Gb newbeginnings2014

WEDDING PLANNER | 2014WEDDING PLANNER | 2014WEDDING PLANNER | 2014

JANUARY 3 & 4at Shopko Hall

Marriage Material

The wedding

show

Tips to avoid wedding dress

woes

pages 2-3

pages 6-7

New BegiNNiNgs | Wedding Planner | 20142 www.greenbaypressgazette.com

Facebook and Instagram lit up brilliantly with

images of engagement rings over the holi-

days and into the new year. Now that the

hands of many local brides-to-be are be-

decked to start 2014, the next step begins

– choosing the perfect dress.

sTarT wiTh The silhoUeTTe Mandy Olsen, bridal consultant at Elaine’s Wedding

and Event Center in Green Bay, says the most important feature of a wedding dress is its silhouette. Research sil-houette styles like the mermaid, ball gown, A-line, and trumpet not just for the appeal they bring to your eye, but also how they work with your body type.

“From there you should look at specifi c fabrics you are

drawn to,” she says. “The neckline and details will all en-sue.”

Brenda Kilheffer, owner of Tie the Knot Bridal Bou-tique in Green Bay, states the dress should fi t the bride’s personality, the venue of the wedding, and the expected “feel” of the wedding.

“It comes down to knowing the bride, and what she’s trying on,” she explains. “We ask for pictures of styles they

Tips to avoid wedding dress woesBy MegHan dieMel

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3www.greenbaypressgazette.com New BegiNNiNgs | Wedding Planner | 2014

like, which then usually shows the silhou-ette they’re looking for and the fabric, etc.”

TrendseTTing or TradiTional?

The latest trends are meant to keep the bridal industry fresh for a bride, so ulti-mately they do become the details, says Olsen.

“A bride will need to decide if she wants a more traditional style or to go with some-thing very fresh and unique,” she suggests.

Kilheffer notes that just because some-thing is considered the latest trend doesn’t mean it’s not worth a peek if you are going for a more traditional look.

“I think trends are important,” she says. “For instance, if you walk into our store right now, you’d say lace is a trend. It is a trend, but it’s also very traditional. But then there are trends offset by that lace. Right now, illusion necklines are in. Will the illu-sion neckline be around here for the next five years? Probably not. Will it be around for the next two? Yes, definitely. But lace

will always be around; it’s just heavy duty right now.”

Olsen adds that in the end, regardless of the dress details, the main thing is that the bride is comfortable in her dress and feels amazing.

dresses, dresses everywhere

How do you find the balance between trying on too many dresses and feeling like you haven’t tried on enough?

“I think we as consultants always have a good inkling when a bride finds the dress,” says Kilheffer. “You start looking at their fa-cial reactions and how they feel in the dress.”

“Brides have to start somewhere and usually on their first appointment we en-courage them to try on numerous styles, fabric, and necklines to determine what she wants to wear,” explains Olsen. “Once we have narrowed those down we will try to pull similar styles so the process is more efficient – like comparing apples to apples, instead of apples to oranges to pears.” And just how many people should you bring along? Kilheffer and Olsen agree that a mini-mal number is best.

“[Include] a few people who know you well and will be open to whatever dress you ulti-mately decide on,” says Olsen.

The BoTTom lineKilheffer says undergarments, like slips

and corseted bras, are also an important piece of the puzzle. A consultant will tell you which ones are necessary based on the type of dress you purchase.

“It can change the way a dress fits you; it gives you a really great shape,” she says. “The right slip, the right bra makes a world of difference. Suddenly the dress has gone from okay to ‘wow’ because it’s given the dress so much shape.”

Other tips include allowing eight to 12 months of lead time so you can enjoy the search process. Saturdays, holiday week-ends, and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day are always busy for the bridal industry, so think about that when scheduling an appointment as well, advises Kilheffer.

Olsen adds that the most important part is to have fun.

“It’s a happy day and your future husband will think you look beautiful in most any-thing,” she says.

Lindeman’s Cleaning uses a uniquesealed heirloom approved Preservationpackage which protects fabrics fromlight, dust, and other airborne pollutants.At Lindeman’s Cleaning we preserveyour memories for future generations.

A Beautiful Memory is Worth Keeping...

Bride’s Wedding Gown Preservation PackagePlease present coupon with incoming order.

Not valid with any other offers.

Mother of the Bride/Groom &/orBridesmaid Dresses.

Please present coupon with incoming order.Not valid with any other offers.

Exp. 5/31/13 Exp. 5/31/13

Main Plant1231 S. Monroe Ave.

435-5345

EAST1620 Lime Kiln Rd.

406-7635

DE PERE900 George St.

983-8345

WEST2087 S. Oneida

499-5085

HOWARD705 Cardinal Ln.

434-1556

Celebra

ting 60 Years!



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While weddings require the bride-to-be to commit months of planning, when her bach-elorette party rolls around the only thing that should be on her to-do list is to have fun.

Saying good-bye to single life doesn’t mean a bride has to spend the eve-ning slamming shots and dancing on the bar—this wild night of celebrating doesn’t fit every woman or her wedding party. Honor the sophisticated bride-to-

be with something more her style. Tailor the party to the bride’s personality and consider one of these local bachelorette party alternatives.

Wine tastingSkip the bars and bottles of beer.

Head to a local winery for the afternoon and enjoy a stylish alternative.

Wineries are scattered throughout Northeast Wisconsin, each offering visi-tors different wine tasting opportunities. Many offer tastings in a laid-back atmo-sphere for only a few dollars.

“The purpose of a bachelorette party is to celebrate the bride. Bringing the group to a winery allows you to ‘cheers’ the bride without being distracted,” says Andrea DeBaker, co-owner of Trout Springs Winery in Greenleaf.

DeBaker reveals they have had groups of 20-40; their event room can accommodate approximately 30 peo-ple. She adds, “Depending on the size of the group, we’ve had parties rent the winery for half a day. Or, we’ll close to the public for a short time and can ac-commodate over 100 people here.”

A commercial kitchen allows Trout Springs Winery to do some food prep—cheese and crackers or a chocolate fountain are a great complement to the wine.

Captain’s Walk Winery in downtown Green Bay has a tasting room that can accommodate up to 25 guests. Their sunroom has space for up to 50 guests or rent out the entire winery for a larger group. Groups of any size should make reservations.

“Wine tastings are nice because they are a more intimate event but ladies will

Celebrating the Bride-to-Be Away from the BarsBy Jennifer Hogeland

Bachelorette Party Alternatives

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5www.greenbaypressgazette.com New BegiNNiNgs | Wedding Planner | 2014often still dress up in bachelorette fash-ion—wearing goofy hats or something fun to signify it’s a celebration.”

enjoy a spa dayChances are as the bride-to-be ap-

proaches the final days before the wed-ding, she’s a bit stressed. After all the work and decision-making, she’ll likely appreciate some serious relaxation. Pamper her with a spa day.

“We are seeing more and more bach-elorette parties coming in,” says Kayla Gedda, sales and marketing manager at Haven Salon and Spa in De Pere. “Wom-en want to take care of themselves and they appreciate the opportunity to do it with friends and family.”

Gedda explains another bonus for picking a spa day is grandma, a 14-year-old niece and the wedding party can all participate—this wouldn’t be the case if you took the bride for a night on the town.

Haven Salon and Spa finds their most popular package for bachelorette par-ties, or girls night out events, is an ex-press pedi, express mani, chair mas-sage and makeup application, although Gedda says a spa day doesn’t have to

break the bank. Some women choose to have three or four services while another could just do one. She adds, “The goal is to get women together, relax, be pam-pered and prepare for the big day.”

dinner and a showTreat the bride-to-be to a limited-time

performance. We’re fortunate to have Meyer Theatre in our backyard, which features several shows throughout the year that appeal specifically to the fe-male crowd.

Pick a parody or musical production and prepare to be entertained. Matt Goebel, general manager of the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay, adds, “The type of show fitting for a bachelorette party is really based on the taste of the bride. Any show is an option, based on what it is and what they are into.”

Explore the downtown happenings before or after the show. “This area of-fers a one-stop shop,” says Goebel. “Go out to dinner, go to a show—often a party bus will pull up, drop the group off and the women will walk down the street after the show to continue the party.”

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7NEW BEGINNINGS | Wedding Planner | 2014NEW BEGINNINGS | Wedding Planner | 20146 www.greenbaypressgazette.com

BACHELOR(ETTE) PARTIESPassion Parties by Frenchie ...... 527Commando Paintball ..................92

BAKERYAlpha Delights European

Bakery & Cafe ....................... 207Bake My Day! ............................502Bernie’s Specialy Cake

Shop .....................................200Cake Anatomy ...........................112Cakes from Scratch .................. 231Cakescapes ..............................408Frosted Delights ........................ 618Kakes by Korth .........................337Monzu — Bakery ...................... 518Tamara’s The Cake Guru ..........533The Amazing Cupcake, LLC ..... 218The Cake Lady’s Place ............. 319

BALLROOM DANCE STUDIOSimply Ballroom LLC ................706

BEAUTY SERVICESInStyle Salon .............................606Mary Kay Cosmetics .................407Salon Nouveau .........................309

BODYWEAREssential Bodywear, LLC .......... 131

BRIDAL ACCESSORIESElegant Occasions ....................504

BRIDAL SHOPSBridal Elegance &

Formalwear ...........................222Bridal Essentials ........................536David’s Bridal .............................111Elaine’s Wedding Center ...........305Noir Blanc a boutique llc ........... 525The Bridal Event ........................234Tie the Knot Bridal Boutique .....226Victorian Bridal ..........................436

BRIDAL SHOWERSThe Bottle Room .......................509

CATERINGCustom Catering By J ............... 331Runaway Spoon .......................600The Catering Company .............403The Marq ..................................405UW-Green Bay .......................... 415Wellington .................................630

CEREMONYGardens of the Fox Cities .......... 137Green Bay Bontanical

Garden ..................................208Heritage Hill State Historical

Park ...................................... 216Sepia Wedding Chapel ............. 413

CEREMONY LOCATIONSPaine Art Center and

Gardens ................................100The Bridal Church .....................422

CLEANINGLindeman’s Cleaning.................304

CONFECTIONS & SWEETSKelley Country Creamery ..........605Seroogy’s Chocolates ...............209Silkwave Chocolate Fountain .... 314

CONSULTANTS/PLANNERSSash & Bow ..............................228Seize the Day Events..................117Signature Events Planning and De-

sign Studio, LLC .................... 524

COOKWAREDinner 4 Two

by Royal Prestige ..................333

DECORATIONS/RENTALS“I Do” Wishes ...........................622Elegant By Design .....................223Simply Silk ................................ 410Sweet N Easy Events ................532

DISC JOCKEYAC Royal Entertainment ............401Advanced Entertainment

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Global Entertainment ............ 531Elite Music Service .................... 210Extreme Entertainment .............227Fortune Talent ........................... 105Matt’s DJ Service ...................... 519Music In Motion Disc Jockeys .....98Music Masters Entertainment ... 312Music Vision .............................. 610Nite Lights Entertainment ..........323PK Productions DJ Service .......336Sound Dimensions Disc

Jockeys .................................300Superior Sound

Entertainment .......................307

DISC JOCKEY/PHOTOBOOTHAction Djs, Inc. .......................... 412Sundown

Entertainment ............. 125 & 127The Music Caterer...........505 & 507

FAVORS/GIFTSBetween The Sheets .................236Bliss Wedding Boutique ............ 325Thirty-One Gifts ........................ 515

FINANCIAL SERVICESCountry Financial ......................708Northwestern Mutual Financial

Network ................................89

FLORAL PRESERVATIONForever In Time .........................530Suspended In Time ................... 510

FLORIST Artful Rose ................................ 512Aster Park Floral ........................ 120Bouchard’s Floral & Gifts .......... 211Branching Out & Company .......700Buds ‘n Bloom Design

Studio ................................... 101Divine Nature ............................522Ebb and Flow Flowers ...............205Flowers and Things ................... 712Lilybee Flowers Inc....................433Marshall Florist .......................... 110Memorial Florists &

Greenhouses, Inc .................. 416Nature’s Best Floral ...................628Petal Pusher Floral Studio .........235Ray of Sunshine Creations ........608Schroeder’s Flowers Inc ...........501The Plant People Floral &

Gift Shop ............................... 310

FORMALWEARDuBois Formalwear ..................301Nedrebo’s Formal Wear ............ 428The Men’s Warehouse ..............322

HEALTH & WELLNESSArbonne International ................432DeLorey Chiropractic Clinic ....... 418Dr. Roger Stanek ...................... 517Green Bay YMCA ......................202Isagenix .....................................529Lifestyle Chiropractic.................308Massart Chiropractic ................ 215Sunseekers by Rosie ................206

HONEYMOON/TRAVELEagle Harbor Inn .......................406Expedia Cruise Ships Center /

Just Cruises .......................... 104Premier Travel ...........................603

Sunsational Beach Vacations ....508Way To Go Travel and Tours ..... 311

HOTELHoliday Inn & Suites Stadium .... 614Menominee Casino Resort ....... 714Sleep Inn & Suites .....................602

INVITATIONSInvites by Jen ............................ 313Memorable Greetings &

Invitations .............................. 106

IT WORKSIt Works - Sarah Fiel ..................230

JEWELERBay Area Diamond Company ...400Elizabeth Ella ............................. 616Lia Sophia Jewelry ....................431Origami Own -

Laurie Thompson ..................429Something New -

That’s Amazing ..................... 108

LIMOUSINEBeyond Limousines ..................534Bucky’s Limousine Service .........94Escort Limousine Service ......... 122Heritage Limousine ...................204L&S Classic Limousine LLC ...... 219Lamers Limousine

Service ..................613 & OutsidePrestige & Executive Limousine

Coach ...................................434

MAGAZINEThe Wedding Magazine ............ 116Premier Bride ....................Entrance

MEDIA101 WIXX .................................. 123Green Bay Press-Gazette .........704

MOTHER OF THE BRIDEFurs & Clothing of Distinction .... 716Lady Savannah Boutique .......... 423

PHOTOBOOTHGB Photo Box ...........................330Photobooth NV ...........................96Picture Booth ............................ 612The Photobooth ........................ 424YOLO Booth

(You Only Live Once) ............. 107

PHOTOGRAPHYArdent Photography ...................115Canary Blue Studio ...................506Cutting Edge Photography ........437De la Teja Studio ....................... 318Focal Point Photography ........... 419Glamour Shots ..........................604Glitz Photography ..................... 214IMPrint Photography, LLC .........335Jdog Photography ....................404MK Photography .......................609Moments Photography by

Kristy, LLC ............................632Paul Manke Photography ..........203PeoplePaperPrints

Photography ......................... 129Pheifer Photography ..................411Photographic Aerts, LLC ...........329Photography By Emily ............... 514Shanna Allen Photography ........ 702Together Wedding Photography

& Video .................................503

REAL ESTATESay I do to Homeownership ...... 135Coldwell Banker ........................500

RECEPTION HALLBest Western Green Bay Inn

& Conference Center .............511Brett Favre Steakhouse ............ 103Fox Hills Resort ......................... 425Green Bay Packers ................... 109Hilton Garden Inn ...................... 523

Hyatt on Main / KI Convention Center ...................................306

Kress Inn & Bemis Conference Center ................ 327

National Railroad Museum .........118Radisson Hotel -

Conference Center ................232Ramada Plaza ........................... 217RB Hospitality ...........................334Rock Garden ............................ 201Swan Club at Legends

Brewhouse & Eatery .............601The American Club Resort ........ 317The Grand Meridian ..................225The Meadows Conference

Center ................................... 624The Ravine Banquet Hall ........... 710The Woods Golf Club, Pub &

Grill, and Banquet Hall .......... 611Thornberry Creek at Oneida ..... 528Townline Banquet Facility &

Meeting Center .....................435Tundra Lodge Resort &

Conference Center ................ 715

REGISTRIESBed, Bath & Beyond ................. 224Bella Bridal Network ................. 316Cooks Corner ........................... 133Younker’s .................................. 417

RENTALSBelle Amour China ....................409Elite Tent Rentals ....................... 102

VIDEOGRAPHYADC-Video ................................ 516Aphrodite Videography LLC ...... 513New Life Productions LLC ........ 315

WEDDING OFFICIANT & MINISTERPastor Ron ................................ 427

THE WEDDING SHOW | JANUARY 3 & 4 | SHOPKO HALL


Browse the internet or peruse the shelves of your local library and you will find plenty of re-source material to use in writ-ing your own wedding vows. But even with these resourc-es or aid from your officiant, should you?

Pastor Lori Swenson, associate Pas-tor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Green Bay, has been a Pastor for 26 years and has found most couples shy away from doing so. During that time she has conducted approximately 230 weddings. “I’ve only had three or four couples choose to write their own,” Sw-enson says.

Her first experience with a couple who wanted to do so resulted in this first

draft, “I like you, you like me. We both like country music. Let’s see if we can make this work.” Swenson suggested the couple try again, asking that they stress promise and commitment in their revision. In his book, “The Big White Book of Weddings,” David Tutera writes, “Remember, the ceremony is that time that truly belongs to you, and only you, as a couple. Your vows are a verbal cel-ebration of your love and commitment to one another!”

Amanda (Ellifsen) Albert and Kenny Albert, who were married on July 27, 2013, wrote their own vows. “We both wanted the vows to be something spe-cial and personalized. We wanted them to actually mean something and be unique in our own ways of promising to each other the things that we cared about most,” Amanda says.

Getting started proved hard but the couple found it helpful to use traditional

vows as a spark in their creative pro-cess. “What I chose for the vows were promises that I wanted to make to my new bride. They were very serious and well thought out to ensure that I was ac-tually making a promise. The beginning was why I love her and when I realized my life would always be with her. Then the rest was the promises I would live up to the rest of my life,” Kenny says.

“We are so happy we personalized our vows. It’s a great way to look back and realize what our marriage is truly about. You get one day for your wedding, so create it to be a day that is absolutely what you and your partner want,” says Amanda.

In “The Everything Wedding Book,” author Shelly Hagen writes, “How do you, as a couple, define the following terms: love, trust, marriage, family, commitment, togetherness? Take this opportunity to put into words the vision

you and your partner share of what it will be like to grow old together.”

If writing the vows is too intimidating, there are other ways to personalize your ceremony. “I’ve had a few who want to have a poem read and they have the choice of music. They could also write their own prayers,” says Swenson.

Nicole Schleif and Adam Norder are planning a February 8, 2014 wedding in Green Bay. The couple will be including personal statements in the ceremony just prior to making their vows.

“It will be short and sweet and just be something to add a personal touch to the ceremony,” says Schleif.

Writing your own vows is a great way to personalize your wedding day and give guests a glimpse into your new union, so take a deep breath and get creative!

writing

“I Do”Local couples personalize their wedding ceremonies by penning their own vowsBy Pat Hrdlicka

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Jillian Mackey had seen wedding favors that seemed like an afterthought, and she knew she did not want to give one of those — an impractical trinket that would likely get tossed in the trash or thrown in a drawer.

So during her year-long engagement to Jason Simms, the couple picked blackber-ries, strawberries and rhubarb in Oregon, where they lived; gathered cactus pears in New Mexico, where he grew up; and plucked blueberries and apricots when they relocated to her home state, Connecticut. By the time they married on Aug. 2 in New Haven, Conn., the bride, who learned to make jam as a girl, had turned their bounty into dozens of jars of jam for their 135 wedding guests.

The idea was to create a favor that was personalized and different, “something I could really feel came from us as a couple, that we had actually put time and effort into,” Jillian Simms said.

The wedding favor — that little thank-you-for-coming gift — has risen to new heights.

“It’s not just Jordan almonds and choco-late truffles anymore,” said Jennifer Condon, wedding style and registry director for Brides magazine. “It’s anything that’s meaningful to the bride and groom. It’s really anything goes with favors.”

With so many choices, made even more

numerous with personalization and online inspiration, favors have become more spe-cific to the couple, their wedding theme or the venue.

“It used to be more tchotchke-type items — candles, bottle stoppers, picture frames — just really generic things that you can get in bulk easily without putting too much thought into it,” said Amy Frugoli, a wedding planner in San Jose, Calif. “And now it’s more personalized, well-thought-out and usable items.”

Great favors nowadays include food and photos — things that guests can enjoy im-mediately and that aren’t “going to clutter their house,” said Frugoli, who also co-owns a sweets company.

When the party is over, guests can find bags and containers to fill with decorated cookies, candy from a colorful buffet, pop-corn in fun flavors or the fixings for s’mores.

“It goes back to a nostalgia thing,” said Frugoli. “People are looking for a lot of com-fort food and fun things.”

Baked goods — cake pops, pie pops and cupcakes — can be decorated to fit a theme or color scheme.

Heartier fare, like pizza and crepes, is sometimes served up after a night of drink-ing and dancing.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of people doing a food truck at end of the night,” Condon said. “As guests are leaving, they can pick up a midnight snack for the ride home.”

Foodie couples may give a gourmet gift, such as an herb-infused salt or a small bottle of wine, or vinegar or olive oil in a distinctive flavor.

Couples with a cooking specialty might offer homemade goodies, often with custom labels and packaging. Frugoli recalls a groom who made his famous barbecue sauce; a couple that gave honey, and another that did marinated olives.

“If there’s something they’re known for or they do well or they want to share with peo-ple, I’m seeing them make their own stuff,” she said.

Instant gratification also comes by way of the photo favor, a strip of pictures from a photo booth, an instant photo that gets popped into a frame, or a flip book made from a short video taken at the event, some-times with silly props.

The bridal couple often gets a copy of the images too. “They get to see everybody, like Grandma in a moustache and glasses,” said Frugoli.

A favor can also do double duty.“Instead of one large centerpiece, a bride

will do eight tiny little vases that create a centerpiece together, and each person takes one home as a favor,” Condon said. Or there might be picture frames holding the table numbers.

Frugoli has seen couples grow “braver,” more willing to eschew tradition and give what feels right to them. Those with an out-door ceremony in a cool setting might give fleece blankets; others might hand out hang-over kits with mints and pain reliever. Or they can customize a drink cozy or tin of tea.

“The result is phenomenal,” Frugoli said. “They feel happy giving those things out be-cause it has a purpose. The guests are hap-py because they are getting something fun, cool and unique.”

As she labeled the half-pint jars of jam with her guests’ names and table numbers, Simms, 30, gave each guest a flavor she felt would be special to them.

“I got a really good reaction,” she said. “Each person had something that was clearly made just for them.”

And how does Frugoli know that guests appreciate these modern favors?

“They actually take them,” she said. “You can always tell when it’s a bad favor when you find a bunch at the end of the night.”

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ENGAGEMENT RINGS & WEDDING BANDS

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Being a good wedding guest: some do’s and don’tsBy liSa a. flaM, aSSociated PreSS

Of Tiffany Schutt’s 250 wedding guests, one surely stood out.

Not only was she not invited, but the young guest, a relative with whom the couple wasn’t particularly close, turned up in a white dress — and a short and sexy one at that.

In fact, she was one of fi ve uninvited relatives whose names were added to invited guests’ response cards. Schutt, who married in Indianapolis, was fl at-tered but also in disbelief that they so badly wanted to attend.

“We are very laid-back, thankfully, so that day I took it in stride,” she said. “It just seemed not to be the best etiquette.”

When it comes to manners, experts say wedding guests do well overall but are still causing headaches on a few fronts.

“The No. 1 thing that I hear about from frustrated brides is guests not RSVPing, not RSVPing on time or RSVPing for more than one person,” said Anna Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of the upcoming new edition of “Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette” (William Morrow). “It’s all about the RSVP.”

Blame it on the relaxed culture, busy lives or the hope of a better Saturday night offer, but some people just can’t get it together to mail the response card back. And don’t get brides started on the guests who say they will attend, only to end up as no-shows.

“People have gotten casual about this,” Post says. “When it comes to the wedding they think, it’s not a big deal. I’m just one person, it’ll be fi ne. And it’s really not. It’s a lot of money and a lot of stress for the couple.”

Brides and grooms might want to add a cushion of a week or so before they have to give a headcount to the caterer or venue so they can chase people down.

“The key is to keep the frustration out of your voice,” Post says. “It can’t be those sweet words with a nasty tone because that defeats the purpose of wanting to invite them in the fi rst place. You can’t say, ‘I’m so annoyed with you, you’re uninvited.’”

New York wedding planner Marcy Blum suggests adding an enclosure with the invitation listing an email address people can use to RSVP or ask questions.

Brides put thought into addressing their invitations, which spell out exactly who is invited. When guests treat the RSVP card like a write-in ballot, a phone call is in order, Post said, so they under-stand that their date or child was not in-vited.

Some parents don’t like leaving their children home, but experts urge couples to resist such pressure.

“Do not cave to this, because it’s com-pletely unfair to all the guests who do fi nd child care and respect your wishes,” Post says.

Besides RSVPs, another etiquette trouble spot is smartphones — in partic-ular, those guests who crowd the aisle to take pictures and then post the images online before the ceremony is even over, scooping the couple’s wedding photog-rapher.

“A bride is very particular about how she looks at her wedding, and she does not want the photo that isn’t the most possible fl attering photo to be all over Facebook before she gets to look at her wedding shots,” Blum said.

Photos aside, phones detract from the solemnity of the ceremony.

“If you’re so busy tweeting and Ins-tagraming, you’re not paying attention,” Blum said. “It’s almost a cosmic faux pas. People want your energy with them and focused on what they’re doing.”

Blum, who has planned the nuptials for notables like LeBron James and George Soros, says couples can try to head this off by including a note in the welcome gift or on the program. The offi ciant or best man can make an announcement, or you can place a sign at the entryway.

Keeping guests from snapping away at the reception, though, may be a losing fi ght, Post says, though couples can ask guests to refrain from posting the photos online.

“I would pick and choose your battles,” she said. “The ceremony is the right place to focus.”

Other do’s and don’ts for guests:DRESS

Don’t be too informal, and avoid wear-ing anything that’s too sexy, too over-the-top or too white. Blum notes a resurgence of women wearing white to weddings, and says brides don’t appreciate that on their big day in white.

“For many, many years it was never an issue because etiquette was stricter all around, so people didn’t do it,” Blum said. “Now that things have loosened up a bit, that is something that brides still get very upset about.”

GIFTSSome regional traditions may call for

bringing the gift to the wedding, but ex-perts say that in general they are best sent ahead of time, avoiding the possibil-ity of theft and the hassle for the couple of hauling them home. If not, a gift should be sent within three months, Post says.

BEHAVIORArrive early, and stay to dance, mingle

and converse at dinner. “Being social and engaged is one of the best ways to be a good guest, along with not getting too drunk, or drunk period,” Post says.

TOASTSToasts to the couples can get out of

hand if guests, sometimes tipsy ones, start asking for the microphone. Proper form says guests should not speak un-less they are asked or receive permission.

Despite reality shows sensationaliz-ing crazy wedding behavior, Blum says guests do seem better behaved today as couples create their guest lists with great care.

“There’s something about a wedding that for the most part,” she says, “brings out the best in people.”

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WI-5001742483

ENGAGEMENT RINGS & WEDDING BANDS

Open Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm; Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-Noon

213 AMain St, Luxemburg | 920-845-5860www.audejewelers.com

BANANBAN

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❆ Full ServiceJeweler

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