The bride, an attorney at Fisher and Shapiro in Chicago, is the daughter of Barb and Carson Landis of Maple Park. The groom, an urban planner for the village of Downers Grove, Ill., is the son of Ratko and Mirsada Latinovic of St. Charles.

The matron of honor was Elizabeth Schultz, sister of the bride. The best man was Srdan Latinovic, brother of the groom.

After a honeymoon to Antigua, West Indies, the couple resides in Chicago.

The bride is employed by Fairview Dental in Aurora, and the groom is employed by James Olson Associates Land Surveyors in Yorkville.

The couple will reside with their children, Amanda, Vanessa and Ben, in Sugar Grove.

There are hundreds of colors beyond the basics found in every eight-count crayon box, any of which may serve as your wedding colors. For some brides, the decision is easy. They have a favorite color or have imagined their wedding being such and such color, and there is no other choice. For other brides, it’s a struggle. If you find yourself in this category, don’t despair. Here are some tips to help you get over the hump.

First, sit down and make a list of your favorite colors, keeping in mind that the more specific you are, the better. Don’t just write down “blue” when everyone knows that you love cornflower blue. Cornflower blue looks a whole lot different than baby blue, navy blue and royal blue. Be specific in your color favorites.

Review your list and cross off any that you know for certain will not work for your wedding. Neon green and yellow, for example, may not be the best choices for a wedding, unless of course, you are going for that glow-in-the-dark look. Even then, you will probably have trouble finding apparel and accessories for your wedding in those colors.

Once you have narrowed your color favorites, do some research and find out what kind of tones they set. Silver, for example, often invokes an air of sophistication, whereas pale pink invokes a sense of playfulness. Cross off any colors from your list that conflict with the tone you hope to set for your wedding.

Consider the time and venue of your wedding as well. An evening wedding at a swanky hotel during the winter may call for a different color palette than an afternoon wedding poolside in the dead of summer. You might choose darker, richer colors for the former, and brighter, lighter colors for the latter.

Theme, too, can dictate your color choices. Hot pink and lime green might work well for a tropical-inspired summer wedding, but not so much for a serene spring garden-themed wedding. For that, you might want to go with a paler shade of pink and green.

These are just some of the factors that might influence your color choices. Keep in mind that availability may have a bearing on your decision as well. You might have your heart set on a ruby-red and gray wedding until you discover that the style of bridesmaid dresses you want doesn’t come in either of those colors. Rather than search for new dresses, you might find it easier to change your color palette.

Be flexible. You might start out with a silver and white palette and end up with a silvery-white and dark purple palette after spying the purplish flowers of your dreams at the florist’s.
by Tresa Erickson, MultiAd Builder

You have already made the first good green decision, keeping the wedding at home. The closer the wedding is to your guests, the shorter of a commute they will have to make and the less fuel they will consume. For guests that are willing, you can set up carpools to transport them to and from your wedding to save even more fuel. For guests that are out of town, try finding bus or train routes they can take and encourage them to use those modes of transportation to save fuel.

The next step is finding an eco-friendly venue. Obviously, having your wedding outdoors is the easiest way to save energy, but if you’re getting married in the early spring, late fall or winter, that option may not work for you. Eco-friendly venues are out there; you just have to find them. Many hotels and resorts now offer eco-friendly wedding packages. You might also go an alternative route and get married at an organic farm or orchard. If you can’t find an eco-friendly venue, don’t despair. You can go green in many other ways.

When shopping for apparel, keep the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—in mind. Buy vintage gowns and tuxedos and turn them into something else afterward, or rent or borrow gowns and tuxedos. If you must have new apparel, look for pieces you can wear again or shop at eco-friendly suppliers. Many designers now make wedding dresses and other formalwear out of hemp and other sustainable materials.

You should use the same principles when shopping for wedding rings. Consider buying vintage or used rings and having a local jeweler turn them into pieces you’ll cherish forever. If you prefer new rings, look for ones made with recycled metals and stones.

Tree-free or 100 percent recycled paper is the way to go with invitations. Of course, if you really want to reduce waste, consider sending electronic invites. Mail tangible invitations to guests who rarely use the computer and electronic invites to those who use their computer for everything.

As for the food, flowers and favors, you can definitely make green choices in these areas. Local is the key word here. Find an eco-minded caterer and work with them to create a menu made from foods grown locally. Rent your linens and tableware, or look into biodegradable or recycled disposable options. Donate your leftover food afterward instead of throwing it out. Select an eco-minded florist to create arrangements using locally grown flowers or make the arrangements yourself using flowers from your own garden or a friend’s. Throw the flowers into the compost bin afterward. Finally, look for eco-friendly favors that will make your guests more aware of the environment and the importance of making good choices.

When selecting decorations for your ceremony and reception, again keep the three Rs in mind. Borrow or rent as many items as you can. Then look for items that you can reuse or recycle. Add bows to the pews and turn them into throw pillows afterward. Place your wedding cards in various places around the room and recycle them afterward. Strew flower petals on the tables and toss them into the compost pile afterward.

You can even go green with the music. Skip the band or DJ. Hire an instrumentalist or vocalist instead and ask them to leave all of their electronic equipment at home. Whether acoustic or sung a cappella, the music will be beautiful.

Continue your efforts to go green with your wedding gifts. Set up a registry of eco-friendly gifts. If you are combining houses and don’t really need anything, request your guests contribute to one of your favorite environmental causes in lieu of buying you a wedding gift.

Contrary to popular belief, going green at your wedding doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. You can still have the wedding of your dreams; you just have to be willing to take the time to explore your options. If it seems overwhelming, consider hiring an eco-minded wedding planner. They will know all of the ins and outs of having a green wedding and have access to people and places that you don’t.

by Tresa Erickson, MultiAd Builder

Take flowers, for instance. Many brides today are opting for fewer, but more daring, floral designs in their weddings.

When it comes to wedding flowers, brides have a number of choices. Roses remain popular, as do gerbera daisies and tulips. Tropical flowers are also hot.

One of the biggest changes in wedding floral design is color. Lighter, more muted shades are now being replaced with brighter, bolder hues. Brides today are not afraid of mixing reds and yellows, oranges and purples, and greens and blues.

Along with stronger colors, many wedding floral designs feature herbs, fruits, vegetables and other striking pieces. These help create interest and add dimension.

To create even more drama and interest, many brides are varying the contents of their centerpieces. Gone are the identical baskets of flowers on each table. In their place are various kinds of flowers in various sized containers. You might find a large wicker basket of tulips on one table and a slender crystal vase of lilies on another.

As for the bouquets, brides are going for a simpler, sleeker look, with many choosing hand-tied or posy bouquets. Small, compact, tasteful bouquets with exquisite flowers and gorgeous accents are ideal. Flowers may be embellished with beads, crystals, faux jewels, feathers or pearls. These may be glued inside petals, strung on wires over petals, threaded onto thin strands of glass within petals or left to dangle. Ribbon has also made a comeback, but instead of being used in bows, it may be wrapped around the flower stems.

For brides that choose not to wear a veil, flowers may be the answer. They may use flowers from their bouquet in their hair, attaching them with pins or securing them to barrettes or a headband.

These days, brides are being more daring with the flowers for their wedding. Bold is in!

by Tresa Erickson, MultiAd Builder

There are two basic approaches to wedding photography: portrait and photojournalistic. In the former, subjects pose for the pictures; in the latter, they don’t; the shots are more candid. Many brides and grooms opt for a combination of the two, often hiring a photographer familiar with both styles or separate photographers for each style.

Photojournalism has become quite popular in weddings in recent years. Couples want to see the story of their wedding unfold from what goes on behind the scenes in the dressing rooms to the connections made at the reception. Photographers work to capture all of the little moments—the flower girls’ mischievous grins as they chase each other in the dressing room, the look on the father’s face when he sees the bride for the first time, the mothers’ intensity as they light the unity candle.

In spite of the popularity of photojournalism, portrait wedding photography is not going away any time soon. The majority of couples still want the standard posed portraits. These days, however, many are choosing to have their wedding portraits taken with a high-end fashion approach.

A throwback to fashion magazine shoots, in-vogue wedding photography maximizes the glamour of the moment and makes the couple look their best, almost like celebrities, through digital image editing and manipulation. Shots are very artistic, and the editing is very skilled.

When it comes to the style of your wedding photos, it is your choice. You can stick to formal portraits or go for more candid shots. To ensure you get what you want, select a photographer with care. Interview each of the candidates on your list, find out what their interests are and review their portfolios. If they seem more familiar with portrait photography and you are interested in having portraits and candid shots, you may want to look for someone else.

For the best results, find a photographer who is comfortable with both styles and has some experience with the in-vogue trend if that’s what you’re after.

by Tresa Erickson, MultiAD Builder

The maid of honor was Meg Stewart, a friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Autumn Poisson and Amanda Poisson, both cousins of the bride, and Jennifer Maxwell, a friend of the bride.

The best men were Eric and Brett Snyder, brothers of the groom. Groomsmen were Rick Fortier, brother of the bride, and Brian Maxwell, a friend. Ushers were Cameron and Chandler Cobb, both cousins of the groom.

The bride is a Rockford High School graduate, and a graduate of Grand Valley State University. The groom is a Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 2009 Geneva Wedding Walk on Sunday, Sept. 20, provides those people all in one place, to lessen the stress and heighten the excitement.

The event is sponsored by Geneva Bride, a group of Geneva-area wedding boutiques committed to making a wedding everything the bride and groom imagine. Geneva Bride members include wedding planners, florists, decor designers, caterers, owners of unique venues and boutique dress shops, photographers, jewelers, salons, rental companies, hotels and providers of custom invitations, cakes and treats, and financial planning services, travel companies and more. There are multiples of nearly every kind of business, for a wealth of choices.

Admission is $25 for a bride and two guests, and includes a wedding planner, goodie bags, three wedding magazines, plus favors and handouts from vendors. Brides also will have the chance to win a honeymoon in Aruba or Cancun. To be eligible for the honeymoon trips, brides must stop at each vendor and have their tickets stamped.

“The Chicago area is a top destination for weddings,” said Elizabeth Wray, owner of Elizabeth Wray Design and co-chair of the event. “That makes it very difficult for a bride and groom to sort through the many options available to them. Geneva Bride brings together more than 40 experienced vendors, under a spectacular tent, all well-versed in what it takes to make the day everything everyone involved wants it to be. It eliminates some of the confusion and a lot of the stress.”

Registration for the Wedding Walk will be form 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendees will then visit participating stores in the mall, and have their tickets checked. From 2 to 5 p.m., participants will visit in the Wedding Walk tent with the remaining participating vendors, receive giveaways and goodies, and watch continuing fashion shows.

The Geneva Wedding Walk sets itself apart from other expos, where vendors commonly are culled from a wide geographic area.

“Who wants to have a florist in the southern suburbs and a photographer from the North Shore?” Elizabeth Wray said. “This is one-stop shopping. A bride can have a dress fitting, then visit her wedding cake baker and wedding reception venue, all in the same afternoon.”

“We are showcasing Geneva and the unparalleled services Geneva has to offer brides, grooms and their friends and families,” said co-chair Anton Engelmann. “Even if the wedding itself isn’t here, it’s so convenient to have a number of your vendors—distinctive, established vendors—in one place. Brides love it. Mothers of brides appreciate it as well.”

Participating stores within the Geneva Commons outdoor lifestyle mall include Harry & David, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma and annabella salonspa.

Geneva Bride grew out of the first Geneva Wedding Walk, held in January 2008 in downtown Geneva. That event attracted brides from throughout the Chicago area and beyond, and was so well-received it has become a semi-annual event.

Geneva Commons is on Randall Road in Geneva, between Williamsburg Avenue and Bricher Road.

Visit www.genevabride.com to register and see the participating boutiques and venues. Space is limited for the Geneva Wedding Walk event.

Many churches or other institutions may not allow pets on the premises. Check with the location where you are planning to hold the ceremony before making your pet a part of it.

Here are some basic guidelines to follow if you wish to include your pet in the ceremony:
• Be reasonable about your pet’s participation in the ceremony. Dogs are the most likely to be included in a wedding—just make sure they are well trained. They can serve as best man, maid of honor, ringbearer, usher or doorman (just make sure guests have an adequate supply of treats as a reward). Cats are less predictable and can be harder to control in a crowd, so their role might be best as an observer. Since they tend to flee quickly when they get spooked or enticed, it is best to secure them in a carrier or on a leash.
• Include your pets in the rehearsal activities. You may appear differently to your pet in a tuxedo or dress and spook them. So wear your tux or dress at least once in their presence before the ceremony.
• Choose appropriate attire for your pet. Getting a tux for your dog is not as hard as you might think. Websites like www.doggyduds .com can provide a custom fit within a week by mail. If you are going to have your pets dressed in costumes, try it on before the ceremony to see how they will react to wearing them. Do they try to take it off or gnaw on them? Maybe it would be best to just go with something simple like a bowtie collar.
• Have someone familiar with your pets be their chaperone. They can watch for signs of bad behavior and make sure your pets do not overindulge in people food. There is nothing wrong with your pets having their own food at the reception.
• Make sure your pets have been walked and given the chance to relieve themselves.

The bond between a human and their pet can be as strong as any human bond. Some even compare it to that of a parent and child. So it goes without saying that pets should be allowed to participate in the wedding ceremony and celebration of their masters.
by Ronda Addy, MultiAd Builder

Bachelor and bachelorette party rules no longer require the sexes to have separate events. There is no reason, as long as both sides agree, why one party for the whole wedding party cannot be arranged. In this case, all those attending would pitch in an equal amount to cover costs.

Send wedding invitations to both sets of parents as a keepsake, as well as to the officiate. Send one to all members of the wedding party. If you don’t want children at the wedding, either print “Adult Reception” on the card or use word-of-mouth to spread the word. All invites should include a “Reply by” date. Call guests who have not replied one week after that date. You can estimate that about 85 percent of the guests you invite will attend. Make sure your RSVP cards include postage.

Everyone who is involved in the ceremony needs to be at the wedding rehearsal, including musicians, parents of the bride and groom, and all attendants, whether groomsmen or bridesmaids. A rehearsal dinner usually follows the ceremony practice but does not include spouses or significant others of those in the wedding party unless specifically invited by the hosts, which in most cases are the groom’s parents. Practicing the music at the rehearsal is essential. We take many of our cues from the music at the ceremony and one little mistake can throw everyone off balance.

For the ceremony seating, the parents of the bride and groom should sit in the front rows respectively. In the case of divorced parents who don’t get along, the mother sits in the front row and the father sits in the second row. If everyone is friendly, they may sit in the front row together. Don’t arrive late to the wedding or you can consider it missed. Once the mother of the bride is seated, a signal that the ceremony has begun, formal and informal seating is complete. No guest should ever enter the ceremony once it has started under any circumstances.

At a wedding of more than 75 guests, you may want to limit the receiving line to bride and groom, mother of the bride and groom, and maid of honor/best man. For smaller numbers of guests, the whole wedding party and fathers may be in attendance. Technically a receiving line should take place at the reception upon entrance of the first guests but since many couples schedule post-wedding photographs to be taken immediately following the ceremony, it is acceptable to hold the receiving line outside the church.

At the reception, plan on feeding the band or DJ when making catering arrangements. Don’t do the money dance—it’s tacky. Head-table seating is up for grabs these days, so any combination of the wedding party, parents, grandparents and significant others is fine. Assign seating if having more than 30 guests at the reception. You don’t have to name each person to a seat; just put the names on tables. For example, seat the Miller family and the O’Brian family together at one table. The parents of the wedding couple should sit at a reserved table if they are not already seated at the head table. Don’t bring gifts to the reception. Gifts should always be sent to the bride’s residence prior to the wedding.

At the reception, the bride and groom should have the first dance prior to a sit-down dinner. The bride should dance with the groom’s father and the groom with the bride’s mother. Etiquette also calls for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to dance together regardless of marital status. The garter toss, while a long-standing traditional event, has recently fallen out of favor. The bouquet toss, another long-standing event, can be omitted if desired, but is acceptable if kept low-key.

If the wedding is called off, you should return the gifts unused. Make sure you keep a list of who sent what. Engraved gifts may be kept. Cancel travel plans immediately and inform guests who planned to travel to your wedding first.

Keep in mind that these are just some basic wedding etiquette guidelines. Ultimately, it is your day and you need to bring to it your unique outlook so it will be much more memorable to you.
by Doris A. Black, MultiAd Builder

The couple married Aug. 9, 2008, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Dubuque, Iowa, with a reception following at Bittersweet on the Bluff in East Dubuque, Ill.

The maid of honor was Amanda Martin of Ames, Iowa, a friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Jolene Gruenke of Naperville, Ill., a friend of the bride; Melissa Dean of Naperville, a friend of the bride; Samantha Espinosa of Morton Grove, Ill., a friend of the bride; Sarah McGreer of Cortland, a cousin of the bride; Stephanie Placke of Manchester, Iowa, a sister of the groom; and Jenny Stiefel of Dubuque, Iowa, a friend of the bride.

The flower girl was Abigail Placke of Manchester, Iowa, a niece of the groom. The bride’s personal attendant was Becky Robbennolt of Elgin, Ill., a friend of the bride.

The best man was of Dubuque, Iowa, a friend of the groom. The groomsmen were Nick Wagner of Dubuque, Iowa, a friend of the groom; Dan Budden of Dubuque, Iowa, a friend of the groom; Steve Campbell of Maple Park, brother of the bride; Grant Calease of Cedar Falls, Iowa, a friend of the groom; Ryan Chatfield of Dubuque, Iowa, a friend of the groom; and Brian Placke of Manchester, Iowa, brother-in-law of the groom. Ushers were Jeremiah Christensen of Dubuque, Iowa, friend of the groom; and Jason Tuthill of Dubuque, Iowa, friend of the groom. The ring bearer was Garrett Placke of Manchester, Iowa, a nephew of the groom.

The bride is a graduate of Kaneland High School in Maple Park, and received a bachelor’s degree from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. She is employed as a special education teacher in the Dubuque Community School District.

The groom is currently attending Northeast Iowa Community College and is a member of the Iowa Army National Guard.

The couple honeymooned in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and is residing in Dubuque, Iowa.

When it comes to reception decor, almost anything goes. You can coordinate everything for a harmonious look, or you can mix and match items to create more visual interest.

Depending upon the venue, you may already have a basic setup in place. If you have rented a banquet hall, for example, the table and chairs may already be in place and you will have to work with what you have. If you are renting tables and chairs, you don’t have to go with the traditional round tables. You can use square or rectangular tables or mix shapes and sizes. If you wish, you can disband with the traditional head table and seat yourself and the groom at your own table near the front.

Once you have the seating arrangements worked out, you can start thinking about decorating them. If the finish on the tables is nice, you can leave them as is. If not, you can cover them with crisp white linens for a traditional feel, or you can mix it up and use linens in the same shade as your wedding colors. To create further interest, you might want to select varying shades of your wedding colors for your linens and layer them. You could even use beaded or embroidered linens with sheer overlays. While you’re at it, don’t forget the chairs. Common decorations for chairs include fabric overlays, floral swags and ribbons.

With the tables and chairs in place, you can work on the centerpieces. These can run the gamut from floral arrangements to candles.

Many a bride has used a variety of pillar, taper and floating candles to dress up her reception tables. Strew some artificial rose petals or confections across the table, and voila, you have created instant drama and romance.

Centerpieces can also serve as favors. Cut flowers in breakaway vases, for example, make great centerpieces that guests can take home.

Want to add a splash of color to your reception tables and ensure your guests sweet dreams? Create a candy buffet centerpiece for each of your tables. Select a variety of sweet treats, place them in glass containers with silver spoons, put a few of the containers in the center of each table and provide small boxes or bags for guests to fill up before they go home.

Depending upon what you are serving, you may need to set the tables. As with the linens, you can go with the traditional white tableware, or you can mix it up and use colored plates and glasses in various sizes and shapes.

You will also want to decorate the rest of the room, including the cake table, gift table and any other surfaces. Candles and lanterns work well for windowsills leading into the reception venue. Floral garlands or artificial ivy interspersed with white lights make great choices for banisters and windows. Balloons are another popular choice. Some brides personalize their decorations, placing wedding portraits of family members around the room, along with childhood photos of themselves and the groom.

The decorations you choose for your reception can be as traditional or non-traditional as you wish. You can stick to the old tried and true, or you can break out of the box. The choice is yours, and you will find hundreds of books, magazines and online articles to inspire you.

Matthew and Kara Jahns

The ceremony took place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle, Ill. A reception followed at Seven Bridges Golf Course in Woodridge, Ill.

The maid of honor was Krysta Boehm, sister of the bride. Bridemaids were Alison Pipkalejs, Rachel Sineni and Nicole Gervasio all friends of the bride; Mallory Gigl, cousin of the groom, and Kyla Stazak, cousin of the bride. Flower girls were Molly Osman, cousin of the groom, and Ashley Parks, cousin of the bride.

The best man was Quinn Jahns, brother of the groom. Groomsmen were Dan Neely, Kevin Rogers, Shearson McClain and Andrew Pipkalejs, all friends of the groom, and Christopher Gigl, cousin of the groom. Ushers were John Haracz and Mike Stryczula, both friends of the groom. Ring bearer was Will Parks, cousin of the bride.

The bride is a Lemont High School graduate and manager at X-Sport Fitness. The groom is a graduate of Kaneland High School and the Illinois School of Broadcasting, and is employed at Greco’s at the Promenade in Bolingbrook, Ill.

Following a honeymoon in Captiva Island, Fla., the couple will reside in Lisle, Ill.