choosing the right caterer best spring honeymoon locations ......wedding planner is published by the...

M A R C H 2 0 1 5

Choosing the right caterer

Best spring honeymoon locations

Don’t forget the music

Hair tips & tricks

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4 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

Wedding Planner is published by The Independent Record, a division of

Lee Enterprises, 317 Cruse Avenue, Helena, MT 59601

(406) 447-4003 ©2015 Capital City Publishing Group.

5 Choosing the right caterer

8 Jennell & Nick Perros

10 Taryn & Quinn Noel

12 Don’t forget the music

15 Best spring honeymoon locations

17 Maria & Kyle Melvin

19 Hair tips & tricks

20 Wedding budget planner

23 Wedding countdown

ELIZA WILEY

Cover: Jennell & Nick Perros photo by Nortarius Photography

Bozeman, MT, see their story on page 8

spr ing ‘15

5MARCH 2015

Even though their methods for

catering may be pretty similar,

every caterer is not the same

when it comes to handling your

wedding.

There are numerous factors that come into play, ranging from cooking specialties to availability of resources.

Before deciding on your final choice for caterer, make sure to ask the below questions – along with any others specific to your wedding – to make sure you find the one most aligned with your nuptial needs.

DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE? Get this one out of the way quickly because some venues

will not allow an unlicensed food operation on their sites.

WHAT IS YOUR PRICE RANGE and can I get a quote on paper?

Making sure you have an on-paper quote will help resolve any confusion come payment time.

HOW MANY WEDDINGS HAVE YOU CATERED for in the past couple of years?

This answer may be one of the most important, as you want to make sure the company is experienced and up to the challenge.

ARE YOU SPECIALIZED in a certain cooking style or methodology?

This is crucial if you’re looking for a specific type of food for your reception, like French cuisine or seafood.

WILL YOU BE PROVIDING chairs, silverware, linens and equipment?

A ‘no’ answer to any of these questions could lead in higher costs for you and more stress in trying to coordinate different vendors to fulfill these needs.

ALL ABOUT THE FOOD:

choosing the right caterer

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 >>>

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DO YOU ONLY CATER ONE EVENT PER DAY?

You want to make sure you have the full attention of the organization and its staff during your wedding.

ARE YOU EASY TO GET A HOLD of if I have questions throughout the meal-planning process?

Every caterer will surely answer ‘yes.’ A good follow-up question is for a list of references just to make sure you can conduct a little follow-up research.

DO YOU ALSO DO WEDDING CAKES?

Having the same party handle snacks, dinner and the cake means one less vendor for you to find during the planning stages.

>>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

8 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

DRESS: Davinci Bridal, Bridal Images & Mr. Tux

LOCATION: 4-R Ranch & Cattle Co. Clancy, MT

HAIR: Nickie Johnston, Envy Salon & Spa

MAKEUP: myself & a friend

DATE: August 22, 2014

CATERER & BAR: Jorgensons, pulled pork bought through Tizer Meats, rest was family and friends

FLOWERS: Forget Me Not Flowers Helena, MT

MUSIC: Capital City DJ

PHOTOGRAPHER: Nortarius Photography Bozeman, MT

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? Nick and I have known who each other is for years, but never officially met. In 2011 we started running into each other at Fuel Fitness. On March 12, 2011 we saw each other at the gym and he asked me if I wanted to hang out, we exchanged numbers and went out that night. We have been together ever since!

WHAT IS THE ENGAGEMENT STORY?Nick and I recently purchased a Polaris Razor and took it to meet some friends for dinner at the Causeway Chalet. After dinner he asked me if I wanted to go on a night ride to take me on some trails he found near the Chalet that day while I was at work. He took me up to this mountain top that overlooked the lake and all the stars were out. All of a sudden he was on one knee asking me to marry him!!

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?We both said the whole day and getting to marry each other! Seeing all the planning come together and getting to spend such an amazing day celebrating with our closest friends and family!

ADVICE FOR OTHERS ON PLANNING? We were only engaged for 4 months and wouldn’t change that! Everything came together and we didn’t have to stress for a whole year planning. We felt we would have spent a lot more money with more planning time! We also really stuck to a budget and had a beautiful wedding! Also pick a good photographer, those are the only memories you have to look back on.

�WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE LOOKING BACK?We ended up getting behind schedule and having to take some of our pictures after the ceremony and a few of our guests left that we didn’t get to see. I would suggest to try to take most of your pictures before so you can just relax and celebrate after the ceremony! Also do a greeting line so you get to say hi to everyone that came!We would like to thank our photographer Sarah Notarius for capturing our special day, our pictures are stunning! The 4-R Ranch and their amazing staff and beautiful venue, and all of our friends and family for all of their help and love on our special day.

A WEDDING STORY

Jennell Perros (Hazen)&Nick Perros

9MARCH 2015

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10 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

DRESS: BRAND: Eskay Briday in Bozeman, MT

LOCATION: Great Northern Hotel

HAIR: Beth Douglass at Suite 431 Salon

MAKEUP: Beth Douglass at Suite 431 Salon

DATE: January 10, 2015

CATERER : Silverstar/Great Northern Hotel

FLOWERS: Westmont

MUSIC: Aaron Simenski (Big Sky DJ)

PHOTOGRAPHER: Felicia Brookshire Yurish Photography

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? Quinn and I actually went to high school together, but did not have the same friend circle at the the time. About a year after high school, we reconnected at a mutual friend’s party. We dated several years before we got engaged!

WHAT IS THE ENGAGEMENT STORY?I came home for lunch one day last January and Quinn told me he had booked us a trip to Hawaii in April. (Best lunch break ever) The whole time leading up to the trip I was hoping this would be the trip we got engaged. So we made it to Hawaii and we have a busy schedule full of difference excursions each day. On the second full day we were there, we decided to do the Maui bike tour & watch the sun rise on the Haleakala Volcano. We were on top of Haleakala with many other tourists watiing for the sun to rise and Quinn pulled me aside and got on one knee just as the sun was starting to come up! It was perfect.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF

THE DAY?My favorite part of the day was standing in the doorway with my dad and looking down the aisle to my future husband waiting for me.

ADVICE FOR OTHERS ON

PLANNING? My advice would be to take full advantage of all the months leading up to the big day, it will make the day less stressful. And remember to enjoy each moment of that day because it goes so fast!

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WOULD

CHANGE LOOKING BACK?We had a lot of guests, I wish I would have been able to visit with more people, the day flies by and you feel like there are people there you didn’t get a chance to see.

A WEDDING STORY

Taryn Noel (Schultz)& Quinn Noel

11MARCH 2015

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12 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

By Lacey Middlestead, for the Independent Record

You’ve booked the reception site,

tasted 14 different

combinations of cake and

buttercream, and spent more

time than you care to recall suffocating

on tulle and lace in dressing rooms

until you found the dream gown. It

seems as though the end is in sight with

your wedding planning process, but

don’t forget about one of the most

influential parts of your big day: the

music.Much like a movie, the music played at your wedding

reception becomes the soundtrack to that most special of

days. The songs will trigger memories years later -- the

first dance with your husband/wife, the moment your

best friend caught the bouquet, or when your 85-year old

grandmother started line dancing to Cotton Eye Joe.

Picking a successful band and/or DJ is critical to ensuring

that your reception is a memorable one and keeps your

guests energized and dancing well after the drinks run

dry.

DECIDE IF YOU WANT A LIVE BAND OR DJCarefully weigh the pros and cons of each to determine

which best suits your event. Things to consider include

budget, musical variety and space. In the price war, DJs

generally cost less because you are only paying one

individual whereas band prices go up depending on the

number of musicians. While there’s nothing like a live

band to stoke the crowd’s energy and deliver the

“performance” experience, DJs can accommodate a

variety of musical styles and genres. If you’re worried

about making sure music gets played that suits both your

grandmother and your 13-year-old cousin, a DJ is

probably your best bet. Be sure to also evaluate how

much space your wedding venue can accommodate for a

band or DJ. Depending on the amount of equipment a DJ

brings, they usually take up less dance floor real estate

than a band with several pieces of instrumentation.

FINDING A BAND OR DJMontana might be relatively small in population, but

there is no shortage of musicians and artists ready to

show you their stuff. Word of mouth is a good starting

point when feeding off the small town environment. Talk

to friends and family who have been to weddings or

parties recently to see which band or DJ performed and

how they’d rate them. Call your local bars, coffee houses

and restaurants to see if local bands play there regularly

that you could go listen to. And of course, you can always

rely on that trusty Google search engine to find both DJs

and bands.

INTERVIEW THE CANDIDATESDon’t think that because the band or DJ is just

providing music that the job is simple and

straightforward. A lot of times, it is the DJ or band leader

that becomes the emcee and helps keep the reception

festivities flowing smoothly. Personality is key! Line up a

list of at least a dozen questions to pose to your candidate

to get a better feel for their personality and

communication skills. If possible, conduct the interview

in person. Ask questions about their openness to song

requests, how much they charge if the reception goes

over the agreed upon time frame, how they will dress,

whether the DJ plans on using any special effects like

bubbles, smoke, or disco lights, whether the band

supplies its own sound system and what kind of electrical

outlets the DJ will require. Ideally, you should also try to

see the DJ or band live in action at another event to

personally gauge how they perform and engage the

crowd. If this isn’t possible, ask for references of couples

whose weddings they’ve previously played at and/or find

reviews on websites like weddingwire.com.

PRE-WEDDING MEETINGSBe sure to arrange at least one in-depth meeting with

your band or DJ shortly before the wedding. Use these

don’t forget the music

13MARCH 2015

TREEHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY

meetings to review your wedding day timeline with them

so they know when to arrive and set up, when the first

dance will take place, and when they can break for

dinner. Review your playlist with them so they know

which songs you for sure want played. If they will be

doing any family introductions as the emcee, be sure they

know the correct names of everyone and how to

pronounce them. If they have never played at your venue

before, see if they can go view it beforehand so there are

no surprises. These meetings might be the last thing you

feel like doing when you’re down to crunch time with the

wedding, but the music is one aspect you want to make

sure is spot on.

Remember, the music played at your reception

becomes the soundtrack to one of the biggest days of

your life and can often make or break the wedding for

your guests. Take the time to do your research before

selecting a band or DJ. Good luck and have fun with it!

14 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

15MARCH 2015

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The planning is over and

the big day has come to

an end. It’s time to reward

your efforts with a once-

in-a-lifetime trip.

Choosing where your honeymoon will take place can be a challenge – but try to make it a fun one. If you’re not sure of where to spend your post-wedding experience, consult with a wedding planner or travel guide. They will have many op-tions across different locations and price points.

STAY CLOSER TO HOME You may think beaches and warm weather when trying to figure out the perfect honeymoon spot. Don’t forget that we have both right here at home! Many brides and grooms are ditching the idea of international travel for an old-fashioned road trip, which can make for great conversation, stops in historic locations and intimate stays in luxurious hotels across the country.

You can start with the west coast if looking for the sandy stuff, as springtime climate in Califor-nia is much warmer than the national average. And with natural attractions like downtown Los

Angeles and the Santa Monica Pier, you can be in honeymoon heaven without even hopping on a plane.

A trip out east can be just as beautiful along the historic highways that connect our country’s most illustrious cities. Opt for an all-inclusive stay in one of the many elegant tourist towns of South Caro-lina to make your honeymoon extra special.

GO GLOBAL With temperatures in the low 80s and hurricane season months away, the spring is the perfect time for a trek to the Caribbean. From casinos and restaurants to sailing and water festivals, the Carib-bean is loaded with opportunities for exciting honeymoon fun.

If you don’t mind a bit chillier conditions, Europe can be your best bet. You may actually ex-perience a warm spell if you decide to check out Ireland or Italy, but odds are you won’t be spend-ing much time soaking in the sun.

Choosing a location for your honeymoon is all about your personal preferences. So make a list of what you’ve always wanted to see and experience, and then work with your soon-to-be spouse to decide on the best option.

best spring honeymoons

16 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

DRESS: David’s Bridal

LOCATION: 4R Ranch

HAIR: Jennell Perros of Envy Salon & Spa

MAKEUP: Myself and bridesmaids

DATE: August 16, 2014

CATERER : Tony Weller of Downstairs Brewhouse

FLOWERS: Stephanie Fitte

MUSIC: Capital City DJ

PHOTOGRAPHER: Image 406 Photography

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET? Quinn and I actually went to high school together, but did not have the same friend circle at the the time. About a year after high school, we reconnected at a mutual friend’s party. We dated several years before we got engaged!

WHAT IS THE ENGAGEMENT STORY?Kyle and I had a weeklong trip planned starting in Idaho with some hiking adventures and the Silverwood theme park and ending in Glacier National Park. The first half of our trip we stayed in a cute little town called Bayview Idaho and it sits right on Lake Pend Oreille. Our first night there Kyle asked if I wanted to take a hike around the lake and after a while we stopped to take some pictures. I kept snapping away and Kyle told me to stop for a second because he had a question for me, when I turned around he was down on one knee. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY?How do you choose a favorite part of your wedding day? It’s such an amazing day. Kyle and I wrote our

own vows so I think hearing his vows were my favorite part of the day – I must say he surprised me a little. The best part of a wedding is also sharing the experience with the people you love most, those who have been there for each of you individually as well as a couple.

ADVICE FOR OTHERS ON PLANNING? Stay organized and don’t get too wrapped up in the details. You can make yourself crazy and pin a million things to your Pinterest board to create the “perfect wedding” but don’t lose sight of what it’s truly about.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE LOOKING BACK?The only thing I wish I could change was hiring a videographer or even just having a friend or family member videotape the ceremony.

A WEDDING STORY

Maria MCAlmond Melvin & Kyle Melvin

17MARCH 2015

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19MARCH 2015

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The springtime has a way

of awakening and un-

leashing the natural

beauty around us.

Unfortunately, it can have the same

impact on your hair. Humidity and warmer weather can send your hair into a frizzy tizzy – the last thing you want to worry about on the day of your wedding. No one knows your hair better than you, so being pre-pared for potential issues can help save you a hair headache.

The key to applying the right product or em-ploying the most effective treatment method is trying them out weeks or months ahead of your wedding day. Be patient if you’re forced to try many different options and products. Your hard work and persistence will be rewarded with the perfect hair day on your special day.

APPLY THE RIGHT PRODUCT With a bevy of options on the market, staying local can be your best choice when it comes to purchasing the right anti-frizz solution. Your local beauty supply store will have many choices in stock and its professionals can walk you through the various treatments.

Another benefit of actually seeing the product in person before you buy it is an opportunity to try it, which many local shops will allow to build cus-tomer loyalty. Dish out any details that may help your hair consultant make an informed recommen-dation for overcoming your biggest challenges. Follow all manufacturers’ directions for applica-tions. The last thing you want is a dampened hair mess distracting from your beautiful smile and dress as you walk down the aisle.

KNOW YOUR HAIR No matter what you’re working with, it’s im-portant to understand how your hair reacts in springtime situations. Curly and straight hair react differently to humidity, so know what to expect if you’re planning on changing up your usual hair style for your wedding day.

In most cases, frizz is caused by hair trying to soak in the moisture from the air. The coarser and dryer your hair, the worse the frizz buildup can be. That’s why using a moisture-infusing product can make such a big difference in fighting fly-aways.

Hair Tips & Tricks

20 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

Wedding Budget PlannerCEREMONY

Chapel or Site Fee $

Officiate/Gratuity $

Flowers $

Music $

Transportation $

Photographer $

Videographer $

Invitations $

RECEPTION

Site Fee $

# Guest @ $ per plate

Caterer $

Bakery $

Wedding Cake $

Flowers $

Liquor $

Staff/Bartender $

Gratuities $

Favors $

Decorations $

Music $

Rentals $

BRIDE

Wedding Gown $

Headpiece/Veil $

Wedding Ring $

Shoes $

Stockings $

Alterations $

Bouquet $

Hair $

Makeup $

Accessories $

GROOM

Tuxedo $

Wedding Ring $

Accessories $

Boutonniere $

WEDDING PARTY

Corsages, Bouquets, etc. $

Mothers $

Grandparents $

Ushers $

Officiate $

Bridesmaids Hair/Makup $

21MARCH 2015

Nestled beneath the Continental Divide, beautiful mountain viewsawait your wedding day. Homestake Lodge offers a timber framepavilion, lodge, ceremony site, and private cabins for you and your

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Conveniently located 15 minutes east of Butte, MT

Spring can be the perfect

time of year for an outdoor

wedding. Unless it is rainy

outside. Or snowy. Or cold.

Come to think of it, the spring can be a down-right perplexing season to throw a seamless wed-ding celebration! Fortunately, you’re smart enough to be prepared for any climate curveballs that may be thrown your way. The temperamental inconsistencies of Mother Nature come springtime make multi-functional venues the perfect choice for a bride-to-be. Espe-cially in traditionally colder regions, it may be the best option to find such a venue that offers both indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces.

WEATHER BENEFITS The obvious benefit of having both an indoor or outdoor venue option is in the case of a forecasted rain or snow storm. By keeping an eye on the weather starting a couple of weeks before your big day, you can make an informed decision on which portion of the venue you will decorate and for what purpose. Many wedding planners suggest starting your plans with an outdoor ceremony before moving inside for the reception. Your guests will be happy to sit through chilled temperatures or a light drizzle to watch you get married, but may not stick around in such conditions for a late-night party.

COST While the benefits are many for choosing a multi-functional venue for your wedding day, cost may not be one of them. Renting out both a facil-ity and an outdoor area can in some cases double your venue price tag. Be sure to compare all options when making your venue list. You may be able to find a company or organization that offers discounted costs for

renting multiple facets of its facilities. If the more expensive venue still tops your list after some re-search, you may be able to find other areas in your budget that are more flexible.

Multi-Functional Venues

22 HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD

CountdownTHE WEDDING DAY

23MARCH 2015

10–12 MONTHSBEFORE

6–9 MONTHSBEFORE

4–5 MONTHSBEFORE

1DAY

BEFORE

If you haven’t done it already, this is a

good time to announce your engagement

and introduce your respective families.

Since most reception halls and churches

have busy wedding schedules, it is

also important to book both as early as

possible, preferably at least a year in

advance of your wedding day. It’s also

a good idea to start putting together a

guest list around this time and ask your

parents whom they’d like to invite as well.

Also, since your budget will determine

just about every aspect of your wedding,

sitting down and determining what you

can spend, and developing a savings plan

should be irst and foremost.

This is the time when you want to start

booking some services, such as a lorist,

caterer, a DJ/band, and a photographer.

However, some of the more experienced

DJs and bands as well as photographers

might have their schedules booked a year

in advance, so this might be something

you’ll want to consider doing shortly after

you get engaged and choose a date.

Also, this is a good time to inform any

guests who will be traveling signiicant

distances of the date of your wedding.

The earlier your guests can book a light,

the less expensive that light will be.

This is also a good time to order gowns

for both the bride and bridesmaids, as

some manufacturers require a few months

to ship to bridal shops. You might want to

ask someone such as your priest or rabbi

to be the oficiant of your wedding. And

much like out-of-town guests will save

travel dollars the earlier they learn of your

wedding date, you will likely save money,

too, if you book your honeymoon around

this time.

This is a good time to decide on wedding

invitations, of which there are many styles

to choose from. Also, now is ideal to start

hunting for a wedding cake by sampling

a number of different bakeries and their

style of cakes before ultimately making a

decision. Just to be sure, conirm that all of

the bridesmaids have ordered their gowns

and start looking for a tuxedo for the

groom as well as the groomsmen. If you

haven’t done so already, purchase your

wedding rings and let any other people

you’d like to participate in your wedding

(ushers, readers during the ceremony, etc.)

know of your intentions.

Finalize your guest list and mail out your

invitations. If your guest list includes a

considerable amount of people who

are spread out geographically, mail the

invitations as close to 12 weeks in advance

as possible. This is also a good time to

inalize your menu choices for your guests,

and ind all your wedding accessories

such as the ring pillow, candles, etc. Also,

since it is tradition to provide gifts for

those in the wedding party as well as the

parents of the bride and groom, this is

a good time to decide on and purchase

those gifts. Just to be safe, conirm that all

groomsmen have ordered their tuxedos

and inalize all transportation, both to and

from the wedding and to the airport for

your honeymoon.

Schedule the irst bridal-gown itting. Also

inalize the readings you’d prefer during

the ceremony and mail them out to anyone

who has agreed to do a reading. If your

Conirm your honeymoon arrangements

and see if your wedding rings are ready.

This is also when you should get your

marriage license and check the guest

list to see who has and hasn’t R.S.V.P. For

those who have yet to RSVP, you might

want to contact them so you can get a

closer idea of what the head count will be.

You should also prepare and order your

wedding program around this time.

Get a inal attendance count and submit

it to the caterer as soon as you know of it,

while also providing a inal seating chart.

Pick up the wedding gown and tuxedo.

Make sure the wedding party picks up

their attire. Also, inalize your vows and

conirm all wedding-day details such as

transportation, photo schedules, and

addresses. And don’t forget to pack for

your honeymoon.

This is mainly when you rehearse for

the ceremony and make any inal

conirmations you might have to make.

Also, make sure to get some sleep so

you’ll look good in all of your wedding-

day photos.

family prefers to host a small gathering for

close family and friends after the wedding

rehearsal, the night before the wedding, this

is a good time to order any food or drinks

you might want to serve that night, or make a

restaurant reservation.

2–3 MONTHSBEFORE

1–2 MONTHSBEFORE

3–4 WEEKSBEFORE

1–2 WEEKSBEFORE

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