The Citizen, 2010-03-04, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010.
(MS) -- Are you one of the
thousands of couples who got
engaged over the holidays? This is
the time for you and your soon-to-be
to get everything you ever wanted --
the time to start from scratch, to
upgrade, expand and replace. To turn
a whole bunch of mismatched mine
and yours into a lifetime of ours.
“When it comes to registering,
relax, take your time and have fun,”
recommends Audrey Stavish, a
bridal and gift registry expert. “Go
back to the store as many times as
needed, or update your registry
online. There aren’t any rules that
you must follow. Choose items that
are right for you and your soon-to-
be. Go through the registry process
together and have fun!”
Here are some additional tips to
make wedding planning a breeze:
Plan Ahead: Start a bridal registry
as soon as you say “yes.” This way
you will be prepared for your
engagement party and bridal shower,
as well as your wedding.
Periodically update your registry by
adding more products if you need to,
even after the wedding. Be kind to
procrastinators.
Don’t be shy: Register for gifts in
a range of prices and categories. This
will give guests and group givers lots
of options to choose from.
Look back and Plan Ahead!
Discuss your background and
personal preferences beforehand. It’s
also important to consider your
future. Consider things like how
often you’ll entertain and how much
you will be cooking.
Visit a store: It’s in your best
interest to visit a store and schedule
an appointment with an expert
consultant. Touch the towels,
heft the flatware, see everything
in person!
Do the math: Experts advise
registering for two to three items
times the number of guests you plan
to have. Close friends and family
will rely on your registry for special
events leading up to the wedding --
such as engagement parties, bridal
showers and holidays! Your guests
will appreciate having lots of
choices when they shop for you. Be
sure to refresh your list regularly as
gifts get purchased.
Register Now, Because You Won’t
Buy it Later:You may think you will
... but you won’t. Now is the time to
let others get you the stuff you’d
never buy yourself. Your friends and
family might even get together to
purchase a higher priced “group
gift.”
Remember the Rule of Three:
When it comes to setting your table,
if you choose bold patterns for your
china and flatware, pick a more
simple style of glassware. Prefer
intricate stemware? Pair it with
simpler patterns of china and
flatware. So, it’s bold/bold/simple or
simple/simple/bold.
Congratulations and best wishes
on your engagement. Now get
registering and let the gift-giving
begin.
MUNICIPALITY OF
HURON EAST
SEAFORTH & DISTRICT
COMMUNITY CENTRES
Seaforth & District Community Centres is an excellent location
to hold your wedding reception. Our modern air-conditioned
facility with fully-equipped kitchen is ready to serve up to 480
people. The accessible hall is fully licensed and rentals can
include bartenders and security. Round tables are now
available for your use. Book now for your upcoming wedding.
Call Tadd Smith or Kevan Broome ~ 519-527-1272
BRUSSELS, MORRIS & GREY
COMMUNITY CENTRE
Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre offers an air
conditioned banquet hall that holds 450 people and is fully
licensed for your convenience. Our kitchen has a dishwasher
and all the utensils you will need to serve your guests. The hall
is fully accessible with bartenders included in your rental. We
also offer a discount on your wedding rental if you also book
your Buck and Doe with us.
Phone 519-887-6621 Fax 519-887-9980
e-mail bmgcc@ezlink.ca
VANASTRA RECREATION CENTRE
Vanastra Recreation Centre is located at 26 Toronto Blvd.,
Vanastra. Our facility can hold 200 people.
We have a full-service kitchen.
Great for family get-togethers. Call Lissa 519-482-3544
Brussels
Legion
Hall
Ideal for smaller
gatherings
- fully licensed
- catering available
- hardwood dance floor
- full kitchen
- air conditioned
- seats 150-175
comfortably
519-887-6562
Walton
Community
Hall
Great location
for small groups of
50-75 people
- full kitchen
- catering available
- hardwood dance floor
- lots of parking
519-887-6735
Getting Engaged Just the Beginning....Now What?
58 Elora Street, Mildmay 519-367-2636
Unique Giftware and Home Accents
Specializing in Quality Custom Framing
Of
Keepsake items, prints, oils and water colours and all types of needlework
Free Gift with your Bridal Registry
Kitchen and bathroom accessories, everyday table wares, linens and throws,
seasonal indoor and outdoors accents, candles, cookbooks and photo frames.
“Surround Yourself with Style”
www.surroundingsmildmay.ca
O F M I L D M A Y
Owned and operated by
Sherry and Brian Durrer
Continued from Page 17
diamond gets bigger and the cost
remains low, to the naked eye and
more prominently under a
microscope, the diamond will be
revealed to be dull and lifeless.
The life and brilliance of the
diamond, she says, is what women
are often looking for in an
engagement ring. However, from a
man’s eyes, a case full of diamonds
may all look the same to him, so that
is why Mohring says it’s important
to visit a reputable jewellery store.
One of the biggest problems she
has seen in recent years with
engagement rings has been the
prominence of ring shopping on the
internet where guarantees are often
not upheld and buyers don’t always
receive what they’ve been sold.
She says she sees a lot of couples
come in looking at engagement rings
together. Often the bride-to-be will
give the man an idea of what she
likes, leave him with some ideas,
some options, then some room to
make the final decision himself.
In addition to that assistance,
some jewellery stores offer a
layaway program where the ring can
be customized and purchased and
then held for the buyer after a down
payment is made and the rest of the
cost is paid over time.
Another advantage to having
purchased your ring at a store you
know is that the maintenance
shouldn’t be a problem.
Mohring says it’s important to get
your engagement ring cleaned and
checked twice annually, so after the
ceremony and down the road,
predictable wear and tear don’t
result in the loss of the ring’s
diamond.
She says the first thing to go after
years of wear is the claws, which
hold the diamond, so a lack of
maintenance in this department
could end up being very costly.
Rings can even be completely
restored, although a service like that
often comes with a hefty price tag
attached to it.
Maintenance of rings, prevents costly repairs
Registering
Following a few wedding
registry tips will help
relieve some of the
stress associated with
wedding planning.
(MS photo)