The Citizen, 1999-02-10, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1999.
Couple goes western for their wedding
Wedding Western style
Terri and Charlie Gulutzen spiced up their wedding with some Western pizzazz, while
maintaining the elegance and style the occasion deserves.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
With imagination and
investigation a bridal couple can
create a distinctive wedding,
incorporating personal tastes with
elegance and style.
The western-themed wedding
uniting Terri Baskett of Cambridge
and Charlie Gulutzen of Blyth on
June 20, 1998 was such an
occaison.
Terri says the idea for a wedding
with personality was Chuck's. The
couple, who dated for five years,
were dining one eyening when
Chuck mentioned he wanted his
wedding to have a western theme. "I
didn't think much of it then, because
I assumed he'd forget," says Terri.
She realized after becoming
engaged Valentine's Day, 1997
however, that Chuck was quite
seious about the idea. "My only
concern was that we wouldn't be
able to keep the look yet have it
classy," says Terri. "But once we
started looking for stuff, I knew it
would be okay."
Concerned primarily with the
attendants' attire, and that the
bridesmaids not look like saloon
girls, Terri eventually found the
answer in a pattern book. "Once I
found the pattern I knew things
were going to look nice."
The gowns, which were strapless
with a gathered waist and jacket,
"sort of a petticoat style", were
made by Terri's mother. The colour
was ashes of rose, which gave an
antique look to the gowns.
On the groom's side, the six
attendants and ringbearer wore pin
striped pants with jackets similar to
a morning coat. They toted cap guns
in holsters, and wore cowboy hats
and boots.
Chuck had given them silver
pocketwatches as gifts which they
also wore, while he had a pewter
sherrifs badge on under his jacket.
The ringbearer carried the rings in
a wooden keepsake box. The
flowergirl, dressed in western dress
with tassels and white cowboy
boots carried a basket with flowers.
The bridal attendants' bouquets
were wildflowers. "It was an
informal look, like they had just
gone into a field and picked a bunch
of flowers then tied them with a
raffia bow," says Terri.
Blyth United Church was adorned
with pew markers of wildflowers
for the occasion. The only
stipulation made by the minister for
the service was that guns not be
worn into the church and hats be
removed at certain times in the
service.
As guests were being seated, as
the mothers of the bridal couple
entered and during the signing of
the register, the songs played were
country and western.
Following the wedding the couple
toured through town in a covered
wagon provided by John Elliott,
which was drawn by two horse.
Entering the reception at Blyth
arena, guests passed through
swinging saloon doors to get into
the hall. Setting the stage for the old
west atmosphere, the bride and
groom got a cap-gun salute from the
attendants as they entered the
reception. "Neat things like that
really added to the day," says Terri.
Inside, a huge horseshoe bearing
the bride and groom's initials and
decorated with silver sparkles and
cowboy boots hung above the bar.
Also above the bar was a wooden
plaque bearing the slogan "Chuck
and Terri's Saloon".
A cactus stood in the corner
beside the bar. From the ceiling a
wagonwheel was suspended with
tulle going out to the four comers of
the room This was adorned with
lights, which cast a lovely glow
when the room was darkened for
dancing.
Behind the head table were more
wagon wheels with the pew bows in
the centre.
Centrepieces on the dining tables
were made by a gentleman from
Lucknow. "They looked like an oil
lamp," said Terry. "The base was
wood with a hurrican globe and
candlesticks in the middle."
Little touches went a long way to
enhance the decor as well. "I found
confetti shapd in western style, such
as cowboy boots, which we
sprinkled on the tables and napkins.
It's amazing what you can find
when you start looking," says Terri.
The head table was festooned in
white cloth with tulle and lights.
Terri laughs as she recalls that one
family member had blown up a
plastic cactus, which they set in
front of the table. "That was kind of
neat because they got in the spirit
and had thrown in their own idea,"
says Terri.
Also many of the guests, who had
been encouraged to enjoy a relaxed
style of wedding were decked out in
denim. "Chuck and I would sit at
the table and point out to each other
someone we saw who had come
dressed up western style."
Though there was a small concern
some might take it too far, Terri
says those who came deckd out
demonstrated excellent taste,
wearing denim dresses or cowboy
hats and boots and denim pants
with ties and jackets.
"People told us after they really
thought it was neat."
For gifts to the guests, the men
were given wooden matches in a
black box, while Chuck made tiny
wooden cowboy boots, which could
be hung from shadow boxes or in
other decorative ways, for the
women.
Upon entering guests were also
given chocolates which had been
made by the maid of honour using
western themed molds.
With so many unique items
incoprorated into the wedding,
items came from a variety of
sources. Her decorator was from
Lucknow, the molds were
purchased in Cambridge and the
invitations, reply cards and thank
you cards were hand-made,
fashioned from an idea found in an
invitation book.
The three-tiered cake festooned
with a decorative topping of
wildflowers was made by Terri's
aunt.
It was what every couple would
hope for in a wedding, a special day
made more meaningful and
memorable by adding a dash of
ingenuity. " At first I was hesitant
about the idea, but looking back, I
would never change a thing. It was
excellent. Never in my wildest
dreams would I have though a
themed wedding could be so
wonderful."
Elegance a winner at weddings
Best-Dressed Wedding Guests:
For the Groom And His Friends,
'Black Tie' Wins
Accepting a friend's wedding
invitation signifies that you are
delighted to assume a key role in
that most wondrous of celebrations.
It also calls for a tasteful expression
of your sense of style.
Black tie at second weddings
The elegant black tie is also
favored for second weddings — for
the wedding parly as well as the
guests.The formality of the
occasion is not lessened by it being
a second wedding. Schapiro says.
Black-tie dress for weddings is a
custom that is here to slay.
Elegant choices abound
Choose a tuxedo in black or a
distinctive shade of gray. Your
choice of style is unlimited ...
single- or double-breasted; shawl,
notch or peak lapels; flat fabrics or
those with surface interest. With it,
choose a classic pleated shirt with
lay-down or wing collar
Sophisticated jewelry will complete
the look.
Use of exciting colour in
formalwear is prevalent this year,
with exceptional accessories that
include colourful vests, bow lies
and cummerbunds. These accents,
available in a variety of fabrics and
patterns, can help tuxedo-wearers
preserve the "individuality index."
Expert advice available
With such a variety of note
worthy options, buyers and renters
should seek assistance in selecting
the perfect formal ensemble. A
qualified formalwear specialist can
help. His primary concern is
turning you out in impeccable
style.
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