The Wedding Ring. This is a sweet tradition to start off with. Did you ever wonder why we wear our wedding rings on the third finger of our left hands? Well, ancient Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart – what better location for the ring, a never-ending circular symbol of love- to rest upon.

The Bridesmaids. These girls have always been just a group of your best friends to help you plan and share your big day, right? Wrong. Centuries ago, it was believed that the bride had to be protected from evil spirits milling about the ceremony that would try to sabotage the marriage to her groom. The bridesmaids were created to serve as a decoy to distract these bad spirits – they would dress similar to the bride so it would be hard to pick out which woman they should attack. This is very strange to think about today!

The Best Man. This attendant has an interesting history as well. Back in ancient history, sometimes a groom would steal his bride unwillingly from her family. The groom would select a literal “best man” – his biggest, strongest friend – to stand by his side and be ready to fight off anyone who might come chasing after the stolen woman. This is why the bride stands to the left of the groom, too – the right side (his sword arm) needed to remain free.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. This is one of the more fascinating traditions in bridal history. Each of these items is intended to serve as a unique token for the bride. “Something old” represents the bride’s connection to her family, while “something new” refers to wishes for joy in the future. “Something borrowed” is supposed to be from a woman who is happily married, and “something blue” is a symbol of love and purity.

The Bridal Veil. Purity is a common theme in wedding history – the bridal veil serves as a symbol of the purity of the bride on her wedding day and, of course, as a protection from evil spirits.

From the sounds of things, it seems like brides today have it made – the days when weddings were an occasion to ward of vengeful family members and evil spirits are long gone. Now, what most associate with weddings are the feelings of joy and celebration as loved ones join together to wish a couple a happy life. It’s nice to know where these long-standing wedding symbols have come from – but even nicer to know that what they mean today is totally up to the new bride and groom.

What is your favorite moment or element to capture at a wedding?

The moment after the bride puts her wedding dress on and sees her father for the first time. It’s the one moment that the father and daughter have been waiting their whole lives for. My eyes tear up behind the camera every time.

Are there trends in wedding photography? If so, what are some you’ve seen in the last few years?

When I started photography about five years ago the trend was selective color (photo in black and white, and an object or person in color) – thankfully that trend ended quickly. Anything and everything on Pinterest is trending and that changes on a daily basis. But one trend that will never change is that people want high quality images that are “original” and magazine-worthy.

When you work with a couple, do you find that the photography style is customized to their unique occasion, or is there more of a one-size-fits-all strategy?

Clients book us based on our personality, portfolio, and unique style. If we steer away from our style then they might be disappointed and that’s the last thing we want to happen!

What’s the most creative location you’ve ever done a photo shoot?

We’ve traveled to Nelson, Nevada for an engagement shoot. Nelson is an abandoned ghost town. We needed to sign a waiver before shooting there. It was like stepping into a time machine and travelling back to the early 1900s. The town had abandoned buildings, a gas station, convenience store, cars, trucks, school busses and a fire truck from that time period. The town even had a military plane that had crashed nearby. It was a photographers’ playground for sure!

If you have one tip for brides-to-be selecting a photographer, what would it be?

When you find the right photographer, book him or her! The best book up first and often – we book 12-24 months in advance. You’ll know it when you find the right one and when that happens, don’t wait! Photographers spend more time with the bride on her wedding day than the husband-to-be, so it’s a very personal decision and probably one of the most important. All of your details and memories will fade over the years, but the photography will last forever!

BONUS Question: How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working behind a camera?

I was going to say that my wife and I love to travel but I’m still behind the camera taking pictures! We also love wine. We have family in San Francisco so we visit Napa Valley 1-2 times per year. My wife and I chose to get married in wine country! We had a small and intimate wedding of 20 guests on top of a mountain overlooking the entire valley. It was beautiful!

It’s clear that Neal has a great eye for what is beautiful in this world, and there’s no better skill you can find in a photographer charged with the task of capturing all the beautiful moments of your wedding day. To learn more about Neal Urban Photography, make sure to check out his website and the photos below – it’s great work!

Shinedown, “Simple Man”: Most people know this classic song as it was popularized by its original artist, Lynryd Skynryd  – but many think this version is as good as, if not better than, the original. The emotion in the lyrics is heartfelt, and magnified by the lead singer’s voice. With this song, there’s sure to be no dry eye in the house at the end of the dance.

Amos Lee, “Sweet Pea”: On a much more cheerful note, this song is much less popular but equally as fitting to represent the mother-son relationship.  Who hasn’t been on the receiving end of pet names such as “sweet pea, apple of my eye” from their mother at one time or another in their life?

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The Beach Boys, “God Only Knows”: If the classics are more your style, this song is a perfect fit for the Mother-Son dance at your wedding. It’s well-loved by all. In fact, Paul McCartney recently said it was his favorite song of all time, and U2 lead singer Bono said the melody was “proof of angels” on Earth. With such praise like that, you can’t go wrong with this selection!

Stevie Wonder, “You Are the Sunshine of my Life”: Another cheerful tune, this song has perfect lyrics for the Mother/Son dance. “You are the sunshine of my life, that’s why I’ll always stay around. You are the apple of my life, forever you’ll stay in my heart.” You don’t get much more motherly love than that!

Luckily, when it comes to planning your wedding budget a little sense of perspective can go a long way. When it comes to deciding what you want to make wise investments in for your wedding, and what you can get away with doing a little on the DIY side (hello, pinterest!), it’s important to take a step back and reflect on what elements of your celebration will truly turn into your fondest memories for years down the road.

Think about this: when you’re crunching budget numbers down to dollars and cents, the word “value” is important and comes to mind often. You want to know what the worth is of the things you’re spending your hard-earned money for. Now think about the word “value” in a difference sense – what do you value  when it comes to those elements of your wedding that directly contribute the joy and happiness you and your loved ones experience?  This is where you should focus your budgeted investments.

Five, ten, or even twenty-five years from now your family and friends will remember the great experience they had at your wedding. Ask yourself: if you’re on a budget, what does that value mean to you? For most brides, there’s no 100% right or 100% wrong answer to that question. Does this mean you want each and every guest to have individual flower arrangements, uniquely personalized in your ceremony colors and embossed with your monogrammed initials, waiting for them as they enter the reception venue? Possibly. But more likely than not, this means that smart investments will be made in the big elements like photography, entertainment, and food and drink while leaving the other choices up to some creative thinking and ingenuity (and yet again, help from the all-knowing Pinterest experts). It may even help to rank all of your budget items in terms of priority from low to high to see where along the bottom you can make some changes.

This is a topic that is difficult to approach in the wedding planning process, but the time devoted to it will always pay off in the end. Until your big day has come and gone, take comfort in the fact that each bride is in her own unique situation – and there’s plenty of help along the way for the tough decisions up ahead.

Between your three locations, you must see an incredible amount of events. How do you manage it all?
Carey: We couldn’t do it unless we had a fabulous team in place, and we do! From the sales/office staff to the banquet managers to servers and bartenders, everyone’s detailed and personal attention helps every event to be a success.
Lindsey: It’s crazy, busy, and exciting! Ever since the Lafayette opened last May, I have been managing the events there most of the time. Our banquet captains and sales team works along with Carey to communicate as best we can via email and constant text messages. Technology has definitely made it easier for all of us to communicate and stay all on the same page. We all care so much about the events we put on, we work our hardest every single day.

What are the differences, that you see between the events held at Pearl Street Grill at the events held at Hotel Lafayette?
Carey: The differences are minimal, especially now that all of our locations offer boutique hotel rooms. We pride ourselves on consistency – from the quality of the food and drink to the service staff to the décor and ambiance. The differences we see really come down to the client’s personal tastes for the rooms and the event – after all, it is their vision that should shine through.
Lindsey: To me, the events at Pearl Street and The Lafayette are very similar. We make it our goal to make Pearl Street Grill and Brewery Catering consistent no matter what location your party is at. I truly believe we have achieved this at all of our locations!

Do you coordinate with event DJs before an event? How helpful is it to have a good working relationship with them?
Carey: It is so important to have a good relationship with event DJs – and every vendor for that matter. We coordinate timelines and setup beforehand either directly through the DJ or through the client. The better the coordination and communication, the better the event is for the client and their guests!
Lindsey: We communicate with DJs before events all the time! It’s VERY important to have a good relationship with them, they are a big part of an event! They set the mood and help us keep everything on track.

What’s your favorite part about the work that you do?
Carey: Honestly, it may sound corny but I Love meeting and planning with all of our clients – from the food to the décor and the details – and then seeing the whole event come together and truly reflect their personality and vision – it’s so gratifying. I also LOVE the hugs I get when a bride walks into her room and her eyes light up- that’s pretty cool too.
Lindsey: The part I love about planning and running events is the first time a client enters the room on the day of their party when it’s all set up. I love seeing how excited they are to relax and enjoy the event they worked so hard to put together and I love able to help them do that! I have just started planning and booking events in the past year so I really enjoy helping them bring their vision to life!

Bonus Question: When you’re a wedding guest, which song(s) bring you out onto the dance floor?
Carey: Wow, I haven’t been to a wedding in a while but I would have to say “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and “Superstitious” by Stevie Wonder.
Lindsey: My favorites are “Love Game” by Lady Gaga or “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen… you can always find me bopping around when those come on 

From reading these answers, you can tell that Carey and Lindsey clearly have a passion for the work they do – it definitely shines through. To learn more about Pearl Street Catering – check out their website!

Use the beauty to your advantage. While the weather might be frustrating sometimes, there’s nothing more picturesque than a thick layer of snow on branches and buildings to make you feel like you’re walking in the middle of a magical winter village. Some adventurous couples even brave the cold for a few minutes and take their photographs right in the middle of it all – out in a snowy scene without any coats or hats to capture that perfect shot. If the thought of shivering in your bridal gown might be too much for you, you may still want to see how you can incorporate the winter beauty in your décor. Think sparkling “snow” –covered branches or evergreen wreaths as table centerpieces.

Keep that fire burning. Another  great design element to incorporate into your winter wedding is the warm glow of a fire. On dark winter days, many couples choose to use light as a symbol for not only the strength of their love, but also the promise of warmer and better days ahead in a marriage. As an added bonus, it lends a very elegant glow to any sort of wedding scene. One option is to choose a wedding venue where you can exchange vows right in front of a fireplace, or one which allows various kinds of candles to be lit around the reception area.

Remember to keep your attendants and guests warm, too! Wedding wear is not for the faint of heart in the middle of winter. Cute cocktail dresses and bridesmaids gowns are essential for the big celebration, but don’t fare well in those tough transit times in between venues! To show your appreciation, offer warm beverages in addition to the standard drinks at cocktail hour, and make sure there is a warm area where guests can store their coats before heading out into the cold. And of course, nothing warms your guests up more than a rocking party on the dance floor!

So there you have it. While we may moan and groan about WNY winters, there’s no reason why you can’t overcome the challenges to have the wedding of your dreams – no matter the season. All you need is a little creativity (and a few extra pairs of mittens) to have a beautiful celebration that rivals any wedding held in the middle of summer.

Etta James  “At Last”– Who doesn’t think of a couple’ s first dance when they hear this song? This one has been a classic for decades – and some great covers have been spawned off of it, as well (remember the awesome version sang by Beyoncé at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration?). It’s a timeless hit that’s sure to be popular for decades to come.

Lifehouse “You and Me” – Couples love this song because it perfectly describes the way you feel when you know you’ve found The One – you can’t seem to see anyone else in the world but the one you love, and nothing else matters except making them happy. Just released a few years ago, this song is well on its way to becoming another classic.

The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” – This song is simple in the style that many love songs were in its time. The touching lyrics are perfect for a serenade on the dance floor, as they tell the story of a love that was a long time in the making.

Ingrid Michaeleson “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Keeping with the trend of love songs that are instant classics, this final selection is a cover of Elvis Presley’s popular hit song. Ingrid Michaelson’s cover has grown in popularity as a first dance song over the past few years, and for good reason – her simplistic version of the song is peaceful and beautiful. Which version do you prefer?

So there you have it – a sampling of some of the greatest love songs of all time. Did your favorite make the cut? Check out this list for even more songs to serenade to that special someone, and let us know which one you like the best!

Stevie Wonder: “Isn’t She Lovely” – This upbeat song was written about the birth of Stevie Wonder’s daughter, Aisha. While not as sappy as other selections (see below), it’s still a great choice to celebrate the joyful experience of raising a daughter.

Darius Rucker: “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” – In this song, Darius Rucker tells the story of a father who wants to stop and savor every rough moment raising a young daughter, for he knows that sooner rather than later she’ll be – you guessed it – walking down the aisle. The message is simple and important – cherish the time you have with your loved ones, even the trying moments.

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Frank Sinatra – “The Way You Look Tonight” –  For those brides who want less of a tear-jerker than the previous song, this tune is a classic way for a  father to express how beautiful his daughter is in his eyes on her wedding day (and every day).

The Avett Brothers – “A Father’s First Spring” – You might not be familiar with this last selection from this North Carolina-based folk rock group, but the lyrics tell a touching story about a father’s devotion to his daughter. Just listen to the chorus: “I never lived ‘till I lived in your light, and my heart never beat like it does at the sight – of you, baby blue, God blessed your life. I do not live ‘less I live in your life.”

These are just a few of the songs you could select to represent the love between a father and his daughter on her wedding day. There are many more to choose from – make sure to take some time to sit down and listen to the lyrics to find one that is the perfect fit for your wedding.

How much time do you typically spend with brides before their wedding?

This can depend on each bride or how much or little they want us to get involved. We have customers who have specific needs or tastes that we will work with to either customize or find the perfect dress. Since we special-order and alter most of our gowns, we can be involved up to 2 or more years before a wedding. The saddest part is that we aren’t a “day of” vendor – we spend all of this time bringing a bride’s dream together, and then we don’t get to see them on the big day. We cherish the pictures our brides share with us after the wedding!

Is the term “Bridezilla” an urban legend, or do they really exist?

“Bridezilla” is a state of mind where a bride either gets overwhelmed with the planning details or she ends up focusing only on negative aspects of the wedding planning. It is easy for any bride to at least have a moment, but this is why it is so important to surround yourself with a group of people who will help you stay grounded and focused.

What is the toughest aspect of your business?

Probably marketing. Nowadays, you have to constantly be learning and trying out new things. With technology changing constantly and different avenues of marketing being created, it really keeps you on your toes!

How have the national bridal trends affected what happens here in the WNY region?

With the birth of all the wedding-related TV and social networking sites such as Pinterest and Facebook skyrocketing, we have seen Buffalo catch up with the rest of the nation on trends. While years ago we were anywhere from 1-2 years behind, we are now bringing in trends straight off the runways. It’s exciting!

Bonus Question: What’s your favorite song to dance to at a wedding?!

I’d have to say anything in the swing genre. It’s so fun to dance to!

It’s clearly an exciting time to be in the wedding business, and our conversation with Beth proves that Bridal Chateau is no exception. As a bride, all eyes are on you on your big day. To make sure that you have that perfect gown, make sure you’re working with a professional who knows what will work for you and your style. To learn more about Bridal Chateau or to make an appointment, you can contact them here.