Whether small orgrandiose, majestic ormodest, every weddingreception needs a cakewhose colours andflavours reflect the tastesand style of the bride andgroom.

There’s no obligation tochoose a traditional lay-ered cake, decorated withlace and bridal arches.While that convention isalive and well, many cou-ples today choose a mod-ern take on dessert, suchas a selection of small cup-cakes and pastries, apyramid of chocolateéclairs, or even a varietyof tarts and other sweets.

At least two monthsbefore the big day, meetwith your caterer or pas-try cook to taste severalflavour combinations.Choose the texture youwant — perhaps a spongecake, a tiramisu, or even acheesecake.

Next comes the choiceof flavour and the filling.Imagine a chocolate, car-rot, or vanilla cake embel-lished with a filling ofcream, caramel, or a gen-erous layer of ganache.

For the icing, or just fordecorations to adorn aplain cake, you might optfor a firm sugar paste that

can be coloured and cutinto shapes and decora-tions. Butter cream icingis softer and is similar tothe frosting normallyfound on cakes.

The queen of all cakecoverings is, without adoubt, marzipan, whichadds a texture and flavourwithout compare.

The cost of a cake is

always calculated by thenumber of portions, sowhile a stunning seven-layer cake can feed anarmy of guests, you’llhave to be reasonable if

you have a limited budget.The type of cake, the

decorations, and the diffi-culty of its constructionwill also influence theprice.

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June BridalGuide 2012

A Special Publicatoon of theI-75 Newspaper Group

Troy Daily NewsSidney Daily NewsPiqua Daily Call

Because a wedding requires a tremendous amount ofplanning and organization, many people turn to anevent planner to help them make their big day aglorious event. Delegating the planning to a profes-sional allows the bride and groom to save their timefor things that really count, such as staying relaxedas the wedding approaches.

Contrary to what you might think, a wedding plan-ner can sometimes help you save money. Because oftheir business connections and ability to purchaseservices and goods in bulk, they are often able toobtain better prices from suppliers.You can hire a planner to organize both the weddingceremony and the party afterwards or just the recep-tion. These event planners take charge of reserving

the reception hall, the DJ, the caterer, and decorators.Some multitask wedding planners are even availableto help a bride shop for a wedding gown or find adancing teacher for her and her groom’s openingdance. They’ll take care of every little detail; nothingof importance will escape their notice, not even acrease in the wedding gown.

Whether it’s just to organize the reception or theentire wedding, it’s possible to find a professional tohelp you. Their organizational skills and eye forstyle will allow you a great peace of mind. They areused to working with brides-to-be and are meticu-lous in their work, always taking into account theirclient’s desires. They will develop a package dealthat suits your needs and budget, and you’ll onlyhave to write one cheque!

A wedding planner will take care of allthe details of the ceremony, leaving you time to look

after yourself, your loved one,and your guests. (Photo JLM Couture)

The weddingplanner More than half of young

couples choose to rent ahall with a caterer fortheir wedding reception.That means there is prob-ably a lot of competitionfor the reception roomyou’ve got your eye on!

Depending on the sea-son, many of the choicestwedding halls are reserveda long time in advance,usually several months oreven years ahead of time.Planning a winter wed-ding might afford yousome leeway in choice andavailability, since the peakseason occurs during thesummer months.

This means it’s impor-tant to decide on the kindof place you’d like as soonas possible and to startlooking without delay. Inorder to avoid disappoint-ment, start phoning hallsand other suitable venuesas soon as you become

engaged.Be sure to make an

appointment to visit anyplaces you think would besuitable.

Bear in mind that it iswise to choose a placethat is not too far fromwhere family and friendslive.

Another factor toweigh is its proximity toyour church or City Hall.

While many halls aredesigned and staffed withwedding receptions inmind, there are severalother options worth look-ing at: country restau-rant, vineyard, socialclub, chalet, park, yoursor a friend’s backyard,boat, or ballroom in agrand hotel.

Just keep in mind thatin addition to the beautyof the site, the comfort ofyour guests ought to betaken into account.

Where to celebrate your wedding

Choose the location for your wedding reception according tothe atmosphere you want to create.

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Sweet delights

A fondant cake decorated inharmony with the theme ofthe wedding can beone of the star attractions.

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2 June 22, 2012 JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP

The finesse of any wedding reception décorresides in the overall effect, which in turncomes from a great deal of attention to thedetails. Here are some tips for details thatwill make your wedding a comfortable andmemorable event for your guests.

To add an elegant and majestic look to yourreception room, draperies are worth consid-ering. Beautiful, shiny fabrics judiciouslyarranged can create an atmosphere that isintimate, gracious, and festive. Shades offuchsia, red, silver, and bronze are particu-larly fashionable this year and offer a moresuccessful visual effect than white ribbons.Use filtered lighting to create a romanticambiance that will still allow guests to seeeach other and what they’re eating.

Tables should be welcoming but not over-done; your guests will spend a lot of timethere, trying to talk to guests on the otherside of the table. Choose tablecloths andtable napkins in a saturated colour in orderto create a warm atmosphere in the recep-tion hall. Ask your caterers if they havepretty and original dishes, such as square orcoloured plates. Insist on having the beststemware and cutlery that you can get onyour budget.

Think about decorating all the areas whereguests will circulate, including the wash-rooms. Add perfume samples, small bou-quets, and even some ribbons. Add deco-rative items in the hallways as well, hidingdoor and window frames if they clash withyour decor and camouflaging undesirablearchitectural details such as piping andventilation ducts.

Creating a decorthat reflects who you are

Don’t forget to decorate all the areaswhere the guests will be circulating,including hallways and washrooms.

As you peruse the silver-covered maga-zines, it may seem hard to believe in thepossibility of a simple but inspired wed-ding. But with a few ideas, a bit of initiative,and the cooperation of family and friends,you can arrange an inexpensive weddingthat will delight bride, groom, and guests.

If you don’t have a big budget, plan on tak-ing advantage of the abilities of those aroundyou. Your best friend’s boyfriend is a pho-

tographer? You have a cousin who’s a floristor an auntie who has an immense flower gar-den? Invite them to contribute their expertiseand resources as a wedding gift.

Use a computer to design and print your owninvitations. Be aware that winter weddingsare generally less expensive, with the pricesof reception halls often dropping by 20 to 40percent between November and March.Church ladies’ committees are often in the

business of catering, and churchhalls are sometimes available forwedding parties. If you opt for that,make sure you know their policiesregarding music and dancing!

If it’s okay with the manager of thespace you’re renting, consider re-cruiting extended family to caterthe meal by contributing two orthree dishes each; the approach isclose in spirit to a pot-luck but withall the class of a catered buffettable. This, too, would make a val-ued wedding gift alternative.

All you need is a bit of imaginationand willing friends to make yourwedding the special occasion itought to be.

Tips for a successfuland inexpensive wedding

For a successful wedding, all youneed is some organizational flair.PH

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ASK CARLY

Scripps-Howard NewsService

Q: When do you bus-tle your dress? We'rehaving our first danceafter dinner, and I'mnot sure when to slipaway and bustle it.

A: Most brides bustlebefore the first dance,most likely becausethey don't want to ruintheir train -- or messup the dance stepsthey worked so hardon! In your case, itreally depends on howcomfortable you arewith your dress. Ifyou're worried aboutstepping -- or worse,tripping -- on it, justbustle it before thereception starts. If you

want dramatic first-dance photos, leaveyour train out untilafterward. No matterwhen you bustle, youcan easily slip away tothe bathroom or aguest room. Just takea bridesmaid or twowith you.

Q: We're having anautumn wedding andwant to use brown andgreen, with otheraccents. If we use morethan two colors, will itlook unorganized?

A: No way! We lovethe idea of using morethan two colors.Accents add depthand texture to yourday so it's not overly"matchy."

ASK CARLY

Scripps-Howard NewsService

Q:We're having ashort engagement —do we still need tosend out save-the-dates to our prosepec-tive guests?

A: Save-the-dates aredefinitely not required,especially if your wed-ding is in less than 12weeks.But this means youhave to mail out invita-tions ASAP.The whole purpose isto give guests ampletime to plan their travelarrangements andblock out that date.If you're not sendingthem, you still need togive some sort ofnotice.

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I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE Friday, June 22, 2012 3

The white dress of your dreamsHaving a traditional white wedding dressis part of the dream for many modernbrides. This year, beautiful white gownsare to be found in many different shadesand textures.

The tradition of wearing a white dress isrelatively recent. When Queen Victoriawas married in a white dress in the nine-teenth century, all the Western world fol-lowed suit. Before that, brides wore theirmost beautiful dress, no matter thecolour. While the white dress came torepresent the virginal purity of the bride,in North America today it is mostly a sty-listic convention. Now most brides typi-cally choose white dresses in a range ofdifferent shades and add creative toucheswith textures and accessories.

Indeed, a bride will allow her personal-ity to shine through the hue of whiteshe chooses: diamond-sparkly pure white,pearlescent white, whites tinted withpink, ivory, and antiqued yellow. Each ofthese shades offers a unique look that setsthe tone for the celebration.

A fitted wedding gown must highlightthe bride’s figure. The positioning ofeach bit of embroidery and each orna-ment on the gown must enhance the mostbeautiful features of the bride who wearsit, while hiding any small imperfections.Everything should be designed to makeher feel dazzling and glamorous.

Ideally, the gown should have a timelesselegance. The ultimate in sophistication, itwill be conceived of the finest silks,satins, and organza. Whether it is decorat-ed with lace in a corset style, or with del-icate, luxurious buttons, the gownwill be in harmony with the person-ality of its owner. Those with moreclassic tastes will choose little or noembroidery; those with a moreextravagant flair will be wild forsequins and shiny pearls.

This year, there is a wonderful blending ofthe vintage dress with a modern look.Lace is used on gowns with tulip, empire,or A-line cuts. Straight-cut gowns embel-lished with satin ribbons or natural mate-rials are also very popular. Many vintagestyle dresses are adorned with floral mo-tifs that are created with fabrics, embroi-dery, or pearls.

Fashion trends are also dictating both thecombination of a simple cut with a largequantity of ornamentation or just theopposite. The key here is to find sumptu-ous fabrics and a perfect cut in order tocreate all the glamour a bride could want.

No matter the cut, the central effect willcome from texture. Many are beingexplored by today’s dress designers,including embossed fabrics, which offer adramatic look, as well as ruched fabrics(slightly puckered folds) that can be cut tohide any imperfections. Layered skirtscan also add an enormous amount of per-sonality to a bridal gown.

Traditional romantic gowns continue toscore high in popularity ratings, even asthey integrate touches of modern style.Short sleeves add a flash of skin, espe-cially noticeable when worn with delicateshort white gloves. While the traditionallook typically includes heart-shapednecklines and a long train trimmed withembroidery and pearls, for an up-to-datelook the gown can be embellished withappliqués or bows of ribbon carefullypositioned to enhance the bride’s figure.For a princess style look, choose a skirtmade of organza and tulle to addgrandiose character to the outfit.

This year it’s importantto play with texturesand decorative elements,regardless of the shadeof white you choosefor your dress.

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Located in theMiami Valley Centre Mall987 East Ash St., Piqua

(937) 773-1225(Attached to Piqua Comfort Inn)

Whatever type of wedding you’re plan-ning, wedding rings are an essential part ofthe celebration. They are the ultimate sym-bol of the union between the bride andgroom. This year the rings are grandioseand glittering but always in the image ofthe couple to be.

For weddings in 2011, everything has toglitter. Even though you can still find slen-der rings, today’s trend is more towardsopulence. Available everywhere, widebands are usually embellished with numer-ous diamonds. Some are also set with otherstones, although it’s not often that colouredstones are preferred to the brilliance of dia-monds. This brilliance is now more oftenset in white gold, where diamonds appearmore dazzling than they do in yellow gold.Rings made of silver are not a viable sub-stitute for while gold: silver will blackenand rust fairly quickly while white goldnever deteriorates.

Other jewellery for your wedding day caninclude a necklace, bracelet, and earringswhich are in harmony with the style of thegown.An intricate gown will call for few orno pieces of jewellery at all, perhaps only apair of small pearl or diamond studs forthe ears. A simple dress will harmonize wellwith a majestic, glittering necklace thatcompensates for the neutrality of the gown.More extravagant gowns, plunging neck-lines, or sleeveless dresses are perfect withsophisticated necklaces made with invisiblethread and decorated with sequins, feathers,or other colourful details. And, of course,on the wedding day nothing is worn on thehands except the engagement ring.

White gold is very popular again this year;they are the perfect setting for glittering

diamonds. (Photo Pascal Duchesne)

Glitteringwedding rings

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7/1-7/31$10 off a newaccessory purchasetotalling $40 or more.$10 off all In-StockShoes Save $20Special OccassionDresses.Cannot be applied toprevious purchasesor combined withother offers.

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4 June 22, 2012 JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP

The brochures spread out on the table infront of you are overwhelming: how tochoose the best caterer for your weddingmeal? There are several things to considerthat will help you make your choice.

Begin by inviting estimates for variousmenus from five or six different caterers.Be bold enough to play with the competi-tive factor between caterers to negotiate abetter price per plate. You can then com-pare their services and prices.

Don’t hesitate to question the caterer ondifferent points: is he or she experienced inwedding banquets? How many other wed-dings will they be catering that weekend?Are they classic or creative? Can they offerreferences?

It is wise to make an appointment with yourshort-listed caterers to taste both the wine

and the dishes they are proposing. Takeadvantage of this occasion to check theamount of food per serving.

If you are not able to taste the menus, checkthe references they have given you and askformer clients about quality of taste andservice. If you still can’t make up yourmind, base your decision on the style ofyour wedding, the time of year, or the placeyou have chosen for the reception.

Check all the clauses of the estimate. Itmust include the total amount for all theservices or separate prices for each ofthem, such as for the meal, drinks, cork-age fee, gratuities, dishes, furniture, andserving equipment.

A delicious meal will be remembered byyour guests, so do your homework beforemaking your choice.

Finding a caterer: an all-important decision

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Speeches from the head table can makepeople cringe or cry. If you’re sittingalongside the bride and groom this year,take some time to prepare a speech thatwill touch the couple’s hearts and charmtheir guests.

As you think about what to say, rememberthat this reception will already be chargedwith emotion and nerves. The couple andtheir families have likely spent monthspreparing for this day, seeing to every tinydetail. Take some time ahead of the bigday to jot down a few ideas; you don’twant your speech to be the one regrettablecontribution to the event.

There’s nothing worse than a never-ending speech in the middle of a wedding

meal. If you’re the father of the bride,limit your speech to a just a few pertinentmemories and a hearty “Welcome to thefamily!” for your new son-in-law. Ifyou’re the best man, it may tempt you tobring up some embarrassing references tothe groom’s glory days, but do save thelurid bachelor party memories for the nextguys’ night out.

This is the moment to take a risk and putyour feelings into what you say. The brideand groom will be touched and grateful. Ifpublic speaking frightens you, practiceyour speech at home or refer to an index-card where you’ve noted your main points.

Perhaps the most important speech of all:the newly married couple must thanktheir guests for sharing in their celebra-tion as well as all those who helped themorganize the wedding.

Making a moving speech

A wedding speech is alwaysfilled with emotion.

SABRINA ROCCOTampa Bay Times

A bride's look on herwedding day lives for-ever in photo albumsand memories. There'sa lot of pressure to lookincandescent withoutappearing excessive.

Lindsay MacConnell, aTampa Bay-area make-up artist and owner ofLindsay Does Makeup,emphasizes two thingsbrides need to askthemselves beforechoosing a look: 1) Willmy fiance like it? 2) WillI be comfortable in it?

When your groommeets you at the end ofthe aisle, you want himto recognize you, shesays. Don't go with amakeup style that veilsyour natural beauty.

Also, choose makeupthat you're going to becomfortable in all dayor night. For example, iffalse lashes bother you,don't use them. Thelast thing any brideneeds is a wanderinglash in the cake-cuttingphotos.

MacConnell points tothree styles she seestrending in weddingmakeup: dramatic lips,a subtly elegant lookand a simple do-it-your-self.

A bride’sguide tomakeup

Scripps-HowardNews Service

Q: We're having asmall wedding —about 50 guests with abest man and a maidof honor, but no otherattendants. We havehired a bus for thenight before the wed-ding to take everyonewho's in town to alocal entertainmentarea (where there arerestaurants, bars andshopping). Do we haveto have a rehearsaldinner or pay foreveryone's dinner anddrinks that night?

A: There's no rule thatsays you have to havea rehearsal dinner.

The purpose of thenight-before-the-wed-ding dinner is to thankyour bridal party andclose friends and fami-ly for coming to therehearsal. If you aren'thaving a run-through,there is no need tohost a dinner.

It's great that you'reorganizing eveningactivities for yourguests anyway. Justmake sure they know

it's not a rehearsal din-ner.

The best way: Don'tsend an official invite;just let guests knowthrough word of mouthor an email.

Of course, it would bea nice gesture to buy around of drinks or afew appetizers for theguests who come.

773-3938300 East Ash Street

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I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE Friday, June 22, 2012 5

Your big day is fastapproaching and you’rebeginning to think aboutyour tuxedo. Is it worth-while to buy one or shouldyou rent it instead? Is it pos-sible to buy a previously-worn tuxedo? If your headis buzzing with unansweredquestions, keep reading.

Tuxedo rental businessessupply tuxedos and match-ing accessories to give thefinishing touches to yourappearance. The classictuxedo is black, but there isplenty of room for individ-ual style. Create your ownwedding-day look by care-fully choosing a vest, shirt,cravat, shoes, hat, sus-penders, cufflinks, scarf,and belt.

Make an appointment totry on a tuxedo before youreserve it. The shop’s tai-lor will make the neces-sary adjustments at a laterdate. You can pick up youroutfit one or two daysbefore the wedding,depending on whether ittakes place during theweek or on a week-end. Ifyou gain or lose weightyou can return to the storefor adjustments up to threeweeks before the weddingdate.

Take note that good sav-ings can be had on rentalprices by taking advantageof “early-bird” promotionsbefore the summer peak-wedding season.

If you’ve decided to buy atuxedo, look for end of sea-son sales or shop around insecond-hand clothingstores. Some men’s storeshave tailors available if youwould like to have a suit orshirt made to measure.Be sure that there are asmany possibilities as thereare personalities — from amodern cut to the classictux, there is a suit and aprice for everyone.

Choosingthe perfecttuxedo

The bride and groom of 2011 are likely to be digitally connected,using social networks and Internet throughout their daily lives.And it’s not because their wedding day is fast approaching thatthey’ll shut down their computers!

Social networks such as Twitter and Facebook are now anintegral part of everyday life for many young people. It is easyto combine these modern methods with more traditional wed-ding preparations.

Social network sites can be used to send invitations and remindersand also to express mood. For themed weddings especially, small“nibbles” of information can be sent, little hints to let guests knowmore about the ceremony. Steer them in the right direction aboutthe dress code or ask them for music suggestions. Post photos andvideo clips featuring the bride and groom-to-be and let yourfriends and guests have a great time commenting on them.

Many future couples create a blog, recounting the organization oftheir wedding from start to finish. For the uninitiated, a blog islike a private diary that is made public or opened to select friendson the Internet. In fact, many wedding blogs can be found onlinethese days. They are useful for other future couples, as everyoneshares advice on how to organize a successful wedding.

Perhaps the most useful application of the Internet in weddingplanning, brides-to-be can post their wedding gift lists online.This makes it easier for guests to know the needs and tastesof the couple.

Today’s bride and groom are connected

A new trend for many future couples is the use of socialnetworks to let their guests know all about the wedding.

If your ideal honeymoon involves a far-away place, there are many destinationsoff the beaten path worth considering.

A stay in South Africa can be envisaged atalmost any time of the year. A visit to thewestern part of the country, including tothe Cape and for safaris at reserves such asShamwari, Tsitsikamma, and Ado, is bestplanned between September and May. Forthe eastern zone, including the area ofKruger National Park and neighbouringprivate reserves, the period from April toNovember is more suitable.

The Mexican Caribbean and Pacificcoasts are ideal for winter, spring, andfall trips. The hurricane season is typi-cally from August to mid-October, andJune is the rainy season. One of the mostpopular tourist destinations is Cancun,

situated on an immense coral peninsulasurrounded by the turquoise waters ofthe Caribbean.

Visit Tahiti from the middle of April tothe middle of October, when trade windsare more active and the temperature isslightly more comfortable. Count on see-ing spectacular beaches, where the watertemperature hovers around 24 to 28 ˚C. Itis even warmer in the lagoons and on thebeaches sheltered by the barrier reefs.

A trip to Brazil can be planned at any timeof the year, although the Amazon and thePantanal are best visited from June toSeptember. Unless you’ve booked far inadvance, try to avoid Rio de Janeiro dur-ing Carnival in January and February. TheBrazilian summer vacation period can alsomake for over-crowded beaches.

Where to celebrate your honeymoon?

Live your honeymoon dream to the fullest in celebration of your new life together.

A marriage, whether religious or civil,is an official recognition by the statethat two spouses are bound to oneanother in legal interdependence. A re-ligious marriage ceremony is led by amember of the clergy, whereas a civilceremony is usually conducted by a ju-dge, justice of the peace, or a registrar.

Civil and religious wedding cere-monies are not mutually exclusive.Religious weddings are, of course,legally viable and are still sometimesseen as a necessity, as much on a cul-tural level as for the validity of themarriage itself. In other cases, a civilwedding might be celebrated in thepresence of religious representatives.

According to Canada’s constitution, thefederal government has the exclusiveauthority on questions of marriage anddivorce; in this way, civil weddings

became an option in Canada in 1973.The provinces, however, have the po-wer to introduce laws governing theorganization of the marriage ceremony.

When two people wish to marry in aregistry office, they must first choosean authorized celebrant. This is anessential condition for the validity ofthe marriage. Since 2002, couples havehad the opportunity to officialize theircommitment through a civil ceremonyconducted by a lawyer or notary.

One of the advantages of a civil wed-ding is complete freedom of choice asto where the ceremony will take place.For example, the wedding could takeplace in a lawyer’s office, a privatehome, outside in a park or botanicalgarden, or in a restaurant, hotel, or rent-ed hall. It is a perfect occasion to add apersonal touch to a wedding ceremony.

What is a civil wedding?

A civil wedding is an alternative to the moretraditional religious ceremony for exchanging

marriage vows.

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6 June 22, 2012 JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP

In the last twenty years, more and morecolour has been appearing in bridal gowns.At first, colour was added with discreet flo-ral motifs, but now brides are more daring,adding brightly coloured accessories andeven using plain or printed coloured fabrics.

In fact, blue was a traditional colour forChristian weddings until Queen Victoriawore white at her wedding in the nineteenthcentury. The popular saying, “Married inblue, you will always be true” spoke of howthe colour was considered a mark of purityfor young brides. In ancient Rome, thebride and groom used to wear blue, whichsymbolized love and fidelity.

Elsewhere in the world, marital clothing isusually brightly coloured. Considered as

the colour of joy and luck, red is worn forChinese and Indian weddings, while limegreen is worn by Korean brides. Green isalso the colour preferred by Moroccans, whoassociate this natural colour with luck. InMorocco, a lot of yellow is also used inbridal gowns because it is believed to fright-en demons away. In Japan, the bride andgroom generally wear two colours: a whitesilk kimono embroidered with symbols orflowers in red. This colour symbolizes newbeginnings. The Japanese often add accentsof gold or silver during the ceremony.

What about black? In many other cultures,black is not at all associated with death anddarkness as it is in ours. In fact, many Spa-nish brides wear it as a sign of devotion totheir husbands. In a modern NorthAmerican wedding, however, black wouldbe most likely used as an elegant accentcolour.

A touch of color

Inspired by world traditions,colour is taking a more important role inthe gowns of modern brides. (Photo Lazaro)

Your evening of wedding festivities should be joyful and reflectyour personal style. Whether you want the dance floor to be hop-ping with old fashioned swing, swaying with easy-to-dance-toclassics, or swirling with Klezmer music, choosing the right DJor band will make all the difference.

Most likely, you will want a good mix of musical styles. If this isthe case, a professional disk jockey might be your best bet.Choose a DJ whose work you are familiar with or whose musiccollection suits your style. He or she should suggest meeting withyou ahead of the big day to consult you about your musical tastes.If it’s pertinent, give him precise information about your family’scultural origins, your guests’ social inclinations, and the slowsongs you’d like to slow dance to. The waltzes you choose for youand your new spouse and for the bride and her dad are specialmoments that you can orchestrate to be fun or sentimental.

A professional DJ will give you a detailed program specifyingthe types of music to be played during the evening. For a suc-cessful evening of dancing, he should be prepared to bring alongabout 150 CDs. Give him or her clear instructions regardingimpromptu requests from guests — it is your job to be preciseabout the type of entertainment you would like for the evening.

Don’t forget to take note of the DJ’s cell phone number in caseof last minute requirements, and remember that you are the deci-sion maker for this special day.

A fantastic evening of dancing

Keep your guests dancing all night long.

Wedding candy:a must

for any reception

Candy has been a part of weddings for cen-turies. The traditional treat offered to guestsis the sugared almond, a symbol of pleas-ure, happiness, and prosperity. Still a favou-rite at weddings today, sugared almonds area wink to the past and are, at the same time,a sign of refinement and elegance.

Sugared nuts are known in French asdragées, the name North American bakersnow give to the tiny, round silver candiesused to decorate wedding cakes. If you’rea stickler for the real thing, though, hand-fuls of almonds delicately coated withsmooth, glossy sugar are beautiful whenscattered on tables or served in decorativebowls with cocktails.

If you’re trying to keep your weddingbudget to a minimum, you can make yourown sugared almonds, although they willnot be as refined as those made by a candymaker. They can be stored for over 18months if they are protected from light andhumidity and must never be stored in therefrigerator. Plan for a kilogram of sugaredalmonds for every 20 to 30 people. If youorder your dragées from a candy maker, besure to order them at least two or threemonths in advance of the wedding; the realthing takes about ten days to make!

Although tradition calls for wedding candyto be given as gifts to all the guests, thereare plenty of other options available. Asidefrom the classic sugared almond, you mightoffer instead sugared grilled almonds,chocolates, fruit, or nougat.

Giving wedding candy is a thoughtful gesturethat your guests are sure to appreciate.

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I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE Friday, June 22, 2012 7

Who has never dreamed of one day riding in an immaculate antique car: a RollsRoyce, a Bentley or a Cadillac from the 1950s? And wouldn’t the most beautiful dayof your life be the ideal moment to realize this dream? No doubt about it: you wouldmake quite the entrance!

Some rental agencies offer an extremely personalized service. For example, they canadvise you on the model of car which would harmonize perfectly with the style ortheme of your wedding. Want to be exclusive? Contact an antique car collector who,for a few hundred dollars, could drive you to the doors of the castle… in a FordMustang Fastback, an old Triumph TR3 or a gleaming Morgan.

Of course, the simplest way is to use a rental company. But before making an irre-versible decision, find out about the year and model of the car you want andenquire as to when it was last inspected. If there is a last minute hitch, does thecompany have another car at its disposal which can be made available quickly? Ifa chauffeur is part of the deal, does the company have extra personnel in case ofunforeseen circumstances?

Finally, ensure that the chauffeur is familiar with the route he will have to drive. Thiswill avoid short delays which could have repercussions on the rest of the day and onthe success of this grand occasion. A last detail: it is always prudent to find out about

the cancellationpolicy, thus pro-tecting yourselfagainst all even-tualities whichare outside yourcontrol.

A limousinefor a royal entrance

An antique carfor travellingin style on yourwedding day!

For men to look their best on important occa-sions, suits are indispensable. But for a wedding,

accessories for the neck, the waist and the wristsmake all the difference and should never be chosen

at random.

When talking about men’s accessories, we immediately thinkties. In 2010 these are elegant, in clear acid tones or with vividstripes. But there’s more than just colour involved, there’s alsothe question of the knot. On the day of his wedding, the groomcould be daring and choose a bow-shaped cravat, sometimescalled a lavaliere, or an ascot to give him the air of a dandy.This type of neckwear is worn with a wing collar dress shirt

and a vest. Always made of silk, the ascot is attached to the back of the shirt collar andeither tied under the chin or fastened with a pin. And, as grey is very much in fashion thisyear, shades from black through to white are the latest trend.

For the ultimate in classy looks this season, the bow tie personifies the epitome of elegance.Designers such as Armani, Wallace or Mabille never cease updating the look. In satin orsilk with a leafy pattern, this derivative of the tie is an all-important detail for the well-dressed groom.

Among other indispensable accessories for the groom is a shirt with musketeer style cuffsadorned with buttons for a perfect finishing touch with just a hint of fantasy. And a cum-merbund gives an even more elegant look when matched with a bow tie.

Exchanging vows under the branches of atowering oak tree, with a brilliant blue skyas a backdrop, can only add to the romanceof the most beautiful day of your life. Whenthis avowal of love takes place in the freshair, the ceremony somehow reflects the val-ues of the couple: simplicity, harmony withnature and the art of living well.

Weather permitting, an outdoor wedding isideal. Nature’s decor makes it unnecessaryto spend huge amounts of money on monu-mental flower arrangements; a carpet ofrose petals sprinkled on the lawn or paperlanterns hung from the surrounding treesare perfect. Some establishments offer com-plete packages for this type of wedding,from the decoration of the chairs to the serv-

ices of an officiant (most weddings heldoutside are not religious ceremonies).

Another advantage concerns the cocktails.As this part of the celebrations usuallylasts about two hours, the time it takes forthe photographs to be taken, the guests canmake the most of their surroundings towalk around and relax in the sunshine.However, be sure to provide a few sun-shades for older people and access towater, lemonade and iced tea so peopledon’t become too dehydrated from enjoy-ing the punch and champagne.

Finally, being able to fall back on a plan Bis a wise decision. A wedding tent or a barnclose by would be a welcome addition in

case of rain: beingable to retreat to asheltered area willallow the bride andgroom to say “yes”without having toworry about theirguests getting wet!

Nature’s decormakes it unnecessaryto spend hugeamounts of moneyon monumentalflower arrangements.

An outdoor wedding

At MarcWallace, accessorytrends for 2010 includewide silk belts and bowties in tones of greyand anthracite.

(Photo MarcWallace)

Elegantaccessories

for the groomWhen you dare to wear a short dress for your big day, not only will you be provingyour love for the man in your life but you’ll also be following the latest trend of thegreat fashion houses. A few years ago, fashion designers decided to seduce brideswith exceptional dresses and shorter hemlines. The first of these dresses to appear onthe fashion runways were from Max Chaoul and Chanel but this year they can befound everywhere!

Traditionally, it is said that 85% of brides preferlong dresses, lending them an air of the angelicprincess... Yet, for a summer wedding or the cele-bration of a second marriage, traditions can beoverturned and shorter hemlines worn for this mostspecial of occasions.

An immaculate gown worn above the knee must betruly feminine, composed of airy fabrics and perfectdetails. Boleros or sashes could be an option buteven more should be considered in the case of the“little” wedding gown: a bodice embroidered withlace and feathers; a dress with fringes or adornedwith flowers and sequins... The success of such adress lies in the detail.

No matter what your choice, never forget that you’llbe bending, sitting, getting up, dancing, huggingand being hugged... so it’s essential to feel comfort-able. To be sure of this, never, under any circum-stances, wear a mini version of the short dress withbare legs. A good compromise is to wear long whitestockings for more elegance and comfort.

Short is in

A corset style dress from the 60’s,uniting the modern with the romanticand embellished with a lace bolero.(Photo Sarah Houston)

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8 June 22, 2012 JUNE BRIDAL GUIDE I-75 NEWSPAPER GROUP

CATHIE FILIANScripps Howard News

Service

Wedding season is here,and DIY brides are put-ting finishing touches ontheir big day. Small favorsor token gifts are niceflourishes that will leavefavorable impressions onwedding guests. From theincredibly edible, likechocolate hearts and othertreats, to the extraordinar-ily imaginative, like a mes-sage in the bottle, customporcelain ornaments orshow-stopping wine stop-pers, you have lots ofoptions.

Favors are easy toassemble and don’t have tocost a fortune. Your localcraft or party store willhave many of the suppliesneeded. Use your homeprinter to create customlabels, adding personaliza-tion. Use ribbons, gems

and papers that coordinatewith your wedding-colorpalette.

Be sure to make a fewmore favors than there areguests expected. You canplace the favors at eachplace setting or displaythem on a table with a tagsuggesting that guests“Take One.” (Some guests,of course, might take morethan one!)

With all the details ofthe big wedding day, it iseasy to overlook the ideaof a favor. For some bridesand grooms, it may seemlike an extra cost on atight budget. Favorsshould come from theheart and have a personalmeaning to you, and theydon’t have to break thebank.

A favorite poem scrolledup and tied with a bow foreach guest is a low-costoption that will let guestsknow how much you

appreciate them sharingin your special day.

Here are a few ideas toget your creative juicesflowing.

Charming Thanks: Adda charm to a personalizedthank-you card. Inside thecard, tuck a packet ofnative wildflower seeds ora handwritten thank-younote.

Cork Stoppers:Transform plain corks byscrewing a draw pull intothe top of the cork. Add ascrapbooking letter forpersonalization.

Porcelain Ornaments:Add an embossed rubber-stamped image to an orna-ment.

Base ornaments areabout a buck each. You canalso Mod Podge a design tothe front.

Candy Tins: Fill tinswith small candy. Wrapthe edge with ribbon andadd a label to the top.

Look for tins in bulk atcraft retailers.

Bagged Cookies: Fillsmall cello or glassine bag-gies with homemade orstore-bought cookies. Adda tag to the top or a ribbonbow. For extra personaliza-tion, add an embossed rub-berstamped image.

Message in a Bottle:Personalize small bottleswith a label and ribbon.Fill with a scrolled poem,small shells and sand.

Hot Cocoa To Go: Makeindividual baggies of hotcocoa for guests to have intheir room or back athome. Personalize muslinbaggies with an iron-ontransfer design.

Cathie Filian is alifestyle expert, Emmy-nominated television host,author and designer. Learnmore about Cathie by visit-ing her blog atwww.cathiefilian.com.

Make your own wedding favorsSCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE PHOTO

You can save money on your wedding by making your own wedding favors.

ASK CARLY

By Scripps HowardNews Service

Q: My bridesmaids and Ihave talked about hav-ing my bacheloretteparty in Vegas. Should Ioffer to pay for my flightsand hotel?

A: Well, considering thesubstantial costsinvolved (airfare, hotelrooms, food), I'd at leastoffer to pitch in. It's anice gesture, even ifthey don't end up takingyou up on it.

Q: One of my brides-maids wants to wear herdress before the wed-ding. I don't like theidea. Am I being a totalbridezilla?

A: First, good work onchoosing a dress yourmaids like enough thatthey want to wear it rightaway! In terms of eti-quette, there's no ruleabout wearing the dressbefore the big day, butit's fair to say that it wasmeant for your weddingand shouldn't be wornbefore then. Just tell herpolitely.

Q: We're hosting a day-after brunch, and every-one's invited. Should welist the brunch on ourwedding RSVP cards, orinclude a separateRSVP card?

A: Good question. Theonly time you need ahead count is if yourvenue or caterer asksfor one. Otherwise, youcan skip the RSVPrequests.

If you need a count,save paper (and cash)by including the RSVPon the same card asyour wedding RSVP.Otherwise, slide anothercard into your invite

envelope just for thebrunch, or include theinfo and an RSVP optionon your website.

Q: How can I include myfuture sisters-in-law inthe wedding withouthaving them in the bridalparty (it would be toobig with them)?

A: If you're just worriedabout size -- don't be.There's no rule that saysthe sides have to beequal. But there are alsoplenty of other ways toinclude them. Ask eachof them to do a readingat the ceremony or givea toast at the reception.Just don't put them onprogram duty.

Q: I got engaged a whileago and asked five girlsto be my bridesmaidsright away. Since then,I've become very closeto the girlfriend of agroomsman.We're evengoing on a joint vacationin a few months. Wouldit be tacky to ask her tobe a bridesmaid so latein the game?

A: It wouldn't be tacky,and she always has theoption of saying no ifshe feels uneasy forsome reason. Butchances are, she alsorecognizes how closeyou two have grown andwill be honored by theinvitation.

Take her out to lunchand start by explaininghow happy you are thatyou've become suchgood friends and howmuch you'd like her tobe standing next to youon your wedding day.

If she says yes, catchher up on weddingdeets, like bridesmaiddresses and showerplans.