CUE's Bride Book, summer 2017

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WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

WEDDING

THE POWER OF

STATIONERY

FLOWERS

SAY “YES”

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

LOCALLY

TO A MODERN DRESS

TO SET THE TONE OF THE PARTY

AND INSIDE SOME HIDDEN GEMS FOR NEW

ORLEANS WEDDINGS

Something Old, Something New

COV I N G TO N, LO U I S I A N A • S O U T H E R N H OT E L.CO M / W E D D I N G S

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• Private events

THE MONASTERY

• 8,200 square feet of indoor space • 10,000 square feet of exterior space • Accommodates up to 1500 people

In 1878, four nuns descended upon New Orleans, settled into a pre Civil War cottage and founded the Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Theresa of the discalced Carmelites of New Orleans. It was designed by famed New Orleanian architect James Freret and completed in 1895 after the Carmelites built courtyards, orchards, and added buildings to the property. Host your next event in this New Orleans historical landmark located in the French Quarter!

1236 NORTH RAMPART ST. NEW ORLEANS LA 70116 504.262.0412 | MONASTERYNOLA.COM S UM M ER. 2 0 1 7

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Anything Goes at Your Wedding or Celebration ARTISAN CHEESES • CUSTOM CATERING • CELEBRATION CHEESE CAKES CURED MEATS • EXPERT STAFF • PRIVATE CLASSES

Uptown

5004 prytania • 504-899-4737

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Warehouse District

641 Tchoupitoulas • 504-304-1485 www.stjamescheese.com

CUE bride book SUMMER 2017

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Affordable invitations

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Fashion

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Why shopping local is best

Contemporary styles for a trip down the aisle

Bridal shoes

Footwear for the modern bride

Venues

Four perfect places to party

Jewelry

How to add just the right amount of sparkle

Bouquets and centerpieces Fresh, loose florals for summer ceremonies

Reception bars and cocktails

Say cheers to expert advice on the best set-up

Guest gifts

Thank friends and family with these thoughtful notions

Resources

Where to get the goods in CUE’s Bride Book COVER PHOTO COURTESY PEARL’S PLACE

The Wedding Broom Company Hand Crafted, Elegant, One-Of-A-Kind Wedding Brooms

Custom designed brooms made from high quality materials to match your color scheme, theme and vision.

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Congratulations on planning your special day.

LET THE HISTORIC FAIR GROUNDS RACE COURSE BE THE BACKDROP OF YOUR WEDDING. • Wedding ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal parties, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties • Indoor or outdoor space to accommodate 75-400 people • Full service catering available on site • Free secure parking • www.fgno.com/groupsales or denece.laborde@fgno.com

For additional information, contact Denece Laborde at 504.948.1159.

Group Sales Gambit Wedding Ad_8.125x4.625.indd 1

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BUY (LOCAL) INVITATION ONLY WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF INTERNET OPTIONS OFFERING WEDDING INVITATION SUITES, engaged couples can overlook local stationery shops — often because they mistakenly think they’ll save money by ordering online.

That’s not necessarily the case. There are plenty of advantages to using local stationery shops with years of experience and wisdom in helping couples select the perfect final product.

Shopping locally means knowing exactly what you’re going to get.

“There are two things you should always buy in person: paper and fabric,” says Margaret Jones of Scriptura, which has locations Uptown and in Metairie.

Melissa Cousans Mortillaro of Gem Printing Company in Metairie agrees.

“Ordering face-to-face and dealing directly with the printer is key,” she says. “When buying paper products, you want to be able to see and feel what you are ordering. Computers and photo filters can be deceiving; what you see may not always be what you get.

“Buying local is always best, for many reasons. Obviously, shopping locally helps with growth and expansion of local economies, but also, we are truly a tradition in the city. We often hear from our brides that their grandmothers, and sometimes great-grandmother, bought their wedding stationery at Gem Printing. It really fills us with pride that we are able to provide this service for so many generations of New Orleans’ brides.”

Staff members at local shops also offer highly personalized attention.

Betty Hunley of Betty Hunley Designs says it always has been her mission to create and fulfill a bride’s “dream invitation that will set the tone for her wedding.”

After 34 years in business, Hunley prides herself on customer service, etiquette advice and having a staff of talented designers.

Jones says she accommodates all sizes of budgets.

“We spend a great deal of time working with brides to create beautiful wedding suites within their budgets, and we always try to leave room to include thank-you notes,” she says. “We truly enjoy sitting down with our clients and crafting the perfect paper trousseau to capture the spirit of their event.”

Brides can lower invitation costs by choosing digital or thermography printing instead of letterpress and engraving.

“We offer an array of papers and processes to satisfy all budgets,” Mortillaro says. “You can easily achieve [a] classic and elegant look on a lighter budget.”

Jones advises choosing lighter paper weights to keep the price down, adding that sticking to a single color of ink also reduces the expense. She also notes that brides who want to cut down on postage costs can opt to include a reply card that directs guests to the couple’s personal website, where they can RSVP without mailing a response card.

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The case for purchasing

wedding invitations

from local stationery boutiques

BY SAR AH R AVITS

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Invitation with digitally printed script and custom logo. Set of 100 with matching reply cards and envelopes, $206.90 at Gem Printing Company.

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Digitally printed invitation with a nautical theme. Set of 100 with reply cards and envelopes, $416 at Betty Hunley Designs.

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One-color thermographic printing on an invitation with a distinctly New Orleans design. Set of 100 with reply cards and envelopes, $757 at Scriptura.

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Strapless, no lace, all-lace, plunging necklines and varying hemlines are making their way down the aisle

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S

wedding dress

BY K ANDACE POWER GR AVES

RIGHT: This silk shantung taffeta gown has a pleated halter, plunging neckline and a full circle skirt

by Romona Keveza, $5,038 at Wedding Belles.

ON THE COVER: Strings of beads drape the back of this sleeveless embroidered tulle gown by Allure Bridals, $2,360 at Pearl’s Place.

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A miniskirt meets long wedding gown in this satin and lace dress with organza along the hemline by Martina Liana, under $2,200 at The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe.

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Heavy beading around the V-neck and arm cutouts add drama to this delicate nude-colored lace gown by Morilee, $1,000 at Pearl’s Place.

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Separates give brides new options including a glam boho bodice of beaded tulle over satin chiffon and a Bellagio crepe skirt with a train, under $2,700 at The Bridal Boutique

by MaeMe.

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Chantilly lace covers a blush underdress with a plunging neckline. The dress has a train and there’s an embellished belt to add sparkle by Romona Keveza, $5,663 at Wedding Belles.

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FANCY FOOT WORK Bridal shoe trends for summer

Badgley Mischka Kiara shoe in ivory, $245.

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON AS WEDDING CEREMONIES, DRESSES AND THE TRADITIONAL NOTION OF “BRIDE AND GROOM” HAVE EVOLVED, so has bridal footwear. White satin dyeables aren’t the go-to footwear they used to be. Brides still opt for neutrals that match skin tones or the wedding dress, but shoe colors are trending away from coordinating and toward creating a statement.

“Neutrals like nudes and champagnes are popular,” says Stephanie Kass, store manager of Bustles & Bows Bridal Boutique. “[Brides choose these colors] rather than matching their dress or the bridesmaids’ dresses. The majority of brides also like beading on the front … and on the back of their shoes. Bright colors have been trending for years now — especially blues.”

Also trending are low-heeled shoes and flats. Brides have noticed that changing out of the formal “ceremony shoe” and into a flip-flop for comfort during the reception results in an extreme hem change — suddenly, there’s three extra inches of wedding dress dragging on the floor.

Since brides typically don’t opt for cocktail-style dresses for the reception, changing shoes also is passe.

“Everyone pretty much stays in their gowns now,” Kass says. “Brides are going for shorter heels or even cute sneakers.”

Bustles & Bows carries many of Badgley Mischka’s bridal collection designs, including a sassy beaded heel and a comfortable bejeweled slip-on sneaker. No matter which trend a bride chooses, bridal boutiques have got her (foot) covered.

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Badgley Mischka Barre jeweled satin slip-on tennis shoe, $175.

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LOCATION, LOCATION,

LOCATION The Treme Market Branch in Treme.

|

TREME

The Treme Market Branch was a bank built in the 1930s that served the Claiborne Corridor in Treme, which boasted 162 local businesses and 34 public markets. By the 1960s the space had morphed into a leather and horseshoe shop.

The venue was closed in the ’70s, after construction of Interstate 10 separated the Treme and Lafitte neighborhoods, causing the majority of Claiborne Corridor businesses to fold.

The Treme Market Branch building was renovated and

BY K AREN FISCHER

PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER

ADAPTABILITY, INTIMACY AND CHARACTER are factors that mold the optimal wedding locale. Here are some New Orleans venues that deliver an inviting relic of the past sprinkled with plenty of contemporary elegance. Your celebration will be an affair to remember, just as memorable as these historic and beautiful places.

Treme Market Branch

Beautiful wedding venues, from antique to new-kid-onthe-block chic

reopened in November 2016, maintaining the original plaster, ceiling and open-air architecture from the ’40s.

In addition to weddings, the venue hosts parties, funerals and art shows. Longtime Treme residents drop in regularly to marvel that this space, which had been boarded up since they were children, is open again.

The Treme Market Branch has garnered celebrity attention since its reopening: singer Solange threw herself a birthday party there. Teresa Thomas, one of the building’s owners, hopes the success of the Treme Market Branch

will inspire more businesses to set up shop within this New Orleans neighborhood, which has a rich commercial and cultural legacy.

“We want to set an example to prove that the neighborhood can be revitalized and businesses can thrive here,” she says.

MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 300 guests BRIDAL AESTHETIC: authentic, antique New Orleans.

The Tigermen Den BYWATER

The Tigermen Den was built in 1834 as a dry goods store and was constructed from barges that once carried freight on the Mississippi River. The interior wooden walls were wallpapered, but the layers of history beneath still shine PAGE 18

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control over the design and intricate details of their special day, says Leesaw Andaloro, co-owner of the space.

“Our (motto) is ‘Sit down, let your plan come together and allow us to fill in the holes,’” she says.

MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 100 guests BRIDAL AESTHETIC: historic, simple and charming.

Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden Museum FRENCH QUARTER

The Tigermen Den in Bywater. | PHOTO BY THE TIGERMEN DEN PAGE 17

through. The Tigermen Den was home to Ms. Turner’s Soul Food restaurant from the ’60s to the ’90s, when the building became neglected.

The venue was resurrected in 2013 to create a commu-

nity-centric, customizable space. Doors and other architectural elements can be added or removed as desired, creating a multipurpose venue that’s been used as an art exhibition space, a pop-up costume shop and a theater.

Local artists and neighbor-

Weddings · Showers Private Parties Corporate Events

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hood businesses, such as Clouet Gardens, frequently collaborate with the den for wedding productions. The Tigermen Den multiplies its local impact by using money raised throughout the year to fund low-cost community arts programming. At the Tigermen Den, brides have

The Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden Museum was built in 1826 by a wealthy auctioneer named Joseph Le Carpentier. He had three daughters, and it was rumored he built the house to attract suitors for them. He frequently hosted dinners in the room now called the Ballroom.

The house passed through several hands throughout its history; notably (and perhaps most famously), it was home to P.G.T. Beauregard, a Confederate general who rented it for 18 months after the Civil War. The

Beauregard-Keyes House has operated as a museum since 1970, but also hosts weddings, corporate events, lectures, readings and meetings. The house maintains its original floor plan; guests can roam through the parlor, ballroom, library and front and rear galleries during special events.

“We can comfortably fit 100 for a seated dinner,” says Annie Irwin, executive director of the Beauregard-Keyes house.

“For a buffet-style reception we can accommodate up to 200.”

MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 200 guests BRIDAL AESTHETIC: historic French Quarter wedding.

The Parlor at the Pontchartrain LOWER GARDEN DISTRICT

The Pontchartrain Hotel, built in 1927 by the Aschaffenburg family, was named after Count de Pontchartrain, a member of Louis XIV’s court. The 2015 renovation kept the structure’s original brick walls, stenciled concrete floors and French toile

wallpaper. The design on the floor mimics the French gates at the hotel’s entrance that were installed by the Aschaffenburgs as well.

The hotel was made famous by visits from celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth, President Gerald Ford and writers including Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, who worked on A Streetcar Named Desire while residing there. Cody Bertone, general manager, says the hotel still retains the air of merriment it enjoyed in its star-studded heyday.

“The Pontchartrain Hotel is known [as] a destination for celebrating life’s most memorable occasions,” he says.

The hotel’s newly opened Parlor at the Pontchartrain hides a chandelier-lined event space with vaulted ceilings in a separate structure behind the hotel, which formerly was an auto garage. The design details match those of the main hotel down to the stenciled floors.

MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 250 guests BRIDAL AESTHETIC: elegant, eclectic and intimate.

The BeauregardKeyes House and Garden Museum in the French Quarter.

PHOTO COURTESY HANNAH MCSWAIN

The Parlor at the Pontchartrain in the Lower Garden District’s Pontchartrain Hotel.

PHOTO COURTESY THE PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL

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ADORE YOUR

ADORNMENTS Bridal jewelry that balances personal style and tradition

Crystal embroidered star comb, $480, floral garland band hairpiece, $310, both designed by Elizabeth Bower; and rose garden Swarovski crystal chandelier earrings, $260, all at Wedding Belles.

BY ANDREA BLUMENSTEIN

HE TRICK TO ACCESSORIZING A BRIDAL ENSEMBLE IS BALT ANCE. And let’s be honest – most

brides don’t inherit the perfect heirloom piece from which to build a wedding look. From gaudy jewelry to large, nearly unmanageable veils of decades past, brides want to honor tradition by using familial hand-me-downs in their big day assemblage, but the peculiar mashup of an oversized Victorian collar necklace and a headpiece out of a Paula Abdul music video isn’t necessarily anyone’s preferred look. And even too many accessories in contemporary materials and silhouettes can overwhelm the dress.

The key is to execute with a little restraint. Art deco, big, bold earrings and regal headpieces are showing up in wedding couture.

Investing in a statement piece is great, but you don’t have to spend thousands on diamonds to create a great look.

A knockout jewelry combination draws the eye upward and is styled with more than one photo angle in mind. New Orleans-based stylist Brittany Schall sees bold wrist accents making an appearance this season. She recommends pairing accessories that are similar in size, both with each other and with the details of the gown.

“If you go with a large cuff, make sure your necklace — or, I prefer earrings — are in the same vein,” she says. “If you do a lace dress, make sure your jewelry pairs well by avoiding tiny necklaces and pendants that are overpowered by the lace.”

For brides with an amazing brooch that clashes with their

personal style or the massive veil that their cousin, sister, mother and grandmother all wore (and now it’s your turn), Schall has a few tips.

“Embrace the classical and nostalgic,” she says. “Hire a creative (person) and have a think tank to find something that works.”

One of Schall’s favorite modifications is using something like a brooch in the bridal bouquet.

Wedding jewelry is appearing in some new iterations, with the rise of circlets made of precious metals and stones that are worn in the hair.

“We encourage some asymmetry with the hair,” says Amy Casbarian, owner of Wedding Belles bridal boutique. “We’ve never been a tiara store, but we have seen a more modern take with these really pretty vine-like bands that go in the hair and hair combs of beaded fabric that can be worn under a bun or [on] the side of the head.”

Casbarian looks for accessories to complement each other, but not necessarily match.

“We don’t do as many necklaces,” she says. “Instead we are doing a lot of statement earrings.”

A bare neck balances bold earrings. Chandelier earrings are very popular, especially in rose gold with accents of Swarovski crystals or mother-of-pearl.

“No one wants to step too far out of the box,” Casbarian says.

“A unique piece of jewelry can be very special, like a great heirloom piece, but if it is big, we like to see it be the highlight of the show with dainty accessories around it.”

Schall encourages brides to incorporate heirloom pieces in unique ways, like pinning a family brooch to the bridal bouquet. Bouquet

by Flora Savage, $30; Trinity pearl ring, $495, and comet crescent necklace, $1,425, both at Porter Lyons.

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LOVE IN

BLOOMS Floral arrangement tips and trends for the summer bride

BY LEE CUTRONE WHETHER IT’S A SINGLE SUNFLOWER CARRIED BY A BAREFOOT, BACKYARD BRIDE or a pave arrangement of roses chosen for a candlelight cathedral ceremony, flowers are an important (and for many, essential) part of weddings. Local floral designers offer the following ideas for creating floral displays in step with both today’s trends and personal tastes.

Loosen up

Stephen Sonnier of Dunn and Sonnier Antiques & Flowers says millennial brides favor a looser, more natural look in florals. While roses, peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and freesia work for tightly packed bouquets, he says cosmos, ranunculus, anemones and greens give off a more relaxed vibe.

Go green

The push for sustainable organics doesn’t end with food choices and home decor: Flowers are the new frontier of the natural eco-friendly movement. Some brides choose to go green by using foliage instead of flowers.

Sonnier recently used dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, silver dollar eucalyptus, myrtle and a variety of cut grasses for a bouquet and plans arrangements of lemon leaf and salal for another.

Select stems

In contrast to the dense nosegays and bouquets popular in recent years, Roger

Villere Jr. of Villere’s Florist says many brides opt for bouquets with visible stems that often are wrapped in satin, ribbon or greenery.

It’s another way to put a natural, freshly-picked spin on florals.

Beautify with baby’s breath

No longer the much-maligned floral filler of the 1970s, baby’s breath is trending in a new way. The idea, according to Barbie L’Hoste of Carrollton Flower Market, is to use it as a “star attraction,” not a supporting act.

“When it’s done tastefully and used in quantity,” she says, “it can have a presence — and it’s economical.”

Have your flowers and wear them, too

L’Hoste says some brides choose a wrist corsage, a flower ring or flowers in their hair rather than carrying a bouquet, leaving their hands free to dance the night away.

Loose, natural floral arrangements are replacing the tight, pave designs that were popular in recent years.

PHOTO BY DUNN AND SONNIER ANTIQUES & FLOWERS

Get personal

Sonnier and other florists can help brides think of ways to add a unique, personal touch to a ceremony. Sonnier has attached a photo charm to a bouquet and created a special memorial table with a flower arrangement and a candle for a deceased loved one.

Procrastinate not

DIY florals can save money, but they need not look like you scrimped on them.

Order ahead (most florists have cash-and-carry flowers) so you have the variety you want and the quantity you need. Make sure you have time to compose your arrangements without a last-minute scramble. Note for the novice: Carrollton Flower Market offers a Wine and Arranging Night to teach useful tricks, such as how to keep flowers in place and how to create a pleasing composition.

Give it a go

If different and unique are

Be a good guest: dos and don’ts for helping yourself to centerpieces Don’t ever take floral arrangements unless they are offered.

Some brides use family heirloom vases or rent the vases, which must be returned after the event. Others have plans for their flowers: rehearsal dinner flowers are sometimes taken apart, stored in a cooler and reused for the wedding, and wedding flowers are sometimes delivered to gravesites, elder care facilities or churches.

Do ask if you have any doubt.

Do enjoy an arrangement if the bride, mother-of-the-bride or hostess of the party you are attending gives the OK. A dried bouquet or single flower pressed in a book can be a reminder of the special occasion.

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your goals, experiment. There is one caveat: Do it with plenty of lead time. Rather than duplicating what you see in magazines or on the internet, L’Hoste suggests using those images as a springboard for thinking outside the box.

Ask the experts

The internet and overnight shipping from all over the world have made it possible to achieve almost any look. Villere says florists can send pictures of what you’re looking for to suppliers, which in turn can send photos of things they are growing.

However, he recommends using common sense: Don’t have exotic tropicals shipped

in the dead of winter or order anything sight unseen. Ask your florist for advice if you are unsure.

Do “you”

With individuality trending in all aspects of weddings, there’s plenty of room to be creative, so look for inspiration in unlikely places. “If it’s been on Pinterest, it’s been done before,” says Sonnier, who recommends alternative sources of ideas, like old books. L’Hoste says florists can tell customers what’s making news in the trade. The rule of thumb: “Do what you like,” says Sonnier. “Do what makes you happy.”

ABOVE: No longer the floral filler of the ’70s, baby’s breath used in abundance makes a beautiful statement.

Arrangement by Staci White.

PHOTO BY CARROLLTON FLOWER MARKET

LEFT: Influenced by the organic trend, arrangements like this one with artichokes and pomegranates look fresh and new.

PHOTO BY DUNN AND SONNIER ANTIQUES & FLOWERS

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SETTING THE BAR

Event specialists and mixologists explain how to do beverages right on the big day

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON

Bartenders prepare to serve specialty cocktails at an event at the Orpheum Theater. Craft drinks are trending at wedding receptions, but beverage selection can be tricky. | PHOTO BY JAMEY SHAW

YOU’VE GOT THE RINGS, THE OUTFITS, THE VENUE AND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. Now, let’s party! Here are some tips on creating the perfect cocktail bar, from personnel to signature cocktails.

3231 METAIRIE RD AT CAUSEWAY 504.301.3778

The setup

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if people are going to (offer a tip), accept it graciously and be discreet about it.”

Hall agrees tip jars — even if it’s a cash bar — can diminish the formal ambience of a wedding reception.

Stahl says a good metric to keep in mind when purchasing alcohol is two to three drinks per hour per guest. There is A good ratio of bartenders to a variety of liquor packages, guests is one bartender for from mixers only (the couple every 50 to 75 guests. supplies the alcohol) to premi“There’s always a crush at um plans with Champagne and the beginning,” says Jack Stahl, digestif offerings. On average, events specialist at Palate New a liter of liquor contains about Orleans. “You might add a sec- 25 drinks, a wine bottle conond bartender for at least the tains six to seven and a bottle … first hour when consumpof Champagne or sparkling wine serves about five. Many tion is higher.” venues and catering compaThe decision whether to nies partner with breweries leave out a tip jar for barin Louisiana and the region tenders can be a sticky one. to offer local beers. However, Some venues have their own rules, but Stahl and Catherine offering too many options can be problematic.

Hall, sales and events man“Keep it simple,” Stahl says. ager at the Orpheum Theater, “Three choices can be too weigh in.

“Our rule is, don’t solicit tips much. All you really need for — it’s gauche,” Stahl says. “But wine are a moderate red and

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white. Sauvignon blanc is a great sipping wine and goes well with food, and as for red wines, stay away from heavier, more complex wines. That’s a problem I see a lot: Trying to get everything for everybody.”

If you’re expecting that fussy uncle that only likes blended single grain Scotch, or your new cousin-in-law who only drinks wine made from nebiollo grapes, rather than ordering in bulk, purchase a single bottle of the requested drink and keep it behind the bar for them.

Cocktails by the yard

Craft cocktails are trending, but preparing each by hand can cause a traffic jam at the bar. Premixing cocktails and serving them by the pitcher is an alternative, but Hall only recommends batch drinks for large events (700 or more guests).

“We typically make things on hand,” she says. “There’s such an art to making specialty cocktails, and people like to see their drinks being made, as opposed to being poured out of a carafe.”

If service allows, there are a few standards that can be prepped and poured before guests arrive that won’t lose their appeal (or flavor) from resting in a glass for a while.

Hold off on the ice until just before serving.

“Sangria is a good premixed cocktail — it’s easy to pretty it up in the glass by adding fruit,” Hall says. “Sweet tea or lemonade with vodka is a good summer cocktail, especially with a little mint.”

Stahl suggests beverages like Pimm’s Cups or margaritas by the batch, and Ted Urrutia, production and bar manager at Palate New Orleans and inhouse mixologist at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, gets requests for Moscow Mules and Dark & Stormy cocktails.

To craft or not to craft

Stahl recommends exercising caution with hand-crafted drinks — things can get out of hand quickly when bartenders start muddling, shaking or cracking eggs to make cocktails at a reception for 300 people.

“We hired a mixologist for an event during Mardi Gras, and there were cardamom pods being crushed with a mortar and pestle,” he says.

“There certainly are a lot of requests for (craft cocktails), but it can be time-consuming for bartenders.”

The venue also can affect bartenders’ ability to make specialty drinks. Outdoor venues may have limited refrigeration to keep specialty ingredients fresh and may lack sinks for washing bar tools. Space could be a problem too: Bartenders may not be able to store all the necessary equipment for specialty cocktails, let alone liquor, mixers, wines and glassware.

Now, what to drink?

“Fruity, beachy cocktails are trending,” Urrutia says. “As

we’re getting into the hot summer months, people are asking for festive, colorful cocktails. Tequila is making a huge comeback. White tequila with soda and lime … is the new gin and tonic for the summer. People are learning that (tequila is) less of a depressant than other types of liquor, and that it’s beneficial to endorphin levels, especially agave-based [tequilas].”

Many couples are opting for “his” and “hers” drink offerings.

“Bride and groom set-ups are really popular right now,” Hall says. “A typical set-up is a cocktail like an Old Fashioned for the groom and a French 75 for the bride.”

Couples also increasingly request custom cocktails.

Urrutia has created drinks like the Hibiscus Blossom (rum, sparkling ginger ale and hibiscus syrup) and the prickly pear margarita (a new take on a classic margarita that gets its dark purple hue from added fruit juices, garnished with an orange segment and a salt- and sugar-rimmed glass) based on a couple’s common interests.

While the couple’s personality should take center stage in a custom drink, Urrutia advises working with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Hall suggests calling the drink by the couple’s last name — The Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so.

For couples with a DIY spirit, Urrutia suggests creating a twist on a classic drink, like a Manhattan. Lighten it up with soda water for a refreshing, summery take. Substitute an ingredient or two in a standard cocktail, or add a new garnish or a dash of flavored bitters.

“An Old Fashioned is always popular,” he says. “I’ve made them with grapefruit or cantaloupe instead of the traditional orange [or cherry] — just get creative and have fun with it.”

Stahl echoes Urrutia’s sentiment about just enjoying the cocktails — and the party.

“At the end of the day, people just want to drink,” he says. “Don’t get carried away with all the different muddling and other details. Just have a good time.”

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3331 SEVERN AVE. METAIRIE 504.266.2771 MAEMEBRIDAL@GMAIL.COM :MAEMEBRIDAL

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DO ME A FAVOR

ACCORDING TO A 2016 REAL WEDDINGS STUDY BY THE WEBSITE THE KNOT, the average number of guests invited to a wedding decreased by 10 percent from 2009 to 2016, while the average amount spent per guest increased from $194 to $245. The numbers don’t lie: Personalized experiences and gifts for an intimate group of guests are the new norm.

“There are two ways couples are person alizing guest gifts: favors at the wedding and customized gifts waiting for guests when they arrive at their hotels,” says Nic Rock, co-founder of Magic Bank, an event planning marketplace.

Guest gifts are shifting toward practical yet whimsical items.

“We’ve had a lot of requests for (personalized) glassware and koozies — something that can be used day-to-day rather than one-and-done,” says Shirley Bosch, store manager at Design a Latte, a personalization boutique in Metairie.

New Orleans is a major wedding destination, so locally-themed gifts are especially appreciated by out-of-town guests. Rock likes customized street maps that point out the couple’s favorite places in the city.

Personalization enhances the appeal of the gift and can make commonplace items sparkle.

“We’ve done votive candles inside of stemless wine glasses, with guests’ names

Personalized guest gifts as

special as your wedding day

BY K ATHERINE M . JOHNS ON

printed on the front and the wedding details on the back, used as place cards,” Bosch says.

Favors run from simple to deluxe.

“We once did a custom terrarium,” Rock says. “The couple got married in Gramercy, New York. (The terrarium) was an exact replica of Gramercy Park, complete with a little bench and signage.”

Magic Bank’s more luxurious gifts are personalized luggage tags, a s’more making kit for a winter wedding and custom-made cookies in the shape of the couple — and their dog. Bosch has engraved sterling silver picture frames with wedding details. But a gift for guests doesn’t have to cost a lot to pack pizzazz.

“People think that they have to spend a lot of money to make a special gift, but connection to the right vendors is the best way to make a lavish gift that doesn’t break the bank,” Rock says. “Realize it doesn’t need to be a huge expense and that it’s more about the thought behind it.”

She also says that giving the wrong gift is worse than giving no gift at all. A gift that doesn’t represent the couple — like the “bottle of pain reliever and a bag of potato chips” shtick — can make the wrong impression about the nuptials (unless the wedding plan is “Bourbon Street until it hurts”). If you’re going to spend time and money on a gift, make it personal and set the right tone

for the celebration.

A cost-saving idea is a guest gift that doubles as a centerpiece. For a beach-themed wedding, Bosch and the Design a Latte team monogrammed sand spikes with the couple’s initials and placed them in buckets of sand in the center of each reception table next to a vase of tropical flowers. They’ve also customized cases of plastic Champagne flutes — Bosch glittered the base of the flute using glitter vinyl, wrapped the bulb of each with a filigree cutout and put the couple’s wedding date on it.

“It went from a dollar plastic Champagne flute to something amazing, just like that,” she says.

Magic Bank uses technology to help clients stay under budget for favors. Rock asks the couple to describe themselves in five key words, and enters those words and the couple’s budget into a digital vendors list, which populates search results by cost and description.

Bosch and Rock agree that websites like Pinterest are great resources for ideas, but they also can overwhelm. Working with professionals to help think of and execute ideas for favors — especially local professionals who are plugged in to local businesses — can help a couple pinpoint the perfect gift to remind guests of the couple’s big day for years to come.

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BANQUET ROOM • PRIVATE LUNCHEONS CORPORATE EVENTS • REHEARSAL DINNERS Available for Groups of 10-90 Guests

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

Buy (local) invitation only PAGE 8

Betty Hunley Designs 6057 Magazine St., (504) 895-2870; www.bettyhunley.com

Gem Printing Company 1904 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 834-9580, www. gemprinting.com

Scriptura Lakeside Shopping Center Annex, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 219-1113; 5423 Magazine St., (504) 897-1555; www. scriptura.com

Not your mother’s wedding dress PAGE 11

2800; www.trememarketbranch.com

Adore your adornments PAGE 21

Brittany Schall www.brittanyschall.com Flora Savage 1301 Royal St., (504) 581-4728; www.florasavage.net Porter Lyons 631 Toulouse St., (504) 518-4945; www.porterlyons.com Wedding Belles See “Not your mother’s wedding dress”

Love in blooms PAGE 23

The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe 3331 Severn Ave., Suite 102, Metairie, (504) 266-2771; www. mae-me.com

Carrollton Flower Market 838 Dublin St., (504) 866-9614; www.carrolltonflowermarket.com

Pearl’s Place 3114 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-9213; www.pearlsplace.com

Wedding Belles 3632 Magazine St., (504) 891-1005; www.weddingbellesnola.com

Dunn and Sonnier Antiques & Flowers 3433 Magazine St., (504) 524-3235; www.dunnandsonnier.com

Fancy footwork

Villere’s Florist 750 Martin Behrman Ave., Metairie, (504) 833-3716; 1415 N. Highway 190, Covington, (985) 8099101; www.villeresflowers.com

PAGE 14

Bustles & Bows Bridal Boutique 3230 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 780-7090; www.bustlesandbowsbridal.com

Location, location, location PAGE 17

The Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden Museum 1113 Chartres St., (504) 523-7257; www.bkhouse.org

The Parlor at the Pontchartrain Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St. Charles Ave., (504) 323-1400; www. thepontchartrainhotel.com The Tigermen Den 3113 Royal St., (504) 451-1280; www.thetigermenden.com

Treme Market Branch 800 N. Claiborne Ave., (504) 478-

Setting the bar PAGE 26

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art 925 Camp St., (504) 539-9650; www.ogdenmuseum.org Orpheum Theater 129 Roosevelt Way, (504) 274-4871; www.orpheumnola.com Palate New Orleans 8220 Willow St., (504) 864-2990; www.palateneworleans.com

Do me a favor PAGE 29

Design a Latte 3363 Severn Ave., Suite 9, Metairie, (504) 302-2228; www. designalatteboutique.com Magic Bank www.mymagicbank.com

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