Rivertowns Enterprise Celebrations 2015

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A S P E C I A L S E C T I O N O F T H E R I V E R T OW N S E N T E R P R I S E • F E B R U A R Y 13 , 2 015

The honor of your presence is requested Tradition remains for wedding invitations By VALERIE ABRAHAMS

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he internet recently was all atwitter with news that adorable Oscar-nominated actor Benedict Cumberbatch and fiancée Sophie Hunter sent out a hasty wedding Evite. Amid speculation that the celebrity couple want to wed before the baby arrives in early summer, the guests might forgive the pair for not following social protocol with ink and paper invites. The rules of wedding etiquette are constantly evolving, but traditional printed, mailed invitations remain the preferred — and more personal — option for special occasions such as weddings or bar and bat mitzvahs. According to a recent wedding planning survey by TheKnot.com and Mashable, two-thirds of brides used paperless options for wedding related events, but only 12 percent went paperless for the wedding invitation. Evites, easily forgotten or deleted, may be acceptable for celebrities or for casual events such as barbecues or birthdays, but, “It will never be appropriate to send an Evite for a formal event,” said Alissa Harvey of Kings Scribe in Chappaqua. “If you send an Evite for an event at the Westchester or Sleepy Hollow Country Clubs, you are confusing people’s expectations.” Ken Chorzewski of Invitations Plus agreed: “There is no one who is having an elegant affair who would not want an engraved or thermographic invitation. Both are still in vogue. Some people are using CONTINUED ON PAGE 2A

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An insider’s guide to dressing for the night of your life!

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By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG

t might not be cool for prom girls to take advice from their moms, but tips from industry experts are another story. “Celebrations” reached out to some of the best local professionals who generously shared their insight and experience in helping girls look and feel their best on prom’s very special night. So gather round; here’s who they are and here’s what they had to say. Monique Gootkin and Betty Dayan are co-owners of All Dressed Up, a premier fashion boutique in the Rye Ridge Plaza in Rye Brook. They each have degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and they both have daughters — two important factors that make All Dressed Up a special shop for unique party attire. “It’s really a privilege to operate All Dressed Up,” said Gootkin, “because we get to share over and over again that excitement that goes along with all the different events people purchase dresses for.” Dayan added, “These are wonderful moments in young woman’s life, some events are spiritual, some just about fun, but all of them are meant to be remembered.” Melanie Harris, a Scarsdale native, was born and bred in the fashion design industry — and she attended the Scarsdale High School prom in her youth. With this background, it was only natural for her to launch her own brand, Melanie Harris, Inc., which is based in New York City and which focuses on special occasion dresses of quality, exquisite workmanship and innovative, yet classic design — all made in the USA. One of Harris’s daughters, Sam, went to the Scarsdale High School prom last year. “She designed her own gown along with me, which has been selling in my spring/summer 2015 collection,” Harris said. “My other daughter, Sloane, is in ninth grade, and I’m sure she has something brewing in her head already!” What’s the best way to stand out at prom? H (Harris): A big, beautiful smile will always have you standing out of any crowd! A smile is your best accessory. G&D (Gootkin & Davan): Wear a colorful dress to stand out! With so many styles to choose from, where do you start? What advice can you offer on narrowing down the choices and making the best selection? H: Prior to shopping, it always helps to have a price range in mind and possibly a color or silhouette to narrow your options in a retail store with a larger inventory. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4A

Bar and Bat Mitzvahs: Start with a plan end with all out fun!....3A; Your wedding style: today’s gowns reflect personality and tradition ....6A; Bridal bootcamp: Final fitness prep before the big event....8A; Make your big day as unique as you are....9A; Planning a weekend wedding....10A


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