BAMAbrideBAMAbrideBAMAbrideBAMABAMAbrideBAMAbrideBAMA

Spring 2008

Wedding checklistThings to remember as the wedding date draws near

Announce your engagement

Decide on a date

Discuss your budget with everyone who will contribute to the event

If using a wedding planner, find one

Visit reception sites and reserve one

Shop for your gown

Choose your wedding party

Select a caterer

Enroll in a bridal-gift registry

Order your wedding gown

Hire a florist

Pick a photographer

Start researching honeymoon spots

Mail save-the-dates, especially if you are having a destination or holiday-weekend wedding

9-12 months before: 6-9 months before:

Shop for a wedding cake

Shop for bridal attendants’ dresses

Hire wedding-day transportation

Book your favorite beauty pros for the big day

Scout accommodations for out-of-town guests

Complete the guest list

Start planning your honeymoon and make plane and hotel reservations

Arrange the rehearsal dinner

Call the county clerk’s office to find out about marriage-license requirements

Order tuxedoes

Order the wedding cake

Select ceremony and reception music

Buy thank-you gifts for your attendants

Choose favors and welcome baskets

Shop for, and order your wedding bands

Book a room for your wedding night

Plot seating for reception; Confirm details with photographer, florist

Have your final dress fitting

Write your rehearsal dinner toast

4-6 months 2-4 months before

4-8 weeks before 1 Week beforeGive the caterer a final head count

Pack for honeymoon

Get final beauty treatments

Information compiled from Modern Bride MagazinePhoto courtesy of Kathy G and Company

Contents

The dress

Features

Other things to knowWedding party roles

From Harris Hall to the altar

Proposal stories

24

Sarah and Brad Porter

The essentialsFlowers

Catering

Cakes

789

10

Staff

6

Laura Pitts - EditorNicole Tidwell - Assistant EditorMichelle McKnight - Staff Writer

Allison Sperando - DesignerKathleen Buccleugh - Copy Editor

Cassie Edwards - Advertising CoordinatorMaria Franco - Advertising Manager

David Dailey - Creative Services Manager

Special thanks to Tim Ballentine, Frost Cakes & Catering, and Kathy G and Company for use of photos

Advertising RepresentativesThomas Nation

Torri BluntJoe Greenwood

Jeff HaafDrew Gunn

Merideth ClementsRob BrantleyDrew SmithJ.T. Braswell

Julie Townsend

Advertising DesignersAlana Dickie

Tamay ShannonHyla DeWittAshley Brand

Suzanne Flanagan

When Sarah Moss (now Porter) applied to the University of Alabama, getting married was the furthest thing from her mind

Her first task would be to try out for the cheerleading team. But, having become burned out on high school cheering, Sarah said she ultimately decided not to try out for the squad. “I still came to UA, though,” said Sarah, a senior majoring in elementary education. “I planned on majoring in nursing at the time anyway and decided Alabama was the college for me.”

Originally from Wimberley, Texas, Sarah said her first semester of college was much like other freshman.

“I hung out with friends, went to a few parties, the usual college lifestyle,” she said.

The usual college lifestyle — that is, until she met Brad Porter, a fellow resident of Harris Hall and also a nursing major at the time

“We knew each other from class and living in the dorm together,” she said. “He lived on the first floor and I lived on the third.”

Brad, originally from a small town in Mobile, admits to having not dated much in high school. Brad said his first impression of Sarah was that she was caring, talkative and always wanting to hang out.

“I tore my anterior cruciate ligament during the second semester of my freshman year and she took care of me and brought me ice cream,” said Brad, a senior majoring in secondary education. “Cupid shot an arrow through my heart and I’ve been in love since.”

Though the two met in August 2004, it wasn’t until a January weekend with an empty campus and nothing else to do that love sparks began to fly.

“It was a holiday weekend,” she recalls. “I couldn’t go home to Texas and Brad didn’t want to go home. Somehow how he made his way to the third floor and we hung out.”

That weekend, Sarah and Brad took a random trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn.

“I remember having an urge to find snow,” Sarah said. “We loaded up the car with our winter clothes but decided to go to Atlanta instead. That trip didn’t seem quite as long.”

Though they didn’t quite make it to Gatlinburg, Sarah and Brad began a friendship that would change their lives.

For the next three months, Sarah and Brad began talking and contemplating the idea of eventually dating.

“I was Brad’s first real girlfriend, so it took a while for both of us to finally tell ourselves and everyone else, ‘Yeah,

we’re boyfriend and girlfriend,’” Sarah said.That same summer, Sarah and Brad went their separate

ways, maintaining a long-distance relationship by phone. “We planned a trip each month during the summer so we

could spent time together,” Sarah said. “It wasn’t much but it was enough that we enjoyed it.”

Brad said the key to maintaining their long-distance relationship was communication.

“We talked to each other every day,” Brad said. “I worked that summer each day from six at night to six in the morning. Sometimes we’d be on the phone until midnight. We worked through it.”

Being apart from each other reaffirmed the couple’s love for one another and the topic of marriage was already a big part of their daily conversation.

The story of Sarah Moss Porter and Brad Porter

From Harris Hall to the altarBama Bride2 January 31, 2008

Sarah Moss Porter and Brad Porter on their wedding day.

by Laura Pitts

“The time apart reminded us that we wanted to be with each other,” Sarah said.

The fall of their sophomore year the couple began looking at engagement rings and in January 2006 they made it official.

The proposal Brad proposed to Sarah in New York City during a trip to

see her brother.“I felt that it would be the perfect time to propose,” Brad

said. “We went and looked at rings, but I already had the ring picked out.”

Brad then asked Sarah’s parents and they both agreed. Once in New York, Brad contemplated proposing on the

Empire State Building or on a carriage ride through central park.

“I had a nice outfit picked out to wear when I proposed,” he said. “The airport lost Sarah’s entire luggage, accept for her carry on suitcase of pajamas. She ended up wearing the same outfit for days.”

Brad said he ended up not wearing his outfit and wore an Alabama T-shirt, jeans and a coat during the carriage ride through Central Park.

“That was the only time during the trip that we had to ourselves. It was perfect,” Brad said. “So I proposed.”

“We were lucky to come from family that fully supported us,” Sarah said. “Had our parents not agreed on getting married, then we wouldn’t have gone through it.”

The weddingSarah and Brad were married on June 10, 2006 at Sarah’s

hometown church in Texas.Sarah said she wishes she would have been more relaxed

in the months leading up to the wedding and the day of wedding.

“I wish I would have set back and really enjoyed planning

the wedding,” Sarah said. Both Sarah’s dad and step-dad walked her down the isle.

Sarah said her poofy, Cinderella-style dress caused her to trip as she walked. Looking back on the day, Sarah laughs and remembers not letting a few mishaps ruining her wedding.

Brad said he wished he would have had a handkerchief with him as he stood at the altar.

“I was sweating like crazy and not because I was nervous, but because I was hot,” he said. “It was 100 degrees in Texas that day and 110 degrees inside the church. I don’t think the air conditioner was working.”

“The scenes looked like something out of ‘Mission Impossible’ with sweat dripping off my face and nose,” he said. “The handkerchief would have helped.”One piece of advice Sarah would give engaged couples is to rehearse the vows before the wedding day.

“Our preacher didn’t tell us what to say until it was time to say them,” she said. “I ended up saying ‘I do’ five times before I was suppose to.”

Sarah and Brad also brought the college atmosphere with them, playing the Alabama fight song as the wedding processional and had an Alabama groom’s cake at the reception.

The flower arrangements and bouquets were Sarah’s favorite part of the wedding.

“My bridesmaids each carried one hot pink gerber daisy, and my two maids-of-honor carried three hot pink gerber daisies. It was simple and pretty and saved a lot of money.”

As a way to include Brad’s friends and family in Mobile that couldn’t come to the wedding, a reception for the the groom’s friends and family was held after their honeymoon.

“It was a good way to include everyone else in our celebration,” Sarah said.

Bama Bride 3January 31, 2008

Sarah and Brad on their first date. The couple met as fresh- men living in Harris Hall and were married in 2006.

YSee ALTAR, page 12

Sarah and Brad before a UA football game. Submitted photos

Andrea Duke & Matt Duke “We are both very active, and we run marathons. Marathons

are a very important part of our lives. We had run the Disney marathon a few times before, and that year my parents ran it with us. As we were coming to the end of the race, Matt suggested that my parents run ahead of us. I thought it was a little weird because we usually finish together. When we were almost to the finish line he stopped. I was kind of confused and looked ahead. When I looked back Matt was on one knee. He proposed right at the finish line.

As soon as we got engaged, the Disney characters Chip n’ Dale and Donald Duck came running to congratulate us. Then, the announcer of the race announced our engagement to the whole crowd. Before the race, he had let everyone know about the proposal and everyone knew but me!”

Bama Bride4 January 31, 2008

Courtney Upchurch & Ben Henson

“Whenever we are at my parent’s home in Atlanta we like to go hiking on Stone Mountain. Ben is big into hiking and the outdoors and this mountain has many childhood memories for me. So that day being like any other day, we went hiking up the mountain.

When we finally made it to the top and were looking at the gorgeous view, he kept asking me if I knew how much he loves me. I’m thinking, ‘Yeah Ben, I know, but look at this view!’ He then got down on one knee, held out the ring and said, ‘This is how much I love you. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?’ I fell to the ground in shock and was so surprised! After the proposal he suggested that

we take the ski lift down the mountain. Halfway down, he turns me around and asked me if I saw anything out of the ordinary. I looked down through the glass and saw his family, my family, and both sets of our grandparents waving from the bottom of the mountain. Everyone greeted us with hugs and tears. His mother gave me a bouquet of pink roses welcoming me to the Henson family and was also told that his brother Blake had snuck up the mountain and filmed the entire proposal on video!”

The Perfect Proposal:

Ben and Courtney are getting married on May 30. Ben graduated from the University in 2005. Courtney is a 5th year senior majoring in interior design and will graduate May 2008.

Andrea will graduate in May 2008 with a Ph.D in mass communications, and Matt will graduate in May 2006 with a law and

MBA degree. They married in December 2006.

Bama Bride 5January 31, 2008

“Ryan had just finished building a house in Atlanta where I am from and I had not seen it since it was finished and he had moved in. When I got home to Atlanta for fall break I called my friend Brittany to see if she wanted to come see his house with me. I called Ryan to tell him that I came home for fall break a day early. When I told him this, his voice sounded a little different on the phone. After dinner, I drove with him to his house and called Brittany to follow us. The whole car ride over there he kept asking, “Are you sure she wants to come too?” I kept telling him, “Of course she does, she is right behind us in her car!”

When we got to his house, I started cleaning downstairs where there were still a lot of move-in boxes. He then asked if I would come upstairs to see what he did with his home office. I walked upstairs and looked at all the rooms; then I looked at the master bedroom. When I opened the doors to the master bathroom I saw rose petals all over the floor, candles everywhere, and roses all over the room. Then I saw a ring box in the middle of the room. He got down on one knee and proposed. I couldn’t remember what he said because I was in such a huge shock!

I was so surprised that I had forgotten that Brittany was still downstairs. Having Brittany there was an awesome twist because she is the person that introduced us. The whole time that he was building this house, I never realized that he was building it for us.”

Tiffany Domain is a senior majoring in political science and will graduate in May 2008. Ryan Minerd graduated from Georgia College and State University. They will get married in December 2008.

Tiffany Domain & Ryan Minerd

UA students share their special moment

Proposal stories compiled by Nicole TidwellSubmitted photos

YouBama Bride6 January 31, 2008

All eyes on

Newly engaged Michelle McKnight models a pick-up style dress. McKnight is a junior majoring in jour-nalism.

YouMany women fantasize about the perfect dress as children. Others stumble upon the

perfect dress in a magazine or while window shopping. Yet, no matter how it is found, planning the perfect wedding isn’t complete without the perfect dress.

Julie Tubbs is owner of Amanda’s Weddings and Formals and has worked in the dress shop business since college. Recently she bought Amanda’s Weddings and Formals from the previous owner last November.

Tubbs said one of the most popular dress styles is the pick-up style, where the bottom of the dress resembles an elegant balloon.

“I’ve sold a lot of the pick-up style dress,” Tubbs said. “Many women will keep up-to-date with style, and trends and some like the pick-up style and others don’t.”

Brides need to shop six months to a year in advance for a dress, Tubbs said. “It takes three months to order the dress, but brides also need to take into consideration bridal

portraits and alterations that need to be made.”Tubbs said that when it comes to wedding dresses, tradition is out the door.A splash color is becoming a prominent look on dresses.Tubbs’s number one selling color is the crimson color but other colors are also becoming

popular.“Ivory is a popular color as well as gold, red, black and white, and lilac,” she said. “Also,

pink is a new color that is coming out for wedding dresses. We haven’t seen anyone do it yet, but it is what’s new.”

Dresses at Amanda’s Weddings and Formals range from $500 to $2,000.“The difference in the cost can come from the material of the dress, bead work on the

dress and who designed it,” she said. “Mori Lee is a very reasonably priced designer and we are very excited to start carrying Maggie Stottero dresses.”

Tubb’s said you don’t have to find your dress in one day. She suggests trying on a variety of styles to see which ones you like

“See which style looks the best on your body type, and choose a color that works best with your skin tone.”

Wedding dress shopping advice from Amanda’s Weddings and Formals

by Laura Pitts and Nicole Tidwell

Things to Consider

Veils: Chapel length veils are popular. Also, some brides are foregoing the veil

completely.

Bridesmaid dresses: Remember, you want them to look opposite of you. Two prominent colors this season are tiffany

blue and chocolate.

If you are short: Consider a drop waist wedding gown to make you look taller.Photos by Laura Pitts

A very important part of wedding planning is ordering flowers. There are several things to think about when ordering a bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, groomsmens boutonnières and other floral arraignments. Randy Howell, from Pat’s Florist and Gourmet Baskets, Inc. shared some of his expertise and gave some advice about planning for a wedding.

Howell said that the most popular type of bouquet this year is the hand tied bouquet, which is tight and compact. It is a spin-off from the nosegay bouquet, which is round and sphere shaped. Popular flowers in the bridal bouquets, he said, are roses, stephanotis, orchids, peonies, call lilies and stargazer lilies.

“A lot of brides like the hand tied bouquet because they are simple and comfortable to hold,” said Howell. “It’s relaxing to hold the bouquet in front of them.”

He said that most brides go with ivory and white bouquets while other brides have white bouquets with a touch of color such as blush, light pink, peach or green.

Taking into consideration the design of the wedding dress is important in choosing the perfect bouquet, Howell said.

If the wedding dress has a lot of beading or sequence, brides may want to stick to very simple bouquets he said.

“Try not to let the flowers compete with the dress,” Howell said. “White is clean, crisp and elegant; you can never go wrong with white.”

White is also often seen in bridesmaid flowers. A lot of bridesmaid dresses are classic black dresses, and white flowers compliment them well he said.

Howell said while white is often seen in bridesmaid flowers, colors are beginning to make an impression in the bouquets.

“Popular colors have been ivory, brown, sea foam green, light turquoise, mint green, aqua, Columbia blue, silver grey, grape, and lavender,” Howell said.

When choosing flowers, it is best to use colors that compliment the bridesmaid dresses. If the bridesmaids are

wearing brown or beige, a lot of brides like to pair those colors with red. The groomsmen boutonnières are often made to match the bridesmaid bouquets.

Also, lots of color are beginning to become prominent in church floral arrangements, Howell said. Instead of the traditional white, arrangements for churches are incorporating a lot of greenery and plants.

Howell said it is important to work within your budget while planning with a florist.

“The best advice I can give a bride is to be selective with planning and work with the four-by-four plan,” he said “That is, try to budget while keeping the big four in mind: florist, caterer, photographer and dress. Trying to budget them equally will keep you in the ballgame.”

Howell said brides should start working with their florists three months in advance. It is best not to contact a florist before then because a budge, color schemes and other decisions need to be finalized first.

“Once the bride gets the location finalized and her colors planned out, then she should come to the florist,” Howell said.

Pat’s Florist has been family-owned since 1962. They are one of the last family-owned florists in the area. Randy Howell has been in Tuscaloosa for 21 years and has been in the floral business for 32 years.

Bridal bouquets $75 - $250

Bridesmaids bouquets $50 - $125

Boutonnieres $15 - $20

Church arrangements $200 - $1,000

Flower Costs

Become

Everything you need to know about creating the perfect bouquet

Photo courtesy of Kathy G and Company

bouquetsavvy

by Nicole Tidwell

Bama Bride 7January 31, 2008

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Bama Bride8 January 31, 2008

Not your ordinary reception

by Michelle McKnight

If you are a bride, you have probably been watching all of the wedding shows on television. Each show seems to highlight the ever-growing production of the reception, which is only inevitable since it now accounts for nearly 50 percent of the total budget.

“There have definitely been a lot of changes in weddings over the years,” says Natalie Pilato Adams, an event planner for Kathy G and Company in Birmingham. “It has definitely become more of a production, a really big production, where people have themes and are getting more involved in the details.”

At well-known Kathy G and Company, Adams has helped to plan large events like the University of Alabama’s 175 anniversary party as well as events for the Alabama Ballet.

“It is great to see more people getting creative with their menus and food,” Adams said. “Décor is much more contemporary, very clean and with a lot of glass. We are also seeing a lot of extra special props like lighting shooting up the walls to transform a space.

Adams said the main difference in current weddings is found in the presentation.

“Fun ideas like serving hors d’oeurves in shot glasses or on spoons are very popular,” Adam said. “Brides still want familiar foods that all their guests will like, but you can totally change things and put a new spin on them by changing the container.”

According to TheKnot.com, the best caterers can be booked up to a year in advance Make sure to schedule a tasting when you make your appointment with potential caterers.

TheKnot.com also said don’t just take a business card

from a catere. Instead, ask each catere to draw a rough outline, including cost per person, menu options, what each fee includes, service and less-expensive alternatives.

When you have decided on which caterer to use, Adams says you need to know your date and already have an idea in mind of what they would like. “When we hear what the bride likes, we can feed off of that and her style so we can create something unique for her,” Adams said. “Don’t think you cannot have a spectacular wedding if you have a

Hot trends in cateringIf you want something outside of the traditional sit-down dinner or buffet, consider one of these hot new trends in catering from TheKnot.com.

Theme — Have a menu that matches the theme of your wedding to create a fun and memorable event.

Special Meaning — Plan a menu that reflects a special moment for the bride and groom such as a first date or the proposal.

Presentation — Be creative on how you serve food to your guests. TheKnot.com suggests serving a course in an unexpected container.

Desserts — Make your cake look more interesting by having a chef fill a squeeze bottle with chocolate or raspberry sauce and paint flowers, dots, hearts, or your initials onto the rims of your dessert plates.

See CATERING, page 12

Photo courtesy of Kathy G and Company

Y

Bama Bride 9January 31, 2008

by Michelle McKnight

Not just a piece of cake How to be creative with your wedding cake

The wedding cake, the centerpiece of your reception, helps to set the tone of your affair. Once you have set the budget, the location and found the perfect dress, you need to start thinking of your dream cake and the perfect baker to make it. TheKnot.com recommend final details of your cake booked within four to six months before your big day. However, most well-known bakers are hired almost a year in advance, especially during the peak wedding seasons of June to October.

Ask recent brides for recommendations and put the word out that you are looking to hire a cake designer. Chances are you will find out who to hire and who to not hire from other people’s experiences. Check local bridal magazines for ads with photographs of cakes created by local artists.

The bridal experts at Brides Magazine recommend interviewing bakers in person and asking to see samples of their work.

“Make sure the confectioner has experience creating the kind of cake you are looking for,” according to Brides.com. “Bring photos of cakes you like, swatches of your dress and images of your reception site for inspiration.”

In addition to making sure the cake goes along with your

meal, having details like the number of guests and the location will help you decide how large your cake needs to be and what it will be made of.

“Shy away from buttercream and whipped cream icings if you’re having an outdoor wedding,” according to Brides.com. “The heat causes the icing to melt, and you do not want that on your wedding day.”

For an outdoor wedding, the editors of TheKnot.com recommend fondant, because it will hold up to the heat better. Another tip is to make sure that your cake isn’t displayed too early. It should not be left out for more than two hours.

Questions to ask The budget is very important to think about when deciding

on your final cake choice. Always ask for a price list. You need to know the changes in price by slice, flavors and fillings. Delivery fees are sometimes included, but other times it would be much more cost effective if you picked it up yourself.

“There are many ways to save money,” says Liz Banfield of Brides.com.

See CAKES, page 11Y

Bama Bride10 January 31, 2008

Now that you are in college, it seems almost inevitable that you will one day become a bridesmaid or groomsman in one, or more, of a good friends wedding. Sure, as the maid of honor or best man you get to plan the bachelor party or the bachelorette party, but have you thought about what your other responsibilities are to the bride and groom?

Noted wedding planner and consultant Alene Gamel said for the bridesmaids there are two main events held for the bride: the bridal tea and the bridal shower, which is hosted by the bridesmaids

“Often brides have bridesmaids from around the country, and it is hard for all of them to get together at the same time so the bridal shower is typically thrown by the bridesmaids that live locally,” said Gamel, who owns her company, I Do, I Do Wedding Planning and Consulting that is based in Birmingham.

The showers can also be joint showers and can include the groom, Gamel said.

“Showers can be for anything such as linen, kitchen, or lingerie,” she said. “It is easy to hold fun and creative

showers.” However, when planning a joint shower, a bridesmaid

should try to plan the shower in a way that is appealing to the guys by making it into more of a party atmosphere at night instead of in the afternoon.

“Let’s face it, most guys don’t like going to showers,” Gamel said. “So if you are a bridesmaid planning a joint shower, stop and think, ‘Do guys really want to come to this?’”

As far as expenses, tradition says that bridesmaids and groomsmen pay for all of their own expenses such as their bridesmaid dress, tuxedo, travel expenses and hotel stay. On this note, Gamel says, brides should be conscious and thoughtful of this fact.

“Try not to pick out an outrageously expensive bridesmaid’s dress,” she said. “Look at the total cost and think about how you can help your bridesmaids.”

The maid of honor and best man The maid of honor and the best man have specific duties

that are traditionally expected of them. The maid of honor helps the bride select the bridesmaid dresses, offer to address the invitations and place cards, and she organizes the gift to the bride from bridesmaids and helps organize the bridesmaid luncheon.

The bridesmaid luncheon is usually the Friday before the wedding or the Saturday morning of the wedding. The luncheon includes the bride, bridesmaids, the mother of the bride and groom and the grandmothers of the bride and groom.

“Usually the luncheon is held at a girly restaurant, but recently bridal luncheons have been getting more creative such as a spa day full of manicures and pedicures or even a slumber party,” Gamel said.

The maid of honor also holds the groom’s wedding ring during the ceremony and witnesses the signing of the wedding certificate. Sometimes, she is the witness of the ceremony and has to sign the wedding certificate. When the bride leaves the reception, it is the maid of honor’s job to make sure that the bride has everything she needs in the car and in the hotel room. Usually, the maid of honor and the wedding planner work closely together on these responsibilities.

The best man also has many important responsibilities. If there is to be a bachelor party, it is his job to plan it and make sure that the groom does not behave in a way that will keep him from getting to the wedding on time. It is the best man’s responsibility to coordinate the gift to the bride and groomsmen. After the reception, if there is no driver, the best man drives the bride and groom to wherever they need to go.

Expectations of the wedding partyby Nicole Tidwell

Amanda’sWeddings & Formals

Maggie StotteroWedding

New Prom Line Flirt

Prom, Pageants, Bridesmaids

Weddings, Mother of the Bride

Mother of the Groom, Flower Girls

Shoes, Accesories, Invitations

New Owner:Julie Handley Tubbs

2623 McFarland Blvd E.Tuscaloosa, AL 35405205-553-5354

Roles to remember for bridesmaids and groomsmen

Bama Bride 11January 31, 2008

“A lot of times people are pressured to ask people that they don’t really know to be a bridesmaid or a groomsmen such as the bride’s brother or the grooms relatives,” said Gamel. “You should ask people that you love and want to share this special time with.”

As for bridesmaids and groomsman, said Gamel one should consider it an honor if you are asked to be a bridesmaid or a groomsman.

“Also, try to be as helpful to the bride and groom as possible,” she said.

“Use fresh fruit and non-toxic flower decorations instead of labor-intensive handmade sugar flowers.” Banfield also suggests that if a bride wants a large cake, but has a small guest list, she should have her baker add Styrofoam faux tiers decorated to match the cake to add height.

After you have made all the final decisions, it is time to sign the contract. Be sure it states the delivery time, date, location and person responsible for the delivery as

well as details like flavor, filling, color

and price.“Make sure a refund policy is

included,” according to Brides.com. “It should specifically state what you will be refunded if you cancel your order and what the confectioner will pay if he or she cancels service.”

It is also good to include a partial refund clause if there is a problem with delivery or mistakes made to the cake. You want these precautions clearly stated in the contract so that you can concentrate on other things on your wedding day.

CAKESContinued from page 9

Letterpress patterns A letterpress-style design is a trendy way to show off your gown’s ornate embroidery,

your invitation’s floral design, or even your chosen china pattern.

Oversized flowers Cover your cake in sugar paste flowers to give an elegant feel.

Mixing shapesSquare cakes can be placed at different angles to give more interest. Hexagonal

shapes do not need as much decoration and could help save on the budget.

Cake Trends from TheKnot.com and Brides MagazineTo contact Alene

Gamel, email her at Alene@idoidoweddingplanning.com

Bama Bride12 January 31, 2008

I want to be a great wife and have dinner ready, and sometimes I can’t do that with classes,” Sarah said. “We both understand how hectic things can be and keep our focus on school.”

Sarah recognizes the importance of finishing school and keeps in mind the other challenges they will eventually face.

“We knew this was going to be hard when we got in it,” she said.

Finding a church group was also a challenge the couple faced. Also, spending time with friends was difficult since Sarah and Brad were the only married couple within their circle of friends.

“We’ve also realized that we have to talk loans out,” Brad said. “We’ll be able to pay them off one day, but for now we aren’t going to worry about it.”

Marriage has challenged

Sarah to raise her grade point average from a 2.7 to a 4.0.

“My grades the first two years of college were terrible,” she said. “Being married has helped me become focused and realize that I’m not just in college to party all the time. I have bigger things to focus on.”

“Being married has calmed me down and caused me to focus more on school,” Brad said. “My first semester of college I partied way to much and it reflected in my grades.”

Both Sarah and Brad have swapped from nursing majors to education majors. Sarah will graduate in December 2008, and Brad will graduate in May 2009.

“I can’t explain how I knew he was the one,” Sarah said. “He just filled the piece of my heart I needed filled. That’s how I knew.”

ALTARContinued from page 3

low budget.” “We can make a wonderful wedding on any budget; you just have to decide what is most important and where you want to spend the majority of your money. If you can dream it up, we can make it happen,” Adams said.

CATERINGContinued from page 8

Special congratulations to engaged couples!

Best of luck!