Bride's Guide 2011 by The Eagle Advertising Department

Your Perfect Hometown

WEDDiNG

SHOP LOCAL FOR YOUR WEDDING

hoW to SAve tiMe AnD MoneY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

the BeSt SPotS in YoUr BAckYArD

Plus

ComInG home sImPly sTylIsh GoWns sWeeT ‘n’ sImPle CaKes GroCery sTore WeDDInGs The roaD-TrIP honeymoon TuXeDos: renT or Buy?

Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide

BEST WISHES

you’re in love, and soon you’ll be married. no matter where you are in the process – thinking about the ring, selecting your special day or nearly ready to walk down the aisle – you can use inspiration and informed advice. The key to a perfect wedding starts with a savvy bride and groom. That’s why we’re excited to bring you this edition of Bride’s Guide, your source for planning and enjoying one of life’s sweetest celebrations. Congratulations!

Say YES to the Hometown Wedding! think Local, Drink Local – 4

Personal touches and homegrown details are all the rage at weddings, so why not extend the trend to the bar?

Uncovering the Best hometown Spots – 5

An engagement portrait session can help break the ice with your photographer – and capture some fun photos right in your backyard

coming home – 6

You’re getting married in your hometown – and it’s changed a bit since you last lived there. Here’s the planning advice and etiquette for finding the venues and vendors to make your hometown wedding the best ever

Aisle Style – 8

Cakes, catering and flowers all in one place? Here’s how to plan your wedding at the grocery store

Shop Local for Your Wedding – 9

One quick trip around town to a few stores and you’ll be well on your way to saving time and money

Simply Stylish gowns – 10

Here’s a guide to gowns that look great, feel great and come without the great, big price tag

Sweet and Simple – 16

Enough with topsy-turvy ‘Alice of Wonderland’ cakes. Today’s modern desserts go easy on the embellishments and feature delightful details – and flavors – guests know and love. Say yes to the baking renaissance

PLUS:

Tuxedos: rent or Buy? – 13 super easy, super smart Beauty secrets – 14 The road-Trip honeymoon – 18

30%

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Improve your chances for wedded bliss with the Couples Discovery Mini-Package. You will:

Source: Brides.com 2009 American Wedding Study

Jim Wilson Publisher Ron Lee Director of sales & marketing Joanne R . Patranella Display advertising manager Patrick Danielczyk Creative services supervisor Billy Mau special Projects editor Courtney Lewellen section Designer Bride’s Guide is a special publication of The eagle.

For more information on the section or how to advertise in The eagle, please contact the advertising Department at 979-731-4738.

Stop Money Fights Before They Start!

It’s no secret that money issues cause stress in marriages. Learn how to stop money problems before they start.

of brides return to their family’s hometown for their wedding!

Be a Guest at Your Own Wedding! Let us take care of the rehearsal and wedding day events and enjoy a stress free wedding!

• Discover your money communication style. • Understand the way you make financial decisions. • Find out which careers match your personality. • Build a strong foundation for your married life. Your Couples Discovery Mini-Package includes 2 personality profiles and a 1-hour couple’s coaching session.

Marilynn Hood, MBA,CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Career Development and Money Coach Experienced Personal Finance Educator and Counselor Contact mhood@30minuteliving.com

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www.divineorderbcs.com • 979-587-0223 Sarah Tichenor, Class of '08

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

A NEW CLUBHOUSE. A BEAUTIFUL NEW BALLROOM.

The perfect setting for your perfect wedding. Your guestswill be impressed the moment they The Eagle • theeagle.com

begin the long, winding drive to the clubhouse.

You will be impressed with the attention to detail and exquisite service from the experienced staff. Indoors or outdoors, the grand ballroom or the manicured perfection of the event lawn, the options are unlimited in creating your special day. At Traditions Club, your wedding will not only be perfect - it will be remembered! cwolfe@traditionsclub.com contact: Courtney Wolfe Event and Hospitality Coordinator 979-779-1007

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photos by: Butch Ireland Photography

Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide The Eagle • theeagle.com 4

Personal touches and homegrown details are all the rage at weddings, so why not extend the trend to the bar?

DrinkS

By Anna Sachse | CTW FeaTures

Think Local, DriNk lOCal There’s no place like home, right? Here’s how to show off your favorite state with a wedding reception that features stand-out local wines, beers and spirits.

A Pretty Presentation Shine the spotlight on local labels by finding fun ways to make them an active part of your big day’s events, says Christopher Chan, director of wine & spirits at The Rainier Club, a historic private club and event space in Seattle. He suggests starting the reception with a “Wine Tasting Bar.” Select two each of your state’s best white and red wines and pair them with trays of hors d’oeuvres. Syrah is a winner with lamb, for example, while the sweetness of a dry sémillon is sublime with crab cakes. For suds-lovers, Chan recommends hosting a microbrew station. Fill tubs with ice and a variety of local brews that range from bright, hoppy

pale ales to dark, malty ambers and porters. As for spirits, prepare a buildyour-own bar that features a local vodka or gin along with a variety of mixers, such as fresh juices and specialty sodas, and ingredients like seasonal herbs and berries. “If you opt for station-style dinner service, another way to highlight one or all of these beverages is to pair each table with the wine, beer or cocktail that suits that particular cuisine best,” says Jessica Pennington, owner and lead planner for Stella Event Design in St. Joseph, Mich. But even if you decide to keep all the bottles behind the bar, she suggests including the background information on cute signs and/or your menu cards.

Smart Sourcing Your caterer will likely have advice about which regional beverages are the best match for the food being served, but if you are able to procure your own alcohol and you really

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want to go local, chat with the folks at an area wine shop, Chan says. Not only do these vino aficionados have an insider’s point of view on delicious wines at affordable prices, they often carry craft beers and can typically weigh in on the best local spirits. Plus, many wine shops offer a 10- to 20-percent discount when you buy in bulk, notes Pennington, as do many wineries, breweries, distilleries and grocery stores. If you really want to show off some higher-end bottles but also have a limited budget, the answer is portion control, says Chan. Feature that favorite spirit in a specialty cocktail and, when guests are seated, have waiters pour small glasses of wine and beer as a special treat to kick off dinner. Or go with Pennington’s sweet tip: Stick with cheaper products in the bar, but offer a really splendid local dessert wine with the cake for a fabulous flavor combination that guests won’t soon forget.

By Timothy R. Schulte, CTW Features | Photos by Amanda Patrice

Best Hometown Spots

engagementportrait session

Location, Location

For a shoot, Patrice always encourages a few locations and a few clothes changes.

often bring blankets and books, she says. Another recent session the couple showcased their love for LEGO. Patrice’s ultimate seal of approval for a great session: silence. “If I’m quiet, they’re doing something right. It gives them permission to chat with each other, dance around, loosen up; it doesn’t have to be super formal and stiff.

Striking structures like brick buildings make instantly awesome backgrounds, while props like books and chalkboards with flirty messages help make engagement photos fun.

Poses and Props

that’s So Me!

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might seem like the time to just capture that one shot that will go on the magnets or postcards or whatever method you choose to tell folks to save the date. But you also could think of it as a sort-of a playdate with your photographer. “I tell my clients that engagement photos are a time for us to get to know each other photographically,” says Amanda Patrice, an Orange County, Calif.-based photographer. “We both learn what type of photos they like. I think on the wedding day they’re able to loosen up a bit more. I always recommend an engagement session. There’s nothing but benefits.” But it’s not all prep for the wedding day. Patrice’s philosophy: Engagement photos should stand up to the wedding photos. “They’re a great way to show who they are right now in this time of their life,” Patrice says. “I don’t want them to

get swept under the rug!” Here are her tips for a great shoot:

Big, expansive places like parks and fields are a great place to start, as they’re relaxed, casual and allow the photographer to show off the atmosphere. One of Patrice’s recent shoots with was a couple who had met over comic books, so part of their shoot entailed chilling out at the park with their favorite graphic novels. One of Patrice’s go-to spots is the Orange Circle area of Orange County, a historic area with lots of visually striking brick buildings. Structures are great, she says, because they simply give the couple something to lean on. But Patrice recommends getting off the beaten path, too. “I actually really love shooting in a new place because it’s more creative,” she says. Her all-time favorite shoot: Hopping in the car and driving down the freeway for an hour. She and the couple ended up stopping at a concrete factory, where “props” like red pallets and concrete tubes lent their way to one-of-a-kind photos.“We drove until they found what they liked!” she says.

“I always give people a little pep talk,” she says. “I know they’re not used to being in front of the camera. I’ll tell them where to go and how to pose and where the light looks good. It’s what they do in a photo that’s going to make the photo special.” Props and other personal touches don’t hurt, either. Like her comic-book couple, Destiny and Chris, folks

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

Uncovering the

and

Gift Basket Xpress Photo by: Michael Kellett

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Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide The Eagle • theeagle.com 6

Coming HOME D

You’re getting married in your hometown – and it’s changed a bit since you last lived there. Here’s the advice and etiquette for finding the venues and vendors to make your hometown wedding the best ever

By Melanie Wanzek CTW FeaTures

estination: Home. While some brides decide between a traditional hometown wedding and a destination wedding, for others those options are one and the same. “You go through the same processes in terms of creating a vision and hiring vendors who can really execute that vision,” says Alyssa Brown, production manager for Alison Events in San Francisco, which specializes in destination weddings. Many brides still choose to marry in their hometowns because of tradition, sentimentality or if the bride’s parents are footing

the bill. Returning home, even if real life now exists miles away, offers a unique way to unite the past and present. “Hometown weddings are in a place special and meaningful to the couple,” Brown says.“They allow your current home and past home to come together and for you to share that with all of your family and friends.” Planning a hometown wedding from afar is similar to planning a destination wedding with one potential perk: friends and family in the area who can act as point people in the planning process. Realize these helpful people have

Perfect Your Plan

Keep It Simple Overwhelmed yet? To make it easier, Smith suggests choosing options with packages. For instance, a hotel for the ceremony and reception that offers inhouse catering and a block of rooms for guests, which eliminates transportation between events. Simplicity can minimize the number of

people and details to juggle from afar. “I’m a big believer in less is more,” Smith says. “Anytime you use a package, it will save you a tremendous amount of time and energy.” Though Merry recommends brides try to return home two or three times throughout the process, he says it depends on the style of the bride and how much control over every detail she desires. Either way, making each trip efficient can reduce the number needed. Take time to set up a to-do list beforehand with specific tasks to accomplish. Also make appointments with vendors far in advance to ensure they all fit into the trip’s limited timeframe. Finally, know that you might need to make a lot of decisions in a short span of time and prepare yourself to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Once each initial meeting is complete and the deposits are made (don’t forget to pack the checkbook!), set up the next meeting right away so it fits into your schedule. This is essential if you’re making another trip back and again need to balance time with vendors. Merry recommends a second meeting around three months from the day to establish how all the pieces of the day fit together

and make final decisions on agenda, décor, menus and music lists. Consider setting up a few Skype meetings if returning home isn’t a possibility. Merry says video conferencing works well for details like flowers and décor. It’s also thoughtful to establish expectations with vendors regarding how often you need to communicate to avoid nagging them. Collect your questions between calls or e-mails in order to have a few thorough and productive conversations, rather than daily calls about every tiny detail.

Get Everyone Involved As those details are decided, don’t forget one perhaps most important to guests: travel. Merry says travel plans often fall through the cracks for hometown weddings; wellcommunicated travel plans for guests from the airport to the hotel, between venues,

and back to the airport are a must. Make it as easy as possible for guests by writing written directions, providing maps and sending information early. Finally, since a wedding in a far-away home might mean many friends can’t afford to attend, Merry says it’s important to think of other ways to involve people and allow them to contribute. “If you get married in one town, you could have a smaller reception where you currently live and even watch the wedding video together,” he suggests. “Or I have let guests call in and leave special messages, then taken the highlights and put them in a song to play for the bride and groom during the reception. You could even set up a laptop with Skype at the ceremony for a very special person who can’t be there. Brainstorm ways to feel like it’s a special moment for them as well.”

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One of the biggest challenges for an out-oftown bride is finding the right local vendors for her style, preferences and budget, says Peter Merry, wedding specialist and author of “The Best Wedding Reception Ever!” (Sellers Publishing Inc, 2010). For this, a little help from parents may come in handy to research options and hear opinions first-hand from others in the area. Check “Best of” lists from the newspaper and other local sources, talk to old friends in the area, or request local references from vendors to see what people in the area think. Even for brides with certain locations in mind, research must be done to make sure those sites that were special 10 years ago still exist, look like they used to, and won’t be undergoing any major construction projects, closings, or competing with other nearby events in the neighborhood around the time of the wedding – details out-of-towners wouldn’t be aware of. Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Boston-area Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, recommends narrowing down potential options and being realistic about what one can accomplish before trekking home to go on visits. She advises brides to build time into the trip’s schedule for transportation and breaks between meetings so they are fresh and attentive with each vendor. “Don’t overschedule the planning trip,” she says. “The entire planning process is exhausting even when you live in your hometown, but if

you’re living in Chicago and getting married in Indiana, and you’re leaving a job, getting on plane and trying to schedule seeing four photographers in less than two hours, you’re not going to remember anything.” Then it’s time for a visit. Almost all brides should plan to visit their hometown at least once initially to secure major vendors, such as the ceremony and reception locations, caterer, entertainment and photographer. This face time is important in developing strong relationships with long-distance vendors rather than just becoming another name on the list of brides they work with, says Brown. “You really need to massage those relationships and make sure you’re a priority,” she adds. “That’s something we do quite a bit as wedding planners.”

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

limits, but respectfully employ their help if they’re willing. If possible, also hire a professional wedding planner to complete major research, juggle vendors, relieve the stress of longdistance coordination, and ensure everything goes according to plan.

Elegant, Charming, Affordable Bridal luncheons, Showers, Rehersal Dinners and Catering Antique Hats Provided For Fun Dress Up 212 S. Echols • Caldwell

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Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide

Aisle STYlE

Before you walk down the aisle, check out the aisles in your local supermarket

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hen Maria Brous needed flowers and a cake for her wedding she just turned to her current employer. Brous doesn’t work for a traditional bakery or florist, though. She’s the director of media and community relations for Publix, the Lakeland, Fla.-based supermarket chain. She simply relied on common features of a supermarket – bakery and floral departments – to be among her goto vendors. Since 2007, the average spending on weddings has taken a considerable hit according to The Wedding Report, the Tucson, Ariz.based wedding market researcher. After steadily climbing to $28,730 in 2007, the average cost of a wedding was $19,580 by 2009. Many bridesto-be are looking for ways to save money, and the grocery store presents a budget-friendly, easily accessible option. From cakes and flowers to catering and even wedding-planning consultation, many supermarkets have become an all-in-one planning stop. “It’s a good place to start, especially if you’re on a budget,” says Brous. It can be a launching point for grander plans, or a walletfriendly way for putting together a celebration.

Wedding Central

When a couple relies on various supermarket services for their wedding needs, they get the advantage of having multiple vendors that work closely with each other all in one place. In Cedar Rapids,Iowa,Jody Stetzel designs flower arrangements

ranging from bouquets to table and special dietary requests. “Some decorations for brides who rely on brides and grooms prefer or require the floral department at Hy-Vee, a special diets, like vegan or glutenMidwest supermarket chain, for their free, and we can accommodate that,” wedding. “We have quality flowers, says Ashley Hawkins, a spokeswoman and we really care,” says Stetzel, the for Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods floral department manager. “We Market. Many of the natural and want every bride to have a unique organic grocery store’s locations experience.” offer local options, in addition to a Part of what makes that experience robust selection of wine and cheese, unique is the store’s selections, says for those thinking of a simple, classic Stetzel. “I think we have more access cocktail hour. Many grocery stores to flowers. We have more access to offer bulk discounts when it comes wholesalers,” she says. to buying booze, so if you’re stocking Over in the bakery department your own bar be sure to ask around of the same store, department about deals. manager Terrie Winslow crafts highly decorated cakes and hosts customer Planning Dept. Some grocery chains, like Publix, consultations. Winslow encourages are starting to think beyond the brides and grooms to come in vendor role and offering planning with ideas, choose from a variety services with on-site event planners. of customizable flavors and styles These specialty designers work and walk away with taste test cake with customers one-on-one to plan samples. “I think people are unaware of the specialty type of cakes that a supermarket can provide,” she says. “Whatever the customer wants, we can make it happen.” The department also offers free delivery and setup services for orders over $100. To top it off, the catering department can provide food and table service at a wedding reception. Don Mitchell, the kitchen manager, works with the other Hy-Vee departments to match his dish garnishes with the flowers and cake. Mitchell’s main focus, though, is preparing something to leave the bride and groom and, just as importantly, the Rehersal Dinners guests satisfied. “We’re pretty simple – we do Receptions food,” he says.

By Michael Juliano CTW FeaTures

anything from decorations to food for the wedding. “We understand the importance of special gatherings,” says Brous, who suggests that customers bring some magazine clippings and ideas along with them to craft their desired wedding motif when visiting with in-store bakers, florists and caterers. Inevitably, a trip to the grocery store to plan a wedding may not sound like the most romantic idea for many people. But for many people, the fact that a single local store can offer all of these planning services at a budgeted price is enough of an incentive. Just remember that using the supermarket to plan a wedding doesn’t necessarily mean exchanging vows in the frozen foods aisle – although if you check your local store, there’s a chance they may offer that, too.

WEDDING PLANS? SAVE YOUR DATE!

Special Service When it comes to food, many supermarkets can meet alternative

Outdoor Weddings

979-731-8155 Steve Porter

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Bridal Association of the brazos Valley

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

SHOP LOCAL FOR YOUR WEDDING

Save Time and MONEY!

located at 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $20 at the door or $15 if you register online at www.ido-ido.org. In addition to all the

shopping spree. The Bridal Show and Benefit is hosted by the Bridal Association of the Brazos Valley, a non-profit organization founded to support local wedding

fabulous you’ll get to see and taste there, brides will have the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes. There will be hourly door prize drawings, a cake dive for diamonds and a drawing for a one-thousand-dollar grand prize wedding

professionals. Proceeds from the show are donated to local charities. Please note that for safety reasons, no baby strollers are allowed on the show floor. Prizes are subject to restrictions and rules will posted at the show.

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Bea’s Bridal

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ith the abundance of wedding venues and vendors of wedding services in the Brazos Valley, it’s no wonder so many brides choose to plan their weddings in this area. From cakes to deejays, flowers to photographers, there are dozens of professionals right here at home providing the finest in wedding planning, attire and accessories. While internet shopping is great for some things, there’s nothing like the face-to-face experience when choosing vendors for your wedding. When your big day arrives, you’ll want to be confident that you’ve made the best choice of what’s right for you. There are no returns or exchanges. Local wedding professionals have more experience working in and around the places you’ll be married, and are the most familiar with local people, traditions and the other vendors they’ll be working with to create the ultimate wedding experience for you. You’ll save money, too. Local vendors do not have to add on travel or staffing costs. And since they work in this area all the time and are familiar with the facilities and surroundings, they can make suggestions to help you reduce unnecessary expenses. The easiest way to see the most wedding professionals in the shortest time is a local bridal show. And the 2011 Spring Bridal Show and Benefit features over one hundred of the Brazos Valley’s top wedding professionals, all under one roof. The Bridal Show will be held Sunday, Feb. 20 at the Brazos County Expo,

Wedding Gowns Rush Jobs Available Alterations for Men • Women • Children

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Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide

SIMPLY

Stylish By Nola Sarkisian-Miller CTW FeaTures

Brides have enough to stress about on their wedding day. Having paid thousands for an uncomfortable dress should not be one of those reasons. Here’s a guide to gowns that look great, feel great, and come without the great, big price tag.

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here’s a new sense that less is more in the bridal gown world, both in terms of style and price. Fuss-free gowns, in columns, sheaths and cocktail styles, are getting their due as brides scale down their version of their dream dresses, maybe because they’re older brides or are tying the knot in a more casual environment.

The Victoria ecro tulle and satin gown with mermaid skirt from White House | Black Market, right. ‘Sexy, romantic and feminine,’ designer Sue Wong says of her bridal-esque styles, far right.

In step with the mood, some brides are slashing their fashion budgets in these not-so-flush times. As a result, a number of brides are embracing “nonbridal” styles, per se, made by the likes of contemporary designers, such as BCBG Max Azria and Sue Wong – not your typical go-to bridal resources but ones that are creating “sexy,

romantic and feminine” gowns that are “absolutely suitable for weddings,” according to Wong. The shift has prompted other designers and retailers into rolling out their own walletfriendly bridal options that are less showy and more sophisticated. In spring, White House |Black Market unveiled a strapless dress with a high-

of architecturally inspired clothes. “They want their dress to match their style versus their age. You can still wear something that’s nontraditional and look spectacular.” Giordano recently outfitted a violinist for her wedding. The musician had picked out a gr.dano skirt made of crinkled nylon for a press tour and opted to wear it along with a custom-made knit

do – clean, approachable, flattering styles,” Giordano says.

‘Fun and Posh’

White House | Black Market got a plug for its new wedding dress collection in the September 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, which highlights its elegant strapless Victoria bridal gown in ecru tulle and satin with a floor-sweeping mermaid skirt. The collection also

“Today’s bride wants a designer gown, which is more fashion-forward compared to the princess-like dresses worn by brides years ago.” - Sol Baratech, Designer Bride. the likes of David Meister and Carmen Marc Volvo signed on with New Yorkbased Designer Bride Inc. to license bridal gowns for $1,500 to $3,000 that are not over-the-top. “Brides want to tone it down,” says Jill Giordano, coowner of San Francisco-based gr.dano, a contemporary line

blouse for her special day. The possibility of catering to more bridal customers is on Giordano’s radar, especially with her spring line that includes a white halter maxi dress in cotton poplin for under $400. “We’re definitely trying to hit the events market but keep it in line with what we

Silk/satin double-faced sheath V-neck gown from Nicole Miller.

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

low hem for $499, and now it has added three more looks all for under $700. After hearing that its customers were buying its dresses for bridesmaid functions, The Limited debuted a two-dress collection online this summer for under $300, with plans to expand the line to seven looks by January 2011 (four styles currently are available). Higher-end designers joined the mix this summer when

features a mix of accessories, such as satin slingback heels and a clutch. Along with three bridal gowns priced at $298 (and one at $398), The Limited’s wedding collection offers two bridesmaid dresses under CONTINUED - 12

Silk empire waist dress with crinkle chiffon ruffles and ivory satin sash from The Limited

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Nylon/silk beaded strapless dress with appliqué swirl and ruched bodice from Sue Wong

Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide The Eagle • theeagle.com

$100, plus accessories, such as teardrop earrings and bobby pin sets. Its strapless ruffled wedding gown in crinkle chiffon generated positive reviews online, many from second-time brides and those having casual weddings. Based on the feed back, The Limited is planning to test the dresses in stores in the next year, says Marci Milito, director of public relations for The Limited. “Even though brides don’t want to spend a huge portion of their budgets on their dress, they still want that shopping experience and we’re looking to make it fun and posh for her,” Milito says. Los Angeles-based David Meister, whose eveningwear has graced celebrities such as Emmanuelle Chriqui and Diane Lane, is injecting glamour in his bridal gowns hitting about 20 stores in November, including Neiman Marcus, Couture Bridal in Bal Harbour, Fla. and Bridal Images in Rockville, Md., according to Erin Haggerty, senior manager of public relations for Kellwood Company, parent company of David Meister. A tulle ballgown with a tiered skirt and a one-

nylon/silk party dress with boned bodice and ostrich-feather skirt from sue Wong, left. one-shoulder silk mikado gown from David meister, middle. Cotton poplin halter maxi-dress from gr.dano, far left.

shoulder silk wool Mikado gown are a couple highlights from the 12-style collection, which hit the bridal market in October. Meister’s gowns, along with those of his contemporaries at Designer Bride, are targeting a “new bride,” says Sol Baratech, marketing manager for Designer Bride. “More independent and more mature, she now pays for her gown,” Baratech says. “She is also more sophisticated and fashion savvy. Today’s bride wants a designer gown, which is more fashion-forward compared to the princess-

Accessible High Fashion That designer touch is arriving at David’s Bridal in February 2011, when überbridal designer, Vera Wang, debuts her line, White by Vera Wang, with the national

COLLEGE STATION • THE WOODLANDS

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of Bridal Boutique in Baton Rouge, La., which carries lines such as Maggie Sottero, Casablanca and Mori Lee. “About 60 percent of our business is devoted to that category compared to 40 percent a couple of years ago.” Boutique owners caution, however, that the dress a bride chooses should mirror the vibe of the wedding. “About 10 percent of the wedding budget should be devoted to the wedding gown, so if you’re having a swanky, $50,000 affair and your gown doesn’t measure up, you may not look right,” says Bobbie Lopez, owner of All Brides Beautiful in Hudson, Ohio.

A Venue for any Occasion We know that every Bride is different. We will set up a meeting to discuss your needs and create a package tailored just for you.

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like dresses worn by brides years ago.”

retailer. The collection, priced from $600 to $1,500, gives fans a chance to buy a Vera Wang-influenced look without the sticker shock. Other high-profile names, like Nordstrom, have entered the wedding business. The Seattle-based department store has added a wedding section on its website devoted to gowns made by contemporary designers, such as Laundry by Shelli Segal and Nicole Miller, all of which retail for under $1,000. Full-service bridal boutiques have also noticed an uptick in interest from brides seeking gowns with down-to-earth styles and prices. “There’s growing interest in that price point,” says Allyson Marshall, manager

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rent or BUY?

sense, tuxedos are the only part of the wedding on the man or woman side you’ll be able to wear again. It’ll pay for itself after one wear,” he says.

Fit:

Save money and rent, or spend more and own? Formalwear expert Rik Ducar weighs the pros and cons of each

Price: Tuxedo packages, when all is said and done, can come out to around a little under $200, Ducar says. For purchase, tuxedos – just the jacket and pants – can start around $400 and reach upward of $1,000 on designer labels. It’s all about budget – but more so with rentals “because the groom also has the groomsmen to think about,” says Ducar, noting that around 9 of 10 groomsmen do not live in the same area as the groom,

which can make coordination tricky.“That would be a good case for a rental,” he says. Still, buying has its bona fides.“From a pure economic

Nan’s Blossom Shop

Rik Ducar poses a simple question to grooms regarding their wedding wardrobe: Do you

want to look like James Bond or a diplomat?

A one-button, peak-lapel tuxedo (James Bond) or a two-button, notch-lapel jacket (the diplomat) are the go-to styles that 95 percent of guys choose, Ducar says.

“Guys really like to keep it classic,” he says. with using a for-purchase product to paint the picture of what they might like on the rental,” Ducar says. From there, Ducar likes to build

the tuxedo from the top down. The jacket’s lapels will influence collar length; the collar length will influence the tie style and width, etc.

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ent or buy your wedding tuxedo? It’s a simple question without a simple answer. Here, Rik Ducar, proprietor of eponymous formalwear shops in Atlanta and Los Angeles that both sell and rent tuxedos, offers some insight on the choice:

It’s night and day, Ducar says. On a 1-to-10 scale, Ducar says he could get a rental jacket to fit an 8, but he says he can get a Perfect 10 fit on a purchase. But it’s the pants where you run into problems, he says. It’s the always the same cut – whether the guy is 5’ 5” or 6’ 5” – so short guys will get a long rise in the pants. “They’re always voluminous,” he says. If you rent and the guys are being measured from afar, try to get them into the shop a day or two before the wedding to make any last-minute sizing tweaks. Even if renting, Ducar likes to get the guy in for-purchase clothes just to find out what would be the best options in terms of a look.“There’s nothing wrong

GROOM STYLE

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

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Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide The Eagle • theeagle.com

SUPer eASY, SUPer SMArt

Beauty SECrETS CHEEKS Pick cheek colors that complement your skin tone. WARM COMPLEXIONS look best in yellow-based blush shades like peach and terracotta; COOL UNDERTONES are flattered by blue-based pinks and berries. Not sure if you are

“It doesn’t take a beauty professional to unlock great looks. It just takes a little practicality – and maybe a trip to the local grocery and drug stores. Here’s bridal party’s worth of no-nonsense beauty tips courtesy of InStyle magazine’s new beauty bible.” InStyle Ultimate Beauty Secrets (Mechler Media, 2010):

Source: InStyle Ultimate Beauty Secrets (Mechler Media, 2010)

warm or cool complected? FIND THE PERFECT CHEEK COLOR THIS WAY: At the hardware store, pick up paint chips in colors that you think could work as blush. Hold the chips up to your face in front of a mirror in natural light; you’ll instantly see WHAT BRIGHTENSYOUR COMPLEXION vs. what makes it look sallow or gray. EYES Fix MESSY, CRACKED EYE SHADOW by popping it out of its tray, putting it into a makeup palette, and crushing it. Add a dab of Vaseline or EYE CREAM until

you’ve gotten the right consistency. Voilà! Cream shadow. After tweezing, swipe brows with rubbing alcohol to prevent ingrown hairs, then reduce redness by applying COLD CUCUMBER SLICES or chilled green-tea bags. LIPS Apply a balm immediately after getting out of the shower, when your lips are STILL A LITTLE MOIST; this will create a smooth surface once you’re READY FOR COLOR. Lips extra dry? Combine 1 teaspoon honey with 1 TEASPOON SUGAR to exfoliate them, says makeup artist Kristofer

Buckle, who helped polish looks for Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Connelly. He blends the two ingredients in his hand, then applies the mixture in A CIRCULAR MOTION for 90 seconds before wiping it off. NAILS No emery board. Celebrity manicurist Elle, who has painted the nails of Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, and Sienna Miller, says the striking surface of a matchbook works in a pinch. To keep cuticles from drying and cracking, run LIP BALM INTO THEM (and all over your nails) each time you apply the balm to your lips.

the same for a pimple. Keep your skin hydrated on cold nights with a M A K E - I T- YO U R S E L F humidifier. Meriden, Conn., dermatologist Nicholas V. Perricone suggests hanging A WET TOWEL from the doorknob overnight (wring out the edges to prevent drips); by morning, the towel will be dry but your skin won’t. When you get sunburned, drink a fruit or vegetable smoothie to get damage-fighting antioxidants flowing to your skin from the inside, says dermatologist Ellen Marmur. Then slip into a COOL BATH and follow with a layer of CHILLED ALOE VERA GEL. If you start to peel, don’t pick - it can hurt HEALTHY SKIN and even cause scarring. Instead, slather on a thick, healing ointment.

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

YOU from the inside out, says dermatologist Ellen Marmur. To control oil and shine, splash your face with COOL BLACK TEA, but do not rinse; it’s A NATURAL ASTRINGENT, says Beverly Hills dermatologist Peter Kopelson. Refresh your complexion by dipping a washcloth in soy milk and resting it on your face for 10 minutes once a week, suggests Beverly Hills dermatologist Debra Luftman. SOY IS A SKIN BRIGHTENER and contains phytoestrogen, a plant-derived estrogen that is thought to help prevent wrinkles. Reduce a pimple’s redness by spritzing a small amount of NASAL DECONGESTANT on the blemish, says Mount Kisco, N.Y., dermatologist David Bank. The spray, designed to LESSEN INFLAMMATION, will do

From sipping smoothies to researching the paint aisle at the hardware store, the trick to looking great on your big day doesn’t have to be high-maintenance “The whitening agent works on nails the same way they do teeth.” SKIN If you have dry skin that is flaky, consider changing up your routine and washing your face with DANDRUFF SHAMPOO instead of your regular cleanser once a month, suggests Wellesley, Mass., dermatologist Elissa Lunder; this REDUCES THE YEAST LEVELS that cause scaly skin. Clean your cell phone with antibacterial wipes to prevent chin and cheek breakouts. Ideally, you should do it EVERY MORNING, but if that’s too much, aim for once a week.

The day before a party, don’t risk a facial that can leave you red and raw. An AT-HOME MASK made with one teaspoon raw oatmeal and one teaspoon honey is a much safer bet. Let it sit on the skin for five minutes, then rinse. “The minerals in oatmeal are soothing, and HONEY HYDRATES and kills bacteria,” says aesthetician Kate Somerville, who has worked with Kate Walsh and Debra Messing. Drink a glass of ice water if your face tends to get splotchy (especially when you’re nervous). Doing so will TONE DOWN YOUR REDNESS. The cold causes blood vessels to constrict and COOL

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Cool weather can make nails brittle and polish chip faster, so protect your polish by wearing gloves every time you step out. To restore moisture to extradry nails, try an AT-HOME SOAK of lemon juice, olive oil, and vitamin E oil. To maximize its absorption, remove nail polish, buff nails gently with a towel to exfoliate, then soak for five minutes. Afterward, slip on a pair of cotton spa gloves to keep moisture sealed in all night. For really stubborn stains, N.Y.C. nail guru Jin Soon Choi, owners of Jin Soon Natural Hand and Foot spas, recommends dabbing whitening toothpaste onto nail beds.

Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide

Cakes

By Bev Bennett | CTW Features

Sweet & Simple W

hen prospective brides discuss their wedding cake wishes with Maggie Estavillo, they describe what their mothers served at their own celebrations. “They even bring in pictures of their mothers’ wedding cakes and ask us to replicate them,” says Estavillo, chef/owner of the Nostalgia Bakery and Catering Co. in Sacramento, Calif. Welcome to the weddingcake renaissance. The creations that were popular a generation ago, including red velvet, carrot, 7UP and German chocolate, are showing up on contemporary wedding cake tables. These cakes, which are both familiar and affordable, are as appealing now as they

Today’s modern desserts go easy on the embellishments and feature delightful details and flavors guests know and love. Say yes to the baking renaissance

The Caketionary The Eagle • theeagle.com

If you’ve dedicated your sweet tooth to sticky toffee pudding, pain perdu or other trendy desserts, you may not be acquainted with the cake revival. You could ask your mother to reminisce – or you could just check the following “caketionary” for the delicious details.

Tuxedo Cake (above) This cake, a specialty of Texas baker Rebecca Rather, is a butter-based chocolate cake, coated with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate glaze for the black and white tuxedo effect.

either beverage in the batter. Champagne cake is often tinted pink.

with a dense coconut, pecan and butter frosting, this may be the richest-tasting option.

Devil’s Food Cake This dark chocolate cake may be made with cocoa or melted unsweetened dark chocolate. Devil’s food cake calls for chocolate frosting.

Red Velvet Cake Cocoa-based chocolate cake with red food coloring in the batter. If you’re planning a green/natural wedding, this isn’t the cake for you, advises Joyce Scardina Becker of Events of Distinction, the San Francisco-based event planning company.

Carrot Cake Moist, spicy and dense using shredded carrots and nuts. Carrot cake slathered with cream cheese frosting is an excellent choice when you’ve got three generations to please.

Champagne Cake/7UP Cake A light white cake that uses

German Chocolate Cake Made with milk chocolate, butter and eggs and finished

Hummingbird Cake Imagine cream-cheesefrosted carrot cake but with pineapple and bananas instead of the vegetable.

were when marriage was just a spark in your parents’ eyes. However, it’s not simply familiarity that puts old-style cakes on the wedding menu. It’s flavor, too. If you’ve been to enough weddings where cakes’ tilting layers trumped their taste, you know how important a delicious cake is to your guests. Just ask your mother. Her cake was to-diefor!

Comfort Cake

Comfort foods have been a presence in wedding menus for a couple of years, says Joyce Scardina Becker, director at Events of Distinction, a San Francisco event planning company. So it’s no surprise that the return to satisfying dishes also is influencing wedding cakes, making old-fashioned desserts popular once again. You don’t want to

dumbfound your guests, and by serving such longtreasured and acceptable flavors as devil’s food, you can assure everyone that they’re not eating anything mysterious. “Some clients want to please everyone’s palates. They’re coming back to basics,” says Estavillo, who runs her catering company with her sister Mary, the wedding cake baker. The home-style cake also says you’re stepping down from extravagance and returning to a simpler style, which is another trend, according to Kate Cavotti, an associate professor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Estavillo also is witnessing the return to more modest cakes. What she calls retro cakes have little in common

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with what she was selling two years ago. “People were saying they’re foodies. They wanted food they saw on the Food Network,” Estavillo says. But that’s changed.“Even though the economy is picking up, brides want a bang for the buck,” she says. The new sensibility doesn’t mean you have to bake your own wedding cake - you’ve got enough on your plate especially when you can buy it. “You can have someone else produce the cake, but it seems more home-style if you have nostalgic flavors,” Cavotti says.

Baking It Old-School

You’ll find these cakes at bakeries around the country. Some may even skip the traditional tiered wedding cake-structure to get the homey flavors you want. Rebecca Rather supplies cakes to some of the best weddings in Texas, although she no longer does traditional wedding cakes. “People really love my cakes, so they order that

for their weddings,” says Rather, owner of the Rather Sweet Bakery & Café in Fredericksburg, Texas. “I’m absolutely getting more orders for cakes than I did five years ago. For a wedding coming up the bride wants a variety of flavors,” says Rather, who is supplying 10 cakes, 2 of each flavor for that nuptial. Rather’s repertoire includes such mouthwatering creations as spice maple cake with caramel sauce, raspberry white chocolate with macadamia nuts and tuxedo cake. Hummingbird cake also appeals to her clientele. “I like to take my grandmother’s cake and update it,” says Rather, coauthor with Alison Oresman of “Pastry Queen Parties” (Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, 2009).

Classic Flavor

Red velvet, vanilla, chocolate and marble cakes along with champagne cake or its non-alcoholic variation, the 7UP cake, are in heavy demand at Nostalgia. Like Rather in Texas,

Estavillo’s cakes are prized for their flavor. “When we do fondant cakes people scrape off the icing. People don’t like all that sweetness. They want a great-tasting cake,” says Estavillo. No matter what the frosting consistency, today’s cake is white. “I keep getting requests for really white cakes with really big flowers and tons of leaves - with a touch of green for the leaves,” says Estavillo, who associates the look with wedding cakes from the ’60s or ’70s. But if you think that cake will look as plain as cauliflower on a white plate, don’t worry. Classic cakes can assume new styles, too. For example, for a large wedding ask for a multilayer cake with a different flavor for each tier. For a small wedding, Estavillo recommends a sixinch cake surrounded by cupcakes. You also can order your favorite vintage cakes as cupcakes, say the bakers.

Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

Vintage Hummel figurines atop a cascade of cupcakes gives a throwback feel to this dessert table

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Sunday, February 13, 2011 • Bride’s Guide

the honeYMoon

your long and Winding road-Trip

HoNeYMooN When airline fees and family bragging rights are cramping your honeymoon’s style, the only solution is hitting the road

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By Angie Jaime CTW FeaTures

h e archetypal honeymoon, jetting off to Niagara Falls after a traditional June wedding was, for many, a mid-century dream come true. Though a honeymoon is a once-ina-lifetime vacation, it can be quite the task to set out on the marital adventure right after the ceremony. Thankfully, for the couple looking for a truly one-ofa-kind adventure, setting out on the road can mean a healthy vacation from a “typical” honeymoon. “The theory that you go on your honeymoon, and that’s the big trip of your lifetime is wrong,” says Joe Brancatelli, a New York-based travel expert who runs the travel website JoeSentMe.com. “You don’t have to do the big Niagara Falls thing and then talk about it for the next 20 years.” For some, the pitfalls of airline travel alone can be enough to trade a destination getaway for a low-key

adventure. “The journey hasn’t been part of the adventure of a honeymoon for a long time,” Brancatelli says. “I can’t think of a whole lot of things you can do nowadays on a plane that are honeymoonish. You’re going to have a helluva time finding champagne.” Because in-flight regulations and restrictions – not to mention shrinking passenger space and growing luggage fees – have taken a bit of the glamour out of jet-setting, staying stateside – within your time zone even – and embarking on a road-trip honeymoon can create memories out of the journey itself. The pressure is off of having the “well-planned, showyou-pictures” honeymoon, Brancatelli says. Now, it’s more about making it what you want – not what society tells you it should be. “You are on your honeymoon, the moment you’re in the car.

You can pack whatever you want; tailor it to be anything you want,” he says. “‘The Great American Road Trip,’ to some degree, is back,” he says. Road-trips are certainly easier to tailor to your schedule than airline travel, but that doesn’t mean you can just hit the road, tin cans trailing, without putting some thought into. Here’s how to do it:

Do Your Homework “Don’t just pile up your things in a car and go somewhere. Google places in the areas you’d like to drive to; don’t be an informationvirgin,” Brancatelli says. “Don’t lock yourself in, or plan yourself within an inch of your life but, give it some thought.” “On a car trip it’s a temptation to go too far, but if you only like driving for three hours, only go that far. Think of your partner and what they really love to do,” says Marybeth Bond,

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Bride’s Guide • Sunday, February 13, 2011

You are on your honeymoon, the moment you’re in the car. You can pack whatever you want; tailor it to be anything you want.

Don’t Forget the Season “Depending upon when the wedding is, the list of possible honeymoon road trip locations simplifies

itself,” Jensen says. “The Arizona desert is wonderful during the early spring wildflower season but lessthan-perfect in August.” Don’t limit yourself to big cities. Bond suggests avoiding them.“Go outdoors, in nature, Yosemite, national parks, state parks. It lends itself to doing things where you aren’t just going to run around and spend money,” she says.

Locate Lodging “You don't necessarily need to arrange all your accommodations in advance, but depending on your tastes, your road trip accommodations could be anything from a deluxe bridal suite in a Big Apple hotel to a tent in a backcountry campsite – even a combination of these, on different nights,” Jensen says. For many couples, stays at a bed and breakfast are a happy medium. “Unlike a hotel, where you're only paying for a place to sleep, breakfast is included,” says Mary White, author of “Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies”

she says. With endless possibilities and options of where to go and what to do, it’s easy to forget that there are definite things to avoid on your newlywed adventures. “Check your e-mail only once a day,” Bond says. “That’s right, you’re on your honeymoon, take your honeymoon. Check your e-mail in the morning but otherwise leave the BlackBerry or iPhone off.”

(Wiley Publishing, 2009). “Innkeepers are the local area experts and are available to make restaurant suggestions or suggestions on the best spot for a romantic picnic.” However, bed and breakfast accommodations are popular and book quickly. “Don't assume just because it's not ‘high season’ weather-wise that the inn that you want will not be booked,” says White.She suggests you calling ahead to ensure availability. For those couples looking to take the road to the great outdoors, the National Recreation Reservation Service has updated its policies on booking campsites in national parks. For individual campsites, reservations can be made up to six months in advance for all agencies under the NRRS, with a fivemonth block window for Yosemite National Park, as that is particularly popular year-round.

“Keep up the work to make the trip special, take some heart-shaped chocolates, some sexy lingerie, pack a bottle of champagne, make a playlist of ‘your’ songs to take on the trip.” And don’t over-extend the driving part of the road trip. “On a car trip it’s a temptation to go too far, but if you only like driving for three hours, only go that far. Think of your partner and what they really love to do,”

Rules of the Road

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Even the most unforgettable honeymoon comes with a few do’s and don’ts. “You have to work to make it romantic,” Bond says.

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author of “50 Best Girlfriend Getaways” (National Geographic, 2007). Take advantage of the chance to make some dreams a reality. Jamie Jensen, author of “Road Trip USA: CrossCountry Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways” (Avalon Travel Publishing, 2009), suggests simply going somewhere you've always wanted to go – whether it's a romantic tour of New England in fall foliage season, or something a little wild and rowdy like New Orleans for Mardi Gras. “Having a focus or theme makes the rest of the road trip fall into place. If you have secret dreams of playing Wild West – a la Doris Day in “Calamity Jane” – look into a road trip out where the buffalo roam. Wyoming and Montana have fabulous ‘dude ranches,’ which range from rough and ready to full luxury,” he says.

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