Welcome to

___ Wedding Connection



Chef's Window presents...

Your on-line wedding service!

The site that's designed to help you plan your perfect wedding.

Before you start shopping for that special wedding gown, flowers, invitations, DJ's, limo service, and other necessities, check our site for wedding service providers in the Cleveland and Akron areas. These vendors are dedicated to assisting you with your wedding needs.

We will also be providing you with checklists, and will be addressing such issues as eqituette, wording on invitations, tips on personalizing your ceremony, and many, many more ideas.

Now, go ahead and browse the service, learn more about our many subjects, discover some new methods and ideas, then put them all together and have a wonderful time while doing it.

 Thoughtful planning is the key to a perfect day. 

  Where to

         
      NEW - Churches - 6/20/96

---

  What to/How to/When to           NEW - Checklist & Flowers - 4/3/96

___Provider Section__

Provider Section ____ Back to Sections/Selections ____ Provider Section

Bridal Shops

Back to Sections/Selections

Catan's Southern Plantation	12878 Pearl Road Strongsville, OH 44136	216/238-6664
Charlottes-West	Summit Mall	216/526-2880
David's Bridal	Golden Gate Plaza Mayfield Road at I-271	216/460-0301
Galleria Gowns	27297 Chardon Road Willoughby Hills, OH 44092	216/943-6065
Laura Salkin Bridals & Fashions, Inc.	I-480 at Great Northern Mall North Olmsted, OH	216/777-8600
Matina's at La Place	2101 Richmond Road Beachwood, OH	216/464-1288
Rose Bridal Shoppe	2029 East 14th Street (In Hanna Bldg.) Cleveland, OH 44115	216/621-2115
Sposabella Boutique	5259 Mayfield Road Lyndhurst, OH	216/461-4720
The Perfect Bride	19126 Old Detroit Road Rocky River, OH	216/331-5113
Wedding Belles Bridal Boutique	22244 Lorain Road Cleveland, OH	216/734-2247

Party Centers

Back to Sections/Selections

Capelli's Party Center	30022 Euclid Avenue Wickliffe, OH	216/585-8815
Creative Concepts in Catering	3352 Mayfield Road Cleveland Hts., OH 44118	216/397-3777
Executive Caterers	Landerhaven 6111 Landerhaven Drive Mayfield Hts., OH	216/449-0700
Hillside Party Center	4617 E. 71 Street Cleveland, OH	216/341-3822
Mediterranean Party Centers	I-271 & Rockside Road 25021 Rockside Road Beford Hts., OH	216/439-1903
Michaud's Towne n' Country	16808 Pearl Road Strongsville, OH	216/238-7078
Solon Valley Party Center	6340 Melbury Avenue Solon, OH 44139	216/248-4893
The Kirtlander Party Center	9270 Chillicothe Road Kirtland, OH	216/256-8488
Washington Place Party Center	8575 E. Washington St. (Rt. 422 & 306) Bainbridge/Chagrin Falls, OH	216/543-1776
Wellington Catering	777 Alpha Drive Highland Hts., OH	216/461-9211 or 442-0055

Services

Back to Sections/Selections

Wedding Connection Your on-line wedding service. The web site thats designed to help you plan your perfect wedding	P.O. Box 31134 Independence, Ohio 44131-0134	216/524-4750

Churches

Back to Sections/Selections

Unity Chapel of Light Non-Denominational Wedding Chapel. Beautiful Chapel seats 300. Open to the Public. Customize your own wedding vows. No pre-marital counseling necessary.	503 Northwest Ave. Talmadge, Ohio 44278	330/928-2108

_Information Section_

Information Section_ Back to Sections/Selections _Information Section

Six to twenty-four months before the wedding

• Determine your wedding style or theme (formal, informal, etc.).
• Set a date and decide on time of day.
• Reserve a location for the ceremony.
• Reserve a location for the reception; select a caterer, if necessary.
• Visit your officiant to select a service.
• Determine your budget.
• Select a bridal party.
• Plan color scheme.
• Select and order bridal gown, headpiece and shoes
• Select and order attendants' attire.
• Start compiling your guest list.
• Select florist, photographer/videographer, and DJ or musicians.
• Enroll at bridal gift registry.
• Discuss transportation to ceremony and reception; select and reserve limousine service, if desired.

Four to six months before the wedding

• Select and order invitations.
• Complete guest list.
• Contact DJ/musicians regarding your music selections.
• Contact officiant regarding ceremony (vows, music, readings)
• Select and order wedding rings.
• Have mothers select and order their dresses.
• Select and order cake.
• Plan your honeymoon.
• Make doctor appointment for complete physical examination; select date for blood test (Ohio - valid for ???).
• Shop for your trousseau.

Two to four months before the wedding

• Address wedding invitations.
• Confirm details with officiant, caterer, florist, photographer, DJ/ musicians, limousine service, etc.
• Select and order men's wedding attire.
• Confirm bridal dress delivery.
• Rent items for reception.
• Make reservations for honeymoon.
• Plan rehearsal.

One to two months before the wedding

• Mail all invitations at least four to six weeks before wedding; allow enough time for R.S.V.Ps.
• Finalize wedding ceremony details with officiant.
• Arrange to get marriage license (Ohio License is valid for thirty days)
• Make appointment with hair stylist.
• Arrange for final dress fittings.
• Buy wedding gift for bride/groom.
• Pick up wedding rings.
• Select accessories; guest book, unity candle, ring pillow, garter, toasting goblets, etc.
• Arrange for accommodations for out-of-town attendants and guests.
• Choose gifts for attendants.
• Purchase household items that you still need.

Two weeks before the wedding

• Prepare and send wedding announcement to newspapers.
• Call guests who have not responded to invitation.
• Prepare seating plan for the reception.
• Confirm honeymoon reservations and pick up tickets.
• Obtain and complete necessary forms for name and/or address changes for bank accounts, driver's license, Social Security card, post office, and other personal forms.
• Confirm reservations for out-of-town attendants and guests.
• Choose family member/close friend to make a toast at rehearsal dinner and reception.

One week before the wedding

• Call all wedding services to finalize arrangements: give photographer a list of pictures that you want taken; finalize number of guests with caterer; contact florist, videographer, cake decorator, drivers, DJ/musicians, and rental company.
• Arrange for photographer and attendants to arrive two hours before ceremony to have prewedding pictures taken.
• Confirm rehearsal plans with clergy and attendants.
• Finalize seating arrangements.
• Make a list of details to remember (tips for bartenders, clergyman's fee, place cards for seating at reception, etc.).
• Begin packing for honeymoon.

On your wedding day

• Have your hair, make-up and nails done at least three to four hours before the ceremony.
• Be sure to eat something, and try to relax.
• Start dressing one to two hours before the ceremony unless you are having prewedding pictures taken; adjust your time accordingly.
• Arrange for the music start thirty minutes before the ceremony.
• Have guests seated.
• Five minutes before the ceremony have the groom's parents seated.
• Bride's mother is escorted to her seat immediately before the processional. Optional: both mother and father can escort their daughter.
• The aisle runner should be rolled out prior to the processional.

After the wedding

• Send announcement and wedding picture to newspapers.
• Mail announcements.
• Write and send thank you notes.

Back to Sections/Selections

    Today, their are no definite rules as to who pays for what. The bride and groom may often pay for their own wedding expenses. Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the majority of the wedding expenses. Although, the groom's family may want to share these expenses. Actually, it may depend on who is inviting the most guests or simply who is financially able to pay.

    The following guidelines are based on traditional assumptions as to who pays for what.

The Bride

• Wedding ring for groom.
  
• Wedding gift for groom.
  
• Gifts for attendants.
  
• Blood test and physical examination.
  
• Lodging for out-of-town attendants.
  

The Bride's Family

• Wedding invitations, reception cards and mailing costs.
• Bridal gown and accessories.
• All expenses of the reception (location rental, food, refreshments, wedding cake, flowers, decorations, entertainment, bartenders and waiters).
• Wedding photographs
• Ceremony (fees for premises, organist and/or soloist, flowers, and aisle runner).
• Attendants' flowers.
• Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception.
• Gift for bride and groom.

The Groom

• Wedding ring for bride.
• Wedding gift for bride.
• Gifts for groom's attendants.
• Marriage license.
• Bride's bouquet, mothers' corsages, and boutonnieres for men in wedding party.
• Lodging for out-of-town best man and ushers.
• Blood test.
• Clergyman's fee.
• Honeymoon expenses.

The Groom's Family

• Traveling expenses and lodging, if applicable.
• Gift for bride and groom.
• Optional - rehearsal dinner or any other expenses they wish to assume.

The Attendants

• Wedding apparel.
• Wedding gift for bride and groom.
• Traveling expenses.

The Guests

• Wedding gift for bride and groom.
• Traveling expenses.

Back to Sections/Selections

Can you imagine a wedding without flowers? Traditionally, white flowers, primarily roses, carnations, orchids, gardenias, and chrysanthemums make up the bride's bouquet. Flowers add beauty, color, and fragrance to the ceremony and reception. Today, colorful flowers with a baby's breath filler are very popular. The following list includes some preferred wedding flowers and their symbolism:

Apple blossons	good fortune
Bluebells	constancy
Blue Violets	faithfulness
Carnations	distinction
Daisies (white)	innocence
Forget-me-nots	true love
Gardenias	joy
Lilies	innocence & purity
Lily of the Valley	happiness
Orange blossoms	fertility & purity
Orchids	beauty
Roses	love

Helpful Hints: Buy flowers that are in season to keep within your budget.

__Construction Section__
Construction Section Back to Sections/Selections Construction Section

---

This page is always under construction, check back from time to time for additional Cleveland area service providers, new wedding facts and tips, and expansion into the Akron/Canton area coming soon.

Chef's Window, the sponsors of this page, can be reached at:

Chef's Window Inc.

P.O. Box 31134

Independence, Ohio 44131-0134

• Voice: (216) 524-4750
• E-mail: wedding@chefswindow.com
• WWW: http://www.chefswindow.com

C.W. Favorite Places
C.W. Home Page = Accesses Since 3/96 (Counter courtesy of digits)