NDN-MAG-02-28-2023

Planning a wedding requires making many different decisions. The choice of wedding attire is among the most crucial decisions that couples must make. Whether the wedding is traditional or customized to suit couples’ personalities, brides and grooms want to look their best when they say, “I do.”

Many brides-to-be spend a significant amount of time looking for their ideal wedding dresses. What defines the right gown depends on personal preference and is unique to the person doing the search. For example, a dress that sets a fairy tale scene for one bride may not necessarily align with the tastes of another. According to Bridal Atelier, the average bride-to-be tries on try three to seven dresses before finding the right one. The following tips can help those shopping for dresses find a look that makes their big day even more special.

1. Don’t get hung up on perfection

Many brides get caught up as they search for the one dress they consider perfect. No dress is likely to check every box. Getting hung up on a desire to find

a dress that has it all may make it hard to see the beauty in other dresses. Remember, with the talents of an experienced tailor or seamstress, most dresses can be tweaked to suit your vision of the ideal gown.

2. Consider the season

Getting married during the hazy and humid days of summer is an entirely different experience than tying the knot during the heart of winter. The fabric of the wedding dress should complement the season, whether it’s lightweight and breezy for a warm day, or more substantial and cozy when darting to the ceremony in snowfall.

3. Flatter your figure

Chances are brides-to-be know which cuts and styles are most flattering. Mimic those style choices in the wedding dress. If you want to take focus off of full hips, choose a basque or asymmetrical waistline. Gowns with substantial straps or higher necklines may be better if you have a larger chest. Sheath and mermaid style gowns are options if you are confident with your figure and want to show

off your curves.

4. Try a bit of this and that Don’t go into a wedding dress appointment with firm parameters. Although you may have a ball gown style in mind, after trying on other options something with a less voluminous silhouette may actually catch your eye. Many brides also automatically defer to strapless gowns, when various straps and sleeves can be very appealing.

5. Arrive with a firm budget Weddings can be costly. It’s important to set a budget for the wedding dress just as you will with other expenses. There are plenty of dress designers across a wide spectrum of price points. A willingness to consider and ultimately purchase a less costly dress can help you stay on budget.

Browsing through magazines and looking online can provide wedding dress inspiration as well. Also, when in doubt, defer to the experts at bridal shops who have experience choosing dresses that brides are inclined to love.

How to find the right wedding reception venue

Every decision engaged couples make in regard to their weddings is significant, but some may affect the day more than others. Perhaps no decision will help couples set the tone they hope to establish more than their choice of reception venue.

Reception venues are where couples and their guests will spend the vast majority of their time on the wedding day, which is why choice of venue bears such significance. With that in mind, couples can consider these tips as they look for the perfect place to host their receptions.

• Decide what you want out of a venue. Prospective brides and grooms may have vastly different ideas regarding how they want their weddings to go, and it’s imperative that couples discuss their ideal weddings prior to looking for a venue. Do you want to get married in a place of worship? Or do you prefer a venue that can host both the ceremony and reception? Do you want an indoor, outdoor or hybrid ceremony and reception? Define what you both want before looking for a venue and make the necessary concessions if you have different ideas in mind.

• Consider picking a venue before setting a date. It can be wise to pick a reception venue first and then choose your

wedding date based on the availability of the venue. This is especially important for couples who already have an ideal venue in mind, and it also provides some flexibility as couples search for the venue. For example, couples working within a strict budget may not be able to afford a preferred venue during the height of wedding season, but that venue could be less costly during slower times of year. By waiting to pick a date until you’ve chosen a venue, you’re increasing your options.

• Consider your guests. Though couples, particularly those footing the bill on their own, should prioritize their desires when choosing a reception, it’s important they also consider their guests before making a final decision. A venue that’s accessible and located near transit hubs like airports and train stations will increase the likelihood that more people can attend. In addition, if children will be invited, a venue that includes family restrooms, including at least one with a changing table, can make parents’ nights much easier.

• Consider your budget. The Knot 2021 Real Weddings Study found that couples typically spend around 30 percent of their overall budget on the venue, which makes this decision the biggest one in terms of

the financial commitments a couple will have to make. Couples may be tempted to choose an awe-inspiring, costly venue for their reception, but they should consider how devoting so much of their budget to the venue will affect the rest of their big day. The best reception venue might be one that won’t eat up too much of your budget.

• Consider the package. Venues vary in terms of their reception packages. Some may offer catering, including beverages, with each of their packages, while food and beverage might not be part of other venues’ offerings. If you find a venue you love but it doesn’t offer catering services, seek estimates from area caterers to determine how much it will cost to feed and serve your guests. Many couples find it more convenient and less stressful to pick a venue that offers on-site catering, though plenty of others have had no trouble after choosing a venue and separate caterer.

The bulk of a couple’s wedding day and night will be spent at the reception, making choice of venue one of the more fun and important decisions they’ll have to make.

Tips to help master the wedding guest list

Weddings are such momentous occasions that it’s no wonder couples want to share their big days with as many people as possible. Though a wedding where all friends, family members and acquaintances are in attendance may be a dream scenario, reality often calls for a more carefully curated guest list.

Data from The Wedding Report indicates that the average cost of a wedding is slightly more than $20,000, though that figure could be substantially higher, or even lower, depending on where couples tie the knot. Both The Wedding Report and The Knot report that a wedding venue and catering make up a significant percentage of the overall cost of a wedding, with some figures indicating that these expenses account for around 65 percent of the final price tag. The number of guests couples will host on their wedding day will affect which venue they book and how much food and beverages they’ll need to satisfy guests. Couples who hope to stay within budget can consider these tips as they try to build a guest list that won’t break the bank.

• Accept input. Parents may no longer foot the entire bill for their children’s weddings, but couples who are accepting some financial help from parents must also accept Mom’s and Dad’s input regarding the guest list. Even if parents’ desired guests do not ultimately make the cut, it’s best to respect their wishes and consider who they want to invite. Couples who are financing their own weddings without outside help need not feel beholden to invite anyone who does not meet their invitation criteria.

• Make a preliminary list without regard to budget. Couples can have fun making preliminary guest lists without considering their budgets. A preliminary list can serve as a solid starting point, and couples may even realize that their list is within budget. Once the preliminary lists have been created, couples can categorize guests (i.e., distant cousins, coworkers, etc.) and then work together to determine if any categories can be eliminated from the invitation list. For example, couples who may be going over budget with their guest lists can each agree to remove distant cousins from their prospective invitees.

• Seek advice. Many couples face difficult decisions regarding their wedding day guest lists, so it can be helpful to speak to a recently married friend or relative to see how they handled paring down their guest lists. Some might have done it by category, while others might have limited guest lists to local friends and family. When taking this approach, couples can speak to friends about how they approached handling people who were surprised that they were not on the final list of invitees.

• Throw a less formal party down the road. A less expensive backyard barbecue within weeks of tying the knot can serve as a less costly alternative to a large wedding reception. Couples who take this approach can keep their wedding day guest lists to a minimum, but invite everyone they hope to see to a post-wedding day backyard barbecue or pot luck picnic so they can celebrate with everyone they love.

Curating a wedding day guest list is no small task. However, couples can try various approaches to keep a guest list more manageable and less expensive.

The language

For more than two decades, Yvette Webster has been creating beautiful floral displays for weddings across Central Iowa. Based out of Baqara Floral in the Thunderdome in Newton, Webster is ready to make a bride’s floral dreams come true.

“I did retail floral until 2012, then in 2013 I started my own floral business. In 2015, we opened our first venue and in 2018 we opened our second venue,” Webster said. “We’re a full wedding florist. We not only service our venue ... everything from set up, tear down, all of the fresh flowers, basically every need for a wedding.”

Brides have reached out years before their wedding up to a few days before they walk down the aisle for floral needs. Webster works with the bride’s wedding aesthetic to put together a unique look only seen on their big day.

“It is never really too early or too late. I have had someone reach out a couple of days before because their florist dropped out. Six months is great. I’ve had ones that are years out and then I give them a range of pricing but then finalize it once we are closer,” Webster said. “When a bride reaches out we will meet, typically at a coffee shop, and go over everything she is wanting, in detail, and I will give her a price estimate right there. Within the next week we connect. There is a simple contract with a down payment and then we meet closer to the date, as well.”

When designing the look, out of the ordinary is a favorite for Webster. If the wedding has a theme, it is even

of flowers

more exciting for the florist.

“I like to think outside of the box. We did a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ theme or something personal to them,” Webster said. “Or they just say, ‘Here are my colors, have fun.’ That is the best because they aren’t stuck to the ideas they have as a non-florist of what they see on Pinterest. I love when they let me use my creativity to make it look pretty.”

Trends she has seen over the past couple of years include a lot of blush, burgundy and white looks. There has also been a movement towards all

white with a lot of greenery.

“A lot of eucalyptus, mixed greeneries, white, just a classic look,” Webster said. “I am seeing more formal events where it is black tie attire so everything is more simple, which I like, too. It’s just classic.”

For the bridal bouquets, bride’s have started requesting a more dimensional look instead of the typical rounded, flowing bouquet. Putting the flowers together in a unique size and shape has been a new request.

On the tables, centerpieces typically stay low but on occasion she has requests for tall pieces. She recommends two to four different designs to keep an interesting look.

“If I’m doing a tall centerpiece, depending on how many tables they

have, it is three, five or seven of them and the rest short,” Webster said. “Most of the time people want all short but on occasion, especially if the venue has tall ceilings, they want some tall pieces to help bring the eyes up.”

As for her personal favorite, Webster picks the freesia for it’s versatility.

“It comes in a variety of colors but they all have a really unique smell. They open up beautiful and last a long time,” Webster said “I like my flowers to last not only for the day, but afterward to enjoy.”

Wedding flowers can often set the mood of the occasion and are a fun way to show the personality of the bride and groom on their special day.

— Jamee A. Pierson

Tents Wooden Archway

Brass Archway

Trinity Candelabra

Candelabra Lighters

Brass Flower Stand

3 Gal. Beverage Fountain

Bubble Machine

Helium

Cotton Candy Machine

Popcorn Machines

5 Gal. Beverage Dispenser Tables & Chairs

Fog Machine

Commercial Food Warmers

Slush Machine

Karaoke Machine Dance Floor

Much goes into being photo-ready on your wedding day. After months of planning, the wedding day is the couple’s time to really shine, and many go to extraordinary lengths to look their best. Gowns and tuxes may garner their fair share of attention, but hairstyles also can help couples look their best.

Couples can wear their hair how they see fit, but certain hairstyles have exhibited some serious staying power and can look timeless in photos and videos for years to come.

• Classic low bun or chignon: This is one hairstyle that certainly has withstood the test of time. A bun can be as sleek as a bride desires, or tendrils can be pulled out to frame the face, and the bun can be anything from minimal to messy. Pulling hair back may be more comfortable on warm days and there’s no frizz to worry about if Mother Nature fails to cooperate.

• Vintage curls: Brides whose dresses harken back to a bygone era may want to complement that style with a hairdo that also speaks to that moment in time. For example, the intricate pin curls of the 1920s likely will tie into a gown with an umpire waist.

• Fancy ponytail: Like a bun, a ponytail can pull hair away from the face for comfort and style. It’s a bit less formal than a bun and can be styled in many different fashions, even incorporating braids.

• Side-swept waves: Evoke movie-star drama with a hairstyle that features hair pulled to one side and cascading waves down the length of the face.

• Loose waterfall braids: Carefree boho looks run the gamut of styles. One to consider is loosely plaited waterfall braids that add whimsy. Additional braided options also work well for less formal weddings.

• Half-up, half-down: This hairstyle offers the best of both worlds. It enables the hair to be pulled back on top, and then the bottom is left loose, whether straight or in curls or waves.

• Ballerina top knot: This is a take on the bun. But rather than pinned at the nape, it is high on the crown of the head.

• Short bob or pixie with accents: Shorter hair also can look stunning. A bob or pixie cut can be enhanced with sparkling barrettes or woven-in flowers.

• Halo braid: This braid is fashioned so that it goes over the top of the head and mimics the look of a crown or halo. It may negate the need for a tiara.

Men also have plenty of options to get their hair wedding day-ready. Classic shorter cuts feature close-cut sides andmore length on top, which can be spiked, tousled or even slicked back depending on personal preference. However, any length hair is in fashion, and grooms can don buns, ponytails, natural texture, and much more.

— Metro Creative

Novel gifts for bridesmaids

Brides- and grooms-to-be select people who are near and dear to their hearts to be special parts of their momentous days. So the chance to participate in a friend’s or family member’s wedding is a great honor.

A wedding party plays a key role in both the ceremony and reception. Participants do everything from helping couples make decisions to addressing invitations to providing emotional support. As so much is asked of the wedding party — particularly the maid/matron of honor and bridesmaids — it’s customary to bestow gifts on those people who devoted so much time and effort to the wedding. These potential bridesmaid gifts can serve as a thoughtful and unique to way to thank bridesmaids for all that they’ve done.

• Photo books: Gift the bridesmaids with photo books of carefully curated photographs taken throughout the wedding planning experience. Pepper the books with other photos, such as images of you with the bridesmaids at fun moments throughout your lives together.

• Portrait wine or champagne glasses: Beverage glasses customized with the bridesmaids’ likenesses painted or printed onto them make for great gifts. Bridesmaids will enjoy sipping their favorite drinks in special glasses for years to come.

• Personalized phone cases: Who doesn’t rely on their mobile phones these days? Treat your bridesmaids to something special with colorful phone cases with their names embossed or printed on the outsides.

• Wellness or spa gift card: After all of the running around for the wedding, bridesmaids may need a little extra pampering. Gift cards to a local spa can fit the bill.

• Birthstone jewelry: Necklaces, rings or earrings become that much more special when they’re customized to the recipients. Purchase jewelry with your bridesmaids’ birthstones so they’ll be as unique as each woman.

• Friendship bracelets: Gift each bridesmaid with beaded friendship bracelets that features all of the ladies’ initials. Be sure to keep one for yourself, and you all can enjoy nights on the town showcasing your special bracelets.

• Monogrammed robes or purses: A customized pocketbook, robe or another item bridesmaids will use every day can make for an extra-special item that will serve as a daily reminder of how much you appreciate them.

Bridesmaid gifts are a great way for brides to thank their bridesmaids for all that they’ve done to make a couple’s wedding day special.

— Metro Creative

ough couples can plan wedding ceremonies and receptions how they see t, many weddings are steeped in tradition, some of which may be more subtle than others. One longstanding wedding tradition revolves around a bride’s attire. Historians di er regarding the origins of the bridal veil, but some trace this tradition all the way back to Ancient Greece.

Others suggest bridal veils were rst popularized within the Roman Empire by people who believed that the veil protected the bride from evil spirits as she walked down the aisle.

Traditions surrounding bridal veils even di er within various faiths, so the veil may signify one thing at a Jewish wedding and something entirely di erent at a Christian ceremony. Veils also have long been seen by some as symbolic of purity.

Despite their long-held position in wedding lore and tradition, veils are no longer seen as a must-have. Nor are brides who choose to wear a veil beholden to having it cover their face as they walk down the aisle. In fact, many modern brides now ip their veils over their head as they walk down the aisle en route to saying, “I do.”

Regardless of how brides who opt for veils choose to wear them, there’s no denying the enduring popularity of this tradition.

Fun ways to utilize social media in your wedding

Young couples tying the knot today grew up with social media, so it’s no great surprise that so many want to utilize various platforms when planning their weddings. In fact, the Brides 2018 American Wedding Survey found that 87 percent of brides turned to the social media platform Pinterest for inspiration when planning their weddings.

On the surface, modern wedding ceremonies and receptions may look similar to the nuptials of yesteryear. However, engaged couples have increasingly incorporated social media into their weddings, and the following are some fun and creative ways to embrace that trend.

• Create a social media photo booth. Guests may take more pictures at modern weddings than the photographers who were hired to document the happy couple’s big day from start to finish. Social media boards are digital screens that display social media walls. Live event social media boards collect and curate content from social media channels and display it on a single digital screen. Us-

ers, in this case a couple’s guests, simply use a predetermined hashtag when posting photos and the images are then displayed on digital screens in real time. This can be a fun way to engage guests during the reception.

• Live stream the wedding. Live streams became very popular during the pandemic, when couples getting married had to pare down their guest lists in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. But live streams can continue to be used after the pandemic, as there will always be guests who can’t make it to the wedding. Facebook Live was a go-to social media platform for live streaming weddings during the pandemic, and it can be utilized to involve loved ones in the festivities even if they can’t be there in person. Live streaming via social media may be especially useful for couples who want to enjoy destination weddings, which tend to be small affairs due to travel constraints.

• Hashtag the wedding. A couple-specific hashtag can serve as some-

thing akin to a wedding album, only it’s one everyone can easily access via the couple’s chosen social media platform. Encourage guests to hashtag photos from the wedding so everyone can have a good time looking back on the ceremony and reception once the day has come and gone.

• Plan with your party. Social media can be as fun, inclusive and useful when planning the wedding as it can during the wedding itself. Brides and grooms can create their own private Pinterest boards and share them with the wedding party. Everyone can then use the private board to bounce ideas off each other. Couples can infuse a little fun into the Pinterest board by encouraging their groomsmen and bridesmaids to post outrageous outfit ideas or submit sing-along song requests to be played during the reception.

Social media is a big part of modern couples’ lives, so it makes sense for them to find fun ways to incorporate various platforms into their weddings.

— Metro Creative

How to give weddings a modern touch

No two weddings are the same. Some couples go to great lengths to personalize their weddings, while others make a few minor tweaks to traditional components to make ceremonies and receptions more reflective of their style and the sentiments they hope to convey.

Embracing modern trends is one way couples have looked to set their weddings apart from traditional ceremonies. There are no rules governing weddings, and that affords couples certain freedoms as they seek to incorporate a modern sensibility into the festivities. For example, couples can modernize certain components of their weddings while remaining loyal to more traditional elements, or they can fully embrace a modern aesthetic. That choice of how modern to make a wedding is up to the couple tying the knot, but the following are some ways to give weddings a modern touch.

• Leave a small carbon footprint. Eco-conscious couples can embrace an

environmentalist ethos when planning their weddings by doing everything they can to eliminate waste and promote conservation. Send electronic invitations and save-the-date cards in lieu of paper alternatives and choose a reception venue that serves only locally sourced food and beverages. In lieu of wedding favors, which tend to be individually wrapped, make a donation in guests’ names to a local environmental group and share that information with loved ones. When picking a hotel for guests, find lodging that incorporates sustainability into its day-to-day operations.

• Retire certain traditions. Couples need not feel pressured to incorporate traditions that no longer reflect modern sensibilities. It’s up to couples to determine which traditions to retire, but customs like the garter toss and bouquet toss may no longer resonate with modern couples or their guests. In addition, brides who want to be walked down the aisle by both of their parents,

as opposed to just their father, should not hesitate to do so.

• Look for a modern venue. One of the most awe-inspiring ways to give a wedding a modern touch is to choose a venue that reflects a modern aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, white walls and floorto-ceiling windows can create a clean, modern feel. Outdoor ceremonies also can create a modern ambiance.

• Adjust your attire. Black tuxedos and white wedding dresses are among the first things to come to mind when imagining traditional weddings. Couples can stay formal but embrace a more modern look by choosing more colorful tuxes for grooms and groomsmen and picking a wedding gown with a flair of color. Brides also can allow bridesmaids to pick their own bridesmaid dresses to expand the modern look even further.

There’s no shortage of ways for couples to give their weddings a modern touch.

— Metro Creative

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