wedding guide

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inside: • Financial planning for your future together • Indoor and outdoor venues • Hiring the right caterer • Capturing precious moments in photos • Planning a wedding on a budget • Taking father-of-the-bride duties seriously A special supplement to the Lassen County Times, Westwood PinePress and Chester Progressive.

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Lassen County TImes 2013 Wedding Guide

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inside:• Financial planning for your future together

• Indoor and outdoor venues

• Hiring the right caterer

• Capturing precious moments in photos

• Planning a wedding on a budget

• Taking father-of-the-bride duties seriously

A special supplement to the Lassen County Times, Westwood PinePress and Chester Progressive.

Lassen County Times, Chester Progressive, Westwood PinePress2 Wedding Guide 2013

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Your wedding in a natural settingWhether your nature-wed-

ding dream includes the mys-terious landscape of the highdesert or a tranquil spotalong the Susan River, LassenCounty, with its unique natu-ral beauty, is sure to havesomething to meet yourneeds. Will it be a garden ormountain setting? Lakesideor desert?

When a couple chooses tohold their wedding in a natu-ral setting, the location theyselect makes a statement asto who they are as a coupleand what’s important tothem. Therefore, time andthought should be put intothe decision. How will thesetting best reflect their per-sonalities and interests?

The Bureau of Land Man-agement (BLM) is a goodplace to begin to find theideal outdoor wedding loca-

tion. Hobo Camp, with thescent of pine filling the air, isone popular BLM spot. Animportant consideration inchoosing an outdoor locationis whether it has facilitiessuch as restrooms and picnictables, and Hobo Camp hasthese already in place.

Other places for a locationin the trees include sites atEagle Lake and CaribouWilderness.

Most of the high desertcampgrounds have basic fa-cilities, but the trade-off isthe distinctive topography ofrocks and sage.

If you opt for a wedding onBLM land, you will want toplan well in advance — theyadvise at least six monthslead time to make sure thereis not a conflict on locationand to give enough time toissue a Special Recreation

Use Permit. The price willvary depending on how manypeople will be attending.

For more information onplanning the perfect BLMwedding, call 257-0456 andask for the outdoor recre-ation planner.

Some of Lassen County’sranches and farms also pro-vide space for weddings.Family operated Wemple’sPumpkin Patch in Milford ispopular with many locals.For information on reservingwedding space at Wemple’s,call 253-2514.

Other options include thelawn of the Susanville ElksLodge and the Bailey CreekGolf Course at Lake Al-manor. You can call the ElksLodge at 257-4810. BaileyCreek Golf Course’s numberis 259-4653.

If you want to save costs,

consider a simple courthousewedding at the Lassen Coun-ty Courthouse. The ceremo-ny, performed by the countyclerk, usually takes about 15-20 minutes and can be con-ducted outdoors on the oldcourthouse lawn.

The county clerk is alsoavailable for different loca-tions for a fee by appoint-ment. To schedule an ap-pointment, call 251-8217.

There are many possibili-ties for a natural wedding lo-cation. Don’t overlook the ob-vious. Friends’ backyards, fa-vorite family picnic areas,special camping sites, evenold barns can all offer possi-ble sites for a special ceremo-ny. The creative couple issure to find something inLassen County to make theirday memorable.

The Bureau of Land Management offers many sites to stage your dream outdoor wedding, such as Eagle Lake. Photo by Jordan Clary

Choosing an indoor venue for your upcoming nuptials

The beautiful Elks Lodge in Uptown Susanville is the choice of venue for many newlyweds.

Diamond MountainCasino & Hotel

The Diamond MountainCasino & Hotel offers venuesfor 20 to 300 people and in-house catering and beverageservice. Group room rates areavailable for parties of 15 ormore. The hotel boasts spasuites with whirlpool tubs, anin-house salon, exercise roomand indoor pool, and restau-rants.

For more information, con-tact Restaurant and Ban-quette Manager Matt Wolcottat 252-1100.

Susanville Elks LodgeThe Elks Lodge can hold up

to 250 guests seated for events.For weddings, the lodge offerscustom packages includingtulle decorations, lighting, afull bar, and sit down dinner,buffet and appetizer meal ser-vices.

For more information, callRushelle at 257-4810.

Veterans Memorial HallFor large parties, the Veter-

ans Memorial Hall is anothergood option. It offers a pack-age deal that includes tables,chairs, lighting, sound anduse of the kitchen. The mainfloor can hold 350 guests seat-ed at tables and additionalpeople in the downstairsroom.

For more information, callNancy at 251-8288.

Places of worshipLassen County has more

than 40 churches that mayoffer wedding services. Findcontact information for indi-

vidual churches in the LassenCounty Places of Worship sec-tion of the newspaper or inthe local phone book.

The Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel offers venues for 20to 300 people.

The Veterans Memorial Hall in Susanville is popular for largegatherings.

Premarital counselingmight be the answer manycouples are looking for ifthey are interested in pursu-ing marriage or are newly en-gaged and want to get theirmarriage off to the best startpossible.

Community Church of Su-sanville offers premaritalcounseling, which providescouples with the tools to workthrough the challenges ofmarriage and help them gaina better understanding ofeach other.

According to Senior PastorRick Conrad, CommunityChurch offers six weeks ofpremarital counseling withone of the three pastors,which also include RickFloyd and Jackson Fong.

During those weeks, Con-rad said a couple will look ata number of aspects of mar-riage such as child rearing, fi-nances, social life, sex andwhat it means to be marriedand what that entails.

“And our goal is to definethat through the context ofGod’s word,” he said.

Couples will be given home-work assignments and pro-vided with questions to dis-cuss with each other abouttheir life together.

Premarital counselingdoesn’t necessarily mean adivorce-proof marriage but it

helps get you off on the rightfoot and the tools to counterthe problems, Conrad said.

When couples go to Floydfor counseling, he first gets toknow their story, such as howthey met, and then he learnsa little about each of theirpasts to work on forgivenessof past hurts and offenses.

Then they move into whatFloyd describes as “prioragreement,” such as the num-ber of children each personwants and the principles theindividuals want to fosterduring marriage and specificareas of concern — commu-nication, blended families,disciplining children and fi-nances.

Floyd said sometimes hewill bring in someone withexpertise in a specific area.

As premarital counselingwinds down, Floyd and thecouple will talk about thewedding ceremony and whatfits their personality.

Conrad suggests people gothrough premartial counsel-ing before a date is set as insome instances he has hadpeople decide to postpone thedate or not get married at all.

If you are interested in re-ceiving premarital counsel-ing, call Community Churchat 257-2924.

Premarital counselingcan provide the toolsto a happy marriageSpiritual guidance can help iron outpotential problems couples may face asthey plan their future together

Hosting a party can bestressful. Not only do youneed to make sure your houselooks great, you have to en-sure your guests are having agreat time. You can accom-plish this with the right choic-es in food, music and décor.

And it needn’t be hard toadd some style and flair tomake your party sparkle.

From décor to table settingsto food, a few unique twistscan make guests feel welcomeand ready to party upon ar-rival. So set the mood accord-ingly.

Delight on arrivalYou can delight their senses

right away with something de-licious baking in the oven.Also, be sure your entrance-way is decorated and there’smusic playing. Just keep thevolume at a conversation-friendly level.

Think smallInstead of hosting a multi-

course sit-down dinner, makelife easier on yourself andmore fun for your guests witha splendid spread of smallplates. A small plate dinner

means guests can eat whenev-er they arrive and mix andmingle as they do so – it’s aneasy, fun way to entertain.

When it comes to parties,the visual impact of your foodis as important as its taste.This is where small platesshine, as little tastes can havea big impact with their colors,shapes and designs.

Give guests a taste surprisewith a round-the-world lineupof cuisines, from traditionalsliders to more exotic choiceslike dumplings and Mediter-ranean dips. For inspiration,turn to a cookbook devotedsolely to miniature appetizersand desserts, such as thosefrom author Robert Zollweg.

Aim for each dish to featureabout four to six bites of foodthat can be eaten comfortablyseated or standing and ar-range dishes on small, sleekplates, such as Libbey JustTastings mini dinnerware col-lection. Both the Just Tastingscollection and cookbook lineare available at Bed Bath &Beyond.

For the sake of presenta-tion, be sure your dishes pre-sent a great array of colors.

Attendees will naturally endup moving around the roomin order to taste everything.Make sure to coordinate table-cloths, napkins, candlehold-ers and centerpieces. You can

find a colorful assortment ofeach at bedbathandbe-yond.com.

Remember: think creative-ly! Setting the party mood isimportant.

Dress it upYou can dress up your party

space with a few simple andelegant flourishes. You canmake stylish centerpieces bytaking clear bowls and filling

them with colorful ornamentsand pretty greenery. And youcan fill glasses with coloredstones and small candles toadd a sophisticated glow tothe room. (StatePoint)

Wedding Guide 2013 3Lassen County Times, Chester Progressive, Westwood PinePress

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Think creatively: Great ways to make your party memorable

By setting a mood that is both cheerful and chic, you can make a great impression on guests and throw a party they won’t soonforget.

Let’s talk wedding rings: Styles vary and trends come and goAn engagement ring sym-

bolizes love and commitmentand a man’s intention tomarry a woman. It is a piecea woman will wear for a life-time and can become a familyheirloom passed on throughthe generations.

In western culture, ringsare worn on the ring finger ofthe left hand because of along-time belief that it con-tains a vein that leads to theheart.

Engagement rings vary inshape and commonly featurediamonds or other gem-stones. Styles vary andtrends come and go.

According to Sherry McB-roome, owner of Sierra Jew-elry Company, filigree stylerings are popular and onetrend she is seeing right nowis people wanting antiquestyles and coming in withfamily heirlooms to be updat-ed.

Jewelry recovered from theTitanic, which sank afterstriking an iceberg in April1912, was part of a three-citytour marking the 100th an-niversary of the incident andMcBroome said customers

want to replicate those styles,too.

People are also gravitatingtoward a Euro shank stylering, where the piece has aflattened, square bottom,which prevents the ring fromtwisting.

Another trend is a doublecolor ring where the yellowand white gold are mixed, ac-cording to McBroome.

Dana Hirsche, who ownsLeslie’s Jewelry with herhusband Curt, said cus-tomers like the halo stylering where a stone, of any cutand shape, is surrounded bytiny little diamonds.

She said the store sells a lotof three-stone bands andwhite gold is still very popu-lar for engagement rings.

When choosing a ring foryour fiancée-to-be, take noteof her style. Is she classy andelegant, sporty, an antiquelover, enjoys all things west-ern, or just appreciates thesimple things in life?

Pay attention to the jewelryshe already wears. Are herrings similar in style, doesshe have a preference for agem cut and does she wear

silver more than gold or viceversa?

Hirsche said sometimes itsjust the man who comes inand shops and she asks himwhat his fiancée likes andknowing that makes theshopping experience a loteasier.

When searching for thatperfect ring, Hirsche advisespeople go to someone who isreputable and who is willingto teach them about dia-monds.

In helping people selectrings, McBroome andHirsche said they help edu-cate their customers on dia-monds and the four Cs — cut,clarity, color and carat.

Knowing budget parame-ters also helps.

McBroome encouragespeople to get the best dia-mond they can for theirmoney.

If a quarter-carat dia-mond is all you can afford,“get the nicest one you can,”she said.

A person can have a largediamond but if it’s not quali-ty, it’s not pretty, according toMcBroome.

Dana Hirsche, of Leslie’s Jewelry, said the halo rings such as the ring in the center are still popu-lar as are triple stone bands like the one on the left.

Engagement rings come in all shapes and sizes. Sherry McBroome, of Sierra Jewelry Company inSusanville, said filigree rings, such as the piece on the left, and antique-style rings, right, are pop-ular right now. However, some may prefer a modern setting such as the middle ring.Photos by Ruth Ellis

Photographs of your wed-ding ceremony could be someof the most prized and endur-ing images of one of the mostspecial days of your life, soit’s important you get themright. One of the most impor-tant wedding planning deci-sions you have to make couldbe who will record the eventfor posterity — Uncle Nor-man, the family’s favoriteshutterbug, or a professionalwedding photographer.

While Uncle Norman maybe a real whiz with a cameraand could quite possibly takesome excellent photographs,most experts still advise hir-ing a professional photogra-pher for weddings. Here’swhy.

Weddings are very specialevents that only happen once,and they happen in real time.If you miss an opportunity tocapture an image of one ofthose once in a lifetime mo-ments, it’s gone forever.

Quite simply, there are nodo overs. For example, thebride will only throw her bou-quet once. She’s not going toretrieve it from her guestsand then throw it again be-cause the photographermissed the shot.

That can lead to a lot ofstress for the photographer,and good old Uncle Normanmay not be up to the task.Luckily, wedding photogra-phers have the experience andexpertise to work comfortablyand professionally in such ahigh stress environment.After all, that’s what they dofor a living.

You also might want to con-sider using a local photogra-pher (rather than an out-of-towner) because he or she willbe intimately familiar withchurches and venues thathold weddings in your areaand the particular challengeseach location might pose forthe photographer, such aslighting issues or unsightlybackground areas.

Of course, cost can be a fac-tor when hiring a weddingphotographer. In the big city, awedding photographer mightcharge as much as $10,000 toshot a wedding. In LassenCounty, the fee generally runsbetween $1,500 and $2,000.Some wedding photographerswill come with an assistantand sometimes a second pho-tographer.

Some photographers willeven want to attend re-hearsals, so they get a firsthand look at the event they’llbe shooting the next day.

Before you hire a photogra-pher, make sure you take aclose look at their work. Don’tforget you’re paying them tobe creative. Go through theirportfolio of photographs care-fully, compare prices and findout exactly what the photog-rapher will be giving you foryour money.

Spend some time talkingwith the photographer, andmake sure you can feel com-fortable having this personshare your special momentwith you.

Don’t’ be afraid to let thephotographer know if youwant specific photographstaken during the ceremony.While each wedding presentsdozens and dozens of uniquephoto opportunities, take thetime to think about the partic-ular moments you would mostlike to capture. Make a listand go over it with your pho-tographer to make sure yourecord that specific image.

For example, many newbrides want a close-up photo-graph of the ring going on herfinger for the first time. An-other favorite is the couple’sfirst kiss after taking theirvows.

Another often requestedphotograph is one of thegroom the first time he’s seeshis bride in her weddingdress. That can be an emo-tional and magical momenteven for men with the tough-est exterior.

Digital cameras are thenorm these days, and weddingphotographers who use filmtend to be more of a high-endspecialty item.

Film photographers wouldsell prints from the slides ornegatives, but today manydigital photographers willtake the photographs, retouchand adjust them in a comput-er program such as Photo-shop and then give you a disccontaining all your weddingphotographs.

Some digital photographersalso will offer prints, some-times for an additional fee.

Most wedding photogra-phers will have a Web site andmost can post the pho-tographs from your weddingonline for family and friendsto see. Sometimes those on-line photos are available forsale as well.

Take the time now to planyour wedding photographsbefore the ceremony, andyou’ll have memories to last alifetime and beyond.

Lassen County Times, Chester Progressive, Westwood PinePress4 Wedding Guide 2013

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Reading forromance

Make sure you capture those precious moments forever

While everyone presumablyloves the romance of a fairy-tale wedding, the reality is,relationships take work, andmarriage is seldom effort-less.

Wise couples will facethese challenges now andlearn to grow as a couplerather than waiting untilthe differences becomeblown out of proportion.

While a book alone willnot solve serious issues,it can set a couple onthe right track.

Many books are pub-lished each year offer-ing advice on rela-tionships, either howto find the perfect re-lationship or how to

save the one you have. The following five books can

either be found or ordered atMargie’s Book Nook:

“Happily Ever After: 6 se-crets to a happy marriage,”by Gary Chapman, a coun-selor, offers advice for com-municating on six commonproblems couples may facesuch as fighting fair, nego-tiating change and han-dling money.

“The Four Seasons of aMarriage,” also by GaryChapman, uses themetaphor of changingseasons to illustrate thecycles a marriage maygo through.

“Love Smart,” byself-help guru Dr. PhilMcGraw, offers ad-vice for attracting

and keeping love.“Calling in the

One,” by KatherineWoodward Thomas,claims to teach read-ers how to createthe “relationship oftheir dreams” injust seven weeksusing principlestaught in “TheSecret.”

“The Four Fac-tors: Should YouStay, Go or Im-prove your Re-lationship,” byRon Gentile,Ph.D helpsyou discoverwhy past re-lationshipswent wrongand how tokeep yourcurrent

one going right.

Many brides and grooms want photographs of their rings being placed on their fingers.

One of your most cherished wedding photographs is sure to bethat first kiss after the cerrmony.

A simple way couples canmake a wedding uniquelytheir own is by authoringtheir wedding vows. If per-sonal information is woveninto the exchange it can’t beduplicated.

A creative writing course isnot necessary. However, tocreate vows you can be proudto recite here are a few guide-lines to follow:

Understand the taskA vow is a solemn promise,

pledge and personal commit-ment. For example, considerthe personal commitmentpledged when reciting tradi-tional vows. Couples commitfor better or for worse, forricher, for poorer, in sicknessand in health.

Begin by brainstormingTo gather ideas for the

vows, create a few notes. Awriter on eHow.com recom-mends writing about your re-lationship, such as how youmet your future spouse, whenyou realized you were in loveand how your life haschanged. Include a descrip-tion of the proposal and any

special moments.Also list promises you want

to make. A good way to putthese promises into words isby personalizing the tradi-tional promises to love, honorand cherish.

Some experts suggest usinga tape recorder to voicethoughts rather than puttingthe vows on paper. They saythis technique will make thevows more natural.

Get inspiredInspiration can come from

poetry, a love song, other wed-ding vows, a favorite movie,or romantic moments in acouple’s relationship.

For a wide array of vowsthat might inspire go to my-weddingvows.com. They haveexamples that are traditional,non-traditional, personalized,celebrity, interfaith, later inlife, remarriage, interculturaland cultural. They also have along list of wedding poemssuch as “How do I love thee?”by Elizabeth Barrett Brown-ing; “Blessing for a Marriage”by James Dillet Freeman; and“All My Happiness Goes Outto You” by Nicholas Gordon.

Follow the formatAt bestweddingvows.com,

authors are told that the for-mat for vows includes an in-troduction, main body andconclusion. According to thesite, the introduction mighthighlight such information ashow the couple met; the mainbody might cover how life hasbeen enhanced by the rela-tionship and why the union ismeaningful; the conclusionprovides expectations for thefuture.

Another site, weddingvows-den.com, provides a littlemore detail on the structure.Begin with a salutation —simply addressing the personor use a small portion of apoem, a sentence from a storyor song lyric. Transition to adescription of what yourbeloved means to you, thenclarify how you knew you hadfallen in love and how yourlove grew to a lifelong com-mitment.

The fourth section wouldpledge a willingness to ad-dress and conquer any diffi-culties in the marriage andthe finishing touch is a clos-ing sentence.

Authoring your wedding vows

A beautiful wedding can beelegant and stylislh withoutcausing a couple to go intodebt before they even say I do.

There are many ways to cutcosts from the wedding dressto the reception allowing acouple to have some extramoney to start their new lifetogether.

Once a couple has an-nounced their engagementand shown off the new ring,they start looking at a wed-ding date and a venue. Con-sider picking a Friday to cutdown on prime time venuecosts, as well as dinnerprices, if included.

For many brides, if not all,

choosing the perfect dress forthe wedding day is a specialoccasion, but there are alter-natives to finding a dressother than at a bridal shop.Look for a marked-downdress at a department storeand discontinued gown racks,or stop by a consignmentshop.

As you prepare to inviteguests, keep the list small asthis will cut down on invita-tions and possibly the num-ber of tables and chairs youmight have to rent and thecenterpieces and favors youwill need.

If a large guest list can’t beavoided, use bigger tables toalso cut costs on decorationsand tablecloths.

Tap into your creativity aswell and make your own deco-rations, centerpieces andwedding programs. Whenchoosing invitations, makesure the one you select re-quires only one stamp.

Every little detail is impor-tant. Flowers can pull every-thing together and they canbe reused throughout the day.

Once the ceremony and pic-tures are over, bridesmaidstend to drop their bouquet ona table, or maybe even in an-other room, out of sight, outof mind.

Instead, have them placetheir bouquets around thecake table or as a centerpiece.

A bride may also want tocarry a small bouquet or asingle flower, and save somemoney by using seasonalflowers.

Do you plan to serve ameal? Pay for the maincourse and request some good

friends and family supple-ment the meal by making sal-ads and side dishes. Goodfriends will want to helpmake your day special so takeadvantage of it.

If you do plan to serve acatered dinner, try offering abuffet or plate dinner andserve chicken or pasta. To cutcosts further, skip the maincourse and provide appetiz-ers and drinks. Or considerhaving an afternoon recep-tion with cake, punch andhors d’oeuvres. If serving al-cohol is a must, provide beeror wine or have a cocktailhour.

A bride may also want tolook at borrowing some itemslike a cake-cutting knife,toasting glasses, jewelry andeven shoes.

A wedding would not becomplete without the tradi-tional cutting of the cake bythe bride and groom. But ifthe wallet is tight, have a cakedecorator make a small tradi-tional cake that sits on thecake table, but serve a sheetcake to the guests.

Try to avoid high band orDJ fees by knowing how largeyour reception venue is andthe exact layout. Make sureyou understand if a band orDJ wants to include morespeakers and microphonesbefore signing a contract orexpect to pay for additionalfees.

Even if one idea doesn’tsound appealing in cuttingcosts, do try to find otherways to save a buck or two soyou can enjoy the big daywithout any debt.

If you’re looking for aquick, delicious appetizer foryour special day, try choco-late-dipped strawberries.Each luscious red berry canbe coated in white, milk ordark chocolate and rolled incoconut, nuts or more choco-late. Make your own uniquecombination your guests willremember.

Ingredients:6 ounces milk or dark choco-late, chopped 6 ounces white chocolate,chopped1 pound ripe strawberrieswith stems (about 20), washedand dried very wellOptional toppings (see below)

Directions:Put the semisweet and

white chocolates into two sep-arate heatproof mediumbowls. Fill two mediumsaucepans with a couple inch-es of water and bring to asimmer over medium heat.Turn off the heat; set thebowls of chocolate over thewater to melt. Stir untilsmooth. (Alternatively, meltthe chocolates in separatebowls (preferably glass) in amicrowave at half power, forone minute, stir and thenheat for another minute. Stiruntil smooth.)

Once the chocolates aremelted, line a sheet pan withparchment or waxed paper.Holding the strawberry bythe stem, dip the fruit into thedark (or white) chocolate, liftand twist slightly, letting anyexcess chocolate fall back

into the bowl. Set strawber-ries on the parchment paper.Repeat with the rest of thestrawberries.

To add some flair, do one orall of the following:

Dip a fork in the white (ordark) chocolate and drizzleover the dipped strawberries.

Sprinkle or dip chocolate-covered berries with shred-ded coconut, finely choppednuts, chocolate morsels orshavings, or sprinkles.

Set the strawberries asideuntil the chocolate sets —about 30 minutes. Refrigerateif not serving immediately.

Wedding Guide 2013 5Lassen County Times, Chester Progressive, Westwood PinePress

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Easy and elegant chocolate-dipped strawberries

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Planning your wedding on a budget

Diligent budgeting can be a challenge, but it will result in hugesavings in the long run.

Experts say that with goodcommunication and solidplanning, couples can putthemselves in the right posi-tion to build a solid financialfuture together.

“American couples acrossall demographics need tospend time talking about fi-nancial and retirement issuessooner rather than later,”says Tim Johnson, chief in-vestment strategist for Lin-coln Financial Network. “Acouple should literally askeach other, ‘What are we real-ly trying to accomplish hereand what do you want out ofthis whole thing?’”

As part of an ongoing effortto educate consumers aboutfinancial preparedness, Lin-coln Financial recentlylaunched a set of tips and ac-tionable steps designed tohelp people achieve financialwell-being:

•Plan with purpose: Whenreviewing investments andsolutions that can help growand protect wealth, couplesneed to have a shared plan inmind and an understandingof what’s important.

Remember, the conversa-tion doesn’t have to be all bud-gets and numbers. You canengage your loved one bytalking about concrete goals,such as a wedding, vacationsand homeownership.

•Be engaged, no matterwhat: Don’t throw your hands

up at uncertain economicconditions. The market hasalways gone up and down.Volatility is just part of in-vesting. So rather than tossaccount statements into a pileof unopened mail, identifywhat’s working well and buildon it. For what’s not workingwell, rebalance portfolios, asnecessary.

You can stay motivated as acouple by celebrating smallsteps along the way. Be sure toreward yourself responsiblywhen something good hap-pens.

•Communicate: Each per-son in the relationship has anopportunity to take steps,both large and small, thathelp achieve short- and long-term financial goals. Butworking together is impor-tant. A couple is most power-ful when pulling in the samedirection.

A trusted financial profes-sional can help you get on thesame page and chart a solidpath to the future.

Be sure to hold regular fi-nancial meetings to addressweaknesses and celebratesuccesses. Make it fun. Un-derstanding who your part-ner is and what motivateshim or her can make for astrong relationship and asolid future.

For more tips, visitBeAChiefLifeOfficer.com.(StatePoint)

A healthy financial relationship is a building block for a healthyoverall relationship. Take steps now to define your priorities, soyou can begin working toward your shared goals.Photo by A.KaZaK — Fotolia.com

Tips to help couples plantheir financial future

Weddings • BanquetsMeetings

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Just engaged? Before thosewedding bells ring, you’regoing to do lots of planning inthe months ahead. While mostof your preparations will onlymatter on the first day of yourmarriage, your wedding reg-istry will impact your happilyever after.

Wedding experts say to en-sure domestic bliss, make themost of your registry withproper planning, researchand free resources.

“Determining what youwant and need for your futureshould be an exciting pro-cess,” says Audrey Stavish,wedding and gift registry ex-pert at Bed Bath & Beyond.“An expert consultant canhelp demystify product de-tails and ensure you don’tmiss any categories.”

As you think about register-ing, Stavish is sharing tips on

creating the perfect registry:•Don’t delay: You’ll likely

have multiple occasions thatrequires gift-giving on thepart of friends and family.From the engagement partyto the shower to the mainevent, guests will want givingguidance. So register early.

Opt for a registry that offersconvenience and good cus-tomer service. A store with lo-cations nationwide and an on-line ordering system willmake it easy for you and yourguests.

•Take inventory: Assesswhat you already have, whatyou don’t have and what needsreplacing. A walk throughyour home using a registrychecklist can help you build alist. Talk to your fiancée andwork together.

Also, think about what youneed now and in the future –

you might be dining for two,but soon you could be hostinga dinner party for 12 and willwant dinnerware worthy ofthe occasion.

•Ask for help: Don’t be shyabout seeking advice. Visit astore and talk with an expertconsultant who can help withgift selections and offer tipson what you’ll need to enjoyyour home.

Be sure to research theitems that go on your registry.Touch the towels, hold theflatware — you may need tovisit the store multiple timesto get it right. If you changeyour mind, remember it’s al-ways possible to update yourregistry online at any time.

•Dream big and small: Notall guests will be workingwith the same budget, so in-clude a range of items at vari-ous price points. Guests will

appreciate the variety for in-dividual and group gifts.Dream big and include a fewbig ticket items and gifts thatlast a lifetime.

•Keep in touch: From save-the-date notifications, person-alized announcement cardsand registry details, keep intouch with your guestsstylishly with a complete, cus-tomized wedding stationeryensemble. You can visit Bed-BathAndBeyond.com andclick on “personalized invita-tions” to visit their online-only stationery store.

•Return policy: Did you getduplicate gifts or gifts in thewrong color or size? Or maybeyou just changed your mind.Check a store’s return policybefore registering so you canreturn or exchange any gifton your list and live hassle-free ever after. (StatePoint)

Top tips for creating your wedding registry

Wedding traditions and theduties of the father of thebride are as varied as the cul-tures from which they arise.

Most of the current weddingtraditions we celebrate todaycome from the Victorian era,but today many of these oldtraditions are changing andmany of the responsibilitiesonce assumed by the father ofthe bride are taken on by oth-ers. Of course, the father ofthe bride should do everything

he can to make his daughter’sspecial day as special as it canbe.

Traditionally, the father ofthe bride (and perhaps hisfamily) pays for the wedding.Many couples today offer topay a portion of the expenses,and sometimes even thegroom’s family may help paythe bills.

In any case, the father of thebride may want to handle hir-ing the caterer and selecting

the menu, buying the liquor,help plan the ceremony andchoose the venue for the recep-tion.

He also can help with out-of-town travel arrangements andhelp guests find lodging andtransportation.

The day before the wedding,many fathers give a speech tothe groom during the re-hearsal dinner. It’s an impor-tant moment when the fatherof the bride can welcome the

groom into the family.Come wedding day, the fa-

ther of the bride normallytravels with the bride to theceremony. During the ceremo-ny, the father of the bride givesthe bride away to the groom —perhaps his most importanttask during the wedding. Whocould be prouder on this daythan the father of the beauti-ful, blushing bride?

After the wedding, if thereis a receiving line, the father of

the bride usually stands besidehis daughter.

During the reception, the fa-ther of the bride should offer afitting toast to the newly wedcouple.

Most receptions also willfeature a father-daughterdance. Sometimes the fatherwill cut in during the firstdance at the reception instead.

Often, the father of the bridewill select a song with specialmeaning for both of them. Fa-

ther and daughter probablyshould practice dancing to-gether a little because all eyeswill be on them.

The father of the bride alsoshould plan a heart-felt toast tothe new couple during the re-ception.

He also should ensure the re-ception runs smoothly, that ev-eryone has enough to eat anddrink. Finally, he should thankeveryone for attending. Hemay raise a toast to the guests.

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Taking the time to preplanyour wedding reception isyour best bet to ensure a won-derful and festive celebrationof your big day.

In fact, the decisions youmake about who will cateryour party could be amongthe most important and costlydecisions you make aboutyour wedding.

For some, a favorite restau-rant may be the answer. Somemay want a celebration attheir home or the home of afriend. Some wedding recep-tions will require renting ahall and hiring a band or a DJ.

In any case, the highlight ofthe event will be the meal andwhat kind of food you want toserve should be one of yourfirst considerations. Are youinterested in a particular cui-sine? You also need to find outif the caterer can makeand/or serve a wedding cakeor accommodate special re-quests or special family recip-ies. Some caterers will allowyou to sample their food in ad-vance, if you ask.

Don’t hesitate to askfriends and family abouttheir experiences with localcaterers. Try to get referencesand referrals. A good caterershould be able to provide alist of satisfied clients.

Of course, your catererneeds to know how much youhave budgeted for your recep-tion. Most caterers charge ona per-person basis, and mostwill require a deadline whenyou let them know how manyguests will be attending. Most

caterers will be able to makesuggestions once they knowwhat you want and how muchyou have budgeted for the re-ception. You also will need todecide if you want a full, sit-down dinner or a buffet line.Buffets may be cheaper, butcheck with your caterer.Make sure the caterer canprovide an itemized list of allcharges.

You also will need to makesure the caterer can handleyour need for chairs, tables,linens, service, etc. and ifthere are any extra costs asso-ciated with any of these

items. You also should ask ifyou have any options such asthe color of the linens.

You also will need to decidehow to handle beverage sta-tions, especially if you plan toserve alcohol. Some catererscan supply alcohol for yourparty and others will charge acorkage fee to serve alcoholyou have purchased. You maybe able to save some money bysupplying the alcohol andpaying the fee to have thecaterer serve it. If you’rerenting a hall for your recep-tion, make sure to check tosee what rules they have re-

garding alcohol.Of course, you will want to

have a signed contract thatoutlines the responsibilitiesof both parties — you and thecaterer — and describes ex-actly how payment will bemade. Most caterers require adeposit in advance. The con-tract also should cover set-upand break-down times, espe-cially if you’re renting a hallfor your event. Try to get ev-erything in writing to avoidmisunderstandings later. Agood caterer should alwaysuse a written contract.

Take care when choosing a caterer for your wedding

Proper planning and hiring theright caterer will allow you

and your guests to eat, drinkand be merry and enjoy your

special day.

Father of the bride plays a special role in a wedding

Giving the bride away is an important part of the ceremony, and can be emotional and bitter-sweet for a father.