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2B | THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner JANUARY 28, 2011

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Clip-clopping your way to the altar in style

There’s that special moment

in every wedding, shortly

after the groom takes his

place on the platform. Rows of heads

are turned back, away from the altar.

The organ changes its tune. Cameras

are loaded, aimed and ready, waiting

for the beautiful bride.

And then, the wedding guests fi nally hear what they’ve been waiting for all day – the pounding of hooves.

The expressions of delighted shock on the guests’ faces as the bride arrives in a splendid horse-drawn carriage are exactly what John Miller loves to see. Miller, along with his wife Cindy, owns Fancy Wheelin’, a company that provides such classic conveyance for weddings, parades, special events or even just a romantic night out with a special someone.

Miller and his wife purchased the company in 2003 and have since thor-oughly enjoyed playing a special part in a memorable chapter of many couples’ lives. The horses often bring a bride from her house to the church, but special entrances for outdoor weddings can also be planned.

Fancy Wheelin’ also caters to Indian weddings, called Baraat Ceremonies, featuring beautiful imported decorations.

“It’s really a marvelous entrance when you get a 2,000-pound horse and the

carriage carrying the bride,” Miller said. “Most people will stand up out of their chairs or just sit there in awe.”

Fancy Wheelin’ horses have also provided the transportation for Santa Claus

at holiday parades in Brentwood, Antioch and Los Altos. Horses from Fancy Wheelin’ have been as far north as Windsor and

J U S T I N L A F F E R T Y

see Style page 10B

Many couples choose to eschew the customary limo and give an old-time feeling to their weddings with a horse and carriage, something that Fancy Wheelin’ owner John Miller loves to watch.

Photo courtesy of John Miller

JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 3B

4B | THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner JANUARY 28, 2011

Planning the day of your dreams

Congratulations! You’ve found the

right person to spend the rest of

your life with and you’ve picked

a date, but now what? Planning a wedding

involves going over a large list of details

and checking it twice. But where do you

start?

First give yourself a pat on the back for fi nd-ing true love. That in itself is an accomplishment, but now you need to ask yourself: who (will you invite?), what (will you wear?), when (should the ceremony start?), where (will the reception be held?), how (am I going to pay for it?), and why (did I decide to plan this myself?).

Take a moment to breathe. Yes, you have a million things to do, but if you plan accordingly, you won’t overstress yourself and you might even enjoy the planning process. The important thing to remember is that it’s never too early to start planning your wedding day. According to most wedding planners, couples should spend at least a year planning their nuptials. This gives them time to fi nd the right vendors and save money so they can stay within their budget. That’s the biggest thing to keep in mind – how much are you planning to spend for the big day and how do you intend to work within that budget?

S A M I E H A R T L E Y

Planning a wedding is a lot of work, so take advantage of books, magazines and websites to help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

Photo by Samie Hartley

JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 5B

A year before you get married, you and your fi ancé should begin to brain-storm wedding ideas. Do you want to get married in a church or in a vineyard or in Hawaii? Do you want a large wedding with 200 guests or an intimate affair with only 20? Establish guidelines to work from by determining the magnitude of the ceremony and party you want to throw.

Eleven months to go: Start look-ing for a venue for the ceremony and the reception as well as the offi ciant. It’s also time to choose members of the wedding party who will serve as your allies during the rest of your planning. And settle on the music and a photographer (and videographer). These services book fast, so secure these services and make a deposit if needed.

Ten months to go: Think about what you’re going to look like on the big day. Do you want to lose some weight, grow out your hair or tone up before the ceremony? This is the time to start thinking about what you want to do with your hair and makeup. And decide on your colors because you’ll need to plan for fl ow-ers, linens and dresses in the upcoming months.

Nine months to go: Time to begin fi nalizing that guest list, taking care not to leave anyone out, and begin looking for save-the-date notices and invitations. By now, you should also be searching for a caterer and conducting interviews and tastings.

see Planning page 9B

6B | THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner JANUARY 28 2011

Stroll your way toyour special day

As you begin your wish list

of the elements you’d like

to include in your wedding

– from the clothes to the venue – you

begin to realize there are dozens of

decisions to make and an abundance

of businesses clamoring to be a part

of your big day.

It would be great if you could meet all these service providers in one place during one afternoon, and the truth is … you can! Bridal fairs offer brides-to-be (and their fi ancés) a glimpse at dozens if not hundreds of options to make their day as special and perfect as possible. And if you want to hire locally and support far East County, Brentwood’s A Bride’s Day Out is the place to be to fi nd local caterers, stylists, photographers, limo drivers, DJs and anyone else you need to hire or consult to

S A M I E H A R T L E Y

Attending a bridal fair such as A

Bride’s Day Out in Brentwood helps

couples check items off their wedding

wish list.

Photo by Charles Pierce

JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 7B

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create a magical day.“This year A Bride’s Day Out will feature

more vendors and options to couples look-ing for ideas or looking for someone to hire,” said His and Her Formal Wear owner Annette Beckstrand. “We’re also offering three grand prizes this year for guests who participate in blackout bingo. If you get a stamp from all of the vendors on your bingo card, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 prize and two $250 prizes. Plus each vendor will be offer-ing their own raffl e, so there are a lot of oppor-tunities to score deals and meet with vendors.”

The third annual installment of downtown Brentwood’s bridal fair, schedule for Saturday, Feb. 19, features 34 vendors. The advantage to meeting a baker or a travel agent during a bridal fair is that these providers will offer discounts to entice you to select their services over the competition. Most of the vendors at A Bride’s Day Out will offer 10- to 20-percent discounts on merchandise and services, so it’s the perfect time to start making plans.

When planning your wedding, it’s important to shop around and compare quality and cost of services. Bridal fairs offer couples a chance to talk with wedding professionals face to face and see examples of their work. At the

very least you walk away with a business card, but you could fi nd the perfect fl orist or gown during the fair.

“Bridal fairs are a great way to meet a lot of vendors in one place,” Beckstand said. “You can meet several caterers in one place or you can spend several weekends checking out vendors, so it’s kind of a no-brainer. During a bridal fair, you also get a chance to get a read on vendors and see if your personalities match, which will give you an idea of what your work-ing relationship will be like.”

Bridal fairs come in all shapes and sizes, but the best part about A Bride’s Day Out is that there’s no entrance fee, so you can bring an entire entourage to help you wade through all the options. Some bridal fairs offer tickets in advance and charge at the door, while large expositions charge an entrance fee of up to $15, so take advantage of this free opportu-nity to get ideas – but make sure you come prepared. Here are a few tips to make the most of your experience at A Bride’s Day Out:Identify yourself

Head to a party or craft store and buy a bride button, ribbon or cap so vendors

see Stroll page 11B

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JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 9B

Eight months to go: Time to get into fairytale mode and begin dress shopping. Reserve plenty of time to look for a bridal gown and bridesmaids’ dresses. Guys don’t get to sit this one out, though. You might as well settle on what the groom and groomsmen are wearing, too.

Seven months to go: Time to get a taste of the sweet side of your big day by shopping for a fl orist and a wedding cake. This is the perfect time to sample plenty of cakes and not feel guilty. You’re still keep-ing up with your workout regimen, right?

Six months to go: Create a wedding website or blog to keep potential guests up to date on the latest information. If people will arrive from out of town, a website is the place to offer hotel sugges-tions and maps of the route from the ceremony to the reception. Also, remem-ber those wedding attendants you so carefully picked out? Put them to work. Let your wedding party help you keep tabs on the details now that you’ve booked all the key vendors for your big day.

Five months to go: Things are start-ing to come together. Now that it’s all becoming more real, think about where you’d like to go when it’s all over. Find a travel agent and book the honeymoon of your dreams – and a hotel for your wedding night.

Four months to go: Now would be a good time to choose wedding bands. Oh, and don’t forget that you’ve got a rehearsal dinner to plan. Give the host a

guest list and begin choosing the menu.Three months to go: Time to look at

the little details. Pick out your bridal jewel-ry, and accessories for the bridesmaids. Book hair and makeup professionals to make you look like a princess, and if you’ve got time, do a little lingerie shopping now that you’ve got the perfect getaway planned. This is also the time when you should be putting the fi nal touches on your invitations to give guests plenty of time to RSVP.

Two months to go: Time to fi nalize the big details. Get your marriage license and blood tests, and if needed, update your passport. By now, you should have ironed out the details of the ceremony – songs, special performances and guest speakers. Buy the favors for your guests and gifts for the wedding party.

One month to go: Almost there! The day seemed so far away, but now it’s coming fast. If you’re writing your own vows, you should be close to fi nishing them now. Attend several fi ttings for the dresses and suits to make sure everyone is comfortable. For those not in the wedding party, make sure they’re comfortable, too, and do your best to make a seating chart that will keep drama to a minimum. Don’t forget to check in with all of your vendors to make sure everything is good to go.

A few hours to go: Relax. Let your attendants and family track down last-minute details and fi nalize preparations. This is your day. Enjoy it.

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Planning from page 5B

10B | THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner JANUARY 28, 2011

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as south as Fresno and towns along the central coast.

One of Miller’s personal favorites occurred when his company was chosen by the Catholic Diocese of Stockton to trans-port a cardinal and a bishop in a parade.

On a smaller scale, a horse and carriage was sent to a 5-year-old girl’s prin-cess party. The regal horse, white carriage and dashing top hat and tuxedo-clad prince were a big hit among the dozen or so little girls at the party.

“As I told the mother, this will be with her forever,” Miller said. “It was just a wonderful moment.”

Fancy Wheelin’ has 12 horses in its Tracy stable. Among them are a Belgian, “Nanen,” as well as “Diesel” and “Little Tommy,” two of the company’s Percherons, horses with a proud history. According to the Fancy Wheelin’ website, Belgian horses “are believed to have the most direct lineage to the ‘Great Horse’ of Medieval times.” Percherons are also calm in the presence of children, which explains their widespread use at theme parks.

For weddings, Miller’s company provides silver goblets with sparkling cider, silk fl owers on the carriage that match the colors of bride’s dress, and a driver and footman dressed in tuxedos. The horse’s tail is also braided and adorned with a bow.

Fancy Wheelin’ works with white, custom Anderson carriages. Miller said the company’s more than 100 annual events

range from weddings to quinceañeras. John, a former engineer for Hewlett

Packard, said Cindy has been around horses her entire life. When she saw an ad in the newspaper stating that the owner of the company was selling the name, the horses and the carriages, Cindy jumped on it. The previous owners were great to work with and gave them a few weeks to learn the ropes before setting them free.

“This beats working,” Miller said. “You get to be a part of people’s celebra-tion. Everyone’s thrilled to see the horse, to see the carriage. You can’t fi nd a more unique and fun way to make a living. You get to be a little part of peoples’ big day.”

To get in touch with Fancy Wheelin’ for a wedding or other event, visit www.fancywheelin.com or call 888-326-2994.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Style from page 2B

Photo courtesy of John Miller

In addition to a horse and carriage, Fancy Wheelin’ provides goblets of sparkling cider, silk fl owers that match the wedding’s décor, and a driver and footman dressed in tuxedos.

JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 11B

can easily single you out when a large group approaches a table.Bring a large purse or bag

During a bridal fair, you’ll be collecting a lot of information and packets, so bring a receptacle to store the loot in and keep your hands free to explore other display tables. If you’ve got a bridesmaid in tow, ask her to hold the brochures from the places that you really liked so they’ll be easy to fi nd after the event.Dress comfortably

You’ll be doing a lot of walking as you explore downtown Brentwood, so wear comfortable shoes. And since the event is outdoors, make sure you check the weather report before you head out.Bring address labels

All the vendors will want to know how to contact you, so save yourself time by bring-ing address labels. Add your phone number and e-mail address if applicable. Better yet, Beckstrand suggests attendees bring labels inscribed with their e-mail addresses to make the process easier.Speaking of e-mails …

Your inbox is already overfl owing with

e-mails, so set up a new e-mail account exclu-sively for your wedding planning and keep all information and updates in one spot.Bring your camera

Take photos of displays to share with your bridal party and your fi ancé. The images will also help jog your memory about things you looked at.Take notes

Bring a notepad and several pens so that you can take notes while you talk with vendors. Write down the vendors you spoke with and what you liked most about a display or exhibit.Have fun

In case you forgot, your wedding should be a happy occasion and you should enjoy yourself while you plan. So take your time, enjoy the food, take breaks, and brainstorm ideas for your big day.

A Bride’s Day Out is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in historic downtown Brentwood. For a list of vendors scheduled to appear, visit www.brentwooddowntown.com. To fi nd a map for parking in the area, visit www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/streetscapes and click the shoppers link at the bottom of the page.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Stroll from page 7B

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12B | THEPRESS.NET Wedding Planner JANUARY 28 2011

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featuring three venues on the grounds – the Grand Court for the ceremony, Koi Garden for hors d’oeuvres and Bridal Falls for the reception. Brownstone Gardens books only one group at a time, so your event remains intimate and private.

“What’s so wonderful about Brownstone,” said Brownstone wedding planner Jacqui Lucas, “is that it’s all on one big site and it’s yours for the entire evening. It’s a garden setting, and we provide all the set-up and take-down. And we can include

the food, cake and fl owers. Whatever the couple wants.” For more information, call 925-550-6094 or visit www.brownstone-gardens.com.

All-inclusive wedding packages are popular today, as are outdoor venues. Over at Hannah Nicole Vineyards, 6700 Balfour Road in Brentwood, where owners Glenda and Neil Cohn offer soup-to-nuts weddings in a wine-country setting, the watchword is “romantic.”

“Not many places out here offer a fully functioning vineyard as a wedding loca-

Place from page 8B

Whether it’s an intimate gathering or formal reception, East County brides and grooms have plenty to choose from, including the spectacular venue at Brownstone Gardens in Oakley.

Photo courtesy of Brownstone Gardens

JANUARY 28, 2011 Wedding Planner THEPRESS.NET | 13B

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Th e Brentwood Senior Activity Center is the perfect choice for your event and is ideal for weddings, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, and birthday celebrations. For more information contact the City of Brentwood Parks and Recreation Department at (925) 516-5444.

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tion,” said Neil. “And what could be more romantic? We can accommodate weddings inside or out; formal or more informal, and we can hold up to 300 people. It’s a venue that works really well.” For information, call 925-240-9463 or visit www.hvwines.com.

If you’re looking for a simpler yet elegant location for your wedding, the Brentwood Senior Center shouldn’t be over-looked. Located on Griffi th Lane near the Brentwood Aquatic Center and Veterans Park, the senior center offers banquet seating for events ranging from 35 guests to more than 200. Its full kitchen, parquet fl oors and small stage area offer something for every bride-to-be and her groom.

“It’s really a lovely spot,” said Elaine McGurk, administrative assistant with the City of Brentwood Parks and Recreation Department. “This venue is ideal and perfect for weddings. It’s become very popular.”

Other venues:If you’re looking for something differ-

ent, try booking your wedding and recep-tion on Delta Discovery Cruises. Available seven days a week every season of the year, water lovers can tailor their event aboard Delta Discovery. For more information, call

925-252-9300 or visit www.deltadiscovery-

cruises.com.

The staff of Wedgewood Wedding and

Banquet Center, 100 Summerset Drive in

Brentwood (formerly Nines restaurant at the

Golf Club at Brentwood) can accommodate

receptions of all styles and sizes. Call 866-

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The Lone Tree Golf Course and Event

Center, 4800 Golf Course Road in Antioch,

is an East County mainstay for special

events. For booking information and

wedding packages, call 925-706-4220 or

visit www.lonetreegolfcourse.com.

When budgeting for your reception,

consider that today’s average wedding

costs somewhere in the neighborhood of

$20,000, roughly 45 percent of which is

allocated to food and venue. However,

packages and deals abound, and depending

upon the size and style of your wedding,

the perfect wedding can be arranged for

considerably less.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

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