Bride And Groom - The Observer

Sunday, March 17, 2013 • Page C3 • SUNDAY OBSERVERBRIDE & GROOM 2013Mr. and Mrs. Ross (Joanne) DiBiaseMr. and Mrs. Joel(Frances) PolitoJoanne (Kozlowski) and Ross DiBiase were married Feb. 15, 1958 at St. Mary’s Church in Dunkirk. FatherBasil Stockmeyer performed the ceremony. This year, they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.The ceremony was followed by a reception at Van Buren Bay Inn on Route 5. It was a very cold winterday and the early evening brought stormy weather and white-out conditions. Travel was dangerous, andkept all out of town guests local for the night.Ross, originally from Canonsburg, Pa., graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with adegree in restaurant and hotel management. He moved to Dunkirk and was hired by Cease’sCommissary Service for summer employment while still attending college. Upon graduation, he becamea manager at Cease’s Restaurant, where he met his future wife. Eventually, the couple bought therestaurant and catering service, which would become Ross’s Restaurant.Joanne was born in Dunkirk, graduating from St. Mary’s Academy. She owned the Uptown dress shopon Fourth Street in Dunkirk. Often, Joanne would go out to lunch at Cease’s Restaurant where Rossworked. He asked her out on a date. They both remember their first evening spent together at the TownCasino in Buffalo for dinner.Ross and Joanne have three daughters, Kim (Eric) DiBiase-Ryan of Fredonia, Renee (David) Teta of St.Augustine, Fla., and Candi (Randy Winters) DiBiase of Fredonia. They have three grandchildren, ElizabethTeta, Suzanne Teta and Shane Ryan.Frances (Frament) and Joel Polito were marriedon Sept. 8, 1973 at St. Ambrose Church inLatham. They will celebrate their 40th anniversarythis fall.Joel has retired from SUNY Fredonia, where heworked as a plant utility engineer. Fran is workingat SUNY Fredonia and Brooks MemorialHospital as a medical technologist. They havethree children, Jocelyn, Jodie and Michael.BudgetContinued from Page C1“If you have a vision or atheme, and you have time toplan, you will save moneybecause your spending willbe focused,” she says.Brides who want an elegantexperience for theirguests, but who don’t wantto break the bank, shouldalso look for venues or caterersthat offer flexibility intheir options. Julie Kulpa, incharge of advertising andfundraising at the SheridanVFW, has helped her share ofbrides choose budget-friendlymenu options that still leaveguests raving about the food.“Our menu is elegant andextensive,” she advises. “Wecan work within any budget.It can be as cost-conscious oras elegant as you want, all theway up to lobster tails. Makesure your caterer has a flexiblemenu.”Huff agrees, and adds thatbrides can look for venuesthat sell bundled services orinclude extras in their prices.At the Clarion, Huff makessure to include amenitiesthat give brides the best valuefor their money, like a hospitalitysuite, a honeymoonsuite, and a free ceremonyspace for up to 100 guests.Brides can look for thingsto do “double duty” elsewhere,too, like favors thatalso work as place settings,or table markers that are alsodecorations.In addition to the experienceand knowledge of somany local vendors, it’s alsoimportant to note that therates of the vendors and venuesin Chautauqua Countyare far lower than thosefound in larger cities. Huffhas worked with severalbrides who are from the areabut have since moved away,and have chosen to comeback home for their weddings.“If people come back hereto get married, they can haveelegant weddings without thehefty price tags,” she says.Huff recalls one bride whosaved over $50 per guest bychoosing not to have herwedding in a big city. Andeven with a reasonably smallguest list, that savings reallyadds up!Every bride wants herwedding to be amazing andmemorable. When engagedcouples devise budgets, givethemselves plenty of planningtime and work withtrusted and experienced vendors,they can make theirplans a reality without accruingthe kind of debt that willtake years to pay off.“The most important thingto remember,” Huff says, “isthat money doesn’t make awedding special. It’s payinghomage to the personalitiesof the bride and groom thatmake the day stand out.”Send comments torschwab@observertoday.comSeafood & Steak HouseThe Best forYour Special Day!Gourm et C aterin g AvailableWeddings Rehearsal DinnersShowers & MoreRts. 5 & 20, Irving, N.Y. • Across From Lakeshore Hospital • 934-4826Facial ExpressionsDay Spa33 Church St., Fredonia • 679-4464www.dayspafacialexpressions.comRelax & Replenish InAnticipation Of Your Perfect DayFeaturing Our Bridal Package“The Week Of The Wedding”Facial • Manicure • Pedicure • Eyebrow Arching • PracticeMakeup And Free Makeup Application On Your Wedding DayWe Also Offer• Spray Tan • Individual False EyelashesPlus New! Beautiful Lash Extensions • MassageOver 20 YearsIn Business!Gift Certificates AvailableWe Accept All Major Credit CardsTHRU THE GRAPEVINE TRAVELSILVER CREEK , N.Y. 14136Call Rose Ann Your Certified SANDALS Specialist716-934-2518www.thruthegrapevinetravel.com • roseann@thruthegrapevinetravel.com