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H e has finally pro-posed? Then yourtop priority is to

do a bit of bragging and telleveryone the good news!

Once your initial excite-ment has calmed down atouch, though, you’ll have totake time to do some seriousthinking. There are so manydetails to plan, a budget todraw up, and deadlines to bemet: it seems so overwhelm-ing. If you are finding it hardto get some traction andlaunch your wedding plan-ning, here are ten tips to giveyou some direction and helpyou get moving.

1. Establish your budget

per guest. In fact, this is theperfect time to draw up yourguest list.

2. Order your invitations,being careful to include yournames, the date, time, andplace of the wedding andreception, as well as the dateby which you need to receivereplies. Being clear about thiswill help you save a lot ofprecious time and money. Besure to include stamped,addressed envelopes if youcan.

3. The reception hall isoften one of the biggestexpenses, so be sure toreserve one as quickly aspossible. If you want to keepexpenses down, think about

holding the reception at afamily home or in a garden.

4. Creating a good atmos-phere is just as important aschoosing a caterer, althoughyou don’t want to skimp onfood either. To cut costs, con-sider serving fewer courses,with a focus on excellentquality instead of quantity.

5. Make up or order wed-ding favours for your guests.These are put with theirplace setting or offered at theend of the reception. Letyour imagination run wild:you could offer small home-made soaps, candles, localproduce in mini format, bath

pearls, or small boxes of can-dies. It can also be fun tohave a “retro” favour, suchas a pack of matches with thebride and groom’s namesembossed on the matchbookcover.

6. Give yourself enoughtime to find a wedding gownthat really suits your person-ality. It is also possible to renta dress for the occasion,much as your beloved canbuy or rent his tuxedo.

7. Book your hair, make-up,esthetician, and manicureappointments several weeksbefore the wedding. If possi-ble, plan a test run.

AmericanNews • Bridal Showcase2 Sunday, January 27, 2013 aberdeennews.com

The top ten wedding to-do’s

KRISTI’S CAKES2X2

AmericanNews • Bridal Showcaseaberdeennews.com Sunday, January 27, 2013 3

8. Put all your heart intowriting down the vows thatyou would like to make dur-ing the marriage ceremony.If you plan to make a speechat the reception, be sure toget that down in writing aswell.

9. Plan the reception downto the last detail: create theatmosphere you like withsuitable music, entertain-ment, and a décor thatmatches your personality.(Don’t forget to decorate thebathrooms, a place everyonewill see at some point!)

10. Organize your honey-moon so that you can cele-brate your new life together.

And while we’re talkingweddings, here are a fewother tips to keep in mind:

~Avoid giving importantjobs to the parents of thebride and groom — unlessthey really want to beinvolved that way. Instead,let them enjoy being withthe guests. ~ If you intend to create agift list, be sure to put it onthe Internet so that it willbe easily accessible toeveryone.~ If small children will beat the reception, plan tohave a space availablewhere they can play and aquiet room where they cansleep.~ Take photographs ofyour hair and makeup testruns so you can choose theperfect combination whenyou’re well rested. Preparea make-up kit for anytouch-up jobs on your bigday.~ Leave a guest book atthe entrance of the recep-tion hall. It’s a great sou-venir to keep, along withyour photo album. ~ Leave a disposable cam-era on every table so thatguests can record magicalmoments during the recep-tion.

KESSLERS 3x9.25CMKY


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H ave you beendreaming aboutwedding dresses

since you were a little girl? Itis practically impossible toremain indifferent in front ofa sublime princess styledress fit for Cinderella, withall those wonderful frills andcrinolines. Wouldn’t you justlove to embody a bit of theroyal splendor emanatingfrom such a legendarydress? Well, now it’s possible toadapt this trend for youwedding without makingthe whole thing overly the-atrical.

Indeed, designers seem toagree on this point: ballerinastyle wedding dresses willbe the wedding trend of theyear. Specialized boutiquesare offering a wide range ofstyles to honor the world ofclassical dance.

Fans of tutus, your dreamswill come true: skirts billowto your hear’s content,recalling the endless twirlingof the perfect little ballerinayou used to have in yourmusical jewellery box. Thefeminine grace of the primaballerina, straight from a

Degas painting, is translatedinto the bridal gown of volu-minous proportions. Ofcourse,allthoselayersof tullecan feelheavy,by thefash-ionablebridejustdoesn’tcare!Here,theexpres-sion“onemustsufferto bebeauti-ful” isentirelyappropriate.

The voluminous ballerina-style dresses come with ahigh, tightly-fitted bodice tohighlight the effects of thecorset so perfect for slenderfigures. And what if youhave a well-developedupper body? Brides with a

full bust and larger propor-tions can opt for a high,draped corset bodice. The

extradimensioncreated bythe pleat-ed fabricisn’t astight andtakesaway theimpres-sion ofheavinessthat aconven-tionalbodicewouldgive.

DREAMY

CORSET

BODICES

Don’ttry andhide your

curves on your weddingday, ladies! Corset bodicesextending to the hips are all-pervasive in the new bridalcollections. Even womenwith full hips can wearthem,particularly if thegown flows into voluminousskirts. The explosion of

crinolines below the bodicewill lend perfect proportionsto the figure.

If, however, a bride islooking to add volume to asmall bust, the empire waist-line, encircled by a sash is acontrasting color, is just thething. Shimmering details,such as diamonds or pearls,are a wonderful way to addvolume to a bodice.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Once the wedding ceremo-ny is over, the glowing bridecan change her voluminousdress for a more discreetevening outfit. many willopt for a second long whitegown, while others will pre-fer to inject a touch of liveli-ness into their outfit bywearing a colorful or evensequined ensemble -- a verypersonal choice.

The general trend dictatesa fitted outfit that clings tothe body. The weddingreception is a festive occa-sion, and this is why the out-fit you choose should reflectyour desire to celebrate withyour new husband and allyour loved ones.

A beautiful ballerina in an explosion of crinolines

ROB VANMETER2X2

ONE LETTER 2X2


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T housands of differ-ent styles andmodels of wed-

ding gowns are available onthe market, one more beauti-ful than the next. Fromwhite to cream, from long toshort, and lace, pearls, andsilks: there is certainly nolack of choice. But beforeyou set out on a marathontour of all the wedding dressboutiques, it is important toget to know your body typeso that you can know whatstyle of dress will best suityou.

• Do you have an hour-glass shape (shoulders andhips of equal width, withsmaller waist)? You couldtreat yourself to a “mer-maid” gown that accentu-ates your curves. If youdream of a royal wedding,the princess dress is perfectfor you, as is a two-piecedress with a bustier. Inshort, anything that flattersthe waistline will empha-size your feminine curves.

• For apple or V-shapedfigures (shoulders broa derthan the hips), look morefor an empire waist or A-line dress which will bal-

ance your proportions.• If your hips are wider

than your shoulders, youhave a pear or A-shapedfigure. Look for an A-linestyle and avoid a straightor mermaid dress thatdraws eyes where youdon’t want them to be.

• When your shoulders,hips, and waist are all of asimilar width, you have astraight or I-shape. Avoid astraight dress, opting for anA-line or princess style orone with a bodice, whichwill create a more curvedeffect.

• If you’re petite, look fora simple dress without toomany frills. Belts should beavoided, as they will cutyour silhouette in twowhere a lengthening effectwould be more desirable.

No matter what your bodytype, let your instincts guideyou towards the dress ofyour dreams. Don’t hesitateto ask for a few extra adjust-ments from the shop’s seam-stress so that you will feelcompletely comfortable inyour gown.

Choosing a dress tosuit your body type


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S erving some kind ofbaked good on yourwedding day is a

tradition that dates back toantiquity. Today, there’s nolack of choice when it comesto the flavour of your wed-ding cake: chocolate, vanilla,strawberry, le mon, or otheroriginal fla vours. However,choo sing your cake is a littlemore complex than you mayhave imagined, and that iswhy it is so im portant to meetwith the baker when orderingthe cake of your dreams.

During this meeting, youshould mention the number ofguests, clearly identify thestyle that you’re looking for,and discuss the colours and

shapes you’ve set your hearton. Don’t hesitate to ask totaste the various flavours ofcake, icings, and garnishesthat the baker suggests. Youcould also show him or herpictures of the wedding cakesyou like, plus a copy of yourinvitation and a sample ofyour decorating materials. Themore guidelines you can givethe creator of your cake, thehappier you’ll be with the endresult.

One of the current trendsin wedding cakes is a tower ofsmall cupcakes, decoratedindividually and mounted inwhatever shape you desire.Another popular modernchoice is a cake that is in facta pyramid of macaroons, a

magnificent blendof colours andflavours. Suchcakes are alsovery practical, asthey are alreadydivided into indi-vidual portions.

Be sure not toforget the great tra-dition of keeping afew slices — or thewhole top tier —of your weddingcake for your firstanniversary. Seal itin plastic wrap,place it in an air-tight freezer bag,and enjoy it allover again oneyear later.

A unique cake for amomentous occasion


Choosing the right bouquetNewspaper Toolbox

A bouquet is animportant accesso-ry for any bride,

one that should be coordinat-ed with the dress as well asthe style of the weddingitself. Here are a few tips forchoosing the right bouquet:

• If you’re wearing a longdress, your options arebroader: your bouquet canbe round, simple, or cascad-ing. If your gown is shorter,however, it is advisable toopt for a round or discreetbouquet so that your flow-ers will not hide the dress.• If you’re dreaming of a

huge bouquet, keep in mindthat the more imposing thebouquet, the heavier it willbe to carry. That could gettiring, not to mention the

chore of trying to throw itover your shoulder! Youshould also take your figureinto consideration whenmaking your choice: a tinyor very slim silhouette canbe overwhelmed with alarge bouquet.

• Think about personaliz-ing your bouquet withaccessories such as lace,pearls, or even fruits. Besure to set yourself a budg-et: flowers that are rare orout of season will makeyour bouquet costs climb.

ThE LAnguAgE Of

fLOwERS

Even though some brideschoose a bouquet for itslook, others prefer to useflowers that have a tradition-al symbolic meaning: red

roses (love), white roses(pure love), lilies (purity),carnations (sincere love),tulips (perfect love). If thislanguage means somethingto you, perhaps you’d betteravoid yellow roses (infideli-ty) and narcissus (selfish-

ness)!Most important of all, be

careful not to choose flowersthat will spread pollen allover your beautiful gown.

TACOMA PARKCMY 2X3

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A re you the type ofperson who haslots of friends,

gets on well with work col-leagues, and is involved inplenty of activities orsports? If you are sociable,love meeting people, andhave the gift of buildingsolid friendships quickly,you’ll probably find thatcompiling your weddingguest list is a little trickierthan putting together a gro-cery list!

First of all, you shouldask yourself if your budgetwarrants an intimate cere-mony or a huge affair.Although your big day isn’tjust about money, the basicbudget factor for the wholeday is based on how manyguests you invite to yourreception: the more thereare, the more expensive itwill be. And, of course,more guests also means amore complex planning and

set-up operation. Keep in mind that every

guest has the option ofbringing a partner, whichquickly extends the guestlist. Start by listing thenames of your respectiveparents, grandparents,brothers, sisters, and closestfriends. After this you couldadd the names of all theuncles, aunts, and cousins.

The list may now bealready as long as you canhandle. If your heart is seton a bigger wedding, youcould always add the namesof your work colleagues,distant family members,and old friends whilechoosing to offer a simpleone-course meal or buffet.

Alternately, you couldinvite many to your wed-ding ceremony, and just afew closer relations to asmaller, more intimatereception.


The guest list: a little more complicated

than a grocery list!Newspaper Toolbox

F or an impor tantevent such as awed ding, it is abso- lu te ly essen tial to

dress in an appro pria te man -ner and appear well-groo -med. However, it isn’talways easy to make theright choi ce for these occa -sions, espe cial ly becau se ofthe great varie ty of sty les thatblur the boun da ries bet weencasual and for mal.

For women, there is one gol -den rule to fol low: never weara white dress. The brideshould be the only per son todress in this colour; forsomeo ne else to wear itwould show very poor man -ners, as if they were trying tosteal the show.

Provocative sty les, such asvery short, tight dres ses withplun ging nec kli nes, shouldalso be avoi ded. Dressesmade of a silky fabric are clas -sics, and a light woven woolis alright, but avoid knits andworn loo king fabrics. Longdres ses are not obli ga to ry, but

hem li nes should never go toohigh — a dress cut just abovethe knee is the most appro -pria te choi ce.

For men, a long-slee vedshirt tuc ked insi de the pantswith a belt and a tie is a basiccour te sy. Smart pants in adark colour com ple te the out -fit. Wearing a sports jac ket orsuit jac ket will depend on thetype of wed ding you’ve beeninvi ted to. The impor tantthing is to forgo casual clo -thing and bright colours, likethose flas hy Hawaiian shirts!

Once in a whi le, the brideand groom may spe ci fy acolour that they want alltheir guests to wear for theirwed ding. If this is the case, tryto be agre e a ble about it andfol low their wis hes. It may bethat they have a wed ding the -me, or that they want to stan -dar di ze the pho to graphs intheir sou ve nir album. Don’tfor get that this is the brideand groom’s day, not an occa -sion to try and stand out fromthe other guests.

A Dress Code:Golden rules for res pect ful guests

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O ne big decision thatcan be hard to getpast the discussion

stage in wedding planningis what to serve the guests.The meal represents a bigportion of a wedding recep-tion budget, so it is impor-tant to be absolutely satis-fied with the food and itspresentation.

Being able to see andtaste each of the dishes thatwill be served at yourreception is essential. Anexperienced caterer will beprepared to offer you atasting, as well as refer-ences from prior clients.Think about a menu thatincludes some hors d’oeu-vres, an appetizer, a maincourse, and your weddingcake for desert. A majorbudget factor is whetheryour meal will be servedbuffet style or plated as afull service sit-down meal.

When deciding on themenu it is important to pro-vide three choices to guests:one for children, one forvegetarians, as well as ageneral meal for the majori-ty of the other guests. Costswill increase if you chooseseveral ge ne ral meals, asthis lengthens preparationtime.

For the first course,choose seasonal products,such as a salad during thesummer or a soup in thefall. For the main course,chicken is always goodvalue because it is cookedthe same way for everyguest. Beef, on the other

hand, needs to be offered ata variety of stages of done-ness. Chicken is also themeat that the most peopleenjoy and that can be inex-pensively prepared in avariety of ways.

Depending on the themeand timing of your wed-ding and the tastes of yourguests, you could also servea late night snack thatincludes small pastries,

cubes of duck breast orsushi, candies, and tai-lor-made special cof-fees. While you can benefitfrom the inspirationsof your caterer, just besure to choose a mealthat is sure to pleaseboth you and yourguests.


Hmm...What do I serve my guests?

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E ven though tradition-al weddings are stillextremely popular,

more and more couples arechoo sing to join their handsin marriage in ori ginal andsometimes even daringways. Of course, stepping offthe beaten path can be excit-ing, but the important thingis to remain true to yourselfif you want to organize anunforgettable wedding.

Choosing a theme foryour wedding is a greatway to create a ceremony

that reflects your personalstyle and taste. Think aboutthe passions you and yourloved one have in common:an activity, a musical style,an era, a place, a sport.Anything could be the star -ting point for personalizingyour wedding.

Decorations, invitations,flowers, music, and all theother details should be ori-ented towards the chosentheme as much as possible.Naturally, the themeshould also be taken intoaccount when choosing

your wedding gown andthe groom’s outfit.

Be careful about colours:even if you love red orother strong colours, don’toverdo it or the result couldbe overbearing. Opt fordifferent tones in the samecolour in order to create aharmonious atmosphere.

Don’t forget to includeyour guests: offering them asmall wedding favour thatties in with your theme willmake it an unforgettableoccasion for everyone.Success guaranteed!

A fEw IDEAS

Over the last few years themedieval wedding has beenvery popular, but otherthemes might inspire you: acountry or rock wedding,environmentally friendlywedding, Zen wedding,1950s wedding, bicycle wed-ding, “god and goddess”wedding, season-themedwedding, or a country wed-ding. All it takes is some cre-ativity and the ability to letyour imagination run wild!


LILYS 2X5.5CMKY

A different kind of wedding: Personalize your day

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T he first notes ofMendelssohn’s Wed -ding March fill the

church and everyone turns towatch as the bride, more beau-tiful than ever, appears on herfather’s arm. Yes, even today,most people expect this type oftraditional beginning to a wed-ding ceremony. But if you findit all pretty boring and wouldlike to be a bit more innova-tive, here are a few ideas andconcepts that you may like.

You could choose a song thatrepresents you as a couple, amodern tune with a bit morerhythm, something that wouldlighten the atmosphere. If tra-dition isn’t sacred for you,why not go down the aisle onroller blades? This little bit ofcraziness and eccentricity mayhelp you to feel more relaxedabout the ceremony. Thinkabout having fun — it’s yourday, after all!

Do you have the sea in yourblood? What would you thinkof a wedding on the water, the

groom and guests on one boatand the bride arriving onanother? Or, are you theromantic type? You couldchoose to have an equestrianwedding, where the father ofthe bride walks to the alterleading a horse bearing hisdaughter.

If you’re thinking about get-ting married during the win-ter, why not treat your self tothe surprising luxury of anoutdoor ceremony. Imaginehow magical it would be ifyou approached yourawestruck guests in a magnifi-cent sleigh, warmly wrappedin furs.

In short, there’s no limitexcept your imagination. Letyourself be influenced by thedate and location of your wed-ding and then be inspired byyour passions and yourdreams to conceive a ceremo-ny that matches your person-alities. A “wow” effect will beguaranteed!

A stunning entrance

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A re youthinkingabout

exchanging vowson a tropicalisland far fromhome? Keep inmind that this ideacould create con-flict within moretraditional-mindedfamilies, makingan out-of-countrywedding just notworth the troubleit would cause. Ifyou’re fairly inde-pendent and youwant your wed-ding to be an

event for just the two of you,eloping is a great idea, but itcan be possible to have the bestof both worlds.

To realize your dream of get-ting married abroad whileavoiding any disappointmentamong friends and family, youcould always plan two cere-monies: the first for an intimatewedding at your dream destina-tion and the second with yourloved ones, in the form of areception at home.

Alternately, it might also bepossible to invite a small groupof family and friends to join youat an exotic location. It is up toyou to choose the formula thatwould suit you best.

You might be telling yourselfthat your wedding is for you

and that you should only takeinto account what you want, butrealistically, your wedding isalso for friends and family. It isworthwhile taking their feelingsinto consideration so that youwon’t needlessly hurt or disap-point them. After all, that wouldonly create an extra source ofstress that you really don’tneed.

What is most important is thatthe me mories of your weddingbe happy ones, without regrets.Your wedding is meant to be abeautiful day, a celebration ofyour love and your commit-ment. So will you start by buy-ing airline tickets or by writingyour guest list?


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D ates between Mayand October aregenerally the most

popular for couples wishingto get married. Thesemonths promise betterchances of a beautiful,sunny afternoon. That isever more important whenplanning an outdoor wed-ding, where Mother Naturealways brings a touch ofmagic, whether it is by theocean, near a lake, or in apretty flower garden.

The biggest challenge inorganizing an outdoor wed-ding is the unpredictabilityof the elements. This is whyit is so important to have aPlan B in case of bad weath-er. Because of this, you willnot only have to choose theright location, you will alsohave to coordinate all the

necessary lo gi stics in orderfor your reception to be a success.

Go ahead and choose asite for exchanging yourvows that has special signif-icance for you both. Justbear in mind that yourguests won’t want to bepacked into a small space,nor will they want to bestranded miles from thenearest bathroom.Remember that a tent forthe caterers will be neces-sary, as is access to electricaloutlets for the chefs and theD.J.

If you are planning onrenting a wedding tent, besure to calculate the numberof square feet required foryour guests to be comfort-able. Some outdoor estab-lishments also require thatthe couple purchase a liquor

license. If that is the case,don’t wait until the lastminute to send in yourapplication. The dress codeshould be specified on theinvitations so that yourguests will know what toexpect.

Once your outdoor wed-ding has been carefullyorchestrated, all you’ll haveto do is pray fervently forblue skies and beautifulsunshine on your big day.

A successful outdoor wedding

Getting married abroad or at home? Why not both!


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T he words “I do” arenot the only wordsyou’ll have to say

during your wedding cere-mony. Not to put any pres-sure on you, but your vowsare the reason for your unionand they should be chosenand spoken with care.

If you have opted for a reli-gious ceremony, manypriests or pastors will pro-vide you with traditionalvows. If that is the case, youwon’t have to think too hard.On the other hand, if youhave decided on a moreunconventional route, writ-ing your own vows is a won-derfully romantic idea. Butwhat if you can’t quite getyour thoughts and feelingsdown on the page? What ifyou find yourself stuck infront of a blank page forhours on end? Here are afew suggestions for express-ing your love withoutsounding overly sentimental.

Start by asking yourself theright questions. How did youfall in love with your futurespouse? What does commit-ment mean to you? And mar-riage? Your answers are the

best material to use, as theycome straight from yourheart.

Keep your vows simpleand concise so they will bememorable and interesting.There is nothing wrong withdrawing inspiration from afavourite poet or a line froma movie. Most of all, youdon’t want to see yourguests’ eyelids getting heavy!A good rule to follow is tomake the vows about thesame length as traditionalvows, which are between 30to 40 seconds long when spo-ken. If you have too manyfeelings to express in thisamount of time, then youcould take up to a minute,but not any longer.

You won’t make a mistakeif you are speaking from theheart. Once you have yourvows down on paper, prac-tice them until you havethem memorized perfectly.Of course, it wouldn’t hurt tohave a copy tucked into yoursleeve, just in case yournerves play with your memo-ry.

Writing you own vows?How to get past writer’s block


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F uture brides andgrooms don’talways realize just

how much timethey will have to devote toorganizing their wedding.From the moment yourengagement is announced,many hours will be spentmaking innumerable deci-sions and countless appoint-ments. But don’t worry: youcan save an amazing amountof time by dealing with localbusinesses.

Why not combine practi-cality with pleasure by focus-ing locally when preparingyour wedding. Everyonewould agree that organizinga wedding isn’t an easything to do, and so it can bevery reassuring to be able tocount on people that you’veknown all of your life, oralmost, to make a success ofthis important event.

Just think for a momentabout all the steps involved:

choosing the location of thewedding and reception,shopping for weddingbands, the gown, selecting aphotographer, making up theguest list, having invitationsand thank-you cards printed,planning the menu, decorat-ing the reception hall, find-ing a DJ, selecting a cake,ordering flowers andfavours. The list is long andthe job, huge.

By choosing to buy local,not only will you avoidwasting a great deal of timedriving long distances butyou will also have the pleas-ure of involving people inyour community, those whoare a part of your neighbour-hood and local economy.Your florist, caterer, jeweller,and all those other businesspeople will be eager partnersin making your wedding thebest party of your life.

I do buy locally:Make local businesses a part of your day

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S omeoneclose toyou has

asked you to betheir best man ormaid of honour, arole you havehappily accepted.But what exactlydoes this entail?

The maid ormatron of honour gives ashort speech during thereception and offers practicaland emotional support tothe bride throughout theplanning and organizationof the wedding. She alsotakes care of a wide range ofsmall but important details:helping with the invitationsand shopping for the dressand the bride’s bouquet, anddealing with last minute sur-prises. In other words, it’s abusy time for the maid ofhonour as well as for thebride.

The role of a best man isvirtually identical. On thebig day, he helps the groomdress and accompanies himto the ceremony. Mostimportantly, he holds thewedding bands. Like anygood host, he is the first toarrive at the reception hall inorder to welcome the newlymarried couple. He makesthe first toast of the eveningand dances with the bride aswell as her mother and themother of the groom.

Of course, the maid of

honour is traditionally incharge of organizing the henor bachelorette party, andthe groom organizes the stagparty. One innovative ideafor a hen party is to organizea relaxing day at a spa torelieve accumulated stress,followed by a gourmet mealand an evening at a night-club.

For the men, the groom’sinterests are a good indica-tion for a suitable bachelorparty: if he loves playinggolf and going to the casino,then an afternoon on the golfcourse followed by anevening on a floating casinois a brilliant plan.

In short, the privilegedrole of the maid of honourand of the best man is toensure that everything runssmoothly, before and duringthe wedding. Don’t forgetthat if you have been invitedto fill one of these key roles,it is because you are trusted.And that is an honour initself!

The roles of maid or matron of honor

and best man

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G etting married cancreate a great dealof stress for the bride to be. As a

friend, you’re in a good posi-tion to see that. So here is agift to offer her during herengagement party or her henparty: a bridal spa package.

Of course these days moreand more couples alreadylive together before they getmarried, which greatly

reduces the list of gift ideas— no need for toasters andpots and pans! A day at thespa is an ideal gift that willgive her some peace andrelaxation before the big day.Here is a brief overview ofwhat spas can offer you.

If you want to accompanythe future bride while she’srecharging her batteries, optfor a spa that offers differentthermal baths. Your friendcan start the day with a com-

plete body scrub fol-lowed by a wraptreatment. After this,an esthetician couldgive her a facial thatwill make her skinradiant just in timefor her wedding. Ofcourse, you should-n’t forget a hand andfoot treatment and,as a final touch, arelaxing massage.

Thinking along thesame lines, youcould also choose arelaxation and beau-ty package thatwould consist of twoseparate visits.During the first visit,she would receive a bodyscrub followed by a hot waxbody hair removal, ma kingher skin feel like silk. Afterthis, she could benefit from amassage and a trial make upsession. Her second visitcould include hand care, afoot massage, a manicure, apedicure, as well as a com-plete makeup session.

This type of gift is reallyappreciated by most wo menand is great for a group.What’s more, you won’t haveto worry if your gift will beappreciated or useful. Everywoman loves to be pam-pered and feel like aprincess, especially a fewdays before her wedding!


DUENWALDTRANSPORT 2X6

Some relaxation for the stress-out bride to be

EXPERIENCE2X3

It’s your BIG DAY! Have you thought of everything?


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I f you feel yourstress level risingat the mere

thought of your upcomingwedding, imagine what itwill be like on the big day.Of course you want yourwedding day to be fabulous,and the best way to ensurethat is to be prepared forevery eventuality. Here are afew things to have on handfor the big day: •Makeup kit and makeup

removal pads•Pocket mirror•Glue for false nails and

eyelashes•Pre-moistened wipes,

deodorant, and lip balm•A toothbrush, toothpaste,

and breath mints •Transparent nail polish,

nail file, and nail polishremover

•An extra pair of glasses orcontact lenses, includingthe case and lens solution.

•Tampons •Curling iron, hair straight-

ener, or hot rollers•Bobby pins •White and black thread,

sewing needles, safety pins,and a pair of scissors (forclothing repairs)

•Iron and ironing board•Extra pair of pantyhose•Pair of ballerina shoes (for

when your feet ache afterall that dancing!)

•Tissues as well as acetamin-ophen or ibuprofen

•Super glue or somethingsimilar, masking tape, andtransparent adhesive tape

• Finally, include a pair ofblack socks in case yourgroom is wearing whitesports socks with his tux!

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