wedding bells at the hancock hotel | t9 wedding bells at...

Renovated Circle P Reception Hall offers

‘farmhouse glam’INSIDE

Renovated Circle P Reception Hall offers

‘farmhouse glam’INSIDE

A ‘charming’ addition to any bouquet | T6Wedding bells at the Hancock Hotel | T9Say yes to the mothers’ dress | T24

A ‘charming’ addition to any bouquet | T6Wedding bells at the Hancock Hotel | T9Say yes to the mothers’ dress | T24

BRIDAL EXPO 2018THE COURIERFRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018 T3

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banquet hall to be used for birthday and graduation parties, as well as weddings. After the Davis patriarch died, the property became somewhat neglected, Katie said. The family sold it to another man who got it “up and running,” and she and Mike purchased the building a few years later and con-tinued the renovations.

“And a year and a half later, here we are,” Katie said.

Circle P focuses mainly on wed-dings, though it is still also used for other types of parties.

Most weddings are held in the summer season, so the couple did their renovating during the offseason. Between fall 2016 and spring 2017 they renovated the main hall, and in fall 2017, after the summer weddings were done, they began converting the nearby house into a bridal suite. Exte-rior work will be completed this spring.

The new owners renovated every-thing, Katie said. Every surface, as well as the electrical, plumbing and septic systems, the roof and the exte-riors. And they did much of the work themselves.

“We’ve had a lot of family mem-bers help,” Katie said. “Everyone has pitched in.” For instance her father-in-

law, “an amazing woodworker,” built the kitchen cabinets.

“It’s been fun,” she said of the pro-cess. “It’s been a challenge.”

Katie’s gotten to be creative in designing. She and Mike envisioned a “rustic, farmhouse feel,” but at the same time “I wanted a little bit of glam in there.”

The main hall can seat 250 guests, and there is a stage as well as a small kitchen and restrooms. The hall sits next to a pond, “and it’s so quiet and peaceful out here,” Katie said. Most couples have their reception in the hall, with the wedding ceremony on the property, too, out by the pond.

Near the hall is the bridal suite. There’s a sitting area, a dining area and restroom and changing rooms, as well as a space where the bridal party can put on their makeup.

Katie has enjoyed seeing people’s reactions to the changes to the prop-erty. One bride getting married this year had known the property as a child, as her family were good friends with the Davis family. It was fun to see her reaction to the property’s new look, Katie said.

And when she is shopping with the company credit card or checkbook, people who see the Circle P logo ask if she owns it. When she responds yes, they’ll say something like, “I had my reception there in 1975.” (Two of

Photo courtesy of Galati PhotographyCUPCAKES ARE DISPLAYED during a wedding ceremony at Circle P Reception Hall. The property, located on County Road 139, was originally built as a square dance hall and hosted its first dance in December 1966. Renovations have been extensive and ongoing since 2016, after new owners purchased the property.

Circle PContinued from page T2

See CIRCLE P, Page T4

BRIDAL EXPO 2018 THE COURIERFRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018T4

RECEPTION CENTER

Mike’s siblings also had their wed-ding receptions at Circle P.) She’s also heard from those who knew the prop-erty decades ago and are impressed with the facelift.

They “can’t believe how gorgeous it looks. That is the most rewarding part of this adventure for me,” she said.

Throughout the renovation pro-cess, they never stopped booking events. Most dates in 2018 are filled, but they’ve only just started booking for 2019, Katie said.

Couples can bring in their own catering and alcohol, and do their own setup, too. Basically, Katie said, she’ll give the couple the key and then they can take over. Rentals are from 9 a.m. until 5 a.m. the next day.

Brides interested in booking Circle P can get more information at circlep-receptionhall.com or can email Katie at [email protected].

Katie said there are a few “really special days” in someone’s life — and their wedding is one they’ll remember forever. Since pictures tend to end up on social media fairly quickly, she gets to see how she played a role in that special day.

“Being a part of that day ... there’s so much happiness,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Galati PhotographyDURING EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS to Circle P Reception Hall, owners Katie and Mike Omlor envisioned a “rustic, farmhouse feel.” But at the same time “I wanted a little bit of glam in there,” Katie says.

Circle PContinued from page T3


Book your ceremonyand reception today!

Chloe [email protected]

(419) 423-2787 ext. 108

Back up that bling!A great engagement ring deserves

a matching insurance policyBy BETH BUCZYNSKI

NERDWALLET

If you recently got engaged, the first person you might want to tell about your beautiful ring is an insurance agent.

Engagement ring insurance isn’t exactly romantic, but it’s a relatively inexpensive way to make sure you can repair or replace your ring if some-thing happens to it.

Two ways to insure• Buy extra “scheduled” cover-

age — often called a rider, floater or endorsement — through your home-owners or renters insurance company. Standard homeowners insurance and renters insurance includes some cov-erage for jewelry, but theft coverage is often limited to $1,500.

• Buy a stand-alone policy from a company that specializes in jewelry

insurance. You’ll generally get reim-bursed for the full value if your ring is stolen, lost or damaged.

Your insurer might require an appraisal to finalize your policy. The National Association of Jew-elry Appraisers website has a list of appraisers in each state.

Don’t assume a jewelry warranty will cover you. Those apply only to defects.

Cost of a jewelry riderThe cost of a jewelry rider depends

on how much coverage you need. A stand-alone engagement ring insur-ance policy typically costs $1 or $2 for every $100 in value. A study by The Knot, a wedding planning website, found the average cost of an engage-ment ring in 2016 was $6,163. That puts the annual premium for insur-ance at about $60 to $120.

You could earn a discount on your policy by:

• Having a monitored home-secu-rity system

• Storing your ring in a safe at home or in a bank

• Using a gem identification regis-try such as Gemprint

The policyMake sure your policy covers the

following common ring claims:• Theft: This would pay out if your

ring was stolen — during a home bur-glary, for example

• Mysterious disappearance: This would pay out if you lost the ring

• Damage: This would pay out if your ring was damaged or destroyed, for example in a house fire

If you buy engagement ring insur-ance before you pop the question, your soon-to-be fiancee must be named and

covered by the policy, especially if you don’t already live together. Otherwise

the policy could be voided as soon as you give the ring away.

MARIA SESTITO / Via The Associated PressBRAD PADGETT, owner of Bradley’s Jewelers, shows off one of his favorite engagement rings inside his Jacksonville, North Carolina, shop. It’s not exactly romantic, but engagement ring insurance is a relatively inexpensive way to make sure you can repair or replace your ring in case of theft, damage or mysterious disappearance.


A ‘charming’ addition to any bouquet

By JEANNIE WILEY WOLFSTAFF WRITER

When Megan McPheron married Brandon Gross, a silver charm was tied to her bouquet of white roses, hydrangeas and baby’s breath.

The charm was stamped with a large, monogrammed “G” in the center for the couple’s last name, with their first names circling the outside. The date of their wedding — Sept. 3, 2011 — is stamped at the bottom of the charm.

Megan Gross received her charm as a bridal shower gift. Formerly of Findlay, she now lives in Centerville with her husband and their two children, Sawyer and Maxwell.

The charm “was one of the most unique and thoughtful gifts I received that day,” she said.

According to Jody Combs, bridal bouquet charms are one of the newer trends for weddings. She and her daughter, Abby Anderson, own RooBarb Studies at 622 S. Main St., where they make and sell custom jewelry, stationery and invitations. Their offerings also include the sterling silver bouquet charms.

“Somebody several years ago asked me if I could make them. They saw

Personalized bridal bouquet charms make a subtle statement

RANDY ROBERTS / The CourierJODY COMBS introduced hand-stamped bridal bouquet charms at her shop, RooBarb Studios, several years ago. The personalized charms make a great gift for a bride-to-be and come with a sterling silver chain for wear after the big day.

See CHARM, Page T7


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something on Etsy, but it was big and it was a porcelain heart that someone had taken, like, a gold pen and wrote (on it). And I thought, ‘How could I some-how change that, incorporate it,’” Combs recalled.

The charm measures approximately 7/8-inch in diam-eter and is hand-stamped with the initial of the couple’s last name, their first names and either the date of the wedding or the year they were married.

The br ide - to -be a lso receives a sterling silver chain on which she can wear the charm as a necklace after the wedding, said Combs. The set comes packaged in a fold-over card with “Today I will marry my best friend” and the charm attached with ribbon. Inside the card reads “Bride’s Bouquet Charm designed especially for you to be carried in your bouquet on your special day ... and worn close to your heart forever!”

Combs said sometimes the bride will order a charm for herself when she’s in the store buying bridesmaids’

gifts. Other times the charm is a gift. Such was the case for Molly Douglas.

Originally from Findlay, the former Molly McPheron and her husband, Keith, were married Oct. 23, 2010, in a small, outdoor ceremony in Nahant, Massachusetts, just north of Boston. She received a bridal bouquet charm from her mother.

“It was a gift from my mom and was such a special addition to my bouquet,” she said in an email.

Combs said it’s just one more way brides can add a spe-cial touch to their wedding day.

“From the shower invita-tions to the wedding invitations to the jewelry, we try to make it however they want it to be,” she said. “That charm could be tied in with burlap. It could be tied in with silk or satin.”

Douglas tied the charm to her bouquet of blush-colored roses with a light blue ribbon to account for “something new” and “something blue.”

Everybody is looking for something unique, said Combs.

“Because we hand-stamp, we can pretty much do what-ever,” she said.

Combs created a bouquet charm a few years ago that

featured a locket-style charm containing a picture of the bride’s grandparents who had previously died.

“So she had a part of them in her wedding. But this is by far our most popular piece,” she said, referring to the round charms.

Gross and Douglas both said their charms attracted a lot of attention at their weddings.

“Many people asked about the charm because it was some-thing they’d never seen before,” said Gross. “People who came over to admire my bouquet were immediately drawn to the charm hanging from the bottom. It was a beautiful, hidden detail.”

“Everyone loved the added detail the charm provided,” Douglas agreed.

Combs said the charms also work for anniversary gifts.

“But this (the bridal bou-quet charm) I think has spe-cial meaning,” she said. “And we do keychains, too, for the guys. Sometimes they’ll tie two in their bouquet and then he gets the keychain and she gets the necklace, so that’s always nice, too.”

Gross said she’s worn the

CharmContinued from page T6

See CHARM, Page T8


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charm as a necklace since her wedding. And she just recently created a “story” necklace at RooBarb Studies and will be able to add her bouquet charm to it.

A story necklace is like a charm bracelet, said Combs, but on a necklace: “All of the charms hang together to tell ‘your story.’”

For example, her daugh-ter, Abby, has one with an “A” charm with “Abby” stamped on it. She also has a hammer

charm because she hammers silver; a round disk with her dog’s name and a dog paw stamped on it; and a bar charm stamped with her last name.

“As they have children, they can add charms with their children’s names, birthstones, their pets,” Combs said.

Both Gross and Doug-las said their bridal bouquet charms bring back many happy memories.

“While having the charm on my wedding day was special, it became even more special after all the hustle and bustle of the wedding when it became a keepsake that I will cherish forever,” said Gross.

“The charm was a fun touch

and is (a) great memento,” added Douglas. “It’s now my go-to shower gift for the bride-to-be.”

The charm sells for $49 with a sterling silver chain included. Combs said a week to 10 days is needed to fill orders, unless it’s during the Christmas season when extra time is needed.

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fri-days and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat-urdays.

Online: https://sites.google.com/site/roobarbstudios1/

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RANDY ROBERTS / The CourierA CHARM IS ATTACHED to a bridal bouquet at RooBarb Studios. The hand-stamped charms typically include the couple’s first names, their last name initial and the wedding date.

CharmContinued from page T7


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Wedding bells at the Hancock Hotel

By BRENNA GRITEMANLIFE EDITOR

A wedding or reception at the Hancock Hotel will ensure a little added excitement for your guests, as it will likely be their first look inside the brand new luxury hotel.

Located in the heart of downtown Findlay, the $20 million, five-story hotel opened at the end of February, bringing to the area a fresh event space with all the charms of valet parking, luxury rooms,

an elegant ballroom and a regionally famous steak-house. Director of catering Megan Dempsey says the hotel can accommodate every detail of a lavish wedding, from the rehearsal dinner to the farewell brunch, and everything in between.

“We kind of are big on the whole event pack-age,” Dempsey says, adding a team of specially trained catering experts is available to help plan every detail. She says Mancy’s Steakhouse,

Hotel brings elegant ballroom, world-class steakhouse and luxury suites to downtown

Photo courtesy of Swatch StudiosTHE 5,200-square-foot Blanchard Ballroom inside the brand new Hancock Hotel is adorned with six chandeliers, multiple sconces and window treatments, making it the perfect choice for a lavish wedding reception. “There’s already a lot of detail in there, so you don’t need much additional decorating,” says director of catering Megan Dempsey.

See HOTEL, Page T10


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located inside the hotel, can offer upscale eats for any and every meal of the wedding weekend, with late-night service and in-room dining available. Mancy’s also carries 20 craft beers and 300 wines.

Dempsey says the hotel ’s 5,200-square-foot Blanchard Ball-room can accommodate up to 320 guests and is elaborately outfitted with six chandeliers, multiple sconces and window treatments, making it the perfect scene for an elegant recep-tion. Some centerpiece options are available for use, although couples are free to bring in decorations of their choosing.

“There’s already a lot of detail in there, so you don’t need much addi-tional decorating,” she says.

Of the couples who have already booked the Hancock Hotel for their special day, about 25 percent have chosen to have the actual wedding ceremony on-site. The hotel does have indoor/outdoor wedding capa-bilities, although most ceremonies are planned in the junior ballroom.

Dempsey says the Hancock Hotel is already booking into 2019, although a few dates for 2018 remain available. She says the hotel offers a “big dis-count” for Friday weddings.

Inquiries can be made online at www.hancockhotel.com.

Photo courtesy of Swatch StudiosTHE HANCOCK HOTEL in downtown Findlay is already booking into 2019, although a few dates remain available for this year. A “big discount” is offered for Friday weddings.

On Twitter:@FindlayLife

Like us on Facebook atThe Courier Life Page.

Follow the Life department on social media for features, photos, community news and

more!

HotelContinued from page T9


Do me a favor: Personalize, localize, DIY

By MELISSA RAYWORTH ASSOCIATED PRESS

Once, the little gifts that cou-ples gave out to wedding guests were as elegantly predictable as just about every other aspect of a traditional wedding. A little bud vase printed with the happy couple’s names, perhaps. Or a tiny faux-Lenox picture frame inscribed with the date.

Some-w h e r e along the way, cou-ples and wedding planners took a different approach. They fig-ured out that frag-ile trin-kets like these were often taken

home and ignored or, worse, left behind at the reception.

Happily, as with so much modern wedding planning, favors have gotten a whole lot more personalized, creative and, in some cases, delicious.

TELLING YOUR STORY Couples who opt to give

guest favors are seeking some-thing that distinguishes their

wedding f r o m o t h e r s , b u t i s relatively inexpen-sive, says L a u r e n K a y , d e p u t y editor of the wed-ding web-

site TheKnot.com. The Knot’s 2016 survey found that of the

78 percent of couples giving favors to their guests, the aver-age investment ranged between $2 and $5 per guest, depending on the number of guests and the budget.

“What can you really get for $2 or $3 that people are really going to want to hang on to and that will really represent you?” asks Kay.

The answer for many cou-ples is creative personalization: a gift that helps tell their story.

Journalists Caitlin Kelly and Jose Lopez created a memorable favor for their 2011 wedding: Knowing that their colleagues often treasure press passes from major events, they designed authentic-looking, laminated press passes for their reception. Guests could wear these tongue-in-cheek, all-access passes on lanyards throughout the event, and take them home as mementos.

GIFTS ON ARRIVAL If your guests have traveled

to reach a wedding destination, your gift to them may be waiting at their hotel. “Welcome bags” usually offer a mix of practical things (cheese and crackers for the room, for example, and perhaps water and a packet of Advil for the morning after) and fun items designed to highlight something about the couple or

location. Pittsburgh-based wedding

planner Natasha Brody of Hello Productions has designed post-cards with a striking photo of Pittsburgh on one side and the wedding weekend itinerary printed on the back. She also likes to add some local favorites to the bag, like Clark bars or mini bottles of Heinz ketchup (both from Pittsburgh), or

small bottles of locally distilled Wigle whiskey.

In cases where many guests know one of the people getting married but not the other, wel-come bags are a great place to put items that tell something about the couple or how they met, Brody says. The more creative, the better: “Do a little

Ambitious couples step up their game to make their guests’ parting gifts truly memorable

“What can you really get for $2 or $3 that people are really going to want to hang on to and that will really represent you?”

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See FAVORS, Page T12


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write-up of how he proposed,” or include information on the couple’s favorite local spot for brunch or other places weekend guests shouldn’t miss.

Spending on these “swag bags” may range from about $6 to $15 per bag, depending on the couple’s budget and the number of out-of-town guests. Give one bag per room or couple, rather than individual bags for each visiting guest.

Another money-saving move: Some couples who give welcome gifts to out-of-town guests then skip table favors at the reception. Money they might have spent on favors can be used toward extras like “an after-party band or a really cool bar-tender who is making special cocktails,” Kay says.

DELICIOUS AND DIY’D Edible (or drinkable) gifts solve the problem of

guests having to pack unplanned items in a suitcase or carry something fragile home. Small succulent

Hello Productions / Via The Associated PressCOUPLES PLANNING DESTINATION weddings may opt to give “welcome bags” that include locally made treats and items that celebrate the destination, such as the Pittsburgh-themed collection above.

FavorsContinued from page T11

See FAVORS, Page T13


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It’s time to Go Beyond!

Hello Productions / Via The Associated Press

EDIBLE WEDDING FAVORS, especially those with a homemade twist such as the apple butter pictured here, are increasingly popular, says event planner Natasha Brody of Hello Productions.

plants are advertised as great wedding favors and can be quite beautiful, but they leave guests with the challenge of getting them home intact.

Wedding guests also get hungry, so some couples solve both problems by offering food gifts: a jar of local honey, perhaps, or a box of chocolates from a popular local business. For weddings at a winery, Kay says, a split of wine with a personalized label is a perfect gift.

Another option that’s cost-effective: Offer pretty takeout containers guests can fill with cookies as they leave the reception. Or, for couples not hosting a brunch the next day, offer gourmet muffins or jars of granola with bags of fancy tea to be enjoyed the next morning.

Again, the local tie is popular, as is do-it-yourself-ing: One of Brody’s clients “had family come over and they all made homemade apple butter,” she says. In the months before the wed-ding, the family made batches from local apples and then packed the apple butter by hand into Mason jars tied with ribbons.

“It was really precious,” Brody says. “No one forgot it.”

FavorsContinued from page T12


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A grand honor, indeed

By LISA A. FLAM ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nancy Rutchik and Flossie Pack are flower girls extraordinaire.

Grandparents taking on nontraditional, starring

roles in weddings

TGO Weddings / Via The Associated PressFLOSSIE “GRAMMY” PACK, left center, and Nancy “Grongong” Rutchik, right center, walk down the aisle as flower girls for their granddaughter Lucy’s wedding in Carmel, California. The proud grandmas were a surprise hit at the wedding, where they wore pearls and big smiles.

See GRAND, Page T15


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Not only did the outgoing and energetic 80-somethings draw cheers as the surprise flower girls at their granddaughter Lucy’s wedding, but they reprised the role to further acclaim at the wedding of Lucy’s younger sister the following year.

Being close with her grandmothers, Lucy, 31, wanted to involve them in her wedding ceremony in a way that was prominent. “Grongong” Nancy and “Grammy” Flossie embraced their chance to be flower girls, which was kept secret until the two, wearing pearls and big smiles, began scat-tering petals from antique silver baskets to the “I Love Lucy” theme song. They walked down the aisle before an adoring crowd just before Lucy married Kyle Schanzer on May 30, 2015, in a redwood forest in Carmel, California.

“When they saw us, they started laughing,” said Rutchik, 87, of Dallas. “Then they had whistle calls and they called our names and ‘Go girl! ’ We broke up the wedding. It was really a fun thing.”

Many modern couples are tinkering with tradi-tion as they personalize their weddings, and that includes placing grand-parents in more visible positions like flower girl or ring bearer, best man or bridesmaid. It’s a loving way to celebrate grandparents who were involved and influential in their upbringing.

“It honors the legacy of a family and the extension of a family and how the family is grow-ing, because that’s fundamentally what marriage is about,” said San Francisco wedding and event planner Alicia Falango, who estimates that about 30 percent of her couples include grandparents in a unique way. “It’s not the norm, per se, but it’s gaining popularity.”

These unexpected, high-profile roles are a departure from what many brides and grooms have done for years: quietly recognizing grand-parents with a corsage or boutonniere, and having them walk down the aisle ahead of the bridal party to take front-row seats.

Recent wedding seasons have seen an Indiana groom who tapped his 90-year-old grandfather

as best man, a Minnesota bride who chose her 92-year-old grandmother as her flower girl, and a Pennsylvania wedding featuring two grandmoth-ers in matching gowns as flower girls.

“It resonates with a lot of people,” Falango said. “When you are an adult, it’s a blessing to have a living grandparent. It’s so emotional for people. They go inward and say, ‘Wow, I wish my grandma or grandpa were still here.’”

Beyond including a grandparent in the bridal party, couples can ask one to officiate, like Nadine Gorand did with her grandfather, Ray-mond Oddi. Gorand and her fiance, Pat, wanted an officiant they loved and respected for their Sept. 16 wedding at the Art Institute of Chicago. They immediately thought of Oddi, then 89.

“His work ethic and his family values are defi-nitely things we both look up to and admire,” said Gorand, 28. She added that her Gramps

made the ceremony feel “really intimate and per-sonal and just very loving and genuine.”

At the reception, couples can also mention their parents’ parents in speeches, display their old wedding photos or honor them on the dance floor.

At the Oct. 14 wedding of Ashley and Matthew Beine in West Bend, Wis-consin, the couple’s seven grandparents proudly walked down the aisle before the wedding party.

Later, the DJ played a snippet of a slow song from decades ago to honor their weddings.

“We know how rare it is to have that many grandparents alive for a big life event like this,” said the bride, 23. “They have set a really great example for my husband and me on life after 40 years of marriage. They’re all very honest about the fact that there are some days you want to kill each other and other days you love each other and it’s just worth it.”

Schanzer’s grandmother Grongong Rutchik admits that grandparents are sometimes over-looked at weddings, and having such a special place in her granddaughters’ celebrations made her feel loved.

“It made me feel awful special, and I loved being part of such a happy occasion,” she said.

Schanzer loved it, too. “I feel like it made the ceremony,” she said.

“Even though I didn’t see it, I feel like that’s the wedding detail that I remember the most.”

“When they saw us, they started laughing. Then they had whistle calls and they called our names and ‘Go girl!’ We broke up the wedding. It was really a fun thing.”

NANCY RUTCHIK, 87,FLOWER GIRL

GrandContinued from page T14


Brides increasingly saying ‘uh-uh’ to‘matchy-matchy’

By LEANNE ITALIE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Alison Kelly felt she had enough on her plate in planning the details of her own wedding gown and all the details of her

Bridesmaids relish freedom to choose their ideal gowns

Leah Moyers Photography / Via The Associated PressTHE BRIDAL PARTY of Sydney Broadhead of Nashville, Tennessee, poses at her wedding in Ashville, North Carolina. Broadhead allowed her bridesmaids to choose their own dresses, though she stayed in the loop on their plans and was the final arbiter. Mismatching bridesmaids dresses has become a more popular trend in recent years.

See MATCH, Page T18

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