Clinton News-Record, 1987-02-18, Page 3826 showcase '87
Look Your est...
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Champagne adds sparkle
to traditioflal weddings
Traditional weddings are back in
fashion. And when your wedding includes
numerous toasts by merry -making
guests in formal attire, a large recep-
tion, and an extended ceremony, tradi-
tion demands the indispensable
beverage: Champagne.
Champagne from France adds zest and
gaiety to the happy occasion. Whether
yours is a daytime or evening wedding,
sithether you serve a sit-down dinner or
allow guests to serve themselvesofr m
tasteful buffet, Champagneproper at
any time and with every menu.
Here are a few tips from the Cham-
pagne News & Information Bureau to
enhance your traditional wedding:
•For elegant economy provide non -
vintage brut Champagne with canapes
and hors -d'oeuvre — what the French
call amuse-bouches.
•To add a rosy glow to the pro-
ceedings, choose pink Champagne to ac-
company light meats, smoked fish,
chicken or cheese, served on peach -
colored linen.
•Opt for extra -dry Champagne —
slightly sweeter than brut — if you
decide to serve Champagne with the
piece montee (traditional wedding cake).
•For a celebration of symphonic pro-
portions pour Champagne from a giant
bottle. A Methuselah (equals eight stan-
dard bottles) serves 40 guests, a
Salmanazar (12 bottles) serves 60, a
Balthazar (16 bottles) serves 80, and a
Nebuchadnezzar, the world's largest (20
bottles) serves 100.
After the glasses have been filled,
tradition calls for the best man to offer
the first toast to the newlyweds. For a
special fillip, follow the French nuptial
custom of sipping from coupes de
mariage, the 1980s version being engrav-
ed silver flutes which will remain
mementos of the event.
Champagne can also add sparkle to
special days before and after the
ceremony. The "bubbly" provides a
lovely grace note when served to friends
at a bridal shower, to members of both
families at an engagement dinner, or to
-bridesmaids and ushers at wedding
rehearsals.
Recall the start of your life together
by serving Champagne on several occa-
sions. Begin with a tete-a-a-tete wedding
breakfast on the following day and pop a
Champagne cork for birthdays, anniver-
saries, Valentine's Day and other family
milestones.
And whenever, you serve Champagne,
follow these simple guidelines; Chill the
bottle well, for 30 minutes, in a mixture
of ice and water.
To open, dry the bottle, remove the foil
covering the cork, untwist the wire muz-
zle and loosen it all around the neck
while keeping your thumb firmly on the
cork. Turn the bottle, not the cork, and
ease the cork out with a soft, gentle pop.
Champagne shows itself to best advan-
tage in tall, long-stemmed flute or tulip
glasses — not the saucer -type glasses
which dissipate the bubbles rapidly. In-
clude these in your bridal registry so you
can entertain at home with style and
verve.
Long weekend wedding
Today's bride rarely marries the boy
next door. As the average age of the
bride increases to 27 years, so does her
opportunity to meet her fiance through
college or career. It's more likely that
she's from Toronto, he's from Calgary,
and they have friends and relatives scat-
tered at all points in between.
What's the best way to celebrate the
merging of these two lifestyles? A party
that lasts all weekend!
The "long weekend wedding" en-
courages out-of-town guests to make the
trip and allows the bride and groom, as
well as the guests, time, to visit with peo-
ple they rarely see.
Pian activities
According to Bride's magazine, the
weekend wedding goes beyond the tradi-
tional ceremony and reception to include
a series of dinners, brunches and
barbecues, as well as sports and sightsee-
ing events.
The focal point of these weddings is
no longer the `wedding night," says
Barbara Taber, Editor -in Chief of Bride's
magazine. "Instead it is the joining
together of two families, an intensive ex-
perience that may be teamed up with an
anniversary, a birthday party or other
family celebration."
Weekend weddings can be as diverse
and unique as the couple.
How can you plan a "weekend
wedding?
• Think up activities you'll enjoy —
Would a mutual hobby provide a
framework for the weekend? Your
gourmet club could prepare a feast that
caters creative cuisine from Friday even-
ing to Sunday afternoon.
Are high school friends coming"' Stage a
Friday night sock hop complete with
rented juke box , Weekend fun might in-
clude a softballme (bride's team vs.
groom's team), sailing races, a kite -
flying competition, a pool party.
• Let others help - Be careful not to
burden yourselves with too many respon-
sibilities. The bride's brother might
organize a ping pong match, the groom's
father get his family together for Satur-
day breakfast. Your bridesmaids might
host a softball game or cocktail party in
your honor.
• Pick a home base — Many hotels offer
substantial room -rate reductions for a
group. Each guest will pay for hotel
rooms and travel expenses, but it's more
fun if everyone's staying in the same
place, so you could help by reserving
blocks of rooms.
Ask if the hotel with throw in a com-
plimentary "hospitality suite," where
Your guests can snack and mingle bet-
ween activities. See if something special
— a card and box of chocolates — could
be placed in each room.
• Spread the word — How to inform
guests of the weekend's activities? A
printed card, enclosed with your invita-
tion, might specify the host, location and
time for each event. Guests can then
(determine which activities they'd like to
attend.
Follow-ups help
Very detailed weekend plans? Try sen-
ding a form letter. A follow-up letter
could update plans for activities (clothes
and equipment needed), list who's com-
ing, mention who needs a ride. The let-
ter's title, "Bob and Diane's Marriage
Marathon — July 21, 1987," might appear
on T-shirts later.