Page 8 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011

Bridal Gowns • Floral Arrangements •Wedding Planner • Rings • Invitations • Honeymoons

January 30, 2011

204 E. Main Clinton • 592-2111www.butlersgifts.com

Fine gifts and Bridal registry

Being asked to be someone'sbest man or maid of honor is anhonor to be cherished. Often thebest friend of the groom or bride,the best man and maid of honoroften want to reciprocate thehonor of their role with a toast thatillustrates just how much theycare for the bride or groom.

But once the time comes to sitdown and think about their toast,the best man or maid of honor areoften in the dark. Giving a wed-ding toast, after all, is not aneveryday event, and for manypeople it will be a one-time expe-rience, if they're even asked at all.Though a certain amount of pres-sure comes with the responsibilityof giving a toast, keeping a fewideas in mind when writing a toastwill make the process go moresmoothly.

Thank the guests. Thanking theguests for attending is a good wayto break the ice. Be sure to thankthe hosts as well.Traditionally, thehosts are the bride's parents.However, thanks to the escalatingcosts of weddings, many are nowfinanced by both the bride andgroom's parents, and oftentimesby the bride and groom them-selves. Therefore, you can avoidany missteps and simply thankthe parents of the bride andgroom after thanking the guestsfor joining in the festivities.

Introduce yourself. While thebride and groom certainly knowwho you are, chances are manyof the guests do not. Many wed-dings boast guest lists with morethan 100 people, so introduceyourself at the beginning of your

toast. When doing so, you can ex-plain your relationship to the brideor groom (i.e., older/younger sib-ling, college roommate, etc.).

Keep things light. While jokesshould remain appropriate (everywedding has kids in attendance),keeping the toast jovial is a goodway to keep the festive mood ofthe day going. While it's importantto get across how much you cher-ish being the best man or maid ofhonor, a jovial approach to doingso will be enjoyed by all, and yourmessage will still come across tothe bride and groom as well.

Add an anecdote. The best manor maid of honor no doubt havemany funny anecdotes to tellabout the bride or groom. Add alight-hearted anecdote that illus-trates your relationship to thebride or groom and how muchthey mean to you. An olderbrother, for instnace, might tell atale of the innocent joking aroundbrothers do, while a younger sis-ter might spin a funny yarn abouthow she once used all of her oldersister's makeup. Just make surethe anecdote is appropriate foreveryone in the audience.

Raise a glass, but do so afterthe toast, and not before. Whileeveryone knows to raise a glassat the end of the toast, some bestmen or maids of honor raise onetoo many glasses before it's timeto give their toast. Don't drink toexcess before it's time for you togive your toast, or you'll risk beingthe talk of the reception for all thewrong reasons.

Tips for a toast to remember

(MS) -- Are you one of the thou-sands of couples who got engagedover the holidays? This is the timefor you and your soon-to-be to geteverything you ever wanted --whether you're starting fromscratch, upgrading, expanding orreplacing. Turn a whole bunch ofmismatched mine and yours into alifetime of ours.

"When it comes to registering,relax, take your time and have fun,"recommends Audrey Stavish, aBridal and Gift Registry expert atBed Bath & Beyond. "Most bridesupdate their registries online and gointo the stores many times. Therearen't any rules that you must fol-low. Choose items that are right foryou and your soon-to-be. Gothrough the registry process to-gether and have fun!"

Here are some additional tips tomake wedding planning a breeze:

Plan Ahead: Start a bridal registryas soon as you say "yes." That wayguests will have lots of options forengagement gifts and showers. Pe-riodically update your registry byadding more products if you needto, even after the wedding. Be kindto procrastinators.

Do the Math: Experts advise regis-tering for 2-3 items times the num-ber of guests you plan to have.Close friends and family will rely onyour registry for special events lead-ing up to the wedding -- such as en-gagement parties, bridal showers,and holidays! Your guests will ap-preciate having lots of choiceswhen they shop for you. Be sure torefresh your list regularly as gifts get

purchased.

Register Now, Because YouWon't Buy it Later: You may thinkyou will ... but you won't. Now is thetime to let others get you the stuffyou'd never buy yourself. Yourfriends and family might even gettogether to purchase a higherpriced "group gift."

Dream Big: Register for gifts in arange of prices and categories. Thiswill give guests and group giverslots of options to choose from.Remember the Rule of Three:When it comes to setting your table,if you choose bold patterns for yourchina and flatware, pick a more sim-ple style of glassware. Prefer intri-cate stemware? Pair it with simplerpatterns of china and flatware. So,it's bold/bold/simple or simple/sim-ple/bold.

Visit a Store: It's in YOUR best in-terest to visit a store and schedulean appointment with an expert con-sultant who can help you with yourgift selections and share great tipslike "The Rule of Three," what cook-ware you will need to prepare your

favorite dish, what knife to usewhen and much more. When mak-ing your selections, it's important totouch the towels, heft the flatware,see everything in person!

C'mon Back: Most couples don'tmake all their selections in a singlespree. Plan on making multiple vis-its.

Once you've set up your registry,take advantage of complimentarywedding planning tools available atall your local stores, especially wed-ding registry preferences. This way,all of your information can be storedin one convenient place.

Congratulations and best wishes onyour engagement. Now get regis-tering and let the gift-giving begin.

In a recent survey released byVisa Inc., 88 percent of couplesbelieved they overspent on someaspect of their wedding. Over theyears, weddings have become amajor financial commitment, inmany instances ensuring a cou-ple's first task as man and wife willbe paying off the mountain of billsthey accrued to achieved theirdream wedding.

In today's economic climate, thecost of weddings is even tougherto swallow, as both the domesticand global economy remains diffi-cult to predict. Economic uncer-tainty has left many young couplesfearful of making a big financialcommitment to their weddings.But it's still possible for couples tomake the most of their weddingwithout landing themselves inheavy debt once the honeymoonis over and the bills must be paid.

Limit beverage availability.In the Visa survey, respondentsfelt they overspent more on food,drink and cake than any other as-pect of their wedding. The bar tab

can quickly add up at the end ofthe night, but couples can limit thebar expense by making on a fewdifferent types of drinks available.Offer just two or three drink op-tions instead of a full bar. Couplescan also consider a cash bar formixed drinks to help lower the bartab by the end of the night.

Switch from Saturday. Saturday weddings are not onlythe most popular, but also themost expensive. Couples withsome flexibility can save moneyby moving their wedding to a Fri-day or Sunday. Couples whomove their weddings to Fridayoften find they get to spend moretime with their friends and familiesthe following day, as guests aremore inclined to stay in town anextra day than they are on Sundayafternoons following a wedding.

Forgo a traditional honeymoon.Seventeen percent of male re-spondents to the Visa survey feltthey overspent on their honey-moon. While it's certainly nice to

fly off to the Caribbean and spendyour first week as a married cou-ple soaking up some sun, a morelocal getaway for a couple of dayscan be just as relaxing and savecouples substantial amounts ofmoney. Once the bills have beenpaid, couples can then enjoy amore traditional honeymoon, pos-sibly in celebration of their first an-niversary.

Limit the guest list.Inviting all friends and familymembers might be a nice gesture,but it's also an expensive one.Cost-conscious couples can save

a good deal of money by onlyinviting those friends and familymembers who are closest to them.

Order less extravagant floralarrangements.Floral arrangements for a weddingcan prove very expensive. Butcouples can trim those costs usingmore greenery in the floral dis-plays and ordering less expen-sive, seasonal flowers. Whendiscussing arrangements with theflorist, explain that the budget canonly allow so much for flowers,and work together to find ways toadd aesthetic appeal withoutbreaking the bank.

ELEGANT DINING.

Let us help make your celebration the most memorable time of yourlife! Our ANGUS ROOM is the perfect setting for your rehearsaldinner, bridesmaids’ luncheon or special occasion.

Call us for Reservations!

910-590-25501 0 0 W E S TO V E R ROA D • C L I N TO N , N C

Page 2 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 7

Getting engaged is just the beginning...Now what? Financial tips for cost-conscious couples

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Follow a few wedding registry tips and give wedding well-wishers plenty of gifting options.

“Experts advise reg-istering for 2-3 items

times the number of guests you plan

to have.”

Couples are faced with many de-cisions when planning a wedding.One often overlooked decisionconcerns the guest list. Ideally,couples would love to invite all theirfriends and family to share in theirspecial day. Realistically, however,budget often dictates just howmany guests a couple can invite.That reality has led to a disagree-ment or two over the years, as boththe bride-to-be and her future hus-band make their case for whomakes the cut. To help avoid suchdisagreements, couples shouldconsider the following tips whenparing down their guest list.

Make a master list as early aspossible. It's impossible to paredown a guest list if there's no list tobegin with. Once the planningprocess begins, couples shouldseparately write down all theguests they would like to invite.Once each is finished with their list,the hard work of paring that listdown can begin.

Consider who's footing the bill.If Mom and Dad are paying for thewedding, then their suggestions forthe guest list should carry most ofthe weight. Weddings are very ex-pensive, and if Mom and Dad arepaying they should have a signifi-cant say who will in attendance.The same principle can be appliedif the couple is paying for their ownwedding. If the costs are being splitdown the middle, then both thegroom- and bride-to-be should beallowed to invite the same number

of guests.

Ask that kids stay home. Manycouples request that their guestsleave the kids at home. Whilenieces and nephews might makethe cut, it's perfectly acceptable forcouples to state their preferencethat children not attend. This canbe noted on the invitation, address-ing friends as "Mr. John Doe andguest" or "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe."Guests should take the hint, but ifany RSVPs with their kids, be sureto call them immediately and ex-plain the situation. Friends andfamily should understand the pref-erence, particularly in the currenteconomic climate.

It's not a reunion. Couples areoften tempted to invite long-lostfriends to their wedding. But cost-conscious couples must recognizetheir wedding is not a reunion. If thegoal is to keep the guest list undercontrol, only invite close friends

and family members who havekept in touch with over the years.

Stick to your guns. Couples varygreatly with what they want out oftheir wedding. Some want agrandiose affair they can sharewith their whole family and all oftheir friends. Other couples want amore laid-back affair with onlythose closest to them in atten-dance. Whatever their preference,couples should remain firm and notfeel guilty no matter how manyguests they choose to invite or notinvite.

Cut back in other areas. If it'sproving simply impossible to agreeon a reduced guest list, considerinviting everyone and cutting backin other areas. Before signing anycontracts, closely examine eachone for items that can be removedwithout drastically changing theceremony and celebration.Chances are there are savings tobe had, and those savings mightmake the difference between invit-ing and not inviting another friendor family member.

With all the work that goes intoplanning a wedding, it can be easyfor couples to overlook their ownhoneymoons. But in the middle ofall those seating arrangementsand reception hall negotiations,couples also need to plan and lookforward to the rest and relaxationthat awaits, which will no doubt bea well-deserved escape once thewedding has come and gone.Couples can take the following ad-vice to ensure their getaway goesoff without a hitch.

Be budget-consciousMany couples could enjoy a hon-eymoon to Siberia in the dead ofwinter after their big day haspassed. After all the stress of plan-ning and paying for the wedding,couples will likely just enjoy thetime away. Take this into consider-ation when planning a honey-moon. If a dream trip isn't in thebudget after all the wedding billshave come due, don't fret. A lessexpensive getaway is still a get-away, and couples will enjoy theirwell-deserved break no matterwhere it is they're putting their feetup.

Plan an off-season honeymoonThat dream honeymoon might beaffordable after all if couples canwait till it's not the height of touristseason. Most weddings occur dur-ing the summer months, whentourist season is in full swing.Cou-ples who can put off their honey-moon until the off-season will nodoubt find their dream honeymoonis much more affordable.

Start early It's never too early to start plan-ning the honeymoon. The earliercouples begin to research possi-ble destinations, the better feelthey will have for what they canand can't afford. Research can bedone well in advance to give cou-ples an idea of what their dream

trip will cost. But don'tbook any flights or makeany reservations too farin advance. The bestdeals are often avail-able a few months be-fore the trip.

Spread the news that you're newlyweds

Hotels love hosting newlyweds,and many will upgrade rooms forrecently married guests. Couplesshould not be too brash about it,as fully booked hotels won't beable to upgrade their guests. Butlet the hotel know you're on yourhoneymoon when checking in,

and they might just upgrade yourroom and comp you a bottle ofchampagne as a gift.

Think outside the boxWhen asked about a dream hon-eymoon, couples will often bringup Hawaii or even Paris. Whilethose are beautiful places tospend a honeymoon, they're alsoexpensive. Fortunately, there area bevy of locales, be it domestic orinternational, that aren't nearly aspricey as the most popular honey-moon destinations but still makewonderful options for a honey-moon getaway couples won't soonforget.

Page 6 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 3

Invite Only: Pare down your wedding guest list

Photo courtesy of Metro ServicesCouples are often faced with tough decisions when it comes to paringdown the guest list for their wedding.

Honeymoon Planning How-To — Think outside the box!

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101 Coharie Lane • Clinton, NC 28328Office 910.592.6745 • www.cohariecc.com

Featuring a magnificent 15,000 square foot clubhouse set againstthe manicured background of one of the area's best golf courses.

Coharie can easily accommodate groups from 20-250. Whether it’s a sit down lunch or buffet accommodations or anunforgettable outdoor cookout you’ll find everything you needwhen you choose to have your event at Coharie Country Club.

Ballroom Facilities • Patio Cook Outs • Pool Side OutingsThe Coharie facilites are available for rent to

members and non-members.

Coharie Country Club

AFFORDABLE CATERINGPlanning your wedding can be costly! Southern Style Barbecue & Fried Chickenoffers affordable catering for your rehearsal dinner and/or wedding reception.

Make your special day easier with our professional and courteous catering staff.

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592-6212338 MLK Blvd.Hwy. 24 bypass, Clinton

M-F 10:30-8Sat. 10:30-6

The multi-tiered cake thatis a favoritewedding tradi-tion that's oftenpresented atthe end of thenight. Thehappy coupletakes a sliceand enjoys thefirst piece.In recent years,wedding cakeshave becomemore of anartistic center-piece than justa confectionarytreat.

Couplesoften seek outrenowned wed-ding cake bak-ers for a cakethat will amazethe crowd andcomplete thetheme of thewedding.

The averagecouple willspend between$700 to $800for their wedding cake. Althoughmany catering halls or receptionsites will include the weddingcake in a package deal, manycouples choose to order theircake from a specialty bakerywho creates culinary master-pieces.

If television trends are any in-dication, many people are opt-ing to spend several hundred to

thousands of dollars on a cus-tomized wedding cake. Thesefondant and buttercream cre-ations may be elaborate in na-ture, so much so they'll likelyneed to be ordered severalmonths in advance.Couples looking for something abit different for their upcomingnuptials, many want to considerthese trends in wedding cakes.

• 3-D accents on the cake, suchas graphic appliques.

• A black-and-white motif thatgives the cake a simplistic, yettrendy appeal.

• A lot of bold color in the cake,instead of just white or ivory.

• Dramatic monograms that canadd class to the cake.

• Painted cakes with edible foodcoloring paint that feature beau-tiful landscapes or a portrait. A

work of art, they're both deli-cious to eat and fun to admire.

• Cakes that mirror the style ofthe wedding gown, includingfondant ruffles and appliques.Many couples still opt for thetraditional, and that is always instyle. Instead of experimentingwith the outside of the cake,couples can be creative withcake flavor and fillings. Imaginecutting open the cake to find redvelvet or a chocolate ganachefilling!

Brides and grooms have a fewoptions when it comes to themusic played at their ceremonyand reception. Live musicians ordeejays are often the entertain-ment of choice. When hiring theentertainment, there are some im-portant things to keep in mind.

The music of the wedding willset the tone for the event andkeep guests entertained duringkey moments of the day. Musi-cians will often work in conjunctionwith a maitre d' to be sure the re-ception moves along smoothlyand sticks to the schedule. Musicwill be played while guests aredining and when there are oppor-tunities for dancing.

It's essential to listen to musi-cians or deejays before hiring any-one to ensure what they're offeringwill fit in with the wedding. Also, it'shelpful to confirm the person orpeople being auditioned will be theexact individuals at the wedding.Some entertainment companieshire out contract musicians, mean-ing the preview musicians may notbe the same person who will per-form at the ceremony. That canpotentially prove disasterous. If acertain musician or deejay is re-quested, be sure it is put down inwriting in the contract.

Provide the musical entertain-ment with some information to fur-ther help the wedding go offwithout a hitch.

In most cases, wedding musi-cians are professionals who havehandled many weddings and arevery accustomed to what shouldbe done to make the night a mem-orable one. Trust in the expertiseof the musicians, and provideguidance where necessary.

Page 4 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 5

Wedding Music Essentials: Smooth moves Baked goods can be some great gifts for friends

Photo courtesy of Metro ServicesPlan ahead to make sure you and your guests will enjoy danc-ing the night away at your reception.

Let Lynn Owen assist youwith your wedding needs!

• Wedding Invitations• Announcements• Personalized Stationery• Place Cards• Wedding Programs• Candles• Cake Toppers• Attendant and Wedding

Party Gifts• Ring Pillows• Champagne Glasses

And much more!

Matthewss Gifts352 NE Blvd. Clinton, NC

910-592-5100

Shop online at:www.matthewsgifts.com

• Names of all wedding party participants sothey can be properly introduced.• Name of the married couple, including pro-nunciation of the last name, if necessary.• The title of the couple's song.• The titles of songs to be danced withmother/son or father/daughter.• A listing of any preferred songs.• The title of a "spotlight dance" song.• Any music that is off-limits at the reception.• Special announcements that should bemade, such as mentioning a guest's birthdayor another special event involving guests.• Whether a bouquet and garter toss will takeplace, and which songs should be playedduring these traditions.

Wedding Music Checklist

Remarriage rates continue toincrease, and many vendorsare now catering specifically tocouples entering second mar-riages. A bride getting marriedfor the second or third time hasjust as many attire options asshe did for her first wedding.

Research indicates that morethan half of all marriages end indivorce. The silver lining to thatcloud is that 54 percent of di-vorced women remarry within 5years, according to the NationalCenter for Health Statistics. Fur-thermore, 75 percent of di-vorced women remarry within10 years. These statistics showthat the need for bridal gownsfor women entering a new mar-riage remains strong.

When choosing a gown for asecond wedding, brides-to-becan use their discretion. Gone isthe stigma of wearing white.However, brides still may wantto choose an alternative color tobright white to be more comple-mentary to their skin tones. Off-white, pale yellow and pale pinkcan be flattering shades. If sec-ond brides do choose to wearwhite, they may want to avoid aflat white color. Instead, theycan opt to wear a shimmeryshade of white and a gown witha little more pizzazz.

The gown -- just as with first-time weddings -- should be asformal or as casual as the wed-ding itself.

Wardrobe Optionsfor Second-Time

Brides

Photo courtesy of Metro Services

Black-and-white wedding cakes are one themethat couples routinely turn to for their dra-matic flair and aesthetic appeal.

The multi-tiered cake thatis a favoritewedding tradi-tion that's oftenpresented atthe end of thenight. Thehappy coupletakes a sliceand enjoys thefirst piece.In recent years,wedding cakeshave becomemore of anartistic center-piece than justa confectionarytreat.

Couplesoften seek outrenowned wed-ding cake bak-ers for a cakethat will amazethe crowd andcomplete thetheme of thewedding.

The averagecouple willspend between$700 to $800for their wedding cake. Althoughmany catering halls or receptionsites will include the weddingcake in a package deal, manycouples choose to order theircake from a specialty bakerywho creates culinary master-pieces.

If television trends are any in-dication, many people are opt-ing to spend several hundred to

thousands of dollars on a cus-tomized wedding cake. Thesefondant and buttercream cre-ations may be elaborate in na-ture, so much so they'll likelyneed to be ordered severalmonths in advance.Couples looking for something abit different for their upcomingnuptials, many want to considerthese trends in wedding cakes.

• 3-D accents on the cake, suchas graphic appliques.

• A black-and-white motif thatgives the cake a simplistic, yettrendy appeal.

• A lot of bold color in the cake,instead of just white or ivory.

• Dramatic monograms that canadd class to the cake.

• Painted cakes with edible foodcoloring paint that feature beau-tiful landscapes or a portrait. A

work of art, they're both deli-cious to eat and fun to admire.

• Cakes that mirror the style ofthe wedding gown, includingfondant ruffles and appliques.Many couples still opt for thetraditional, and that is always instyle. Instead of experimentingwith the outside of the cake,couples can be creative withcake flavor and fillings. Imaginecutting open the cake to find redvelvet or a chocolate ganachefilling!

Brides and grooms have a fewoptions when it comes to themusic played at their ceremonyand reception. Live musicians ordeejays are often the entertain-ment of choice. When hiring theentertainment, there are some im-portant things to keep in mind.

The music of the wedding willset the tone for the event andkeep guests entertained duringkey moments of the day. Musi-cians will often work in conjunctionwith a maitre d' to be sure the re-ception moves along smoothlyand sticks to the schedule. Musicwill be played while guests aredining and when there are oppor-tunities for dancing.

It's essential to listen to musi-cians or deejays before hiring any-one to ensure what they're offeringwill fit in with the wedding. Also, it'shelpful to confirm the person orpeople being auditioned will be theexact individuals at the wedding.Some entertainment companieshire out contract musicians, mean-ing the preview musicians may notbe the same person who will per-form at the ceremony. That canpotentially prove disasterous. If acertain musician or deejay is re-quested, be sure it is put down inwriting in the contract.

Provide the musical entertain-ment with some information to fur-ther help the wedding go offwithout a hitch.

In most cases, wedding musi-cians are professionals who havehandled many weddings and arevery accustomed to what shouldbe done to make the night a mem-orable one. Trust in the expertiseof the musicians, and provideguidance where necessary.

Page 4 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 5

Wedding Music Essentials: Smooth moves Baked goods can be some great gifts for friends

Photo courtesy of Metro ServicesPlan ahead to make sure you and your guests will enjoy danc-ing the night away at your reception.

Let Lynn Owen assist youwith your wedding needs!

• Wedding Invitations• Announcements• Personalized Stationery• Place Cards• Wedding Programs• Candles• Cake Toppers• Attendant and Wedding

Party Gifts• Ring Pillows• Champagne Glasses

And much more!

Matthewss Gifts352 NE Blvd. Clinton, NC

910-592-5100

Shop online at:www.matthewsgifts.com

• Names of all wedding party participants sothey can be properly introduced.• Name of the married couple, including pro-nunciation of the last name, if necessary.• The title of the couple's song.• The titles of songs to be danced withmother/son or father/daughter.• A listing of any preferred songs.• The title of a "spotlight dance" song.• Any music that is off-limits at the reception.• Special announcements that should bemade, such as mentioning a guest's birthdayor another special event involving guests.• Whether a bouquet and garter toss will takeplace, and which songs should be playedduring these traditions.

Wedding Music Checklist

Remarriage rates continue toincrease, and many vendorsare now catering specifically tocouples entering second mar-riages. A bride getting marriedfor the second or third time hasjust as many attire options asshe did for her first wedding.

Research indicates that morethan half of all marriages end indivorce. The silver lining to thatcloud is that 54 percent of di-vorced women remarry within 5years, according to the NationalCenter for Health Statistics. Fur-thermore, 75 percent of di-vorced women remarry within10 years. These statistics showthat the need for bridal gownsfor women entering a new mar-riage remains strong.

When choosing a gown for asecond wedding, brides-to-becan use their discretion. Gone isthe stigma of wearing white.However, brides still may wantto choose an alternative color tobright white to be more comple-mentary to their skin tones. Off-white, pale yellow and pale pinkcan be flattering shades. If sec-ond brides do choose to wearwhite, they may want to avoid aflat white color. Instead, theycan opt to wear a shimmeryshade of white and a gown witha little more pizzazz.

The gown -- just as with first-time weddings -- should be asformal or as casual as the wed-ding itself.

Wardrobe Optionsfor Second-Time

Brides

Photo courtesy of Metro Services

Black-and-white wedding cakes are one themethat couples routinely turn to for their dra-matic flair and aesthetic appeal.

Couples are faced with many de-cisions when planning a wedding.One often overlooked decisionconcerns the guest list. Ideally,couples would love to invite all theirfriends and family to share in theirspecial day. Realistically, however,budget often dictates just howmany guests a couple can invite.That reality has led to a disagree-ment or two over the years, as boththe bride-to-be and her future hus-band make their case for whomakes the cut. To help avoid suchdisagreements, couples shouldconsider the following tips whenparing down their guest list.

Make a master list as early aspossible. It's impossible to paredown a guest list if there's no list tobegin with. Once the planningprocess begins, couples shouldseparately write down all theguests they would like to invite.Once each is finished with their list,the hard work of paring that listdown can begin.

Consider who's footing the bill.If Mom and Dad are paying for thewedding, then their suggestions forthe guest list should carry most ofthe weight. Weddings are very ex-pensive, and if Mom and Dad arepaying they should have a signifi-cant say who will in attendance.The same principle can be appliedif the couple is paying for their ownwedding. If the costs are being splitdown the middle, then both thegroom- and bride-to-be should beallowed to invite the same number

of guests.

Ask that kids stay home. Manycouples request that their guestsleave the kids at home. Whilenieces and nephews might makethe cut, it's perfectly acceptable forcouples to state their preferencethat children not attend. This canbe noted on the invitation, address-ing friends as "Mr. John Doe andguest" or "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe."Guests should take the hint, but ifany RSVPs with their kids, be sureto call them immediately and ex-plain the situation. Friends andfamily should understand the pref-erence, particularly in the currenteconomic climate.

It's not a reunion. Couples areoften tempted to invite long-lostfriends to their wedding. But cost-conscious couples must recognizetheir wedding is not a reunion. If thegoal is to keep the guest list undercontrol, only invite close friends

and family members who havekept in touch with over the years.

Stick to your guns. Couples varygreatly with what they want out oftheir wedding. Some want agrandiose affair they can sharewith their whole family and all oftheir friends. Other couples want amore laid-back affair with onlythose closest to them in atten-dance. Whatever their preference,couples should remain firm and notfeel guilty no matter how manyguests they choose to invite or notinvite.

Cut back in other areas. If it'sproving simply impossible to agreeon a reduced guest list, considerinviting everyone and cutting backin other areas. Before signing anycontracts, closely examine eachone for items that can be removedwithout drastically changing theceremony and celebration.Chances are there are savings tobe had, and those savings mightmake the difference between invit-ing and not inviting another friendor family member.

With all the work that goes intoplanning a wedding, it can be easyfor couples to overlook their ownhoneymoons. But in the middle ofall those seating arrangementsand reception hall negotiations,couples also need to plan and lookforward to the rest and relaxationthat awaits, which will no doubt bea well-deserved escape once thewedding has come and gone.Couples can take the following ad-vice to ensure their getaway goesoff without a hitch.

Be budget-consciousMany couples could enjoy a hon-eymoon to Siberia in the dead ofwinter after their big day haspassed. After all the stress of plan-ning and paying for the wedding,couples will likely just enjoy thetime away. Take this into consider-ation when planning a honey-moon. If a dream trip isn't in thebudget after all the wedding billshave come due, don't fret. A lessexpensive getaway is still a get-away, and couples will enjoy theirwell-deserved break no matterwhere it is they're putting their feetup.

Plan an off-season honeymoonThat dream honeymoon might beaffordable after all if couples canwait till it's not the height of touristseason. Most weddings occur dur-ing the summer months, whentourist season is in full swing.Cou-ples who can put off their honey-moon until the off-season will nodoubt find their dream honeymoonis much more affordable.

Start early It's never too early to start plan-ning the honeymoon. The earliercouples begin to research possi-ble destinations, the better feelthey will have for what they canand can't afford. Research can bedone well in advance to give cou-ples an idea of what their dream

trip will cost. But don'tbook any flights or makeany reservations too farin advance. The bestdeals are often avail-able a few months be-fore the trip.

Spread the news that you're newlyweds

Hotels love hosting newlyweds,and many will upgrade rooms forrecently married guests. Couplesshould not be too brash about it,as fully booked hotels won't beable to upgrade their guests. Butlet the hotel know you're on yourhoneymoon when checking in,

and they might just upgrade yourroom and comp you a bottle ofchampagne as a gift.

Think outside the boxWhen asked about a dream hon-eymoon, couples will often bringup Hawaii or even Paris. Whilethose are beautiful places tospend a honeymoon, they're alsoexpensive. Fortunately, there area bevy of locales, be it domestic orinternational, that aren't nearly aspricey as the most popular honey-moon destinations but still makewonderful options for a honey-moon getaway couples won't soonforget.

Page 6 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 3

Invite Only: Pare down your wedding guest list

Photo courtesy of Metro ServicesCouples are often faced with tough decisions when it comes to paringdown the guest list for their wedding.

Honeymoon Planning How-To — Think outside the box!

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(MS) -- Are you one of the thou-sands of couples who got engagedover the holidays? This is the timefor you and your soon-to-be to geteverything you ever wanted --whether you're starting fromscratch, upgrading, expanding orreplacing. Turn a whole bunch ofmismatched mine and yours into alifetime of ours.

"When it comes to registering,relax, take your time and have fun,"recommends Audrey Stavish, aBridal and Gift Registry expert atBed Bath & Beyond. "Most bridesupdate their registries online and gointo the stores many times. Therearen't any rules that you must fol-low. Choose items that are right foryou and your soon-to-be. Gothrough the registry process to-gether and have fun!"

Here are some additional tips tomake wedding planning a breeze:

Plan Ahead: Start a bridal registryas soon as you say "yes." That wayguests will have lots of options forengagement gifts and showers. Pe-riodically update your registry byadding more products if you needto, even after the wedding. Be kindto procrastinators.

Do the Math: Experts advise regis-tering for 2-3 items times the num-ber of guests you plan to have.Close friends and family will rely onyour registry for special events lead-ing up to the wedding -- such as en-gagement parties, bridal showers,and holidays! Your guests will ap-preciate having lots of choiceswhen they shop for you. Be sure torefresh your list regularly as gifts get

purchased.

Register Now, Because YouWon't Buy it Later: You may thinkyou will ... but you won't. Now is thetime to let others get you the stuffyou'd never buy yourself. Yourfriends and family might even gettogether to purchase a higherpriced "group gift."

Dream Big: Register for gifts in arange of prices and categories. Thiswill give guests and group giverslots of options to choose from.Remember the Rule of Three:When it comes to setting your table,if you choose bold patterns for yourchina and flatware, pick a more sim-ple style of glassware. Prefer intri-cate stemware? Pair it with simplerpatterns of china and flatware. So,it's bold/bold/simple or simple/sim-ple/bold.

Visit a Store: It's in YOUR best in-terest to visit a store and schedulean appointment with an expert con-sultant who can help you with yourgift selections and share great tipslike "The Rule of Three," what cook-ware you will need to prepare your

favorite dish, what knife to usewhen and much more. When mak-ing your selections, it's important totouch the towels, heft the flatware,see everything in person!

C'mon Back: Most couples don'tmake all their selections in a singlespree. Plan on making multiple vis-its.

Once you've set up your registry,take advantage of complimentarywedding planning tools available atall your local stores, especially wed-ding registry preferences. This way,all of your information can be storedin one convenient place.

Congratulations and best wishes onyour engagement. Now get regis-tering and let the gift-giving begin.

In a recent survey released byVisa Inc., 88 percent of couplesbelieved they overspent on someaspect of their wedding. Over theyears, weddings have become amajor financial commitment, inmany instances ensuring a cou-ple's first task as man and wife willbe paying off the mountain of billsthey accrued to achieved theirdream wedding.

In today's economic climate, thecost of weddings is even tougherto swallow, as both the domesticand global economy remains diffi-cult to predict. Economic uncer-tainty has left many young couplesfearful of making a big financialcommitment to their weddings.But it's still possible for couples tomake the most of their weddingwithout landing themselves inheavy debt once the honeymoonis over and the bills must be paid.

Limit beverage availability.In the Visa survey, respondentsfelt they overspent more on food,drink and cake than any other as-pect of their wedding. The bar tab

can quickly add up at the end ofthe night, but couples can limit thebar expense by making on a fewdifferent types of drinks available.Offer just two or three drink op-tions instead of a full bar. Couplescan also consider a cash bar formixed drinks to help lower the bartab by the end of the night.

Switch from Saturday. Saturday weddings are not onlythe most popular, but also themost expensive. Couples withsome flexibility can save moneyby moving their wedding to a Fri-day or Sunday. Couples whomove their weddings to Fridayoften find they get to spend moretime with their friends and familiesthe following day, as guests aremore inclined to stay in town anextra day than they are on Sundayafternoons following a wedding.

Forgo a traditional honeymoon.Seventeen percent of male re-spondents to the Visa survey feltthey overspent on their honey-moon. While it's certainly nice to

fly off to the Caribbean and spendyour first week as a married cou-ple soaking up some sun, a morelocal getaway for a couple of dayscan be just as relaxing and savecouples substantial amounts ofmoney. Once the bills have beenpaid, couples can then enjoy amore traditional honeymoon, pos-sibly in celebration of their first an-niversary.

Limit the guest list.Inviting all friends and familymembers might be a nice gesture,but it's also an expensive one.Cost-conscious couples can save

a good deal of money by onlyinviting those friends and familymembers who are closest to them.

Order less extravagant floralarrangements.Floral arrangements for a weddingcan prove very expensive. Butcouples can trim those costs usingmore greenery in the floral dis-plays and ordering less expen-sive, seasonal flowers. Whendiscussing arrangements with theflorist, explain that the budget canonly allow so much for flowers,and work together to find ways toadd aesthetic appeal withoutbreaking the bank.

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Page 2 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011 Sunday, January 30, 2011 The Sampson Independent Page 7

Getting engaged is just the beginning...Now what? Financial tips for cost-conscious couples

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Follow a few wedding registry tips and give wedding well-wishers plenty of gifting options.

“Experts advise reg-istering for 2-3 items

times the number of guests you plan

to have.”

Page 8 The Sampson Independent Sunday, January 30, 2011

Bridal Gowns • Floral Arrangements •Wedding Planner • Rings • Invitations • Honeymoons

January 30, 2011

204 E. Main Clinton • 592-2111www.butlersgifts.com

Fine gifts and Bridal registry

Being asked to be someone'sbest man or maid of honor is anhonor to be cherished. Often thebest friend of the groom or bride,the best man and maid of honoroften want to reciprocate thehonor of their role with a toast thatillustrates just how much theycare for the bride or groom.

But once the time comes to sitdown and think about their toast,the best man or maid of honor areoften in the dark. Giving a wed-ding toast, after all, is not aneveryday event, and for manypeople it will be a one-time expe-rience, if they're even asked at all.Though a certain amount of pres-sure comes with the responsibilityof giving a toast, keeping a fewideas in mind when writing a toastwill make the process go moresmoothly.

Thank the guests. Thanking theguests for attending is a good wayto break the ice. Be sure to thankthe hosts as well.Traditionally, thehosts are the bride's parents.However, thanks to the escalatingcosts of weddings, many are nowfinanced by both the bride andgroom's parents, and oftentimesby the bride and groom them-selves. Therefore, you can avoidany missteps and simply thankthe parents of the bride andgroom after thanking the guestsfor joining in the festivities.

Introduce yourself. While thebride and groom certainly knowwho you are, chances are manyof the guests do not. Many wed-dings boast guest lists with morethan 100 people, so introduceyourself at the beginning of your

toast. When doing so, you can ex-plain your relationship to the brideor groom (i.e., older/younger sib-ling, college roommate, etc.).

Keep things light. While jokesshould remain appropriate (everywedding has kids in attendance),keeping the toast jovial is a goodway to keep the festive mood ofthe day going. While it's importantto get across how much you cher-ish being the best man or maid ofhonor, a jovial approach to doingso will be enjoyed by all, and yourmessage will still come across tothe bride and groom as well.

Add an anecdote. The best manor maid of honor no doubt havemany funny anecdotes to tellabout the bride or groom. Add alight-hearted anecdote that illus-trates your relationship to thebride or groom and how muchthey mean to you. An olderbrother, for instnace, might tell atale of the innocent joking aroundbrothers do, while a younger sis-ter might spin a funny yarn abouthow she once used all of her oldersister's makeup. Just make surethe anecdote is appropriate foreveryone in the audience.

Raise a glass, but do so afterthe toast, and not before. Whileeveryone knows to raise a glassat the end of the toast, some bestmen or maids of honor raise onetoo many glasses before it's timeto give their toast. Don't drink toexcess before it's time for you togive your toast, or you'll risk beingthe talk of the reception for all thewrong reasons.

Tips for a toast to remember