The Daily Tar HeelTuesday, February 14, 19895
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Making the rommifiiCTf 5 mi
By LEIGH PRESSLEY
and ELLEN THORNTON
Staff Writers
'Marriage is best done in the best
of times," says Joseph Lowman,
an associate professor of psychol
ogy who counsels young married
couples.
For some students, the "best of
times" is now. Eleven percent of the
entire student body is married,
according to Joanne Kucharski,
assistant registrar for computer
operations. While 97 percent of
undergraduates are still single, 33
percent of graduate students and 19
percent of post-baccalaureates (stu
dents in law, medicine and dental
; schools) have chosen to walk down
the aisle.
Tying the knot
"Some young undergraduates get
married so they won't have to feel
guilty about their sexual relation
ships or because they want to move
in together," Lowman says.
Making the final commitment
also could be a way to keep a rela
tionship growing. "Many students
get married because they're in a
long-term relationship, and it's the
next step," explains Janice Ryan, a
clinical social worker in the mental
health section of Student Health
Service.
"They may not want to delay that
step for several years until they fin
ish school," Ryan added.
Don and Teresa Mace are one
couple who just couldn't wait. After
18 months of high phone bills and
weekend trips between Asheville and
Chapel Hill, Don decided to pro
pose. "It was just so hard being apart
250 miles is too far," he says.
The couple met at work, became
friends and later started dating. Last
year while Teresa, a sophomore
pharmacy major, started her fresh
man year at UNC, Don, a junior
math education major, was already
a student at UNC Asheville. The
couple got married last July.
Don transferred to UNC this year
so he and Teresa could finally be
together. "We thought about if he
omethioE new: The perfect sown
Traditional, trendy fashions
walk down the aisle in '89
By MYRNA MILLER
Assistant Features Editor
TTere comes the bride all
j , I dressed in white. Or is
L Jlthat pink?
Most people still choose the tra
ditional white wedding gown, but
this year fashion trends include
pink, pale green under white,
peach under white and ivory
gowns, said Millie Martini, asso
ciate editor of Bride's Magazine.
"There is a great deal of variety
in the color, texture, and length of
wedding gowns," Martini said.
"All kinds of lengths and styles
are popular very long formal
dresses, short dresses and even
strapless dresses with capes or
jackets."
Modern wedding gowns also
have a great variety of textures,
she said. They are being made of
fabrics that are flocked, quilted
and puckered. Some dresses are
made of fluid materials such as
chiffon and crepe, while others are
made of crisp materials, such as
organdy and taffeta, she said.
Martini said pique and glazed
fabric were especially popular this
season. Glazed fabric is a cotton
or chintz that has a lacquered
look.
Every bride-to-be knows that
veils, headpeices and trains are
almost as important as the wed
ding dress, and buying these pie
ces separately is a new option.
Headpieces range from the very
simple to the elaborate, which
may include beading, lace, flowers
and sometimes even porcelain,
Martini said. Wreaths are the
most popular headpiece, with tier
ras coming in a close second.
The train of a wedding gown is
one lasting tradition many brides
still consider important. Martini
said that although the popular
lengths vary, the majority of
brides choose the Chapel Train,
which is three to four feet in
length.
These national trends seem to
be rapidly catching on in Chapel
Hill. Pink gowns are on moderate
demand although white and ivory
hadn't been accepted here, we still
would have stayed together," Teresa
says. "We wouldVe withstood the
distance somehow."
Another couple, Trent and Pam
Beach, also married as undergradu
ates. Trent, a senior pharmacy
major, thought four years was too
long to wait. At the end of his
sophomore year, they were married.
"We thought it was easier to get
married than to have a long engage
ment," Trent says.
Other students choose to marry
while in graduate school. Ted Clark,
a dental school student, and his wife
Becky married last May after dating
four vears.
"It would be more of a problem if
we weren't married," Ted says.
"Dental school takes a lot of time. If
I had to drive to see her, it would
cut out on time."
However, some students are more
cautious about walking down the
path toward matrimony. Andrea
Wells, a senior psychology major,
and her fiance, a 1988 UNC gradu
ate, have dated nearly four years.
They considered marriage several
times, but decided to put it on hold
until after her graduation. "I
thought it would be better to stay in
school and have my degree to fall
back on," she says. "We wanted to
be financially stable and get started
on a good foot."
Andrea claims a long engagement
has its benefits. "You learn so much
about them when you date for such
a long time," she says. "Now I'm 100
percent sure he is the right one."
Parents often encourage the more
cautious path. Don says the main
concerns of his parents were the
couple's age and financial situation.
"At first they didnt like it," Don
says. "They thought we were making
a mistake. They wanted us to have
enough money to support
ourselves."
Teresa adds, "But we convinced
them we'd be happiest."
Ted agrees that parents have
influence on the marriage decision.
"We have more of an opportunity to
are the most popular, said Patti
Hutzler, owner of Mordecai
Bridal-Formal-Tuxedo in Chapel
Hill. "Ivory wedding gowns have
been worn for years because some
people just don't look good in
white," she said.
Although a few people want
tea-length wedding gowns, the
floor length and long train are the
most popular in this area. "We
still sell a lot of floor-length
dresses with the cathedral train,"
said Jackie Croteau, owner of Bri
dal Elegance in Durham.
While ruffles and full dresses
are definitely still in style, many of
the strait, silhouette dresses are
becoming more poplular this year.
"One favorite is the mermaid
style, which goes strait and flairs
out below the knees," Hutzler
said.
The normal trimming on wed
ding dresses has been the frilly
lace. Recently beads and sequins
have become extremely popular,
Hutzler said. Some dresses only
have them in a few places around
the bodice and back, while other
have them practically from head-to-toe.
Today's bride not only has
many choices in style she also
has a large price range. Local
stores have wedding dresses rang
ing from $240 to $2,500, with an
average price of $700.
Although the groom has a
much smaller selection of style
and colors in a tuxedo, modern
fashions are becoming both more
traditional and more elaborate,
said Sherry Tyndall, vice presi
dent of Tyndall's Formal Wear.
Black is the most popular color
for tuxedos, but grey and white
still make occasional appearances.
Most changes aren't in the tuxe
dos themselves, instead, the cum
merbunds, vests, and bow ties are
becoming more outrageous, she
said. "Patterns include paisley and
hound's tooth checks."
Bridesmaids dresses are also an
important consideration for any
wedding. Martini said one of the
most popular new ideas was the
do things together," he says.
"Before, there was pressure from
parents to do this or do that. We're
more open now."
Keeping it tied
Married couples agree that con
sideration, communication and
cooperation are vital to a successful
marriage.
"Once you say 'I do, you did,"
Don says. "It's a commitment then.
It takes cooperation and patience."
"And love," Teresa adds.
A good marriage also needs time
sharing and romance, according to
Don. After seven months of mar
riage, both say they are still going
through their "honeymoon period."
Mutual support is another neces
sary element. Clark says his wife
helps ease academic pressure. "She
gives me added support when I'm
down," he says. "It works the oppo
site for her. I give her support when
she needs it too."
Married couples have to be wil
ling to adjust their social lives.
According to Lowman, they will
probably have less time to spend
with friends but should be careful
not to spend too much time
together, "It will hurt the relation
ship if you suffocate each other," he
says.
Don says couples sacrifice part of
themselves when they get married.
"So much of your independence you
have to give up for the other per
son," he says.
Teresa explains that couples must
be considerate. "You just can't jump
into something without thinking of
the other person."
Losing some of the independence
that college students grow accus
tomed to is definitely a part of get
ting married, Trent says. Instead of
"going uptown" with his friends at
night, he spends time with Pam. But
being together doesn't mean they
have no social life the couple
goes to parties at Trent's pharmacy
fraternity, Phi Delta Chi.
Married couples also must deal
with added financial responsibility,
often finding it necessary to support
f
M -
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Donna Van Trigt models
floral print. "Roses are especially
popular, and tulips and lilacs."
Other trendy colors are teal, rose,
cherise, black and white.
A new style for bridesmaids
dresses is the high low hemline
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themselves by working as well as
studying. One such couple is Don
and Teresa he tutors privately in
the math department, while she
works as a research aide.
Don says one of the hardest les
sons to learn while married is how
to manage money. "It's not just
mine or hers it's ours," he says.
"We didn't have bills before. You
have to make an adjustment."
Others find it impossible to work
and study at the same time. When
Trent and Pam married, Pam quit
DTH David Surowiecki
a popular beaded gown
dress, which is higher in the front
and longer in the back. Taffeta is
now one of the most commonly
chosen fabrics, Croteau said.
"Bridesmaids dresses start at
around $84 and go from there."
-
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school to work full time. Trent con
tinued school, but he has to work
part time also.
Advice for couples
A dating relationship is hard
enough, but marriage brings added
responsibility. Couples thinking
about getting married need to take a
good look at their relationship,
Ryan says. "Look at what brought
you together do you have com
mon goals and interests? " he says.
"Look at how you communicate and
CoyimtDflT)
hig
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Mil
By MYRNA MILLER
Assistant Features Editor
Couples ready to "tie the knot"
need to check their bank bal
ances before setting a date
for the big event.
Although most people know a
wedding is expensive, they don't
realize just how expensive until they
actually try to plan one. Florists,
caterers, photographers and wed
ding clothes are only a few of the
major expenses involved.
A marriage license is the first (and
probably the least expensive) thing a
couple who wants to get married
will have to pay for. In Chapel Hill,
couples go to the Registrar of Deeds
to pick up their $20 wedding license.
Once the date is set, a couple will
probably want to send out invita
tions. The cost of wedding invita
tions varies depending on the
amount and style, said Sally John-
son, owner of Peacock Alley.
"The price depends on whether
the invitation is printed, done in
thermography or engraved," John
son said. "Thermography looks like
engraving but is actually raised
printing." The invitations can cost
$1 to $5 each, and the more you
order, the cheaper each individual
invitation is, she said. Most people
spend $60 to $70 on invitations.
The cost of floral arrangements
also varies according to the elabora
tion desired by a couple, said Kevin
Chesson, manager of of Montgo
mery's Florists in Durham. "An
average wedding will cost between
$500 and $1,000, a small wedding
from $250 to $750 and large wed
dings are well over $1,000," he said.
Other florists charge by the flower
and bouquet. A bride's bouquet can
range between $50 and $100, said
Bea Miller, owner and manager of
Floral Dimensions. "Brides trying to
conserve money should probably go
with sweetheart roses, carnations or
ga
deal with conflicts and what you
want for the future. Do you meet
each other's needs?" ;
Don also advises: "Really do
some soul-searching with each other.
Make sure it's what you want to do :
and don't let anything stand in your;
way. If the love's there and the trust
is there go for it!"
Even though marriage causes i
extra difficulties for undergraduates
they can overcome the obstacles,
Lowman says. "Being married is .".
wonderful."
compile
alstroemeria which comes in all
kinds of colors," she said.
For those who have more money
to spend, Miller recommends ste
phanotis, also known as orange
blossom, roses and orchids. "Bou
quets aren't always white anymore;
they often have some color," Miller
said.
Once the floral arrangements are
made, some brides may choose to
have their wedding reception
catered. The wedding cake will usu-
ally cost about $1 a slice, and finger
foods run around $400, said Betty
Wilson, wedding consultant for Bri
dal Elegance.
The time of day is an important
factor in the price of a reception,
said Marie Fischer, owner of the $
Catering Company of Chapel Hil
"There are luncheon weddings, " 5
afternoon weddings and dinner wed?
dings," she said. The afternoon wed
dings are usually the least expensive",
to cater. . '
"The average reception with light :
finger foods costs $10 per person,"
she said. "It is very possible to do it ;
for less we just are more crea- ;
tive." In Chapel Hill, most couples
opt to have champagne and wine at.
their receptions, rather than hard
liquor, which is more expensive, she
said.
Two extras most people choose to
have are a photographer and more
recently, a video producer.
"Although the cost can be as low as
$450, it often is between $800 and :;,
$1,000," Wilson said. To have some
one do a video production usually ;
costs around $250.
The few items mentioned dont
include the cost of the wedding
gown, which can range from $250
up into the $2,000s, as well as
numerous other expenses. However,
the cost of the average wedding will
be between $2,000 and $3,500.
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