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Pull-out guide to wedding services and products for the busy wedding planner

Design a wedding cake that fi ts your style

This issue is packed with photos!

Wedding profi les you won’t want to miss...White Water Rafting, New Year’s Eve, Great Falls Ceremony, 1920’s Themed

Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, February 6, 20112 THE WEDDING GUIDE

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Springtime ushers in the glitz and glamour of wedding season, which lasts into late fall. This year, economizing is foremost on everyone’s minds, but betrothed couples want their weddings and the events leading up to them to be as special as ever.

These wedding trends are how brides and grooms are turning bridal showers, couples’ showers and, of course, the wedding itself into priceless yet affordable experi-ences for everyone involved.

n Revisiting food classics that are guaranteed to please the palate but don’t break the bank.

n Choosing fresh and flavorful wines that present incred-ible value for the price but don’t compromise a smidge on quality.

n Serving food in smaller portions, a restaurant trend, is a hit for guests and a boon for the budget.

n Conserving resources with 3L Premium Wine Casks, a convenient, no-waste way to serve a crowd.

Here are some stylish, budget-friendly food and wine options that allow happy couples to have their cupcakes and eat them too.

Bridal showerTo create an elegant and festive party atmosphere, dec-orate the event space with fresh flowers and set aside a table where gifts can be presented. A buffet table lets guests serve themselves and also provides a tableau for food and wine selections to be artfully displayed. Arrange an inviting layout of fresh seasonal salads and bite-sized desserts, with a delectable angel hair pasta dish as the centerpiece. Pair with the delicious Angel Juice Pinot Grigio, quintessentially Californian with deli-cate peach notes and a refreshing finish.

Couples’ showerA couples’ shower is the ideal way to informally celebrate the upcoming marriage. Commonly known as a Jack and Jill party, the event can be a luncheon, a laid-back barbeque or a party at a local park. A couples’ shower is a prime opportunity for everyone to take a break and enjoy spending time together. Mini-burgers, or gourmet sliders, have universal appeal and offer up a new twist on an old favorite. Paired with the vibrant Big House Red, a California blend bursting with ripe red fruits that costs less than $10 a bottle, they will easily satisfy guests.

Wedding receptionAs an alternative to the traditional wedding cake, a cupcake wedding tree is a sophisticated way to end the momentous occasion on the sweetest of notes. Paired with the luscious, food-friendly Cupcake Chardonnay from the prized Central Coast winegrowing region, this spectacular dessert and the creamy, fruit-forward wine are a match made in heaven.

n Use 3L Premium Wine Casks for large groups, as each cask will serve up to 20 guests, each guest with a stan-dard five-ounce glass.

n Guests at daytime parties usually drink less wine. Serve approximately one glass of wine per guest every 90 minutes.

n For evening parties, serve approximately one glass of wine per guest every hour.

n Chill white wine for at least three hours before guests arrive.

n Open and decant red wines about 30 minutes before guests arrive to allow the flavors to open up and breathe.

n Be a responsible host and offer special non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of water for thirsty guests.

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Most people love weddings. Whether it’s the dress, the cake, the reception, or the song “Shout!” we all have our idea of the perfect wedding. Most of these ideas sprout from famous “I do’s,” the weddings (real or staged) we’ve seen as a culture that we feel are a part of us even though we may not have attended. Here are four wedding celebrations to help you remember what you love about weddings:

Prince Charles and Princess Diana

The world turned to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England on July 29, 1981 to watch a prince marry a princess. The wedding was truly royal; Diana wore an ivory white dress complete with 25 foot train, while Charles donned his complete naval uniform. Millions cheered the wedding couple remotely, through television and radio broadcasts of the ceremony.

This wedding symbolized a change in English monarchy: Diana was the first commoner to enter into the royal house in over 300 years. This year, another similar wedding will take place in London. Prince William, the son of Charles and Diana, is set to marry Kate Middleton, a commoner from Great Britain. William proposed on November 16, 2010 with his late mother’s engagement ring.

Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy

America’s version of the royal wedding happened on September 12, 1953 in Newport, Rhode Island at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. John and Jackie were wed in front of more than 800 guests. Jackie was the epitome of elegance; according to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library website, she “wore a dress of ivory tissue silk, with a portrait neckline, fitted bodice, and a bouffant skirt embellished with bands of more than fifty yards of flounces.” Pearls adorned her neck and wrist.

Seven years after this happy union, John and Jackie would move their small family into the White House, and into the annals of American history.

Priscilla and Elvis Presley

In today’s day and age, many people unfortunately associate Las Vegas weddings with Britney Spears who was wed in Sin City for less than three days before having it annulled. But Vegas can have its share of romance, too. In 1967, Priscilla Beaulieu married one of America’s most eligible bachelors in a beautiful white gown. The King wore a black tux.

Today, in homage to this wedding, nearly anyone can get married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas.

Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley

On the well known NBC show, “The Office,” adorable couple Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley wed in Niagara Falls during season six. Of course, in true comedic fashion, many of Jim and Pam’s co-workers helped to make their ceremony silly and unique. But this wedding has a secret, too. Before the church ceremony, the happy couple hopped on a mist boat, and wed privately next to the powerful Niagara Falls. After this intimate ceremony, they reunited with friends and family at a small church. The bridal party grooved down the aisle to “Forever” by Chris Brown, in salute to the YouTube wedding video of the same character.

The true beauty of a wedding lies in the promise that it brings. A couple stands in front of their loved ones, and takes an oath to share a life with someone. It’s this hope, this ambition that makes the promise special. By being a party to this promise, we support it, and love becomes stronger.

Sources:• http://www.elvispresleynews.com/ElvisWeddingPhotos.

html• http://www.vegas.com/lounge/centennial/

craziestmarriages.html• http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Ready-Reference/

JBKO-Miscellaneous-Information/Wedding-Details.aspx• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/

world/2010/11/16/2010-11-16_prince_william_proposed_to_future_queen_kate_middleton_with_princess_dianas_enga.html

• http://womenshistory.about.com/od/diana/a/diana_wedding.htm

• http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/photos/categories/episodes/1534/

• http://www.officetally.com/archive/the-office-wedding• http://blog.vivalasvegasweddings.com/2010/05/5-famous-

historical-weddings/


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It was a glorious late afternoon on the grounds of an old-world villa in the lush Tuscany hills in Italy when Donna Laverdiere and Loren

Crippin exchanged their wedding vows on Sept. 4, 2010 before 40 friends and family.

Tuscany is a popular wedding locale for Italians because of its vistas, good wine and excellent food. But to plan such a major event at an off-the-beaten-track site about 35 miles east of Florence was a challenge for an American couple who opted to do it on their own.

Laverdiere, the daughter of Claire Laverdiere-Michaud of Jay and Donald Laverdiere of Embden, was the Jay High School 2002 valedictorian. She is now a policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. Crippin works in advocacy at the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association. They met at Duke University where both received master’s degrees at the Sanford School of Public Policy.

After a two-week honeymoon on the Italian Riviera and the island of Sardinia, they live on Capital Hill in Washington, D. C. According to the premier wedding website, The Knot Inc. (www.theknot.com), more than 300,000 destination weddings of U.S. couples take place every year.

These celebrations can be virtually stress-free because they are simpler to plan and often less expensive due to a smaller guest list, The Knot reports. Resorts, cruise lines, and tourist boards can offer complete wedding packages and there are

experts who specialize in arranging destination weddings.

Crippin spent his younger years in Italy and learned to speak Italian, and his parents, Dr. Gary and Cynthia Crippin, owned a summer home in the tiny village of Gioglato on the grounds of a restored 12th century villa.

Laverdiere and Crippin decided that was where they wanted to hold their wedding and that they could plan it themselves using local vendors. There were many transatlantic phone calls and on a trip to Italy last April, they decided on a caterer, photographer, florist, and rental company for the tent, tables, chairs, dishes and linens. “We got a lot of good information on that trip and knew we could do the rest over the phone,” Crippin said.

The couple arrived seven days before the wedding to touch base with vendors, get things organized, decorate, prepare the site and make sure early arriving guests were entertained and accommodated comfortably.

Crippin said one additional pre-wedding task on their to-do list was to buy 15-liter kegs of Chianti from a nearby vineyard and bottle it, placing on each a personalized commemorative label designed by a local Italian artist.

As for wedding decorations, Laverdiere suggested do-it-yourself brides may want to buy them stateside, as they did. They brought a suitcase filled with ribbons, floral wire and other decorative items and also hand-printed programs, escort cards and table signs that Laverdiere had made over the summer. “We wanted to focus on having this be different and personal,” she said. “But the setting was really the main decoration. It was the backdrop and did the work for us.”

The couple had agreed that they wanted the meal to be memorable and traditional. After the outdoor ceremony, there was a cocktail hour with a huge antipasti buffet –

wheels of aged Italian cheeses expertly carved by waiters, a spread of salamis and other cured meats, and assorted condiments. The five-course dinner, which lasted nearly three hours, started out with two pasta dishes, including an amazing ravioli in truffle cream sauce and a Tuscan beef ragu followed by thinly-sliced rosemary-marinated steak. To ensure the homemade pasta was served hot and as fresh as possible, the caterer had set up a mobile kitchen next to the tent where staff cooked it right before it was to be served. The meal ended with a dessert buffet followed by the wedding cake, and then dancing into the night.

Crippin said the special moment for him was after the ceremony when he and Laverdiere could sit back and see how all the pieces to the wedding “puzzle” they had worked on for months had come together. “It was nice to see that it had stopped being a million pieces and everything fell into place. The wedding took on a life of its own and everyone helped out,” he said.

Laverdiere’s favorite moment was the ceremony itself. The bride and groom had written their own vows and Crippin’s brother, Galen, officiated. “Standing in front of everyone to say our vows, overlooking the Tuscan hills, and looking at Loren and seeing all the people who had traveled so far to be with us was so wonderful,” she said.

As for tips on planning a destination wedding, Laverdiere said she relied on the book, Destination Weddings, that she purchased from The Knot. “But what I learned from all this is that there are so many things you could control, but you have to go with the flow. Give in to local customs and remember, things are done differently in different countries,” she said.

Crippin agreed: “Let the little details really sparkle. Those are the moments people will remember.”


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While some couples opt not to have children at their wedding, others do. They take great delight in young children and can’t fathom having a celebration without them. If you share in this feeling and would like to have children at your wedding, make sure you plan for them accordingly.

If at all possible, hold your wedding in the morning or afternoon. The later your wedding is, the more likely your young guests will become tired and act out of sorts. Those accustomed to going to bed around 8 o’clock may even fall asleep during the celebration, forcing parents to leave early.

Look for a venue that is child friendly. Don’t select a hotel with a lot of fine antiques. Young guests will be too tempted to touch all of the wonderful things surrounding them. Select a hotel with modern decor and make sure there are rooms nearby where young guests can nap if needed. Ask your ushers to seat all parents with young kids near the back of the room during the ceremony so they can leave quickly if needed.

Provide ample entertainment. Even the best-behaved children act up when they get tired and bored. To prevent this at your reception, hand out crayons and coloring books

to little ones at tables and set up an area where children can play after dinner.

If most of your young guests can handle sitting by themselves, you could set up a separate table for them where they could sit, draw and color together. Just make sure you have an adult on hand to supervise the action.

If you have the budget, consider bringing in a clown, magician or some other form of entertainment for your young guests.

If you are having your reception outdoors, rent a bouncy castle and find a volunteer to supervise the operation. You might even arrange for a group of volunteers to serve as babysitters and whisk the kids off to another room for hours of fun while their parents enjoy the reception.

Finally, make sure you have plenty of food and drink on hand. Provide snacks and beverages for young guests before dinner to alleviate any hunger pains they might be having. Then serve them a meal they will eat.

Children do like to eat, but that doesn’t mean they will like what you are serving at your reception. For the best results, consult with your caterer and create a child-friendly menu for younger guests. Serve chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese in lieu of lemon chicken and rice. Your younger guests will appreciate it, and so will their parents.

These are just some of the accommodations you can make for your young guests to ensure everyone has a good time. Keep in mind you may need to take fewer or additional measures depending upon the number of young guests at your wedding.

If you are planning on five or six youngsters, then you may be able to have an evening wedding at an elite hotel. If you are planning on 10 to 20 youngsters, then you may need to set your wedding for an earlier time and bring in some entertainment.

By Tresa Erickson


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BridalDirectoryFranklinCounty


Kate Bradley Photography

Er i c a K e n n e d y a n d B r a d y V a i l l a n c o u r t were married during an

evening ceremony on September 25, 2010 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn in front of 135 guests. Upon becoming engaged the November prior, the couple decided on a classic and stylish autumnal wedding.

After attending several bridal shows the bride decided to print her own invitations, and used etsy.com for the table cards and cake toppers. Working with the experienced staff at Blais Flower Shop, the couple chose green orchid centerpieces, which glowed ethereally atop the small LED lights placed at the base of each piece. The bridesmaids carried green orchids, in addition to ivory and fall-colored roses. Kennedy noted, “I added a crystal butterfly pin, which the bridesmaids got to keep after the wedding.” The bride carried a bouquet that also boasted crystal orbs.

Tw o e x p e r i e n c e d f l o w e r g i r l s b e g a n t h e ce r e m o ny, dressed in ivory dresses with cinnamon sashes and pearls. Two b r i d e s m a i d s p r e ce d e d the bride, wearing cinnamon c o l o r e d g o w n s w i t h i v o r y sashes. The bride was a picture of class, gliding down the aisle

in a fitted, ivory gown, trimmed with pickups embroidered with iridescent beads, a long, elegant train in her wake.

She was met at the head of the aisle by the groom and two groomsmen dressed in sharp, black pinstriped suits with black fedoras and silver aviators. They walked down the aisle to a non-traditional song: “Is this Love” by Bob Marley.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed appetizers while the bridal party had photos taken in front of the Bates Mill; the contrast of industry and elegance created powerful photos to help the couple recall their special day. “It was about us,” Kennedy recalled.

Dinner was a succulent meal of sirloin steak and baked salmon. The meal was also enriched by the vibrant, hand-carved watermelon that sported the initials of the new

couple. An ivory, buttercream cake, created by Heather’s Bakery, was decorated with a fondant tree branch with rich-colored leaves that mimicked the stunning foliage, signature for the time of year.

The reception was lively and sentimental, accompanied by the stylings of Natalie Cole, Ray Charles and Kenny G. “We didn’t do the traditional dollar dance; we did a garter toss and a bouquet toss,” the bride remarked of the reception festivities. Balloon Magic out of Topsham created a tulle canopy over the dance floor.

Regarding the wedding favors, the Vaillancourts “wanted to do something dif ferent than the traditional candle favor, so we opted for whoopie pies.” The miniature whoopie pies, compliments of Betty Reez, of Freeport, came in a variety of f lavors, including gingerbread with lemon cream, oatmeal with maple cream, and chocolate with raspberry cream. “She asked us to send her a swatch of our wedding colors. She found a ribbon to match exactly. She labeled each whoopie pie: ‘Thank You For Enjoying Our Special Day! Love, Erica and Brady.’ She was wonderful.”

The entire event was successfully concluded by a post-wedding breakfast for the couple and their families, who stayed at the Hilton overnight. The final review of the classic, stylish event? “It was so much fun, we loved it.”


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How to plan for situations that require diplomacy

Whether old news or recent, divorces are not easy to deal with, especially when planning a wedding. If your parents or future in-laws are divorced, you must plan certain aspects of your wedding carefully to keep conflict to a minimum. The areas most affected generally are invitations, seating and the receiving line.

The wording on wedding invitations typically names the host. Who is hosting your wedding? If you are, you have nothing to worry about. If any of the parents are hosting, you will need to take extra

care with the wording so that it reflects the nature of the situation. You can go about this in many ways. Generally, the names of the divorced should fall on separate lines and their relationship to the bride or groom should be established, if needed. If the bride’s parents are remarried and they are hosting the wedding, for example, the invitation might read: “Mr. and Mrs. George Smith / and / Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jackson / request the honor of your presence / at the marriage of Mr. George Smith’s and Mrs. Jackson’s daughter / Susan Ann....”

If there is conflict among the divorced, good seating at the ceremony and reception is a must. You can go about this in many ways. Generally, mothers and spouses sit in the front row at the ceremony with their family right

behind them, and fathers and spouses in the third row with their family right behind

them. If the divorced parents are on good terms, they may all sit

together in the front row, with their families behind them.

The same principles apply to seating at the reception. Divorced parents in conflict s h o u l d b e s e a te d a t separate tables; divorced parents in good standing may be seated together. It really is a matter of choice. You may switch up the seating as needed.

As for the receiving line, you have a few options

for dealing with divorced parents. You may have

them stand together if they get along, or separate them if

they don’t. You may also ask the mothers only to stand in the line.

Remarriages among the divorced

can complicate matters, especially if you are close to your stepparents. No matter what the nature of your relationship with the new spouses, you should recognize them and involve them in the wedding, even if it is just mentioning their names in the invitation.

Should you want them to play a more prominent role, you should discuss your wishes with all parties involved. A bride raised by her stepfather, for example, might prefer him rather than her biological father to walk her down the aisle. Before she makes any definite plans, she should discuss her decision with her biological father. This will eliminate the element of surprise and alleviate hurt feelings and tension later.

Planning a wedding around divorced parents is not easy, especially when they are in conflict. Tread lightly, discuss your decisions with everyone involved and proceed with caution.

By Tresa Erickson

Did you know? Most brides-to-be, roughly 75 percent, receive a diamond engament ring, according to the National Association of Wedding Ministers. Sixty-seven percent of repeat brides also will receive a diamond engagement ring. After the question is “popped,” the average American couple spends 16 months being engaged. (MS)

He a r t h e o n e a b o u t t h e couple who got

married outdoors in a blizzard? On April Fools’ Day? Deliberately? Or how about the time the dog chosen to be ring bearer took off for a romp in an adjacent field instead of proceeding down the aisle? Those are just a few of the experiences related by Karen Hart, a notary public from Bar Harbor who has performed more than 450 weddings, including some on short notice. She’s been asked, “Can you marry us at three o’clock today?” and she officiated with at least one bride who was quite pregnant, while she and her new husband were about to board an airplane. By the way, the couple married in the Nor’easter remain married after nearly 20 years.

Closer to home, former mayor of Lewiston, and mayor of Auburn, John Jenkins, now offers a service called Notary Nuptials, and was once asked to officiate at a local wedding while dressed as The Cat in the Hat. The wedding vows included liberal sprinklings of Dr. Seuss’ rhetoric. “The first wedding I performed,” Jenkins said, “was when a couple who worked for the city of Lewiston while I was mayor asked if I would marry them. The wedding took place in the mayor’s office.”

The familiar notion of weddings performed by justices of the peace hasn’t happened in Maine for some 10 years, but the alternative is that anyone with a notary public license in Maine can officiate. Maine, Florida and South Carolina are the only states in which notaries can perform weddings, but the process really is appropriate: The role of a notary, deriving from practices in ancient Egypt – where most people were illiterate and required the services of professionals in order to transact business – and continuing throughout medieval Europe has evolved to “formerly witness transactions involving paper documents.” Among other things, that includes licensed marriages.

Virtually any adult citizen of Maine can be commissioned as a

notary, and all Maine notaries can perform weddings. Sally Brochu, a former chaplain at St. Mary’s, was once asked by a nurse if she would she officiate at the nurse’s wedding. When Brochu said she didn’t have a notary license, the nurse said “Well, go get it.” Brochu did and has performed numerous weddings since; not all that many, by her account, “but those I have [done] have been a real joy,” she said, including for her own granddaughter and her husband.

Notar ies public can be a more affordable alternative to conventional of f iciants, and are of ten asked to conduct ceremonies at non-traditional locations, from backyards to beaches, airplanes to hot air balloons, although many have also appeared in churches, too. Those notaries who particularly enjoy officiating at weddings set their own compensation rates, often charging less for those close to home, with a surcharge or mileage charges imposed on those more than 100 miles away. Many also offer complete wedding planning services. Most will assist the couple with developing their ceremony, writing their vows, and doing whatever they can to help make the experience personal, meaningful and memorable. But, while no particular training is

required for notaries to officiate, the membership association: Informed Notaries of Maine – www.informednotariesofmaine.org – provides its members with instructional materials, and the website includes listings of those who enjoy officiating.

A former president of INF, Kathleen Arsenault, who works at Bates College, has done “about 20 weddings,” and warns that couples should be careful about selecting a notary. “For example,” she explained, “using blue ink on the wedding certificate can nullify the whole proceeding. And filing

the documents is a time-sensitive process, too.” And, she added, notaries who do weddings “have to love what they’re doing. You certainly can’t make a living at it!”

Ellie Bowie, who operates a ser vice cal led Enchantment Wedding Services, in Lisbon, has performed more than 40 weddings in just “a couple of years.” She

provides full-scale event planning services, too. She functioned as an in-house notary for an employer a few years ago, and some co-workers asked her to officiate for them. “I just love brides, love seeing happy people, love seeing the start of new lives,” is how she sums up the perspective of most of her colleagues.

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When Victoria (Eustis) Martin and her husband, D.J., began planning their

September 2010 wedding, they said the traditional trappings of dress styles, tuxedos, colors and invitations began to weigh down an experience they wanted to enjoy. Early theme ideas were focused on color, autumn shades of maroon, green and gold. It seemed a good start for a fall wedding, but it lacked the spirit the young couple wanted for their day. “We wanted to have fun and we wanted everyone to have a memorable time,” said D.J.

Victoria, whose professional experience included working for Martindale Country Club, had seen “a lot of weddings” and, after a while, she admitted, one wedding began to look like another. From her off-scene vantage point, she learned what centerpiece designs she liked and what worked best for table conversation, what menus were most tempting, and she definitely learned how to create a “cookie cutter” wedding.

The idea for their 1920s wedding was born of D.J.’s fondness for zoot suits (twice he wore them to proms) and Victoria’s love of lace. “He looks good in a fedora,” Victoria confirmed.

These three little points then waltzed their wedding away from just plain “swell” to a day that could only be described as “the bee’s knees.”

D.J. entrusted Formal Image on Main Street in Lewiston with fitting him, his best man, groomsmen and ring bearer for the big day. “I liked working with Formal Image. We already had a professional rapport so I wanted to go back to them. They were great to work with, able to get us everything we needed.”

Of course, the 1920s theme called for, what else but, black zoot suits with light striping and matching fedoras. “We were ready months before the women,” smiled D.J.

Finding bridal and bridesmaid dresses and accessories with the 1920s flavor was more challenging. Victoria’s mom, Janet Eustis, said allowing time for research is the key to creating a period look or theme.

She and Victoira watched “The Great Gatsby” together, paying particularly close attention to the wardrobe of “Daisy” to gather style ideas.

They scoured sites including www.my1920swedding.com and w w w.uniquevintage.com, where Janet found her mother-of-the-bride, ivory and silver beaded flapper dress. They even found grandson, Liam, knickers, a bow tie and cap from another site, www.dapperlads.com. They were mindful of utilizing local retailers including Claire’s for black lace gloves and accessories.

David’s Bridal in Portland dressed Victoria for her day as a 1920s bride. “I tried several dresses, but many had modern detailing,” explained Victoria. In the end, she chose a soft ivory, all lace dress with a short train paired with ivory, low wedge heels.

A bride f it for the Charleston, she completed her look with a “bird cage” floral headpiece in ivory with a short, netted veil, pearls, diamond and pearl earrings, and long, ivory gloves with lace and bead accents. Her attendants wore classic black, fringed flapper dresses found online, black chunky-heeled shoes and strands of cultured pearls, given as gifts from Victoria, and also purchased on line through www.rosssimons.com.

True to the period, Victoria wore her curly, strawberry blonde hair in a classic, wavy, bob. Her f inishing touches were trademarks of the 20s: porcelain skin highlighted with rouged cheeks, accentuated eyes, and scarlet red lips drawn up in a defined “cupid’s bow.”

Finally on September 18 at 4 p.m., under a trellis of silk roses and tulle on the 10th hole of the Martindale golf course, D.J. and Victoria exchanged their vows in a short ceremony before 80 of their closest friends and family members.

While the two were whisked off for photographs, guests enjoyed a bountiful wedding buffet of Victoria’s favorite Martindale dishes including chicken Zinfandel, carved top round, roasted potatoes, tortellini, and salads.

Tables were adorned with red and cream colored roses in black art deco style vases that had been collected from area antique stores and garage sales. All the flowers were designed by Blais Flower of Lewiston, another

local business with whom the couple had developed a professional trust. For fun and visual interest, a vintage candy buffet, complete with old-fashioned candy including sixlets, jellybeans, and lemon sours, welcomed each guest to fill a black container with sweets to take home as favors.

As in the 20s, the music was an integral part of setting the mood for the dinner and reception. Benny Goodman and his orchestra, Louis Armstrong and the All Stars, Count Basie and his orchestra, as well as Louis Prima and the Glenn Miller Orchestra were among the musical selections for dining and dancing.

“Our taste in music is very different, but we both like jazz and we really wanted the reception to be fun for everyone,” said the couple. “The music had to be something that all the generations could dance to.”

Though Victoria and D.J. opted out of dance lessons, they did have guests who could swing dance and some who dressed in 1920s garb, as their invitation suggested. Victoria and her dad, who put on the Ritz in a vintage Masonic tuxedo and top hat, shared a turn around the floor to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”

As day drew to evening, the wedding party made an escape for one final “formal” snapshot, a special request of Victoria’s. Outside the country club, in the growing dusk, an old-fashioned lamp post shed a pool of hazy, white light along a stretch of stone curbing. It was there the group gathered with the bride and groom, striking a pose for a quintessential 1920s wedding photograph.

Looking through the wedding album today, Victoria and D.J. are pleased with their choice to step outside of the traditional wedding experience. The 1920s was a time when young people cast off societal restraints of older generations, kicked up their heels, and had fun with dance, music – even ways of using the English language; by that definition, Victoria and D.J.’s creativity and free-spirited ideas turned their wedding into a “swanky blast from the past.”

“Couples shouldn’t be afraid to switch it up,” said D.J., referring to wedding plans and etiquette. “Make it different, have fun, make it interesting, but mostly, make your wedding your own.”

Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, February 6, 201114 THE WEDDING GUIDE THE WEDDING GUIDE 15

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White water wedding: A river of love flows through it

Love is a river – it starts small, and gradually, it finds momentum. Eventually, it becomes powerful; it stops being a stream and turns into something great. For Cassandra Wells and Sam Roy, love flowed naturally, like the way a river does when it finds gravity. Each current cut deeper into their strong top soil; each turn brought a new and exciting view of the world. They took to the current together, working side by side through the rapids and the calm spots.

Cassandra and Sam had known each other for many years before they began dating. They were both raised in Turner, both attended Turner-area

schools. It wasn’t until April 2007, however, that Sam and Cassandra were set up on a date by their parents. “It was like we were friends all along,” Cassandra said, smiling. “Our love was easy and effortless.”

Their relationship flowed through many twists and turns. Sam finished his degree in forestry from the University of Maine, while Cassandra studied business at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston Auburn College. The couple found themselves intrigued by each other’s differences, and in love with their similarities. “It was like we had always been. We’re best friends,” Cassandra remarked. In 2009, Sam and Cassandra welcomed their son, Henry.

On July 5, 2010, Sam, Cassandra, Henry and their dog, Zeus, found themselves boating down the Androscoggin River. They wanted to have a family picnic on a small island, but they had a hard time navigating the current with baby Henry, Zeus and many life preservers. So they found another island, and docked ashore.

W h i l e C a s s a n d r a u n p a c ke d lunch, Sam knelt on the ground in front of her. He had a jewelry box in his hand, and within the box, a lovely blue sapphire engagement ring. Sam put the ring on her finger, and Cassandra said yes. “ The r ing captures both of us – it’s original, but not orthodox,” Cassandra said.

For these outdoor enthusiasts, it seemed only natural to marry while rafting down the Kennebec River. And so Cassandra and Sam went with the current, hopped into the boat, and started the next journey of their adventure together. Friends came along for the ride: Andy Webb served as the witness, and Tom Coleman guided the raft through the rapids and officiated the ceremony, all while dressed as Elvis.

“We wanted our wedding to be fun and low stress,” Cassandra explained. “We had joked in the past about going to Vegas to be married by Elvis, so we incorporated that idea into our wedding.” Tom was a good sport; he got notarized to perform the ceremony, and lost his Elvis wig in the rapids.

The wedding party parked their raft in Cathedral Point – halfway through the river ride – and Cassandra and Sam were married with the river in the background. Cassandra wore a simple white dress she had bought at the Auburn Mall, and Sam wore a tux he bought online. After exchanging vows, they rafted

down to the Appleton pullout, where they had secured a tent site for a small reception featuring Cassandra’s own chop suey heated on a Pullman’s camp stove.

The river of love between Cassandra and Sam gets stronger with each turn. Together, they will take the rapids and reliefs; together, they will follow the current to see where the river goes.

The marriage of Cassandra Wells and Sam Roy

What bride doesn’t want to be heads above the rest in terms of her wedding day ‘do? The trouble is, many brides-to-be don’t take adequate steps to ensure their wedding day tresses will be up to par, including doing a practice run and being confident with their stylists.

While your hair may look picture-perfect in your mind, getting through the wedding day with hair intact takes some time and effort – and the planning process doesn’t start a week before the wedding, either.

1. Start early

Once you know your wedding date and have the venues booked, start shopping around for a stylist that you’ll stick with through your wedding day. You want to make sure this person is in consistent charge of your look, tailoring haircuts and coloring appointments toward the end goal.

2. Set a schedule

Certain hair tasks should occur at specific times. For example, your final color should be done at least two weeks before the wedding to allow for color blending. A final trim should be around the same time also so that your hair hasn’t just been snipped. You’ll want haircuts at regular intervals, even if you’re growing your hair out for the wedding to make sure it looks healthy.

3. Do your research

Browse through magazines and make a look book of styles you like. Discuss with your stylist if they will

complement your facial structure, style, hair type, and wedding gown. Talk about the venue and what will be expected of your hair. If you’ll be on the beach with blowing wind, a tight up-do might not be practical.

4. Have a hair rehearsal

Schedule a rehearsal of your wedding day hairdo with your stylist after you come up with a look that’s agreed upon. Not only will this help your stylist get his or her technique down pat, it’ll enable the both of you to fine tune what works and what doesn’t.

You can also get a feel for your hair so there won’t be any surprises once you are ready to walk down the aisle. Make sure to bring your veil with you and make-up your face so you’ll get an accurate view of what will be the finished product. Take pictures from all angles to ensure that you’re happy with the look from every direction.

Remember, you’ll be photographed coming and going, in action and at rest during the wedding.

5. Pack reinforcements

Some brides opt to invite their stylist to the reception hall for a few touch-ups between venues. If this isn’t an option, ask what

products to bring along and how you can repair any minor flyaways, etc.

6. Put it in perspective

Remember, just like everything that you’re planning for your wedding, while you hope things go on without a hitch, there may be some snags along the way. Remain calm and go with the flow. Guests are more apt to remember the joyous tone of the day rather than minute details that could frazzle you – like an errant Bobby pin or a pull in your stockings.


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Almost all weddings contain an embarrassing moment or two. The most common include either the bride or groom forgetting their vows, problems with the bridal gown, a member of the wedding party being late or someone getting tipsy at the reception. Most embarrassments are minor, and although mortifying at the time, they can be laughed about later.

q A formal church wedding ceremony: The bride unknowingly caught her dress on a nail. With each step, the nail caught a little tighter and the dress tore a little more until finally, the unaware bride stepped up to the officiate near the altar and the whole backside of her skirt tore off. The guests would have had a fine view of her backside had it not been for the quick-thinking maid of honor who casually stepped up behind the bride, lifted the gown and held it in place for the duration of the ceremony.

q An o u t d o o r m e a d ow ceremony: The bride looked radiant walking down the aisle and then suddenly she toppled over writhing in pain. Her father, at her side, tried to help her to her feet but she’d sprained her ankle when she fell off her high heels. After a short delay to wrap her ankle, the ceremony continued with the bride and groom sitting side by side.

q A church ceremony: The groom was growing nervous as the best man was late. Time was growing short—where was he?—the groom wondered. Having spilled coffee on his gray tux trousers, the best man and maid of honor were attempting to clean them when unbeknownst to them the wedding ring fell out. Hurrying off to the church, they never noticed it was gone until it was time to give it to the groom. With the ceremony starting momentarily, the groom borrowed his grandmother’s engagement ring to give to his bride. Later that day the wedding ring was

recovered and all ended well.q A church ceremony in

progress on a stormy night: When the priest asked if anyone objected to the marriage, suddenly there was a bright flash of light. The church was plunged into darkness except for the few candles lit by the altar. Everyone looked around, bride and groom included, to see what had happened—was it a joke or a sign from the almighty? As it turned out, it was a bolt of lightning hitting a transformer that took out the lights for miles around. The ceremony ended by

candlelight—how romantic.q A destination wedding:

Guests arrived on schedule only to find they had no reservations. The bride, frantic, scrambled to find out what had happened to the reservations she had made. As it turned out, one couple who were unable to attend the wedding at the last minute called to cancel their room, but inadvertently, the hotel cancelled the reservations for the whole group.

q A cross-cultural destination wedding reception: The groom, anxious to surprise his bride and

impress his new in-laws, attempted a toast in their native language. Halfway through the toast, he began to wonder by the looks on their faces if he had made a grave error but plowed ahead without missing a beat. Indeed, he had inadvertently called his mother-in-law, father-in-law and bride unflattering names. His intentions were honorable though and all was forgiven.

q A wedding reception: The groom approached his mother-in-law to ask her to dance. As she rose from the table, her napkin fell to the floor. He, being a gentleman,

bent down to pick it up. As he rose, the tablecloth brushed the top of his head and made his toupee askew. The dance began and moments later, the bride cut in and the couple quickly danced their way to a private corner where an adjustment took place.

If at your wedding, you drop the ring or trip over your own feet, don’t feel too bad. You’re not alone.


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CATERINGDad’s Place.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-345-9009Sam’s Italian Foods . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .207-782-2550

CEREMONY SITEBlack Mountain of Maine . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-364-8977The Bethel Inn Resort . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .207-824-2175The Great Outdoors . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .207-224-7061Greenwood Mountain Inn .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-966-2233Harraseeket Inn .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 800-342-6423Martindale Country Club . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 207-782-1107Poland Spring’s All Souls Chapel . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-998-4589Saddleback Maine .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-864-5671

CLEANERSAuburndale Cleaning Center .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-782-9389

FINANCIALFranklin Savings Bank . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 800-287-0752

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HONEYMOON & TRAVELBarclay’s Skindiver’s Paradise.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-784-7300Farmington Travel .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 800-244-4777Hillside Cottages . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 888-943-0110

INVITATIONSThe Maine Press .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-364-8889

JEWELERSDiamond Cut Jewelers . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-739-2300Republic Jewelry . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 207-784-4444

Feature Stories & Advertising, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Sunday, February 6, 201120 The Wedding guide

Sun Journal’s WEDDING

GuideServices & Products

Visit www.sunjournal.com/specialsections to print a copy of this Sun Journal Special Sections guide to wedding services and products. The online version has links to these businesses’ websites, a real time saver for the busy wedding planner.

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES:Larry Baril 689-2960 • [email protected] Croteau 689-2909 • [email protected] Haggerty 689-2942 • [email protected] Lachance 689-2974 • [email protected] McManus 689-2906 • [email protected]

Norm Moreau 689-2904 • [email protected] Qualls 689-2928 • [email protected] Rioux 689-2915 • [email protected] Blanchet 778-6772 • [email protected] Carpenter 364-8728 • [email protected] Morse 743-9228 • [email protected]

For information on deadlines and listing your business in the Sun Journal Wedding directory, call 1-800-482-0935 or e-mail an advertising executive.

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A memory in the making

Your wedding day is one of the times in your life that will create a memory which will last a lifetime. Most people make sure it will be remembered by setting up memorable events throughout the day including the ceremony and reception. Many will choose a memorable location for their vows and reception. Be sure not to miss out on the special dances with family and friends, such as the father-daughter dance and mother-son dance, by selecting a location with space and equipment for music and dancing. Cutting the cake ceremoniously sets the stage for your lives together by sharing and feeding each other wedding cake.

A wedding is really a theatrical event. As bride and groom, you, your parents and bridal party are the players and your guests are the audience. If you think about a wedding, it’s also one of the few times in your life that you will hire a photographer and even a videographer to record the day. It’s one of the few times you will send out invitations to more than a handful of people to help you celebrate an important occasion. Most people will dress to the nines for their wedding day and it’s one of the few times you can get Uncle Charlie to wear a tie. It may be one of the few times you buy a gown or rent a tux.

Also, remember slight mishaps may happen that will add to the day’s events. If the cake falls over or if a bridesmaid trips down the aisle, these things may seem like a disaster or failure at the time, but will be remembered humorously and generate fond memories for years to come. There’s really no need to fret over the little things that happen that you have no control over. Try to relax and enjoy your day.

Scot Grassette and his wife Cindy have been wedding disc jockies for over 13 years and currently own 49 Franklin Reception Hall in Rumford Maine, www.49franklin.com.

v Inclusive wedding packages vWhy should a bride seek an inclusive wedding package?

Every bride dreams of her perfect day long before it arrives, but those dreams can turn into a financial nightmare when all the hidden fees get added. “Costs can quickly skyrocket,” said Melissa Brady, wedding coordinator at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Maine. “The fee for the ballroom or reception space at some properties can run anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000. With the cost of food and beverage ranging anywhere from $50 to $150 per person, paying a room fee seems unnecessary. Add in the flowers for your tables and you could be talking another $1,000 easily. Then, there are chair rental charges, linen charges, and rental fees for the silver and glassware. Some venues even charge $3 per person for cutting the cake and coffee service.” Brady advises couples to bring a list of questions when they shop for the perfect place to host their wedding reception. Better yet, she said, they should shop for an all inclusive wedding package to avoid all those hidden costs. According to Brady, the

package price might seem high at first glance, but it will end up being a tremendous value when adding in all the unforeseen costs. She also said the couple should choose a property with a reputation for excellent food and service, preferably one that allows them to design their own unique menu as part of the inclusive package price. “It’s their special day and the bride and groom should be the writer of that day with the wedding coordinator directing the show” said Brady. Having the coordinator on site for the duration of the wedding will allow the couple and their families to come and enjoy themselves, without worrying about all the small details that go into the execution of a wedding. They should also be able to choose to have two courses or 10, lobster and filet mignon, whatever they want in terms of food, however they want it, and the price shouldn’t change one bit. The meal is one of the most important highlights of the wedding reception. Long after the wedding is over, the guests will still be talking about the food. An inclusive wedding package offers the peace of mind that the costs will not change as the planning progresses.For more information about inclusive packages, contact Melissa Brady at the Harraseeket Inn, 207-865-9377.

The Greek Or thodox wedding is “an ancient service,” dating back to the

fourth and fifth centuries, according to Vicki Toppses, MTS, presbytera of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston, Maine. A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs In America, authored by Marilyn

Rouvelas, describes the wedding ceremony as “pristinely Greek Orthodox, unchanged for centuries.”

Although they had met once, many years earlier, Vicki Toppses fell in love with her husband, Ted Toppses, presbyter, while they were both students at the Holy Cross Greek Or thodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. Together, they have provided suppor t and

services to the congregation in Lewiston since 2001.

Their own wedding, like that of her parents, was a traditional Greek Orthodox service and was, in fact, officiated by the son of the priest

who had married her parents.

As with most weddings, the bride and groom choose their wedding party, but essentially the similarities stop there. The Greek Orthodox wedding couple

also selects a Koumbaros (male) and Koumbara (female) whose roles are similar to a godparent or sponsor. It is required that both are Orthodox Christians. Traditionally, they would also have been godparents to the bride and groom.

In modern times, however, the wedding couple may choose close friends or people whose judgment they trust and can rely upon. The role of the Koumbari is to provide lifelong guidance to the couple, and the marriage ceremony creates a spiritual bond between the couple and the Koumbari who become “part of the family.”

The ceremony itself is as rich in spirituality and symbolism as it is in tradition and history. Unlike other weddings, a Greek Orthodox ceremony is never conducted “outside of the church.” The belief is that God is uniting the two, and the union must occur in a house of God. Gardens, beaches and other destination weddings, according to Toppses, are not allowed.

There are two distinct parts to the ceremony. The first is called the betrothal, or the blessing of the rings. Toppses explained that in years past this part of the ceremony was done prior to the wedding day, at such a time as when other couples might have an engagement party. Now, it is done on the same day as the wedding. According to Rouvelas’ text, “the priest blesses the rings and touches the forehead of the bride and groom with them.”

“Rings are put on the right hands” and the Koumbari “exchange the rings three times, symbolizing the compliment ar y ro le of husband and wife.” Toppses

The Greek Orthodox wedding: A tapestry of history, tradition, spirituality and symbolism


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Je f f Pe n g e l ha d h i k e d C a r i b o u Mountain in the

White Mountain National Forest many times. In fact, he had been to its summit about 48 times in as many months and had eaten his snacks and enjoyed the view on those mostly solo day hikes never thinking that, someday, he would marry his sweetheart in that place.

Lisa Guay joined the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club in 2003. In 2004, when she carpooled to a 15-mile group hike in the Carter Range near Gorham, New Hampshire, she never expected to fall in love. The idea of getting married on a mountaintop had also never occurred to her. That is, until she met Jeff.

After dating for about a year, and continuing his monthly hikes up Caribou Mountain with his new partner, Jeff’s proposal was clever, but somewhat less than romantic: He left the partially completed marriage license in a kitchen drawer for Lisa to stumble across.

The decision to get married on Caribou Mountain, with its open rocky summit and views of Sunday River and the Presidential and Carter Ranges, was easy. With a 2828’ elevation, the hike could be done in about 5 hours and was a relatively gentle ascent. It was also a mountain that both had grown to love.

Although one might think that the weather would be the most significant logistical issue, for Jeff the “weather was never a real concern.” Lisa and Jeff were relatively flexible with respect to the date, as was the friend who they enlisted to officiate the ceremony. A small number of friends were invited to join them, and when the forecast looked promising and “the decision was made five days out,” the seven friends who still had that date free made plans to share the experience.

The only true logistical issue that they ran across was with the paperwork that would make the marriage legal. According to Lisa, “When it came time to fill out the actual paperwork we did not know the name of the town

that the top of the mountain was in.” After enlisting the assistance of a fair number of town officials, they solved the myster y and filed the papers.

The only other “concern” would be Jeff ’s nerves. “I do remember being very nervous in the parking lot pre-hike.” Shortly after beginning the hike, however, partly from the physical exertion, but also as a result of the silly

wedding-day antics orchestrated by their friends, Jeff’s nervousness vanished. Those enthusiastic friends who joined them that morning brought a bridal veil and yellow roses for Lisa. Both Lisa and Jeff brought the vows that they had written.

About 30’ from the summit, Lisa and one very dear friend lingered behind while Jeff and the others continued to the top.

She walked the last bit on the arm of her friend to meet her beloved on top of Caribou Mountain on a clear midsummer day. Then, with her hiking boots, yellow roses and white veil fluttering in the breeze, accompanied by the spontaneous singing of strangers who happened upon this scene, but graciously scattered to give them privacy, Lisa and Jeff recited their vows, slipped rings onto now steady fingers and, of course, celebrated that first married kiss.

After a mountaintop toast of champagne in paper cups, the group descended to the Bethel Inn for dinner and continued celebration. There would be other celebrations in the months to follow, with family and friends who were unable to make the hike. And then, on their f irst anniversary, there would be a rainy day hike back up to the top of Caribou Mountain in brightly colored raincoats. According to Lisa, getting married on top of a mountain, this mountain in particular, “fit our personalities.”

As for Jeff, he said, “I just wanted to marry Lisa”.

Robert Frost wrote,

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference.” For couples considering a non-traditional wedding, Lisa’s recommendation is to “do what you love no matter what.” It will make all the difference.

The bride wore hiking boots


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Romantic New Year’s Eve wedding

Danielle Bosse, of Portland, always knew she wanted a winter wedding. On December 31, 2009, after 14 months of planning, she married her husband, Nate Gagnon, on a snowy day in Auburn. “What better way to start the new year?” said Bosse, adding that the snow “made for really pretty pictures and added to that romantic feel I wanted.”

By Christina LeBlanc Feature Writer / Submitted photos Amid holiday decor and with clever

Christmas-y ideas for the ceremony and reception, Danielle Bosse and Nate Gagnon

were married in a winter wedding wonderland.

The ceremony took place at Holy Cross in Lewiston. The church was decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, berries, orchids, and plenty of candles. “It made it feel completely intimate, warm, and romantic,” said Bosse of the candlelit atmosphere. The groomsmen wore black (with red vests for the best man) and the bridesmaids were outfitted in deep red satin gowns, while the bride, in a white satin ball gown, carried a bouquet of Christmas-colored flowers accented by berries. Before the bride’s walk down the aisle, the lights were dimmed and the bridesmaids and groomsmen began a candle light procession.

Following the romantic ceremony, guests gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn to celebrate the bride and groom at a reception. B oss e an d her b r id esmaids handmade nearly 200 gingerbread cookies for the event, each cookie displaying a guest’s name and table number. Each table had a snowflake tree-ornament that doubled as a place card. Tables echoed the candle theme from the church, with glowing candles surrounding holly and poinsettia centerpieces.

Inside the reception room were six Christmas trees wrapped in white lights, while mistletoe hung in the entranceway and a kissing ball replaced the disco ball above the dance floor. Each guest was asked to bring a tree ornament, and decorated a Christmas tree for the bride and groom with these special tokens, an idea Bosse came up with while f lipping through a Chr is tmas magazine. Each ornament had special significance

for the bride, groom, and their guests and the tree ended up being a creative and meaningful “guest book” for the event. “This was one of my favorite parts of my wedding,” said Bosse, “because it will bring back so many special memories every time we decorate our Christmas tree together.”

The wedding cake consisted of three square layers decorated with swags and poinsettias. The bride felt lucky to be able to use her grandparents’ cake topper which held special meaning to the family.

Around 10:30 p.m., the bride’s father brought in 30 pizzas to keep guests fed and happy (“This is one of the things my guests always mention!” said Bosse) and around 11 p.m. the Gagnons brought out New Year’s Eve party favors, gearing up to a champagne toast at midnight as they and their guests ushered in the new year. “It was amazing to count down to the new year surrounded by all of our loved ones,” Bosse said. It was a fun and romantic way to begin 2010 for Danielle, Nate and their family and friends.

further explained that rings are traditionally worn on the right hand because “in the Bible, it is the hand of honor.” After the ceremony, the bride and groom may choose to wear their rings on their left hand, rather than the right.

During the second part of the ceremony, when the marriage takes place, the bride and groom face the alter and stand in front of a small table that holds the Gospel, several candles and two crowns made of flowers and linked together by silk ribbons. The lit candle on the table symbolizes the “light of Christ.” The bride and groom are each given a lit candle to remind them “of the light of Christ who is with

them through the sacrament and their coming life together.”

“The joining of hands,” according to Rouvelas, is “to make them one

in spirit and flesh and grant them the joy of children.” The purpose of the crowns is twofold. First, the bride and groom are the queen and king of the household and the

silk ribbon that joins the crown symbolizes the bond between them. Also, the crown is the couples’ acknowledgement that there will be both joy and sorrow in their lives together. The priest puts the crowns on the couples’ heads and, as with the rings, the Koumbari exchange the crowns three times to symbolize the equality of the man and woman.

After the crowning, two specific passages from the Bible are read aloud. From Rouvelas’ text: “In the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Paul talks of love and respect [and] the reading from the Gospel of St. John relates the story of Christ at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and his miracle of changing water into wine.” The last part of the ceremony is Toppses’ favorite. In

“The Dance of Isaiah,” the priest leads the wedding couple around the small table three times. The Koumbari hold ribbons attached to the joined crowns worn by the couple. This ritual signifies the couple’s first steps as husband and wife and personifies the scripture verse, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God” (Isaiah 61:10). By the third revolution, with hands joined and the love and protection of Christ, the Koumbari and each other established and honored, and with the blessing of the priest, “this is the moment that they are truly united as husband and wife.”

As with other weddings, the Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony is followed by a reception. According to Toppses, “the Greeks love to dance and party.” Wedding favors always include koufeta. Koufeta is “an odd number of white almonds wrapped in thule.” The almonds signify fertility and prosperity. Although the food served at receptions may be different than your typical wedding fare, and the traditional dances have a definite Greek flair, the purpose of the reception is the same, in that it celebrates the love and potential of the newly married couple.


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Counseling for healthy marriages

A marriage doesn’t have to be in distress to bring in the help of a counselor. Marriage counselors can help newlyweds start out on the right foot or help established couples fine-tune their marriages.

Counseling can:q Decrease conflicts that lead to fights.q Provide communication

strategies for men and women.q Suggest new ideas for reconnecting.q Identify potentially problematic

areas that may be easily resolved or require further attention.

C o u p l e s s h o u l d i n t e r v i e w p r o s p e c t i v e c o u n s e l o r s t o determine the best fit and the one they feel most comfortable with. Not all counselors are the same, and some have specific areas of relationship expertise. There also may be counselors who work with both couples and families. (MS)

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Greek weddingfrom page 22

Cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, shells/starfish and delicate dots and scrollwork remain popular. Couples are choosing cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding. Four to five layers is the average size for a wedding of 150-200 people.

Buttercream or smooth fondant frostings are most common. Popular cake f lavors include lemon, chocolate, carrot, spice and “white” although some couples are choosing non-traditional flavors such as gingerbread, espresso and hazelnut. Flowers, sculptures, and large monogrammed letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top.

Vintage: Vintage details include broaches, feathers, and lace designs that are typically in a champagne or cream color combination.

Varying heights: These cakes feature tiers similar in diameter but vary widely in height, allowing even small cakes to have a grand presence. In addition, tall and skinny cakes are making their mark.

Dessert tables: Brides are opting to have a smaller cake for the ceremonial cake cutting and then adding a variety of desserts to the traditional wedding cake. Things like cupcakes, cake pops, candies, cookies and brownies are some of the more popular choices. Displays can be very casual to elaborate, with most having a variety of heights and maintaining consistent colors or themes.

Groom’s cakes: With all the popularity of cake shows on television right now, it seems as though everyone wants to incorporate a spectacular sculpted cake into their reception. A perfect way to do so is with a Groom’s Cake. Most are done as an additional cake option for the guests or as a dessert for the rehearsal dinner.

The latest fashion color report for wedding cakes in 2011 reveals a fresh lineup of colors with champagne, turquoise and coral leading the pack.

Pink champagne wedding cake: This very light pink shade is a romantic and soothing shade for the elegant, classic wedding. The entire wedding cake can be draped in Pink Champagne fondant, or trimmed with oversized ribbons and bows. To add pink ribbons and flowers decoration around the cake will bring a more romantic air to the wedding reception.

Yellow: In 2011, people will see a reappearance of yellow as a leading role in the choice of wedding cake color. Stark white wedding cakes decorated with bright yellow sunflowers, daffodils and tulips on the surface will be leading the trend in 2011 wedding.

This information has been compiled from www.intricateicings.com, www.yourweddingcompany.com, and www.weddingnova.com.


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wedding guide feb. 6, 2011

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