It’s amazing what a difference a year can make. At this time last year, the staff was told that the magazine had been sold. Naturally, we were anxious that there would be change. How much, if any, would there be?
Little did we know how positive 2007 would turn out to be. Doug Hahn, the new publisher, has made great strides in making CRL better than ever: new website, new server, donations to dozens of local charities and increased sponsorships with local non-profits and sports teams. Perhaps the most noticeable change was in the paper—we switched from newsprint to all glossy, which has brought rave reviews from advertisers and readers, and has even encouraged new advertisers who have been waiting for such an opportunity. In short, this past year has been one of tremendous growth for the magazine. And we certainly don’t plan on slowing down. After five years, we’re just getting started.
As with any New Year, everyone hopes for growth in some aspect of their lives, be it professional or personal.
For many engaged couples, the next year will be one of incredible change. Having recently planned a wedding, I can confidently predict that it will consume prospective brides. Having only had a 10-month engagement, things came very quickly for me. There is so much detail in planning your wedding, especially if you want to add touches that make your day stand out in people’s minds. For my own fall wedding, I opted to eschew the plain white place cards in favor of baby pumpkins (gourds) purchased from a local farm stand. I’m glad that I did: not only did they look pretty sitting on the table during cocktail hour, but they gave our guests a unique way of finding their seats –not to mention a little autumn memento to take home with them.
Of course, the choice of place settings is trivial in light of all the other things involved in planning a wedding. In this issue, we offer tips on everything from tipping to thank you note etiquette to choosing a venue. And in April, look out for CRL’s Bridal Directory, a more extensive publication on all things bridal.
Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy New Year and success in keeping your resolutions.