The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

32 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, May 5, 1987 Weddings need careful, thorough planning | Without careful planning, couples intending to tie the matrimonial knot could face major snags Procrastination over wedding plans frequently causes panic, disappointment and expense when last minute arrangements have to be made. Brides have had to wear ill-fitting dresses to the altar, .inap- propriate bands have been booked, licences and permits have been unobtainable and, in general, poor planning has spoiled the wedding day for some couples "We get a lot of calls from fran tic fiancees wanting help when the wrong wedding clothes are delivered," says Roberta Allan of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR). "Even if they've got legitimate complaints, how can we _ help if the wedding's tomorrow? By the month befare the wedding you 549 - 99 Delicately Designed 10KT gold Rings accented with one to three Diamonds. 14RT Pearl Gold Chains 30% Off A Great Gift Idea for Mom! PENTLAND * JEWELLERS 174 Queen Street, Port Perry 285-7641 PRESENTS | AMATEUR AR ARM V WRESTLING CHAMP ONSHIP SATURDAY, MAY 16th at CRANDELL' S RIVERBOAT COMPETITION TO START 1:30 WEIGHT DIVISIONS: # WEIGH IN from 11:00 to 130 $1000 Entrant's Fee Mike Kuchenk 579-9008 LADIES OPEN Bantam Weight Fly Weight Light Weight Middle Weight Heavy Weight 135 Ibs. & under 136 Ibs. to 150 Ibs. 151 Ibs. to 175 Ibs 176 Ibs. to 200 Ibs 201 Ibs & ower DOOR PRIZES FOR SPECTATORS "photographers, should be double-checking your ar- rangements, not just starting to shop for a band." Start planning for the event by making lists of all the necessary ar- rangements and setting priorities. Ask married friends or companies involved in the wedding industry how much time to allaw for each task and jot deadlines down in a datebool, 'Ask friends for the names and numbers of anyone they knew who got married locally within the last few years," Allan suggests. "A list of references for. good bakers, dress shops, caterers and other firms is the most valuable aid you can have when planning a wedding." . Most wedding dates are partly dependent on the availability of the desired banquet room, in which case * this booking should be one of the first orders of business. Before signing a contract for the hall, be sure it clearly identifies all the services to be provided. The number of people to be accom- modated should be set out along with the date of the event, the ap- propriate time, rooms and facilities to be available and staffing arrangements. Contracts for all types of pur-. Farm leaders forward ideas The province's interest rate radiation program for farmers should pot only be retained, it should be strengthened. Ontario producers in the grains and oilseeds sector, hit by low commodity prices, should be given relief through an extraor- dinary provincial stabilization pay- ment. The feasibility of resource set-aside measures, for example reforestation, should be explored to help farmers cope with the effects of international supply and demand imbalance. Co These and other recommenda- 'tions were submitted to Ontario Treasurer Robert Nixon today by leaders of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The OFA is the largest, direct membership farm organiza- tion in the province. It has 24,000 farm family and associate "members, plus 26 affiliated organizations including marketing and commodity boards. co- operatives, educational and other rural service groups. OFA president Brigid Pyke stated: shows that agriculture, food pro- cessing and beverage industries generated almost $7 billion in value added in 1983. The economic impor- tance of our sector to Ontario can- not be over-emphasized. We believe the sector is a good long term invest- ment. Ontario, with its strong growth economy and high provin- cial government revenues, has the ability to make that investment We're looking today for Mr. Nixon's commitment "This is particularly opportune when you consider that after our Brief to Cabinet last Fall and after in-depth discussions with the oppost- tion political party caucuses, the provincial legislature unanimously passed a resolution calling on the government of Ontario to increase its overall financial assistance to agriculture producers. The political support is obviously there. But it's ume to translate the good intentions into action." "Agriculture Canada Hata chases should list the total price, method of payment, any applicable financing charges, and special fees. For complex deals, ask that itemiz- ed costs be included in the written agreement. Try to keep deposits to 10 per cent at most and remember, you are unlikely to get that initial pay rhent back even if the wedding is called off. "The generd) rules about deposits and contracts apply to bank book- ings, clothing rentals, flower pur- chases and most services bridal parties buy," Allan says. "The more specific the written arrangements, the less likely misunderstandings will arise. When a wedding's involv- ed, misunderstandings often lead to anxiety -- although panic may be a better word." Dresses are a major source of wedding-related complaints to the ministry. While a trouble-free pur- chase can't be guaranteed, there are ways to decrease the risks, Allan says. Insist on receiving the dress at least a month before the wedding. Try to have a clause included on your order stating, "deposit to be refunded, if goods not delivered by ry ' Before buying, ask about altera- tion costs. Many shops advertise SPECIAL DRESSES BLOUSES CO-ORDINATES SLACKS May 6,7, 8,9 With Love to Mom .. 125% Off Phone 985-8274 (Across from the Post Office) Dor-Jean Fashions ; "normal alterations" are free What's normal? Is trim glued on or stitched? Can the dress be dry cleaned safely? Once the final choice is made, get a sample of the fabric and take a picture of the model gown to avoid future confusion over which one you actually bought. The ministry also gets complaints abou} high pressure wedding photpgraphy sales. Many reputable photographers sell their services as package deals, providing a fixed number of prints for a preset price. Unfortunately, unethical companies often push newlyweds into buying stacks of extra prints during the ex- citement of choosing the pictures. Contracts for $450 have been in-' creased in price to $2,000 in a mat- ter of minutes. These contracts cannot be cancelled once signed and. customers with second thoughts about buying the extra prints may not get any pictures at all if they refuse to pay in full. "Steel yourself not to get carried away over the photos," Allan says. "If you must buy more, draw up a separate contract." Consumers who feel they have been unfairly treated can ask a con- sumer services bureau of MCCR to mediate. BF "Don't S pread i it SPRAY IT! Like the PROFESSIONALS quality hong: oe mp in slow release form for more continuous feeding * No more heavy bogs PORT PERRY FEEDS ao Veanedward Dr., Port Perry 9885-73683 (behind Philp Pontiac-Buick Ltd Dealership)