Spring Bridal 2011

| SPRING BRIDAL 2011 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011

SPRING BRIDAL 2011 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 | PAGE 3

(ARA) - Holiday seasonis engagement season. Butafter he pops the questionand she says “yes,” the real-ity of wedding planning setsin - and that feeling of joyfulromance can fade as quick-ly as Christmas lights on anoverloaded circuit. Hereare the top five questionsyou will need to answer tomake your wedding plan-ning journey a pleasantexperience.

“After Valentine’s Day,the holidays are the mostpopular time of year forcouples to becomeengaged,” says weddingplanning expert RaymondMiller of My WeddingReception Ideas.com, a

leading online resource forbrides seeking unique wed-ding favors, decorations,and gifts. “Many brides-to-be who get engaged overthe holidays will begin theirplanning efforts in the first

months of the new year.Knowing where to start canbe overwhelming.”

Brides should begin theirplanning by answering fivebasic questions, Milleradvises.

11.. WWhhaatt iiss oouurr bbuuddggeett??“Funding your wedding

can be one of the mostexpensive undertakingsyou’ll tackle in your lifetogether as a couple,”Miller says. “Many couplesonly spend more on buyinga house or car, or fundingtheir children’s college edu-cations.” Setting - and stick-ing to - a budget for yourwedding is an essential steptoward starting your mar-ried life on a sound finan-cial footing. Determinewhere your funding willcome from - if your parentscan help or if you’ll be pay-

You’re engaged!Now what? The top five wedding planning questions to answer

SEE ENGAGED, PAGE 17

Springbridal2011

ST. TAMMANY

NEWS

Cover designSheila Allemand


By Suzanne Le BretonSt. Tammany News

Every girl deserves tofeel like a princess on herwedding day regardless ofher financial situation.

For many planning awedding the dress is amajor expense, but it does-n’t have to be that way.

Gran’s Attic, the thriftstore operated by theSamaritan Center inMandeville, carries notonly everyday clothes butalso wedding dresses, andat a greatly reduced price.

Periodically brides bringin dresses worn once anddonate them to theSamaritan Center. Thoseare sold, on average for $75.

However, the prices varyfrom $20 to $125. Most ofthe dresses would costthousands of dollars onretail.

Recently a man whoowns a bridal store broughtin 22 of his sample dresses.These are dresses that wereonly worn by brides tryingthem on. Many of thesewere from well-known

designers including VeraWang and Casablanca.Patricia Prejean, thrift storecoordinator, said a lot of theones in stock right now areheavily beaded and veryfancy.

However, because theyrely on donations, theSamaritan Center does nothave a wide selection andonly has one size in each

dress. It currently hasdresses in sizes 6, 8, 10, 12and 18.

The shop does not have adressing room, but wed-ding dresses is the onething it does allow shop-pers to try on.

But the dresses are notonly for new brides.

Laura Cressy recentlypurchased one to wearwhen she and her husbandrenewed their vows fortheir 25th wedding anni-versary in December.

Cressy absolutely lovedthe dress she found and notjust because it only cost$50.

“If I had gone to a bridalshop this is the dress Iwould have bought,” she

said. Prejean said every girl

deserves to look likeCinderella on her weddingday and thanks to otherbrides donating their dress-es after their weddings girlswho can’t afford retailprices still can.

An added bonus is whensomeone buys a weddingdress from Gran’s Attic theyare not only getting a gooddeal on a dress they are alsohelping out a local charity.

“Besides getting a bar-gain it also goes to help outministry,” Prejean said.

Gran’s Attic is located onGirod Street in OldMandeville and is openMonday through Friday 10a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gran’s Attic provides used dresses for thosethat cannot afford retail prices

“Besides getting a bargain it also goesto help out ministry.”

PATRICIA PREJEANGran’s Attic coordinator

Gran’s Attic• Located on Girod

Street in

Mandeville

adjacent to the

Samaritan Center.

• Currently available are

dresses in sizes 6,8,

10, 12 and 18.

• Operating hoursare Monday

through Friday, 10

a.m. to 3 p.m.


TTHHEE BBRRIIDDEE- Wedding ring for the groom.- A wedding gift for the groom.- Presents for the bridal attendants.- Personal stationery.- Accommodations for her out- of town

attendants.- Physical examination/blood test.

TTHHEE GGRROOOOMM- The bride’s rings.- Wedding gift for the bride.- The marriage license.- Gifts for the best man and ushers.- Flowers: bride’s bouquet and going

away corsage, corsages for mothers, bou-tonnieres for the men in the weddingparty.

- Accommodations for out-of-town ush-ers or best man.

- His blood test.- Gloves, ties or ascots for the men in the

wedding party.- Fee for the clergy.- The honeymoon.- Optional: bachelor dinner.

TTHHEE BBRRIIDDEE’’SS FFAAMMIILLYY- The entire cost of the reception: food,

wedding cake, beverages, gratuities for thebartenders and waiters, decorations,music, flowers.

- A wedding gift for the newlyweds.- The wedding invitations, announce-

ments and mailing costs.- Bride’s wedding attire/trousseau.- The fee for engagement and wedding

photographs.- Ceremony: rental of sanctuary, fees for

organist, soloist or choir, and sexton(sometimes included in charge for premis-es, but if not, these people have set fees)aisle carpets and/or canopy and any otheradditional costs for decorations.

- Bridesmaids’ bouquets.- Gratuities to those directing traffic as

well as parking costs and coat check fees.- Transportation for bridal party to the

wedding ceremony and from ceremony toreception.

- Bridesmaids’ luncheon.- Optional: rehearsal dinner.

TTHHEE GGRROOOOMM’’SS FFAAMMIILLYY- Clothes for the wedding.- Any traveling expenses and hotel bills

they incur.- Wedding gift for bride and groom.- Optional: the rehearsal dinner or other

expenses they elect to assume.TTHHEE GGUUEESSTTSS

- Traveling expenses. - Wedding gift for the couple.

TTHHEE AATTTTEENNDDAANNTTSS- Wedding attire.- Travel expenses.- Wedding gift for the couple.

Who pays for what?


66 ttoo 2244 mmoonntthhss aahheeaadd

- Determine your budget and the kind of wedding(informal, formal, etc.); decide where the ceremony willtake place.

- Visit your officiant with your fiance. Select a serviceand set the date.

- Consider hiring a wedding consultant.- Plan a reception.- Choose your attendants.- Draw up your invitation list; have your fiance draw up

his.- Enroll with the bridal gift registry of your favorite

department or specialty store.- Select your dress, veil, accessories and bridesmaids’

dresses.- Consult a men’s formalwear specialist.- Select photographer/videographer, florist, musicians.


- Order your invitations, personal stationery andnotepaper.

- Plan accommodations for your out-of-town guests.- Arrange for your rehearsal dinner.

- Plan your honeymoon.- Shop for your trousseau.- Have mothers choose their dresses.- Visit your doctor for a complete physical examination.


- Address wedding invitations.- Select your wedding reception music.- Choose gifts for your attendants.- Buy wedding rings; order engraving.- Make a date with your fiance to get the marriage

license.


- Buy wedding gift for your groom.- Make appointment with hairstylist.- Consider hiring a professional makeup artist for your

wedding day.- Have final dress fittings.- Plan how to handle traffic, parking.- Mail your invitations.- Have a formal wedding portrait taken.- Attend parties in your honor.

- Plan bridesmaids’ party.- Record each gift as received and write a thank-you

note promptly.- Make a household “check” for home furnishings that

are still needed.- Pick up wedding rings.

22 wweeeekkss aahheeaadd

- Send your wedding announcement to the newspaper.- Draw up a seating plan for reception; make cards for

the bride’s table.- Go over your personal trousseau and take care of any

last minute items.- If you plan to change your name on Social Security, dri-

ver’s license, credit cards, bank accounts, contact the nec-essary offices to obtain the required forms.

- Arrange to move your belongings to your new home.

11 wweeeekk aahheeaadd

- Have final consultation with caterer, florist and pho-tographer/videographer.

- Give bridesmaids’ party.- Confirm rehearsal plans with clergy and attendants.

Wedding planning when to do list

(ARA) - With an engage-ment ring comes severalmonths of planning and alot of shopping. Most brideshave long fantasized aboutshopping for major wed-ding items such as the dressand flowers.

However, it’s the littlethings that seem to fallthrough the cracks andeven a calm, cool and col-lected bride can get fraz-zled when they rememberthe many wedding acces-sories needed to make thebig day complete.

Margaret Powers, execu-tive director of events andmerchandising for Enesco,has put together a simpleshopping list of weddingaccessories to help relievewedding stress.

FFOORR TTHHEE CCHHUURRCCHH - Unity Candle - A unity

candle and holder is

optional depending uponthe style and religiousnature of the ceremony.

- Today’s Rice - Bridalcouples are being very cre-ative when it comes to thisshowering tradition. Someideas include birdseed,flower petals, bubbles andeven butterflies.

- Decorations - Churchdecorations could includeflowers, an aisle runner,candles or bows for thepews.

FFOORR TTHHEE BBRRIIDDAALLPPAARRTTYY

- Gifts - Everyone in thebridal party, ranging fromthe maid of honor to thering bearer, should beacknowledged with a spe-cial gift.

- Flower Basket - Everyflower girl needs a basket tohold her petals.

- Ring Bearer Pillow - A

ring bearer’s duties wouldnot be complete withoutthe pillow and, of course,the rings.

- Itinerary - Have adetailed itinerary made forthe bridal party ensuringthey will stay on scheduleand are aware of the day’sactivities.

FFOORR TTHHEE GGUUEESSTTSS - Favors - Whether it’s

candy or a small gift, everyguest will love to bringhome something.

- Wedding Programs -Beautiful wedding pro-grams add to the specialtouch of a wedding and canbe an informational pieceas well as a keepsake.

FFOORR TTHHEE RREECCEEPPTTIIOONN - Table Centerpieces -

Make the room look aglowwith a large candle in a dec-orative holder as the cen-terpiece or add a fragrant

scent with flowers in abeautiful vase.

- Champagne Glasses -To toast the beginning of anew life together, the brideand groom should havekeepsake champagne glass-es.

- Guest Book and Pen - Aguest book will help recordall that attend the weddingas well as make future

“thank you” notes mucheasier.

- Cake Cutter and Server- Make cutting the cake amoment to last a lifetime bypurchasing cake acces-sories.

- Cake Topper - Ifremembering the specialday is important, purchasea cake topper that can laterbe displayed in the home.

- One-Use Cameras -Giving guests the power tocapture every moment willensure good wedding daycandids.

- Envelope Holder - Anenvelope holder atop thegift table is a great way tocollect wedding envelopes.Some suggestions include abirdcage, wishing well orbridal mailbox.

Many accessories needed for the big daySPRING BRIDAL 2011 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 | PAGE 7


You have so many thingsto do before your weddingday that you can’t imaginegetting everything done.Everyone has their own sto-ries, good and bad, of whatthey did and maybe youshould consider doing this,that or the other for yourwedding. You are gettingstressed out, which doesn’tmake you happy in whatshould be a happy time.

You need to realize thatplanning a wedding can bestressful and be prepared todeal with that fact. Don’tfall into the trap of thinkingthat everything will go per-fectly. In order to deal withstress, you need to recog-nize it. Symptoms includeheadaches, moodiness,poor concentration, stom-

achaches, problems sleep-ing, racing thoughts andirritability. Should thesesymptoms persist or getworse, they could indicate amore serious condition, sopay attention to what yourbody is telling you.

After you have acknowl-edged you are feelingstressed, there are a fewthings you can do to copewith it. These include:

• Space out deadlinesand set them far enoughahead to allow for prob-lems. Don’t let everythinggo until the last minute.

• Delegate responsibili-ties to people you trust.Check in with them occa-sionally but let them handlethings.

• Set boundaries and be

assertive. If others areinterfering too much or tak-ing up too much of yourtime, let them know howyou feel without being tooaggressive.

• Don’t take everythingso seriously. Try to laughwhen things go wrong.

• Spend time with yourspouse-to-be. Discusseverything and make surethe wedding plans are goingthe way you both wantthem to.

• Stay healthy. Getenough sleep, eat right andexercise. Avoid outsidestimulators like alcohol,drugs, caffeine, nicotineand sugar.

Feeling stressed? Tipsto help you cope

SEE STRESS, PAGE 11


(ARA) – With a twinkle in her eye and sparkle on herfinger, it’s no wonder the bride-to-be has a contagiousglow. For the bevy of brides who got engaged during theholiday season, it’s time to begin the exciting, yet some-times hectic task of planning their special day.

To better understand the preferences and attitudes oftoday’s brides and offer the most relevant wedding plan-ning advice, the second annual “What’s on Bride’s Minds?”survey was conducted by Leflein Associates, Inc.Following are some up-to-the-minute planning tips to helpeach woman achieve her own wedding unique style, with-out breaking the bank:

KKeeeepp aann EEyyee oonn tthhee BBoottttoomm LLiinneeFirst and foremost, establish a budget. Determine which

aspects of the wedding are most important, and scale backon items that are not a top priority. Almost two-thirds ofsurvey respondents said that the wedding dresses theyfound were too expensive. To keep finances in check with-out sacrificing quality or style, shop at a store that offers awide selection of designer looks and matches your budget.

OOnnlliinnee OOaassiissThe Internet is a wonderful planning tool and a great

time-saver, so it’s no surprise that 53 percent of brides-to-be ranked wedding Web sites as a top resource for usefulwedding planning advice, tips and ideas. Today’s bridesshop for a variety of wedding products online; invitations

were cited as the most popular item, followed by favors,bridal accessories and jewelry and bridal gowns.

CCoonnssuulltt tthhee EExxppeerrttssWhen searching for that dream dress, take advantage of

bridal consultants’ advice, as they provide great insightinto the gowns’ quality, fit and construction. In fact, morethan four out of five brides agreed that their consultantpositively affected their shopping experience. In additionto these gown gurus, it’s a good idea to bring along a trust-ed friend or family member to provide honest feedback.

TTiimmee iiss OOnn YYoouurr SSiiddeeSixty-three percent of recently engaged women give

themselves less than six months before their wedding topurchase their gown, while 38 percent wait until the finalthree months. If you are planning on getting married undera tight timetable, visit a bridal shop where you can try onthe dress in your own size and take it home that day.

OObblliiggiinngg BBrriiddeessmmaaiiddssSearching for the perfect bridesmaid dress? The top

issue brides found with dressing their bridal party wasagreeing on one style to fit all different body types.Coordination remains in vogue, with almost three-quar-ters of respondents wanting their bridal party to wear thesame color or color scheme, and 34 percent planning to

have their bridesmaids wear the same dress in the samecolor.

CCuussttoommiizzaattiioonn iiss KKeeyyIf you’re looking for ways to personalize your look with-

out paying a hefty custom price tag, you’re not alone. Over60 percent of brides said they would like to customize theirgown to reflect their personality, but 40 percent felt itwould be difficult to do so without costing a fortune. Tosolve this all-too-common dilemma, look for cost-effectivesolutions for personalizing your wedding dress. Try addingoptional sleeves, a colorful sash that matches your wed-ding color scheme or a sparkling brooch. Don’t forget toask your consultant about coordinating accessories, suchas tiaras, veils, handbags, shoes and jewelry; you can nevergo wrong by selecting pieces that complement your dressand personal style.

SShhoowwccaassee YYoouurr SSttyylleeTo create a seamless look, visit a one-stop-shop and

choose a personalized color scheme that makes it easy tocoordinate every aspect of the big day. While finding thelove of her life is up to the bride, following these simplesteps will help ease the wedding-planning process andmake it more enjoyable. So when the big day finally arrives,her only responsibility will be to enjoy herself as shedances the night away.

Plan a unique wedding without breaking the bank


You’re a crafty person,and because you have sucha tight budget for yourwedding, you have decidedto make as much as possi-ble for the event, includingyour wedding favors.Lucky for you, there arehundreds of ideas for do-it-yourself favors that won’tbreak the bank.

Wedding favors havebeen around for some time.During the 16th century inFrance, nobility and royaltyoften gave porcelain aswedding favors. Few bridestoday can afford suchextravagant favors, but youcan give a little somethingthat will serve as both amemento of your weddingand a token of your appre-ciation to guests for attend-ing your wedding. Whenmaking wedding favors,you have two options: youcan either go the tradition-al route with birdseed,

almonds or sachets, or youcan break out of the modeand come up with yourown unique favors.

Traditional weddingfavors once consisted ofsmall bags of rice thatguests could throw at thebride and groom. Whenexperts discovered thatrice harmed birds, birdseedwas used instead. If you’rehaving a traditional wed-ding, you may want to gowith birdseed favors. Tomake them, simply wrap acouple of tablespoons ofwild birdseed into sometulle and tie with ribbon.

Another traditional wed-ding favor is almonds.During the 17th century,couples gave guests threesugarcoated almondswrapped in tulle. Onealmond stood for thegroom, one for the brideand one for the baby theywould have, thus making

the favors a symbol of fer-tility. Chocolate-coveredalmonds were also popular,and with the salty taste ofthe nuts and the sugarytaste of the chocolate, rep-resented the bittersweet-ness of marriage. To makealmond favors, all you needto do is wrap somealmonds in tulle and tiewith ribbon.

If birdseed or almondsdo not suit you, you couldtry making some sachets.During Victorian times,couples gave guests sachetsfilled with rosemary, whichsymbolized that theywould not forget theirfriends and family eventhough they were starting alife together. To make thesefavors, cut some silk fabricinto small squares, insert asprig of rosemary into eachsquare and tie with ribbon.

Along with traditionalfavors, there are many

other not-so-traditionalfavors you can give. Ideasinclude:

• Bubbles• Candles• Coffee mugs with cof-

fee beans or hot cocoamixes

• CDs• Magnets• Miniature champagne

or wine bottles• Ornaments• Pens• Personalized sodas• Recipes• Seed packets• Shot glasses• Soaps• Tea or coffee tins• Wine stoppersYou can find most of

these items in bulk at vari-ous stores. Then all youhave to do is decorate andpersonalize them any wayyou want and prepare togive them away as weddingfavors. Enjoy!

Favors that won’t break the bank


• Take a breather whennecessary. When feelingstressed, practice somerelaxation or meditationexercises or go for a walk.Don’t be afraid to talk toothers about how you arefeeling.

• Pamper yourself. Go tothe movies, read a book,take a bubble bath or spenda day at the spa.

• Keep your activities incheck. It’s only natural forothers to be excited for youand want to get together tocelebrate but don’t overex-tend yourself with too manysocial obligations. If youdon’t have time to gettogether, let others knowthat. Your friends willunderstand that you arebusy.

With so much emphasisput on the wedding, it canbe easy to forget that theevent is just the beginning

of your marriage. Your wed-ding will be over within amatter of hours and thenthe real work will begin oncreating a long, successfulmarriage.

If your wedding isn’t per-

fect, it’s not the end of theworld. In fact it, it mightmake it more memorable,so go with the flow, as theysay. Don’t let things get toyou and keep your stressunder control.

STRESS: How to deal with it

With so much emphasis put on thewedding, it can be easy to forget thatthe event is just the beginning of yourmarriage. Your wedding will be over

within a matter of hours and then thereal work will begin on creating a long,successful marriage. If your wedding

isn’t perfect, it’s not the end of theworld. In fact it, it might make it more

memorable, so go with the flow, asthey say. Don’t let things get to youand keep your stress under control.

» FROM PAGE 8


In this day of cell phonesand e-mail, a modern wed-ding calls for modern eti-quette. Just don't forgetyour old-fashioned man-ners. Sending an e-mail, forexample, will be useful asyour nuptials approach, butit has limitations.

"E-mail is a terrific toolfor reaching lots of peoplequickly," said Anna Post,great-great-granddaughterof Emily Post and a spokes-woman for the Emily PostInstitute. "But if the wed-ding is formal, it deservespaper invitations. Evenwith the movement towardgreen weddings, there areterrific options for usingrecycled paper and soy inksto create a wonderful keep-sake of the wedding."

Using e-mail might beappropriate for "save thedate" notices and invita-tions to informal gather-ings, such as showers andbachelor parties, or for

sending a brief message toacknowledge the deliveryof gifts. Always follow withhandwritten thank-younotes.

Technology is also usefulfor informing guests aboutlodging and restaurants. Ane-mail address on your invi-tation makes RSVPs as easyas a mouse click. But keepin mind that some guestsmay not have computers, somake sure they get a card tomail.

A Web site is a good wayto keep your friends andrelatives involved, especial-ly if they live far away andcan't attend. But keep thesite simple and tasteful.Don't attempt to chronicleevery moment of your rela-tionship. It's all right to postyour gift registry there, butmake the link small and to aside or the bottom of thesite.

Divorce is another realityof modern life than can

cause wedding headaches.If your divorced parentsdon't get along, the bestadvice is to let them work itout. Seat both of your par-ents in the front row, withsiblings or friends betweenthem. Or put your motheron the front row with yourfather seated behind her.Keep them separated in thereceiving line, too. If yourstepfather raised you, it'sOK to ask him to walk youdown the aisle. It's equallyacceptable to make yourentrance with a dad on eacharm.

If this is a remarriage,you'll definitely want toinvolve your children fromprevious marriages. If theyare teenagers or adults, givethem a spot in the weddingparty. If they're younger,have them walk in with you,remain with you through-out the ceremony and sit atyour table during the recep-tion.

Rules for weddings have changed


The type of weddinginvitation you choose goes along way toward setting theoverall theme and feel ofyour wedding. If you arehaving a casual wedding,you don’t want invitationswith a lot of frills. You do,however, want your invita-tions to look more profes-sional than those for a kid’sbirthday party.

The number of guestsyou are inviting to yourwedding may determinewhether you make yourown invitations or purchasethem. If you are having asmall to medium-sizedwedding, creating your owninvitations won’t be thathard.

If you are planning alarge wedding, creatingyour own invitations will

take a lot of time and effortyou probably don’t have.Regardless which way yougo, make sure you proof-read your invitations forerrors and create or pur-chase just the right amount.

There really is no right orwrong design for weddinginvitations. It is your wed-ding and the invitationsshould reflect that. If youare having a themed wed-ding, your invitationsshould illustrate thattheme, of course, but ulti-mately, the choice is yours.

Selecting a favorite fontor lettering style is one wayto personalize your specialday.

There are various stylesof invitations to choosefrom: accordion style, tri- orbi-fold, or a single sheet of

paper. Remember, formal,lavish weddings require aformal style, while simpler,casual weddings require aninformal style. There arealso hundreds of styles ofpaper to choose from invarious thicknesses.

Buying your invitationswill offer you less of a selec-tion than if you make themyourself. Do-it-yourselfersneed to remember thatthicker paper works betterfor invitations that will notbe folded and medium-weight paper for invitationsthat will be folded.Depending upon your cal-ligraphy skills, you couldalso use parchment paperfor your invitations.

Do you know weddinginvitation etiquette?

SEE INVITES, PAGE 14


Along with the invita-tions, you will need RSVPcards and stamped returnenvelopes. You can makeyour own RSVPs andenvelopes to match yourinvitations or buy themfrom a stationery store.RSVP cards and envelopesare available for most invi-tations.

There is some etiquetteinvolved in the wording andaddressing of invitations.This includes:

• Spell out all dates andtimes. Don’t use 5:00 orOctober 16. Instead, state“five o’clock in the eveningon the sixteenth ofOctober.”

• Abbreviate Mr., Mrs.

and Jr. but spell out titleslike “doctor.”

• Only use punctuationbetween the city and stateand after abbreviations.

• Spell out all states onenvelopes.

• Don’t include an RSVPfor invitations to the wed-ding ceremony only.

• Indicate on the innerenvelope of invitations tosingle guests that they canbring a guest.

• Don’t include “andguest” on the inner enve-lope of invitations to singleguests who are bringingsomeone you know person-ally.

• Send only one invita-tion to unmarried coupleswho live together. List theirnames alphabetically and

on separate lines.• Send guests who are

living together but are not acouple their own separateinvitations.

• Send children over 18their own invitation,whether they live at homeor not. List children under18 who live at home on theinner envelope; do not usethe term “and family.”

There is nothing set instone that says everyonehas to observe the samerules when it comes toselecting and sending theirwedding invitations. It’sonly natural for you to wantto put your own personalstamp on your weddinginvitations.

After all, it is your specialday.

» FROM PAGE 13

INVITES: Know proper etiquette


(ARA) - Your great-grandmother probably hadjust one treasured weddingportrait, and your ownmother likely capturedmemories of her special dayin an old-fashioned photoalbum. You, however, aregetting married in theInternet age, which meansyou’ll be able to preserve avirtually limitless numberof images from the biggestday of your life.

Here are four ways todigitally preserve yourwedding photos:

11.. DDiiggiittaall DDeevviicceess.. Fromdigital picture frames tosmart phones that allowyou to store images on amicro SD memory card,digital devices mean youcan keep - and carry withyou - favorite wedding pho-tos. Some digital frameslimit the number of imagesyou can store, while othersare compatible with SDmemory cards, meaningyou can store, view andswap out thousands ofimages. You can also useyour MP3 player, laptop,PDA and some mobilephones to store images.

22.. YYoouurr PPCC oorr LLaappttoopp..Many wedding photogra-phers now offer services toput your wedding photoson a disc so that you can

transfer images to your PCor laptop. Most developingservices, like those found inpharmacies or departmentstores, also offer the optionto put your images on a disc.This storage method makesit easy to transfer images toyour PC or laptop, whereyou can use editing soft-ware to create collages,crop, color-adjust and oth-erwise manipulate yourimages.

33.. PPhhoottoo--sshhaarriinngg WWeebbSSiitteess Many photo-sharingWeb sites now offer amplestorage for all your weddingphoto needs.PhotosYourWay.com, forexample, a new innovatorin photo-sharing, offers7GB of free storage, enoughto store thousands ofimages. Photo-sharing Websites also allow you to spiceup your photo presentationwith effects like captioning,cropping, editing, bordersand more. You can presentyour images in a slide-showformat, and even shareimages with a specificgroup of family or friends,or designate them viewableby anyone interested inwedding images. Onecaveat - photo-sharing sitesare only for original, ama-teur works, not the copy-righted images you receivefrom your professional

wedding photographer.PhotosYourWay also

offers the opportunity toget paid for your original,amateur wedding images.When you upload yourimages, simply select theoption that makes themavailable for purchase byphoto houses, advertisingagencies, publishers andanyone else who needsfresh wedding images on aregular basis. The Web siteacts as a broker for theimages, sharing a percent-age of the sale price withthe member who posted thephoto. It’s possible to makeup to $300 for exclusiverights to one of your images.

55.. YYoouurr OOwwnn WWeeddddiinnggWWeebb SSiittee.. Many couplesare now opting to designtheir own Web sites prior tothe wedding. Pre-weddingday, the sites can be greatresources to communicateimportant information toguests and for making far-away loved ones feel like apart of your wedding prepa-rations. After your big day,the site can be used to shareanecdotes and images fromthe honeymoon, updatefriends and family on whereyou’ll be living as newly-weds, and even for postingpersonal thank-you mes-sages for especiallythoughtful gifts.

Ways to digitally preserve wedding

photographs


(ARA) - This spring, itwill be difficult to tell if abride is walking down theaisle or making her waydown the red carpet. Aftera year-long love affair withthe boxy trapeze dress,designers are emphasizingthe waist and adding ele-gant details.

This focus on the femi-nine calls for glamorousbridal jewelry fit for aqueen,” says Shawn Diddy,Jewelry Television’s trendtracker. Here are some ofthe looks she’s expecting tobe hot in 2008:

• Brides will make a“ready for your close-up”impact in an off-the-shoul-der dress. The look fromthe runways calls for mini-mal accents — a single,“statement” piece of jewel-ry such as a pair of dangleearrings that sparkle or athick, signature bracelet.Wear hair up to reallyshow off your shoulders inthat gorgeous dress.

• Pleats, ruffles and tuliptiers abound in light andfrothy fabrics. Because ofthe unusual silhouettes ofthese trendy dresses, keephair and jewelry simple. A

loose chignon softens yourface while a classic pair ofdiamond stud earringsadds elegance and light tothe ensemble.

• A white dress andGrandma’s pearls is whateveryone else is wearing, sowhy not go with this sea-son’s hot pastels?Diaphanous dresses inshades of peach, blush andbaby blue are fresh andstylish. Pull your hair backinto a soft ponytail to showoff sparkling crystal ear-rings or a necklace in acomplementary color.

• Lace is always in, butthis season’s unique lacedetails work especially wellwith long, flowing hair.Rich, jewel-toned, vintage-look jewelry adds textureto the ensemble.

• Whether the dress isshort or long, designershave put the emphasis backon the waist. Nipped-inlines and wide belts orsashes showed all overNew York’s runways.Because of the symmetryof the dress, wear your hairparted to the side and adddrama with strong plat-inum jewelry pieces.

Spotlight brides Look red carpet worthy whilewalking down the aisle

ing on your own - anddecide how much you canafford to spend withoutgoing into debt.

22.. WWhhaatt sseeaassoonn wwoorrkkss??Virtually as soon as you

announce you’re engaged,people start asking whatthe wedding date will be.

To make answering thatquestion as simple as possi-ble, start by considering inwhat season you would liketo be married.

Would you prefer aspring ceremony? Or doyou dream of a holidaywedding?

By narrowing down theseason, and selecting it wellin advance, you’ll be able tosecure a date that will workfor everyone.

33.. WWhheerree ddoo wwee wwaanntt ttooggeett mmaarrrriieedd aanndd hhaavvee oouurrrreecceeppttiioonn??

Will you have a destina-tion wedding? Or do youwant to keep it local? Whilewedding planning is usual-ly most successful whendone well in advance, if

you’re interested in a desti-nation wedding, planningfar ahead is essential.Popular destinations bookquickly in prime weddingseasons and you may findvenues in the destination ofyour choice are booked ayear or more in advance.

44.. WWhhaatt kkiinndd ooff vveennuuee ddooyyoouu wwaanntt??

Do you dream of a bigchurch wedding? Or sayingyour “I do’s” in a beautifulnatural setting? Perhapsyou want your reception tobe in a grand hotel.Knowing the type of venueyou desire will help yourefine your options andchoose a specific locationdown the road.

55.. WWhhoo ddoo yyoouu wwaanntt ttooooffffiicciiaattee??

Is it important to you tobe married by your ownchurch’s minister? Or areyou OK with a justice of thepeace?

Do you fantasize aboutbeing joined in marriage bya ship’s captain?

Or does your motherhave her heart set on seeing

you married by the rabbiwho was there at your batmitzvah?

Just as popular venuesbook quickly, favorite offi-ciants also have their dancecards fill fast for popularwedding seasons.

As soon as you knowwho you would like to offi-ciate at your wedding, itmight pay to approach himor her and find out aboutfuture availability.

“Of course there aremany, many things to con-sider when planning a wed-ding,” Miller says. “Butthese five points are thebasics you must addressand everything else aboutyour wedding will beplanned around youranswers to these questions.Once you’ve made theseinitial decisions, it will beeasier to refine youroptions and decide exactlywhat will make your wed-ding wonderful, memo-rable and perfect for you.”

For more wedding plan-ning and wedding recep-tion ideas visit www.-MyWeddingReceptionIdeas.com.


Dowdy, frumpy, sequin-splattered mother of thebride dresses are a thing ofthe past. Today's mothersand stepmothers of thebride and groom are theluckiest generation everwhen it comes to findingthe perfect wedding daydresses and accessories,since high fashion and fab-ulous fabrics mean they getto wear ensembles that areevery bit as gorgeous as thebride's.

Since some motherswork hard to maintain ayouthful, fit appearance -

and want to look their bestby emphasizing their bestattributes.

Because of this, there is adefinite trend towardmothers considering dress-es marketed toward thebridesmaids. However, theyalso don't want to go over-board, look too ornate andoverdone or in any waycompete with the bride'srightful place as the shiningstar of the day.

A careful balance mustbe achieved so that Momlooks appropriate for thebig day and feels as if this is

the dress of her dreams. Start dress shopping at

least six months before thewedding to allow plenty oftime to search, order andundergo fittings.

Four months is theabsolute latest cutoff pointto avoid paying late fees forrush orders.

Here are the top trendsand considerations:

CCOOLLOORRSS For the upcoming spring

wedding season, the topcolors for moms are neu-trals such as champagne,mocha, chocolate and sil-

ver. For spring in general,color trends for momsinclude sages and butteryellows, soft tones that arechosen for color coordina-tion with the bridal partyand the perfect comple-ment to a mother's skintone.

CCOOVVEERRAAGGEEWhile some mothers rel-

ish the opportunity to shinein a strapless or sleevelessdress, many mothers preferto be a bit more covered up.The overwhelming trend isa modestly cut dress withwider straps for a sleeveless

dress, a scoop or squareneckline that doesn't showtoo much d√©colletage,and - the essential - a jacket,shawl or wrap providingcoverage plus the option toremove the cover-up dur-ing the later hours of thereception.

To camouflage a tummypooch, moms should con-sider a two-piece dresswith a bodice panel extend-ing down past her navel,providing a bit of tummycontrol, or even ruching ora ripple effect of fabric atthe midsection.

LLEENNGGTTHHSSFor a formal evening or

formal afternoon wedding,moms are still wearingfloor-length dresses, but anew trend is arising inwhich both bridesmaidsand moms wear dresseswith a shorter silhouette.

EEMMBBEELLLLIISSHHMMEENNTTSSA faux belt, hand-sewn

bugle beading andSwarovski crystals give theshimmer effect manymoms want, but the trendnow is for the fabric toshine without much addedembellishment.

Mothers of bride can be beautiful, too

ENGAGED: Initial questions to ask» FROM PAGE 3


From drawing up theinvitation list to dealingwith children or formerspouses, "encore" bridesand grooms may find them-selves needing to maketough decisions before tak-ing another walk down theaisle.

While the stigma ofremarriage has virtuallydisappeared, "there areconsiderations to theencore wedding that wedon't typically have for thefirst wedding," said veteranetiquette expert and radioand television personalityRebecca Black, founder andprincipal of Etiquette Now!(etiquettenow.com), aCalifornia-based etiquette

and image consulting firm."Not too many years ago,people felt that a failedmarriage, and especiallyembarking on an encorewedding, was a negativeand was a personal failure—somewhat akin to a char-acter flaw. Today, there isn'tthe same stigma."

However, children andrelatives from a formermarriage can impact yourplans.

"If there are childrenfrom a former marriage,they should be informedprivately before the others,"she recommended. Ifyou're close to your ex-spouse's family, they shouldbe notified directly afteryour own family has beentold.

Widows and widowersmay face additional issues."The major difference withthose who have been wid-

owed is that some may becomparing the 'new' choiceor may feel uncomfortablewith the widower marryingagain," she said. In thosesituations, Black suggested,"discussing this with thoseguests before the weddingif this could be a problem."

Prominent Boston psy-chologist Mona Barberasaid the best approach, "isto stay clear and connectedwith your relatives and for-mer in-laws. Be courageous– really say how you feel –and stay aware and con-nected to them as theyrespond.

Even if they have diffi-culty with the news, you'llbe going through it as ateam. It may bring up feel-ings in you, too."

Los Angeles attorneyDianna Gould-Saltman, acertified family law special-ist, believes it's important,"for previously married

folks to have serious heart-to-heart discussions aboutthings like whether theyintend to have marital/community property, howthey plan to share expens-es, and how children fromprior marriages will betreated by the new spouse."

Issues such as disciplineand chores of minor chil-dren, holiday gifts or evenhelping an adult child pur-chase a new home shouldbe worked out in advance.

While some view suchdocuments as a way to pro-tect themselves in case ofdivorce, to Gould-Saltman,a prenuptial agreement "is alegitimate vehicle for set-ting out expectations ofhow spouses will addressissues during the marriage,even if they never getdivorced."

Christine Moriarty, aVermont certified financialplanner, recommends re-

taining a lawyer to write upa will before you wed.

Check all of your creditreports with each other, sheadded, "so that you knowwhere you stand and thatthere are no outstandingissues with a formerspouse."

As for the wedding itself,today there are no steadfastrules, the experts said."Encore weddings may beas elaborate as first timeweddings," Black said, "butit appears more respectfulto guests who may havewalked down this aisle witha member of the encorecouple to try to tone itdown if this is the third orfourth wedding."

When it comes to attire,encore brides tend tochoose "short dresses or aless ornate gowns," saidUrsula Guyer and StacySenechalle, bridal experts.

They find encore bridesuse more hair accessoriesinstead of a veil and choosecolors that make them lookbest and feel good. Andwhile champagne is one ofthe most popular colors, atraditional white dress canbe worn too.

‘Encore’ couples tie the knotin style, good taste

"Encore weddings may be as elaborate as first time weddings."REBECCA BLACK

Founder and principal, Etiquette Now!

Choosing the right flow-ers for your wedding can beone of the most importantdecisions you make beforethe big day, but have funwithout spending a lot ofmoney.

As far as bouquets go,white roses are the mostpopular bloom for anybride.

Combining differentshades of white into thebouquet can give off an ele-gant effect.

If you are going for tradi-tional, florists suggest com-bining white lilies andwhite roses for a more dra-matic effect. Or, mix yourroses with freesia to make abeautiful fragrant bouquet.

For the more adventur-ous bride looking to stepout of the box, bouquets ofpink and red flowers arevery popular. In-seasonflowers grown locally canhelp cut down the cost ofyour bouquet and the flow-ers are guaranteed to befresh when they arrive.

Choose a bouquet thathas movement. “ModernBride” suggests a bouquetof hydrangea, dahlias andhypericum berries for fall.

The clutch bouquet, con-taining 18 to 24 roses,remains the most popularbouquet among brides. Atrend among brides is tostrip the clutch bouquet ofall greenery, showcasingthe beauty of the roses.

Brides should schedulethe initial consultation witha florist at least six monthsbefore the ceremony, andthe bridesmaids dressesshould be picked out.

The flowers in the atten-dants’ bouquets are typical-ly more colorful than thebride’s but don’t have to bebouquets at all. A growingtrend among brides is tohave the attendants carry alarge single bloom rather

than a bouquet. This is avery modern sophisticatedlook, as well as cost effec-tive. Calla lilies are the mostpopular choice, but SouthAmerican Roses and largehydrangeas make elegantchoices.

The flowers shouldmatch your personality. Ifyou are a casual person, aformal bouquet is not rec-ommended. Get creativewith vibrant colors andnon-traditional blooms.

Remember, flowers arenot just for bouquets any-more. There are many cre-ative things brides aredoing with flowers thesedays.

Popular trends includedonning your wedding cakewith fresh flowers, pinningflowers to the bustle of yourgown and using garden-influenced decorationssuch as terra-cotta pots,grapevine wreaths, topiar-ies and wrought iron.

Add a touch of eleganceto the sanctuary with petalaisle runners. If you arehaving a tent wedding, flo-ral chandeliers are attrac-tive, modern accents.

Arranging centerpiecesin small pots or vasesgrouped together will adddimension without adding

cost, and they can double aswedding favors. Anothercost effective approach is tobring your alter decorationsto the reception site. Pewdecorations can be hung ondoors, buffet tables andfood stations, while alterarrangements might lookbeautiful at the cake andhead tables.

Small, delicate corsagesfor the mothers and bou-tonnieres for the gentlemanmade of herbs, dried flow-ers, leaves and berries areattractive, inexpensivetouches. Wrapping napkinswith raffia and herbs makean artistic statement. Infact, herbs have meaningsperfect for love and mar-riage. Here are some flowerand herb meanings particu-larly appropriate for wed-dings that brides may wishto incorporate into theservice.

Red Rose - True LoveWhite Rose - Joy,

WisdomRed & White Roses

together - UnityIris - MessageBlue Violet -

FaithfulnessIvy - FidelityChina Aster - VarietyShamrock -

LightheartednessSouthernwood - Jest,

banteringOx-eye Daisy - PatienceWhite Chrysanthemum

- TruthZinnia - Thoughts of

absent friendsLavender - Love and

DevotionRosemary -

RemembranceMarjoram - Joy and

HappinessThyme - Courage and

StrengthSweet Basil - Good

WishesBluebell - ConstancyCamellia - Perfected

LovelinessDaisy - InnocenceForget-me-not - True

LoveHoneysuckle -

Sweetness of DispositionJasmine - Grace and

EleganceLilac - First emotions of

loveLily of the Valley -

Return of HappinessTulip - Declaration of

LoveWallflower - Fidelity in

AdversityLarkspur - LevityMyrtle - Everlasting

Love, FidelityPeppermint - Warmth,

Cordiality.


Choosing the right flowersfor the wedding ceremony

(Family Features) Whe-ther it’s set in the great out-doors, a lavish ballroom, thecouple’s favorite restaurantor at home, the weddingreception is a special timefor newlyweds to celebratewith family and friends.

The signature dessert –cake – is usually the center-

piece for this occasion, acontinuing reflection of thewedding theme and colors.An assortment of cupcakesor a tower of layers allowstoday’s cakes to take almostany form – from square toround, even pillow or heart-shaped. This stunning all-white creation from thewedding experts at Wiltonis both simple yet elegant.Cake layers are covered inpure white fondant, whileadditional bands of fondantglistening with whitesparkling sugar decoratethe bottom of each tier.Dots of sugar pearl sprin-kles, resembling perfectpearls add a hint of texture,while a gem-studdedmonogram topper adds thefinishing touch.

This unique do-it-your-self wedding topper kit caneasily be customized…withone initial, two or a trio.

Self-adhesive crystal-likegems are used to trace theinitials onto the clear disc.Gems can also be used tocreate a border or othercomplementary design.After the reception, itmakes a perfect keepsakefor the couple that will be

treasured for years to come. Guests will want to raise

a glass in honor of the new-lyweds with the timelesscustom of a champagnetoast. Decorated flutes forthe bride and groom createa long-lasting memory ofthis special tradition.

Individual boxes areideal for truffles or othercandies to send home withguests. Tie with ribbonsreflecting the color themeof the wedding. Anotherfun memento is a minichampagne bottle favorthat can be filled with smallcandies. Attach a label witha personalized message.Make it elegant orsimple…and always make itmeaningful and memo-rable.

For more do-it-yourselfwedding ideas, favors andaccessories, visit www.-wilton.com.

(ARA) - Good news forbrides inspired by Audrey

Hepburn and Grace Kelly,classic is back. Fabrics, sil-

houettes and accessoriesborrowed from the 1940sthrough 1960s offer bridesthe opportunity to startwith the basics and en-hance them with luxuriousfinishing touches.

TThhee DDrreessssEschewing large, mod-

ern swags of fabrics,designers are embracingthe hourglass figure. Waistsare nipped in or definedwith belts and sashes, oftenin a color that slightly con-trasts with the dress.Charming gowns with thelook of prom dresses fromthe 1950s glide down theaisle with fitted bodicesand full skirts of tulle, laceand applique.

For a less formal wed-ding, brides can go bomb-shell in frocks reminiscentof 1960s cocktail dresses.The length is shorter, butthe look is sophisticated, i.e.gathered waists and nar-rower skirts.

TThhee AAcccceessssoorriieessBirdcage veils — with

large netting that falls atcheekbone length — areback in a big way. Thesesimple veils frame thebride’s glowing face andhighlight special jewelry.Ladylike wrist-lengthgloves are the perfect com-plement to vintage bridallooks.

The classic bridal look isa perfect match with a sim-

ple and elegant pair of pearlstud earrings and a lustrous16-inch strand of culturedpearls around the bride’sneck.

“The Hindu LordKrishna is said to haveoffered pearls to his daugh-ter as a wedding gift whichis where pearls and wed-dings were first married,”says Jeremy Shepherd ofPearlParadise.com, theworld’s largest online pearlcompany. “Pearls are con-sidered a symbol of purity,making them the perfect fitwith a bride’s white dress.”

Shepherd recommendswhite akoya pearls, a salt-water pearl that grows pri-marily in the coastal areasof Japan and China.

Considered to be theclassic pearls for jewelry,akoya pearls are prized fortheir perfect round shape,mirror-like luster and soft,neutral colors.

TThhee LLooookkTie a classic dress and

accessories together with apolished hairstyle such as abun or chignon and keepmake-up understated. Darkbrown or black eyelinerextended slightly past theend of the eyelid, a touch ofblack mascara and a shadeof red lipstick perfectlymatched to the bride’s com-plexion are all that’s neces-sary to complete the per-fect, classic Hollywoodface.

PAGE 20 | SPRING BRIDAL 2011 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Bridal style alert: Classic look is back

Have a wedding reception to remember


(ARA) - If you’re plan-ning a bridal shower, youwant to make it a relaxing,fun time for everyone - andright at the center of thefun is good food. If you’refeeling anxious about whatto serve and how to get itprepared - especially witheveryone nowadays payingso much attention to whatthey eat - relax. You canserve delicious and healthyfood without hiring a pro-fessional chef or spending aweek in the kitchen.

Here are some time-sav-ing tips and recipes fromthe Simply Organic testkitchen to help you get thefood under control and hosta simple but sensationalshower for the bride.

• Share the work. Whenguests ask if they can bringanything, say “yes.” Anddon’t be afraid to ask themto bring something if theydon’t contact you first -most guests are eager tohelp. Get others to preparedishes you either don’t real-ly enjoy making yourself oryou know they do especial-ly well. You can even haveeach guest bring a dessertor appetizer and share therecipes with the new bride.Doing the food as a group isfun, and it helps build thejoyful spirit of the occasion.

• Keep it healthy. There’sa good chance a lot of yourguests are trying to eat

healthier. Why not go thatroute and make it delicioustoo? You can provide great-tasting, nutritious snacksthat also go easy on artifi-cial additives, salt, fat, sugarand other potentiallyunhealthy ingredients. Forguests with special dietrestrictions, gluten-freebaking mixes are now read-ily available for easy, worry-free baked treats.

• Take some shortcuts.For enticing, freshly madedips without fuss, use highquality organic dip mixes.Just add a creamy dill,French onion, guacamole

or ranch dip mix to equalparts low-fat cottage cheeseand non-fat plain yogurtand mix in a blender orfood processor untilsmooth. Serve with freshveggies you can buy alreadycleaned and cut up at thestore, and you get a lot ofhealthy snacking with verylittle prep time. Or use pre-blended mulling spice tocreate flavorful cider,punch or other beverageswithout a lot of work.

• Remake everydayfavorites. One way to com-bine simple and special is totake easy-to-prepare fav-

orites and dress them upwith special festive season-ings. Try distinctive season-ing blends like curry orItalian seasoning. A sea-soned sugar combinationlike lemon sugar or cinna-mon sugar will add a gour-met touch to your tea. Oradd a touch of a spice liketarragon or a chili powderseasoning blend to yourusual deviled eggs, andyou’ll instantly have some-thing out of the ordinary.

• Shop smart. Make yourshopping list well inadvance. That way you canpick up everything in one

trip - and eliminate anylast-minute sprints to thegrocery store. You can evenorder some ingredientsonline. For example, SimplyOrganic offers a wide rangeof all-organic productsonline to enhance yourshower food - everythingfrom spices, seasoningblends and baking extractsto easy-to-make mixes fordips, dressings and othersnacks - and they’ll shipthem to your house withina few days.

Here are two of the manyeasy-to-prepare, healthybridal shower dishes fromthe recipe collection atwww.simplyorganicfoods.com.

Spicy Chicken Dip

Ingredients:3 cups cooked and

finely diced chicken 1/4 cup low fat yogurt 4 finely diced Roma

tomatoes (approximate-ly 2 cups)

1 package SimplyOrganic Guacamole DipMix

1/2 cup shreddedcheese

2 tablespoons finelydiced jalapenos

Directions:In a large mixing bowl,

stir chicken and yogurttogether.

Add tomatoes andGuacamole Dip Mix; stir.Blend in shredded cheeseand jalapenos. Refrigerate.

Chef SuggestionsServe chilled with chips or

crackers. For a less spicyversion, substitute greenolives for jalapenos.

Turkey & Cheese

Meatballs

Ingredients:1 pound ground

turkey 1 package Simply

Organic Roasted TurkeyGravy Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup SimplyOrganic Pancake &Waffle Mix

2 tablespoons milk 1/2 cup shredded

cheese

Directions:Preheat oven to 425

degrees. In a bowl, combineall ingredients until evenlydistributed. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place in a singlelayer on a greased bakingsheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

Chef Suggestions:Serve with a side of bar-

becue sauce or SimplyOrganic Ranch Dressing.

Taking the stress out of preparing shower food

(ARA) - Jayme Malpiediwasn’t expecting to meether future spouse when shedecided to attend GrandCanyon University. It justhappened, as it apparently“just happens” for an esti-mated 60 percent of thestudents who attend the

faith-based Arizona univer-sity.

With an increasinglyuntethered 20-somethinggeneration, young peopleare waiting longer thanever to get married, havechildren, and “settle down”as the old phrase goes.

Though unintentional, stu-dents who attend faith-based institutions seem tobe bucking the trend.

“Marriage was the lastthing on my mind, especial-ly when my first impressionwas of him decked out inthat ridiculous ‘Revenge ofthe Nerds’ costume withhis volleyball teammates,”says Malpiedi. She and herfiance, Clayton Hall, didn’tmeet until finals week inthe spring semester ofJayme’s senior year, but itwas clear early on that theyshared similar values,beliefs and visions for theirfutures. In fact, their firstdate was a church service.

Malpiedi attended pub-lic and private schools, andbelieves that students atfaith-based colleges are justmore prepared for thatmajor milestone.

“Students who attendfaith-based universities areon a different path thanother students. They

already know what theywant for their futures, sothose conversations thatlead to committed relation-ships come up early,” shesays.

Many of today’s youngadults tend to boomerangback to their parents’ nest,remaining unattached toromantic partners, goingback to school, travelingand generally postponingmajor life milestones, suchas marriage, until the aver-age age of 26 for womenand 28 for men, a numberwhich has grown by fiveyears since the 1970s. Butaccording to alumni andthose who work at privatereligious colleges, mostwho attend non-secular,private institutions findtheir life mate earlier in life,marrying either while inschool or soon after. Thedean of students at GrandCanyon University has esti-mated their school’s mar-riage rate at 60 percent ormore. Although most reli-gious institutions do nottrack the marriage rate oftheir students, many agreethat it happens quite often.

Dr. Jim Burns, executivedirector of Azusa PacificUniversity’s HomeWordCenter for Youth andFamily, author of “Closer:52 Devotions to DrawCouples Together” and

“Creating an IntimateMarriage,” notes an insightfrom one of his colleagues,University of Wisconsinmarriage researcher Dr.Ray Short, about some ofthe best marriages beingthe result of marrying yournext door neighbor.

Grand Canyon Univer-sity Campus Pastor TimGriffin, who recently left aministry with the NASCARcircuit, agrees. “For years, Icounseled couples whowere struggling in theirrelationships due to stress-ful travel schedules, dan-ger/risk associated with thesport, etc. This setting letscouples avoid the risks that

often make relationshipsmore complicated in the‘real world.’”

Griffin notes that publicinstitutions tend to attractstudents with a wide vari-ety of belief systems andreligious backgrounds,making it a bit more chal-lenging to find mates, letalone dates, with commoninterests. Eric and JessicaAndrews of Phoenix metduring their sophomoreyear while star-gazing in anastronomy class, and arefriends with several cou-ples who also met on cam-pus and married, includinghis best friend from child-hood, who ended up marry-ing Jessica’s sister.

“It’s the students’ reli-gious backgrounds and theatmosphere on campus thatcontributes to the high rateof marriage,” says Eric.

At the first chapel serv-ice of the year, GrandCanyon University CEOBrian Mueller shares withparents the likelihood oftheir children meetingtheir future spouses, andknows firsthand that it hap-pens quite frequently, as hemet his wife while attend-ing a small Lutheran col-lege.

“Take a look around you,because someone in thisroom will likely be yourchild’s in-law,” he says.

PAGE 22 | SPRING BRIDAL 2011 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011

The path to marriage may be at a faith-based institution

Spring Bridal 2011

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