This is the stationery item with the highest swing between costs. Some couples go the ultra-simple DIY print-it-yourself route while others go to custom stationers and design one-of-a-kind invitations brushed with gold leaf. Price these out carefully, accounting for more postage due to heavier weight.

Ceremony Programs. Average cost: $110. Today’s couples are getting creative with their programs, sometimes making them into custom games or keepsakes. These types of programs can as much as double the average cost.

Place Cards. Average cost: $84. If you’re doing anything beyond a typical folded card with the guests’ names printed on them, such as placing the cards in special stands or having a calligrapher write the names, the cost of your place cards will deﬁnitely increase. It should be noted that Statistic Brain combined this expense with that of table names.

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Menus. Average cost: $119. Reception menus are an option that not all couples opt to include, but it makes a lovely touch at each place setting. If you have to cut something out in your stationery budget, you could consider forgoing individual menus and setting up a large menu board at the reception entrance that everyone can see.

Thank You Notes. Average cost: $94 plus postage. Next to the wedding invitations, these are among the most important stationery items you’ll buy. Keep them within your wedding theme and send them within a few weeks of when you receive a gift. Don’t forget that you’ll need thank you notes for any engagement or shower gifts as well as wedding gifts.

hese are the most standard stationery items you’ll need for your wedding. Couples also sometimes pay for their own shower invitations, bachelor/bachelorette invitations, favor labels, and other miscellaneous items. Don’t overlook the cost of postage for any wedding stationery you buy so you can be sure to stay within your budget

LAUNCHES BRIDESMAIDS COLLECTION THEIA, an evening wear and bridal collection inspired by the Greek Goddess of light just launched their bridesmaids collection. The collection features twelve styles, available in either tulle, chiffon, sequins or lace.

You will also notice dramatic cowl back gowns, micro sequins and mix and match toppers. Each gown offers a soft color palette of neutrals, pastels and metallics, which evokes a romantic ethereal vibe with a hint of boho chic. Prices for this collection are to range from $260-$290, and will be available in sizes 0-28. Standard production lead time will be eight weeks. However six week rush options will be available for bridal parties who wish to receive the gowns sooner.

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