月別アーカイブ: 2016年10月

They’d only been together seven months, but after asking both her father and stepfather’s permission, Robin Pawlowich asked Leah to marry him under the stars at Pigeon Lake in the summer of 2014. It wasn’t a difficult decision for either of them: “She’s just my person,” Robin says.

The couple, who live in Edmonton, met on a blind date in late December the year before — at an Oilers game whose outcome neither Robin nor Leah remembers.

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Their favourite number is 23 — a nod to that first date two days before Christmas. And Leah wanted to be married in July because it’s the month Robin proposed. She was pleased to discover that the 23rd of July fell on a Saturday in 2016, and they set their date accordingly.

While they were engaged, Robin’s parents purchased an acreage in Parkland County, which they offered Robin and Leah for their wedding. It was perfect: the esthetic they wanted, and a 10-minute drive from River Cree Resort and Casino, where their guests could stay overnight.

It did, however, require a lot of elbow grease from the couple and their families. They laid sod, put gravel down and cut out old trees, while an arborist came in to spruce up the trees that remained. There were four buildings on the property that Robin’s family knocked down, but they saved older parts of them to incorporate into the wedding decor.

Leah and Robin describe their wedding as “country rustic.”

“I’m a little bit addicted to Pinterest,” says the bride. “So I definitely got on Pinterest the whole next day after he proposed. The planning of what kind of wedding we wanted happened quite quickly because we both wanted it to be really personal, and we wanted to have our own little touches here and there.”

Those touches included lots of fresh flowers from Fabloomosity — including a flower crown for the bride (the idea was “as many flowers on one person as possible,” says Leah) — and little nods to hunting, one of Robin’s favourite pastimes.

The groom and groomsmen had boutonnieres made out of shotgun shells (Robin’s was the shell from the first time Leah ever used a shotgun). There were antlers incorporated into several parts of the decor — on top of the ceremony’s backdrop that Robin’s brother-in-law had made out of salvaged windows and doors from those original buildings; mounted behind their head table; and — the bride’s favourite detail — the handle of Leah’s bouquet.

The wedding’s palette consisted of subtle, soft colours. The flowers’ dusty hues matched the bridesmaids’ mix of pastel-coloured dresses, purchased at Novelle Bridal Shop where Leah also bought her gown.

In stark contrast to those understated tones and the wedding’s overall rustic feel were the bold, bright smoke bombs they employed for their post-ceremony photo shoot. While their guests played lawn games like ladder ball and beanbag toss, grenades in a rainbow of colours went off behind the bride and groom.

The smoke bomb idea came from their photographer, Elizabeth van der Bij of ENV Photography. Neither Leah nor Robin had seen them before.

“We were just talking on the phone about wedding timelines,” says Leah of her conversation with van der Bij. “At the end of our call, she said ‘What do you think of smoke bombs?’ And I said, ‘Sounds fantastic to me!’ At this point we’d done our engagement photos. So I said, ‘Whatever you think — we are your guinea pigs. Just tell us what to do’!”

The results were amazing, says Leah. “When we were standing there, I would have never thought that those photos would come out of it.”

But the best part for the groom was a quieter time, away from the festivities, just the newly married couple.

“My favourite moment was actually when everything was over and we could just relax and we had time to take five minutes alone together. That was one of the best moments,” says Robin.

“That, and Leah walking down the aisle.”

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Although, as time passes by, weddings are becoming more and more personalised and modern, there are still matrimonial traditions that we hang onto. But when it comes to your own big day, which traditions will you hold steady to, and which will you buck? We’ve sorted out sentimental from obsolete, and sweet from scary.

The bouquet toss

Then: One of the most well-known traditions in the wedding world is the ‘bouquet toss’, where the bride will take her bouquet and blindly toss it over her shoulder to the single women present at the wedding—whoever catches the flowers will be the next to marry, or so says tradition.

Now: Although most brides and groom still participate in this one as a fun part of their day, the modern bride has begun leaning away from giving away one of her most sentimental accessories from her wedding. Now there are options to have a second ‘tossing bouquet’ for the bride, in order to keep her original flowers.

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The garter toss

Then: Similarly to the bouquet, the garter (a lace band of fabric that sits on the upper thigh) is also meant to be tossed—here to the single men of the party (or sometimes, to the partner of whomever catches the bouquet). This stems from a tradition where men and women at the wedding would rush at the bride and rip her wedding dress—retaining part of the dress was a sign of good luck.

Now: Like the bouquet, garter tosses are still common practice in the modern world—although they are not so violent as in the past and not as popular as the bouquet. Some women find they aren’t comfortable with the removal process and choose to skip it altogether.

Giving away the bride

Then: Way back when, brides were ‘given away’ (literally) on their wedding days as they were still considered to be the ‘property’ of their fathers. In exchange for a dowry, they were then ‘handed’ to their new family at the wedding.

Now: Fortunately the ‘giving away’ tradition has morphed itself in a more family-friendly ordeal, with the process taking on a sentimental meaning rather than a literal one. Some brides still like to incorporate their fathers in this way, whilst some like to involve their mothers as well. It is now also common practice for the bride to walk down the aisle on her own.

Carrying the bride over the threshold

Then: Kinda like the whole ‘giving away’ the bride thing, carrying the bride over the threshold is also a relic of a time past when brides were not always so keen on the marriage gig and therefore had to be forcefully taken into the house. Ancient Romans also believed that bad spirits lurked in the doorways of newlyweds’ houses as a last-ditch effort to curse them, so the groom carried the bride over the threshold so that the spirits didn’t enter her through her feet (fun!).

Now: If done at all, this one is just a fun tradition to add into the day (and it shows off how strong your new husband is—bonus).

Not seeing the bride before the wedding

Then: It’s a very common superstition that it is bad luck to see the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding. This is a remnant of a time when marriages were more on the arranged side and were counted more as business deals then acts of love. If a family was marrying off their daughter in exchange for lands, goods or titles, not seeing the bride before the wedding took away the chance of the groom backing out if he considered her not attractive enough (yeesh).

Now: Thankfully (and hopefully), nowadays most grooms are familiar with what their wives-to-be look like before they marry them, so the original function of this tradition is defunct. However, some couples choose to incorporate it as they still believe in the bad luck superstition, or they believe it makes seeing the bride walking down the aisle more emotional and memorable.

 Wearing a white wedding dress

Then: Up until the 1800s, it was common practice for the bride to wear a coloured wedding dress—reds, blues and yellows were particularly popular. However, after Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 wearing a white court dress, the popularity of white dresses rose. Thereafter they became associated with purity and virginity and were then standard.

Now: Since Queen Victoria’s historic dress, the white dress has cemented itself as the go-to for wedding dresses. However coloured dresses are rising in popularity in modern times.

Having bridesmaids

Then: In the past bridesmaids were included in the wedding ceremony for two reasons, one being to confuse both vengeful spirits and jealous suitors (what’s the difference, are we right?) by dressing in similar dresses and donning veils in likeness to the bride. Thus, if a suitor and/or angry spirit turned up, they wouldn’t know which was the bride. Second, traditionally 10 witnesses were required to validate the marriage, bridesmaids and groomsmen were necessary for this.

Now: Nowadays the practice is a lot less scary. Bridesmaids are there for emotional and practical support and are usually family members or close friends. (The matching bridesmaid dresses tradition is still alive, however, although not for the confusion reason).

 Having groomsmen

Then: Back when ‘marriage by capture’ (AKA kidnapping) was still popular, groomsmen were not chosen for their emotional attachments to the groom, but for their strength. If the bride protested to the marriage, the groomsmen were there to physically fight off her family, allowing the groom to escape with his bride.

Now: It’s a lot less sinister nowadays, and more about mateship then kidnapping.

Wearing a veil

Then: Like both the ‘not seeing the bride before the wedding’ tradition and the ‘using bridesmaids to confuse people’ tradition, the veil was used to hide the bride’s face for both modesty, purity and for not-making-the-groom-run-away purposes. In some ancient cases, the white veil over the bride’s face represented her ‘purity’, and was only lifted by the groom when they went to consummate the marriage.

Now: Now bridal veils have a much less ominous purpose and are usually just accessories. Lifting the veil usually occurs at the beginning of the ceremony and is done by either the groom or the bride herself.

 ’Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’

Then: Although it’s not known for sure, the superstition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is thought to have been to assist brides in warding off the Evil Eye—the Evil Eye’s purpose being to curse the bride’s fertility. The ‘old’ and ‘new’ counterparts were to confuse the Evil Eye, whereas the ‘borrowed’ item was meant to be an undergarment from a woman who had already had a child—therefore protecting the bride against barrenness. The ‘blue’ part is usually thought to be a good luck charm.

Now: Thankfully now this tradition is just a fun addition to the day.

Showering the newlyweds with rice

Then: In the olden days showering the newlyweds with rice (as well as oats, grains and dried corn) was to wish them prosperity, good luck and fortune.

Now: Now it’s just good fun—rice is often overlooked for nicer and prettier alternatives like flower petals, streamers, confetti or sprinkles.

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The Duchess of Cambridge’s powers of fashionable symbolism reached new heights this evening as she chose a patriotically red and white poppy-emblazoned dress for a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating the achievements of Team GB’s Olympic heroes. Along with The Queen, Prince Phillip, Princess Anne, Prince William and Prince Harry, the Duchess met the likes of Nicola Adams, Ellie Simmonds and Tom Daley on the second day of the official post-Rio celebrations.

Kate’s just-above-the-ankle, floral printed dress is by Alexander McQueen, the British label with which she has long-held affinity. It comes from McQueen’s Resort 2017 collection which hasn’t yet landed in most stores but is available to pre-order in some places. A sleeveless, open-backed version of the dress is available to pre-order at Saks with for £2657.05 with delivery promised in January.

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The collection was inspired by the intricately beautiful hand painted patterns seen in British folk art, with designer Sarah Burton recreating colourful flowers on dramatically flounced mini dresses and maximalist tiered skirts.

Of course, translating such a richly detailled offering for the needs of a future Queen has become a speciality of the Alexander McQueen team; the silk dress worn by the Duchess tonight came with an elegant v-neck, nipped-waist and long, cuffed sleeves.

The relationship between the Duchess and Alexander McQueen began over five years ago when Burton designed the Duchess’s wedding dress and the gown which she changed into for the evening reception. Ever since, Burton’s modernly British clothes have seen Kate through the Christenings of both her children, numerous dinners and official engagements.

It’s clear that the partnership is as strong as ever, with the Duchessrecently opting for McQueen during the recent tour of Canada and to watch the Wimbledon final in July. The Duchess more experimental and glamorous style choices of late segue well with McQueen’s reputation as one of the most highly-respected British fashion houses operating today, known for exquisite detailling and romantic, beautiful yet strong silhouettes.

It’s likely that the dress chosen tonight was part of the same order as that worn in Canada as both come from the same collection.

The Duchess’s poppy-printed ensemble wasn’t the only look of note in the evening’s proceeding’s. The Queen’s shimmering blue cocktail dress proved that age is no barrier to glamour (and completed a red, white and blue colour theme) while Prime Minister Theresa May attracted numerous ‘fabulous shoes’ comments with her L.K Bennett kitten heels. And not forgetting the athletes themselves; some were smartly attired in navy suits and red tops while others opted for black and white pleated skirts with black blazers.

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Weddings for Less comes back to Valdosta after a five-year hiatus.

Weddings for Less is a budget decorating service.

Originally started in 2002, owner Linda Peeks had to quit working on Weddings for Less because of illness in 2010, she said.

She opened in Florida about a year ago and recently received her business license to operate in Valdosta.

Peek was first introduced to decorating when her grandmother taught her and her sisters how to arrange flowers and she “loved it.”

For her, getting back into business is “therapeutic” after getting over her illness.

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“This is like a healing process,” she said. “I love doing it. I love working with flowers and people and I love sewing.”

She works with residents who want help decorating for their weddings and need ideas that are within their budgets, she said.

She sets up four tables based on what customers want, but if the customer does not like any of the four tables, she will remake the tables for a second visit, she said.

Peek is also willing to work with pictures residents have of weddings they have seen online.

“Any picture they bring me or something they see online, I can do it,” she said. “If there is something I cannot do, I have other florists I can work with.”

Along with table decorations, Peek does the flower arrangements for the bride, groom, flower girls, the reception area and the chapel.

If residents are unsure of what they want, Peek said she will help them design the wedding, but ultimately, “it’s however the bride and groom want everything,” she said.

While she works with residents to get the wedding they want, she helps them understand budget restraints and helps them plan their weddings around tat.

“I’m working with people’s budgets,” she’s said. “If they want something for $1,500, I’ll show them what they can get, but if they want more, I show them how much extra it will cost.”

Peek said she knows how to make a nice wedding without spending too much money.

“You can get a lot done and make it beautiful, it just depends on what you want,” she said.

She is also willing to sew brides’ and bridesmaids’ dresses.

“They can bring me a pattern and I make it and style it the way they want me to,” she said.

It takes about two weeks to make one dress.

She can also hem tuxedos.

Because she has been decorating weddings for so long, Peek has an idea of what types of weddings people like.

“Some weddings are elegant and others use paper plates and plasticware,” she said.

She said she prefers a more “elegant look.”

She furnishes table cloths, chair covers, flatware, dinnerware and stemware, she said.

Peek keeps enough material to prepare for an event for 200 people, but can have more materials in about four days. She has several sets in different colors.

Along with weddings she does pastor events, sweet sixteens, bridal showers, birthdays and other events.

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Forget rustic mason jars and burlap. Set aside showy bouquets and fondant cakes. Minimalism now prevails in simpler affairs filled with elegant details and fresh, contemporary twists on traditional favorites.

See the latest buzzwords come to life Sunday, when the Omaha World-Herald presents the Wedding Essentials Idea Show at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. Nearly 100 wedding professionals will showcase in vogue trends in food, flowers, décor, attire and more.

Guests can spend the day meeting industry pros, seeing what’s hot on the runway, snapping pictures of what they love and checking off to-dos on their way to “I do.”

Here, several vendors provide a sneak peek of wedding “musts” they’ll be sharing at the show.

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All that glitters

Gold is hot. Whether shiny or matte, burnished or platinum, champagne or rose, the metallic detail warms up receptions and gives weddings a dramatic, glamorous feel.

“We’re focusing on a return to gold; it’s old-school elegance with a nod to tradition, but one that’s not too tricky,” said Brett Foster, lead designer for Wowfactore, an event design firm. “The rustic wedding trend has given way to something warmer and simpler with a lot of attention to detail.”

Ways to incorporate gold include: golden rims on crystal stemware, spray painted matte golden leaves on ceremonial arbors, gold chargers under fine white china, bright golden beaded backdrops for head tables or muted Chiavari chairs for the wedding couple.

Other metallic options include copper, which is toastier for fall, or gun metal, a warmer choice than silver and less gender specific. Forget lace accents and instead, complement these new looks with cognac-hued leathers or textured linens in cotton ivory (not creamy) to create layers and dimension. “It makes metallics less austere,” Foster said.

The warmer approach, Foster added, also provides an element of masculinity, which makes weddings “about both people. More grooms have an opinion now.”

Go green

Big bouquets laden with showy blooms and single rose boutonnières and nosegays have given way to greenery. “The past 15 years, there was none whatsoever,” said Tracy Diehl, owner of Florals Etcetera, who once incorporated upward of 400-500 stems per wedding and today uses closer to 50. “Now greens are very, very trendy.”

That doesn’t mean there’s a lack of high-impact visuals. A recent wedding for a client featured an 8-foot tall arbor draped with greenery and accented with an elaborate chandelier.

Seeded or silver dollar eucalyptuses dominate. Branches of Italian Ruscus and ivy are also popular. Even fern makes an appearance in wedding arrangements. These can all be combined to create beautiful bouquets or what Diehl describes as “budget garlands,” which don’t require a lot of material or labor.

She also loves the look of greens on textured table linens paired with candleholders of varying heights. “You can tuck flowers in here or there,” she said. “It’s overall, very basic, with detailed simplicity and texture – simple versus spectacular.”

Let there be light

Lighted backdrops are still popular, but twinkle lights are passé. Instead, backdrops and fabric-draped ceiling décor are showcased with mini lights and strategically placed strip lights and uplights, usually LEDs.

The trend started about four or five years ago and has steadily gained in popularity. “LED lights are super cost-effective and easy to install,” said Steven Sinkle, CEO and events director for 402 Event Services. “They can be set on the floor and angled the way you want. They really open up a space and can be customized and matched to wedding colors.”

Sinkle typically uses custom fabrics in white or black and likes the way they play off bright metallic accents like tall gold centerpieces or gold or silver Chiavari chairs. “Over the past six months, we’ve really seen that a lot. It’s very elegant.”

Make it personal

When Dani DeJoy married Riley Anderson this past June, she kicked aside tradition to replace a bridesmaid with a bridesman.

“I knew I wanted to break with tradition … but how?” she said in an email interview from the newlyweds’ new home in Vienna, Virginia.

The bride turned to one of her best friends since childhood and asked him to join her wedding party. “It was one of the most special elements of my wedding, and I will always cherish it and be forever grateful. Several people came up to me saying, ‘This is so you, Dani!’”

Other ways to personalize weddings involve throwing “bro-dal showers,” which give grooms their due. “There’s less of an appetite for stag or bachelor parties,” said Foster. “It’s the idea of the groom getting together with his friends and having a celebration.”

The focus can be tailored to each groom. For a casual approach, try flannels combined with craft beer and custom-made wood coasters; the more sophisticated take might feature a scotch and cigar bar or perhaps martinis, craft cocktails and retro hors d’oeuvres from the “Mad Men” era. Some grooms elect to compete in physical challenges as party games.

“Millennials are experiential,” Foster said. “These events coax guys into something more participatory and make it more personal to the groom.”

Let them eat naked

Naked cake, that is. Unfrosted cakes of exposed layers with icing in between have been the rage for quite some time, but they’re not quite as simple as in years past. Lindsey Rodgers, digital marketing specialist for Hy-Vee, has been designing cakes for a decade. “A lot of bakeries have seen the rise of naked cakes, but the rustic trend has given way to something a little more elegant,” she said. “They’re still big, but they’re more understated.”

The updates include drizzles of caramel or syrup down the sides, berry blends for extra flavor and floral accents that tie the whole look together. The basic palette is neutral — ivory or white — with wedding colors added through the strategic placement of flowers. “It almost looks like they’ve been put there by a fairy. It’s very casual but intentional.”

Rodgers said the focus is more on natural elegance. “Sometimes, you see a combination of a fondant tier and then a naked layer as a contrast,” she said. “It’s mixing tradition with current trends — but it’s still all about the yumminess.”

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