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Special Section to: The Valley Gazette I The Stratford Star I The Milford Mirror I The Amity Observer I The Trumbull Times I Fairfield Sun I The Huntington Herald I The Monroe Courier I The Easton Courier
HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS
I Do, I DoSPRING BRIDAL 2012
Lindsay and Mike Mazzarella of Stratfordnot only like to have fun, but they also
enjoy bringing smiles to other peoples
faces.
Thats why they started a business four
years ago Lots of Character where
they dress up as popular television
and film characters, such as Elmo and
Mickey Mouse, and entertain at chil-
drens birthday parties. When it came
to planning their wedding, it was only
natural that they incorporate this whim-
sical penchant into their celebration.
Last October, Lindsay and Mike took
their vows at Lighthouse Point Park in
New Haven against the backdrop of ahistoric merry-go-round. Their recep-
tion was filled with clowns, magicians
and balloons.
Though their families were skeptical at
first about this highly unconventional
circus and carnival-themed wedding, all
of the guests ended up having a great
time.
Susan Martino, Lindsays aunt, who
helped to raise the bride when her
mother passed away in 2006, said
everyone pitched in to make the day
special. In our family, we were all used
to traditional weddings, of course, but
everyone left there saying this was themost fun theyve ever had at a wed-
ding, Susan said.
Upon arrival, each of the 200 guests
were greeted by a costumed clown.
They were given their own clown
noses, which were donated by Ringling
A MERRY GO ROUNDfor bride, groom and guests
by Karen Kovacs Dydzuhn
Circus continued on page 6The wedding of Lindsay and Mike Mazzarella was filled with fun. Large lollipops decorated each table, a candy bar was a star attraction along with a surprise dance routine bythe wedding couple, which inspired many others to join in. Scott Mullin photos
Wedding
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2 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 1, 2012
When I got married in 1989, I had two
bridal showers one given by my mother
for all of our female relatives, and a second,
smaller party given by my maid of honor.
Though we didnt describe it as a bach-
elorette party, thats exactly what it was.
Similar to the grooms traditional bachelor
party, where friends get together to blow
off steam and celebrate the end of single
life, it was an outdoor gathering hosted
by my closest girlfriends where we shared
some good food and drink.
In the last 20 years, though, bachelorette
parties have become much more creative.
In most scenarios, the bride is taken out to
dinner by the maid of honor and brides-
maids, followed by a long night of drinking
and dancing.
This is fun, and Ive been to many bach-
elorette parties like this, but I wanted to do
something more for my sister, Nicole, said
Gina. She and Melanie, the familys young-
est sibling, shared the maid of honor
role. Its just too ordinary and Nicole is
anything but that!
Gina and Melanie brainstormed with the
other members of the bridal party and tried
to come up with a party that would truly
represent their special sister and friend.
Gina said, There were a lot of fun, creative
ideas thrown out there a champagne
tasting followed by a night out in NYC,
make-your-own-wine class, dinner and
drinks in NYC, but then it dawned on me,
what about a wine tasting tour?
After researching online several different
venues in New England, Gina made a reser-
vation through Long Island Vineyard Tours.
They offered everything we were looking
for round-trip limo transportation, gour-
met lunch, wine tastings at four vineyards,
and then some, Gina said.
To make the day even more memorable,
one of the bridesmaids designed a T-shirt
for the bridal party to wear. In keeping
with the winery theme, the logo on the
front of the shirt said, Before they wed,
lets paint the town RED! On the back,
it said, Salute! 6.12.10. (the date of the
wedding).
Nicole said everyone had a great time. It
was planned perfectly, she said.
These all-inclusive vineyard tours have
become increasingly more popular for pre-
wedding parties, she added. No matter
whats planned, I think its important to
incorporate personal touches that make the
party feel like your own, she said.
Though she has also had a great time at
dinner and dancing parties, Nicole liked
being able to hang out with her closest
friends in a more intimate setting rather
than a crowded bar.
For this reason, some bridal parties opt to
rent out a restaurants private room. Two
sisters, Lori and Leslie, decided to have one
big bachelorette party since their weddings
were only three months apart. This worked
out well because they also shared the same
girlfriends.
Since the two sisters, who describe them-
selves as best of friends, were also each
others maids of honor, they planned the
black-and-white theme bachelorette party
themselves. Their guests were instructed to
wear black-and white attire, and when they
arrived at the Fairfield restaurant, where
the party took place, red leis were provided.
The party room was decorated in sparkles,
and there were black martini glasses at
each table setting.
Leslie said, We had a private bar and appe-
tizers served. After a few hours, we got into
a white Cadillac Escalade limo that took us
from Fairfield to Stamford for a very fun
night that is still memorable until this day
and I think it always will be.
Nicole, who attended Leslie and Loris bach-
elorette party, said its imperative to have
some kind of transportation provided when
alcohol is served. No drinking and driving
is a must, Nicole emphasized.
So, while the limo rentals are definitely a
fun addition to todays bachelorette parties,
theyre also serving an important role in
keeping the women safe.
Leslie said their friends appreciated their
combined bachelorette party because the
night can be costly. We knew we were
doing everyone a favor by having a joint
party, Leslie.
Because the two sisters had such a great
time, they wished that they had planned a
joint wedding, too.
We can assume their father was nodding
his head in agreement.
Information: livineyardtours.com/winetours/.
ROUND-TRIP LIMO, GOURMET LUNCH, TOUR OF FOUR VINEYARDS
A grand day out with your best friendsby Karen Kovacs Dydzuhn
Best friends gather for a tour of a Long Island vineyard to celebrate bride-to-be Nicoles forthcoming marriage.
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March 1, 2012 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3
Brides today devote a great deal of time
to searching for the right wedding gown.
They also scour through fashion maga-
zines looking for the perfect hair style to
augment their dresses and ensure they
look picture perfect on their wedding
day.
When they finally settle upon an appeal-
ing look that they hope to emulate, its
disappointing to hear from their favorite
stylist that they cant do it with their type
of hair.
Some girls have very thin hair and some
have hair thats too short to accomplish
the style they were hoping to have,said Charlene Dombrowski, owner of
Charlenes Barber Shop in Monroe.
To enhance the length and fullness of
their hair, Charlene may recommend
that the brides get hair extensions woven
into their strands of hair. With hair
extensions, we can give them any style
they want, she said.
For example, most brides request some
kind of updo, where the hair is swept off
the neck and, using pins, piled in sec-
tions on top of the head. French twists
and chignons are types of updo fashions.
Hair products and styling tools, such as
curling irons and flat-iron straighteners,are also used to achieve the desired look.
However, Charlene said updos are much
easier to do with hair extensions. It
gives us more to work with, she said.
Extensions are also used to change the
brides hair color. Sometimes they want
some blonde highlights put in for the
wedding, but we could simply color the
hair extensions and get the same effect,
she said. Its great for girls who want
something special for their wedding but
dont want to go too over the top.
Glue-in hair extensions usually take
about two hours to put in. Fusion exten-
sions, though, take much longer and
must be done a few days before the
wedding date, she said. The cost varies
according to the number and the type of
extensions used.
When shes hired to style a bride, Bree
Thomas, a hairdresser for 11 years, said
she often takes care of the bridesmaids,
brides mother, grooms mother and
flower girls, too. Ive gone right to the
church to do their hair, she said.
Monica Vaz, a stylist from Shelton who
works at Charlenes, said she wouldrather style bridal parties all day than cut
and color hair. I really love it, Monica
said.
After learning the basics in hairdress-
ing school, Monica honed her skills by
styling the tresses of bridal parties. She
said the bride typically dictates how her
attendants wear their hair. She may say
she wants all of the hair to be up or half-
up and half-down or all down. Its really
her decision.
About a week before the wedding, most
hair stylists will do a trial run. Brides
bring their veils to the salon so that
after their hair is completed, they cansee exactly how they will appear as they
walk down the aisle. We want to make
sure the style is exactly what they want
for their wedding, Monica said.
Charlene said its important for brides to
feel beautiful on their wedding day. We
can really do anything with hair today,
she said. Its important for brides- to-be
to consult with their hairdresser during
the early part of their wedding planning,
though. We want to make sure theres
enough time to create the exact look
they envision that will complement their
gown, veil and other accessories.
For more information about hair
extensions and formal hair styles for
proms, religious celebrations and corpo-
rate functions, contact Charlenes Barber
Shop at 509 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe;
203-459-4336.
Charlenes Barber ShopYOU DONT NEED A FAIRY GODMOTHER, YOU DO NEED A SKILLED STYLIST
by Karen Kovacs Dydzuhn
With extensions, medium-length hair is trans-
formed into a cascade of elegant curls.
Plan a Wedding YoullRemember Forever
Denise Cregier Photographer
Tents
Tables
Chairs
China
Linens
26 Kenosia Avenue
Danbury CT203.790.7368
www.asrentals.net
Exceptional CuisineOutstanding Service
The Perfect Setting
The Perfect Setting
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4 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 1, 2012
Family is all important, and when it
came time for Megan and Paul Merritts
wedding, Megan knew she wanted one
extraordinary family member to play
a very significant role. I lived with my
grandmother from the age of 16, and she
is the best, shes so very important to
me! Megan says, smiling.
Paul and I had already been together for
eight years, and we werent really thinking
we would do anything big for our wed-
ding. We were considering getting mar-
ried at the town hall, says Megan, just
something very simple and quiet, but my
grandmother found a fantastic venue and
we were off and running!
Megans grandmother, Dotti Bateman,
wanted her granddaughter to experience a
wondrous wedding day. Megan and I are
very, very close, very tight actually, Dotti
says delightedly, and when I realized that
she and Paul werent really thinking about
an elaborate wedding, I wanted to help
give them a truly beautiful and different
kind of a wedding day.
Dolce in Norwalk is an amazing spot,
Dotti says. I just fell in love with it when
I saw it I thought it would be perfect. I
was thrilled when Megan fell in love with
it, too. Hazel Scudder is the event planner
at Dolce, she and I have a long- standingrelationship, and working with her was
just like working with a family member! In
fact, the whole experience, the whole day,
was such a wonderful affirmation of how
a wedding is a real family affair!
Set on 66 acres of bucolic Connecticut
countryside, Dolce offers a setting of roll-
ing hills, meadows and woods with out-
door terraces, shimmering waterfront set-
tings and a distinct and diverse approach
to weddings.
Its so gorgeous, Megan says. The out-
side is stunning. Our wedding date was
October 9, 2011, and it was such a beauti-
ful day, our ceremony was held under a
big, beautiful tree the setting was just
magnificent.
I really was so happy that they were so
happy with Dolce, adds Dotti. We had a
budget we needed to stick to, and I hoped
for something special, not a cookie-cut-
ter wedding experience, and we got it at
Dolce. Hazel made everything so easy for
us, and she helped us stick to our budget.
We saved money by having the wed-
ding on a holiday it happened to be
Columbus Day weekend. Because Megan
and Paul were flexible with their date and
time, and willing to keep the guest list on
the smaller side and have the wedding
on a Sunday afternoon, Hazel was able to
work out an excellent package price for
us.
The package was just terrific, Dotti
says, they provided everything from
the DJ, the photographer, a scrumptious
cake, even a chocolate fountain, as well
as a bridal suite. Megan and Paul had
their choice of rooms, and they selected
the Norwalk Room, which had an indoor
and outdoor area, and was just perfect for
their 60 guests.
One thing that many other married
friends had told us, was that they wished
they had kept the guest list a little small-
er, says Megan. With our group of
60 close friends and family, I really felt
relaxed and felt like our day was espe-
cially personal.
This was a happy ending to a long court-
ship, Megan says, and having my grand-
mother play such an important role in our
new beginning, means the world to me.
I told her Grammy, you have to do my
flowers for me! Because she is an artist, I
wanted all the flowers to have her unique
touch.
Dotti says, This was a totally fantastic
experience for me, being so involved in
this occasion. Doing the flowers was such
a joy; I worked with lots of cut flowers,
including Megans favorite sunflowers, and
created just what she wanted. I also got to
walk Megan outside and over to meet her
parents, who then escorted her down the
aisle.
Megan smiles and adds, Even Dankness,
our beloved dog, was a part of the cer-
emony, serving as our ring bearer. He and
all the people that mean family to us were
there, which made it the perfect celebra-
tion.
A real family affairEVERYONE FELT LIKE FAMILY AT THIS SMALL, JOY-FILLED WEDDING
by Robin E. Glowa
After an eight-year courtship, Megan and Paul
Merritt, about to seal their vows with a kiss.At right, Megans Gram, Dotti Bateman,
brought her granddaughter from the reception
room to join her parents, who brought her down
the aisle. Daniel Whitham photos
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March 1, 2012 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 5
Neither Pedro Mila of Trumbull nor Nora
Shea of Derby met via any of the popular
dot-coms that guarantee finding the right
mate via a sophisticated computer system.
As a matter of fact, neither Pedro nor Nora
ever thought that they would experience
love again. Both had lost their long-time
spouses. However, age has no limits when
it comes to love, and so Pedro at age 92 and
Nora at age 76 met at the Trumbull Senior
Center and fell deeply in love. Pedro was
born in Cuba, and Nora is part Spanish and
part Italian. She was born in Brooklyn.
Weve been together for four years, said
Nora, explaining that she enjoys line danc-
ing, and Pedro also loves to dance, so they
already had something in common. When
he first approached me about going out on
a date, I told him I wasnt interested, said
Nora, recalling that she thought he was far
too old for her. However, he was so atten-
tive and so considerate that I couldnt ward
off his pursuits for long. Neither he nor I
had ever planned on meeting someone,
she said.
According to Jean Fereira, director of the
Trumbull Senior Center at Priscilla Place,
its not so uncommon that people meet
like-minded people at the Center. It hap-pens often enough, she said. Everyone
here is happy for Pedro and Nora. They are
a special couple.
Indeed, since they became sweethearts,
they have traveled to five countries in
Europe. Pedro told me, I will take you
anywhere in the world that you want to go,
and he meant it, Nora said, with a lilt in
her voice. They have traveled extensively,
visiting the Panama Canal twice. Were
very compatible and we have a great time
together. We love to dance, and we enjoy
going to the movies. He loves to eat and I
love to cook, she said, with a laugh. She
also pointed out that their relationship is
more than hugs and companionship. We
have an intimate relationship. Age doesnt
matter. We function as if we were younger.
We are in love, she said, in almost a girl-
ish way.
Ask Pedro about this relationship, and
he doesnt hesitate to respond. Im the
luckiest man in the world, he said. I feel
very good and I never get tired. I exercise
everyday and I love to dance. All of my vital
organs are fine; my heart is good and Im
physically fit. I was never a drinker and I
quit smoking 50 years ago. I am in such
good health that even my doctor thinks Im
amazing.
Pedro went to the Senior Center because
he doesnt like being alone and because his
son also insisted on it. When I met Nora,
I asked her some questions. Shes smart
and shes very feminine. Shes a wonderful
dresser, and I liked the way she wore her
clothes. I really love her, and I am glad that
I found her.
Both families approve of the relationship
and are happy that their parents have found
someone special at this time in their lives.
You live longer if you have someone, said
Pedro, who lives in an in-law apartment in
his sons Trumbull home. Nora owns her
own house, and though they go back and
forth, most often they stay at Pedros place.
Nora does the driving.
According to a report posted on the senior-
journal.com, couples who are in their
70s and older often meet in seniors-only
housing and live together unencumbered
by marriage vows. The report went on
to say that these relationships are com-
mitted and bonded, meant to last the rest
of their lives, sometimes even informally
blessed by clergy. Whats more, accordingto United States census figures, co-habita-
tion numbers for people 65 and older have
tripled in the past decade, jumping from
193,000 in 2000 to 575,000 in 2010.
Pedro and Nora are part of this grow-
ing trend, and with baby-boomers quickly
approaching senior status, chances are that
there will be many more happy seniors
who will find love, even when they least
expect it. Apparently, youre never too old
to have fun, excitement and passion in
your life.
Age has no limits when it comes to loveby Joanne Greco Rochman
Sweethearts Nora Shea and Pedro Mila found love when they least expected it. Wayne Ratzenberger
A Fine LineCustom Calligraphy by Sheri Dean
Weddings - Rehearsal Dinners - Engagements - Showers
Place Cards - Table Cards
Book Now for Spring and Early Summer Weddings
203-966-2713 www.afineline.bz
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6 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers March 1, 2012
Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
A magic show and photo booth, where
guests could have silly photos taken while
dressed in elaborate costumes, were also
part of the days activities. Live fish swim-
ming around in fishbowls replaced tradition-
al floral centerpieces. Strewn on each table
were large, five-inch colorful lollipops.
Susans sister, Kathy Fedor, was responsible
for the wedding dessert several tiers of
circus-themed cupcakes. Lindsay said she
was blown-away by the baked goods, as
well as its circus-themed presentation. We
just wanted our wedding day to be an exten-
sion of who we really are, said Lindsay.
One of her favorite memories was riding
on the merry-go-round with their extended
family after sharing her vows with Mike.
We wanted to share our first ride as man
and wife together with our family, she
explained.
In fact, all of the wedding plans were made
with their family and friends in mind. We
invited a lot of children, too, because we
both love children and children have been a
big part of my life, Lindsay said.
Lindsay has been working full-time at a
daycare center as she completed her under-
graduate degree. This fall, shortly before
her wedding, she began graduate studies in
social work.
Because her time is so limited, Mike took on
the majority of the wedding planning. Susan
said the family affectionately dubbed him
groomzilla.
Lindsay said she was happy to turn the reins
over to Mike, and he always ran all of the
major decisions by her. I just wanted to
make sure her day was perfect, Mike said.
At the wedding, Lindsay wore a strapless
gown of flowing chiffon, which fell to the
floor. Its bodice had delicate white bead-
ing. In keeping with the weddings theme,
Lindsay said she was actually looking to
purchase something more colorful for
the day. I was surprised to find this dress,
which I really loved, Lindsay said. I had
wanted to wear something that was com-
fortable, and this was.
Mike, too, wanted to eschew the traditional
grooms tuxedo for more comfortable attire.
He looked handsome and dapper in a sports
jacket, khakis, white shirt and blue tie.
Lindsay, 23, and Mike, 25, both grew up
in Stratford and attended Stratford High
School. They began dating during Lindsays
senior year. When I first met Mike, he was
part of Clown Alley, she said. It was so
much a part of him. Clown Alley is the
term used to describe a group of people
who get together to dress up as clowns and
learn clown skills, Mike explained.
Even Lindsay and Mikes first dance as a
married couple surprised their family and
friends. Starting out by moving in rhythm to
a popular Elton John ballad, Your Song, the
music then switched to a raucous dance mix.
The bride and groom then proceeded to bust
out moves to the Twist, the Macarena and
Michael Jacksons Moon Walk. No one was
expecting this, Lindsay said. Throughoutthe wedding, she and Mike agreed, there
was lots and lots of dancing.
The couples buffet was catered by On the
Border Mexican Grille and Cantina; guests
made their own style of fajitas. There was
also a Candy Bar. We had a table set up
with jars filled with all kinds of candy,
Lindsay said. We wanted people to come
up and fill up bags to take home.
For information about Mike and Lindsays
business, go to lotsofcharacter.org.
Top, a clown entertained both children and adults
alike. Right, the carousel provides fun for children. Far
right, some guests not only dressed for the occasion
but were equally enthusiastic when it came to danc-ing. Scott Mullin photos
Circuscontinued from page 1
I DoI Do