With this ring ...I thee plan.I thee wed.I thee LIVE.

A February 2014 publication of the

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2With this ring ...I thee plan .

I thee wed.

I thee LIVE.

GUY CORNER:HEY MEN!CHECKFOR TIPS AND INFORMATIONTHROUGHOUT THE PUBLICATION.

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¨ Picking places ... 3, 4 Capturing candids and givinggifts ... 12

Post-wedding must-dos ... 14

Your happily ever after ... 15

Announcing events ... 6

Finding food ... 7

Oak Grove event ... 8, 10

Preparing for your big day ... 10

Makeup magic ... 11, 12

3

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I thee plan.

Picking places

LocationLocation is perhaps the foremost

factor for couples to consider when

Choosing a hotelfor your guests

Where to tie the knot

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

finding a hotel for their weddingguests. The hotel should be withinreasonable proximity to the site ofthe ceremony and the receptionvenue.

TransportationGetting guests to and from your

wedding and reception is anotherfactor to consider when choosingaccommodations for your guests.Some local limousine companiesmay offer free rides if the companyhas a partnership with a certainhotel.

Proximity to restaurantsMany guests will want to hit the

town the night before the wedding.Look for a hotel that has nightlifewithin walking distance.

Proximity to other hotelsSome hotels will only block off so

many rooms per wedding party. Socouples with larger guest lists mightwant to look for a hotel that’s closeto other hotels so guests can meetup with family or friends easily.

CostThough cost should not be the de-

ciding factor when arranging forlodging for your guests, it definitelymerits substantial consideration.

Once you’ve selected a date, itwill be easier to narrow down thechoices for your wedding and re-ception venues. Many peoplechoose to marry in a church andhave the reception in the fellowshiphall. If the weather will be nice out-side and you’re interested in an out-door wedding, places such asOakland Manor or Burdoc Farmsmight be a great place for you toshare your vows. Also, some quickcalls to your favorite sites with a par-ticular date in mind will help rule outany booked venues. If your datefalls on a day other than Saturday,the choices may be the ChristianCounty Justice Center or othersmall venues. The James E. BruceConvention Center offers greatdeals to brides who marry theirgrooms on a Sunday. Heck, a desti-nation wedding on a Florida beachmay be your dream. Whatever youdecide, we hope the choice re-flects you and the groom.

That’s even more true if many ofyour guests will be coming from outof town. Look for a hotel with a rea-sonable rate to mitigate the costsof that travel.

TRY: Holiday Inn of Hopkinsville. Itserves as a reception site and aplace for your guests to sleep. Forother local hotels, check your locallistings.

NEW ERA FILE PHOTORachel Putty, escorted by her son, married Jamie Putty in April 2013 on the ninthhole of Western Hills golf course.

GUY CORNER:HELPREGISTER FORGIFTS. YOU POPPEDTHE QUESTION, ANDSHE’S TAKEN OVERPLANS. HAVE YOURSAY BY OFFERINGTO HELP REGISTER.

Post-wedding must-dosI thee LIVE.

Items to pack on your honeymoon

Etiquette for writing thank-you cards

Preserve your day at the cleaners

14

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

n Camera and accessories: Bring the camera for capturing all of yourmemories. But don't forget to bring a charger and extra batteries. Pack anextra memory card unless you will be downloading the photos to a laptopor uploading them to a storage system. If you are traveling internationally,you will need an electrical converter to plug in any electronics.n Cash: You will need some cash even if you're visiting an all-inclusive re-

sort. In addition, take one or two major credit cards if you do not enjoy car-rying too much cash. Only bring what you need because you don't wantto face the hassle of canceling cards or replacing the contents of yourwallet should something go missing.n Clothing: Try to pack clothing that can be mixed and matched for a

number of different looks. Solid-colored pants, shorts or skirts paired with dif-ferent tops is an easy way to achieve new looks. Remember to bring atleast one dressier option in clothing for a night out at a special dinner. Bringalong at least two swimsuits to have one available while the other is drying.n Comfort products: Items like insect repellent, sunburn soothing cream,

aspirin, motion-sickness medication, and more may be very expensive atyour destination, so bring these items from home.n Eyeglasses/contacts: Bring your spare pair of contact lenses or eye-

glasses in case your primary pair is lost or damaged.n Feminine hygiene products: Feminine hygiene products may be un-

available where you are traveling, so don't forget to bring some along.n Fold-up travel bag: This extra bag can be used to tote items to and

from the beach or while sightseeing. It also can be used to carry any sou-venirs that may take up too much space in your luggage.n Hair products: The hotel may provide certain toiletries, but bring along

travel-sized hair products to ensure your hair looks good during your trip.n Phone: Check with your mobile carrier to find out about roaming

charges or if you will incur extra chargings making calls or accessing dataat your destination. If so, you may be able to purchase prepaid phonecards or negotiate a temporary international rate.n Sunscreen: Pack some sunscreen so you don't return home from your

honeymoon with a bad sunburn.n Toiletries: Cotton swabs, razors, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and the

like are items to bring from home, as they are likely to cost a lot more atyour destination than they do at home.nWork-out clothing: If you plan on visiting the resort's fitness center, pack

a pair of athletic shoes and shorts or sweatpants.n Zipper-top bags: Bring along various sizes of storage bags to store wet

swimsuits or for protecting and sorting different items.

GUY CORNER:PLAN THE HONEYMOON.THAT WAY, YOU CAN PICK A PLACETHAT’S CLOSE TO A SPORTS HALL OFFAME AND SHOPPING OUTLETS ANDTAKE SOME STRESS OFF YOUR LADY.

You went through months of searching, a bundle of money and fit-ting after fitting for the perfect dress. Have your maid of honor or yourmother take your gorgeous white (or ivory) dress to the cleaners to bepreserved. You never know: your future daughter may want to wearthe gem!

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Weddings and gifts go hand-in-hand. Because gift-giving is tradition, cou-ples should plan on spending some time writing thank-you notes to expressgratitude to the people who were kind enough to give a gift.

Contrary to popular belief, couples do not have a year's grace period tomail out thank-you notes after the gift has been received or the weddinghas taken place. According to the etiquette experts at The Emily Post Insti-tute, all thank-you cards should be written and mailed within three monthsof receipt of a gift.

As to the rules regarding those getting a thank-you, it is just about anyonewho contributed in some part to the wedding, even if a verbal thanks wasalready offered. Here are some other guidelines to follow.n Mail out a handwritten note to each and every person being thanked.n Be sincere in your messages and try to mention the gift and what it will

be used for.n Promptly respond to gifts that were received through the mail so the

giver knows they arrived.n Never mention that you plan to return a gift or exchange it.n A mass thank-you posted on social media is not adequate.n Even if you are late with writing out thank-you notes, that doesn't ex-

clude you from doing so.

5

6 I thee plan.

Announcing eventsSave-the-date card etiquette

Tips for your invitations

The New Era publishes engagement, an-niversary and wedding announcements forresidents, former residents and children ofcurrent and former residents of Christian,Todd, Trigg and Caldwell counties.

The New Era has standard forms onwhich all engagement, wed-ding and anniversary an-nouncements should besubmitted. These areavailable at the news-paper’s front office at1618 East Ninth St., oronline at www.kentuckynewera.com/site/contact_us.

All announcementsare published in Satur-day’s Weekend edition.Forms and photographsmust be submitted no laterthan noon Friday, nine daysprior to the publication date yourequest. A daytime phone number,which will not be published, must be pro-vided.

The standard engagement announce-ment, which is free, includes a photo, thenames of the couple and their parents, theschools and occupations of the coupleand the time, date and place of the up-coming wedding. For $35, the photo will berun at a larger size.

The standard wedding announcement,which is free, includes a photo, the namesof the couple and their parents and grand-parents, date and place of the ceremony,the names of those in the bridal party, dateand place of the reception, wedding tripinformation and the couple’s city of resi-dence and their occupations. For $50, thephoto will be run at a larger size. For $75, inaddition to the larger photo, the names ofpeople assisting with the ceremony and re-ception and who escorts the bride andgives her away, as well as a listing ofprenuptial events can be included. Also,any wedding announcement turned inmore than 120 days from the date of theceremony is not eligible for the standard

wedding option, and payment must beprovided.

The standard anniversary announce-ment, which is free, includes a photo, thecouple’s name, the address, time and

date of anniversary event, the hostsof the event, the wife’s maiden

name, information about theoriginal wedding, the

names of the childrenand the number ofgrandchildren, etc.The standard an-nouncement is onlyavailable to thosecelebrating 25th,40th, 50th or any sub-sequent anniversary.For $35, a couple cel-

ebrating any anniver-sary can have their

announcement pub-lished. For $50, a couple

celebrating any anniversarycan have their announcement

published with a larger photo or two smallphotos, one from the original wedding dayand one current photo.

All announcements must include the cityin which every person lives.

Payment may be made with cash, localcheck, money order or credit card. Pay-ment can be made in person at the NewEra office, mailed with announcement toP.O. Box 729, Hopkinsville, KY 42241, submit-ted online with the website form or calledin to a customer service representative at270-887-4444. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Photographs can be dropped off at theNew Era office, emailed to living@kentuck-ynewera.com or attached to an onlineform. Photos must be .jpg file format andhigh quality. All published announcementphotos can be returned if a self-addressed,stamped envelope is included with the an-nouncement. Published photos will also beavailable for pick up at the front desk atthe New Era office.

For more information, call Mary D. Fergu-son at 270-887-3230 (mornings) or MelissaLarimore, the features editor, at 270-887-3226 (afternoons).

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Many couples find that tradition reigns supreme whenplanning a weddings. A recent tradition is the save-the-date card, a precursor to wedding invitations that simplylets guests know when the wedding is so they can cleartheir calendars and be there on a couple's big day. n Finalize the guest list before sending save-the-date

cards. Doing so will confirm the number of invitations.n Confirm addresses. Postage to send save-the-date

cards can be costly; confirming addresses can savecouples money on potentially wasted postage.n Keep things appropriate. Save-the-date cards need

not be as formal as wedding invitations, but they shouldstill be appropriate. Guests often keep save-the-datecards on their refrigerators, so keep it simple.n Don't overdo it with information. A save-the-date

card only needs to include the date of the wedding, in-cluding the month, day and year.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Wedding invitations oftenprovide guests with a firstglimpse of a wedding’s style.Invitations also serve as the announcement of thenuptials.n Have a good idea of

your potential guest list. Thisway you will know how manyinvitations you will need. n Decide on the formality

of the wedding. Guests infermany things about the wed-ding from the invitations,which should match the for-mality of the event in styleand the sentiments. n Dare to be different by

playing with invitation sizesand shapes. Rectangularcards are standard for wed-ding invitations, but you canexplore your creativity bychoosing more modern, artsyinvitations.

n Choose a legible fontand text color. Your invitationmay look beautiful, but itmay prove ineffective if it isdifficult to read. n Keep the invitation sim-

ple. All you really need arethe key pieces of informa-tion, such as the “who,”“what,” “where,” and“when.” n Do some math. It is im-

portant to know your datesso you can receive the invi-tations on time, mail themout, and give guests enoughtime to respond. n Handwrite the en-

velopes. Your invitation willlook more impressive if youaddress them by hand. n Make it easy for guests to

respond. n Always order extra. Mis-

takes happen, and you mayneed to send out a fewextra.

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Finding foodI thee plan.

Local bakers, chefs to cater to youKim’s Ice Cream andSweets Shoppe106 E. Sixth St., Hop-kinsville, 270-886-4004

Southern Belle CateringHopkinsville, 662-830-8722

2Kates10 Public Square, Elk-ton, 270-265-3545

Porky’s BBQ19 Main St., Cadiz, 270-350-8870

801 Main801 S. Main St., Hop-kinsville, 270-885-6246

Blissful Cupcakes2412 Fort CampbellBlvd., Hopkinsville, 270-839-5651

Cupcake LadiesCrofton, 270-424-2872

The Place: A Local Eatery104 E. Sixth St., Hop-kinsville, 270-874-5357

Pioneers Inc.904 N. Main St., Hop-kinsville, 270-885-0825

James E. Bruce Convention Center303 Conference Cen-ter Drive, Hopkinsville,270-707-7000

Canterbury English Tea Room1507 S. Main St., Hop-kinsville, 270-886-5600

Elizabeth’s Peace of Cake23 Marion St., Cadiz,315-269-0517

Woodshed BBQ1821 W. Seventh St.,Hopkinsville, 270-885-8144

Legends2910 Fort CampbellBlvd., Hopkinsville, 270-886-4413

Forest Side Bakery11300 Bell StationRoad, Oak Grove, 270-439-1388

The Cake Artist83 Comanche Drive,Cadiz, 270-871-7976

Rutland’s Bar-B-Q210 N. Vine St., Hop-kinsville, 270-885-6572

Bar-B-Q Shack4687 Pembroke Road,Hopkinsville, 270-475-4844

Four Seasons Catering9210 Newstead Road,Hopkinsville, 270-881-4040

Classic Catering128 N. Main St., Hop-kinsville, 270-886-8962

2Kates10 Public Square, Elkton,270-265-3545

All Events Catering106 E. Sixth St., Hop-kinsville, 270-839-0175

If you enjoy ethnic food, mostlocal Mexican and Asianrestaurants offer catering. Formore restaurants and bak-eries check your local listings.

As You Start Your New Life Together ...Keep up on the latest local news sportsand information (don’t forget coupons

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BY DAVID SNOWTHE EAGLE POST

When you hold abridal show in August,you can call yourself“the season’s hottestbridal show,” but thereis more to “Dreams,

Rings and WeddingThings” than the un-usual show time.

The second annual“Dreams, Rings andWedding Things” willbe presented on Aug.17 at the Valor HallConference and Event

Center in Oak Grove.The inaugural show lastyear had a wide vari-ety of booths, eventsand other details available to those celebrating a weddingor any other kind

8 I thee plan.

Dreams, Rings and Wedding Things

EAGLE POST FILE PHOTOHeather Acree and Ashley Boshers chat at last year’s Oak Grove event.

See Oak Grove, Page 10

9

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10 I thee plan. I thee wed.Oak Groveof celebration.

Admission will be $5 in advance and $7 at thedoor, unchanged from last year’s admissionprice.

“We had a really good show last year, every-thing I could have hoped for with our first one,”said Lauren Wanjon, event support for the OakGrove Tourism and Convention Commission whocoordinates the annual bridal show. “We’re goingto try to improve on that and make sure thatthere’s even more prizes and things for our bridesto come out and take a look at.”

Wanjon said the focus of the show at this time ofyear is on getting vendors, from photography andwedding design to cakes, hotels and fashion.

“We are looking for vendors from every singlecategory,” she said. “We would love to have abunch of different bakeries — more cakes thanwe had last year.”

Wanjon said the show is not just about prepar-ing for weddings. Many of the vendors at theshow have products that can traverse a widerange of celebration needs, including anniver-saries, renewing wedding vows, birthdays — any-thing that can be celebrated.

“Really it’s about any kind of special event,” shesaid. “The people who are coming out setting upbooths, they do all kinds of different events, any-way. You can have a wedding cake or you canhave a birthday cake; it’s really the same com-pany that you’re going to use. So, it’s not justabout brides; everyone is welcome.”

The highlights of the day at the inaugural bridalshow were the fashion show and the game showcalled “The Bride is Right.” Wanjon said both willbe featured in this year’s show, with more games,more prizes and more fun.

“(Weddings are) a huge industry, and it’s a lotof what we do here,” she said, referring to ValorHall. “We want to bring it closer to them. Hop-kinsville and Clarksville have their (bridal shows),but if you’re on Fort Campbell, this will be theclosest one to you.”

Valor Hall is at 105 Walter Garrett Lane in OakGrove. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Monday through Friday. Wanjon asks that thosewanting to come to the office should make anappointment to ensure that someone will be onhand to answer any questions.

For more information about the “Dreams, Ringsand Wedding Things” bridal show or for vendor in-formation, call Wanjon at 270-640-7144 or emailat eventsupport@visitoakgroveky.com. Other in-formation can be found at the Valor Hall Confer-ence and Event Center’s Facebook page or atwww.OakGroveKyValorHall.com.

HairHairstyles should coordinatewith any jewelry, accessoriesor veils brides choose. Brides,try to have a practice run-through with your local hair-stylist. And remember toschedule plenty of time onyour big day for primping.

JewelryYou already have your engage-ment ring and by the time yourbig day rolls around, the brideand groom both need their wed-ding bands in hand and ready towear. Pick bands that reflect yourlover’s personality.

DressBasically, without a dress, you can’t get married. Al-though many brides feel the pressure of finding theperfect dress, it’s important to remember that thiswill be the happiest day of your life; you want tolook beautiful, but you also want to be comfortableand you want to be carefree. Selecting a dress thatmakes you feel that way will make your weddingday go much more smoothly. Get alterations andtry it on many times before the big day. If you needhelp finding a dress, check out Special OccasionsPlus Bridal, Boyd’s Bridal or even some local consign-ment shops if you’d like. Just like finding your soul-mate, you never know where you’ll find your dress.

NailsGetting a manicure before thebig day can be a fun girls dayout event. Basic French mani-cures are inexpensive and mostnail shops also offer waxing.These tasks are not meant for theday of the wedding. Make abridesmaids, bride and mom timeof it.

FlowersWhether youchoose real or ar-tificial flowers,picking a localflorist will helpyour weddingday and yourlocal economy.Check your locallistings to see ifyou can get theprettiest flowersto fit your themeand vision.

MakeupThere will lots of picturestaken on your big day,and makeup should lookas natural and beautifulas possible. Do some trialruns with your localmakeup artist before thewedding so as to capturethe look you love. If you’dlike emphasis on youreyes, then your lips shouldbe subtle, vice versa. Seemore about localmakeup artist ReginaJackson, Page 11.

Your big day

GUY CORNER:MUSICIANS AREPRICEY, SO CUT COSTSBY CREATING APLAYLIST YOU’LLDOWNLOAD FROMiTUNES. OR YOU CANHIRE A DEEJAY AND INCLUDE A LIST OFYOUR FAVORITE SONGS.AND HERS, OF COURSE.

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I thee wed. 11

Hopkinsville makeup artist brings out ‘inner divaness’Makeup magic

BY ZIRCONIA ALLEYNENEW ERA COMMUNITY WRITER

The Christian County Chamber of Com-merce knows Regina Jackson as its recep-tionist, but to her clients, she’s “Ms. MakeupDiva.”

Jackson, 36, believes all women possess“inner divaness,” and she’son a mission to bring it out.

The mother of two startedGina’s Creative Touch in2009 after doing makeupon a friend’s teenagedaughter. From there, shesaid more and morewomen started calling formakeovers.

Although her creativityand skill came naturally, Jackson said shewanted to be certified professionally.

She graduated December 2011 from theAcademy of Makeup Arts in Nashville andnow specializes in makeup for high-defini-tion TV, print and magazine ads. Jacksondoes makeup for weddings, prom, photoshoots or women who want to look goodon a special night out.

She said airbrush makeup is a popular withbrides. “It lasts longer. It doesn’t smear orsink into the pores. It’s camera ready, and itjust gives the bride the look that she’s want-ing on her wedding day.”

Before the big day, Jackson has a consul-tation with the bride about her vision and todetermine her best features. If requested,she can do makeup for the entire bridalparty.

“Each face is a canvas and that’s ourart,” she said. “That’s what we like to do —bringing out those natural features to en-hance that beauty that they alreadyhave.”

Jackson noted that she does makeup forall ethnicities. As an African-Americanwoman, she prides herself in being able tohighlight the right features.

“It’s hard for some (African-Americanwomen) who go to get their makeupdone,” she said. “It’s either too red or toolight, but I know how to mix the makeup towhere it matches the skin tone.”

Jackson recently received a specializedservice small business award from thechamber of commerce where she is amember. She also moved her business outof her home.

The makeup diva can be found at Eu-reka’s Black Diamond hair and beauty stu-dio at 100 S. Vine St., Hopkinsville.

Jackson

PHOTO PROVIDEDRegina Jackson posts photos of her clients on herGina’s Creative Touch Facebook page. To book anappointment, call Jackson at 270-484-3636 or contacther on Facebook.

See Makeup, Page 12

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The studio’s owner andhair stylist, Eureka Dunbar,will join Jackson at 11 a.m.March 31 for Jackson’s fifthappearance on NashvilleNews Channel 5’s “Talk ofthe Town.” The pair will offerhair and makeup tips duringthe prom segment.

“I never thought my friendasking me to do her daugh-ter’s makeup would turninto me being asked to beon ‘Talk of the Town,’” shesaid.

She believes this is just thebeginning and said Godhas more in store. This is herpassion.

“It’s more than just doingmakeup,” she said. “I like tosee that smile on their faceand that confidence exudeout of them.”

Capturing candids & giving giftsMakeupI thee wed.12

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Few aspects of a wedding areas important as photography.

The pictures a couple will cherishand look back on for decadesare best supplied by a profes-sional photographer.

Even if you will be hiring a video-grapher and having photossnapped by loving friends andfamily, professional wedding pho-tography is an ideal way to im-mortalize this special day.

Price alone should not dictatewhich photographer to hire. Donot expect to pay packageprices that would be offered atdepartment or discount stores.Many photographers are artistswho take their work very seriously.

A photographer will be spendingall day with you capturing hun-dreds of photos. Each image willthen need to be reviewed, reposi-tioned and potentially enhancedor retouched.

Keep in mind that photogra-phers are unique individuals andnot all the visions and styles ofparticular artists will meld withyour own perception of how youwant the wedding to look. Ex-pressing your expectations andcomparing your goals with theportfolios of photographers willhelp you find the best fit. Do notfeel shy about asking for testimo-nials from past customers or talk-ing to couples you know whohave recently gotten married andasking for a recommendation.

Importance of photography GIFT GUIDEWedding guests should bring a practi-

cal and nice gift for the couple, but themarrying ones are not the only ones whoshould get gifts.

Bridal party participants should receivegifts from the couple as a thank you forjoining them on their happy day. Giftscan be in many forms. Some couplespay for a portion of the bridesmaiddresses or tuxedo rentals. Some couplespurchase a monogrammed gift and oth-ers give gift cards, etc. The ring bearerand flower girl should get age-appropri-ate gifts.

Parents of the bride and groom de-serve gifts for their support, monetarilyand emotionally, although gifts maynever be enough to pay back for sup-port.

Any vendors or special attendants thatdeserve an extra tip or special gift.

1618 E. 9th St. • Hopkinsville (located inside Kentucky New Era)

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WeddingInvitations

• invitations• napkins• bottle labels

• favors• balloons• banners

Fun and exciting ways toannounce your big day!

13

Post-wedding must-dosI thee LIVE.

Items to pack on your honeymoon

Etiquette for writing thank-you cards

Preserve your day at the cleaners

14

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

n Camera and accessories: Bring the camera for capturing all of yourmemories. But don't forget to bring a charger and extra batteries. Pack anextra memory card unless you will be downloading the photos to a laptopor uploading them to a storage system. If you are traveling internationally,you will need an electrical converter to plug in any electronics.n Cash: You will need some cash even if you're visiting an all-inclusive re-

sort. In addition, take one or two major credit cards if you do not enjoy car-rying too much cash. Only bring what you need because you don't wantto face the hassle of canceling cards or replacing the contents of yourwallet should something go missing.n Clothing: Try to pack clothing that can be mixed and matched for a

number of different looks. Solid-colored pants, shorts or skirts paired with dif-ferent tops is an easy way to achieve new looks. Remember to bring atleast one dressier option in clothing for a night out at a special dinner. Bringalong at least two swimsuits to have one available while the other is drying.n Comfort products: Items like insect repellent, sunburn soothing cream,

aspirin, motion-sickness medication, and more may be very expensive atyour destination, so bring these items from home.n Eyeglasses/contacts: Bring your spare pair of contact lenses or eye-

glasses in case your primary pair is lost or damaged.n Feminine hygiene products: Feminine hygiene products may be un-

available where you are traveling, so don't forget to bring some along.n Fold-up travel bag: This extra bag can be used to tote items to and

from the beach or while sightseeing. It also can be used to carry any sou-venirs that may take up too much space in your luggage.n Hair products: The hotel may provide certain toiletries, but bring along

travel-sized hair products to ensure your hair looks good during your trip.n Phone: Check with your mobile carrier to find out about roaming

charges or if you will incur extra chargings making calls or accessing dataat your destination. If so, you may be able to purchase prepaid phonecards or negotiate a temporary international rate.n Sunscreen: Pack some sunscreen so you don't return home from your

honeymoon with a bad sunburn.n Toiletries: Cotton swabs, razors, toothbrushes, shaving cream, and the

like are items to bring from home, as they are likely to cost a lot more atyour destination than they do at home.nWork-out clothing: If you plan on visiting the resort's fitness center, pack

a pair of athletic shoes and shorts or sweatpants.n Zipper-top bags: Bring along various sizes of storage bags to store wet

swimsuits or for protecting and sorting different items.

GUY CORNER:PLAN THE HONEYMOON.THAT WAY, YOU CAN PICK A PLACETHAT’S CLOSE TO A SPORTS HALL OFFAME AND SHOPPING OUTLETS ANDTAKE SOME STRESS OFF YOUR LADY.

You went through months of searching, a bundle of money and fit-ting after fitting for the perfect dress. Have your maid of honor or yourmother take your gorgeous white (or ivory) dress to the cleaners to bepreserved. You never know: your future daughter may want to wearthe gem!

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Weddings and gifts go hand-in-hand. Because gift-giving is tradition, cou-ples should plan on spending some time writing thank-you notes to expressgratitude to the people who were kind enough to give a gift.

Contrary to popular belief, couples do not have a year's grace period tomail out thank-you notes after the gift has been received or the weddinghas taken place. According to the etiquette experts at The Emily Post Insti-tute, all thank-you cards should be written and mailed within three monthsof receipt of a gift.

As to the rules regarding those getting a thank-you, it is just about anyonewho contributed in some part to the wedding, even if a verbal thanks wasalready offered. Here are some other guidelines to follow.n Mail out a handwritten note to each and every person being thanked.n Be sincere in your messages and try to mention the gift and what it will

be used for.n Promptly respond to gifts that were received through the mail so the

giver knows they arrived.n Never mention that you plan to return a gift or exchange it.n A mass thank-you posted on social media is not adequate.n Even if you are late with writing out thank-you notes, that doesn't ex-

clude you from doing so.

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Your happily ever afterI thee LIVE.

Why marriage can be good for your healthMETRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

Proponents of marriage may quoteany number of reasons why couplesshould tie the knot instead of living alife of singlehood. A desire to raisechildren together is one reason manycouples wed, but getting hitchedmight also be better for your health.That’s right, a growing body of evi-dence has suggested marriage maybe beneficial for men and womenfrom a health and wellness stand-point.

A 2006 study published in the Jour-nal of Epidemiology and Communityfound that, compared with marriedpeople, people who are widowed,are divorced/separated or havenever married are more likely to dieearlier. In addition to a greater com-bined wealth that may make accessto health insurance or better health-care possible, there are a number ofpossible reasons behind why marriedcouples tend to be healthier andhappier.n Safety: Being married and com-

mitted to one partner reduces yourrisk of developing a disease throughintimate encounters. Furthermore,married couples tend to be less in-volved in behaviors that may putthem at risk for violent altercationsbetween others. Research by theUnited States Justice Department hasfound that single and divorcedwomen are four to five times morelikely to be victims of violence in anygiven year than women who aremarried, while bachelors are fourtimes more likely to be victims of vio-lent-crime than men who are mar-ried.n Health monitoring: Married cou-

ples may pay attention to and moni-tor changes in each other’s healthmore so than boyfriends and girl-friends. Couples who can recognizethe subtle changes in physical oremotional health may be able toidentify problems before they be-

come more serious. Couples mayalso be able to urge spouses to makeappointments for routine healthscreenings and follow up on doctors’appointments.n Greater financial security: Money

is a primary source of stress for manymen and women. But living in a dual-income household can ease some ofthat stress and the potential healthproblems that come with it. Some re-search has indicated that marriedmen make as much as 40 percentmore money than comparable singlemen, even after accounting for edu-cation and job history. Marriagecould be seen as an indication of se-curity and trustworthiness, traits ap-pealing to a company.n Increased intimacy: According to

information compiled by Richard

Niolon Ph.D., nearly half of all marriedpeople engage in intimate relationstwice a week, compared to 20 to 24percent of single and cohabitatingmen and women. Sex releases en-dorphins that improve mood, can beclassified as moderate exercise, cre-ates a feel-good environment thatcan reduce stress and promotes fur-ther contact between couples.n Improves mental health: Many

people joke that getting married re-moves freedoms that lead to happi-ness, but researchers find that thisisn’t the case. In their book, “TheCase for Marriage: Why Married Peo-ple Are Happier, Healthier, and Betteroff Financially,” authors Linda Waiteand Maggie Gallagher found mar-ried men are only half as likely asbachelors and one-third as likely as

divorced guys to take their own lives.Wives are also much less likely tocommit suicide than single, divorcedor widowed women. Married peopleare much less likely to have problemswith alcohol abuse or illegal drugs.An international study of 17 devel-oped nations from Steven Stack andJ. Ross Eshleman found that “marriedpersons have a significantly higherlevel of happiness than persons whoare not married,” even after control-ling for gender, age, education, chil-dren, church attendance, financialsatisfaction, and self-reported health.

There are many health-related ben-efits to getting married. Men andwomen about to enter into a newlife together can add good healthto the reason why they are happyabout their upcoming nuptials.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

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