We've got a lot of information and fun in this weeks letter. Be sure to check out our featured couple and read all the way to the end for a surprise!
Be sure to tell your Vendors you saw them on IowaBride.com!
IowaBride.com Dream Series: Wedding
Our Wedding Shows are a Dream
We've got several wonderful Bridal Shows lined up for 2006.
Our Bridal Shows are a unique experience. We have the Dream Series shows at one of our vendors facilities so you are able to see what they offer. We feature 25 to 30 vendors in a casual, elegant atmosphere.
We also have our shows for 2 to 3 hours after 5:00 at night. They are designed so you and a friend can take your time to visit with the vendors in a relaxed atmosphere. You can actually take some time to learn what the vendor offers.
Join us at our next Dream Series show. You'll see the difference.
Come preview some of the season’s best wedding ideas as well as visiting with area premier wedding vendors. The Cedar Falls Woman’s Club House, 304 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Free Admission, Door Prizes, Tasty treats and Cash Bar. Bring a friend and enjoy a great afternoon planning your wedding!
Ever Wish you had some help with your Dream Wedding?
Angella Day opened Wishes and Dreams in April 2003 in Platteville, WI, serving the entire Dubuque Tri-State Area. She had enjoyed planning weddings for family and friends since planning her own in 1999. She had always told her husband if they ever moved back to the Dubuque area, which is where she grew up, she was going to do wedding coordinating! She followed her Dreams now she can make yours a reality!
Hi Angella! Thanks for taking the time to visit with us today!
How long have you been in the industry?Wishes and Dreams has been around for three years.
Who are the principals of the company? Angella Day owns the company and operates the office in Platteville, WI, which serves the Dubuque Tri-State area and Tina McDermott operates the Iowa City location, serving the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Areas.
Any background or personal info you want to share with our audience about you and the principals? Angella and Tina are both members of the Association of Bridal Consultants. We have taken their Professional Development Program and are held to the highest ethics standards.
What is the favorite part of your job? We love working with each couple. We love working up different ideas for each wedding and making things happen the way they are supposed to.
What is your companies specialty? We are wedding coordinators. We will do anything from full wedding planning to day-of coordinating. We also sell invitations, the Beverly Clark collection of accessories, and wedding gown preservation kits. Some of these items are available through our website as well.
What is the best "hidden secret" people would be surprised your company offers? People don't realize how much planning goes into a wedding and all the stress that goes along with it. Even the day of the wedding, there are so many little details to take care, we handle all those so that the couple and their parents can enjoy the day and not have to worry!
What sets you apart from your competition? We have a back-up plan. We always have two staff on site the day of the wedding and if something happens, we have back-up staff we can call in to assist. You are guaranteed to have two people at your wedding to make sure you day goes as planned.
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding? Take the time to look into a coordinator. They will help you stay on task, within budget, save time, and many times be able to save you money.
Any other thoughts about your company we didn't ask or should know?Wishes and Dreams will make your wedding dreams into a reality. Hiring us to coordinate your wedding will allow you to take 20% off invitations and accessories.
With the most important photos of the day, meet this trusted professional!
The Maxheim family has been in the photography business for over 65 years photographing hundreds of weddings. This experience enables them to help you plan the time line of your wedding day, in order that you will get the most photographs and most creative effects that can be captured.
Who are the principals of the company? Paula Maxheim
Any background or personal info you want to share with our subscribers about yourself? My mother owned and operated Maxheim Photography in Ames, Iowa while my father served as a photographer in the Navy Seebeas. When my father returned from the service, mom and dad worked together in the Ames studio. 2 years later they came to Des Moines to establish their studio at 35 & Ingersoll where Dahls grocery is currently located.
Five year later they moved to 36th street where the studio is currently located. I purchased the business in 1985. I had received my Masters from Drake University but took over Maxheim photography business in 1985.
What is the favorite part of your job? Meeting people, often at a pivitol juncture in their life for example I'll shoot executive portraits for change of a job, senior portraits which are a time of tremendous change in the life of a young person, The first addition to a family, Weddings and anniversaries. The enormous joy when a couple is celebrating the first and last of their lives together! I also do restoration of damaged photos which is an attempt to "repair the memory" of a loved one or someone's pets which often is the most important friend in ones life!
What is your companies specialty? The studio specilizes in weddings-portraits-seniors- pets and restoration of damaged photographs
What is the best "hidden secret" people would be surprised your company offers? Commissioned oil portraits like those that hang on board rooms and homes of the rich and famous
What sets you apart from your competition? Being in business for 68 years and able to bring a generation plus! of photography knowledge
What Expert advice do you have for a couple planning their wedding?
After the flowers wilt, the food is eaten, the band ceases, and your family and friends move on, your photographs will capture one of the most important memories of your wedding day. These photographic memories most likely will be shown to your children and grandchildren.
One will never forget the images of individuals and families crying out as their photographs were either lost or saved after a diaster like a flood, fire or tornado. Photographs are our link to the memories of the past. Make sure each of your unique and magnificent wedding day memories are captured by "the experienced and professional memory capture" --the professional photographer.
Remember, many friendships and family relationships have been fractured on the back of poor and inadequate wedding photography
Any other thoughts about your company we didn't ask or should know? We are flexible and fun!!
Thanks Paula! We've seen you in action and we know you do beautiful photography. A company doesn't excell for 68 years without doing excellent work and providing great customer service and memories! We know you provide all that and more!
Get Cool Stuff ONLY YOU will have like... This hip "Taken*" T-shirt
The IowaBride.com Fun Shop features quality apparel and fun items that make great gifts for your wedding party or just a neat way to say "Hey I'm the Bride"
Check out our exclusive " Taken* " line.
These quality shirts and gifts are a fun way to let the world know that "hey I'm Taken but... I still have fun"!
Did you know that Nicole from Nik Nak Designs has created some of the coolest designs exclusively for our brides? It's true and you should snap up a couple of goodies today!
Budgets, Spreadsheets, Accounting...These 2 Business Minds add up to 9 years of Love already!
Hi Happy Couple! What are your names? Melissa and Nick
Where are you from? Nick and I both grew up in Iowa City, Iowa.
Tell us how you met each other? Nick and I met in high school. He was a senior and I was a sophomore. He asked me to go to an Iowa football game with him out of the blue, and I had to turn him down because I already had other obligations.
Eventually we did go out, and we hit it off right away. We have been together ever since, and by the time we get married, we will have been together for almost nine years.
Tell us how the proposal happened! Our anniversary is on October 18th, and we generally do something just the two of us, usually it is just going out to eat at our favorite restaurant. Nick knew that he would have to work on our anniversary, so he suggested that we celebrate it the weekend before so that we didn't have to worry about it during the week.
Nick asked whether I would like to go out to a restaurant or have him cook something for dinner that night, since he is a wonderful cook, I asked him to cook something at home.
On the evening of October 14th, Nick made dinner, we had some wine, and listened to some music. Afterwards, much to my surprise, he proposed. It was perfect.
Are you planning on going on a honeymoon? Yes, we are planning on going on a honeymoon. We are not quite sure yet where we will go.
When is your big day? The wedding is on July 29th, of 2006.
What is the best part of planning your wedding? The best part of planning the wedding is the support that I get from Nick. Whenever I get stressed out about anything, or upset because something is not working out the way that I would like it to, he brings me back down to sanity. The best thing he tells me is that "the most important part of our wedding is that we will be starting our life together and that we want to share it with the people that are closest to us and mean the most to us". It is pretty hard to argue and remain frustrated with that perspective!
What is the worst part of planning your wedding? There is so much time involved at the beginning! Getting the big things nailed down - church, reception, caterer, dress, photographer, bridesmaid dresses, flowers. It is such a relief when they are finally done.
Any secret wedding tips to pass along to other gals planning their wedding? Look for your wedding dress right away! Mine is supposed to take 6-8 months to get it in...and then it has to be altered as well. Also, finding a photographer is tough. Try to book the photographer early..I have come across a lot of photographers that are booked out a year in advance.
Where do you each work or attend school? - Nick is an auditor at Deloitte & Touche Accounting Firm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Melissa is in graduate school at the University of Iowa getting her Master's of Business Administration and Master's of Health Administration.
When you started your wedding did you have a budget in mind? We did have a budget in mind. Both of us are very conscious of our money, as well as my parents. As such, before having any sort of contribution conversation with our parents, we made up a budget worksheet in Excel that explicitly laid out all of the items that we would have to spend money on, and the expected high, average, and low monetary values for those items. It has been extremely helpful when trying to figure out where we can spend and where we will have to cut back. Right now, it looks like we will be able to stay within our budget.
Tell us about your wedding! Are you having a great reception? The wedding party will have five attendants on each side, two ring bearers, and one flower girl. I have a very large family, and the only time that we all get together is at weddings, so the reception is going to be a very social event. We are planning on having dinner, drinks, and a dance to follow. We think that it will be pretty fun.
Who is going to walk you down the aisle? - Both of my parents will walk me down the aisle. I would feel awkward without having both my mom and my dad next to me on such an important day.
Thank you and best of luck with the rest of your planning! Send us a note when you're married, we may have you do our taxes!
Brides: If you would like to have your story featured, send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com. We will pop a note back with the questions and other info!
IowaBride.com - Ask the Expert
Colors? Time of Year? Weird Cousin Eddie? We've got the answers
Got a pressing dilemma? We'll pass it along to one of our IowaBride.com experts and send you an e-mail. We'll also publish the question in a future newsletter! Just go to our ask an expert page on IowaBride.com with your dilemma or question!
Dear IowaBride.com
I'm having a very small intimate wedding (my 1st, his 2nd, both in our 50's). We are getting married at a friends house, but I would like some ideas on locations for a dinner reception, there will be no dance. I'm looking for a nice restaurant with a banquet room (less than 50 people). Would like to stay on the Southside of DM or downtown Des Moines. One that I can bring in my own centerpieces and wedding cake. Like to keep the cost below $1000.00 Any suggestions?
Thanks so much for using IowaBride.com for your wedding planning!
We'll open this up to our subscribers! If you've got a favorite hideaway restaraunt that you simply adore, send us a note. We'll pass it along. Although this request is for the Des Moines area, this is a pretty common request for us. If you have a favorite anywhere in the state shoot us an e-mail. We'll keep a list and pass it along when requested!
Just send a note to dan@IowaBride.com We've got the best subscribers and we thank you so much for your input! It's a great way to help other couples planning their weddings!
IowaBride.com says Let's have some fun and hear from our Brides!
So...you've found a keeper, gotten yourself engaged, and are entering the state of matrimony! Whoops! Don't look now but....You're a grown-up!!!
You know you're a grown-up when...
1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry instead of "hook up"
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
10. You're the one calling the police because those % &@# kids next door won't turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog real dog food instead of McDonald's leftovers.
15. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
16. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
17. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.
18. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff."
19. "I just can't drink the way I used to" replaces "I'm never going to drink that much again."
20. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
21. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking "Oh S*$# what the hell happened?"
This was sent in by one of our former Brides. Karen and Ben have been married for 6 years and have 2 kids and suddenly they're getting up at 6 a.m. not just making it home!
IowaBride.com surveys and ask fun questions to our members all the time. Take a moment to answer some of our polls and fun surveys. If you would like to participate, just send a note to Dan@iowabride.com!
IowaBride.com Knows that Planning your wedding consumes A LOT of your time, you also have a life outside the planning. This business can help you make the next transition in life!
Become more alive and excited about life! Unlock and live your dreams!
Sometimes the stress of wedding planning combined with your job, your family, your friends wrapped all up can be a little much. Give yourself time for you. When you are entering this new phase of your life, it may be the perfect time to find out more about yourself.
Inner Prosperity is an organization that says “Yes!” to life and fosters self-love and empowerment. Through personal coaching, healing work, classes, workshops, and meditation we promote self- awareness, honesty, and growth on all levels — spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.The journey inside is the connection with who we are. Sometimes we are running patterns and scripts that do not serve us and often we are not aware. Through body energy work we are supported in releasing blocks that keep us from experiencing the love that we are. Our bodies heal naturally whether we are experiencing mental, emotional, or physical pain or feeling detached from our spirit. Body energy work, life coaching, and Spiritual Response Therapy (SRT) create the environment to support your healing and connection with self.
Visit the Inner Prosperity website. It is a fun tool filled with information that can help you along your path in this transitional phase of your life! Then remember to take some time to stop in and visit Inner Prosperity anytime. Inner Prosperity is at 2708 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 50312 (Lower level of The Almost Home Birth Center)
Great Prizes and Gifts from our Great Wedding Vendors!
Last weeks IowaBride.com Winner was Tory Lorenz of Indianola, Iowa. Tory won a FREE Engagement Portrait Session AND a 16x20 Signature Mat from Dodgen Photography in Des Moines. Valued at $65!
Tory is getting married October 28, 2006! Congratulations and thank you so much for using IowaBride.com for planning your wedding!
This week's IowaBride.com prize drawing is for
a $50 Gift Certificate at New Impressions Salon 5045 NE 14th Street, Des Moines. A complete full service spa salon for both men & women, including: hair, make-up, massages, facials, body treatments, pedicures, manicures, tanning, and much more. Our staff is dedicated to making your special day relaxing & memorable. Ask Carol about her wedding day pampering package! You owe it to yourself and your bridesmaids to treat yourself to this!
We'll randomly draw from all the entries received in our e-mail box by Midnight Friday 2.18.06. Then, watch next weeks Bouquet for the winner! There is no purchase necessary. Please only enter once so our mailbox doesn't get overloaded! Good luck!
Send an e-mail to Dan@IowaBride.com please put WEEK 3 PRIZE DRAWING in the subject line
