Bridal Magazine by Midland Daily News

Spring / Summer 2015

A Wedding

Aboard the Edson

Roaring â&#x20AC;&#x2122;20s-themed

Weddings

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Wedding Cuisine

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Featured 05

App Happy: Wedding Help in The Palm of Your Hand

I Dos

Cake-Cutting Etiquette and Guidelines

The Many Ways to Recycle or Repurpose a Wedding Gown

A Wedding Aboard the Edson

Why My Fiancee Tagged Along on My Bachelor Party

9 6 16

11 18 20 22

How to Preserve Wedding Bouquets and Arrangements 17.

Professional Tips for a Beautiful Wedding Day Smile

Hot Trends in Wedding Cuisine

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Transportation Tips: Getting to and From Your Wedding Roaring â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;20s-Themed Weddings - Have All That Jazz

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App

Happy

WEDDING HELP IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

Appy Couple

oug Appleton’s grandparents couldn’t travel to his New York City wedding last October, but the tech-savvy Floridians were as present on the Big Day as anyone could be from 1,000-plus miles away.

or tablet,” Lewis says.

Thanks to FaceTime, the two-way Apple videocalling app, Gerald and Jacqueline Sherman watched by video stream as Appleton, 27, and Lauren Becker, 26, tied the knot. The newlyweds even have a picture of the ceremony that captures the Shermans’ faces on the iPhone that was used to connect them.

The proliferation of wedding apps can make choosing which ones to use overwhelming. Here are just several worth noting:

Next, the Shermans joined in the post-nuptial festivities via Wedding Party, an app that instantly uploads photos taken by guests to a website that posts them in chronological order. That allowed them to watch the celebration unfold in real time. “My grandparents get this stuff, which is great,” says Appleton. “They loved seeing what was going on.” Applications that can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets are part of many weddings today, from the initial planning to the honeymoon. The hectic pace of life has encouraged the trend, says Leila Lewis, an industry expert and founder of Inspired By This, a wedding website.

“Brides want to be planning, searching and experiencing weddings conveniently. They want quick access to an abundance of information, and that’s what apps and technology provide.”

Appy Couple Sharmeen Mitha-Sehgal created this app after the nerve-wracking experience of trying to keep track of her sister’s wedding itinerary — a wedding in Mumbai, India — using various invitation and social media websites. Appy Couple aims to provide all wedding-related services on one platform. It helps manage RSVPs, send e-mail invites and create a schedule of events. Guests can use it to book travel, share photos and submit song requests to DJs. Lover.ly Lewis likes this one for planning. Also billed as a one-stop-shop for the betrothed, it offers shopping and planning platforms as well as info on trends, from ‘70s-style dresses to serving doughnuts. Evernote A nod to keeping you and your betrothed on the same page during the wedding planning process. This organizational app — you can snap pictures, make lists and take notes — syncs on devices so that everyone knows what’s going on.

“In this day and age, the digital bride is planning the Wedding Party One of the apps designed to boost wedding on the go, which the experience of the day itself by allowing guests means planning from a phone to use their phones to share photos, videos and comments. About a week ahead of her wedding, Becker asked guests to download this app so they Wedding Party could help the Shermans get in on the action.

WedPics Lets couples create personalized photo albums of all the events surrounding their nuptials, from bridal showers to honeymoons, using pictures and videos uploaded by friends. Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder The jeweler’s app helps you choose the right diamond.

Spring & Summer 2015 | Bridal

YOU ARE MINE, I AM YOURS

WEDDING PHOTOS TOP LEFT

RENÉE (PAWLOSKI) & PATRICK VALANT

were married October 18, 2014 in Bay City. Studio Graphics Photography | sgphoto.com

TOP RIGHT

MÓNICA SCHMIDT & JOHN JAWORSKI

are engaged to be married July 18, 2015, in Owendale. Studio Graphics Photography | sgphoto.com

BOTTOM LEFT

CRYSTAL (CONGER) & BRIAN DESOTO

were married August 16, 2014, at Dow Gardens. Warner Photography | warnerphotography.biz

BOTTOM RIGHT

ERIN (TANS) & KEVIN DECKER

were married August 23, 2004, at Hopevale Church in Saginaw. Warner Photography | warnerphotography.biz

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

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Cake-Cutting

ETIQUETTE AND GUIDELINES

he presentation of the wedding cake marks the culmination of the day’s festivities and a ﬁnal symbol of a happy couple’s new partnership. Many people eagerly await the cake as much as they may anticipate catching a glimpse of the bride in her beautiful gown. While the cake in all its ﬁnery can be a beautiful sight to behold, a cake can only last so long before its fate as a delicious dessert is sealed.

As is the case with many wedding traditions, there is some established etiquette with regard to cutting and serving wedding cake. If you plan on putting your cake on display, be sure it is made with a frosting and filling that can endure room temperature. Certain creams may sour if not refrigerated, and you do not want anyone becoming ill. If you have your heart set on perishable fillings, keep the cake refrigerated and then have the big reveal right before it is cut. The cake cutting usually comes near the end of the wedding reception. Schedule the cutting so that older guests or young children can leave without feeling as if they would be offending anyone. The emcee of the evening typically announces the cake cutting, and the band may play a quirky tune or revisit the wedding song while the first slice is being cut. A bride should hold the cake knife with

her right hand, while the groom places his right hand over hers before they proceed to slice down together. If the cake has a foam or cardboard support, be careful not to cut through it. Use a cake server to grab the ﬁrst piece.

Traditionally the newly betrothed will feed each other a bite of the cake to symbolize their ﬁrst meal as a couple. Couples can feed each other a small amount, taking care not to spill any. Many couples no longer embrace the oncepopular tradition of smashing cake in each other’s faces, but whether or not couples follow this tradition is up to them.

Some couples like to serve their parents a piece of cake. Traditionally the bride should serve the groom’s parents and the groom the bride’s parents. If there is a groom’s cake, guests may prefer a slice of both cakes. Guests may also want to take home a slice of the groom’s cake. Tradition states that a piece of the groom’s cake should be presented to an unmarried woman attending the wedding. The woman is not expected to eat the cake, but rather to put it under her pillow. Superstition held that this tradition would help an unmarried woman ﬁnd a husband. Make arrangements for proper packaging of the groom’s cake, so guests can take home a slice if they so desire. The waitstaff typically handles the slicing of the cake. The uppermost tier is reserved for the couple to save, and the remainder of the cake will be served. Recognize that not all guests like cake, but it’s better to err on the side of caution and have a cake that will feed all of the guests. You also may want to offer a dessert bar for guests who prefer another type of sweet treat. However, this is a luxury, not a necessity.

The cake-cutting ritual at weddings has withstood the test of time, and many couples still prefer to present the cake with fanfare and excitement.

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THE MANY WAYS TO RECYCLE OR REPURPOSE A WEDDING GOWN

rides want to look their best on their wedding days. In addition to professional hairstyling and makeup, many brides invest in extravagant wedding gowns.

Estimates suggest the average wedding gown costs $2,000. Brides who indulge by purchasing a designer dress can pay upward of $5,000 for their gowns. But even the most expensive dress will only be worn once by the blushing bride. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways brides can reuse or recycle their wedding gowns.

is a symbol of purity and cleansing of sin. Seamstresses can fashion beautiful dresses or suits from original wedding gowns.

PLAY CLOTHES

Many little girls and boys like to play dress-up. And rather than have a gown sitting in the closet, use it to make play clothes for little ones. The gown can be turned into a dress for a fairy princess or an ice queen.

HEIRLOOM

One of the easiest ways to get more from your gown is to pass it down to another bride after your wedding day. Brides frequently save and preserve their gowns with the intent of passing it down as an heirloom to a daughter or another family member. Maintain the beauty of the gown by hiring a professional dry cleaner or wedding gown preservation service to treat and package the gown before storing it for some lucky lady’s future use.

RELIGIOUS OUTFIT If you feel the style of the gown won’t keep up with the times, the fabric of the gown can be repurposed into a baptismal outﬁt or a communion dress or suit. Christian children are welcomed to the faith in white clothing, which

NURSERY DÉCOR

Decorate a baby’s nursery with a portion of the wedding dress, which can be turned into a crib skirt or pillow. The dress can also be used to create frilly curtains. A white dress will blend with just about any pattern

ANNIVERSARY TABLECLOTH

Measure out the length of a dining table, and cut and sew the gown into a special occasion tablecloth. Take it out each year on your anniversary.

STUFFED ANIMALS

Present children with cozy friends that they can love for years. Cut out a pattern for a bunny or bear and use it to craft a stuffed toy from the gown. Visit a local craft shop for stufﬁng ﬁll and buttons for eyes.

DONATION

Some less fortunate people cannot afford a gown. Work with a church or shelter and ﬁnd out where you can donate the gown to be used by someone who normally would not wear something so lavish.

ORNAMENTS OR FAVORS

Lace from gowns can be turned into doilies, accents on other clothing, undergarments or decorative pieces for the home. A lace-covered lampshade can be a creative way to commemorate your wedding day for years to come.

ART

Use the gown as a background for artwork. Simply stretch it across a wooden frame and staple on the back. You then have a handy canvas at the ready.

THEATER PROP

Many plays and musicals feature wedding scenes. An upstart theater company may beneﬁt from having a wedding gown in their costume department

HANDKERCHIEF

Cut out a piece of the gown and sew the hem. Offer it as the “something old” or “something borrowed” for a loved one’s wedding. Wedding gowns do not need to be relegated to a closet once a bride has said “I do.” Turn that dress into something useful for years to come.

Spring & Summer 2015 | Bridal

g n i d d e AW

n o s d E e Aboard th BY NIKY HOUSE for the Daily News Monica Lachcik

photo credits : | Precious Shutters by Monica

he second wedding aboard the USS Edson, DD-946, while it has been moored in its current location, took place last fall on Saturday, Aug. 30. Sean and Cassandra Molloy of Alger, who had been engaged for three years, had their minds on a destination wedding. They discussed having their wedding at a lighthouse, but that plan fell through. One day while traveling to Bay City, they spotted the Edson as they were driving over the bridge. “He wanted to tour the ship, and he wanted me to see it, since he was in the Navy,” Cassandra said. Sean had served in the Navy for five years. He was a petty officer third class, E4, with the Sidewinders, F-18 Strike Fighter Squadron, VFA-86, at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C. “This was the first Navy ship I had seen in Great Lakes,” Sean said. “I wanted to show her what life was like in the Navy.” After they toured the ship, Sean was captivated. “His dream became to get married on a ship, and it was my dream to make it happen,” Cassandra said. Approximately 45 - 50 people attended their wedding. Instead of a unity candle, the couple along with their parents sprinkled different colored sand in a vase, representing each part of the family. “It was really cool. How many people get married on a Navy battleship,” Sean said. “It was windy and overcast, but the second we started it was like God was looking down on us; the sun came out and it was bright and beautiful.”

Cassandra’s parents, Rodney and Cindy Warren from Alpena, were in attendance. Her maid of honor was her mother, Cindy, and her bridesmaids were Patricia Lauria and Whitney Leach. Sean’s parents, Mark and Jill Molloy of Celina, Tenn., were also in attendance. His best man was his father, Mark, and his groomsmen were Ryan Rosenbum and Nick Rozell. Alexis Zimmer, Cassandra’s daughter, was the flower girl and Rodney Molloy, their son, was the ring bearer. Ushers were James Bowser of Rose City and Kole Warren of Houghton Lake. Brenda Bates officiated the ceremony. “This was awesome, I couldn’t ask for a better wedding, and it showed a lot of Sean’s personality,” Cassandra said. “One of the coolest things was the firing of the cannon on the ship; then they honked the horn on the ship.” The sound of the cannon firing was a 40 mm saluting battery that shot 10-gauge blanks, said Michael Kegley, president of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, which the USS Edson is a part of. Getting married on a Naval ship is unique, Mary Kegley, secretary of the museum said. “It is a good idea, a different venue for a wedding,” Mary said. Michael said that a wedding on the Edson is “kind of romantic. . . I hope we have more.” For more about the USS Edson, visit ussedson.org To obtain information about having a wedding aboard the ship, call (989) 684-3946.

Why My Fiancee

TAGGED ALONG ON MY BACHELOR PARTY

SCOTT MAYEROWITZ ~ ASSOCIATE PRESS

AIL, Colo. — Strippers and all-night binge drinking weren’t going to cut it for my bachelor party.

Getting married at 36, I ﬁgured my days of debauchery — the few days that ever existed — were long gone. I’ve been to extravagant bachelor parties in Las Vegas, Puerto Rico and Miami’s South Beach. I even went to one in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. They were tons of fun but not what I wanted before my wedding. I wanted to celebrate with my friends, actually spending time with them. Given people’s work schedules and young families, we don’t get to hang out as much as we used to. Enter Vail. It had everything: skiing, posh hotels and big steak dinners. “Vail is not about being wild, it’s about having a phenomenal time,” says Patricia McNamara, director of sales and marketing at the town’s Sonnenalp resort. “Wild and Vail don’t go together in the same sentence.” Perfect. As couples get married older, they have more life experience, often can afford more expensive trips and may have been to many of the traditional party cities — more than once. So while Vail isn’t exactly known for bachelor parties, it and other ski towns are on a small but growing list of alternative destinations for the soon-to-be wed. Before I continue, I need to mention one other unconventional thing: I invited my ﬁancee and some female friends along. We all love to ski and decided this would be our big Western ski trip of the year. When the guys split off for steak and bourbon one chilly February night; the girls went out to Bol — a fancy bowling alley where they sipped champagne while rolling strikes. OK, I was told they rolled strikes.

As you get older, “your idea of partying, having a celebratory event changes,” Miles says. “You’re not 21 anymore.” For men, the average age for a ﬁrst marriage is now nearly 29, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s four years older than it was three decades ago. Women have also seen a four-year increase in average marrying age, to 26. There are still plenty of trips to Las Vegas, but as I asked around, I found lots of folks — at least those who could afford it — ﬂying off to unusual spots. When Heath Ward of New York City got married in May 2013, he decided to hold his bachelor party in Iceland. He and his friends wanted to go snowmobiling on a glacier. “We had all been to Vegas together multiple times. Nobody was excited for that anymore. Everybody was past that point in their lives,” says Ward, now 29. “People would rather spend money on something that’s a little more worthwhile.” Eric Morrow also went to Vail in March with a dozen friends, his future brothers-in-law and future father-inlaw. Most of his friends already like to ski and this was the perfect low-key trip for him. “I don’t love a lot of attention,” says Morrow, 30. “It’s kind of awkward going to a strip club with your future fatherin-law.” Everybody seemed to get more out of it than the old-style bachelor party, he says. And this way, “When we’re tired, we’ll go to sleep.”

That sounded familiar. Yes, we had a few late nights on our trip, but by the end everybody was exhausted. Two A lot of people were shocked that I would invite my future friends actually fell asleep at the spa one afternoon. So wife to my bachelor party. But let’s face it, we already live on one of the final nights, instead of trying to get in one together. It’s not like this party was meant to be a final last trip to the few nights out. It was meant to celebrate our upcoming bar, we were wedding. in bed by 9:30 “You don’t have to respond to the event in a way that is not p.m. And I’m completely fine true to yourself,” says Jamie Miles, an editor at TheKnot. with that. com. “There’s no right or wrong way to have a bachelor or bachelorette party. It’s up to the couple’s personality.” That was a relief to hear. See, the skiing, eating out and drinking were all fun, but so was one lazy afternoon spent in the lobby of our hotel, the Tivoli Lodge, curled up by the fireplace playing with the two resident dogs, Speedy and Jeepers. It’s not the stuff Hollywood dreams up when writing the script for “The Hangover.”

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

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How To Preserve WEDDING BOUQUETS AND ARRANGEMENTS

brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gown may garner its share of attention come her wedding day, but floral arrangements also tend to impress guests. Fresh flowers make a wedding and the ensuing reception more inviting and appealing.

may need to remain hanging for up to three weeks before they are completely dried out. After which, gently remove the flowers and arrange them in a vase or another container. Otherwise, reassemble a bouquet how it was and carefully display.

According to The Knot.com, couples can expect to spend 8 percent of their wedding budget on flowers. For the average wedding, that equates to roughly $2,000 for various arrangements and bouquets. That can be a considerable expense for fragile flowers with a shelf life of only a day or two.

PRESSING

But instead of tossing beautiful bouquets and other flowers into the garbage once the wedding day has come and gone, couples can employ various methods to preserve those impressive displays for years to come.

AIR DRYING

Pressing is another way to preserve floral bouquets and arrangements. To press flowers, find a few heavy books to stack or another weighted object. Place the flowers between parchment paper or waxed paper and lay the heavy items on top. You also can place the flowers in tissue paper between the pages of a book so they are not jostled. Leave the blooms for a week or two and then check on them before putting them in a shadow box or photo frame.

One of the easiest ways to preserve flowers is to dry them out. This is best done by hanging blooms upside down so they will remain straight and not warp or wither while drying.

CHEMICAL DRYING

Secure flowers in small bundles and hang from an out-of-the-way spot in a cool, dry area. The flowers

Silica gel is a desiccant commonly found in small packets inside of new shoes and purses. It also can be purchased at home improvement retailers and is used to dry out musty basements and other areas.

Silica gel, borax and regular sand can be used to dry and preserve flowers as well. These can be handy for people who desire to preserve an entire bouquet as-is.

Fill a deep container halfway with the silica gel or other drying material. Put in the bouquet and then gently add more product to the top of the flowers so they are completely submerged. Place a snug cover over the top of the container and let everything sit for about a week. Slowly the moisture will be absorbed from the flowers. Some people choose to spray dried flowers with a sealant to keep them looking nice longer. An allpurpose craft spray might work. You also can ask for recommendations from the florist who handled your arrangements, and that florist may even preserve the flowers for you for an additional fee. 16

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

Professional Tips

FOR A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DAY SMILE

ome their wedding day, all eyes are on the happy couple as they tie the knot. This will be one of the most photographed moments in all your life, and it is customary that brides- and grooms-to-be want to look their best for their trip down the aisle, and a bright white and healthy smile goes a long way toward helping couples look their best. According to Dr. Jay Gohel, an oral health professional and expert in extreme smile makeovers, couples should schedule a professional dental hygiene appointment prior to their wedding days. During these appointments, dentists can develop a regimen that will produce the smiles couples desire for their momentous occasions. Porcelain veneers or professional whitening may be included in the suggestions to dramatically change the appearance of teeth.

Even those who wear dentures can benefit from a dental visit prior to the wedding. “People who wear dentures should bring the dentures in to the dental office,” says Dr. Gohel. “(A dentist) can professionally clean the dentures and repair the denture if there are any chips or missing teeth. (A dentist) can also send the denture to the lab to see if a color change is possible. Or (a dentist) can make a new set of dentures.”. Improving your smile is a key component to looking polished for your wedding day and other special events. A dentist can work with you to tailor a treatment to ensure your smile attracts attention for all the right reasons on your big day.

If your teeth aren’t as white as they once were, you may be considering a whitening treatment. Many foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, colas, dark berries, and even chocolate, can stain the teeth over time. Certain medications also may contribute to changing the surface color of your teeth. While there are many whitening systems available at drug stores, there are benefits to opting for a professional whitening treatment performed by a licensed dentist. For example, such a procedure is more controlled, allowing the dentist and his staff to control the strength and the placement of the whitening product. In addition, the dentist can help control discomfort for men and women with sensitive teeth. “Tooth appearance can be vastly improved with a professional cleaning,” offers Dr. Gohel. “The superficial stains can be removed, as well as plaque and tartar.” A cleaning may also improve a couple’s breath just in time for that important kiss. Looking beautiful isn’t only reserved for the bride and groom. Members of the bridal party and family may also want to schedule dental visits to improve their smiles. Spring & Summer 2015 | Bridal

s d n e r T t o H WEDDING CUISINE IN

nce a couple has ofﬁcially tied the knot, the newly recognized man and wife and all of their guests will retire to a party room where they can mingle, dance and enjoy a good meal. In the past, standard fare like prime rib and roasted chicken dominated wedding menus. But today’s weddings cater to people of various culinary tastes, and couples and their guests can expect more upscale and creative cuisine to be rolled out for wedding receptions. The following are a handful of the more popular trends with regard to wedding cuisine.

MINIATURE BITES Many people say good things come in small packages, and when it comes to miniature versions of favorite foods, they may be right. Instead of large meals that ﬁll guests up fast, they can munch on smaller bites of their favorite dishes. How about a piece of meatloaf topped with whipped mashed potatoes? A cherry tomato with a small piece of mozzarella cheese makes a mini caprese salad. Turning favorite foods into bitesized adventures can add a touch of whimsy to the reception. BREAKFAST FOR DINNER Some couples are circumventing high price tags for their weddings by choosing to hold the festivities at less expensive times of day. Brunchthemed weddings are a big hit with those who would much rather dine on a stack of pancakes than a dish of pasta. Omelet stations, croissants and a bevy of other breakfast table fare can be enjoyed any time of the day. 18

DIM SUM Dim sum allows guests to sample different foods without ﬁlling up. Carts of dumplings and other small plates of appetizers can be wheeled around so everyone can choose what they want and what they want to avoid. GOURMET COMFORT FOOD People love familiar comfort foods, but now gourmet comfort foods are shaking up wedding receptions. Macand-cheese with gouda and brie or chicken pot pie with a puff-pastry crust are a few offerings that can add glamour to down-home cooking. FOOD WITH A SHOW Instead of passed foods or buffet stations, couples are opting to make food an experience for guests. An oyster bar with a chef serving fresh seafood or a dessert master whipping up ﬂambé is a feast for the eyes and mouth. INTERESTING BUFFET STATIONS Keep guests on their toes with various meal stations. A bountiful display of artisanal cheeses, fruits and breads will be a cheese lover’s dream. These stations also can be appetizing focal points around the room and ensure all guests get a bite of what they like best. FAMILY STYLE Rustic and informal weddings have grown in popularity. Rather than food being brought to the guests or participants lining up in buffet lines, family-style dining allows guests to share conversation and pass the peas at the same time. Larger, rectangular

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

tables allow more guests to sit with one another and serve themselves food from community plates located in the center of the tables. FOOD AND BEVERAGE PAIRINGS Food-forward wedding couples are offering guests mouthwatering appetizers matched with a cocktail. A slider and a craft beer or a dumpling and a shot of saki are examples of this trend. NONTRADITIONAL ‘FAKE’ CAKES Instead of a multi-tiered cake or the cupcake fad that is starting to ﬁzzle, couples are now opting for something new. Desserts that mimic the look of cake, but aren’t quite that combination of sponge and frosting are trending. Crepes, pies, cookies, and doughnuts are acceptable and can add a creative spark to the cakecutting ceremony. When offered along with dessert stations, guests can certainly get their ﬁll of sweet delights. VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS Chances are one or more people attending the reception will be on a restricted diet. Rather than relegate these guests to dining on side dishes and patchwork meals, certain couples are building entire offerings around vegan and gluten-free foods. Couples are getting creative with their food and beverage offerings at their weddings. Guests never know which culinary wonders they will encounter as they gather to wish the newlyweds well.

Spring & Summer 2015 | Bridal

Transportation Tips: GETTING TO AND FROM YOUR WEDDING

ransportation can be easily overlooked when couples plan their weddings. Couples may recognize they may have to hire a car or limousine to get them to their ceremonies and then their receptions, but what happens when the limousine calls it a night? While some couples immediately depart for their honeymoons after saying good-bye to their wedding guests, many build a day in between the wedding and honeymoon, giving them a chance to rest, take stock of their wedding gifts and finish packing. That leaves the question of how a couple will return home from the reception or get to the airport. The best man may offer to drive the bride and groom where they need to go. But if the best man is from out of town, he may not have a chariot awaiting to escort the newly christened husband and wife to the airport. As a result, all members of the wedding party should discuss their post-wedding travel plans in advance. Any person who will be arriving in a hired

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

car will need to make arrangements to have their own vehicle available at the end of the wedding or be able to call a taxi or car service to get a safe ride home. Some wedding party members may decide to park a car at the reception site or a hotel the day prior to the wedding so they will have a return ride. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a good idea to ask friends or family members who are not in the bridal party for a ride home. Safety is an utmost concern after the wedding. Even if wedding party members have a car available, no one should drive when intoxicated. Couples may want to include the phone number of a local taxi service in their hotel gift bags just to be safe.

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DIN D E W ED M E H T ’20S G N I R ROA

z z a J t a h T l l ve A The Roaring ’20s live on in pop culture as a high-

spirited whirl of a decade, full of dancing ﬂappers, dapper gents and an overall air of optimism.

or many modern brides and grooms, it’s the perfect vibe for a wedding.

Baz Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby” ﬁlm remake rekindled interest in 1920s style, and on television, even the prim Granthams of “Downton Abbey” have left staid Victoriana for high-spirited dance clubs — or at least Cousin Rose has.

Think creamy linens, lawn parties, Jazz Age music. Champagne coupes, gilded details, and Old Hollywood hair and makeup. Dancing. “The sophisticated beauty and elegance of the period is the perfect inspiration for a wedding. The theme allows couples to honor

the past and bring this lively age to life in a creative and bold way,” says Marsha Hunt, co-owner with Bridget Connell of Haute Flower Boutique in Minneapolis. They have incorporated elements of the era into wedding receptions both contemporary and traditional, she said. The goal is to ﬁnd “that happy medium between being completely poised but also letting loose,” says Shira Savada, Real Weddings Editor at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Bridal | Spring & Summer 2015

If you’re having a dress made, don’t go for bright white, Savada says. Keep it within the vintage aesthetic — vanilla, ivory, or the palest of pink, canary or blush. Jeweled headpieces, perhaps with lace, more sequins, rhinestones or feathers, might take the place of a veil, although Savada suggests brides can do both. “Pairing a bejeweled headband with a veil is a timeless but nostalgic look.” Check the crafts website Etsy.com for handmade headpieces and bands. Satin or soft gold or silver slippers, or peep-toed pumps, ﬁnish the ensemble. Source dresses on Ebay, where silk, pearl and lacetrimmed originals go for as low as $75. Find lots of reproductions of gowns and ﬂapper dresses here too, great for bridesmaids. Online, Brides magazine has a slideshow of inspiration, with dresses by Jenny Packham, Nicole Miller, Monique Lhuillier and others. Many bridal retailers have good selections of vintageinspired dresses. Grooms and groomsmen might look at

SETTING THE STAGE

Invitations can set the tone with a vintage font — Park Lane, Gatsby, Nite Club and Atlas Regular, among others — and Art Deco details. Use the same typography for table cards and other signage in the reception space. Create your own, or employ a designer. Suggest that guests also come dressed in Roaring ’20s style. For a summer wedding, a venue with big gardens and open space works well for an elegant, Gatsby-esque lawn party. Linens, strung lighting and blankets on the grass provide an easy, relaxed background in which guests can feel comfortable, while you add as much luxury as you like with other elements, such as food, drinks and live music. Croquet was the game of the moment back then, but other old-fashioned lawn games like badminton or bocce could amuse both younger and older Gowns of the ’20s guests. featured sequins, For an indoor wedding, fringes and other decorate with vintage embellishments, but suitcases, globes, the cut was usually gramophones and simple. Dropped cameras. waists and low backs Savada recommends defined the formal touches like silhouette. Necklines embroidered weren’t overworked, handkerchiefs; and most dresses engraved silver pieces, were either sleeveless such as lighters and tie clips; and those or given a little lacey remarkable cars. cap sleeve, evoking the look of a slip “They basically cry dress, whether full out to be incorporated into someone’s Roaring or tea length. ’20-style celebration,” she says. Hunt and Connell suggest a threepleasing palette of blush, peach and ivory, piece suits in with silver and bronze metallics. Add linen or lighttouches of bling with easy, shimmery colored wool for materials like charmeuse and voile, giltsummer; for a more encrusted ribbons, pearls and beading. casual affair, consider a Glossy black accents add drama. striped blazer, even a boater style hat, and suspenders. For They also suggest silver-spangled mesh winter, navy or charcoal-gray wool, or table covers, and candelabra dripping a tuxedo. Bow ties bring the look home, with pearl strands. You could scrounge although a necktie in a prep-school pattern flea markets for inexpensive brooches and would also fit the style. necklaces to trim napkins and cutlery. Lacy tablecloths are easy to find in antique stores. And if gentlemen want to take things And peacock and ostrich feathers add one step further, add a pair of twoflourish to floral displays. toned brogues, light-colored oxfords, or patent-leather formal wingtips for Pin vintage family wedding photos on the tuxedo. ribbons, clothesline-style, or decorate buffet

tables with photos of old-time stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Clara Bow, Buster Keaton, Rudolf Valentino and Greta Garbo. Designer and illustrator Kris Shoemaker of Vancouver, British Columbia, creates paper embellishments and cake toppers for vintage-style weddings, especially sparkly stars, moons and ﬁgures of romantic couples made of highquality paper and trimmed with vintage German glass glitter and luxe ribbons. “I’ve always been drawn to the elaborate Art Deco illustrations of Erte and Georges Barbier,” she says. “I was initially inspired by the song ’Say It’s Only A Paper Moon,’ ‘The Great Gatsby,’ and the dream-like photographs taken in the 1920s of couples posing on giant cardboard moons and stars.”

THE PARTY

Compiling a playlist from the era will get everyone in the mood. If it’s within your budget, hire a jazz band with a singer. Use an old-fashioned microphone for speeches. To get the dancing started, enlist a few friends to show off some simple 1920s moves like the Charleston and the Baltimore Buzz; how-to videos are online. Serve swanky beverages popular during Prohibition, like gin rickeys, mint juleps and champagne cocktails. A champagne fountain has the right Gatsby-esque vibe. On the sweets table, offer petits fours and cakes embellished with Art Deco designs and edible gold leaf, on vintage silver serveware. Consider setting up a black-and-white photo booth with props including feather boas, long necklaces, straw boaters and newsboy caps. Silent films projected on a wall might provide additional atmosphere. Favors could include souvenir champagne glasses, silver cocktail sticks, mini flasks for the fellows, and stretchy beaded headbands or bead strands for the ladies. Instead of a standard guest book, set up a vintage typewriter and a stack of paper so that well-wishers can type up messages for the bride and groom. Wind the festivities down, perhaps, with a final flourish of metal foil confetti, a la Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby” revelries. Online: marthastewartweddings.com hauteflowerboutique.com mybigdaydesigns.net squidoo.com/1920s-dance

Spring & Summer 2015 | Bridal