HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-02-05, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5,1997 PAGE 21.
A look at the new bachelor party
Long, long ago, bachelor parlies
were invented to raise a "fun fund"
for the groom so he could carouse
with his buddies even after his wife
seized control of the household
money. Later, as the festivities
became more civilized, revellers
would toast the bride, then shatter
their champagne glasses so they
could never be used for a less
worthy purpose.
In the '90s, this ritual signifying
the end of bachelorhood is still
going strong, but old traditions are
meeting some new and creative
twists, reports Bride's magazine.
And many of today's bachelors
parties seem to be "a walk on the
mild side" when compared to the
decadent all-nighters of the past. A
few features of .the new attitude
toward parties revealed by Bride's:
Boys will be boys? While the
bachelor party remains a rite of
passage ("It's a chauvinistic, male-
oriented evening," one young man
boasted to Bride's), some find the
parties never quite live up to the
hype. "I think most are overrated,"
one 26-year-old said. "They come
across as such a wild, crazy
time...personally, I don't get my
thrills by hanging out with the boys
watching strippers."
Il lakes all kinds ...of themes:
These days, a bachelor party could
be a buffet dinner with a fund-
raising raffle (the proceeds go to
the bride and groom, or to their
favourite charity), a private party at
a billiard room, or a weekend trip
to a ski resort. And the oncc-taboo
guests - the bride and her friends -
may be cordially invited to what
are known as "Jack and Jill"
parties.
The best man for the job: The
success of the event depends on the
creativity of the best man, who
traditionally organizes it - rounding
up guests, making the reservations,
planning the entertainment.
Usually, he plays the deposits, then
tells guests what they should
contribute.
Smart tactics: The party should
be held several days before the
wedding {never the night before),
so everyone has time to recover.
And it's essential to provide safe
transportation (in case guests have
one loo many) by hiring
limousines, designating drivers, or
even renting a bus for the night.
As men mark the end of their
bachelorhood in a more
gentlemanly fashion, stereotypical
images of cigar-filled rooms, back-
slapping, and dancing girls may
soon fade. In the meantime, more
and more men are admitting their
aversion to the totally decadent
night out with the guys. As one
man told Bride's, "I think the
wedding is actually a lot more fun
than the bachelor party."
Design your bedroom together
Getting away from it all. It's a
familiar enough expression. But
what most of us don't normally
think about is the special
significance of that phrase for
newly and soon-to-be-married
couples.
"Building a marriage takes time
and privacy," notes Martha Ward, a
design consultant. "That's why it's
essential for newlyweds to find or
create a place that really does get
them away from the hustle and
bustle of everyday life, an intimate
retreat where they can leave the
world behind and focus exclusively
on themselves and their
relationship.
To help novice decorating teams
get their bedroom retreat off to a
proper and mutually agreeable
start, Ward offers the following
suggestions:
- If at all possible, plan on
furnishing the bedroom only with
pieces you've shopped for or
received as a couple.
It's perfectly permissible, not to
mention economically practical, to
combine individually acquired
items in the more public areas of
the home. But the bedroom - your
place, your space - should
represent a true marriage of tastes.
- As the centrepiece of your
private retreat, a bed should be the
first item on your shopping list.
"Although wood, laminate and
lacquer-finished beds may have
been the beds-of-choice in years
Sneak in quick
Continued from page 20
quarter profiles. Grinning too hard
tenses your face and neck. Try for a
relaxed, natural smile. Vary your
moods. Remember, don't look
directly into the camera's flash.
• During the reception, try to
sneak in one or two quick beauty
fixes: Apply fresh face powder and
past, the popularity of painted
metal and brass styles has zoomed
in the last decade. And for good
reason," Ward observes.
"Whether traditional spindle and
scroll" or sleekly contemporary,
these beds have a classic beauty.
They're also easy to maintain,
capable of lasting a lifetime, and
the perfect complement to an
eclectic decorating scheme.
A refreshing alternative to the
everything matches-everything
approach to interior decorating, and
an important consideration for the
newlywed couple whose decorating
ideas may change with time.
- Emphasize the art of
compromise when selecting
patterns, colours and styles of bed
clothes, draperies and upholstery
fabrics. To avoid a too-masculine
or too-feminine look, offset florals
with geometries or stripes, ruffles
with man-tailored accents and silky
touches with coarser textures.
As a final step, accessorize with
objects that hold special meaning
for both of you: A wreath of
flowers gathered on your honey
moon, pictures unearthed at a first-
date flea market, a prized lamp
presented by a mutual friend or
baskets brought back from a trip to
the tropics.
Once completed, your intimate
get-away will be the ideal setting
for sharing secrets, hopes and
dreams, for learning what it means
to be a couple.
makeup fixes
renew faded blusher. With a moist
cotton swab, erase mascara
smudges and reapply eyeliner. Add
new lipcolour and re-spray your
hair.
With these tips, and a bit of extra
planning, you'll look wonderful
before, during and after your
wedding.
No Wedding would be complete
without decorations.
Add balloon bouquets,
balloon arches, paper
decorations including, I
streamers, bells & hearts to ’
your reception hall decor.
Choose from a large selection
of colours, sizes and shapes.
We’ll order what we don’t (
stock.
Act II
by appointment
523-4486
BLYTH GENERAL
STORE
Blyth 523-9785
4
(storm date Mar. 22 & 23)
* Register to attend by calling
523-4440 or 1-800-610-7757
the
Everything you need for a j
If Perfect Day •
& makeup application & manicures
pedicures
full & part body waxing
-fc European facials
& paraffin wax treatments
yQe.stkcttcs A £.lecttolysls ISy TSonnU
56 King St., Brussels
519-887-6661 ....
We will show you a variety of fresh and silk
bouquets, corsages, hair accessories,
table arrangements, decorating ideas
for the church & reception hall
Rentals Available
Florist will be available for consultation
* Remember seeing is believing
Each wedding is tailored to
your wants and budget
Book your wedding with us by April 15th and you are
eligible to enter a draw to receive
25% off your Wedding Flowers
(Deposit for booking must be received by this date)
Latin's Country Flowers
117 Queen St., Blyth
A Full Service Florist for All Occasions
provide gracious country
accommodations for your
wedding guests
Mitchell's Country
Bed & Breakfast
Enjoy quiet country, relaxing itiner
ary for shopping, sightseeing avail
able for a day's travel in different
directions. Your extra guests for
special occasions are very welcome.
Four double rooms. Wheelchair
accessible. Full breakfast.
Phyllis and Emerson Mitchell
RR 3, Walton, Ont. N0K 1Z0
(Cone. 9 & 10 of Morris Twp. - 1/2
mile west of Walton Church) (519)
887-6697.
Blyth Station House
Linda and Chan Vir, 481 Dinsley St.
E., Blyth, Ontario N0M 1H0, (519)
523-9826 or (416) 449-6588. Century-
old railway station, tastefully reno
vated. Air conditioned. Delicious
breakfasts in exquisite round wait
ing room. Queen-sized bedrooms,
some with private bathrooms,
including separate romantic hide
away with whirlpool. Peaceful
retreat. Friendly hosts. Walking dis
tance to Blyth Festival Theatre.
Close to Stratford, Huron Country
Playhouse and west coast beaches.
Breakfast style: full. Guest capacity:
13. Reservations preferred. Open
year round. Rates: $60.00 - $90.00
double incl. tax.
The Country Lane
Marie and Lisa Rammeloo invite you
to spend an enjoyable stay at their
Bed and Breakfast just minutes out
side of the beautiful village of Blyth.
You'll enjoy our nice spacious home
as well as our picturesque perennial
gardens and a full country breakfast.
It's within a half hour drive from
Lake Huron beaches and historic
sites. As well, an hour drive from
Kitchener, Stratford or London.
Marie and Lisa Rammeloo
1 1 /2 miles east on Dinsley St.,
Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0
(519) 523-4761
Breakfast Style: Full Country.
Gypsy Lane
Bed & Breakfast
A quiet residence set on the edge of
town. Go for a nature walk and
enjoy the deer, horses and variety of
birds at our home. We are only one
block from the Blyth Festival
Theatre. Feel comfortable in our two
double bedrooms. Both have private
bath and access to family room with
colour T.V.
Murray and Doreen Siertsema
257 Gypsy Lane,
Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0
(519) 523-9248
Breakfast Style: Full.
Open Year Round