MOULTRIE OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 The Moultrie Observer 5A

2014 Bridal Planning Guide

• Barber - Tucker Inn • Cranford Jewelers • FrameWorks 123 • Gin Creek & RoseMott Vineyards • Gin Creek Catering

• Griner Jewelry Co. • Kim’s Fashions • Lazarus Department Store • Sid’s Antiques & Gifts • The Corner Cakery

• Three Crazy Bakers • Tropical Sun & Tanning • Turner’s ladies fine clothier

GOWN RINGS TUX

CHINA VENUE CAKE

INVITATIONS CATERING FRAMING 850328

UnVeiled!

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

6A The Moultrie Observer WINTERBRIDALGUIDE Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Tuxedo Renta ls!

“Where You Save Every Day”

101 - 1st Street SE • Moultrie Downtown on the Square

985-1006

Available at

849873˙

LAZARU S

104 S. Main St., Moultrie 985-3344

849874

“Thank you for shopping with your local merchants.”

The Difference In Dressed And Well

Dressed

• Tea-Luncheon Dresses

• Rehearsal Dinner Dresses

• Mother of the Bride • Mother of the Groom

• Going Away Suit

For Over 63 Years, Specializing In

Distinctive Looks For Your Special

Occasion

ladies’ fine clothier since 1933

•Petit Fours •Cup c akes •Brownies •Cookies

134 First St SE • Moultrie, GA Downtown • 668-2253

Hours: Tues-Fri • 7 - 5, Saturday • 8:30-4:30 Cindy Johnson, Owner

850240

Bride and Groom...

CAKES for every Special Occasion!

201 10th Street, Moultrie, Ga. 229-502-9992

Come by Tropical Sun Tanning and get in the only automated Mystic spray tan booth in town. In as little as 3 minutes you can have a beautiful natural looking tan. Also check out our summer tanning specials!

O N YOUR SPECIAL DAY AND YOUR BRIDAL PICTURES ...

850875

LET TROPICAL SUN TANNING HELP YOU LOOK YOUR BEST!

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 WINTERBRIDALGUIDE The Moultrie Observer 7A

GRINER JEWELRY CO. Moultrie’s BRIDAL JEWELRY STORE

30-1st Avenue, SE Moultrie, Georgia 229-985-3700

Featuring one bangle bracelet and the “you & me”

dangle charm

You & Me Gift Set

Featuring one pair of the “heart” stud earrings and the

“love locket” necklace

Love Locket Gift Set

*See below for details

Come By And See Our New Shipment Of Passion Cut Diamonds With 81 Facets Compared To The 57 Facets Of The Round Modern Brilliant Cut Diamonds. These Diamonds Have An Unforgettable Extravaganza Of Dazzling Fire And Sparkle. You Will Love Them! All Sizes And Shapes Are Available With Special Bridal Pricing.

www.grinerjewelryco.com

850325

In a Heart-Shaped Gift Box! While supplies last.

Featuring one sterling silver clasp bracelet, one “sparkle of love” charm and two “love

of my life” clips

Sparkle of Love Gift Set

You & Me

Sparkle of love

Love Locket

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

8A The Moultrie Observer WINTERBRIDALGUIDE Tuesday, January 28, 2014

S HOWERS • B RIDAL L UNCHEONS • P ARTIES R EHEARSAL D INNERS • O THER E VENTS

~ C ASSEROLES T O G O ~

Mon. - Wed. 7:30am - 5:00 •� Thurs. - Friday 7:30am to 8:00pm Sat. 10:00am - 3:00pm • Sun. 11am - 2:00pm

Three Crazy Bakers 84

9875

on Your Birthday

with purchase of equal or greater value.

I.D. required.

FREE LUNCH

229- 985- 8809 2 2 9 - 9 8 5 - 8 8 0 9 www. threecrazybakers.com w w w . t h r e e c r a z y b a k e r s . c o m 102 S Main St. Moultrie, GA

T h r e e C r a z y B a k e r s T h r e e C r a z y B a k e r s W ILL HELP CATER YOUR

Call Frameworks 123 today to secure the Frameworks Foto Booth for your Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding Reception and other special events. 229-985-2338 229-985-2338 850257

FOTO BOOTH Bridal Brunches • Bridal Showers

Rehearsal Dinners • Luxury Accomodations

Barber-Tucker Inn, LLC 704 3rd Street SW•Moultrie, GA

229-890-0714 or 866-205-6913 (Toll Free)

www.barbertuckerinn.com innhost@yahoo.com 850258

Weddings • Receptions • Reunions Banquets • Luncheons • Showers Special Occasions/Celebrations

Conferences • Meetings Webinars • Teleconferences

Our Event Center is approximately 8,000 square feet and is conveniently located on First Avenue SE. Seating capacity with tables and chairs is approximately 400 Seating capacity with only chairs set-up theater style is 800

Base Rental Fee includes the following amenities: Tables, chairs and white linens for 100 people (additional tables and chairs available) Stage/podium • Caterer’s kitchen Wi-Fi • Audio-visual equipment • Sound System

Additional Information & Reservations: 229-985-3610

THE EVENT CENTER

Visit us today at... Southwest Georgia Community Action Council 910 First Avenue SE • Moultrie, GA 31768 850320

8 South Main Street Moultrie, GA

985-0939 Mon. - Sat. 9:30am to 6:00pm

• Bridal Gowns • Tuxedo Rentals

8 50384

• Wedding Accessories • Hair Jewelry • Hand Bags • Gifts & more at...

On Your Special Day... Whether it is a Wedding or

Prom... See our latest

Bridal and Prom Apparel and

Shoes.

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 WINTERBRIDALGUIDE The Moultrie Observer 9A

Antiques & Gifts Antiques & Gifts Antiques & Gifts

112 - 1st Street, S.E. Moultrie, GA 985-8300

Sid’s Sid’s

Bridal Registry Laura Murphy & Ross Cox

~~~ Jana Duncan & Parker Ogden

~~~ Maggie McLeod & Matt Murphy

850337

Table

• Trunks • Chairs • Dressers • Prints • Mirrors • Lamps • Shelves • Chests

• Buffets • Sterling Silver • Jewelry & more

KIM’S FASHIONS

Located in downtown Moultrie at 8 South Maint Street on thesquare, Kim’s Fashions is owned by Kim Byrd. The businessoffers bridal wear, prom apparel or special occasion dresses.Also, ladies formals, little girl formals, tuxedos (men andboys), shoes beauty suppliies, wedding accessories, hair jew-elry, purses and also evening bags. The hours are Monday-Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 985-0939 today.

•Register with multiple merchants. Couples canhelp guests out by registering with multiple mer-chants. Doing so gives guests more options.

•Vary the options within the registry. When addingitems to the registry, be sure to include items thateveryone can afford. Especially nowadays, when manyweddings host guests from far and wide, it’s ideal toinclude lots of affordable items.

•As for high-end items, keep those to a minimum.But it is important to include at least a few expensiveitems, as some guests might pool their resources andbuy these gifts, saving you money while giving themthe satisfaction that you got something you might nothave been able to afford after paying for the wedding.

Creating awedding registry

Your EngagementHere are some impor-

tant things to know aboutsubmitting your engage-ment announcement toThe Moultrie Observer.

There will be a $30charge for Engagementsprinted in the printed edi-tion.

Engagements are han-dled on a first come, firstserve basis. Please bringengagement announce-ments well in advance ofyour wedding date.

A couple may choose toannounce their engage-ment as soon as they getengaged, as this is a sepa-rate occasion from the wed-ding. It is not absolutelynecessary to have the dateof the upcoming weddingset to announce yourengagement.

We will not run engage-ment announcements afterthe wedding has takenplace.

Engagement informa-tion should come from thefamily and must have a sig-nature and a telephonenumber. Information onengagements will not betaken over the phone.

Information given willbe edited at the discretionof the Home Style Editorand only the informationrequested on the engage-ment information formwill be used. This form canbe picked up at the frontdesk of The Observeroffice or emailed or faxedto you by the Home StyleEditor.

A poor quality photo-graph will not be accepted.Photos should be in a por-trait format where the cou-ple’s heads are close

together. Photos can bebrought in with theengagement form or sentvia email to adelia.lad-son@gaflnews.com.

A proof will be sent tothe email address or faxnumber that is provided byyou. Announcements willnot be published withoutyou “okaying” the proof.The proof must be receivedback by noon on the Fridaybefore the Sunday editionit is to be run in.

It must be completelyready to publish. Thismeans, if you havechanges to be made, theproof should be sent backwell in advance of Friday’sdeadline.

Announcements will beuploaded to ourCelebrations website andcan be acessed atwww.moultrieobserver.comby clicking on theCelebrations tab on theleft.

THIS IS THE SIZE ANDPROPORTION THAT YOUR

PICTURE WILL RUN.

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

10A The Moultrie Observer WINTERBRIDALGUIDE Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Corner Cakery is located at 134 First St. S.E. in down-town Moultrie. Owner Cindy Johnson is currently takingorders for wedding cakes, grooms cakes, birthdays, anniver-saries, baby showers, and special occasions. She also offersan extensive line of cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, petitfours, cake balls, brownies and even hand-dipped ice cream.The hours are Tuesday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and onSaturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact Corner Cakeryat 229-668-2253.

THE CORNER CAKERY

BARBER-TUCKER INNA luxury bed and breakfast, located at 704 3rd Street S.W., in Moultrie, unites Moultrie’s time-less beauty with Southern Hospitality at its finest. Located in the heart of downtown Moultrie,the city of ‘Southern Living,’ the elegant Barber-Tucker Inn offers a unique and luxurious wayto experience all that the area has to offer. The five individual themed guest rooms have anexquisite blend of fine antiques, furnishings, specially selected bath amenities and service foreach room and suite that brings Southern Charm to life for each and every guest. Our guestrooms, each with a private bath, have either king or queen size beds, fine and vintage luxurylinens, down comforters and duvets. There is complimentary wi-fi throughout the home andbooks, videos and magazines in the library. Also, AM/FM radios, stereos and CDs in therooms. Amenities include hairdryers, an iron and ironing board, central air conditioning andzoned heating and private off-street parking. A complimentary, gourmet, homemade breakfastwill be served, along with refreshments from 6 to 7 p.m., and snacks throughout the day andthe evening. The home has a gazebo, patio with a garden porch and a garden pool and hot-tub. We offer a small, corporate events package, romantic getaway packages, Valentine pack-ages, bridal brunches, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. For more information, contactthe owner, Fran Ambroselli, at 229-890-0714, email her at innhost@yahoo.com or visit theBarber-Tucker Inn website at www.barbertuckerinn.com.

TURNER’S FINE CLOTHIER

Turner’s ladies fine cloth-ier, located at 104 SouthMain Street, downtownMoultrie, since 1933, hasbeen specializing in dis-tinctive looks for yourspecial occasion for 63years. Beth, Lauren andAnna Stripling, new own-ers of Turner’s, will oper-ate and carry on the tradi-tional styles of tea-lunch-eon dresses, rehearsaldinner dresses, mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom and going-away suits. They will offer“the difference in dressedand well-dressed.”

GRINER JEWELRY CO.

Darell and Yvonne Griner, the owner and founder of Griner Jewelry Co., has a passion for creating beautiful and unique jewelrythat excites his customers with each piece created. He plans to continue this success with his dedicated staff for many yearsto come. He serves the general public and the jewelry trade in purchasing loose and mounted diamonds, gold and watches atthe highest quality and lowest competitive price possible. They are then able to offer these benefits to their customers. Family-owned Griner Jewelry Co. is not after the one-time purchase from a customer but wants to take care of the needs of the cus-tomer today, tomorrow and in the future. The business is a member of The Independent Jeweler Organization, which offersexclusive buying opportunities, allowing them to bring the top fashions and best prices to their clients. It allows them to buydirectly from the cutters from their offices in Antwerp, Belgium, the diamond capitol of the world. Griner will even make thetrip overseas to act as your broker and hand-select your diamond from the inventory. Why purchase from a IJO jeweler?Confidence, trust, integrity, honesty and experience. Griner Jewelry Co. offers appraisals, a custom diamond selection, jewelryrestyling, jewelry repair, watch repair, eye-glass repair, pearl and bead restringing, bridal registry/wish lists, engraving, customdesign and gift-wrapping. They also offer lay-away, financing, gift certificates and diamond inspections. Griner Jewelry Co. islocated at 30 1st Ave. S.E. Its hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to4 p.m. Contact Darrell, Yvonne and staff at 229-985-3700 or at grinerjewelry@aol.com.

GIN CREEK CATERING

Gin Creek Catering is now catering outside of Gin Creek for all occasions. They also still caterreceptions, rehearsal dinners, bridesmaids luncheons, corporate retreats at Gin Creek. Areception is one more way to make ‘An unforgettable Southern experience.’ After you havesaid, “I do,” treat yourselves, bridal party, family and friends to a reception at the Galleria or abeautiful Victorian white tent. Whether you choose a buffet or plated dinner, we can accom-modate 50 to 500. Pick your favorites from our menu selection. A tented event at the Pergolaor a quiet reception on the lawn, your guests will be talking about your special day formonths. Christina and Brenda DeMott began to look seriously at catering in 2008, after theywere recommended to a couple from out-of-town. Planning began for the reception, and thegroom’s family asked about catering a rehearsal dinner, as well. The girls asked the couple fortheir favorite foods and what they would like to present to their guests, while working withintheir budget. Five years later, with various menu options, they offer foods that not only lookappealing but taste amazing. From plastic plates to elegant dinnerware, they will work to makeyour event memorable. From the quaint bridal luncheon of 15 to a reception of 400, they areconfident in meeting your needs on-site or off. They can host a simple buffet to a seated din-ner for class reunions, family reunions and birthday parties and weddings. Contact them atChristina@gincreek.com, 921-6951 and Brenda@gincreek.com, 941-5310.

CRANFORD JEWELERS

Cranford Jewelry Store offers a full range of services for today’s bride and groom. From theengagement ring to invitations, wedding jewlery, China, crystal, flatware and more. CranfordJewelers can manage all of your registries in one place. The store carries namebrands suchas Spode, Portmeirion, Juliska, M. Bagwell, Wedgewood, Arthur Court, Wilton Armetale,Mariposa, Lenox, Vietri, Sophie Conran, Reed and Barton, Rosenthal, Mottahedeh, VistaAlegre, Match, Gien, Skyros, Mikasa, Calaisio, Casafina and Michael Wainwright. Come seethe entire staff at Cranford’s for personal, hands-on customer service. Located at 108 SouthMain Street, downtown Moultrie, the store hours are Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,and on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FRAMEWORKS 123

Frameworks 123, owned by Steve and Connie Fritz, proudly offers quality custom and ready-made framing for your art work, photographs, portraits and precious memories. We supportand offer works of local and regional artists. Designers Steve Fritz and Melissa Sims providecustomers with a personal, unique and creative framing experience with the goal of exceedingyour expectations. With hundreds of moldings to choose from, we can meet any budget andtaste. Frameworks 123 is excited to offer Frameworks Foto Booth available to rent for localand regional events including Weddings, Receptions, Retirement Parties, Birthday Parties,Quinceanera, Corporate Events, Holiday parties, school functions and other special events.Call 229-985-2338 for more information and rates.

Gentlemen gettingready to tie the knotwill have to make

certain wardrobe choicesso they look their best ontheir big day. Althoughmany grooms-to-be renttuxedos on their weddingday, it may be more cost-effective to purchase atuxedo.Tuxedos are the ulti-

mate formal wear for men.Worn at formal gatheringslike proms, weddings andlavish parties, tuxedoshave undergone severalstyle changes over theyears. Men interested in

looking polished will findno option makes thatimpression more convinc-ingly than the right tuxe-do.Men frequently called

upon to attend formalevents may find purchas-ing a tuxedo is a wiseinvestment. There are sev-eral advantages to owninga tux rather than rentingone time and again.Tuxedos typically costaround $1,000, whereasrenting tuxedos can be $200or more each time, makingit advantageous for menwho frequently don tuxe-

dos to purchase their ownrather than rent.Another advantage to

owning a tuxedo is theopportunity to wear a tuxthat is custom-made andtailored just for you.Instead of a rental thatwill merely be stitchedtemporarily to fit yourmeasurements, a tuxedoyou purchase will be tai-lored specifically to yourbody, increasing comfortand making you look bet-ter as well.Men who buy their own

tuxedos also can choosethe style, fabric, color, but-

tons, accessories, and typeof lapels on the jacket. Atuxedo store may havemore styles available forsale than for rent. If youdesire something that fitsyour personality and yourphysique perfectly, buyingyour own tuxedo may beyour best bet.Men worried about pur-

chasing a tuxedo only tosee their waistlinesincrease or decreaseshould keep in mind thatmany tuxedo shops offerfree tailoring for as long asyou own the tuxedo.

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 WINTERBRIDALGUIDE The Moultrie Observer 11A

‘An experience of a lifetime.” Located about 15 minutes from Moultrie, right off Georgia Hwy.37 West on 251 DeMott Road in Hartsfield, Gin Creek and RoseMott Vineyards was recentlyvoted top ceremony and reception venue by more than 200,000 wedding professionals andengaged couples in the United States and Canada. They are now recognized as part of the topfive percent of wedding professionals in the Wedding Wire community. It is a private gatedproperty featuring the only full-service wedding destination in Georgia, specializing in fairy-tale weddings. Since 2003, it has been the first ‘outdoor wedding destination in the South’ ofits kind. Gin Creek offers two areas, DeMott Lake and RoseMott Vineyards, with accommoda-tions in both areas. DeMott Lake has accommodations in several structures including the1836 Presley Log Cabin, the McNeal House, Dee’s Lakehouse and five historical row cottages.Also located at DeMott Lake, is the Galleria, which is a 3,000-square foot space, with an 1,100square foot, split-level deck overlooking Gin Creek. It has a full kitchen facility that accommo-dates large crowds. The Gazebo is a magnificent two-story structure that overlooks DeMottLake and the Pergola, which is the most popular wedding ceremony site, is surrounded bymassive weeping willows. The newest destination, RoseMott Vineyards, features 53 acres ofrolling hills which has rows of grapes and Italian cypress trees. Sitting on a five-acre pond isa stone-arched Tuscan pergola with seating for 640. Wine and dine with guests sitting at yourreception in an elegant 7,200 square foot ‘triple twin peak tent’ with seating for 860. Recently,RoseMott Vineyards has added accommodations including The Olive House, which has fourbedrooms, baths, a kitchen with dining area and a large dressing area with a sitting room. Abride and her attendants can enjoy a view of the vineyard and the pond in the valley. GinCreek and RoseMott Vineyards will host weddings, getaways, and events right here in yourown backyard in Colquitt County. Contact Richie at 941-2989 or Doug at 873-3005, sevendays a week, or email them at info@gincreek.com or visit the website www.gincreek.com.

GIN CREEK AND ROSEMOTT VINEYARDS

Lazarus Department Store is a family-owned and operatedclothing store, located at 101 First Street S.E. in downtownMoultrie. Orginally established by Mendel Lazarus in 1947, itis now operated by his son, Steve. Lazarus has providedSouth Georgia with exceptional clothing such as North Face,Columbia, Under Armor, Drake, Polo, Salt Life, SouthernMarsh, Southern Tide, Costa and Nike, plus excellent cus-tomer service for more than 60 years. They offer missy andjunior wear and boy’s and men’s wear. Lazarus also has morechoices of tuxedoes than anyone else in Moultrie. See theirextensive line of men’s suits and tuxes for your next wedding,social event or even school dance. Lines include Jim’s, CalvinKlein and Ralph Lauren. The store has a large selection offootwear. Contact Steve at 985-1006. The hours are Mondaythrough Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

LAZARUS

Metro Creative

Weddings may becharacterized as adozen little details

coming together to formone big celebration. Keyelements of the big dayoften must be planned wellin advance, and timing isusually of the essence toensure the day goes offwithout a hitch.Reception centerpieces

are one of those seeminglyminor, yet importantdetails couples have to con-sider. The reception is amemorable night for thecouple, and creating a mag-

ical experience involvessetting the scene, whichincludes decorating guests’tables with centerpiecesthat capture the theme ofthe wedding.Many different styles of

centerpieces can be consid-ered. Couples frequentlyopt for floral centerpiecesbecause of the versatilityof flowers and the myriadcolor combinations thatare available. But couplesshould not limit them-selves to a floral center-piece. In fact, couples canexplore a variety of center-pieces options beforechoosing the one for them.

•Candles: Inexpensiveand beautiful, candlesimpart a subtle glow to aspace. Candles of varyingheights will cast light onthe table and make thereception room look andfeel more intimate. Placecandles on a mirror or sil-ver cake serving platter sothat the light of the flameswill reflect and disperseeven more.•Fruit: Pieces of fruit,

such as lemons, limes,apples, and oranges, can beused as a cost-friendly cen-terpiece. Whether placedin a basket or clear vase,the colors of fresh fruit

can be vibrant and eye-catching. Afterward, thefruit can be brought homeand eaten to limit waste.•Beads and baubles:

Filling a vase or low-pro-file glass bowl with beads,shells, rocks, or crystals isan easy way to dress up atable. Consider pairingthese decorative beadswith candles to have avisually appealing design.•Edible ideas:

Centerpieces that doubleas favors cut down on theexpense and amount ofwork that goes into ideacreation. A basket withtulle-wrapped Jordan

almonds or decorativeboxes of cookies stacked inthe center of the table willlook attractive and thencan be taken home byguests. Even a tall vasefilled with candy-coveredchocolates can be attrac-tive, and then guests canfill up their own little bagsof sweet treats.•Themed objects:

Birdhouses, watering cans,teapots, a small birdcage,or other items that fit withthe theme of a weddingcan work well as center-pieces. A carved pumpkinor gourd fits in with a fall-timed wedding, while a

sand pail may complete thelook of a summer-inspiredwedding.•Balloons: Don’t under-

estimate the power of a bil-lowing bouquet of balloonsin the center of a table.Relatively low-priced whencompared to flowers, bal-loons are easy to set upand will quickly fill aspace.•Wildflowers: Rather

than centerpieces full ofexotic flowers, do-it-your-self couples can placewhimsical bunches ofwildflowers and freshherbs into vases on eachtable.

Centerpiece options abound for couples tying the knot

Having an idea ofwhat you want canhelp anyone get a

better deal, whether one isshopping for a new sofa oran engagement ring.The 4 Cs is a good place

for engagement ring shop-pers to get started.Various attributes affectthe value, quality andbeauty of a diamond. The4 Cs stand forcut, color,clarity, and carat weight.The cut refers to the shapeof the stone as well as theskill involved in achievingthe shape of the facets sothat it reflects the lightbrilliantly. The color isdesignated by theInternational GemologicalInstitute. The gradingcolor in a diamond deter-mines how closely a dia-mond’s color approachescolorlessness.The dia-mond will be assigned aletter grade. The lower theletter in the alphabet, thewhiter the stone. Clarityrefers to the amount, size,type, and location of inter-nal flaws in a diamond,also known as inclusions.The cost of the diamondincreases when there arefewer inclusions in thestone. Finally, the caratweight is the size andweight of the stone. Thelarger the stone, the morepricey it can be.

Weddingexpertsays...

THREE CRAZY BAKERS

Established in 1998, and located at 102 South Main Streetand First Avenue in downtown Moultrie, Three Crazy Bakersserve a large variety of breakfast goodies and coffee. Lunch isoffered Monday-Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lunchmenu has many choices and changes with weekly specials.They also have a casserole menu that includes chickentetrazini, lasagne, taco casserole, King Ranch, chickenFlorentine, shepherd’s pie, chicken and broccoli with rice andwhole quiche. Orders by 2 p.m., will be ready by 3 p.m. ThreeCrazy Bakers will cater breakfast, lunch or dinner for businessor social events including showers, bridal luncheons,rehearsal dinners and parties. Call a day ahead and they willorganize it for you. Call 985-8809 to order. The hours areMonday-Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Friday,7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., andSunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Hart or MaggieBrown or visit the website at www.threecrazybakers.com.

•According to a survey of wedding trends conductedby Weddingbells, an online resource for Canadianbrides, the average Canadian bride in 2011 spent justunder $1,800 on her wedding gown, while the averageAmerican bride spends roughly $1,100 on her gown.•According to a recent survey from Brides magazine,

one in three brides plan to get into bed on the weddingnight and ... sleep. •According to a survey, destination weddings have

grown in popularity.

Wedding survey says...

How to stay energized all dayMetro Creative

A couple’s wedding dayis the culmination ofmonths and months ofplanning. For most, it isone of the most memo-rable, magical days oftheir lives, filled with fondmoments of time spentwith close friends and fam-ily.As enjoyable as a wed-ding can be, most bridesand grooms who havealready tied the knot canattest that a wedding is along, often tiring day.It is very easy for ener-

gy levels to wane. Toensure you have enoughenergy to last through tothe final good-bye of theevening, follow these sug-gestions to remain ener-gized.•Recognize your wed-

ding day is a very long day.It’s possible to rise quiteearly in the morning tobegin prepping with make-up, hair styles, wardrobeand more. If the party isan evening reception, itcould last until the weehours of the morning. Youmay find yourself up fornearly 24 hours, when thecameras will be flashingand the video rollingthroughout. Naturally,you’ll want to look yourbest throughout.

•Get a good night’s sleepthe night before. Get to bedearly the night before soyou will get ample sleepand look rested. It is under-standable that nerves andexcitement may get thebest of you and make it dif-ficult to fall asleep. If youoften grow anxious andstruggle to fall asleepbefore big events, talk toyour doctor prior to thewedding to ask if you canbe prescribed a one-time-only sleeping pill that willensure you get to sleeppromptly. Do not take thismedication with alcohol,and be sure to take it onlyif you can get a full 7 to 8hours of sleep. Otherwiseyou may experience medi-cine hangover.•Enjoy a hearty break-

fast. At breakfast on themorning of your wedding,consume a combination ofcarbohydrates and protein.The carbs will provide theinitial burst of energy youneed to get going, and theprotein will keep you feel-ing full. A combination ofwhole wheat toast, freshfruit and Greek yogurtmakes for a filling start tothe day.•Stay hydrated.

Although drinking a lot ofwater can result in morefrequent trips to the bath-

room — which can be cum-bersome for brides wear-ing their gowns — it isessential to stay hydrated.Dehydration can result inheadaches, weakness anddizziness and may makeyou feel cranky. Be sure toconsume water throughoutthe day.•Pack some snacks. The

time between breakfastand the cocktail hour of awedding may be signifi-cant. In your wedding “sur-vival” kit, be sure to packsome easy snacks to eat.Trail mix can be nibbledfor a boost of energy, and abanana can take the edgeoff of hunger pangs. Avoidanything messy that candrip onto clothing or getstuck in your teeth.Arrange to have snacksstowed in the limousine oranother mode of trans-portation so that you canrefuel on the way to theceremony or in transit tothe reception.•Don’t overdo it with

caffeine. It may be tempt-ing to lean on an energydrink or a super-size cup ofcoffee to give you the boostyou need. But caffeine isonly a temporary fix. Afterthe effects of the caffeinewear off, you could findyourself more tired thanbefore and crash at an

inopportune time duringthe day. Instead, a briskwalk outdoors mayrecharge your batteries.Afterward, time spent onthe dance floor enjoyingthe reception will likelystimulate some adrenalineto keep you going.•Eat dinner. When fami-

ly is beckoning and thephotographer needs to getyet another pose, it is easyto skip dinner. Be firmwith your decision to enjoyyour meal. After all, youpaid for it and it should notgo to waste. Besides, sittingdown to dinner enablesyou to rest and absorb theatmosphere of the wed-ding.•Continue to drink plen-

ty of water throughout thenight. Alcoholic beveragesmay be flowing, but toomany spirits can compro-mise your energy levels. Besure to balance the boozewith hydrating fluids, suchas water or juice.Weddings take up the

entire day, and it can beeasy to succumb to a lackof energy as the day pro-gresses. But by heeding afew tips, it’s possible toremain in top formthroughout the entire wed-ding day.

Here’s some tips on tuxedoes

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

12A The Moultrie Observer WINTERBRIDALGUIDE Tuesday, January 28, 2014

SWGA CAC: THE EVENT CENTER

The Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Inc. The Event Center is conveniently located at 910 First Avenue, SE,Moultrie, Georgia. With approximately 8,000 square feet of space, The Event Center is ideal for gatherings and celebrations ofall kinds: weddings, receptions, reunions, banquets, luncheons, showers, special occasions and business meetings/confer-ences/webinars. Seating capacity is 400 with tables and chairs; 800 when set-up theatre style with chairs only. The center isdecorated in neutral tones with beautiful lighting fixtures that complement the colors and theme chosen for any occasion.Rental fees include round and rectangular tables, chairs, and white linens for seating up to 100 people (items for additionalseating and serving is available at additional costs); stage and podium; and audiovisual equipment, including sound systemand three overhead projectors and screens that can be connected to your laptop or dvd player. The facility contains a caterer’skitchen with range, double ovens, large foodwarmer, refrigeration, and ice machine. In addition to social occasions, The EventCenter is available for conferences, meetings, continuing education, seminars, webinars, and/or teleconferences. Call 229-985-3610 for more information and reservations for your next event.

TROPICAL SUN TANNING

Tropical Sun Tanning, located at 201 10th Street, will helpyou look your best on your sepcial day and for your bridalpictures. It offers the only automated Mystic Spray tan boothin town. In as little as three minutes, you can have a beauti-ful, natural-looking tan. They offer California Tan, AustralianGold, Designer Skin and Tanning — Look Good, Feel Great.The hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.,Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. You cancontact them at 229-502-9992.

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Atoken of apprecia-tion for guests is req-uisite at wedding

receptions. Wedding favorsenable attendees to walkaway from the event with amemento and also a smallthank you for their partici-pation and celebration ofthis momentous event.

Brides- and grooms-to-behave different ideas when itcomes to wedding favors.Guests have their own opin-ions, too. As customs andtrends change, so do theoptions in wedding favors.

In the past, weddingfavors were not much dif-ferent from the itemsoffered today, and not everyguest was privy to a take-

home trinket. In the 16thcentury, wedding favorswere a sign of extrava-gance and showed off thefamily’s wealth to theguests. Only rich andprominent people duringthose times could affordand provide sophisticatedgifts to their guests. Somefavors symbolized luck, andsharing them with guestsensured good luck to all aswell. Almonds were com-mon favors because theysymbolized fertility, health,happiness, wealth, andlongevity.

Bonbonnieres were oncea popular wedding favor. Abonbonniere is a small, dec-orative box made of porce-lain, crystal or gold. It isembellished with colorful

and precious gems. Insidethe box houses a sweet deli-cacy, often called a bonbon.In modern times, manycouples are returning tothe tradition of giving bon-bonnieres or other ediblefavors as their wedding cel-ebration thank-yous. Ediblefavors are often economicaland guests tend to appreci-ate them. After all, guestshave to find a nook in theirhomes in which to housean engraved ice creamscooper or yet anothersmall statuette.

Edible gifts can be asvaried as a person desires.Candy-coated almonds arestill popular, but many cou-ples have expanded theirchoices and have creatednew trends in favors. For

those couples seeking aunique edible favor for thewedding, here are somesuggestions.

•Cake or brownie pops:Food on a stick has longbeen a favorite of many, butthe concept has been takento new heights with the cre-ation of cake pops. Theseare small balls of cake orbrownie that are madefrom cake crumbs andfrosting. The balls are cov-ered in candy melts orchocolate and served on astick. Chocolate artists cantransform ordinary cakepops into works of art withintricate piping designs onthe hard, outer shell.

•Cookies: Pastry artscontinue to be popularfavors for any occasion.

Many bakeries offer intri-cately designed and deco-rated cookies that can per-tain to any theme. Thinkabout a wedding couple ora set of rings as the cookieof choice for a weddingfavor. Most cookies last 2 to3 weeks, so they can be pur-chased in advance.

•Petit fours: These bite-sized pastries lend them-selves well to weddingfavors. They can easily bepaired and put in smallboxes as take-home treats.Some bakeries create petitfours on demand. If not,petit fours can be pur-chased through online ven-dors.

•Chocolate: Gourmetchocolate remains a popu-lar edible favor. Choose

among truffles, caramels,chocolate-covered pretzels,or any favorite treat.Depending on the chocolati-er, favors may come pre-boxed and wrapped.

•Seasonal treats: If awedding coincides with aparticular season or holi-day, favors can be coordi-nated as well. Thinkcaramel-covered apples forfall parties, chocolate bun-nies for spring events,spiced cake bars for thewinter holidays or lemontarts for summer weddings.

Wedding favors havebeen a part of wedding cer-emonies for centuries.Edible gifts are thoughtfuland flavorful mementos ofthe wedding day.

Edible wedding favors make a fine choice

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Close friends and fami-ly members are animportant compo-

nent of a couple’s weddingday. Individuals who areespecially close to thebride and groom are oftenasked to become membersof the wedding party,which means a bride-to-bewill be asking one or morewomen to play an integralrole in the celebration. Toset these ladies apart fromother guests at the wed-ding, they are often askedto wear coordinatingbridesmaid gowns.Selecting a style and colorthat is fitting to the uniquepeople of the bridal partycan be challenging, but it’snot impossible.

As if choosing yourmaid of honor wasn’ttricky enough, you nowmust make a host of otherdecisions as well, all whileplaying stylist to the wed-ding party. Fashion senseis as unique as a finger-print, and it is unlikely thebridesmaids will be able toagree on every aspect ofthe gowns they will beasked to wear. However,there are ways to narrowdown the choices and be asaccommodating as possibleto their needs.

Size mattersThe body shapes and

sizes of the women in yourbridal party will be differ-ent, and this should bekept in mind when select-ing a gown style and cut.There are certain dressshapes that are universallyflattering, such as A-line.Try to avoid gowns thatare extremely form-fitting,as only a few of the brides-maids may be able to pulloff this look successfully.The remainder could beleft feeling self-consciousand uncomfortable. Plus,form-fitting clothing will

be restrictive and can bedifficult to move around in— particularly consideringthe gown will be worn foran entire day.

Flattering ColorAs a bride you may

have a colorscape in yourmind for the wedding. Butwhat looks good in tablelinens and flowers is notalways the right choice forclothing. Take the skintones and hair colors ofyour bridesmaids into con-sideration before choosinga dress. Green- and yellow-hued dresses may not looknice on women with oliveskin tones, while very palecolors may wash outwomen with fair skin.Those with dark skin mayneed a brighter-coloreddress.

Price TagIt is an honor to be

asked to be part of a bridalparty, but that honor canbe very expensive. Thebridesmaids are expectedto pay for their wardrobe,hair styling, and makeup,as well as parties and giftsfor the happy couple. As acourtesy to the womenwho already will be invest-ing a considerable amountto be a part of your wed-ding, make every effort toselect a gown that is afford-able. There are plenty ofretailers offering stylishoptions that may not be asexpensive as some special-ty stores.

Once you’ve decided onthe basic elements, consid-er the following sugges-tions to find a gown thatthe bridal party will enjoy.

•Take one or two brides-maids shopping with you.

•Think about choosingseparates.

•Choose one color andthen let the bridesmaidschoose the style they likethe best for themselves.

•Go with a tea-lengthgown.

Find a gownthey all willabsolutely love

MOULTRIE OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 WINTERBRIDALGUIDE The Moultrie Observer 13A

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MOULTRIE OBSERVER

14A The Moultrie Observer WINTERBRIDALGUIDE Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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