Weddings - Winter 2010

WEDDINGS Fall 2008

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Groom’s Name Address City Date Engaged

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Mail bridal planner to __bride __groom (check one)

PLEASE CHECK THE ITEMS/SERVICES YOU NEED FOR YOUR WEDDING: __ Bridal Services __ Health & Beauty __ Bridal Shops __ Honeymoon/Travel __ Cakes/Sweets __ Hotel/Accommodations __ Caterers __ Invitations __ Disc Jockeys __ Jewelry __ Dry Cleaners - Gown Preservation __ Limo/Transportation __ Favors __ Musicians/Bands/Soloists __ Financial/Insurance __ Officiants __ Floral/Decorations __ Parties __ Furniture/Furnishings __ Photographers __ Gifts/Registry __ Realtor/Housing

__ Reception Sites __ Rehearsal Dinner __ Rentals - Party Supplies, Tents __ Tuxes __ Videographer __ Wedding Consultants __ Wedding Sites __ Wine, Spirits __ Other

Vol. 7, No. 4

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Winter 2010

make it personal! features 4 love notes 6 confident style 7 across the finish line 9 the classic bride 10 gown gallery 14 dress blues 15 here comes the judge 16 hurray for hollywood 19 diy weddings 21 diamonds are forever

23 work it out 24 autumn vows

wedding essentials 26 bride’s checklist 27 groom’s checklist 28 caterer worksheet 29 reception worksheet 30 reception hall directory

on the cover Infinite Image Design, Photographer

Weddings is a publication of

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

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A publication of The Courier, Waterloo-Cedar Falls

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lovenotes

Find CV Weddings Magazine on Facebook and cvweddings on Twitter.

gifts for him

Winter 2010 Vol. 7 Issue 4 Publisher David A. Braton Weddings Editor Melody Parker (319) 291-1429 melody.parker@wcfcourier.com Graphic Designer Courtney Towlerton (319) 291-1457 courtney.towlerton@wcfcourier.com Weddings Advertising Sales & Online Sales Manager Sheila Kerns (319) 291-1448 sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com

Do you have the time? A wedding is over in the blink of an eye, but he’ll remember it each time he checks the time on his mechanical pocket watch.

The see-through face lets you see the clockwork, and the cover can be engraved. Each is $29.95. For something a little different, why not choose the watch money clip? The stainless steel clip features a Quartz crystal timepiece, $29.95, theknot.com.

Weddings Advertising Sales Jackie Nowparvar (319) 291-1527 jackie.nowparvar@wcfcourier.com

Yo, dude. A retro toy like a nickelplated yo-yo — personalized, of course — is a great way to say “thanks!” to groomsmen or even a ring bearer.

Each is $10.95, theknot.com

Contributing Writer Amie Steffen (319) 291-1405 amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com Tina Hinz (319) 291-1484 tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com Contributing Photographers Rick Chase Brandon Pollock Matthew Putney Rick Tibbott

Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the handiness of the Victorinox Swiss Army Golf Tool. It clips to a golf bag or belt and stows such items as a ball marker, tee punch with groove cleaner, onehanded divot repair tool, bottle opener, nail file, blade, tweezers, toothpick and scissors. Comes in sapphire blue, $59.

Weddings is published quarterly

by Courier Communications.

Weddings may be contacted at: 501 Commercial St. P.O. Box 540 Waterloo, IA 50704 Copyright, Weddings, 2010 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

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A sleek digital gold-finished digital picture keychain is a practical and cool groomsmens’ gift.

The easy-to-use software simplifies loading images from a PC or Mac. View pictures in slideshow or standard mode on the 1.5-inch OLED LCD screen.

Compatible with Windows 2000/ME, XP, and Macintosh OS X 10.2. Includes AC adaptor, USB cable, CD-ROM, and users manual, $49.

Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

forher At heart, Marc Jacob’s feminine and playful Daisy ($20 to $75) is a floral with a vintage edge — violet. The fragrance is a sparkling floral bouquet in a bright, alluring style that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Pearly beads cinch a graceful bow sculpted with chiffon bloooms on a satin-covered headband lined with suede to comfortably secure the style. The Tasha “Rose Bow” headband is $38.

Urban Decay’s Naked Palette ($44) features 12 neutral eyeshadows, including five new shades and seven of the brand’s best-selling eyeshadows. Plus, you get an exclusive double-ended version of the award-winning 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (black) and Whisky and a mini genie bottle of Eyeshadow Primer Potion. It all comes in a chocolate velvet and gold foil case.

Seal the deal with an organic kiss.

Josie Maran’s Argan Infused Lipsticks ($20) provide a semi-gloss, hydrating finish without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, petro-chemicals, phthalates, GMOs and Triclosan. Argan oil is produced from the Argan tree in the semi deserts of Morocco.

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

Add a “Something Blue” blue hair comb to your wedding up-do. The dark brown 2-inch wide comb holds a 16mm clear AB Swarovski crystal button and shines with a light blue flickering effect. The dangle is 2-1/2” long and embedded with snow white glass pearls, clear AB Swarovski bicone crystals and a wonderful snow-white teardrop glass pearl, ending in a tri-tassle of pearls and crystals, $26, opalinspirations.com

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Confident style How to express your inner beauty Text & Image | ARA Content

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our appearance — from what you wear, to how you style your hair, to how you carry yourself — sends a message to the outside world. When you exude confident style, that message stays consistent across all of your style “personalities,” going from your work attire to your casual outfits to your most glammed-up evening wear.

Giving your style a refreshed attitude can be much simpler than you’d expect.

Even tiny changes can make a difference, while still letting you express who you are. Here are some more tips that can help you update your look: — Face forward: Most women know that buying a new lipstick is a small indulgence that can make you feel great.

But it’s more than just the action of buying that provides a boost— something as simple as a new lip color can change the way you look at yourself, and give you a fresh new perspective.

— With increased attention being paid to living a more natural lifestyle, min-

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eral makeup is becoming increasingly popular. At www.midnightvelvet.com, brides can check out instructional videos from style and beauty expert Maureen Burke and a blog about the latest beauty trends.

— A beautiful foundation: The most important parts of the great buildings of the world are the interior structures that keep them standing. So, if your body is a temple, make sure it has a good foundation. Having the right intimates, from bras to camisoles and body shapers, can help your clothes fit better and lay more elegantly on your figure.

— Feel scent-sational: Scent is highly tied to memory, but while certain fragrances might remind you of your loved ones, you also want to have a scent of your own that people will remember you by.

Keep in mind that not all fragrances work for all occasions. Seasons can play a big role: lighter, fresher scents feel breezy in the summer, but richer, bolder scents evoke warmth in the cold of winter. •

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across the finish line Fun-loving couple begin marathon journey together Text | Melody Parker Images | McKenna McNelly

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achel Cole Lawson still laughs when she recalls her new husband’s marriage proposal.

It was at the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in October 2009. Rachel and her then-boyfriend, Michael, had just completed the 26.2 mile run and Michael was down on one knee. She urged him to get up and stretch, not to kneel or sit down, not realizing he was in the midst of proposing.

“All these people were clapping and cheering and I’m looking around to see what was happening. My parents were there and my dad was head-bobbing

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

toward Michael. Then I see the ring and it’s me everyone is looking at and Michael is proposing. The little trickster had carried the engagement ring in his shorts the whole time,” she recalls.

Of course, she said yes.

Michael, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and an Army recruiter, and Rachel, a school counselor at Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls, were wed July 17 at Orchard Hill Church. The ceremony paid homage to the beginning of their marathon journey through life together, as well as their family and his military service.

“He’s active-duty Army and I’ve become a part of the Army family. That was important to both of us. The fo-

cus was on our faith and our families; it wasn’t about the stuff of a wedding.

Having that focus helped us put the idea of planning a wedding into perspective. It was a very beautiful wedding, but we didn’t want it so formal that people wouldn’t recognize us,” Rachel explained.

An adventurous couple, they showed their playful sides in engagement photos taken in the snow by Crystal Weiss of McKenna McNelly Photography.

“We thought it would be fun. Snow had fallen pretty good overnight and on the day of the shoot. Crystal is a trouper and said let’s do it, that she knew a serene place. Michael and I had fun with it. It was a different way to look at en-

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The army welcomed Rachel into the military family as a part of the wedding ceremony. gagement photos,” Rachel said.

She found her dress at Now and Forever Bridal in Waterloo, one of umpteen dresses she tried on over two sessions. A self-professed “daddy’s girl,” Rachel was happy that her dad and mom both were with her when she found the perfect dress. “I knew I wanted a white dress.

The one I chose had a strapless sweetheart neckline, very simple, and one of the great details is that it had pockets. My dad joked that I’d have my cell phone in the pocket, going off during the wedding service. But I felt like a bride in that dress.

I felt like Rachel and that I was being true to who I am.”

Micheal wore his dress uniform and groomsmen wore black tuxedos. Bridesmaids wore red dresses and the little girls in the wedding wore white dresses with red sashes. Tropical flowers filled floral arrangements designed by Hilltop Weddings, and Rachel’s bouquet included orchids.

As they left the church, they passed through an “arch of steel” formed by the crossed swords of Michael’s Army colleagues. Rachel was swatted on the bottom by one sword as she exited the arch.

“I wasn’t expecting that — it was a funny surprise.”

Their reception and sit-down dinner took place in the loft at the Cedar Falls

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Holiday Inn. Monogrammed L’s topped the three-tiered cake from Waverly Home Bakery, along with 500 petit fours.

The couple cut the first piece of cake using his military saber.

An all-inclusive package at a Dominican Republic resort was a thrilling honeymoon for Michael and Rachel. “There were remnants of a hurricane that passed through, but we were unscathed. We met four other couples who all got married the same day. We decided five years out, we’ll get together for our second honeymoons.” •

Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Classicstyle

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ou’re crazy in love!

He’s popped the question and you’ve said yes. Now it’s time to find the dress of your dreams.

Most brides want a dress that’s as unique as she is — and in style.Take your time to try on lots of dresses, even ones you’re not so sure about on the hanger. You might look fantastic in a dress you never dreamed of choosing. Invite the people you trust — your mom, your best friend — to go with you to help make the final decision. (Don’t drag too many people along because it becomes confusing and overwhelming).

Choose a dress you love, one that makes you feel like a beautiful bride. And remember, you’ll be photographed in your bridal gown from many different directions and it will be a lasting memory. •

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Pismodol orperciduis ad tet iril do euipit atem iurero conulla feum quisl dolobore conseni smolobor iliscinisim zzrit utpatie mod er sumsandit ea faccum aliquatue do doloreetuer sismolenim augue minismo dolobore del ulputpat verit aliqui tinis ea feu feu feum volore te dolor iustrud dolenim zzriliquisi tet amet praesequat velit, core min hendre duissi ea consequatis niscilla faci blam ing ex ecte magna amet niamcore consequat. Duismolessim dolore vullummy nos er sumsand reetum iliqui bla facipis aliquam iriure modit nos nit nulputpat utatum alit prat lorem exercilisis nos aliscin cipsum iusci et lummy nit venim iureraestrud tatio delit ectem ipisl ing euipismod modo conummolore facilit wisit, cons dionsed tis ad dipit dignibh eugiat.

Tueraese ea consequipsum digna feu facin vulput init utem iureet vel utpatio odiate core tat. Ut incilit laortis ea commodo leniat. Ut wisisl ulputpat. Ut aore consequat. Duismolessim dolore vullummy nos er sumsand reetum iliqui bla facipis aliquam iriure modit nos nit nulputpat utatum alit prat lorem exercilisis nos aliscin cipsum iusci et lummy nit venim iureraestrud tatio delit ectem ipisl ing euipismod modo conummolore Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Trumps trends for a wedding you’ll still love in 20 years Text | ARA Content Image | Infinite Image Design

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edding album, videos and a carefully preserved gown — your wedding mementoes are meant to be precious reminders of your special day. But you may find yourself cringing with shame when you look at your album years down the road if you choose trendy over traditional style for the look of your wedding.

It’s easy to tell the difference between a look that’s trendy and a more classic style.

Think of the bell bottoms and love beads from the ‘70s and big hair and “Dynasty”style gowns of the ‘80s — looks that were “hot” at one time, but that years later elicit an eye-roll and a “what was I thinking” attitude from women who wore them.

Now consider the elegance, grace and demure femininity of icons like Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn.

Their style was classic and timeless — and

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

one that today’s smart bride mimics to ensure she’ll love the look of her wedding as much in 20 years as she does the day she walks down the aisle.

The dress Avoid large, modern swags of fabrics in favor of silhouettes that emphasize an hourglass figure. Nipped-in waists, or waistlines defined with belts and sashes, often in a color that slightly contrasts with the dress, create an elegant, eternal style. You can draw your classic style from the ‘40s, ‘50s and even ‘60s.

The accessories A veil is essential for classic bridal style, and birdcage veils with large netting that falls at cheekbone length epitomize the look.

These simple veils frame the bride’s glowing face and highlight special jewelry. Ladylike wrist-length gloves are the perfect complement to vintage bridal looks.

The jewelry The classic bridal look is a perfect match

with a simple and elegant pair of pearl stud earrings and a lustrous 16-inch strand of cultured pearls around the bride’s neck.

Pearls have long been associated with the essence of sophisticated womanhood in American pop culture.

“The Hindu Lord Krishna is said to have offered pearls to his daughter as a wedding gift, which is where pearls and weddings were first married,” says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, the world’s largest online pearl company. “Pearls are considered a symbol of purity, making them the perfect fit with a bride’s white dress.”

Shepherd recommends white akoya pearls, a saltwater pearl that grows primarily in the coastal areas of Japan and China.

Considered to be the classic pearls for jewelry, akoya pearls are prized for their perfect round shape, mirror-like luster and soft, neutral colors.

Visit www.PearlParadise.com for more ideas and classic bridal pearls. •

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dress blues

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Tradition welcomes new bride into military family Text | Amie Steffen Images | Courtesy

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Matt and Genna Hatala 14

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arrying a Marine means a military welcome — complete with a swat on the bottom.

Genna Hatala learned that the hard way during a traditional “sword ceremony,” a somber affair, for the most part.

As her husband, Lance Cpl. Matt Hatala explained, the ceremony usually happens after the couple exits the church. In their case, it happened when they entered the reception hall in Parkersburg. The wedding took place at United Church of Christ in Allison.

Six or eight Marines, in full uniform, held their swords high and crossed as the couple walked underneath.

“The last two guys will stop you” by putting their crossed swords at about knee height, Matt said. “There is a high-ranking marine (who) will turn and face you, say ‘congratulations’ and welcome your wife into the family.”

And then, “they smacked me really hard,” said Genna, who said she wasn’t completely surprised because her sisterin-law had a similar experience at her own wedding.

Matt got swatted as well. He said the ceremony symbolizes the toll military service takes on both partners in a relationship.

“It’s equally as hard on the spouses,” he said. “(The ceremony is) basically thanking them for being with us and being a part of our lives.”

Matt’s military service has always been a part of the couple’s relationship. The two met through mutual friends when both were attending different high schools — Genna at North Butler, Matt at WaverlyShell Rock — and began dating.

When they graduated in 2007, he went to boot camp while she went to college.

Through four years of dating — much of that during which Matt was deployed — they stayed close.

He finally proposed in December 2008, after walking with her through the snow at his parents’ house.

“I just didn’t want to ruin the chance of us ever growing apart. I knew I loved her and wanted to be with her the rest of my life,” Matt said.

After she agreed, Matt left for a deployment to Iraq, leaving much of the planning in Genna’s hands, with his advice whenever they spoke on the phone. “I got to talk to him quite a bit,” Genna said.

Matt was happy his bride was getting what she wanted: a big wedding. “As long as she was happy with it, I would be happy with it,” he explained.

The bride wore a form-fitting dress made with lace and beadwork and a cathedral-length veil. The groom wore his dress blues, his formal military uniform.

The wedding’s colors reflected those dress blues — black and ivory with hints of yellow.

Around 250 guests attended the wedding and reception, dining on lasagna, chicken alfredo and a variety of finger foods.

“It was one of those things I kept planning and planning — ‘Is this ever gonna come together?’ — and it goes by in a second,” Genna said.

“Everything was great for me,” Matt said.

Just two days after the wedding, the newlyweds packed up and moved to San Diego to be near Camp Pendleton, the major West Coast base for the Marine Corps. Matt will deploy to Afghanistan in the spring.

“We’ve always had a long distance relationship. I came out here to enjoy the married life in California,” Genna said.

Matt is glad he has the commitment of marriage when he’s deployed this time.

“It was strenuous being in a relationship and being across the country. I didn’t want to take the risk of something pushing us apart.” • Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Here comes the judge!

The humble courthouse wedding gets some love Text | McClatchy Newspapers and Melody Parker, Weddings editor

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or her February wedding, Shona Lepis selected a floor-length satin gown with beading and a bustle, a sundial necklace and a vintage-chic bouquet with roses, hyacinths and sprigs of frost-white andromeda.

Then she took all that fabulousness and headed for the county courthouse.

“The ceremony was by a judge, and we didn’t know what he was going to say, but it was very heartfelt,” says Lepis, 34, a graphic designer from Portland.

“It was perfect. I couldn’t have written anything better. Everything just fell into place really well.”

Once derided as cheap and impersonal, the courthouse wedding — a.k.a. the city hall wedding — is getting a second look, with cutting-edge couples, upscale wedding photographers and even the oh-so-chic wedding Web site The Knot (theknot.com) swooning in its general direction.

In Black Hawk County, however, courthouse weddings are a thing of the past. Instead, couples hire magistrates to perform the ceremony. The magistrate comes to whatever location is desired, whether it’s a hired hall, hotel ballroom, backyard or living room. There is a charge.

Magistrate Kathy Langlas recalls when couples showed up at the courthouse in full wedding regalia to say their “I do’s,” but courthouse weddings were discontinued as magistrates’ case loads increased, schedules tightened and there wasn’t time to spare. Only three magistrates perform weddings off-site — and they do it on their own free time, Langlas said.

“We look at our personal calendars to see if we can perform a wedding. Most couples do give us some kind of advance

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notice of when they want to get married,” she explained, but short notice isn’t uncommon. Ceremonies themselves tend toward the more traditional.

“I love doing wedding ceremonies and I try to work with the couple. There are a lot of different options from the casual to the more formal or involved. Some couples want to read scripture or read poetry or have prayers, a unity candle or unity sand, so it depends on the couple.”

Generally, she visits several times with the couple via phone or e-mail before the wedding and arrives 20 to 30 minutes early prior to the event to make sure everyone is on the same page.

To check on availability of magistrates for weddings, call the court attendant at (319) 833-3000, ext. 3280 or 3281.

Part of the story is economics. Wedding spending is falling across the board, with the average wedding costing $21,800 in 2008, down from $28,700 in 2007, according to the Wedding Report, a market research company that tracks the wedding industry.

But celebrities for whom price is likely no obstacle — David Letterman, Jessica Alba, Ellen Pompeo and Salma Hayek — are also heading to the courthouse, sometimes with significant fanfare. And wedding professionals point to broader trends such as nostalgia and retro-chic.

“I think there’s a certain element of romance and passion” to the courthouse wedding, says Anja Winikka, editor of TheKnot.com.

“To throw away the big ceremony in front of everyone and really share the moment, with the two of you — it’s very private. It’s an intimate moment. Really the only people who are there are the two of you, a judge and a witness.”

Exact numbers are hard to come by, but the larger category of justice-of-thepeace weddings is up, according to the Wedding Report. •

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Hurray for Hollywood Red carpet glamour adds to couple’s dream wedding Text | Melody Parker Images | Vision Photo Art

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efore escorting his daughter, Cady, down the aisle, Dan Stephens fastened a ballet slippers pin to her wedding gown close to her heart. The slippers were in memory of Cady’s mom who had died four years earlier.

“My mom danced ballet and the slippers meant a lot to her, and that dad would do that meant a lot to me.

The little girls in my wedding wore tu-

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tus, too,” said Cady, 24.

She married Casey Schmidt on July 23 at Trinity Bible Church. The glamorous, Hollywood-inspired reception took place at the Elks Club.

“We started with the dress and colors and started finding elements to work with the dress and the overall theme,” said wedding planner Joan Ney, a family friend.

Cady was grateful for the help. “To have Joan with me has been such a huge weight off my shoulders. We’ve

gotten really close. She cares about her brides and she wanted my day to be perfect. Without Joan’s help, I don’t know what kind of wedding we’d have had.”

The bride chose the classic colors of black and white, accented with chartreuse, for a bold statement. Her white taffeta dress had a V-neckline and asymmetrical draping and a chapel-length train, and she wore a birdcage veil for old-fashioned allure.

Casey wore a black tuxedo with ivory

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Cady Stephens and Casey Schmidt met on a blind date at Cup of Joe in Cedar Falls, so they staged several wedding photographs at the coffee shop. Cady wore a birdcage veil for glamour.

shirt and vest.

Bridesmaids wore black dresses accented with sparkling brooches and carried bouquets of green roses, white dendrobium orchids, chartreuse kermit mums, and white feathers and rhinestones were scattered among the flowers. The bride’s bouquet was centered around white dendrobium orchids. A rhinestone brooch and a white bow, along with green roses, completed the look.

Sumptuous floral arrangements decorated the church, including tall cylindrical vases with floating candles and a display of lilies, green roses, white spider mums and fresh green foliage, and

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a three-votive candlestick lit in memory deceased grandparents. Dan Stephens lit the third candle in memory of his late wife and Cady’s mother, Suzanne.

As the couple left the church, guests released white and black balloons tagged with a label reading “Love is in the air” and Casey and Cady’s e-mail address if the labels are found. They rode to the Elks Club reception in a 1970 white Rolls Royce.

It was here Ney truly went “Hollywood.” A spotlight flashed as the bridal party was announced and guests danced on a black-and-white checkerboard dance floor to music by Milk

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The bride dressed her flower girls in tutus and slippers in remembrance of her late mother’s passion for ballet. A Rolls Royce was part of the wedding’s Hollywood flair.

and Honey. For the sit-down dinner, black lacquered chairs and chargers looked elegant against crisp, white table linens with black-and-white print overlays. Three unique, high-style centerpieces were displayed, as well as large glass pilsner vases filled with “Casa Blanca” lilies.

Casey and Cady sliced into a threetier, double-stacked wedding cake featuring chocolate raspberry, white almond and champagne layers covered in white fondant and adorned with black ribbon trim and rhinestone brooches.

The couple met on a blind date at

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Cup of Joe in Cedar Falls, which was included a love story journal. Casey, originally from Libertyville, Ill., proposed to Cady six months after their initial meeting and they were engaged for eight months before tying the knot.

They honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas.

Both Joan and Cady were thrilled with the wedding. “I think what I most want to capture is the bride’s dreams.

I try to bring out their personalities through design and within their budgets. I’m dedicated to detail and I want to make it fun and memorable for the couple,” Joan added. •

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I do (and I’ll do it myself): DIY weddings abound Text & Images | Dorie Turner, Associated Press

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fter the I dos and ‘til death do us parts, they’re the two little words every bride waits to hear on her wedding day: “How creative!”

At least, that’s what I wanted to hear after I got married last September before 90 guests in an outdoor ceremony at an antebellum mansion in downtown Memphis.

Artsy to the core, I longed to create the perfect handmade wedding, with clever details that my guests wouldn’t see anywhere else. I wanted to highlight my personal style and undying love for being crafty and gluing stuff together.

And with a budget of $10,000, I wanted to save a little cash.

Already an avid shopper at the online

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artists marketplace Etsy.com, I knew when my beau, John, proposed that it was the first place to start looking for unique items, and to get ideas for what I could make myself.

Etsy sales have risen quickly since it began in 2005, reaching $180 million last year thanks in part to a burgeoning wedding section with thousands of handmade wares, said spokesman Adam Brown.

Do-it-yourself wedding decorations and favors have become so popular that TheKnot.com and Martha Stewart Weddings — the arbiters in all things bridal — now have sections dedicated to brides looking to break out the hotglue gun.

“In generations past, weddings were very similar, but now people want to put their own unique spin on their

wedding,” said Rebecca Dolgin, executive editor of TheKnot.com. “They want it to be different from someone else’s, and these DIY details really make that happen.”

Here’s how I crafted my own handmade wedding: — I hired Etsy artists to create boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party and our families — something more permanent (and cheaper) than flowers that they could take home with them. The boutonnieres were roses made from folded roadmaps, and the corsages were flowers created from brown and green organza and brown pearls. (Corsages, $15 apiece. Boutonnieres, $8 apiece.)

— I asked a friend who is a graphic artist to design our program based on a wedding invitation I had found online.

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Charming bird salt and pepper shakers were dressed up as a cake topper.

It read like a story rather than the traditional order of ceremony, and it drew more comments than any other item at our wedding. (“Here’s how it’s going to go:...” the program read near the top.)

We printed the programs at home on recycled card stock and used a paper cutter from a craft store to round off the edges.

— After searching for nearly three months for the perfect cake topper, I realized I’d have to spend more than $100 and probably still wouldn’t get exactly what I wanted. So, I turned a pair of birdshaped salt and pepper shakers into a little bride and groom and mounted them on an antique letterpress stamp with the word “September.” I used polymer clay to create the groom’s top hat and shoes, and I recycled tulle and pearls from my mom’s wedding dress to decorate the bride bird.

(About $25 total.)

— Favors for our guests were CDs of songs written by my fiance and his fellow songwriter friends as part of his proposal (he’s the creative type too). We designed the CD cover and label and assembled them ourselves at home, spending about $60 on the whole project.

— Instead of a photo slideshow during the reception, we hung photos on long pieces of twine with clothes pins to create a more homey feel. I also made a sign that said “LOVE” to hang in the middle, using a fancy font I found for free online and flower-shaped cardboard cutouts.

— We decided to print our invitations and save-the-date cards at home, so we had a designer from PrintablePress.com

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create them and send us the PDF. We gussied up the envelopes with tree and bird stamps from Etsy and Target. ($175 for the design, $50 for paper supplies and $45 for stamps.)

— I wanted our guests to fill out notes of advice to us, so I used a set of typewriter-style stamps to make little note cards from our leftover card stock saying things like “wishes” and “thoughts” and “blessings” at the top.

— Instead of a traditional guest book, we had a photo booth where guests could don pirate hats, sunglasses and feather boas. Guests got to keep one copy, and the other they glued into our guest book, where they could write notes. (About $1,400 for six hours of booth rental, which includes an attendant, unlimited photos, two sets of prints, a scrapbook and a digital CD of every photo taken.

We provided the basket of costume pieces ourselves to save $400.)

Not everything that can be DIY at a wedding should be, though. There are some things best left to the experts.

Dolgin recommends that brides — even the most frugal ones — hire people to take care of the food, cakes and photos. No matter how good a baker she is or how talented with a camera, the bride has too much to worry about on her wedding day (and the week leading up to it) to handle those items herself.

In the end, many guests at my wedding gave me the best compliment possible with these simple words: “This wedding is just so you!” And it absolutely was. •

Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Diamonds are forever Fall in love with the perfect ring because it reflects who you are Text | Tina Hinz Images | Catchlight Imaging & Infinite Image Design

T

he hottest engagement and wedding ring designs aren’t necessarily a trend, but rather unique and personalized.

“Brides want their own thing,” said David Susong, who runs Facets by Susong in Waterloo with his two sons. “It really isn’t like a blue blouse, where blue is the color that’s in, so everybody runs and buys a blue blouse.”

While white gold, platinum and palladium settings continue to dominate over standard yellow gold, the trend is shifting, said Kelli Schreiber, diamond sales associate at Roth Jewelers in Waterloo.

“There have been some who specifically come in who are now saying, ‘I

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

want yellow because it’s different than what my girlfriends have,” she said. “But I would say probably nine out of 10 people are still asking for a white metal of some sort.”

Younger people typically prefer white gold, while older generations stick with yellow, added Larry Rasmussen, owner of LR Jewelers in Cedar Falls.

Two-tone pieces are a compromise, offering a little of both colors and creating a focus not solely on the diamond or gem.

For grooms’ wedding bands, alternative or contemporary metals — tungsten steel, carbide, titanium, cobalt chrome and sterling silver — are more affordable than the traditional gold.

“The (higher) price of gold, of course, has kind of brought that evolution about,” said Rasmussen’s brother, Tom, owner of Tenenbaum’s Jewelry in Wa-

verly.

Round-cut diamonds are a classic, followed by the square princess cut, Tom Rasmussen said. About 75 to 80 percent of his customers choose a round stone.

Local jewelers also are seeing a strong interest in radiant, cushion, emerald and asscher cuts, various versions of squares and ovals.

“But as far as brilliancy, nothing’s going to compare to the round cut as far as refractability,” Larry Rasmussen said.

Colored, or irradiated, gemstones break the mold.

“I just sold a set to a girl who wanted blue sapphires in her wedding band to go with her diamond engagement ring,” Schreiber said. “That is something that was very, very traditional that has kind of recycled and come back again.”

But in his four decades in the business, Susong said colored stones are no more

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prevalent today than in years past. Most fashion-conscious brides prefer a standard diamond that will “go with everything” they wear, though there’s no right or wrong in design, he added.

For the past few years, vintage-inspired glamour has emerged. Antique looks with a modern twist, small diamonds are set into the metal with halo effects, or microbeading, around center stones.

The band may be a bit narrower.

Engagement rings can be a simple solitaire, paired with a jacket, wrap or other wedding band. Some sets include the engagement ring with a matching wedding band. Other couples opt for custom-made.

About 20 percent of brides use the same ring for their engagement and wedding, Susong said.

“A lot of it’s fashion driven,” he said.

“And so a couple days before the wedding, we would refinish it.”

Lifestyles often are taken into consideration when selecting a ring style.

Someone in the medical field who takes gloves on and off, for example, may not want a raised setting, Susong said.

Traditional pearls, diamond necklac-

es and earrings, pendants and watches are among gifts grooms and brides exchange.

Susong often gets requests for significant pieces, such as a charm or keychain that represents something the couple has shared.

“Maybe a pair of little skis or some place they’ve went to,” he said. “Maybe they’ve been on a trip together or the day they got engaged.

“We just built an intricate bracelet for a person with her monogram and his monogram kind of all intertwined together,” Susong added. “She’s going to wear it on her wedding day, and it’ll be an heirloom piece.”

The Swarovski line at Roth is popular among brides for wedding day jewelry, as well as for affordable bridesmaid gifts, Schreiber said. The sparkling costume jewelry is Austrian crystal. That same

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Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

work it out Learning to fight fair and in constructive, not hurtful, ways Text | Amie Steffen

K

ymberly Morrison believed her husband when he said he didn’t hang onto mementos of old flames.

So when she found a stack of photos tucked away in a drawer, she arranged them on a table, took a photo and sent it to her husband.

“When Rob came home, we argued a bit about him lying to me,” Morrison said. “I threw the pictures in the trash. He apologized, and I apologized for overreacting, and we haven’t brought it up since.”

The recent newlyweds are experiencing their first fights as a married couple. Although the fight in question seems small, the way they handled it portends future fights, said Dr. Ronelle Langley, a psychologist at Covenant Psychiatry Clinic.

“When things start, they are very sort of in love, and the emotional part is very high and carries through for a while,” Langley said. “Then they get to a situation where they’re realizing they do things differently.”

A quality you might adore when you first start dating your partner, Langley said, can turn sour when you’re married and dealing with it all the time. An independent streak can become stubbornness.

Free-spiritedness can become irresponsibility.

“They struggle to change each other,” she said.

Rose Torgerson-Metcalf of Waterloo can attest to that. She was generally a worrier, she admits, while her new husband, Dave, goes with the flow.

“I think after we got married, Dave realized ... the full extent of my anxiety and worrying,” she said. “It really drove him crazy — and still does, to a certain extent.”

These kinds of things don’t mean couples aren’t meant to be together, Langley said. In fact, there are some simple strat-

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

egies for getting through those first-year fights: Be proactive

If you haven’t already done pre-marital counseling, it’s a good idea to try. Whether you and your betrothed visit a therapist or a religious guide, figuring out which sorts of things will be likely to set you off is better than the alternative.

“Most couples are reactive, saying, ‘We’re fine,’” Langley said. “If they take part in a program, then they get a sense of (what will happen) before they’re going to the altar.”

Torgerson-Metcalf and her husband don’t have children yet, but they’re already getting ready for the decisions they’ll make once they do.

“We have these hypothetical disagreements about how we would handle situations that our hypothetical teenager might have: How do we handle the drug conversation? What’s your ideas on how to discipline?” she said.

Street Scene WEDDINGS-1/6 PAGE 4x5 Full Color

Don’t try to solve everything

You may train him to close the door to the bathroom, but you may never get her to stop fretting over the cleanliness of the living room.

Sometimes, you’ll have to agree to disagree — or deal with it in a constructive way, like you learned in pre-marital counseling.

“Some people avoid conflicts and move it over for a while ... (and) it becomes bigger,” Langley said. “They realize it’s not going to go away.”

And there’s always the compromise — Morrison, for instance, wanted to have kids soon, while her husband wanted to wait. “(We) resolved it by agreeing to get a puppy in December,” Morrison said.

“But that argument isn’t quite over just yet.”

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autumn vows Fall in love with these wedding ideas Text | ARA Content Images | Catchlight Imaging, Studio D, Infinite Image Design Spring and summer may be the seasons that first come to mind when you begin planning a wedding, but autumn has a lot to offer brides too.

From cooler, dryer weather and the glorious backdrop of fall colors to the opportunity to land a great deal on a reception venue, fall delivers many rewards for couples on the road to wedded bliss.

“We’re seeing increased interest in fall weddings,” says Raymond Miller of My Wedding Reception Ideas.com, a leading online resource for brides seeking unique wedding favors and other items.

“Brides love the natural colorfulness of the season and the weather tends to be more reliable and comfortable for outdoor weddings. In fact, autumn may soon surpass spring as a preferred month to hold a wedding.”

If you’re planning your nuptials for harvest season, Miller offers some advice for incorporating the best elements of the season in your big day.

Cash in on color Vibrant reds, dazzling oranges, glittering golds and bold browns— fall’s palate is a glorious profusion of colors unique to the season.

Autumn brides should revel in the season’s colors, drawing the hues of fall into all aspects of their weddings, from bridesmaid gowns to table linens, floral arrangements and fall wedding favors.

“Fall colors offer many advantages when it comes to planning a wedding,” Miller says.

For example, it’s easy to mix and match more than one fall color because they tend to naturally complement each other. For a spring wedding, it might be difficult to find just the right floral colors to enhance a particular shade of lavender bridesmaid gown. But pair bronze gowns with flowers that sport autumnal reds and golds, and you’ll have a sure win.

Favor the fall Brides looking for truly unique wedding favors will find that the variety of fall wedding favors available makes it easy to put their personal stamp on their wedding.

“Favors are an important part of any wedding,” Miller says.“After all, they’re the keepsakes that will hopefully remind your guests for years to come of how much they enjoyed your special day.”

Choosing favors that allow for optimum personalization — like personalized candy apple boxes that you fill with a homemade version of the classic autumn treat — will also help guests remember your wedding with warmth and fondness.

Accessorize with autumn You can find leaf-motif unity candles, napkins and guest towels in fall colors, autumn-themed invitations and savethe-date cards, cake serving sets with maple leaf details, and a host of other items that all play to a fall theme.

Floral arrangements also offer a chance to convey an autumn theme and do something unique at the same time.

Whether you opt for arrangements that feature fall flowers, like mums or gardenias, or out-of-season flowers that sport fall colors, you can accent arrangements with brightly hued leaves, branches, berries, cornstalks, hay and other natural or nature-inspired touches that are special to the season.

Work with your photographer to find appropriate settings for gorgeous and romantic photos worthy of framing.

Even if there’s a wedding cake to cut, cupcakes are fun for guests, especially decorated with autumnal colors like pumpkin. Different sizes and a variety of icing styles add a casual air.

Favors don’t have to be expensive. Jar a mulling cider mix or purchase homemade jams or jellies at a farmers’ market. Decorate the jars to suit your theme.

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Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Food and wine: How to create a perfect marriage Text & Image | ARAcontent Weddings are one of life’s most celebrated occasions. For brides- and grooms-to-be and their families, an incredible amount of creativity and planning is poured into this all-important day: from the wedding gown to the ceremony, from the invitations and flowers to the wedding cake itself. One of the most-remembered details is what guests are served, so the wedding menu should reflect the couple-to-be’s unique style and personality.

Aida Mollenkamp, host of the popular Food Network show “Ask Aida” says,“The food you serve should be like your dress — reflect you and fit you like a glove — so, if you prefer a cupcake tower to a cake, go for it!”

Tips for a memorable wedding menu * Find your inspiration. Couples should think back on their relationship, and choose a meaningful place or a time that will inspire their food and wine choices. * Indulge. This is a celebration so forget about calories and choose the food and wine that truly reflects the couple. * But don’t lose yourself. Remember, the wedding day is supposed to reflect who the bride and groom are. If they aren’t fans of foie gras and caviar, now is not the time to serve it. * Personalize. Consider displaying menus at each place setting that describe the couple’s food and wine pairings - and include anecdotes for why they were chosen. * Last all night. It’s a marathon to make it from the ceremony to the reception for the bride and groom and their guests. Make sure the food is substantial enough to keep everyone filled, yet light enough that they don’t slip into a groggy fog. * Ah, dessert. It might be your guests’ favorite course, and for a wedding, it can truly be a showpiece. Let the dessert reflect the couple’s sweet tooth, and remember Riesling is a lovely accompaniment to most wedding desserts.

David Mirassou, sixth-generation of America’s oldest winemaking family agrees.

“Riesling is a delicious wine pairing option for wedding desserts.”

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

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bride’s checklist

the bride’s checklist SIX TO 12 MONTHS

❑ Announce your engagement. ❑ Decide on wedding details, such as style, time of day and location. ❑ Pick a date. Do this as soon as possible so bridal party and family members can make plans and reservations can be made for wedding location, rehearsal and reception locations, etc. ❑ Set a budget. ❑ Select the bridal party. ❑ Choose your colors. Your flowers, attire, linens and cake will reflect your choice. ❑ Choose and order the bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ gowns and accessories. ❑ Start planning the honeymoon with groom. ❑ Begin your bridal registry. ❑ Select the caterer, photographer, florist and musicians. ❑ Start planning the reception. Reserve a hall, hotel or facility. ❑ Schedule premarital counseling. Some churches require this for a marriage. ❑ Choose and order the wedding rings. ❑ Order the wedding cake. ❑ Select and order the invitations.

THREE MONTHS

❑ Complete the guest list. ❑ Plan to have both mothers select their dresses. It’s customary for the groom’s mother to wait until the bride’s mother has selected her dress. ❑ Finalize reception plans. ❑ If reservations haven’t been made for the honeymoon, do it now. ❑ Confirm dates and times with the florist, caterer, photographer, musicians and church. ❑ Discuss transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites. ❑ Choose and order the tuxes. ❑ Schedule bridesmaids’ dresses for fittings. ❑ Choose and dye shoes if necessary.

Design and send thank-you notes as ❑Infinite RecordImage gifts received they arrive. ❑ Plan the rehearsal and dinner. This is the responsibility of the groom and his family, but all should work together on it. ❑ Purchase gifts for the bridal party. Brides often buy inexpensive earrings or necklaces for the bridesmaids to wear at the wedding. Popular choices for groomsmen are money clips, key chains or ball caps. ❑ Schedule final fittings for bride and bridesmaids. ❑ Schedule appointments at beauty salons for attendants, if needed. ❑ Hold the bridesmaids’ luncheon. ❑ Purchase a guest book and decide where it will go, either at the wedding or reception.

TWO WEEKS

❑ Finalize wedding day transportation. ❑ Arrange to have names changed on driver’s license, Social Security card, etc.

ONE WEEK

❑ Start packing for the honeymoon. ❑ Finalize the number of guests with caterer if not already done. ❑ Plan seating arrangements for guests. ❑ Have a hairdresser practice fixing your hair. You may want to practice applying your makeup. ❑ Make sure wedding rings are picked up and fit.

WEDDING DAY

❑ Relax and enjoy your very special day.

Infinite Image Design

TWO MONTHS

❑ Mail the invitations. ❑ Get the marriage license. ❑ Finalize the honeymoon plans.

ONE MONTH

❑ Reserve accommodations for the groom.

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Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

groom’s

groom’s checklist

checklist One day before

McKenna McNelly Photography

Three months before

❑ Decide what you and your groomsmen will wear. Go tux shopping or reserve rentals for you and your posse.

One month before

❑ If you’re buying a tux, make sure alterations are finished and go in for a final fitting. If the tux still doesn’t fit quite right, the shop will still have time to make final alterations.

One week before

❑ Get a haircut! ❑ Get a manicure (no polish — just clean, buffed nails). ❑ Buy new boxers for the big day. Surprise your bride with something stylish.

❑ If you’re renting, pick up your tux. Make sure your groomsmen, your father and the ring bearer get their tuxes, too. ❑ If you’re renting or buying, double check that all the elements are included in the correct size: jacket, trousers, shirt, tie, vest or cummerbund, shoes, cuff links and dress socks. ❑ If you will be dressing somewhere other than at home, pack up your outfit and grooming products today. You should gather: Hair products, deodorant, tie, cummerbund or belt, vest, coat or jacket, cuff links and studs, dress shirt, watch, trousers, undershirt, underwear, socks, shoes and last, but definitely not least, the wedding rings.

Wedding Day

Get a close shave.

Take a hot shower.

Remember your deodorant! This might be a high-sweat day.

Remember the rings. Place them in your pocket to entrust to your best man sometime before the ceremony. ❑ If possible, ask your mother to pin on your boutonniere. This mother/son moment will bring a tear to her eye. ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

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caterer worksheet

hiring a caterer option 1

option 2

Caterer Address Phone Contact/manager E-mail & Web address Hours Samples (Yes No) Date for sampling

Caterer Address Phone Contact/manager E-mail & Web address Hours Samples (Yes No) Date for sampling

FOOD Type service: Appetizers/hors d’oeuvres Buffet Sit-down Menu choices (appetizers/meat/side dishes

FOOD Type service: Appetizers/hors d’oeuvres Buffet Sit-down Menu choices (appetizers/meat/side dishes

Samples?

Observe an event catered by the caterer?

What is the ratio of servers to guests?

Multiple food stations?

Price per person Wedding cake included?

Cake cutting fee?

Leftovers / cleanup

Samples?

Observe an event catered by the caterer?

What is the ratio of servers to guests?

Multiple food stations?

Price per person Wedding cake included?

Cake cutting fee?

Leftovers / cleanup

EQUIPMENT How will food be displayed or served?

Tables/chairs provided?

Table linens/napkins provided?

How will servers be dressed?

EQUIPMENT How will food be displayed or served?

Tables/chairs provided?

Table linens/napkins provided?

How will servers be dressed?

BEVERAGES Will caterer serve alcohol?

Choices of beverage Alcohol cost Champagne/wine cost

BEVERAGES Will caterer serve alcohol?

Choices of beverage Alcohol cost Champagne/wine cost

OVERALL COST Sales tax included in quoted price?

Gratuities included?

Cancellation policy Overtime charge Total cost Deposit Balance

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Non-alcohol cost

Due

OVERALL COST Sales tax included in quoted price?

Gratuities included?

Cancellation policy Overtime charge Total cost Deposit Balance

Non-alcohol cost

Due

Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

choosing a reception site option 2

Location Address Phone E-mail Web address Contact person Dates/times available Minumum/maximum number of guests Band stage/dance floor | Yes No Bar facilities | Yes No Bartenders | Yes No Tables & chairs Linens | Yes No Kitchen facilities | Yes No Service (Hors d’oeurves, buffet, sit-down) Outside caterers allowed | Yes No Fees for linens, tables, chairs, etc.

Floral/candles/other decorations allowed Tent Parking Valet | Yes No Cancellation policy Deposit Balance Due Total cost

Location Address Phone E-mail Web address Contact person Dates/times available Minumum/maximum number of guests Band stage/dance floor | Yes No Bar facilities | Yes No Bartenders | Yes No Tables & chairs Linens | Yes No Kitchen facilities | Yes No Service (Hors d’oeurves, buffet, sit-down) Outside caterers allowed | Yes No Fees for linens, tables, chairs, etc.

Floral/candles/other decorations allowed Tent Parking Valet | Yes No Cancellation policy Deposit Balance Due Total cost

option 3

option 4

Location Address Phone E-mail Web address Contact person Dates/times available Minumum/maximum number of guests Band stage/dance floor | Yes No Bar facilities | Yes No Bartenders | Yes No Tables & chairs Linens | Yes No Kitchen facilities | Yes No Service (Hors d’oeurves, buffet, sit-down) Outside caterers allowed | Yes No Fees for linens, tables, chairs, etc.

Floral/candles/other decorations allowed Tent Parking Valet | Yes No Cancellation policy Deposit Balance Due Total cost

Location Address Phone E-mail Web address Contact person Dates/times available Minumum/maximum number of guests Band stage/dance floor | Yes No Bar facilities | Yes No Bartenders | Yes No Tables & chairs Linens | Yes No Kitchen facilities | Yes No Service (Hors d’oeurves, buffet, sit-down) Outside caterers allowed | Yes No Fees for linens, tables, chairs, etc.

Floral/candles/other decorations allowed Tent Parking Valet | Yes No Cancellation policy Deposit Balance Due Total cost

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

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reception worksheet

option 1

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reception hall directory

reception hall directory H is proposal was music to your ears. Now it’s time to put your florist, cake baker and caterer on speed-dial.

When choosing a reception site, check out its size and determine whether it will fit your style of reception and number of guests expected to attend. Find out what services are provided. Will you have to bring your own frills to make it a pretty backdrop for wedding photography?

Think budget and remember to read each contract before signing on the dotted line. Ask about cancellation policies, deposit amounts and when the balance is due.

To assist our readers, here’s a listing of metro area reception halls:

American Legion Post 138, 619 Franklin St., Waterloo, 234-8511 Details: Open to public, accommodates 100-150; book early; $250 per floor, $50 deposit; kitchen, bartender costs extra; no on-site catering; tables, chairs included, linens not; decorating one to two hours before; dance floor.

Beaver Hills Country Club, 8230 Beaver Hills Drive, Cedar Falls, 266-1975, www.beaverhills.com Details: Open to public, booking upon availability; accommodates up to 250; $500 for room; set up, clean up included; on-site buffet or sit-down style catering, about $15 per person; tables, chairs, linens provided; bar; decorating early depends on availability; dance floor.

Cedar Falls Womans Club, Third and Clay Streets, Cedar Falls, 266-1431 Details: Beautifully restored 1860s home with ballroom, parlor and boardroom. Catering available. Call for booking details and services.

Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 1927 E. Orange Road. East of Hawkeye Community College. www. cedarvalleyarboretum.org., 226-4966 Details: A variety of garden settings will accommodate 200 guests. $300 for six hour period. $100 non-refundable deposit to reserve date a minimum of 60 days in advance; $200 balance and damage deposit due one week prior which will be refunded in case of rain. On site dressing room; restrooms and limited electrical access to the gardens. Gardens remain open to the public. Smoking and alcohol prohibited. No rice, bird seed, confetti, rose petals or balloons.

Centennial Oaks Golf Club, Eagle Ridge Drive, Waverly, 483-1765, ask for Lisa Details: Accommodates intimate gatherings to large receptions up to 400 guests; on-site catering and bar services; customized menus; chairs, tables, linens provided; outside ceremony site, on-site event coordinator, professional wait staff, dance floor, complimentary set-up and tear-down.

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Center Inn Banquet Facilities, 209 Main St., Readlyn, 279-3839, www. centerinn.com Details: Dining room accommodates up to 75, ballroom accommodates up to 400; banquet room rental Sunday-Thursday, $150, Friday and Saturday, $300; dining room rental Monday-Sunday, $75; basement rental $50; deposit and credit billing $100, required to confirm all bookings, non-refundable; post-event clean up, $100.

The Centre Hall, 1211 4th St., SW, Waverly, 352-1386, www.thecentrehall. com Details: Accommodates up to 600 guest; day prior to event setup $175; day after cleanup $175; event date, 250 chairs & 30 tables $400, each additional 50 chairs and 5 tables $100; kitchen access $40.

Electric Park Ballroom, 310 W. Conger St., Waterloo, 233-3050, www. nationalcattlecongress.com Details: Accommodates 600 banquet style, fire code allows 1,200; book at least six months in advance; $660 for facility, $250 deposit; on-site catering only, buffet and sit-down; $9 cold meat buffet, $13.75 two-meat buffet, $13 to $18 per plate; set up, clean up, two bartenders included; tables, chairs provided, linens rented at $4 each; smoking permitted; decorating day before depends on availability; no decorations from ceiling or light fixtures; wood floor, stage.

Details: Accommodates 320 people; bookings one month in advance; room rental $900 with $250 deposit (nonrefundable/applied toward rental), includes setup, cleanup and bar, dance floor; additional charges for linens and place settings. Catering available on-site, $18.95 per person buffet-style, no room rental fee if club does the catering (linens included); decorating at noon the day before wedding.

Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa campus, Cedar Falls, 273-3660, www. gbpac.com Details: Lobby hall accommodates up to 120 banquet style, 300 standing; book six months to a year in advance; $600, $300 deposit; on-site catering only by UNI catering; tables, chairs, linens provided; balcony, grand central staircase; decorating day before event; dance floor.

Hartman Reserve Nature Center, 657 Reserve Drive, Cedar Falls, 277-2187, www.hartmanreserve.org Details: Accommodates up to 100; booking at least six months in advance; weekends $45 per hour, weekdays $40 per hour; $200 deposit, more to bring in alcohol; no on-site catering; kitchen access, tables, chairs included; PA system; non-smoking; decks with scenic overview, bridge, outside amphitheater seats up to 100, fireplace; decorating early requires rental; no dance floor.

Hickory Hills Park, 3338 Hickory Hills Road, La Porte City, 266-6813, www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/depts/conservation Details: Accommodates 125; book up to two years in advance; pricing varies, two-day wedding packages available; $100 deposit, more if bringing in beer keg; no on-site catering; restrooms, kitchen facilities (pots/pans not provided); tables, chairs for 125 are provided, additional seating allowed; beer, wine coolers

allowed; lakefront view; decorating early requires rental; outlets for DJ; cement floor; attached deck, air-conditioning.

Holiday Inn, 5826 University Ave., Cedar Falls, 277-2230, 1-800-465-4329. www.kinseth.com/cedarfalls_holiday_inn.asp Details: Accommodates up to 300; book about a year in advance; mezzanine and plaza seat up to 350, banquet hall seats up to 300; no rental fee for parties more than 175 people; full-service catering by River City Beefstro, $16.95 to $22.95 per plate; free honeymoon suite with whirlpool for bride and groom; special overnight rates for wedding guests; rehearsal dinner, gift opening, bridal shower available; tables, chairs, linens, skirting, security included; bar, bartender provided; some decorations provided, decorating 8 a.m. day of event; dance floor, table for disc jockey.

Knights of Columbus, 1955 Locke Ave., Waterloo, 234-6908, ask for Jim Details: Accommodates up to 264 guests; rental fee includes bartender, chairs, tables, paper tablecloths, set up and clean up; food options include buffet dinners, sandwiches and/or appetizers; hall includes dance floor with stage for band or DJ; handicapped accessible; private parking lot; located near Crossroads Shopping Center and numerous hotels.

Oster Regent Theatre, 103 Main St., Cedar Falls, 277-5283, www.cedarnet. org/regent Details: Accommodates 80-100; book early; $175, $50 deposit; no on-site catering; can serve own alcohol but cannot sell to guests; kitchen with serving area, sink, refrigerator, microwave; tables, chairs provided for 100; linens rented for $3 each; room overlooks Cedar River; decorating day before depends on availability; hardwood dance floor.

Catchlight Imaging

Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, W. Fourth Street and Commercial, Waterloo, 233-7560 Details: Accommodates 100 to 1,100; book up to 18 months in advance; $600 for facility, $600 deposit; full setup, cleanup, bar included; draped, skirted head table on risers with microphone; on-site catering only; dinner or hors d’oeuvres buffet, sit-down dinner, $15.95 to $23.95 per person; can bring wedding cake; round tables, cake table, chairs, white linens provided; dance floor.

Fox Ridge Golf Club, Highway 20, Dike, 989-2213, www.golffoxridge.com

Winter 2010 WEDDINGS

Pepsi Pavilion, National Cattle Congress grounds, 232-5801, www.nationalcattlecongress.com Details: Accommodates 100-500; $550, $250 deposit; on-site buffet-style catering only, starts at $11.50 per plate; tables, chairs included; linens rented for $3 each, 50 cents per napkin; full bar; smoking permitted; decorating afternoon before depends on availability; dance floor.

Riverview Conference Center, 439 N. Division St., Cedar Falls, 268-0787, www.riverviewconferencecenter.com Details: Accommodates 200; recommended booking six months before; per person fee $1.25 for groups 150 or fewer, $1 for more than 150; $80 minimum, $50 deposit; on-site catering only, $5 to $6 per plate; no alcohol allowed; tables, chairs included, linens not; non-smoking; decorating day before depends on availability; patio block floor, stage.

Riviera-Roose Community Center, 307 Maple St., Janesville, (319) 987-3512.

Recently remodeled, the community center features a well-lit, wide open space with easy access to an outdoor grassy area.

Rotary Reserve, 5932 N. Union Road, Cedar Falls, 266-6813, www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/depts/conservation Details: Accommodates 300; book up to two years in advance; $650 for all day Saturday; package deals include $800 for both Friday and Saturday night, $925 for all day Friday and Saturday, $650 for Thursday night and all day Friday; weekday times range from $195 to $275, $100 increase on holidays; $200 deposit two weeks prior to event; no on-site catering; kitchen, restrooms; tables, chairs provided for 300 guests; linens, cooking utensils not provided; beer, wine, champagne only; uniformed security officer required if serving alcohol; non-smoking; remote location on banks of Cedar River, deck, gazebo, fireplace, PA system, concrete floor, air-conditioned/ heated; changing rooms for both men and women available.

Sky Event Centre, Black’s Building, 501 Sycamore St., Waterloo, 277-1255, www.barmuda.com Sky Event Centre is a premier event centre in downtown Waterloo opening later this summer. The event centre, located on the 8th floor of the Black’s building overlooks the entire Cedar Valley and is available for reunions, wedding receptions, fundraisers and all kinds of special events. Call Bridget Bryson at 319-277-1255 or email Brit@barmuda.com Sunnyside Country Club, 1600 Olympic Drive, Waterloo, 234-1707, www.sunnysidecountryclub.com Details: Members only; ballroom seats 270; booking depends on availability; no rental fee for members; onsite sit-down or buffet-style catering only, average $23 per plate; tables, chairs, linens provided; bar; decorating early allowed; dance floor.

The Supervisors’ Club, 3265 Dewitt Road, Waterloo, 233-6069, ask for Donna or Casie Details: Accommodates up to 400 in a non-smoking environment; $900 rental includes bartenders, chairs, tables and cleaning; linens extra; full bar and food capabilities; option of appetizers, sandwiches, two-meat buffet or served, sit-down dinner; DJ or band stage and dance floor; handicapped accessible; close parking; located off of Ridgeway Avenue between Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

WEDDINGS Winter 2010

University of Northern Iowa Slife Ballroom and Georgian Lounge, 1227 W. 27th St., Cedar Falls, 2732333, www.uni.edu/dor/dining/catering Details: Ballroom seats up to 220; reservations accepted up to two years in advance; $500 for ballroom, $200 for neighboring lounge; half of estimated cost paid in advance, remainder due at event; set up, clean up included; on-site catering only, dinner $15.55 to $22 per person, buffet, sit down or cocktail reception available; will cut and serve cake; tables, chairs, linens provided; bar; non-smoking; no open flames, nails or excessive glitter; can provide centerpieces, bouquets, card basket; patio attached to lounge; sound system in ballroom; portable risers for band, DJ, head table; wood dance floor.

reception hall directory

Park Place Event Centre, 1521 Technology Parkway, Suite B, Cedar Falls, 277-1255, www.barmuda.com/ park_ place/weddings.php Details: Intimate gatherings to grand receptions accommodating up to 500 people (seated). Services range from customized menus and personalized favors, and event coordinators can coordinate the entire wedding.

For customized prices, packages and deposits, call Park Place.

University of Northern Iowa Maucker Union Ballroom, 1227 W. 27th St., Cedar Falls, 273-2256, www. uni.edu/maucker Details: Ballroom features flexible options that can accommodate groups as small as 50 to as large as 480; reservations accepted up to two years in advance; $300700; deposit half of rental; linens, tables, chairs, risers, microphone, set up, clean up, included; additional A/V equipment available; bar, on-site catering provided by UNI Catering; decorating day before depending on availability; dance floor included.

Wartburg College, 100 Wartburg Blvd., Waverly, 352-8453, ask for Margaret, www.wartburg.edu/studentcenter/conferences.html Details: Open to public; accommodates up to 400 banquet style; booking depends on availability, usually book during summer or student breaks; mobile partitions divide three rooms, $100 for each room, half of estimated total paid ahead; on-site sit-down or buffet-style catering only by Wartburg food service, $11 to $18 per person, appetizer reception $1.90 to $3 per person; tables, chairs, linens provided; bar serves wine, beer only; decorating day ahead costs extra; can provide centerpieces; staging for head table provided for extra fee; DVD, Power Point, video, sound equipment; dance floor can be rented.

Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St., Waterloo, 291-4490, www.waterloocenterforthearts.org Details: Accommodates up to 250; book minimum of six months before, maximum as far in advance as desired; $350 to $485; $200 non-refundable deposit; no on-site catering; kitchen available; set up, clean up included, kitchen clean up not; round or square tables, chairs provided; additional charge for alcohol, beer, wine, champagne can be purchased prior to or with a cash bar; water fountain in front of building for photos; decorating day before costs extra; stage, microphones, sound system available; dance floor.

Waterloo Elks Lodge, 407 E. Park Ave., Waterloo, 234-7568, Randi Leuenhagen randi290@qwestoffice. net Details: Room rental with member sponsor; $600 guest fee; accommodates up to 375; on-site catering only, $15 to $25 per person plus tax and gratuity; tables, chairs included; fee for bartender, linens; decorating day before depends on availability; luxurious atmosphere, stage for bands or DJ, dance floor; plenty of on-site parking.

Waverly Golf and Country Club, 705 Eighth St. SW, Waverly, 352-3855, www.waverlycountryclub.com Details: Open to public for rental; accommodates 3500; book about a year in advance; $600, $100 deposit; on-site sit down or buffet-style catering only; one-meat buffet $12.95, two-meat $14.95, three-meat $16.95 per person, call for sit-down meal prices; can bring in wedding cake; tables, chairs, bartender, waitresses, linens $1 per person; decorating night before depends on availability; dance floor.

To list or update your reception site listing for the next issue of Weddings, call 291-1429 or e-mail melody. parker@wcfcourier.com.

www.wcfcourier.com/bridal

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Photo by Georgia Reiter

The place for your celebration

Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

Commons Ballroom 319-273-2333 Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center 319-273-3668 Maucker Union 319-273-2256 UNI Catering 319-273-2333