月別アーカイブ: 2017年2月

Weddings are one of, if not the, best days in people’s lives. It’s no surprise that as a result immense amounts of planning, precision and detail go into them.

The options with weddings are endless. There are so many different styles and designs out there that it can become overwhelming, yet at the end of the day a wedding is expected to be perfect. Dresses, cakes, flowers and jewelry are all some of those hard-to-decide aspects of a wedding, but luckily in Clark County there are people who are ingrained in the wedding game — people who know what works well. Below is a collection of their thoughts.

Dresses

A bride’s dress is arguably the highlight of a wedding. It’s something she’s been thinking about and imagining for years, meaning she might already have a pretty good idea of what it’s going to look like. But what about how it feels?

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According to Brenda Smith of Tutus en Tournant, a custom bridal wear producer in Clark County, a lot of brides in the area aim for comfort as more of a premium.

“As far as requests for custom bridal dresses, some of my brides have asked for Bohemian styles — more casual for outdoor venues,” she said. The idea makes perfectly good sense when you consider how many couples take advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful scenery and have outdoor weddings.

Having more or less comfort though, doesn’t affect the next key factor of a wedding dress — the color. White is usually the base color of the dress, but that is just the start.

“Some (brides) want a little color mixed in their gowns/dresses. Lots of lace,” said Smith. “Not bright colors, just a hint of like a blush or mixtures of different shades of ivories. Most dresses that I work on are not white-white, they are usually a diamond white or a soft white, or soft ivories.”

The use of other colors on a dress in addition to the plain white are important to consider.

“I’ve heard brides say many times that pure white does not work well with their complexions,” Smith said.

Something that seems to be hot right now is getting creative with the veil. Smith said recently she made a veil for a bride from the bride’s grandmother’s old wedding dress. She also put together a birdcage-style veil with the incorporation of some flowers the bride was using as decor for the ceremony to match.

Flowers

The types of flowers that are used in a wedding generally depends on what the overall theme of the wedding is. In a lot of cases, certain flowers can be made to work with pretty much anything. According to Wendi Reynolds, owner of Clark County Floral, roses are one of those flowers.

“Most of my brides like to use roses due to the fact they see it as romantic flower,” said Reynolds. “You really can’t go wrong with roses because of so many themes you can use them in.”

Reynolds believe roses go great with weddings themed “a little out doors,” such as a garden theme or a country theme.

But once a type of flower(s) is picked out, the floral planning side of things for a wedding isn’t over yet. Careful consideration goes toward the volume of flowers that will be used. The amount can greatly vary.

“That (the number of flowers) depends on how big the wedding is, it could be 75 flowers up to like thousands,” said Reynolds. “I have a bride for this month of February that has ordered over 300 stems of just roses, that’s not including the greens.”

Too often Reynolds said brides lose their flowers right before the big day.

“They don’t realize they need a cooler to keep them cool when the weather gets hotter in the summer. We have had many brides come in and said they lost flowers due to heat,” she said.

Another mistake Reynolds said she sees brides do with flowers is trying to do it alone.

“I think the biggest mistake is the bride taking on a task of doing her own wedding flowers. There is so much more to do than to spend time doing their own wedding flowers the night before the wedding,” said Reynolds, adding many brides have said after their wedding they didn’t think it would be so difficult without any help.

Reynolds said one use of flowers that’s popular is to decorate the stage arches or aisle arches with them.

“Most of our brides love the flowers on the arches,” she said.

Reynolds also noted that at Clark County Floral they will often add floral to chandeliers in weddings.

Cakes

Cakes are a special part of every wedding because they’re one of the only things that’s part of the event that brings a whole other sense to the party — the sense of taste.

That is perhaps the perfect explanation for why the wedding cake scene seems to be changing perhaps more than anything else regarding weddings.

Traditional cakes with all kinds of fondant on them aren’t as big today as they’ve traditionally been. According to Desirey Gibson, the cake designer for Battle Ground Bakery, customers seem to favor with “naked cakes” lately — cakes that don’t have much icing on them.

“People don’t seem to like fondant anymore I think because it just doesn’t taste as good,” said Gibson. “It’s always been used more for decor than taste, and I think people are just valuing that higher these days.”

A lot of wedding parties aren’t even using cakes for dessert. Many people now, Gibson said, will order a smaller-sized cake (one to three tiers high instead of four or more) just for the bride and groom and then feature a secondary desert around it. Cupcakes and ice cream are prime examples.

With that new trend, decorating hasn’t gone away. Some people love getting cakes for their weddings and theming them. Right now the hot theme seems to be to make it look natural.

“Flowers, trees, anything that looks outdoorsy,” Gibson said of the more popular natural trends. Most decorations today are edible she said. Rarely anymore do people still want something on the cake that is just there for show, such as a plastic bride and groom on the top.

Jewelry

At the end of every special wedding day everything becomes just a memory, stored away in people’s minds and reminisced on through pictures. One thing that will last is wedding jewelry.

Jewelry might be small, but it’s expensive for a reason. It’s elegant, and that’s why the tiniest of tiny details matter so much.

Right now, halo designs for bridal rings are the fad, but another, perhaps more interesting shift in the industry is that brides aren’t doing two piece ring sets as much anymore (engagement ring, then added wedding band after). Instead, more and more brides are doing away with that tradition.

A bridal ring style that’s been pretty steady for several years now is white-gold coloring. In the past yellow-gold coloring was the popular way to go.

Randall Brown of Celebration Jewelers in Battle Ground said the rise of alternative metals for men’s wedding rings is significant. Black and grey rings from titanium, cobalt, and ceramic steel have become as popular as gold rings.

Wedding jewelry isn’t just limited to rings. According to Brown, pearl necklaces are popular for brides, and pendants (any color) are often given to bridesmaids to wear.

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Memorizing the Quran has always been appreciated among the Palestinian Muslim community. The Hamas-affiliated Al-Tayseer Society for Marriage and Development in partnership with the Riyad Charity Society on Feb. 4 announced the launch of Ridwan (Satisfaction), a program to provide free weddings in Gaza for individuals who memorize the Islamic holy book. The project is being funded by the Palestinian Charity Committee, affiliated with the International Islamic Charity Organization in Kuwait, a prominent organization that collects donations to help the poor in the Arab and Muslim worlds.

The spread of poverty and high unemployment, which according to figures issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics stood at 41.2% in the first quarter of 2016, have made wedding ceremonies and dowries expensive propositions for young people.

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Riyad Shahin, chairman of the Riyad Charity Society, said during the press conference announcing the program that it targets unmarried “huffaz” — people who have memorized the Quran — 26 and older. The aim, he said, is “to encourage youth to read the book of Allah and strengthen ties and social solidarity.”

Hasan al-Juju, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Courts, said at a Jan. 29 press conference in Gaza City that the marriage rate in Gaza dropped by 8% from 2015 to 2016. He attributed the decrease to poverty and unemployment.

A number of young men told Al-Monitor that they disapprove of the memorization requirement to obtain a free wedding. Mahmoud al-Batrawi, an unemployed university graduate, dreams of getting married, but he is unable to find a spouse because he lacks the financial means. He has not memorized the Quran and therefore cannot benefit from a free wedding courtesy of Tayseer, the most prominent organization helping young people with the financial burdens of marriage.

“Some have been blessed with the ability to memorize the book of Allah, and so they have,” Batrawi said. “Today, those who lack this ability will be denied the chance to benefit from this project. This is why I believe this is an unreasonable condition, and I hope it will be reconsidered because memorizing the Quran means memorizing around 78,000 words, i.e., about 6,000 Quranic verses. No ordinary human being is capable of doing so; only those with an extraordinary talent for memorizing can do it.”

Ibrahim al-Ejel, who works in a blacksmith shop in the Shujaiyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, makes $150 a month. He told Al-Monitor that he has been saving for eight years so he can get married, and he got engaged two years ago. He has not yet, however, been able to save enough for a wedding, which on average costs around $10,000.

“I realized that a young man living in Gaza cannot get married without help,” Ejel said. “This is why I had high hopes for a charity to help me out in overcoming this [financial] difficulty and finally achieving stability in my life. I was extremely frustrated when I found out that Tayseer’s project was only for huffaz.”

He added, “Young people from all social classes in Gaza need help getting married. This is why all discrimination in terms of social and religious standards should end now.”

Tayseer director Wael al-Khalili stressed that the free wedding program for huffaz is only part of a series of social projects to youths. He told Al-Monitor, “ We chose huffaz as worthy of receiving such help because they represent a special and unique segment in our society.” Khalili said that his organization also helps youths in general through the Tayseer Marriage Fund, which was established in 2010. The organization provides a loan from the fund to cover the wedding, and the newlyweds repay it in regular installments.

“The huffaz are the young people with the highest morals in our society,” Khalili asserted. “They deserve to be treated differently, and so they do not have to pay back the money they get for their weddings.”

As for the huffaz who stand to benefit from the project, Khalili said, “We do not have a specific number for the time being, but the funding is enough for dozens of huffaz. Each one will be granted an amount to cover the costs of the entire wedding.”

Mouin Rajab, an economics professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, noted that Palestinians from all social classes are living under difficult economic conditions, which is why thousands of unemployed graduates are in need of assistance to deal with life’s troubles.

“Although honoring the huffaz is appreciated by Palestinian society, Palestinian youths — college graduates in particular — are unemployed, have no income and are unable to pay for a wedding,” said Rajab. “This is why they should all be receiving help without exception.”

He added, “Even the ones working need assistance to cover the costs of weddings, because they can barely earn a decent living in light of the low wages in Gaza and the difficulty in saving.”

Palestinian youths in Gaza are mired in economic problems that render them unable to live normal lives. Social, partisan and government organizations are able to provide some help for those hoping to marry, but many are stuck between the hammer and the anvil when it comes to financing weddings and dowries and meeting social and religious standards.

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After attending a friend’s civil wedding ceremony and seeing how poorly prepared the celebrant was, Will Flanagan decided he could do better.

“There was a definite lack of sincerity expressed by the celebrant,” Will told the Leinster Express. “She seemed disinterested and detached, like she didn’t really care. My friends deserved better!”

Originally from Derrylamogue, Co. Laois, Will decided his affable personality along with experience in acting and public speaking provided the perfect foundation for a career as a celebrant.

Will, who hails from a farm, embarked on a training course with the Irish Institute of Celebrants, where he, and fellow course mates formed Alternative Weddings Ireland, a group whose common goal is to help couples create the wedding of their dreams.

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Also a teacher in Dublin, Will sailed through his assessment in January 2017 and is now an accredited celebrant. He is fully qualified to help with weddings, vow renewals, naming ceremonies and also funerals.

“If you’re looking for help with choosing the perfect readings, heartfelt vows or music that will make your wedding unforgettable, I’m here to help,” he said.

Wedding ceremonies appeal to everyone and couples like to add those special touches that make their celebration personal. This is where Will works his magic. He says he ensures that the little things that matter to a couple’s beliefs, stories and personalities, are included.

“I’ll bring sincerity, joy and humour to your wedding day. Guaranteed!” Will declared.

Those of us who are married might recall how, prior to our wedding day, discussions revolved around venues, catering, dates, rings, clothes and so on.

In all likelihood, the ‘heart and soul’ of the day, namely the celebration, was overlooked. Imagine then, having a dedicated professional like Will, whose sole task is to help you, the couple, channel energy into that one, very special aspect.

“Ireland is a magical place and there’s a whole lot of mysticism in some of the ancient rites and rituals celebrated here,” says Will. “To give you an example, we have the Celtic knot fasting ritual, which is where the term ‘tying the knot’ comes from. Imagine entwining a couple’s hands with traditional burlap and ribbons that they’ve chosen for the occasion. How romantic is that”?

Will’s parents still live on the family farm in Laois. He splits my time between there and Dublin where he works Monday – Friday as a secondary school teacher in Dalkey.

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First comes love, then comes paying for the wedding.

Weddings cost an average of $35,329 nationally — excluding the honeymoon — according to The Knot’s 2016 Real Weddings Study. That’s the highest reported average cost since the survey began in 2006.

But you’re not obligated to spend that much, and many couples don’t. We asked experts how you can set a reasonable budget and cut costs on some of the most expensive elements of your upcoming nuptials.

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The budget

1. BE REALISTIC

Don’t start your marriage in debt, says Anne Chertoff, a trend expert for WeddingWire. “Most couples don’t anticipate how much a wedding is actually going to cost, so they end up underestimating what they’re going to spend and then going over their budget,” she says. Set realistic spending limits from the beginning that account for all areas of your wedding. If you overspend in one area, cut back in another.

2. USE A CREDIT CARD — RESPONSIBLY

It can be smart to use a credit card for wedding-related purchases — as long as you’re not taking on more debt than you can afford to pay off. Chertoff recommends using accumulated points toward your honeymoon, particularly if you have a card with travel rewards.

The date

3. CONSIDER A WINTER WEDDING

Not all wedding dates are created equal. Find out which are most popular on WeddingWire’s wedding date calendar. If there’s more demand for a given date, you’ll usually pay a higher price for a venue. You could score a discount for choosing a less popular month, such as January or February, Chertoff says.

4. BOOK A SUNDAY

Saturday is a popular day for weddings, but it’s also generally the most expensive day to get married. You can likely reserve your venue at a lower price if you hold your wedding on a Sunday, or even a weeknight.

The guests

5. PUT A TWIST ON ‘PLUS ONE’ ETIQUETTE

Instead of giving all guests older than 18 a “plus one,” limit them to couples you socialize with regularly, says Sharon Naylor, author of dozens of wedding books, including “1,001 Ways to Save Money … and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding.” To avoid awkward questions, explain how you’re determining the guest list.

6. MIX UP YOUR INVITATIONS

You’ll probably want to mail out traditional invitations, says Stephanie Cain, an editor at The Knot. But you can post wedding weekend itineraries on your wedding website and email save-the-date alerts. That’ll save you the cost of printing and postage.

The dress

7. CHECK OUT A PROM SHOP

Brides aren’t finding dresses at just the bridal shop these days, Naylor says. You can pick up a white dress in the prom or party dress section of any department store. The popularity of colored dresses makes formal gowns a nice substitute, too.

The national average spent on a wedding dress was $1,564 in 2016, according to the The Knot’s latest Real Weddings study. A simple Google search for white prom dresses pulls up options that cost a fraction of that.

8. BUDGET FOR YOUR ACCESSORIES

There’s more to your dress budget than the dress. Cain suggests taking extras such as tailoring fees, shoes, jewelry and a clutch into account when setting a spending limit. To save on your veil, Chertoff recommends making it your “something borrowed” and wearing a family member’s.

The venue

9. NEGOTIATE

Lots of unexpected expenses can pop up during planning, including cake-cutting and corkage fees or power for your DJ and photo booth. Naylor says you don’t have to take them as they are. If a cost seems unreasonable, respectfully request to have it removed.

10. USE THE VENUE’S RESOURCES

Some venues provide tables and linens, Cain says. If you opt for a backyard wedding, you’ll have to rent items like these. Always read a venue’s contract in its entirety before signing so you know what is and isn’t included.

And keep an eye out for requirements. You might not want to be obligated to use the venue’s caterer, for instance.

The decor

11. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR VENDORS

Naylor says some floral designers have warehouses with excess inventory they’re willing to give away or lend out for free. Once you’ve placed an order, ask about expanding your options.

12. BORROW FROM OTHER NEWLYWEDS

Ask friends who have recently gotten married if you can borrow centerpieces or other items that they have left over.

13. SCOUT OUT DECORATIONS AT CRAFT STORES

Look for wedding decorations — especially light-up decor — in places like craft stores. They have “more than glue guns and glitter,” Naylor says.

The flowers

14. STICK TO IN-SEASON BLOOMS

You might have your heart set on pink flowers to accent your bridesmaids’ bouquets, but consider settling for a different shade or variety. Local blooms that are in season at the time of your wedding are generally less expensive. Also, “local flowers tend to look fresher because they didn’t have to travel for days,” Cain says.

15. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR FLOWERS

A larger flower, such as a hydrangea, naturally looks fuller and takes up more space with fewer stems, Cain says. And you can repurpose ceremony flowers for the reception, instead of buying more. For instance, use a ceremony arch to adorn your sweetheart table at the reception.

The menu

16. GO FOR A SHORTER CAKE

The more tiers on your cake, the more it’ll cost you. Cain suggests sticking to two tiers and having sheet cakes to serve. The cake you cut for your pictures doesn’t have to feed all of your guests.

17. CUT DOWN ON DRINK SIZES

Arrange for the bartender to serve your signature drinks in smaller glasses. “Most people will go and try the signature drink, take a sip, put it down and go back to their regular drink,” Naylor says. Minimize the cost of your bar tab by opting for shooters.

The rest

18. CHOOSE A CHARITABLE FAVOR

Don’t want to buy a favor for each wedding guest? Make a charitable donation on behalf of all your guests, Chertoff says. That way, you can set the amount you’re comfortable spending, donate to a cause you care about and write off the contribution on your taxes.

19. LIMIT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S HOURS

Save money by shaving off some of the time your photographer and videographer are present, Naylor and Cain suggest. You’ll likely want them there for the ceremony, but you might not need footage of the end-of-reception dancing.

Bottom line, these experts suggest keeping a close eye on your wedding spending. “Anybody — whether they have a $10,000 budget or a $500,000 budget — is still working on a budget,” Cain says.

Devote the biggest parts of your budget to the areas that are most important to you and be willing to compromise on the rest.

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The groom was 60-years-old and the wedding was seven years ago, yet the magic and romance of the moment continues to inspire not only the couple themselves, but the 800 witnesses to that momentous occasion—many of them complete strangers.

Yaakov and Marsha Motzen were joined in holy matrimony in a ceremony that adhered strictly to the Jewish wedding traditions and kosher laws that they both hold dear. Unlike most religiously observant couples, however, they chose to get married on the open seas.

“Our ketubah (marriage contract) may be the only one in the world to list under location of the wedding, ‘Between Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas,’” Marsha says of her cruise ship wedding.

Since the groom is one of the most famous current cantors and performers of Jewish music, the wedding was destined to melodically fill the ship. In fact, more than a dozen big-name cantors and other musical luminaries were on board to add their voices to this event, including Avraham Fried, Naftali and Natenel Herstik, Binyamin Helfgot and Dudu Fisher, plus Amiran Dvir and his band.

Jewish destination weddings constitute a growing trend, according to those involved in such celebrations. More Jewish couples are opting to exchange vows in gorgeous places around the world—without sacrificing Jewish tradition in the process.

Taking this trend to the next level, a leading kosher cruise and travel company, Kosherica, is now partnering with the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas to create a program for picturesque Jewish destination weddings and other celebrations (such as bar/bat mitzvahs).

Atlantis, a 20-year-old resort, is now providing everything from a decorated chuppah (wedding canopy) overlooking the vivid blue Bahamian waters, to a local rabbi, to cuisine prepared under the direction of world-class chefs, to a mashgiach (kosher supervisor). Some packages also include photography and dolphin swimming for the guests.

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Kosher hors d’oeuvres at a Jewish wedding. The Bahamas-based Atlantis Paradise Island resort and Kosherica, a leading kosher cruise and travel company, are now offering wedding packages that include kosher catering. Credit: Maloman Studios.“Atlantis has the advantage of having a facility where you can make it into an entire wedding weekend, which is what most families want to do,” says Kosherica spokeswoman Aliza Seidman.

“Some families prefer to keep the weekend casual with buffet meals and maybe a Saturday night barbecue, and then the wedding on Sunday is more formal,” she adds.

In the fall of 2015, Avi and Nicole Yurman of Toronto were the first couple to be married under this partnership. “Having our chuppah overlooking the ocean was so beautiful,” says Nicole. “We were able to have a smaller wedding, just 115 family and close friends, in an unforgettable location. It was perfect for us.”

Kosherica, which was founded more than two decades ago, offers cruise travelers kosher food prepared by five-star chefs. “We’ve had winter weddings in tropical Caribbean, bar mitzvahs with Alaska glaciers in the backdrop and renewal vows in the gorgeous Mediterranean,” says Kosherica Chief Financial Officer Helit Edelstein.

How much will such a kosher destination wedding cost? Ceremony site fees for events for Kosherica start at $3,500, and costs are calculated based on how many guests and meals are included. The wedding packages with Atlantis run about $400 per person for the festive weekend.

Atlantis representatives anticipate that the partnership will be a fruitful one for everyone involved.

“In our efforts to continue to expand our offerings and market reach, we knew there was a need for kosher catering in the destination segment,” says Jessi Hill, Atlantis’s executive director of weddings and special events. “Groups wishing to hold true to their traditions don’t want to be limited in their geographic location.”

At least one rabbi is happy to welcome Jewish groups to the region.

“I applaud Atlantis for going out of their way to accommodate kosher weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs,” says Rabbi Sholom Bluming of Chabad of the Bahamas. “This program is a very exciting development for the island.”

But it’s probably even more exciting for the Jewish couples who embark on their lives together in these exotic locales.

“I like to say that aboard ship, we had an intimate honeymoon with 800 people, our kids and grandkids,” says Marsha Motzen, who recalls a memorable moment under the chuppah during which she wondered if the ship’s movements were strong enough to knock her off her three-inch heels.

Seven years have passed, but the memories live on for the Motzens and their incidental guests.

“I can’t tell you how many people come up to me after a concert, wherever I am in the world,” says Yaakov Motzen, “and they say, ‘You may not know this, but I was at your wedding!’”

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Her glitzy marriage ceremony was spectacular enough to win Celebrity Four Weddings.

So it came as no surprise to see Tina Malone, 54, pulling out all the stops ahead of renewing her vows with husband Paul Chase, 33.

Following her announcement that they’d be having the ceremony this year, the Shameless star, 54, couldn’t wait to get planning as she was seen trying on wedding gowns at Dreams Bridal Boutique in Liverpool on Tuesday.

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Showing off her slimmed-down frame, the actress slipped into an array of gowns, each one more stunning than the last.

Keen to highlight her slender figure, each dress nipped in at her tiny waist and boasted an eye-catching design.

The first gown was a traditional ball gown style, featuring a cream bodice adorned with silver beading and sequins.

Flaring out with a dramatic tulle hem, the garment flattered her lithe frame, although Tina did seem a bit concerned with the fit, grasping her bust as she cried out in shock.

Tina also donned a fishtail gown which flattered her slimmed-down figure.

Adorned with lace, the garment also featured a sheer panel across the back which enabled her to show off her incredible figure whilst remaining demure.

Tina and Paul tied the knot in 2010, and the couple were crowned the winners of Celebrity Four Weddings after going up against Debbie McGee, Big Brother three contestant Spencer Smith and glamour model Linsey Dawn McKenzie.

After losing a staggering 12 stone Tina announced her plans to renew her wedding vows so that she could live out her dream of being the ‘perfect bride’.

She told Closer magazine: ‘ I’ve always had the dream of being the perfect bride, so I thought: “Why not do it again?” I’m the youngest I’ve ever felt.’

Tina and Paul share three-year-old daughter Flame, whilst Tina also has a 35-year-old daughter Danielle, who recently gave birth to a little girl of her own.

Whilst Tina looks well on her way to renewing her vows, she might find it harder to achieve her second goal.

As a result of her newfound body confidence, she recently admitted she would love to bare all for Playboy magazine – which could be a tough request as nude models no longer appearing in the publication.

She told Closer: ‘If Playboy rang offering me £250,000 to do a naked shoot, of course I would do it!

‘Women should celebrate their bodies, and after years of having such a s**t one, it’s time I showed off how phenomenal I look!’

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THE Wanted star Tom Parker has put his wedding on hold – to play Danny Zuko in Grease.

Parker, 28, and his fiancee Kelsey Hardwick got engaged last year but the singer told Hello! that there was not enough time to tie the knot this year, and the couple will wed in 2018.

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“We want to make sure we plan it right and I don’t want to take two weeks off, get married, do a week on honeymoon, then go back on tour.

“I didn’t think that was something I’d be comfortable with. So next year we’ll have a big wedding,” he said.

Parker will play John Travolta’s character Zuko in a touring production of Grease alongside former EastEnders’ star Louisa Lytton, who he first met when the pair took part in The Jump.

“I’d not skied that much before we went to Austria for that job, but I picked it up quite quickly.

“Whereas she took a little longer, so if she was on the floor having fallen over I’d go over and spray snow in her face,” he said.

“But we have that kind of relationship. Really jokey. And you need that – we’re on the road for 10 months and it’ll be tedious at times, with eight shows a week, so I think it’s good that we’ve got that humour and that good working relationship.”

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No matter how you choose to begin planning your wedding, there’s no doubt that finding the right place for your wedding ceremony is an important factor. Mona Southworth, Executive Assistant of Believers Christian Church, has six steps to planning your wedding ceremony, from start to finish.

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Step #1: Schedule a walk-through or tour

When planning your wedding ceremony, it is key to tour the facility you’re interested in. At Believers Wedding Chapel, a tour typically takes 20 minutes. It’s also recommended to bring your tentative wedding dates with you.

“This will make it as easy as possible when they are ready to schedule a date,” said Southworth.

Step #2: Discuss pricing and fees

Not only should you make sure a venue is the right fit for your wedding, but also the right fit for your budget. You’ll learn pricing during your tours, but be sure to discuss this as a couple before making any hasty decisions. Keep in mind deposits and other fees, before setting a date.

Step #3: Set a date

Once you decide which venue is the right one for you, it’s time to set a date. Remember when we said to take your tentative wedding dates with you to the tour? They can let you know right then and there if the chapel is available on those days. Southworth recommends you book your special day at least two months in advance, but the sooner the better!

“Weddings are scheduled mostly on Saturdays. However, who ask for a week day/evening wedding, they will work with your time frame,” said Southworth. “If the chapel is available, then we’ll book it.”

Step #4: Set an appointment and meet with a Wedding Facility Coordinator

The bride and groom should plan to bring their deposit, which is needed to lock-in their day. This crucial step in wedding ceremony prep is when you’ll learn all the rules of the church or chapel. You’ll discuss how many guests you plan to have, if you are bringing in a photographer and/or videographer, your schedule day-of, and more.

“We try to make it as simple and easy as possible, to take care of as much as we can,” said Southworth. “”We try to set up based on their dream wedding – Is it burlap and lace? Is it country? or pure elegance? – and then we can set the stage for that so you don’t have so much decorating to do.”

Step #5: Choose a minister

Believers Christian Church is a non-denominational Christian Church and has ministers available from their staff to officiate the wedding.

Step #6: Enjoy your wedding ceremony!

The arrival time of the bridal parties at the venue is something that will need to be planned in advance. Believers typically opens their doors two to three hours before the wedding, giving the bridal parties time to do last minute decorating or just sit back and relax.

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