Local Wedding Planner Ranks Top In The Nation


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She’s a mom, has a full-time job, and is a wedding and event planner in your neighborhood on top of that. Her name is Shannon Thomas and she’s ranked by weddingwire.com as one of the nation’s top small market wedding planners.

Sarah Krueger was a bride on a budget, looking to create her perfect day for $5000 or less. That’s the story for many young brides in the Wausau area, and that’s where Shannon comes in.

Shannon says Sara’s beautiful center pieces were mostly a combination of, “sticks and vases that we found at a dollar store, and reptile sand.”

Sara’s friends and family told her it looked like she dropped five grand alone just on the setting. After the food and music were planned, she says it really didn’t cost that much because Shannon was able to roll up her sleeves and make it happen.

Whether you’re into high budget bouquets or you’re a “biggest bang for your buck” kind of gal like Sara, Shannon’s business called One Girl Creative LLC. is your go to planning service. She started wedding planning in 2009 after coordinating events for broadcasting agencies for 20 years. Friends told her that she should start planning weddings as a career, and at first she laughed it off.

“They said you know what we really need in this town, we need a wedding planner. At first I just laughed at the idea and said I’ve never been married. I don’t know a thing about weddings.”

When hard economic times hit, she leaned on her creativity and contacts from the industry to make a name for herself. Now, she’s helped 24 couples tie the knot.

Shannon’s planning has now turned into a successful reality. If you’re hoping to plan your perfect day with her, call soon. She’s booked until December.



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5 experts make wedding plans for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Whether they walk down the aisle in 2012 or 2013, there’s no doubt that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will star in the wedding of the year. We asked a quintet of A-list wedding planners to unveil ideas to help the most boldface bride and groom of them all tie the knot.

PLANNER: Marcy Blum, whose celebrity wedding clients include Billy Joel, Colin Hanks, Salman Rushdie, Tom Clancy

The locale: “Some sort of magnificent structure.â€� Pitt is “such a visual person. He’s designed so many homes, and now the ring,â€� that Blum could see collaborating with him on a modern building that takes the typical tent cake “because that’s where his tastes run. … They can’t do anything outside, unfortunately, unless they can fool everyone to where it is.â€� One place Blum believes the couple has crossed off their short list because it’s at the top of everyone else’s: Their South of France chateau.

The guest list: Under 100 family and close friends.

The vibe: “Very low-key, and it should be … soft and understatedâ€� and family-oriented, with the kids playing a prominent role. “The kids will definitely, it seems to me, be very much a part of the ceremony.â€� The idea is “not to just cut to the chase and get to the party as everybody does, but have a more meaningfulâ€� service that taps into the couple’s spirituality — and the children’s reported wish for a fairy-tale affair. “They want it to be out of Shrek.â€�

The entertainment: A similarly boldface band. “A lot of friends and acquaintances are going to pitch in and perform,� doing double duty as guests and singers or players. “It’s part of the gift, almost.�

PLANNER:Colin Cowie of ColinCowieWeddings.com, whose celebrity clients include Alyssa Milano, Eddie Murphy, Holly Robinson Peete

The locale: Two venues: The first would spirit Pitt and Jolie and just their immediate family members to a luxurious South African safari camp. The second, two weeks later, would be a cocktail-style reception for friends at their house in L.A.

The vibe: For the African ceremony, warm and intimate: “I could imagine them getting married with a stunning African sunset under a large old tree hanging with dozens and dozens of lanterns.� For the L.A. party, the complete opposite: “Instead of buffets, I would have stations of food paired with great wines and cocktails,� culminating in a wedding-cake cutting to create a “fun, glamorous night.� To bridge the two events, at the end of the night, each party guest would receive a small booklet filled with “stunning images� of the family wedding abroad.

The guest list: In Africa, closest family only. In L.A., 200 friends.

The entertainment: In Africa, they would be serenaded by the local village choir. At the California reception, a musical mashup: A couple of rock violinists and a percussionist would accompany someone like DJ Cassidy, who spun at Beyonce and Jay-Z’s bash. For the cake-cutting portion, a song by the pair’s favorite artist.

PLANNER: Jung Lee of Fete, whose celebrity clients include the Bulgari family, Stephen King’s son Owen, Jann Wenner’s son Alexander

The locale: Lee believes the rumors: Chateau Miraval. “It’s a revealing of the property for their closest friends and family that haven’t had a chance to visit yet.� Besides, “you can’t rent something like that.� Regardless, this will be an event that requires passports. “For sentimental reasons, I would love for them to actually have the wedding and give the proper glamour to the States, but I think it’s probably not feasible. They’re not going to have the privacy they need.�

The guest list: 200-300 people, “for sure.�

The vibe: “I would be completely shocked if it would be an all-white sort of wedding.� So Lee envisions noir nuptials: black mirrors, 2-foot candlesticks, dark, rich flowers and, juxtaposed against the 14th-century surroundings, sleek, contemporary furniture for lounging. But it wouldn’t be all adult lair. Lee sees lots of children “running around the sprawling lawn. It can’t be more magnificent than that — sort of heaven on earth.� And for a late-night snack? Considering the clan’s photographed penchant for junk food, mini bags of McDonald’s cheeseburgers, french fries, hot apple pies and shakes flown in. It would satisfy the kids — and show the newlyweds’ sense of humor. “You’re drinking and you smell that oily McDonald’s? People live for it. People clap for it sometimes when we bring it out.�

The entertainment: “Amazing acts like U2 and Elton John— just great bands that are also among their friends.� Guests are going to “get down and dance.�

PLANNER: David Tutera, whose celebrity clients include Los Angeles Clipper Chris Paul and Shannen Doherty

The locale: A “very exoticâ€� venue that is most definitely not in the USA. “They’re so international. Think about the time they spend together as a family and as a couple. It’s not in the States. … Doing it in America sort of to me goes against who they are.â€� So think private island, “up on a mountain or in a rain forestâ€� — a “challenging destinationâ€� for paparazzi to reach.

The guest list: 100-150 friends and family. “Nobody in the business.�

The vibe: “Very Baliâ€�: copious quantities of candles; local organic food that’s indigenous to the setting; dark wood tables adorned with “lots of incredibly interesting almost artifacts,â€� such as foliage-filled bowls; earth-hued flowers in greens, oranges, khakis, coppers and champagnes. The look is “very tropical, but not kitschy tropical … pretty but not prissy, not girly-girl.â€�

The entertainment: “Someone you would sit and enjoy,� like Adele. “I don’t really see this as a dancing party.� Likewise, forget those cliched “I do�-uttering traditions. “The first dance, the throwing of the bouquet — I see them not doing that at all.�

PLANNER: Diann Valentine, whose celebrity clients include Usher and Tameka Raymond, Jennifer and Eric Williams of Basketball Wives, Martin Lawrence, Toni Braxton, Evelyn Lozada of Basketball Wives and NFL player Chad Ochocinco

The locale: Their own private island, such as the $75,000-per-night Calivigny, off the coast of Grenada. The French colonial- and Balinese-style main house boasts 10 suites outfitted in designs by Oscar de la Renta and Richard Frinier. The price tag notwithstanding, it’s a relatively casual setting fitting the Jolie-Pitts, Valentine says. “They tend not to live a very flamboyant, ostentatious lifestyle.�

The vibe: A weekend of individual activities and group breakfasts and parties, including the most important bash of them all: the wedding, but the guests — and kids — wouldn’t know when they were saying “I do� until the moment it happens. The ceremony itself? A stripped-down affair “definitely� devoid of bridesmaids, groomsmen attendants, ring bearers and wedding cake — “none of that foolishness.� The cuisine, whipped up by private chefs from different regions of the world, would pay homage to the children’s homelands, from Africa to Southeast Asia. The decor would be “very sleek, very clean�: teak furnishings, neutral fabrics, seagrass mats — no “ugly white vinyl� tents. The goal? For guests to “walk away with a greater appreciation for something bigger than the USA.�

The guest list: “Very small and intimate�: 50-75 family members and friends.

The entertainment: “A very eclectic mix of music that is not about celebrity but more so about their personal taste,� representing the same cultures their family hails from. So think African dance troupe or choir plus opera singer plus, perhaps, Coldplay.

BERNINA Announces Winner of First WeAllSew Challenge


AURORA, IL, May 04, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
BERNINA of America, the world’s premier manufacturer of sewing,
embroidery and quilting machines, is pleased to announce Erin W. from
Appleton, Wis. as the winner of the first WeAllSew Challenge for her
upcycled wedding dress. Erin W. received a $1,000 BERNINA gift card
and has contributed a feature post about her other upcycled projects
on the WeAllSew blog, located at

http://weallsew.com/2012/04/28/wedding-dress-upcycle-challenge-winner/ .

The theme of the first WeAllSew Challenge was a wedding dress
makeover where participants were asked to upcycle a wedding gown or
bridesmaid dress into something new. Erin W.’s entry, titled,
“Beatnik Chic!” included a vintage wedding gown that was turned into
a modern-style dress featuring a stitched rosette and a brocade trim.
Challenge entries were judged by a panel of BERNINA experts based on
three criteria, including the number of votes each project received
on Facebook, the project description, and the finished project.

BERNINA recently announced the theme of its second WeAllSew
Challenge, “Make Yourself at Home,” where participants are asked to
upcycle any item, such as old bedding or tattered drapes, into
reinvented home decor. Those who would like to participate in the
second WeAllSew Challenge can enter by visiting BERNINA of America’s
Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/berninausa , where they’ll find full
instructions and rules. A photo of the finished project along with a
brief description must be uploaded between Thursday, May 3 and
Monday, May 21.

The WeAllSew blog is designed for sewing enthusiasts of all ages to
share a love of sewing through ideas, projects, patterns and tips,
and inspire a whole new group of sewers. Combining the best of
BERNINA of America’s blog and its Sewing Republic Web site,
WeAllSew.com offers a place for sewers, embroiderers and quilters to
connect with blog contributors and sewing experts. Readers will also
find tutorials, easy step-by-step instructions, new product
information and inspirational ideas, including ways to help those in
need.

About BERNINA
Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago,
BERNINA is the world’s premier manufacturer with a proven reputation
for offering state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery systems, sergers
and embroidery software. BERNINA’s leadership is marked by an
impressive number of industry leaders, influencers and artisans who
chose to partner with the company. BERNINA products are sold in the
United States through a network of approximately 450 fully trained
independent dealerships. In 2008, the company introduced the
revolutionary BERNINA 830, a machine designed to change the home
sewing industry. To learn more and to find a dealer, visit

www.berninausa.com or call (630)978-2500.



        
        Media Contacts for BERNINA of America, Inc.:
        Christina Bereta
        (312)780-7218
        Email Contact
        
        Ryan Nangle
        (312)780-7210
        Email Contact
        
        
        


SOURCE: BERNINA of America


http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=9184EA30ADA61BB1


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Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

modern sensibility

Historic homes like the Jackson Street classical revival house chosen for this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase evoke visions of the lives that were lived in such a place.

If only the mahogany-paneled walls could talk.

This 30-room yellow brick structure built in 1902 was a wedding gift from the president of Wells Fargo Bank to his daughter Clara upon her marriage to attorney Emanuel S. Heller. Over its 110-year history, it’s been home to wealthy philanthropists, attorneys, nature preservationists, psychiatrists, shipping magnates, jewelers and interior designers.

The austere facade hides a romantic interior that has seen many incarnations of fabulous home design, and the rooms reworked for this showcase house are no exception.

On view through May 28, the annual showcase benefits University High and features exquisite interiors by more than 30 of the Bay Area’s best interior designers. The “bones” of the home remain as glorious as they were when the 1906 earthquake forced displaced financiers to set up shop inside its magnificent halls. The ornate woodwork, grand double staircase, large stained-glass window and stunning views stand as a testament to the luxuries attained in San Francisco’s Gilded Age.

“The architecture really drove the design,” says Geoffrey De Sousa, who created an intimate gentleman’s study off the great hall. “We wanted to embrace the colors and pattern of the period in order to make the space more

intimate. We also looked to contemporary artisans to display a modern aesthetic that was influenced by the past.”

The study

For this room De Sousa took his inspiration from “The Cult of Beauty” exhibit at the Legion of Honor, working in a color palette of coppery oranges and blues to take familiar elements of the late Victorian era into the 21st century. A hand-printed and appliqued rust botanical wallpaper extends onto the vaulted ceilings, while the blue and gray rug recalls exotic peacock feathers. Handblown glass spheres in a custom lamp by John Pomp hang over a craggy mahogany and brass desk by Sylvan Fiss. The modern photograph of a robed woman in nature evokes the ginger-haired muses favored by the Pre-Raphaelites.

The living room

A striking contemporary photograph of another red-haired maiden hangs over a plush French sofa in the elegant living room by the interior design firm of BAMO, a San Francisco-based design firm. Principal designers Steve Henry and Michael Booth upholstered the walls in a deep burgundy ribbed silk to complement the mahogany walls while the grand coved ceiling is papered in a pale gold de Gournay tea paper.

The kitchen

The main kitchen is actually one flight down on the lower level. Green Couch Interior Design transformed the entire space by whitewashing the exposed brick walls, bleaching the pine floors and painting the cabinets cream and dark charcoal gray. In the adjacent family room, a spectacular metal light fixture from Coup d’ Etat plays off the large copper hood over the La Cornue range. Crisp and contemporary, this great room feels fresh and inviting.

The dining room

There is nothing streamlined about the exuberant dining room designed by Marysia Rybock for Scavullo Design. Here, arguably the most dramatic room in the house, Rybock needed to corral the Gothic Revival woodwork, heavily patterned ceiling and over-the-top Evans and Brown frieze into a cohesive whole.

“The frieze was done in the mid-’90s, and we could have ignored it,” Rybock says. “But instead we took it as our inspiration.”

A contemporary chandelier made from polished shells floats like an oversized sea creature above an assemblage of five tables topped with lavender resin rounds. Upholstered pieces in vibrant shades of purple and yellow are carefully placed around the room, including a chaise and oversize wing chair on either side of the large fireplace, which has been covered in reindeer moss — “just for fun,” Rybock says.

  • A breath-of-fresh-air, white-on-white master bedroom by Heather Hilliard (with its glam dressing room by Danville designer Kriste Michelini).
  • The fizzy girl’s bedroom by Emily Mughannam and sophisticated “boy cave” by Kathy Geissler Best.
  • The charming flower studio by Gayle Nicoletti tucked into the corner of the kitchen.
  • The sleek exterior courtyard outside the family room, designed by Sean Weatherill, who also created the peaceful terrace design upstairs.
  • An elegant tented roof terrace by Frank Holbrook.
  • A succulent wall at the entrance by Living Green.

    ONLINE

    Scan this code to your smartphone to see a slideshow of more of the 2012 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, or go to www.MercuryNews.com/home-garden.

    Other DECORATOR SHOWCASE highlights

    Bedrooms, baths and dedicated-use rooms throughout the rest of the home offer smaller doses of design
    inspiration.

    “Blogger’s Office”: Catherine Kwong’s design is sleek, spare and serene, engaging visitors through sartorial details such as the Hermes scarves in the glass-front closet doors and Andy Warhol’s “Chanel No. 5″ print. The stunning Blackman Cruz chandelier would make any “best dressed” list.
    Media Room: Weaver Design’s creation emphasizes luxurious but comfortable furnishings. Though the grand sofa and large flat-screen TV/mirror are the first things you notice in the room, smaller details such as the appliqued upholstery on a side chair and the elegant silver and marble side tables by Christian Liaigre invite closer inspection.
    Guest room: Matt Murphy knows how to create just the right mix of old and new. Hoping to re-create a luxury hotel experience, he started with a neutral backdrop, then added pops of color — primarily a warm purple — that keep the eye moving throughout the room. Tineke Triggs’ elegant bathroom, with its bold lavender graphic wallpaper, complements Murphy’s design beautifully.
    Bedroom suite: Brian Dittmer takes his cues from fine menswear. A handcrafted bed made from rolled steel panels with brass and aluminum accents is outfitted with custom linens that evoke bespoke suits and custom tailoring. Elegant buttonhole detailing on the window treatments, an antique sewing table and menswear-inspired art extend the “tailor-made” theme.

  • Thursday notes: Goalkeeper position in flux, Fernandez and Ianni primed for return

    Sorry for the late update. Wedding planning duties had me preoccupied for part of the evening. Here are some notes from Thursday’s practice at a rainy Starfire:

    * * *

    — The big news of the day was covered in an earlier post, as Michael Gspurning had an MRI. It certainly sounds like Bryan Meredith could be in line to make his first MLS start.

    — Guys that trained in full: goalkeeper Andrew Weber (got medical clearance Wednesday after suffering a high ankle sprain last month), midfielder Alvaro Fernandez (missed the past three games with a quad strain) and defender Patrick Ianni (missed the past two games with back spasms). Coach Sigi Schmid said Weber could be available on the bench Saturday and is “pretty confident (Fernandez and Ianni) should both be ready to go” against Philadelphia.

    — Schmid said the team knew it would have to make a lot of changes going into Saturday’s game with a very quick turnaround. Personally, I wouldn’t expect to get many tips as to how the lineup might look before they’re announced on game day. The coach is confident in his options but wants to keep the Union guessing.

    “Going into this game we’ll be difficult (to scout) because it makes it a little uncertain for them as to what lineup are we going to come with,” Schmid said. “Is Fernandez ready to come back? Is (Mauro) Rosales ready to play another game? Where’s (Brad) Evans at? (Fredy) Montero, (Eddie) Johnson, all those guys are guys they have to think about. We’re not going to make it easy on them by giving them any answers right now.”

    — With the offense heating up, Schmid is looking forward to greater things to come: “Once they get on the field together — meaning Montero, Eddie, Rosales, and Flaco all together — and get some games under their belt, and get to really know each other, it can be a very dangerous combination because everybody is a little bit different.”

    Jeff Parke was asked about a few subject, including Bryan Meredith‘s potentially increased role over the weekend. Something that stood out were his thoughts on L.A. fielding a less-than-full-strength lineup in Wednesday’s game.

    “It doesn’t matter to me,” Parke said. “Obviously you want to see how you compete against and mark yourself against their best squad, but that’s them. You punish teams that want to do that and want to come in here and play certain players. I thought we did that. It could’ve been more. We probably could’ve put five on them, four or five on them, if their goalie doesn’t come up big three or four times there. It’s good to send a (message) and let them know, ‘If you’re going to bring your second squad or whatever, or not bring all your guys, it’s not a game you can do that for. You shouldn’t be taking us lightly.’ I think we proved last night that we’re a team that’s up at the top and teams shouldn’t be doing that when they come into our stadium.”

    Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding inspires Angelina and Brad

    Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding inspires Angelina and Brad
    Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are the king and queen of Hollywood, so it seems only fitting that they should have a royal theme for their wedding.

    Although their forthcoming nuptials will be a low-key affair, Angelina is said to have asked her wedding planners to look to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for inspiration for their big day.

    The yummy-mummy is a huge fan of gorgeous Kate and wants elements of the royal wedding to be reflected in her own celebrations.

    And what Angelina wants, Angelina gets.

    A source told Star magazine: “Angie is fascinated by Kate, and like the rest of the world she fell in love with her and William when she watched their wedding on TV with Brad and the kids.

    “She would never make her own wedding public and wants a private event on a much smaller scale. But she loved the Britishness of Kate and William’s big day and wants to incorporate some of those very traditional elements into her own ceremony.”

    The Jolie – Pitt’s brood are set to be bridesmaids and page boys and close family and friends are expected to join the family at their Chateau Miravel estate in the South of France in September for the fairytale wedding.

    But what will Angelina wear? According to Star, she also fell in love with the vintage elegance of Kate’s lace Alexander McQueen gown and is thinking of something similar to walk down the aisle.

    The source added: “She wants to capture the feel of the fairytale princess and thinks Brad should dress formally, like a prince, too.”

    We can’t wait to see photographs from the happy couple’s big day.

    HERE COMES THE BRIDE

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    Inclined to design? Get these mobile tools

    Throw open the windows and doors and let in some fresh spring air. Why not spice up your home decor a little bit while you are at it? You could watch hours and hours of HGTV to get inspired, or you can just download some of these home decor apps for instantaneous design inspiration.

    Pinterest

    iPhone, iPod Touch

    Planning a wedding? Redecorating your house? Hunting for a new summer wardrobe? The free Pinterest app is a pinboard heaven for all of your design needs and more. Create virtual mood and design boards to meet your every whim. Here is how it works: You basically find things you love on the Internet and then “pin” them to your Pinterest boards. This includes both still images and videos. You can follow other Pinterest users and re-pin their pins too. The iPhone app is great for exploring and viewing designs and for capturing and pinning your own images with your phone’s built-in camera. Sort pins by the users you follow or via categories like “DIY Crafts,” “Home Decor” and/or “Gardening.” If you don’t own an iPhone, you can enjoy most features via the Pinterest mobile website.

    Price: Free

    Website: pinterest.com/about/goodies

    Houzz Interior Design Ideas

    iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

    If you spend enough time ogling interior design photos on Pinterest, you will surely notice a slew of images re-pinned from Houzz.com. This free app is a mecca for interior design enthusiasts. Browse scores of high-quality home design photos, and save your favorites to the “Ideabook” function of the app. You can also browse for information on local architects and design experts who can help you make your dream remodel come true. If you are even remotely interested in interior design, you will love this stylish home app.

    Price: Free

    Website: Houzz.com

    One Kings Lane

    iPhone, iPod Touch

    This is an interior designer’s best friend. It’s a virtual one-stop shop for vintage finds and spectacular home goods sales courtesy of the top tastemakers. Sales are created for only the best of the best products from around the world. If you are in the process of redecorating your home, or if you are just always on the lookout for cool items to spice up your design scheme, you simply must get this chic app.

    Price: Free

    Website: m.onekingslane.com

    DecorPad — Interior Design

    iPhone, iPod Touch

    This modern app wants you to design, share and inspire. You can browse photos from elite designers to inspire your own home decorating. Search by the type of space you are looking to redesign, such as basements, libraries, patios and many more. The app also includes a great section for finding “steals and deals” if you’re on a tight budget.

    Price: Free

    Website: decorpad.com/bookmarks.htm

    Ikea catalog

    iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android

    Ikea is perfect for design addicts on a budget, and having its catalog in the palm of your hand can inspire you wherever you go. You can use the app to make purchases or to find the nearest Ikea store location.

    Price: Free

    Website: info.ikea-usa.com/Catalog

    Ashley Madekwe: Planning My June Wedding Has Been “So Difficult”

    Her character on Revenge has singlehandedly organized dozens of high-profile events, but in real life, Ashley Madekwe could use a little help.

    The 30-year-old actress, who will tie the knot with actor Iddo Goldeberg in London this June, hasn’t had much time to plan her big day.

    “I have the dress,” she told Us Weekly at Lucky‘s FABB Conference in Santa Monica, Calif. Monday. “I haven’t done anything other than that, but I’m thinking it will all fall into place when I get to London in a couple of weeks.”

    PHOTOS: Hollywood’s hottest married couples

    Planning a wedding thousands of miles from home has been “so difficult because of the time difference,” Madekwe explained.

    PHOTOS: Spectacular star weddings

    “There’s something to be said for talking to people face to face or speaking to them on the phone, which I can’t really do because I’m on working on set and they’re usually sleeping when I’m eating, and vice versa,” she told Us. “When I get to London I’ll pick the flowers. What else do you need? Dress, food, flowers . . .cake!”

    Madekwe and her actor beau invited 80 guests to partake in their big day. After the ceremony, the ABC star plans “to go to Italy for a week with my husband.”

    PHOTOS: Celebrity bridesmaids

    In March, Madekwe told Us she is “really” excited to become Mrs. Goldberg. “We already live together. We’ve been together for so long and we were friends before we were a couple. We know each other so well!”

    Wedding Ceremony: How Do I Choose A Venue?

    Wedding Ceremony

    Wondering how to choose the right venue for your wedding? Here’s what you need to know, from etiquette and planning expert Kate Chynoweth, author of “The Bridesmaid Guide: Modern Advice on Etiquette, Parties, and Being Fabulous.” Have questions? Ask in the comments.

    Choosing a wedding site is about more than finding a spot with charm; it’s about meeting all the needs you have as a bride. Unfortunately, juggling those needs — which probably include your own religious considerations and those of others, your aesthetic preferences, and practical factors such as the bottom line number on your guest list — can quickly start to feel like a less-than-amusing circus act. To complicate things further, often everyone from your fiancé to your family has a strong opinion about what is most suitable.

    Fortunately, the choice of venues these days is incredibly diverse. Couple can decide to pledge their vows at a rustic winery, a beachside retreat, or an ornate cathedral. Start your decision-making process by putting ideas on paper. Write down your dream locations and then make a practical list of the benefits and drawbacks each provides. Do you want a wedding with a dose of tradition? Many quaint country chapels are non-denominational and welcome couples of any religious faith — yet they may be too small for a large guest list. Is being outdoors important? Locations like wineries that are frequently used as wedding venues are beautiful and practical but often booked long in advance.

    As your ideas come together, remember to be realistic about your own organizational skills. You might find a pristine beach that seems ideal for a wedding, but managing details like how the reception tent will be delivered or where guests will park can create a lot of stress. Above all, remember that while finding the right venue is partly about pleasing everyone else, it’s also about making good on your own hopes and dreams for your wedding. When striking a balance between your vision and the practical considerations feels like a challenge, just remember — your reward will come in the form of beautiful memories that you’ll always keep.

    Related on HuffPost:



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    Wedding of the Week – Roseanne and Eldon Megaw

    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
    Photo: Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography
     


    Roseanne and Eldon share their beautiful garden wedding with
    the Otago Daily Times.

    We are Roseanne (Gardner) and Eldon Megaw and we got married
    on the 2nd March, 2012. I’m 25 years old and Eldon is 23. I
    am a preschool teacher and Eldon is a dairy farmer. We live
    in between Geraldine and Hinds. 

    How we meet: We met in Timaru at a church convention
    in 2003 and got together pretty soon after that!

    The Proposal: Went down like this…. I (Roseanne)
    went to the Greek Islands for a month in June 2011 – when I
    got back Eldon was waiting at the airport for me, holding a
    sign saying ‘Roseanne Gardner’ and I was busy having a laugh
    because he’s a bit of a joker like that, and when I looked up
    again he had turned the card over to reveal another sign
    saying ‘Will you marry me?’ – I couldn’t believe it! It was
    all very surreal – I’d been waiting for this moment for 8
    years!

    The Wedding Venue: The location of our wedding was a
    beautiful old homestead in Geraldine, South Canterbury.

    Why?: We chose the venue because I had house-sat for
    the owners in 2010 and just fell in love with the place, so
    as soon as we got engaged I was on the phone asking if we
    could get married there! We were going to use my parents shed
    for the reception but then found out there was an old unused
    barn on the homestead which turned out to be more in keeping
    with our theme (and more convenient!).

    The Dress: I designed my dress and had it made. I got
    a tutu skirt made by a lady who runs her business through
    www.etsy.com. She used hundreds of meters
    of beige, ivory, cream and white tulle. I had a knee-length
    cream fitted dupion silk dress made by local designer Brian
    Molyneux. It was covered with white lace, embellished with
    beads and sequins. He also made a cumerband which was held
    together with pearls off my mother’s wedding dress. I wore
    the tutu for the ceremony and afternoon tea and then took it
    off before the grand entrance into our reception.

    Bridesmaids’
    Dresses: 
    The bridesmaid dresses were also
    made by Brian Molyneux. I bought some ivory silk off trademe
    and then had it dyed a light blush pink by the fabric dying
    tutor at Aoraki Polytechnic. She also dyed the offcuts of
    lace from my dress to be used on the bridesmaids dresses. The
    foundation of both dresses was the same, slim fitting
    strapless and then at the final fitting (3 days before the
    wedding) we draped the lace over each dress and cut around
    designs to achieve a slightly different look for each dress.
    Brian then spent countless hours handstitching the lace to
    each dress. I picked them up 2 hours before we walked down
    the aisle!

    The Flowers: I handmade three oversized flowers using
    silk, lots of hot glue and wire. The two carried by the
    bridesmaids were painted pink and mine was cream. I used a
    bunch of fake peonies on top of my wedding cake. The only
    fresh flowers we had were pink and white roses picked from a
    friends garden to fill the assorted glass bottles on the
    reception tables.

    The Catering: Spit Roast Affair from Timaru catered
    our reception and did a fabulous job! We wanted LOTS of
    simple food that tasted great and that’s exactly what we got.
    There were loads of left-overs which they kindly boxed up for
    us and we were able to use for our bbq the next day. Mum, my
    sisters and some close friends made all of our desserts which
    include meringues with raspberry coulis, chocolate pate,
    bannoffie pie (a favourite of Eldon’s), cheesecakes, ambrosia
    and so on. We also catered the afternoon tea which has been
    the most talked about aspect of our wedding among the guests!
    We had mini hamburgers, cupcakes, scones with jam
    cream, coffee walnut slice, carrot cake, an interactive
    bellini platter, hot drinks in old fashioned tea cups and
    lots more.

    Highlight of the Day: Part way through the day we our
    photographer asked us what the highlight of our day had been
    and without hesitation we both said that the absolute best
    thing was seeing all the people we love in one place
    together, enjoying each others company and having fun.

    Photographer: Our photographer was the amazingly
    talented Cathie Watts from Phunkey Photography in Pleasant
    Point. Our favourite photo is one of us leaning against the
    hood of the GTO Pontiac, me facing away and Eldon looking at
    the camera.