bridal guide to toss or not to toss bridal guide · family reunions every event is special at the...

Saturday, January 23, 2016BRIDAL GUIDE

BridalGuide

Saturday, January 23, 2016

A special supplement to the Malvern Daily Record

By Tresa EricksonThe tossing of the bouquet

dates back to the garter cer-emony of the 14th century. The wedding party would often go with the bride and groom to the bridal chambers, and once there, the grooms-men would try to remove the bride's garter. In fun, the bride would toss her garter to the masses. Over time, the garter was replaced with the bouquet in many wedding traditions and the bride would throw it to bestow luck onto her friends. Whatever lady caught it would be the next one to marry.

Today, many brides con-tinue to look forward to the tossing of the bouquet. Rather than throw their own wedding bouquet, some have their fl o-rist make a smaller bouquet that they can toss. At recep-tions where there aren't a lot of single women, brides may choose to have a Jack and Jill toss and ask all of the singles in the room, men and women, to come out onto the fl oor for the toss. This tactic takes some of the pressure off and turns the toss into more of a fun game than a serious com-petition.

Instead of dragging all of the singles onto the fl oor,

some brides may ask all mar-ried couples to come onto the fl oor and present the bouquet to the one that turns out by process of elimination to have been married the longest. Not only does the gesture serve as a sign of appreciation, but it honors the couple for their long-term commitment to each other. This concept also works with guests who have trav-eled to the wedding from out of state. The person who has traveled the farthest receives the bouquet as a token of the bride's appreciation.

Brides who are uncomfort-able with singling out guests may choose to give their bou-quet to their parents. They may do this publicly at the reception or privately at their parents' home. Either way, the gesture will serve as a wonderful token of the bride's appreciation for her parents' support over the years.

There are alternatives to tossing your bouquet to a group of single women who rather not be in the limelight. Keep the preferences of your guests in mind as you make your decision. You may just discover that having a garter toss in lieu of a bouquet toss would make for far more fun.

doesn’t have to blow your budget.

Flowers and GiftsPosies

A Po

cket Full Of

1135 E. Page Ave. • 501.337.4500Open: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

•Creative ceremony and reception arrangements•Personal consultants to work with your budget

ttttoootooooo tobbbbbuuuudgggggbbbbbbbuuuddddddddddggggggggggggeeeeetttttt...ddgggeet.budget.

and Giftsand G

PoooPP

ccccccoo kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkcccccc eekkkkk ttttte FFFFFuuuFFFFFFFF lllllluu lllllll OOOOOffffO

gg1111111111 53553535 E E E EEE PaPPPPPa111 35353 Paa egege A A A AAA evevev •• • 505050501.1.1.1 333333 .7.7.7.7 454444 000007.4457 4 000aaaP gege A ee •• 050501 333333 444454500500000000000001135 E. Page Ave. • 501.337.4500ggggOOOOOOppppppenenen : : MMMOOO m t tt t to o o o 5 5 55 p.p.p.pp m.m ••• S S SSS tatatatat 9 9 9 aa.a m.m t tt to o ooo p•• S t mmm to p mmmooo 121212221 MoMooon.nn - - FFF ririr 9 9 99 a.a.a.m.mm p MMMMo FF 99 a ttoo p • a 99 a to p mmmpppppppppOpen: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

f

mmmoonnnyyyyyyy aaannndddddd rrrreeecceeeppppppptttiiiooonnnnn aaar angggggggggeemmmeennnntttssssnnnCCCCrrrreeaaattttiiiivvvveeee cccceerrrremmmoo••CCC••CCCC eativvee cce e o y a d ecceptioo aa e tss•Creative ceremony and reception arrangementsssuuullltttannntttssss ttttooo wwwwwoorrrrkkkkkk wwwwwwiiiiithhhhhhh yyyyyyyoourrrrr bbuooouuuueerrrsssooonnnallll ccccooonnnnss••••PPPPPPPeer oonnaaallPPe ssoo aa coo ssss ltants too oo iittthh oo bbbbbbbuuuuddddddddgggggggeeeettttt•Personal consultants to work with your budget

33 330 333 00000003 0 33 00

dddddddddddoooeeeesssnn’’’’ttttt hhhhhddddooooeeessnnn hhhhhhaaaavvveeeeee tttttaavvvveedoesn’t have t bbbbbblllllooooowwwwwwww yyyyyyyyyooooouuurrrrrrr bbbbb b o oblow your bThe wedding of

your dreams...

The wedding of your drea

ms...

Call Today for

your FREEConsultation

To toss or not to toss

Saturday, January 23, 2016BRIDAL GUIDE Saturday, January 23, 2016 Page 7BRIDAL GUIDE

By Tresa Erickson

It’s no secret. Wedding traditions tend to change with the times. Take the traditions of the bride wearing blue and waiting to see the groom until she walks down aisle, for example. The traditions continue today, but in a slightly different way for some brides.

The tradition of brides wearing blue dates back to Roman times when brides wore the color as a symbol of love, modesty and fi delity. Blue was also a symbol of purity and heavily associated with the Virgin Mary. In the late 1800s, blue became a popular color for wedding gowns due to proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.” Of course, no one can forget the English adage, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” Brides choosing to honor this particular tradition usually wore just a hint of blue, in a ribbon or a garter for example.

Many brides today still observe the tradition of wearing blue. Instead of their garter being blue, however, their shoes may be blue or feature a blue sticker on the bottom that says, “I do.” They might also have their wedding date stitched in blue inside their wedding dress. Brides who really want to break out of the box might actually wear a blue dress, hat or veil, or go with something a little less obvious like sapphire earrings, blue fi ngernail polish or a pale blue seashell clip in their hair.

Many brides today are also opting to see the groom before the ceremony begins. The moment, often referred to as “the fi rst look,” provides the bride and groom with a few minutes alone to take in the sight of each other in their formal attire. While some couples insist on total privacy, others invite their photographers/videographers along to capture their fi rst look on fi lm/video. Some may also invite their wedding party and close family members and friends along to share in the moment and get some of the photographs out of the way. That way, they will have more time to mingle with guests later.

These are just two twists on some old traditions. Brides and grooms are free to add their own twists or stick to the traditions entirely. The sky is the limit!

Add “something new” to your ceremony by having a balloon release, using biodegradable balloons, of course.

Twistson tradition

By Tresa Erickson

Bridal showers are as popular as ever. It’s a chance for brides to get together with family and friends and to learn more about their soon-to-be in-laws. Couples showers are just as popular, with bride and groom both in attendance. And then there are groom’s showers, specifi cally geared to the man of the hour. Many grooms today are opting for a groom’s shower instead of a bachelor party.

Anyone can host a groom’s shower—the best man, the groom’s brother, the groom’s best friend. As with any shower, planning a groom’s shower takes time. There are guest lists to make and invitations to extend. There are themes to consider and venues to determine. There are activities to select and menus to prepare. All of the choices made, of course, should refl ect the groom’s tastes and wishes.

Groom’s showers can be as formal or informal as you like. You can get together with some of the groom’s pals and check out a local game or take in a few rounds of golf. You can have a backyard barbecue and invite everyone the groom knows. Guest lists should include the groom’s family, friends and members of the wedding party as well as the bride’s family. Women may or may not be invited per the groom’s wishes. Invitations may occur by phone, email or mail. Generally, the more formal the gathering, the more formal the invitations should be. A large wine tasting at a local vinery, for example, might call for printed invitations sent by U.S.

mail, whereas a small gathering at a local pub might require just a few phone calls.

Themes and activities can run the gamut, and again, should refl ect the groom’s tastes and wishes. If the groom enjoys the great outdoors, then a campout at a nearby park with boating and fi shing might do the trick. If the groom likes to bowl, then a night out bowling with the guys might be ideal. You can even have the party at someone’s home in front of the big game or around the poker table. And if you just want to hang out, there are all kinds of ideas for games for a groom’s shower.

What party would be complete without good food? Food is essential to a groom’s shower, and it can be as simple as burgers and fries or pizza and breadsticks. You can go out to a restaurant or have a meal catered. The same goes with the decorations. You can go all out or forget them altogether depending upon the venue. If you plan to host a groom’s shower at a baseball game, you might have nothing more to do than to reserve some good seats and arrange for some good food.

Gifts are always appreciated at showers and ideas can come from a wide range of sources, from the groom’s likes to the shower theme

to the gift registry. That’s right. You can ask the groom to register for gifts at various stores. If you are having a themed groom’s shower, you can suggest guests purchase gifts that refl ect that theme. Handy grooms might appreciate the myriad of tools they will receive from a tool-themed shower, while grillers

might like a backyard barbecue and the big, deluxe stainless steelgrill everyone pitches in to buythem.

A groom’s shower can be agreat way for the guys to relaxand unwind before the big day. Itdoes require some planning, but itcan be a lot of fun.

A groom shower can be as simple as grilling out with friends or going out to eat at a favorite restaurant.

Let us Cater your Rehearsal Dinner!Come by our location or we can come to you!

Private Party Rooms available at the Central Avenue location ONLY!

5631 Central Ave. • Hot Springs501-525-9797

2215 Malvern Ave. • Hot Springs501-609-9700Mexican Grill & Cantina

TRENDING: Groom showers

Saturday, January 23, 2016BRIDAL GUIDE Saturday, January 23, 2016 BRIDAL GUIDE

The WildwoodEvent Center

1721 MLK Blvd. Ste PMalvern, AR 72104

North Park Square-Behind Sonic

Phone: 501-332-5507Like us on Facebook!

Bridal Showers Rehearsal Dinners Anniversary Parties

Birthday PartiesFamily Reunions

Every event is special at the Wildwood Event Center.

Bridal ShowersRehearsal DinnersAnniversary Parties

Birthday PartiesFamily Reunions Forever

Hand in Hand

421 S. Main Malvern • 332-6902

Hours: Tues.- Fri. 9:00-5:30

Sat. 9:00-3:00

By Tresa Erickson

Wedding rings come in all styles, and new designs are produced every year, providing brides with endless choic-es. Here is a brief look at some of the latest trends.

While round brilliant cuts were once the norm for wed-ding rings, you’ll fi nd a wide range of cuts today. Some of the more popular ones include the emerald cut, which has a vintage appeal and makes the stone appear larger than it is, and the pear cut, which also has a vintage ap-peal and works well with smaller carat stones. Cushion cut is also popular. The large facets can really make a stone shine.

Wedding ring settings have also changed. Halos con-tinue to be popular. In this type of setting, a border of smaller stones frames a larger stone in the middle, mak-ing it appear larger. Double halos feature even more bril-liance with two borders of smaller stones framing the larg-er stone in the middle. Floral halos are also popular and feature a border of smaller fl ower-like stones framing a larger stone in the middle. For active brides, a bezel set-ting is ideal. In this type of setting, a metal rim showcases the stone in the middle and holds it securely in place. For brides looking for something different, there are a num-ber of options, including bypass settings, twisted settings and the east-west setting, in which an oval, marquise or emerald cut stone is set horizontally. Any of these is sure to catch the eye.

More and more color is also making its way into wed-ding rings. White diamonds remain popular, but for brides wanting more, there are canary yellow diamonds, cognac diamonds, champagne diamonds and more. Some rings even feature gemstones, a white diamond surrounded by sapphires or rubies, for example. Bands may or may not be gold. White platinum is hot, and pink gold and black-ened metals are options. Mixed metals are popular as well. Picture a diamond perched atop a white and yellow gold twisted band or a stack of eternity bands in various metals. Stacked rings are hot right now, as are vintage styles and organic fl oral styles.

Wedding rings are not the only area designers are fo-cusing on. Bridal jewelry in general continues to evolve, with larger, bolder hair accessories and necklaces now available, including shoulder necklaces that stretch across the neck and shoulder blades. Whether you choose to fol-low the trends or create your own is up to you. It is your wedding after all. You should wear jewelry that appeals to you.

With this With this ring... ring...By Tresa Erickson

Some brides have been dreaming of their wedding day since they were little girls and only a big to-do at their church or a resort will suffi ce. Others opt for smaller affairs with fewer guests at a local venue. Some abandon with tradition altogether and exchange vows at the courthouse.

While simple, courthouse weddings offer some major benefi ts. They cost substantially less than a traditional wedding, require a lot less planning and involve less time and hassle all around. In most cases, all you have to do is go to the courthouse, apply for a marriage license and set up a time to exchange vows. You don’t have to fi nd an offi ciant, you don’t have to fi nd a venue, and most importantly, you don’t have to shell out big bucks.

You can zip in and out and

be married in less than 20 minutes. Although brief, there are ways you can make the ceremony special:

• Dress up. You don’t have to go all out and spend thousands of dollars on formalwear. You can rent a wedding dress and tuxedo, or you can opt for something less formal, like a nice dress and suit.

• Get some fl owers. Pick up some bouquets and boutonnieres for the occasion. It is your big day after all, and the arrangements won’t cost a lot. You can even make them yourself from fresh or artifi cial fl owers.

• Observe some traditions. Wear something old, something new, something

borrowed and something blue. Wear your hair up or a strand of pearls around your neck if that is the tradition in your family.

• Invite loved ones. Choose a best man and a maid of honor to stand beside you and witness your vows. Bring your kids, parents and grandparents. Fill up what pews are available with family and friends.

• Capture the memories. Hire a photographer/videographer or ask someone you know to serve as photographer/videographer. Just because you’re not having a big ceremony doesn’t mean you shouldn’t capture it on fi lm or video. Have some shots taken before and after the event, too.

• Celebrate afterwards. Go out to eat, have a little party at home or gather everyone together for a formal reception. A celebration will cost, but again, you don’t have to go all out. A simple meal with friends and family will cap off your big day nicely.

Courthouse weddings may be quick, but that doesn’t mean they have to be uneventful. Do what you can to make yours special. And if you can swing it, consider getting away for a honeymoon, even if it is just a night away at a local hotel.

Historic buildings like the HSC Courthouse offer wedding ceremony options.

The do’s and don’ts of courthouseI do’s


Wedding DirectoryDirectoryTake the headache out of planning your wedding...Check out these places!

501-337-4718

BODYBODYWORKSWORKS

HEALTH & RECREATION INC.HEALTH & RECREATION INC.

Be in Shape for your Big Day!

Health

KEENEY’SFOOD MARKET

Is your wedding

coming up?Try us for your catering needs!

101 W. Mill St. 332-3371

Catering

By Tresa EricksonWith all of the planning you

have to do for your wedding, one of the last things on your mind may be the order of participants in the processional. Sure, everything will start with the mothers and end with you, the bride, but as for who should come between, you don’t know. You’re hoping to work out all of that at the rehearsal. Meanwhile, you might want to brush on the traditional lineup in processionals.

Traditionally, the process begins with the seating of the groom’s and bride’s grandparents and parents. Once all of the guests have arrived and been

seated, an usher, or groomsman if not having separate ushers, walks each of the groom’s grandmothers down the aisle, one at a time, with their husbands following, and seats them. Another usher or groomsman then walks each of the bride’s grandmothers down the aisle with their husbands following in the same fashion. The ushers or groomsmen then take turns seating the parents, starting with the groom’s parents and ending with the bride’s mother. The seating of the bride’s mother signals that the wedding has offi cially begun.

After all grandparents and parents have been seated, the offi ciant and groom enter the room at the front and stand facing the guests. The best man follows unless he is escorting the maid of honor down the aisle. If the groomsmen are not serving as ushers, they enter the room as this time too, following behind the best man. The groom should stand on the right side of the aisle with the best man and groomsmen slightly to his left.

The attendants are up next. They can walk down the aisle in a couple of ways. If the groomsmen are serving as ushers, they may walk down fi rst, either in pairs or alone, followed by the bridesmaids, either in pairs or alone. The groomsmen may also escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. Once near the altar, the attendants may either sit in the front pew or stand with the bride

and groom. If standing, the bridesmaids should line up on the left, leaving room for the maid of honor, and the groomsmen on the right, leaving room for the best man if he is escorting the maid of honor. If they have come down the aisle together, the groomsmen and bridesmaids may line up in a semicircle behind the offi ciant and bride and groom.

It is now the maid of honor’s turn. She may walk down the aisle alone or be escorted by the best man. Once at the altar, the maid of honor should take her place next to where the bride will stand and the best man should stand next to the groom.

Any children in the wedding follow the maid of honor. Experts disagree as to whether the ringbearer or fl ower girl should

come fi rst. It is your choice, and if the children are young and tentative, you could have them walk together down the aisle. Children may sit with their parents or stand at the front. The fl ower girl should stand with the maid of honor, and the ringbearer with the best man.

Finally it is the bride’s turn to shine. Traditionally, the bride’s father escorts her down

the aisle. The bride should stand on her father’s left. Once the father has given the bride away, he may either step to the side and remain at the altar or return to the pew and sit with his family.

This is the traditional order of participants in a wedding processional. Keep in mind that you do not have to follow it. In fact, you will probably have to make some adjustments according to your situation. You may have to seat all of the grandparents well ahead of time due to their declining health and skip the seating of your mother if she is walking you down the aisle. You may have only one attendant each and choose to disband with the processional altogether. It is entirely up to you as to who walks down the aisle and in what order they do so.

Get the wedding party lined upBy Tresa Erickson

While tradition generally dictates wedding invitations arrive by postman, some brides and grooms are bucking the tide and going the email route. Reasons vary from the need to be green to the need to be cost savvy. It’s true. Sending wedding e-vites saves paper and keeps costs down. Some guests, however, may fi nd it tacky. As with anything, there are pros and cons to wedding e-vites.

The biggest benefi ts to wedding e-vites come in convenience, time and money. You don’t have to set aside a specifi c time to go to a card shop and browse through dozens of samples. You can browse online for wedding e-vite designs from the convenience of your own home at any time you desire, and when you fi nd a design you like and you’re ready to send it, you can do it in a matter of minutes. You

may have to spend a little time personalizing the design beforehand, and you may even have to pay for it, but you won’t have to pay for it to be printed, nor will you have to pay for postage. And with more brides and grooms choosing this route, wedding e-vite designs have improved considerably, with some arriving by virtual envelope and opening in the same way that a printed invitation would.

Of course, in order to send wedding e-vites, you will need your guests’ email addresses. Not everyone has an email account, and even if they do, they may seldom check it and miss out on your invitation altogether. You will have to take that into consideration, along with the amount of time it will take you to gather everyone’s email addresses. For a rather large wedding with hundreds of guests, gathering email addresses and entering them into your system might not be the best use of

your time. For a rather small affair with tech-savvy guests, wedding e-vites might be ideal. Not only can you be sure guests will receive your invite, but you can make it easier for them to retain the information and act upon it. That’s right. With wedding e-vites, you have the option of including additional information, from easy RSVPs to wedding registry links.

If you want, you can take your wedding e-vites a step further and incorporate them into a wedding website. That’s right. You can create a website with all the details of your wedding and post a link to it on your e-vite. One click of the link will take guests directly to your wedding website and provide them with everything they need to know from where the reception hall is located to what will be served for dinner. You can update the site regularly to keep guests informed and their questions answered.

E-vites make it E-asier


The WildwoodEvent Center

1721 MLK Blvd. Ste PMalvern, AR 72104

North Park Square-Behind Sonic

Phone: 501-332-5507Like us on Facebook!

Bridal Showers Rehearsal Dinners Anniversary Parties

Birthday PartiesFamily Reunions

Every event is special at the Wildwood Event Center.

Bridal ShowersRehearsal DinnersAnniversary Parties

Birthday PartiesFamily Reunions Forever

Hand in Hand

421 S. Main Malvern • 332-6902

Hours: Tues.- Fri. 9:00-5:30

Sat. 9:00-3:00

By Tresa Erickson

Wedding rings come in all styles, and new designs are produced every year, providing brides with endless choic-es. Here is a brief look at some of the latest trends.

While round brilliant cuts were once the norm for wed-ding rings, you’ll fi nd a wide range of cuts today. Some of the more popular ones include the emerald cut, which has a vintage appeal and makes the stone appear larger than it is, and the pear cut, which also has a vintage ap-peal and works well with smaller carat stones. Cushion cut is also popular. The large facets can really make a stone shine.

Wedding ring settings have also changed. Halos con-tinue to be popular. In this type of setting, a border of smaller stones frames a larger stone in the middle, mak-ing it appear larger. Double halos feature even more bril-liance with two borders of smaller stones framing the larg-er stone in the middle. Floral halos are also popular and feature a border of smaller fl ower-like stones framing a larger stone in the middle. For active brides, a bezel set-ting is ideal. In this type of setting, a metal rim showcases the stone in the middle and holds it securely in place. For brides looking for something different, there are a num-ber of options, including bypass settings, twisted settings and the east-west setting, in which an oval, marquise or emerald cut stone is set horizontally. Any of these is sure to catch the eye.

More and more color is also making its way into wed-ding rings. White diamonds remain popular, but for brides wanting more, there are canary yellow diamonds, cognac diamonds, champagne diamonds and more. Some rings even feature gemstones, a white diamond surrounded by sapphires or rubies, for example. Bands may or may not be gold. White platinum is hot, and pink gold and black-ened metals are options. Mixed metals are popular as well. Picture a diamond perched atop a white and yellow gold twisted band or a stack of eternity bands in various metals. Stacked rings are hot right now, as are vintage styles and organic fl oral styles.

Wedding rings are not the only area designers are fo-cusing on. Bridal jewelry in general continues to evolve, with larger, bolder hair accessories and necklaces now available, including shoulder necklaces that stretch across the neck and shoulder blades. Whether you choose to fol-low the trends or create your own is up to you. It is your wedding after all. You should wear jewelry that appeals to you.

With this With this ring... ring...By Tresa Erickson

Some brides have been dreaming of their wedding day since they were little girls and only a big to-do at their church or a resort will suffi ce. Others opt for smaller affairs with fewer guests at a local venue. Some abandon with tradition altogether and exchange vows at the courthouse.

While simple, courthouse weddings offer some major benefi ts. They cost substantially less than a traditional wedding, require a lot less planning and involve less time and hassle all around. In most cases, all you have to do is go to the courthouse, apply for a marriage license and set up a time to exchange vows. You don’t have to fi nd an offi ciant, you don’t have to fi nd a venue, and most importantly, you don’t have to shell out big bucks.

You can zip in and out and

be married in less than 20 minutes. Although brief, there are ways you can make the ceremony special:

• Dress up. You don’t have to go all out and spend thousands of dollars on formalwear. You can rent a wedding dress and tuxedo, or you can opt for something less formal, like a nice dress and suit.

• Get some fl owers. Pick up some bouquets and boutonnieres for the occasion. It is your big day after all, and the arrangements won’t cost a lot. You can even make them yourself from fresh or artifi cial fl owers.

• Observe some traditions. Wear something old, something new, something

borrowed and something blue. Wear your hair up or a strand of pearls around your neck if that is the tradition in your family.

• Invite loved ones. Choose a best man and a maid of honor to stand beside you and witness your vows. Bring your kids, parents and grandparents. Fill up what pews are available with family and friends.

• Capture the memories. Hire a photographer/videographer or ask someone you know to serve as photographer/videographer. Just because you’re not having a big ceremony doesn’t mean you shouldn’t capture it on fi lm or video. Have some shots taken before and after the event, too.

• Celebrate afterwards. Go out to eat, have a little party at home or gather everyone together for a formal reception. A celebration will cost, but again, you don’t have to go all out. A simple meal with friends and family will cap off your big day nicely.

Courthouse weddings may be quick, but that doesn’t mean they have to be uneventful. Do what you can to make yours special. And if you can swing it, consider getting away for a honeymoon, even if it is just a night away at a local hotel.

Historic buildings like the HSC Courthouse offer wedding ceremony options.

The do’s and don’ts of courthouseI do’s


By Tresa Erickson

It’s no secret. Wedding traditions tend to change with the times. Take the traditions of the bride wearing blue and waiting to see the groom until she walks down aisle, for example. The traditions continue today, but in a slightly different way for some brides.

The tradition of brides wearing blue dates back to Roman times when brides wore the color as a symbol of love, modesty and fi delity. Blue was also a symbol of purity and heavily associated with the Virgin Mary. In the late 1800s, blue became a popular color for wedding gowns due to proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.” Of course, no one can forget the English adage, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” Brides choosing to honor this particular tradition usually wore just a hint of blue, in a ribbon or a garter for example.

Many brides today still observe the tradition of wearing blue. Instead of their garter being blue, however, their shoes may be blue or feature a blue sticker on the bottom that says, “I do.” They might also have their wedding date stitched in blue inside their wedding dress. Brides who really want to break out of the box might actually wear a blue dress, hat or veil, or go with something a little less obvious like sapphire earrings, blue fi ngernail polish or a pale blue seashell clip in their hair.

Many brides today are also opting to see the groom before the ceremony begins. The moment, often referred to as “the fi rst look,” provides the bride and groom with a few minutes alone to take in the sight of each other in their formal attire. While some couples insist on total privacy, others invite their photographers/videographers along to capture their fi rst look on fi lm/video. Some may also invite their wedding party and close family members and friends along to share in the moment and get some of the photographs out of the way. That way, they will have more time to mingle with guests later.

These are just two twists on some old traditions. Brides and grooms are free to add their own twists or stick to the traditions entirely. The sky is the limit!

Add “something new” to your ceremony by having a balloon release, using biodegradable balloons, of course.

Twistson tradition

By Tresa Erickson

Bridal showers are as popular as ever. It’s a chance for brides to get together with family and friends and to learn more about their soon-to-be in-laws. Couples showers are just as popular, with bride and groom both in attendance. And then there are groom’s showers, specifi cally geared to the man of the hour. Many grooms today are opting for a groom’s shower instead of a bachelor party.

Anyone can host a groom’s shower—the best man, the groom’s brother, the groom’s best friend. As with any shower, planning a groom’s shower takes time. There are guest lists to make and invitations to extend. There are themes to consider and venues to determine. There are activities to select and menus to prepare. All of the choices made, of course, should refl ect the groom’s tastes and wishes.

Groom’s showers can be as formal or informal as you like. You can get together with some of the groom’s pals and check out a local game or take in a few rounds of golf. You can have a backyard barbecue and invite everyone the groom knows. Guest lists should include the groom’s family, friends and members of the wedding party as well as the bride’s family. Women may or may not be invited per the groom’s wishes. Invitations may occur by phone, email or mail. Generally, the more formal the gathering, the more formal the invitations should be. A large wine tasting at a local vinery, for example, might call for printed invitations sent by U.S.

mail, whereas a small gathering at a local pub might require just a few phone calls.

Themes and activities can run the gamut, and again, should refl ect the groom’s tastes and wishes. If the groom enjoys the great outdoors, then a campout at a nearby park with boating and fi shing might do the trick. If the groom likes to bowl, then a night out bowling with the guys might be ideal. You can even have the party at someone’s home in front of the big game or around the poker table. And if you just want to hang out, there are all kinds of ideas for games for a groom’s shower.

What party would be complete without good food? Food is essential to a groom’s shower, and it can be as simple as burgers and fries or pizza and breadsticks. You can go out to a restaurant or have a meal catered. The same goes with the decorations. You can go all out or forget them altogether depending upon the venue. If you plan to host a groom’s shower at a baseball game, you might have nothing more to do than to reserve some good seats and arrange for some good food.

Gifts are always appreciated at showers and ideas can come from a wide range of sources, from the groom’s likes to the shower theme

to the gift registry. That’s right. You can ask the groom to register for gifts at various stores. If you are having a themed groom’s shower, you can suggest guests purchase gifts that refl ect that theme. Handy grooms might appreciate the myriad of tools they will receive from a tool-themed shower, while grillers

might like a backyard barbecue and the big, deluxe stainless steelgrill everyone pitches in to buythem.

A groom’s shower can be agreat way for the guys to relaxand unwind before the big day. Itdoes require some planning, but itcan be a lot of fun.

A groom shower can be as simple as grilling out with friends or going out to eat at a favorite restaurant.

Let us Cater your Rehearsal Dinner!Come by our location or we can come to you!

Private Party Rooms available at the Central Avenue location ONLY!

5631 Central Ave. • Hot Springs501-525-9797

2215 Malvern Ave. • Hot Springs501-609-9700Mexican Grill & Cantina

TRENDING: Groom showers

Saturday, January 23, 2016BRIDAL GUIDE

BridalGuide

Saturday, January 23, 2016

A special supplement to the Malvern Daily Record

By Tresa EricksonThe tossing of the bouquet

dates back to the garter cer-emony of the 14th century. The wedding party would often go with the bride and groom to the bridal chambers, and once there, the grooms-men would try to remove the bride's garter. In fun, the bride would toss her garter to the masses. Over time, the garter was replaced with the bouquet in many wedding traditions and the bride would throw it to bestow luck onto her friends. Whatever lady caught it would be the next one to marry.

Today, many brides con-tinue to look forward to the tossing of the bouquet. Rather than throw their own wedding bouquet, some have their fl o-rist make a smaller bouquet that they can toss. At recep-tions where there aren't a lot of single women, brides may choose to have a Jack and Jill toss and ask all of the singles in the room, men and women, to come out onto the fl oor for the toss. This tactic takes some of the pressure off and turns the toss into more of a fun game than a serious com-petition.

Instead of dragging all of the singles onto the fl oor,

some brides may ask all mar-ried couples to come onto the fl oor and present the bouquet to the one that turns out by process of elimination to have been married the longest. Not only does the gesture serve as a sign of appreciation, but it honors the couple for their long-term commitment to each other. This concept also works with guests who have trav-eled to the wedding from out of state. The person who has traveled the farthest receives the bouquet as a token of the bride's appreciation.

Brides who are uncomfort-able with singling out guests may choose to give their bou-quet to their parents. They may do this publicly at the reception or privately at their parents' home. Either way, the gesture will serve as a wonderful token of the bride's appreciation for her parents' support over the years.

There are alternatives to tossing your bouquet to a group of single women who rather not be in the limelight. Keep the preferences of your guests in mind as you make your decision. You may just discover that having a garter toss in lieu of a bouquet toss would make for far more fun.

doesn’t have to blow your budget.

Flowers and GiftsPosies

A Po

cket Full Of

1135 E. Page Ave. • 501.337.4500Open: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

•Creative ceremony and reception arrangements•Personal consultants to work with your budget

ttttoootooooo tobbbbbuuuudgggggbbbbbbbuuuddddddddddggggggggggggeeeeetttttt...ddgggeet.budget.

and Giftsand G

PoooPP

ccccccoo kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkcccccc eekkkkk ttttte FFFFFuuuFFFFFFFF lllllluu lllllll OOOOOffffO

gg1111111111 53553535 E E E EEE PaPPPPPa111 35353 Paa egege A A A AAA evevev •• • 505050501.1.1.1 333333 .7.7.7.7 454444 000007.4457 4 000aaaP gege A ee •• 050501 333333 444454500500000000000001135 E. Page Ave. • 501.337.4500ggggOOOOOOppppppenenen : : MMMOOO m t tt t to o o o 5 5 55 p.p.p.pp m.m ••• S S SSS tatatatat 9 9 9 aa.a m.m t tt to o ooo p•• S t mmm to p mmmooo 121212221 MoMooon.nn - - FFF ririr 9 9 99 a.a.a.m.mm p MMMMo FF 99 a ttoo p • a 99 a to p mmmpppppppppOpen: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

fmmmoonnnyyyyyyy aaannndddddd rrrreeecceeeppppppptttiiiooonnnnn aaar angggggggggeemmmeennnntttssssnnnCCCCrrrreeaaattttiiiivvvveeee cccceerrrremmmoo••CCC••CCCC eativvee cce e o y a d ecceptioo aa e tss•Creative ceremony and reception arrangementsssuuullltttannntttssss ttttooo wwwwwoorrrrkkkkkk wwwwwwiiiiithhhhhhh yyyyyyyoourrrrr bbuooouuuueerrrsssooonnnallll ccccooonnnnss••••PPPPPPPeer oonnaaallPPe ssoo aa coo ssss ltants too oo iittthh oo bbbbbbbuuuuddddddddgggggggeeeettttt•Personal consultants to work with your budget

33 330 333 00000003 0 33 00

dddddddddddoooeeeesssnn’’’’ttttt hhhhhddddooooeeessnnn hhhhhhaaaavvveeeeee tttttaavvvveedoesn’t have t bbbbbblllllooooowwwwwwww yyyyyyyyyooooouuurrrrrrr bbbbb b o oblow your bThe wedding of

your dreams...

The wedding of your drea

ms...

Call Today for

your FREEConsultation

To toss or not to toss

bridal guide to toss or not to toss bridal guide · family reunions every event is special at the...

Documents