2012 wedding guide

Advertising Supplement

IThe 2012 Battle Creek Enquirer Wedding Guide

January 15, 2012

Do

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4 The 2012 Battle Creek Enquirer Wedding Guide • January 15, 2012

Before you do anything else planning your wedding you

must set your wedding date. It is a fun project, but be pre-

pared to be challenged. Determining the best possible wed-

ding date sounds easier than it is. Prior to you making your

decision, there are many events and significant dates to take

into account. The day you get married will be determined by

factors such as venue availability, holidays, school sched-

ules, who can attend, and many more.

More or less, there is 12-18 months between the time of

engagement and the wedding day. Since there are so many

The Best Time

To Get M arriedparts to planning a successful wedding, one year may not

be enough time for many. Before setting your date for the big

day, you have to consider the schedules of everyone impor-

tant to you. If you want the most important people in your

life to attend your wedding, you must consider their sched-

ule. Business assignments, birthdays, graduations, vaca-

tions, and other events may prevent people important to you

attending your wedding day.

Getting married during the hottest wedding season has

many challenges. It is not only more difficult to find avail-

able vendors and venues; the prices are normally higher too.

Consequently, be prepared to pay premium for reception

sites, photography services, flowers, limos, etc. In addition

to hire costs, you have to consider challenges based on avail-

ability. Your dream location may not be available on your

dream date, so don't fall in love with a venue until you have

secured it for your date.

May through September are among the busiest months

for weddings. If you can, consider getting married one of the

off months. November through April gives you more oppor-

tunities to choose reception ven-

ues. In addition to having more

options, you are going to be in

much better position to negotiate

a better price. During the slower

months, you are bound to get bet-

ter service because more vendors

are competing for your business.

If you are going to get married

on a Saturday, be prepared to

compete with many other brides

for the same venues and services.

Saturday is the most convenient

day for your invitees, but it means

you have to deal with scheduling

challenges and hire costs. Fridays

and Sundays are considered the

next best days and are still much

more convenient than other days.

There is no wedding date with-

out its challenges, and there are

sure to be pros and cons to any

possible date. Your challenge is

to consider the best possible wed-

ding date based on your needs

and desires.

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Useful Tips to Plan Your Dream

Wedding Budget Most of us dream of the perfect wedding day. Of course,

not all of us achieve it. Some of us experience wedding day

problems and even bloopers that either change the nuptial

plans slightly or hugely. Of course, that is not enough reason

for you not to plan your wedding according to your dreams.

Here are some useful tips to consider when planning your

dream wedding day. The best thing about these tips is that

your budget is well considered.

Tip 1 – Start with a budget.

However idealistic you are about your wedding plans, you

would have to admit that one of the strongest foundations of

a dream wedding day is budget. When we say budget, we do

not mean having a small amount of dispensable money but

having a price range for your planned wedding expenses.

Talk to your groom-to-be about the acceptable amount of

money you want to spend for your most important day as

a couple. List down and itemize possible expenses, if you

have to. Consider not just your couple savings but also other

sources such as both your parents' commitments to chip in

for the said wedding expenses.

Tip 2 – Conceptualize the kind of wedding you both want.

You can never control your budget if you do not agree on

the kind of wedding you want. Be sure to sit down with your

fiancé and talk about the details of your desired nuptial day.

Develop a wedding day vision and tackle details such as

ideal venue, number of guests, reception venue and food,

giveaways and mementos and even honeymoon. By agree-

ing on similar concepts, you can easily hatch a detailed plan

for your special day and agree on the expenses you both

think are affordable and practical at the same time.

Tip 3 – Shop around.

If you love shopping, then you would surely get your

heart's desire when planning and preparing for weddings.

You would need to shop for a bridal dress, for bridesmaids

attires, for giveaways and gifts, for flowers and bouquets

and also look around for the perfect ceremony and reception

venues.

Be sure to widen your search and never commit before

you are a 100% decided on something. You can also attend

within

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7The 2012 Battle Creek Enquirer Wedding Guide • January 15, 2012

your dream wedding within budget

Wedding Budgetat least one bridal show not just to harvest great ideas and

inspiration but also to collect contacts and networks for your

nuptial day needs. A bridal show can be your easy solution to

all your wedding day needs so be sure to attend at least one

way long before the special date. Be sure to have your wed-

ding directory ready for contacts to help out on your momen-

tous day.

Tip 4 – Know which items you can get for free or for dis-

counted prices.

Weddings do not always have to dent your finances. There

are even those who manage great memorable weddings even

for the most modest budgets. The key is to also be resourceful

especially in accomplishing your wedding help list. Friends

and family members

would surely want to

chip in - in the form of

money, help, products

and labor. For instance,

some friends might

want to create the invi-

tations or even give-

aways so you imme-

diately save money on

those.

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Call 269-964-0291 today to set up an appointment to discuss your special event.245 Columbia Avenue East • Battle Creek, MI 49015

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Wedding day decorations are the most crucial because the

wedding decorations set the mood and style for the evening.

Wilting flower arrangements and colors that do not match

can spoil the evening.

Fresh flowers can make all the difference. The importance

and significance of flowers in an Indian wedding is high and

you can see how they are used everywhere –the mandap,

the stage, the entrance and archway, the bidai vehicle, on the

mare, the blessings, the varmala and the wedding day bed

for the bride and the bridegroom. Choosing the flowers well

and ensuring that they look good at all times is extremely

important.

1.Choose a florist that has a reputation for being a good

flower supplier for weddings. Wedding florists and deco-

rators are different from the ones that make bouquets for

birthdays and anniversaries. To find good wedding florists,

ask your friends for references. You can also check up the

Internet for some good wedding florists in your area.

2.A good florist should be able to give you ideas about the

specific flowers that you should pick for the wedding day.

Seasonal flowers cost lesser and should be chosen if you are

on a tight wedding budget.

3.Select a wedding florist who stores his flowers close to

the wedding venue. This will ensure that the flowers are

fresh when they reach the wedding hall or venue.

4.Decide on the type of flower and the quantity based on

your wedding budget. Exquisite flowers like carnations and

gladioli cost much more than the traditional Indian rose or

the oft used marigold.

5.Discuss the specific f loral decorations that you will

need for the wedding venue with the florist. The amount of

flowers that you will need should be based on how large the

venue is and the areas that you want covered. By the end of

your discussions with the florist, you should have a list of all

the areas that you want decorated like the stage backdrop,

the mandap, the entrance and the tables and an estimate of

the amount of flowers that you will need for each of these

10 Tips for

Wedding F lowersdecorations. The details should also be broken up by cut

flowers, flowers and petals since the requirement for differ-

ent kinds of decorations may vary.

6.Also talk about the number and type of garlands that

you will need with the wedding florist. The wedding var-

mala should be ordered separately, making sure that the

specific flowers that you want included are specified. In

addition to this, you will also need garlands for the milni and

aashirwaad. These can be ordered once you have made a list

of the milnis that you are planning and the number of people

who are likely to give the aashirwaad.

7.Consider the kind of wedding décor that you have cho-

sen for the specific function. Traditional flowers are better

for religious functions like the wedding day or the mehendi.

You can leave the modern looking or western flowers and get

creative with them on the sangeet and the wedding recep-

tion.

8.Keeping flowers fresh is a challenge, especially for wed-

dings that take place in the Indian summer heat. Sprinkling

them with water can help keep the petals looking and smell-

ing fresh. You can also cover them with a wet cloth till they

are ready to be used.

9.Cut flowers with a stem that are used on tables or bou-

quets can be put in water that contains a copper penny or

piece and aspirin. Lemon juice, sugar and bleach can also

work wonders to keep flowers fresh. It might also be a good

idea to avoid flowers that have a long stem since these can

block the view of people sitting across the table.

10.Wedding flowers should always be chosen based on

the overall décor that you have selected for your wedding

day. Lavender or blue flowers may look out of place on the

wedding day when all the other decorations have traditional

gold, red and green colors.

In selecting flowers, it is a good idea to also get the opin-

ions of your friends and relatives, especially of your mother

and father. It makes parents feel important and you may

gain valuable information. With the right kind of wedding

flowers that are colorful vibrant and fresh and sweet smell-

ing, your wedding day is also likely to be exactly the same.

Celebrate

For more information please call 1.800.335.0805

your special day with an announcement.

Cherishing the Special Moments in Life

Weddings • Engagements • Anniversaries& Other Special Occasions

Every Sunday in the Battle Creek Enquirer and OnlinePlease visit www.battlecreekenquirer.com to submit your announcement.

Submissions due Wednesday at 2pm for Sunday

Wedding F lowers


The bride and the groom are of course the center of atten-

tion in any wedding. Even so, you would want to have the

right decorative touch to make your photo and video sou-

venirs worth looking at. Part of your wedding design plan

is your wedding cake design. The wedding cake design will

always be the center of attention at the reception regardless

of your cake's size and shape. The following are some impor-

tant concerns to think of before picking a wedding cake

design.

Complementary Piece

Your wedding, theme, colors, gowns and decorations are

all a reflection of your personal taste. You should never for-

get however, that your wedding cake design is also part of

0100142393

Choosing the Right

Wedding Cake D esignyour unified decoration. The color, shape and decorations

included in your wedding cake design should also therefore

complement your theme. The trick is to plan all the other

details of your wedding decorations, dresses and colors

before choosing a wedding cake design. This will help you

pick a design that will fit the whole picture.

The Ingredients

You may choose to have an experienced baker come up

with your wedding cake design. You can also ask your wed-

ding planner to take care of all the cake details or you can

take care of the wedding cake design yourself. Whatever

option you choose, it is not enough that you look into a port-

folio or watch a cake making video. You should also know

the different ingredients

involved in cake making

and how these can affect

your whole wedding cake

design.

Butter cream for exam-

ple is the common choice for

cake icing. You may how-

ever also use white marga-

rine and fondant icing. The

latter is a great choice if you

want to have a smooth and

elegant look. Aside from the

wedding cake design how-

ever, you should also think

about the f lavor. Fondant

may really look good but

butter cream still tastes bet-

ter. You should also look

into the butter cream mix.

Too much shortening will

make the eating experience

a greasy one.

Number of Guests

Your wedding cake design should also depend on the

number of guests you have and if you have prepared other

deserts. Do you want all your guests to have a piece of the

cake? Will you be serving other

sweet items to them? You may

not need a five tier cake if

you are serving other

deserts or if you have

very few guests. You

should however pre-

pare a wedding

cake design

with multi-

ple tiers if

you would

like a hun-

dred or more

guests to

have a

piece of

your cake.

Time Frame

It will take months to execute a complicated wedding cake

design. If you didn't know this and you only have a short

time left, then you should go for a simple wedding cake

design.

Budget

The wedding budget is almost always a part of wedding

cake design concerns. You can have a great wedding cake

design that will not cost much if you simply have sponge

cake. You can then spend more on icing and cake decora-

tions. You should also try to compute if you will be able to

save on your wedding cake design by serving other deserts

and just going for a smaller and simpler cake.

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Preparing for a wedding is never easy and sometimes it

doesn't come with satisfying results after pains-taking and

time-consuming work. As we all know, wedding invitations

are always the first impression that people get about your

wedding. Hence, they are always paid much attention to as

they set the tone of the wedding.

In order to have better preparation of the wedding invites

and to make your invitation cards more creative and appeal-

ing, here are some new trends in

wedding invitations as everything

changes from time to time, let alone

the recognition to the wedding col-

ors, styles and embellishments.

First of all, the colors to be in

trend next year as the main color

of a wedding will be combined col-

ors, like stunning watermelon pink

invitations or elegant cream wedding invitations. Another

color that may shine your wedding is green due to the

increasing awareness of environment protection and the

low-carbon surroundings. Actually, light colors like orange,

pink, yellow are all good to be combined together and all the

rages these days. Apart from some outstanding light colors,

there are actually classic colors that never go out of time. For

instance, white are still a great choice in that it conveys the

Trends 2012

Wedding Invitations meaning of purity and love. While black gives an impression

of solemn and serious. So with all these wondrous options

to pick from, you can really find one that right for your wed-

ding.

As to the styles, there are numerous varieties for you to

choose from. Pocket folders are still big hot these days and

continuing to rise in popularity and many brand new types

are invented day by day. From plain designs to double-

fold, from cutout designs to tri-fold,

numerous invitation styles come into

being with the development of cre-

ative minds, what's more, layered invi-

tations is also gaining in popularity

because here you can try every differ-

ent means to cope with the colors to

make novel creation. Or you can try to

create styles of your own and make it

really unique and bold.

When it comes to the embellishments, the available choices

are absolutely countless. Generally speaking, the decora-

tions are most likely to make the invitation cards stand out

compared to the former factors. Your creativity can really

find its way here decorating your invitations.

First of all, the ribbons are great choices to make invita-

tions more appealing, including double-sided satin of many

colors and some handmade craft ribbons. Bar in mind

choose some different colors against your invitation back-

ground to make them more appealing and eye-catching.

Besides, the ways of attaching the ribbons to the invitations

vary a lot. You can either tie the invitation like a cross in rib-

bons or you can merely put them in the surface of the invita-

tions.

Apart from the ribbons, there are actually many other

decorations that can be employed like flowers and photos.

Whatever makes up the invitation, the most important is to

let your guests

know your sin-

cerity and con-

vey the love to

them. Now it

is time to show

your creativity

and the trend

m e n t i o n e d

above can help

you have bet-

ter idea about

your wedding

invitations.

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Origins & Legends

Wedding Traditions


Many of our modern wedding traditions have their ori-

gin in times past. Here's a sampling.

The Bridal Shower tradition has its roots in the 1800's.

The story is told of poor a miller who fell in love with a

wealthy maiden. But, the father of the maiden was against

the marriage. He refused to provide a dowry for her, and

a bride could not marry without a dowry. The story goes

that the bride had generous friends who "showered" her

with so many gifts, they could forego the missing dowry.

Why "something old, something new, something bor-

r o w e d , something blue?" The "old" was usu-

ally a personal gift from mother to

daughter, a symbolic piece

of wisdom for married

life. The "new" sym-

bolized the new fam-

ily being formed by

the marriage. "Bor-

rowing" is especially

important since it is

to come from a hap-

pily married woman,

thereby lend-

ing the bride

some of her

own marital

bliss. "Blue"

h a s t w o

traditions,

a n c i e n t

R o m a n

maidens wore blue on the borders of their robes

to denote love, fidelity and modesty, while

Christians associate it with the purity of the Vir-

gin Mary.

In very early days, fathers

would offer daughters as peace

offerings to warring tribes.

Because of the hostility, the fami-

lies were placed on opposite sides of

the church so the ceremony could proceed

without bloodshed. The ceremony united the

two warring factions into one family, and the danger

was resolved. Today, family members still sit on opposite

sides.

Because the early Anglo Saxon groom often had to

defend his bride from would-be kidnappers, she stood

to his left, leaving his sword- arm free just

in case. The "best" war-

rior in the tribe stood

by the groom and was

responsible for helping

defend the bride, should the need

arise. Thus we have the placement for the best

man.

Ever wonder where the phrase "tie the knot" comes

from? Supposedly this also goes back to early Roman

times. The bride would wear a girdle that was tied in many

knots, which the groom had the "duty" to untie. As a side

note, this can also refer to the tying of the knot in Hand-

fasting Ceremonies, which were usually done without the

benefit of clergy.

In early times the bride had to be carried over the

threshold because she was (or was pretend-

ing to be) reluctant to enter the bridal

chamber. In those days, it was consid-

ered ladylike to be hesitant at this

point. Another legend has it that

the bride was carried over the

threshold to protect her from

any evil spirits which might be

lingering there.

The term "Honeymoon" also

originated centuries ago. It was the cus-

tom for couples to get married beneath a full moon. Then

they would drink honey wine for thirty days in a row, to

foster good luck. This created the term honeymoon.

The wedding cake originated from the ancient custom

where a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the bride's

head to symbolize hope for a fertile and fulfill-

ing life. The guests ate the crumbs

which were believed to offer

good luck. The custom

found it's way to England

in the Middle Ages where

g u e s t s would bring small cakes to

a wedding and put them in one large pile. The bride and

groom were expected to stand over the cakes and kiss.

Loud noises were said to drive away evil spirits, and

during the ceremony the guests would make noises to keep

the evil away. Today, it's traditional that the bridal party

honk their car horns and drag rattling tin cans while leav-

ing the ceremony.


In early times the bride had to be carried over the

threshold because she was (or was pretend-

ing to be) reluctant to enter the bridal

chamber. In those days, it was consid-

ered ladylike to be hesitant at this

point. Another legend has it that

the bride was carried over the

threshold to protect her from

any evil spirits which might be

lingering there.

The term "Honeymoon" also

originated centuries ago. It was the cus-

tom for couples to get married beneath a full moon. Then

they would drink honey wine for thirty days in a row, to

foster good luck. This created the term honeymoon.

The wedding cake originated from the ancient custom

where a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the bride's

head to symbolize hope for a fertile and fulfill-

ing life. The guests ate the crumbs

which were believed to offer

good luck. The custom

found it's way to England

in the Middle Ages where

g u e s t s would bring small cakes to

a wedding and put them in one large pile. The bride and

groom were expected to stand over the cakes and kiss.

Loud noises were said to drive away evil spirits, and

during the ceremony the guests would make noises to keep

the evil away. Today, it's traditional that the bridal party

honk their car horns and drag rattling tin cans while leav-

ing the ceremony.


o Gold accessories are going to be more popular, espe-

cially for a fall or winter wedding. Things like gold hair

broaches, gold shoes, gold jewelry, and even golden hued

wedding gowns. The key to choosing gold accessories

with a timeless look, is to choose only one or two that you

love. This will keep your look from being too over-the-top.

o Big layered sheer skirts with lots of interesting details

in materials such as chiffon, organza, lace, batiste, crepe,

and tulle. Instead of the dress designs you've seen in the

past using just one material, dress designers are now

incorporating many different materials into one dress,

making each one unique.

o I just love the new cor-

set style bodices with lac-

ing down the back. This is

a very sexy yet sophisticat-

ed style that goes well with

a large ball gown skirt.

You'll see a lot of these with

intricate detailing using

things like beadwork and

Trends 2012

Wedding Dress & H airlace.

o Vintage inspired wedding gowns with a modern

touch. Just choose your favorite era, whether it's the roar-

ing 1920's or a dress inspired from the 1950's, perhaps the

dress Marilyn Monroe made famous. I've found a vintage

inspired wedding to be a lot of fun! This is your one special

day, why not make it your own?

o Detachable bridal belts can add a unique look to any

wedding gown, making it easy to customize the wed-

ding dress you've chosen. Instead of just the colored sash

that we've seen on the runways in the past, you now have

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options in belts that look more like jewelry. They're stun-

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o Loose and simple hairstyles. Instead of the up-do that

looks like it took many grueling hours, styling tools and

hairspray to accomplish, think of a more natural look,

with loose waves pinned back low on the head or even off

to the side.

o Large hair accessories, such as a gardenia, sparkling

brooch with feathers, or a birdcage veil are becoming more

popular, but keep your other accessories to a minimum,

and let the hair accessory that you have

chosen be the focal point.

When you think of a pony tail you

might think of a more casual affair,

but not if you do it right! Low side pony

tails look stunning with a one-shoulder

wedding dress. This look works best

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2012 Check List

Wedding BudgetBuying GuideBride & FamilyEngagement PartyBridal ConsultantInvitations, announcements, thank you note & other stationaryBride’s attireGroom’s RingCeremony expenses (fee for church or temple & accessories)Ceremony programs & guest bookFlowers for ceremony & receptionReception expenses (site fee, rentals, catering, food, beverages, gratuity & decoration)Photography & videographyTransportationGifts for attendantsLodging for attendantsBridesmaids’ luncheon

Groom & FamilyBride’s engagement & wedding ringsMarriage licenseOfficiant’s feeGroom’s attireAttire accessories for groomsmenGifts for groomsmenLodging for groomsmenFlowers for groom, groomsmen, mothers & grandmothersBride’s bouquetRehearsal dinnerHoneymoon

Bridesmaid & GroomsmenWedding attireTravel expensesBachelor/Bachelorette PartyBridal shower

Reception - 50%Ceremony location feesOfficiate’s feeReception site feeFood CakeBeveragesRentalsTransportationParkingTax & Tips

Photographer - 20%Photographer’s feeEngagement portraitWedding albumsAdditional printsVideographyAudio recordingCandid photos

Music - 20%CeremonyCocktail hourReception

Stationary - 10%Save-the-Date cardsInvitations & envelopesAnnouncementsProgramsPlace CardsThank you notesChange of address cardsPostageCalligraphy

AttireBride’s DressHeadpiece & veilBride’s shoesLingerieJewelry & accessoriesHair & make upGroom’s TuxGroom’s shoesGroom’s accessoriesRings

FlowersCeremony decorationsBride’s bouquetBridesmaids’ flowersFlower girl accessoriesCorsagesBoutonnieresCenterpieces

ExtrasBridesmaids’s giftsBridesmaid luncheonGroomsmen’s giftsChild attendants’ giftsParents’ giftsGifts to each otherGuest room bagsFavorsGuest bookRing pillowMarriage licenseBridal consultant

Estimated Estimated

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Actual Actual

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Total


Wedding Attire

For Grooms Sure, we all know that the bride is destined to be the star

of the day at a wedding, but what about the groom? Let's not

overlook him! More and more men these days agree: what

they wear matters too, and believe it or not, many grooms

have opinions on their wedding attire. Here is a look on the

trends in wedding attire for grooms.

One big trend for formal weddings is for the groom to wear

a tuxedo with a straight tie rather than a bow tie. You only

have to look to Hollywood to see this trend in action on the

red carpet. Check out how dashing Hollywood's leading men

look in their tuxedos

with straight black

ties at the Academy

Awards. This is a

trend that has come

into its own in mens'

wedding fashion, as

well. A lot of guys

think that the bow tie

is just too dorky or

old-fashioned, while

the straight tie feels

much more hip and

modern.

Bring that around

full circle, because there is also in fact a revival of bow ties

on younger men these days (huh?), just not with formal tux-

edos. Grooms and groomsmen are wearing bow ties in fun

prints for preppy weddings. To see how to interpret this wed-

ding trend in a way that is preppy-chic (not old fuddy-duddy)

flip through any Vineyard Vines catalog. There you will see

how a bow tie with a nautical motif or even the logo of your

alma mater can be very cool when worn with khakis, a navy

blazer, and a pastel shirt (pink, if you dare; light blue or yel-

low, if you dare not).

The hip city

loft wedding trend

is going strong,

and the attire that

would suit a groom

in a country club or

hotel ballroom sim-

ply will not work

in such an aggres-

sively hip setting.

The answer: a cus-

tom suit (or at least

a custom tailored

one). The cut of the

suit should be more

Hedi Slimane than Brooks Brothers. Anything Italian is

good. A British cut suit can also work well if the groom has

the "geek chic" thing going on, but it has to be worn with

an air of irony and slightly moused hair.

Even more traditional grooms are taking more of an

interest in what they wear for their weddings. They may

not go for custom suits or Hollywood inspired fashion, but

that doesn't mean that they are willing to leave the entire

decision in the bride's hands either. These are the grooms

who will wear a classic tuxedo for the evening or a navy

blue suit for a daytime wedding, but they use their acces-

sories to put a personal stamp on the outfit (yes, techni-

cally, men do wear accessories!). It could be as subtle as

a patterned pair of dress socks instead of basic black, or

adding a dash of color to a suit with an interesting pocket

square. Many brides will also give their fiances gifts of

wedding jewelry which can be worn to add personality

to their attire. Popular wedding jewelry gifts for grooms

include silver cufflinks and pocketwatches.

So you see, it is in fact possible for a groom to show some

style on his wedding day. He is probably in no danger of

upstaging the bride (let's hope not!), but he can still put

together a look that has character and personality. And

brides, just think of how handsome your stylish groom

will look in the wedding photos!

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Planning a Budget Friendly Getaway

H oneymoon In the perfect world of wedding planning, immediately

after toasting champagne with family and friends at the

wedding reception, you and your new groom are whisked

away to an exotic locale for two weeks of sightseeing,

beach bumming and cuddling.

But, for many couples, the reality of planning a fairytale

(i.e. budget-busting) honeymoon just isn’t in the cards. So

what to do when you want to get away without going in

debt? Here, five ideas for planning a budget-friendly get-

away.

1. Stash some cash

Even though during this time the majority of your money

will go toward paying for the honeymoon, you can still set

some funds aside for a post-wedding vacation. It doesn’t

have to be a large sum, but saving a few dollars here and

there to use only for your vacation will help cut down on

some travel costs.

2. Retreat from the world (sort of)

If you can’t go on vacation, bring the vacation to you.

Schedule some alone time together where you don’t

answer the phone, check emails or receive visitors. Your

focus should be on connecting with your mate with little

distractions from the outside world. So even if you’re not

island hopping in Hawaii or sailing along the Mediterra-

nean, a few days of uninterrupted couple time can be quite

gratifying.

3. Hit the open road

Save on airfare by traveling by car to your honeymoon

destination . . . which, of course, presents another budget-

friendly option—planning a stateside rendezvous. There

are plenty of great beaches, mountainsides and impressive

landmarks within the U.S. So pull out your road map for

more ideas on where to go.

4. Monitor mid-week deals

Airfare and hotel prices are typically less during

the middle of the week. For a quick getaway, book

your accommodations Tuesday thru Thursday to

save a few bucks.

5. Reconsider Hotel Reservations

Forgo the five-star digs for a quaint (and less

expensive) bed and breakfast. Some things to

consider when searching for B&Bs are accessibility to

great attractions, updated decor, and private accommoda-

tions (bath, temperature controls, etc.).

These are just a few ideas for planning a budget-

friendly getaway for your honeymoon. If skimming

back isn’t an ideal option for your first official get-

away as husband and wife, you can always postpone

your trip, allowing time to save up and take the vaca-

tion of your dreams.


Surviving the First Year of

M arriage The honeymoon stage, marital bliss and newlyweds are

all words to describe you and your first year of marriage.

While the words conjure up images of simplicity, passion

and possibly choirs singing in the background, the truth

about the first year of marriage comes as quite a shock to

many “lovebirds.” According to information collected by the

US Census Bureau, the median age of a woman at their first

divorce is 29, for men it is 30.5. The Bureau also reports that

the average number of years a marriage lasts in the United

States is 7.8.

This by no means is meant to suggest that your mar-

riage is doomed. But, many couples are not prepared for

what is in store for them.

When people are young,

they have the illusion that

the love they share with

their husband or wife is

stronger than the love of

couples who have come

before them. But, regard-

less of how strong you

feel your love is, marriage

still takes work.

Here is what you can

expect in your first year

of marriage, and advice

for how you can keep

your bond strong.

Expect change: Natu-

ral changes always hap-

pen in any relationship.

It is just a matter of being

prepared for them. For

example, if you have

never lived with your

spouse prior to being

married, then you might discover new things about him that

you are unaccustomed to. Does he leave his clothes on the

floor, or dishes in the sink? These are just small nuisances

to expect. But these minor annoyances can be dealt with

quickly as long as you make an effort to bring them up in a

calm and noncritical way.

There may also be emotional changes as well. Now that

you are no longer in the

courting stage of your

relationship, you may

find that your part-

ner is less vocal about

his admiration for you. It

doesn’t mean that he loves

you any less, but perhaps

he expects that you know

already how much he

cares for you. Often cou-

ples in counseling discuss

their love languages to dis-

cover the many ways that

they both express love,

and how they prefer to

receive love.

Work on communica-

tion skills: It is stressed

to couples that communi-

cation is key to creating

a strong marriage. But,

communication is about more than expressing all of your

feelings. You should also work on your communication style:

Watch your tone of voice

Make requests, not demands, of your spouse

Don’t make accusations

Use “I” statements to explain how you’re feeling

Don’t hold onto past issues

Nurture your rela-

tionship: Many times, cou-

ples start to take one another

and their union for granted.

But, just like any living thing,

marriage needs attention and

care if it is going to grow. This

means taking the time to talk

with your spouse about areas

of the relationship you aren’t

pleased with and making an

effort toward improvements. In

order to strengthen the nurturing aspect of their marriage,

this is the point where many couples turn to counseling.

Keep up date nights: Yes, you both sat on the couch and

watched the 11 o’clock news together last night, but that does

not qualify as a date. Neither does the car ride you took to

the home improvement store last weekend. Just because you

don’t feel the constant need to impress one another anymore,

and you likely see each other every day, doesn’t mean you

don’t need a night out once in awhile. Some of the longest

lasting couples still schedule time alone. The responsibility

of preparing for the date can be alternated. This week look

around for things your spouse really likes, maybe tickets to

see a certain sports team, or to movie in the theater that has

their favorite actor in it, and surprise him. Then, the next

week, it is his turn to surprise you. The constant exchange

will help add excitement to the week and offers another way

to show your appreciation for one another.

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2012 wedding guide

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