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Pa ge 2 6 T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 22 , 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a Thursday, January 22, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 27 The Place To Shop In Downtown Georgetown 77 Main St. S., Downtown Georgetown 905-873-1470 www.BridalSplendor.com.BridalSplendor Planning a wedding? Visit us for a selection of gowns that are SIMPLY SENSATIONAL! 905-873-1470 We're more than bridal • Casual Fashions • Daywear • Evening Attire SARAH'S Hairstyling Make-up Artistry Photography 905-703-8772 In Home / On Location Sarah's Hairstyling, Make-up Artistry & Photography RAH'SA In Nestled in the heart of Halton Hills, The Club at North Halton offers a beautiful backdrop for your special day. Happily Ever After Starts Here... Specializing in small weddings with a personal touch. BOOKING 2015 & 2016 DATES for your wedding The setting For more information please contact the Club at 905-877-5236 x204 or email web@nhgcc.ca WEDDING OPENHOUSE at GLENCAIRNGOLF CLUB Saturday, Jan. 31 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Meet our team of wedding professionals who can turn your dream wedding into reality!  Venue tours Complimentary refreshments  Décor by 'I DoWeddings' For more information, call 905-876-3666 glencairn .c lubl ink .ca myclubl inkwedding .ca 9807 Regional Road #25, Halton Hills, Ont. L9T 2X7 Ph ot o: C alc ula ted St yle For Your Love 310 Guelph Street, Georgetown (905) 873-4405 CloSe to Home. Far From ordinary Visit our Showroom for exquisite designs, or let us create your unique, custom pieces. BRIDES Valentine's Day evokes strong emotions in so many people. On the official day of all things love, many eagerly anticipate the chance to spend timewith their sweethearts. Couples who already have hearts in their eyes and are enamored with all things Valen- tine's Daymaywant to tie the knot on this spe- cial holiday, and few can argue when a couple decides to become husband and wife on this daydevoted to loveandaffection. Valentine's Day is a popular day to tie the knot, as more than two million people choose February 14 to walk down the aisle in the Unit- edStates alone. Valentine's Day is an easy day to remember, meaning itwill behard forhusbands andwives to forget theirweddinganniversaries. Anotherbenefit togettingmarriedonValen- tine'sDay is theambiancemayalreadybetaken care of by various establishments in the com- munity. Reception halls may be embellished with flowers, balloons and other décor, while businesses may already be displaying hearts in their windows and twinkling pink, red and white lights forValentine's-focusedcustomers. Coupleswhomaynot knowwhich colors to choose for their wedding parties and table lin- ens can just go with the colors and themes of Valentine's Day if they decide to tie the knot on February 14. Chocolate brown, red, lavender, and pink are primary hues for the season, and any combination will complement the festivi- ties and ceremony--whether they're the color of thenapkinsormakingup thebouquet. Valentine's Day treats and trinkets make for greatwedding favors.Guests can takehome in- dividual boxes of chocolates or crystal candle votives, while buffet dessert tables can be em- bellishedwith vases filledwith chocolate kisses or candiedhearts. Couples looking for a special day to tie the knot neednot look any further thanValentine's Day, adaydevoted to couples and theaffection they share for eachother. Why a Valentine's Day weddingmight be right for you The timing of when a couple cuts the wed- ding cake canhave a specificmeaning. Long ago, the cake was usually cut at the very end of the reception and would signal to the guests that it was the end of the festivities. Today,cutting thecake isanunspokensig- nal that represents that the formalwedding is nearing a close, and guestswhowould like to leave cando sowithoutworryof being rude. Many couples will cut the cake right after dinner as a courtesy to older guests whomay want to get started on their trips home. This affords them the chance to make an earlier exit, rather than staying through the dancing that could extend into the wee hours of the night ormissing the cakeentirely. Cutting thecakemid-receptionalsoserves another practical purpose for couples who are paying a photographer by the hour. Pho- tographers typically go home after the cake- cutting, so a mid-reception cutting can save couples a substantial amountofmoney. Did you know? BRIDES The average wedding tends to be one of the most costly ventures in a couple's life together. Many couples seek ways to cut costs, and ne- gotiating with prospective vendors is one way todo just that. Toooftencouplesoverlookhaggling forbet- ter prices because theymay be intimidated by the process or simply want to plan the most memorable day regardless of cost. Many ven- dors build somewiggle room into their prices, and the key for cost-conscious couples is to find the right strategy to unlock that low- erprice. • Explore your options. Weddings arebigbusiness for vendors, and the competitionisstiff.Visitavarietyof vendors and compare their ser- vices and prices prior to mak- ing any decisions. This will give you an accurate range of costs and information for future negotiations. Ven- dors may be willing to match com- petitors' prices, so knowingwhat the photographer down thestreet charges canprovide youwith somenegotiating leverage. • Dressmodestly formeetings. It's tempting towant to dress to impress, but very oftenwed- dingvendors judgepotentialclientsby theirap- pearances. If youwalk inwith adesigner hand- baganddriving the latestmodel luxury vehicle, avendormayget the impressionyouhaveextra money to spend.While youdonot have to play thepauper, dressmodestly so your appearance doesn't hurt youat thenegotiating table. • Never take the first offer. A good business personwill tell you therealways is roomforne- gotiation. Avoid the loaded question of "What canyouspendonthis?"by thevendor. Instead, let them bring up a price first, and realize that thisfirstquotecanalmostalwaysbenegotiated down. Informthevendor that youwould really like to work with them but he or she needs to lower the price. See if they can offer a different packageorprovideadiscount. • Negotiate the big-ticket items first. Dis- counts on big-ticket items, such as the recep- tion venue, will save you the most money. For example, you will save more by getting 20 percent off at the catering hall than if you save 20 percent on your wedding gown. Once you free up extra money, you may find you don't have to negotiate as hard with smaller vendors. • Walk away if need be. Always have a Plan B in place. This way if you tell a vendor that their price is too expen- sive and you have to pass, you really have a fall-back option. Some vendors will sweeten the deal, but others will actually let you walk out the door. And remember, you're more likely to get a better price by being amenable and well-mannered thanmaking threats or arguing. • Somedeals aren't actualdiscounts.Aven- dor may be able to work with you by offering additional services in lieu of actually taking money off of the price tag. Extra photo prints, a dessert bar and an extra hour of time in the limousinemay seem like great deals, but that's only the case if you truly need these bonuses. Even if it's a great deal, you're still spending more thanyouhadhoped. Wedding prices can be overwhelming. However, negotiating for lowerprices is always anoption for cost-conscious couples. How to successfully negotiate with wedding vendors