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Cortland Standard/Weddings – Thursday, January 26, 201716

Reference this section throughout the year at www.CortlandStandard.net.

WeddingsSee Inside For

WeddingPhotos

Submitted By Our Readers

Forget DIY Start thinking Do-It-Together

Trends inFlowers

Wild and local options are popular

Cortland StandardA special supplement to

Thursday, January 26, 2017

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too small for both of them. When the unit next door opened up, they “basi-cally blew a hole through the wall and got the apartments connected,” she said. This way they have their own apartments, but they can also be to-gether, and if something happens to one of them, the other will still have a place to live.

Sapp and Oxenhardt also own sep-arate homes where they spend time together. She owns the villa in Florida where they spend winters, and he owns the house in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, where they live in the warm

months. Their retirement fi nances are separate too: She worked for the Veter-ans Administration, and he has a pen-sion from the railroads.

But whatever arrangements older couples make as they manage the lo-gistics or social conventions of being together, the love and companionship they share makes it all worthwhile.

“I think when you get to this stage in life, if you found happiness, when you fi nd someone to love and someone who loves you and you can share so many common interests and you don’t have to come home to an empty apartment, that’s pretty special,” said Reppe.

“We laugh a lot,” Pendergraft said.

OLDERcontinued from page 11

By JONATHAN ELDERFIELDAssociated Press

Your wedding is fast approaching and you have an un-blissfully long to-do list, from fi nalizing your fl ower selection to choosing your menu to deciding on your dress.

Near the top of that list you might want to put “select photographer.” That way, one of the most important parts of your wedding — the memories — will be preserved.

As a photographer with over 25 years of experience, including more than 50 weddings, I know the importance of se-lecting the right person. Not only will you be spending your entire day together, but the resulting photos will infl uence how you remember your wedding.

Below are some tips on choosing and working with a wedding photographer:

———LOOK FOR DEPTH

Ask to see a complete portfolio from beginning to end for at least one or two weddings. You don’t want to see only a few “best” photos.

“It’s easy to show a bunch of terrifi c single images taken at many weddings,” says Radhika Chalasani, “but a great wedding photographer has to capture an entire wedding beautifully from start to fi nish.” The New York-based Chala-sani has been photographing weddings since 2004.

Looking at portfolios will ensure that the photographer wasn’t just an assis-tant or a guest with a camera.

———GET A CONTRACT

A wedding photographer without a contract (and without liability insurance) is likely not a professional.

The contract should spell out what the photographer will provide, and whether the pictures will be on DVDs, an online gallery, a fi nished album, etc. It will in-clude the hours worked, and what hap-pens if you ask the photographer to work longer.

In addition, you want to know how things will be handled if the photogra-pher becomes unable to work on the wedding day due to illness or injury. He or she should have a back-up.

———DON’T BE SHY ABOUT

WHAT YOU WANT“There’s no harm in being specifi c,”

says Chicago wedding photographer Candice C. Cusic, a photojournalist for 15 years and a teacher at Northwestern University.

Tell the photographer what the most important aspects of the day are to you, whether it’s exchanging rings or walking down the aisle.

———MAKE SURE YOUR

PERSONALITIES JIBEOther than your signifi cant other, the

person with whom you’ll spend the most time on your wedding day might well be your photographer. He or she will be with you as you get ready and as you go through the emotional highs of the day. The photographer might guide you and your family through a portrait session, walk backward as you process up the aisle, and hang close by during your fi rst dance.

So this person’s personality — sense of humor, demeanor, even appear-ance — should be a good fi t with both of you.

Choosing a photographerWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS

Cortland Standard – Thursday, January 26, 20172

ANDREWSJennifer L. Stockwin and Jeffrey Andrews were married on September 15, 2001, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer. The ceremony was performed by Father Dan-iel DeLorme. 1st Row, L-R: Louis J. Adessa, David Per-fetti II, Emma Stockwin. 2nd Row, L-R: Kristen (Stockwin) Evangelista, Christopher Shorten, Eva Shorten, bride and groom, Jacob Andrews, Celeste Leonard Stock-win, Julia Stockwin, Jeff Stockwin. 3rd Row, L-R: Timothy Perfetti, Joel Perfetti, Lisa (Stockwin) Perfetti, R. James Stockwin, Lauren Stockwin, Tamara (Innerst) Stockwin, John Stockwin, Rebecca (Masterpaul) Stockwin, Rob-ert Stockwin. The couple reside in Homer and have three children: Jacob, Padraic and Brendan.

BellardiniMary Alice McAuliff and Harry Bellardini were married on December 29, 1956, at St. Mary’s Church in Cort-land by Father Leonard. Maid of Honor was Jane Seu-bert, cousin of the bride. Best Man was Larry Martin. The couple also had 4 bridesmaids and four ushers. They have three children: Eileen, John and Dan and reside in Homer. The Bellardinis recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

BEARDCarol Eaton and John (“Jody”) Beard were wed on October 22, 1977, at the Interfaith Chapel in Cortland by the Rev. Randy Ross. The couple honeymooned in Bermuda and will be celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary this fall. They reside in Cortland.

BORDONIKaren Clemons and Donald Bordoni were married on August 6, 1977, at St. Paul’s Church in Ithaca, NY. Rev. McClune offi ciated the ceremony. Don and Karen re-side in Cortland and will be celebrating their 40th Wed-ding Anniversary in Hawaii in August.

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSCortland Standard – Thursday, January 26, 2017 3

Shaw & Boehler Florist & Gifts 2017WEDDINGS, WEDDINGSAND MORE WEDDINGS! Another monumental year here at Shaw & Boehler Florist! And that means flowers. We are excited to create the bouquets of your dreams! Look for us at the

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Whether you just got engaged or have been engaged for awhile, make one of your stops Nancy’s Bridal, lo-cated at 17 Main Street in Downtown Cortland. Inside our doors, you will fi nd a large selection of Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaids and Mother of the Wed-ding dresses. Appointments are not required, but are helpful. Please call

607-662-4247. I off er layaway, monthly payments, alterations and free press-ing on every dress I sell. Shop at Nan-cy’s, where smiles really do happen. Like us on Facebook or visit nancysbridalshop.com for more info, specials and store hours.

———Article provided by Nancy’s Bridal.

Find the perfect dress for the perfect day

By JENNIFER FORKERAssociated Press

Many brides and grooms who want to craft meaning-ful and memorable wedding decorations choose to make one important item — the bouquet, table centerpiece or party giveaway gifts. Oth-ers go all-out, crafting nearly every detail, either to save money or to make the day more personal.

Marissa DeMercurio, of Ar-vada, Colorado, made every-thing she could by hand for her 2014 wedding. The key, she says, was planning the projects well in advance and inviting family and friends to help. She asked some friends who are artists to make, paint and handprint items, from handmade signs to the lawn

games played at her outdoor ceremony and reception. She found her inspirations at on-line sites such as Pinterest and Etsy, and in craft stores, and chose Colorado nature as the theme.

Recruit friends, she says, “and you can save tons of money and it’ll look better because it’s exactly what you wanted,” DeMercurio says.

Darcy Miller, editor at large for Martha Stewart Wed-dings and author of the new “Celebrate Everything” (Har-perCollins), calls it DIT: do it together.

“Yes, the DIY is fun and makes it personal, but DIT makes it more meaningful,” says Miller. “Part of the wed-ding is delegating and collab-orating, not only as a means

to get it done but as a means for making it more fun.”

Some of DeMercurio’s decorations, such as a chalk-board showing the couple’s relationship highlights, hang in the house she shares with her husband, Pete Kardasis. That was another priority: The coupled wanted to live with their wedding memories, not file them away.

“We wanted to have things that would remind us of that day continuously,” DeMercu-rio says.

Whitney and Jordan Weaver of Seneca, Kansas, made most of the decorations for their 2014 wedding: paper fl ower bouquets, a ring bearer “pillow” (it was a framed quote tied with ribbon), the guest book, table

Forget DIY. Think DIT (Do It Together)

Brian & Femki Muntz/Lefde Photographer via APThis 2014 photo shows custom-printed mason jars with hand-written wooded-carved and decorated nametags in Boulder, Colorado.See DIT, page 5

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSCortland Standard – Thursday, January 26, 201714

WALBURNDianne Underwood and John Walburn were wed on October 21, 1967, at the Marathon Methodist Church by the Rev. Leon Gumar. Pictured L-R: Nelda Eamer Gage, Darleen Underwood Reid, Marilyn Bliss Wagner (Bridesmaids), Donna Underwood Pinto (Matron of Honor), Shelly Matson Wooten (Flower Girl), bride and groom, Clayton Damm (Best Man), Malcolm Brown, John Brown, Joseph A. Pinto (Ushers). Not pictured: Joseph M. Pinto (Ring Bearer). The Walburns live in Marathon and will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in October.

VERFUSSCarol Parker and Lt. Gary Robert Verfuss became man and wife on June 15, 1963, at the First Presbyterian Church in Marathon. The Rev. Sheldon Seibel offi ciat-ed the ceremony. Front Row, L-R: Terry Hill Light, Janet Lumbard Tucker, Gretchen Olin Deglau, Judy McCo-nnell Vitosh, bride and groom, Bill Verfuss, Ira (Butch) Parker, Karl Tucker, Gary Lance. Back Row, L-R: John Parker, the Rev. Sheldon Seibel, Stephen Verfuss. Carol and Bob are parents of three, grandparents of fi ve and currently live in Solon, NY after being stationed and living in Texas, Arizona, Ithaca, USAF Academy, Ohio and Massachusetts.

WINDSORMichelle Potter and Aaron Windsor were married on October 8, 2011, by the Rev. Suzanne Block and cur-rently reside in Groton.

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS


CAREYMadeline Hart and Gerald Carey were wed at St. Pat-rick’s Church in Moravia on October 22, 1949. Gerald and Madeline have seven children, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and reside in Locke.

CONNORJudith Ann Reynolds and Douglas Connor were wed on January 26, 1963, at the Sempronius Baptist Church by the Rev. Stafford. Pictured L-R: Alice Reynolds (sis-ter-in-law of bride), bride and groom, Walter Connor (brother of groom). The Connors reside in Cincinnatus.

HEATHJudith Osadchey and Lewis Heath were wed on Au-gust 26, 1967, at United Presbyterian Church in Cort-land by the Rev. Richard DeMott. Pictured are: Janet Sawyer (Matron of Honor), Judy Garkowski (Maid of Honor), Pam Eichlenab, Jane Heath, Sandy Sigour-ney, James Heath, Ed Heath, Bill Osadchey, Ed Beard, Charlie French. Front: Maureen O’Donnell, Jeff Saw-yer, Mike Murray. The Heaths reside in Homer and will be celebrating 50 years of marriage this summer.

EVANGELISTAKristen Stockwin and Alex Evangelista were married on September 4, 2004, on the Homer Village Green. The Hon. Phillip R. Rumsey performed the ceremony. The Evangelistas reside in Columbia, Maryland and have three children: Alaina, Reese and Derek.


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CRT has the place, whatever your wedding

specializes in events held in nontraditional venues. Most of her couples shy away from the traditional guest book, she says.

And while traditional guest books were often set out in church, her couples tend to display their alternative guest books during cocktails. “Couples want something for people to talk about and an activity during the cocktail hour,” she says.

The nontraditional sign-ins also help guests get to know the couple better.

Kernan once worked with

a pair of pilots who were married in an airplane han-gar; they asked guests to sign a propeller that was lat-er hung over their mantel.

A couple who married at a botanical garden put out self-addressed, stamped postcards featuring botan-ical prints, on which guests could write well wishes and marital advice.

Such alternatives to guest books can become “a keepsake of some-thing that’s personal to you, but made that much more personal because it’s been touched and signed by people you love,” Miller says.

SIGNcontinued from page 9

fl owers are in season in the vicin-ity of the wedding, said Chezar, who is also a fl ower grower.

“About 80 percent of the fl ow-ers used in the U.S. come from abroad, and there’s a real interest now in using locally grown fl ow-ers,” she said.

“Just as there is a ‘slow food’ movement, there is also a “slow fl owers’ movement,” she explained, and local or foraged varieties are “very much the look du jour pretty much anywhere you go.”

Slowfl owers.com is a directory of over 700 fl ower growers in ev-ery state except North Dakota, she said.

Debra Prinzing of Seattle, who launched the site two years ago, said: “Farmers who sell to the public are an incredibly useful resource for brides, a real reposi-tory of knowledge. And the ethos of local, or at least U.S. sourcing is something brides really want these days.”

Farmers know what’s in sea-son, and having a story behind the fl owers at your wedding — a sort of provenance — adds to the event, said Prinzing, who adds

stationery tags to centerpieces for local weddings telling where the fl owers were grown and what variety they are.

“It’s a cultural pivot toward lo-cal sourcing for all things. And in terms of the aesthetic, it’s a mind-set of looking for all things sea-sonal and natural,” she said.

Chezar says that look can be attained through a generous use of foliage, branches and vines, as opposed to “just stuffi ng the fl ow-ers together tightly. People don’t necessarily think about the foli-age, but it’s what breaks up and highlights the fl owers and gives them a more natural look.”

Containers are also important.“The idea is to let things extend

beyond the edge of a vase, to give a sense of movement and direc-tion. Cylindrical vases are the least friendly to this because they are too vertical. Urns or bowls or anything that allows fl owers to ex-tend outward is much more won-derful to work with,” Chezar says.

Besides fl ower growers and farmers markets, she said, “an-other great resource is nurseries. If you don’t want to deal with cut fl owers, you can have a mass of

pansies in a pot. Nice contain-ers elevate even humble plants to something more elegant, and a plant is almost always cheaper than cut fl owers, plus it lasts.”

She warned, however, that those trying to make their own wedding centerpieces should think care-fully before deciding to do so.

“Nobody realizes how much work it takes to do your own fl ow-ers,” she said. “Don’t think you can do it the last week. You need to plan way ahead, do some research to get a sense of what’s going to be available when you’ll be needing it, put together an idea board of varieties and colors, and practice doing it ahead of the event itself.”

For those who do opt for cre-ative homemade arrangements, there are infi nite options.

“I’ve found wild grapevines con-torted in shapes I could never re-produce, fi ddlehead ferns unfurling with the day, and spiky chestnuts still green on the tree. Take advan-tage of generous gifts like these,” Chezar writes in her book. “They are nothing you can plan, but they can make all the diff erence be-tween an ordinary arrangement and one that turns heads.”

FLOWERScontinued from page 8

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decorations (incorporating 500 Mason jars), church pew deco-rations, and a card box made from a snare drum. Family and friends helped, one making the cake topper.

“For me it was about doing our wedding around what we like and making it special for us,” says Whitney Weaver, whose relationship with her future hus-band grew out of a shared love of music.

She and her mom spent un-told nights folding and gluing in-dividual paper petals from thin, sheet-music-themed paper to make the bouquets and bouton-nieres. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay her,” Weaver says.

Miller, of Martha Stewart Wed-dings, warns against hitting Pin-

terest boards unprepared; they can be overwhelming. When she works with couples, she asks about their personal style and inspirations to tease out a wedding theme. Her book does the same with a personalization “cheat sheet.”

“You need to think about what matters to you,” Miller says. “Those are the things that are going to make your wedding re-flect you, make it feel like you.”

More DIY tips: Buy and collect items in bulk.

DeMercurio tied large swaths of burlap around trees and smaller pieces around Mason jars. She collected glass jars, some of which she filled with flowers and hung from trees branches. If you choose a lovely set-

ting — DeMercurio chose a park

with mountains as her backdrop; Weaver’s reception was in a big, beautiful barn — you’ll need fewer decorations. Put Epsom salts in the bot-

tom of Mason jars before adding tea lights, says Weaver. “It looks like crystals, and it’s a really cheap alternative for holding tea lights steady.” Hand-stamp compostable

utensils with phrases such as “all you need is love” to add a personal touch, says DeMercu-rio.

With all the crafting possibili-ties, Miller warns against doing too much too close to the wed-ding date.

“As a bride, you should be do-ing nothing except being a bride the day of your wedding,” says the expert.

DITcontinued from page 2

By SOLVEJ SCHOUAssociated Press

“At laaaaaaast, my looooove has come along,” Etta James sings with a gutsy, bluesy drawl at the beginning of her 1960 version of the 1940s tune.

With just those seven heart-swelling words, James secured a spot on wedding playlists for decades.

Today, with many couples fi -nancing their own weddings, per-sonalized playlists run the gamut, from music played during the ceremony to a fi rst dance song, said Jill Sieracki, senior features editor of Brides magazine. Open, non-gender-specifi c love songs also appeal to contemporary cou-ples. “Who says you have to walk down the aisle to ‘Here Comes the Bride’?” she said.

Tastes change with the times, and so do popular wedding songs (the Baroque classic Pachelbel’s Canon has shown real staying power). Keeping many choices in mind, here are fi ve songs that seem to speak to modern lovebirds, from John Legend’s hit 2013 piano bal-

lad “All of Me” and Ed Sheeran’s 2014 standout “Thinking Out Loud” to James’ evergreen staple.

———JOHN LEGEND — “ALL OF ME”

Singing “”Cause all of me/ Loves all of you/ Love your curves and all your edges/ All your perfect imper-

fections,” Grammy-winning R&B artist Legend doesn’t just channel his love for his wife (and model) Chrissy Teigen, he proclaims it.

After analyzing more than 400,000 wedding-themed playlists

5 great love songs for the modern wedding

Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated PressJohn Legend performs on stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. After analyzing more than 400,000 wedding-themed playlists worldwide, Spotify in 2015 named Legend’s “All of Me” the top choice for tying the knot.

See SONGS, page 7


STOCKWINLauren Lee Adessa and R. James Stockwin became husband and wife on February 4, 1967, at St. Mary’s Church in Cortland. The double ring service was per-formed by the Rev. John M. Quirk, assistant pastor. Pictured below, L-R: Patricia Quinlan (Bridesmaid), Jacqueline Jenner (Maid of Honor), bride and groom, John Hooks (Best Man), Susan Kiely (Bridesmaid). The Stockwins currently live in Cortland and are parents to six: Lisa (Tim) Perfetti, Bob (Becky) Stockwin, John (Tammy) Stockwin, Jennifer (Jeff) Andrews, Jeff (Ce-leste) Stockwin and Kristen (Alex) Evangelista. They also have 18 grandchildren, and will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in February, 2017.

STOCKWINTamara Innerst and John Stockwin were married on August 15, 1998, at the home of Tamara’s parents in Skaneateles, NY. The ceremony was performed by Tamara’s aunt, Becky Innerst. The couple currently re-side in Scott, NY and have two children, Olivia and Lisabelle.

STOCKWINRebecca A. Masterpaul and Robert J. Stockwin were mar-ried on May 23, 1992, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer by Father Daniel DeLorme. The Stockwins reside in Scott, NY and have four children: Matthew, Nathan, Gretta and Stella.


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a strange man in Geor-gia,” Reppe recalled with a laugh.

Once word got out about their relationship, “we weren’t sure how well accepted that would be,” said Reppe. She needn’t have worried: Her girl-friends threw her a sur-prise engagement party, and there were a few other informal gatherings with Champagne, chocolate and friends, where they could introduce them-selves as a couple.

One benefi t of formal-izing a relationship this way is that it allows older couples to dispense with terms like “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” which might be fi ne for 20-somethings, but can raise eyebrows among the 70- and 80-something set.

“Most of the time we re-fer to each other as hus-band and wife just to keep things not so complicat-ed,” said Shirley Sapp, re-ferring to her relationship with Doug Oxenhardt. “If you go the other route, people look at you like, ‘Well what’s the deal?”’

Sapp and Oxenhardt, both in their 70s, were widowed when they met, and each had two grown

children. Those children were among 90 guests at their 2013 wedding cer-emony in Missouri, com-plete with a pastor.

“It was just like any oth-er marriage ceremony, except we didn’t have the last sentence where the minister will say, “By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you hus-band and wife,”’ Sapp recalled. “He was a really cool pastor, and when we told him our story, he said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it.”’

But while avoiding mar-riage may seem like an

easy way to keep fi nances and estates separate, un-married couples may still face some legal complica-tions, according to Freder-ick Hertz, a California law-yer and co-author of “Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples.”

Hertz noted that some states honor common-law marriage and will consid-er couples married after a number of years whether or not they got a marriage license, while other states allow unmarried partners to claim money or prop-erty “based on an oral or implied agreement.”

Hertz also said that signing a credit card or lease with your partner could make you responsi-ble for the other person’s debt. Other issues include who has legal authority for medical decisions, and when one partner dies, whether a surviving part-ner has the right to stay in the home where they lived together. That may depend on who owns it and who inherits it.

Housing is one thing Reppe and Pendergraft thought about early on. When they met, Reppe was living at Inverness Village in a unit that was


Nathan Harmon via APThis undated image shows Dixie Reppe and Joe Pren-dergraft, who met at Inverness Village, a re-tirement community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they now live in adjoining apartments.

See OLDER, page 15


LOWIEMelody Lynn Windsor and Stephen William Lowie were married on August 13, 1977, at St. Mary’s Church by Msgr. George Arseneau. Pictured with the bride and groom are Tracie Windsor (Flower Girl) and Christopher Lowie (Ring Bearer). They now have two grown boys, Matthew and Mark, as well as four grandchildren. The Lowies reside in Cortland and will celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer.

PERFETTILisa Stockwin and Timothy Perfetti were married on October 28, 1995, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer by Father Dennis Tamburello. Seated, L-R: John Stock-win, Mike Perfetti, T.J. Watts, Bob Stockwin. Standing, L-R: Terri Justice, Kristen (Stockwin) Evangelista, Patrick Perfetti, Sue Gain, Jennifer (Stockwin) Andrews, Mai-réad Kiernan, bride and groom, Jacob Andrews, Vin-cent Masterpaul, Mary (Perfetti) Kiernan, Lucia Perfetti Clark. The Perfettis live in Homer and are the parents of twin boys, David and Joel.

MARBLETerry Ann Carey and Martin George Marble were married on September 13, 1969, at Grace Christian Church on Elm Street. Roger Mormon performed the ceremony. The Marbles reside in Cortland and have three children and three grandchildren. They have owned and operated MGM Auto Sales since 1988.

SPAFFORDMelissa Hurlbert and Fred Spafford were married on August 21, 1951, at Memorial Baptist Church. Front Row, L-R: Dorothy Spafford Stevenson (sister of groom), Bertha Beard Bell, bride & groom, Mary Brown Jackson (Maid of Honor). Back Row, L-R: David Schlicht (cousin of bride), Jim Burch (cousin of bride), Lloyd Zirbel (Best Man). The Spaffords have been married for 65 years and have fi ve children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (with another arriving in April) and reside in Cortland.


Bridal Barn presents their Third Annual

Bridal ShowFingerlakes Tasting Room

Local VendorsDoor PrizesGrand Prize Giveaway ...awarded to one lucky bride!(Diamond Pendant, sign up tickets are $10)

Space is limited so call now to be added to our guest list!...Call Jodi at 745-6180...Like the Bridal Barn

Facebook page to keep up with new styles!Bridal BarnThe Homer Exchange Building21 North Main Street, Historic Homer, NY607-745-618021 North Main Street, Historic Homer, NY

Wedding Checklist...

Dress

Music

Photography

CAKE

Honeymoon

Frosted Bakery662-4200

For all your baking needs133 Main St.,

Downtown Cortland

Check usout on

Facebook!

Bridal Barn is located in historic downtown Homer. We are headed into our third bridal season. We are kicking off the 2017 season with a fully stocked shop of the latest styles from Mori Lee and Alfred Angelo.

Bridal Barn is hosting its 3rd Annual Bridal Showcase on Sunday, Jan. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Finger Lakes Tasting Room. All brides are welcome to come take part in all the fun. Lots of local handpicked vendors will be showcasing their products and ser-vices. So come get a head start on all your wedding plans. Bring a few friends as the bar will be open and

serving a signature cocktail special for the show. Models will be walking about, so you can get an up close look at dresses and quality tuxedos and suits.

Also new this year, is the DIAMOND DASH. Imagine jewelry of Skaneate-les is sponsoring this event. A dia-mond pendant will be hidden in one of three cakes. Three brides names will be drawn from tickets sold, and they get to tear into their cake to see if they are the lucky winner. Tickets are sold at Bridal Barn for $10 each.

———Article provided by Bridal Barn.

Find all you need at the Bridal Barnworldwide, Spotify in 2015

named the song the top choice for tying the knot.

“I love the lyric “your per-fect imperfections,”’ said Sieracki. “It’s a common theme with these songs that they have these great lyrics, about appreciating the person for who they are. I don’t think there’s anyone on the planet who doesn’t want to be the John Legend-Chrissy Tei-gen love story. They’re so fantastic.”

Doug Farra, who owns Wedding DJ Plus in Las Vegas, has deejayed more than 200 weddings over the past six years. He said “All of Me” is fading in popularity but is still a good choice.

“Even if you’re not that couple that’s taking ballroom dance lessons, this is easy to dance to,” said Sieracki. “Everyone’s watching you, and you want to look good for your fi rst dance. You want it to be sweet and loving.”

———ED SHEERAN —

“THINKING OUT LOUD”Speaking of ballroom

dancing, British singer-songwriter Sheeran made a splash when his video for 2014’s “Thinking Out Loud” debuted, featuring him sa-shaying with “So You Think You Can Dance” contes-tant Brittany Cherry, who was clad in a white dress.

“And, darling, I will be lov-ing you ’til we’re 70/ And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23,” Sheeran croons, later belting, “Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars.”

The mid-tempo guitar- and piano-fueled song, which won two Grammys, including 2015 song of the year, is a favorite wedding tune for Brides magazine readers.

“We’ve seen that song explode in popularity, and it ticks all the boxes for ev-eryone. It’s so fun,” said Si-

eracki. “A lot of these new-er songs, too, they’re not gender-specifi c. They’re very open to all couples, whether it’s two grooms or two brides. It’s a love story.”

———ADELE — “MAKE YOU

FEEL MY LOVE”Backed by a steady

piano melody, mega-hit-maker Adele’s 2008 cov-er of Bob Dylan’s 1997 song “Make You Feel My Love” doesn’t just ooze melancholy romance; it showcases her instantly recognizable soulful voice. The song was on her fi rst studio album, “19.”

“When the rain is blow-ing in your face/ And the whole world is on your case/ I could off er you a warm embrace/ To make you feel my love,” Adele sings at the beginning, fi ll-ing each note with a raspy warmth.

Sieracki and her hus-band chose the song for their own wedding fi ve years ago. “With that fi rst note, everybody knows that’s Adele,” she said. “There were things in the lyrics that resonated with me and my husband, with our own story. My hus-band and I were in our mid- to late 30s when we got married.”

———LONESTAR —

“AMAZED”With lyrics such as, “I

wanna spend the rest of my life/ With you by my side,” Lonestar’s 1999 twangy power ballad “Amazed” has become a favorite for country music lovers, said Sieracki.

Oodles of videos on YouTube show couples doing their fi rst dance to the tune.

“There are a lot of people that look to country music for their wedding songs,” she said. “This song is a love story, a lyrical piece that really works for all types of couples.”

Farra also recommends singer-songwriter Jack

Johnson’s mellow acous-tic ode “Better Together” for cake-cutting or a processional.

“It has an upbeat feel to it,” he said. “The lyrics are about being better with that other person.”

———ETTA JAMES —

“AT LAST”With its sweeping violin

melody and James pour-ing her heart out, “At Last” has a timeless quality.

Short and direct, its po-etic lyrics muse about fi nd-ing and keeping love. “My heart was wrapped up in clover/ The night I looked at you,” James intones.

“There’s something that holds true with the lyrics in 2016, 2017,” said Sieracki. “It’s doesn’t matter what the couple looks like, their ages. At your 50th anniver-sary, this is the song you’re going to want to dance to again.”

———A few other popular

modern options:“Marry You” (2010) by

Bruno Mars“A Thousand Years”

(2011) by Christina Perri“Ho Hey” (2012) by The

Lumineers“You Are the Best

Thing” (2008) by Ray La-Montagne

“I Won’t Give Up” (2012) and “I’m Yours” (2008) by Jason Mraz

SONGScontinued from page 5

By BETH J. HARPAZAssociated Press

Some older couples who want social recognition for their love relationships are exchanging rings, throwing parties and holding wedding-type ceremo-nies, but they’re stopping short of get-ting legally married to avoid complica-tions with retirement funds, property and grown children.

“It was important for our friends to know we were committed to each other,”

recalled Dixie Reppe, 80, who wears a ring from her beau, Joe Pendergraft, 77, and refers to him as her fi ance. “But the fi nancial piece and the families — it’s a whole lot more complicated. We decided to keep those things separate.” The two live in adjoining apartments in Inverness Village in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Pendergraft bought her the ring after she visited him in Georgia. “He didn’t want people to think I’d spent time with

Older couples have ‘weddings’ without marriage


CortlandStandard.

See OLDER, page 11


RISAVIJudy Natoli and Robert Bruce Risavi were married on March 26, 1977, at St. Anthony’s Church in Cortland by the Rev. Alexander Pilla (Father Pilla). Their wed-ding reception was held at Tinelli’s Hathaway House in Solon. The Risavis reside here in Cortland and have this to say: “We’ve been enjoying cakes together for (soon to be) 40 years. GREAT CAKE! GREAT MARRIAGE!”

SPIESSMary Davis and Lynn (“Tink”) Spiess were wed on July 29, 1967, at Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland by Father Dragoli. Pictured L-R: Patty (Ryan) Colasurdo, Maryanne (Falso) McEvoy, Sandy (Mitchinson) Reed, Shary (Mitchinson) Guingo, bride and groom, Tom Packard, Don Yacavone, Gary Dolly, Mike Colasurdo. Front: Marybeth Petersen Allen (Flower Girl). Mary and Lynn currently reside in Cortland and will be celebrat-ing their 50th Wedding Anniversary in July.

STOCKWINCeleste Leonard and Jeffrey Stockwin were wed on September 21, 1996, at Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, NY. Father VanAmburgh offi ciated the ceremony. The couple currently reside in Apalachin, NY and are par-ents to four children: Emma, Julia, Addison and Leo.

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSCortland Standard – Thursday, January 26, 20178

It’s a very exciting time, whether for a young or old-er couple. Starting the next chapter of your life and planning a wedding aren’t the only things to think of — there is your home. That’s where we come in. We have a bridal registry for both of you, the bridge and the groom. Come in together or separately and we will make you feel welcomed.

We have a collection of home furnishings and dec-orations that any couple would love. We have wood and upholstered furniture. We carry a large selection

of table runners, napkins and placemats that would work on any table. We have wall prints, mirrors, shelves, wreaths, and many types of lighting and our famous candles — from jar to cakes, melts, voltives, tapers and battery operated. Don’t forget about free wrapping and gift certifi cates. We welcome you to come in and meet the new owner and enjoy the at-mosphere.

———Article provided by Olde Homer House.

New beginnings happen at Olde Homer House

Beautiful Beginnings...start at the

Olde Homer House!We invite you to enjoy

the ease of ourBridal Registry

Service

Offering a collection of:

Table Linens in Today’s Colors

Decorative Accent Pieces

Personalized Keepsake Gifts

Lamps, Lighting & Shades

Framed Prints & Wall Decor

Everything you need to create a beautiful home!Free Gift Wrapping is always available.

Olde Homer House

Best Western PlusFingerlakes Inn & Suites

3175 Fingerlakes East Drive, Cortland, NY 13045 (off of Rt. 13 South)607-756-2233

Prima Studio is an upscale, full-service salon in the village of Homer.

Our large talented staff of hair and makeup experts welcome bridal par-ties of all sizes. We off er services be-fore the big day, such as nails, waxing, pedicures and teeth whitening.

While working with us, you and your bridal party are our main focus, we love to pamper our brides. Our salon provides mimosas for the bridal party and you are welcome to bring anything you would like to add to that.

———Article provided by Prima Studio.

By KATHERINE ROTHAssociated Press

Whether designing with fl owers for a huge formal event or a small casual aff air, the trend is toward a more wild and natural look, according to fl oral designer Ariella Chezar of the FlowerSchool in New York.

That can include blooms, branches, fruit and foraged materials, like rosemary and jas-mine, she said. And the best place to start is with your local fl ower farmer or farmer’s market.

“It’s important to con-sider the setting before deciding on the arrange-ment. Mason jars are great, but they wouldn’t work at the Waldorf,” said Chezar, who has designed

fl oral arrangements for hundreds of weddings as well as for the White House. She is co-author with Julie Michaels of the new “The Flower Work-

shop” (Ten Speed Press, March 2016), which has tips on everything from textures and colors to foliage and containers. It includes step-by-step instructions for more than 45 fl oral projects.

Another important factor in selecting fl ow-ers and arrangements is which colors suit the bride, Chezar said in an interview from her home in upstate New York.

“It seems like 90 per-cent of the blonde brides choose pastels and 90 percent of brunettes opt for jewel tones, since people tend to be drawn to the colors they look best in,” Chezar said.

But the most crucial el-ement is fi nding out what

Wild, natural and local: Trends in fl owers

Erin Kunkel/Ten Speed Press via APThis photo shows a fl oral centerpiece featured in the book “The Flower Work-shop” by Ariella Chezar.

See FLOWERS, page 13

New beginnings happen WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS


19 N. Main St., Homer749-7900

Brides, stop by this full service salonfor these bridal services:

Make-up ~ Gel Nails ~ PedicuresHair Removal ~ Keratin Treatments ~ Perms

Haircuts ~ Color ~ Highlights ~ Teeth Whitening

Beautiful fashions for your honeymoon wardrobe.Fabulous jewelry and gifts for your bridal party.

1 S. MAIN STREET, HOMER, NY 607-749-2148

Bev and Co. off ers pampering per-sonal service and Seriously Fun Fash-ion. Fill your honeymoon suitcase with gorgeous pieces and the latest styles from your favorite designers: Tommy Bahama, Joules, Vintage, Kut from the Kloth, Habitat, Vera Bradley and so many more. Looking for the per-

fect jewelry for your big day or gifts for your bridal party? Bev & Co has to-day’s hottest lines like Kendra Scott, Bourbon and Boweties, Uno de 50, Pandora, and Alex and Ani. Bev and Co. is located on Main Street, Homer.

———Article provided by Bev and Co.

Bev and Co.

Prima Studio

The perfect touch for your perfect day

Expert services for every bridal party

By LISA A. FLAMAssociated Press

Alexis and John Rou-lette don’t have to look far to remember the love that friends and relatives showered upon them on their wedding day. The 7-foot-long surfboard mounted above their liv-ing room couch says it all.

In silver Sharpie, guests wrote messages of love, congratulations and ad-vice on the board that the couple used as a guest book at their wedding in Huntington Beach, Cali-fornia, last summer.

“It’s a constant remind-er of our special day and the love we had around us,” says Alexis Roulette, 30.

As weddings have be-come highly personal-ized, the guest book, too, has come a long way. What was once a tradi-tional white bound book has become elaborate and creative, often taking the shape of something that refl ects the couple’s personalities or wedding theme.

“What it’s morphed into is more of a way of de-livering messages and notes and keepsakes for the bride and groom, while at the same time it’s become more interactive and creative in its dis-play,” says Darcy Miller, editor at large of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Guests might sign a gi-ant wine bottle, a piece of sporting equipment, sea-shells or stones, maps, artwork, or fabric squares that get stitched together to form a quilt.

Miller has seen a vin-tage typewriter displayed for guests to peck out messages, a dictionary in which guests circled words relevant to the couple, and a globe on which guests signed near places they felt the couple should visit.

“If you love to ski, it’s signing vintage skis,” she says. “If you’re into boating and the nautical theme, then it’s a buoy.”

Guests might snap an instant photo and leave it behind with a message, to be compiled in a scrap-book. Or a couple might off er a published book for guests to sign, Miller says, such as a book on birds for a nature-inspired event.

Because guest books are so individualized, they often become part of the couple’s home.

“It becomes personal-ized decor you live with,” Miller says. “These are no longer things getting stuck in a box and never looked at ever again.”

The Roulettes’ surf-board guest book fi t the laidback feeling of their beach-themed wedding at Don The Beachcomber.

“It’s a really nice piece that I appreciate that we have and can admire,” Roulette says. “I like that we can see it every day rather than a book. Any guest book, you normally put it away and won’t see it.”

Jane Kernen, a wed-ding planner with Austin Busy Brides in Texas,

See SIGN, page 13

Beads and Beyond Let us help you create affordably

elegant jewelry for your special day.19 S. Main St., Homer

(607) 753-0669“Your local source for beads& jewelry making supplies.”Tues.-Fri. 10:00AM to 5:00PMSaturday 10:00AM to 3:00PM

www.beadsandbeyond-cortland.com

The Country PeddlerConsignment Shop

Gently used Gowns, Dresses,Skirt Sets, Pant Suits,

Men’s and Children’s Clothing, Shoes and Accessories

Located in Downtown Tully, 22 State St.

Tully Area Historical Society

17 S. Main Street, Homer, NY 13077

Full lunch menu & healthier optionsCheck out our page for daily lunch specials

Gift Baskets for all occasions!

Homemade Chocolates and CandyPerfect for Dessert Bars!

Check out our page for daily lunch specials

Looking for a...

New Job?We’ve Got It!

Cortland Standard Local Classifieds

Modern guest books take many forms

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSCortland Standard – Thursday, January 26, 20178

It’s a very exciting time, whether for a young or old-er couple. Starting the next chapter of your life and planning a wedding aren’t the only things to think of — there is your home. That’s where we come in. We have a bridal registry for both of you, the bridge and the groom. Come in together or separately and we will make you feel welcomed.

We have a collection of home furnishings and dec-orations that any couple would love. We have wood and upholstered furniture. We carry a large selection

of table runners, napkins and placemats that would work on any table. We have wall prints, mirrors, shelves, wreaths, and many types of lighting and our famous candles — from jar to cakes, melts, voltives, tapers and battery operated. Don’t forget about free wrapping and gift certifi cates. We welcome you to come in and meet the new owner and enjoy the at-mosphere.

———Article provided by Olde Homer House.

New beginnings happen at Olde Homer House

Beautiful Beginnings...start at the

Olde Homer House!We invite you to enjoy

the ease of ourBridal Registry

Service

Offering a collection of:

Table Linens in Today’s Colors

Decorative Accent Pieces

Personalized Keepsake Gifts

Lamps, Lighting & Shades

Framed Prints & Wall Decor

Everything you need to create a beautiful home!Free Gift Wrapping is always available.

Olde Homer House

Best Western PlusFingerlakes Inn & Suites

3175 Fingerlakes East Drive, Cortland, NY 13045 (off of Rt. 13 South)607-756-2233

Prima Studio is an upscale, full-service salon in the village of Homer.

Our large talented staff of hair and makeup experts welcome bridal par-ties of all sizes. We off er services be-fore the big day, such as nails, waxing, pedicures and teeth whitening.

While working with us, you and your bridal party are our main focus, we love to pamper our brides. Our salon provides mimosas for the bridal party and you are welcome to bring anything you would like to add to that.

———Article provided by Prima Studio.

By KATHERINE ROTHAssociated Press

Whether designing with fl owers for a huge formal event or a small casual aff air, the trend is toward a more wild and natural look, according to fl oral designer Ariella Chezar of the FlowerSchool in New York.

That can include blooms, branches, fruit and foraged materials, like rosemary and jas-mine, she said. And the best place to start is with your local fl ower farmer or farmer’s market.

“It’s important to con-sider the setting before deciding on the arrange-ment. Mason jars are great, but they wouldn’t work at the Waldorf,” said Chezar, who has designed

fl oral arrangements for hundreds of weddings as well as for the White House. She is co-author with Julie Michaels of the new “The Flower Work-

shop” (Ten Speed Press, March 2016), which has tips on everything from textures and colors to foliage and containers. It includes step-by-step instructions for more than 45 fl oral projects.

Another important factor in selecting fl ow-ers and arrangements is which colors suit the bride, Chezar said in an interview from her home in upstate New York.

“It seems like 90 per-cent of the blonde brides choose pastels and 90 percent of brunettes opt for jewel tones, since people tend to be drawn to the colors they look best in,” Chezar said.

But the most crucial el-ement is fi nding out what

Wild, natural and local: Trends in fl owers

Erin Kunkel/Ten Speed Press via APThis photo shows a fl oral centerpiece featured in the book “The Flower Work-shop” by Ariella Chezar.

See FLOWERS, page 13

New beginnings happen WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS


19 N. Main St., Homer749-7900

Brides, stop by this full service salonfor these bridal services:

Make-up ~ Gel Nails ~ PedicuresHair Removal ~ Keratin Treatments ~ Perms

Haircuts ~ Color ~ Highlights ~ Teeth Whitening

Beautiful fashions for your honeymoon wardrobe.Fabulous jewelry and gifts for your bridal party.

1 S. MAIN STREET, HOMER, NY 607-749-2148

Bev and Co. off ers pampering per-sonal service and Seriously Fun Fash-ion. Fill your honeymoon suitcase with gorgeous pieces and the latest styles from your favorite designers: Tommy Bahama, Joules, Vintage, Kut from the Kloth, Habitat, Vera Bradley and so many more. Looking for the per-

fect jewelry for your big day or gifts for your bridal party? Bev & Co has to-day’s hottest lines like Kendra Scott, Bourbon and Boweties, Uno de 50, Pandora, and Alex and Ani. Bev and Co. is located on Main Street, Homer.

———Article provided by Bev and Co.

Bev and Co.

Prima Studio

The perfect touch for your perfect day

Expert services for every bridal party

By LISA A. FLAMAssociated Press

Alexis and John Rou-lette don’t have to look far to remember the love that friends and relatives showered upon them on their wedding day. The 7-foot-long surfboard mounted above their liv-ing room couch says it all.

In silver Sharpie, guests wrote messages of love, congratulations and ad-vice on the board that the couple used as a guest book at their wedding in Huntington Beach, Cali-fornia, last summer.

“It’s a constant remind-er of our special day and the love we had around us,” says Alexis Roulette, 30.

As weddings have be-come highly personal-ized, the guest book, too, has come a long way. What was once a tradi-tional white bound book has become elaborate and creative, often taking the shape of something that refl ects the couple’s personalities or wedding theme.

“What it’s morphed into is more of a way of de-livering messages and notes and keepsakes for the bride and groom, while at the same time it’s become more interactive and creative in its dis-play,” says Darcy Miller, editor at large of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Guests might sign a gi-ant wine bottle, a piece of sporting equipment, sea-shells or stones, maps, artwork, or fabric squares that get stitched together to form a quilt.

Miller has seen a vin-tage typewriter displayed for guests to peck out messages, a dictionary in which guests circled words relevant to the couple, and a globe on which guests signed near places they felt the couple should visit.

“If you love to ski, it’s signing vintage skis,” she says. “If you’re into boating and the nautical theme, then it’s a buoy.”

Guests might snap an instant photo and leave it behind with a message, to be compiled in a scrap-book. Or a couple might off er a published book for guests to sign, Miller says, such as a book on birds for a nature-inspired event.

Because guest books are so individualized, they often become part of the couple’s home.

“It becomes personal-ized decor you live with,” Miller says. “These are no longer things getting stuck in a box and never looked at ever again.”

The Roulettes’ surf-board guest book fi t the laidback feeling of their beach-themed wedding at Don The Beachcomber.

“It’s a really nice piece that I appreciate that we have and can admire,” Roulette says. “I like that we can see it every day rather than a book. Any guest book, you normally put it away and won’t see it.”

Jane Kernen, a wed-ding planner with Austin Busy Brides in Texas,

See SIGN, page 13

Beads and Beyond Let us help you create affordably

elegant jewelry for your special day.19 S. Main St., Homer

(607) 753-0669“Your local source for beads& jewelry making supplies.”Tues.-Fri. 10:00AM to 5:00PMSaturday 10:00AM to 3:00PM

www.beadsandbeyond-cortland.com

The Country PeddlerConsignment Shop

Gently used Gowns, Dresses,Skirt Sets, Pant Suits,

Men’s and Children’s Clothing, Shoes and Accessories

Located in Downtown Tully, 22 State St.

Tully Area Historical Society

17 S. Main Street, Homer, NY 13077

Full lunch menu & healthier optionsCheck out our page for daily lunch specials

Gift Baskets for all occasions!

Homemade Chocolates and CandyPerfect for Dessert Bars!

Check out our page for daily lunch specials

Looking for a...

New Job?We’ve Got It!

Cortland Standard Local Classifieds

Modern guest books take many forms


Bridal Barn presents their Third Annual

Bridal ShowFingerlakes Tasting Room

Local VendorsDoor PrizesGrand Prize Giveaway ...awarded to one lucky bride!(Diamond Pendant, sign up tickets are $10)

Space is limited so call now to be added to our guest list!...Call Jodi at 745-6180...Like the Bridal Barn

Facebook page to keep up with new styles!Bridal BarnThe Homer Exchange Building21 North Main Street, Historic Homer, NY607-745-618021 North Main Street, Historic Homer, NY

Wedding Checklist...

Dress

Music

Photography

CAKE

Honeymoon

Frosted Bakery662-4200

For all your baking needs133 Main St.,

Downtown Cortland

Check usout on

Facebook!

Bridal Barn is located in historic downtown Homer. We are headed into our third bridal season. We are kicking off the 2017 season with a fully stocked shop of the latest styles from Mori Lee and Alfred Angelo.

Bridal Barn is hosting its 3rd Annual Bridal Showcase on Sunday, Jan. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Finger Lakes Tasting Room. All brides are welcome to come take part in all the fun. Lots of local handpicked vendors will be showcasing their products and ser-vices. So come get a head start on all your wedding plans. Bring a few friends as the bar will be open and

serving a signature cocktail special for the show. Models will be walking about, so you can get an up close look at dresses and quality tuxedos and suits.

Also new this year, is the DIAMOND DASH. Imagine jewelry of Skaneate-les is sponsoring this event. A dia-mond pendant will be hidden in one of three cakes. Three brides names will be drawn from tickets sold, and they get to tear into their cake to see if they are the lucky winner. Tickets are sold at Bridal Barn for $10 each.

———Article provided by Bridal Barn.

Find all you need at the Bridal Barnworldwide, Spotify in 2015

named the song the top choice for tying the knot.

“I love the lyric “your per-fect imperfections,”’ said Sieracki. “It’s a common theme with these songs that they have these great lyrics, about appreciating the person for who they are. I don’t think there’s anyone on the planet who doesn’t want to be the John Legend-Chrissy Tei-gen love story. They’re so fantastic.”

Doug Farra, who owns Wedding DJ Plus in Las Vegas, has deejayed more than 200 weddings over the past six years. He said “All of Me” is fading in popularity but is still a good choice.

“Even if you’re not that couple that’s taking ballroom dance lessons, this is easy to dance to,” said Sieracki. “Everyone’s watching you, and you want to look good for your fi rst dance. You want it to be sweet and loving.”

———ED SHEERAN —

“THINKING OUT LOUD”Speaking of ballroom

dancing, British singer-songwriter Sheeran made a splash when his video for 2014’s “Thinking Out Loud” debuted, featuring him sa-shaying with “So You Think You Can Dance” contes-tant Brittany Cherry, who was clad in a white dress.

“And, darling, I will be lov-ing you ’til we’re 70/ And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23,” Sheeran croons, later belting, “Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars.”

The mid-tempo guitar- and piano-fueled song, which won two Grammys, including 2015 song of the year, is a favorite wedding tune for Brides magazine readers.

“We’ve seen that song explode in popularity, and it ticks all the boxes for ev-eryone. It’s so fun,” said Si-

eracki. “A lot of these new-er songs, too, they’re not gender-specifi c. They’re very open to all couples, whether it’s two grooms or two brides. It’s a love story.”

———ADELE — “MAKE YOU

FEEL MY LOVE”Backed by a steady

piano melody, mega-hit-maker Adele’s 2008 cov-er of Bob Dylan’s 1997 song “Make You Feel My Love” doesn’t just ooze melancholy romance; it showcases her instantly recognizable soulful voice. The song was on her fi rst studio album, “19.”

“When the rain is blow-ing in your face/ And the whole world is on your case/ I could off er you a warm embrace/ To make you feel my love,” Adele sings at the beginning, fi ll-ing each note with a raspy warmth.

Sieracki and her hus-band chose the song for their own wedding fi ve years ago. “With that fi rst note, everybody knows that’s Adele,” she said. “There were things in the lyrics that resonated with me and my husband, with our own story. My hus-band and I were in our mid- to late 30s when we got married.”

———LONESTAR —

“AMAZED”With lyrics such as, “I

wanna spend the rest of my life/ With you by my side,” Lonestar’s 1999 twangy power ballad “Amazed” has become a favorite for country music lovers, said Sieracki.

Oodles of videos on YouTube show couples doing their fi rst dance to the tune.

“There are a lot of people that look to country music for their wedding songs,” she said. “This song is a love story, a lyrical piece that really works for all types of couples.”

Farra also recommends singer-songwriter Jack

Johnson’s mellow acous-tic ode “Better Together” for cake-cutting or a processional.

“It has an upbeat feel to it,” he said. “The lyrics are about being better with that other person.”

———ETTA JAMES —

“AT LAST”With its sweeping violin

melody and James pour-ing her heart out, “At Last” has a timeless quality.

Short and direct, its po-etic lyrics muse about fi nd-ing and keeping love. “My heart was wrapped up in clover/ The night I looked at you,” James intones.

“There’s something that holds true with the lyrics in 2016, 2017,” said Sieracki. “It’s doesn’t matter what the couple looks like, their ages. At your 50th anniver-sary, this is the song you’re going to want to dance to again.”

———A few other popular

modern options:“Marry You” (2010) by

Bruno Mars“A Thousand Years”

(2011) by Christina Perri“Ho Hey” (2012) by The

Lumineers“You Are the Best

Thing” (2008) by Ray La-Montagne

“I Won’t Give Up” (2012) and “I’m Yours” (2008) by Jason Mraz

SONGScontinued from page 5

By BETH J. HARPAZAssociated Press

Some older couples who want social recognition for their love relationships are exchanging rings, throwing parties and holding wedding-type ceremo-nies, but they’re stopping short of get-ting legally married to avoid complica-tions with retirement funds, property and grown children.

“It was important for our friends to know we were committed to each other,”

recalled Dixie Reppe, 80, who wears a ring from her beau, Joe Pendergraft, 77, and refers to him as her fi ance. “But the fi nancial piece and the families — it’s a whole lot more complicated. We decided to keep those things separate.” The two live in adjoining apartments in Inverness Village in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Pendergraft bought her the ring after she visited him in Georgia. “He didn’t want people to think I’d spent time with

Older couples have ‘weddings’ without marriage


CortlandStandard.

See OLDER, page 11


RISAVIJudy Natoli and Robert Bruce Risavi were married on March 26, 1977, at St. Anthony’s Church in Cortland by the Rev. Alexander Pilla (Father Pilla). Their wed-ding reception was held at Tinelli’s Hathaway House in Solon. The Risavis reside here in Cortland and have this to say: “We’ve been enjoying cakes together for (soon to be) 40 years. GREAT CAKE! GREAT MARRIAGE!”

SPIESSMary Davis and Lynn (“Tink”) Spiess were wed on July 29, 1967, at Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland by Father Dragoli. Pictured L-R: Patty (Ryan) Colasurdo, Maryanne (Falso) McEvoy, Sandy (Mitchinson) Reed, Shary (Mitchinson) Guingo, bride and groom, Tom Packard, Don Yacavone, Gary Dolly, Mike Colasurdo. Front: Marybeth Petersen Allen (Flower Girl). Mary and Lynn currently reside in Cortland and will be celebrat-ing their 50th Wedding Anniversary in July.

STOCKWINCeleste Leonard and Jeffrey Stockwin were wed on September 21, 1996, at Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, NY. Father VanAmburgh offi ciated the ceremony. The couple currently reside in Apalachin, NY and are par-ents to four children: Emma, Julia, Addison and Leo.


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a strange man in Geor-gia,” Reppe recalled with a laugh.

Once word got out about their relationship, “we weren’t sure how well accepted that would be,” said Reppe. She needn’t have worried: Her girl-friends threw her a sur-prise engagement party, and there were a few other informal gatherings with Champagne, chocolate and friends, where they could introduce them-selves as a couple.

One benefi t of formal-izing a relationship this way is that it allows older couples to dispense with terms like “boyfriend” or “girlfriend,” which might be fi ne for 20-somethings, but can raise eyebrows among the 70- and 80-something set.

“Most of the time we re-fer to each other as hus-band and wife just to keep things not so complicat-ed,” said Shirley Sapp, re-ferring to her relationship with Doug Oxenhardt. “If you go the other route, people look at you like, ‘Well what’s the deal?”’

Sapp and Oxenhardt, both in their 70s, were widowed when they met, and each had two grown

children. Those children were among 90 guests at their 2013 wedding cer-emony in Missouri, com-plete with a pastor.

“It was just like any oth-er marriage ceremony, except we didn’t have the last sentence where the minister will say, “By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you hus-band and wife,”’ Sapp recalled. “He was a really cool pastor, and when we told him our story, he said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it.”’

But while avoiding mar-riage may seem like an

easy way to keep fi nances and estates separate, un-married couples may still face some legal complica-tions, according to Freder-ick Hertz, a California law-yer and co-author of “Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples.”

Hertz noted that some states honor common-law marriage and will consid-er couples married after a number of years whether or not they got a marriage license, while other states allow unmarried partners to claim money or prop-erty “based on an oral or implied agreement.”

Hertz also said that signing a credit card or lease with your partner could make you responsi-ble for the other person’s debt. Other issues include who has legal authority for medical decisions, and when one partner dies, whether a surviving part-ner has the right to stay in the home where they lived together. That may depend on who owns it and who inherits it.

Housing is one thing Reppe and Pendergraft thought about early on. When they met, Reppe was living at Inverness Village in a unit that was


Nathan Harmon via APThis undated image shows Dixie Reppe and Joe Pren-dergraft, who met at Inverness Village, a re-tirement community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they now live in adjoining apartments.

See OLDER, page 15


LOWIEMelody Lynn Windsor and Stephen William Lowie were married on August 13, 1977, at St. Mary’s Church by Msgr. George Arseneau. Pictured with the bride and groom are Tracie Windsor (Flower Girl) and Christopher Lowie (Ring Bearer). They now have two grown boys, Matthew and Mark, as well as four grandchildren. The Lowies reside in Cortland and will celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer.

PERFETTILisa Stockwin and Timothy Perfetti were married on October 28, 1995, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer by Father Dennis Tamburello. Seated, L-R: John Stock-win, Mike Perfetti, T.J. Watts, Bob Stockwin. Standing, L-R: Terri Justice, Kristen (Stockwin) Evangelista, Patrick Perfetti, Sue Gain, Jennifer (Stockwin) Andrews, Mai-réad Kiernan, bride and groom, Jacob Andrews, Vin-cent Masterpaul, Mary (Perfetti) Kiernan, Lucia Perfetti Clark. The Perfettis live in Homer and are the parents of twin boys, David and Joel.

MARBLETerry Ann Carey and Martin George Marble were married on September 13, 1969, at Grace Christian Church on Elm Street. Roger Mormon performed the ceremony. The Marbles reside in Cortland and have three children and three grandchildren. They have owned and operated MGM Auto Sales since 1988.

SPAFFORDMelissa Hurlbert and Fred Spafford were married on August 21, 1951, at Memorial Baptist Church. Front Row, L-R: Dorothy Spafford Stevenson (sister of groom), Bertha Beard Bell, bride & groom, Mary Brown Jackson (Maid of Honor). Back Row, L-R: David Schlicht (cousin of bride), Jim Burch (cousin of bride), Lloyd Zirbel (Best Man). The Spaffords have been married for 65 years and have fi ve children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (with another arriving in April) and reside in Cortland.


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decorations (incorporating 500 Mason jars), church pew deco-rations, and a card box made from a snare drum. Family and friends helped, one making the cake topper.

“For me it was about doing our wedding around what we like and making it special for us,” says Whitney Weaver, whose relationship with her future hus-band grew out of a shared love of music.

She and her mom spent un-told nights folding and gluing in-dividual paper petals from thin, sheet-music-themed paper to make the bouquets and bouton-nieres. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay her,” Weaver says.

Miller, of Martha Stewart Wed-dings, warns against hitting Pin-

terest boards unprepared; they can be overwhelming. When she works with couples, she asks about their personal style and inspirations to tease out a wedding theme. Her book does the same with a personalization “cheat sheet.”

“You need to think about what matters to you,” Miller says. “Those are the things that are going to make your wedding re-flect you, make it feel like you.”

More DIY tips: Buy and collect items in bulk.

DeMercurio tied large swaths of burlap around trees and smaller pieces around Mason jars. She collected glass jars, some of which she filled with flowers and hung from trees branches. If you choose a lovely set-

ting — DeMercurio chose a park

with mountains as her backdrop; Weaver’s reception was in a big, beautiful barn — you’ll need fewer decorations. Put Epsom salts in the bot-

tom of Mason jars before adding tea lights, says Weaver. “It looks like crystals, and it’s a really cheap alternative for holding tea lights steady.” Hand-stamp compostable

utensils with phrases such as “all you need is love” to add a personal touch, says DeMercu-rio.

With all the crafting possibili-ties, Miller warns against doing too much too close to the wed-ding date.

“As a bride, you should be do-ing nothing except being a bride the day of your wedding,” says the expert.

DITcontinued from page 2

By SOLVEJ SCHOUAssociated Press

“At laaaaaaast, my looooove has come along,” Etta James sings with a gutsy, bluesy drawl at the beginning of her 1960 version of the 1940s tune.

With just those seven heart-swelling words, James secured a spot on wedding playlists for decades.

Today, with many couples fi -nancing their own weddings, per-sonalized playlists run the gamut, from music played during the ceremony to a fi rst dance song, said Jill Sieracki, senior features editor of Brides magazine. Open, non-gender-specifi c love songs also appeal to contemporary cou-ples. “Who says you have to walk down the aisle to ‘Here Comes the Bride’?” she said.

Tastes change with the times, and so do popular wedding songs (the Baroque classic Pachelbel’s Canon has shown real staying power). Keeping many choices in mind, here are fi ve songs that seem to speak to modern lovebirds, from John Legend’s hit 2013 piano bal-

lad “All of Me” and Ed Sheeran’s 2014 standout “Thinking Out Loud” to James’ evergreen staple.

———JOHN LEGEND — “ALL OF ME”

Singing “”Cause all of me/ Loves all of you/ Love your curves and all your edges/ All your perfect imper-

fections,” Grammy-winning R&B artist Legend doesn’t just channel his love for his wife (and model) Chrissy Teigen, he proclaims it.

After analyzing more than 400,000 wedding-themed playlists

5 great love songs for the modern wedding

Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated PressJohn Legend performs on stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. After analyzing more than 400,000 wedding-themed playlists worldwide, Spotify in 2015 named Legend’s “All of Me” the top choice for tying the knot.

See SONGS, page 7


STOCKWINLauren Lee Adessa and R. James Stockwin became husband and wife on February 4, 1967, at St. Mary’s Church in Cortland. The double ring service was per-formed by the Rev. John M. Quirk, assistant pastor. Pictured below, L-R: Patricia Quinlan (Bridesmaid), Jacqueline Jenner (Maid of Honor), bride and groom, John Hooks (Best Man), Susan Kiely (Bridesmaid). The Stockwins currently live in Cortland and are parents to six: Lisa (Tim) Perfetti, Bob (Becky) Stockwin, John (Tammy) Stockwin, Jennifer (Jeff) Andrews, Jeff (Ce-leste) Stockwin and Kristen (Alex) Evangelista. They also have 18 grandchildren, and will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in February, 2017.

STOCKWINTamara Innerst and John Stockwin were married on August 15, 1998, at the home of Tamara’s parents in Skaneateles, NY. The ceremony was performed by Tamara’s aunt, Becky Innerst. The couple currently re-side in Scott, NY and have two children, Olivia and Lisabelle.

STOCKWINRebecca A. Masterpaul and Robert J. Stockwin were mar-ried on May 23, 1992, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer by Father Daniel DeLorme. The Stockwins reside in Scott, NY and have four children: Matthew, Nathan, Gretta and Stella.

WEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS


CAREYMadeline Hart and Gerald Carey were wed at St. Pat-rick’s Church in Moravia on October 22, 1949. Gerald and Madeline have seven children, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and reside in Locke.

CONNORJudith Ann Reynolds and Douglas Connor were wed on January 26, 1963, at the Sempronius Baptist Church by the Rev. Stafford. Pictured L-R: Alice Reynolds (sis-ter-in-law of bride), bride and groom, Walter Connor (brother of groom). The Connors reside in Cincinnatus.

HEATHJudith Osadchey and Lewis Heath were wed on Au-gust 26, 1967, at United Presbyterian Church in Cort-land by the Rev. Richard DeMott. Pictured are: Janet Sawyer (Matron of Honor), Judy Garkowski (Maid of Honor), Pam Eichlenab, Jane Heath, Sandy Sigour-ney, James Heath, Ed Heath, Bill Osadchey, Ed Beard, Charlie French. Front: Maureen O’Donnell, Jeff Saw-yer, Mike Murray. The Heaths reside in Homer and will be celebrating 50 years of marriage this summer.

EVANGELISTAKristen Stockwin and Alex Evangelista were married on September 4, 2004, on the Homer Village Green. The Hon. Phillip R. Rumsey performed the ceremony. The Evangelistas reside in Columbia, Maryland and have three children: Alaina, Reese and Derek.


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specializes in events held in nontraditional venues. Most of her couples shy away from the traditional guest book, she says.

And while traditional guest books were often set out in church, her couples tend to display their alternative guest books during cocktails. “Couples want something for people to talk about and an activity during the cocktail hour,” she says.

The nontraditional sign-ins also help guests get to know the couple better.

Kernan once worked with

a pair of pilots who were married in an airplane han-gar; they asked guests to sign a propeller that was lat-er hung over their mantel.

A couple who married at a botanical garden put out self-addressed, stamped postcards featuring botan-ical prints, on which guests could write well wishes and marital advice.

Such alternatives to guest books can become “a keepsake of some-thing that’s personal to you, but made that much more personal because it’s been touched and signed by people you love,” Miller says.

SIGNcontinued from page 9

fl owers are in season in the vicin-ity of the wedding, said Chezar, who is also a fl ower grower.

“About 80 percent of the fl ow-ers used in the U.S. come from abroad, and there’s a real interest now in using locally grown fl ow-ers,” she said.

“Just as there is a ‘slow food’ movement, there is also a “slow fl owers’ movement,” she explained, and local or foraged varieties are “very much the look du jour pretty much anywhere you go.”

Slowfl owers.com is a directory of over 700 fl ower growers in ev-ery state except North Dakota, she said.

Debra Prinzing of Seattle, who launched the site two years ago, said: “Farmers who sell to the public are an incredibly useful resource for brides, a real reposi-tory of knowledge. And the ethos of local, or at least U.S. sourcing is something brides really want these days.”

Farmers know what’s in sea-son, and having a story behind the fl owers at your wedding — a sort of provenance — adds to the event, said Prinzing, who adds

stationery tags to centerpieces for local weddings telling where the fl owers were grown and what variety they are.

“It’s a cultural pivot toward lo-cal sourcing for all things. And in terms of the aesthetic, it’s a mind-set of looking for all things sea-sonal and natural,” she said.

Chezar says that look can be attained through a generous use of foliage, branches and vines, as opposed to “just stuffi ng the fl ow-ers together tightly. People don’t necessarily think about the foli-age, but it’s what breaks up and highlights the fl owers and gives them a more natural look.”

Containers are also important.“The idea is to let things extend

beyond the edge of a vase, to give a sense of movement and direc-tion. Cylindrical vases are the least friendly to this because they are too vertical. Urns or bowls or anything that allows fl owers to ex-tend outward is much more won-derful to work with,” Chezar says.

Besides fl ower growers and farmers markets, she said, “an-other great resource is nurseries. If you don’t want to deal with cut fl owers, you can have a mass of

pansies in a pot. Nice contain-ers elevate even humble plants to something more elegant, and a plant is almost always cheaper than cut fl owers, plus it lasts.”

She warned, however, that those trying to make their own wedding centerpieces should think care-fully before deciding to do so.

“Nobody realizes how much work it takes to do your own fl ow-ers,” she said. “Don’t think you can do it the last week. You need to plan way ahead, do some research to get a sense of what’s going to be available when you’ll be needing it, put together an idea board of varieties and colors, and practice doing it ahead of the event itself.”

For those who do opt for cre-ative homemade arrangements, there are infi nite options.

“I’ve found wild grapevines con-torted in shapes I could never re-produce, fi ddlehead ferns unfurling with the day, and spiky chestnuts still green on the tree. Take advan-tage of generous gifts like these,” Chezar writes in her book. “They are nothing you can plan, but they can make all the diff erence be-tween an ordinary arrangement and one that turns heads.”

FLOWERScontinued from page 8


CortlandStandard.


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By JENNIFER FORKERAssociated Press

Many brides and grooms who want to craft meaning-ful and memorable wedding decorations choose to make one important item — the bouquet, table centerpiece or party giveaway gifts. Oth-ers go all-out, crafting nearly every detail, either to save money or to make the day more personal.

Marissa DeMercurio, of Ar-vada, Colorado, made every-thing she could by hand for her 2014 wedding. The key, she says, was planning the projects well in advance and inviting family and friends to help. She asked some friends who are artists to make, paint and handprint items, from handmade signs to the lawn

games played at her outdoor ceremony and reception. She found her inspirations at on-line sites such as Pinterest and Etsy, and in craft stores, and chose Colorado nature as the theme.

Recruit friends, she says, “and you can save tons of money and it’ll look better because it’s exactly what you wanted,” DeMercurio says.

Darcy Miller, editor at large for Martha Stewart Wed-dings and author of the new “Celebrate Everything” (Har-perCollins), calls it DIT: do it together.

“Yes, the DIY is fun and makes it personal, but DIT makes it more meaningful,” says Miller. “Part of the wed-ding is delegating and collab-orating, not only as a means

to get it done but as a means for making it more fun.”

Some of DeMercurio’s decorations, such as a chalk-board showing the couple’s relationship highlights, hang in the house she shares with her husband, Pete Kardasis. That was another priority: The coupled wanted to live with their wedding memories, not file them away.

“We wanted to have things that would remind us of that day continuously,” DeMercu-rio says.

Whitney and Jordan Weaver of Seneca, Kansas, made most of the decorations for their 2014 wedding: paper fl ower bouquets, a ring bearer “pillow” (it was a framed quote tied with ribbon), the guest book, table

Forget DIY. Think DIT (Do It Together)

Brian & Femki Muntz/Lefde Photographer via APThis 2014 photo shows custom-printed mason jars with hand-written wooded-carved and decorated nametags in Boulder, Colorado.See DIT, page 5


WALBURNDianne Underwood and John Walburn were wed on October 21, 1967, at the Marathon Methodist Church by the Rev. Leon Gumar. Pictured L-R: Nelda Eamer Gage, Darleen Underwood Reid, Marilyn Bliss Wagner (Bridesmaids), Donna Underwood Pinto (Matron of Honor), Shelly Matson Wooten (Flower Girl), bride and groom, Clayton Damm (Best Man), Malcolm Brown, John Brown, Joseph A. Pinto (Ushers). Not pictured: Joseph M. Pinto (Ring Bearer). The Walburns live in Marathon and will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in October.

VERFUSSCarol Parker and Lt. Gary Robert Verfuss became man and wife on June 15, 1963, at the First Presbyterian Church in Marathon. The Rev. Sheldon Seibel offi ciat-ed the ceremony. Front Row, L-R: Terry Hill Light, Janet Lumbard Tucker, Gretchen Olin Deglau, Judy McCo-nnell Vitosh, bride and groom, Bill Verfuss, Ira (Butch) Parker, Karl Tucker, Gary Lance. Back Row, L-R: John Parker, the Rev. Sheldon Seibel, Stephen Verfuss. Carol and Bob are parents of three, grandparents of fi ve and currently live in Solon, NY after being stationed and living in Texas, Arizona, Ithaca, USAF Academy, Ohio and Massachusetts.

WINDSORMichelle Potter and Aaron Windsor were married on October 8, 2011, by the Rev. Suzanne Block and cur-rently reside in Groton.

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too small for both of them. When the unit next door opened up, they “basi-cally blew a hole through the wall and got the apartments connected,” she said. This way they have their own apartments, but they can also be to-gether, and if something happens to one of them, the other will still have a place to live.

Sapp and Oxenhardt also own sep-arate homes where they spend time together. She owns the villa in Florida where they spend winters, and he owns the house in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, where they live in the warm

months. Their retirement fi nances are separate too: She worked for the Veter-ans Administration, and he has a pen-sion from the railroads.

But whatever arrangements older couples make as they manage the lo-gistics or social conventions of being together, the love and companionship they share makes it all worthwhile.

“I think when you get to this stage in life, if you found happiness, when you fi nd someone to love and someone who loves you and you can share so many common interests and you don’t have to come home to an empty apartment, that’s pretty special,” said Reppe.

“We laugh a lot,” Pendergraft said.


By JONATHAN ELDERFIELDAssociated Press

Your wedding is fast approaching and you have an un-blissfully long to-do list, from fi nalizing your fl ower selection to choosing your menu to deciding on your dress.

Near the top of that list you might want to put “select photographer.” That way, one of the most important parts of your wedding — the memories — will be preserved.

As a photographer with over 25 years of experience, including more than 50 weddings, I know the importance of se-lecting the right person. Not only will you be spending your entire day together, but the resulting photos will infl uence how you remember your wedding.

Below are some tips on choosing and working with a wedding photographer:

———LOOK FOR DEPTH

Ask to see a complete portfolio from beginning to end for at least one or two weddings. You don’t want to see only a few “best” photos.

“It’s easy to show a bunch of terrifi c single images taken at many weddings,” says Radhika Chalasani, “but a great wedding photographer has to capture an entire wedding beautifully from start to fi nish.” The New York-based Chala-sani has been photographing weddings since 2004.

Looking at portfolios will ensure that the photographer wasn’t just an assis-tant or a guest with a camera.

———GET A CONTRACT

A wedding photographer without a contract (and without liability insurance) is likely not a professional.

The contract should spell out what the photographer will provide, and whether the pictures will be on DVDs, an online gallery, a fi nished album, etc. It will in-clude the hours worked, and what hap-pens if you ask the photographer to work longer.

In addition, you want to know how things will be handled if the photogra-pher becomes unable to work on the wedding day due to illness or injury. He or she should have a back-up.

———DON’T BE SHY ABOUT

WHAT YOU WANT“There’s no harm in being specifi c,”

says Chicago wedding photographer Candice C. Cusic, a photojournalist for 15 years and a teacher at Northwestern University.

Tell the photographer what the most important aspects of the day are to you, whether it’s exchanging rings or walking down the aisle.

———MAKE SURE YOUR

PERSONALITIES JIBEOther than your signifi cant other, the

person with whom you’ll spend the most time on your wedding day might well be your photographer. He or she will be with you as you get ready and as you go through the emotional highs of the day. The photographer might guide you and your family through a portrait session, walk backward as you process up the aisle, and hang close by during your fi rst dance.

So this person’s personality — sense of humor, demeanor, even appear-ance — should be a good fi t with both of you.

Choosing a photographerWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGSWEDDINGS


ANDREWSJennifer L. Stockwin and Jeffrey Andrews were married on September 15, 2001, at St. Margaret’s Church in Homer. The ceremony was performed by Father Dan-iel DeLorme. 1st Row, L-R: Louis J. Adessa, David Per-fetti II, Emma Stockwin. 2nd Row, L-R: Kristen (Stockwin) Evangelista, Christopher Shorten, Eva Shorten, bride and groom, Jacob Andrews, Celeste Leonard Stock-win, Julia Stockwin, Jeff Stockwin. 3rd Row, L-R: Timothy Perfetti, Joel Perfetti, Lisa (Stockwin) Perfetti, R. James Stockwin, Lauren Stockwin, Tamara (Innerst) Stockwin, John Stockwin, Rebecca (Masterpaul) Stockwin, Rob-ert Stockwin. The couple reside in Homer and have three children: Jacob, Padraic and Brendan.

BellardiniMary Alice McAuliff and Harry Bellardini were married on December 29, 1956, at St. Mary’s Church in Cort-land by Father Leonard. Maid of Honor was Jane Seu-bert, cousin of the bride. Best Man was Larry Martin. The couple also had 4 bridesmaids and four ushers. They have three children: Eileen, John and Dan and reside in Homer. The Bellardinis recently celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

BEARDCarol Eaton and John (“Jody”) Beard were wed on October 22, 1977, at the Interfaith Chapel in Cortland by the Rev. Randy Ross. The couple honeymooned in Bermuda and will be celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary this fall. They reside in Cortland.

BORDONIKaren Clemons and Donald Bordoni were married on August 6, 1977, at St. Paul’s Church in Ithaca, NY. Rev. McClune offi ciated the ceremony. Don and Karen re-side in Cortland and will be celebrating their 40th Wed-ding Anniversary in Hawaii in August.

RAMADA CORTLAND HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER 2 RIVER STREET CORTLAND, NY (607) 756-4431 RAMADACORTLAND.COM

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