Bridal Guide 2017

Quincy Valley Post-Register 2017

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

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Top tips for choosing your photographer

BY JEANNIE MORAGA QVPR contributor

Of all the wedding day decisions, photography is likely to stick with a couple the longest.

Here are some tips from photographers Rosalie Black, of Moses Lake, and April Boyce, of Peshastin, for finding the photographer who is right for you.

The first tip is to look at portfolios, both photographers agreed.

Find those portfolios whose style and quality of photography you can envision representing your wedding. Some photographers specialize in a natural look, vintage style or dramatic shots.

Moreover, Black said a couple should pay special attention to the lighting; it can make or break the wedding photos. If you don’t see in a portfolio any examples of low-lighting situations

(a candle-lit ceremony, an indoor reception, a sunset dinner) and it’s a concern, ask about the photographer’s experience in those situations.

The second tip is to keep your budget in mind. However, don’t make your decision based on price point alone. Black said, “Wedding photography is an invest-

also not the time to ask a friend who’s a hobbyist or has a “really nice camera” to handle all your photos for the day, Black said.

Remember that a professional photographer’s price doesn’t just cover their time on the day of the wedding and the prints you order. A photographer will frequently spend the day before a shoot scouting locations for specific shots.

Their equipment and their knowledge of how to use it in a way that is non-invasive to your guests is also important, Black said.

Many photographers offer discounts for weddings that are not on a week night or a Sunday. They may offer discounts at bridal shows or for certain packages. They may be willing to customize a package to include the pieces that are most important to you.

In this special pullout section: Wedding planning

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Imagining the perfect wedding

4

ment … and at the end of the day, pictures are what’s left.”

A photographer whose pricing is much lower may just be starting out and not have the experience to handle the chaos and low lighting of a wedding day.

Experience and knowledge are key for handling the things that can wrong on a wedding day. This is See Photography, page 5

A Quincy couple's wedding

6-9

DIY invitations

10

Advice 11 from Jeannie

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Advice from an expert: A wedding planning primer

BY JEANNIE MORAGA QVPR contributor

Camille Grebb has seen it all in her 17 years as a wedding planner.

That includes things like the paraffin on dozens of jelly jars melting onto the tablecloths, and brides melting into a faint from heatstroke.

To avoid such snags on your wedding day, or to help a friend or relative avoid such snags on his or her wedding day, read on.

Grebb offered some insight into planning and personalizing such a special event, collected from her years of experiences with all the couples she has worked with. Some of those couples needed guidance on only a few details such as flowers and a timeline for the day, while others needed help with all the details, from finding a venue to finishing touches.

be flexible.

Details abound, and things never go according to plan. As Grebb said, “There’s always going to be a plan B and a plan C. So you have to be very flexible.”

Whether or not you use the services of a planner, Grebb recommends first booking your venue a year in advance and figuring out a realistic budget.

Venues fill fast, which means you need plenty of advance notice to get on their calendar. If you want a destination wedding, ask the local planner to help with the timeline for planning, as it may vary from that of a local wedding.

When considering a venue, take into account how many guests it accomHer advice to couples organized, pays attention to modates, what is available seeking a planner is to details, listens to the bride with the venue (tables, look for one who is calm, and groom, and is willing to chairs, etc.), and what re-

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strictions does it have (using only the on-site caterer, for example).

Consider venues based on your preference, needs and budget. In addition to churches, you could pick a venue out of several area wineries, parks, family backyards, and local resorts.

Many options are available a bit farther from home, such as Chelan’s Shadow Mountain. Keep in mind the logistics of bringing in tables, chairs and decorations when considering a site that doesn’t offer these as part of a package.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

The Quincy Valley

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Dreaming about the perfect wedding

A

ll this talk about dream weddings in this bridal guide got me thinking about what my dream wedding would be like.

I want a wedding where the pastor calls the bride and the groom liars in mid-ceremony.

I want a wedding where a spider takes a starring role in the subsequent wedding video.

I want a wedding where the second most important song refuses to play.

I want a wedding where the groom, on his last hours as a bachelor, on wedding day, instead of mingling with guests, stays in his room working with his laptop computer.

I want a wedding where the groom, on his first six hours as a husband, loses the wedding ring.

If you can call that a dream wedding, then that’s exactly what I want.

Because that’s exactly what I had.

First, the ring. The ring was too big for my then-scrawny fingers and while unloading suitcases at a Bellevue hotel, it must have slipped off – never to be seen again.

I felt like a goofus, but my bride

just suggested we enjoy no one saw it but my ourselves and deal with mom, who rushed to the the loss when we returned altar to shoo it away. For from Oregon. Which is a split second, I panicked, what we did. thinking I was in for one of Then, there’s the pastor. those scenes right out of the He didn’t call us liars per ending of “The Graduate,” se. But he did say “your or of thousands of Latino lies” instead of “your By Sebastian Moraga, soap operas. “YOU’RE lives” in the middle of his writer for The Quincy NOT MARRYING MY Post-Register, sermon. It was a mistake, Valley married to contributor SON, WOMAN!” promptly forgotten with Jeannie Moraga But instead, it was my the sheer passage of time mom claiming, “You’re and the help of my brother-in-law and not biting my son’s woman,” and some video editing software. smacking that spider right in the kisser, At any rate, our pastor did a great if it had a kisser, and onto the ground. job, considering that the night before It has become one of my favorite his printer had refused to print the memories of the wedding, because I sermon. dread to think how my bride would Then, there’s the Beatles’version of have reacted if the thing had reached “Till There Was You,” which we had her arm. carefully selected as the song to play Then again, I could be 10 grand as we walked back from the altar. The richer in “America’s Funniest Home thing played every time, except when Videos” money, so who knows? we needed it. One of the unforgettable Another favorite memory of the images of my wedding is the sight of wedding is the look my father gave our deejay pleading with our laptop me minutes before it started. He asked to play the song. me, “Nervous?”

The spider was a shock, because I answered honestly: "Not a bit. "

And he looked at me as if I had added, “I was more nervous when I beat George Foreman in Zaire.”

I guess it’s not natural to feel relaxed and serene as you wait for your life to change forever in front of everyone you know, and in 100-degree heat, to boot. But I was.

I got my vindication after the wedding. My friend and colleague Christine Pratt, a fine writer from The Wenatchee World. She said, “You looked like you got married every day up there.”

Thanks, Christina, but nope, just the one time. Ten short years ago this upcoming September.

And I guess that’s in reality what my dream wedding really is. One like mine. Not with the bugs and the balky laptop and the incredulous dad, but one that you don’t regret a decade later.

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Post Register Photography from page 2

It’s best to have a faceto-face conversation to ask about pricing and options, Boyce said.

The third is to make sure you “click,” as Black put it, with your photographer; this person is going to be with you as you’re getting dressed, as you’re seeing your new spouse for the first time that day – through the end of the event. Therefore, the photographer needs to be someone you trust and with whom you feel comfortable.

When you first meet to ask questions about photos and pricing, also prepare

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 to share your vision of the day: the style, the details, the dress. Also discuss your budget; make sure you have a realistic expectation of what it will cost to get the photos you want, both photographers said.

If you would like particular poses, ask if the photographer is willing to do them, Boyce said.

As Black put it, “Photographers see themselves as artists” and want to create photos that are uniquely yours, not just duplications of what every other bride has.

Black said she feels it’s important to have this

Planning from page 3

wedding-ready can be stressful for the homeowner, even if they’re thrilled to help out.

Also, consider the weather and the comfort of guests and bridal party. If you would like an outdoor wedding in the heat of summer, Grebb recommends having plenty of shade available for your guests, as well as plenty of ice-cold water.

Conventional wisdom may dictate that the event is all about the bride, but “you have to take care of your guests and family,” Grebb said.

With a venue booked, Grebb said you should pick the three most important elements of the day. This will allow you to focus the most attention and money where it will have the most impact.

Staying within the budget is important for most couples, and Grebb has seen weddings in the last half-decade being scaled back. As the

person also take your engagement photos because it offers a chance for him or her to get to know you, and vice versa, “so that you’re not strangers on your wedding day.”

What you’re aiming for instead is someone who is like a family friend, she said.

When you hire a photographer, it’s important to set reasonable expectations for the wedding day, Boyce said. Black said she likes to have first dibs on setting up the schedule for that day, because “it’s the photographer who will know what is realistic for a timeline for

average age for brides and grooms rises, more of them are paying for their own weddings. They may be purchasing a house or already have children, so their priorities are a little different. Details like photo booths and props, or guest favors are being used less, even while big weddings remain popular.

For many brides, do-it-yourself projects seem the best route to getting what they want on their budget.

Grebb cautions would-be crafters to check prices on materials versus renting or buying the finished product from a vendor. Also, she says, “when it comes to the day before and the day of, they forget that you need an army of people to put them out and decorate,” she said.

Another money-conscious move is to reuse bouquets – as centerpieces on reception tables, as gifts or as the toss bouquet.

And while it won’t save you

family photos and everything else.”

Remember to discuss details, such as when the photographer will take a break or eat a meal (photographers are not super-human, after all, Black said).

Boyce said a couple should be very clear on how long the photographer will be available on the wedding day and what shots are important. She attended a recent wedding where the photographer was nowhere to be found when it was time to cut the cake.

Also, discuss the use of other cameras, cellphones

any money, consider donating to local nursing homes or hospitals the flowers that might otherwise be tossed after the wedding. They could brighten someone’s day!

There are so many ideas out there, and they all look amazing on the Pinterest wedding boards, but there’s a point where, Grebb said, brides should just log off, “usually after ®

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or iPads at the ceremony.

Some photographers don’t mind this at all, but Black said that it’s difficult for the photographer whom you trust to get the shots you want when the aisle is lined with cellphones.

She said a good suggestion could be asking your guests to make it an unplugged wedding, and, instead of trying to compose a shot through their phone, to be truly “present in their hearts and minds.”

Their experience will be richer, and you will have beautiful photos to share for years to come, Black said.

nailing down flowers and styles.”

Once you’ve found what you like, what works for you, stick to it.

Continuing to look after that leads to too many changes in plans and unnecessary work, she added.

If a bride brings in a photo of a bouquet she loves, Grebb asks to see the dress and jewelry the bride intends to wear as well, so she can create something that’s one of a kind, not found in a magazine.

She loves to have the bride come in with something special to include in the bouquet: a treasure from her grandmother’s bouquet, a piece of jewelry or a tiny Bible.

“Those are the best!” she said.

Whether you seek the help of a wedding planner or tackle the process on your own, remember to make the day meaningful in your own way, she said, and find your personal style and make it a special day for all who come to celebrate with you.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

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M c C reary W edding

Surrounded by beauty The couple took a quiet moment to read their vows before the ceremony.

Photo by Jessica Warren submitted by the McCrearys

A local couple, Jeremy and Micaiah had a vision for their wedding and carried it out with some help

BY JEANNIE MORAGA QVPR contributor

On Aug. 3, 2015, Jeremy McCreary proposed to Micaiah Hodge in front of the stage at Watershed Festival in George.

On Aug. 27, 2016, they exchanged vows in front of a tulle-covered arbor at Shadow Mountain in Chelan.

The Quincy couple, owners of McCreary Real Estate, had just over a year to prepare, “Which, I think, it’s a perfect time,” Micaiah said. “We were basically done, as far as booking and planning, by about May 2016.

Then as you get closer (to the wedding), that’s when the little stuff comes in that you couldn’t really do beforehand.”

They knew they wanted to marry at Shadow Mountain, having attended her sister’s wedding there two years prior.

The venue offered the beautiful outdoor setting the couple wanted, with plenty of room for the number of guests they expected. Additionally, they offered many of the amenities

that made planning easier: tables, chairs, a dance floor with lights, linens, decorations, catering services and dishes.

Micaiah said the distance between Quincy and Chelan didn’t make planning difficult.

However, the popularity of Chelan in the summer meant finding and booking hotel rooms about the same time as booking the venue.

“I had kind of expected that we were going to get engaged that year, so I was preplanning; it saves time,” Micaiah said.

That preparation had included searching out ideas on Pinterest, including one citrus-themed wedding that caught her eye. She also liked the rustic, simple look of wooden touches. These ideas were brought together deftly in the floral displays and wooden signs used.

With the natural beauty of surrounding orchards, flowers and vines, Micaiah focused her floral attention on the table décor.

Photo by Jessica Warren submitted by the McCrearys Her florist, Camille Grebb, of Signa- This centerpiece provided a shot of color for the tabletops.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

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M c C reary W edding ture Flowers and Events in Quincy, helped create three different centerpieces for the tables.

The first used miniature wooden pallets to elevate Mason jars of fresh flowers and greenery.

The second featured large cloth napkins in the wedding colors anchored by vases of sliced lemons and flowers.

The third had candles in the jars atop the pallets.

All styles featured oranges scattered around the base of the jars.

Flanking the entrance to the aisle, two large wine barrels were topped with baskets of flowers, sweet potato vines trailing down the sides. Propped against one barrel, an old, six-pane window listed the names of the parents of the bride and groom, as well as the wedding party.

Micaiah’s vision for the aisle itself was to have it carpeted with rose petals, be-

The newlyweds cut their cake from Slice Couture Cake Design. (The business is now closed.)

cause “it always bothers me when the flower girl puts one petal at a time, so I wanted a ton of rose petals on the aisle way, like a blanket basically.”

While it didn’t turn out quite as thickly layered in

petals as she’d planned, she still loved the look and feel they had.

The couple rented tents to place over the tables surrounding the dance floor.

They said that even though

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Photo by Jessica Warren submitted by the McCrearys

they got the math wrong and ended up short on tents, it worked out great with a little help from Micaiah’s stepdad and a quick rearranging of the seating layout.

A bench made from a

wooden headboard, topped with large yellow pillows, served as the couple’s seating for the reception.

The dinner, catered by family friend Amie Schaapman of Crazy Lady Catering,

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

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M c C reary W edding was one of the few times they sat down during the evening.

The couple had originally planned on a meal centered on chicken, but found they had extra room in the budget, so they added steak also. A wise decision, because, as Micaiah said, “The food was delicious!”

Each step of the day was captured by the camera of Jessica Warren, a photographer hailing from Missouri.

Her use of natural lighting and style of photography caught Micaiah’s eye while searching online. It turned out the women had a mutual friend in Chelan and was interested in getting her name out in the area.

She did not disappoint, as the couple said she was great.

“She sent care packages and cards throughout the engagement,” Micaiah said.

“She had a booklet on what to expect and how to prepare.”

She had also clearly researched the area, as she was able to map out locations for

Photo by Jessica Warren submitted by the McCrearys

The couple shared their first wedded kiss before family and friends at Shadow Mountain in Chelan.

specific photo shoots.

And that day started early, with hair being done around 7 in the morning, followed by makeup and then the dress.

The bride and bridesmaids

arrived at the venue first for photos, followed by the bride’s family. Then it was the guys’ turn, while the girls took shelter. Gusting winds slowed the process and kept

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things interesting, at one point tearing off Micaiah’s veil and wrapping it around a nearby tree. The veil survived and was pinned down more tightly.

A session of first-look photos and a practice run of the couple reading their vows to one another was a special touch they were glad they were able to enjoy in

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

M c C reary W edding

Photo by Jessica Warren submitted by the McCrearys

(Above) The bench the couple used for reception seating now has a special place in their home.

(Right) A simple miniature pallet elevates the floral and fruit elements of this centerpiece (by Signature Flowers & Events).

a weekend that seemed to fly by.

The ceremony started at 4 that afternoon, and the wind continued blowing, right up to the moment Micaiah arrived at the altar on her father’s arm.

After greeting their guests in the receiving line, the

couple slipped away with the photographer for sunset photos before their grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs. at the reception.

Rather than have a traditional tiered cake, the couple had a small cake, for the ceremonial slicing, on the top tier of a wooden pallet stand.

The lower tiers were filled with cupcakes for the guests.

“Cupcakes are so much better than getting a big cake because you don’t have to cut the cake, you can just hand them out and have any flavor you want,” said Micaiah.

When the couple stepped onto the dance floor for the

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first dance, they were surprised at the opening strains of the song; it wasn’t “Who I Am With You,” the song Chris Young had been performing when Jeremy proposed.

In all the chaos of details to be settled, the first dance song hadn’t been downloaded.

“One thing I will say is

to double-check things” advised Micaiah. “I think that the only thing I missed was that song.”

Fortunately, the DJ had the Kenny Chesney song that the couple had originally planned to use, and they danced on into the evening and their life together.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017

The Quincy Valley

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DIY invites: As unique as you

BY JEANNIE MORAGA QVPR contributor

The invitation is the first glimpse of what lies in store for your guests. It shows the formality of the event and the unique style of the couple.

There is a multitude of options available, but, if you find yourself repeating, “That one’s nice, but … ,” or you have in mind what you want and nothing quite fits, you may be a candidate for designing and creating invitations yourself.

Note the elements of the invitations that caught your eye: folded or flat card, special fonts, simple or detailed designs.

Check the sizing of the invitations also. If you love an oversize style, it could require extra postage, and it’s best to know that in advance of mailing day!

Once you have a basic idea, you might want to

search online for card templates.

When you find a card you love, examine how it’s made.

How would you personalize it for your wedding? How would you design your enclosures (i.e., RSVP cards, directions, etc.) to carry on the design? When the vision becomes clear in your mind, make a list of what you will need.

fiancé several templates that demonstrated what she had in mind. They liked the simple lines of a no-fold design, adding a vellum overlay attached with eyelets for a special touch.

A white ribbon Post-Register photo bow completed For a bride or couple ready to take on a project, do-it-yourself invitations are a way to personalize a wedding and perhaps free up some room in the event’s budget. the design.

This may include: The bride • Papers the ink dry between colors, base until they had enough used cardstock to cut out • Stamps and inkpads to avoid smearing the design. for all the invitations and a samples of the size for each • Embellishments, While the last color dried, few extras – just in case. For piece to be sure the couple she cut the base cardstock for this couple, it took roughly such as ribbon or liked the proportions before both the invitations and the 80 invitations. eyelets they committed to the de- RSVP cards to size, then the • Adhesive The couple spent a Sunsign.

This ensured that they • A paper cutter stamped paper to size. The day afternoon punching liked the look and helped with a fresh blade process took an evening to holes, setting eyelets and determine how much paper finish.

• Envelopes tying the ribbons into bows. was needed.

• Return address A friend printed the vel- They printed and cut to size When the design was final- lum on her printer, and the the sheets with the RSVP labels or stamp ized, she random-stamped couple cut it to size to match information. Then the bride For example, for invi- the chosen seashell design the base. Then the assem- put together the RSVP cards tations for one wedding, on white cardstock. She used bling began, first adhering while the groom-to-be adthe bride-to-be showed her three shades of ink, letting the stamped paper to the See DIY on page 11

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Your wedding: Dream it, plan it, live it

DIY from on page 10

dressed the envelopes.

The bride had purchased a stamp with her name and address to help speed up the process. After the RSVP sheet was attached to the base, she stamped the address in the middle of the back. When they had all cards stamped with the return address, she used the shell stamp with a coordinating ink to bookend the address.

A simple design that matched the invitations.

The addressed envelopes were then stamped in the corner with her address and postage was applied to both the envelopes and RSVP cards. They were done!

It was exactly what they wanted for far less than the package prices they had seen, leaving more money in their budget for flowers.

As a bonus, the groom enjoyed being part of the process and was more confident trying other do-it-yourself wedding projects. A wedding win in every way!

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W

hether you are newly engaged or already well into your engagement – congratulations!

Revel for a moment in the excitement and the dreams ... no, really, go ahead, I’ll wait.

It’s a joyful time, and you want to cherish every minute, but … there’s so much to do! Dresses and flowers and venues, oh my!

If you begin to feel overwhelmed by details and that maybe, just maybe, the multitude of wedding-related Pins are sucking up all your time and your joy, stop for a moment and remember what the day is all about: the start of your marriage!

While all those details and decisions add up to a beautiful setting for such a joyous celebration, those who are there to celebrate with the two of you are most interested in seeing you happily wed!

By Jeannie Moraga, a contributor to The Quincy Valley Post-Register and married to writer Sebastian Moraga

With this in mind, choose the elements of the day that mean the most to the two of you and focus on those first.

Prioritizing these may help other details fall into place or slip off the list completely.

Ask yourselves what will make this day unique and meaningful for you. What do your guests need in order to be comfortable and engaged during the ceremony and the reception?

So, back to those Pins for a moment. Try to limit your searches on websites such

as Pinterest to specifics that fit your style (as in “cascading bouquets” rather than just “wedding bouquets”), to make finding what you really love faster and easier.

Once you’ve picked a handful of images for one item, move on to the next.

You could spend hours looking through image after image, or you could use that time to snuggle with your sweetie and plan the honeymoon. I know what I’d choose!

For your own peace of mind, have a backup plan for major elements. For example, if you’re planning an outdoor event, how will you handle a rainy day?

If your DJ’s car breaks down, can you pull together a backup playlist and equipment?

Run through a few scenarios and write down your answers. Hopefully you won’t need them, but now

you have an easily accessible plan, just in case.

You can’t control every aspect of the day, and something is likely to veer from your carefully planned itinerary; be ready to be flexible and creative and to laugh over it (at some point).

Remember this: At the end of that blessed day, if you walk out man and wife, your wedding day was a success!

Now, without further ado, let’s get planning!

The Quincy Valley

Post Register This Bridal Guide is a publication of The Quincy Valley Post-Register, which is published by Quincy Valley Media Inc., 305 Central Ave. S, Quincy, WA, 98848.

The Quincy Valley Post-Register is published weekly and distributed free to in-city residents in Quincy, Wash. and George, Wash.

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The Quincy Valley

Post Register