New Albany Bride and Groom

DEAR JAMIE:

I am having some issues with colors for my wedding. I don't have any clue on what looks good when it comes to a fall wedding. All the fall colors are too bold for me, I want to have purple and yellow as my colors but didn't know how they would look. Please help!

DEAR BARBARA:

I consulted our designer on this question- so here is her response: You have to first choose your main color and your accent color. Since it is a fall themed event purple and yellow can be great choices if done correctly. If you want to give a rich warm feeling I would choose a purple that is close to a deep plum and a yellow that is more a sunflower yellow. With these colors I would definitely make the undertone ivory and add a small touch of olive or moss.

The 2^nd way to go is my favorite as it is more simplistic and chic yet gives a very big statement. If you are going for a lighter, brighter feeling, I would use many versions of yellow as my pallet and add violet or a deep plum as small accent colors such as in the ribbon of your bouquet or on your menu cards or escort cards. It would even be pretty to have ceramic vases that were purple in color or all white and ad a small punch of color with the purple accents in the arrangements. If you are a country homemade bride a cute favor would be maybe a mini jar of honey or peanut butter and jelly!

Barbara, I hope these ideas give you some inspiration and help you find your true wedding style!
Amrta Kenner, CB&G Stylist and Designer

DEAR JAMIE: I was going to get return address labels for the reply envelope and the outer envelope. Do they have to be the same or could they be different? Would it be ok to have wedding bells on the outer envelope label and an M on the reply label? Or should they just be plain with our name&address? Marilyn from Marion

DEAR MARILYN: My suggestion is to skip the labels if at all possible. I know they make things a lot easier and quicker for that matter but etiquette does say that you should never print addresses with a computer, but always hand write them both front and back. You will want to place the return address on the back flap of the outer envelope. This should be the address of the person hosting the event. For example, if the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, the invitations should use the parents' address. Traditionally, names are not included on a formal return address. It's important to note that guests who are unable to attend or who wish to send their gift before or after your wedding date will send packages to this address. Remember, a wedding is an extremely intimate and personal event, and your invitations should reflect that. This is where family and bridesmaids come in handy- enlist in their help! This is a great personal touch.

DEAR JAMIE: What is an average wedding budget for Columbus? Ashely

DEAR ASHLEY: I would say the average wedding budget for a wedding of 200 guests in the Columbus area is about $27,000. This really depends on so much. Understand that the location and food you choose will end up being about 50% of your budget. Here are some great statistics I found on BridalColumbus.com.

Average Cost of Weddings
• $28,852.00 - Average amount spent in 2009.
• 100% - Increase since 1990.
• 200,000 - Increase in number of weddings per year since 1990.

Average age of bride and groom
• 27 - Average age of Bride.
• 29 - Average age of Groom.
• 63,000.00 - Estimated average household income.
• 14 months - Average engagement period.

Number of wedding occurring in America in 2007
• 2.3 million Americans were married this year.
• 44,230 weddings every weekend.
• 23 million bridesmaids and groomsmen.
• 380 million wedding guests.

Destination Weddings
•18% will choose to have a destination wedding.
• 440% - Increase in last 10 years.
• $28,806.00 - Average spent.
• 60 - Average number of guests attending.

Engagement Season
• Winter Holidays the most popular.
• 16% - Number of engagements in the month of December.

Who is Paying for it?
• 30% of brides parents will pay for the entire wedding.
• 32% of Brides&Grooms will pay for the wedding themselves.
• 15% will share the cost with both sets of parents.

DEAR JAMIE: This might be a silly question but what is an escort card? Thanks- Jen

DEAR JEN: No not silly at all, a lot of people get it confused with a place card. The escort card is what guests pick up that tells them what table to go to. (It escorts them to their table) So it might say Jen&Doug Smith- Table 4. You can do these individually or by couple. Formal: Mr. & Mrs. Smith or Informal is Mary and Joe Smith. If they have a guest- you place and guest or make them a separate card. The place card is what would be at each place setting if you wanted to assign seats.

There are several ways you can escort guests to their tables. The classic is in an small envelope but the most common are the cards placed in alphabetical order on a table right outside the room. I am a fan of the cards being on a round table with a centerpiece in the middle so guests can maneuver around the table and find their cards quicker.

Another way is to have the cards placed on a unique structure with ribbons, hanging from a tree, put them in small individual frames, or placed in beds of grass. Many couples have made these their favors as well by using small flower pots, seed packets, candy bars, etc. Make sure if you are doing these outdoors they are placed under pinned ribbon, rocks, colored gems, or something so that they do not blow away!

There are also large frames that may have the couples logo and guest list in alpha order with their table numbers next to it presented on a easel.

A last idea for you is to go very formal and have a staff actually escort the guests to their tables, however, I would not do this for a very large group.

DEAR JAMIE: I have an independent make-up artist coming to my house to do a trial run. The charge for the trial is $35 - am I supposed to tip her too? The same will go for Sunday when I go back for the hair trial.

DEAR ALLISON: This is for both hair and make-up. If you like the work she does, and she is coming to you, then you could tip. My honest opinion is that they should not charge you for a trial in the first place and isn't her real "tip" that she will get hired? I guess that is a different conversation all together. Perhaps I will blog about my opinion.

I am guessing she is charging you less for the trial then on the wedding day, which would be correct. I would tip 15-20% on the wedding day as long as you are pleased with your results.

DEAR JAMIE: I was writing to inquire about a photograph on your website. When you click on the 'receptions' link and are taken to another web page there are three lovely photos. I was writing to see where the first photo (the one with the couple) was taken as well as the birdseye view photo (the same place I think).I am currently searching for a reception venue in 2009 and that picture looks exactly like what I am interested in! Thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated! Katie

DEAR KATIE: The picture is from St. Charles Preperatory School off Broad Street. Their website is http://www.stcharlesprep.org/. It is a beautiful location!

DEAR JAMIE: I am attending a wedding this summer and it is semi-formal 5:30 event, what is appropriate to wear?

DEAR SUSAN: There aren't too many no no's for a semi formal summer wedding, but the obvious no white, no sequins, and no crazy cleavage. I would choose some yummy floral print in a tea length strapless style with some strappy sandals and wavy hair. If floral isn't your style, try something fun like taffeta, which has made a fabulous comeback in bright colors like bubblegum pink or sea foam green. Sandals are definitely okay, flip flops are not. If it gets chilly at night, maybe a nice pashmina wrap would be a great accessory, as well as one bold piece of jewelry, either bracelets, necklace or earrings but not all three. Check out these sites www.jcrew.com or www.bananarepublic.com. For the accessories check out www.liasophia.com/dare2dream

DEAR JAMIE: Is there any place in Columbus that provides weddingmoon packages? I was told there was one Enchanted something but I can't seem to find it?

DEAR ANDY: Is there a certain destination you had in mind? We offer information to couples regarding Sandals WeddingMoons by Preston Bailey. I believe most travel agents would be able to assist you with your needs. Here are two referrals for you. www.laurac.allabouthoneymoons.com and www.creativevacations.com.

DEAR JAMIE: Should we print on the invite where we will be registered or just add square papers that were provided by the store we registered in the invite and NOT print it on the invite?--ELKE

DEAR ELKE: I would not put any information as to where you are registered in your invitation. It is considered bad etiquette to assume you are receiving gifts from your guests. With that in mind the best place to put this information is on your wedding website or by word of mouth.

DEAR JAMIE: Should I block rooms at more then one hotel for my guests? -- CARRIE IN COLUMBUS

DEAR CARRIE: Depending on how many rooms you need, it is a good idea to block two hotels at two different price ranges so your guests have a choice which they are comfortable with. Another option would be to block at one hotel and just give them other near by options.

DEAR JAMIE: Do I have to invite my friends new boyfriend? -- JENNY IN DELAWARE

DEAR JENNY: No you do not have to invite her boyfriend unless they have been together for over 1 year.

	Submit your question to Jamie. DEAR JAMIE: I am having some issues with colors for my wedding. I don't have any clue on what looks good when it comes to a fall wedding. All the fall colors are too bold for me, I want to have purple and yellow as my colors but didn't know how they would look. Please help! DEAR BARBARA: I consulted our designer on this question- so here is her response: You have to first choose your main color and your accent color. Since it is a fall themed event purple and yellow can be great choices if done correctly. If you want to give a rich warm feeling I would choose a purple that is close to a deep plum and a yellow that is more a sunflower yellow. With these colors I would definitely make the undertone ivory and add a small touch of olive or moss. The 2^nd way to go is my favorite as it is more simplistic and chic yet gives a very big statement. If you are going for a lighter, brighter feeling, I would use many versions of yellow as my pallet and add violet or a deep plum as small accent colors such as in the ribbon of your bouquet or on your menu cards or escort cards. It would even be pretty to have ceramic vases that were purple in color or all white and ad a small punch of color with the purple accents in the arrangements. If you are a country homemade bride a cute favor would be maybe a mini jar of honey or peanut butter and jelly! Barbara, I hope these ideas give you some inspiration and help you find your true wedding style! Amrta Kenner, CB&G Stylist and Designer DEAR JAMIE: I was going to get return address labels for the reply envelope and the outer envelope. Do they have to be the same or could they be different? Would it be ok to have wedding bells on the outer envelope label and an M on the reply label? Or should they just be plain with our name&address? Marilyn from Marion DEAR MARILYN: My suggestion is to skip the labels if at all possible. I know they make things a lot easier and quicker for that matter but etiquette does say that you should never print addresses with a computer, but always hand write them both front and back. You will want to place the return address on the back flap of the outer envelope. This should be the address of the person hosting the event. For example, if the bride's parents are hosting the wedding, the invitations should use the parents' address. Traditionally, names are not included on a formal return address. It's important to note that guests who are unable to attend or who wish to send their gift before or after your wedding date will send packages to this address. Remember, a wedding is an extremely intimate and personal event, and your invitations should reflect that. This is where family and bridesmaids come in handy- enlist in their help! This is a great personal touch. DEAR JAMIE: What is an average wedding budget for Columbus? Ashely DEAR ASHLEY: I would say the average wedding budget for a wedding of 200 guests in the Columbus area is about $27,000. This really depends on so much. Understand that the location and food you choose will end up being about 50% of your budget. Here are some great statistics I found on BridalColumbus.com. Average Cost of Weddings • $28,852.00 - Average amount spent in 2009. • 100% - Increase since 1990. • 200,000 - Increase in number of weddings per year since 1990. Average age of bride and groom • 27 - Average age of Bride. • 29 - Average age of Groom. • 63,000.00 - Estimated average household income. • 14 months - Average engagement period. Number of wedding occurring in America in 2007 • 2.3 million Americans were married this year. • 44,230 weddings every weekend. • 23 million bridesmaids and groomsmen. • 380 million wedding guests. Destination Weddings •18% will choose to have a destination wedding. • 440% - Increase in last 10 years. • $28,806.00 - Average spent. • 60 - Average number of guests attending. Engagement Season • Winter Holidays the most popular. • 16% - Number of engagements in the month of December. Who is Paying for it? • 30% of brides parents will pay for the entire wedding. • 32% of Brides&Grooms will pay for the wedding themselves. • 15% will share the cost with both sets of parents. DEAR JAMIE: This might be a silly question but what is an escort card? Thanks- Jen DEAR JEN: No not silly at all, a lot of people get it confused with a place card. The escort card is what guests pick up that tells them what table to go to. (It escorts them to their table) So it might say Jen&Doug Smith- Table 4. You can do these individually or by couple. Formal: Mr. & Mrs. Smith or Informal is Mary and Joe Smith. If they have a guest- you place and guest or make them a separate card. The place card is what would be at each place setting if you wanted to assign seats. There are several ways you can escort guests to their tables. The classic is in an small envelope but the most common are the cards placed in alphabetical order on a table right outside the room. I am a fan of the cards being on a round table with a centerpiece in the middle so guests can maneuver around the table and find their cards quicker. Another way is to have the cards placed on a unique structure with ribbons, hanging from a tree, put them in small individual frames, or placed in beds of grass. Many couples have made these their favors as well by using small flower pots, seed packets, candy bars, etc. Make sure if you are doing these outdoors they are placed under pinned ribbon, rocks, colored gems, or something so that they do not blow away! There are also large frames that may have the couples logo and guest list in alpha order with their table numbers next to it presented on a easel. A last idea for you is to go very formal and have a staff actually escort the guests to their tables, however, I would not do this for a very large group. DEAR JAMIE: I have an independent make-up artist coming to my house to do a trial run. The charge for the trial is $35 - am I supposed to tip her too? The same will go for Sunday when I go back for the hair trial. DEAR ALLISON: This is for both hair and make-up. If you like the work she does, and she is coming to you, then you could tip. My honest opinion is that they should not charge you for a trial in the first place and isn't her real "tip" that she will get hired? I guess that is a different conversation all together. Perhaps I will blog about my opinion. I am guessing she is charging you less for the trial then on the wedding day, which would be correct. I would tip 15-20% on the wedding day as long as you are pleased with your results. DEAR JAMIE: I was writing to inquire about a photograph on your website. When you click on the 'receptions' link and are taken to another web page there are three lovely photos. I was writing to see where the first photo (the one with the couple) was taken as well as the birdseye view photo (the same place I think).I am currently searching for a reception venue in 2009 and that picture looks exactly like what I am interested in! Thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated! Katie DEAR KATIE: The picture is from St. Charles Preperatory School off Broad Street. Their website is http://www.stcharlesprep.org/. It is a beautiful location! DEAR JAMIE: I am attending a wedding this summer and it is semi-formal 5:30 event, what is appropriate to wear? DEAR SUSAN: There aren't too many no no's for a semi formal summer wedding, but the obvious no white, no sequins, and no crazy cleavage. I would choose some yummy floral print in a tea length strapless style with some strappy sandals and wavy hair. If floral isn't your style, try something fun like taffeta, which has made a fabulous comeback in bright colors like bubblegum pink or sea foam green. Sandals are definitely okay, flip flops are not. If it gets chilly at night, maybe a nice pashmina wrap would be a great accessory, as well as one bold piece of jewelry, either bracelets, necklace or earrings but not all three. Check out these sites www.jcrew.com or www.bananarepublic.com. For the accessories check out www.liasophia.com/dare2dream DEAR JAMIE: Is there any place in Columbus that provides weddingmoon packages? I was told there was one Enchanted something but I can't seem to find it? DEAR ANDY: Is there a certain destination you had in mind? We offer information to couples regarding Sandals WeddingMoons by Preston Bailey. I believe most travel agents would be able to assist you with your needs. Here are two referrals for you. www.laurac.allabouthoneymoons.com and www.creativevacations.com. DEAR JAMIE: Should we print on the invite where we will be registered or just add square papers that were provided by the store we registered in the invite and NOT print it on the invite?--ELKE DEAR ELKE: I would not put any information as to where you are registered in your invitation. It is considered bad etiquette to assume you are receiving gifts from your guests. With that in mind the best place to put this information is on your wedding website or by word of mouth. DEAR JAMIE: Should I block rooms at more then one hotel for my guests? -- CARRIE IN COLUMBUS DEAR CARRIE: Depending on how many rooms you need, it is a good idea to block two hotels at two different price ranges so your guests have a choice which they are comfortable with. Another option would be to block at one hotel and just give them other near by options. DEAR JAMIE: Do I have to invite my friends new boyfriend? -- JENNY IN DELAWARE DEAR JENNY: No you do not have to invite her boyfriend unless they have been together for over 1 year.