weddings - whidbey wedding planner 2013

A speciAl pullout section of the Whidbey neWs-times And south Whidbey RecoRd

Whidbey Weddings

Whidbey Island Wedding and Events TourPlanning for your special day

Tantalizing your guests’ taste budsIsland grown floral splendor

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WhiDBEY WEDDiNGS Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Whidbey: a wedding destinationFirst ever wedding tour set for Nov. 9

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Publisher | Kasia Pierzga

editor | Megan Hansen

Production | Michelle Wolfensparger

coPy & Photos | Betty Freeman

Ad Manager | Lee Ann Mozes

Marketing | Gail Rognan, Kimberlly Winjum & Angela Wood

creatiVe | Rebecca Collins, Ginny Tomasko & Leslie Vance

Additional copies of this publication can be obtained:WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES | 360-675-6611

SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD | 877-316-7276PO Box 1200, 107 S. Main Street, Suite E101

Coupeville, WA 98239

Whidbey Weddingson the cover

Michael & Jenna photo taken by Michael Stadler. The couple’s August wedding was held off Simmons

Rd. at a private residence overlooking the ferry. Used with permission. www.stadlerstudio.com

By Betty Freeman | StaFF reporter

Wedding and event consultant Gloria Mickuna, of Coupeville, brims with enthusiasm for Whidbey Island as a destination for wed-dings and other special events.

“I’m excited about where I live and want to promote events here,” said Mickuna, who has planned the first “Weddings on Whidbey and Events Tour” slated for Saturday, Nov. 9.

The Weddings on Whidbey and Events Tour starts at 11:30 a.m. at the historic Crockett Barn Event Center where local ven-dors will gather for a

mini-expo of their spe-cialties, ranging from flowers to food, cakes, formal wear, photogra-phy, wines and favors.

“These vendors sup-port the community and I want them to feel supported too,” said Mickuna. “More ven-dors will be present at each tour stop. We’re trying to promote Whidbey as a place for all types of events.”

“For this first tour, we’re focusing on Central Whidbey ven-ues,” said Mickuna, “but Whidbey Island as a whole has so many unique and picturesque places for weddings that we’re hoping future tours will fea-ture north and south end venues as well.”

On tour day, ticket

holders will board a Whidbey Sea-Tac shuttle bound for six Central Whidbey ven-ues for weddings and special occasions.

First on the tour is the historic Crockett Barn. Day or weekend

rentals include the use of the barn, which can accommodate up to 200 guests, and semi-formal garden areas for outside ceremonies.

Out-of-town guests can stay at the historic Crockett Farmhouse,

reopened in 2012 as a fully licensed bed and breakfast, featuring five guestrooms.

Mickuna describes Garrison Hall at Fort Casey, the next tour stop, as “a wonderful small event location,

Contributed photo/ Sara Gray

Zach Wehner and Denise Flores exchanged vows at a private home overlooking Saratoga Passage in Fall 2011. This couple chose an idyllic setting with views of the Cascades and Saratoga Passage for their outdoor wedding.

which can accommo-date up to 40 people for a reception and 25-30 for a seated event.”

For rehearsal dinners and small gatherings, downtown Coupeville offers Bayleaf’s new wine bar and Ciao Restaurant’s upper floor, with intimate spaces and delicious, locally sourced food and wine. These two venues are the third and fourth stops on the tour.

Next is the Captain Whidbey Inn on Penn Cove in the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. Captain Whidbey Inn is a full-service facility provid-ing a variety of lodging and catering options, and both indoor and outdoor settings, which can accommodate up

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to 250 guests.The last tour stop is

The Captain’s House in Coupeville, a pri-vate waterfront home Mickuna describes as “perfect for small, inti-mate gatherings with beautiful views of Penn Cove.”

For outdoor ceremo-nies, Whidbey’s state parks offer stunning views and rustic set-tings. “Park rangers have generally been very accommodating about giving us access to the venue,” said Mickuna.

Fort Ebey State Park and Deception Pass both provide natural beauty as a backdrop for ceremonies, though most couples opt for an indoor reception elsewhere after the cer-emony, according to Mickuna.

The bluff above the beach at Fort Ebey State Park provided the scenic venue for one wedding Mickuna planned, with toasts to the bride and groom

enjoyed by guests under the covered picnic shelter near the ceremony site.

Another unique wedding venue is the historic lighthouse at Admiralty Head. The newly restored lighthouse can be rented only when the lighthouse is not open to the public and is restricted to 15 partici-pants.

Some state and other public parks may have certain restrictions on events such as no amplified music or kegs of beer allowed. The Seattle Pacific University Events Center at Fort Casey does not allow alcohol to be served.

Some churches also abide by the “no alco-hol” rule.

Other popular Island venues for weddings and receptions include scenic Greenbank Farm and Freeland Hall on Holmes Harbor.

On Whidbey, the saf-est time for an outdoor

ceremony is July and August, Mickuna’s busiest wedding months.

“But fall, winter and spring weddings can be just as beautiful on Whidbey Island,” said Mickuna.

“When I plan a wed-ding, it’s all about marrying the bride and groom’s desires with all the other factors, including their budget and the needs of fam-ily,” said Mickuna.

“Everybody should experience being in

love and having the wedding they want. The day is about the two of you. Nobody else and nothing else matters except what you want the event to be like,” she said.

“I’m also a huge believer in supporting community suppliers and using local prod-ucts,” said Mickuna. “The Wedding Tour is about vendors coming together to showcase what’s here and what we can do. If one of us succeeds, we all suc-

ceed.”Tickets for the

Whidbey Island Wedding and Events Tour go on sale Feb. 1, with a limited number of VIP and early bird

tickets available. All tickets will be sold in advance through event-brite.com. For more information, go to weddingsonwhidbey.net.

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Contributed photo/Mary Fisher

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By Betty Freeman | staFF reporterPart of the total Whidbey Island wedding

experience is a memorable meal and dessert. Couples want their wedding fare to reflect

local ties and tastes, so they choose Island raised beef and chicken, wild Northwest salm-on, locally-made wine and beer, fresh salad greens, veggies, fruit and artistic cakes or des-serts crafted by local bakers.

Scott and Stephanie Pendell of Freeland, own-ers of Midnight Kitchen Catering, estimate that about 85 percent of their business is catering weddings, large and small.

“The most obvious and universal trend for Whidbey Island weddings is incorporating local food and wines into the menus,” said Scott Pendell. “Clients want their wedding to rep-resent where they live and to patronize local growers and suppliers.”

“We like to offer foods that are seasonal, super-fresh and unique,” said Pendell.

The Midnight Kitchen gets most of its pro-duce from local farms such as Willowood and Prairie Bottom Farm, and Farmers’ Markets. For beef, Pendell buys from 3 Sisters Cattle and Long Family Farms. He also purchases fresh seafood from local suppliers.

“Salmon is by far the most popular choice for wedding entrées,” said Pendell.

The Pendells partner with local suppliers such as bayleaf and the Little Brown Farm for chees-es and Blackberry Moon Farm for fresh fruit. Stephanie Pendell uses Island Apiaries honey for Midnight Kitchen’s signature Turner & Bea Crackers, named after their two young children.

“Our artisan crackers and bread are an important part of our menus,” said Pendell.

Pendell said that most of the weddings they cater are served buffet or family style.

“I’d say our style is modern American farm-to-table,” Pendell said. “People come here to relax, and to enjoy ‘Island time,’ so weddings here tend to be less formal.”

He recalled one memorable summer wedding on Sandy Point in Langley where the newly-wed couple literally “took the plunge” into the water after they’d said their vows.

Tantalize

Tastebudsguests’

Local products help reflect beauty of Whidbey’s wedding destinations

Contributed photo/ Midnight Kitchen Catering

This wedding buffet featured salads with local greens, edible flowers and locally-made artisan breadsticks, crackers and cheeses.

Contributed photo / Whidbey Party Girls

This beautiful wedding cake featured fresh flowers matched to the bride’s bouquet, made by an artisan baker on Whidbey.

Contributed photo / Midnight Kitchen Catering

Little Brown Farm goat cheese appetizers made by Midnight Kitchen Catering.

Trends for wedding cakes vary, said Pendell. Most brides usually want traditional, many-tiered cakes, while others might opt for cup-cakes and a small two-tiered cake for photos.

One local cake artist decorated a cake with white chocolate seashells in keeping with a beach theme, a popular motif for Island wed-dings. Seasonal flowers also make stunning cake decorations.

“About 40 percent of our wedding clients go for alternative desserts. We did one wedding with Whidbey Island Pie Company fruit pies and Whidbey Island Ice Cream instead of cake,” said Pendell. “We’ve also done dessert buffets and seasonal fresh fruit crisps for weddings.”

Pendell is generous with his praise of local suppliers and other event-related services, using his website, cateringwhidbey.com, to refer prospective clients to other Island vendors and venues.

“Using local caterers, bakers, produce, wines, beers, even honey – this keeps people employed and strengthens the community,” said Pendell. “When people and their guests come to Whidbey for a destination wedding, or if local people strive to use home-town services and products, we all benefit.”


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(BPT) - You’re ready to say your “I do’s” in front of your family and friends. Planning a memorable celebration of your commitment to each other, however, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your commitment to the environment. It’s possible to create the wedding of your dreams and stay “green,” even in the cold, white months of winter.

Environmentally correct weddings are a hot trend, according to TheKnot.com, a leading wedding-planning website. If your vision of the perfect wedding marries eco-friendly green with winter white, here are some tips and ideas to help you turn your vision into reality:

Friendly feastingGreat food is an essential part of any wedding, whether you’re serving

a sit-down dinner or just hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. When you’re planning your menu, however, keep in mind how the foods you choose may impact the environment. For example, is that fish entree net caught, line caught or farmed?

A dish’s environmental impact depends on several factors, including how the product was raised and harvested, how it was transported and how far it had to travel from point of origin to plate. By choosing locally grown products or those grown and harvested using sustainable practices, you can reduce your wedding feast’s impact on the environment.

Reuse, recycle and revelBrides in bygone generations once gladly wore their mother’s wedding

dress, but the practice fell out of vogue as more brides wanted their own unique look for their wedding day. But the green movement has breathed new life into the practice, since reusing and recycling eliminates the need to consume materials and energy making something new. More brides are finding that recycling a wedding dress has other advantages too. It’s possible to achieve a great vintage look with a used wedding dress - whether it’s one handed down from your mother or one you found in a second-hand store. A new gown can cost thousands of dollars, while a repurposed dress can be had much more cheaply.

Wedding favor wondersSure it’s a cool idea and the groomsmen will likely use theirs often,

but just how environmentally correct is that custom-imprinted beer cozy? Wedding favors are a way of thanking guests for sharing in your special day, but many popular items are made from less-than-eco-friendly materials.

To green your wedding, consider favors that are useful and organic, such as organic baking mixes or spice mixes. You can find a plethora of these great-tasting, green-minded options from purveyors. Some even have holiday-appropriate varieties like Cranberry Bread and Pumpkin

Cake. Dress up favors with decorative netting and ribbons, and you have a unique favor that’s good for guests and the environment, too.

Greener invitationsThe invitation is often the first impression guests will have of your

wedding. While every bride wants invitations that will wow guests, keep in mind the costs - both monetary and environmental - of all that paper. Many eco-minded brides are switching to invitations made with recycled paper or, better yet, electronic invitations.

No raw materials are consumed to create e-vites, and what’s more, you can find online services that not only help you create an e-vite, but send it and monitor responses all online. Using such a service can help you keep better track of RSVPs.

There is the option of sending invitations printed on recycled paper with flower seeds imbedded in the paper. Your guests can plant the invitation in their garden, and remember your special occasion every time they see the beautiful flowers growing.

The little things that mean a lotSome other steps that may seem small - like choosing locally grown,

in-season flowers rather than out-of-season ones that must be imported - can also make a big difference in how your wedding impacts the environment. Whether you opt to replace cut bouquets and centerpieces with artificial ones that can be reused, or choose acoustic music that requires no electricity to keep guests dancing, it’s possible to find green options for almost every aspect of your wedding.

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When choosing flowers for a wed-ding, there’s more to it than just ordering a bride’s bouquet, cor-sages and boutonniéres. Wedding flowers also adorn arbors, altars and entrances, and often the cake. Brides and attendants wear flowers in their hair, and reception table centerpieces often do double duty as favors for guests or thank you gifts to helpers.

Marina Villareal of Fresh Flowers Express in Coupeville says most of her local clients want a “subtle, simple Island look” for their wed-ding flowers.

“Mini calla lilies are very popular here,” said Villareal. “They come in all colors, while the larger white callas give a more elegant, stream-lined look.”

In summer, beach themes are often chosen. For one wedding, Villareal created centerpieces with driftwood and succulents.

For fall and late summer wed-dings, sunflowers and dahlias are popular with her customers. In spring, hydrangeas, daffodils and tulips are often top choices.

“Of course, roses are the most romantic flower for a wedding any time of year, as are orchids,” said Villareal.

She appreciates ample lead-time before a big event, ideally at least three weeks, so she can order flow-ers. However, she can put together wedding flowers on short notice.

While she was being interviewed, Villareal was putting the finishing touches on a bride’s bouquet that had been ordered that morning for an afternoon courthouse ceremony.

“I love a challenge,” she said. “Bring me a photo or give my your ideas and I can do it.”

Another challenge is matching

what brides want with their total flower budget. She recommends visiting her website, coupevilleflo-rist.com, where samples and prices are displayed, before coming into her floral shop on South Main in Coupeville.

Villareal said she appreciates that local customers choose her service

instead of going off-Island. “I love being here where people know me and my work,” she said.

Mary Fisher, who has owned Cultus Bay Nursery in Clinton since 1986, finds her local wedding cli-ents have very specific ideas about what they want and most choose seasonal flowers and greens that reflect Pacific Northwest gardens.

“My style is to use seasonal mate-rials for a natural, informal look. Because my background is horti-culture and I have the nursery, I grow things that others don’t, and I love looking at plants in all their seasons, thinking outside the box to see what’s lovely and could be used,” said Fisher.

Even when she uses non-seasonal flowers, Fisher said, “varying the greens can change roses from California, giving them a more casual and graceful look. I love combining wonderful textures in an arrangement.”

“I usually like to know what col-ors the bride wants, then we start to look at flowers that have those colors,” she said.

For a winter wedding, Fisher advises brides to “think berries, snowflakes, and starbursts such as white spider mums, accentuated with cedar tips.”

A February wedding might include hellebores or “Lenten roses,” which bloom in late winter.

At one summer wedding, Fisher paired dark red and purple flow-


Even the babies are blooming at Heather Wright’s summer wedding at Freeland Hall.


Flower choices reflect seasons, local blooms &Contributed photo/Mary Fisher

For an August wedding at Fireseed Catering, Fisher used local purple grapes, zinnias, garden roses, boxwood, osmanthus and asclepias.

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ers for a dramatic effect. Another wedding she decorated had an international theme, so she draped Freeland Hall with silk saris on the walls and used bronze vases for the multi-hued flowers.

Fisher recalled a local bride who really loved crows, so they married the blackness of crows with spar-kling snowflakes, pewter vases and silvery trim.

“The real fun is figuring out what flowers and other decorations go with the theme or colors the bride wants,” said Fisher.

Because she has a nursery, Fisher can also provide additional options, such as living trees that can double as wedding decorations and be planted afterward for a lasting reminder. Also popular are moss gardens centerpieces with living plants, she said.

Like Villareal, Fisher does her best work with generous lead-time, and said brides should order flow-ers at least a month before the wed-ding.

“The more time, the more creativ-ity can be brought into play,” said Fisher. “It’s all a great art project for me.”

‘‘ ‘‘Use seasonalmaterials for

a natural, informal look. Mary Fisher


This alder trellis for a September wedding was decorated with all local materials from Cultus Bay Nursery, including Annabelle hydrangea, snowflake, oakleaf hydrangea and golden hops.BELOW: For a groom, Fisher used all locally grown plants to make this Hawaiian-style, Northwest lei.


A flower girl wears a hair wreath made by Mary Fisher.


For a December wedding, Mary Fisher chose evergreen huckleberry, rose hips and garrya elliptica – all Northwest natives – for this arrangement. She added purchased tulips, roses and hypericum.


Matching the wedding flowers, either with frosting or real blooms, is always on trend.This wedding cake features plumeria blooms, a favorite in Hawaiian leis.


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Calla LilyMeaning: magnificent beauty, feminine, modestyScent: lightly fragrantColors: ivory, yellow, orange, light pink, dark pink, red, dark burgundyIn Season: summer, but often imported during other seasonsPrice: expensive

CarnationMeaning: admiration, fascination, strong and pure love, unfading beauty. Caution: yellow and striped have questionable meanings Scent: spicy, clovelikeColors: white, yellow, apricot, pale pink, dark pink, red, burgundy, also bicolors and fleckedIn Season: year-roundPrice: inexpensive

IrisMeaning: eloquence, promise, complimentsScent: none to sweet depending on varietyColors: white, yellow, purpleIn Season: year-round, peak in spring and early summerPrice: inexpensive to moderate

OrchidMeaning: luxury, nobility, lust, love, beautyColors: white, yellow, green, apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red, burgundy In Season: year-round, usually importedPrice: moderate to expensive

DahliaMeaning: gratitude, dignity, forever thineScent: spicyColors: white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purpleIn Season: summer-early fallPrice: inexpensive

HydrangeaMeaning: understanding, devotion, remembrance, boastfulnessScent: noneColors: white, green, pink, burgundy, purple, blueSeason: July-NovemberPrice: Moderate to expensive

GerberaMeaning: needing protection, friendshipScent: noneColors: Nearly 350 intense shades are available, including bright orange, pink, red, yellow, and burgundy.In Season: year-roundPrice: moderate

RoseMeaning: several depending on color, general, love, beauty, grace, joy, unityScent: none to intense, depending on varietyColors: white, cream, yellow,

apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red, burgundy, lavenderIn Season: year-roundPrice: moderate to expensive (Goes up around key flower-giving holidays)

DaisyMeaning: innocence, simplicity, I share your sentiments.Scent: noneColors: whiteIn Season: summer-early fallPrice: inexpensive

StephanotisMeaning: marital happiness(need we say more?)Scent: slight to noneColors: whiteIn Season: year-roundPrice: expensive

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Say “I do”with vows you created together

Many couples personalize their wed-dings by using a setting and decorations that reflect their interests and values, or by writing their own vows. Those who choose to write their own vows as opposed to the traditional “love, honor and cherish” wording need to give themselves plenty of time to consider what they want to say and what they feel comfortable sharing with their guests.

Before putting pen to paper, check with your celebrant to make sure writing your own vows will be allowed. Some churches require that you use the traditional word-ing, while others will allow you to write your own, as long as you include certain phrases. Others are more open to your creativity in personalizing the vows you take. If you’re having a religious ceremony, your celebrant can help you write wedding vows that honor your faith’s conventions. Whether you’re planning a religious or civil ceremony, check first.

Next, make sure your intended is open to the idea of writing your own vows. An-swer the question: Will we each write our own vows, or we will collaborate and both make the same pledge?

Then, set aside some quiet, reflective time to consider what you want to say.

What promises do you want to make to each other? What promise do you most want to hear from your significant other? What does the other person mean to you? What does the commitment of marriage mean to you?

Get inspiration from poetry, consult-ing with other couples, or start with the standard vows and update them with your own words.

A standard wedding ceremony usually contains these words: I, (Name), take you (Name), to be my wedded (husband/wife/spouse), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.

Google “writing wedding vows” to get inspiration from other couples, look in books of poetry, or talk to other married people to get ideas.

In the days leading up to your wedding, look in the mirror and recite your vows aloud. Familiarity with your words will inspire confidence when the time comes to say them for real. Write down your wed-ding vows on a note card (and give an extra copy to the best man and maid of honor) so that nerves won’t keep you from saying what’s in your heart.

the 4c’S of dIamond ShoppIng:color: The closer a diamond is to being colorless, the more brilliant it becomes

and it has a greater value. “Always go for color over clarity every time,” says Gloria Carothers of The Jewelry Gallery in Oak Harbor.

clarIty: Grades are determined by the size and number of inclusions — another mineral, a fracture or a void — inside of it. Inclusions are considered anything that would interfere with the free passage of light.

cut: The number one factor when it comes to cut is the brilliance. The facets of the gem act as mirrors to reflect the light entering the stone back toward the observer. The round diamond tends to be the most brilliant.

carat: This is the size of the diamond. While a half to one full carat is a sought after standard, many styles such as micro pave afford the look of a larger carat.

Obtaining a marriage licenseMarriage licenses can be obtained through the Island County Auditor’s Office.

The cost for a marriage license is $56. This fee is payable only by cash, check or money order. The bride and groom must fill out proper paperwork, including an affidavit verifying the couple is of age to marry.

It should be noted couples should complete paperwork with their current names. Getting married does not automatically change a person’s name.

The license will not be valid for three days from its issue date. The waiting pe-riod cannot be reduced for any reason. Licenses are good for 60 days and may only be used in Washington state. Once the marriage is officiated, the couple has 30 days to return the final paperwork to the auditor’s office. Once the marriage has been certified, couples can purchase a marriage certificate for $3 through the office in person or by mail. If the couple opts for a name change, certified copies of the marriage certificate will be required.

For any questions, call 360-240-5540.


Just engaged? Wondering about all the things you’ll need to do and when? Here’s a month-by-month

snapshot of all your wedding to-dos.

12+ months before Envision your wedding and draw up a budget. Assemble your “planning team.” Con-sider hiring a wedding consultant. Pick a wedding date and time. Select sev-eral options, then check with your venues, officiant, important guests before finalizing. Start planning the guest list. Look for and book ceremony and recep-tion sites. Ask friends and relatives to be in the wedding party. Optional: Have an engagement party. You may want to register beforehand for gifts.

8-10 months before Bride: Think about, shop for, and order your gown. Envision reception food. Decide what type of entertainment you want. A pianist for the cocktail hour, stroll-ing violinists, a DJ, or band? Think about your floral decor. Research and book your wedding pro-fessionals. Interview vendors: photogra-pher, videographer, reception band or DJ, florist. Research a wedding insurance policy to

protect your deposits. Research and reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests. Register for gifts. Contact rental companies if you need to rent anything for ceremony/reception, such as chairs, tables, and tent.

6-8 months before Book ceremony musicians. Order bridesmaid dresses. Start planning honeymoon. Send save-the-date cards. This is a par-ticularly good idea if you’re marrying dur-ing a tourist or holiday season or having a destination wedding.

4-6 months before Attend prewedding counseling, if re-quired. Shop for and order invitations and wed-ding rings. Shop for formalwear. Renew or get passports, if necessary. Envision your wedding cake and re-search, interview, and book a cake design-er.

3 months before Order wedding cake. Hire a calligrapher, if you want your in-vitations professionally addressed. Attend your shower. (It may be earlier, depending on when hosts decide to have it.) Groom: Rent the men’s formalwear. Hire wedding-day transport: limousines, other cars. Look into transportation sooner if you’re considering renting streetcars or over-the-top travel.

2 months before Mail your invitations. Write your vows. Purchase gifts for parents, attendants, and each other. Book your stylist and try out big-day hairstyles. Book a makeup artist and go for a trial run.

1 month before Apply for a marriage license. Check with the local bureau in the town where you’ll wed.

Bride: Have final gown fitting. Bring your maid of honor along to learn how to bustle your dress. Have the dress pressed and bring it home. Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding. Make last-minute adjustments with ven-dors. Create a wedding program to hand out to guests. Order and plan in-room welcome bas-kets for out-of-town guests.

2 weeks before Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a response. Deliver must-have shot lists to photogra-pher and videographer. Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken. Deliver final song list to your DJ or bandleader. Include special song requests and songs you don’t want played. Bride: Get your last prewedding haircut and color.

1 week before Give reception site/caterer final guest head count. Include vendors, such as the photographer or band members, who will expect a meal. Ask how many extra plates the caterer will prepare. Supply location manager with a list of vendor requests such as a table for DJ or setup spaceneeded by florist. Plan reception seating chart. Print place and table cards, or finalize list with the calligrapher you have hired to do so. Call all wedding vendors and confirm arrangements. Give ceremony and reception site man-agers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers. Groom: Get your hair trimmed. Attend bachelor/ette parties.

2-3 days before Bride: If you need to, have your gown pressed or steamed. Groom: Go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear. Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits. Determine wedding-party positions dur-ing ceremony and the order of the party in the processional and recessional. Hand off place cards, table cards, menus, disposable cameras, favors, and any other items for setting the tables to the caterer and/or reception site manager. Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary last-minute substi-

tutions. Call the limousine- or car-rental com-pany for pickup times and locations. Arrange for guests without cars to be picked up from the airport or train sta-tion. Ask friends, attendants, or relatives to help. Deliver welcome baskets to the hotel concierge; make sure to include names and delivery instructions.

day before Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding. Write checks and/or talk to wedding hosts (usually your parents, if not you) about any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.

night before Rehearse ceremony. Meet with wedding party, ceremony readers, immediate family, and your officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out details. Bring unity candle, aisle runner, yar-mulkes, or other ceremony accessories to the site. Give your marriage license to your of-ficiant. Attend rehearsal dinner. Present attendants with gifts at the re-hearsal dinner. You’ll want to do this espe-cially if the gifts are accessories to be worn during the wedding.

day of Present parents and each other with gifts. Give wedding bands to the best man and the maid of honor to hold during the cer-emony. Give best man the officiant’s fee enve-lope, to be handed off after the ceremony. Introduce your reception site manager to your consultant or maid of honor for ques-tions or problems during the reception. Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographer’s contact so he knows who is who.

Postwedding Prearrange for someone to return any rentals. Preplan for attendants to take the bride’s gown for cleaning and return the groom’s tux to the rental shop. Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were espe-cially helpful.

Just how much will this day cost?When it comes to financing a wedding, you should figure out how much you’ll need to

spend to get what you want. Here is a basic breakdown of what you can

expect to pay*:

Reception: 48%-50%Ceremony: 2%-3%

Attire: 8%-10%Flowers: 8%-10%

Entertainment/Music: 8%-10%Photography/Videography: 10%-12%

Stationery: 2%-3%Wedding Rings: 2%-3%

Parking/Transportation: 2%-3%Gifts: 2%-3%

Miscellaneous: 8%

* To avoid stress, allot about 5% of your budget for a “just-in-case” fund. * If you’re paying for your honeymoon yourselves, remember to budget for those

expenses as well.

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