ballroom, but this depends
on the season. May, June,
August and September tend
to the busiest months.
January, February, and
March the lightest for
weddings.
"Usually the bride
contacts me first, then the
mother comes in to discuss
the menu. We'll meet again
about one month before to
finalize the prices, which
may vary on seasonal food
items, for example. I've
noticed that today's brides
are really "into" shopping
and comparing prices. They
are very knowledgeable
when they call." Ms. Tianko
observes that a few couples
have even decided to pay for
their own weddings and
take charge of all of the
arrangements. "But they
are usually people in their
late 20s and have very good
jobs," she says.
Sometimes, in cases of
intermarriage, the families
feel more comfortable
holding a wedding in a hotel
for it carries no
denominational overtones
that might be
uncomfortable for some
guests. But some of the
most elaborate Jewish
weddings held in Detroit
hotels recently have been
the most traditional of all.
During the past year, the
Michigan Inn has held
three strictly kosher
Chasidic weddings, one
with 600 guests in
attendance, and has
another scheduled in the
spring.
One advantage is that
out-of-town guests can be
put up in the hotel. "We had
about 20 rooms rented out
to the wedding guests for
the last Orthodox
wedding," Ms. Tianko
notes. "Jewel Catering
brings all of the food and
serving utensils into the
hotelfor these affairs and
we order the kosher wine
and liquor," she says.
The Orthodox people
traditionally like to be
married under the stars,
and our hotel recently
installed a skylight in the
foyer, near the banquet
facilities. This offers a
beautiful setting for the
ceremony and the washing
of the hands before the
guests go into the dining
room."
Whatever the preference,
the setting is an important
aspect of the day itself.
Again, tradition has come
face-to-face with changing
styles and values, and
flowers and decoration
seem to be the area where
young couples are giving
freer reign to thir
imaginations. Florists do
much more than the bridal
party's corsages and
centerpieces in the '80s.
"We're stage designers, and
we aim to create an
illusion for the big event,"
says Birmingham florist
Jerry Earles.
Jerry Litwin, a partner in
State Florists of Southfield
notes that he provides
everything from special
lighting to trees and greens,
instand gardenS,
candelabra, chupahs,
tablecloths, draping and
other "props" that might be
used for decorations for
today's weddings. "We'll
come back when the party's
over, even sometimes at 1
a.m. to pick up our
belongings," says Litwin.
Both Earles and Litwin
note that there is a
seriousness about weddings
that make most people
choose flowers rather than
paper goods or balloons for
decorations. Fuller
centerpieces are more
popular than sparse
oriental styles, and both
florists caution their
customers to use their funds
wisely. "It's a rare bride
who has a carte blanche
situation with money," says
Earles. "Wheather you
spend $25 per table on a
centerpiece or $200, do it
right. Don't spread your
funds too thin."
Both note the current
popularity of black and
white and art-deco themes
in wedding decorations, a
traditional preference to
orchids and roses, and an
unexpected return to calla
'lilies, a flower that was
popular in the 1940s. "To
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Continued on next page
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