I Do: Wedding Edition
Wedding Notes
You've got the caterer, the open bar, table setting, even favors for everyone. You're set for the big reception. But there's a tough one to go–procuring music. Where do you start? How do you avoid employing the world's worst DJ or some...Unique but Affordable
"So when is your hair appointment?" my sister Lisa asked. A simple enough question, even expected, considering it was five hours before my walk down the aisle to be married. But the words hung in the air. My mother snapped the air in front of my face. Lisa...Scenes from a Seaside Wedding
While the Pioneer Valley offers a full spectrum of locations to celebrate your wedding, some keen observers have noted that a seaside location is not among the options. For the New England bride who wants to hear the crash of the surf at her reception, or the Yankee...
Both Sides of the Aisle
His Side of the StoryWeddings, it’s true, are generally the “bride’s day.” The role of some grooms is to be scarce until it’s time to show up, then not piddle on the rug. Perhaps I was fortunate—my bride didn’t seem to think I...
Gracefully Inclusive
When Margie and Reggie Cole chose November 11, 2006 as their wedding day, they faced several challenges, not the least of which was time. Margie didn’t start planning the wedding, didn’t even book the reception hall, until two months before the chosen...Tulips in Winter
For a soon-to be bride, walking into your local flower shop can be a daunting experience. In the window there are hundreds of floral combinations and designs; roses, dahlias, tulips, hyacinths, lilacs, bouquets, centerpieces, corsages, boutonnieres. The crimson red of...Cake with a Kick
Wherever you travel in the Caribbean, it’s likely you’ll see rum cake on restaurant menus and tempting arrays of packaged rum cakes in gift shops. The appeal is obvious. This is cake with a kick. It’s luscious. It’s almost indestructible in...
Destination: Honeymoon
Less than 10 minutes after leaving the airport on St. Lucia, I pulled up to the Coconut Bay Resort. Within 15, I headed to the beach, cocktail in hand. St. Lucia was a destination I longed to see but knew little about. I found out a lot after a few days of exploring...
Old and New
Though no ceremony is so steeped in mythology, tradition or superstition as a wedding, and no wedding-related accoutrement has the particular significance of a ring, I had to wrack my brain for pertinent references to wedding rings. The examples I came up with at...
When Worlds Collide
The union of two people has been a universal tradition dating back tens of thousands of years—we have always been a race that accomplishes the most through compromise and cooperation, though these things are never easy. Still, every day multitudes of us choose...
Brides in Party Hats
The rehearsal dinner scene is often pretty stale, an affair, perhaps, staged in some long-lost hotel “function room.” The family members file in, grab plates and head to a steaming side table full of chicken with the texture of hockey pucks, fainting green...
Mastering the Toast
In the movies, the debonair leading man pulls a bon mot out of the air with a wide grin, demonstrating his good breeding and social grace. The girls swoon as his words hang in the air. But one need not be Fred Astaire to deliver a festive toast. Toasts, memorable...Magical Memories
Amy & Danielle CloughThe limo broke down, it poured rain, the photographer ripped the train on Danielle’s dress, but none of that mattered. The skies cleared, our family and friends wept with joy and a rainbow appeared. We were married.Margaret Rooks &...
Wine for the Big Day
Caterers and wedding halls normally offer limited (and average) wine selections, so as you plan the most memorable reception you will probably ever give, your best move is to inquire about outside purchasing. Since you'll be buying in bulk, bringing in your own...
The Kilted Groom
It’s called the sgian dhub. That’s the knife you stick in your sock. Of the wedding photos, that’s the one that makes young boys, otherwise bored with the whole ordeal, stop and stare. Yeah, yeah, yeah, men in skirts—but once you throw a knife...Complacencies of the Peignoir
That somewhat reluctant, terse sensualist William Carlos Williams wrote a coyly eroticized poem in 1917 entitled “The Young Housewife.” In the poem, Williams hints at his attraction or infatuation with the eponymous housewife by cataloging her...
The Complacencies of the Peignoir
That somewhat reluctant, terse sensualist William Carlos Williams wrote a coyly eroticized poem in 1917 entitled “The Young Housewife.” In the poem, Williams hints at his attraction or infatuation with the eponymous housewife by cataloging her...
Happily Ever After
“You’re not really going to write about this, are you?” The look of concern etched across my wife’s face took me by surprise, although it probably shouldn’t have. I’ve known Barbara more than half my life, so I should have...
(Not) the Chapel of Love, Exactly
I have one of those childhood memories that may or may not be true, about something that occurred (if it actually did) at a wedding my family attended when I was six or seven. The ceremony took place in a park. All I remember was that when it ended, everyone let...
Magical Memories
Our wedding was a magical evening—truly “us,” from start to finish. Held at Blossoming Acres Farm and Bakery, Southwick, where I had worked for years, the greenhouse ceremony was officiated by my uncle and followed by the reception in the bakery. The...
Instead of Vegas
I was told to dress semi-casually and in any color except black. So at eight a.m. on the Fourth of July, while my friends and co-workers prepared to celebrate the nation’s independence, I donned a turquoise dress and red heels and prepared to celebrate Cambodian...
Piece of Cake
James Thurber once quipped, “The most dangerous food is wedding cake.” Notwithstanding the famed humorist’s insight to the perils of marriage, here are some random bits of advice to keep you clear of danger when ordering a wedding cake for your big...
The Religious Path
Anyone who is not conducting a prolonged, ascetic lifestyle experiment has probably had ample opportunity to observe the media blitz surrounding modern weddings. There are the bridal magazines that are so advertisement-laden they’re longer than Moby Dick. And...
White Wedding
As I researched "alternative" weddings—including ceremonies that don't take place in the summer—I began to warm to the idea of having a wedding when it's cold outside, at the time of year most people planning weddings don't give a...
Magical Wedding Memories: Jenn & Kevin
On November 8, 2008 we were married at the Delaney House in Holyoke. During our ceremony we had planned to read vows that we had written to one another. It was my turn to read what I had written first. I took out my piece of paper. My vows were typed on a full sheet...
I Do: Wedding Ideas
Chocolate Basketby Atkins FarmsThis heavenly cherub needs help eating all the chocolate goodies in this beautiful gold and blue chocolate basket filled with a gourmet chocolate bar, chocolate lava cake mix, Atkins chocolate fudge, Ghirardelli chocolate coffee,...
Magical Wedding Memories: Jamie Berger and Anja Schultz
We actually had two special days half a year apart. Eloping was a spontaneous decision—we got hitched a couple weeks later. It was Martin Luther King Day and Greenfield Town Hall was closed, so we found ourselves getting married in the house of a local justice...
Wedding Checklist
The question has been popped and now it's time to start planning for your big day. Here's a month-by-month checklist to help you create the wedding you want.Ten to twelve months before- Discuss wedding budget- Announce engagement – Decide wedding date-...
Bliss on a Budget
Occasionally I fantasize about getting married. Not being married, just getting married. Will I have a destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas? Will I get hitched at the top of Mount Washington and be spirited away with my beau by helicopter? Perhaps I'll exchange...
A Good Time Was Had by All
I've been to many, many weddings over the years.A few were lavish affairs, and a few were done on the cheap—the cheapest being my own, no doubt. Most were somewhere in the middle in terms of cost and high spectacle, though hardly less memorable for it.Some...
Picture This
Her StoryWell, after being together for almost five years and expecting a proposal all summer long, I came to terms with the fact that this was how it was going to be. I would be attending friends' weddings, knowing I too had put in my time, but "sans...
Magical Memories
TJThe most memorable moment for me was when Megan walked down the aisle. She was so beautiful! Everything all became real at that moment; it was the happiest day of my life.MeganThe most magical moment for me was waiting in the limo outside of the church. The bagpipes...
In The Middle Of A Celebration
In the summer of 2003, photographer Sandra Costello married her partner in a ceremony on Cape Cod. Costello describes her wedding as "an emotional, exciting roller coaster bringing our families and friends together for what would be the first gay wedding for...
How I Married My Sister
I married my sister, and I highly recommend that others do the same—and not just because of the jokes one gets to make about the subject. I had the recent honor of being asked by my sister and her then-fianc? to officiate at their upcoming wedding. I can't...
Second Weddings Leap Beyond Tradition
Say the word "wedding": cue Mendelssohn's Wedding March. But say "second wedding" and no theme music springs to mind. Complete with backstory, second weddings avoid stereotype.The critical difference photographer Andrea Burns observes between...Magical Memories: Alex & Emily Ambroz
Our favorite memory of the wedding was the absolute joy in having our closest friends and family share this very special day with us. From the moment the doors inside the church opened and we had a chance to see each other for the first time on our wedding day to the...
Magical Memories: Manny & Silvia Concalves
The most memorable moment for the both of us was when we both said our vows! Standing in front of each other and in front of all of our family and friends made it so real and you just wanted to stop the time and really enjoy it! Having been together for five years...
Eating Well for Wedding Bliss
As the big day approaches, couples want to look and feel their best. To do so, they need to pay attention to how they're eating. I Do spoke to dietitian and nutritionist Polly Normand, who answered some of the common nutrition-related questions she hears from...
Magical Wedding Memories: Kevin & Heather
From the rehearsal dinner on Friday night with our wedding party to our garden wedding at the Lord Jeffery Inn in Amherst to the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kauai for our special time together, our entire wedding celebration was a magical memory for us. On Friday...
Magical Memories: Thea & Dan Goncalves
Looking back at our wedding day, we realize that the most magical moment, with the most intimate feelings, didn't occur until we were walking hand in hand at the end of the night. We looked into one another's eyes and realized that we couldn't ask for...
Magical Memories: Jeffrey & Cheryl Thibodeau
Looking back on our wedding day, it's difficult to pinpoint one magical moment as the entire day was so memorable. This moment was one we'll never forget. Most of our family and friends knew that we had taken up ballroom dancing as a hobby together; however,...
Magical Memories: Rita Hindin & Jeff Haveson
The Pesach (Passover) song Dayeinu recounts many of the miraculous processes and events that, by G-d's grace, enabled the Jewish people to leave the narrow places of the slavery of Egypt and have the opportunity to become free. And the refrain after each is...
Bigger Isn't Always Better
Any couple planning a large wedding, from ceremony to flowers to guest list to cake, considers the idea—by then you might call it fantasy—of elopement. Lots of couples eschew the large wedding altogether (or, at least, turn it on its head) and go small....
On Location
The groom was a big hockey fan, a fan of the Springfield Falcons. The bride apparently didn't need a lot of coaxing to agree to enter the contest; the winners would receive a free wedding, including rings, flowers, tuxes and gowns and featuring a ceremony at...
Magical Memories: Tanya & Justin Lavallee
Weddings are all about anticipation, excitement, nerves, happiness… but all of this settled when we were by ourselves for that split second after everyone in our wedding party had been introduced. We looked at each other and were like, Wow, we are married…...
I Thee Weed
Kale is a leafy green long lauded by health-conscious locavores as a nutritional powerhouse and an enriching ingredient, tossed with pasta, stirred into stews or topping a pizza. The versatile crop is now being extolled by brides-to-be, even those with vegetable...
Tweaking
While couples today may not forget old-new-borrowed-blue or other traditions associated with weddings, it’s safe to say the “new norm” does not require marching down the aisle to “Here Comes the Bride” or serving wedding cake. More people...
Highland Honeymoon
The ocean is below and to our right as our car rounds a bend and begins a steep climb. Behind us, the road is a gray skein of asphalt belting curved, forested slopes; the rocks at their base lean forward to be licked by gentle whitecaps. The road climbs and still...
Honeymoon Remembered
The air had barely a hint of chill to it, and the sun, just now rising above the horizon, would quickly get rid of that. Only a couple of passing rain showers each day cooled things off—one had just come through at dawn and another would likely arrive, if the...
Ladies in Waiting
They’re your best friends, your family, the people closest to you. Treasure them and treat them well with this guide to bridesmaids. Queen for a Day Your bridesmaids are there to make your life easier, so let them! You’ll want total control of your special...
Lights! Camera! Action!
While some brides still opt for a straight-ahead rendering of their nuptials and reception, many videographers are taking a more cinematic approach to capturing the action, incorporating everything from a personalized soundtrack and theme to adding in Super 8 film to...
A New Nuptial Trail
When it comes to weddings, it’s tough to reinvent the wheel. For most people, tradition dictates everything from the cut of the diamond to the particulars of the guest list. Things tend to get done a certain way because that’s just how it is. Until it...
Magical Memories: Mike & Kara
Our magical memory was one of the greatest feelings we have ever felt. Surrounded by our family and friends, we committed ourselves to one another. The party and celebration of our love was held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Very few people can say they had their...Magical Memories: Christopher & Christina
Our story is one everyone tends to remember. We met in high school and became instant best friends. We dated for a little while after high school, but life took us both in different directions. Yet we stayed best friends. But one day everything changed and here we are...
Magical Memories: Stephen & Elizabeth
Our wedding was a reflection of our personalities. We are a laid-back, fairly unsophisticated couple; we prefer the intimacy of small groups to the spectacle of the spotlight. We would have eloped but for fear of retribution at the hands of our families and friends....
Bottoms Up
Caterers and wedding halls normally offer limited (and average) wine selections, so your best move is to inquire about outside purchasing. Since you’ll be buying in bulk, bringing in your own wine can represent a significant cost savings. Although it might incur...
Bachelorette Getaways
Bachelorette bashes aren’t just for Saturday night anymore. More and more wedding parties are taking the bride away for a long weekend of girlfriend fun, a getaway that can include everything from spa visits and nightlife to fine dining and shopping. In general,...
Marrying With Local Flair
Kathy Smiarowski took care of the floral wish. Owner of Wisteria Vine, Smiarowski works as a freelance florist and garden designer. Rather than maintaining a storefront, she focuses on large events, like the Rathbun wedding. “I’ve always had gardens to...
Wedding Cakes: A Slice of History
Since antiquity, weddings have been celebrated with a special cake. Ancient Roman ceremonies were finalized by breaking a cake of wheat or barley over the bride’s head as a symbol of good fortune. The newly married couple then ate a few crumbs in a custom known...E-Edition
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