Planning Your Wedding

As most of us are well aware, while spring and summer weddings are still popular affairs, there really isn’t a well-defined “wedding season” but rather, a year round calendar of nuptials to attend. All four seasons now provide a gorgeous backdrop depending on what your vision is for your big day. That being said, planning your wedding is still something that is advised to do well in advance so that you secure the date you want as well as your preferred vendors.

The Rings:

The rings aren’t just stunning pieces of jewelry, but they also signify the promises made between a husband and wife when they enter into marriage. For that reason they are sacred, prized and irreplaceable possessions along with being a major investment that will need to be protected. So it also goes without saying that choosing the perfect rings should not be taken lightly! When making the big decision, whether you’re buying a ring that’s displayed or custom designing your very own signature rings, it’s of the utmost importance to work with a professional jeweler.

“We specialize in engagement and wedding rings, including custom design services to create the perfect ring design for your special day,” emphasizes Jenny Thomas of A.T. Thomas Jewelers. “Many couples enjoy using our custom design option since it’s not more expensive than selecting a designer ring out of the case and you can have exactly what you want. We do in-store casting and our jeweler works right in the back so our turnaround time on repair work is very quick too! As far as turnaround time from the initial design stages to the finished product, my advice is to decide on the wedding bands as soon as you book your wedding date. They are a significant part of the ceremony and you don’t want to be without them due to ordering too late. Some bands are made to order and can take two to eight weeks, if not longer depending on a number of factors.”

She adds, “For 2016 we will be taking our design services to a whole new level, which is very exciting! This will include the ability to preview your printed designs in their exact size and shape before casting, on-site casting in gold, platinum and silver, and an on-site jeweler to size and set your jewelry pieces.”

The Dress:

For brides, the wedding dress is a priority set above just about everything else. It’s not only important to find “the one,” but it’s also a memento that will likely need to be preserved and may even be passed on to future generations.

As far as finding THE dress, you’ll want to work with a local resource that can seamlessly help you through the entire process from finding the right one from the numerous choices available to placing the order to get your dress in when you need it, and on to making the necessary alterations closer to the date.

“The wedding will be one of the most important days in a couple’s life together, so the day should be focused on their individual style and preferences,” emphasizes Emmy Gorman, owner of Blush Bridal Boutique. “Blush Bridal is a boutique style bridal store, where expert stylists assist brides in choosing (or creating) the dress of their dreams.  We are purposefully a small establishment in order to create personal relationships with our clients and truly be experts in bridal designs.  In fact, we were recently nominated 2015 Best of Weddings by The Knot magazine, meaning brides voted Blush Bridal in the top 2% of bridal stores in the country which is a huge honor! Our brides enjoy Blush Bridal’s intimate setting and relaxed shopping experiences with stylists who are focused on achieving a client’s bridal look.

There are traditional bridal designs and fabrics that are timeless:  lace, A-line silhouettes, cathedral-length trains–brides who wore these fashions 50 years ago would be just as gorgeous in their wedding pictures today!  In 2016 we are seeing an emergence of various neckline options.  For the better part of a decade, we saw a vast majority of bridal gowns being strapless with a sweetheart neckline.  Recently we are loving the introduction of illusion necklines, cap sleeves and bateau collars.  We are also seeing more brides than ever choosing a champagne or light gold shade for their bridal dress.  Our fair Midwestern complexion is complimented by shades of ivory instead of a bright white.

Blush Bridal is also working really hard to increase our inventory to include more designs for our fuller figured brides.  Traditionally, bridal gown samples are shown in sizes 10-14 (street size 8-12), and we are looking to offer more choices to our brides who are an 18+.  Nothing has brought us more joy then we have a helped a bride who was very anxious about the dress shopping experience find the dress of her dreams at Blush!”

She further advises, “The first thing you should do when you get engaged is to sit down together and plan a budget.  Decide what areas of your wedding you feel should have a priority, such as spending more on a great photographer and not as much on floral etc.  If you are able to create a budget (no matter how large or small), use percentages to determine the dollar amount you will spend in each area.  An example, if you have a $10,000 budget and you are looking to spend 10% on your bridal gown, your budget for this will be $1000.  If you stick to your budget, it will make decisions much easier for you and your fiancé when planning your special day!”

After the wedding, it’s important to get your wedding dress in to your professional cleaner of choice as soon as possible in order for it to be in optimal condition to undergo the cleaning and preservation process.

“Even with wearing the gown only once, stains from food or beverages along with oils from the skin will cause damage or weakness to the fabric over time, explains Quintin Yallaly, co-owner and manager of the new Starcrest Cleaners Lincoln location. “We always advise our clients to bring their gown in as soon as it is possible, whether they bring it in themselves or have a family member or friend transport it to us. In the event that someone else brings it in, we can meet ahead of time to make sure that all of the bride’s wishes are taken into account and expectations are met. At Starcrest we understand the importance of all of the details and our staff of professionals operate with specific cleaning protocol in line with the preservation of your gown for generations to come.

Specifically when having your wedding gown preserved, also keep in mind that certain items can be included in the preservation box in addition to the gown and veil.  Some examples include: the program, an invitation, photos, shoes, jewelry, letters or a family heir loom.

In addition to offering wedding gown cleaning and preservation service, we also provide professional cleaning and finishing of any garments worn to a wedding.  Starcrest can generally accommodate short notice and rush requests when needed. With your wedding gown, or any garment that is especially important to you, expect to receive special attention at the professional cleaners, whether in Lincoln or elsewhere.  Emphasize that the garment is important to you and ask to speak to the owner, manager or individual that will be working on the garment.

Once you have made contact with a knowledgeable person, they should be able to explain: how the garment will be cleaned, anticipated outcome of soiled areas (such as the hem line) and possible risks associated with cleaning. If you are not confident after speaking with the individual about your special garment, continue your search until you are comfortable. Above all, leave your special garment with someone you trust. Wedding gowns are prized possessions and quite often family heirloom so they should be treated accordingly.”

The Look:

No matter what your fitness goals are for your “wedding body,” you can make it happen with dedication and the right program. Tammie Collier, owner of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping in Lincoln, offers a few pre-nuptial fitness tips:

*Rule number one: Plan your fitness just like you are planning your wedding!   Give yourself time to get ready for the big day. Don’t wait until the wedding is close and then try to over train trying to get into the dress!

*Avoid fad diets! They often leave you in a worse position than when you started!  You may lose some weight but it will mostly be water and muscle.   Unfortunately, when the “diet” is over, guess what? All of that weight comes back plus more.

* Eat breakfast. You’ve been told since you were in kindergarten that it’s the most important meal of the day, and they were right!    Skipping that first meal keeps that metabolism low.  In turn, you’ll hang on to fat which is exactly the opposite of what you are wanting your body to do!  As with no skipping breakfast also comes making healthy eating choices throughout the day.  Don’t allow yourself to get into a destructive pattern of starving yourself—the body’s fuel is food!   Eat often while making good choices but not overeating!

* Drink plenty of water.  People often confuse the body’s need for water as a need for food.   Keep a water bottle handy at all times!

* Strength training is important too.  If you are already doing cardio – fantastic!  But don’t allow yourself to only do a cardio workout!   Make sure you have strength training as part of your fitness plan.  Strength training (weights or resistance bands) will help you build lean muscle and it won’t make you bulky.  It will however, make you look toned and sleek.   Plus increased muscle tone boosts the metabolism helping your body burn fat all day long.

She further advises, “Farrell’s is a results based program offering cardio kickboxing, strength training and nutrition education all in one package.  Any one of them singularly can help you in preparation for looking your absolute best on your wedding day.  But combining all three in your fitness routine is where you will see more measurable results faster.  At Farrell’s, we not only combine all three for our members but we offer a coach and individual instructors to guide you through a 45 minute workout.  Nutrition education is vitally important – you can work out all you want, but if you don’t adopt healthy eating habits, your results will be minimized!   We don’t ‘diet’ at Farrell’s but we do learn how to fuel our bodies with good nutrition so that you can lose fat and inches!   We help you track your progress throughout our 10 week program and celebrate at the end of the session by rewarding the member with the most transformation in that 10 weeks with $1000—which could also help you with paying some of your wedding or honeymoon expenses!”

The Venue:

Choosing (and booking) the venue is one of the very first things on the planning list as the most popular ones often will have very limited availability. Once you have your heart set on a certain location, it’s a must to get your date on the books so you can begin arranging the rest of the details accordingly. If you haven’t quite found the right venue yet, not to worry, we’ve highlighted several of the best in Lincoln!

The Lincoln Firefighter’s Reception Hall has a dynamic entertainment space that can accommodate any style of event up to 300 people seated.

“We offer modern conveniences and affordable elegance to create the perfect atmosphere for your special event,” says Julie Medina, manager of the Lincoln Firefighter’s Reception Hall. “One thing that really makes our venue stand out is our affordable decorating options. We started last summer with a backdrop for the head table and LED up lighting and this year have expanded that to include ceiling décor and a do-it-yourself photo booth. We plan to continue offering more decorating options next year too. Another thing that people like about us is that our rental fee is very close to all-inclusive with only a few things we charge extra for. And tax and gratuity is always included in our pricing, no hidden fees.

• With rental of our facilities, you’ll receive:

• All day access to the Lincoln Firefighter’s Reception Hall

• Set-up for your event with tables and chairs

• Cash or host beverage service with bar staff wages included

• State-of-the-art projector and 10×14 screen with laptop or DVD/Blu-ray capabilities

• The ability to choose your own catering service

• Access to our commercial kitchen

• Use of audio equipment including wireless microphones (handheld or lavalier styles) and Wi-Fi.

• Most of the major clean-up

• Dimmable lighting in the ceiling and dimmable wall sconces

• Lighted decorative arch and backdrop for cake/dessert table

• Centerpiece items, plus much more upon request!

If you’re looking for ideas, inspiration or more information about our venue, you can visit our website at www.firefighterhall.com (make sure to visit our gallery page) or check out our Facebook page.”

Embassy Suites, located at 1040 P Street, is another ideal venue for hosting your wedding festivities.

“One of the best things about Embassy Suites-Lincoln is that we can plan and host all aspects of a wedding all under the same roof,” emphasizes BreAnna Jensby, the Wedding Coordinator at Embassy Suites. “You name it, we can do it! From the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, to the ceremony, the reception or day after gift opening, we can do it all.  Having all your wedding activities in one location makes your event more convenient for you and your guests. Family and friends avoid having to travel all over town and it keeps your special day right on schedule.  There are also cost savings benefits on bundling your venue and hotel accommodations together.  Embassy Suites can put together a package that fits almost any budget.

A lot of people don’t realize that all Embassy Suites guest rooms are spacious, two room suites and are perfectly suited for families.  The hotel offers a pool, whirlpool and sauna for guests and is located in the heart of Lincoln’s entertainment and P Street shopping district.  All guests of the hotel will enjoy our complimentary evening reception and famous cooked to order breakfast as part of their stay.  Another benefit of having your room block with Embassy Suites is we will provide you with your own tailored web page; this allows guests to book their own discounted guest rooms with no worries from the bride or groom.”

She adds, “One of the toughest parts of planning a wedding is determining the budget. It’s helpful to get an idea on how many guests you’re inviting and how many guests will actually attend so you can determine locations that will fit your guest list.  A good guideline is 75% of the invited guests will attend. However, that number may go up if the wedding is taking place in the same area where the families and friends are located. Once you have determined your budget and guest list you can start to figure out what venues and locations meet both of those criteria’s.

Furthermore Embassy Suites is a destination location, with the largest ballroom in Lincoln for wedding receptions, so it is imperative to plan at least a year in advance to get your first date of choice. The wonderful thing about planning your wedding with Embassy Suites is that we can take care of everything for you. We have a beautiful location with no weather concerns, and once you book with us you have a professional wedding specialist to assist you with all the details, an award winning chef to create a menu with you and the exceptional hotel staff to assist with all other needs during your stay. Your guests are also able to stay overnight onsite and partake in the cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly manager’s reception.

When you book your wedding reception with us, our table linens, napkins and china are also complimentary and we provide centerpieces at no charge. Whether you desire a reception that is the utmost in sophistication or to have finessed fun in formalwear, the Embassy Suites can grant you unforgettable memories you will cherish!

We take pride in being the one-stop-shop for all wedding needs.  Our network of vendors allows us to orchestrate every detail for your wedding.  Whether is coordinating flowers, music, lighting, dance floor, cakes or limousines, we are able to make it convenient for you and can arrange it all.  Contact me directly at (402) 473-4712 or breanna.jensby@jqh.com for a private tour.”

The Falls Reception Hall, located in northeast Lincoln at 5925 Adams Street, is yet another popular local venue for wedding festivities.

“The Falls Reception Hall transforms into elegant surroundings for a wedding with a large waterfall inside the venue and seating for up to 320 guests,” advises Millie Becker, owner of The Falls Reception Hall. “Rental of our venue includes tables and chairs for your guests with any setup and teardown that’s required, table linens, cloth napkins, a selection of centerpiece decorations, a fully stocked cash bar and bartending services for your event, a large dance floor, and a DVD player with a projector and screen available for use.

We also take great pride in our catering services and selection of fare offered. All menu items are served buffet style and guests enjoy the meal on china dinnerware. Additional decorations are always welcome, and we open the venue as early as 9 a.m. for those who book the venue to have access for staging. Couples may even opt to have their wedding ceremony held at The Falls for no additional charge! We still have limited booking available for those who are planning a winter wedding. These couples can also take advantage of our special seasonal discount of 20% off of room rental from November 1st through February 28th.”

The Entertaining:

As with entertaining guests at any event, a major focus is on making sure everyone has an enjoyable experience. Especially in the case of weddings, this includes making sure guests are fed and have access to refreshments so they can relax and party it up! Furthermore, it literally includes the entertainment, with live music/musicians or a deejay being the general go-to options.

Especially when it comes to catering, our local restaurants offer the finest options for any type of fare you can imagine.

“Venue is a full-service events & catering company that creates and customizes an event based on your likes, tastes, theme and budget,” explains Cherie Anderson of Venue Restaurant & Lounge. “As always, we utilize the freshest ingredients to create a memorable dining experience for all!

Venue also offers several private dining rooms to host your bridal and couple showers along with wedding rehearsal dinners.   Moreover, complete in November will be the addition of two more rooms and a separate catering kitchen so we can serve up even more food in and around the Lincoln area.  We want our customers to realize how convenient it will be to place an order for pickup or delivery of great quality food for any size group any day of the week.  Our experienced and professional staff are eager to assist and my goal as director is to take any and all stress out of planning your event while building lasting relationships as you hopefully become part of the Venue Family for life!”

If you’re looking for something fun and creative when it comes to the bar at your wedding reception, there will be a new option available in September – the Group Therapy bike can now transform into a complete bar concierge service! “With the recent legislation that allows our company to have its own specific liquor license, Group Therapy is able to bring the bike on-site and convert it into a full-service bar,” explains Drew Philippi, owner of Group Therapy Bike Tours. “This would include staff to serve the drinks, decorative touches for the wedding theme and tunes of your choice from the sound system. Guest would be able to run a tab or pay as they go; we will be able to accept cash payments as well as offering mobile payment processing for cards. The bar can be set up stationary or there’s also the option for your reception guests to take the bike out for a spin — each wedding can be planned according to the space involved and your wishes. For indoor venues, however, the building would need to have a bay door or a way to get the bike inside. As bar services tend to be very expensive, this is a great way to add an element of unique entertainment for your guests and really get more bang for your buck! Weddings are meant to be enjoyable, memorable experiences and that’s exactly what we offer at Group Therapy so it makes for the perfect expansion of our services. There are a lot of bases to cover with respect to planning a wedding, and scheduling the Group Therapy bike as your bar for your upcoming wedding is easy and stress-free. Not to mention you’ll be crossing a major part of the entertaining off of the to-do list. We’re excited to take the Group Therapy experience to a whole new level, and we will also be announcing more event offerings soon!”

He adds, “Along with our new bar concierge services we are still the perfect choice for many other wedding-related events such as bachelor/bachelorette parties, on-site wedding day transportation at the venue, or a tour in between the wedding and the reception for photos with your bridal party just to name a few popular ideas.”

As far as entertainment goes, there are generally two options to choose from – a deejay/playlist or live music. Live music really makes the event a special, one-of-a-kind affair and there are plenty of different genres, bands and musical ensembles to fit whatever theme or style you have in mind.

“Live music options for both ceremony and reception are becoming more and more popular throughout the years and wedding seasons,” emphasizes Vicki Harris, owner of Harris Academy of the Arts. “Professional musicians add a personal touch to your special day, allowing for customized and intimate musical options, rather than just assigning someone to push play on a recording. Want to provide a memorable engagement?  Our musicians can also perform that special song at the moment you pop the big question!

Our goal is to provide dependable, quality live professional music. No event is the same, so we provide our clients with flexibility available through the choice of ensemble, style of music and price. We are available for weddings and events within a 3-4 hour radius of Lincoln. Ensembles consist of solos, duets, trios, quartets and small ensembles, with styles of classical, theatre, easy listening, jazz, pop and more. We are flexible to meet the needs of our clientele, in a variety of venues, whether large or small, indoor or outdoor. Our musicians have collectively performed thousands of professional performances. Moreover, we have the luxury of providing two to three ensembles simultaneously, offering a variety of instrument options such as voice, piano and keyboard, guitar, strings, woodwinds and brass. We have earned a high level of experience and expertise in delivering one great performance after another; this experience and detail management is the most valuable benefit we offer our clients aside from our talent.

Harris Academy of the Arts Professional Musicians is also proud to now offer a jazz trio for wedding and reception performances, along with the other existing varieties of music solos and ensembles. A fun alternative to more traditional dancing options such as a DJ or band, the jazz trio provides lively, upbeat music. Our jazz trio includes a pianist, bassist, and guitarist.”

While some musicians only allow for specific styles and pieces within their repertoire, Harris Academy of the Arts’ professional musicians strive to find the music selections that fit the bride and groom and their story leading up to this big day. More popular options include string quartets, violin/piano duet, violin duet, violin/cello duet, violin/flute duet, voice/piano duet, violin solo and piano solo.  Growing in popularity is trumpet solo, our jazz trio, as well as our Charles Dickens Carolers.”

She further advises, “The sooner you book everything for your wedding, the better! Many business – be it musicians, photographers, caterers, venues, coordinators, etc. – book a year or more in advance when it comes to weddings, especially for the more popular wedding months (e.g., June, July, August, September, October, etc.). The sooner you book your services, the less stress and the more assurance you’ll have the best musicians in place.

Planning an outdoor wedding?  There are many factors you’ll need to consider to ensure a smooth event (e.g., temperature, wind, sound, protection from the elements, bugs, etc.).  Harris Academy of the Art’s professional musicians are available to perform outdoor events.  We will aid in guiding you through the process of ensuring that not only are the musicians and their instruments protected to offer the best quality performance possible when performing outdoors, but that you’ll also consider factors that provide the best and most comfortable experience for your guests, friends and family as well.

Don’t forget to ask about consultation options that services might provide. Harris Academy of the Arts Professional Musicians provides a FREE music consultation to learn more about our services, as well as a consultant to e-mail or call any time for assistance in music choices, location questions, and much more. Contact us today at (402) 423-7121 or musicians@harrisacademyofthearts.com to learn more about our professional musician services.”

So for all of you ladies and gentlemen out there who are planning weddings, whether it’s yet this year or your date is set for 2016, there are plenty of options available and the sky’s the limit. Just make sure you have a set budget established as well as areas that you’ve agreed to spend more money versus those that are lower on your priority list. As one of the most important days of your entire life, and the start of your life together as husband and wife, it’s important to work with experienced professionals who will make sure that all of the bases are covered so that you get to enjoy all of the wonderful moments and make the memories you’ll cherish forever on your special wedding day.