CUE’s Bride, spring 2017

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CUE bride book SPRING 2017

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Fashion

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The big day

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What to wear for “I do” Ideas to make your wedding unique

Second Weddings

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Tips for a different approach

Cakes

Pastries that are (almost) too pretty to eat

Music

Beyond the second line band

Proposals

Pop the big question in style

Resources

Where to get the goods in CUE’s Bride Book

ON THE COVER: Melissa Samuels of Melissa’s Fine Pastries uses pink watercolor and gold leaf to decorate a fondant wrapped cake and places a gilded gum-paste ranunculus on top. PHOTO BY CATHERINE GUIDRY.

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Top wedding gown styles of 2017 include traditional and trendy

BY S UZ A NNE PF EF F ER L E TA F UR Crystal straps crisscross in the back of this trumpet gown by Lazaro, which also features a plunging neckline, silver shimmer checkered net over cashmere chiffon, a cathedral train and lace at the waist and hemline at Town & Country.

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WHEN SEARCHING FOR A WEDDING DRESS, SOME WOMEN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Others gingerly enter a bridal boutique with a few ideas, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the options and open to suggestions.

Local bridal boutique owners are eager to help.

They’ll offer dress recommendations based on a bride’s personality and body type and introduce her to the many trends of 2017 – from plunging necklines to shimmery, long-sleeve frocks.

“I always encourage my brides to have an open mind and try on a silhouette or style that they may not think is their perfect fit,” says Mandy Schexnaydre Wienhusen, owner of Town & Country Bridal. “Sometimes a bride will come in with a photograph from Pinterest and think: ‘This is exactly what I want.’ But she leaves wearing something that’s totally opposite of that look.”

When a customer arrives at the Uptown boutique, Wienhusen sifts through an assortment of dresses and picks several styles for her to try.

“Let’s get you in a dress, and then you can tell me what you like about it and what you don’t like

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about it,” Wienhusen says of her approach. She believes the best way to find the right ensemble is to experiment with different looks — and there are many from which to choose.

“We’ve really seen the re-emergence of sparkle,” Wienhusen says, adding that “sparkle” includes glitter, beads, and sequins. “For a while it was just a touch of sparkle at the waistline or the strap, but now it’s head-to-toe glitzy, which we haven’t seen in quite a few seasons.”

Wienhusen says one of this year’s more daring trends is gowns with deep necklines.

“We’re seeing plunging necklines everywhere,” she says, displaying a dress with a dramatic neckline, formed by an intricate web of lace and secured by a thin layer of translucent material.

The overall effect is ethereal: soft swirls of lace rest on the bride’s bare skin.

Courtney Schulman of Pearl’s Place says embellished, long-sleeve dresses – a nod to 1980s and ’90s fashions – also are in style. “Three-dimensional” dresses with wispy layers of sheer fabric, like tulle festooned with floral appliques,

THIS PAGE: Plunging necklines add drama to a Venice lace wedding gown by Lazaro, and a detachable tulle skirt with lace applique at the waist finishes the look at Town & Country.

FACING PAGE: Modest yet daring, this crepe gown by Maggie Sottero has a see-through back with a plunging neckline, lace accents and a train with lace insets at Pearl’s Place.

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The ivory and shimmer tulle bridal gown by Lazaro has a chapel train and V-neck front and back on a lined sweetheart bodice at Town & Country.

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atop a dotted Swiss material, are popular, along with glamorous crepe gowns, she says.

“Crepe is the new fabric that’s in,” Schulman says.

Long cathedral veils with detailed borders are on trend, as are separates, she adds.

“The crop tops had a small moment,” Schulman says, recalling a wedding gown trend from last year.

However, separates – tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched – are still in demand. “I have a whole area for (separates),” she says. “We’re still doing really well with them.”

Schulman enjoys meeting with women who are uncertain about what to wear down the aisle.

“That’s the best bride, because then we get to use our decades of experience to steer her in the right direction of something that’s going to flatter her figure,” she says. “It’s great when someone has an open mind and doesn’t know what she likes.”

While trends are fun, classic looks are still favored by many brides. Yvonne LaFleur, owner of Yvonne SPRING.20 1 7

LaFleur boutique, believes this is especially true in New Orleans.

“The girl here has the opportunity to wear ball gowns and sexy dresses anytime, because we have so many formal affairs,” she says, adding that women who are having their weddings in a church may favor more traditional, conservative styles.

As for trends, LaFleur says tea-length dresses and garments with a hint of color – such as champagne or dove gray – veiled by a fine layer of lace are in fashion.

“The contrast – the slightly different color slip under the lace dress – makes the lace come alive,” she says.

LaFleur recalls a recent customer who took the notion of “color” a step further. She envisioned a formal black dress topped with a beaded gold overlay – an unusual, yet welcome request. After all, LaFleur says her grandmother’s wedding dress was burgundy.

“A long time ago, a wedding dress was a lady’s new

This lace trumpet gown puts a twist on tradition with embellished “illusion” sleeves and a deep-cut sweetheart bodice at Pearl’s Place.

best dress,” she says, noting that many practical-minded younger women are in the market for a wedding dress they can wear again, rather than stow away. “That’s something to think about: one’s new best dress.”

If a bride opts for a simple white ensemble, she can add pizzazz with accessories.

“We’ve always been big on sashes because we like to define the waistline,” LaFleur says. Decorative brooches, hair ornaments and earrings/bracelet combinations are popular. But what’s important, LaFleur says, is finding a dress that matches the bride’s individuality.

“It’s about how she feels in the dress,” she says. “Trends are wonderful, but we all have in our minds, from when we were little girls, how we want to look as a bride. So we start with that, and try on things that would be appropriate for her body type.”

“The one question I ask the bride is: ‘Will you like your pictures in 30 years?’” LaFleur says. “Trendwise, it’s about the individual.

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IT’S PERSONAL

From inventing a unique hashtag to customizing invitations and decor, there are dozens of ways to personalize your wedding.

BY SAR AH R AVITS

STUFFY WEDDINGS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, as many couples favor liveliness and exuberant affairs that reflect not only the couples’ style, but the city.

Planning a trendy, nontraditional wedding can become stressful because there are so many options for tailoring a wedding down to the last detail, whether it’s serving the couple’s favorite foods, decorating in a special color scheme, inventing a wedding hashtag to share on social media or incorporating favorite music. Some couples even choose an overall theme that reflects their shared interests. The bottom line is that the event should be fun, and the amount of choices should inspire, not deter, couples from customizing one of the happiest days of their lives.

Brittani Adams-Perret of Unique Weddings in New Orleans, a full-service wedding planning company, says she has seen a shift in the past few years toward weddings being more personalized and less generic.

“I think clients are leaning away from tradition, and making it more customized,” she says. “We’re seeing a shift that’s getting away from traditional etiquette. You don’t have to follow etiquette any more, so we definitely see a lot more flexibility.”

For example, some couples host more casual receptions instead of formal sit-down meals after the vows are exchanged. Adams-Perret also notes that many couples, especially in New Orleans, hire a local band for the reception. Options for the ceremony also are moving away from traditional places of worship.

“We’re seeing more stand-alone venues,” she says, “For example, historic buildings that have been converted into event spaces.

Unique Weddings in New Orleans incorporated colors from the wedding ceremony into the reception, adding glitter with glass decorations and a gold backdrop.

PHOTO BY OSCAR RAJO

It’s not so cookie-cutter any more. Brides are way more open to just having something with more culture and local flair.”

Even wedding vows are getting a facelift as more and more couples opt to write their own vows or infuse traditional wording with something meaningful to them.

Adams-Perret says it’s important for them to get to know their clients before beginning

the planning process. “We ask them about their favorite movies, favorite drinks, and their favorite dessert,” Adams-Perret says.

“We want to get to know who they are individually and as a couple.”

Some couples want to add international flair to their special day. Wedding planner Anila Keswani of Nirvana Weddings specializes in coordinating Indian weddings, but says

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even couples without an Indian heritage have been incorporating Indian elements into their weddings. Keswani, who also operates Taj Mahal restaurant, provides catering for vegetarian weddings.

In some ways, planning a wedding in 2017 is like organizing a branded event. For example, many couples invent hashtags they share with their families and friends and encourage them to use social media leading up to the wedding and for posting shots of the celebration.

Liz Maute Cooke of Lionheart Prints has spent the last five years creating custom invitations and stationery (in addition to wholesale product lines). Everything can be customized, she says. Couples can design a signature logo, monogram napkins and glasses and personalize souvenirs and even project the logo onto the dance floor during the reception.

“Wedding hashtags are a big thing right now, so that your guests can upload photos to social media,” she notes. By inventing a unique hashtag, guests can find all the photos in one place on apps like Instagram. Couples can even include the hashtag on the save-thedate or wedding invitation.

If the bride and groom like to use the Snapchat app, “You can get a custom geo-tag of the event,” Cooke, says, referring to adding geographic information to photos.

The invitation itself is an important element that sets the tone for a wedding and gives guests an idea of the style of the nuptials. For example, for a formal wedding, the invitation may include a traditional font, whereas contemporary brides often choose print that is modern, trendy or colorful. “[Planning a wedding] can be a very overwhelming process for people,” says Nic Rock, co-founder of White Rabbits, a customized gift-giving business.“There’s so much information. You can go on TheKnot. com or Pinterest and get lost for hours and hours,” she says.” Her aim is to streamline the process and make it easier by offering consultations and

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White Rabbits offers New Orleans-themed welcome gifts for wedding guests.

handling purchasing and delivery. She also suggests local vendors to clients who want to make contact themselves. Rock and her business partner, Kristen Bykowski, also work with wedding planners by providing the latest market research in wedding trends.

New Orleans has a wealth of interesting and romantic elements that can be incorporated into the theme, and many couples focus on using local businesses for their wedding supplies.

Rock says one of the best parts of her job is being able to duck into boutiques along Magazine Street and find new artists and creative vendors who can provide memorable, unique elements to special occasions.

Since the city is such a popular place for destination weddings, even the welcome gift, which couples traditionally leave for their guests in their

hotel rooms, can offer insight into the couple’s personalites — and give out of towners some lagniappe.

“Everyone used to get water, chips and Advil,” Rock says. “But we’re the No. 1 city for destination weddings, so that welcome gift should be telling a story and starting the theme.” White Rabbits offers New Orleans-themed “survival kits,” which can include locally made snacks or candy instead of generic offerings.

“The bottom line is that it’s supposed to be the most fun day of your life,” she says. “We try to keep it fun and simple.

People want it to speak to them. ... It doesn’t have to break the bank to be customized. We don’t have to have a huge budget. It’s the little touches that can make people remember and make the biggest impact.”

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TAKE TWO Planning a second wedding

BY LEE CUTRONE

An intimate backyard wedding provides a cozy alternative to a large indoor event.

paying and it’s much more specific to what means the most to them.”

With the freedom to call the shots, many couples want to do something highly personalized.

Local party planners offer the following suggestions for putting an alternative spin on a second wedding.

Destination wedding

If you’ve already done the traditional church wedding and large reception, a destination wedding could be a good alternative, particularly if the guest list is small. Couples can narrow the numerous location possibilities by considering what makes their hearts sing. A few examples from Zackin, whose company has locations in New Orleans and Palm Beach, Florida, include a chartered yacht for those who love the water or a Napa Valley vineyard for foodies or wine lovers.

Couples planning a second wedding ceremony may prefer nontraditional attire and decor that fits their individual style.

Home reception

Depending on the residence, a home wedding can be large and lavish, casual and family friendly, or small and cozy.

The caveat is that holding a wedding at PLANNING A SECOND MARRIAGE CEREMONY married, younger couples, older couples and your home can be even more expensive CAN BE JUST LIKE THE FIRST TIME AROUND; so on. But there are some generalities to the than renting a venue. most of the same rules of etiquette apply. celebrations: “They are usually smaller and less “Home weddings, many times, cost But it also is an opportunity to try something traditional,” Zackin says. even more,” says Zackin, noting that totally new.

Having hosted a wedding before and attendeverything from tents and bartenders “You don’t have to follow Emily Post etied others, couples entering a second marriage to china and flatware has to be brought quette,” says event planner Susan Zackin of Z often have a good idea of what they like. In addi- in for the special day, and that most Event Company, who sees an overall shift toward tion, the couples themselves (instead of parents) homeowners spend additional money less traditional weddings of all types — not often put on a second wedding, so the bride and on things such as touch-up painting and landscaping to make their home just second weddings. “You can do whatevgroom are able to create their own vision, not look its best. the one their parents expect. er you want.”

“First weddings are more for the parents,” According to Zackin, second weddings run Daytime ceremony says event planner Kelley Troia of Clandestine, the gamut — instances where both bride and If your first wedding was in the evean events planning company. “With second groom have been married previously, cases in PAGE 23 weddings, the bride and groom are usually which only one member of the couple has been S PR ING. 2 0 1 7

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ning, consider planning a daytime ceremony — a brunch, luncheon, afternoon tea or garden party — to make the second wedding a totally different experience. There are advantages to an earlier event: It may be easier to have small children and the elderly take part during daytime hours, and may enable the bridal couple to travel to an out-of-town honeymoon destination the same day. One of Troia’s recent daytime weddings began with an athome ceremony and turned into a backyard pool party reception, which is especially suited to second weddings that include children.

Private ceremony

There’s no reason couples have to share both their wedding ceremony and the reception with guests. If you were extravagant the first time and invited lots of guests, a small gathering of a few family members and friends — or just the bride and groom — may suffice.

“At the end of day, it’s two people and an officiant,” says event planner Kim Sayatovic, owner of Belladeux Event Design. “Everything else is lagniappe.” The ceremony can even be held a different day than your wedding party or reception, which may allow greater flexibility when scheduling venues.

Just the two of you

There are many obligations when planning a wedding, even a second wedding: trying not to forget anyone on the guest list, making it possible for family from out of town to attend and so on. A destination wedding involving only the bridal couple eliminates the hassle that can accompany traditional etiquette, but you don’t have to skimp on the details.

Both Sayatovic and Brittani Adams-Perret of Unique Weddings in New Orleans have organized destination weddings, including everything from booking a venue, hotel accommodations and dinner reservations to arranging for witnesses for the wedding and hiring a photographer and a horse and carriage.

Incorporating a couple’s shared interests and hobbies can make a second wedding a unique experience.

dour all have rooftops, bars and restaurants.

This gives couples the option of having the ceremony in one venue and the reception in another at the same hotel without the need for transportation between the two venues.

Bridal couples don’t have to follow a dress code, but the style of attire should be in sync with the type of wedding planned and the venue. But couples also can think outside the box. For example, conservative, retro or bohemian could be style options for a daytime Family destination wedding garden setting. The bride also can consider Instead of a large wedding that includes a a dress change or two between the wedding weekend of parties and scheduled events, ceremony and the reception. Conversely, a consider a destination wedding that includes second wedding may be the time to go for immediate family only. Adams-Perret suggests the traditional bells and whistles, especially planning a mix of scheduled events and free if that wasn’t the case the first time. If one time so guests can explore the city on their spouse has been married and one has not, own. This option combines a wedding and be mindful that this is a first wedding for family vacation, which provides memories and one of you. photos for all.

Park setting

Restaurant reception

If you tied the knot under a chandelier-lined ceiling the first time, why not hold the ceremony under the blue sky or a canopy of historic oaks the second time? The tranquility and natural beauty of places like Audubon Park and New Orleans City Park make for memorable occasions. Be advised: as Clandestine’s Troia points out, park weddings usually are a lot of work on the party planner’s end, since most of the equipment and decor — seating, china, glassware, etc. — has to be brought in. Permits also are required for many park weddings.

Intimate venue

Alternative registry

There are many good restaurants in New Orleans, and many allow couples to rent the entire venue for a wedding reception or select a single room or section. A restaurant reception is a great way to include a favorite restaurant if you are foregoing the usual pre-nuptial parties typical of first weddings.

New Orleans also is filled with cozy venues for small weddings and receptions. Sayatovic suggests French Quarter courtyard venues, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, Bourbon Vieux, Napoleon’s House’s private room and Bevolo’s Conti Street headquarters.

Wedding and reception at one location

Many hotels offer multiple venues in one place. The refurbished Pontchartrain Hotel, the trendy Ace Hotel and the new Trouba-

Alternative attire

If both bride and groom have been married before or are older, they may opt to do something other than a traditional registry of functional wares, decorative items, china and crystal. Ideas include asking guests to donate to a favorite charity or a “honey fund” to help pay for the couple’s honeymoon instead of buying gifts, or having them attend a destination wedding without an obligation of also buying a gift. “When guests are spending money on plane tickets and hotels, their presence should be gift enough,” Sayatovic says.

Including children

Couples with children may include them in the event in traditional ways, such as having their young children serve as flower girl or ring bearer. Less traditional forms include having older kids be maid of honor and best man.

Having children give their mom or dad away instead of a parent doing the honors, having kids accompany their parents down the aisle, or bestowing a gift on them during the ceremony are also ways to involve children.

“Presenting them with something such as a poem or piece of jewelry,” Adams-Perret says, “makes them feel that they are taking vows, too.”

After the wedding

New Orleans is one of the top locations in the U.S. for destination weddings, Zackin says.

If you’re a local, why not tap into what the tourists already know (New Orleans means built-in fun and entertainment) and book your honeymoon here, too? Historic homes used as bed and breakfasts, local hotels with private cottages and vacation rentals by owners are among lodging options. Antique shopping, sightseeing, dining at top restaurants and day trips are part of the offerings for wedding guests and couples who want to honeymoon in their own town.

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TAKINGTHECAKE Wedding cake trends for 2017 Chasing Wang created a fondant cake with sugar flowers on top and placed fresh flowers on the display table.

PHOTO BY ARTE DE VIE

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BY ANDREA BLUMENSTEIN

THE 2017 BRIDAL SEASON FEATURES A LINEUP OF CAKES IN VARYING SHAPES, SIZES AND FLAVORS. There are fondants deftly painted with watercolors, round layers decorated with hand-crafted sugar flowers, fluffy cakes with cream icing and tiers adorned with natural foliage. Some are even served “naked” with no frosting but with embellishments. And there’s a keener focus on taste.

“Cakes can absolutely look great and taste great at the same time,” says Melissa Samuels, chef/owner at Melissa’s Fine Pastries. The custom cakes, frostings and fillings are made from scratch at the Mid-City bakery and are never frozen.

Wedding cakes not only are a sweet treat, but a trend is to commission a cake that replicates the overall aesthetic of the wedding and the personality of the couple. It is key to enlist a cake maker who has the skill and know-how to work within your budget and shows an interest in details about you and your partner’s taste beyond what flavor of filling is preferred.

A skilled baker can mix mediums to make a cake symbolic of the day, and more than ever, brides are looking for aesthetics that match their ceremony.

Even a bride planning a traditional wedding can find innovative ways to make a tiered white-on-white cake special.

Nikki Lefort launched Nikki’s Frosted Fantasies five years ago after spending more than 14 years in the baking industry. She says a popular trend at her shop is cakes patterned after a bride’s wedding gown.

“I do a lot of lace piping,” Lefort says.

“The bride sends me a snapshot of the lace detail, and then I mimic that.”

At Chasing Wang, cake designer and owner Kieu Tran says her customers are looking for nontraditional cake styles.

“I specialize in sugar flowers (or gum paste flowers),” Tran says. “Each piece is made and molded by hand. There is more intricacy to it, so one of my statement flowers can cost between $20 and $25, but they make an excellent keepsake.”

Sugar flowers last for a long time.

Most of Tran’s designs include fondant — an edible composition of confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup and water that is formed into a clay-like substance excellent for molding and decorating. Fondant is easier to transport and tends to hold up better than buttercream frosting.

Today, many shops ice cakes with buttercream, then top that with fondant.

The key, Tran says, is making sure the decorated cake is fresh so it will be moist and delicious on the day of the reception — and will be pretty in pictures.

“Some of our cakes are partially foam and can be made farther in advance,” she says. “With this method, [the couple] can do a bigger or more ornate wedding cake but have sheet cakes in the kitchen that are iced in buttercream” to serve guests.

LEFT: Watercolor roses brighten white fondant, and sugar flowers add dimension in this cake by Chasing Wang. CENTER: Textured layers of gold buttercream frosting separate smooth white layers and gum-paste peonies soften a cake by Melissa’s Fine Pastries. PHOTO BY ARTE DE VIE. RIGHT: Nikki’s Frosted Fantasies made this unfrosted “naked” cake with buttercream and strawberry filling and decorated with fruit and fresh flowers. PHOTO BY THERESA ELIZABETH PHOTOGRAPHY.

The idea is to provide a statement cake that begs to be photographed — and eaten, too. This means if your favorite cake aesthetic has four tiers but you have 500 guests, bakers can supply what Lefort calls “kitchen cakes,” or cakes that are sliced and plated to be distributed to guests. Because wedding cakes often are portioned in the back, away from guests, wedding attendees won’t know they aren’t getting a piece of the display cake.

“For brides working on a budget, kitchen cakes are great because if you want to add 50 servings but another tier would add 75, it makes more sense financially to skip the extra tier because the cost per slice is less,” Lefort says.

Fresh flowers are making their way onto cakes and provide a great way to add a burst of color. They’re also easy on the budget.

Lefort says some brides order flowers from their florist to decorate their cake so the confection matches other components of the wedding. She also is versed in the perks of using fresh flowers and how they compare to handmade sugar flowers.

Chasing Wang recently made a cake featuring hand-painted florals with sugar flowers on the cake and fresh flowers on the display area. Watercolor for cakes is applied by mixing gel icing colors with vodka. The vodka

evaporates and leaves the color behind without a wet residue.

A recent design by Melissa’s Fine Pastries features a fondant-wrapped cake painted with pink watercolor and gold leaf with a gold gum paste ranunculus flower on top.

In a different vein, Nikki’s Frosted Fantasies created a “naked” cake consisting of layers of unfrosted cake with a fruit filling separating the layers.

At a recent tasting at Frosted Fantasies, Lefort supplied a sampling with five rounds of cake flavors and 12 dollops of buttercream frosting or ganache flavors to mix and match.

“Most brides will pick a different flavor for each tier,” Lefort says. “They like almond with white chocolate buttercream and strawberries, but couples seem to be happy to diversify with a lemon cake with raspberry icing. I also do a cookie dough filling without raw eggs and blend that with buttercream in vanilla or dark chocolate cake that is very popular.”

Since leaving her post as executive pastry chef at Windsor Court Hotel before her own wedding in 2008, Samuels has built a successful bakery in Melissa’s Fine Pastries.

“An expression of the client and extension of the event, to us, makes the perfect cake,” she says. Her team finds an inspiration board with images of items from the wedding and

the ideas they evoke is helpful. “It allows us a glimpse into their wedding style, a place to draw from for the cake design,” Samuels says. “A color scheme, monogram, floral arrangement or invitation style can really help inspire the cake design.”

The menu at Melissa’s includes an olive oil carrot cake layered with cream cheese filling, devil’s food cake layered with dark chocolate mousse, and chocolate chiffon cake soaked in Kahlua, with caramel and hazelnut jam and dark chocolate mousse.

Chasing Wang even offers vanilla chiffon for those who do not like the texture of cake.

Tran says it helps the design process when a bridal couple can tell the baker something they like as well as something they don’t like. “With my company, 98 percent of our clients prefer the buttercream (frosting) cakes, but they love the look of the prettier fondant cakes,” she says. The combination of a couples’ likes and dislikes helps her to find a balance.

An ideal wedding cake is more than a gorgeous centerpiece representing the aesthetic of the celebration and its honorees.

If done correctly, the cake might become famous on Instagram and supply just the fuel guests need to keep them on the dance floor until the end of the reception.

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FUNKY MUSIC NEW ORLEANS HAS NO SHORTAGE OF MUSICAL TALENT. Having a bevy of options is great, but it also can make choosing music for the big day a big pain. Enter the booking agent — a talent scout of sorts whose job it is to take the “oy” out of choice. Several companies in the city are dedicated to contracting DJs, local and national bands, solo acts and other performers to provide the soundtrack and entertainment for special events, especially weddings.

In this digital age when many musicians have a boundless social media presence and contact information listed right on their websites, using a booking agency may seem outmoded. Industry insiders say, however, that the need for these organizations is on the rise in this era when anyone can create a Facebook page and call himself a musician.

Booking agencies already have vetted their sponsored musical acts, and can connect clients with groups that may be unreachable to the public. “[Agents are] music professionals, and we’ve been in the business for several years,” says David Hansen, president of Hansen Music Productions and music booking agent. “I started playing when I was 8, and did my first professional gig at 15. I started my booking agency in 1994, and I’ve been playing the drums at Houston’s (on St. Charles Avenue) for 11 years now. We know the business.”

If the decades of experience isn’t a convincing enough reason for couples to use a booking agency, there are many practical advantages to consider. An agency has access to a variety of musical acts, from the classic brass band to lead the wedding procession to zydeco and top-40 cover bands. They also will take care of transporting equipment such as sound and lighting systems to and from the wedding venue if the musicians don’t have their own.

“We have a lot of insider knowledge,” says Mimi White, booking agent at White Oak Productions, “which is especially important for out-of-town brides who don’t know the (local) market. We also know who will show up on time.”

There’s a compelling financial advantage too: Musicians often give booking agencies a discounted rate, according to White. That’s great talent at competitive prices — a unicorn in the increasingly expensive realm of wedding planning.

Brass bands are almost as ingrained in

From jazz trios to DJs, music booking agencies have the beat on trends

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON

wedding festivities as the “I do’s,” but couples are incorporating more expansive music styles into their nuptials.

“The larger trend is brides going for DJs, but we still get requests for local, live music, usually a combination of brass bands and what I like to call ‘brunch trios’ and other smaller groups (that play traditional jazz),” Hansen says.

Amanda Thompson, owner of Frenchmen Street Productions, notes the popularity of the DJ/live band combination at receptions.

The changes in music coincide with the atmosphere the couple is trying to create at that moment.

“We can provide low-key, ambient music while guests are dining, then kick it up to funky dance tunes when it’s time to get the party going,” she says.

White notices a similar trend that seems to coincide with the age range of clients.

“Older couples usually request a traditional jazz group, or will pair [that] with a DJ. Couples in their twenties and thirties want cover bands.”

White says DJs have moved beyond two turntables and a mic. Competition for disc jockey gigs is rising, and that competition is sparking creativity.

“DJs [are becoming] a little more interactive,” she says. “The lighting game is stepped up, and some DJs have an interactive website that lets guests choose playlists.”

Guests second line at a wedding.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRENCHMEN STREET PRODUCTIONS

Even top-40 bands are coming up with new draws for potential clients: White has seen bands that install a video wall at the wedding venue to play a mashup of music videos for the songs they’re covering.

The ingenuity doesn’t stop there. Some agencies — such as Frenchmen Street Productions — can provide performers to accompany their music acts, such as women wearing cage-like dresses that hold several (full) Champagne flutes, tarot card readings, caricaturists and aerial performers.

What’s a New Orleans wedding without a brass band? There may not be such a thing, according to White, Thompson and Hansen.

“The second lines are a must-have now,” White says. “The photo of the bride and groom dancing in the street to brass band music is a standard.”

Budget-conscious couples may try to cut costs by limiting the number of band members in the brass band. Hansen understands that keeping costs low is important, but so is the sound of the band. With only three members, the harmonies, melodies and bass that make second line music so resonant are missing, and he doesn’t recommend skimping on brass band players.

“If there’s less than five people, I don’t consider it a real brass band,” he says.

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I DO

Two local businesses put the ‘pop’ in popping the question

BY K ATIE WA LENTER

“EARLY ONE MORNING I WAS HIT BY A BOLT OF INSPIRATION,” recalls Stacey Asaro, owner of Project Proposal, the New Orleans-based marriage proposal planning service. “There are countless resources in New Orleans to help plan weddings, but is there anyone specializing in proposals? I hopped out of bed and immediately began forming ideas and lists of services.”

In May 2015, Asaro launched Project Proposal to help local and out-of-town clients create customized engagements. “I’ve worked with both men and women to create fantastic memories. I am glad to help anyone who can’t quite figure out the perfect way to pop the question,” she says.

Asaro grew up in the wedding business.

Her parents, Sue and Bobby Asaro, own Southern Oaks Plantation, a popular wedding and reception venue in New Orleans.

“Through the years, I listened to many brides telling tales of their engagements, with many stories lacking a ‘wow’ factor,” she says. “Although the brides weren’t unhappy, it seemed they were sometimes underwhelmed with the way the proposal unfolded. Some weren’t dressed for the occasion, while others were hoping for a more magical memory. I offer the utmost attention to detail, which translates to a movie-like experience for both parties.”

Every proposal she plans is tailored to the individual couple’s interests and personalities.

“I send an in-depth questionnaire to my clients to learn their style and preferences, as well as sentimental places and unique aspects of their relationship,” Asaro says. “I discover their shared interests, whether it be movies, music or other activities, and then research how I can incorporate those items into the rich tapestry of New Orleans and our local culture.”

With New Orleans as the backdrop, she offers her clients the option of becoming engaged at a meaningful location of their choice or in places she selects for their distinct character. “By getting to know each couple, I can recommend which would work best, based on their interests and atmosphere they’ve envisioned for the big moment,” she says.

“There is no limit to how elaborate and creative a proposal can become. Every package [starting at $700] includes a personal proposal concierge through every step of the planning.”

On the day of the proposal, a hidden photographer — primary photographers are Kirsten and Josh Waguespack with Aperture Photos — captures the big surprise. Packages also include custom decor designed around a couple’s story and personal touches such as fireworks, a chauffeur or a New Orleans jazz band.

“I walk each client through their proposal — as a dry run or dress rehearsal — to make sure no stone is left unturned and no ring box is left unopened,” she says.

With every detail planned and personalized, Asaro says, “The No. 1 thing my clients can expect is a memory that will last a lifetime.”

While Project Proposal focuses solely on marriage proposals, Frenchmen Street Productions offers proposal planning as part of its wedding, entertainment and party planning business.

Amanda Thompson created Frenchmen Street Productions in affiliation with her management of the Kinfolk Brass Band, a

local wedding second line band. She says the marriage proposal planning service evolved from clients’ requests to have a unique and meaningful way to pop the question.

“Each proposal is custom-tailored to the client’s wishes,” she says. “In planning a marriage proposal, our clients get the best of everything, including creative production and impeccable execution of the event — the setting, music, flowers, photo/videography, and any other personalized details.” Packages start at $2,000.

“We do our best to achieve our clients’ expectations while working within their set budget,” Thompson says. “Because the city has such glorious venues and backdrops for locations, the extra costs are kept to a minimum. When a client gives us a concept, we take that inspiration and devise a plan to see it through.”

One example of a favorite custom plan, Thompson says, is when she staged a second line led by Kinfolk Brass Band for a “faux bride and groom.” The group traveled from St. Louis Cathedral down Pirate’s Alley, where the real couple was having drinks.

Joining the festivities, “the real couple fell in line and followed us to Royal Street. There, the band created a scene, encircling the couple as the real groom-to-be dropped to one knee to propose.”

After a happy “yes,” the newly engaged couple were handed parasols to lead the second line through the French Quarter to a restaurant overlooking the engagement site.

“With local clients, we strive to push the limits and enhance the experiences they have already shared living in the city,” Thompson says. “We welcome male and female clients from all over the world asking for our help in making their marriage proposal one they will never forget.”

PHOTO BY JOSH HAILEY STUDIO WWW.JOSHHAILEYWEDDINGS.COM PHOTO COURTESY PROJECT PROPOSAL

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resou rces A LISTING OF THE RETAILERS AND PROFESSIONALS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE OF CUE BRIDE.

fashion

9

PAGE 9

Pearl’s Place 3114 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-9213; www.pearlsplace.com Town & Country Bridal 1514 St. Charles Ave., (504) 523-7027; www.townandcountrybridal.com Yvonne LaFleur 8131 Hampson St., (504) 866-9666; www.yvonnelefleur.com

the big day PAGE 17

Lionheart Prints 8723 Oak St., (504) 315-3215; www.lionheartprints.com Nirvana Weddings 4308 Magazine St., (504) 8878879; www.nirvanaweddings.com Unique Weddings in New Orleans (504) 212-6480; www.neworleansweddingplanners.com White Rabbits www.whiterabbitsllc.com

second weddings

Melissa’s Fine Pastries (504) 472-8572; www.melissasfinepastries.com Nikki’s Frosted Fantasies (504) 638-8478; www.nikkisfrostedfantasies.com

PAGE 21

music trends

Belladeux Event Design 757 St. Charles Ave., Suite 303, (504) 323-2100; www.belladeuxevents.com

Frenchmen Street Productions (504) 909-2040; www.frenchmenstreetproductions.com

Clandestine New Orleans (504) 301-2991; www.clandestinenola.com

Hansen Music Productions (504) 283-3786; www.hmpmusic.com

Unique Weddings in New Orleans (504) 212-6480; www.neworleansweddingplanners.com

White Oak Productions 8428 Oak St., (504) 314-6680; www.whiteoakproductions.com

Z Event Company 508 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 510-5838; www.zeventco.com

cakes PAGE 24

Chasing Wang www.chasingwang.com

PAGE 27

proposals PAGE 29

Frenchmen Street Productions (504) 909-2040; www.frenchmenstreetproductions.com Project Proposal (504) 407-5937; www.projectproposalnola.com S PR ING. 2 0 1 7

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