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Top 10 Wedding Trends in 2004
chair cover and decor by
decorating dreams |
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10. Gerbera daisies in bright or
pastel colours.
9. Cala lilies (still!).
8. Chair covers & ceiling canopies.
7. Giving jewellery to bridesmaids.
6. Winter weddings.
5. Ceremonies & receptions held at
the same location.
4. Strapless bridal gowns (still!)
& gowns with colour.
3. Ditching the receiving line for
cocktail hour mingling time.
2. Ditching the late night buffet
for a killer wedding cake.
1. Using The Ring to plan weddings
and unite with local brides (but, of course!).
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2004's
Top Fifteen Most Requested Songs
(we couldn't pick just ten!)
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15.
Amazed, Lonestar
14.
Grow Old With You, Adam Sandler
13.
From This Moment, Shania Twain
12.
When You Say Nothing At All,
Alison Kraus
11.
It's Your Love, Tim McGraw
10.
Come Away With Me, Norah Jones
9.
All My Life, K-CI & JoJo
8.
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, Aerosmith
7.
Lost Together, Blue Rodeo
6.
Forever And For Always, Shania
Twain
5.
At Last, Etta James
4.
Heaven, Bryan Adams
3.
Somebody, Depeche Mode
2.
Something More, Ryan Malcolm
1.
I Could Not Ask For More, Edwin McCain |
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a few of
The Ring's Favourite Things
from 2004
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Set your date with a poem! |
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Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind and true. When February birds do mate, you neither wed nor dread your fate. If you wed when March winds
blow, joy and sorrow you will know. Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man. Marry in the month of May, and you will surely rue the day. Marry when the June roses
grow, over land and sea you’ll go. Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bread. Whoever weds in August be, many a change will surely see. Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall
fast, marry and true love will last. Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all. Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.
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Wedding
funnies
for the New Year!
Apples and Wine
Women are like apples on trees.
 The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men
don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and
getting hurt. Instead, they just take the rotten apples from the ground that
aren't as good, but easy - The apples at the top think something is wrong with
them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come
along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.
Now Men... Men are like a
fine wine.
They begin as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp
the pits out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner
with.
Words Women Use
fine...
This is the
word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
five minutes...
If she
is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if
you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around
the house.
nothing...
This is the
calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes.
Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"
go ahead...
This is a
dare, not permission. Don't do it.
loud sigh...
This is not
actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A
"Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her
time standing here and arguing with you over 'nothing'.
that's okay...
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man.
"That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how
and when you will pay for your mistake.
thanks...
A woman is
thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.
love
being a k-w bride.
brides
unite! join
The Ring!
 please
note
Every newsletter is sent
only to brides who have supplied us with their email address. If you've decided
that you don't want any more news from The Ring, please tell us so in an
email, and we'll remove you right away. We
don't want to harass you, we want to make your life easier!
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Bridal Community Unites to Help Tsunami
Victims |
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2005
didn't ring in the way any of us expected... Entire countries cancelled
countdown celebrations, others turned gigantic New Year's Eve gatherings
into Fundraising events - all in the
wake of the recent Tsunami disaster that has taken over 150,000 lives (a
number that climbs every hour).
In
light of these recent events, planning a
wedding or chatting about chair covers just seems wrong, unless we've done
our part to help.
The Ring has hooked into the Canadian Red Cross's online donations web site
and is asking our large population of brides and wedding experts from
London, Exeter, Woodstock, Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph & beyond,
to unite together to give to the Canadian Red Cross Asia Earthquake &
Tsunami Relief Fund. The
Red Cross provides first aid, rescue services,
drinking water, and establishes shelters. In Sri Lanka, Red Cross has
already provided medicine for 120,000 people, 15,000 litres of clean water
and relief parcels for 30,000 families, while essential shelter, sanitation
and medical items have been distributed to 300,000 Indonesians. The Red
Cross also helps to restore family contact for those who are seeking news of
loved ones.
Let's show the
world that we care by uniting together to help Tsunami victims. There is no
better way to start off a New Year than by using our power as a community to
make a difference.
Click here to donate online today.
You can also:
Donate by Phone |
Donate by Mail |
Donate In Person |
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Top 10
Most Common Bridal Resolutions
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10.
Plan an elegant, trendy, and seamlessly perfect wedding without breaking a sweat
OR my budget.
9.
Don't sweat the small stuff... because there won't be any - if I have anything
to do with it.
8.
Ban the word 'bridezilla'...
Globally.
7.
Join a gym and look like a supermodel in my bridal gown.
6.
Lay the ground rules for the
bachelor party... Today.
5.
Make my in-law's love me by my wedding day.
4.
Ask the groom's opinion on everything, and look sincerely interested in every
one of his responses.
3.
Don't cry when I walk down the aisle.
2.
Take the groom's breath away when I do.
1.
Be the best wife a husband could ever have.
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The Wedding Cake: Options & Trends for 2005 |
Layered Cakes: Style Comes in Layers
 Wedding
cakes are a wedding tradition that either replace or add to that midnight snack
your guests love so much. They are almost always in your must-have photo list,
and with so many tasty flavour, colour, style, and decorating options that go
along with them, the possibilities are endless - especially with local talents
like Jirina, of
Jirina's Bakery, on your side. The wedding cake
usually appears in a place of honour, adorned by flowers and candles at almost
every wedding reception. Many brides match their wedding colours and flowers to
their cake. Others choose a simple
 white
multiple-tiered cake and dress it up with flowers and fabrics.
Cool Ideas For 2005:
-
Go with a themed
cake - a ice blue cake covered in snowflakes for a January wedding or a cake
topped with palm trees and a tiny bride and groom relaxing in a hammock for your
tropical wedding.
Jirina's Bakery displayed an amazing 'Alice in
Wonderland' style cake with bright colours and lop-sided layers that got mega
attention at the last Bingemans
Wedding Dreams show.
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Have your cake designer
hand-write the main lyrics to your first dance across each layer, in lieu of a
more traditional floral or lace type of pattern. It's sweet, and personal, and
will look amazing in your cake cutting photo.
-
What's inside is, unfortunately, often second on the list for
many couples. While the cake should look spectacular and impress your guests, a
good bakery should be able to provide you with a good looking and a good tasting
product. Enjoy the process and taste all the
flavours!
-
 Have
a simple two-layered wedding cake made for each table centrepiece in your
reception. Because wedding cakes are so versatile - coming in all shapes, sizes,
and designs - they can match your theme and wedding style exactly. Your guests
will be talking about it for years to come.
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Have your decorator dress up
your cake table with candles and fabrics to match.
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Have your florist provide a
cake top instead of the traditional man and woman.
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Choose a
'Keepsake Cake Top'. Keepsake cake tops
actually open, allowing you to take it home after the wedding and store
jewellery or trinkets inside for decades to
come.
 The Slab Cake: Sized to Feed
Slab Cakes are popular for
wedding showers, bachelor parties and engagement parties. They are simple and
less expensive, than a layered cake. Slab Cakes come in a single layer, sized to
feed however many guests you may have invited. Slab Cakes are less expensive because of
the fact that they take a lot less time to bake, design, and dress up. They are
a great option for the budget-conscious bride,
or to use as add-ons to your layered cake to feed more of your guests.
The Cupcake Cake: Too
Cute!
A recent trend, the Cupcake
Cake provides both a unique and convenient
alternative to the traditional wedding cake. Many brides are choosing this
option because when all the cupcakes are
stacked up in layers, each individually decorated with your choice of flavours
and styles, the overall look is adorable. It's a twist on the original and is
much easier on the kitchen staff when serving time comes.
Ribbon Pulling Cake: Back
in The Day
In Victorian times, it was
common for the cake to contain an assortment of charms attached to ribbons. The single women closest to the bride (typically the
bridesmaids) would then pull the ribbons at the wedding reception. It was
believed that the charm attached to their ribbon would predict their future. Below
are some ideas for charms and their meanings, traditional and some new ideas!
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Heart - love will come
Clover - good luck
Engagement Ring - next to
marry
Anchor - adventure awaits
Flower - love will shine
Horseshoe - lucky in life
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Wreath - a happy home
High Chair - blessed with
children
Rocking Chair - longevity
Airplane - travel and
adventure
Satchel - good fortune
Mirror - a happy life
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Charms would be added to the
cake after baking and then disguised with the decorative icing. The only thing
showing are the various ribbons for your bridesmaids, sisters and girlfriends to
pull. Charms could be used as special gifts for the important women in your
family as well - wrap up a simple chain for the charm to be put on after the
wedding.
Top cake photo courtesy of
barebonephoto,
second 'Alice In Wonderland' cake taken by The Ring staff, bottom flower design
cake photo courtesy of
Jirina's Bakery.
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Vendors in the News in 2005
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 After
hundreds of weddings, Don Perron's love
for ceremonies never fails to inspire
It must take an
extraordinary person to perform over three hundred weddings without losing
emotional involvement or intensity over time. But Don Perron of Pastoral
Services of Guelph/Waterloo/ Kitchener/Cambridge, has never lost his love for weddings, nor his power
to perform them. Don has performed ceremonies all over Southwestern Ontario,
from The Medieval Times Dinner & Theatre and reality weddings on Life Network
to just about every local ceremony/reception site.
While he is native to Guelph, we met with...
full story
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 Thriving
Elmira gown shop makes it policy to spoil brides with ultimate service
When you walk
through the doors of Taylor's Bridal Boutique, the silk sky is the limit.
Each gown is hand-picked for it's style, fit, and quality by shop owner,
Linda Taylor. Linda's expertise in finding the perfect gowns for our local
bridal community is a given, with a previous 15 year career in designing and
creating wedding gowns on her resume. This Elmira gown shop makes each bride
feel welcome, while also making them feel like they're on Rodeo drive - but
with better sizing. 2500 square feet of open concept display rooms, 1300
square...
full story |
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 The
Waterlot is New Hamburg's wedding oasis by the river
The Waterlot is
an outdoor ceremony site, a small reception hall, a bed and breakfast, a
honeymoon suite, a caterer, and a great option for the outdoor tent wedding.
This rustic New Hamburg oasis sits aside a river, has an outdoor gazebo for
ceremonies, can easily incorporate an outdoor reception, and has mouth
watering catering services that can be served inside or out. What The Ring
has found is that the price is right, the demand is high, and the options
are endless...
When we walked the grounds of The Waterlot with Coordinator, Leslie Elkeer,
to check it out, we were impressed by the beautiful park setting in this...
full story |
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 Winexpert shows The Ring what the 'buzz'
is all about
Two local
make-your-own wine stores have become ultra-attractive to brides and grooms over the years,
and for several good reasons... These 'on-premise wineries' teach couples how to
cut wedding wine costs by up to 70%, add a personal touch (and taste) to their
wedding reception, and then top it all off by custom designing classic gifts for
guests to take home. When you make your own wine with Winexpert, you are
looking at three
easy steps, lots of personal help, and a finished product that can range from
Chardonnay to Sherry. With tons of details to plan and bills to pay, it's nice
to find something...
full story |
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Wedding
Day 'Hiccups':
That One
Little Thing
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 Did you know that there will
be that one little thing that will go wrong at your wedding?
"What!?", you say with shock
and horror. How could anything go wrong with my perfectly planned, fairytale
wedding? Easily... since you are the bride and everyone expects you to stand
around looking beautiful, making the whole wedding
thing look like a walk in the park. Meanwhile, you feel like the success of your
of wedding depends on whether or not the reception
hall folded the napkins the right way, or if the photographer takes that picture
of you with your grandmother’s poodle, or...
Oh, the list goes on and on
and on. Let’s face it, we’re all neurotic. Yes, it’s our quest for perfection
that can change us from the beautiful, fun, energetic sex goddess that he
proposed to into the frizzy haired, wild eyed lunatic he will soon call his
wife. So let's see if we can’t change the way you will look at “the one little
thing” that will go wrong on your wedding day.
What could possibly go wrong,
you ask...
“When I arrived at the church
with my father, my cousin came up to inform me that the harpist that I had hired
to play during the ceremony did not arrive. There was no one there to play music
to accompany my walk down the aisle. After a great deal of panicking with no
solution in sight, my father reminded me that my guests where there to see me
get married not to hear some harpist play. I walked down the aisle on the arm of
my father in total silence. It was actually rather beautiful. At the end of the
service, many people commented on how dramatic it was of me to scorn the
traditional church service by eliminating the music portion. Everyone thought
that I did it on purpose. All’s well that ends well.”
“When my husband and I got
married, we had our two nieces standing in as our flower girls. They were both
precious in their miniature bridal gowns. Everyone in the crowd was enchanted by
these little dolls. Throughout the ceremony they were perfectly behaved. On the
advice of our minister, we allowed the girls to roam the front of the church and
talk amongst themselves and our other guests. They made a delightful addition to
our wedding - until the minister got to the part of the ceremony where he asks if
anyone knows just cause why these two people should not be married... Our
youngest little angel yells out the top of her lungs, “Daddy, I have to go poopy!”
Needless to say the solemnity of the moment was broken, and
my brother-in-law had to leave his place in line with the ushers to take our
little sweetie to the washroom. It was several minutes before the audience could
stop laughing and pay attention. Oh, well, at least the wedding video is a never
ending source of entertainment.”
Your wedding day is supposed
to be about the joining of two people who love each other and want to spend the
rest of their lives together. So now that you are focused on what really matters,
take the events of your wedding day in stride - good and bad. Enjoy the good
moments and if something doesn't go exactly according to plan (very likely), do
your best to handle the situation calmly. Laughter is always the best way of
dealing with things! The kinks in your day will turn into the most memorable
parts of the wedding.
* photo courtesy of
barebonephoto
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2004's most romantic proposal:
'60 Candles'
Posted by NearMrs on
Saturday, December 18, 2004
 I
had a crappy day at work that day. The only good thing was when my boyfriend
came and met me for lunch -- and even that he had complained about. He told
me he was going to visit his mom that evening, so I should call him before I
left work. I told him I'd call when I got home, and I didn't think anything
of his reaction. I left work an hour and a half late, after a wildly
frustrating struggle with a cash register. As I drove toward our home, I
noticed that the Christmas lights were on, but the lights inside were out --
a little strange since we always turn everything off before we leave. I
figured my boyfriend must have left them on when he went to his mom's. And
then there was the smell in the hallway -- I thought someone must have just
blown out about a million candles. But when I opened our door, I saw a
pathway of candles. It lead all the way through our apartment to a note on
the edge of the bed. The note said all of those romantic things that you
always hope you'll hear at your proposal, and it ended with "I want to spend
the rest of my life with you". I started to look around for my boyfriend,
and then I figured that maybe it was just an inadvertently really mean thing
to do, since he's sometimes sort of clueless about that kind of thing, and
maybe he just thought it was a nice love letter to hang on to. Just as I
arrive at this conclusion, he steps out from behind a door. He was wearing
his suit -- which is incredibly abnormal for this man. He looks so good in
his suit!! All he said was "I wanna know if you'll marry me." (It was
all he was able to say, that's why he wrote the note) And he got down on his
knee, and opened up the ring box. After I said yes, he put the ring on, and
we snuggled up and stared at it for a while.
I love that I get to keep that note forever!
That, and I now have 60 candles, which I can use at our
wedding.
 ...
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Upcoming Reviews 2005
Calla Studio
Elmira photographer
providing full wedding
photo services
A Universal
A Universal provides
luxury transportation in
all shapes and sizes
Heather Fritz Photography
fresh & unique photographic style
with no boundaries
One Great Day
professional wedding
photography that inspires
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Dear brides,
friends
& experts,
In 2004, The Ring went from about 1200 visits
per month to over 4000. Brides went from hopping onto the chat boards once
every few weeks, to hopping on every day - including their wedding days. We
attended about two dozen bridal shows, gave away twelve amazing prizes
ranging from from free decorations to free limousines, added an online
store, added new articles, taken bridal polls, sparked a bachelor party
debate or two, planned weddings, made referrals, had articles published in
newspapers, reported on trends, and served up some amazing local reality
wedding stories. On the flip side, we've had our servers crash twice due to
overwhelming traffic and we were 'hacked' on Christmas Eve!
So needless to say, even though it hasn't been
easy, we've made it... and so have you! Myself and the entire staff at The
Ring are honoured to have so many of you grace our servers with your
presence each day. We have loved getting to know you, and watching you make
The Ring such an integral part of your wedding community in 2004.
 'What's
in store for you in 2005?', you ask? Raising money for Tsunami victims, a
new product line in The Wedding Shoppe, bridal shows that begin the first
week of January and end in November, more reality weddings, more reviews,
more tips on planning local weddings, more chat topics, more interactive
elements to the site, more polls, more events, and lots more fun - to name a
few.
So, from us to you, Happy New Year! We'll see
you in The Ring!
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Goulden, Director & Editor
theweddingring.ca
&
kw.weddingring.ca
email:
info@theweddingring.ca
* photo by
Accent Studios Photography |
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