Wedding supplement of April Issue 66

Wedding Feature Section This is our 5th Annual Wedding Issue. This year is our BEST and BIGGEST! In the next 12 pages you will find many wonderful tips, ideas, articles and local businesses to help make your wedding a dream come true.

Make sure to check out Strathmore Travelodge & The Strathmore Station on Page 4 and visit our website for quick access to each of these businesses websites. www.thenewsyneighbour.com Need an extra copy of this issue to send to a bride or groom close to you? Just email newsyneighbor@gmail.com and we will get you that extra issue.

MY FAVOURITE – FABULOUS – FANTASTIC AND FUN STUFF Marriage is a huge step of faith. How do we know we are making the right decision when choosing that perfect partner? How do we know that person is “the one” for you? These questions may help you out a bit to making the biggest decision of your life.

1. When they love you for whom you are, NOT what they want you to be.

2. When they respect you as an individual, let you grow as yourself, into your own, and do not impose their expectations on you.

3. When you smile just by thinking of them. (And you can’t help but think about them).

4. When you can’t wait to see them again.

5. When you will do whatever it takes just to be with them.

6. When they will do whatever it takes just to be with you.

7. When they inspire you to be more than who you are.

8. When both of you bring out the best in each other. They inspire positive emotions in you, such as happiness, inspiration,

contentment, and hopefulness, rather than negative emotions such as unhappiness, apprehension, doubt, fear, or anger.

9. When they make you feel good about yourself, do not put you down whether directly or indirectly; neither do they induce self-doubt in you.

10. When you can simply be yourself around them, without ever trying to be like someone else or behave in a certain way that’s not you at all. You are able to shine in your own light without having to dial yourself down, as they do too when both of you are together.

Does your current crush or significant other measure up? This is definitely one list to cross-check your romantic partners with now or in the future, if you are ever unsure whether they are the one.

“A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason – and indeed all the sweets of life.” ~ Joseph Addison Kathryn Hartwell Resource: www.personalexcellence.ca

Wedding Feature Section

Life Lines

This monthly column by Jody Brown, is designed to help you make better connections and live happier lives. Sometimes we just need to ask the question.

Joanne (Jody) Brown, BSW is an NLP Master Practitioner and advanced Master Hypnotherapist with a Diploma in corrections and Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. You can learn more about NLP and hypnosis techniques on her website at www.authenticbeing.ca or contact her at 403-983-2230 or authenticbeing@shaw.ca.

Dear Lifelines, There are so many counsellors and different approaches out there and I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to find someone and I have questions about my upcoming marriage – what do you recommend?

Searching Pre-Nuptials

The Newlywed Game The Gist: A way to put the bride in the hot seat.

Working Together

How to Play: Before the bridal shower, interview the groom and ask him questions about the bride and their relationship: “Where was your first kiss?” “What’s his most annoying habit?”

Then at the shower, ask the bride the same questions and see if she can answer correctly.

To get the full effect, record video footage of the groom’s answers and play back his responses to stopbullystrathmore.com stopbullystrathmore.com each question for everyone to see and hear (allow a pause between questions.)

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The Gist: It’s like the story-telling version of mad libs.

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How to Play: Players take turns thinking of lines to add to a romantic story about the bride and groom (example opener: “Tess and Toby met at the office”). Pass the sheet around and have each person write a new line, folding the paper to only reveal the freshest sentence. After everyone has contributed, the final piece is read aloud to the bride.

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Dear Searching, You are so right! I remember many years ago looking for a marriage counsellor and being very disappointed with the referral counsellors we visited through programs at work. It wasn’t until a family member recommended a counsellor through personal experience that we found someone effective for us - she ended up being just what we needed. Until then, it was quite a frustrating and emotionally draining experience.

After seeing all of the challenges that can occur within marriage, I would recommend you see the counsellor before you actually even get married! What better gift can you give yourselves than the gift of improved communication and clarity around the expectations of marriage before you even tie the knot?

As far as the individual approaches to counselling are concerned, there are literally hundreds of different approaches from psychodynamic approaches to more traditional cognitive behavioural approaches. There are therapists that work with anything from music, body work, dance, mind and spiritual focuses. Sessions or therapy options can range in length from one or more hours to full weekend retreats. It’s important to determine these details in advance and to select what is the best fit for your needs and for what you want to get out of the session. With all the different theories out there, it can certainly be overwhelming when you just want some support and don’t want to have to sift through so many possibilities. It’s much easier if you can go with a friend’s personal recommendation, but don’t expect to have the same experience as your friend did because counselling is a very individual experience.

Perhaps counsellors you contact might be willing to meet with you first so that you can see if her/his style and approach is appropriate for you.

Counselling can be expensive so you can also find out if your insurance plans might cover some of the costs of counselling or if you can write off session expenses on your income tax.

Prior to your first session you might want to seriously consider what you really want to get out of the session. What do you want to accomplish?

What are your goals? These are details that the counsellor will love to hear so that you can work towards meeting these goals. But, above all else, it is important that you feel comfortable and safe around your counsellor. You should feel your needs are being heard as well as feeling a sense of trust between you and the therapist. Studies have shown that the relationship that you develop between the counsellor and yourself might be more productive and lead to greater personal change than any of the specific strategies or exercises or even the actual therapy approach that you might experience within the session. So feeling comfortable and safe, feeling a sense of trust, and feeling a sense of being heard are all extremely important qualities to be experienced within the counselling experience.

Best of Luck with your relationship!

Lifelines

Wedding Feature Section

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(403) 936-5990 • hiestelle@shaw.ca Wedding Plans Stressing You Out? Self-Massage Can Help!

By Cynthia Barnesky

Do you want to look and feel wonderful for your perfect day? That includes both the bride and groom!

You are running around getting the final touches ready for the big day, every detail is very important, but the most important detail should be you! Both the bride and groom need to look after themselves in order for it to be the perfect day. Here are some tips to reduce stress in the days ahead before your wedding day. Being organized and having a plan is essential. Second, both the bride and groom should try to have several massages with a Massage Practitioner. They can also help themselves with self-massage, thus relaxing and increase the closeness of their relationship. Self-Massage can be fun, easy and an inexpensive way to help each other relax and is a great way to get to know one another on a whole new level. Giving one another a massage increase endorphins that will help the body stay in a relaxed state while you are planning and orga-

nizing for your big day. Massaging the feet, shoulders, neck and hands are great places to start. When one’s body is totally relaxed, even under pleasure, it can help promote a healthy immune system, thus making you and your partner look and feel your best. So why not give each other a massage to help relax for The Big Day?! It will be a day you both will never forget, and guess what; you can always give each other a massage to help reduce stress in your everyday lives.

Happily Ever After!

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Wedding Feature Section DO IT YOURSELF WEDDING INVITATIONS Spring is almost here and you know what that means?

Wedding season!! If you or someone you know is planning a wedding, here are must-read tips on how to DIY Wedding Invitations.

There is no limit to the beauty and creativity a bride can achieve with this special day in her life, however she envisions it to be. Invitations and some aspects of a wedding can be done beautifully and on a budget. Think of how you envision your wedding day to be.

Have an idea of the general feel you are going for like the colours and theme. The invitation sets the tone for your guests and gives them a glimpse of what your wedding day is going to be like. Your invitations should represent you and your fiancé’s vision for your special day.

Determine your budget and what your wise investments are.

If you decide to go handmade, you can definitely make beautiful invitations that cost about $1 each.

Things to not skimp on are: • paper trimmer • great print quality • adhesive (if you are using multiple layers of cardstock or embellishments) • envelopes/cardstock • RSVP cards? This will double the postage costs and in crease the weight of your invite.

Questions like these will help you determine the average cost per invitation.

Figure out what size/shape you want your invites to be.

Folded or flat? Square or rectangle? (5×7 is a good universal size you can easily find envelopes for). Depending on the size and shape, envelopes and postage costs will vary. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. This is your wedding and can be done your way.

Get the most out of your card stock.

Use heavy weight orange-peel textured card stocks – they come in a wide choice of colours.

Don’t skip embellishments like: • abric- makes pretty ruffles • punches- can add detail to corners and edges • notions and lace- sold by the yard • ribbon- a bow always adds elegance, especially

organza • beads- require a little patience and probably extra

postage, but beautiful • stamps- inexpensive way to decorate an envelope or

invitation Play with your wording.

Wording an invitation can be a little scary. The wording is meant to clearly inform your guests where and when your event is taking place. So: • Try to keep your fonts legible and spell check, spell

check, spell check!

• Common etiquette recommends you spell all words

out (Alberta not AB) • Inclusion of middle names and parents names isn’t a

must (but usually done) • Use wording that reflects you and your fiancé’s style.

Consider clip art and fonts Clip art is a great way to dress up invitations inexpensively.

With a small purchase and permission, you can print as many items as you want for your personal use. Use clip art on your invites, table settings, RSVP cards… whatever you want! So easy! Fonts can also be very inexpensive or even free. Find ones you like and play around with the scripts or capital/lowercase versions to find what you like best. Make the bride and groom names stand out in some way.

Envelopes The envelope is very important. You don’t want thin, flimsy envelopes that won’t stay closed or that fall apart in the mail.

There are many options for invitation envelopes as far as size and variety goes.

Printing Ink can be costly; keep this in mind if you use clip art and a bunch of colours. Black ink is less expensive than colour, so consider adding colour with the card stock you choose instead.

Mailing them out!

Generally, you would like to send your invitations out 2 months in advance. If some of your guests are out of the province, you might want to send them earlier.

Hand-making invites might take a little time but they add a personal touch. The invitations style can be as unique as you are. Not only will your guests be gifted with something handmade, you get to save money too!

Kathryn Hartwell Resources: Craftaholics Anonymous

Wedding Feature Section MARRIAGE QUOTES “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person.” ~ Mignon McLaughlin

Get the perfect tan for your

Wedding Day

“Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.” ~Simone Signoret “A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time.” ~ Anne Taylor Fleming “Woke up in bed with a gorgeous woman, who I’m going to have lunch and the rest of my life with.” ~ Jason Barmer “A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.” ~ Paul Sweeney “Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage.” ~ Finnish Proverb “A dress that zips up the back will bring a husband and wife together.” ~ James H. Boren “Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths.

No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” ~ Mark Twain “Our wedding was many years ago. The celebration continues to this day.” ~ Gene Perret “A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.” ~ Andre Maurois “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” ~ Martin Luther

WONDER WHY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS ARE IMPORTANT? Here are 5 key reasons: • It can be a great way to establish a relationship with your wedding photographer.

• It’s a chance to see images and angles that you may or may not like and decide on any photographic changes you may want to make prior to your wedding day.

• Increases your confidence when getting photographed.

• Great for personalized Wedding Announcements, Save-theDates, Wedding Invites, etc.

• Can create a creative, unique, memorable piece of art to cherish forever.

-by Kassy Wenaas, of Q Photography

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Your Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist Here it is; don’t get scared now! With this list, you should not forget a single thing. Good luck and remember “Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it.”

- Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember Six to Seven Months Before Nine to Sixteen Months Before

• Start a wedding folder or binder.

• Begin leafing through magazines for inspiration.

• Work out your budget. Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families’ contributions and your own.

Pick your wedding party, as soon as you’re engaged, people will start wondering who’s in.

• Start the guest list. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information. (Want to keep costs low? It may be brutal, but the best way to do it is to reduce your guest list.)

• Reserve your date and venues. Decide whether to have separate locations for the ceremony and the reception, factoring in travel time between the two places • Book your officiate.

• Research photographers, bands/djs, florists, and caterers.

• Throw an engagement party, if you wish.

But remember that your invitees should be on your wedding guest list as well

Three Months Before

• Finalize the menu and flowers.

You’ll want to wait until now to see what will be available, since food and flowers are affected by season.

• Order favours, if desired. Some safe bets: monogrammed cookies or a treat that represents your city or region. If you’re planning to have welcome baskets for out-of-town guests, plan those now too.

• Make a list of the people giving toasts. Which loved ones would you like to have speak at the reception? Ask them now.

• Finalize the readings. Determine what you would like to have read at the ceremony—and whom you wish to do the readings.

• Purchase your undergarments.

• Schedule your second fitting.

• Finalize the order of the ceremony and the reception.

• Print menu cards, if you like, as well as programs. No need to go to a printer, if that’s not in your budget: You can easily create these on your computer.

• Purchase the rings. This will give you time for resizing and engraving.

• Send your event schedule to the vendors. Giving them a first draft now allows ample time for tweaks and feedback.

Eight Months Before

• Hire the photographer and the videographer.

• Book the entertainment. Attend gigs of potential acts to see how they perform in front of audiences, and then reserve your favourite.

• Meet caterers. If you’re wedding venue doesn’t offer its own catering service, look for one now and hire the service this month or early next.

• Purchase a dress. You’ll need to schedule time for at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be postponed for another two to three months.

• Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Pick three hotels at different price points close to the reception venue. Sign up at a minimum of three retailers.

• Launch a wedding website. Create your personal page through a free provider such as weddingchannel.com.

Note the date of the wedding, travel information, and accommodations.

Then send the link to invitees.

Two Months Before

• Touch base again with all the vendors. Make sure any questions you or they had on your first draft have been answered.

• Meet with the photographer.

Discuss specific shots, and walk through the locations to note spots that appeal to you.

• Review the playlist with the band or deejay. Though you probably won’t be able to dictate every single song played, you should come prepared with a wish list.

• Send out the invitations. The rule of thumb: Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the ceremony, setting the RSVP cut-off at three weeks after the postmark date.

• Submit a newspaper-wedding announcement. If you’re planning to include a photograph, check the publications website: Some have strict rules about how the photo should look.

• Enjoy a bachelorette party.

Arranging a night out with your girlfriends generally falls to the maid of honour. But if she hasn’t mentioned one to you by now, feel free to ask—for scheduling purposes, of course!—if a celebration is in the works.

• Select and purchase invitations. Hire a calligrapher, if desired. Addressing cards is time-consuming, so you need to budget accordingly.

• Start planning a honeymoon. Make sure that your passports are up-to-date, and schedule doctors’ appointments for any shots you may need.

• Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.

• Meet with the officiate. Map out the ceremony and confirm that you have all the official documents for the wedding (these vary by county and religion).

• Reserve structural and electrical necessities.

Book portable toilets for outdoor events, extra chairs if you need them, lighting components, and so on.

• Book a florist. Florists can serve multiple clients on one day, which is why you can wait a little longer to engage one.

• Arrange transportation. Consider limos, minibuses, trolleys, and town cars. (But know that low-to-the-ground limos can make entries and exits dicey if you’re wearing a fitted gown.)

• Start composing a day-of timeline. Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance).

One Month Before

• Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database.

Phone people who have not yet responded.

• Get your marriage license. The process can take up to six days, but it’s good to give yourself some leeway. If you are changing your name, order several copies.

• Mail the rehearsal-dinner invitations.

• Visit the dressmaker for (with luck!) your last dress fitting. For peace of mind, you may want to schedule a fitting the week of your wedding. You can always cancel the appointment if you try on the dress then and it fits perfectly.

• Stock the bar. Now that you have a firm head count, you can order accordingly.

• Send out as many final payments as you can.

• Confirm times for hair and makeup and all vendors.

• E-mail and print directions for drivers of transport vehicles. This gives the chauffeurs ample time to navigate a route.

• Assign seating. Draw out table shapes on a layout of the room to help plan place settings.

Write the names of female guests on pink sticky notes and the names of male guests on blue sticky notes so you can move people about without resketching the entire setting.

• Purchase bridesmaids’ gifts. You’ll present them at the rehearsal dinner.

• Write vows, if necessary.

• Get your hair cut and coloured, if desired.

Four to Five Months Before

• Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues. Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you’re planning to host a day-after brunch for guests, book that place as well.

• Check on the wedding invitations.

Ask the stationer for samples of the finished invitations and revise them to suit your needs.

• Select and order the cake. Some bakers require a long lead-time. Attend several tastings before committing to any baker.

• Send your guest list to the host of your shower. Provided you, ahem, know about the shower.

• Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings. Bring the shoes along to your first fitting so the tailor can choose the appropriate length for your gown.

• Schedule hair and makeup artists.

Make a few appointments with local experts to try them out. Snap a photo at each so you can compare results.

• Choose your music. What should be playing when the wedding party is announced? During dinner? To kick off the dancing? Keep a running list of what you want—and do not want—played.

Week of the Wedding

• Reconfirm arrival times with vendors.

• Delegate small wedding-day tasks.

Choose someone to bustle your dress, someone to carry your things, someone to be in charge of gifts (especially the enveloped sort), someone to hand out tips, and someone to be the point person for each vendor.

• Send a timeline to the bridal party.

Include every member’s contact information, along with the point people you’ve asked to deal with the vendors, if problems arise.

• Pick up your dress. Or make arrangements for a delivery.

• Check in one last time with the photographer. Supply him or her with a list of moments you want captured on film.

• Set aside cheques for the vendors. And put tips in envelopes to be handed out at the event.

• Book a spa treatment. Make an appointment for a manicure and a pedicure the day before the wedding.

(You might want to get a stress-relieving massage, too.)

• Send the final guest list to the caterer and all venues hosting your wedding-related events. Typically, companies close their lists 72 hours in advance.

• Break in your shoes.

• Assemble and distribute the welcome baskets.

• Pack for your honeymoon.

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LUSCIOUS JOYS Since April is our incredibly wonderful wedding issue, this months Luscious Joys is for that special bride-to-be. You all know a wedding cake can cost a great deal of money and if you are on a tight budget (who isn’t), there are so many other items you will need for your perfect wedding. Why not bake your own wedding cake? Or, maybe your best friend or mother would be delighted in making it for you (you never know – it could happen!). A DIY Wedding Cake is one of the most accessible ways to add that personal touch to the day. In theory, it seems very straightforward – bake a cake, smooth on some icing, and ta-da! Yeah, well, if it were that simple, no one would ever buy a wedding cake, would they?

In reality, preparing your own wedding cake can be a tricky proposition, as you are in a time-crunch, only able to prepare the cake a couple of days before the wedding, so a successful DIY wedding cake is all about forward-thinking, and delegation.

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cake can help you decide on the best way to make it a reality. The point is, you don’t have to bake it yourself if it’s to save money, necessarily, but you’re a brutal baker! So rope in a friend or family member or even decorate a shop-bought cake if you want to add that personal touch.

There’s more than one way to DIY… Before You Bake Your Own Wedding Cake Even if you are a fantastic baker, making your own wedding cake can be an extra stress you just don’t need in the days up to the big day. So be realistic, and before you start bookmarking recipes, ask yourself a few important questions (and be honest!): •

•

•

How experienced are you at baking? Have you made the cake many times before, or is this an experiment?

How many hours of baking, and crucially, decorating, time will you need?

Do you have that amount of time in the days

First things first, there are three main reasons for a DIY wedding cake: •

• •

You love baking and no one else’s cake will be as good as your own To give that personal touch To save money

So the first question is: which of those is your reason? Or is it a combination? The reason I ask is because thinking about why you want a DIY wedding

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Nancy Gautreau (403) 305-1356

Wedding Feature Section

The Cheadle Hall for Your Wedding

The Cheadle hall is a fair sized facility of approximately 3700sqft located in East Cheadle.

The building features a dance floor, stage, exceptional dining area and kitchen. The facility also features an outdoor patio area. While renting the Cheadle Community Hall, you also have the opportunity to have your function catered.

Information on the hall is located on our website:

www.cheadlealberta.com Call Jacqueline 403-361-9658

•

•

before the wedding, when things are going to be crazy-busy?

Can you make a comeback from burned fruit cake, runny fondant or sticky sugar flowers?

Do you have all the baking supplies and tools available to you and if not, how much will it cost to buy it all? Make sure to always have a back-up plan – things happen, no matter how skilled you are at baking.

Family and Friends Most families have someone in their family who makes the most delicious cakes or desserts, so why not ask them to help out? If they are not confident enough to take on your entire wedding cake, they could make a mixture of their favourite cakes to go on display for a dessert table. You could also ask a number of your guests to bring along some of their finest home baked goodies to add to the table.

Tips •

Try to stick with a simple homemade recipe such as one that does not require a lot of fancy steps. A dump cake recipe is a good

choice.

• I know it does not sound so delicious but

dump recipes basically have one requirement

and that is that all ingredients get dumped

into the bowl at once and mixed. And that is

it. What could be easier than that?

• Have all of your ingredients measured out

and at room temperature before you start the

process of putting it all together.

• Making a wedding cake, if taken in steps, is

just a matter of multiplying your favourite

homemade recipe and baking them off in

larger pans.

• Fill the cake pans 1/2 to 1/3 full. You can fill

a pan a little more if using a lighter batter a

little less when using a heavier batter.

• Always grease, flour and put parchment or

wax paper along the bottom of the pans.

• Always let the cakes cool completely before

covering and storing. You will need cardboard

circles to put under each cake for support

when lifting and moving the cakes.

• You need to decide how many layers your

cakes will be before baking; you can bake

each layer separate. A two layer cake with

one layer of filling keeps the cake a little more

stable. But you will need to figure out your preferences.

There are hundreds of different cake recipes on the web and in doing my reWill Change Your Life! search I found a lot of DIY Getting Married wedding cake Try Try one one for for Special Occasion bakers make $25...or $25...or free! free! Swimsuit Season carrot cake (say that three Detoxifies, tightens, times fast)!

Best wishes for your special day and happy baking.

Kathryn Hartwell

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Wedding Feature Section SO YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED! IT’S TIME TO GET FIT!

Specializing in Spa & Hair Services

Where do you start? Establish how much time you have before the wedding date. 6 months, 1 year, 9.5 weeks? Once you know how many months, weeks, days, hours and minutes before your big day, set a realistic fitness goal.

What’s realistic when it’s the biggest day of your life?

Determine how much time each week you can realistically commit to a fitness program. Take in to account how many hours you work, what commitments you have, what new commitments you will be taking on by planning a wedding and so on. Many brides wait until the last month or weeks before the wedding and then crash diet. Crash dieting is a horrible idea! Not to mention horrible for your mental health, hormonal health and physical health. With crash dieting, you are going to get run down and sick. You can’t deal with stress as well and after the wedding, the weight piles back on.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, or have read a few articles on how to get fit. Don’t waste your time – hire a professional!

Once you have established your fitness goal, start small!

Only change one thing a week. Week 1 might be getting to the gym twice. Week 2, continue with week 1; get to the gym twice and eat 4-5 small meals a day.

Week 3, continue with week 1 & 2; go to the gym twice, eat 4-5 small meals and get 8 hours of sleep a night. Continue to add small changes throughout the weeks. If you are struggling with a change, stick with it until you master it.

You need to change your behaviour or habits in order to be successful. You can’t change all you habits at once and expect long term results. Quick fixes never promote health and wellness.

You are about to start a new journey in your life with someone you love. Take care of yourself! Health and wellness is your life and if your health is poor, so is the quality of your life. ~ Anndee King

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3, 720 Centre St. Langdon, AB

SECRET TO A LONG HAPPY MARRIAGE An old woman was sipping on a glass of wine, while sitting on the patio with her husband, and she says, “I love you so much, I don’t know how I could ever live without you!” Her husband asks, “Is that you, or the wine talking?” She replies, “It’s me... talking to the wine!”

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Wedding Feature Section

Kim’s KATERING

6) The Thought Doesn’t Count: Don’t tell your wife about the gift you almost got her. Although it’s nice to know that your spouse was thinking of you, it’s nicer to know that he thought of you and brought you a present.

Phone:

403-863-6395

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8) Smile and Nod: When your husband needs to bare his soul, even if you have absolutely no interest in what he’s saying, at least pretend to listen. After all, women often try to convince men to be more communicative. So let him complain. Allow your eyes to glaze over and daydream about something else. It’s a safe bet he’ll never notice.

9) Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: If you insist on putting your foot down about everything, you’re bound to get exhausted. Instead, let the small stuff slide and save the big fights for important stuff, such as finances, children and picking the movie.

From 10 to 1000 people.

Serving Strathmore & Area

www.kimskatering.ca

7) Women Lie: When your wife says, “I won’t be mad,” she’s lying. When she says, “You don’t have to ask permission to go out with your friends,” she’s lying. When she says, “Bald men are sexy,” she’s lying. When she says, “I want you to be honest with me – do I look fat in this?” she’s lying.

kimskatering@telus.net

MARRIAGE RULES 1) Always Speak Directly to Your Spouse: Don’t try to send your spouse a message by having fake conversations with your children or dogs and pretending he or she isn’t in the room (i.e. “We wouldn’t have been late if mom hadn’t taken that phone call”, etc.).

2) Don’t compliment your wife for how she used to look in outfits that no longer fit. Tell your wife she looks great NO MATTER WHAT. 3) Go to Bed Angry: It’s better to go to bed angry than stay up all night fighting – you’ll need your rest in order to win the fight tomorrow.

4) Don’t Expect Dinner to be Made: Do not come home and ask your wife “What’s for dinner?” Implying that she’s responsible for dinner will surely anger her. This isn’t the 1950s. Both sexes are capable of preparing a meal.

5) Dads Are Not Babysitters: If you’re spending time with the kids while your wife is out, do not refer to it as babysitting – not unless you want to anger your wife. Just because she gave birth to them, it doesn’t mean that she claims sole responsibility of their care.

10) Help Him Improve Himself: If your husband is a hunter or fisher and brings home some sort of trophy, say, “I thought it would be bigger.” It will encourage him to try harder next time.

11) Correct His Driving: How will your husband know he’s going too fast unless you continuously slam the imaginary brakes on the passenger side of the car?

12) Play the Damsel in Distress to Get What You Want: When you need an unpleasant job done around the house, don’t ask your husband to do it. Instead, attempt the job yourself, do it badly and let him show you the “right” way to do it. He gets to be the hero, and you get to go relax.

Strathmore Taxi • Economy Taxi 24 HOURS

Out of Town • Special Events Airports • Vehicle Drive Homes (Not available in Chestermere) Deliveries • Hourly Rates

Serving Strathmore, Chestermere, Gleichen, Rockyford, Carseland, Langdon, all points in - between, and .... beyond.

Strathmore Taxi 403-934-4474

Economy Taxi 403-888-9058

We take reservations online at

www.s-e-t.ca or info@s-e-t.ca

Wedding Feature Section

Congratulations!

• Deluxe Accommodations • FREE Hot Daybreak Cafe Breakfast • Event facilities for Bridal Showers •Indoor Pool, Waterslide & Fitness Centre

Call Now for our Special Wedding Rates

400 Ranch Market. Strathmore, AB T1P 0B2 • www.daysinnstrathmore.com

ph: 403-934-1134 • toll free: 1-855-934-1134 • fax:403-934-3314

“A happy man marries the girl he loves; a happier man loves the girl he marries.” ~ Anonymous “You don’t need to be on the same wavelength to succeed in marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other’s waves.” ~ Toni Sciarra Poynter

Wedding packages are booking up fast so call for a quote today!

We offer limos for any night out, any occasion : Stag, Staggette, Engagement Party, Rehearsal Dinner, Graduations etc.

Call or Text (403) 369-LIMO(5466) www.whitepearllimos.ca

“To keep the fire burning brightly there’s one easy rule: keep the two logs together, near enough to keep each other warm and far enough apart – about a finger’s breadth – for breathing room. Good fire, good marriage, same rule.” ~Marnie Reed Crowell

Exciting Spring Specials!

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403 273-LAKE (5253)

202, 320 West Creek Drive, Chestermere. In Rainbow Falls

The Lakeshore, Esthetics & Tanning is a boutique spa that offers a full spectrum of services from sunless tanning, UV tanning, eyelash extentions, laser hair removal, massage, pedicures, manicures, tinting, waxing, threading, facials, microdermabrasion, glycolic peels, body treatments and Eurowave.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/thelakeshorespa Visit our website at: www.thelakeshorespa.com

Wedding Feature Section

Country Hospitality at its Finest Located in the Heart of Rosebud A memorable, relaxed country setting for weddings and special occasions, where picturesque indoor and outdoor facilities, professional staff, and excellent catering combine to create an unforgettable experience.

Book Your Event Now 403.677.2350 events@rosebudmerc.com

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE 1. Talk to your spouse more kindly than you talk to anyone else in the world. Too often we speak the most harshly to those closest to us.

2. Remember that marriage is less about marrying the right person and more about becoming the right person.

3. Don’t forget to laugh. Most couples spend the majority of their time talking logistics: who’s doing the grocery shopping, who’s calling the repairman, who’s picking up the kids.

A relationship can’t survive on logistics. Have a water fight instead.

4. She needs you to be her best friend. Everyday, talk to her and tell her what you’re thinking. Even if you don’t think you’re thinking about anything. She needs to hear your heart.

5. He needs you to be his cheerleader. Let him know you believe he can take on the world.

6. Find ways to say “I love you” that don’t involve sex.

7. When you dress up, make sure the main person you’re dressing up for is him. And put on lipstick.

8. Leave the toilet seat down.

9. Forgiving means not bringing that old infraction up every time you have a new fight. Let it go.

10. If it’s not solved at 2:30 a.m., it’s not going to be solved

at 3:00 a.m. either. Go to sleep. You can deal with it tomorrow, assuming you even remember what the fight was about.

11. When you’re having an argument, listen to understand, don’t listen to find loopholes so you can win. Marriage is either a win/win or a lose/lose. You can’t win by beating someone else down.

12. Your kids come second, not first. Your marriage needs to be number one. Your spouse was there before the kids and will be there after the kids move out. Work on that relationship first.

13. If you haven’t fully committed to your marriage, it won’t succeed. If you’re always testing your spouse, your spouse will always come up short. No one is perfect.

14. You will never drift together. People only ever drift apart. If you want to grow closer, you have to be intentional about it.

15. Let her cry. She needs to every now and then.

16. Don’t bug him if he doesn’t cry. Some men just don’t show their feelings. That’s why they’re men.

17. Don’t say everything that’s on your mind. More marriages would survive if more things went unsaid.

18. Let her be your every fantasy. Keep your eyeballs off everyone else.

19. Let him be your every fantasy. Keep your eyeballs off romance novels.

20. Don’t think he’s gross if he farts. Don’t think she’s pathetic if she obsesses over paint colours. You married someone of the opposite gender. That’s what life is about.

21. Don’t run to your mom if your spouse does something you don’t like. You’re a unit now. Act like it.

22. Make one of your favourite topics of conversation how much you admire your spouse. Tell your kids. Tell your friends. And let your spouse hear.

23. Men would be ecstatic if women showed up naked and brought food. Most women need more than that.

Men, make it your goal in life to figure her out. Woo her.

She’s worth it.

24. Say yes far more frequently than you say no.

403-901-6850

Just picture it!

Shots n’ Giggles is a high tech photo booth that delivers top quality photos personalized to suit your event or special occasion.

Give your guests something to do during cocktail and picture time at your wedding, giving your party goers a copy of their own photo strip, makes the perfect favour at any event!

www.shotsngiggles.ca

shotsngiggles12@gmail.com