Brideguidejan2014

Attack of the wedding photo!

How Photogs are creating some of the day’s best memories The Brewery Wedding The hottest, And Tastiest, Wedding Venue The State Of Stationery The Paper Trends That Will Impress Your Guests

Plus

The New Comfort Zone

• Gin: The Spirit Of The Year • Grooms & Wedding Planning • Something New For Mom • Highlight Your Heels • The Only Planner You’ll Need

Today’s bride wants to take some risks, and designers are stepping up to the challenge with alternative looks that are chic, youthful and luxurious

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Smart Buy

The Only Wedding Planner You’ll Ever Need People love Moleskine notebooks for a lot of reasons: They’re sturdy, compact, kinda cool-looking. in short, they work. and their passions Journal collection even made it stylish to document your interests (movies, music, books) in analog fashion. The latest entrée in the line is perhaps the most obvious: the Wedding Journal.

Where most “wedding planners” resemble your junior high Trapper Keeper, the 5-by-8-inch Wedding Journal is easy to transport in your purse. and because there are eight themed, tabbed sections across its 216 pages to keep all the planning details organized, you’ll actually want to use it, too. in addition, there is a removable Bridal Book (below) that allows brides to clandestinely plan out their wedding-day look so you-know-who does not get privy to the details. © BrideS 365

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Bride Guide | January 2014

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Trend

Gin Up Your Bar

By Timothy R. Schulte BrideS 365

Want to know the secret to getting a great drink at a wedding? ask a bartender. “i’ll do straight spirits, man, every time. Gin and tonic or gin and soda,” says danny Shapiro, co-owner of Scofflaw, a ginfocused cocktail bar in Chicago. such enlightenment, of course, is the product of some tribulation. “i was at this wedding in richmond, Va. i basically tried ordering an Old fashioned or a manhattan or something, and i had to walk the bartender through the steps,” he says, taking care to note that was during his “younger days” when he was first getting into cocktails.

“There were people waiting for drinks, the bartender had no idea what i was talking about it. “ultimately, you don’t want to coach them too specifically,”

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Bride Guide | January 2014

Shapiro says. So, he gave only a basic rundown of the ingredients and ended up with a terrible drink. The lackluster cocktail caused him to be upset for the next “15 to 30 minutes,” he says. “at that point i realized the way to go at weddings is straight spirits or a highball of something and soda or something and Coke.” for a lot of folks these days, that something is gin, which has been riding a wave of popularity — be it in the press, the rise in small-batch distillers or literal gin joints like Shapiro’s (both he and Scofflaw were named Chicago’s top ’tender and bar in 2013). so, naturally, the spirit deserves a spot at your wedding bar. here’s what you need to know.

Get To Know Your Gin shapiro stocks more than 80 varieties of gin at his bar. “What’s cool with gin is there are so many variations on one flavor profile, and those variations are so minute,” he says. “it’s fun to explore.”

The takeaway: Whether you’re working to craft a signature cocktail or just want to make sure your mixers pair well with the spirit, spend some time getting to know its profile. and find out the ingredients in your gin. Orange or grapefruit? Garnish with a

peel. if it’s barrel-aged and you pick up some clove, stud the orange peel with a few cloves.

Cassia bark? Try a cinnamon stick. rosemary, in its hardy glory, always makes a great cocktail garnish, too. “i usually try to taste the spirit on its own and focus on what i believe to be interesting notes in that spirit, then play upon them and exaggerate them with other spirits or ingredients,” Shapiro says.

Mix It Right You want to be cognizant of your budget, but you also want to please your guests. don’t skimp on a great drink just to make your alcohol go longer. shapiro’s ratio for a great drink is one part alcohol to two parts water-based mixer.

“One and a half ounces gin, 3 ounces tonic. That way you can taste your booze, but it shouldn’t be too offensive,” Shapiro says.

Tweak the Classics if you’re unfamiliar with gin cocktails, just start with a classic drink — then modify it to make it work for you.

Take the Pegu Club — gin, Cointreau, lime juice, bitters. shapiro says subbing in blanco tequila would work just as well as the classic gin version.

The same works for the inverse, such as a Gin Old fashioned, with gin taking the place of the bourbon.

You get the idea. © BrideS 365

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Bride Guide | January 2014

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The Paper Trail Stationery is perhaps the one style decisions that is present throughout the entire wedding process, from the save-the-date all the way to the thank-you. Here’s how to keep your choices on trend

By Lindsey Romain BrideS 365

Like all things wedding, invitation and save-the-date stationery are amorphous trends, changing with the year, just like fashion. Stationery also is very couple-specific; lush fonts and classic framings are as popular as block letters and bright colors.

But another trend has emerged in the last few years that seemed at first glance a detrimental slight to the folks who make paper goods: the Internet invite.

Customizable down to the size, web-generated stationery lets eager brides and grooms drag and drop, and highlight and delete, to their heart’s content. Great for them, but what does it mean to traditional wedding stationery?

Not too much, really.

Patti Murphy, a New London, Ct.-based designer who sells custom-made wedding stationery through Etsy and blogs at PattiMurphyDesigns.com, isn’t concerned about the online trend, nor does she think the generators are as custom-specific as they seem.

“The couples who want every detail to be just right will steer away from the template options and go for something more custom,” Murphy says.

Kleinfeld, the iconic New York dress destination, in 2013 8

Bride Guide | January 2014

introduced its own line of wedding stationery called Kleinfeld Paper, which can be found in paperies around the country. Paul Wainman, paper president at Kleinfeld, says that in-store experiences, as opposed to online, continue to yield the best results. “By shopping in store, the brides receive the etiquette expertise of the stationery store staff as well as the ability to touch and feel the tactile nature of paper and print techniques, which is critical in the purchase of wedding invitations.”

Local retailers carrying the Kleinfeld line can be found via the KleinfeldPaper website.

However, James Hirschfield, founder and CEO of Paperless Post,

one of the most popular online invite generators, says that people will likely continue to use both options.

“Our feeling is that neither paper nor online wedding invitations is ‘correct’ as long as the message is considerably designed, thoughtfully worded and beautifully delivered.”

Whether they’re purchased online or custom designed in-store, the biggest trends aren’t necessarily market-specific.

Here are some of the most popular trends paper makers have noticed this year – both online and custom printed – and how they expect things to change in the coming seasons.

Typography

Blame it on Helvetica hype, but couples are more typographyobsessed these days than ever before.

“Fonts with a hand-lettered look or vintage-inspired type are the biggest requests we receive from brides,” says Jennifer Faught, another Etsy seller and blogger at SomethingDetailed. com.

A look through any stationery catalogue or online retailer will show a plethora of options, ranging from bold letters to delicate script, from the modern to the vintage-inspired. Faught’s personal favorites are “stacked fonts” and “bold typography with a nod to tradition.”

Dare to Be Different

Murphy says she’s noticed a lot of unconventional invites this year, both in wording and printing.

“I think each couple wants the invite to feel special for them and their guest, so custom illustrations or unique wording makes it feel made for them,” she says, noting that customizable rubber stamps have been one of her biggest hits.

Even traditional templates are being infused with something extra – like a pop of color, an incorporated pattern or an envelope liner, according to Faught. She calls this traditional update “class with sass.”

Designer Style

Bridal bigwigs like Preston Bailey and Vera Wang have long been putting their names on stationery lines.

So it’s not big surprise that one of the biggest markets for Paperless Post, the popular online stationery generator, has been their collaboration with high-end fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.

The line, which is “runway inspired” according to Hirschfeld, has been a great success for the online retailer.

“Oscar has one of the more sophisticated fashion perspectives on the bridal world and this comes through in his stationery,” Hirschfeld says.

The prints range from gold embroidery-style on a white background, to dark blues and pinks, to solid greys and floral-patterned blacks. They all retain the elegance and femininity of his custom gowns – a traditional, romantic, option for soon-to-be-weds.

“Chic,” says Hirschfield of the pieces, which can be used for save the dates, wedding invites, engagement parties and more.

“I think natural options will emerge even more,” she says. “I have a lot of couples concerned about using recycled papers, seeded papers and other earthy items.”

Kraft Paper

Those big rolls of cardboard-looking paper that kids scribble on for elementary school art projects? That’s called Kraft paper, and it’s been another big stationery trend this year.

“Our vintage-inspired invitation suite printed on Kraft paper has been the most popular invitation design this year,” says Faught.

She says it’s not just for DIY anymore – “it’s perfect for a fall or spring event, and can be dressed up for a more chic occasion.”

Who would have thought? © BrideS 365

Foil

Foil-stamped and letterpress invites were popular styles at the Best New Product awards earlier this year, where eight National Stationery Show and Creative & Lifestyle Arts exhibitors were honored.

Foil stamping is a specialty process that involves heat and pressure to transfer foil type and patterns to paper.

Because it’s applied with pressure, it leaves a slightly raised impression on the paper.

Faught has seen a lot of success with foil printing in her shop, a look that she calls “so very beautiful.”

The extra effort involved makes it a more laborious process for designers, but one that assures hard work and specific attention to detail went into the process.

Green Goings

With an abundance of paper comes environmental concern.

Minted.com is one site that offers eco-friendly invitation designs printed on recycled paper. Some Etsy shops and smaller retailers offer recycled paper options, too. It’s a trend Murphy has her eye on.

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Quinn miller | facebook.com/quinnmillerphotography

AT T o W f t ACK E PH DDhe OT ING O!

With some unique editing, wedding photographers don’t just capture the best moments of day, they help create them

By Taniesha Robinson BrideS 365

A photo of a wedding party aligned in royal fashion around the bride and groom is a staple of wedding photography. Then there’s the classic black-and-white photo. These elegant images will always have a place in wedding albums, but lately another shot has made it to the roster: the action-packed, staged Photoshop photo.

With the help of Photoshop, photographers don’t just capture moments of the big day, they create them. And we’re not talking about removing Dad’s red-eye or altering the backdrop to change the mood of the photo. Photo editors are creating worlds and moments comparable to scenes out of blockbuster movies.

The trend came to forefront in 10

Bride Guide | January 2014

May 2013 when a photo of a wedding party running away from a Tyrannosaurus rex went viral. “They really sold the idea in the photo,” says Quinn Miller, the Louisiana-based photographer and photo editor who took the shot.

Miller was inspired by another photo and brought the idea to the couple just days before the wedding. “The groom loved dinosaurs, and they’re just a fun, kind of goofy couple,” Miller says. Many in the wedding party weren’t aware of their plan until moments before the shot was taken, but their expressions of pure horror and panic prove that they needed little prep time to sell the idea. Miller took care of the rest in the editing room, and the photo went viral just days after he posted it on Facebook. As of press time, it’s received nearly 15,000 “likes” and been shared more than 12,000 times.

Since then, Miller says he has seen an “unbelievable number of photos” in line with the disaster-wedding trend. Indeed, there was an explosion of cinematically edited photos after Miller’s dino photo, including a “Star Wars” battle and a Sharktopus attack.

However, a photo of a weddingturned-zombie-apocalypse created in October 2012 shows that the Photoshop-enabled, disasterwedding trend has been brewing for quite some time.

Josiah Moore, a photographer based in Rochester, N.Y., staged and edited a photo of his own wedding party to look like zombies coming after him and his bride. Moore says he never set out to create something popular when he persuaded his thenfiancée to include the shot in their wedding-day plans.

“People always like to do some

thing fun and memorable,” Moore says. “One of the coolest aspects about it is that you can really cater the artwork or the custom photos to the individuals — what’s special to them, what’s important to them, or what fits their personality.”

Soon-to-be-married couples who want the next viral, cinematic wedding photo should take note of the recipe for blockbuster movies:

‘People always like to do something fun and memorable.’

—Josiah Moore, photographer who staged and edited this zombie photo for his own wedding

The Original Plot

Let’s face it. A dinosaur weddingcrasher photo isn’t likely to cause a stir these days. Both Miller and Moore agree that original ideas, or at least a twist on something familiar, garner the most attention.

Director/Editor

A great idea isn’t enough. The photographer has to see the big picture to instruct the wedding party and have the chops to execute it in an editing program after the shot is taken.

A-list Actors

The successful Hollywood cast is good-looking, and, hopefully, they can act. The same goes for the wedding party. Miller admits these two elements gave his photo a boost in popularity.

The ‘It’ Factor

The work to create a memorable shot shouldn’t overshadow the joy and celebration of the day. In the end, it’s about having fun. © BrideS 365

Josian moore

Trend

The Slow-Mo Photo Booth everything looks cooler in slow motion. maybe that’s the reason the slow-mo video booth is replacing the traditional photo booth at wedding receptions across the country. in august 2013, Seattle-based video

production group Super frog saves Tokyo posted a reception video shot with a red epic camera that made many bridesto-be and wedding planners slow down and pay attention.

The video featured wedding

guests celebrating under glitter and confetti showers, dancing in explosions of party poppers and silly string, and seemingly having the time of their life in slow motion and sped up to real-time.

While still photos have captured

the joyous faces of wedding guests for ages, the slow-mo video shows celebratory gestures materialize frame-by-frame in a way that mesmerizes. it’s likely to captivate us for years to come. © Brides 365

Bride Guide | January 2014

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Hot Trends for 2014

From décor to food to flowers, follow these expert insights for a stylish event this year for a chic bouquet, make peonies the star and accent them with roses

By Julia Haskins BrideS 365

Décor

The rustic wedding theme is getting a cosmopolitan update in 2014, according to the experts. “People are tired of the shabby-chic thing, so they’re going for an old world glamour kind of vibe,” says Sara Burnett, the editor of wedding-inspiration blog Burnett’s Boards.

Weddings in the coming year will take on more vintage elements to transport guests to a union that could have easily taken place decades ago. Think less whitewashed furniture and more classic mid-century pieces, says Erin Taylor of Bustle Events, a California-based, event-planning firm. To help you set the scene, envision places with specific time periods, such as Venice, Italy, at the turn of the century.

“Vintage elements are romantic and bring an oldworld charm to weddings,” says Deborah Collins Dunn, editor of the Wedding Thingz blog. And it’s the perfect way to incorporate the “something old” into the wedding tradition. “Many brides add old photos, books, typewriters and suitcases to the decor,” Dunn says. “One of my favorites is seeing old books on the reception tables for centerpieces.”

Use your own family heirlooms to give the setting a personal touch. If you’re short on pieces with a nostalgic feel, Burnett also suggests taking photographs with a double exposure. The effect will result in shadowy, beautifully haunting pictures.

When decorating, embrace elaborate prints. Solid colors and chevron are on their way out to make way for more unusual prints, like eye-catching geometric shapes.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns, either.

“Brides are getting a little more bold in their color palettes and rental choices,” Taylor says, and it extends all the way down to the smallest details like the invitations.

A few colors in particular are really making a splash.

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Bride Guide | January 2014

Expect weddings accents with hints of gray and mint green — a cousin of emerald, 2013’s color of the year.

Food and Cake

For a trendy cocktail hour, presentation is key. Taylor suggests providing small tastes served in shot glasses.

They can be filled with familiar hors d’oeuvres, or stuffed with bite-sized versions of homey favorites like macaroni and cheese or chicken potpie. But no matter the food, the local, farm-to-table trend still reigns, so look into venues and caterers who source from local farms. “More people are concerned about where their food is coming from,”

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Taylor says.

For cakes, both “naked” cakes — un-iced, exposed layers, as made famous by New York’s Momofuku Milk Bar — and ombré-colored cakes remain popular, but at the end of the meal, consider mixing it up with a sweet assortment of miniature treats.

Serve your guests a variety of the trendy snack-size desserts — doughnuts, scones or handheld pies, which also can be a savory snack with a twist on the filling. Small scoops of ice cream topped with wafers also make for a simply delicious dish.

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Peonies are the flowers of the moment, and the bigger the better to make a statement piece that pops.

Round out a peony bouquet with fillers like roses and hydrangeas. Tulips are another hot flower that can stand on their own in a vase.

Pinks and peaches are classic flower colors that are especially popular for 2014, but your floral arrangements can veer off course to match your own theme. Keeping with the vintage trend, don’t be afraid to adorn the setting with flowers that go beyond traditional blush hues. To tie a darker color scheme together, add in some dark floral arrangements for a look that’s elegant, not eerie. It’s perfect for making floral arrangements look like still-life art, a trend Burnett says florists will be experimenting with in the coming year.

Your floral arrangements don’t have to be relegated to table centerpieces. Brides of 2014 are playing with bold hair embellishments like dreamy flower crowns with tiny baby’s breath and large mixed bouquets.

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The New Comfort Zone

By Nola Sarkisian-Miller BrideS 365

With a range of necklines, sleeves, illusion elements and lace — lots and lots of lace — designers are showing off alternative looks that allow brides to take a few risks with dress styles that are chic, youthful and luxurious, without having to settle on the strapless standby

‘Danielle’: Ivory and nude lace illusion A-line dress with organza skirt and lace appliqué neckline, from Leanne Marshall

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Bride Guide | January 2014

What’s not to love about 2014 trends in the bridal market?

This year, brides are hard-pressed to find something they dislike, as designers are giving them choices galore in terms of necklines, silhouettes and embellishment details. With brides flocking to social media for nonstop ideas, there’s a sense that brides are stepping out of comfort zones and want more choices from designers to feed their sartorial wedding dreams.

“The past couple of years felt safe, and this year designers took more chances and offered more breadth,” says Anna Walsh, owner of two Denver bridal boutiques, Anna Be and A & Be Bridal Shop.

Topping the list were the selection of necklines parading down the runways.

Strapless gowns had to make room for alternatives, such as silky cowl necks, shoulder straps, V-necks, cap sleeves and elbow sleeves.

Some highlights were the less-thandemure, bias-cut sheath gown with a plunging cowl neckline by Sarah Janks, along with the designer’s ladylike cap-sleeved silk marocain gown with a neckline framed in delicate, beaded French lace. Leanne Marshall’s looks included a coy lace gown with lace elbow sleeves.

And, Modern Trousseau paid homage to décolletage with a Thai silk ballgown featuring a draped

‘Amelia’: Trumpet gown in primrose lace with French grand peony appliqué, from Amy Kuschel, left ‘Marena’: Thai silk ballgown with draped bodice and off-theshoulder straps, from Modern Trousseau, below

backs, like the corded lace slim-fit style, as well as Sarah Janks gowns, such as the shapehugging, handkerchief gown with embroidered appliqué and a deep V- back, caught the eye of retailers, including Ivy Kaplin, owner of Lovely Bride in Philadelphia.

“Wearing it is definitely a confidence thing,” Kaplin says. “Designers are taking it to the next level … and showing off the body in all the right ways.”

Lest brides worry that they can’t pull off the look, bear in mind that lingerie makers are selling those bare essentials — undergarment support concepts — at a variety of price ranges. Nordstrom sells the “Uplunge” backless strapless underwire bra with wings to hold the bra in place. Kleinfeld Bridal sells the way-upmarket line of Ender Legard Corsetry, which offers backless bodices. And, HerRoom. com sells Braza Reveal Silicone Bras, which are just cups available in nude and clear.

Lace, Lace, Lace

The fabric of choice for the season again seems to be lace, lace and more lace, catering to brides’ sense of romance and whimsy.

bodice with off-the-shoulder straps.

“There isn’t just one neckline choice anymore,” Walsh says. “Brides can really pick and choose what they want. It used to be, I had only three dresses that weren’t strapless in the store.”

At the same time, there were more riffs on strapless looks with the help of illusion styles, a trend that shows no abatement. Modern Trousseau offered a cap-sleeve look made of Alencon lace over a blush silk duchess gown. An ivory and nude lace gown with an organza skirt by Leanne Marshall and a trumpet dress by Amy Kuschel, done in primrose lace with an appliqué of French grand peony, are feeding the fascination of modest, yet skin-baring looks.

“These gowns provide a level of comfort for brides who don’t want to feel overexposed,” says Leanne Marshall, the “Project Runway” season five winner, who also launched a diffusion bridal line for the season.

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‘Cathryn’: Fit-to-flare gown with cap sleeves and scalloped neckline in Alencon lace over silk duchess, from Modern Trousseau, left

“Brides still want to take a few risks, but they want something that feels luxurious and modern and vintage that can be an heirloom,” says Lynn Annatone, marketing director for Modern Trousseau.

Less was not more as designers experimented with texture and layered laces, such as Chantilly and Alencon and Guipure and Venice over a Chantilly

Lace, in accents and layers, on Amy Kuschel’s ‘Giorgia’ gown

layer. Lace was in abundance at Modern Trousseau, which offered the fit-and-flare gown with off-the-shoulder straps and a scalloped neckline and a cap-sleeved style in Alencon lace over a silk duchess gown.

Amy Kuschel incorporated lace in layers and accents, such as in a strapless gown with a flared hem and scalloped edge.

Anna Maier Ulla-Maija Couture offered a fluted floral lace gown with a high-neck and a oneshoulder column gown over silk double charmeuse.

Lea Ann Belter Bridal mixed and matched the fabric as exemplified by a silk dupioni gown layered with three kinds ‘Mel’: Two-piece silk of French lace ending in tiers of and beaded lace sheer silk organza and sequinknee-length A-line dotted tulle ruffles. dress with halfsleeves, gathered skirt It may sound as if designand silk charmeuse ers are going head-over-heels undress, overboard and creating overfrom Leanne Marshall wrought fashions, but retailers praise the direction, which keeps lace chic and youthful.

“It seems like a lot, but it wasn’t,” says Stacy Fork, owner of The Gown Shop in Ann Arbor, Mich. “It gives us something new to present to the traditional bride.”

Designers also stepped up their beading with beaded sheaths and dazzling corsets, inspired by the sparkle and fun of Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” movie and Old Hollywood glamour. Anna Maier showcased an empirewaist pleated ballgown with a bodice glittering with silver thread and crystal beading and a duchess satin gown embroidered in pewter and bronze. Maggie Sottero featured a beaded dress with layers, necklines and shoulder straps. Sarah Janks incorporated a belt made of beaded French lace roses on an airy ballgown strung with beads and made of tulle and silk gazaar.

“We use a lot of tulle as a base for the embellishment to counter the surface interest,” Janks says. “There has to be a balance … so it doesn’t overwhelm the wearer.”

Subtle sparkle was even on display on Leanne Marshall’s collection with her use of hand-beaded lace. It’s an aboutface for Marshall, who says for the longest time she avoided using anything reminiscent of shine.

“I grew up designing my own dance costumes so I had my fill of sequins for a lifetime,” Marshall says. “But, the last few seasons, it’s been growing on me to try something more subtle with nice shimmer.” © BrideS 365

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Bride Guide | January 2014

Trend

Show Off Your Heels a great pair of shoes is just as important as the dress — maybe even more so. luckily, higher hemlines are in mode, making it easier to shine the spotlight on the high-fashion footwear in which you’ll walk down the aisle.

Badgley mischka Baguet d’Orsay peep-toe heels paired with Tadashi Shoji crisscross shift dress for Bhldn

satin Caged strappy sandal paired with Strapless dress with Garza Tiers, from White by Vera Wang for David’s Bridal

something Bleu cerulean d’Orsary peep-toe pumps from Bhldn

Bride Guide | January 2014

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The Brewery Wedding a wedding party toasts at Chicago’s revolution Brewing’s taproom

America’s craft breweries aren’t just great places to get a beer. With unique indoor and outdoor spaces, and, yes, a steady supply of libations, couples are turning to them for creative, fun wedding venues. Cheers!

By Jill Jaracz BrideS 365

Some couples meet in a bar, but how many actually get married in one? Perhaps more than you think.

Meredith Cella Pellegrini did not have her heart set on such a location when she and her husband Patrick were scouting wedding venues for their May 2013 wedding. The Chicagoans looked at a number of loft spaces around the city, desiring a locale that was casual but cozy. But the place that ended up capturing their hearts was the Brewer’s Lounge 18

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at Chicago’s Revolution Brewing, an event space that doubles as the second level of Revolution’s brewpub restaurant.

Unlike a raw space that would have required a caterer, bringing in alcohol and perhaps table and chair rentals, the brewery space handled everything under one roof.

“A brewery that provides food and booze takes a lot of the guesswork out,” Pellegrini says. “Bottom line, in addition to being a really beautiful space … it was way more affordable than the other options we were considering.”

The Pellegrinis’ wedding was one of more than 50 that took place in 2013 at Revolution’s Brewer’s Lounge, which catered to just three weddings when it opened in 2011, according to Meghan Rutledge, Revolution’s event planner. Rutledge anticipates around 70 weddings in 2014 and already is receiving requests for 2015.

Like Revolution, craft breweries all around the country, with their brewing facilities, brewpubs and taprooms, quickly are becoming hot wedding destinations for craftbeer enthusiasts like the Pellegrinis

Handkerchiefs and hops: A wedding at Revolution’s Brewer’s Lounge momoko fritz | momokophotography.com

of a brewery.

And don’t be surprised to see that number get smaller.

According to a report from Demeter Group Investment Bank, the craft beer industry has grown at a 10percent clip since 2007 and is expected to represent nearly 15 percent of the overall beer industry

— “We’re both beer drinkers,” she says — who are looking for a unique backdrop for their big day. After all, craft beers value the same tenets as marriage: quality, care and love.

Couples want to share that love at their weddings, so they’re going straight to the source.

by 2020.

On the state level, as one example, the number of microbreweries in the state of Minnesota grew from just nine in 2010 to nearly 40 in 2013.

The Look and Feel

Craft breweries have taken care to create event spaces that provide a wide range of atmospheres, from

THE PERFECT LOCATION, FOR THE perfect event

The Local Factor

Although it may sound like a new concept, breweries have been hosting weddings for years.

Boulevard Brewing Co. has been creating craft beers in Kansas City, Mo., since 1989. When the company expanded operations to include a new 70,000-square-foot facility in 2006, event spaces were part of the plan alongside increasing brewing and bottling capacities. “[The brewery] was often the place you had community events,” says Blue Lawrence, director of hospitality at Boulevard, which hosts wedding receptions both large and small in its Muehlebach Suite (more than 200 guests) and Brewhouse Bar (up to 75 guests).

For KC couples, the idea of having their wedding at a brewery is a no-brainer. “Boulevard is an icon of the community,” Lawrence says. “[People] appreciate that and want to celebrate in a place that resonates as a city.

“It’s very local,” she adds.

According to the American Craft Brewers Association, on average most Americans live within 10 miles

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alecia lauren | alecialaurenphotography.com

A couple poses among the kegs at Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co.

casual to formal.

Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Ore., also has held wedding receptions for more than a decade in its Mountain Room, which looks out onto the Cascade Mountains. “Views, that’s the draw right there,” says Allison Leach, Deschutes’ marketing coordinator and private events manager.

Similarly, Boulevard’s Muehlebach Suite, which hosts more than 70 weddings a year, has a grand terrace that overlooks the city.

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“[It’s] embracing Kansas City the way Kansas City has embraced the brewery,” Lawrence says.

At Revolution, Rutledge says their spaces aim to be unique and beautiful without being too stuffy, nor too casual.

“We use a lot of repurposed wood [and] bourbon barrels that make the spaces warm and inviting,” she says.

In addition to its brewpub lounge, Revolution has a second space located in a taproom and production facility that is designed

for cocktail party-style weddings.

“It’s industrial and funky and has a little bit of a shock factor because it’s huge,” Rutledge says. One wall of the space is entirely glass and shows off the production lines. The space itself contains bourbon barrels that are aging beer. “You’re really in the middle of the building and brewing [production],” Rutledge says.

SweetWater Brewing Co. of Atlanta also has two spaces with different atmospheres. Its Tasting Room is a more casual space with

Patrick and Meredith Pellegrini tie the knot in Chicago’s Revolution Brewing’s Brewer’s Lounge momoko fritz | momokophotography.com

a large wall of glass windows and an outdoor patio with a bandstand and bar. The Reel Room has more formal elements, including a custom SweetWater back bar, Georgia marble bar top and custom wood barstools, says Carrington Moore, SweetWater’s director of enjoyment and events.

Unique Experiences

Breweries can offer unique experiences for guests that couples can’t get with traditional event spaces.

At Boulevard, guests get to have the full line of year-round Boulevard beers and wines that aren’t at other Kansas City event spaces. Deschutes, Revolution and SweetWater all offer private tours to wedding guests, and SweetWater includes a souvenir pint glass as a favor.

The tours give guests a chance to learn about the beers from the brewery’s expert servers. “We understand that not everybody drinks beer,” Rutledge says. “People who are not normally beer drinkers will go on the tour and try it.”

Some breweries can even provide a rustic outdoor farm experience.

Rogue Ales of Portland, Ore., operates two farms in the area, growing ingredients like barley and hops for its Chatoe line of beers. The brewer hosts weddings at its Hop Farm in Independence, Ore. Couples can marry outdoors amongst the vines of floral hops, and then move into the rustic barn for the reception. Guests can enjoy the ambience of the farm and its surrounding fruit and nut orchards, and, of course, partake in Rogue’s beer and spirits.

Beyond the Beer

As with their beers, brewers are passionate about food.

“People are always surprised by our food quality.

They know we do a nice job but are blown away,” says Deschutes’ Leach.

Pellegrini needed a menu at Revolution to fit her and her husband’s vegetarian lifestyle. “They were super accommodating about creating a menu with vegetarian options,” she says. That even included a local-inspired, late-night snack — vegan Chicago-style hot dogs — to match the local brews.

“The food and beer together were just outstanding at Revolution,” Pellegrini says. © BrideS 365

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Trends

What’s the Groom Say? More grooms are getting involved in planning the wedding, which means more grooms are getting stressed out about planning the wedding it’s not his day. he just thinks it is. according to retailer david’s Bridal’s 7th annual “What’s On Bride’s minds?” survey, 83 percent of grooms are actively involved in making wedding decisions.

The david’s Bridal survey echoed research from mintel, which found that not only are men becoming more involved in wedding planning, they’re becoming nearly as stressed as women when it comes to planning a wedding, with 32 percent of men calling the process “overwhelming,” compared to 42 percent of women.

Two-thirds of brides surveyed said there is at least one thing that would turn their groom into one of those little green guys at the top of the page (starts with “Groom,” ends with “zilla”).

The areas most likely to set off the groom? The guest list (31 percent), music selection (24 percent) and honeymoon planning (16 percent). according to mintel, 39 percent of men said they were in charge of picking the reception venue, and a quarter of men were in charge of selecting bridal party gifts. fortysix percent of men in the mintel research said the ceremony site was the most important aspect of the day (versus 36 percent of women).

That said, the bride still is calling the shots. nearly 20 percent of the brides surveyed by david’s Bridal said they wouldn’t trust their groom to make a wedding decision without input from them. in fact, more than 40 percent of brides said they didn’t even trust their groom to pick out their own tux for the wedding. Yikes!

Congratulations!

(Now Let’s Celebrate) Whether you’re planning an intimate rehearsal dinner, or a large reception for your entire wedding party, we have a beautiful space for your celebration with exceptional food and wine. Please contact us and we’ll create every last detail to make your special occasion… truly special.

The Collection at Forsyth. (formerly the Avenues).

678-513-0791.

Chef Greg DeMichiel Celebrity Chef.

Food Network.

VH1. Bravo.

© BrideS 365

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www.siprestaurants.com

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Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge hosts numerous destination weddings each year. We hope that you will join the many other couples who have shared their special day with us.

Amicalola Falls offers multiple settings, both indoor and outdoor for your ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner. Many of these will allow nature to be a part of your special day. Along with our full service catering and bar options are we have a variety of accommodations including a hotel , cabins, and camping sites for guest .

Amicalola Falls State Park also offers: A Full Service Restaurant Hiking Trails Picnic Shelters

2 Unique Gift Shops Interpretative Programing Conference and Meeting Services

Located 15 miles from downtown Dawsonville, 19 miles west of Dahlonega , and 23 miles south of Ellijay, on Hwy. 52 in Dawsonville, GA.

For Additional Information & Lodge Reservations Call: 706-265-8888 or 800-573-9656