Tips for the big day

By Deanna Brown

Daily Sun



Bridezillas, last-minute fiascoes, photographers that don’t show — all are the stuff wedding nightmares are made of.

If you are planning for your “big day,” there are steps you can take to try to head off unforeseen disaster. Tom Adams has been planning/designing weddings for 42 years, and has advice on planning, trends, and budget for those with matrimony on their mind.

Adams started work at Burson-Pearson Florist when he was 13 years old, and begged Mrs. Pearson for a job. She allowed him to “play” with the dead flowers, and discovered he had a knack for designing. That knack has served him in designing both in Dallas, and back here in Corsicana, where he owns and operates Victorian Sample.

“I had expertise from my Dallas years, and when I moved here, I rolled it into party planning, where I handle all aspects of an event,” Adams said. “One bit of advise is, ‘Don’t overpower the designer.’”

A common pitfall is looking up wedding ideas on the Internet, or in bridal magazines, and trying to throw all the favorites together, which can cause a “jumbled” look without real style.

Weddings may be done simply, as in a nice church wedding, with reception in a hall at the church, and $500 can cover corsages, centerpieces, flowers for the cake and a huge arrangement at the altar.

“Your choice of flowers has a large impact on the budget,” he said.

Then there is the extravagant side, where one bride’s family spent $50,000 on flowers and props alone.

“We can transform a church or other location with trees, or wall decor, hand-painted or built sets, canvas, it can get into some money,” he said. “And, we can design wedding cakes to match the decor. Also a groom’s cake — I remember this one I designed that was a nine-hole golf course with water running through it, and live fish swimming.”

If you choose the route of hiring a designer, Adams suggests cutting out lots of pictures, and bringing them to the interview. Once the designer has a feel for the bride’s personal taste (based on her pictures), they can then work from there with regard to price, availability of flowers, whether the dance floor/layout will be designed, etc.

Just like there are trends in fashion, trends exist in all things wedding, as well. Adams said the pendulum swings with regard to trends.

“For so long, we had these long, airy cascades that were bridal bouquets, and went down the front of the dress and were just beautiful,” he said. “Now they are somewhat clumped, a nosegay of tightness, color tied with a bow — but I sure can make them quickly!”

Pastels are normally more popular in warm months, with jewel tones replacing them in colder months as colors of choice.

“It is so wonderful when brides give the designer carte blanche to do their thing, because we can do beautiful weddings on a budget,” Adams said. “There are so many options of things to get in different price ranges, whether we’re talking chairs, or tablecloths, or flowers.”

Adams claims he is no fashionista, but he has noticed there are more brides marrying later in life (after establishing careers) and allowing their bridesmaids to choose their own wedding attire.

“They choose a color, and allow the girls to select their own dresses in that color, so they can wear them again,” he said. “They do the same with their shoes, but the trick is to keep the hemline the same, so you don’t have one girl up there in a mini-skirt.

“If you are trying to stay on a budget, please limit the number of attendants you have. Nothing drives a wedding budget up more than having 14 attendants.”

The key to success with color selection is not to mix too many colors together, Adams said. Fuschia, magentas, bright pinks, reds are all popular these days and really “pop,” while Adams prefers a very elegant, formal look with the pairing of white and green.

“Staying with the same color palette, but mixing shades of the same color, gives a lovely effect,” he said. “I hope yellows are coming back, especially for spring. In the spring, we prefer light, minty colors.”

Adams has been known to construct special items for weddings such as columns, pillars, pedestals, and more. He couldn’t find trees he liked, so he constructed some made entirely of green apples. He has obelisks with votive holders, chandeliers he can hang in tents, or put them on posts by an altar.

Popular flowers currently are hydrangeas, which Adams said are not too expensive alone, but if they are used as a base for orchids and roses, can get rather pricey. Roses are always popular, and the most trendy flower going now is the peony.

“Last week, peonies were going for $18 per stem,” he said. “Girls pick a bouquet they see in a magazine with no regard to cost, and they’re full of peonies, which are nearly $20 a stem.

If you have a church home, and plan to hold your wedding in your church, having the reception on the same premises makes fiscal sense. Adams said many of the floral arrangements and decorations can do double duty, and therefore save money, if you only have to move them from a sanctuary to a hall.

The average number of guests at weddings is from 250 to 500. Sadly, choices of venues for crowds this size are limited outside of churches. Adams said about the only venues in Corsicana large enough to hold gatherings of this size are the Star Hall, Country Club, and The Cook Center.

“If you want to go smaller, you can have a nice ceremony somewhere like the Pocket Park, with a dinner/dance at a local hall,” he said.

Finally, Adams has some advice for brides, and the first part is to “keep focused.”

“Remember, this is a celebration of your love with the man of your dreams,” he said. “Don’t make it a day of hell. So many times, what we go through in the preparation isn’t worth what the wedding turns out to be. I’ve had so many grooms tell me, ‘Why did we have to go through all that? I never wanted this.’

“Brides, this is your day. Don’t let your parents totally dominate the decisions.”

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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Sound Off” on this story? E-mail soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com.

Wedding Dress for Success

From Staff Reports



For most brides-to-be, the choice of a dress is among the first and most important decisions in planning a wedding. With thousands of choices in every price range, finding the perfect wedding dress can be a difficult and time-consuming process. But by making some decisions before setting foot in a store, the search will be both easier and a whole lot more enjoyable.

First things first

Start by knowing your limits. To avoid disappointment down the line, determine the maximum amount that you can spend on a dress -- and don’t forget to include all the little extras, such as undergarments, shoes, jewelry, veil, and/or hair ornaments. Next, take an inventory of your personal style. If you know that you’re not comfortable in strapless or sleeveless dresses, for example, you can immediately eliminate these options. The trick is to rule out a few style options before hitting the magazines or stores and then be open to all other options.

Firm yet flexible

There will be no shortage of opinions -- from mothers, sisters, friends, and store personnel -- about your choice of a wedding dress, but the decision, ultimately, is the bride’s alone. A great strategy is to be open to suggestions about dresses to try on, but reserve the right to choose the look that feels right to you. With so many potential options, you might want to consider bringing along a camera and taking photos of yourself in the dresses that could be “contenders.”

Go for a flattering fit

Remember: Your goal is to find a dress that flatters your body and expresses your personal style -- not to fit into a particular size. If you look ghostly in white, feel free to choose a creamier shade or a dress that has decorative accents of a different color near your neck, shoulders and face. Similarly, there’s no rule that a wedding dress has to be floor-length. If you’re planning a daytime or more casual wedding, you might want to consider a tea-length dress (one that falls a few inches above the ankle) or go even shorter.

Comfort is key

Style and fit may be the two most important factors in choosing a wedding dress, but comfort should be a close third. Ask yourself if you will be comfortable in a particular dress given the setting in which your wedding will take place.  For instance, if you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, you may want forego a dress with a long, trailing train that could trip you up on your walk to or down the aisle. Even if you’re planning an indoor event, having a dress and shoes that are as comfortable as they are beautiful will greatly increase your odds of enjoying your special day to the fullest.

Making Memories: Unique Ways to Pop the Question

From Staff Reports



Many people, men and women alike, are on the prowl for unusual and memorable ways to propose marriage to their loved ones. The proposal can be simple, with just the two of you and a few props, or it can be based on an elaborate scheme requiring complex planning and numerous accomplices.

The key to a successful, out-of-the-ordinary marriage proposal is the element of surprise, so fitting a proposal into “normal” or everyday activities helps to keep your intended off guard. Here are some ideas that may inspire you to create an enduring and treasured memory for decades to come.



Public Performances

If you’re feeling brave and are fairly sure the answer will be “yes,” consider popping the question in front of hundreds, if not thousands of onlookers.

• Ask while at the movies, on the big screen! Most movie theaters have repeating advertising slides before the previews that can be purchased.

* If you’re sports fans, let the scoreboard do the talking or make arrangements with the public address announcer at a sporting event.

• Skywriting or a plane flying a banner is an old-fashioned and romantic way to propose. You can both have an intimate and private marriage proposal, while still proclaiming your love to the world.

• Hang up a series of signs along the road your loved one regularly travels on their way to work or school, proclaiming your love and spelling out your intentions while you wait by the last sign with a ring.



The Game of Love

Take a chance and make your big move during a quiet evening of playing games or solving puzzles.

• Purchase a blank jigsaw puzzle and be creative. Work on the puzzle together with the ring ready the moment all the pieces fall into place.

• A game of charades with family or a few close friends is a perfect way to pop the question without your partner ever seeing it coming. “Four words, the first word sounds like...”

• There are different ways to spell it out using Scrabble tiles. Secretly pick out the right letters ahead of time and spill those special words from your tray, just as your partner reaches into the bag of tiles and pulls out a box containing the ring.



The Great Outdoors

Being outside, spending time together relaxing and sharing a common interest may be the perfect moment to surprise the one you love with the big question.

• While out fishing, sailing or at the beach, let your partner discover a bottle you prepared with your proposal message tucked inside.

• If golf is your game, have an accomplice ahead of you, hiding the ring at the 18th hole. When your intended reaches into the cup to retrieve their ball, you’ll be ready with those four magic words, “Will you marry me?”