Bliss 2018 Bridal Guide for the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula GOOD LUCK CELLARS 1025 Good Luck Road Kilmarnock • (804) 435-1416 www.goodluckcellars.com Make your wedding or special event memorable at Good Luck Cellars. Bar/Tasting Room Facility Facilities consist of 4,500 square feet of indoor Custom Gourmet space and 3,000 square feet of covered porch Wedding Catering Outdoor Fireplace Reception area www.THETABLEATWILTON.com space. The acreage 804.776.9555 surrounding [email protected] the tasting and 16273 General Puller Hwy, Unit A-4, Deltaville, VA 23043 production facility is also available for private outdoor events. Host the perfect southern wedding at Historic Leafwood Circa 1781 Ceremony and Reception Location on four beautifully landscaped acres Only one wedding per weekend means your wedding is totally private Our staff has over 25 years experience in the wedding industry Wedding package includes many extras Guest Cottage for weekend stay 820 Gloucester Road Saluda, Virginia 804-387-0724 Leafwoodweddings.com Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 2 • Bliss • January 25, 2018 2018 efore the “I dos” are said and the their big day. One had a real fairy tale Are jeans and a tee-shirt ever appropri- champagne uncorked, there’s a lot wedding . ate, even for an outdoor beach wedding? Blissof planning . Our annual bridal We’ve also outlined the roles of the And does a 6 p.m. wedding really still B maid of honor and best man. What’s mean black tie and evening gown? guide offers tips, trends and the finishing touches for putting together the perfect expected of them pre-, during and post- We hope you enjoy our guide and it wedding . ceremony. Bet some of their responsibili- helps you plan for that special day. And Themed weddings are popular right ties will surprise you. please remember to support the busi- now . See what and how our readers have And Ginger Philbrick answers the nesses that have made this publication chosen and implemented themes into tough question of what to wear, when. possible . Best Man/Maid of Honor What are their jobs? . 4 On the cover: Photo courtesty of Gressit Photography, Shacklefords What to Wear Appropriate wedding attire . 6 Themed Weddings Bliss is a supplement published annually by the Rappahannock Record, P.O. Box 400, Kilmarnock, Va. 22482, (804) 435-1701 and the From vision to reality . 10 Southside Sentinel, P.O. Box 549, Urbanna, Va. 23175, (804) 758-2328. News Tom Hardin and Robert D. Mason Jr., editors; Lisa Hinton- Valdrighi, Audrey Thomasson and Madison White Franks Advertising Sara Amiss and Wendy Burch, managers; Marilyn Bryant, Jessica Michels-Mancini and Libby Allen Lessons Learned Production Stephanie Feria, Joseph Gaskins, Susan Simmons and Successful marriage secrets . K.C. Troise 14 Publications Coordinator Susan Simmons Editorial Director Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi Account Managers Geanie Longest and Lindsay Bishoff Publishers Fred and Bettie Lee Gaskins January 25, 2018 • Bliss • 3 Dos and don’ts for the best man and maid of honor by Audrey Thomasson hen a bride and groom select or being inappropriate at the reception. a maid of honor and best man, So too, are the stories of the best man they are singling out friends or leading the groom astray with danger- Wfamily to be at their side when they make ous behavior and over-indulging at a stag the biggest commitment of their lives. party. Who hasn’t heard of a drunken best They are entrusting them with respon- man giving an insulting toast at the recep- sibilities that will either cement a deep tion? bond with the wedded couple or possibly This guide will help the bride and alienate them for life. So choose wisely. groom select the right people to make There are stories of high maintenance their wedding day an enjoyable and bliss- maids of honor grabbing center stage ful event for the memory books. Maid of Honor In selecting attendants, avoid the drama ette party. queens and bestow the honor on friends She also may be asked to help the bride or family members who can perform the with pre-wedding tasks from addressing duties without forgetting who will be the invitations and place cards, selecting bridal real star of the event. party gifts, to choosing the wedding bou- quets, cuisine options and nodding enthusi- Pre-wedding astically to the bride’s choices even if they The maid/matron of honor should be part don’t match her own. worker bee, social worker and emotional island from the chaos of events spiraling Wedding day toward the big day. She should remember Remember to arrange the wedding train the importance of listening to the bride. before preceding down the aisle—think Top qualities include the ability to keep Pippa Middleton at sister Kate’s wedding— a stressful bride laughing and offering and, again, once the bride arrives at the altar. emotional support. Duties include helping At the reception, periodically play hostess the bride select the wedding gown, brides- along with the other bridesmaids, helping maids’ dresses and shoes. She should make guests with seating, locating restrooms, sure everyone gets their bridesmaids’ fit- where to place gifts and collect gift enve- tings, receives their dresses in time and help lopes. Make sure the bride takes a moment with the appropriate matching accessories. to eat something by getting her a plate of She is the 411 on pre-wedding events, food and refresh her drink. A short, positive host—or co-host—of a bridal shower and toast to the couple is a perfect touch. will attend all pre-wedding parties and Don’t get so caught up in the reception keep a record of all the gifts for those all- that you forget to help the bride change for important thank you notes. She coordinates her honeymoon. Help arrange to store the with bridesmaids on plans for a bachelor- wedding dress until her return. 4 • Bliss • January 25, 2018 Best man Being asked to be the “best” man married life. As the groom’s moral com- man does his job right, the groom will shows that the groom holds that rela- pass, he should orchestrate activities the only need to worry about watching his tionship in great respect. For those who groom would enjoy and that will help him bride walk down the aisle. accept, it is time to put away boyish ways blow off pre-nuptial jitters. These could At the reception, the best man kicks and help the groom through this rite-of- include a poker night, golfing, attending off the toasting with a short speech. In passage into marital responsibility. a boxing match or basketball game, or order not to appear like an ignoramus, dinner with a funny roast by friends. he should prepare in advance, stay sober Pre-wedding He is also responsible for delivering the and begin by expressing gratitude to It’s not all about the bachelor party groom’s wedding-related pre-arranged people by name who made the day pos- and recalling humiliating stories for payments to officiants, assistants and sible. The speech should include a short the reception speech. The best man is musicians and singers for the ceremony. story that makes a connection between expected to be on hand for all key events. the groom and his bride and should avoid At an engagement party or rehearsal Wedding day controversial, offensive and inappropri- dinner, he should be working the room. During a whirlwind of last minute ate stories. If the story isn’t appropriate Do the homework—be the go-to guy, activities, the best man should take the for grandma, leave it out. sensitive to difficult family situations and burden of stress off the groom and onto After the wedding, the best man should a diplomat to opposing sides. He orga- his own shoulders. He is the groom’s take the groom’s tux to the cleaners or nizes the tuxedo fittings in addition to emotional support, assistant and valet. back to the rental shop while the couple any other pre-wedding outfits and acces- If the wedding is later in the day, he is on their honeymoon. sories, including cufflinks. should hang out with the groom, play- A major pre-wedding responsibility ing games like basketball or video games This guide was prepared using the of the best man is to plan the bachelor until it’s time to get ready. Also, make expert advice of wedding planners, party and extend the invitations. This sure everything is in place and the groom interviews with attendants, Emily Post’s tradition dates back to the 5th century has what he needs. Drive him to the wed- manner’s guide “Etiquette” and from BC. It is designed for male bonding and ding location on time and distribute bou- personal experience planning my two to celebrate the transition from single to tonnieres to the groomsmen. If the best daughters’ weddings. January 25, 2018 • Bliss • 5 What am I going to wear? Appropriate wedding attire by Ginger Philbrick 64 Meadowbrook Road • Warsaw, VA 22572 804-333-4978 • www.clementstentrentals.com hat to wear. What to Tie”) or dark suit. wear! What AM I going to wear??? This is often Semiformal: Wthe sequence of our thoughts when Proper attire for daytime for a invited to a special event such as a women would be a short afternoon wedding. For a wedding, there are dress, dressy pantsuit, or cocktail several reasonable answers and sev- dress, while daytime wear for men eral things to consider. would be a dark suit; dark blazer, and dark pants. The first consideration is the event Evening wear for women should itself.