Friday, January 24, 1986
Wedding Supplement
Page 9
A7 VlSr
V IL'J VI 0 U
'GUclDUS
Birdseed throwers hope
to start new tradition
SOUTHBURY, Conn. (AP) - This
idea is really for the birds.
Lisa Mae and Robert Keller have
introduced a new product to the bri
dal market: nuptial birdseed, guaran
teed to keep church sidewalks clean
and feathered friends alive.
The product is simple: a plastic
champagne glass filled with bird seed
and decorated with lace, a satin rib
bin and a paper heart describing the
new tradition.
The idea is for guests to throw the
birdseed instead of rice. The product
pleases church ministers, who say
rice is dangerous to post-wedding
pedestrians because it can become
slippery when wet. It also pleases
environmentalists, who call rice a
lethal food for hungry birds who come
along after the wedding.
Mae's mother, state Rep. Mae S.
Schmidle, R-Newtown, introduced a
bill last year to ban the throwing of
uncooked rice at weddings. She con
tends that rice especially instant
rice and rice that is scented and
colored especially for weddings
kills birds..,;" -
The idea received national atten- '
tion? wit&lJsiuny experts saying rice " ;
posed rjo thrsafc to birds.. The bill
died ia tkt 'General Assembly after ,
some representatives vetoed the idea .
of fining rice throwers.
But the idea didn't die in Mae's
and Keller's minds. With visions of
profits and humanitarianism floating
through their heads, they took a
chance during the summer and
turned Mae's basement into a make
shift assembly line for the burgeoning
Kel-Lee Enterprises Ltd.
The idea of filling champagne
glasses with bird seed and mar
keting them as "Feather & Lace"
"happened one night while Rob and I
were drinking a little too much
champagne while trying to think of
ways the idea could be promoted,"
Mae said with a grin.
When they aren't filling glasses
with bird seed, Keller is a shift
supervisor for a local aluminum
foundry and Mae is a research physi
cist for Exxon Inc.
Mae already has a patent on an ink
jet product she developed for Exxon.
She and Keller have a patent pending
on the latest product. If "Feather &
Lace" and other ideas the two have
developed for bridal parties become
financially rewarding, both say they
will give up their jobs to work full
time for the business.
"We've always been fascinated with
the prospect of owning our own busi
ness," Mae said.
Added Keller, "It's the American
dream."
Each case of "Feather & Lace"
contains 25 glasses and costs about
$25 plus shipping and handling. If .
demand becomes too much for Mac's ,
basement to handler local handi- : t
capped residents may be hired to v ;
'assemble the product, Mae said. V
Sq far, about 200 cases have been '
sold, mostly to local brides, Mae said.
Advertising has been limited mostly
to local newspapers and samples
placed in tuxedo and bridal shops.
"The response has been very good
so far," Mae said. "We ourselves have
grown we're now marketing mints
in champagne glasses and white
helium balloons for weddings where
the minister won't even allow bird
seed."
Make your (
reception special... A
... right down to the
coffees and teas!
When planning what to serve
your guests, let the staff at the
Coffee Trader help you choose
something special from our
selection of gourmet coffees and
teas. May we recommend one or
two of the following
COFFEES
Emerald Cream
Jamocha Almond
Hawaiian Kona
Colombia Supremo
Nebraska Blend
Vienna Roast
TEAS
Golden Tip Darjeeling
Choice Oolong
English Breakfast
Earl Grey
The Governor's Choice
Now, your reception
will will be special . . .
. . . right down to the
finest detail!
4 A I
J
m
Skywalk Level-Atrium
Suite 22 1 1 200 N Street Lincoln, NE 68508
402477-2015
lJE PLAY MUSIC
FOR DANCES
We want your dance to be special
so we keep your guests happy
by playing the music
THEY want to hear and dance to.
Affordable Pricing.
Complete Music Library
Experienced DJ's
Special Effect Lighting
We offer information listing
accommodations on several
halls and auditoriums.
S10.00
off booking fee
offer expires 2-28 86
"The perfect place for your
Wedding Reception & Dance. "
Let us help you complete your Wedding Day!
Prices starting at $200
O Large dance floor
O Convenient parking
Live music available
O Food
Beverages
BALLROOM
6600 West "0" Call 475-4030
4 Miles West of Lincoln
v
"
1 )
e v
A
O) Q
Tom Wright
Registered Jeweler AGS
Yes, the buying of a diamond is very much
"Buyer Beware" There are no universal grading
systems. Thus, when you hear a grade or name
of a diamond, is that what it is?
Your only protection is the extensive training
and the ethical standards of who you are
dealing with.
CONS
UMEE
Do
X LI 2JL O
f you don't believe or trust
who you are buying from,
on't give them your money!
O JEWELERS I
"Downtown" Corner of 13th & P
"Gateway" at Ben Simons (AfSj
I A
1 MEMBER I
U J6UJELERS AMcRnnAF?YGEM
KofflmERKainc. society