For Signature events choose Signature Wines!

Kelly Harvey, Signature Wines’ owner and winemaker, cuts a new niche in the local wine market by specializing in designing customized and personalized labels that are placed on the six different types of wines made and bottled at her winery located on the east side of Columbus. This makes each bottle of Signature Wine unique and different than any wine you could purchase in a store.

Signature Wines can be personalized with a custom designed wine label. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, anniversary, appreciation, or corporate holiday gift, Signature Wines can create a label to commemorate any event or occasion. Signature Wines has an extensive selection of label graphics and a library of phrases appropriate for any occasion. Once the labels are created, they are affixed by hand to the wine bottles. Customized label design is included in the price of the wine.

Kelly makes and bottles six different wines ranging from a sweet Rosé to a dry Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a port. Signature Wines uses only the finest grapes and juice from California to produce exceptional, hand-crafted wine. All wine is fermented and aged on the premises of Signature Wines. Signature Wines is one of the few commercial wineries in the United States that is woman owned and operated.
Because nothing symbolizes celebration and romance better than wine, Kelly is delighted to be working with wedding planners and with brides. Wines with customized labels are not only perfect for the wedding reception, but also for serving at bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. Signature Wines with personalized labels are also the perfect addition to gift baskets for out of town guests, and as gifts to the bridal party.

Recently, Kelly has made several wedding labels by incorporating and re-fashioning the wedding invitation into a wine label. She can also create a label utilizing the wedding colors, theme, or type of flower to continue the wedding theme on the wine label.

Signature Wines never requires a minimum order and there is no set-up charge for the customized label. In addition, Signature Wines offers a 10% discount on a case of wine with the same customized label on all 12 bottles. To place an order and to have a special, personalized wedding label created for you, please e-mail Kelly at: kharvey@signaturewinesofohio.com or visit the website: www.SignatureWinesOfOhio.com, or call 614.395.2355.

Wedding Reception Music Playlist Tips

Choosing the songs you want played at your reception seems like a simple thing to do. Just go down your mp3 player and check mark them off. Right? Not quite.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to create the "just right" playlist that will keep your guests dancing and enjoying your reception.

1. Choose songs with appropriate lyrics. Some songs just aren't for weddings. Songs like "I Will Always Love You", by Whitney Houston, and "White Wedding", by Billy Idol seem perfect. Don't let the title mislead. Listen closer to the lyrics and you'll discover that these songs are all about breaking up. Common sense says stay away from break up songs.

2. Choose songs with the ages of your guests' in mind. Think about choosing PG13 songs that your grandmother and great aunt wouldn't be embarrassed to hear.

3. Choose songs with the perfect beat. Some songs just do not lend themselves to dancing. On the other hand, there are tunes that get just about everybody out on the dance floor at the first note.

4. Choose songs that your guests look forward to hearing. You might even give your guests an opportunity to make requests when they RSVP. You want your guests to remember your reception as one of the best they have ever experienced!

Looking for the Perfect
First Dance Song ?

Still stumped about that special song you will first dance together as the new husband and wife?

Here are a few great possibilities!

Come Away With Me~Nora Jones
Feels Like Home~ Chantal Kreviazuk
Open Arms~Journey
Could Not Ask For More~Edwin McCain
Someone Like You~Van Morrison
True Companion~ Marc Cohn
The Way You Look Tonight~ Elton John
Cross My Heart~George Strait
Bless The Broken Road~Rascal Flatts
You Make My Dreams Come True~ Hall and Oats

by Matt Ryan Mobile DJ Entertainment

Feeding Wedding Professionals at Your Wedding

This has always been a hot topic in the wedding industry so I thought I would give you my thoughts, opinion, and etiquette on the matter.

It is proper etiquette that you provide your wedding professional with a meal if they have worked more than 5-6 hours and will be present during the time when dinner is served on the day of your wedding. Why? They do not have time to go out and grab a bite to eat during your wedding day, and trust me; you do not want them to leave to eat!



Who to feed?
You may have up to 2-3 wedding planners, 2 photographers, and 1-2 videographers that have been with you for the entire day. In addition to offering to feed all of them, it is also etiquette to invite your officiant to eat.

It gets trickier with entertainment, but you should use the “hour rule.” The DJ or band is typically there for 4-5 hours and you do not have to feed them. Most couples do offer to feed the DJ and some will decline. Also, some DJ’s have an assistant to consider as well. So for this one there is really no hard and fast rule, and is left up to you. Also check their contracts as bands many times require food and beverage in their agreement.. Since they have not worked more then 5-6 hours and there could be up to 12 members of a band, you can get by with lighter fare.


What to feed them? A hot meal is appropriate for those vendors that work over 6 hours at your wedding.. It can be the least expensive hot meal on the menu but a sandwich or deli platter does not cut it for working 8-10 hours on the wedding day. For vendors that work less than 6 hours, such as a DJ or Band, you are fine to go with the Deli Platter or boxed sandwiches. This expense should be figured in up front in the wedding budget.



Where should they eat?
The best option for you is if to put your wedding professionals in the same room with your guests at a vendor table. This allows them to constantly view what is happening during dinner and able to react- whether it is a spontaneous toast that needs to be captured, or an incident that a planner would need to react to immediately. If there is a space or an expense issue, then put them in a room that is as close to the guests as possible. They will still be up and down during the meal to check in but this is not desirable as being in the same room. I can list many things that have happened during wedding dinners that I was able to catch and react to because I was right there. A band should be in a side room since they will be probably be eating at different times. Again, the closer the room the better in case we need them back quickly from break for any reason. The DJ should eat with the other vendors in the room. The officiant is usually seated at a family table.

When should they eat?
It is important that vendors are not fed last, because by the time the vendors are able to eat, it is usually about the time your post dinner events begin to happen. Typically the bride and groom are finished eating by the time food comes for the vendors but that is when the vendors need to be up and ready to work. Rule of thumb is that vendors should be fed immediately after the bride and groom - to allow them to eat quickly and be back to work by the time most of the guests have finished eating. This needs to be stressed to your caterer – most caterers think the vendors are to eat last. By specifying to your caterer the importance and reasoning behind the vendors eating early, you can potentially avoid problems in the post dinner timeframe. Bands and DJs must eat during breaks or when they are able - which is another reason for it easier for it to be a cold meal.

Drinks
Unlimited water or soda for your vendors throughout the night is the etiquette. Alcohol should not be allowed under any circumstance for your wedding professionals while they are working. They are on the clock for you and must perform at their best. In my opinion this includes a band. Again you need to look at your contracts to see what is required but I would question any band that had to have alcohol to perform at one of the most important days of your life!

Keep your wedding professionals happy and they tend to work longer and harder for you!

by Jamie M Rapavy, Owner of Devoted to Details, LLC, Wedding Professionals of Columbus, and Columbus Bride and Groom.

Calling all Brides looking for FREE wedding Jewelry...Check out Lia Sophia's 2009 special! Host a show and recieve FREE jewelry & major discounts!!!

July 2009


Host a Show in July! As a Hostess with a Qualified Show, you are entitled to:

FREE Jewelry
Receive 20% of your Show sales in FREE
jewelry credits.

Hostess Bonus Items
Choose any 4 items at special Hostess Bonus Prices.
($15 unless otherwise noted.)

Half Price Items
Choose any 2 items at HALF price.

40% Hostess Credit
Have 10 orders and 2 dated bookings from your Show and get 40%
of your Show sales in jewelry credits for only $15.

July specials run 6/29—7/31/2009



Check out www.liasophia.com to see July 2009 customer and advertiser specials!!!
or contact:

Stephanie Sabado
lia sophia Unit Manager
614-771-6616

ssabado@ameritech.net


lia sophia
SHARE THE LOVE OF JEWELRY®

The Knot "Best of Weddings 2009"

Congratulations to all of the Columbus vendors who won in their catergories for The knot "Best of Weddings 2009" !

Bridal Salons

Gabriele European Bridal & Formal http://www.gabrielebridal.com/

Girls In White Dresses http://www.girlsinwhitedresses.com/

La Jeune Mariee http://www.lajeunemariee.com/

Cake Bakers

Cake Dots Wedding Cakes, LLC http://www.cakedot.com/

The Cake Studio http://www.thecakestudio.net/

Dublin Cake Cottage http://www.dublincakecottage.com/

Jan Kish La Petite Fleur http://www.jankishlapetitefleur.com/

Mozart's Bakery http://www.mozartscafe.com/

Resch's Bakery

Short North Piece of Cake http://www.shortnorthpieceofcake.com/

The Suisse Shop http://www.thesuisseshop.com/

Best Event Planners

Bobbie Izeman, Bridal Consultant http://www.iwed4u.com/

Devoted To Details http://www.devotedtodetails.com/

Florists

Cua's Of Columbus, Inc. http://www.cuasofcolumbus.com/

The Daisy Basket http://www.thedaisybasket.net/

Hilltop Florists http://www.hilltopfloristshop.com/

Janna Coe Designs http://www.jannacoe.com/

Jeanette's Flower's and Gifts http://www.flowersbyjeanette.net/

Orchids & Ivy The Flower Post http://www.weddingsbyorchidsandivy.com/

Victoria's Flowers http://www.victoriasflowers.com/

Music

A Solid Gold Sound http://www.asolidgoldsoundcolumbus.com/

The Conspiracy Band http://www.theconspiracyband.com/

Encore Entertainment http://www.encorediscjockey.com/

Music Express http://www.music-expressdj.com/

Night Music Disc Jockey Professionals LLC http://www.nightmusicdj.com/

Paradise Island Band http://www.class-acts.com/

Paragon Music & Entertainment, LTD http://www.paragonmusic.com/

T.E.A.M. DJ http://www.teamdj.com/

Ceremony Music

Stage Monster http://www.stagemonster.com/

T.E.A.M. DJ http://www.teamdj.com/

Photographers

Banks Photography http://www.bankspix.com/

C Studios http://www.cstudiosphotography.com/

Callentine Photography http://www.callentinephotography.com/

Davis Photography http://www.davisphotographer.com/

Glass Image Photography http://www.glassimagephotography.com/

IQ Foto http://www.iqfoto.com/

Journal Weddings http://www.journalweddings.com/

K&M Photography http://www.kandmphotography.com/

Kevin Keefer http://www.kevinkeefer.net/

L & L Photography http://www.photosbylarry.net/

Leddy Photography http://www.warnerleddy.com/

Lorn Spolter Photography www.PBase.com/lornspolter.com

Lotz Studios http://www.lotzstudios.com/

Mark Hefner Photography & Design Studio http://www.hefnerphoto.com/

Morning Light Photography http://www.morninglightstudio.com/

New Image Studio http://www.new-imagestudios.com/

Nicole Dixon Photographic http://www.nicoledixon.com/

Nyte-Flyte Sound, Lighting, and Video http://www.nyte-flyte.com/

Open Image Studio http://www.openimagestudio.com/

Robert Hughes Photography www.roberthughes.net


Videography

Ditigal Wedding Vendors www.ditigalweddings.com

True Video www.truevideo.biz


Reception Sites

Berwick Manor Restaurant & Party House www.berwickmanor.com

Brookside Golf and Country Club www.brooksidegcc.com

Confluence Park Restaurant www.confluenceparkrestaurant.com

Crowne Plaza Hotel Columbus - Downtown www.ichotelsgroup.com

The Darby House www.darbyhouse.com

Embassy Suites Columbus www.columbus.embassysuites.com

Hyatt on Capitol Square www.capitolsquare.hyatt.com

The Jessing Center www.pcj.edu

La Scala Italian Bistro www.lascalaitalianbistro.com

Longaberger Alumni House - Ohio State University www.ohiostatealumni.org

Makoy Center www.makoy.com

The Medallion Club www.medallionclub.com

North Bank Park Pavilion www.recparks.columbus.gov

Wothington Hills Country Club www.worthingtonhills.com

York Golf Club www.yorkgolfclubonline.com


Transportation

Cardinal Transportation, LTD www.cardinaltransportationltd.com

Lynn's Limousine Service www.lynnslimo.com

MUSIC OF THE HEART: Ceremony Music that Creates Emotion and Memory

Music has an amazing power to connect people with their emotions. It can melt away the stresses of daily life, and open us to tenderness, hope, joy, love. And these happy emotions are what a wedding is all about.

Even the most hardened, overworked listener can unwind for the wedding, through beautifully performed music. One guest at a recent church wedding told me that her usually stressed-out husband started humming along while The Paragon Trio played their classical prelude music. (Amazed, she lovingly hushed him.)

Live music, performed flawlessly and with “heart,” can also rivet together a song and your emotions as you listen, together in your memory. For example, think of your favorite movie scene with a great sound track--how vividly you remember the scene, every time you hear that music! (Take for example the movie Platoon—that incredible music is Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. When you hear that music, you can’t help but remember the movie.)

Well, artistically performed music works that way for weddings too, preserving memories more deeply and powerfully than any photograph could. As one bride recently said, “I will never, ever, forget the sound of that beautiful music as I entered the church with my father, and how I felt at that moment.”

With fine instruments and talented musicians, music can also help the bride and groom, family and guests, to feel more deeply the meaning of the occasion. “The music made us smile and touched us to tears,” a grandmother of the groom recently told me. “The music truly touched our hearts and made the service so meaningful,” a bride commented. Said another, “We had lots of compliments from our guests on how moving our ceremony music was. It was beautiful and touching!”

How to select your “Music of the Heart”? Just keep these points in mind, and then follow your heart—

1. Think about your favorite instruments, favorite styles of music or favorite songs/pieces. When you shop for musicians, this is a good starting point in describing music that will be meaningful for you. If you don’t have preferences, ask an entertainment adviser to tell you what type of music has worked well for other weddings at your same ceremony location.

2. Choose professional musicians who perform music for a living. For example, Columbus Symphony musicians perform music full time. Professional, formally trained musicians are the best qualified and the most experienced. Symphony orchestra managements don’t book weddings, but these players can be engaged through certain entertainment agencies, such as Paragon Music & Entertainment.

3. Seek musicians with plenty of experience performing specifically for wedding ceremonies. The ability to coordinate music with the pace and timing of the ceremony, comes only with years of actual experience. Musicians need to be able to play their instruments beautifully and intelligently, while judging the correct timing and appropriate duration. This is not easy!

4. Don’t just “shop price” for your wedding musicians. Consider training and experience as carefully as you consider fees. You really do get what you pay for.

5. Use a music provider with an organized way of documenting your musical requests. Look for a music provider that provides a Ceremony Music Request form, to ensure that your requests are understood and honored.

6. Really listen to demo recordings. Even if you are not a music “expert,” the recording will tell you a lot about the sound and style of the musicians. It should also indicate whether they are able to play appropriate music for wedding ceremonies.

7. Ask to see comments from brides who have used the musicians in the past. Past customers’ experience is a good predictor of what your experience will be.

8. If your ceremony is to take place in a church or synagogue, contact their music department before deciding on your musicians. Some have in-house rules about what music may be played, or whether outside musicians may be used.


By Rhonda Frascotti, Paragon Music & Entertainment, Ltd.
website: www.paragonmusic.com
e-mail: rhonda@paragonmusic.com

Love is in the air...

Millions of red roses are shaking in their thorns. Bottles of champagne are chilling, strawberries are taking baths in chocolate, and men everywhere are descending upon jewelry stores with trepidation. Yes, Cupid is circling the neighborhood as Valentines Day is less than a week away. As you’re planning your wedding this year, the question is shifting from what chick flick you and your girlfriends will see (He’s Just Not That into You, no matter who you are, it’s a goodie) towards how to make this day romantic and special for you and your fiancé. There will be many Valentine’s days in your future, and it seems like every year the search is on for the perfect dinner, perfect present, etc…

First and foremost, remember that you’re madly in love. With that, any Valentine’s Day is sure to be wonderful. As you’re juggling through lists of caterers, florists, and every other vendor that a wedding requires, you have all these great resources to help you out. After all, these are experts in flowers, cakes, candy and catering.

Most local restaurants offer amazing Valentine’s Day deals. One look at the unique 19th century church, white tablecloths and candlelight of The Refectory is enough to make a reservation for two. One bite of the food however is enough to never want to leave. If a romantic dinner is what you had in mind, The Refectory might be just what you need.

If your fiancé has more of a sweet tooth, MJ's Candy Bar is a great resource for finding a great original gift. Maybe his favorite candy growing up was Bottle Caps and Candy Buttons, or perhaps he has more of a mature appreciation for dark chocolate. All of these are options at MJ’s, with my personal favorite being the Candy Topiary Trees ;).
A new survey that was done by the ladies bible, Cosmopolitan, shows that a majority of men enjoy receiving flowers. So if you’re wanting to try something new, or even give your guy a great florist to keep in mind for the future, The Daisy Basket is one of Columbus’ best resources for beautiful and original flowers. Be warned, he might be accepting of flowers, but probably not of pinks, purples, or an over abundance of satin ribbon. Simple arrangements with clean lines in blues or whites can say I love you without too much fuss.
So whatever the gifts, whatever the meal, just remember that very soon you and your fiancé will be enjoying a lifetime together and that’s the best gift you could ever give or receive. For those sappy romantics out there I thought I would include my all-time favorite poem, in case you are still in need of some inspiration for the 14th or possibly your wedding day.

I Seem to Have Loved You...
~ Rabindranath Tagore
I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, In life after life, in age after age forever. My spell-bound heart has made and re-made the necklace of songs That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms In life after life, in age after age forever. Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain, Its ancient tale of being apart or together, As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time: You become an image of what is remembered forever.You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount At the heart of time love of one for another. We have played alongside millions of lovers, shared in the same Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell- Old love, but in shapes that renew and renew forever. Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you, The love of all man's days both past and forever: Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life, The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours- And the songs of every poet past and forever.