2018 Winter Bridal Guide

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018

WEDDINGS

FOR BRIDESMAIDS & GROOMSMEN SHOULD YOU HIRE A

WWW.WINCHESTERSTAR.COM

Why Hire a Wedding Planner Two local planners explain reasons why you may need their help on your big day

Real Weddings: Julie + Travis An intimate wedding for a second marriage at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

Gifts for the Wedding Party Local ideas for the gals and guys in your wedding party

Real Weddings: Katie + Sean A rustic chic wedding at Cloverdale Barn for two friends-turned-soulmates

Wedding planning hacks We share 12 planning tricks and tips to save money and your sanity On the cover: Travis Wyman and Julie Napear were married at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley on Nov. 6, 2017. Photo by Genevieve Leiper Photography.

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Should you hire a wedding planner?

Planning a wedding is not for the faint of heart. No matter how initimate or large your wedding will be, the planning process goes far beyond selecting your venue, picking your colors, deciding on floral arrangements, sending invitations, and finding the dress. Little details pop up — are you having your reception in a tent? Then you’ll need to rent every plate, every utensil, every salt and pepper shaker. And what about bathrooms?

There is help available to you — by hiring a wedding planner. Working as an extension of you, they handle details large and small and keep you on track throughout the process, whether your planning period is one year or one month.

We spoke with local wedding planners Amy Van Meter, event planner and owner of Amy Van Meter Events in Winchester, and Michael Haymaker, director of weddings and design of Rosemont Manor in Berryville, about how a wedding planner

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can make the planning process easier for the couple.

Expertise Planning weddings as a living gives a planner an edge over anyone else when it comes to planning the big day. A professional wedding planner has the knowledge and experience to make planning your wedding an enjoyable experience. “We plan many weddings every year, so we know what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, who can do it best, what issues may arise and how to avoid them,” said Van Meter.

“The most important position here at Rosemont is to help the bride and groom first navigate the whole wedding industry, to ensure not only they, their families and their friends have a complete and total wedding experience that is truly fabulous,” said Haymaker.

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Connections A professional wedding planner has a large vendor network that they work with regularly.

“We know and have worked with many vendors of all types and price ranges. Brides can spend numerous hours researching vendors, pricing, etc,” said Van Meter.

“As your planner, we find out what you are looking for — service, style and budget — and research our vendors and present you with options so you can choose the right ones for your wedding.”

Stress Relief Did anyone ever tell you that wedding planning can be stressful? Even the most prepared brides, ones who perhaps plan events through their careers, will discover the emotional stress of wedding planning. Wedding planners can take much of

by JENNY BAKER

The Winchester Star that stress away from you. “We manage the planning process from beginning to end to make it as stress-free as possible for you.

We create and manage the budget, create and manage the monthly to-do list,” said Van Meter.

“We help keep you on track, listen to your needs and provide advice on any concerns.”

Advocate To the wedding planner, you are most important.

“A professional planner works on your behalf to ensure that you have the day that you want. Our responsibility is to you, not the venue, not the vendors, not all of those voices telling you how it should be done,” she said.

“For each bride we have here at Rosemont, I will spend an average of 40-plus hours or more just planning their wedding

See Planner, Page 5

Planner

from Page 4 to ensure everything goes according to our plan. I am the bride and groom’s advocate. One of my jobs here at Rosemont is to review every single contract with the vendors for that particular bride to make sure they meet and exceed all expectations,” said Haymaker.

Budget checkers Social media is often to blame for brides getting carried away with ideas not compatible with their budget.

“Pinterest is a fabulous site in which to gather ideas and different approaches to wedding décor,” said Haymaker.

“The problem is when the bride tries to replicate that particular design element, the prices are astronomical. With that being said, having a planner will keep the bride grounded, focused and on point.”

“Any wedding planner who is worth their salt is going to ensure they help maintain an honest, precise and clear realistic approach to the bride’s budget,” he said.

Surprises Wedding planners can handle any surprises the wedding day may throw at a couple.

“On one occasion the couple had booked a minister and the minister had double-booked his day and was unable to preside over their ceremony,” said Haymaker, who is also an ordained minister.

“I just quietly went up to the parents, explained the situation, and I performed their ceremony. This, in itself, kept the bride relaxed, the family happy and they were able to give their guests a wedding ceremony that was based on faith, on love and the covenant between the bride and the groom.”

LEFT: A tented outdoor wedding at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

Photo by Amy Van Meter Events.

BELOW: The George Washingotn Hotel ballroom. Photo by Amy Van Meter Events.

Day-of coordinator If a wedding planner isn’t in your budget, consider hiring one for day-of coordination. It’s a budget-friendly way to still reap some of the benefits of having a planner on the day of your wedding.

“That term is a misnomer because no one can simply show up on the wedding day and ensure that it goes smoothly. But a coordinator is someone who comes in, usually one month or two weeks prior to your wedding, to pull it all together. The benefit to hiring someone to do this for you is that you and your family can relax and enjoy the day,” said Van Meter.

“A professional coordinator will confirm details in advance, create a wedding day timeline and work with your vendors to ensure a smooth and stress-free day.”

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Julie NOVEMBER 6, 2017

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Travis

MUSEUM OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

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WINCHESTER

If you photograph weddings for a living, you’ve undoubtedly learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t.

Julie Napear, who has photographed hundreds of Shenandoah Valley nuptials, had a good idea of what she was looking for when she married her husband, Travis Wyman, on Nov. 6. “Most of the wedding was planned around getting beautiful pictures. Because of my job, I’ve gotten to see so many different wedding venues in different combinations of time of day, season, weather,” she said. “There are two unbelievably gorgeous times of year here in the Valley: when the trees first bloom in early spring, and when the leaves change color mid-fall. The date of the blossoms is unpredictable and the blooms are often fleeting, but the last week of October and first week in November has incredible color without fail, so that determined the date.” A second marriage for them both, the couple incorporated their daughters into the ceremony.

by Jenny Baker/The Winchester Star

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Photography by Genevieve Leiper Photography www. genevieveleiper.com

Tips SECOND TIME AROUND A second marriage for both Travis and Julie, they had learned lessons from their previous marriages. “We both felt taken advantage of in our previous marriages, and wanted to make sure that the same thing never happened again. As unromantic as it may sound, I actually liked going through the questionnaire for our prenuptial agreement; not only did it make us consider issues we wouldn't have otherwise thought of, but knowing we were on the same page about everything made me feel even more confident that I was marrying the right person.”

INCORPORATING FAITH "We are both more secular, but there are some beautiful Jewish traditions that I wanted to include,” said Julie. “We

FROM THE BRIDE

asked members of our immediate families to stand up and each read a modern interpretation of the ‘seven blessings.’”

FAMILY TIME “One of the things I liked about Travis’ (online) profile is that he made it clear that Amber was his first priority. I figured the rare man who had sole custody of his daughter would be understanding of the fact that Lorelei was my first priority,” said Napear. “Turns out, not only was he understanding, but he was wonderful with her! The girls hit it off from the beginning, and seeing them together made me indescribably happy.

To borrow a phrase from a friend, ‘from the beginning, he just felt like family.’” The couple included vows for their daughters in the wedding ceremony.

DECOR VISION “Over the years, I’ve made many mental notes about what I liked and didn't like, but I didn't necessarily know what I wanted,” said Julie. “I love so many of the beautiful ideas on Pinterest, but many of them were out of my budget — ­­I knew from the get-go that decor was not a priority in my budget.

So I told Elisa at Bluebells that I wanted something colorful and very ‘fall,’ and she suggested I check out a blush and burgundy combination, which I researched and loved because the color was so rich and seasonal.”

MOST WORTH-IT SPLURGE “Photography! Not a surprise here. Besides having a deeply personalized, meaningful ceremony, getting good pictures of my family was my top priority.

My photographer was the only vendor I hadn’t worked with before — I wanted someone who had a similar style to mine, and not only did Genevieve and I hit it off immediately, she worked with the same camera and lenses I prefer to use. I figured that, as a bonus, I might learn some new techniques, which I wouldn’t with someone I had personally trained.”

Local vendors:

Flowers: Bluebells (decor) and Flowers by Snellings (bouquets/boutonnieres) DJ: GSProductions Hair/Make-Up: Lauren Getz Dinner: Bistecca Italian Chop House Rentals: Grand Event Center Cake: Travis (awesome husband) Video: Julie Napear Photography Venues: MSV and GW Hotel Officiant: Sacred Celebrations

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Wedding apps to simplify planning Ensuring an event goes on with minimal hiccups takes patience and thorough planning. This is especially true for weddings, when many elements must merge together for a memorable day. Today’s couples have a bevy of new resources at their disposal to facilitate wedding planning.

The internet makes vetting vendors and reading reviews that much easier, but wedding-related apps also can simplify wedding planning. The following are some top picks as culled by Wedding Shoppe, Inc., The Knot and Lifehacker.

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Wedding Spot: Couples can search for their ideal wedding venue based on location, budget, styles, and capacity. The website enables users to plan their ideal weddings and get cost estimates based on guest list and options. Users also can access discounts and exclusive deals.

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Wedding LookBook: This app enables couples to browse through thousands of dresses, accessories, jewelry, and much more. The app will help customers find products in their area.

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Shutterfly: This photo, invitation and image-sharing tool can be an inexpensive place to create save-the-date stationery, invitations, and photo memory books.

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Appy Couple: This app and website helps couples manage their budgets, timelines, wedding parties, and seating charts, while also allowing them to share photos. There is a free version and basic packages that allow access to more features.

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iWedding Deluxe: In addition to managing timelines, to-do lists and vendors, this app offers inspiration ideas for gowns, manages and tracks gifts, and offers first dance suggestions from iTunes. However, it is only available to iPhone users.

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AllSeated: This tool can help couples figure out seating arrangements by creating 3D floor plans of the event, and couples can pull contacts from email and social networks to establish a guest list. If floor plans are unavailable in their database, they can be drawn.

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The Knot’s Marketplace: With the click of a button, couples can search for wedding vendors in all different categories, read reviews, and directly connect with those businesses.

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HitchSwitch: Brides or grooms who may be changing their names can do so in one convenient place. Three different packages cater to various name-changing needs.

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Vistaprint: These stationery specialists offer an array of services, from cards to invitations to personalized envelopes. Once a design is chosen, Vistaprint will offer add-on suggestions for coordinating items, helping to create a cohesive look for the festivities.

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Gift ideas for your bridesmaids and groomsmen

by JENNY BAKER/The WINCHESTER — You’ve gotten your venue booked, the cake ordered, the dress fitted, centerpieces planned — among the many other to-dos on one’s wedding list, checking off gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen is one you will not want to forget.

We scouted out a few local gift ideas for those in your wedding party.

Day-of necessities “A lot of times we steer brides towards what bridesmaids may need that day,” said K.P. Keyser of Kimberly’s in Old Town Winchester.

For the wedding party, the wedding day can require a lot of packing and moving from one location to the next. Consider a large tote bag. One of the most popular gifts for bridesmaids at Kimberly’s is a large cream and black tote by Mudpie, which is personalized with an initial.

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Brenda Adams, owner of Simply Charming in Old Town Winchester, said she sees a lot of brides doing a fun gift bag filled with several useful gifts. You can take a bag you have customized with your bridesmaid’s monogram, and fill it with fun small gifts like jewelry, toiletries, and candy, like the popular Sugarfina champagne gummy bears her store carries.

Jewelry, especially jewelry that would be worn the day of the wedding, is a very popular option for bridesmaids gifts.

“We do a lot of jewelry in general,” said Adams.

“They’ll tell me they’re looking for a pearl earring, or a certain kind of look.

Then I can order six or however many pairs. If they give me enough time I can order in however many they need.”

For special orders, it depends on the various lines and what their lead time is.

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See Gifts, Page 11

Winchester Star

LEFT: Bracelets

by Alex & Ani are popular bridesmaids gifts at Simply Charming.

BELOW: Dop kits for groomsmen are big sellers at mcKee’s, the Men’s Shop at Kimberly’s.

Gifts

from Page 10 Both Adams and Keyser recommend placing special orders, particularly personalized gifts, as early as you can.

Getting-ready robes are also a popular bridesmaids gift that can be personalized.

These robes, often in a wedding color, are worn by the bride and bridesmaids while the wedding photographer takes photos of the bridal party getting ready. Kimberly’s carries robes that can be personalized with a monogram. Kimberly Sowers, owner of Kimberly’s, said the waffle weave fabric is one of their most popular styles and comes in a wide variety of colors.

Other day-of necessities are shoes. Keyser said she has had brides come in and purchase matching Jack Rogers sandals for bridesmaids to wear for a wedding or group photo.

Useful gifts Adams recommends gifts that will be treasured and used long after the wedding date has passed.

Bracelets are a great option. She will soon carry a new line of sterling silver bracelets, which have an initial charm on them. Her store also carries the popular Alex & Ani bracelets, which has a bridal line with charms that say “bridesmaid,” “Mother of the Bride,” and more.

Colorful handbags are also a great option that can be used that day and beyond.

Simply Charming carries handheld clutches by Katie Loxton, which boast sayings like “Super Sister,” and “Fabulous Friend,” as well as “Bride,” “Bridesmaid,” and “Flower Girl.”

Kimberly’s carries a line of colorful cross-body bags by Occasionally Made.

Keyser said they are a nice option because while small, they have multiple compartments, can morph into a wristlet, and have an interior wallet.

For groomsmen Adams said she sells a lot of Corkcicle products for groomsmen gifts. They can be

See Gifts, Page 12

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: 18 karat gold-plated earrings by Spartina, available at Kimberly’s.

Men’s socks, available at Simply Charming. Clutches by Katie Loxton, available at Simply Charming. Collegiate glassware, available at mcKee’s.

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Gifts

from Page 12 personalized with a monogram, wedding date, names or nicknames. One unique idea she recently saw was to put the wedding date on the tumblers in Roman numerals, going down the side of the cup.

A new product by Corkcicle that has been popular is a cigar glass, which is a whiskey glass with a cigar holder cutout in the glass. mcKee’s, the Men’s Store at Kimberly’s, sells a lot of dop kits, which groomsmen can use the day of the wedding and afterwards. Bow ties or colorful socks can also be worn the day of the wedding as part of the groomsmen’s attire.

The Winchester Bracelet A signature Winchester gift idea for the gals in your wedding party is the Winchester bracelet.

Created over 20 years ago by Old Town Silversmith owner Lynnette Shimoda Jacobson, she said it has been a very popular gift for bridesmaids.

“Because it’s made here in Winchester by me, and the bridesmaids are often from all over, and it brings them all together by the memory. It’s something that will go home with them,” she said.

The classic is made in silver; there are many charm options that you can buy to personalize it. In addition to silver, she offers gold and rose, and two different metals twisted together, like gold and silver.

The store offers a men’s Winchester bracelet also.

The budget per gift is entirely up to the couple; both Simply Charming and Kimberly’s say they commonly see $50 - $100 per person, and usually something extra for the maid or matron of honor and best man.

The cigar glass by Corkcicle, available at Simply Charming. The initial tote by Mud Pie, available at Kimberly’s.

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The Winchester bracelet, crafted

by Lynnette Shimoda Jacobson, owner and silversmith of Old Town Silversmith, is a popular gift for bridesmaids and others in your wedding party.

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Katie NOVEMBER 4, 2017

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Sean

CLOVERDALE BARN

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WINCHESTER

Katie (maiden name Kent) and Sean O’Grady have been in and out of each other’s lives for years. They met as teenagers, when Sean moved into Katie’s neighborhood, but it took a beach vacation with their respective best friends (who were brother and sister) for them to get to know one another. But then college called for Katie, who is a couple of years older than Sean, and they lost touch. “I didn’t see him until my sophomore year of college when he was over at my house playing poker with my brothers,” she said. “We started dating on and off again while in college, and then he moved to California.”

They lost touch again. Fast forward nine years, when they reconnected at a wedding. “We started dating long distance, and after about a year he moved back to Virginia.” The rest, as they say, is history.

by Jenny Baker/The Winchester Star

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Photography by Emily Marie Photography www.emilymariephotos.com

Tips SAVOR THE MOMENT When Sean proposed, he surprised Katie by blindfolding her and taking her to the Virginia Arboretum. “It was a beautiful secluded spot with a bench, and lots of green around us in the plants and the trees.” After he popped the question, Katie said they sat down on the bench, where Sean took out a bottle of wine and poured them a glass.

“We just sat there and talked about the future, enjoying the moment alone,” she said.

NO CAKE No, there wasn't any cake — instead, Katie and Sean had a giant doughnut as their wedding cake. “We found out about the doughnut because my sister-in-law’s best friend ordered one for her son’s birthday. I love doughnuts,

FROM THE BRIDE

and am not as much of a fan of cake, so we thought this would be perfect!”

The doughnut was from Sugar Shack in Quantico, and was quite the hit with guests. “The guests were definitely surprised from what I could tell, but were also eyeing it most of the night.

After Sean and I cut into the donut, we sliced some more for us and put it in the cookie box to bring to our sweetheart table. By the time we walked back, all that was left were sprinkles!”

Katie said they'll order another one for their first anniversary.

PERSONAL TOUCH Katie's parents own a marketing company, Signet Marketing, and created many personalized details for the couple’s big day — table signs, stickers for the cookie boxes, a seating chart, and

signage. But the detail that guests really loved was the laser engraved steel tumblers. “The tumblers were a huge hit. Especially since they were perfect for our signature cocktail, which was a hot drink with apple cider, spiced rum, and cinnamon,” said Katie.

MOST WORTH-IT SPLURGE For Katie, it was the dress. “I wanted to keep it under $1,000, but that’s not what ended up happening! I found some okay dresses for under $1,000, but did I really want to spend that much on something that I just thought was okay? And then also not feel beautiful on our wedding day? So I bit the bullet and started trying on dresses outside of the price range I had set for myself, and that’s when I found the dress. Not what I was picturing at all,

but I loved it.”

DECOR VISION “I'm not sure we started out with any kind of style vision, but I'd like to think we kind of ended up with a rustic fall chic sort of look, with the barn, the sunflowers, mason jars, the wine colors,” said Katie. Sean had specific ideas as well. “My husband was more concerned with the decor than I was. He really wanted paper lanterns and white tulle to be wrapped around the posts in the barn.”

Local vendors:

Flowers: NatureScapes Catering: Six Star Events Rentals: Grand Event Center Venue: Cloverdale Barn

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12 hacks to ease planning Weddings can be expensive and stressful; here are 12 tips and tricks couples can use to corral their expenses and tame their nerves.

RSVP trick Number the back of RSVP cards and correspond the numbers to the guest list. If one or more responses is illegible, refer to the number to figure it out.

Fake the cake Save some money by asking the bakery cake artist to decorate a foamtiered ‘mock’ cake for pictures and display, and serve guests from an inexpensive sheet cake in the kitchen.

Dollar stores and craft stores are great places to find inexpensive decorative items. Empty wine bottles can be painted or glazed to serve as vases.

Candle lanterns can be picked up at low cost at many retailers.

Use labels Once the guest list is finalized, create a database of guests’ addresses. Print out two sets of labels: One for addressing the invitations and the other to address the thank-you cards.

Keep bugs at bay Spray chair and reception table legs with insect repellent. Dryer sheets also can be tucked into inconspicuous spots to keep bugs away.

Create an email address

Use veil weights

To have all of the wedding-related details in one place, create a separate email address exclusively for wedding correspondence.

These weights can be sewn into veils to prevent fly-aways during outdoor ceremonies or photoshoots..

Use loose flower centerpieces Loose flowers in a vase are easier to sort and transport home for guests who want a memento. Make precut butcher’s paper or cellophane available to make bouquets.

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Embrace inexpensive decor

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Make a photo clothesline A clever and inexpensive idea is to pin photos of the couple to a string, cataloguing how they met and their time together leading up to the wedding.

Save money on favors Unless the favor is something to eat or something especially practical, you may consider skipping the favors altogether, as many guests tend to forget to take them home anyway.

Use page markers for seating Use multicolored, self-sticking page markers to create easy seating arrangements. Each color can represent a category: His, Hers, Friends, Work.

Stock up on string lights Lights can be wrapped around trees outdoors, strung indoors around windows or draped along buffet tables to create a romantic ambiance.

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How to handle “plus one”

The rules concerning “plus ones” are flexible, and ultimately, it may be up to the couple to create their own “plus-one” rules.

Couples tying the knot typically want to share their excitement with as many friends and family members as possible. Preliminary wedding guest lists can be quite extensive, but many couples ultimately shorten such lists in adherence to their budgets.

One fuzzy area in regard to guest lists is whether or not to include a ‘plus one’ on the invitation for single friends or family members. A ‘plus one’ refers to single guests’ dates.

Party planners may extend the courtesy of giving single guests the choice of whether they would like to bring someone along to the event or attend solo. The rules concerning plus ones are flexible, and ultimately, it may be up to the couple to create their own plus-one rules. The following tips can help couples determine which way to go.

Number of single friends Another consideration is how many single people will be invited to the wedding. If it’s a small number, a blanket plus-one rule can be established. However, if many guests are single, which tends to happen when young couples are getting married, the cost can be prohibitive. Single friends and family can be seated together so that they can converse and have fun.

Length of relationship

It’s important for people on the receiving end of a wedding invitation to understand some key plus-one rules as well.

One way to set limits on plus ones is to look at invitees on a case-by-case basis. Think about unmarried guests and the type of relationship status they currently claim. For example, a cousin who has been dating someone for several months can be encouraged to invite this serious boyfriend/girlfriend.

Recently divorced or widowed guests may not feel comfortable bringing a date along, but because this person was in a committed relationship so long, it may be well worth the courtesy to allow these types of guests to bring someone along so they can feel more comfortable.

Etiquette experts at The Knot say that, whenever possible, all guests should be addressed by name on the invitation. Couples can ask single friends whether they plan to bring a date to the wedding and who their dates might be.

For the guests

• If the invitation does not say ‘plus one’ or ‘and guest,’ that means you have been invited alone. It is rude to bring a guest unexpectedly.

• Avoid asking to bring someone to the wedding if you were not originally given the option.

• If you were given plus-one status, be sure to respond with your guest’s name. If you can’t confirm who you will be bringing or don’t know if you will have a date for the evening, it is better to come alone.

• Don’t use the plus one as a chance to bring a friend only for the free food.

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Seating wedding guests Seating guests can be tricky, but employing a few strategies can make the process go quickly and smoothly.

Receptions may be big or small, lavish or casual. But regardless of their size or style, receptions all share a common element: They will require couples set up seating arrangement for guests. Even though assigned seating isn’t mandatory, selecting seats for a sit-down dinner makes things simpler and reduces confusion. Some reception venues may even require assigned seating so that catering staff can service tables accordingly.

Seating guests can be tricky, but employing a few strategies can make the process go quickly and smoothly.

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Use a seating chart. A seating chart, whether it’s venue-specific or one couples make themselves, is essential. If you using a self-made chart, inquire with the venue about the shape of tables, how many guests each table can seat, and the location of tables around the space.

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Start with the wedding party table. Couples can ease themselves into the task of seating by doing the easy tables first. The primary one is the wedding party table.

This traditionally can be a dais or a sweetheart table flanked by the wedding party. According to Martha Stewart Weddings, the table should be centrally located and the wedding couple should sit in the middle. A male-female pattern follows on either side of the couple, consisting of the ushers, bridesmaids, best man, and maid of honor. If much of the wedding party is already married, couples may opt to have the wedding party sit with their spouses instead of at the dais

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Organize family tables. Tables for parents, grandparents and immediate family members of the bride and groom also are high priority. Both families can be combined at one table, or they can be separated into two tables. These tables should be the closest to the bride and groom.

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Consider mobility issues. Next seat guests who have specific needs at tables. Elderly guests may want to be away from the band, deejay or speakers. Guests in wheelchairs may need an accessible seat near the exit.

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Get some help. Enlist the help of parents to seat their friends and extended family members. Parents may know best who gets along and who should be separated.

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Seat dancers near the dance floor.

To encourage dancing, place guests who tend to be lively close to the dance floor so others can see them getting up to dance and join in.

Couples can use apps, lists or self-made charts to plot their reception seating arrangements. Create place cards or a central chart so guests can find their seats promptly and easily.

View the wedding guide in full color online winchesterstar.com

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