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featuring • Wedding Band Trends

• ‘Green’ Weddings

• One Atlantic ... and more

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Angelo’s, located in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City, is a restaurant that hasendured and flourished for three generations of Mancusos - since 1935;

making this restaurant an institution in Atlantic City. Seventy three years ofdining excellence has made our homestyle Italian menu age like fine wine.

We are the perfect location for your wedding reception. From small, intimatefamily gatherings to large gala events, no wedding is too big or too small for Angelo’s.

We can accommodate 25 - 150 people in our 3 banquet rooms.Bridal Showers & Rehearsal Dinners • Reasonable Rates

Free Attended Parking

2300 Fairmount Avenue, Atlantic City (609) 344-2439www.AngelosFairmountTavern.com

MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER THEIR earliest thrill of the crush and lure of romance. The heart feels

like it is bursting with affection. That first year of a relationship is often an exhilarating phase.

Romance tops the list as a key to a happy partnership. Psychologists, anthro-pologists and scientists have universally

concluded that romance is inherent in humans. Virtually everyone has a need and desire to feel love.

Reinforced by scientific research, anthropologist Helen Fisher has conclud-ed that romance, separate from sexual desire, is the more powerful biological urge. While “chemistry” between part-ners may be a cliché, researchers have

determined that there actually is a chemi-cal reaction within the body.

In her book, Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love, Fisher describes brain-scan testing on people in relationships. She confirms that partners who claim they are in love demonstrate a high concentration of receptors for dopamine, a chemical tied to addiction and euphoria.

This elation phase typically lasts from

one to three years. However, the good news is that scientists have also dis-covered that another brain chemical, oxytocin, often increases after a time ofsecurity within a relationship. Oxytocin pushes the need for intimacy, whether spiritual, emotional or physical.

Author Maggie Scarf, married for 55 years to a Yale professor, has studied rela-

The Wedding is Day One of a Unique AdventureBy Sharon Harris-Zlotnick

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WeddingsBridal ShowersBaby Showers

Anniversary CakesParty TraysWards Pastry

730 Asbury Ave., Ocean City • 399-1260

tionships for 30 years. Her new book, September Songs: The Good News about Marriage in the Later Years, describes the ebbs and flows of long lasting marriages, changing over time with physical, emotional, economic and fam-ily situations. While aging takes it physical tolls, it also offers couples in long marriages the maturity for emo-tional growth and continued connection.

However, in those early days, while the excitement and glamour of true love and commitment is difficult to resist, couples should seriously evaluate their rela-tionship prior to making the lifelong commitment. It sounds like an obvious premise, but in fact many couples do not take the time to get beyond the initial passion and surge in their feelings.

Some relationship professionals advise waiting a full year before making an exclusive lifelong com-mitment. In other words, wait four seasons before becoming engaged.

The 12-month cycle offers a glimpse into each other’s behaviors and preferences throughout the year. It also provides a window into potential issues and their com-promise solutions. For example, how does a couple

handle one person’s interest in sports, which can be time consuming, at specific times of the year? Or, howare holidays treated within a family? Are there too many expectations, and how does the couple react? What is one’s attitude on how to spend money for birthdays,holidays and other celebrations? Do seasonal workdemands mean less time for family?

These and other issues that occur in a typical yearcan affect and influence how a couple relates. It oftenrequires compromise and flexibility. The first year ofa relationship can be a good predictor of a couple’ssuccess.

After making their commitment, all those happy cou-ples should enjoy the rush, create a healthy relationship and look forward to a satisfying, stable life together. The wedding is just day one of a unique adventure.

Wedding Bands — Not of the Musical VarietySure, diamonds on an engagement ring may be a girl’s best friend, but a wedding band on the left finger truly

In other words, wait four seasons before becoming engaged.

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Even issues such as sports may affect a marriage.

sold.Atlantic City Weekly’s real estatesection works.Call Rick Goldstein(609) 646-4848, ext. 17.

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seals the deal. Some historians trace the wedding ring back almost

5,000 years to the Egyptians, who twisted plant mate-rials like hemp into rings. They believed the round wedding-ring symbolism was linked to eternal love. To them, the ring finger of the left hand followed the “vena amoris,” or vein of love, which is directly connected to the heart. It is even mentioned in the hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian tombs.

Science has since disproved this, but it remains a strong emotional tradition.

Men have only recently worn rings as part of the ceremony. Before 1940, only about 15 percent of bridegrooms received rings. The double-ring ceremony grew popular during World War II, when the number increased to 60 percent of couples exchanging rings. That statistic rose to 70 percent during the 1950s. Today, most weddings do include a double-ring ceremony.

After the wedding, proper wearing for matched sets is putting the wedding ring on first, followed by the engagement ring. It is a symbolic gesture that the wed-ding band is closest to a woman’s heart.

For those choosing to wear wedding bands — not everyone does for various reasons — styles come and go. Due to costs and a trend towards subtly, white gold and platinum has outpaced yellow gold in recent years. Some jewelers claim they are selling white gold twice as often as yellow gold.

Whatever type of gold, wedding bands are available in both 14-carat and 18-carat gold. For those who may have trouble deciding between the two because of style or price, many designs incorporate a bit of both colors.

Ali Soleimani, owner of Obsessions Jewelers in Somers Point since 1986, states that he carries wedding rings at all price points, from $300 up to $20,000. For women, much depends on the engagement ring.

“If a woman has an expensive diamond engagement ring, she is more likely to want a wedding band that looks equal,” says Soleimani. “That may cost an average $1,500. For women desiring diamonds in their wed-ding band, the trend is for either princess-cut square or round stones.” However, Soleimani does say that beauti-ful rings are available for much less money.

Couples often opt for the durability of platinum. According to Soleimani, many men are choosing palla-dium, a metal made from platinum, as a less expensive alternative.

Some jewelers claim that a subtle matte finish is the No. 1 choice at this time. However, they warn that scratches can easily mar the finish, requiring regular

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White gold and platinum rings are a popular choice.

good cinema.bad cinema.Movie times and reviewsby Lori Hoffman.

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ring maintenance.All too often, men have been forgotten when it comes

to design. According to www.theknot.com, a wedding Web site, men are front and center this season. Many designs focus not only on appearance, but also comfort-able ring wearing.

These newer ergonomically advanced rings are more user-friendly. Pinched skin is out, replaced by curved rings that hug the finger. The tapered bottom may absorb the stresses of daily life, leaving the top of the ring virtually immune to wear and tear.

Think diamonds are only for women? Think again because diamonds for men are very chic this year. Of course, the gems will be smaller — usually less than a carat — and more subtle. The stones are typically set flush with the ring’s surface to maximize their security.

When choosing rings, jobs or hobbies should be con-sidered. For example, a man who works in a physically demanding occupation like construction, or anyone

who enjoys physically active hobbies should choose platinum, but avoid a matte finish. Conversely, a man with a desk job and leisure activities that may be more academic has an easier choice. For those whose lifestyles mix both, be smart and take substance over sizzle.

‘Green’ WeddingsAs the debate over global warming and climate change increases, more and more people feel compelled to do their part for conservation. Where they live may impact their course of action.

Established in 1892, the Sierra Club is the oldest, largest and most influential grass-roots environmental organization in the U.S. The group’s 1.3 million mem-bers and supporters belong to chapters nationwide. They offer assistance and advice, based on the specifics of individual regions.

According to director Jeff Tittel of the New Jersey

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Sierra Club in Trenton, “green” weddings are the fast-est growing component of the wedding industry. “A lot of people, especially those younger brides and grooms, want to be green every day,” he says. “They are ask-ing how they can make sure their wedding day is also friendly to the environment.”

Tittel states that some couples have gone so far as to work with the local utility companies to negate any car-bon offsets for their special day. Couples can arrange to have their power for that day derived from alternative

sources like wind and solar energy. When booking a venue, thinking “green” can also

save money. Selecting a location with built-in artistic detail can cut down on the decoration, thus saving paper and flowers. For example, sites such as art gal-

leries, non-profit space, organic restaurants and farms, green hotels or gardens decrease the need for extras ... much of the beauty is the venue itself.

Future bride Melissa Broder thinks “green.” She was always interested in the environment while growing up in Pennsylvania and became more aware of conser-vation efforts after working in 2001 as a field manager

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Couples can even arrange to have their power for the wedding day de-rived from wind and solar energy.

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for CalPirg, a California group that raised money for the Sierra Club.

Currently residing in New York City, Broder will bring those concerns to her wedding at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in December. The venue has its own built-in decorative advantages. The dinner menu will offer traditional meat and fish courses, but as a vegetarian herself, Broder is also including a vegetarian selection for any guest.

When selecting a wedding menu, Jon Weinrott, founder of Peachtree & Ward Caterers and a partner at One Atlantic at The Pier Shops at Caesars (slated to finally open in June 2009), recommends maximizing the attributes of a region.

“Why not ask that the caterer purchase foods from farms practicing sustainable agriculture?” he recom-mends. “For instance, New Jersey — nicknamed the Garden State — has always been an agricultural state. When serving beverages, consider wines that are grown biodynamically and coffee grown at fair trade plantations.”

Couples may work with the venue to limit the use of disposable items. Weinrott recommends linen cocktail napkins at the bars and for hors d’oeuvres, eliminating the waste of paper products. Table linens may also be made of organic cottons.

Attendant gifts may also limit disposables and lend themselves to environmentally-conscious choices. Some

popular options for women are a basket of organic skin-care products or fashion items like recycled jewelry,wallets and handbags. If couples prefer to offer ediblefavors, organic coffees, teas and chocolates may pamperthe taste buds of their friends.

Not all attempts to address environmental issuesaffect the activities on site. When traveling, city recep-tions offer responsible transportation opportunities.

Broder says: “Many of my friends live in Manhattanor Brooklyn and do not own a car. They will be takingthe subway to my wedding. Out-of-town guests whostay at our designated hotel in Manhattan will be trans-ported by one bus to the Botanic Gardens as a group.This will eliminate multiple cars on the roads.”

Rural functions may have more restricted transporta-tion choices, but guests may decrease their gas usage bycarpooling with family members or leaving their vehi-cles at regional rail stations that do serve a nearby city.

Many older bridal couples have already established

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Some caterers can pro-vide organic menus

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furnished homes, and may request that guests donate to a “green” charity, such as a rainforest or other ecological proj-ect.

Following the wedding, environmen-tally-friendly honeymoons can be as rug-ged or luxurious as a couple prefers. Check out www.planeta.com or www.responsibletravel.com to reserve a trip that suits a couple’s style while helping the environment. If not booking an entire trip, a couple can do some small things like renting a bike, hiking or taking public transportation at the destination.

One Atlantic, Where Art Thou?Weddings are always hectic affairs, and everyone’s nerves are on edge on that special day. What better soothing, calm-ing experience could there be than a backdrop of the ocean with rolling waves crashing onto the sand?

One Atlantic, the smashing new event venue in Atlantic City, will open for its first functions in June 2009. From its mid-Boardwalk location, perched 100 yards out over the Atlantic Ocean, One Atlantic will provide soaring ocean vistas from the top level of The Pier Shops at Caesars. It is the only venue of its type in the region.

The contemporary site’s construction will offer floor-to-ceiling 22-foot win-dows on three walls. This unobstructed view presents a panoramic expanse look-ing north, south and east over the ocean, while also incorporating views of the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk and sky-

line. The Pier is easily accessible by car, bus, train or plane.

Warm-weather weddings will certainly be popular, however, One Atlantic plans to advertise itself as a year-round wedding venue, a perfect destination location for enjoying Atlantic City’s entertainment, restaurant, shopping and spa options for a few extra days.

Even if it’s to be a chilly late fall wed-ding, as part of the Pier complex, One Atlantic is easily accessible from Caesars Atlantic City, via a heated walkway con-nector crossing over the Boardwalk.

The project is currently under devel-opment by Jon Weinrott and the Icon

Group. Weinrott and his wife Lori founded Peachtree & Ward Caterers in 1985. They will serve as the official food source for all events. In more than 20 years, Peachtree & Ward has catered thousands of lavish weddings, elabo-rate celebrations and milestone events throughout the Philadelphia and south-ern New Jersey regions.

The Icon Group operates several bou-tique nightlife, restaurant and event venues in the country. The compa-ny focuses on creating innovative and unique parties.

Muse Architects of New York City has completed the architectural guidelines ofthe 17,000 square-foot floor plan. It has a contoured sweeping ceiling that is 18 feet at its highest point. The space will be laid out in such a way as to accommodate at least two events a day, depending on the timing and type of occasion. One

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One Atlantic is slated to open in June 2009 at The Pier Shops at Caesars

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Atlantic will coordinate its times with the hours of The Pier Shops at Caesars.

One Atlantic’s floor plan will have the versatility to be divided into several areas, using whatever space is appropriate for each individual wedding party. For addi-tional walking and dancing comfort, the dark flooring is a composite cork material.

The space will accommodate from 10 to 75 in a flexible ceremony configura-tion. For dinner seating, the floor may be set up for 275, or up to 500 if an air wall is opened. Weather permitting, there is also a 2,000-square-foot, finished rooftop

walkway that will be perfect for an after party or photography session.

If requested, One Atlantic will offer bridal couples a complete wedding plan-ning package. A group of experienced wedding consultants can provide expert recommendations for the following:

• Ceremonies: They can assist in planning traditional religious ceremonies, suggest-ing officials of all denominations, or civil unions and vow renewal celebrations.

• Decorations: Wedding planners can help coordinate the decorative elements of a wedding, including floral, linen, lighting and furniture choices.

• Entertainment: One Atlantic main-tains a complete list of entertainers that includes live bands, DJs, special perform-ers and fireworks.

• Photography: Videographers and tradi-tional photographers.

• Transportation and accommodations packages: One Atlantic can arrange

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The dance fl oor at the One Atlantic complex

olympicstudio.com

Award WinningWedding Photography

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for group housing for the bridal couple and guests. Transportation options include limos, buses, luxury rental vehicles or even a helicopter arrival.

• Invitation and gift items: Bridal couples will have access to a wide range of invitation ideas and styles, plus gifts for special guests and attendants.

• Menu selections: A professional forager will source local and environmentally sustainable foods for the event. These will help in creating a contemporary global cuisine, drawn from the many popular dishes and din-ing traditions of Europe, Asia and Latin America. One Atlantic’s expert chefs are also capable of creating culi-nary items that adhere to any dietary or ethnic require-ments. For example, they are able meet all kitchen man-dates, as required when serving a strict Kosher menu.

• Bar service: Professional sommeliers enhance the luxury bar and cocktail service, offering suggestions for wine pairings. A renowned mixologist can design custom cock-tails. They also use fresh-squeezed juices, microbrews, specially sourced wines and custom-infused liquors.

Weinrott’s professional history is rich with culinary experience. He and his wife, both fluent in French, spent a year cooking at various restaurants and bistros in Paris when they were younger. Weinrott believes that experi-ence provided him with valuable insights and knowledge when recommending menu options to bridal couples.

He emphasizes their ability to completely personalize a reception menu.

“We listen to a couple’s story and then may work around a theme that they like,” says Weinrott. “Their story is important, and we try to value and honor them individually. We have used our clients’ family recipes,

which really makes it more personal. With enough advance notice, we even contract local produce suppli-ers to grow special fruits and vegetables.”

Peachtree & Ward did just that for the Sept. 13 wedding of Jesse Rendell, son of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, at the governor’s Harrisburg residence. They sourced many of the vegetables and raw milk for cheese from Pennsylvania farms and dairies. Weinrott also used sweet onions grown in Lancaster County, Pa. for First Lady and mother-of-the-groom Midge Rendell’s onion ring recipe.

One Atlantic will appeal to anyone seeking the con-venience of one-stop shopping. The staff is working in conjunction with The Pier Shops at Caesars for bridal registries, gift items and other personal salon and make-up center services.

While not affiliated with any specific hotel or casino property, One Atlantic is forging relationships with all of the nearby venues, which may include special room rates. Also, One Atlantic may be able to refer rehearsal dinner parties to one of the several outstanding Pier restaurants.

However, some bridal couples prefer a non-traditional venue. For example, being at the Jersey Shore, beach or yacht weddings are popular. Other venues may be a garden, seaside home or country club. One Atlantic can cater an off-premise wedding event, linking the menu selections to the location and the time of year.

One Atlantic is scheduled to open for its first func-tions in early June 2009. In addition to weddings, Weinrott hopes that One Atlantic will become a favorite choice for Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs and corporate reception events. He is presently accepting contracts for weddings and other events.

One Atlantic is located The Pier Shops at Caesars, Suite 4106, Atlantic City. For more information, call 343-9902, visit the Web site at www.oneatlanticevents.com or e-mail info@oneatlanticevents.com.

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