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125 S. Congress St. ~ 19th Floor ~ Capital Towers ~ 601-969-7101 ext. 102

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Your event deserves the excellence of service and attention to detail

offer ed by the professional staff of the Capital Club. Entertain your

guests in an elegant setting complete with a magnificent view of Jackson.

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Capital Club has been named “WINNER” by Mississippi Magazine’s

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o help you get a better understanding of how to plan a wedding and when youshould be making certain decisions, here’s a timeline you can follow that should ensureyour wedding goes off as smoothly as possible.

- TEN TO 12 MONTHS BEFORE.If you haven’t done it already, this is a good time to

announce your engagement and introduce yourrespective families. Since most reception halls andchurches have busy wedding schedules, it is alsoimportant to book both as early as possible, preferablyat least a year in advance of your wedding day.

It’s a good idea to start putting together a guest listaround this time and ask your parents whom they’dlike to invite as well.

Since your budget will determine just about everyaspect of your wedding, sitting down and determiningwhat you can spend and developing a savings planshould be first and foremost.

- SIX TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE.This is the time when you want to start booking

some services, such as a florist, caterer, a DJ or band,and a photographer. However, some of the more expe-rienced DJs and bands, as well as photographers,might have their schedules booked a year in advance,so this might be something you’ll want to considerdoing shortly after you get engaged and choose a date.

This is a good time to inform any guests who will betraveling significant distances of the date of your wed-ding. The earlier your guests can book a flight, the less expensive that flight will be.

This is a good time to order gowns for both the bride and bridesmaids, as some manu-facturers require a few months to ship to bridal shops.

You might want to ask someone such as your priest or rabbi to be the officiant of yourwedding. And much like out-of-town guests will save travel dollars the earlier they learnof your wedding date, you will likely save money if you book your wedding trip aroundthis time.

- FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS BEFORE.This is a good time to decide on wedding invitations,

of which there are many styles to choose from. Now isalso the ideal time to start hunting for a wedding cakeby sampling a number of different bakeries and theirstyle of cakes before ultimately making a decision.

Just to be sure, confirm that all of the bridesmaidshave ordered their gowns and start looking for tuxedosfor the groom and groomsmen.

If you haven’t done so already, purchase your weddingrings and let any other people you’d like to participatein your wedding (ushers, readers during the ceremony)know of your intentions.

- TWO TO THREE MONTHS BEFORE.Finalize your guest list and mail out your invitations.

If your guest list includes a considerable number ofpeople who are spread out geographically, mail the invi-tations as close to 12 weeks in advance as possible.

This is also a good time to finalize your receptionmenu choices and find all your wedding accessories,such as the ring pillow, candles, etc.

Also, since it is tradition to provide gifts for those inthe wedding party as well as the parents of the bride

and groom, this is a good time to decide on and purchase those gifts.Just to be safe, confirm that all groomsmen have ordered their tuxedos and finalize all

transportation, both to and from the wedding, and to the airport for your honeymoon.

a month-to-monthguide for planningyour wedding

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continued on pg. xx

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 51

- ONE TO TWO MONTHS BEFORE.Schedule the first bridal-gown fitting.Finalize the readings you’d prefer during the ceremony and mail them out to anyone

who has agreed to do a reading.If your family prefers to host a small gathering for close family and friends after the

wedding rehearsal, this is a good time to order any food or drinks you might want toserve that night or make a restaurant reservation.

- THREE TO FOUR WEEKS BEFORE.Confirm your honeymoon arrangements and see if your wedding rings are ready.This is also when you should get your marriage license and check the guest list to

see who has and hasn’t RSVP’d. For those who have yet to RSVP, you might want tocontact them so you can get a closer idea of what the head count will be.

You should also prepare and order your wedding program around this time.

- ONE TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE.Get a final attendance count and submit it to the caterer as soon as you know it,

while also providing a final seating chart.Pick up the wedding gown and tuxedo. Make sure the wedding party picks up their

attire.Finalize your vows and confirm all wedding-day details such as transportation,

photo schedules and addresses.Don’t forget to pack for your honeymoon!- The day before. This is mainly when you rehearse for the ceremony and make any

final confirmations you might have to make.Make sure to get a good night’s sleep so you’ll look good in all of your wedding-day

photos.

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The wheels began to turn when the moth-ers of Micajah Sturdivant and Grace Gorediscovered their children were both singleand would be in Memphis over Thanksgivingtwo years ago.

Sturdivant, who usually wouldn’t evenallow his mother to pick out a shirt for himmuch less a date, uncharacteristically saidyes when his mom told him about her plans.

“While my parents haven’t necessarilytried to set me up, my extended family hasnever held back,” he said. “Actually, on theday of our first date, I was over at a cousin’shouse in Memphis and told him that I wasgoing on a date and he immediately replied,‘So, who in our family has set you up thistime?’”

Grace, who had been set up by her motherbefore (a date that didn’t fare too well), alsoreluctantly agreed to meet Micajah. “To behonest, I didn’t have high hopes for this one,”she said.

The former Miss Tennessee was to sing thenational anthem at the Memphis Grizzliesgame at the FedEx Forum, so the two decid-ed to meet there.

“He came to the game and we sat togetherand talked,” she said. “I left and thought hehad no interest in me whatsoever. He playedit cool to say the least.”

Though Grace and Micajah had notcrossed paths, the two discovered they knewmany of the same people. Grace, originallyfrom Grenada, had actually taken horsebackriding lessons from Micajah’s mother thesummer after she was in the fourth-grade.Sturdivant is a native of Greenwood.

“I had no idea that she had a son,” she said.“I knew a lot of people who went to PillowAcademy (I went to Kirk), includingMicajah’s sister, Lee; but since we are fiveyears apart in age, he was already out of highschool when I started.”

After graduating from the University ofMississippi, Grace moved to Nashville towork on her doctoral degree in audiology atVanderbilt School of Medicine. After her

first year of grad school, she took a year off toserve as Miss Tennessee America 2007. Shefounded Graceful Sounds Inc., a nonprofitorganization that provides hearing aids andaudiology services to children in need.

Micajah, also a graduate of Ole Miss, par-ticipated in the first Barksdale HonorsCollege there. After graduation and twoyears of commercial banking in Memphis, heattended Harvard Business School, an honorwhich his father and grandfather experi-enced as well. Upon completion of his MBA,he moved to Jackson to become the directorof asset management with the MMI HotelGroup, a hotel development and manage-ment company that his grandfather startedwith Earle Jones in 1956.

After just a few dates, Grace invitedMicajah to spend New Year’s Eve at her par-ents’ lake house on Grenada Lake. “I jumpedat the opportunity and am glad that I didbecause it was a night where we really got tolearn a lot about each other in the sense thatthere were a lot of folks there who would bearound for the rest of our lives if we ended uptogether (close friends, extended family) andeverything just felt right for both of us,” hesaid. “While we didn’t talk about it at thetime, that night and that place began to havespecial meaning for us.”

So when Micajah decided to propose, heknew that was where he wanted it to be.

“This girl has had folks do some prettyimpressive things for her, so I wanted to dosomething that would be specific to us,” hesaid.

Grace thought that they were going todinner with all four of their parents for thefirst time. “While our families have knowneach other, the six of us had never gottentogether.”

She drove to Grenada straight from classon January 23, 2009, to her parents’ houseto wait for Sturdivant’s parents to arrive.

“Then, my mom starts pestering me todrive out to the lake house to get a chipand dip platter she wanted to use,” she

said. “I certainly didn’t understand theimportance of that platter seeing that I hadjust come in from driving all afternoon.

“Micajah said we should just go since wehad plenty of time. When we got to the lakehouse I told him to wait in the car, but he saidthat it was a pretty night and we should hangout for a little bit.” The two sat down on the

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 55

A Good Matchby JENNY WOODRUFF | photography by WOODWARD AND RICK PHOTOGRAPHERS

A Good Match

They decided on the Biltmore

Estate in Asheville, N.C.,

because Grace wanted to get

married in the mountains

during her favorite time of

the year, when the leaves

change in the fall.

porch swing looking out over the lakeand Sturdivant began recounting theNew Year’s Eve party her parents hadthe year before.

That’s when Micajah dropped to hisknee and Grace just blurted out “Yes!Yes!” before he could even say theword.

Micajah told Grace, “You are going tohave to give me your hand!” It had notyet occurred to Grace that there wouldbe a ring in the vicinity. “He put themost beautiful ring on my finger thathe had designed just for me. Then hereached into his pocket and startedmessing with his phone,” she said.

“Moments later an amazing fireworksdisplay lit up the sky over the lake.”

“Our parents were hiding in the darkacross the inlet from the lake housewith lighters and fireworks in hand,”Micajah said. “And most important ofall, she said yes.”

“Micajah gave me the sweetest, mostromantic, thoughtful proposal I canimagine,” Grace said.

The next step was planning thewedding.

When Gore was younger, she used tosay she wanted to have a huge weddingin Grenada, have umpteen brides-maids and have a gigantic party of awedding reception. “My sister certain-ly lived out that fairy tale nearly fiveyears ago and it was the most magicalhometown wedding ever,” she said. “Atthis point in our lives, Micajah and Iboth wanted something smaller withour families and closest friends therewith us. We were fortunate to haveseveral engagement parties in ourhometowns leading up to our smallerwedding in Asheville, N.C.”

They decided on that locationbecause Grace wanted to get marriedin the mountains during her favoritetime of the year, when the leaveschange in the fall. “What more beauti-ful place for that than Asheville? Wevisited Asheville shortly after we gotengaged to look for the perfect moun-tain vista for our ceremony site. TheBiltmore Estate offered the most beau-tiful, unobstructed views of the moun-tains, and we knew that it would be theperfect venue for us. Of course, wecan’t control Mother Nature and had tochange the ceremony site to a differentlawn at the last minute, but the cere-mony was still beautiful, outdoors inGod’s gorgeous fall creation.”

The process of planning the wedding

Emily and Ross Webster, Micajah and Grace Sturdivant


was a lot of fun, according to bothGrace and Micajah. “A lot of pressurewas taken off just by accepting that Ineeded to turn over a lot of responsibil-ities to the wedding planner, eventplanner, florist, and the most importantteam member - my sweet mom,” Gracesaid. “Don’t get me wrong, I was veryinvolved in big decision-making, butmany of the fine details that may usual-ly cause the bride great stress werethings that I had to ‘let go’ of.”

Grace had definite ideas of the feelshe wanted and the aura she wanted tocreate, but as a full-time grad studentthere was no way she could stress aboutevery detail.

The engagement lasted nine monthsand the two were married on October 17.

Although the wedding, for Grace, wasperfect, if she had to pick a favoritepart, she would choose the momentsright after the ceremony. “Micajah and Iwalked back down the aisle andthrough an iron gate to an open field,”she said. “For a few moments it was justus. We just looked at each other smilingand saying ‘We’re married!’ ”

Outside of the reverence of

exchanging their vows, Micajahenjoyed the general point that the sizeof the wedding was perfect. “While wewould have liked to have everyoneinvolved, a huge wedding can lose itspurpose,” he said. “We were able tospend time with everyone in atten-dance. We got all the pictures, had allof the conversations, etc., that wewanted to have all night long.”

When asked if there was anything theywould have changed, Grace said shewould have changed the weather. “Ourguests were wonderful and I never hearda single complaint about the cold, eventhough the wind chill was below 40degrees,” Grace said. “The Farmer’sAlmanac says that the average high forOctober 17 in Asheville is 68 degrees andit is supposedly the driest month of theyear. I’m calling Farmer’s bluff on that.”

Micajah was disappointed his moth-er’s parents had to back out at the lastminute because the Thursday beforethe wedding, his grandfather had a caseof the flu. “I hate that they weren’t thereto experience this great event with us,but he is feeling better now and there isno way that he should have been out

there in 40 degree weather at 92 yearsold with the flu.”

For their wedding trip, the couplewent to Paradise, according to Gore.

Being in the hotel business,Sturdivant said he is a bit particularabout where he stays. “I probably spent30 plus hours researching various loca-tions around the world and ended upback in Mexico,” he said. “We went toZoetry Paraiso de la Bonita RivieraMaya in Mexico, just south of Cancun,”Grace said. “I’ve never felt more like aqueen, even in my days with a MissTennessee tiara.”

Currently the Sturdivants are living ina loft apartment in the Gulch area ofdowntown Nashville until May whenthey will move back to Jackson.“Marriage has taken me away toNashville - temporarily,” Micajah said.“I have been given the opportunity towork from Nashville and commute toour corporate office in Jackson untilGrace finishes up grad school in audiol-ogy at Vandy.”

Grace plans to start her externship inJackson in May and hopes to bringGraceful Sounds to Mississippi.

Micajah, Mike and Jan Sturdivant, Lee Sturdivant Carby

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 59

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tips for selecting

a wedding gown

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• KNOW WHAT’S OUT THERE.Before you begin to shop, look through bridal magazines carefully. This will giveyou a chance to see what types of wedding gowns are available and what is beingoffered by different wedding dress designers.

• BE SPECIFIC.When you visit your bridal store, give the bridal consultant as much informationas possible about your plans, your tastes and what you’re looking for to help herbest understand your needs.

• LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.In choosing your gown, focus more on the silhouette than on the small details. Forexample, make sure the neckline and waistline are flattering to you.

• DO YOU FIT IN?Ask yourself how your dress will look in the setting you choose. Will it be in acountry club, a grand hotel, outside, indoors?

• MATCH YOUR GOWN TO YOUR FIGURE.Consider some of the following guidelines. If you are short, a natural waistline,high neckline and chapel train will probably look best. Avoid a very full skirt. Ifyou are heavy, look to a princess-line style, with simple lines and lace with a smalldelicate pattern. Avoid heavy beading, puff sleeves and stiff fabrics. Tall womenmay consider a full skirt, cathedral train and a dropped waist.

• LESS IS MORE.Your gown should flatter, not compete with, you. Consider simple lines and under-stated ornamentation. Think about the total picture - how you will look in yourgown along with your headpiece, jewelry and flowers.

• COULD YOU DANCE ALL NIGHT?Plan for the reception as well as the ceremony when choosing your headpiece andtrain. Your comfort and ability to move around are important. A train can bedesigned to bustle so it no longer reaches the floor. If you plan to dance a lot atyour reception, you may want to consider a gown with no train or with a detach-able train.

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 61

figure-flatteringensemblesbridesmaids canwear again

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BRIDESMAIDS ARE getting a makeover. Big ruffles and bold colors are taking a backseat to sleek, cocktail-style dresses in tony hues. This season, it’s all about figure-flat-tering ensembles that bridesmaids can wear long after the big day.

“We are definitely seeing a big surge in less traditional bridesmaids dresses,” saidCatalina Maddox, vice president of a bridal company. “We are seeing a lot of what, inthe past, was considered a cocktail look. The dresses are more fitted with deep plung-ing necklines and more revealing backs. Our bridesmaids are totally embracing the sex-ier, close-fitting look.

“Right now, the bride’s average age is 27 years old. Her bridesmaids are savvier andmore confident. They don’t want to look all the same,” Maddox said. “The new trend istoward expressing your individuality and being comfortable - and they want the optionto wear the dress again. Wearability is a huge selling point. Bridesmaids are definitelylooking for things they can wear after the wedding.”

The trend has helped launch cocktail dresses to new heights. Brides simply choosethe color palette and let their bridesmaids select a look that is right for them.

Sleek charmeuse sheaths in body-hugging styles, draped and plunging necklines,back-baring styles and soft lines characterize the new look. Bold sashes and ribbons insatins and velvets are big, but most of the embellishment this season comes from thefabric.

“Sashes and ribbons are still happening. Sashes are getting wider, and embellishedbelts and ribbons will be big into fall. But overall, the dresses are less embellished,”Maddox said. “In terms of adding glitz and glamour, that will be done with jewelry andshoes.

“Just because the dresses are less embellished, that doesn’t mean it’s boring. Thebeauty in the garments now is in the work, in the sheering, ruching and tucking. It’s allin the tailoring of the dress. It’s about taking the fabric and working with it and creat-ing something.”

Azalea pink, deep coral, canary yellow - the colors for summer are bold and bright,but neutrals are still playing a big part, too. In terms of color, next fall is going to be anabsolutely beautiful season. The whole blue-green family is going to be huge, anchoredby champagne and silver and gold, especially in accessories. Gold is in again in terms ofhandbags, shoes and jewelry.

“What’s hot right now are the brighter colors and the neutrals. Those colors are juston fire. Turquoise is one of the top colors. We cannot keep it in stock,” Maddox said.“We’re also seeing a lot of champagne due to bridal gowns moving away from whiteinto taupe, mocha and ivory.”

“As long as the bridesmaids choose the right color, they can choose whatever stylethey want. They can find the individual style that works best for them, and bridesmaidsare definitely showing an appetite for more body-shaping, revealing looks.”

The move toward cocktail dresses doesn’t mean that traditional ball gowns have fall-en out of favor, though. From the sleek, sexy downtown look to grand ball gowns fit fora Southern belle, dresses this season run the gamut.

“It’s two extremes. That’s what the customer is gravitating toward,” Maddox said.“Right now there are no rules. The dresses are going from the supersexy look to theshort, swept away look to superbig ball gowns. The biggest news in bridesmaids is thatthe rules of the past are pretty much gone.”

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 63

tA WashingS

A Washingwith

“John actually started the same week as myyounger brother, Trey. The two of them became fastfriends,” Laura said. For the next two years, John andTrey did everything together and many times Laurawould join them.

In May 2006, Trey moved to Nashville to work forSen. Alexander’s re-election campaign, and that leftLaura and John. “By default, all those times it hadbeen the three of us - we would carpool to and fromwork, eat lunch - it then became the two of us,” Laurasaid. In late July John told Laura he’d taken a job atthe White House, and instead of giving him a high-five Laura began to cry. This, of course, did not seemlike a typical reaction for a co-worker changing jobs,and from there the two very quickly identified deep-er feelings, acording to Laura. “One day we werefriends / co-workers and the next day we were seri-ously dating,” Laura said. “There was no time inbetween.”

Sadly on Thanksgiving Day, 2007, Trey died aftera serious car accident.

“John and I were already convinced we were per-fect for each other, but after Trey’s death our bonddeepened, and we had a ‘blessed assurance’ andrecognition of what a life-long blessing it would bethat we both loved Trey and we could relate to eachother’s loss,” Laura said.

That July, John took Laura to the Inn at PerryCabin on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for herbirthday and their two-year anniversary. At sunseton July 27, the two walked out to a gazebo by thewater where they had champagne and chocolatecovered strawberries. Carolina beach music playedin the background. The first song was “With thisRing I Promise I’ll Always Love You.” And the sec-ond was “Thank You, John.”

John got on one knee and said: “Laura ClarksonLefler, you are the love of my life and my best friendand I want to wake up to you every morning andshare every day of my life with you. In the hospital Ipromised Trey I would love you and take care of you,and with this ring, I make you the same promise.Will you make me the happiest man in the worldand marry me?” Laura could only shake her headyes. “I couldn’t even see the ring I was crying so

hard,” she said. John, a graduate of Jackson Prep and the

University of Mississippi, is the son of Drs. Angelaand John Herzog of Jackson. Laura, a native ofLoudon, Tenn., is a graduate of the University ofTennessee, and daughter of Mary Clarkson White ofHopkinsville, Ky., and Jack Lefler of Loudon.

The two decided to get married in Washington attheir church, St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square,located across from the White House. St. John’s heldits first service in 1816, and beginning withMadison, every president of the United States hasattended a service at St. John’s. Laura, a member ofthe church vestry, began attending St. John’s whenshe first moved to Washington in 2003. “The Rector,Luis Leon, went to the University of the South,Sewanee, with my parents. John and I have attendedtogether since summer 2006, and in October 2008we went with the church on a mission trip to SouthAfrica,” Laura said.

For practical purposes, it was much easier for thetwo to plan a wedding where they live. “It basicallybecame a destination wedding for everyone but us,as most of the guests came from Tennessee andMississippi,” Laura said. “Washington is on mostAmericans’ lists of places to visit at some point, andwe found that people really welcomed the opportu-nity to combine our wedding with a visit to thenation’s capital.”

Laura decided against a wedding planner. “Ienjoyed having a year-long engagement because itmade it more manageable and I found that our ideasgot better as we let them percolate,” she said. Thisalso allowed the two to have “off times” throughoutthe year where they could just enjoy their engage-ment, Laura added. “I was very, very excited to beengaged, but I had trouble getting excited aboutplanning. Since my experience, I have encouragedother brides to start by flipping through magazinesrather than pulling out a planner,” Laura said.“Opening the wedding planner my friend bought forme was intimidating. It had a whole column for ‘ayear in advance…’ Looking through magazines forideas made me excited about how beautiful it couldbe and provided the inspiration for the ‘work’ to

Laura Lefler had been

working in the Washington

office of Tennessee U.S.

Sen. Lamar Alexander

for a year before her future

husband John Herzog

joined the team.

It wasn’t until two years

later that they realized their

friendship had turned into

something more.

ton WeddinggSouthern Charm

gth

by JENNY WOODRUFF | photography by EVAN BAINES PHOTOGRAPHY

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 65

begin. I began ticking down the list of things to do.”Later, when Laura found herself stressed, she would

pull out her band’s song list and focus on what a goodtime they would have at the reception.

It definitely took a village to plan the wedding, accord-ing to Laura.

“In wedding preparation, as in life, John was an equalpartner,” she said. “Our friend, Dori Thornton, aNashville event planner, provided a great deal of advice,as did our friend Sarah Wallerstein, who also directedthe wedding reception,” she said. “Our families arrivedon Monday ready to help. I can assure you that my fathernever thought he’d be attaching customized labels on 300bottles of water or tying Tiffany blue ribbon through 350wedding programs.”

Two of her bridesmaids, Casey and Nan, also arrivedon the Tuesday before the wedding, ready to do anythingand everything asked of them.

Laura also found it difficult to work full time and plana wedding. “I was a bit cavalier about the fact that I man-age a high-stress work environment every day, so surelyI wouldn’t be one of those brides who got stressed abouther wedding, but I was wrong,” she said. “All of the wor-risome perfectionist tendencies that come out in mywork also manifested themselves in the wedding plan-ning.” Laura has a very vivid memory of standing at apress conference in the Capitol when she got a messagethat their reception site had been double booked.

About 350 of their close friends and family attendedtheir wedding on July 11, 2009. “We would have loved tohave had even more people, but the cost and realities ofhaving a wedding in a major city didn’t allow it,” Laurasaid. “It meant the world to us that so many of ourfriends and family were willing to travel at such distanceand expense to be with us. The two found it very specialthat their four living grandparents were all able to comeand participate in the festivities. They were very touchedthat both Sen. Alexander (their former employer) andTennessee Sen. Bob Corker (Laura’s current employer)

and their wives made the time to be there to celebrate. Laura and John’s wedding incorporated several themes

including “Red, white and Tiffany blue,” “Right for eachother, right for America,” and “A Washington Weddingwith Southern Charm.”

The bridesmaids wore silk shantung cocktail dresses in“Tiffany blue,” and the bridegroom and his weddingparty wore navy poplin suits with Tiffany blue ties. Thewelcome bags, which were done by the bridegroom’smother, incorporated this patriotic palette, inserting“Tiffany blue” for the more traditional navy blue.

Playing up on the Washington theme, the slogan


“Right for each other. Right for America,” was placed ontheir Web site, cocktail napkins, welcome bags, match-books, and paper fans - given to guests as they enteredthe reception.

Also, “A Washington Wedding with Southern Charm”was put on their save-the-date to convey that peopleshould expect their wedding to be filled with Southerncharm (friendliness, fun, class) and set against a patriot-ic, historic Washington backdrop.

“We have been really honored by the number of peo-ple who have told us the wedding service was one of themost beautiful and special they’ve ever been to,” she said.“That was important to us and really nice to hear. Ourpriest, Luis, gave a terrific, personable homily, andorganist Ben Hutto and a quartet from the St. John’schoir provided beautiful music. We’ve also been told - byfolks like my great uncle Hank - that it’s the most funthey’ve ever had at a wedding. We think that’s a reallynice balance.”

The families all missed Trey on the wedding day, butLaura said, “We found through our families and anincredible network of extended family and friends, whohave already come together for the ‘lows’ in life, wereecstatic about this ‘high’ and a lifetime of shared memo-ries together.”

The two honeymooned in St. Barths in the FrenchWest Indies and currently reside in Washington whereLaura is press secretary to U.S. Senator Bob Corker ofTennessee and John, who served two years in the White

House for Pres. George W. Bush, is a lobbyist forGlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals.

Other historic backdrops for the wedding included:• Decatur House, site of the reception. Located adja-

cent to the church on Lafayette Square, Decatur Housewas also designed by Latrobe and is one of the oldest sur-viving homes in Washington. Completed in 1818 fornaval hero Stephen Decatur, Decatur House was the firstprivate residence on Lafayette Square.

• The City Tavern, site of the rehearsal dinner. CityTavern was originally constructed in 1796. Through1836 it was frequented by many of our country’s found-ing fathers, including Washington, Jefferson and JohnAdams. Adams used the Tavern as his base of operationswhen he came from Philadelphia to inspect constructionof the newly proposed national capital, Washington.

• The Hay-Adams, site of the bridal suite and “afterparty.” The Hay-Adams is one of Washington, D.C.’smost revered landmarks and was named after the resi-dents who previously lived on its site: John Hay, privateassistant to President Abraham Lincoln and later secre-tary of state, and Henry Adams, an acclaimed author anddescendant of U.S. Presidents John Adams and JohnQuincy Adams.

j a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 69

I -55 North • Devi l le P laza • 601-956-9283

Serving Mississippi Since 1977!

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formal suits offer bridegroomsvariety of choices

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Though the bulk of wedding-day attention typically is focused on what the bride iswearing, bridegrooms also have important choices to make when it comes to formalattire. And just like brides have many different gown styles from which to choose, so dobridegrooms when it comes to their tuxedos.

While a bridegroom’s wardrobe decision usually doesn’t involve as much forethoughtor time as his bride’s, he should keep in mind several factors before choosing a tuxedo.The time of day the wedding takes place and the formality of the event dictate the styleof the tuxedo itself.

For instance, if the event is going to be ultraformal - black tie - then a traditional tuxe-do complete with vest and bow tie is the appropriate choice. Bridegrooms going thisroute can also choose to add a top hat and gloves as accessories. However, at less formalweddings - such as on the beach or at a park - this would not be the best option.

To help you make the right decision, here is a list of tuxedo terminology that shouldhelp you make a more educated choice.

- Single-breasted. Any man who has ever put on a suit, be it a tux or a business suit,likely knows that single-breasted means a suit with a single row of buttons down themiddle. This has become the more popular choice of late and is appropriate for men ofall body types.

Single-breasted suits come in many styles, however you can order a single-breastedtuxedo with one or two buttons depending on the bridegroom’s height (taller bride-grooms usually prefer two buttons, while shorter bridegrooms like one button).Bridegrooms can also order three- or four-button tuxedos. These are generally good formen who are particularly tall or thin; larger men should avoid the three- or four-buttontuxedo.

- Double-breasted. The double-breasted tuxedo is one with two rows of buttons sideby side. Double-breasted suits tend to hide girth and appear more comfortable.

- Cutaway tuxedo. These go well with men of all statures. Cutaway refers to the frontedges of the coat sloping diagonally from the waist and forming tails in the back. Theseare the most appropriate option for daytime weddings.

- Tails. Tails are mainly reserved for ultraformal and traditional weddings. Featuring asevere break between front and back, tails should be avoided by shorter or stockierbridegrooms.

- High or low vest. High vests are typically good for taller men with longer torsos, asthey extend up the torso higher than a regular vest and go well with a high-button coat.Low vests are more appropriate for most men and can be worn by men of all body types.

- Peaked lapel. An extension of the coat collar. The peaked lapel is often a good choicefor a shorter bridegroom, as it typically makes the body appear longer and leaner.

- Shawl collar. Unlike a traditional collar, shawl collars do not come to a point, makingthis a difficult choice to make depending on body type. In general, a wider bridegroomwill want to stick with a wider shawl collar, as a thin collar will look out of proportion.Similarly, a more svelte bridegroom should stick with a thinner collar, as a wider one willhave the wrong effect.

- Mandarin or banded collar. This is the collar type that appears to not be a collar atall, as it just wraps around the neck without any protruding points and is never wornwith a necktie. It’s a casual, nontraditional look that is still very attractive.

For bridegrooms with short or thick necks, this style should definitely be avoided, as itwill appear as though you are bursting out of the top of your shirt. A more slenderbridegroom, though, can wear a mandarin collar.

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THE SEASON, the number of attendants, the location, sizeand personal preferences of flowers will combine to determinethe floral cost of a wedding. Ralph Null, professor of floraldesign at Mississippi State University, said the first considera-tion is the wedding date. Set the date when family and friendscan most attend, when the people to make the wedding hap-pen (minister, florist, photographer and caterer) are available,when the right place is available and when the flowers thebride wants are in season.

After the date is set, Null said the bride and her parentsshould discuss a budget, including a specific flower allotment.

Florists should be contacted three to four months inadvance with a preliminary interview and discuss the expectedbudget. When the bride definitely decides on a florist, adeposit usually is requested to secure the date. Payment for theflorist’s service usually is paid one to two weeks before the wedding.

“Several ways to keep costs down include limiting the num-ber of attendants, choosing a smaller location for the ceremonyand selecting flowers in season,” Null said. “Almost any flowercan be found somewhere at any time of the year, but they willcost extra when out of season.” Florists can incorporate flowersfrom the bride’s friends’ yards or flower beds with a laborcharge for arranging the flowers. Florists also consider thecolor of the bridesmaid dresses and the style of the weddingwhen selecting flowers.

“Look at pictures of other weddings the florist has done to

find a florist who can do the style you want,” Null said. “Someflorists are better at one style than another.”

Because florists supply more than flowers, they should seeeach wedding as an opportunity to direct, and to provide rib-bons, wedding equipment and gifts for attendants or assistingfriends. Florists can serve as invaluable advisers for placementof corsages and boutonnieres and carriage of bouquets.

Null cautioned against using non-floral industry friends toassist with the flowers. Often these friends are involved inother aspects of the wedding and may not be able to fulfill allthe needs, including enjoying the occasion.

“People often see flowers as being expensive because theyare one of the most visible parts of the wedding, but flowersare actually one of the least expensive proportions of the wed-ding costs,” Null said.

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THERE’S A DIAMOND on yourfinger, and a wedding date cir-cled on your calendar. Months ofplanning will be spent preparingfor the ceremony and reception.So who should you choose tophotograph one of the most spe-cial days of your life?

Rule Number One: Resist theurge to let the family shutterbug handle the wedding photography, says Robert Jordan,coordinator of media graphics and photography at the University of Mississippi. There isno substitute for a professional photographer. And the search should be on as soon aspossible, since many photographers are in high demand and may book weddings asmuch as a year in advance. Jordan, who has been behind a camera for 16 years, offers thefollowing tips for deciding on a photographer:

SEARCHING FOR THE BESTNewspaper advertisements are extremely helpful, but your best bet is to ask newly wed-ded friends and relatives. They can not only relay helpful information that is fresh intheir minds, but also show you their photo albums.

SHOPPING AROUNDDon’t sign with the first photographer you meet. When you make appointments, make itclear that you are coming to see samples of the photographer’s work and to get prices.Don’t make any decisions or sign any contracts until you are finished meeting and ques-tioning. “It would be wise to visit with at least three photographers before signing a con-tract,” Jordan says.

JUDGING THE PRODUCTIn determining the quality of thephotographer’s work, it is oftenbest to look at the candid photos,since most posed shots all lookalike. “The candid pictures showhow well the photographer isable to think on his feet. Look forphotos that are in sharp focusand capture the mood of thewedding.”

PUTTING IT IN WRITINGOnce you select a photographer,sign a contract. Make certain itspells out all wedding details,including date, time and locationof the ceremony and reception. The contract should include the choice for the weddingalbum cover, and size and number of prints to be included. The date the proofs will beavailable to view and the date for the album to be completed should be included. Be pre-pared to pay one-third to one-half of the balance outlined in the contract as a deposit.

AVOIDING CONFLICTSYou and your photographer should understand the church’s rules regarding flash pho-tography and photos made during the ceremony. If you think friends or relatives willtake photos, make sure it is okay with the photographer you’ve hired. Meet with thephotographer a week before the wedding to go over the wedding day schedule.

601.853.1313 • off hwy 51 to jackson st • ridgeland, ms

Love • Amour • Cherish • Delight • Beloved • Darling • Dear • Sweetheart

Darling Love • Amour • Cherish • Delight • Beloved • Darling • Dear • Sweetheart

Beloved

Delight

Amour

Love • Amour • Cherish • Delight • Beloved • Darling • Dear • Sweetheart

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and so do our readers!Don’t let your party end

when the guests go home.

Keep it going by submitting

pictures from it to the

Northside Sun Magazine.

It’s Easy. Just make sure

when using a digital camera

to have the setting at the

highest resolution possible

and e-mail them to us or

submit a CD. Or the old

fashioned way using film

prints still works great!!! Type

up something about the fun

event and identify everyone

in the photos and it’s done.

And remember we like

photos exclusive to us.

Still have questions? Gives

us a call: 957-1122 or e-mail

[email protected]

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THE BRIDE OR HER FAMILY—Invitations, announcements and enclosure cards—Wedding dress, veil, accessories and trousseau—Bouquets for attendants—Flowers for the ceremony and reception—Engagement and wedding photographs—Rental fee for facilities—Fees for musicians—Transportation for bridal party—Reception, including food, beverages, music,

decorations, services—Bridegroom’s wedding ring—Wedding gift for the bridegroom—Gifts for bride attendants—Lodging for out-of-town bridesmaids

THE GROOM OR HIS FAMILY—Bride’s engagement and wedding rings—Marriage license—Minister’s fee—Bride’s flowers, including going-away corsage

and bouquet—Boutonnieres for the men of the wedding party—Corsages for mothers—Wedding trip expenses—Wedding gift for the bride—Gifts for his attendants—Lodging for out-of-town groomsmen and

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