The article summarizes an unusual wedding ceremony for Jesse and Larina Ascunce. For their ceremony, the couple exchanged vows in front of a small cairn (pile of rocks) that represented significant places in their lives and relationship. The cairn included rocks from locations like the river where Jesse fished, where Larina was raised, and their favorite travel destination of Iceland. After exchanging handwritten vows silently in front of the cairn, the couple had an open-air ceremony in a Colorado meadow with Mount Crested Butte as the backdrop.

1. WEDDINGextravaganza
SEPTEMBER 12, 2014
GETTING
HITCHED
ON A HIKE
u
SENTINEL’S
SHOW AT
THE STROH
ON SEPT. 14
u

2. 2
along the HIKE,
they got HITCHED
By EMILY GORDON
Sentinel Staff Writer
For many hikers, it’s the
journey — not the destination
— that makes a trip special.
As avid hikers and world
travelers, Jesse and Larina
Ascunce found a way to incor-
porate their journey as a cou-
ple and their love of the out-
doors in their wedding last
summer by exchanging vows
before a small cairn.
Cairns, piles of rocks mark-
ing a trail or notable site, have
been used for thousands of
years by different peoples
around the world.
“Cairns show your way on a
trail,” Jesse Ascunce said. “We
took that concept with pieces
of our lives to show how we
got to where we are today.”
The couple’s cairn consisted
of rocks from the Maumee
river, where the Bowling Green
native used to fish; Colorado
Springs, Colo., where Larina
Ascunce was raised; Rockford,
Illinois, where her grandpar-
ents live; Colorado’s “fourteen-
ers”mountains, named for their
peaks exceeding 14,000 feet,
and Iceland, the couple’s favor-
ite place to visit, said Jo
Ascunce, mother of the
groom.
“He called us and said, ‘I
know it sounds weird, but I
need a flat rock from the river,’”
she said. “We got nine and laid
them out on the driveway, took
a picture and had him decide
which he wanted. Now, they
have the cairn in their family
room forever.”
The cairn acted as the icing
on the cake of the couple’s
nature filled“open-air”ceremo-
ny in a meadow at Woods Walk,
Crested Butte, Colorado.
With Mount Crested Butte
serving as the backdrop, the
bride, wearing a white, knee-
length sundress with an orange
sash and wildflowers in her
hair, walked down the stone-
lined aisle to “There She Goes”
by the La’s, strummed by her
husband-to-be on the mando-
lin.
Couple’s open-air ceremony in Colorado
centered around creativity ... and cairns
Photos provided
Bride Larina Ascunce flies a red kite at her unusual wedding reception.
(See JOURNEY on 17)

3. 3
Larina and Jesse Ascunce had an unusual wedding
ceremony in Crested Butte, Colo. Here, they are
shown after they exchanged their written vows and
read them silently. The cairn-representative stones
brought by family members from various parts of
the country created the “altar” (below).
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Traditional Wedding Location
A large clearing nestled in the lower level of
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The gardens and lakes create a gorgeous
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not only a beautiful journey, but a calming
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Japanese Garden
The lush greens, reflecting pool, and
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Indoor Reception Facility
A room with a view. Enjoy the beauty of the
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All ceremony rentals include:
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Changing area for the bride
One hour rehearsal the day prior to
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Photography time following ceremony
The 17 acre garden estate of Schedel Arboretum & Gardens is the
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SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

4. 4
By MARIE THOMAS
Sentinel Education Editor
Businesses return each
year to the Sentinel-Tribune’s
WeddingExtravaganzabecause
of the professionalism dis-
played, the array of vendors
and the success they find talk-
ing to prospective brides.
This year’s extravaganza is
at a new site, the Stroh Center
at Bowling Green State
University, on Sept. 14 from
noon to 4 p.m.
At the time of this maga-
zine’s deadline, 36 vendors had
signed on for the event, but at
least 55 are planned.
Previous extravaganzas
were held in Pemberville and
at Woodland Mall in Bowling
Green, but the Stroh offers a
larger layout to allow conversa-
tions between vendors and
guests, said Betty Kahlenberg,
advertising director at the
Sentinel.
It also will allow a T-shape
runway which will be used by
gown and tuxedo vendors to
show off the latest fashions.
Kahlenberg said the bigger
venue offers easy access off
Interstate 75, free parking and
space for larger vendor dis-
plays.
“We’re stepping up our
game,” she said about moving
to the new site. “We hope the
vendors appreciate it.”
Holding a wedding show in
Sentinel’s bridal show
will strut into the Stroh
Shane Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune
Julie Dewolf (left) and Amanda Vandercoy look at
various cakes at the Mary Poppins Cake Factory
display during last year’s Sentinel-Tribune Bridal
Fair. The show, set for Sept. 14, is moving to the
Stroh Center on the Bowling Green State University
campus. Over 50 vendors, including Mary Poppins
Cake Factory, are expected to attend.
— SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT —
Nazareth Hall is a banquet and wedding
facility that used to be a Catholic Military
boys school built in 1927. Our name is
known across Toledo and the surrounding
areas as a beautiful historic place to have an
event. Not only do we have many weddings
and receptions here, but we offer our
services for many different events: Proms,
Business parties, Greek events, Birthday and
Nazareth Hall
21211 W. River Road
Grand Rapids, OH 43522
(419) 832-2900
nazarethhall.com
Chapel
seating capacity 220
Grotto
seating capacity 320
Office Hours:
Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
Closed Sunday
Anniversary parties, School events,
Holiday parties, and the Sunday
brunch are just some of the event
that occur all throughout the year.

5. 5
the fall rather than in the
spring, like many other sites
do, “gives (brides) an opportu-
nity to see what’s new for
spring,” Kahlenberg said.
And the extravaganza can
give people looking to plan a
family reunion or anniversary
party ideas as well, with floral
shops on hand, rental halls,
caterers and direct sales com-
panies.
Mary Kay consultant
Jeanette Stein, of Pemberville,
has attended all extravagan-
zas held by the Sentinel, at
least seven in all.
She said she will be offering
a drawing for a free consulta-
tion plus gift certificate give-
aways. The big winner will get
a pampering basket and a free
party.
“It is worth it,” she said
about participating in the
show. “I must say, through the
Sentinel, the results have been
really good.”
“It’s a top-notch show,” said
Dennis Hilgeman, co-owner of
Mary Poppins Cake Factory in
Woodville.
“We do very well” at the
show. “We easily pick up 15
weddings at the show,” he
said.
Mary Poppins provides cus-
tom cakes, and duplicates a lot
of Food Network styles.
Custom flavors include a
chocolate truffle cake and an
Italian Cassata white cake with
rum in the batter. Raspberry
lemonade, key lime and root
beer float are other flavors
offered.
On the cover:
J.D. Pooley took this photo of a model at Personal
D’Signs BBG Bridal in Fremont (see page 10).
Cover design by Kristen Norman.
This edition was edited by Debbie Rogers.
Shane Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune
Vicki Knott and her daughters Sarah (left) and Beth look at the display by
Downtown Deco during the 2013 Sentinel-Tribune Bridal Fair. Below, Jewelry
from Waddington Jewelers on display.
(See FAIR on 7)
UPCOMING BRIDAL SHOWS
Wedding Extravaganza 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014 • 12-4 p.m.
Stroh Center - Campus of BGSU, Bowling Green
419-352-4611 sent-trib.com
The Pinnacle
Sunday, January 18, 2015 • 12-4 p.m.
1772 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee
419-346-9885 w-dreams.net
Nazareth Hall
Sunday, October 19, 2014 • 12-4 p.m.
21211 W. River Rd., Grand Rapds
419-832-2900 nazarethhall.com Free
Sauder Village
Sunday, March 8, 2015 • 12-4 p.m.
22611 Ohio Rt. 2, Archbold
419-446-2541 saudervillage.com
Superbowl of All Bridal Shows -
Stranahan Great Hall
Jan. 10 & 11, 2015
4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo
419-893-5888 $8 advance; $10 door

6. 6
#etiquette?
Some tips on when to
tweet, share and tag
while at a wedding
By PETER KUEBECK
Sentinel Staff Writer
Social media is making
the wheels of modern commu-
nication turn even faster.
Comments, status updates,
photos and video can be sent
to friends — and strangers —
worldwide with the simple tap
of a touchscreen.
But what happens when
social media collides up with
ancient traditions like wed-
dings? What are the rules?
Should you tweet a photo of
the bride as she’s walking down
the aisle? What about selfies at
the event? Can you send invi-
tations to weddings or show-
ers via Facebook? How about
Instagramming a shot of the
food at the reception?
A Google search of the topic
yields more than 15.7 million
hits, with articles from numer-
ous media outlets offering
“dos”and “don’ts.” Even Martha
Stewart has waded into the
topic.
An article on the Huffington
Post advises that brides “keep
the wedding dress under wraps
(and offline)”and to“let people
know your social media wish-
es” for the event.
“Ask permission before you
share,” the piece admonishes
wedding guests.
A Headline News piece on
the subject quoted one wed-
ding expert as saying that “hir-
ing a social media pro for your
wedding... is ‘the way of the
future.’”
And the overall consensus
seems to be that brides should
tell their families in person
about their engagements
before making it “Facebook
official.”
Locally, the trend seems to
be that modern brides are
embracing social media, rather
than trying to squelch it.
“I think that especially the
younger brides, that’s just sort
of their way of life, where
everything goes up and it’s not
a big deal,” said Kelly Heuss, of
Puttin’ On The Glitz in down-
town Perrysburg.
Megan Thomas, an event
coordinator at Nazareth Hall in
Grand Rapids, said “a lot of our
(See ETIQUETTE on 21)
Illustration by J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune
Popular social media sites like Instagram allow
users to use hashtags to share their photos.
Changes
On
Mane
See the
Specialists at
Changes
On
Mane
181 S. Main St.,
Bowling Green
419-352-4101

7. 7
“We do all kinds of stuff,”
Hilgeman said. “People come
up with an idea and I can do
that.”
The shop also had a CAD
program that will show cou-
ples a computer mock up of
their cake, so there are no sur-
prises on the day of the event.
At the show, he and wife
Jackie Kennedy will have a
Cinderella cake, a chocolate
fountain and other treats.
Another returning vendor is
Moonlight and Paradise
Vacations in Gibsonburg.
“I’ve gained clients that I
have kept,” said owner Lisa
Damschroder.
She said she gets enough
bookings each year to keep
coming back. This year she will
offer a drawing for a Coach
travel bag.
“I want them to know that I
intend to give them best value
for their vacation dollars and
connect them to the best des-
tination that will be suit what
they’re looking for,”
Damschroder said.
She specializes in Caribbean
escapes, specifically Sandals
Resorts.
“I want to make sure they
have a location where they can
make beautiful memories.”
Schedel Arboretum and
Gardens will be new this year.
Veronica Sheets, event coor-
dinator, agreed that the venue
will be a huge draw.
She estimated 25 percent of
visitors to the Elmore garden
are from Bowling Green, and
the site hosts quite a few
Bowling Green weddings.
She will have on displays
some wedding photos taken at
the site.
“I hope to book a few new
ceremonies, receptions, show-
ers or rehearsal dinners.”
Fair
Photo provided
One of the vendors at this year’s Sentinel-Tribune Bridal Fair will be Schedel
Arboretum and Gardens. They will have photos and information about the
popular wedding site in Elmore.
Vendors at the Sentinel-
Tribune’s Wedding
Extravaganza include:
Encore Bridal
It Works
Schedel Arboretum
Showcase Video
Travel Connections
Mary Kay
The Toledo Zoo
Mary Poppins Cake Factory
Pampered Chef
Kent and Stephanie
Photography
Klotz Floral
Pop Culture Popcorn
BBB Bridal
Michelle Rachael Events
Java Sensations
Rhythm and Bloom
Nazareth Hall
American Commodore
Tuxedo
Bride Guide Northwest
Ohio
Stone Ridge Golf Club
La Boutique Nostalgie
Connie Duglin Specialty
Linen and Chair Cover Rentals
Premiere Designs
Moonlight and Paradise
Vacations
C. Sterling Jewelers
Buggy Whip Bakery
Elegant Music (harp)
Modern Woodmen
Western and Southern Life
Quaint Wedding Stationery
Jamberry Nails
Holiday Inn Express
Pure Romance
Everdry Water Proofing
Hilton Garden Inn
Cherry Lane Cakes
Check out these vendors at
the Wedding Extravaganza
(Continued from 5)
Customized Weddings
and Rental Items for
the DIY Brides
Wedding bouquets and
arrangements made to order
Obies-Flowers.com · Pemberville · 419-287-3725
A Full Service Florist
®
Focusing on Protecting the OnesYou Love
Lance Wood
Agent
1180 N. Main St.
Bowling Green, OH 43402
P: 419-352-9476
F: 419-352-9478
C: 419-705-2031

8. 8
By ALEX ASPACHER
Sentinel Staff Writer
Venues spread across
Wood County give those plan-
ning a wedding a range of
options close to home.
The 18th green at Stone
Ridge boasts a picturesque
ceremony setting, and the
ballroom makes for a good
party afterward.
The rolling hills and green
fairways of the course also cre-
ate a great backdrop for wed-
ding photos.
There’s a flow between the
ballroom, the outdoor patio
and the space next to the final
green where ceremonies are
often conducted.
“If they want to have cere-
mony here, they’re looking to
go outside. They don’t want to
be inside,” said Kara Higdon,
catering sales director.
Guests can gather around
or observe the exchange of
vows from the overlooking
patio, a popular choice for
some elderly guests, and oth-
ers when summer tempera-
tures are particularly hot.
Once, Higdon recalled, a
creative couple incorporated
the golf course itself into their
ceremony. Music played out-
doors as the bridal party
entered in golf carts down the
path along No. 18.
Parties often move up to
the patio for a cocktail hour
and appetizers after the cere-
mony. The ballroom indoors
seats 230 people while leaving
the dance floor open, and a
large bay of doors and win
Outdoor ‘I do’s’
Couples search out greens and
grottos for their ceremonies

9. 9
dows keeps views of the golf
course and the southern sky
intact.
Stone Ridge offers all-inclu-
sive packages, but they’re cus-
tomizable and just about any-
thing a couple doesn’t like can
be replaced or taken out. The
club doesn’t do wedding cakes,
but those who book there can
have their cake cut for free,
Higdon said.
“Once we talk to them about
it and tell them everything
that’s included, they see it as a
positive because they know
what price range they’re look-
ing at per person,”Higdon said.
“We just kind of roll it all into
one.”
Couples who book their
wedding at the golf club also
enjoy a pair of free golf pass-
es.
A service many couples find
helpful is an on-site wedding
coordinator at Stone Ridge.
“We keep all their details
organized for them,” Higdon
said, mentioning music, special
requests and other details,
such as food allergies.“We take
all those specific notes and
really customize it to their
reception.
“We’re not trying to put any-
one into a cookie cutter. It’s
their day.”
To inquire about Stone
Ridge, call 419-354-2535.
A green vista is also at the
focus of weddings held at
Bowling Green Country Club.
“There’s a lot of windows, so
there’s a good view of the
course,” said Jeff Szabo, food
and beverage manager.
Organizers provide table-
cloths and napkins and will
customize the bar selection to
stay within a particular price
range. Szabo said the country
club is a nice, affordable option
for a few local weddings each
year.
The club’s banquet hall can
seat up to 130, and seating is
also available on the patio. The
club restaurant caters events,
with appetizers and several
buffet menus and customiz-
able options available, allow-
ing couples to mix and match.
Indoors, there is one large
room and a lounge, which is
opened to combine the two
during receptions.
“I think it’s just a cozy room
for a smaller wedding,” Szabo
said.
For more information, call
the country club at 419-352-
3100.
Nazareth Hall has come a
long way since 1927, being
transformed from a Catholic
boys school to one of Wood
County’s upscale wedding and
event venues.
It’s been such since 1991
and continues to offer couples
an upscale bridal experience
soaked in throwback style.
“It definitely has the same
kind of feeling when you walk
in the doors,” said Megan
Thomas, an event coordinator
at Nazareth Hall.
“Couples just like the fact
that it’s so unique, something
that they never realized was in
their backyard.”
There are stunning spaces
both indoors and out on the
37-acre grounds. A nondenom-
inational chapel can seat 220,
and a neutral pallet allows for
many different color themes of
flowers and decorations.
Overall, there are four ball
Photos by Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune
After an outdoor ceremony in the grotto (previous page), Jeremy England and
Karleen Young had their reception indoors at Nazareth Hall on Aug. 1. The
Grand Rapids facility was formerly a Catholic boys school.
(See VENUES on 21)
Ideal Bakery… An Ideal
wedding cake
for your Ideal
wedding day!
Ideal Bakery West
19121
/2 Hayes Ave.
Fremont
419-333-0112
Ideal Bakery
101 West Madison St.
Gibsonburg
419-637-2639

10. 10
By EMILY GORDON
Sentinel Staff Writer
Though it’s been three
years since the world watched
Prince William and Kate
Middleton marry, the bride’s
Alexander McQueen wedding
dress is still influencing bridal
gown trends.
Certain looks echoing that
of the Duchess of Cambridge,
such as a lace bodice, sleeves
and a full-length skirt are pop-
ular amongst today’s brides,
said Lee Welling, owner of
Fit for
a queen
Kate and lace rule the
latest looks in gowns
Photos by J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune
Kristin Osborne models a Jasmine dress sold by
Personal D’Signs BBG Bridal in Fremont. Popular
styles include lace, vintage, a ball-gown look —
and anything similar to Kate Middleton’s dress from
three years ago.
(See GOWNS on 13)
Bridal Bouquets
Your wedding arrangements
are in excellent hands.
McKenzie’s
Flowers & Greenhouse
13537 Center St., Weston
419-669-2403
1-800-626-2098
McKenzie’s
Flower Basket
165 S. Main St.,
Bowling Green
419-352-6395
mckenzieflowers.com

11. 11
Kristen Kollman models a Pebble Alfred Angelo
bridesmaid dress sold by Personal D’Signs BBG
Bridal in Fremont. Some brides are choosing
bridesmaid dresses for a fraction of the cost. At
right, Kollman models another Jasmine wedding
dress.
Susan Enright
Financial Representative
707 Haskins Rd.
Bowling Green, OH
419-261-8622
Great Taste for
Your Wedding
Wedding
Cakes
Dessert
Bars
Occasion
Cakes
Invitations
Catering janesweddingcakes.com
419-265-8440
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Perrysburg, Ohio
St. George Banquet Hall
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Celebrate your joyous occasion at
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740 Glenwood Rd., Rossford
stgeorgerossford.org

12. 12
Photos by J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune
Kristin Osborne models a high-low design by Alfred
Angelo and sold by Personal D’Signs BBG Bridal in
Fremont. This type of dress can be ideal for a barn
wedding, which is popular in the Wood County
area.
We are your Wedding Specialists with over 20 years at
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Expires December 31, 2014

13. 13
Encore Bridal in Bowling
Green.
“There’s always going to be
that princess bride that wants
to be done from head to toe,”
she said.
But brides-to-be haven’t
fully committed to the Duchess’
look, preferring to pick and
choose elements that fit their
vision of the perfect wedding
gown.
“She went low key, and peo-
ple weren’t ready to go that
low key,”Welling said.
However, the lace look,
whether it’s full coverage or
sheer, straight across the front
of the dress from one shoulder
to the other, or “tattoos” with
interesting designs on the back
of the dress, is on trend, she
said.
It’s also a great material for
brides-to-be who like a vintage
or “Gatsby” look, said Barbara
Moran of Personal D’Signs –
BBG Bridal in Fremont.
“What a lot of designers are
doing right now is creating a
gown in a taupe or ivory lace
with a soft colored lining of
pastel colors like rose blush,
champagne, mint green and
grey,” Moran said.
“It’s a way to step out of the
box and get into color without
veering too far from tradition.”
Brides have also been using
color by wearing a sash that
matches the color her brides-
maids are wearing, she said.
Another way brides-to-be
can go just outside of tradition
is to wear a gown with a
detachable skirt.
This way, they can achieve
the “Cinderella or ball gown
look” for the ceremony and
shed it for a more fun, relaxed
look in a knee-length skirt for
the reception.
“It’s like having two gowns
in one,” she said.
For those see themselves
more as cowgirls than prin-
cesses, the “high-low” trend
where the dress is shorter in
the front than in the back in
order to show off the bride’s
cowboy boots, is very popular,
Welling said.
“Barn weddings are a real
trend, especially in this area,”
she said.
“It’s such a cute, fresh look.”
However, there are certain
bridal styles that are timeless,
such as buttons, corset backs
and pearl, crystal, bead and
rhinestone embellishments.
“If it sparkles, it’s here,”
Welling said.
“Most women want to stay
with pretty classic looks so
when they look at their wed-
ding pictures in 20 years they
don’t wonder‘what was I think-
ing?’”
Budget-conscious brides,
especially those who are mar-
rying for the second time, can
still find gowns that are classic,
on trend, or a little of both for
a lower price by purchasing a
bridesmaid gown instead of a
wedding gown.
A lot of Moran’s customers
havechosenbridesmaidgowns
that are in the same color or
style as a wedding dress for
$180 to $250 rather than pay
thousands for a wedding gown,
Moran said.
“Some bridesmaids dresses
are very appropriate as wed-
ding gowns, especially second
time brides who don’t want all
the foo foo,” she said.
The dresses can be just as
customized as a wedding dress
in terms of length, sleeves,
color and lace coverage and
type.
“You can still get today’s
style and today’s fabric in a
quality gown for less,” Moran
said. “Here, we don’t discuss
brand names. It’s the design on
your body. It’s what styles look
best on you.”
“ Most women want to stay with pretty
classic looks so when they look at their wedding
pictures in 20 years they don’t wonder
‘what was I thinking?’”
— Barbara Moran
owner of Personal D’Signs - BBG Bridal in Fremont
Gowns
(Continued from 10)
Kristin Osborne models a strapless Fit and Flare
Jasmine wedding dress with the veil by Bel Aire.
The look is sold by Personal D’Signs BBG Bridal in
Fremont. Certain styles, such as buttons, corset
backs and embellishments, are timeless.
906 E. Napoleon Rd.,
BG, OH 43402
419-353-8381
1-800-353-8351
facebook.com/klotzfloraldesign
We want to be
the one to
walk with you down the aisle
when you’re about to say
“I do”
decorate your special occasion
be the perfect centerpiece at
your table of honored guests
Call for an appointment with one of our experienced floral designers
Kelly Andres, Floral Designer/Asst. Manager
Linda Henry, Floral Designer
Karen Hollabaugh, Floral Designer

14. 14
By BILL RYAN
Sentinel Staff Writer
Amateur photogra-
phers with digital cameras and
cell phones are everywhere —
including weddings.
With all these lenses and
phones pointed at the bride
and groom, there are countless
photo opportunities available
on that special day.
Despite the availability of
relatives and friends with cam-
eras, a professional photogra-
pher is still a vital asset to cap-
ture the day with images.
“Photographers invest a lot
of money into their craft and
equipment. A good camera
doesn’t make a good photog-
rapher, but a good photogra-
pher can produce incredible
images with a good camera,”
said Stephanie Keck, who oper-
ates Kent and Stephanie
Photography.
Bill Smith of Photo Smith,
Wayne, agrees.
“Where friends may be able
to take a digital camera and
provide a CD, a professional
provides much more for the
couple,” Smith said. “We have
to do things that an amateur or
average person cannot do.”
Smith has been in business
for 28 years and takes pride in
his ability to help the couple
coordinate their day. “This is
our livelihood, it’s not just walk-
ing around and taking shots.”
He notes the importance of
timing, studio lights and find-
ing unusual locations at the
venue so as to be able to use
window lights or other assets
at the site.
“If my day goes good photo-
graphically, then their day will
have had to be great,” Smith
said.
Smith also said the profes-
sional that’s been around for
some time looks at more
detail.
“I look at the clothing, the
hair and the jewelry to make
sure we get it right. A lot of
people rely on photoshop and
other tools, I shoot it the way I
used to do it,” Smith said.
He says the most recent
trend, perhaps related to the
proliferation of cell phone cam-
eras is a desire for the candid
shots to be included.
“The candid stuff is what
people are liking,” Smith said.
Keck also noted the need to
pay attention to details.
“Weddings are simply a day
full of small moments,” she
said.
Like most professionals the
Kecks and Smith all began with
photography being a hobby.
Keck added, “You are not
just paying for their time and
products, you are paying for
their experience.”
She said the couple shoots
approximately 30 weddings a
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15. 15
year and that has provided
quite a bit of experience over
the last three years in their
Fremont business.
Not only do both of them
shoot each wedding, they also
bring an assistant to manage
the small details to allow them
to focus on the bride and
groom, and “get the best pos-
sible shots.”
Keck added, “We are both
very hands-on in helping our
brides plan out the timeline of
the day. We want their day to
be very smooth.
Another aspect of photog-
raphy is videography, which
Showcase Video and Photo
(VSP), based out of Perrysburg,
specializes.
Aaron Baginski began VSP,
along with his wife, Janelle, in
2000 as a videographer. Still
photography has recently been
added to their services in the
last few years.
Like the still photographers,
Baginski says he provides total
coverage of the day, from the
bride getting ready at the salon
and other events happening
before the ceremony right
through the reception and all
its events.
“We’re just giving our cou-
ples something they can look
back upon and remember and
appreciate from their special
day,” Baginski said.
Baginski also echoed the
comments of Smith and Keck
calling their fees “an invest-
This photo by Aaron Baginski of Showcase Video and Photo features a wed-
ding that was held in Michigan City, Ind. The company is based in Perrysburg.
Photo provided
Kent and Stephanie Keck say having a profes-
sional photographer is a must for weddings.
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16. 16
Photos provided
The couple arrives at the outdoor reception. Below,
Jesse Ascunce’s dad, Raul, checks out the guest-
book — driftwood, river stones and markers.
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17. “I love seeing the joy you
see in those kids. Actually mak-
ing it official ... this is such an
exciting time in their lives,”said
Raul Ascunce, father of the
groom.
While the wedding was
beautiful, it was a far cry from
the traditional church wedding
their daughter had, Jo Ascunce
said.
“Jesse doesn’t do anything
normal. He’s always been very
creative,” she said.
The wedding was very laid
back, with no dress code, atten-
dants or professional photog-
rapher and was organized by
the couple themselves instead
of a wedding planner.
The reception lacked a bar-
tender, a DJ, a caterer and even
a guestbook.
Instead, the couple relied
on photographs taken by
guests, Spotify playlists to
dance to, and a brick oven
pizza place to deliver dinner.
Guests mixed their drinks
themselves at the bar.
Guests wrote well wishes to
the couple on pieces of river
rock and driftwood that they
now keep in their home.
By deciding not to have a
wedding rehearsal, instead
taking guests to the top of
Mount Crested Butte for a
toast, a lot could have gone
wrong, Larina Ascunce said.
“But it went better than any
one of us could have expected,”
she said. “It all came together
nicely.”
The couple swapped wed-
ding cake for a pie buffet, had
a photo booth with props from
their house, like dish washing
gloves and Halloween cos-
tumes and flew kites with their
65 guests.
“Our mission was to get
guests to enjoy themselves
and be adventurous, not just
come for the wedding,” Jesse
Ascunce said.
Another goal of their unusu-
al wedding was to keep the
cost as low as possible while
also letting their personalities
shine through, he said.
The couple exchanged vows
on paper and read them silent-
ly in front of the cairn during
the ceremony.
“We all sat there thinking,
‘What does it say, what does it
say?’” Raul Ascunce said. But it
makes sense. It’s a very per-
sonal thing.”
For those interested in plan-
ning a one-of-a-kind wedding,
a couple needs to brainstorm
and develop interesting ideas,
Larina Ascunce said.
Given his proposal, a swim
in a cave in Mexico that
revealed an engagement ring
in a Ziplock bag, interesting
ideas seem to come to her hus-
band easily, she said.
“I really was just determined
to not get a giant conference
room. There are other ways to
plan a wedding,”Jesse Ascunce
said.
“You don’t have to do it the
way it was at the last wedding
you went to. Stick to what rep-
resents you.”
17
Journey
(Continued from 2)
Photo provided
The groom played a mandolin as an opening to the ceremony and his bride’s
entrance. Jesse and Larina Ascunce were married last summer in Crested
Butte, Colo.
“ I really was just determined not to get a
giant conference room. There are other
ways to plan a wedding.’”
— groom Jesse Ascunce
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18. Weddings are steeped
in tradition — no matter whom
you are or where you live. But
what if you’re not interested in
wearing the same dress your
mother did, getting married in
the same location your sister
did or wearing something
blue?
Don’t worry, you’re not
alone. Plenty of brides search
for ways to make their special
day unique. Here are some
ways to put a own special spin
on this classic tradition.
• A guest book you’ll use.
Signing the guest book is a
common tradition at most
weddings; you’ve probably
signed a few in your lifetime.
After the wedding is over, how-
ever, this priceless keepsake
often disappears into a box
never to be seen again. Break
from tradition by creating a
guest book you’ll actually use.
Take a trip to the book store
with your partner and browse
coffee table books. Once you
find one that interests both of
you, claim it as your guest
book. Wedding guests can sign
their names in the margins and
afterward you’ll have a perma-
nent, functional guest book to
display for visitors and friends.
• Dance under the stars.
Don’t rent the same ballroom
as all of your friends. Host your
reception outdoors. You can
rent a dance floor from a local
rental facility and trained tech-
nicians will arrive to set it up
easily. You’ll dance on a tradi-
tional wood floor while looking
up at the stars - what could be
more original than that? Don’t
forget to rent a tent so that
weather doesn’t dampen the
mood.
• Treasure the memories. Get
your guests involved in the
event by placing blank cards
and pens at each seat location.
Ask your guests to write about
their favorite memory of you
and/or your spouse. Collect all
of these cards and turn them
into a scrapbook for a trea-
sured keepsake.
• Prepare a menu that is all
you. Chocolate fountains are
now commonplace. Don’t
despair, though, because there
are plenty of edible snack
options. If you’re getting mar-
ried in the blistering heat, rent
a snow cone machine to offer
your guests some sweet relief.
If you and your spouse are big
movie buffs or your wedding
has a Hollywood theme, rent a
popcorn machine to complete
the look. And for the bride
who’s still a kid at heart, noth-
ing captures that better than
renting an authentic cotton
candy machine.
• Find the color that suits
you. Maybe wearing something
blue doesn’t suit you, but per-
haps you’re not too wild about
black and white either. At many
venues, though, these colors
are the only choices you have
when it comes to tablecloths
and napkins. Remember, you
don’t have to settle; you can
provide your own materials by
renting them. This opens up a
color palette of limitless
options. If you are planning a
fall wedding, look for napkins
that reflect the colors of the
leaves. Did you meet in col-
lege? Choose linens in your
school’s colors. Give your wed-
ding a look no one will expect.
Keep the tradition, but be
uniquely you. To learn more
about renting, visit RentalHQ.
com.
(Courtesy of Brandpoint)
18
Make your big day as different as you are
Some ways
to make your
wedding day
d i f f e r e n t :
dance out-
side, rent a
p o p c o r n
machine, or
use linen col-
ors from your
college.
Brandpoint photo

19. 19
ment on the quality of the
work.”
Depending on the person
hired for the wedding, couples
can get a wide array of images
provided. With almost all peo-
ple in the trade, couples can
customize the services to meet
their needs by working with
the professional.
Baginski’s main product is
what he calls a “fusion pack-
age” which incorporates both
video and video together.
The still photos are incorpo-
rated into the video provided.
He says incorporating the stills
enhances the product and
“helps evoke that emotion.”
His packages start at $1,495
and go up as high as $5,000.
Smith mainly provides tradi-
tional photo albums. If a cou-
ple books the wedding, the
engagement session is provid-
ed free.
Booking with Smith will cost
the couple a minimum of
$1,200 and will go up accord-
ing to the needs and desires of
the couple
“There are so many possi-
bilities on making albums and
templates,” he said.
All of his photos are printed
at a professional lab which he
says enhances the quality. He
offers high quality albums from
Italy as well as a variety of
papers including a metallic
paper, which is a glossy variety
with some depth to it.
Keck also said their booking
prices also include an engage-
ment session.
She said the engagement
photos are often very popular
with the couples as it depicts
them in more natural settings.
Thus the pictures are better
suited to decorate their
homes.
As a bonus, she says the
engagement session allows
the couple to become familiar
with their photographers and
vice versa.
“It allows us to create a rap-
port with them. We can also
get a feel for how comfortable
they are and adjust ourselves
to their style,” Keck said.
In addition to the add-ons
of albums, Keck says they can
offer wall art, acrylics and met-
als to name a few.
Their base price is $2,200
and goes up based on the cus-
tomization done by the couple.
They did have one couple who
added enough items to boost
the cost to $4,500 but she
called that an anomaly.
While they can provide
albums, their business auto-
matically provides what is
called a PASS gallery. This
option gives the couple a link,
what Keck describes as a
“Virtual gallery of their imag-
es.”
She said the couple can then
download, print and share.
There is also a free mobile app
where they can download the
images to their phone to share
on social media outlets. The
link remains accessible for 10
years.
———
Kent and Stephanie
Photography
e-mail. kentandstephanie@
gmail.com
Website www.kentand-
stephanie.com
Photo Smith
www.photosmithinc.com
VSP
showcasevideophoto.com
Photos
(Continued from 15)
AnexampleofBillSmith’s
wedding work.
Nazareth Hall’s gracious staff and elegant venue options will bring your dream
celebration to life. Our multiple venue options and banquet halls can accom-
modate both your wedding ceremony and reception.
Our experienced staff works closely with you, on both the event and catering,
to help plan and execute your special day every step of the way.
21211 W. River Road
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Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Closed Sunday

20. 20
By SARAH WOLFE
Associated Press
Glynis Abapo knew just
what she wanted her dream
wedding cake to be: simple.
Three or four tiers. A rich, white
confection with white peonies
and peony petals cascading
down the middle.
The problem? The hand-
made sugar flowers cost a for-
tune.
Abapo found her answer in
plastic flowers — specifically,
the quirky yet elegant creations
crafted by Tennessee artist
Lauren Karnitz from materials
that most people throw away:
milk jugs, detergent bottles,
straws, wires, medicine bottles,
even sucker wrappers.
The flowers were relatively
affordable, says Abapo, 31, of
Atlanta. And eco-friendly.
“And it was just beautiful
and just what I wanted,” she
says.
Karnitz, a 42-year-old oil
painter, has been crafting roses,
peonies, magnolias, sunflowers
and other hybrid creations out
of recycled materials for nearly
two years. She stumbled into
the wedding flower business as
an experiment, but since work-
ing with Abapo, Karnitz has
filled orders for cake flowers,
bouquets, corsages and bou-
tonnieres from about a dozen
brides.
“‘Can I have that?’ is now my
signature phrase,” Karnitz says,
laughing. “Meaning, can I have
that peculiar piece of plastic
you are about to toss?”
Most of her clients are eco-
conscious brides who like the
idea of reusing materials for
their flowers.
Other green-minded brides
are making or buying alterna-
tive flowers made from fabric,
paper, even old brooches.
Martha Stewart magazine has
a tutorial on making paper
flowers, while websites like The
Blue Petyl offer dozens of com-
binations of brooches, buttons,
pearls and more, from about
$100 to $500.
Bridal designer Princess
Lasertron sells a felted flower
kit for bridal bouquets for
$140.
Traditional wedding flowers
— everything from table cen-
terpieces to the bride’s bou-
quet — typically run $2,000 to
$2,500 — 8 percent to 10 per-
cent of the average $25,000
affair, according to The Knot.
Like any other wedding flo-
rist, Karnitz consults with brides
beforehand to get a feel for
their wedding theme and size,
Flowers bloom
of recycled stuff
AP Photo/Lauren Karnitz Studio,
––Bert Henry
A Yellow Blooming
Peonies Cake is shown.
Brides are choosing plas-
tic recycled flowers that
are affordable and eco-
friendly for cakes, bou-
quets, corsages and bou-
tonnieres.
AP Photo/Lauren Karnitz Studio, Bert Henry
A White Glory with Leaves Corsage is shown.
(See RECYCLE on 24)
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21. 21
rooms and nearly 100 rooms in
total. Thomas noted that the
chapel exists in much of its
original condition, with the
same pews, alters and stained-
glass windows in place.
Meanwhile, an outdoor
“grotto” is said to be a replica
of a famous setting in Lourdes,
France. Mediterranean coral
stands near a brook, an area
just a short walk across
NazarethHall’sgrounds,includ-
ing a trip over a small scenic
bridge.
“Here it’s kind of a one-stop
shop for our couples who get
married,” Thomas said of the
wedding packages at Nazareth
Hall. “Staff take care of set-up,
so when they come, all they
really need to bring is people
like the photographer, DJ,
baker and florist.
Nazareth Hall will host a free
bridal show from noon until 4
p.m. Oct 19, “so couples can
see the building as well as
meet vendors in the area.”
For additional information,
call 419-832-2900 or visit www.
nazarethhall.com
Perrysburg’s Graystone Hall
is a popular setting in the
northern portion of Wood
County.
It can comfortably accom-
modate up to 350 people with
room for a dance floor and
plenty of space between tables,
or be tailored for smaller gath-
erings.
“It’s a pretty open floor plan,”
including a stage for the bridal
party’s table, as well as a pro-
jector screen and three TVs
throughout the room that can
display pictures and videos,
said event manager Laura
Spiess.
“It’s pretty much a very large
rectangle room, and every
point of the room has some-
thing going on.”
The location on Hufford
Road near Ohio 795 and the
turnpike is easily accessible to
out-of-town guests, and staff
work with area hotels to set up
shuttle service.
Graystone’s staff have con-
tacts with a handful of pre-
ferred regional catering com-
panies sure to be able to whip
up just about any requests, or
couples can select their own.
Organizers encourage interest-
ed couples to visit the hall to
envision for themselves how
they can make the space their
own.
Some renters love that
Graystone Hall is made avail-
able the day before, so bridal
parties can do their own deco-
rations, Spiess said.
“I like to call it a do-it-your-
self hall. We provide the space,
tables and chairs, and we set
up the floor plan how they pre-
fer.”
Contact Graystone Hall by
calling 419-874-5016 or visit-
ing www.graystonehall.com
(Continued from 9)
Venues
brides do an Instagram hashtag
so that if there are guests that
take photos, they can see (the
photos) also” and can collect
and compile the images so
they can see things “from a
guest point of view”.
Some brides will even make
a special sign to put at the bar
listing the hashtag for the
guests’ convenience, she said.
Brides will also try to secure
RSVPs from straggling invitees
via Facebook.
“A lot of people, those noti-
fications will go right to their
phone.”
As to whether social media
could prove a spoiler on the
wedding day, “I know our
brides don’t log into Facebook
on their day” until later “in fear
of seeing” some photos, said
Thomas.
“I think a lot of the brides-
maids understand that as
they’re getting ready”that they
shouldn’t post images of the
bride in case the groom might
see.
“I know a lot of bridesmaids
will take pictures of just them-
selves” — not of the bride.
Heuss agreed brides she’s
worked with will include a note
in their invitations or put up a
sign at the wedding to inform
people how to post their pho-
tos. Instagram is typically used,
but other photo-sharing sites
also make the rounds.
“Now everybody’s going to
be taking picture and putting
them on Facebook anyway,
and it just gives a nice way so
that everybody is seeing
them.”
Brides are also utilizing
some other high-tech meth-
ods, said Heuss. A few have
incorporated RSVPing via
Websites, or even using a Quick
Response, or QR, code, a square
barcode-like image that can be
scanned by a cell phone cam-
era, sending the user to a web-
site “which is kind of fun.”
“I don’t know if (social
media) is changing (weddings)
so much, but it’s definitely
becoming part of it,”said Heuss.
“I know that even with people I
know, there are pictures that
are up almost immediately.”
Etiquette
(Continued from 6)
“ I don’t know if (social media) is changing
(weddings) so much, but it’s definitely
becoming part of it.”
— Kelly Heuss
Puttin’ on the Glitz in Perrysburg
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22. 22
By SARAH KAPLAN
Washington Post
WASHINGTON (AP) —
The dramatic climax of Jennifer
Miller and Michael Bennett’s
wedding came not at“I do,”but
a few phrases before.
Officiant Steven Gaudaen
had just begun to ask,“Do you,
Jennifer —?” when a pair of
security guards cut through
the crowd of spectators and
waved the trio toward the
door.
“You can’t do this in here,”
one guard announced. “Y’all
need to leave.”
Miller, Bennett and Gaudaen
remained motionless in front
of the African elephant in main
entrance of the National
Museum of Natural History. An
onlooker called out, “Aww, let
POP goes the wedding
AP Photo/The Washington Post, Marvin Joseph
Steven Gaudaen marries Jennifer Miller and Michael
Bennett with a pop-up wedding at the Smithsonian
National Museum of Natural History in Washington.
Pop-up weddings are a way to skip the trappings of
traditional weddings while still preserving the
romance of the day.
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23. 23
them finish,” but the guards
were insistent.
Gaudaen quickly pro-
nounced the couple husband
and wife, and the wedding
party hurried out.
“This is going to go viral,” a
guard muttered bitterly.
They finished the ceremony
outside on the museum’s front
steps. Miller and Bennett
kissed, photographer Maggie
Winters captured the moment,
and with that, they were offi-
cially married.
They’d pulled the whole
event off for $1,500, a small
fraction of the nearly $30,000
that an average American wed-
ding cost in 2013, according to
the wedding-planning Web
site the Knot. For that econo-
mizing, the newlyweds have
their wedding planners to
thank. Or, to be more precise,
their elopement planners.
It’s not a contradiction in
terms, says Winters, who makes
up one half of the duo that
married Miller and Bennett.
Elopement may call to mind a
bold couple sneaking unen-
cumbered to city hall. But what
her company, PopWed Co.,
offers is something more along
the lines of a DIY wedding. It’s
a way to skip the trappings of
traditional weddings — man-
aging guest lists, renting a
venue, worrying about wheth-
er Uncle Frank will make one
too many trips to the open bar
— while still preserving the
romance of the day. Gaudaen,
who is a registered humanist
officiant, conducts the ceremo-
ny and organizes the paper-
work, while Winters photo-
graphs and takes care of aes-
thetics. The results have the
same self-conscious whimsy as
something you might find on
Pinterest.
Winters and Gaudaen have
also cornered an unexpected
niche in the Washington wed-
ding market: organizing same-
sex weddings. About half of
their clients are gay couples,
many of whom come to D.C.
from states where same-sex
marriage isn’t legal.
Winters and Gaudaen grew
up together in Arlington and
have dated since high school.
They had their first photogra-
phy gig when they were 16.
By the time Winters finished
college at the Corcoran College
of Art and Design last spring,
she and Gaudaen were shoot-
ing ceremonies almost weekly.
Many were big, traditional
weddings that took place in
hotel ballrooms, but every so
often they found themselves
photographing smaller events.
Winters remembers vividly
the first time she’d shot this
kind of wedding: a ceremony
for two women who had come
from Ohio with just 11 guests.
“This experience of not hav-
ing a plan and not having a
schedule ... I just loved it,”
Winters said.“That’s the type of
wedding experience that I
chase as the most meaningful
to me.”
After graduating, Winters
began working full time at a
digital strategy agency, but she
found she missed photogra-
phy, and she especially missed
weddings. She knew she
wouldn’t have much time to
shoot, but fitting in an hour-
long pop-up ceremony or two
seemed plausible. The only
trouble would be finding cou-
ples who wanted that kind of
wedding.
It was Gaudaen who came
up with a plan for launching
the business. “Maggie is always
coming up with the super fun
ideas ... and she turns to me to
figure out how to get it done,”
Gaudaen said.
The two balance one anoth-
er well. Gaudaen — a manage-
ment student at George Mason
University — is tall and
reserved with a ministerial
sense of composure. The petite
Winters sports a shock of bright
pink hair and boundless ener-
gy that puts newlywed couples
at ease.
Her enthusiasm is especially
handy when a ceremony
doesn’t quite go according to
plan. Though she and her cli-
ents exchange emails to decide
on a location, they never
reserve spaces in advance and
rarely meet before the wed-
ding day. This minimalist
approach can get dicey, as the
security issue at the museum
showed, but Winters feels it’s
important to the ethos of a
pop-up wedding.
“It’s just showing up and
having a wedding wherever
you want to have one,” she
said.
For his part, Bennett was
happy to be married in front of
just a handful of guests — “I
don’t like to be the center of
attention,” he said, though he
hadn’t quite anticipated the
crowd of strangers that gath-
ered at the museum.
“It turned out to be a little
more than we expected,” he
added.
“ It’s just showing up and having a wedding
wherever you want to have one.’”
— Maggie Winters
co-owner of PopWed Co.
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419-354-2323
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24. 24
and what they want.
Then she gets to work at her
home in Knoxville using a trove
of discarded junk. Slices of
laundry detergent bottles
become petals. Ribbon, electri-
cal conduit and copper wire
are transformed into stamens,
pistils and stems.
“The blooms are all built
petal by petal, working in the
round, so all sides are consid-
ered,” Karnitz says. “Each petal
provides a surface for the next,
and so on and so on.”
Her collection of recycled
refuse comes from friends,
family and even complete
strangers familiar with her
craft.
“It’s funny. Every time I go
somewhere I get handed bags
of things,” Karnitz says. “Like
garbage bags of milk jugs or,
here’s some little wires and
stuff.”
It takes up to two hours to
make one corsage or bouton-
niere, depending on the diffi-
culty. Providing flowers for a
cake can take anywhere from
20 to 30 hours.
Costs vary. Boutonnieres
and corsages average $45
each, while cake flowers run
anywhere from $150 to $450
per cake depending on cake
size and design complexity.
Karnitz doesn’t dye or paint
her flowers but keeps the col-
ors of the recycled materials.
Many of her designs burst with
color, like bright yellow peony
cake flowers made from cream
and yellow milk jugs, or an
azure blue corsage construct-
ed with blue twist ties and
accented by a tiny yellow bum-
ble bee.
For fall weddings, she incor-
porates an earthier, more neu-
tral palate for creations like
“pencil bloom” boutonnieres,
small round blooms made from
pencil shavings and tiny cut-
up black straws anchored by a
swirl of red plastic from bottles
in the middle.
Her Double Beige Bloom
boutonniere — two small blos-
soms of light brown crinkled
ribbon, straws and plastic bot-
tle shreds — is tied together
with a sheer taffeta ribbon.
“I know anyone can create
flowers from plastic materials,
but Lauren’s come from very
good quality,” Abapo says.
“They’re very unique and can
catch anyone’s attention.”
One of the best things about
recycled wedding flowers,
according to Karnitz, is that
they last much longer than real
flowers and can be displayed
for years afterward. “You can
havethemforever,thismemen-
to of your special day.”
Recycle
(Continued from 20)
AP Photo/Lauren Karnitz Studio, Bert Henry
A Wild Flower Cake is shown.
Levis Commons Perrysburg Ohio
“The areas only Tacori dealer”