bridal edition 2013 compliments of the natchitoches times...

Bridal Edition 2013 Compliments of The Natchitoches Times Weekend Edition, March 30-31, 2013

2D THE NATCHITOCHES TIMES Weekend Edition, March 30-31, 2013

Located in the Heart of the Historic District

Intimate Weddings, Receptions & Showersf

Perfect Location for Wedding Guestsf

Wedding & Event Planningf

Secure Gate Parkingf

Featuring a courtyard with relaxing fountain & 20 elegant guest rooms

with spa-style amenities Internet & Wi-fi

(318) 238-8888 • 1-800-668-9298churchstinn.com

WeddingPlanning

The wedding planningprocess includes a num-ber of events fromengagement parties, tocouples parties, recep-tions and parties forboth the bride andgroom. The large selec-tion of “Spirits” atMaggio’s puts them atthe top of the list whenplanning your party orevent.

1st SymptomAround 3 months before your wedding, you'll

begin to second-guess your decisions.

2nd Symptom You'll get scared and think about what you can

do to make your wedding better or more unique.

3rd SymptomThen you'll ask friends, family, co-workers and

anyone that will listen to you, about what theythink of your new ideas.

4th SymptomAnd most dangerous…you make a few phone

calls and start up-grading a few of your packages.

The CureStick to your original budget. As the wedding

draws near, your emotions take over…ignorethem.

Vendors are well aware of the disease. That'swhy every contract allows for you to upgrade apackage at any time but there are rarely loop-holes for downgrading.

No official name but many brides

catch this disease before wedding

Weekend Edition, March 30-31, 2013 THE NATCHITOCHES TIMES 3D

Brides can now planand organize theirwedding details direct-ly from their mobiledevice.

With a slew ofbridal-centric mobileapp developments onthe rise, wedding plan-ning resource PerfectWedding Guide hasrecently launched itsfirst Android mobilewedding planning appfor the tech-savvy andon-the-go bride. Thefree wedding appallows brides to plan,organize and selectintricate details sur-rounding their big day.

With the free appbrides are able toaccess some of themore popular featuresavailable on the site,including planningtools. Mobile weddingplanning app tools willallow brides to keeptrack of their entireguest list, manage thestatus of RSVPs andorganize bridal showerdetails or otherpre/planning sched-ules.

Other featuresinclude:

• Local bridalshow registration (findlocal bridal events inyour area using yourcurrent local or zipcode or register for theshow right from yourmobile device.)

• Access to vendorprofile pages

• A n dPromotional deals(locate local deals dailyin your area using yourcurrent local or zipcode.)

New research from

the marketing firmcomScore, (as reportedby Boston-basednews agency, Brafton),

suggests that in June ofthis year, the Americansmartphone user user-base has increased toover 110 million people.

This number is a 4percent increase fromMarch 2012, accordingto its MobileSubscriber MarketShare report. Androidup user totals grew 0.6percent, accounting for51.6 percent of the mar-ket.

Data from the studyalso gives weight to thenotion that smart-phone users are morelikely to look for infor-mation on their hand-sets than desktop orlaptop computers.

The addition of thefree mobile weddingplanning app is justone of the many tech-nology initiativestaken on by the wed-ding planning compa-ny.

Since 2011, the sitehas tackled projectsincluding creatingsocial login withFacebook and Twittercredentials, mobile

access to the onlinewedding gown gallery,and upgraded weddingvendor listings, includ-

ing social links, promo-tional deals, vendorFAQs, video and more.

To download the freeapp, visith t t p : / / w w w. p e r -

fectweddingguide.com/mobile-apps/.

And to learn moreabout advertisingopportunities on thenational or local level,contact PerfectWedding Guide at1.888.222.7433 or emailadvertise(at)pwg(dot)com.

For almost 20 years,Perfect Wedding Guidehas been dedicated tocreating innovativewedding planning solu-tions for brides of allbudgets. They offercouples a number offun, useful, and FREEproducts to help makewedding planning lessof a chore and more ofa treat.

Their local guides

and bridal shows areavailable coast-to-coastin over 60 markets,showcasing some ofcountry’s top weddingvendors who workright in the bride’sbackyard. Our nationalW e b s i t e ,PerfectWeddingGuide.com, is full of freshplanning tips and wed-ding ideas, an exten-sive photo gallery forinspiration, easy-to-use wedding planningtools, as well as a wed-ding blog communityhosted by nationalwedding planningexpert.

For more informa-tion, visitwww.PerfectWeddingGuide.com.

There is an App for wedding planning

With the free app,brides are able to access

some of the more popularfeatures available onthe site, including

planning tools.


Beau Jardin Water Park

This downtown Natchitoches destination has become a favorite wedding andreception location for couples not only in Natchitoches, but from across thestate and South. This is Natchitoches’ latest attraction to the downtown andFront Street area. It’s only been completed for a short time, but word is spread-ing fast about its beauty.

When you receive your invite, check your cal-endar, and if necessary, inquire with your workabout time off, check into travel arrangements,etc.

You should RSVP with immediacy. Do not let itsit in a pile with your other mail. Important deci-sions, some of which have financial conse-quences, are resting on the wedding’s guestcount.

No matter what you RSVP, inquire with a fami-ly member of close friend of the bride and groomwhere the couple is registered. As much as pos-sible, it is always nice to try and buy a gift off oftheir registry.

Often, these are the things couples need to starttheir home. Some people wonder how much theyshould spend, and while price is not important,you should, if possible, buy a gift that is some-what proportional to your relationship. Haven’tspoken to the bride since college?

No need to buy the espresso machine. Groom’suncle? Yes, you should probably go bigger thanjust the salt shaker. If you can, mail the giftrather than bring it to the wedding. It’s perfectlyfine to bring it to the wedding, but it is usuallyeasier for the couple if it arrives at their home.

Even if you “think it’ll be fine,” do not inviteanyone extra who was not listed on the invita-tion, or bring an additional guest when youpassed on the plus one invitation you may havebeen offered when you RSVP’ed.

Guest etiquetteRSVP immediately,

find where registered,

don’t invite others

The bride and groomshould sit down andform a list, organizedby priority. The firstpriority guests, or non-negotiable invitations,are people such asimmediate family andvery close friends.Second-priority guestsare extended family,and friends. Third-pri-ority would be co-work-ers, acquaintances, andsignificant friendsfrom your past. Be

realistic about whoshould actually be atyour wedding. If youhave a large, involvedfamily, those peopleneed to be there. Beingcognizant and sensitiveof budgetary consider-ations, the bride andgroom ought to be inagreement about thesize of the weddingbefore they approachtheir parents for theirguest lists.

Preparing guest list


Wedding receptionscan be costly adven-tures. It's not unusualto find moderate wed-ding receptions for anaverage of 150 guestsrunning more than$10,000.

With an ounce of cre-ativity and a healthydose of frugality, youcan entertain somefairly cheap weddingreception ideas. Andcheap needn't bedefined as tacky. Atasteful wedding recep-tion doesn't have tobreak the bank.

The first step in plan-ning a cheap weddingreception involves find-ing a place to hold it,where the cost is mini-mal or--even better--

non-existent. If thebride or groom, or evena family member orfriend has a home orbackyard where thereception could beheld, this will immedi-ately reduce yourcosts.

Some churches renttheir gathering hallsfor wedding receptions,and are far more likelyto do so if you're amember, or are plan-ning on getting mar-ried in their church.Ask about the cost ofrenting a church hall ifyou belong to a church.If not, ask friends andfamily members aboutthe expense involved inrenting a functionroom in their church.

The cost of such arental is usually signif-icantly less than rent-ing a function roomfrom a hotel.

Many public parks orbeaches will allowguests to set up recep-tions, provided theybehave responsibly andclean up after them-selves. If you live in aregion where a park orbeach is a considera-tion, call the town orcity hall where it islocated and ask aboutrules for weddingreceptions

Food and drink is anenormous portion ofthe wedding receptionexpense. There are afew key opportunitiesin this area, however,

where cutting costs issimple. For example,rather than serving afancy hot meal, set up asimple buffet instead,and prepare most ofthe foods yourself;enlisting the help offamily and friends.Serving finger sand-wiches, potato saladand a selection of freshvegetable platters andfruits will cost signifi-cantly less than a sit-down served meal.

Don't serve alcohol.This will cut the foodand drink portion ofyour wedding recep-tion bill in half; maybeeven more. Liquor isexpensive, andrequires the presenceof a bartender or

knowledgeable personto mix the drinks. Italso causes some con-cerns about liability.Most wedding recep-tions hire a DJ or somesort of live music fordancing and entertain-ing purposes. Call yourlocal college and ask ifthere is a campus DJwho'd like to make afew extra dollars. You'lllikely find someonewho is fairly experi-enced and very willingto conform to the wayyou'd like things done.Call local high schoolsand find out if theirmusic departmentshave quartets or musi-cal trios capable of pro-viding light music fordinner and dancing.

Tips on cutting the wedding reception cost


Need Help?The Staff at Cane River Financial Servicescan lend a hand with your wedding expens-es. Give them a call as you start planningyour special day. Don’t take a shortcut whenit comes to your wedding gown, honey-moon, reception or rings.

Weekend Edition March 30-31, 2013 THE NATCHITOCHES TIMES 7D

Traditionally, a showeris a party for the brideand her closest femalerelatives and friends,where she is "showered"with love, good wishes,and gifts.

Shower hostess is inthe honor attendant's jobdescription -- but sheshould ask for help fromthe other bridesmaids,the bride's sis, even thebride's mom.

A shower can takeplace six months beforethe wedding or it can bethe week before. It can bea surprise for the bride --or not. Up to you.Depending on wheremost of the guests live,you may need to sched-ule it far in advance soeveryone can make theirtravel plans. If most peo-ple are local, you'll havemore options. Onceyou've picked a date, setup a planning schedule.Brainstorm as a teamabout the party -- themes,locations, and entertain-ment -- early on. Divvyup tasks such as get-ting/sending the invita-tions, making the decora-tions, and coordinating.

Before you start fanta-sizing about a full spatreatment for fifteen,determine who is payingfor this shindig and howmuch it is going to cost.For fancy fetes, it's kosherto ask all the bridesmaidsto help out. Be clearabout what everyoneowes from the verybeginning, though.

You can be as creativeas you want about whereto have it: a picnic at thepark, a backyard barbe-cue, and Italian restau-rant, a hotel salon, abotanic garden, a bakery.

Is the bride a tradition-al tea party type of girl?Would she be thrilledabout a cozy shower athome, or is she expectingthe works in a hotel ball-room almost the size ofher reception hall? Keepin mind that themes oftenmake planning easier --and more fun, becauseyou can use your imagi-nation to add specialtouches to the invitations,gifts, food, and entertain-ment.

You can be as creativeas you want about whereto have the shower. A listof options: a picnic in apark or at the beach; abackyard barbecue; anItalian restaurant; a hotelsalon; a botanic garden; abakery. Keep in mindthat party spaces getbooked early in busy sea-sons, like during the holi-days. Call about avail-ability before you getyour heart set on some-thing. And obviously,prices may be a factor.

Everyone invited to theshower should also beinvited to the wedding.Ask the bride to help outwith the shower guestlist. If it's a surprise, con-sult with her mom,groom, or sister. If it's abridal shower (just thegirls), make sure thebride's and groom's closefemale relatives are invit-ed, as well as all thewomen in the weddingparty and the bride'sclose girlfriends. If it's acouple shower, make it acoed guest list.

It's a good idea to sug-gest that the bride andgroom register for giftsprior to the shower. Inthe shower invitations,include information

about where guests canpurchase presents. (Yes,this is okay etiquette-wise.) If you want gueststo bring gifts in keepingwith a theme, includespecial instructions. Justmake sure there are relat-ed items on the registryso the soon-to-be newly-weds don't get unwantedgear.

Don't feel like you haveto go nuts with theinvites. They shouldreflect the formality (orinformality) and theme ofthe shower, but they canbe as simple as those cuteready-made cards avail-able at any card store.Make sure guests RSVPto someone (the MOH,the bride's sister) by adate that's at least a few

weeks before the shower.If many guests will becoming from out of town,mail the invitations atleast two months beforethe party -- if not earlier -- so those who need tocan make travel arrange-ments. If it's an in-townthing, four to six weeksshould be enough time.If you're having an at-home shower, thinkabout having the partycatered -- food can beanything from a five-foothero to fried chicken andpotato salad to dim sum.If you're doing a themeshower, make the foodmatch. Don't forget horsd'oeuvres -- be it bowls ofpretzels and chips, cru-dites (raw vegetables anddip), or the bride's mom's

famous mini-pizzarounds! For dessert, servecake, and/or pastries,cookies, pie, ice cream --either homemade or sup-plied from the yummiestbakery in town. If you'rehaving the shower in abanquet hall or restau-rant, work with the man-ager/host to come upwith a delicious menu.

Primary activities at anyshower: eating, laughing,and gift-opening. Onebridesmaid (often theMOH) should keep trackof which guest gavewhich present, andanother should makesure cards stay with theright boxes -- then thank-you notes won't be anightmare for the bride.

Planning a bridal shower from A to Z


Selecting InvitationsFinding that just right invitation is made easy with many com-panies catering to brides offering a book of samples for cou-ples to review.


Wishing You the Best On Your Special Day! Wishing You the Best

On Your Special Day!

Teresa Hill, MD, FACOG Board Certified

Obstetrics and Gynecology

617 Bienville Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 ph.318-238-3995

Obstetrics & Gynecology

www.legacywomenshealth.com

Legacy Women’s Health

You are engaged to thelove of your life; the wed-ding place has beendecided upon, the recep-tion hall has been chosenand booked, the cake hasbeen picked out, thecaterer has been contact-ed, and you have foundthe perfect weddingdress.

Now, all you need areguests to come to yourdream wedding. Youmost likely decided onthe number of guest youwished to invite beforeyou booked the receptionhall and have startedmaking a list of who toinvite.

Invite whomever youwant, don't let your par-ents force you to invitetheir friends; like the

woman who babysat youonce when you were 3-weeks old and who youhaven't seen since, yourgreat-aunt 5 timesremoved whom you'venever met, or the pervert-ed old boss that yourfather is trying toimpress.

It is your wedding andyou should only invitethose people whom youwant to share your spe-cial day with.

Ideally, it should be ashared event between thebride and groom to be. Inmany cases, it is left up tothe bride and her friendsto make out and send thewedding invitations.

A wedding invitationshould include most ofthose well-worn journal-

istic rules; who, what,when, where, why. Listthe names of the brideand groom to be, mentionthey are getting married,mention the date of thewedding, and mentionwhere the wedding isbeing held. Some wed-ding invitations alsoinclude a phrase men-tioning that the parentsof the bride and groomwould like to announcethe wedding of their chil-dren. If you wish you caninclude an RSVP at thebottom of the invitationand give the location andtime of the reception, oryou can include thatinformation on a separatecard. A return envelopeshould also be included,stamped if possible.

You can use store-bought invitations, cus-tom-made invitations, ordesign and print yourown from your comput-er; it all depends on whatkind of budget you haveto work with. Store-bought ones can be nicebut can look cheap andunappealing. If you douse store-bought ones,find someone who canwrite neatly and artisti-cally to fill them in. Theones you print fromhome can be as simple oras fancy as you wish. Youdo have to buy the card-stock to print them on.You can find many tem-plates and instructionsonline to help you, Averyhas easy-to-followinstructions for making

wedding invitations fromtheir vellum overlaycards. If you do chose tomake or write out yourown invitations, makesure everything is spelledcorrectly and don't writein netspeak. While mostpeople won't really carewhat they look like, it isonly polite to take care inthe planning of yourwedding invitations.

You should send outyour invitations six toeight weeks before thewedding. This gives ourguests plenty of time toplan and it gives themplenty of time to returntheir RSVP's. If you areinviting people from outof the country, youshould probably send outtheir invitations sooner.

How To Choose Wedding Invitations


Even if the groomshopped solo for theengagement ring, cou-ples usually consult

each other about theirwedding rings. Somechoose matching wed-ding rings, but you

don’t have to. If you want a plain

gold band and yourbetrothed wants some-

thing fancier, there’s noreason why you can’tboth have what youwant.

Pick a metal

Gold (either yellowor white) is the mostcommon wedding bandmetal, but you can alsobuy rings in titanium,silver or platinum.Silver is least expen-sive, then titanium,gold, and platinum asthe most expensive inthat order.

You can get silverwedding bands for aslittle as $20 a piece.Aircraft-grade titani-um is durable, but isn’tas easy to work with asgold. Prices for goldbands depend onweight: 14 karat is lessexpensive than 18 or 24karat gold.

Platinum rings startat about $300, but theyare very durable anddevelop a unique pati-na with age. Rememberthat the price of thering means very little;it’s the symbolismthat’s important.

Antique jewelryand heirlooms

A good jeweler canadapt heirloom piecesto suit the tastes of youand your betrothed. Ifyou don’t have or wantto use a family heir-loom but are interestedin antique rings, lookin pawn shops or atestate sales.

Dusty or dull ringscan be cleaned up, butinspect the pieces care-fully for other damage.

Old or broken jewel-

ry can be melted downor otherwise altered tocreate wedding bands.You’ll pay for the jewel-er’s time and expertise,but you’ll save moneyon the materials. Plus,your rings will beunique to you.

Where to shop

If you decide to buyyour rings new, you cancheck out mall shops,larger standalone jew-elry stores, departmentand discount stores,local jewelers and, now,the Internet. As with somany other things, theInternet has changedthe way people shop forengagement and wed-ding rings.

Some Web sites allowyou to search by stoneshape or price. Theycan also help youfinance your purchase(not that we recom-mend buying more ringthan you can afford)and help you insure it.

You may think thatlocally owned jewelryshops can’t compete onprice with the largechains.

However, dependingon the local store’s tar-get clientele, some maybe able to.

Some small shopscater to wealthier shop-pers, but many are indirect competition forthe same people whoshop the large chains.Because of this compe-tition, many of theseshops may be moreaffordable with theirpricing, and they usu-ally offer superior ser-vice, including on-sitejewelry designers.

You are one of a kind so let us help you create a wedding to re-flect your personality. Weddings at Wildwood are unique andmemorable. You have several sites on our property to choose

from for your event. All of them, from our spacious ConferenceCenter designed like an old River House with a wonderful Ve-

randa to our expansive pool deck that puts you one on one withnature, will make your wedding memorable.

Professional caterers will customize and prepare a menu ofgourmet dishes to your specifications. Don’t worry about having

to travel after your reception - stay in one of our “Love BugLodges”, offering lovely furnishings, fireplaces and huge

Jacuzzis. The rest of your family and friends can stay in oursuites and lodges near the reception.

Your wedding is a special time for you and those youlove! Why should you settle for a wedding in town?

Wildwood Resort. 129 Wildwood Road, Zwolle, LA 71486(318) 645-2509 or Toll Free 1 (800) 341-3668

How to Choose Wedding Rings


Traditionally thegroom, groomsmen andmale family members ofthe wedding couplewear a floral bouton-niere on their lapel, buttimes change-and so doboutonnieres.

The word “bouton-niere” looks difficult topronounce since it’sactually a French word;however, think BOOT-IN-EAR, and the wordwill just flow off thetongue (just make surethere are no French-speaking individualswithin earshot).

Boutonniere actuallymeans “buttonhole” inFrench-the site of themen’s floral contributionto the ceremony.However, as traditionalstyles go by the waysidein wedding planning, sodoes the traditionalflower/leaf/ribbon/pearl-ended straight pinassembly.

Free-style weddingdécor calls for free-styleboutonnieres. Considerthese options:

• For a seaside-themed wedding, agroup of unique shells ora small starfish with aclasp glued to the back

• For a Fourth ofJuly or other patriotic-themed wedding, asmall flag or a red, whiteand blue looped ribbon

• For a poolsidewedding, a paperumbrella with a smallribbon accent

• For an Irish-themed wedding, a four-leaf clover (plastic isacceptable if it’s a fun-loving group)

• For a music-themed wedding, minia-ture instruments or

eighth notes• For a summer

wedding, bumble beesand butterflies

• For a Vegas-themed wedding, dice ordominoes

• For a sports-themed wedding, minia-ture baseball and bat,basketball and hoop orbowling pins and a ball

• For a theater-themed wedding, come-dy/tragedy masks

Other options for tra-ditional weddings mightinclude:

• Feathers thatcomplement the brides-maids’ feathered bou-quets or hair wear

• Charms hangingfrom a ribbon bar

• Beads threadedonto wire and shapedlike a flower, leaf, heart,etc.

• Ribbon color-coordinated with brides-maids’ dresses/accentpieces, stitched in a flo-ral shape with a buttoncenter

Any of these itemscould be combined withgreenery or simple floralpieces to create interestand fun. Most of the sup-plies required can befound in craft stores;florists will happilyinclude the piece withtheir creation, giving aunique flair and person-al touch to the grandoccasion.

Most men complywith whatever “prettything” the bride wants toadd to their attire, buthow thoughtful andaccommodating itwould be to pin some-thing less frilly and moresuitable to their mascu-line side on their lapel.

The personal touch willonly add to their smilesas they stand in thereceiving line andanswer the question,“What is that on yourlapel”?

What’s That On Your Lapel?


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STEP 1

Decide together on afew options for a hon-eymoon destination.Choices can include aCaribbean vacation ata resort, a ski week inColorado, sightseeing

in Europe or a trip toDisney World; the pos-sibilities are endless.List the pros and consof each; choose onethat best reflects theinterests of both ofyou.

STEP 2

Plan a budget for yourhoneymoon. Before youselect a resort or makea hotel reservation,plan a realistic honey-moon budget. If moneyis an issue, considerasking family to con-tribute to the honey-

moon in lieu of a gift.Know what you have tospend in advance andplan accordingly. Yourbudget should includeairfare, accommoda-tions, entertainment,sightseeing and trans-portation.

STEP 3Work with a travelagent or plan online.Decide together if youwill work with a travelagent to handle yourhoneymoon planningor if you will plan yourtrip online. If workingwith a travel agent, askfriends or relatives torecommend a reliableagent. If you are plan-ning on your own,research destinations,

resorts or hotels care-fully.

STEP 4

Select a resort or hoteland activities. Onceyou decide together ona destination, choose aresort. Research vari-ous resorts and selectone that offers a vari-ety of activities thatwill suit both of you.Decide if you are look-ing for an all-inclusiveresort, a resort thatallows or doesn't allowchildren and the like. Ifyou are not staying at aresort, research hotelsin the area and sight-seeing and entertain-ment activities.

(318) 357-0664 400 University Parkway Natchitoches, LA 7147

Harlan Harvey, Stylist

Exclusively at

Selecting a destination together and plan in advance


Flowers have longbeen part of theexchange of marriagevows, whether thebackdrop to a lavishwedding or a simplebouquet in the bride’shands.

While a boutonniereand a bouquet won’tbreak the budget, a

mass of flowers can.Flowers can be one ofthe most expensivefacets of a wedding.Generally the moreyou have in your wed-ding, the more you canexpect the tab to be.

That’s why somebrides opt not to haveflowers in their wed-

ding, have very few orchoose artificialblooms over fresh ones.If you long to havefresh flowers but don’thave a lot of cash tospare, do not despair.There are ways to cutback.

Remember that lessis more Opt for fewer

fresh flowers in yourwedding and use themwhere they will havethe most impact, likein the boutonnieresand bouquets.

If you must have alot of flowers in yourwedding, use a combi-nation of artificial andfresh flowers, andagain, place the freshflowers where they willhave the most impact.

Think outside of thebox.

Not keen on artificialflowers? Skip them.Supplement your freshfloral arrangementswith inexpensive fruit,vegetables, nuts,pinecones, shells, wil-low branches and otherofferings of

You might even beable to pluck some ofthese from your ownbackyard. Borrowsome plants from yourgreen thumb friendsand scatter themthroughout th

Purchase some inex-pensive potted plants,use them as center-pieces and ask gueststo take them home asfavors.

Reduce, reuse andrecycle Got a friendwith a lovely garden?Ask to use someblooms from their gar-den in your wedding.They could even serveas their wedding gift toyou.

Forget containerrentals and purchases.Borrow vases, pots,baskets and other con-tainers for your wed-ding centerpieces-justmake sure you returnthem in good conditionand in a timely man-ner.

If you must buy flow-ers, buy them in seasonlocally and save on thecosts of packaging andtransportation. Thenshift them around toserve dual purposes.

Use your weddingbouquet for a center-piece on the cake tableand request guestspluck petals from thetable centerpieces tosend you off on yourhoneymoon.

Purchase wisely Buyonly the flowers youneed. If your friend iswilling to give yousome blooms from hergarden, find out howmany.

Then make yourorder with your florist-the earlier, the better.Don’t wait until thelast minute.

Order well before-hand and buy in bulkto get the best deals.Select flowers that arein season and will takeup a lot of space. Thefewer blooms you haveto buy, the lower yourtotal tab will be.

Go ahead and usethose big-bloomedhydrangeas for yourtable centerpieces andleave the slender rosesfor your bridal bou-quet.

You don’t have tobreak the bank on theflowers for your wed-ding. Good choices willgo a long way towardkeeping your budget inline, and a good floristcan help.

Shop around for aflorist early and lookfor one willing to workwithin your budget andcreative enough tokeep costs down.

Greener, Leaner Choices for flowers


Some couples opting

for charitable giftingWhen the wedding

invitations start goingout, one of the firstthings that comes tomind for guests aregifts. To solve theproblem, many couplesset up a registry at var-ious businesses, whichlists gifts on their wishlist. Traditionally,these gifts are for thecouple’s home, such asdishes, linens andsmall appliances.

For the couple thatwants to give back,these gifts can be char-itable donations ofsome sort.

While some couplesdo set up a registry andask for tangible giftsfor the home, otherschoose to go a differentroute and ask guests tomake a charitabledonation in lieu of atangible gift.

Couples today aregetting married laterin life, often in theirlate 20s and early 30s,and many live togetherb e f o r e h a n d .

Rather than end upwith a houseful ofitems they don’t need,it just makes moresense to give to thosewho are truly in need.

There are manyways couples can goabout charitable gift-i n g .

They can select someof their favorite chari-ties and request dona-tions to them in lieu ofgifts, either throughword of mouth, a for-mal announcement ora website.

They can set up acharity registry, which

will allow guests tomake a secure onlinedonation to the organi-zations of the couple’schoice. The couple caneven specify a dollaramount.

They can set up acharitable gift registry,which will allowguests to purchase anactual gift for themwith a portion of theproceeds donated tocharities of the cou-ple’s choice. Thisoption works reallywell for couples vyingfor a more traditionalwedding.

Depending upon thesize of the weddingand their preferences,couples may even beable to set up both acharity registry and acharitable gift registry.

For couples that can-not bear the thought ofasking guests to makea monetary donation ofany kind, there areother ways to giveback.

They can donate anyunused food from theirreception to foodbanks. They can makea charitable donationin guests’ names in

This option is grow-ing in popularity andthere are many web-sites that now offercharitable weddingfavors.

Whether a big wed-ding or small, exchang-ing vows in front ofloved ones can be mag-ical.

You can add to themagic by giving back.Explore the possibili-ties!


BRIDALPLANNING SALE

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Brides have been carrying bouquets for hun-dreds of years. In ancient times, bridal bouquetsgenerally consisted of garlic, herbs and spices to

By Victorian times, fresh flowers had replacedthe garlic, herbs and spices, and many of theseflowers carried special meanings, like innocence,faith and love. Floriography, the language of flow-ers, continues to this day, with some bridesresearching flower meanings and basing theirbouquet selections on those meanings.Floriography isn’t?t the only trend in bridal bou-quets. There are many others. Here is a briefreview.

Bridal bouquets are traditionally pale in color,but today’s brides are branching out and choos-ing bolder colors, like burgundy, red and purple.Bouquet color schemes can be monochromatic-allshades of purple, for example-or complementary.With bouquets getting brighter, they have becomea real feature in wedding photography, in partic-ular black and white photography with selectivecoloring.

Roses remain a bridal bouquet standard, butother flowers are starting to make their way intothe mix. Daisies, hydrangeas, lilies, peonies andtulips are popular choices, as are orchids. Manybrides, in fact, are asking for more tropical flow-ers in their bouquets, either because of theirtheme or for a unique twist.

While cascades of flowers were once the normin bridal bouquets, many brides today are optingto take a simpler route. Hand-tied bouquets are apopular choice. With the flowers gathered togeth-er and wrapped in ribbon, the bouquets are easi-er to handle and have a contemporary look tothem.

While today’s bridal bouquets might be some-what simpler in design, brides can still add somedazzle to them with beads, crystals, feathers,pearls, sequins and other accessories. Brideswith themed weddings can take it a step furtherand incorporate extra special touches into theirbouquets, like miniature seashells, pinecones orbutterflies. Bouquets featuring vintage broochesare also becoming popular.

Bridal bouquets can run the gamut from thetraditional all-white hand-tied rose bouquetdrenched in crystals to the sassy gold, red andpurple bouquet cuffed by feathers. It is up to thebride how she wants her bouquet to be. Bridesshould check out some samples, talk to theirflorist and select a bouquet design that speaks tothem.

Roses still considered

bridal bouquet standard


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Selecting ChinaOne of the first stops for a bride to be is at Choate’sInteriors on South Drive in Natchitoches. In addi-tion to their extensive line of fine and everydaychina, Choate’s carries quite a selection of gifts forthe newly weds.

Some brides havebeen dreaming of theirwedding day since theywere little girls andonly a big to-do at theirchurch or a resort willsuffice.

Others opt for small-er affairs with fewerguests at a local venue.Some abandon withtradition altogetherand exchange vows atthe courthouse.

While simple, court-house weddings offersome major benefits.They cost substantiallyless than a traditionalwedding, require a lotless planning andinvolve less time and

hassle all around. Inmost cases, all you haveto do is go to the court-house, apply for a mar-riage license and set upa time to exchangevows.

You don’t have to findan officiant, you don’thave to find a venue,and most importantly,you don’t have to shellout big bucks.

You can zip in andout and be married inless than 20 minutes.Although brief, thereare ways you can makethe ceremony special:

• Dress up. Youdon’t have to go all outand spend thousands of

dollars on formalwear.You can rent a weddingdress and tuxedo, oryou can opt for some-thing less formal, like anice dress and suit.

• Get some flow-ers. Pick up some bou-quets and boutonnieresfor the occasion. It isyour big day after all,and the arrangementswon’t cost a lot.

• Observe sometraditions. Wear some-thing old, somethingnew, something bor-rowed and somethingblue.• Invite loved ones.Choose a best man anda maid of honor to

stand beside you andwitness your vows.Bring your kids, par-ents and grandparents.Fill up what pews areavailable with familyand friends.

• Capture thememories. Hire a pho-tographer/videograph-er or ask someone youknow to serve as pho-tographer/videograph-er. Just because you’renot having a big cere-mony doesn’t mean youshouldn’t capture it onfilm or video.

• Celebrate after-wards. Go out to eat,have a little party at

home or gather every-one together for a for-mal reception. A cele-bration will cost, butagain, you don’t have togo all out. A simplemeal with friends andfamily will cap off yourbig day nicely.

• Courthouse wed-dings may be quick, butthat doesn’t mean theyhave to be uneventful.Do what you can tomake yours special.

And if you can swingit, consider gettingaway for a honeymoon,even if it is just a nightaway at a local hotel.

Courthouse I Do’s

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When brides and grooms start lookingfor wedding venues, too often they fall inlove with the beauty of the place andsign a contract before they've consideredthe more practical things. It makes sense-- who wants to look back and say only,"Well, it was practical"?

But unless the place is so magical thatyou're willing to plan your whole eventaround it, your shouldn't choosebetween wedding venues until you'vedecided approximately how many guestsyou're inviting and the size of your bud-get.

You'll also need to decide if you wantto have your ceremony and reception inthe same place, or if you want an all-in-one wedding venue.

Once you know these things, and youhave a few wedding venues in mind thatfit that budget and size, then it's time tostart asking questions!

• What's the decor like? Does it fityour style and wedding colors? Will you

have to spend a lot of money on flowersand decorations to make it beautiful?

• Do they have an in-house caterer,and do you like that food? (While an in-house caterer can be easier and cheaper,sometimes the food is not as beautiful asthe room. So make sure you taste it!) Do

they have a limitation on which outsidecaterers you can use?

• Do they have adequate coat checkand bathroom facilities?

• Is the wedding venue wheelchairaccessible? If not, are there many stairsto climb? How close is the parking to theceremony and reception rooms?

• What's the cancellation policy?• Is there a payment schedule? What

kind of deposits are required?• Are there any hidden costs?

(Before you sign the contract, read itcarefully.)

• What are the overtime charges?• Do they have a liquor license?• Will they allow you to bring your

own liquor? (This is usually cheaper,even with the customary corkage fee.)

• Is there room in the weddingvenue for a band and/or dancing?

• Does the wedding venue alreadyown a sound system with adequatespeakers or will that need to be rented?

• Is there a space for the bride andgroom to change and/or relax?

Selecting your wedding venue

Once you know a fewthings, and you have afew wedding venues inmind that fit that budgetand size... then it's timeto start asking ques-tions!

Continued on Page 19


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Reserve the ballrooms and set-up by

contacting us at

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Arrange your food selections by

contacting our catering department at

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We create exceptional Wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and showers for you!

We can provide everything from hors d’oeuvres to a full dinner and full bar service! www.nsuladining.com

• Where will you take photographs?Is there a park nearby, or do the coordi-nators have recommended spots on thegrounds?

• Who will be supervising and trou-bleshooting before the day of your wed-ding? Who will be supervising and trou-bleshooting on the day of your wedding?Can you meet them now?

• Where can your guests park? Arethere extra fees for parking? Do theyhave valet parking?

• Is the wedding venue convenientto public transportation, especially inbig cities? How long will it take yourguests to get there?

• Especially in museums or privateclubs, are there limitations on decora-tions? Do they limit food and drinks toonly certain areas of the weddingvenue?

• Are candles or other open flamesallowed?

• If its an outdoor location, do theyhave any backup plans for rain or other

inclement weather? If not, is there aplace that you can put up a tent?

Tips for Outdoor Weddings

When Looking at Separate WeddingReception Venues and CeremonyLocations

How far is it from one location to theother?

Do the two places have the same levelof formality and a coordinating style?

Do they both accommodate about thesame number of guests?

Does the wedding reception venuehave any experience with weddings fromyour ceremony location?

When Looking for WeddingVenues for Both

Ceremony and Reception

Do they own enough chairs for the cer-emony, or will they need to be rented?

Does the wedding venue have an

entirely separate area for the ceremony?{It is not uncommon that while theguests are at the cocktail hour, the cater-ers will transform the ceremony roominto the dining room and/or dance floor.)

If not, how long does it typically takefor the staff to change over the room?Hopefully, these questions will help you

cover the basics while you're looking atwedding venues.

In your search for a wedding venue,there will probably be even more ques-tions that arise for you personally.

For example, you may want the menuto reflect your heritage, or with a largewedding party, you may need ampleparking for limousines.

Selecting your venue............................................................Continued from Page 18

Send your Engagement and

Wedding Announcements

P.O. Box 448

Natchitoches, LA 71578

bridal edition 2013 compliments of the natchitoches times...

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