FEBRUARY 2017

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
the four seasons
of weddings
The best time to get married
Today, there is no such thing as a wedding
season.
“It’s really all year round for our community,
especially during these last three to four
years,” said Lorraine Konja from Lorraine’s Event
Planning/Coordinating. “Some couples do prefer
certain months and seasons over others, but at the
same time a lot of them are not picky, because they
know they are so limited to dates.”
Limited in the sense that halls get booked
quickly, often with weddings and events scheduled
a year in advance.
With every season, there are pros and cons. “I
always remind my couples that during the fall and
winter season, it gets darker earlier so then they can
have an option on when they want to take their
outdoor pictures for that day,” said Konja. “Personally,
I love when the groom sees his bride for first
time at the church, walking down the aisle to him
but a lot of couples are more concerned about the
pictures for the day.”
A Winter Blast
When Chris and Vanessa Battah were planning
their magical day, the first storm of the season was
not part of the festivities. They married on December
11 last year.
“Weather is the uncontrollable force of nature
that has no empathy and can derail your dream
wedding at least for a moment,” said Andy Keina,
co-owner of Top that Table, wedding planners, designers
and coordinators. “If your wedding is held
in a season that can face extreme weather conditions,
it’s important to know what to do if weather
impedes your wedding plans. Worries about temperature,
rain, snow - everything about weather -
adds to the general level of stress involved in such
an event. Winter weddings can be magical and
romantic, but there are a few inevitable issues that
go hand-in-hand with weddings held during the
PHOTO BY SAM SARKIS
Vanessa Battah
darker months.”
The Battahs faced one of those inevitable issues
— a big snow storm — but Vanessa didn’t mind.
She wanted a winter wedding.
“I chose Christmas time because I think everyone
is just so humble and happy during that time,
even a blizzard couldn’t stop my happiness that
day,” said Vanessa. “I think Christmas decor is so
beautiful and warm.”
She also knew that she wanted to incorporate
her Catholic faith in her wedding day. “The two
of us couldn’t be one without Jesus,” said Vanessa.
“What better way to celebrate our marriage then
during the time our savior was born.”
If a couple chooses winter, there are some
things to keep in mind. “Invest in winter accessories;
it will be cold, said Keina. “Accessories will
be important to keep warm. You will need to plan
for extra travel time. Bad weather means bad traffic
so give extra time for travel to your ceremony no
matter how near or far you are going.”
Having extra accessories and other clothing
items is also important. “Don’t ruin your heels,”
said Keina. “Have a second wedding shoe for your
outdoor pics because you don’t want mud or snow
in your Jimmy Choo’s or Valentino’s. Indulge in
Beauty Prep. Chapped lips and dry skin are inevitable
with winter. Keep your lips, hands, and
face moisturized.”
A wedding is all about the timing. “It gets dark
much earlier in the winter so adjust your photo
schedule for more light,” noted Keina. “Taking
pictures before your ceremony is often a good option.”
You can have a lot of fun with a winter blast.
“Winter weddings tend to happen near or around
the holidays. You may want to embrace the season
by incorporating holiday themed favors,” said Lawrence
Yaldo, co-owner of Top that Table. “Vanessa
bought personalized ornaments for each family as
their place card to hang on their Christmas tree.”
As much as flowers and décor create themes in
a wedding, Vanessa said that “they weren’t important
to me or Chris. That’s where the ornaments
came in.”
Vanessa tied the Christmas season into her
wedding by handing out ornaments to each guest
with their family names on them. “Although it
was expensive, I knew I wanted everyone to go
20 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017