Advice from Northeast Ohio Newlyweds

Heather & Ryan Winkelmann

May 16, 2009

If you expect everything to go perfectly, as you planned in your head, you’re bound to be disappointed. We had an outdoor wedding at the Conrad Botzum Farmstead and it poured down rain right before the ceremony was supposed to start. Even though we had to force all the guests into the barn at the last minute, everyone still had a great time. Don’t get too stressed out; it’s only one day so enjoy it!

Allison Velie-Marquis

& Bob Marquis

June 27, 2009

Allison says her wedding tip for brides is to enjoy every minute of wedding planning—the good and not-so-good things that will happen. The wedding day goes by so fast, and when it’s all over and things settle down you will want to think back and remember enjoying the whole process.

Carrie &

Benjamin Gobrogge

October 3, 2009

Carrie not only planned her Oct. 3 wedding, but she also planned the seventh annual Road Runner Akron Marathon, which took place just one week before her big day. She has some wise advice for upcoming brides including her sister, Lynne.

First and most important don’t lose sight of the true meaning of a wedding. A wedding is a marriage between you and the one you love, and in the end that’s all that truly matters. There will be some mishaps along the way and you will wish you had eloped at some point, but when that day is here and you walk down the aisle, nothing else matters.

Don’t sweat the small things. Talk with your groom to be and decide what are the five most important things to you and execute them. Everything else is a bonus. Start planning early, and make a realistic checklist of things you need to do weekly so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Ask for help. If you have a creative friend, or in my case sisters, give them a job. I could not have done this without the help of my family and friends.

Megan & Steve Dyer

May 2,2009

Akron Life & Leisure account executive Megan Dyer was one of those lucky brides whose groom was actively involved in the wedding planning process. Her husband, Steve, provides a few tips from the groom’s perspective.

Establish some direction upfront and share your goals. Megan and I established our tasks and I took care of certain things that I felt I would be capable of doing, such as the bar and cocktails, providing music, and who would cater the meal for our guests. This freed up time for my wife to concentrate on things she would really enjoy such as in decor, theme, flowers, dress and the little details.

Use local places that are significant to you. We both worked at West Point Market and met there, so we used them to make our wedding cake. It made the process of picking out a cake more special. Also, my mom made her super-famous chocolate chunk cookies for the reception. We also used a florist that worked from her home and gave Megan very personal service.

My groomsmen and I purchased black suits instead of renting tuxes. Jos. A Banks was having a great sale at the time, so we were able to purchase quality suits. We all ended up keeping our own shirt, tie and suit. Why rent for one day when you can keep a nice suit for many more occasions, work and future events?

Megan and I communicated well as we went along. This helped us refrain from arguments (there were still a few) but we accomplished everything in a relatively short time. There was no pressing issue for us to get married quickly. We were just ready. We planned our wedding all within six months from engagement to the official day.

Kate Anop Skerrett & Christopher Skerrett

August 29, 2009

Kate planned her Ohio wedding long-distance from Toronto, and she has a lot of advice for brides-to-be. Some of her top tips include:

Negotiate. Times are tough and if you ask for a fair discount, you will very often get it. Do not be embarrassed. Sometimes when vendors are told you are planning a wedding, the rates get bumped up. I would call and say it is for a party, or if I did say wedding, I would politely ask for a discount. Many times I paid upfront and was given a good chunk off.

Respect tradition but create your own. We were married by our friend Paul in a short, non-denominational ceremony on the front lawn of Firestone Country Club. Our families can be traditional, so to appease them, we said the oldest, most traditional vows we could find. Everyone was happy.

Ask what flowers are in season during your wedding. You may be in love with peonies and have no idea they are at premium cost during the season your wedding is in. Flowers can get expensive, and finding cheaper alternatives upon asking is a way to have everything you want, at the price you want.

Take a moment for yourselves. After speeches, my husband and I walked alone out to a balcony and just stood there for a few minutes. It’s a chance to catch your breath, enjoy each other and prepare for the most fun night of your life.