It’s not yet spring, but the birds and the bees are busy, as Toledo area
couples prepare for their big day down the aisle. Wedding prep can be hectic, but Toledo City Paper’s here to help you plan. Within these pages, you’ll find advice and services to help keep the happy couple happy.

Wedding Etiquette Tips

Wedding season is upon us. Blushing brides and nervous grooms are checking their lists to ensure all is in order. Whether ready to “tie the knot” or just beginning to plan, these tips will
support, confirm and help in making your wedding
celebration your most memorable occasion ever.
 

Communication First
Communication is essential in planning a wedding. More than likely everyone will not agree on everything, however, agree to disagree respectfully. Remember, just because someone is taking on most of the financial responsibility, does not mean they have the most say. On the other hand, be gracious of requests on behalf of those who are investing. Three words to keep in mind: communication, respect and compromise.

The Wedding Party
Be considerate of cost. Weddings are expensive, and those who agree to be in your wedding may be on a very tight budget. Communicate with those who are in your wedding party about designated responsibilities (from who hosts the bridal shower to who makes the toast). Hurt feelings can stem from unfulfilled responsibilities or grand expectations.

The Ceremony
There is bound to be a glitch or two, but that’s okay. Unless people allow it to, a glitch will never ruin a wedding. The ceremony marks your identity and seals your status as a married couple. Remember, the uniting of a couple is also a uniting of families. Be sensitive and courteous of each family, respecting and valuing differences, while honoring the position each person holds.

The Reception
Enjoy! Relax! Have fun! The hard part is over. Remember, show honor to family by giving attention to seat placement. During the reception, it is polite to walk around and greet your guests, if you have not already done so. Thank them for celebrating your special day.

The Successful Toast
Traditionally, the best man and maid of honor offer the toasts.  This should be a toast of encouragement, support and goodwill to the newly married couple. It is not a time of embarrassment, pay back or private inside jokes that no one understands. It may be sprinkled with a touch of humor; but sentiment must be present.

Cake Cutting
As strong as the temptation may be, giving each other a cake bath is not appropriate for the bride and groom. Serving each other a piece of cake represents your willingness to share yourselves and your belongings with each other. When cutting the cake, the groom places his right hand over the bride’s hand. This signifies their unity in working together.

Leaving the Reception
Once the main activities of the evening are over, slipping away is appropriate for the bride and groom. It is not necessary to say good-bye to every guest; however, giving appropriate thanks and farewells to parents is a must.

Post Wedding
Don’t forget to send thank you cards. A newly married couple has a grace period of 4-6 weeks to send them. If a couple is taking an extended honeymoon, they may opt to send a pre-printed card formally thanking guests and informing them that a personal note will follow upon their return.

Getting Trashed

Trash the Dress sessions take wedding photography to a whole new level
Brides-to-be spend extensive time and money in search of that perfect wedding dress for one of the most important days of their lives — but what happens to the coveted gown post-ceremony?

 In 2001, Las Vegas wedding photographer John Michael Cooper got tired of taking standard happy-ending wedding photos and was inspired to bring in a darker, more psychologically artistic edge to his work.  Just a few years later, Trash the Dress photography has grown in popularity as brides are becoming more interested in commemorating their special day with memorable, high-fashion photos. 
“It takes the right bride, of course,” says John Kuser of local JLK Photography, who has been interested in this photography phenomenon for the last couple of years.  “But the brides of today are so much different, and they’re always looking for that little extra [unique shot]. The whole thing with Trash the Dress is how far can you go.” 
Trash the Dress photography uses the elegance and beauty of a bride and her gown against a harsh environment or an artistic background where the subject is strikingly out of place.  “It’s that contrast between new and clean, and old and dirty,” says photographer Sam Adams of Everlasting Images in Waterville, Ohio. He has done Trash the Dress photo shoots in abandoned railcars, snowy landscapes and windblown fields.  “A lot of people are turned off by the term ‘Trash the Dress,’” says Adams, who’s had brides sneak their dresses away for the shoots to avoid anticipated family opposition.  “But a lot of times, because we usually end up in the water, the dresses come out cleaner than they were the day of the wedding — and everyone loves the photos afterwards.”
 
Images are sometimes playful, dark or haunting, and many involve damage and in some extreme cases, destruction of the wedding dress.  Settings can include sandy beaches or forests, brides submerged in mud or water, and dresses covered in algae, paint or even on fire.  Experienced Trash the Dress photographer Clem Kutzli of CK Photos in Toledo says, “You can trash a dress just about anywhere — you really don’t trash it, you mostly just get it dirty.”  Kutzli, who already has several shoots scheduled for this year, says there is definitely a growing market for the trend in this area.  “The brides and I usually have a pretty good rapport and you just kind of say ‘let’s go and have fun.’ By the end of the day the dress is dirty and usually wet, and we’ve had fun.”
Local Photographer Julie Paszczykowski of JP Photography, calls this particular style of wedding photography Unveiled instead of Trash the Dress. “It makes people a little less nervous,” she explains. She’s been practicing this style of photography for years and says it’s a way to honor the dress and the occasion.  “Brides today are craving a lot more than their mother’s wedding photos. This is a creative, non-traditional way to do that.”

Think you might want to try trashing your gown after its walk down the aisle? Learn more or see samples at  www.everlastingimages.biz (Everlasting Images), www.jlkphoto.com (JLK Photography), www.ckphotos.net (Clem Kutzli) and www.jp-photography.net (JP Photography).

Glitz and Glam

Every bride wants to look dazzling while walking down the aisle, and thanks to local experts like Puttin’ On The Glitz in Perrysburg, area brides can get that much needed help in finding the perfect accessories. The boutique was recently honored with a 2009 Bride’s Choice Award from WeddingWire, a leading wedding technology company. After examining surveys and reviews of recent newlyweds, Puttin’ On The Glitz was one of the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the nation. Stop by the boutique to see how their jewelry, tiaras, veils and accessories can make you sparkle on your special day. 120 W. South Boundary, Perrysburg. 419-874-3334/
www.PuttinOnTheGlitzStore.com.

-Gina Sares