The #1 wedding magazine FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

857
STYLISH
IDEAS+
CREATIVE
DETAILS

O
BIGGUR
ISSUEST
OF T E
YEA HE
R!

OUR ULTIMATE
BUDGET GUIDE

How to Set It,

How to Stick to It
PLUS Easy ways
to save $1,000!

MIX, MATCH
& MAKE THEM
YOUR OWN
What I wish
Id known...

REAL ADVICE
FROM
50 BRIDES
SEXY, PRETTY
DIY WEDDING HAIR
Get Inspired!

GORGEOUS
TABLESCAPES BY
Vera Wang
Ralph Lauren
Alice & Olivia

WHAT YOUR
MAN REALLY
WANTS
KEVIN HART
TELLS ALL

SUPER
STUNNING
GOWNS
FOR YOUR SHAPE & STYLE

CONTENTS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 VOL. 82, NO. 1

FEATURES
442 TURN UP THE VOLUME

If youre looking for maximum impact for your big

reveal, its all about the tulle.

448 THE NEW ROMANTICS

Formtting silhouettes, surprising details, and so-cool
fabrics give these classic gowns a modern edge.

456 50 THINGS ONLY OTHER BRIDES

WILL TELL YOU
We asked newlyweds what theyd change if they could
plan their wedding over again. Save yourself angstand
moneywith their 20/20 hindsight. By Lambeth Hochwald

460 PARTY AT THE PALACE

A jet-setting couple and 210 guests converged on an
English estate to enjoy a celebration for the ages.

466 SET IN STYLE

Steal ideas and inspiration from these gorgeous
reception tables designed by fashion all-stars.

In our new series, Relationship Boot Camp, couples

coach Alison A. Armstrong helps you avoid the trap of
unreasonable expectations.

18 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Barely there cutouts

add subtle sexiness
to a simple Rivini by
Rita Vinieris sheath.
For more effortlessly
elegant dresses, see
page 448.

(continued on page 38)

K ATE POWERS

472 THE MYTH OF THE INSTANT

FIANC UPGRADE

CONTENTS

240

262

482

330

408

477

IN EVERY ISSUE
86
104
112
120
124
140
484
516

EDITORS LETTER
THE LIST
ASK US ANYTHING
BRIDES POLL
WANT. NEED. LOVE.
GET INSPIRED
HOROSCOPE
THE EDIT

FIRST PERSON
148 WHAT IS YOUR GROOM THINKING?
Can the newly engaged Kevin Hart, star of The Wedding Ringer
and all-around dude expert, give us a glimpse into the husbandto-bes brain? His costar Josh Gad nds out.

STYLE
165 RUNWAY REPORT
The best trends, hot o the catwalk, are all here.

170 DOUBLE DOWN

Good news, bling lovers: The latest thing to hit the engagementring scene packs some serious sparkle.

172 DRESS LIKE A SUPERSTAR, SHINE LIKE A BRIDE!

Chic separates! Romantic tiers! Lacy minis! Take a page from the
stars and try something daring for your wedding day.

176 ITS A CINCH

Add a belt or sash to your dress for an instant hourglass eect.

186 DRESSES WE LOVE

Fuss-free styles that can survive the craziest dance session.

214 WE HAVE BUTTERFLIES

These pretty earrings have us dreaming of warm-weather weddings.

BRIDES IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ADVANCE MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS INC. COPYRIGHT 2015 COND NAST. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. VOLUME 82, NO. 1. Brides (ISSN 1084-1628) is published bimonthly (February/
March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November, December/January) by Cond Nast Bridal Media, which is a unit of Cond Nast. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: Cond Nast, One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. S.I. Newhouse,
Jr., Chairman; Charles H. Townsend, Chief Executive Officer; Robert A. Sauerberg, Jr., President; David E. Geithner, Chief Financial Officer; Jill Bright, Chief Administrative Officer. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing
offices. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40644503. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. 848457321-RT0001. Canada post: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 874, Station Main, Markham, ON L3P 8L4.
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BACK-ISSUE INQUIRIES: Please write to Brides, P.O. Box 37646, Boone, IA 50037-0646, call 800-456-6162, or e-mail subscriptions@brides.com. Please give both new and old addresses as printed on most recent label. Subscribers: If the Post Office
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with your subscription, let us know. You will receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. First copy of new subscription will be mailed within six weeks after receipt of order. Address all editorial, business, and production correspondence to Brides
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believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers and/or information, please advise us at P.O. Box 37646, Boone, IA 50037-0646 or call 800-456-6162. BRIDES IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OR LOSS OF, OR FOR
DAMAGE OR ANY OTHER INJURY TO, UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, UNSOLICITED ARTWORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TRANSPARENCIES), OR ANY OTHER UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. THOSE
SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTWORK, OR OTHER MATERIALS FOR CONSIDERATION SHOULD NOT SEND ORIGINALS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO DO SO BY BRIDES IN WRITING. MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS,
AND OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.

38 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 44)

CONTENTS

Behind
the Scenes

A FIRST LOOK AT
TURN UP THE
VOLUME (PAGE 442)

364
The twin Piton mountains in St. Luciain a
word, breathtaking.

BEAUTY

326 WILL YOU MARRY US?

229 YOUR OTHER BOUQUET

Picking the right ociant can be almost as

tricky as nding your groom. Choose wisely!

Scent is a powerful memory maker, so make

sure yours doesnt clash with your owers!

330 YOURE INVITED!

236 5 STEPS TO THE

PERFECT BLOWOUT

340 ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BUDGET

From the engagement party to the vows, this

DIY style looks gorgeous at any event.

238 SOLE SURVIVORS

Go ahead and wear those showstopping heels.
Our tips help keep your arches happy all night.

Chic save-the-dates give guests a sneak peek

at whats to come.

Cover model
Mia Woolrich gets
zhuzhed by stylist
Jenny Capitain.

We show you how to bring dream-wedding

spending down to earth. By Rebecca Webber

392 THE BEST VENUES IN AMERICA

We polled more than 800 brides to nd the
most spectacular places to tie the knot.

240 LIGHTS, CAMERA, GORGEOUS!

Red-carpet pros teach you how to nail your
makeup and look awless in photos.

244 ASK DREW

Get the scoop from our beauty guru on
shrinking pores and wedding-worthy updos.

GETAWAY
359 RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE
Book the perfect post-wedding escape for any
time of year. By Heidi Mitchell

378 MIAMI THREE WAYS

Make any bash a garden party with our sweet

oral escort cards.

256 PICK YOUR PALETTE

REAL WEDDINGS
474 CURTAIN CALL

Complement a bold jewel tone with a softer hue.

One couple brought the glitz at L.A.s smokinghot Ace Hotel. By Elizabeth Jenkins

292 PLAN LIKE A PRO:

PHOTOGRAPHER

478 MODERN LOVE

A-list wedding photog Jose Villa shares his

secrets to getting your best shots ever.

298 BEYOND THE WHITE ALBUM

A museum backdrop turned this Chicago

soiree into a work of art. By Lambeth Hochwald

480 GLAMOUR ON THE DOCKS

Creative ways to show o your wedding photos.

Two doctors nautical do at Philadelphias

Navy Yard was lled with whimsical details.

306 SPLURGE VS. SAVE: BOUQUETS

482 BACKYARD BOHEMIAN

No matter what your style, we have the right

blooms for youand your budget.

See how The Insiders Keltie Colleen Knight

threw a vintage-inspired bash on a budget.

44 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

ON THE COVER

Photograph by Tony Kim. Hair by

Gianluca Mandelli for Krastase at the
Wall Group. Makeup by Munemi Imai
for munskin.com, styling by Jenny Capitain, both at Brydges Mackinney. Manicure by Mar Y Soul for the System by
Formula X at raybrownpro.com. Prop
styling by Theresa Rivera at Mary Howard Studio. Strapless silk column gown
with bow accent, $4,650, Austin
Scarlett; austinscarlett.com. Earrings,
bracelet, and ring, Harry Winston; harry
winston.com. To get the look, try this
makeup by LOral Paris: Brow Stylist
Plumper, Infallible Eye Shadow in
Amber Rush, Voluminous Mis Manga
Black Angel Mascara, Visible Lift Blur
Blush in Soft Peach, and Infallible Pro
Lip Color in Permanent Blush.

BRIDES .COM

BEHIND THE SCENES: NICOLE HYATT

DETAILS
255 TAKE YOUR PICK

See why this sultry city is hot for

bachelorettes, honeymoons, and I dos.

facebook.com/brides

twitter.com/brides

instagram.com/brides

.COM
pinterest.com/brides

plus.google.com/+brides

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: STEVE GRANITZ/GETT Y; GEORGE PIMENTEL /GETT Y; GARTNER STUDIOS

CHECK OUT
OUR FAVORITE

RED-CARPET
GOWNS AND
MAKEUP
LOOKS AT
BRIDES.COM/
REDCARPET

Q WHEN
DID YOU
KNOW YOUR
FIANC WAS
THE ONE?
I knew when we went on a
10-day trip with his family and,
miraculously, we didnt fight.
In fact, we got closer than
ever. Colleen Kleinberg
His dusty rug triggered
my allergies. The day after I
told him, he ripped out all
the carpeting and put in wood
floors! Nadine Alphabet

PRETTY
PAPER

At Bridess onestop shop with

Gartner Studios,
youll find custom
stationery that fits
your style. Go to
brides.com/shop
to get started.

BRIDES .COM

We dated for two years,

then lost touch for 18. The
second I saw him again,
I realized he was the One.
Samantha Mair
Instantly. It was love at first
sight! Kala Agius
Want to see your name in
a future issue of Brides? Go
to facebook.com/brides
and join the conversation.
F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 53

True Love Celebrate Romance. Top to bottom: #272-6200, 6030, 6150 and 6203.

only at

WHAT WAS
YOUR
FAVORITE
THING FROM
BRIDAL
FASHION
WEEK?

Inbal Drors
sexy, regal
show. The
craftsmanship
was
beautiful.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Keija Minor

Creative Director Jenifer Walter

Executive Editor Lauren Iannotti Managing Editor Molly Janik Gulati
Site Director Lisa Gooder
Features & Travel Director
Senior Editor
Real Weddings Editor
Associate Editor
Fashion Director Rachel R. Leonard
Senior Fashion & Accessories Editor
Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor
Fashion Assistant

Yolanda Crous
Denise Penny Shepard
Jaimie Schoen
Amanda First
Beauty Director Alyssa Hertzig
Shane Clark
Elizabeth Swanson
Sophie Moore

Style & Registry Director Jennifer Condon

Associate Wedding Style Editor Hannah Baker
Photo Director Nicole Hyatt
Senior Associate Photo Editor Nic Williams
Associate Photo Editor Brenda Armendariz
Copy Chief
Production Manager
Associate Managing Editor
Production Designer

Sarah Strzelec
John Mok
Erin Brownell
Charlie Piazza

Assistant to the Editor in Chief Corinne Pierre-Louis

Public Relations Director Samantha Kane
Contributing Travel Editor Heidi Mitchell

Chairman S. I. Newhouse, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer Charles H. Townsend
President Robert A. Sauerberg, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
President & Chief Marketing Officer, Cond Nast Media Group
Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Digital Officer

The stone. Your man.

Your wedding. Your ring.
Our Modern Bride Collection
at JCPenney offers unique,
unexpected styles and shapes
for every bride-to-be, with
JEWELRY PROFESSIONALS
to help you along the way.
Plus special JCPenney
FINANCING OFFERS that
turn dreams into reality, and
JEWELRY CARE PLANS to
protect your investment.
Use your JCPenney credit card for
special promotional financing on jewelry
purchase(s) of $300 or more. In-store
only. See team member for details.

The Ivy & Aster

two-piece
dress with a
crotcheted skull
on the back of
the top. Elegant
with an edge!

The babys
breath
sprinkled into
the hair at
Marchesa.
Such a fresh,
subtle way
to use flowers.

Web Editor Jennifer Cress

Web Producer Dobrina Zhekova
Social Media Editor Terri Pous Assistant Web Editor Lauren Frankfort

PUBLISHED BY COND NAST

Find the ring that fits

your idea of one and only.

Delphine
Manivets
textured sweater,
voluminous skirt,
and cool flats.
I would wear
that tomorrow
and just carry
a bouquet
everywhere.

SVP, Operations & Strategic Sourcing David Orlin

SVP, Corporate Controller David B. Chemidlin
SVP, Business Development Julie Michalowski
SVP, Digital Technology Nick Rockwell
SVP, Technology Operations Malik Zegdi
VP, Strategic Sourcing Tony Turner
VP, Human Resources Nicole Zussman

The
prevalence of
knits on this
seasons
runways. So
cozy and
chic for a fall
or winter
wedding!

David E. Geithner
Edward J. Menicheschi
Jill Bright
Fred Santarpia
Managing Director, Real Estate Robert Bennis
SVP, Financial Planning & Analysis Suzanne Reinhardt
SVP, Human Resources JoAnn Murray
SVP, Corporate Communications Patricia Rckenwagner
VP, Manufacturing Gena Kelly
VP, Digital Product Development Chris Jones
VP, Corporate Communications Joseph Libonati

Anna Wintour
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork, or other materials to Brides for consideration should not send originals unless
specically requested to do so by Brides in writing. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and other submitted materials must be
accompanied by a self-addressed overnight delivery return envelope, postage prepaid. However, Brides is not responsible for unsolicited
submissions. For subscriptions, address changes, or adjustments, call 800-456-6162 or write to Brides, P.O. Box 37646, Boone, IA 50037-0646.

62 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

ADVERTISEMENT

VICE PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Michelle Myers

Associate Publisher, Sales Heddy Sams Pierson

Executive Director, Marketing & Strategic Development Katie McKenna
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The floral
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Executive Assistant to the Publisher
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Sales Assistants

WHAT WAS
YOUR
FAVORITE
THING FROM
BRIDAL
FASHION
WEEK?

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MARKETING & CREATIVE SERVICES

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The crop-top
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72 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

EDITORS LETTER

THANKS FOR
MAKING
US 1 MILLION+
STRONG!
If you havent joined the party yet, like
us on Facebook for celebrity news,
insider giveaways, and creative ideas
from real weddings. Plus, discover all
the breaking bridal trends first.

Congratulations to
Melissa Howard and
Tanner Cummings
of Atlanta, who got
engaged in October.

she was leading in Los Angeles and ew

across the country to meet her. We sat
down for breakfast shortly before she
took the stage to address an auditorium
full of women striving to create more
fullling, communicative relationships
with the men in their lives. In that hour,
we spoke at length about what a transitional time an engagement is, and I
couldnt wait for Alison to share her
lessons with you. Think of it as a painfree relationship boot camp. I hope
you enjoy it!
And while you handle the home front,
its time to start planning the big event.
Resist the urge to buy your dress before
determining your budget and choosing
your venue. A duchesse-satin ball gown
with a crinoline underskirt on the beach
in August? Not ideal. Knowing how
much you have to spend and which
styles are best suited for your location
will help you focus your search for
the dress. Make sure to read this issues
Ultimate Guide to the Budget and
Best Venues in America to get started.
And then, once those two things are settled, go for it! Get out there and enjoy

SHOW US
YOUR
PROPOSAL
PHOTOS!

Use #BridesProposal on an
Instagram of your guy (or
you!) popping the question,
and your pic could be in a
future issue!
86 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 90)

MINOR: DAVID A. LAND; COUPLE: VIC BONVICINI

y number-one piece of advice

to all just-engaged ladies is
to savor your engagement. You
were a single girl for years, and youll
be a wife for decades, but that exciting
time when youre a ance is brief, nite,
and full of anticipation. Its your year
of parties! An engagement celebration,
bridal shower, bachelorette, and
rehearsal dinner could all be held in your
honor, culminating with the biggest
event youve ever thrown. Your wedding
oers the chance to celebrate not only
your relationship but also the friends
and family who have helped shape the
people you two are.
While your engagement is a golden
moment, its also a time when a ridiculous
number of decisions must be made,
money is discussed, and your relationship
should be prioritized, because your
identity as a married couple really starts
now. For that reason, dont miss The
Myth of the Instant Fianc Upgrade,
penned by relationship expert Alison A.
Armstrong. Six months ago, I read her
book The Queens Code and was so blown
away, I tracked her down to a workshop

DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

EDITORS LETTER

Oscar de la Renta, 19322014

the ultimate shopping experience: nding an amazing dress thats totally you.
One fashion titan who understood
the importance of staying true to yourself was Oscar de la Renta. His designs
transformed the most stylish, iconic
women into even more stunning versions
of themselves. He will be missed not
only for his immeasurable contributions
to the fashion and bridal industries but
also for his great philanthropic eorts,
from the orphanage and school that
he built in his native Dominican Republic to his work with New Yorkers for
Children and Childrens Defense Fund.
90 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

So while I started this letter with my best

piece of planning advice, Ill end with
perhaps his best piece of life advice, which
you should hold on to before, during,
and after your engagement: Love. Be
curious. Always try to do your best.

KEIJA MINOR
EDITOR IN CHIEF
@keijaminor

BRIDES .COM

THE LIST

YOUR WEDDING TO-DOSAND WHEN TO DO THEM

8 months before
Hire the caterer, florist,
band/DJ, ceremony musicians, and photographer
and reserve rentals.
Order your wedding
dress if its custom.
Block hotel rooms
for out-of-town guests.
Register.

6 months before
Order bridesmaids
dresses if necessary.
Book the honeymoon.
Shop for wedding bands.
Order invitations.
Send save-the-dates.
Meet with vendors
to talk details.
Choose the getaway car.
Secure wedding-day
transportation for guests
if youll be providing it.

2 weeks before

4 months before

1 week before

Order your cake.

Hire the calligrapher.
Plan the rehearsal dinner.
Choose the grooms and
groomsmens attire.

2 months before
Mark Zunino
for Kleinfeld,
Fall 2015

12 months before
Write up the guest list.
Figure out whos paying
for what.
Set the wedding budget.
Hire a plannerif youre
using one.
Book the ceremony site
and reception venue.

10 months before

6 weeks before
Confirm delivery of
bridesmaids dresses.
Apply for a marriage
license.
Print the programs,
menus, et cetera.

Provide a final head count

to the site and caterer.
Finalize the seating chart.
Give last-minute
requests to vendors.

48 hours before
Pick up your dress.
Write checks due
the day of.
Put vendor tips in
envelopes. Assign the
maid of honor or best man
to distribute them.

Day before
Reconfirm pickup times.
Do last-minute primping
(nails, self-tanning).
Rehearse the ceremony
and go to dinner.
Give gifts to the bridal
party and parents.

Day of
Give rings to the best
man and maid of honor.
Beautify.
Get married. Enjoy!

FERNANDA CALFAT/GETT Y

Choose your officiant.

Go dress shopping.
Set up in-person meetings with potential vendors.
Select the bridal party.
Hire the stationer if
youre going custom.

Have your hair-andmakeup trial.

Buy your wedding dress
if its off-the-rack.
Write vows if you plan to
personalize them.
Finalize the ceremony
with the officiant.
Mail invitations.

Have your final dress

fitting (!).
Submit a shot list
to the photographer.
Send playlists to
the DJ or band.
Pick up your marriage
license.
Update the registry.
Review RSVPs and
contact stragglers.

104 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

GET AN INTERACTIVE TO-DO LIST

CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR WEDDING
DATE AT BRIDES.COM/CHECKLIST.

ASK US ANYTHING
What should
I do with my
gown after
the wedding?

First, sleep on it for a few days, says etiquette

expert Anna Post; it might grow on you.
If not, be honest. Tell him you love what the
ring represents, but youd really go nuts
for, say, a pav band or a princess-cut stone.
Then ask if you can pick out a new one
togetherwithin his price range.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DEVON JARVIS PHOTOGRAPHY; AUDRA WRISLEY

PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF ELIZABETH BOWER (10); GORMAN STUDIO

Im so excited he proposed,
but the ring really isnt
my style. What should I do?

Take it to a cleaner
who specializes
in bridal gowns,
says John Mahdessian of Madame
Paulette, New York
Citys top gownpreservation salon.
A regular dry
cleaner can handle
anything thats
unadorned, but
embellishments will
need to be hand
cleaned. Store your
dress in a climatecontrolled room in
a box lined with
acid-free paper to
prevent yellowing.

I have six best

friends and a tight
budget. Whats a
great affordable
bridesmaids gift?
I love the idea of a custom
address stamp for my thank-you
notes. Where can I find one?
This personalized stamp from Paperfinger
($55; paperfinger.com) is on our wish
list. Your new (or hyphenated, or stayingthe-same) last name will look prettier
than ever in hand-lettered calligraphy.
112 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

One word: jewelry. These

stunning drop earrings
from Elizabeth Bower
(us.elizabethbower.com)
are only $55, and other
styles start at $22. They
come in six colors, so
you can pick a pair that
matches your palette
and they can wear them
to the wedding!
BRIDES .COM

POLL

ADVERTISEMENT

Ready. Set. Plan!

Hear how 136 brides

pulled o every aspect
of their dream wedding
WHAT TASK DID YOU
TACKLE FIRST?

11
%

69

24%

Ive never been more

stressed in my life!

55%

A little
stressful.

DID AT LEAST ONE

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planned the
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120 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

What was most

important to you?
Booking our
dream venue.

The perfect
dress.

Amazing
food.

See our 50
fave venues
on page 392
to find yours.

Killer
music.

Stunning
decor.
Inviting all
my friends.

BRIDES .COM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: GETT Y IMAGES; TED MORRISON; GETT Y IMAGES (2); JOSE VILLA
PHOTOGRAPHY; GRANT CORNETT; AUSTIN EROS. SURVEY DATA COLLECTED FROM 136 WOMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, USING SURVEY MONKEY AUDIENCE

HOW STRESSFUL
WAS PLANNING?

21%

MOST BRIDES
WOULD
SPLURGE ON...

M
G AK
U IN
ES G
T T
LI H
ST E

32
%

SE
BU T T
D ING
G
ET A

FI

N
D
V IN
EN G
U TH
E E

35
%

IF THEY COULD DO IT AGAIN,

GET INSPIRED
GETAWAY Cruise
to Lofoten, Norway,
to see the northern
lightsor just use the
pastel colors of an
Arctic sunset as your
wedding palette.

Stella hanging tea light, Khler Design;

kahlerdesign.com for similar styles.

NORDIC
CHIC

COOL, CLEAN, AND CURRENT,

SCANDINAVIAN STYLE IS A HOT
TREND FOR WINTER WEDDINGS
Matte python
sandals, $1,195,
Paul Andrew;
editorialist.com.

Chanel Le Vernis
Nail Colour in
Secret, $27. Dior
Diorshow Fusion
Mono Long-Wear
Eye Shadow in
Mirror, $31.

Bracelets, from $95 each, Miriam

Salat Jewelry; miriamsalat.com.

140 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Lisianthuses and seeded

eucalyptus, $200, Ariel Dearie
Flowers; arieldearieflowers.com.

Rivini by
Rita Vinieris

Salad plate, $4.95, Crate & Barrel;

crateandbarrel.com. New
Norm dinner plates, from $16
each, Menu; allmodern.com.

NORWAY: JENS FERSTERRA; WOODS: MIGUEL REVERIEGO; RUNWAY: JOHN AQUINO; SHOE AND
BRACELETS: COURTESY OF THE DESIGNERS; OTHER STILL LIFE: NICHOLAS DUERS

TRY THIS TRADITION!

Danish wreath cakes are striking,
delicious, and clairvoyant: Legend
has it that if you lift the top layer
and count the rings that stick to it,
thats the number of kids youll
have! Kransekage cake, from $99,
Larsens Bakery; larsensbakery
.com. Icing, A White Cake by Lauren Bohl White; awhitecake.com.

Lucent, $2,850 for 100, Bliss & Bone; blissandbone.com.

BRIDES .COM

FOR MORE INSPIRED IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING, GO TO BRIDES.COM/PLANNING.

FIRST PERSON

JOSH GAD: Oh hey, Kevin

Hart, from such things as
our new film, The Wedding
Ringer. Congratulations
on your engagement.
KEVIN HART: Thanks, Josh.

In the movie, my movie

really, you play a professional best man. Brides
readers want to know,
have you been a groomsman or best man before,
and how did it go?

JG:

KH: Ive been a best man twice

and given two great speeches.

And though I wasnt the best
man at D-Wades wedding, I
think that my speech bumped
me up to best man. I oored
the room. Tears. Its a talent.
JG: You dropped something
Dwyane Wades name.
Ill pick it up for you. What
does it take to be a good
groomsman, beyond planning the most raucous
bachelor party and looking
good in a tux?
KH: Actually, I think the days

of the wild, crazy bachelor

party are over.
JG: People are starting
to move away from Vegas.
I get a lot of phone calls
now about Costa Rica.
KH: My friends are just doing

dinners and dressing up

and sitting at a lounge and
reminiscing. The female
entertainment that once was
huge? Were over it.
JG: If only the reader could
look into your eyes and see
what a dirty liar you are.

KEVIN HART, WHOS NEWLY ENGAGED,

GETS GRILLED BY JOSH GAD ABOUT
WHATS REALLY ON A GUYS MIND ON
HIS WAY TO I DO
148 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

saying it because my ance

[Eniko Parrish] is in the
room and I want her to let
me have a bachelor party.
JG: What is the biggest
thing about the wedding
that freaks the groom out?
KH: For us, its the guest list,

because you dont want to

leave people out.
JG:

Im coming either way.

KH: If this movie does well,

BRIDES .COM

BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

WHAT IS YOUR
GROOM THINKING?

KH: Its true! Im not just

FIRST PERSON

youre invited. But its the family, the

friends. You cant include everybody. Condensing the guest list is the toughest thing.
JG: Do you think its important for
every groom to have a best man?
KH: Yes, to take the pressure o you. Thats

the best mans job. He looks at you when

youre nervous and sweating, gives you a
thumbs-up, and says, Im proud of you.

How do you think guys really feel

about wedding planning? Do they
get interested in centerpieces and
cake toppers, or do they fake it?

JG:

KH: I dont think guys care, to be honest

with you. But letting the woman know

that you dont care is a mistake. Fake it!
When she asks, Should we go with a
layered cake? say, Thats a tough one.

one year old to 30. I had a harpist. I had a

pianist. Everyone came out from behind
a curtain, and she saw them and started
crying. Then it was dinner and drinks,
and we sang Happy Birthday. And at
the end of it, I proposed.
Im looking at it as you cheaped
out and did two for the price of one
the birthday and the proposal.

JG:

KH: And the reason you do it in front of

other women is because they will forever

be on your side. All of her cousins, sisters,
and friends, if anything ever goes wrong,
they will always back me.
JG: My proposal got stolen. I was
going to ask her on the set of 21, on
camera in the middle of the scene.
Id scripted this whole thing for Kevin
Spacey and the cast to do. Then I got
another job and had to fly home to
L.A., so I had my best friend bring
thousands of rose petals to the house
and line the hallway. She walked in
and was like, Whats going on?
And I proposed in a dark bedroom.

Kevin (right)
plays the best
man and Josh the
groom in The
Wedding Ringer.

KH: Because they realize that everybody

is staring at them and expecting this to be

the best part of the wedding. They think,
Ooooh, this is it, I wonder what hes gonna
say! The toast provides the entertainment
and the icebreaker at the reception, so the
pressure is huge.

I DONT LIKE THAT WOMEN SHRINK DOWN

TO FIT INTO A WEDDING DRESS. WHATEVER
YOU ARE IS WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE.
What are you leaning toward? Layered?
Yeah, I was about to say that.

JG: If you had one piece of advice for

couples, what would it be?

JG: What do you think youre going to

spend the most on?

KH: Less is more. Capitalize that and put it

KH: Entertainment. Im going to line up

JG: Okay, time for the speed round.

KH: The weight loss. I dont like that

a lot of live performers.

women shrink down to t into a wedding

dress and then the day after, they blow
up [laughing]. Let a groom see what hes
going to have. Whatever you are is what
he wants you to be.

JG:

Cool or not cool: cake smashing in each

others faces?

JG: What do you think brides need to

chill out about?

Who are you going to ask?

in bold. Less is more!

KH: Ive already talked to Drake. I want

KH: Not cool.

Maxwell to perform too.

JG: Flash-mob-style dance to Single

Ladies, Blurred Lines, or Dont

Stop Believin?

What do you think grooms need to

chill out about?

If you want me to sing In Summer

from Frozen, Im happy to. Just let me
know. Tell me your proposal story,
because I heard it was epic.

KH: Grooms need to stop thinking about

KH: I used her 30th birthday as a decoy.

the fact that this is the last woman that

they are ever going to be with. That goes
through every mans head. He has to
process that and just accept that this is
it. [To ance] Im ne with that, though,
baby, because I love you!

I was shooting a movie in Atlanta called

Ride Along 2the rst one was a huge successso she thought we were just going
to dinner. I ew out 30 of her family and
friends, put them in a hotel, and rented out
a restaurant. I put up photos of her from

JG:

150 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

JG:

KH: Not cool.

JG: Jell-O shots at the wedding?
KH: Cool. [To ance] Hes talking to me!
JG: Inviting exes to the wedding?
KH: Not cool. Not cool.
JG: A toast that references the brides

or grooms sexual history?

KH: In my case, denitely not cool.

BRIDES .COM

MATT KENNEDY

JG: Why are most groomsmen bad at

toasts, and why do they get so sweaty?

KH: I carried the ring around with me for

two months. I designed it myself, and when
you do that, you are so afraid of her not
liking it. So I asked all of our friends,
What do you think? Is there anything that
you would change? It had to be perfect.

THE DRESS. THE ACCESSORIES.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

BRIDAL FASHION WEEK

runway
report
THE SEASONS MOST STUNNING
STYLES ARE COMING
SOON TO A SALON NEAR YOU!

JP YIM/GETT Y

REEM ACRA

PLUS Engagement rings with serious sparkle page 170 Knockout styles inspired by the red carpet page 172 Chic sashes
to finish your dress page 176 Gorgeous gowns youll love now and forever page 186 Statement earrings that pop page 214
BRIDES .COM

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 165

STYLE

FRINGE
ROSA CLAR

Behind the
scenes
at Carolina
Herrera

NAEEM KHAN

HAYLEY PAIGE

JOHANNA
JOHNSON

INBAL DROR

HOTTEST BRIDAL

Effortlessly
chic is the
vibe of the
season,
says Brides
fashion director Rachel
Leonard. No
matter what
her style,
every bride
wants to feel
comfortable
in her gown.

SEPARATES
REEM ACRA

HAYLEY PAIGE

THEIA

DELPHINE MANIVET

HOUGHTON

THE POWER OF FLOWERS Give your look a floral upgrade

METALLIC
BOUQUET
THEIA

166 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

THREADED-IN
BABYS BREATH
MARCHESA

VINE BELT
REEM
ACRA

CLASSIC CROWN
ELIZABETH
FILLMORE

BRIDES .COM

HERRERA: THOMAS IANNACCONE; FRINGE, FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF ROSA CLAR; JOHN AQUINO; GEORGE
CHINSEE; JOHN AQUINO; GEORGE CHINSEE; SEPARATES, FROM LEFT: THOMAS IANNACCONE; GEORGE CHINSEE;
THOMAS IANNACCONE; JOHN AQUINO (2); FLOWERS, FROM LEFT: THOMAS IANNACCONE (3); STEVE EICHNER

easy
elegance

ANGEL
SANCHEZ

3-D FLOWERS
MONIQUE
LHUILLIER

TEMPERLEY
BRIDAL

VICTORIA
KYRIAKIDES

JIM
HJELM

ISABELLE
ARMSTRONG

3-D FLOWERS, FROM LEFT: GEORGE CHINSEE; THOMAS IANNACCONE (2); GEORGE CHINSEE; HIGH SLITS,
FROM LEFT: JOHN AQUINO; COURTESY OF PRONOVIAS; GEORGE CHINSEE (2); THOMAS IANNACCONE; SHOE:
COURTESY OF DESIGNER; A LINE: JOHN AQUINO

TRENDS OF 2015

HIGH SLITS
JOHANNA JOHNSON

PRONOVIAS

INBAL DROR

much love for

laser cuts
Accessories with
graphic cutouts
were all over the
runways, giving
romantic looks a
little edge.

ALVINA
VALENTA

INES
DI SANTO

A
LINE

RUPERT
SANDERSON

Not too slim and not

too full, this regal
silhouette is back
with a vengeance for a
reason: It flatters
everyone, says Leonard.

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 167

STYLE

DOUBLE
DOWN
WITH A HALO OF PAV
DIAMONDS BELOW
THE SETTING, THESE RINGS
ARE, WELL, BRILLIANT

White diamonds set

in 18-karat rose gold
with Rose de France
center stone, $3,600.

White
diamonds set
in 18-karat
yellow gold
with whitetopaz center
stone, $4,400.

All rings, Suzanne Kalan; Fragments, 212-334-9588.

170 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

KEVIN CREMENS, ST YLING BY

SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

White diamonds set

in 18-karat white gold
with white-topaz
center stone, $4,000.

STYLE

DRESS
LIKE A
SUPERSTAR

SHINE LIKE
A BRIDE!

TAILORED
TROUSERS
Beaded top with
matching pants, $9,980,
Naeem Khan; Bergdorf
Goodman Bridal Salon,
212-872-8957.

AMAL CLOONEY in
STELLA MCCARTNEY

PLUNGING
TULLE
Cotton tulle, $2,400,
Something Blue
Vancouver; bhldn.com.

JENNIFER
LAWRENCE
in OSCAR
DE LA RENTA

CASCADING
TIERS
BELLA
THORNE in
ALBERTA
FERRETTI

172 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Lace overlay with

metallic thread and
beading, $6,820,
Badgley Mischka;
Mariolkas Bridal,
561-735-8633.

FLIRTY LACE
Embroidered silk with
crystal details, $6,320,
Temperley Bridal;
temperleylondon.com.

TO SEE MORE WEDDINGWORTHY RED-CARPET LOOKS,

VISIT BRIDES.COM/CELEBRITY.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PIERRE TEYSSOT/GETT Y; JOHN AQUINO; VENTURELLI/GETT Y; JOHN AQUINO;
THOMAS IANNACCONE; JASON MERRITT/GETT Y; THOMAS IANNACCONE; STEVE GRANITZ/GETT Y

EMMA
STONE in
VALENTINO

ITS A
CINCH

From top: Swarovski-crystal

bow on silk ribbon, $460,
Temperley London; temperley
london.com. Tulle flowers with
beaded leaves on silk-satin
ribbon, $300, Untamed Petals
by Amanda Judge; amanda
judgeny.com. Organza with
rhinestones and pearls on
satin ribbon, $537, A.B. Ellie;
abellie.com. Grosgrain triple
bow, $68, White by Vera
Wang Collection; davidsbridal
.com. Glass and tulle on velvet
ribbon, $60, Jenny Yoo; bhldn
.com. Metal and glass stones
on satin ribbon, $118, Ann
Taylor; anntaylor.com.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR DRESS WITH

A SKINNY (AND SLIMMING!) SASH
176 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

DYAD PHOTOGRAPHY, ST YLING BY WENDY SCHELAH/HALLEY RESOURCES

STYLE

STYLE

LAID-BACK
AND LOVELY
Textured flowers
make this dress
modern. A classic red lip gives
it a little edge.
Organza-over-satin
gown with embroidered lace appliqus, $1,798, David
Tutera for Mon
Cheri; davidtutera
formoncheri.com.
Cardigan, TSE;
tsecashmere.com.

DRESSES WE LOVE
THESE SUPER-CHIC STYLES ARE ON TREND AND TOTALLY TIMELESS
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARCUS MAM
STYLING BY TURNER

186 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 192)

STYLE
FRESH CROP
Flirty, formal,
and just the right
amount of sexy,
this chic twopiece is made
for dancing.
Crop top with
organza skirt, $1,150,
Galina Signature
Collection; davids
bridal.com. Jacket,
Rebecca Minkoff;
866-838-6991.
Earrings and bracelets, Wanderluster;
wanderlusternew
york.com. Ring, Artcarved; artcarved
bridal.com. Sunglasses, Cutler
and Gross; cutler
andgross.com.

192 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 196)

STYLE

BIASED IN YOUR FAVOR

THE MULTITASKER

Warning: curves ahead. A fitted bustier, cinched waist,

and fluted skirt let you channel your inner screen siren.

Thanks to a gorge embroidered illusion back and a glam

jeweled neckline, this fit-and-flare makes a statement whether
youre walking up or down the aisle.

Satin gown with fabric button details, $1,099, Stella York; stellayork.com.
Coat, Michael Kors; michaelkors.com. Bracelet, Lady Grey; ladygrey
jewelry.com. Ring, Christopher Designs; christopherdesigns.com.

196 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Lace gown with jewel neckline and illusion back, $1,680, Lillian West;
lillianwest.com. Earrings, Forevermark by Rahaminov; forevermark.com.

(continued on page 200)

STYLE

BLUE STREAK
Its not every
day you have an
excuse to rock
a tulle skirt. Pair
a baby-blue one
with a metallic
sweater for your
shower, rehearsal
dinner, or cityhall wedding.
Sweater, Maje;
maje.com. Tulle skirt,
$350, Synderela;
by special order,
synderela.com.
Shoes, Jimmy Choo;
jimmychoo.com.

200 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 206)

STYLE

AMAZING LACE
From the scalloped sweetheart neckline
to the delicate
embroidered
details, this
streamlined
sheath is simply
stunning.
Lace gown, $1,800,
Nicole Miller; 212219-1825. Headpiece, Ellen Christine
Couture; Anna Bella
Florals, 843-3273477. Earrings, Thea
Grant; theagrant
.com. Rings (on left),
Arme De LAmour;
net-a-porter.com.
Engagement ring,
Artcarved; artcarved
bridal.com. Bracelet,
Catbird; catbird
nyc.com.

206 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 210)

STYLE

PRIMA BALLERINA

CLEAN CUT

Love a mini? Try a flirty ballet-inspired look thats equal

parts sweet and sexy. To maintain that balance, wear with
ballet flats (and a fur jacket, obvs).

This minimalist satin ball gown proves you dont need

sparkle to bring the drama, and the elongating drop waist is
especially great for a short-torsoed bride. Plus: pockets!

Pleated tulle dress with lace appliqus, $1,600, Rafael Cennamo

White; rafaelcennamo.com. Coat, Adrienne Landau; by special order,
212-695-8362. Earrings and bracelet, Thea Grant; theagrant.com.

Pleated satin ball gown, $1,150, Truly Zac Posen; davidsbridal.com. Coat,
Burberry London; burberry.com.

HAIR Nathan Rosenkranz/Alterna Hair Care/Brydges Mackinney

MAKEUP Quinn Murphy/Giorgio Armani Beauty/The Wall Group
NAILS Casey Herman/Chanel Le Vernis/Kate Ryan Inc.
PROP STYLING Christopher Stone/Halley Resources

210 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

HEAD TO BRIDES.COM/DRESSES FOR MORE GORGEOUS GOWNS.

STYLE

KEVIN CREMENS, ST YLING BY THOM DRIVER/HALLEY RESOURCES

Eighteen-karatwhite-gold earrings
with pink sapphires
and diamonds,
price upon request,
Deville Fine
Jewelry; deville
finejewelry.com.

WE HAVE
BUTTERFLIES

DANGLY EARRINGS WITH FLORAL DETAILS TURN

ANY PARTY INTO A GARDEN PARTY!
214 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

YOUR BEST HAIR, MAKEUP, BODYEVER

YOUR BOUQUET
IS MOSTLY

LILY OF
THE
VALLEY

GREG MARINO, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

Carried by Kate
Middleton and
Grace Kelly, this
flower has a
strong green
scent that pairs
nicely with
orange flower,
freesia, and
jasmine. Try Jo
Malone English
Pear & Freesia
Cologne, $120;
Giorgio Armani
Acqua di Gioia,
$77; or Diptyque LEau de
Nroli, $98.

your other
bouquet
O

f course you should carry your favorite blooms down the aisle! But what if they
clash with your big-day scent? At your wedding, you want everyone to enjoy
each other without tension, and the same goes for your flowers and fragrance,
says perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. You need to find notes that are harmonious. So
which ones will complement your bouquet best? Heres the leau down.

PLUS The secret to mastering a perfect blowout at home page 236 How to wear high heels for hours without the
pain page 238 Red-carpet makeup tricks to steal page 240 Drew Barrymores wedding-day beauty tips page 244
BRIDES .COM

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 229

YOUR BOUQUET IS MOSTLY

GREG MARINO, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

BEAUTY

Garden roses

These classic buds come in every color, and their scent

is just as varied. They can smell fruity or green, spicy
or musky, says Kurkdjian. Your fail-safe complements?
Notes of violet, iris, and citrus. Try Maison Francis
Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis, $177; Herms Iris Ukiyo,
$245; or Tom Ford Violet Blonde, $110.
230 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 234)

BEAUTY

YOUR BOUQUET
IS MOSTLY

Peonies

These fluffy,
feminine blooms
give off a fresh
citrusy scent
that works well
with hyacinth,
wisteria, or leafy
green notes,
Kurkdjian says.
Try Raymond
Matts Maiaday
Aura de Parfum,
$200; Carven
LEau de Toilette,
$105; or Marc
Jacobs Daisy
Dream, $76.

One word: diuse.

After spritzing your
wrists and neck,
spray some in your
hair and into the air
just above your train
and gown. (It will
land on the fabric,
so be sure to try a
test patch rst.) Your
fragrance will waft
beautifully for hours.

234 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

GREG MARINO, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

PS: Heres How

to Make It Last

BEAUTY

5 STEPS TO THE

PERFECT
BLOWOUT
Celebrity stylist Mark
Townsend helps you
get smooth and sexy
hairevery time

Prep. After washing and

conditioning, apply a
leave-in product as soon
as you get out of the
shower. If you have fine hair,
boost volume with a mousse
from roots to ends. Thick or
curly texture? Work a smoothing cream or lotion through.
If you have chemically straightened hair, use an oil.

2
3

Smooth it. Grab a

round brush with a mix
of boar and plastic
bristles and attach the
nozzle to your blow-dryer.
Section off the top of your hair.
(Your arms will get tired, so
you want to blow out the visible hair first, says Townsend.)
Start with the brush at your
roots and the dryer aimed at
it, and move slowly through a
two-inch section down to the
ends. If youre after volume,
pull upward at the roots. If
youre going super sleek, pull
downward. Repeat until the
section is smooth, then move
on to the next one, continuing
over your entire head.

Straighten it. Once

hair is dry, go over
any kinks or tough-toreach spots, like the
nape of your neck, with a flatiron. If you have chemically
straightened hair, dont let
the dial top 300 degrees; any
hotter can fry fragile strands.

236 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Finish it off. Mist a

silicone spray into
your palms, rub your
hands together, and
rake them through the bottom
half of your hair. We like John
Frieda Frizz Ease 100% Shine
Glossing Mist, $6.99. To stay
flyaway free, spritz flexiblehold hairspray onto a brush
and run it very lightly over
the entire style, crown to ends.
Your guy should be able
to touch it, says Townsend.
Theres nothing sexy about
crunchy hair.

Clockwise from left: Krastase

Nectar Thermique smoothing lotion, $43. Phyto Huile
Suprme smoothing oil, $40.
Dove Oxygen Moisture
Leave In Foam, $5.99. Infiniti
Pro by Conair 3Q blow-dryer,
$120. Regina B. hair comb,
$175. Bumble and Bumble
round brush, $85.

BRIDES .COM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PATRIC SHAW; COURTESY OF CONAIR;

JEFFREY WESTBROOK; COURTESY OF BUMBLE AND BUMBLE

Do a rough dry.
Start with just fingers
and a blow-dryer until
hair is 80 percent dry.
(Flip your head over if you
want more volume.)

BEAUTY

SOLE
SURVIVORS

KEEP YOUR FEET PRETTY AND PAIN FREE

FROM THE CEREMONY TO THE LAST DANCE

BRIDE CAN BE ON HER FEET FOR EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT,

so choose your shoes wisely. Elongated shapes and wide toe boxes will cut
down on pinching, as will a moderate heel; two and a half inches is the
highest most women can comfortably wear for several hours, says New York
City podiatrist Suzanne Levine. But that doesnt mean stilettos are olimits. Slip on your killer four-inchers to walk down the aisle, then switch to
a pair of lower heels or bedazzled ats for the reception. If you vary your
heel height during the day, youre less likely to get blisters, she says.
Above all, get measured by an experienced salesperson to make sure
your dream shoes actually t before you buy them. Says Levine,
I cant tell you how many people end up in my oce simply because
theyre wearing the wrong size shoes!

HIGH-HEEL HELPERS
SOFTEN UP The night before the
wedding, give yourself a foot
facial to leave feet smooth and
callus free. Soak in warm water,
exfoliate with a pumice stone,
apply a urea-based moisturizer,
and slough off dry patches with a
glycolic-acid treatment.
TRY Eucerin Intensive Repair
Foot Creme, $4.69, and DCL AHA
Glycolic Acid Pads, $42.
238 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRING IN
REINFORCEMENTS
Even if you dont
think you need them,
stick cushiony
insoles in your
shoes to protect the balls
of your feet.
TRY Foot Petals
Tip Toes, $6.95.

HALT BLISTERS If your

shoes start to rub, put
on a Band-Aid immediately to help prevent
a blister from forming.
Or for a less visible fix,
swipe an allantoin balm
on the trouble spot to
reduce chafing.
TRY Sole Goddess Blister
Protection Foot Balm, $19.

NUMB THE PAIN Throw

a foot-numbing cream
or spray in your day-of
clutch and apply it the
minute your soles start
to ache. The best ones
contain lidocaine, which
can ease pain for up to
three hours.
TRY Pillows for Your Feet
Stiletto Rx Foot Spray, $25.

BRIDES .COM

SHOE: YASU + JUNKO/JUDY CASEY, ST YLING BY SONIA

RENTSCH/APOSTROPHE; HELPERS: JEFFREY WESTBROOK

TIP Practice walking

in your shoes before the
big day, and gently
scuff the bottoms with
a Brillo pad to avoid
slipping. Lace pumps,
$1,190, Oscar de la Renta;
oscardelarenta.com.

BEAUTY
Olivia Wilde

LIGHTS, CAMERA,
GORGEOUS!
FOUR CELEBRITY
MAKEUP ARTISTS
SPILL THEIR
BIG-DAY TRICKS

Jessica
Biel

PRIME YOUR CANVAS

For a radiant look, New York
makeup artist Daniel Martin
starts with a moisturizing
or brightening mask before
applying base. Then he
follows with a water-based
foundation to create a dewy
finish. Try Garnier Skin
Renew mask ($17) and Koh
Gen Do Aqua Foundation
($62), Martins fave!

PERFECT YOUR BROWS

Makeup artist Nick Barose,
who has prettied up Lupita
Nyongo and Beyonc, fills
in brows with a fine-tipped
Lancme pencil, then swipes
on a waterproof gel from
Make Up for Ever to keep
hairs in place, reapplying it
halfway through long events.
KISS-PROOF THOSE LIPS
Both brides and A-listers
have better things to worry
about than lipstick touchups, so Martin will often use
240 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

LAYER YOUR BLUSH

Makeup artist Kayleen
McAdams, who works with
Sofa Vergara and Jessica
Biel, blends cream blush on
the apples of the cheeks,
then sweeps a similar
powder blush over it. Try
the CK One blush duo with
both cream and powder.

From top: CK
One Colour
Cream + Powder
Blush Duo in
Breath, $25. Shu
Uemura Face
Powder Matte,
$39. Lancme
Les Sourcils
Definis pencil,
$26. Make Up
for Ever Aqua
Brow, $20. CoverGirl Outlast
Lipstain in Teasing Blush, $7.29.
Kre-at Beauty
Sweet Individual Lashes, $18.
Urban Decay
All Nighter, $30.

PICK THE RIGHT POWDER

Remember that shot of Angelina Jolie at a movie premiere
last year with white splotches
on her face? Avoid her fate by
skipping anything labeled
high definition, says Martin.
Thats made for video, but
flash photography can cause
the powders silica to appear
bright white. Instead, choose
one thats a hint more yellow
than your skin to add warmth.
KEEP YOUR MAKEUP IN
PLACE To stop foundation
from doing a disappearing
act, spritz a setting spray
over your makeup. Our pros
couldnt stop raving about the
one by Urban Decay. Its like
hairspray for your face, says
Martin. I used it on Jessica
Alba when we were shooting
on the beach, in the humidity
and salt sprayand her
makeup didnt budge!
BRIDES .COM

STILL LIFE: JEFFREY WESTBROOK; BIEL: DAVID LIVINGSTON/GETT Y

UP YOUR LASH GAME

The right falsies make your
eyes look bigger and more
definedespecially in pictures. Using individual lashes
is key, says makeup artist
Andrew Sotomayor, who
works with Jennifer Lawrence
and Olivia Wilde. Alternate
different lengths to mimic
natural ones, he says. His
secret weapon: Kre-at Beautys individual-lash kit, which
comes with three lengths.

a longer-lasting stain. Try

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain for
lightweight, goop-free color
that holds strong through
countless champagne sips.

BEAUTY

Stila Sheer
Color Tinted
Moisturizer
SPF 20, $34.

Ask
Drew

Q I really hate foundation, but everyones

telling me I should wear it for my wedding.
Are there any products you like that will
even out my skin without making me look
like a different person?
Q Can we talk
pores for a second?
Mine are huge!
How can I unclog
them without
getting extractions?
Use a toner. I like Kiehls;
the company has one for
each skin type. Toner will
help tighten pores and
keep them clean. Another
thing Ive learned is that
the order in which you wash
your face and apply your
products can help protect
your skin. First, cleanse
your face. Second, use your
toner. Third, moisturize.
Fourth, apply your makeup.
Each layer acts as the proper
barrier to the next one. I
always do this, and it really
helps. One more gamechanging tip: No matter
how tired you are, wash your
face before bed!
244 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Im with you: I do not like, nor have I ever liked, full-coverage

foundation. Try applying concealer under your eyes and
over blemishes, followed by a good tinted moisturizer to
even out your overall complexion. (You can use your hands
or a brush.) Stila, Laura Mercier, and my company, Flower
Beauty, all make great ones that are foolproof and easy to
apply and let you still be you.

Q Im wearing a really classic dress

with my hair up. Whats a great updo that
feels current?
One way to make any
style feel special and
very now is to add a
braid detail. You can do
a soft one across your
head like a headband or
a tucked-in fishtail, or
work a thick braid into a
chignon. As for placement, I love a topknot, a
ballerina bun (which is
a bit further back), or a
chic low bun. Go with
whatevers flattering
to your features. There
are endless combinations, so just play before
the big day.

HAVE A BRIDAL BEAUT Y QUESTION? EMAIL ASKDREW@BRIDES.COM!

PORTRAIT: DOUG INGLISH/BRYDGES MACKINNEY, HAIR BY JOHN D./STARWORKS ARTISTS, MAKEUP BY DEBRA FERULLO/ TRACEY
MATTINGLY, ST YLING BY JESSICA DE RUITER/ THE WALL GROUP, MANICURE BY DEBBIE LEAVITT/NAILING HOLLY WOOD; OTHERS,
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JEFFREY WESTBROOK; COURTESY OF STILA; WWW.MISSYSUE.COM; JONATHAN K ANTOR/GETT Y

BRIDES BEAUTY COLUMNIST

DREW BARRYMOREACTRESS,
PRODUCER, AND FOUNDER
OF FLOWER BEAUTYANSWERS
YOUR QUESTIONS

CREATIVE IDEAS. INSIDER ADVICE. SO MUCH INSPIRATION.

take your pick

A oral escort-card display looks equally pretty in a ballroom in
February or a botanical garden in June. Have your girls wear
them in their hair and guys on their lapels, or leave an empty bud
vase at each place setting to see the room in full bloom!

ST YLIST: SONIA RENTSCH/APOSTROPHE

PHOTOGRAPH BY YASU + JUNKO

Peonies, dahlias, and roses,

from $60 for 12 stems, Flower
Muse; flowermuse.com.
Calligraphy, $2.50 per card,
Papersoul; papersoul.co.

PLUS Three chic palettes page 256

for your bottom line page 306

BRIDES .COM

Tips from a top photographer page 292 Ways to display wedding pics page 298 Bouquets
All about the officiant page 326 Save-the-dates for your party page 330 Budget 101 page 340

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 255

DETAILS

PICK YOUR PALETTE

RUNWAY: COURTESY OF BADGLEY MISCHK A; OUTDOORS: PHOTO PINK; ALL

OTHERS: NICHOLAS DUERS, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

AMETHYST
&BLUSH

BADGLEY
MISCHKA

1 SOAPS $14 each, Zador Hungary Ltd.; carbon

beauty.com. 2 BRIDESMAIDS DRESS $260, Jenny Yoo;
bhldn.com. 3 CAKE $11 per slice (serves 60), Nine
Cakes; ninecakes.com. 4 EARRINGS $58, Erickson

Beamon Rocks; ericksonbeamonrocks.com.

5 INVITATION Parker Letterpress, $1,250 for 100
sets, Bella Figura; bellafigura.com. 6 BOUQUET $200,
Michael George Flowers; michaelgeorgeflowers.com.

256 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

DETAILS

PICK YOUR PALETTE

EMERALD
&AQUA

1 ESCORT-CARD PENNANT BANNER From $5 per pennant,

Cheree Berry Paper; chereeberrypaper.com. 2 INVITATION

RUNWAY: COURTESY OF TRACY REESE; POOL: WILLIAM WALDRON; ALL OTHERS:

NICHOLAS DUERS, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

Ombr, $3,900 for 100 hand-calligraphed sets, Fleur de

Letters; fleurcalligraphy.com. 3 BRIDESMAIDS DRESS $200,
J.Crew; jcrew.com. 4 PALM-LEAF COOKIES $9 each, Wildflour
Baking Co.; wildflourfbc.com. 5 BOUQUET $300, Michael
George Flowers; michaelgeorgeflowers.com. 6 NECKLACE
$175, ABS by Allen Schwartz; bloomingdales.com.

TRACY
REESE

258 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

DETAILS

MONIQUE
LHUILLIER

PICK YOUR PALETTE

CORAL
&GOLD
1 MAGNETIC VASES $48 for five, DCI; shop.dcigift.com.
2 MENU $250 for 100, Thimblepress; thimblepress
.com. 3 HAND-PAINTED PLACE CARDS $9 each, Bernard

RUNWAY: COURTESY OF MONIQUE LHUILLIER; TABLE: JENNA HENDERSON;

ALL OTHERS: NICHOLAS DUERS, ST YLING BY SHARON RYAN/HALLEY RESOURCES

Maisner Calligraphy & Fine Stationery; bernard

maisner.com. 4 BRIDESMAIDS DRESS $230, Jim Hjelm
Occasions; jlmcouture.com. 5 SHOES $398, Diane von
Furstenburg; nordstrom.com. 6 CHINA Tresor, $760
for a five-piece place setting, Raynaud; devinecorp.net.

262 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

FOR MORE WEDDING COLOR PALETTES,

VISIT BRIDES.COM/COLORPALETTES.

DETAILS

PLAN LIKE A PRO

PHOTOGRAPHER
The biggest name in wedding pics, Jose Villa,
shares his tried-and-true rules for your most
photogenic day ever
Before hiring your photographer, ask yourself two things: One, can he handle a dim-lit

room? And, two, is he nice? A wedding is a living, breathing, unpredictable thing. He has to
be very go-with-the-ow and technically consistent no matter what. Vet him in person, and
look at full galleriesnot just his greatest hits.
I prefer outdoor weddings, but if youre inside, heres the
secret to album-worthy photos: Get the space as close to

daylight as possible, and add some candles for warmth. Avoid

color gels in your lighting, especially if they change throughout
the night; even yellow and orange are too warm. People wont
photograph well.
Try an unplugged wedding. Send an enclosure with the
invite asking guests to power oat least during the ceremony.
Its awesome not to have to tell them to put down their phones
and stop Instagramming so I can get the picture!
Consider booking a boudoir shoot. Ive shot brides wearing
lingerie, a veil, or nothing at all. Most are in the best shape of their
lives for their wedding, and the portraits are beautiful. It helps, of
course, that Im gay. Your boobs just dont excite me that way!
Rent a well-lit, crazy-fun, propped-out photo booth. Especially if you are hosting a formal aair because it breaks the ice.

The key to
capturing
an authentic
moment? Soft,
natural light
and a simple
background.
And motion!

Have your photographer show up an hour before gettingready shots. He can snap your invite, preferably on a set of table

linens. Please dont make him iron them for you!

many times Ive moved suitcases and furniture out of the way.
If youre shy, a 20-minute rst look session is a good idea.

Youll feel more relaxed in front of the camera later. After that,
my ideal time line is a 30-minute ceremony two hours before
sunset, followed by couple portraits in private, family pics, and
lots of photos of cocktail hour as the sun sets.
Know how to pose. Turn toward the center of the frame. Dont
drop your chin. Relax your shoulders. Bend one knee, and hold
the bouquet at your hips. Breathe! Got all that? Youll look gorge!
Avoid color pics of the dance oor. Late night, things can get
messy: Hair comes down, people sweat. Switch to black and white
so everything looks a bit more timeless. As told to Jaimie Schoen

JOSES SHORT LIST

THE PRIMP PLAN

THE HOT
ACCESSORY
FOR YOUR GUY

Besides
a Rolex? A
ginormous
Tom Ford
bow tie.
292 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

THE SLICE OF HEAVEN My abso-

lute favorite thing at a wedding

is cakeabove all, red velvet.

Your updo will

fall, your lips
will crack, so
arm your MOH
with bobby
pins, hairspray,
and gloss.
Touch up early
and often!

THE DANCE-PARTY MUST

Cyndi Laupers Girls Just

Wanna Have Fun is my jam.

BRIDES .COM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JOSE VILLA; ELIZABETH MESSINA; BARRY KING/WIREIMAGE;
COURTESY OF YSL; ANTONIS ACHILLEOS PHOTOGRAPHY; GORMAN STUDIO. BOW TIE, $250,
TOM FORD; 888-866-3673. Y VES SAINT LAURENT GLOSS VOLUPT IN ROSE ORFEVRE, $32.

And be sure you get ready in a neat room. I cant tell you how

DETAILS
LOCKET
Gold-plated, $128,
Gorjana; shopbop.com.

BEYOND THE
WHITE ALBUM
Big-day photos as epic as yours should be on display.
Here are six cool ways to show o your favorites.

INSTAGRAM
ALBUM
Minibook,
$12, Social
Print Studio;
socialprint
studio.com.

UPPER RIGHT: COURTESY OF SOCIAL PRINT STUDIO; OTHER PRODUCTS:

DYAD PHOTOGRAPHY, ST YLING BY JOHN OLSON/HALLEY RESOURCES; PHOTOS ON TRAY, LOCKET, BOX (BOTTOM),
AND MAGNETS: COURTESY OF SIMPLY BLOOM PHOTOGRAPHY LLC; PHOTO IN BOX (TOP): ANNIE MCELWAIN

DECOUPAGE TRAY
Custom tray, from $178,
Kaas GlassWorks; kaas.com.

LINEN ALBUM
Hardcover photo book, from $69,
Artifact Uprising; artifactuprising.com.
MAGNETS
Jigsaw magnets,
$15, Sticky 9;
sticky9.com.

JEWELRY BOX
Medium ultimate
box, $2,550, Anya
Hindmarch; us.anya
hindmarch.com.
298 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

DETAILS

SPLURGE
Delphiniums,
Caf au Lait
dahlias, Keira
garden roses,
ranunculus,
and sweet peas.

$325

PREPPY BLUES

SPLURGE VS. SAVE

BOUQUETS

For a nautical look, mix

blue flowers like delphiniums
into a white bouquet. Or
do less-expensive local
tweedia and hydrangeas,
which add tons of volume
for not a lot of cash.
Meredith Perez, Belle Fleur

YASU + JUNKO. ALL RIBBONS, M&J TRIMMING; MJTRIM.COM.

FIVE TOP FLORISTS CREATED LOOK-ALIKE DESIGNS AT

TWO DIFFERENT PRICES. WHICH ONE WILL YOU STEAL?

SAVE
Hydrangeas,
tweedia, Vendela
roses, astilbes,
sweet peas, and
freesia.

$200
306 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 310)

DETAILS SPLURGE VS. SAVE

VINTAGE
REDS
SPLURGE
Gospel and Yves Piaget
garden roses, chocolate
cosmos, sarracenias,
blushing bride proteas,
spray roses, dahlias, wild
grapes, and snowberries.

$250

A burgundy bouquet
with grapes is perfect for
wine-country vows. To
cut costs, replace garden
roses with lush, layered
dahlias and carnations.
Brittany Asch, BRRCH

SAVE
Dahlias, Gospel garden
roses, hurricane carnations,
chocolate cosmos, spray
roses, wild grapes, and
snowberries.

$150

SPLURGE
Juliet garden
roses, ranunculus,
Falda lisianthuses,
snowberries,
and andromeda.

$250
310 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Apricot garden roses

and ranunculus create a
romantic vibe. If theyre
out of your budget, carry
a clutch with lots of superruffled soft-peach Falda
lisianthuses instead.
Amy Gardella,
Seaport Flowers

SAVE
Falda lisianthuses,
snowberries,
and andromeda.

$150
(continued on page 316)

YASU + JUNKO

CREAMY
PASTELS

DETAILS SPLURGE VS. SAVE

SOFT
WHITES
SPLURGE
Anemones, blushing
bride proteas, Patience
garden roses, majolica
spray roses, lisianthuses,
sweet peas, and Japanese andromeda.

$250

Nothings more elegant

than graphic white blooms
with greenery. Black-eyed
anemones are pricey, so
consider subbing in nigellas
and swapping out garden
roses for standard ones.
Tassy de Give,
Sprout Home

SAVE
Snowball roses,
nigellas, majolica
spray roses,
and sweet peas.

$150

SPLURGE
Japanese gloriosa
lilies, parrot tulips,
ranunculus, cosmos,
and yarrow.

$350
316 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Spring I dos are all about

color. Try ranunculus for
pops of fuchsia, or get the
effect for less with Persian
carpet zinnias. To cut costs
further, skip statement
stems like star-shaped
gloriosa lilies imported
from Japan.
Kathleen Hyppolite,
Kat Flower

SAVE
Cosmos, Persian
carpet zinnias,
ranunculus, parrot
tulips, and yarrow.

$225
NEXT ISSUE: SPLURGE VS. SAVE, SHOES EDITION!

YASU + JUNKO

WILD
BRIGHTS

DETAILS

Will You
Marry Us?

The officiant is your

master of ceremony
literally. Consider your options before deciding
who should do your I dos.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

HOW IT WORKS A JP is simply a layperson licensed to perform
marriage ceremoniesa good option for the nonreligious
and your only option at city hall. To find one, visit a site like
findajp.com. (Getting married abroad? Do the JP thing
stateside first so you dont have to deal with foreign red tape.)
FEE It varies, but $75 to $150 is typical.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN A good JP will want to meet in advance
and personalize the ceremony. You and your groom should
tell her your favorite story about the other privately, says
Utah-based planner Michelle Leo. Then have her tell both
stories from the podium. At city hall, the ceremony can be
tailored with self-written vows and other personal touches,
depending on local rules and how busy the office is that day.

CLERGY MEMBER

FRIEND OR RELATIVE
HOW IT WORKS Someone you know and love gets ordained
as a minister and performs your ceremony, guaranteeing it will
feel personal. But whether you ask your cousin, camp friend,
or SoulCycle instructor, she should be at least 18, be comfortable with public speaking, and have her shit together, says
San Francisco planner Amy Nichols. Attorneys are great; they
dont crack under pressure. Make sure your pal gets certified
by a reputable organization, like the Universal Life Church

Actress Amy
Smart, her
groom, Carter
Oosterhouse,
and their
yogi officiant

(themonastery.org) or the American Marriage Ministries

(theamm.org). And double-check your states rules: Some
require her to do it at least one month before the big day.
FEE Ordination is free, but you can offer to pay for a printed
certificate to commemorate her contributionfrom $8 to $260.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN You can tailor this ceremony however
you want, but grab a good guidebook to create a framework.
(We like The Wedding Ceremony Planner: The Essential Guide
to the Most Important Part of Your Wedding Day, by Judith
Johnson.) Want to take the sweetness up a notch? On your
programs, print the asking of intention and pronouncement
portions of the ceremony, and have your guests join in,
says planner Hallie Slade, of L.A.s La Bohme events. The
sound of hundreds of people pronouncing you husband
and wife is so moving. Courtney Balestier

TIP Throwing an interfaith affair? When hiring two officiants, designate

one to be the lead, and be sure she signs the marriage license. Not all houses
of worship are cool with a tag-team ceremony, so ask early.
326 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

HARRISON STUDIO

HOW IT WORKS Reverend or rabbi, priest or pandit, when

you choose a religious official to perform your ceremony,
theres a good chance shes done this a few times and can run
the show (and calm your wedding-day nerves). Shes also
recognized by the state, so theres little danger of a paperwork
mishap. Most religions allow clergy to marry nonmembers, but
some require premarital counseling or holding the ceremony
in a house of worship (instead of in your nanas backyard).
FEE The donation range is $200 to $1,500.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN Religious rituals tend to go by the book,
but you can usually tweak some parts (to remove hints of
sexism, for example) and choose your own music. Try bringing
in a childrens choir or a friend with great pipes, says Calder
Clark, a South Carolina planner. We once had a gorgeous
male guest stand up from the crowd and sing Amazing Grace,
and everyone lost their minds! she says.

DETAILS

Combine refined design with

digital deliveryand youll
save on postage! Custom
Web file, $50, Stephanie Fishwick Calligraphy & Illustration;
stephaniefishwick.com.

If youre looking for

understated elegance,
here it is, on a little gold
pedestal. Alice, $520
for 100, Haute Papier
Collections; hautepapier
.com. Easel, $8.95 each
for a similar style, Papyrus; papyrusonline.com.

CATHY CRAWFORD, ST YLING BY SARAH GUIDO/HALLEY RESOURCES

Cant decide on just one pic from your

engagement shoot? Add up to six more on
the back. Modern Date, $163 for 100,
Waldo Press; minted.com. Vintage stamps,
price upon request, Darling One; etsy.com.

YOURE
INVITED!

The save-the-date is the rst hint to guests

about the kind of event youre planning. Will
yours be a far-ung aair? A black-tie bash?
Here, our faves to get the party started.
330 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

A modern font and a delicate foliage

motif convey the rustic grace of a
woodsy wedding. Viridian, price upon
request, Venamour; venamour.com.

BRIDES .COM

DETAILS SAVE-THE-DATES
Start the toasts early
with a pretty bottle of
bubbly. Box mailers,
bottle labels, and
filling, from $800 for
100, Papellerie;
papellerie.com.

Tell guests to start packing for

destination I dos with a bright
leather luggage tag. $925
for 100, Atheneum Creative;
atheneumcreative.com.

If youre obsessed with your reception

venue, put it front and center. Hayley
and Jesse, from $400 for 100, Lilly &
Louise; lillyandlouise.com.

For a sophisticated photo

card, pair a
cinematic blackand-white shot
with a vibrant
liner. Truffaut,
$105 for 100,
Paperless Post;
paperless
post.com.

Made for Spotify junkies with

champagne taste, this vinyl-inspired
mailer comes with a downloadable
custom playlist. Yay, dance party!
Flat-printed sleeve and record, including playlist via QR code, from $17
each, Ceci New York; cecinewyork.com.

332 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

CHECK OUT MORE AT BRIDES.COM/SAVETHEDATE.

PRODUCTS: CATHY CRAWFORD, ST YLING BY SARAH GUIDO/HALLEY RESOURCES;

LILLY & LOUISE IMAGE: JOSE VILLA

Nothing says garden wedding like a plantable

card that blooms into wildflowers. Card
on seed-embedded paper, $750 for 100,
Belle & Union Co.; belleandunion.com.

DETAILS

BUDGET

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE

FIND YOUR
BOTTOM
LINE
Before you haggle over
the guest list or hunt down
your perfect venue, youll
need to determine your total
wedding budget. These days,
69 percent of couples pay for
part or all of their big day,
so chances are your gure will
be a combination of:
Your savings, minus
your emergency and
retirement funds.
(Dont touch those!)

Any contributions
from your parents or
other loved ones.

DO THE MATH! THE FIRST STEP IN PLANNING YOUR

WEDDING IS SETTING YOUR BUDGET. HERES HOW
TO START CRUNCHING THOSE NUMBERS.
BY REBECCA WEBBER

340 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Is the total a little lower than

youd like? No matter how
tempted you are to boost your
budget with plastic, dont.
Making minimum payments
on a credit card can be ferociously expensive, doubling
the price by the time you pay
it o, says Manisha Thakor,
author of Get Financially
Naked: How to Talk Money with
Your Honey. So that $500
statement necklace could cost
you a cool grand in the end.
BRIDES .COM

MEREDITH JENKS. STATISTICS SOURCE: 2014 AMERICAN WEDDING STUDY

10 percent of your
current monthly
income, or whatever
portion youre comfortable putting toward
the wedding without
going into debt.

AP
/V
HY
ID

AT
T

IRE

HY

NG

AP

/B

EA
UT

IS YOUR DREAM VENUE

(OR THAT DRESS, OR
IMPORTED PEONIES)
NONNEGOTIABLE
FOR YOU? IF IT PUTS
YOU OVER BUDGET,
JUST CUT DOWN IN
ANOTHER AREA THAT
MATTERS LESS TO YOU.

6%
MUSIC

6% GS
RIN

E
5%LOW

RS

MIS

U
2%CELLANEO

DECOR

2%

CAKE

2%

E RY
S TATION

3%

NSP

TR A

3%

OR

TAT
IO

/G
I

FT

FA %
VO
RS

The average wedding costs around

$30,000 and has
about 150 guests.
Use this chart as a
rough guide and
adjust according to
your priorities.
Hiring a planner? A
day-of coordinator
can charge $1,500
and up, while an
event designer will
cost around 10 percent of your budget.

DI

GR

BREAK
DOWN
YOUR
BUDGET

ED

EO

9%

45%

VENUE/CATERING

% GR
12HOTO

DETAILS ULTIMATE GUIDE

SET UP YOUR
SPREADSHEET

WATCH OUT FOR THESE

HIDDEN COSTS

To track your spending every step of the way,

do what wedding planners do and create
an Excel workbook or Google Doc. Here are the
elements to include:

Postage for invitations

Typical invites need
about $1.19 each. Weigh
yours before mailing
them to ensure your
stamps cover it.
Taxes and gratuities
They can add up to 28
percent to your venue
and catering bills. Make
sure to check which
vendors include a gratuity and which will need
extra on the big day.
Plating, cake-cutting,
and corkage fees
Bringing in a caterer,
cake, or booze from
outside? Your venue
could charge you
a few hundred extra.
Extra staff Saying
yes to that roast beef
carving station will
mean shelling out for
another chef or waiter,
says Atlanta planner
Sarah Chancey.

1 Down the side of your document, break each category

into its components costs. For example, under Brides attire,
make line items for the dress, accessories, and alterations.
2 Fill in columns with essential information. Every

spreadsheet should include vendor contact information,

estimated cost, actual cost, additional service fees
and tips, transportation and parking costs for o-site
vendors, and taxes.
3 Create a line for your grand total, and use the auto-sum

function to add things up as you go.

STILL STUMPED ON HOW TO STAY ABOVE THE

BOTTOM LINE? Plug your overall budget into the Brides
budget tool and youll get a personalized breakout of
how much you should spend on every part of the wedding.
Plus, you can keep track of bills as they add up! To get
started, visit weddingtools.brides.com.

342 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Shipping fees Expect

them for anything youre
ordering online or that a
vendor has to send you
(favors, stationery, welcome bags, et cetera).
Rentals Saying I do
in your backyard might
be free, but the chairs,
tables, and dinnerware
youll need could cost
$50 per guest.
Guest parking If youre
using a valet, you could
pay 10 bucks per car!
Vendor transportation
An out-of-town band
or photographer will
need a lift.
Set-up and breakdown
fees Cleanup often isnt
gratis, and you may have
to pay overtime rates.
Digital access Some
photogs will charge you
as much as $1,200 to
view and share your
photos online. Yikes!
BRIDES .COM

DETAILS ULTIMATE GUIDE

OF
COUPLES
GO OVER
BUDGET.

FIND WAYS
TO CUT

PRO TIP Raw spaces like

barns and lofts seem
like a steal, but they usually require you to bring
in your own caterers
and rentals. The more
people you need to
hire, the less you can control costs, says Xochitl
Gonzalez, of AaB Creates
in New York City. Before
you sign, research local
vendors rates and estimate the total price of a
wedding at that space.

HOW TO
SAVE $500

HOW TO
SAVE $1,000

HOW TO
SAVE $2,000

QSkip the welcome bag

and give guests a handwritten note instead.
QWho says tablecloths
are mandatory? Cut back
on linens if the tables are
presentable. Craft paper
can be just as pretty.
QGive up your love affair
with imported garden roses
and let your orist choose
local owers based on your
color palette instead.
QDo digital save-the-dates.
QDitch programs and
menus. Instead, give guests
the info on a calligraphed
sign or chalkboard.
QAsk the photographer
to shoot only until the rst
dance. (Your friends can
take great reception candids with their iPhones.)

QCut out hard liquor

and serve beer, wine, and
a signature cocktail.
QEmail digital invitations.
QUse a playlist for
your ceremony in lieu
of live musicians.
QInstead of building a
ceremony structure, line
your aisle with ower petals.
Everyone will be focused
on the two of you and the
gorgeous venue anyway!
QHit trunk shows and
sample sales to nd a
gown for half the cost of
a made-to-order version.
Or get a custom dress,
then resell it on a site like
tradesy.com.
QDont hire a videographer. A picture says a
thousand words, after all!

QGet married on an
off-peak day, like Friday,
or at an off-peak time,
like the morning.
QTrim the guest list. For the
average $30,000 wedding,
shrinking a 150-person bash
by 16 will cut two grand.
QInclude a veggie dish,
which costs way less than
chicken, sh, or steak.
QHave the ceremony and
reception in one location
and save on transportation.
QForgo a live band, which
can cost $5,000 or more,
for a DJ, whose fees typically start around $800.
QFind an up-and-coming
photographer. Some of
the most original work is
turned out by new faces
and its less pricey.

Making the Ask:

How to nd out
if your parents
can help pay
Money conversations can
be awkward, so each of
you should schedule a faceto-face with your parents
(he with his, you with yours
no ancs allowed!).
Try this script from Dana
LaRue, author of The BrokeAss Brides Wedding Guide:
Were excited to plan this
wedding. We would love
to start making a budget,
and were curious if you plan
to contribute nancially.
If they say no, keep calm
and use your own dollars.
If they say yes, give a million
thanks and make peace
with the fact that they just
bought a say in the planning
process. And if you dont
want your parents taking
over the whole wedding,
ask them to help with one
aspect. They can weigh
in on the welcome bags to
their hearts content!

PRO TIP The most common budget busters? Catering, owers, and rentals, says San Francisco wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss
Rinderknecht (who designed Seth Rogens I dos), especially if your vendors have never worked at your venue. In each of
those categories, build in a 10 percent cushion just in case you end up needing extra meals or more glassware than you thought.

344 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

NEXT ISSUE: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FOOD AND DRINK!

DAN SAELINGER/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

Over budget? Try these

(almost) painless ways to
shave your bottom line.

HONEYMOON IDEAS FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

RIGHT TIME,
RIGHT PLACE
SCHEDULING YOUR GREAT ESCAPE?
FIND OUT WHERE TO GO WHEN.
BY HEIDI MITCHELL

JANUARY

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA
Its summer down under,
so trade snow for sun
and celebrate New Years
Eve 15 hours earlier
than your friends back
home on Sydneys
famous waterfront. You
can watch the fireworks
explode over Harbour
Bridge from the steps of
the Opera House, on
a boat cruise, or from the
swank Dining Room
at the Park Hyatt Sydney
(doubles from $860;
parkhyatt.com). Then
stay awhile: The Sydney
Festival, packed with
concerts, plays, and fun
events, runs January 8
through 26.
OR GO TO
SAYULITA, MEXICO,

a surf town on the hot

Riviera Nayarit, for great
waves and the Festival
Sayulita, starring cool
films, beach concerts,
and tequila tastings.

GETT Y IMAGES

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND,

Ring in the
new year
on Sydney
Harbour.

BRIDES .COM

and explore its temples

and markets during
the dry, mild winter. Then
day trip to nearby Ban
Bo Sang for the colorful
Umbrella Festival.

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 359

GETAWAY

Stop at Ricks Cafe

to leap off the cliffs.

Grand architecture makes Plaza

de Mayo a Buenos
Aires must-stop.

FEBRUARY

NEGRIL, JAMAICA

OR GO TO
VENICE for Carnival, to min-

gle with the masked revelers in St. Marks Square.

EASTER ISLAND, CHILE, to see

the mysterious monoliths in

the summer and attend the
Tapati festival, featuring
traditional competitions like
haka pei (a race down a volcano on banana-tree sleds).

APRIL

MARCH

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Among this citys obsessions: wine (tasting rooms are
everywhere), food (the steaks are legendary), and dance
(the tango was born here). And then theres fashion, a
preoccupation thats in full effect during Fashion Week in
March, when temps drop from sweltering to sultry. Buy
a ticket to the runway shows or just hit the shopsBA is
famous for its leather goodsthen check in at Alvear
Palace Hotel, where Karl Lagerfield stays when hes in
town. Doubles from $480; alvearpalace.com.
OR GO TO
FIJI for insane snorkeling and diving while the South Pacific

waters are still bathtub warm and rates are at their lowest.
AMSTERDAM to rage at the electronic music festival

5 Days Off and wander the famous Keukenhof Gardens

at the start of tulip season.

Splurge on a
helicopter tour
(try paradise
copters.com) over
Waimanu Valley.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: MICHAEL LAWRENCE/GETT Y; PHILIP ROSENBERG/GETT Y; JOHN W. BANAGAN/GETT Y

So over winter? Fly here now

and youll have all the sunshine and rum punches a
couple could want, plus days
of reggae on the cliffs. (The
annual Bob Marley Birthday
Bash is held there the first
week of February.) After partying like a dancehall star,
sleep it off at Sandals Negril,
on Seven Mile Beach, then
wake up and do it all again.
All-inclusive doubles from
$478; sandals.com.

HAWAII ISLAND
You cant get any more
Hawaiian than the hula, and
this isle (a.k.a. the Big Island)
hosts the largest hula gathering of them all, the Merrie
Monarch Festival, in lush
Hilo from April 5 to 11. Even if
the only thing you want to
do is sip mai tais and chill on
the sandMauna Kea Beach
Hotels powdery strand is
especially stunning (doubles
from $399; princeresorts
hawaii.com)April is a great
time to come: Some of
the Aloha States best
weather and lowest rates
happen in springtime.
OR GO TO
BODRUM, TURKEY, to chill in

the St. Tropez of Turkey

before the summer crowds
take over the resorts.
TUSCANY, ITALY, for dozens
of Easter celebrations, from
fireworks on Florences
Piazza del Duomo to outdoor markets in Chianti.
360 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 364)

GETAWAY
St. Lucias iconic twin
Piton mountains are
total Instagram bait.

MAY

ST. LUCIA
Sublime weather, sweet
rates, and killer music? Sign
us up. Between concerts
at the St. Lucia Jazz & Arts
Festival (April 30 to May 10),
where past headliners
include Ziggy Marley and
John Legend, pop into a
craft market or an art soiree,
or just head back to your
digs at Cap Maison, a chic
resort with one of the isles
hottest eateries, and take a
disco nap on the quiet
beach. Doubles from $455;
capmaison.com.
OR GO TO
PRAGUE to taste 100 local

brews at the Festival of

Czech Beer and opera hop at
Prague Spring, the citys
storied classical-music fest.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK,
CALIFORNIA, for waterfall

season, when the parks many

cascades are at their peak.

Along with icebergs,

you might spot humpbacks and puffins in
Newfoundlands waters.

JUNE

ICEBERG ALLEY,
NEWFOUNDLAND

OR GO TO
ASPEN to eat your way through

the famed Food & Wine Classic

(June 19 through 21), then work
it off with a mountain hike.
NAMIBIA at the start of winters

dry season, when wildlife congregates around watering holes

and cool temps make desert
treks a breeze.

364 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

(continued on page 370)

FROM TOP: WILDROZE/GETT Y; BRY TTA /GETT Y

At the end of spring, 10,000year-old icebergs drift south

along the Canadian provinces
coast, some creeping so
close that you can watch them
from shoreor your suite at
the buzzy 29-room Fogo Island
Inn, where every rug, quilt,
and stick of furniture was hand
crafted by one of the eponymous
isles artisans. Dive deep into
island life with a studio tour or a
foraging expedition, or just linger
at the inns restaurant: Every
multicourse feast is hyperlocal.
Doubles from $875, including
meals; fogoislandinn.com.

GETAWAY

Make a pit stop

at Senanque Abbey,
a 12th-century
working monastery.

SECRETS OF
SHOULDER
SEASON
You can find amazing
deals (and weather) during the transition from
a destinations high
to low season. Heres
where to go when.
JULY

PROVENCE, FRANCE
For epic road-trip selfies, go to Provence, where the
countryside looks like this in the summer (#nofilter). Zip by
endless fields of lavender and sunflowers, stop for tastings
at a few vineyards, then bed down at the idyllic Villa Gallici
in Aix-en-Provence; ask for a suite with a private garden.
Art-loving honeymooners can also sign up for tours of native
son Paul Czannes studio, a short walk away. Doubles
from $540; relaischateaux.com.
OR GO TO
FRENCH POLYNESIA for the glorious weather and Heiva I

Tahiti, a multiweek event celebrating the islands dance,

music, and culture.
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND, to take advantage of the long days

CARIBBEAN
End of AprilJune &
mid-Novembermid-December
Room prices drop by
as much as 30 percent.

HAWAII
AprilMay &
SeptemberNovember
Ironically, the best
weather and the best
rates happen between
snowbird season
and summer vacation.

by partying all night: In July, the sun sets close to midnight

and rises before 5 a.m.

VANCOUVER,
BRITISH
COLUMBIA
With nature, nightlife, and
a killer farm-to-table food
scene, this seaside spot
deserves its rep as one of the
most beautiful cities in the
world. Vancouverites live
outside in summer, quaffing
local chardonnay at sidewalk bars and hanging
at cool events like Honda
Celebration of Light, a
fireworks competition and
music festival. Tuck it
in at the mod Opus Hotel,
where celebs like Justin
Timberlake spend their
Vancouver nights. Doubles
from $349; opushotel.com.
OR GO TO
MAINE to sail up the coast,

with stops at Acadia National

Park and Rockport for the
tail end of the lobster festival.
BERMUDA for pink beaches

and the close of the Cup

Match, a cricket game and
island-wide excuse to party.
370 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Filled with bars and

restaurants, Yaletown,
a former warehouse
district, is one of Vancouvers hippest nabes.

CENTRAL AMERICA
MayJune & early November
The beginning
of the rainy season
is still pretty dry,
and you can land some
sweet deals.

PACIFIC ISLANDS
April & November
Look for great rates right
before cyclone season.

EAST AFRICA
October
If you want to see
tons of wildlife
without going broke,
this is your month.

AUSTRALIA
May & October
Airfare dips in the
spring and fall, but the
sunshine remains.
(continued on page 374)

FROM TOP: PETER ZELEI/GETT Y; KRIS BERGEN/GETT Y

AUGUST

MEDITERRANEAN
MayJune &
SeptemberOctober
The crowds are
gone, but the weather
is lovely.

GETAWAY

SEPTEMBER

SANTORINI,
GREECE
Once the kids go back
to school, the crowds that
throng this Aegean isle
fade, leaving you to stomp
freshly harvested grapes in
the vineyards, hike ancient
ruins, and take in the International Music Festival. BTW,
holing up in a cave hotel with
a caldera view is a must. (Try
luxe, lofty Mystique, doubles
from $732; mystique.gr.)

The whitewashed
village of Oia
clings to Santorinis
volcanic cliffs.

OR GO TO
ARUBA, which is outside

the hurricane belt, so

great weather is practically
guaranteed, even in the
height of the Caribbeans
stormy season.
MONTE CARLO to party with
the beautiful people during
Classic Week, when yachts and
antique skiffs fill the harbor.

Two million
animals are
on the move
in Serengeti
National Park.
OCTOBER

By this month, the Great

Migrationthat heaving
mass of wildebeests that
travels back and forth across
eastern Africahas shifted
south from the Mara to the
Serengeti. See those creatures, along with the Big Five
(lions, buffalo, elephants,
rhinos, and leopards), from
Asilia Kimondo, a posh new
mobile camp that moves
with the herd. All-inclusive
doubles from $1,590;
kimondo.asiliaafrica.com.
OR GO TO
GERMANYS ROMANTIC ROAD

for medieval towns, iconic

castles (including the inspiration for the Magic Kingdoms
iconic turrets), and fall foliagewith a stop in Munich
for the last few days of
Oktoberfest, of course.
PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY, to

bask on the beach and catch

the DJs arriving from Miami
for the presummer season.
374 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

FROM TOP: TOTORORO/GETT Y; ARIADNE VAN ZANDBERGEN/GETT Y

THE SERENGETI,
TANZANIA

NOVEMBER

MARRAKECH,
MOROCCO
Hordes of tourists hit this
city during their summer
vacays, when the sun is at
its hottest. Forget that;
the best time to visit is fall,
when its cool at night but
sunny and pleasant during
the day. Visit the souks to
buy a djellaba (a traditional
robe), then retreat to
Vanessa Bransons El Fenn
hotel (doubles from $256;
el-fenn.com). Hear the call
of the muezzin, take tea
in the courtyard, and learn
how to make an epic tajine.
Your honeymoon finale: a
few days in the Sahara for a
camel ride across the dunes.
OR GO TO
CANCN AND THE
RIVIERA MAYA for amazing

Get your bedouin

on with a side trip
from Marrakech to
the Sahara Desert.

Along with glass igloos,

Kakslauttanen also
offers snow igloos and
cozy log cabins.

off-season deals and Hanal

Pixn, the Mayan version
of Day of the Dead.
GOA, INDIA, to experience

Diwali, a five-day Hindu

festival, and hit the beach.

DECEMBER

LAPLAND, FINLAND

FROM TOP: TOM CRAIG/ TRUNK ARCHIVE;

COURTESY OF K AKSLAUTTANEN RESORT

For a room with the best view ever, spend your winter nights
in a chic glass igloo 155 miles above the arctic circle. At
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, you can scope out the northern
lights via your see-through roof, do a reindeer- or huskydriven sleigh ride through the snowy woods, or simply ski,
ice fish, or sauna your (very short) days away. Santa Claus never
had it this good. Doubles from $507; kakslauttanen.fi.
OR GO TO
NASSAU, BAHAMAS, for Junkanoo, a street parade of costumed

dancers on Boxing Day, and sweet rates through December 15.

WALT DISNEY WORLD, FLORIDA, before the holidays to take

a culinary tour through Epcots international pavilions and see

the parks legendary seasonal lights without the crazy
crowds or premium pricing.

BRIDES .COM

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 375

GETAWAY

MIAMI THREE WAYS

THANKS TO MILES OF BEACH, CRAZY NIGHTLIFE, AND A HOT ART

SCENE, THIS SULTRY CITY HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

STAY

EAT

DO

THE BACHELORETTE PARTY

THE WEDDING

WYNWOOD KITCHEN & BAR

Do tapas with the cool crowd, then
snap selfies across the street at
Wynwood Walls, the nabes famed
street-art installation.

WALL AT W SOUTH BEACH

Once you make it past the velvet
rope, slip into a banquette for
bottle service or hit the dance
floor; the DJ spins until 5 a.m.

VERDE Kick off your weekend

with a rehearsal dinner at the
buzzy Prez Art Museums indooroutdoor restaurant. On the
menu: fresh local bites and gorge
Biscayne Bay views.

FAIRCHILD GARDENS Dreaming

of a tropical garden party? Book
this Coral Gables Eden and say
I do on a bridge overlooking
palms, cycads, and lily ponds.

SENSE BEACH HOUSE With 18 seaside-chic

rooms (perfect for a buyout!), this laid-back hotel
will feel like your bridal partys private bungalow.
Bonus: The rooftop pool terrace is a sweet spot
for Sunday brunch. Doubles from $300.

THE HONEYMOON

THE SETAI, MIAMI BEACH Oceanfront and

superluxe, this Asian-inflected high rise is your
sanctuary on South Beachand awesome for
celeb watching. (Beyonc loves its Lenny Kravitz
designed music studio.) Doubles from $1,650.
378 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

CASA TUA It may be in South

Beach, but its lantern-lit garden
and Italian cuisine will make
you feel like youre dining in a
Mediterranean village.

ART DECO HISTORIC DISTRICT

See SoBes famed architecture via
the Art Deco Welcome Centers
iPod walking tour, or roll down
Collins Avenue in a rented Bentley.
BY LANE NIESET

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF THE STANDARD SPA MIAMI BEACH, W YNWOOD KITCHEN & BAR, AND WALL AT W
SOUTH BEACH; CHRISTOPHER GALLO; COURTESY OF FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN; TIM GRAHAM/GETT Y IMAGES;
COURTESY OF CASA TUA RESTAURANT, THE SETAI MIAMI BEACH, SENSE BEACH HOUSE, AND VERDE AT PREZ ART MUSEUM MIAMI

THE STANDARD SPA, MIAMI BEACH If pampering is the plan, spend your girls weekend at
this sybaritic retreat featuring open-air mud
baths, massages in a Turkish hammam, and mod
minimalist rooms. Doubles from $349.

THE BEST
VENUES
IN AMERICA

OUR LABOR OF LOVE

We asked 847 brides to rate

their wedding location on
everything from the food to
the view. The result: the 50
most unforgettable places to
say I do from coast to coast.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns in

Pocantico Hills, New York
392 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

BEST VENUES
Clubhouse at Baywood Greens
in Long Neck, Delaware

THE NORTHEAST

GO FOR A GLAM CITY AFFAIR, OR HEAD NORTH FOR A MOUNTAIN GETAWAY

Before your ballroom reception in the clubhouse, ride to
the 18th hole for portraits.
baywoodgreens.com.

THE BARN AT
FLANAGAN FARM
BUXTON, MAINE

Elegant chandeliers and master caterers make for the most

rened barn wedding in the
East. barnatanaganfarm.com.

HIDDEN POND
KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE
It doesnt get more romantic
than I dos in the woods or
gardens of this luxe, laid-back
resort. hiddenpondmaine.com.

GEORGE
PEABODY LIBRARY
BALTIMORE

The cast-iron columns and

gold-leaf embellishments are
perfect photo ops. peabody
events.library.jhu.edu.
When it was time for the
reception, staffers opened
the huge wooden double
doors to the library, and we
watched our guests mouths
drop. They were in awe.
Jennifer H., married 2013

394 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOSTON
Beantown pairs ock to
this perennial winner for its
marble staircases and lush
courtyard. Bonus: Guests
can take a private tour of the
historic building. bpl.org.

CHATHAM BARS INN

CHATHAM, MASS.

Get hitched on the beach at

this classic Cape Cod hotel,
then party under a sailcloth
tent on the sweeping bay-view
lawn. chathambarsinn.com.

THE GRAMERCY
PARK HOTEL
NEW YORK

Tuck into a meal catered

by renowned chef Danny
Meyer in the contemporaryart-lled rooftop terrace.
gramercyparkhotel.com.

BLUE HILL AT
STONE BARNS
POCANTICO HILLS, N.Y.

Locavore brides swoon over

menus brimming with ingredients fresh from the propertys
working farm. bluehillfarm.com.

THE COLLEGE OF
PHYSICIANS OF
PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA

Say your vows in the medicinal herb garden of this grand

colonial building, home to the
Mtter Museum of medical
history. eventsatcpp.org.

BELLE MER
NEWPORT, R.I.

Walk down the aisle on this

preppy resorts Ocean Lawn
and celebrate in its sunlit ballroom. longwoodevents.com.

THE MOUNTAIN TOP

INN & RESORT
CHITTENDEN, VT.

Spend your wedding night in

a rental cabin on this secluded
hotels grounds, then hit 300
acres of wooded trails before
joining your guests for brunch.
mountaintopinn.com.
Lambeth Hochwald

George Peabody Library

in Baltimore

THE PLAZA
NEW YORK

Decadent beaux-arts decor

and recently renovated guest
rooms make any wedding at
this storied hotel one for the
ages. theplazany.com.
KEY
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(continued on page 398)

FROM TOP: ROB KORB PHOTOGRAPHY; EDWARD WINTER/READYLUCK

BAYWOOD GREENS
LONG NECK, DEL.

BEST VENUES

THE SOUTH

HAVE YOUR PRINCESS MOMENT AMID OLD-WORLD ELEGANCE

THE HAY ADAMS HOTEL
WASHINGTON, D.C.
If you think the panoramic
views of the National Mall
from the rooftop are stunning, check out the White
House from the presidential
suite. hayadams.com.

MERIDIAN HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Love vintage details? Theyll

mesh perfectly with the
decor at this Louis XVIstyle
manse. meridian.org.

THE BILTMORE HOTEL

CORAL GABLES, FLA.

This resort oers cathedral

arches and a free wedding
suite, complete with perks
like champagne and a
postwedding breakfast.
biltmorehotel.com.

SUNSET KEY GUEST

COTTAGES
KEY WEST, FLA.

Plan your big day on this private isle, a quick ferry ride from
Key West, and have your guests
ll the 40 pastel cottages.
westinsunsetkeycottages.com.

FOX THEATRE
ATLANTA

Get ready to see your name in

lights at this Atlanta institution, where you can exchange
vows in the opulent Egyptian
Ballroom. foxtheatre.org.

THE CLOISTER
AT SEA ISLAND
SEA ISLAND, GA.

Youll nd oaks dripping with

Spanish moss and a quaint
chapel at this sprawling colonial resort. seaisland.com.

OLD EDWARDS INN

HIGHLANDS, N.C.

Unwind with a spa session

after your wedding at this inn,
with the most attentive sta in
the South. oldedwardsinn.com.

THE INN AT
PALMETTO BLUFF
BLUFFTON, S.C.

Gorgeous guest suites on the

saltwater May River (you can
go dolphin watching!) make
this the perfect place for an intimate bash. montagehotels.com.

LOWNDES GROVE
PLANTATION
CHARLESTON, S.C.

Tap your inner southern belle

as you say your vows overlooking the Ashley River at
this 1786 estate in the heart of
town. pphgcharleston.com.
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
in North Garden, Virginia

Meridian House in
Washington, D.C.

HOUSTON STATION
NASHVILLE

The raw space in this restored

19th-century factory is your
canvas, and the awesome
acoustics beg for a jamfest.
houstonstationnashville.com.

NASHER
SCULPTURE CENTER
DALLAS

Art installations and a

Wolfgang Puck menu make
for a next-level garden party.
nashersculpturecenter.org.

ROSEWOOD MANSION
ON TURTLE CREEK
DALLAS

CRYSTAL BALLROOM
AT THE RICE HOTEL
HOUSTON

With 35-foot ceilings and a

rich history, this formal
space is beloved by go-bigor-go-home Texas brides.
crystalballhouston.com.
The historic architecture
is breathtaking!
Ashley M., married 2014

PIPPIN HILL FARM &

VINEYARDS
NORTH GARDEN, VA.

Dig into some of the best

local fare below the MasonDixon in this boutique
winerys elegant on-site barn.
pippinhillfarm.com.
Anna Price Olson

KEY
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Service

398

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Food

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View

BRIDES .COM

FROM TOP: JENNIFER CODY OF EGOMEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY; JEN FARIELLO PHOTOGRAPHY

This romantic hotel in a

century-old mansion is a
Dallas icon for a reason: The
stas hospitality is legendary. rosewoodhotels.com.

BEST VENUES
Caf Brauer
in Chicago

THE MIDWEST

LOOK NO FURTHER FOR DISTINCTIVE SPACES BRIMMING WITH CHARM

GRAND HOTEL
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH.
Say I do on the hotels
geranium-lined porch
overlooking the Straits of
Mackinac. grandhotel.com.

MCNAMARA
ALUMNI CENTER
MINNEAPOLIS
Franklin Park Conservatory
in Columbus, Ohio

CAF BRAUER AT
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
CHICAGO

LAUREL HALL
INDIANAPOLIS

Dance the night away in the

zoos landmark atrium, with
views of the Chicago skyline
behind you. lpzoo.org.

The imposing stone facade

and dark antique wood give
this 1916 mansion a distinctly
Downton Abbey feel. laurel-hall
.pkpfoundation.org.

CHICAGO
CULTURAL CENTER
CHICAGO

BLUE DRESS BARN

BENTON HARBOR, MICH.

Nothing beats a twirl in the

marble-mosaic ballroom
under a jaw-dropping
38-foot Tiany glass dome.
cityofchicago.org.
400 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

This spot has all you need

for a rustic barn aair
KEY
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Service

Best
Food

Best
View

Its impossible not to make a

grand entrance into Memorial
Hall, an amazing wood-walled
geometric space ooded
with light. mac-events.org.

BIG CEDAR LODGE

RIDGEDALE, MO.

Before exchanging vows at

one of four chapels, have
your rehearsal dinner on a
yacht on Table Rock Lake.
big-cedar.com.

PEABODY OPERA HOUSE

ST. LOUIS
Glamorous art-deco design
and a subtle rock n roll
vibe make this a fave among
fun-loving couples.
peabodyoperahouse.com.

FRANKLIN PARK
CONSERVATORY
COLUMBUS, OHIO

Get ready to save big-time

on decor! This Victorian-era
greenhouse features tropical
gardens, iron gazebos, and
a Venetian-style fountain.
fpconservatory.org.

MILWAUKEE ART
MUSEUM
MILWAUKEE

Take portraits outside this

striking postmodern building
in front of a sparkling Lake
Michigan. mam.org.
We had our rehearsal dinner
at one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee, but the
food at our wedding reception was even better!
Jenna B., married 2013

VILLA BELLEZZA
PEPIN, WIS.

This vineyards picturesque

ceremony spots and top-shelf
wine bring Sonoma style to
the Midwest. villabellezza.com.
Carly Fisher
(continued on page 408)

FROM TOP: GARBO PRODUCTIONS; LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

twinkling lights and paper

lanterns included. bluedress
barn.com.

BEST VENUES

THE WEST

TAKE IN THE VIEW AND DANCE UNDER THE STARS AT THESE STUNNING SPOTS
SANCTUARY ON
CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZ.
Swap vows facing Camelback
Mountain at this stone-andglass resort, a full-on desert
paradise. sanctuaryaz.com.

CALISTOGA RANCH
CALISTOGA, CALIF.

Its tucked-away location and

secluded ceremony spots
make this brides top pick for a
Napa getaway. calistogaranch
.aubergeresorts.com.
Theres nothing more
romantic than dancing in
the massive wine cave.
Diosselyn J., married 2014

MALIBU ROCKY OAKS

MALIBU, CALIF.

There are winery weddings,

and then theres Rocky Oaks.
Marry on a helipad at 2,000
feet, then party on the Tuscan
terrace. maliburockyoaks.com.

PARKER PALM SPRINGS

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF.

Listen up, design lovers: This

Jonathan Adlerdecorated
hotel is full of poppy, retro
detailsgreat for photos.
theparkerpalmsprings.com.

DEVILS THUMB RANCH

TABERNASH, COLO.
Parker Palm Springs in
Palm Springs, California

Its the perfect Rocky Mountain wedding: log cabins, a

Civil Warera barn reception,
and spectacular views of the
Continental Divide. devils
thumbranch.com.

HAIKU MILL
MAUI, HAWAII

Within the ruins of this historic sugar mill, exotic blooms

and chandeliers join forces
for a jaw-dropping ceremony.
haikumill.com.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL
LAS VEGAS

Vegas isnt just for bachelorette parties! This hotel mixes

the beat of the city with the
service of a luxury resort.
mandarinoriental.com.

MAYSARA WINERY
MCMINNVILLE, OREG.

Head to the Willamette Valley

for a pinot-noir-soaked wedding in the winery, built from
reclaimed barrels and quarries
on the property. maysara.com.

SUNDANCE
MOUNTAIN RESORT
SUNDANCE, UTAH

Ski bunnies, mountain climbers, and nature lovers alike

ock to this glamorous snowcapped chalet to tie the knot.
sundanceresort.com.

THE EDGEWATER HOTEL

SEATTLE

The citys only waterfront

hotel sits over a pier with views
of Elliott Bay and the Space
Needle. edgewaterhotel.com.

HERBAN FEASTS
SODO PARK
SEATTLE

Industrial accents and soaring

beamed ceilings make this
100-year-old repurposed factory a must for cool-girl Seattle
brides. herbenfeast.com.

BRUSH CREEK RANCH

SARATOGA, WYO.

Get your Wild West on at

this 30,000-acre ranch and
wed in the wooden chapel in
front of the Snowy Range.
brushcreekranch.com.
The head rancher arranged
for a surprise horse ride for
my husband and me before
our rehearsal dinner.
Jennifer M., married 2013

THE MODERN
HONOLULU
OAHU, HAWAII

At this insanely chic destination hotel, its all about the

optics: Cross an aisle over the
rooftop pool to meet your
groom. themodernhonolulu.com.
408 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Alonna Friedman
and Heather Lee

KEY
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Service

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Food

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BRIDES .COM

FROM TOP: DAN HAM PHOTOGRAPHY; NIKOLAS KOENIG

Brush Creek Ranch in

Saratoga, Wyoming

FEBRUARY/MARCH

2015

ROBERT FAIRER

WHAT
MATTERS
EVEN
MORE THAN
HOW
THE ROOM
LOOKS?
THAT
EVERYONE
YOU LOVE
IS IN IT.
BRIDES .COM

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 441

N
R
U
T HE
UP T

T
GREA
FOR A RGEOUS
O
BIG G N THAT U
GOW EIGH YO
TW
WON WN (AND IS
O
DO
FUN T
HELLAIN), BRING
E
DANC HE TULLE!
ON T
BY
A PH S

O GR
PHOTONY KIM
T
D BY
ST YLEAPITAIN
C
Y
JENN

442 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Corded-French-lace gown
with tulle skirt and back detail,
$5,300, Isabelle Armstrong;
isabellearmstrongny.com.
Earrings, Stephen Webster;
stephenwebster.com. Clutch,
Hayward; haywardluxury.com.

Organza shirt and

A-line skirt with
feather appliqus
(sash not included),
price upon request,
Atelier Pronovias;
pronovias.us. Necklace and ring, H. Stern;
212-655-3910.

444 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Ball gown with

flower-embellished
bodice and low
back, $1,650,
Oleg Cassini exclusively at Davids
Bridal; davidsbridal
.com. Earrings
and ring, H. Stern;
212-655-3910.

Ball gown with

hand-beaded
bodice and soft-tulle
tiered skirt, $6,050,
Amsale; amsale
.com. Blazer, Haute
Hippie; saks.com.
446 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Lace corset and

strapless mini with
detachable organza
overlay skirt, $4,500,
Jenny Lee Bridal;
jennyleebridal.com.
Hair comb, Gigi Burris; gigiburris.com.
Earrings, H. Stern;
212-655-3910. Ring,
Stephen Webster;
stephenwebster.com.
HAIR Gianluca Man-

delli for Krastase/

The Wall Group
MAKEUP Munemi Imai
for munskin.com/
Brydges Mackinney
MANICURE Mar Y
Soul for the System
Formula X at Ray
Brown Pro
SET DESIGN Theresa
Rivera/Mary
Howard Studio
BROWSE THOUSANDS MORE STUNNING WEDDING
DRESSES AT BRIDES.COM/DRESSES.

The New
Romantics
Elegant and effortlessly chic, this seasons classic gowns
have been reimagined with a modern twist
PHOTOGRAPHS BY KATE POWERS STYLED BY ANN CARUSO

448 FE B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Sequined embroideredlace gown, $8,590,

Carolina Herrera; 212249-6552. Veil, Tia
Mazza; tiamazza.com.
Earrings, Dannijo;
dannijo.com. Shoes,
Jimmy Choo; jimmy
choo.com.

Turtleneck, Massimo
Dutti; massimo
dutti.com. Tulle skirt
with high-low hem,
$1,750, Houghton
Bride; houghtonnyc
.com. Ring, Stephen
Webster; stephen
webster.com. Rain
boots, Hunter;
us.hunterboots.com.
450 FE B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Eyelet gown with

scalloped hem,
$6,290, Oscar de la
Renta; Mark Ingram
Atelier, 212-319-6778.
Earrings, Rue Gembon;
ruegembon.com.
Necklace, Mikimoto;
mikimotoamerica
.com. Shoes, Christian
Louboutin; christian
louboutin.com.

Silk and organza

gown with floral-lace
embroidery, $4,420,
Gemy Maalouf; gemy
maalouf.com. Veil,
Tia Mazza; tiamazza
.com. Earrings,
Mikimoto; mikimoto
america.com.

Silk-faille two-piece ball

gown, $2,995, Marchesa;
shopbop.com. Sweater,
Michael Michael Kors;
bloomingdales.com. Earrings, Rue Gembon; rue
gembon.com. Ring, Simon
G.; simongjewelry.com.

BRIDES .COM

FE B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 453

Double-faced silkgeorgette gown

with cutouts, $4,600,
Rivini by Rita
Vinieris; rivini.com.
Earrings, Jennifer
Miller; jennifer
millerjewelry.com.
Ring, Stephen
Webster; stephen
webster.com.

Organza bustier dress

with laser-cut floral detail,
$3,895, Honor for Stone
Fox Bride; stonefoxbride
.com. Cardigan, Heidi
Wynne; heidiwynne.com.
Sunglasses, Cutler and
Gross; cutlerandgross
.com. Earrings, Jennifer
Miller; jennifermillerjewelry
.com. Bracelet, Sanjay
Kasliwal; 212-988-1511.
Ring, Stephen Webster;
stephenwebster.com.

HAIR Conrad Dornan for

Oribe/Art Department
MAKEUP Eric Polito
using Chanel Rouge
Coco/Art Department
MANICURE Holly
Falcone/Kate Ryan for
Chanel Le Vernis
PRODUCTION

Get It Productions
SET DESIGN Stockton
Hall/Art Department
BOUQUETS Stellar
Style Events
BROWSE THOUSANDS MORE STUNNING WEDDING
DRESSES AT BRIDES.COM/DRESSES.

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 455

50

THINGS ONLY
OTHER BRIDES
WILL TELL YOU

456 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

We asked recent brides

what they wish theyd known
before they said I do so
you could learn from their
mess-ups and near misses
BY LAMBETH HOCHWALD
You can always find a plan B. The event
space I booked closed three months before
my wedding! I shouldnt have panicked; a
few phone calls later, we found a stunning spot
that was able to closely match the deal at
our original location. Missy Greenberg, New York
Its just as hard to plan a small wedding as a
big one. I was set on having 10 guests in a
rented home in Big Sur, but most places that fit
the bill wouldnt accommodate a small party
like mine without a huge fee. I eventually compromised on a venue in Sonoma with an elopement package. Katie Oxenford, San Jose, Calif.
Order at least 10 extra invitations. You could
mail one to the wrong address, or your parents
might decide to add the family doctor to the
guest list. I came dangerously close to having to
mail out the invite I wanted to keep for myself!

Always check
references. We got
scammed by our
photographer, who
turned out to have
a criminal record. Ask
for real people you
can talk to! Jennifer
Gilbert*, Charlotte, N.C.

Read the fine print.

Our shuttle drivers
contract didnt say
he needed to stay
until every guest was
ready to leave, and
his shift ended
before our wedding
did. Tiffany Ireland
Stream, Mesa, Ariz.

Tanya Scalisi, Hawthorne, N.J.

KENNETH WILLARDT/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

You really do need a professional caterer. I hired

someone from a restaurant I loved to do our food,
but she had minimal catering experience. She
got overwhelmed and left almost everything to
the last minute. Kate Lacroix, Boulder, Colo.
Things always cost more than you think they will.
My husband and I had a rough price in mind for
table and chair rentals, but the actual amount
was much higher. There was a fee for delivery, a
fee for setting up, a fee for breaking down the
tables, and an additional fee for labor off hours.
Bethany Blair, Brooklyn

Not everyone will take your DIY projects as

seriously as you do. I thought Id save money
by having friends help me do my flowers, but
my maids were more into drinking champagne
than arranging bouquets. I ended up having to
hire an assistant. Julia Martin-Wrobel, Los Angeles

A lot of people
dont write their
names on their
RSVPs. We should
have assigned each
guest a number and
penciled it in on the
back. Kelly Vives,
Old Greenwich, Conn.

Youre going
to want to cut a
cake. We had
a doughnut table.
Im sad I missed
that tradition!
Summer Watkins,
Huntington Beach, Calif.

*Name changed

RSVP CARDS ARE GOING TO TRICKLE INIF THEY

COME AT ALL. GIVE GUESTS THE OPTION TO
REPLY ON YOUR WEDDING WEB SITE. IT MAKES THE
PROCESS WAY FASTER. Maryam Taheri, San Francisco
Pinterest can be addictive. At first, pinning
ideas to my wedding board was useful, but as
I found more and more things that fit my palette
and style, I started to realize that I could never
pull them all off. Instead of stressing, I picked
a couple of key details that I loved and ran
with them. Caitlin De Leonardis, Hoboken, N.J.
No one will sign a guest book they cant see.
I ordered one I loved from Etsy. Unfortunately,
the table it was on was covered with a huge
floral display, so only seven guests saw and
signed it! Word to the wise: Know where your
guest book will be placed, and make sure it
stands out. Laura Pesin Eder, New York
You can never ask potential vendors too many
questions. I hired a woman based on a personal friends recommendation, but I should
have grilled her about her process during the
interview. She was careless about getting tasks
done on time. Sarah Elison, Seattle
Big bridal parties add up. When I got engaged,
14 bridesmaids seemed like a great idea. I wish
Id realized that would mean 14 bouquets, 14
hair and makeup appointments, 14 gifts, and,
thanks to plus-ones, 28 seats. Emily Macon Tripp,
Jacksonville, Fla.

Your friends and family are going to want

to help. Even if their taste or skills dont align
with yours, there are a zillion details you can
delegate. I put a two-year-old to work punching
out paper flowers for my invitations.
Mariana Leung, New York

Give your photographer all the info she needs

to take great pics. We thought our job was
done when we booked our dream photographer.
Then we found ourselves spending a lot of
time mapping out our must-have shots and the
timeline of our wedding day. Still, it was worth it.
Cat Lucas, Hope Mills, N.C.

Proofreading your stationery is not optional.

My last name was misspelled on our save-thedates, something I didnt catch until they
were already printed. We rushed a reprint, but
gulp! Marielle Sologuren Kunhardt, Fort Lauderdale
Thank-you notes can make you crazy. After
the honeymoon, youll come back to a living
room full of gifts, but no one tells you how daunting the task of writing thank-you notes is.
Our solution: Write the notes, one by one, while
opening presents. Heidi Black, Arlington, Tex.

458 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Everybody loves a
postwedding brunch.
Looking back, it
would have been
awesome to spend
the next morning
recapping our
wedding day with
family and friends.
Lindsay Gurak, New York

Dwelling on the
regrets list is a
waste of time.
Accepting that certain friends couldnt
attend was hard, but
the people who did
come made it extra
special. Kate Scully
Krebsbach, Chicago

A dress requiring
major alterations is
a big gamble. I let
myself be convinced
a good seamstress
could make my tootight gown fit. Not
the case! Brittany

Hiring a planner
is worth every
penny. Two
months in, I got
so overwhelmed,
I nearly told my
fianc to take
back his ring. Im
so glad I decided
to invest in a
professional. She
more than made
up for the cost
by using her
connections to
negotiate discounts from
other vendors.
Brittany Mirvil,
Tallahassee, Fla.

When it comes to dress shopping, stick with

a small entourage. Bring just one or two advisors who will be honest and wont ooh and
aah you to death. Lindsay Boos Tarrant, New York
You cant put a price on memories. I wish wed
budgeted for a higher-end photographer. We
went for the option with the lowest rate, and
while our photos are good, they arent as spectacular as the party was. Kim Luban, New York
Unusual envelopes can equal extra postage.
We wanted our invites to be unique, but we
didnt realize a button closure would add
weight. Be sure to ask your post office about
stamps and shipping before you order.

Lerch, Winter Garden, Fla.

Erica Mutschler, Chicago

Cut guests out of

the seating negotiations. Asking people who theyd like at
their table made the
seating chart even
more of a nightmare.

Being married by a stranger might bum you out.

We hired a justice of the peace whod never
spent time with us. I wish wed known the officiant
instead. It would have made it more personal.

Christine Comey Lewis,

Medford, Mass.

Your florist isnt

just your go-to on
flowers. Mine had
as much insight on
event design as my
wedding planner
did. Radford Thomas
Whitney, Atlanta

Megan Gaffney, Boston

Ignore Yelp at your peril. If theres a common

thread in a vendors online reviews, its probably
true. I loved my venue, so I turned a blind eye
to complaints about the service. Big mistake!
The security guard never showed up, and the
valets charged guests twice. Andrea Berkman
Donlon, New York

THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW HAVE

EXPENSIVE TASTES. MOST OF
OUR GUESTS PICKED THE PRICIEST
ENTRE. DONT OFFER IT UNLESS
YOU CAN AFFORD FOR EVERYONE TO CHOOSE IT!
Roxanne Ierino, New York

BRIDES .COM

If youre doing a destination wedding, fly out

several days early to prep. I was amazed at
how many last-minute details needed finalizing.
I wish Id arrived a full week ahead to get everything ready. Emily Loftiss, Newport Beach, Calif.
Its okay to go off script. I wish Id walked
down the aisle to a more unique contemporary
song. Robin Immerman Gruen, New York
Dont forget to stop and admire your handiwork. I was so busy visiting with guests and
dancing that I didnt get to really appreciate
the decor that made our reception so beautiful.
Page Harper, Nashville

Make sure to play music for everyone.

Midway through our Beyonc-fest, my father
said to me, Your DJ really stiffed the old
people! Victoria Phillips, Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Feed the bridal

party. One of my
bridesmaids almost
passed out during
our ceremony
because she hadnt
eaten since 7 a.m.
Stephanie Goldin
Dworken, Robbinsville, N.J.

Going with a
nonwedding photographer is risky.
We hired someone
who wasnt used to
shooting weddings.
He skipped some
shots I wanted, like
one of me and my
mom. Ariel Laing,
Wilton, Conn.

YOU MAY NEED A SECOND BOUQUET! I DIDN'T TAKE MY FLORISTS

ADVICE TO SET ASIDE A SEPARATE TOSS BOUQUET FOR THE RECEPTION. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO THROW MY FLOWERS, I ENDED UP
HAVING TO GRAB ONE OF MY BRIDESMAIDS BOUQUETS INSTEAD.
Kristien Olson Matelski, San Diego

You can over-register. Its very easy to go

crazy checking boxes, but if you end up returning a lot of stuff, youd better be cool with
store credit. Many wont give you a refund.
Chloe Gallo, Paramus, N.J.

Your photographer wont necessarily recognize your VIPs. We had a huge wedding.
I wish I had asked my family to introduce themselves to the photographer so more of
their pictures had been taken. Betsy Jones,
Thomasville, Ga.

Well-made shoes will save your life. A pricey

pair will be made from high-quality materials,
so theyre easier to dance in all night. And if
you spring for Choos, theyll sometimes come
with free inserts to make them fit perfectly.
Berkley Rothmeier, Chicago

Hire a videographer. When we were

putting together our budget, we decided a
videographer wasnt important, but now
Id do anything to experience the wedding
again. Lindsey LeRoy, Austin, Tex.

Your groomsmen will need micromanaging.

Ours dutifully followed my directions to try
everything on when picking up their rentals.
But they forgot to get suits in the same color:
Half were gray, and half were black.

A travel agent is worth it. My husband and I

planned our honeymoon on our own. Afterward, we met another couple and learned that
their travel agent helped them save thousands
of dollars. Sara Gebhardt, San Mateo, Calif.

KENNETH WILLARDT/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

Lisa Strade, San Francisco

Sometimes not getting what you want is a

good thing. I had my heart set on exchanging
vows in Manhattan, but it wouldve been
too much of a hassle for our guests. We chose
a venue closer to home, and it worked out
perfectly. Jenna Guarneri, Staten Island, N.Y.
Choosing seasonal flowers will save you
big money. I initially wanted free rein when
it came to my arrangements, but my florist
suggested we use in-season blooms. I came
around once I realized Id save more than
$800! Betsy Watson, Asheville, N.C.

BRIDES .COM

Get everything in
writing! We never
got a final contract
from our caterer,
and I was billed an
extra $300 for rented
tableware, a cost
theyd never mentioned. Michelle
Chernicoff, Oldsmar, Fla.

No dress will
ever be the One.
There will always
be another lovely
choice. What
matters is that
you feel beautiful
in what youre
wearing. Emma
Giffen, Mesa, Ariz.

Beware the busy season. I handed my gown

to the seamstress that the bridal salon recommended without asking her what else she had
going on. She was swamped with prom dresses
and ended up being late in getting the alterations finished. Bridget Cramer, River Falls, Wis.

KNOW ALL YOUR VENUES RULES. OUR LOCATION

FORBID GUESTS TO TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES, AND
A LOT OF THE LADIES WERE SUFFERING IN HIGH
HEELS ALL NIGHT. Kate Ottavio Kent, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 459

PARTY AT

AN INTERNATIONAL COUPLE INVITED GUESTS FROM AROUND THE

THE PALACE

WORLD TO AN ENGLISH CELEBRATION FIT FOR ROYALTY

BY JAIMIE SCHOEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT FAIRER

After the ceremony,

guests sipped champagne beneath the
67-foot-high ceilings
of the Great Hall
at Blenheim Palace in
Oxfordshire, England.

BRIDES .COM

FE B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 461

Ninas Giambattista
Valli gown was
inspired by a
coatdress from a
recent collection.

A fleet of
classic taxis
brought
guests to the
palace.

ina Sarin, 30,

a fashion marketer from California,
and Joaquin Romero, 33, a trader from
A Corua, Spain, were both far from
home when they met at a London Business
School party in 2010. So when Joaquin was
ready to propose three years later, it wasnt
a stretch for him to whisk Nina o to Paris,
a city she would return to seven times
for dress ttings at Giambattista Vallis
atelier. Working with him on a custom
gown was a dream come true, she says.
On June 21, 2014, 210 guests from two
continents joined the pair in the English
countryside for a Catholic ceremony at the
Oxford Oratory, a Gothic Revivalstyle
church. Following the I dos, British black
cabs drove attendees to Blenheim Palace,
an 18th-century Oxfordshire estate (where
Winston Churchill was born!). Welcomed
with champagne, they headed to the
library, where two long tables were set for
dinner. After a meal of tuna carpaccio and
short-rib rag, guests moved to a Studio
54themed bash in the gardens. Dinner
was rened and romantic, and the afterparty was pure fun, Nina says. The couple
nally ducked out at 2:30. There was so
much love and happiness, she says. It
was a beautiful night.
462 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

Crystal candelabras
and overstuffed
arrangements of
peonies and garden
roses filled the
baroque Great Hall.

The bride also wore

Giambattista Valli
to Fridays welcome
dinner at the University of Oxfords
Bodleian Library.

The towering vanillaraspberry cake was

decorated with sugar
peonies to match
Ninas dress.

IVE NEVER SEEN JOAQUIN SMILE AS

Spanish-style
fans placed at
female guests
seats were
embossed with
gold peonies.
TO SEE MORE FORMAL WEDDINGS,
VISIT BRIDES.COM/REALWEDDINGS.

Guests danced all

night at the tented
indoor-outdoor
after-party at
Blenheim Palaces
Water Terraces.

BIG AS WHEN I WALKED DOWN THE AISLE, SAYS THE BRIDE.

Before their exit,
Nina slipped on a
Chanel blazer and a
simple floor-length
sheath. Id had that
dress in my closet
for years, she said.

Ceremony venue: The Oxford Oratory; oxfordoratory

.org.uk. Reception venue: Blenheim Palace; blenheim
palace.com. Wedding planner: Fiona Leahy Design;
fionaleahy.com. Brides dress: Giambattista Valli;
giambattistavalli.com. Catering: Alison Price & Company;
alisonprice.co.uk. Cake: Rosalind Miller Cakes; rosalind
millercakes.com. Flowers: Wild at Heart; wildatheart.com.
Photography: Robert Fairer; robertfairer.com.

SET IN style
THREE FASHION ROYALS TRANSLATE THEIR TRADEMARK LOOK

FOR THE RECEPTION TABLE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KANA OKADA

PROP ST YLING: PAMELA DUNCAN SILVER/PLUM REPS

RALPH LAUREN

Approach setting your tables the way you do

getting dressed: by layering, says Lauren.
Use individual textured centerpieces, and
incorporate a gleam of silver, candlelight,
and a rich china pattern to create a romantic
ambiance. And you cant go wrong with blue
and white; its both classic and exotic.
DINNERWARE Empress, $125
for a five-piece place setting,
FLATWARE Academy, $65 for a
five-piece place setting, and SALT
AND PEPPER SHAKERS Empress,
$65, Ralph Lauren Home; macys
.com. CHARGERS Ramsey, $150
each, NAPKINS Palmer, $60 each,
PLACE-CARD HOLDERS Kingsburgh, $150 for four, and VOTIVE
Leighton, $75, Ralph Lauren
Home; ralphlaurenhome.com.
WINEGLASSES Olga, $205
for six, MF Cristal de Paris, and

WATER GLASSES Greta, $40 each,

Adrian Sistem; jungleeny.com.

MENUS The Jennings, from
$1,350 for 100, PLACE CARDS From
$475 for 100, and TABLE NUMBER

From $275 for 10, HEW and Company; hewandco.com. FLOWERS

Price upon request, VSF; vsf
nyc.com. VASES For similar styles,
Twos Company, twoscompany
.com; and Pearl River Mart, pearl
river.com. RENTAL CHAIRS Navy
Reception, $9.30 each, Party
Rental Ltd.; partyrentalltd.com.
F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 467

Choosing reception decor

is about marrying two peoples journeys, says Wang.
Create your own look. Want
to combine silver and gold
china? Mix up the glassware? Trust yourselves!
DINNERWARE Gilded Weave,
$139 for a five-piece place setting,
and FLATWARE Silver Polished,
$70 for a five-piece place setting, Wedgwood Vera Wang;
wedgwood.com. WINEGLASSES
Casanova with platinum, $310
each, Moser; moserusa.com.
TUMBLERS Vita, $230 each,
William Yeoward Crystal; william
yeowardcrystal.com. MENUS $275
for 100, Coral Pheasant; coral
pheasant.com. PLACE CARDS $9
for 10, Crane & Co.; crane.com.
CALLIGRAPHY $1 per menu and $5
per table number, Calligraphy by
Jasmine Yoon; jasminewyoon
@gmail.com. FAVOR BOXES $2.95

468 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

each, Pearl River Mart; pearlriver

.com. CHOCOLATES $1.50 each,
Bedazzle My Bonbons; bedazzle
mybonbons.com. FLOWERS
From $125, Miho Kosuda, Ltd;
212-922-9122. DAHLIA VASE Sip
of Gold champagne goblet,
from $386, Sieger by Furstenberg; michaelcfina.com. CANDLESTICKS Numi, $4.95 each,
CB2; cb2.com. TABLE RUNNERS
Painted Metallic, $39 each,
West Elm; westelm.com. RENTAL
CHAIRS Victoria Ghost, $12
each, Luxe Event Rentals LLC;
luxeeventrentals.com. WALLPAPER
Lattice, $225 per roll, Farrow &
Ball; farrow-ball.com.

PORTRAIT: CARTER SMITH. PROP ST YLING: PAMELA DUNCAN SILVER/PLUM REPS

VERA WANG

ALICE
& OLIVIA

PORTRAIT: COURTESY OF DESIGNER. PROP ST YLING:

PAMELA DUNCAN SILVER/PLUM REPS

You need beautiful flowers

and lots of color to set a
happy mood, says creative
director Stacey Bendet.
And for every serious element, add a whimsical one!
DINNER PLATES Christian Lacroix
Sol Y Sombra, $77 each, Vista
Alegre; myvistaalegre.com.
PARTY PLATES Field of Flowers,
$98 for four, Juliska; juliska.com.
FLATWARE Madrid, $98 for a
five-piece place setting, Canvas
Home; canvashomestore.com.
FLUTES Mille Nuits Flutissimo,
$225 each, and WINEGLASSES
Variations, $190 each, Baccarat;
baccarat.com. GLASSWARE
OVERLAY HOCKS Lady Hamilton,
$1,590 for six, Moser; moserusa
.com. MENUS, PLACE CARDS, AND
FAVOR TAGS From $740 for 100
of each, Missive; missivepress
.com. TABLE NUMBER Botanical,

price upon request, Venamour;

venamour.com. CHOCOLATES
Love Nuts, $15 per pack, and
Signature Truffles, $25 for 10,
Compartes; compartes.com.
CHOCOLATE BOWL Sip of Gold
Ca dOro, $240, Sieger by
Furstenberg; michaelcfina.com.
SMALL PLATES Delaunay, $35
each, Isi Milano; thesilverpeacock
.com. SILK-FLOWER INSTALLATION
From $750, Glitter & Rye; glitter
andrye.com. CANDLESTICKS
Contour Burnished Gold, from
$175, Calvin Klein; calvinklein
.com. RENTAL CHAIRS Chameleon
Fanfare, from $12 each, Arena
Americas; arenaamericas.com.
F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 471

Patience! Dont
expect a sneaker
guy to up his
game overnight.

RELATIONSHIP BOOT CAMP

the myth of the instant

fiance upgrade

Kicking o our six-part series and prepping you for the next phase of your life,
couples coach Alison A. Armstrong explains why we expect the relationship to be
perfect after a guy proposes, and how you can avoid that trap
rooke and Lee, both in their mid-thirties, had lived together in New York City for a year.
Shes a very creative pile person and hes a neatnik. Soon after getting engaged, Lee made one
of his usual teasing remarks, only this time Brooke felt criticized for her messes and was
hurt and angry. Nothing had materially changed between them except that Brooke had a ring
on her nger, but suddenly she thought she should be a domestic goddess and that they
should be suddenly perfect. She didnt realize it at the time, but Brooke had bought into the
myth of the Instant Fianc Upgrade.
Along with the joy and euphoria, getting engaged can generate a host of hidden expectations
about what you should do and have and how you should look and actfor the bride-to-be in
particular. And these can get you into trouble, because your beloved doesnt know that you have a
new set of standards for yourself and for him. Hes likely to disappoint you, hurt your feelings,
or feel blindsided. Why doesnt he automatically know whats expected of him? Is it because hes

472 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BRIDES .COM

inconsiderate or doesnt love you enough? Nope. Its because

hes still just a guy, and the same one you fell in love withnot
some new engaged version of himself.
In 20 years of helping couples create great partnerships,
Ive seen the illusion of the Instant Upgrade undermine the most
loving, well-matched, and well-meaning pairs, just like Lee
and Brookewho, with some coaching, realized their mistake
before the wedding. (Brooke even said in her vows, I do not
promise to cook, but you will be fed.) But you want to nip these
issues in the bud, because the Upgrade myth can pop up at every
major turning pointsee: the Instant Spouse, Homeowner,
and Parent upgrades. Follow these steps to bypass the danger.
1 UNCOVER YOUR HIDDEN EXPECTATIONS. Whether theyre for

JOEL STANS/EXPOSURE NY, ST YLING BY SONIA RENTSCH/APOSTROPHE

your partner or yourself, you probably wont know what they

are until theyre not being met. To uproot yours, nish these
sentencesand feel free to list more than one for each slot.
Now that were engaged...
I should
He should
We should
It can be as simple as I should be happy all the time or
He should attend all of my familys functions. After youve
written your answers, begin again, using your other hand.
It may feel strange, but youll be surprised how many deeply
hidden truths this trick will uncover.
2 START SORTING THE FACTS FROM THE FANTASY. Divide your
expectations into the following categories:
A I truly need this.
B It would make me happy.
C Its a small thing that makes a big dierence.
D What the heck is that?
Then, if its an expectation you have for yourself and it falls into
categories AC (ditch the Ds), take steps to make it happen. Get
up earlier so you can eat breakfast together every day. Set a savings goal so you can have the all-peony centerpieces you love.
As for your expectations of him, look at them through the
lens of evolutionary psychology. Men are natural protectors and
providers, and they want to give you what matters to you
again, as long as it falls into one of the rst three categories. If
it doesnt, or if it runs counter to his values or needs or threatens
his career, nancial security, dreams, or foundational relationships, he wont fulll it. Likewise, anything you think you
should have just because someone else doesthings that
tend to fall into category Dwont be worth his time, money,
or energy. So suss those out and let them go.
3 FORMULATE YOUR GREAT ASKS. For your anc to accept a
new task, behavior, or accountability, your request should include:
A simple statement of what you want. (For example, I
need you to weigh in more on wedding-planning details.)
What that would look like, with specics. (A weekly
check-in to discuss progress. And your commitment to
attend vendor meetings where I need a second opinion.)
What that would provide you. (I would feel like I have
a partner in the planning and in life.)
BRIDES .COM

Once youve determined your asks, prioritize them. Most men

like to move from success to success, and he needs the chance
to implement your requests one at a time.
4 ASK FOR A TIME TO TALK. Most people cant pay close
attention when theyre driving, transitioning home from work,
or already focused on something else. In a quiet moment,
say, Could we set up a time to talk about something I need?
Make sure your tone is friendly and youre relaxed; if youre
amped up, hell think hes in trouble. And overestimate the
time you need to talk, because hell get antsy if you run
long and youll misinterpret it as his not being interested.

YOU PROBABLY
WONT KNOW
WHAT YOUR
EXPECTATIONS
ARE UNTIL
THEYRE NOT
BEING MET.

5 MAKE YOUR ASKS. When the

time arrives to deliver your

rst Great Ask, start by thanking him for hearing you out.
Then go for itslowly, clearly,
and pausing from time to
time to see if he has questions.
If you feel embarrassed, you
can tell him youre learning to
ask for what you need and you
want it to work for him. But try to be direct, because everyone
appreciates a partner who asks for what she really needs.
Remember, this is about making your relationship better, so
theres something in it for him too!

6 HELP HIM HELP YOU. After youve told him what you want,
what it would look like, and what it would provide you, ask:
Is there anything you need in order to give me what Im asking
for? Then put the invisible duct tape over your mouth and
let him think. If he takes awhile to gure it out, thats good! While
hes thinking, let go of everything you think he might come up
with. (In more than 20 years, I have never accurately predicted
what my husband will need for any request, large or small.)
Once hes given you his answer, think: Is there anything
I need so he can fulll my Great Ask? This may sound complicated, but its how you cover all the bases and make sure
your hopes turn into reality.
7 SHOW APPRECIATION. Once you see him making an eort,

be grateful! Even when its not perfect. Even when its not
completely nished. Appreciation is the juice that fuels people
to try new things instead of sticking to old habits. That means
taking his eort personally, because hes trying for you, and
saying thank you for his commitment and the dierence
hes making in your life together.
Then its time to pat yourself on the back. Its not easy to
ask for what you need. Way to be thoughtful and communicative
as you navigate this new world!
Alison A. Armstrong, author of The Queens Code, has helped millions
of women and men learn to communicate better. For more information,
visit understandingmen.com.
NEXT ISSUE! Have you really, truly committed? Alison examines the

dierence between the way men and women commit.

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 473

OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR PLUS

PERSIAN FLOURISHES MADE FOR
ONE SPECTACULAR WEDDING IN
THE CITY OF ANGELS

CURTAIN
CALL
BY ELIZABETH JENKINS
PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEATHER WARAKSA

PLUS A chic Chicago museum fete page 478

A nautical party in Philly page 480 A backyard bash that only looked expensive page 482

SEE HOW THESE COUPLES WALKED

DOWN THE AISLE IN STYLE

We fell in
love with the
theaters
decadence,
says bride
Sunny Shokrae.

We want to see your wedding photos! Instagram your favorites with @brides in the caption and they could appear in the magazine!

BRIDES .COM

F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015 475

REAL WEDDINGS

The ceremony included

Western and Persian
traditions, like the sofreh
aghd, a spread of food
and symbolic items.

Sunnys lush
bouquet and
glam Alexander
McQueen heels
were fitting
for the ornate
surroundings.

Gold flatware and

ruby napkins added
color to the long
reception tables.

yan Kelley really knows

how to set a scene. For
Sunny Shokraes 29th birthday, a year after they started
dating, he swept her away to
Morocco, where a camel ride
led to a moonlit proposal on
the dunes. The artsy couples
choice for a wedding venue
was equally impressive: the
Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los
Angeles, a newly restored
Spanish Gothic homage to old Hollywood with glittering murals
and a three-story-high vaulted ceiling.
For the nights rst act, the pair treated their 238 friends and
family to tea and Persian sweets (a nod to Sunnys Iranian
heritage) in the grand lobby, before everyone took their red-velvet
seats in the theater. The crowd went wild when Sunny walked
down the aisle to join Ryan on stage for the ceremony. Next, partygoers moved to the opulent foyer to dine on halibut with kar lime,
watch performances by traditional Arabic and Iranian dancers,
and get their groove on to Persian and Top 40 tunes. We skipped
our rst dance because everyone was already having so much
fun! says Sunny. For the grand nale, late-nighters went up to
the Presidential Suite at midnight for a bash that raged till 6 a.m.
Says the bride, It was an insane party from beginning to end.

31, photographer, and Ryan

Kelley, 34, media producer
THE WEDDING At the Theatre
at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles
on May 3, 2014
HOW THEY MET Through
a mutual friend at a park
in Brooklyn
THE PROPOSAL On a sand
dune in Morocco
HONEYMOON Minimoon in
Big Sur, California

476 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

CAKE IN THE LOOK: JOHN LAWTON; OTHER STILL LIFE: CATHY CRAWFORD, ST YLING BY RENEE YAN

THE COUPLE Sunny Shokrae,

The theater is
so dramatic
that we barely
had to decorate,
says Sunny.

BRIDES .COM

A table of
sweets and tea
served from
samovars
greeted guests
in the lobby.

The cake was

topped with
lemons and
blackberries,
staples of
Iranian cuisine.

TAKEAWAY TIPS
FROM SUNNY
AND RYAN

HEADBAND

Silk, $165,
Eugenia
Kim; net-aporter.com.

PLATES

Constance
Rouge, from
$90, Bernardaud;
bernardaud.fr.

GET
THE LOOK
REFINED OPULENCE
INVITES

DRESS

Dapper
Deco, from
$119 for 100,
Wedding
Paper Divas;
wedding
paperdivas
.com.

Silk, $3,200,
Alyne by
Rita Vinieris;
alynebridal
.com.

Take a chance The couple booked the theater

even though their wedding was the venues
first. We loved it, so the
bumps in the road were
worth it, says Sunny.
Work with your space
The theater had two
aisles, so the attendants
walked down both.
Sniff out discounts
The bride scored
her Lanvin gown for
90 percent off at Neta-Porters annual sale.
Know your guests My
family is always late, she
says, so we put a 4:30
start time on invites but
planned on beginning
the ceremony at 5:30.

Venue: The Theatre at Ace Hotel;

acehotel.com.
Wedding planner: Bash, Please;
bashplease.com.

CAKE

$12 per slice (serves

40), Elegantly Iced;
elegantlyiced.com.

Brides dresses: Lanvin

(ceremony and dinner);
lanvin.com. Olima (dancing);
olimaatelier.com.
Cake: The Butter End Cakery;
thebutterend.com.
Tea station: Rubys Party &
Wedding Coordinating Services;
818-395-8966.
Flowers: Twig & Twine;
twigandtwinedesign.com.
Stationery: Please Keep Me in
Mind; pleasekeepmeinmind.com.
Photography: Heather Waraksa;
heatherwaraksa.com.

TO SEE MORE GLAMOROUS WEDDINGS, VISIT BRIDES.COM/REALWEDDINGS.

REAL WEDDINGS

I was in tears
walking down
the aisle, says
Courtney. My
dad said to just
look at Tim.

MODERN LOVE
Great music and priceless artwork set the scene for these
Chicagoans sweet and stylish bash
BY LAMBETH HOCHWALD PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLIVIA LEIGH PHOTOGRAPHIE

THE COUPLE Courtney

Kenny, 29, PR executive, and

Timothy McHugh, 30, real
estate investment analyst
THE WEDDING At Assumption
Catholic Church and the
Art Institute of Chicago on
July 6, 2013
HOW THEY MET In high
school, north of Chicago
THE PROPOSAL In front of her
first Chicago apartment
HONEYMOON Paris,
Santorini, and Athens

lthough Tim McHugh

thought his rst date
with Courtney Kenny, to their
sophomore homecoming
dance in high school, went
pretty well, she wasnt so sure.
We took an eight-year break,
says Tim. But when they
tried again in 2007, it stuck,
and on July 6, 2013, they tied
the knot in a wedding full
of pretty, unexpected details.
The bride wore Carolina
Herrera for the Catholic ceremony, skipping the designers
more traditional gowns in
favor of a color-blocked A-line.
For the reception, she and Tim
chose the Art Institute of Chicago, inviting their 300 guests
to the museums Modern
478 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

Wing. The twists continued,

with St. Germain margaritas
and tables topped with
bright ombr centerpieces.
Courtney surprised
everyone when it was time
for her speech: Id spent
months rehearsing in secret
to sing Your Song, she
says. Tims jaw dropped
when the music started!
The band played until 11:30
p.m., then the party moved
to the couples favorite
dive bar, where sliders, fries,
and a DJ kept things going.
We stayed until 2:30 a.m.,
says the bride. We didnt
want the night to end!
BRIDES .COM

CAKE IN THE LOOK: DYAD PHOTOGRAPHY; BOUQUET: ANDREW MCCAUL;

ALL OTHERS: CATHY CRAWFORD, ST YLING BY RENEE YAN

The train was

the best part,
says the bride
of her Carolina
Herrera gown.

Crocodileembossed boxes
held white, peach,
apricot, and
mango roses.

TAGS $5 each;
Fleur de Letters;
fleurcalligraphy
.com. WREATHS
Eight-inch boxwood, $17, Save
On Crafts; saveon-crafts.com.

Babys breath encircled

silhouettes of the bride
and groom (also used
on the save-the-dates).

CAKE

$800 (serves
100), Erica OBrien
Cake Design;
ericaobrien.com.

EARRINGS

$65, Elizabeth Bower;

elizabeth
bower.com.

GET
THE
LOOK
COLORFUL CONTEMPORARY
TAKEAWAY TIPS
FROM TIM AND
COURTNEY
Bridesmaids
carried bouquets
of succulents
and peonies.
Ombr fondant
dots covered
layers of vanilla
and lemonbutter cake.

Dont forget why youre

here Courtney and
Tim started working on
their ceremony soon
after getting engaged.
Its the most important
part of the day but
often gets left to the last
minute, she says.
Streamline the menu
The couple saved money
by keeping the dinner
choices simple. We had
more-creative options
during the cocktail hour,
says Courtney.
Pass on perfectionism
Courtney learned to
let go so that she could
get things done. No
one will care whether
the table numbers
are folded or framed!
Keep the crowd on its
toes Tim and Courtney
surprised dancing guests
with mini milkshakes
and bite-size doughnuts.

BOUQUET

Sweet peas,
$250, Michael
George Flowers; michael
george
flowers.com.

DRESS Silk, $4,050,

Rosa Clar; rosaclara

bridal.com. SASH
Satin and crystal, from
$375, Ossa; ossai
bridalaccessories.com.

Ceremony venue: Assumption Catholic Church;

assumption-chgo.org.
Reception venue and catering: The Art Institute of
Chicago; artic.edu.
Wedding planner: Parties Etc.; partiesetcetera.com.
Event designer: Jesse Deckard; 773-516-4044.
Wedding dress: Carolina Herrera; carolinaherrera.com.
Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design; amybeckcakedesign.com.
Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie; olivialeigh
weddings.com.

TO SEE MORE MUSEUM WEDDINGS, VISIT BRIDES.COM/REALWEDDINGS.

REAL WEDDINGS

Glamour on
the docks

Tall arrangements helped

balance out the
venues towering ceilings.

High school sweethearts wed at a nautical-inspired celebration

BY JAIMIE SCHOEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY LAUREN FAIR PHOTOGRAPHY

THE COUPLE Emily Privette,

27, and Matthew Miller, 26,

resident physicians
THE WEDDING At URBN in
the Philadelphia Navy
Yard on April 26, 2014
HOW THEY MET As eighth
graders in Wayne,
Pennsylvania
THE PROPOSAL With a
photo time line of their
relationship
HONEYMOON St. Lucia

Im not a heels
girl, says Emily.
These J.Crew flats
were very me.

mily Privette and Matthew Millers goal was to

give their guests a party like
theyd never seen. So they
chose the cafe at B543, Urban
Outtters Navy Yard headquarters in Philadelphia,
as their venue and let the
building guide their vintage
nautical theme.
The pair said personalized
vows in front of 180 guests.
At the reception, sheer
fabric separated the cocktail
area from tables accented
with navy, cream, and gold.
Guests were treated to a
fried-chicken dinner, cupcakes, a University of Virginiathemed grooms cake
(the couple are both grads
of the medical school), and
a sundae bar.
After the rst dance,
a DJ kept the oor packed,
spinning Katy Perry and
Pharrell. Emily laughs, The
night wrapped with the
whole crowd yelling the lyrics to Old Crow Medicine
Shows Wagon Wheel at the
top of their lungs!
480 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

It felt so
elegant, says
Emily of her
Priscilla of
Boston gown.
Ropes, anchors,
and other maritime details
transformed
the space,
which dates
back to 1801.

GET
THE LOOK
SEAFARING CHIC
NECKLACE

$48 (part of a set

including earrings), C. Wonder;
cwonder.com.

We danced
so much, Matt
and I missed
the ice cream
service!
says Emily.
GUEST BOOK

Preppy Stripe,
$49, Crafty Pie;
craftypie.com.

Ceremony venue: The Chapel of the Four

Chaplains; fourchaplains.org.
Reception venue and catering: URBN B543.
Wedding planner: J. Scott Catering;
jscottcatering.com.
Wedding dress: Priscilla of Boston.
Cake: The Createrie; thecreaterie.com.
Flowers: Oleander Florals & Events;
oleanderbotanicals.com.
Invitations: Spark Letterpress;
letterpresslove.com.

The bride collected stamps

and hand wrote the addresses
for the invitations, which featured the Philadelphia skyline.

BRIDES .COM

BOUQUET: JOHNNY MILLER; OTHERS IN THE LOOK: CATHY CRAWFORD, STYLING BY RENEE YAN

Photography: Lauren and Tim Fair, Lauren Fair

Photography; laurenfairphotography.com.

TAKEAWAY TIPS
FROM EMILY
AND MATT
Play to your grooms
strengths I did the more
creative stuff. Matt talked
to vendors and kept us
organized, says Emily.
Pick up a new skill
The bride learned calligraphy and addressed
the envelopes herself.
Embrace technology
The minister forgot his
Bible, so he used an app
to perform the ceremony.
Have fun with your
vows Emily quoted
Everytime We Touch,
by Cascada. Our guests
got a kick out of it! They
know how much we love
the song, she says.

DRESS
BOUQUET

Anemones,
ranunculus,
and sweet
peas, $300,
Belle Fleur;
bellefleur
ny.com.

Satin, $1,080,
Casablanca
Bridal;
casablanca
bridal.com.

SHOES

Laser-cut
leather,
$1,470,
Vionnet;
vionnet
.com.

TO SEE MORE NAUTICAL WEDDINGS, VISIT BRIDES.COM/REALWEDDINGS.

REAL WEDDINGS

$PENDING WELL

BACKYARD BOHEMIAN
THROWING THE COOLEST DINNER PARTY EVER COST MORE THAN
THIS L.A. COUPLE EXPECTED, BUT IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY
BY JAIMIE SCHOEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY STUDIO CASTILLERO

THE COUPLE Keltie Colleen,

32, correspondent for The

Insider, and Chris Knight,
34, music manager
THE WEDDING In a friends
backyard in Los Angeles on
August 17, 2013
THE BUDGET GOAL $15,000

482 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

eltie Colleen once told her then-boyfriend, Chris Knight, that shed always imagined when she
met the One, a heart would light up over their heads. So when he was ready to propose, Chris
brought her to the garden of their friends Los Angeles home, ipped the switch on a giant heart that
hed made out of Christmas lights, and got down on one knee. On August 17, 2013, they returned to
the same backyard to say I do in front of 50 guests. Keltie walked down the aisle as her best friend,
Christina Perri, sang her hit A Thousand Years. For the rst dance, singer Matt Nathanson surprised the newlyweds, performing Kelties favorite tune of his, Little Victories. Guests sat at tables
topped with loose centerpieces and had tacos and margaritas, then ate cupcakes and homemade
pies for dessert. A DJ spun rock and pop hits as guests danced and oated wish lanterns in the pool.
But Chris had one more thing up his sleeve: He picked up a guitar and sang Sunshine, by Jonathan
Tyler, says Keltie. It was so romantic. Ill never forget it.
BRIDES .COM

THE SPLURGES
EVENT DESIGNER

I knew our planner, Tori,

would be expensive, but
she was the only one who
could create the experience
we wanted, Keltie says.
RENTALS

Standard furniture wouldnt

do for Keltie and Chriss
rocker-chic vision, so they
rented vintage rugs, wooden
tables, and mismatched
chairs, dishes, and cutlery.
PHOTOGRAPHER

Though they were an

investment, Kelties photogs
came with a rave review
from her planner. Tori told
me that if she were getting
married again, shed use
Studio Castillero, so I hired
them on the spot! she says.
RECEPTION MUSIC

WHERE
THE MONEY
WENT
VENUE (friends home)

$0
OFFICIANT

(grooms aunt) $0
WEDDING PLANNER

$5,000
BRIDES DRESS (a gift

from the designer) $0

BRIDES ACCESSORIES

Shoes, hairpiece (borrowed from friends) $0

HAIR & MAKEUP (done

by friends) $0
GROOMS ATTIRE

Suit, shoes, accessories

(his own) $0
WEDDING BANDS $500
CATERING $3,860
CUPCAKES $144

Since there was so much live

music during the ceremony,
Chris and Keltie hired a killer
DJ for the reception. Im
friends with a lot of dancers,
says the bride, so a great
playlist was a must.

THE SAVES
A GENEROUS CREW

From doing her hair and

makeup to lending her shoes
to serenading her down
the aisle, the brides friends
pitched in with freebies to
help bring her big day together.

Wedding planner:
Sitting in a Tree Design;
sittinginatreedesign.com.
Dress: Watters; watters.com.
Flowers: Bloem Hill;
bloemhill.com.
Catering: Miho Gastrotruck;
mihogastrotruck.com.
Photography: Studio Castillero;
studiocastillero.com.

WE SAID OUR
VOWS IN THE
EXACT SPOT
WHERE CHRIS
PROPOSED!
SAYS KELTIE.

BEVERAGES $850

VENUE

FLOWERS $1,300

Marrying in a pals backyard

saved Keltie and Chris a
bundle. There was no fee,
and there were no charges
if the party ran late.

INVITATIONS Evite $0

DESSERT

Venue: Private home.

For place cards, the

couple used handmade
Plexiglas nameplates.

Keltie is gluten free, but many

of her guests arent, so she
and Chris oered both glutenfree and regular cupcakes
alongside his aunts famous
berry and apple pies, a
tradition at Knight family
celebrations.
GETAWAY CAR

Instead of hiring a limo or

renting a pricey vintage car,
the newlyweds Ubered their
post-wedding ride home. It
was easier and way cheaper!
says Keltie.

PLACE CARDS $430

MUSIC DJ $2,000
RENTALS Dishes, flatware, linens, furniture
$4,000
PHOTOGRAPHY $4,000
VIDEOGRAPHY (friend

of the bride) $0
FAVORS $150
PHOTO BOOTH $750
WISH LANTERNS $200
TRANSPORTATION $25

TOTAL
$23,209
FOR 50 GUESTS

TO SEE MORE BACKYARD WEDDINGS, VISIT BRIDES.COM/REALWEDDINGS.

PLANETARY PREDICTIONS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND BEYOND

AQUARIUS JAN. 20FEB. 18

With mental Mercury hovering in your
innovative sign until March 12, your
inner offbeat bride is ruling the roost.
Want to alternate floral centerpieces
with stacks of vintage records? No law
against that! Just dont be surprised
when your engaged friends start
borrowing your ideas.

PISCES FEB. 19MAR. 20

ARIES
MAR. 21APR. 19
Bold Mars hits Aries
on February 19 and
lends cosmic courage
through March. Nows
the time to tackle
something requiring
major cojones, so ask
your cousin to borrow
her diamond bracelet,
or beg your anc to
shave his beard for the
wedding. Good luck!

TAURUS
APR. 20MAY 20
Lovey-dovey Venus
in your sacrice sector
from February 20
to March 17 coaxes
you to let your groom
try out his great
idea. A boutonniere
in his colleges colors
may not match the
wedding palette, but
hell beam with pride
when he pins it on.

GEMINI
MAY 21JUNE 20
After Mercury goes
direct in your vision
sector on February 11,
itll be easier than ever
to get your thoughts
across to vendors.
So even if youre
bursting with inspiration, wait until those
wires uncross to
try the oral escort
cards on page 255.

CANCER
JUNE 21JULY 22
The new moon in your
intimacy zone on
February 18 serves as
a reminder to keep
changing it up in the
bedroom, no matter
how tired planning
leaves you. You still
have those racy gifts
your BFF brought
to the bachelorette
party, dont you?

LEO
JULY 23AUG. 22
Youll go stir-crazy
if you dont nd a
change of scenery
once Mars enters your
exploration house in
mid-February. Cant
get away for a ski
weekend? A salsa lesson
with your groom will
spice up your Saturday
and help you nail the
rst dance.

VIRGO
AUG. 23SEPT. 22
Virgos are all about
the nitty-gritty, and
with Mercury in your
details sector through
March 12, youll feel
very much in your element. Go to town on
your spreadsheets, but
save major decisions
for after February 11,
when Merc comes out
of retrograde.

LIBRA
SEPT. 23OCT. 22
Nows the time for
you and your guy to
attack those wedding
tasks, as Venus meets
get-er-done Mars in
your partnership
angle. Youll be in sync
on everything from
the guest list to the
wine list through the
end of March, so take
advantage!

SCORPIO
OCT. 23NOV. 21
Already scrapped your
New Years resolution
to get in shape? Try
again on February 19,
when Mars in your
wellness zone pushes
you toward a health
kick. Squeeze in those
morning runs and
switch out your bagel
for avocado toast.
Good habits start now.

SAGITTARIUS
NOV. 22DEC. 21
Weve got an assignment for you, courtesy
of Mars in your love
sector: Schedule in
some romance
between those work
meetings, vendor visits, and social calls.
Surprise your guy by
re-creating your rst
date. This time, you
make the rst move.

CAPRICORN
DEC. 22JAN. 19
We know you can
never leave a to-do list
undone, but its time
for a break. Saturn,
your ruling planet,
turns retrograde in
your solitude sector
in mid-March, urging
you to hit the spa
or the snooze button
and get some R&R.
Sweet dreams!

484 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

BY ASTROLOGER TRACY ALLEN

COLIENA RENTMEESTER/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

Half the planets are rolling through

Pisces, giving you the green light to
let loose a little. Have a night out
with your maidsno wedding talk
allowed. Or take a long lunch and
sneak in a matinee of Fifty Shades.
A little breather from all that planning
(and, um, working) will do you good!

THE EDIT
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Price upon request (serves 185);
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DALLAS AFFAIRES CAKE COMPANY

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516 F E B R UA R Y/ M A R C H 2015

FOR MORE STUNNING CONFECTIONS, GO TO BRIDES.COM/CAKES.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MAGGIE AUSTIN CAKE; CATHERINE MAC PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF ANNA T YLER CAKES;
A ARON DYER PHOTOGRAPHY; LAUREN REYNOLDS PHOTOGRAPHY; ANDREW GEDDES OF UNION ELEVEN PHOTOGRAPHERS;
ZAC AND K AITLIN PHOTOGRAPHY; DASHA OF EXHIBIT EMOTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY; CATHY CRAWFORD

9 FAVORITE CAKES