> ■ . Josh Wolfe/DN
ABOVE: Rebecca Overgaard, a junior, eyes a Bride magazine, something
which she has done a lot of since she started planning her wedding.
I ANDY KREJCI looks for a wedding tuxedo at Best Styles Formal Wear, 200
m. S. 19th St. Andy and his fiancee, Rebecca Overgaard, are planning to get
I married in June 2003, after they both graduate.
Grooms know more than church address
tsy imany inantee Aivoia
Staff writer
In the past, people thought that
the groom didn’t have much to do
before a wedding.
All he has to do is show up, right?
Wrong. Contrary to past popular
belief, the groom has many responsi
bilities, many of them monetary.
The groom traditionally pays for
his tuxedo, the honeymoon and the
bride’s and the bride’s mother’s
flower bouquets.
In addition to this, he may also
pay for the musical entertainment
and the liquor at the reception. The
groom’s family usually pays for the
rehearsal or prenuptial dinner that
follows the wedding rehearsal as
well.,
Teresa Furnas, owner of A Bridal
Trousseau, has noticed that grooms
have more input in the wedding plan
mng tnan in me past.
For example, more men are help
ing their brides choose bridesmaids’
dresses, she said, although the choos
ing of die bride’s dress is still done
without the groom.
Andy Krejci, a sophomore elec
trical engineering major, helped his
bride pick out their wedding colors:
teal and silver.
Krejci, who plans to marry in
June 2003, has stinted to plan.
Krejci said he had already select
ed his best man and a few grooms
men. During the winter break he esti
mated die number of people from his
family who plan to attend the wed
ding, and he plans to book a hall for
the reception this summer, he said.
The day of the wedding carries
work for the groom, as well. In the
processional, the candlelighters
come out first followed by the grand
parents of both the bride and groom.
ine parents oi tne groom walk
down next, and then the groom
escorts the bride’s mother down the
aisle, and she is the last one seated
because she is the host.
The groom has some main
duties:
■ Make a budget for the wed
ding.
■ Count the number of guests
coming from his family and the
bride’s family.
■ Book a hall for the reception
following die wedding.
■ Find musical entertainment for
the reception. The groom may also
supply the liquor for the reception.
■ Purchase a wedding ring for
the bride.
■ Choose a best man and
groomsmen. The number of grooms
men should match the number of
bridesmaids.
■ Rent a tuxedo.
Wedding consultants
may save time, money
ByJillZeman
Staff writer
Sometimes planning a wedding is
a lot more work than couples realize.
When this happens, brides and
grooms have the option of using the
services of a wedding consultant.
A wedding consultant can offer
head-to-toe service before and after
the wedding service, said Sara
Dreamer, owner of Dream Weddings
by Sara Dreamer.
Dreamer helps couples coordinate
wedding colors, choose a theme and
pick out dresses and tuxedoes. She
also assists with cake and flower selec
tion.
“We offer whatever services the
couple needs help with,” she said.
Ron Pushcar, owner of Elegant
Weddings by Lincoln Station, said he
coordinates about 200 weddings a
year.
Couples utilize a wedding consul
tant because many of diem don’t have
a lot of time to plan their weddings,
Pushcar said.
Several weddings also involve
couples who don’t live in Lincoln, and
they use Pushcar’s services because
they’re not familiar with what Lincoln
offers, he said.
“Every wedding is unique. Every
couple has some sort of idea about
how they want their wedding,” he said.
Consultants also do research for
the wedding, which often leads to
finding bargains for the couple,
Dreamer said.
The price of using a wedding con
sultant can vary.
Pushcar said there is no charge for
his service if the couple uses one ofhis
banquet halls. He has eight halls in
Lincoln and four in Florida.
If the couple chooses not to use
one ofhis halls, the price is 8 percent of
the total cost of the wedding.
Dreamer said her price depends on
what she does for the couple. On an
average, it is $20-$25 an hour, but the
price is negotiable, she said.
Couples should contact Dreamer
as soon as the couple starts planning
their wedding, and Pushcar said a year
to 18 months in advance of the wed
dingis a good time to begin prepara
tions.
Dreamer said the main benefit of
using a wedding consultant is the time
saved for the bride and her family.
“That way a mother can be a guest
at her daughter’s wedding,” she said.
Jamie Ryan, an employee at Pearls
and Lace Bridal & Floral Creations,
said the company offers all services for
a wedding except consultation.
“We provide anything you possi
bly need for a wedding,” Ryan said
Ryan said some services provided
by wedding consultants can usually be
(tone by the couple themselves.
Many couples don’t need assis
tance in choosing a church because
they often use their family church and
minister, she said.
Ryan said though wedding consul
tation is a good service, many people
prefer to plan their weddings them
selves.