May 2016
The New Adventure:
21 Tips for a Perfect Winter Wedding
Honeymooners on Tour Winter Beauty Guide
Small Bites
for an Enticing Wedding Menu
A Floral Fantasy:
Creations by The Flower Chef
Feature Article the Leanne Marshall Wedding Collection 1
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page 44
page 116
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VRAI Magazine
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Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 5 by Danny de la Cruz
The Joy of Fondue . . . . 74 by Ksenia Skvortsova
Contributors . . . . . . . . . 6 by Danny de la Cruz
The First Dance . . . . . . 84 by Luming de la Cruz
Face-to-Face with Francesco Bilotto . . . . . . 8 by Danny de la Cruz
Timeless Elegance . . . . 90 by Doris Hobbs
21 Tips for a Perfect Winter Wedding. . . . . . . . . . . 12 by Francesco Bilotto Small Bites for an Enticing Wedding Menu. . . . . . 18 by Karista Bennett Wine Pairings . . . . . . . 28 by Mia Torres page 18
A Smarter Wedding Registry. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 by Julie Gordon A Moment with Leanne Marshall. . . . . . . . . . . 42 by Danny de la Cruz A Winter’s Dream: the Leanne Marshall Wedding Collection . . . . . . . . . . 44 Winter Beauty Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 by Karissa Bodnar
A Floral Fantasy. . . . . 94 by Carly Cylinder The Art of Perfume. . . 112 by Doris Hobbs Honeymooners on Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 by Katie Stanwyck
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A Winter’s Scene: Tablescape & DIY. . . . 130 by Emily Kennedy Warm Hands, Warm Hearts. . . . . . . . . . . . 136 by Emily Kennedy Beauty of Bridal Hats.138 by Ericah (Erica Mitchell) To Veil (or not). . . . . . 148 by Ericah (Erica Mitchell) Honeymoon Paradise: Old San Juan. . . . . . . . . . 150 by Danny de la Cruz More online. . . . . . . . 168
Cover: Theolanda Gown from the Leanne Marshall Signature Collection. Photograph by Emily Soto.
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VRAI Magazine
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can’t contain how excited and proud I am in the launch of our first Wedding Guide. And of course, we did it a bit differently and tackled a new trend we see emerging – a fullblown guide just for winter weddings. As you flip through these pages, we hope you’ll discover that we’ve taken our own fresh and unique approach to this very special event. But before I go any further, I have to give credit where credit is due and it falls squarely on the shoulders of the talented Francesco Bilotto who inspired me. If you’re not familiar with Francesco and his work, you’re missing out. As a premiere on-air design, DIY and entertaining expert in Manhattan, this gentleman can do it all — and with such style! It started out as one wedding-themed article that he was going to pen for the magazine, but it has since snowballed into a full-blown wedding guide. After our sit-down interview in NYC this past winter to discuss the one article, I walked away inspired with a whole new perspective. Thank you Francesco! As the wedding guide idea evolved in the months that followed our interview, never in a million years could I have imagined that we’d have Project Runway Winner and Fashion Designer Leanne Marshall in an exclusive interview and allowing us to showcase her breathtaking bridal gown collections in our pages. Her gowns are stunning. So along with Francesco Bilotto and Leanne Marshall, I’m excited and thankful to the all-star line-up of contributors who are part of our wedding guide:
And last but not least, I am proud to have my Mom, Luming, grace the pages of our wedding guide with an article on the First Dance. What has often been an afterthought for many couples, has now become an important element in the entire event. As a ballroom and Latin dance instructor for more than 20 years, along with my Dad, Ed, at Dance Time With Friends dance studio – she knows the importance and lasting impact of the First Dance. So whether you’re planning your big day on a budget with the help of family and friends, sparing no expense to make your dreams come true, and/or enlisting a wedding planner to help you stay on track along every step of the way, I hope you enjoy our Winter Wedding Guide and take away some great tips, ideas and insights into making your special day even more spectacular. All my best and heartfelt thanks!
Karissa Bodnar - Founder & CEO of Thrive Causemetics Carly Cylinder - Creative Director of Flour LA and author of The Flower Chef Karista Bennett - Chef and Recipe Developer Ksenia Skvortsova - NYC Culinary expert Julie Gordon - Housewares Industry expert and owner of Inspiring Kitchen Emily Kennedy - DIY Blogger Doris Hobbs - Fashion Blogger
Danny de la Cruz Publisher & Founding Editor P.S. We also have additional wedding-related articles and resources publishing throughout May on the VRAI Magazine website so be sure to check it out as well.
Ericah (Erica Mitchell) - owner of Coque Millinery Katie Stanwyck - Travel Blogger Mia Torres - Food and Wine Blogger and web show host
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Karista Bennett
Francesco Bilotto
Doris Hobbs
Emily Kennedy
Karista is a food writing, farm loving chef, capturing everyday moments with extraordinary food. She works as a professional recipe developer and food photographer, living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and she is the voice behind Karista’s Kitchen.
Doris is a San Francisco, bay-area based fashion blogger and writer of the fashion and personal style blog, Rich in Love Fashion. Doris connects with her readers through a classic, feminine profile, featuring accents of an era gone by.
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Francesco is a Manhattanbased Interior Designer & Entertaining Expert with a full book of private, residential & corporate clients. Francesco can be seen on ABC’s GMA, The View and on NBC’s TODAY as a Tastemaker. Learn more about him at francescobilotto.com
Emily is the author of Two Purple Couches, where she blogs about crafting a colorful home, one DIY at a time. She is passionate about infusing color and personality into her buildergrade home in Cincinnati, Ohio, all while inspiring others with simple and doable DIYs.
Karissa Bodnar
Karissa is the Founder & CEO at Thrive Causemetics where she creates a high-performing, vegan cosmetic line that’s all about delivering Beauty with a Purpose. For every product purchased, one is donated to a woman going through cancer treatment.
Carly Cylinder
Carly is the creative director of Flour LA with locations in Los Angeles and New York City. She is also the author of the new DIY flower arrangement book titled, The Flower Chef -- a modern take on the classic art of floral arranging.
Ericah (Erica Mitchell) Ksenia Skvortsova
Ericah is the owner of Coque Millinery which specializes in custom made women’s hats, fascinators and hair pieces. She wants women to see their individual beauty that they possess from within when they wear a design from Coque Millinery.
VRAI Magazine
Ksenia started Saffron & Honey in 2009 while living in London and working as a business consultant. Her passion for food took her back to New York, where she grew up, and back to culinary school. She graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in 2011.
Winter Wedding Guide Volume 1 /Number 1 Publisher & Founding Editor Danny de la Cruz Creative Director MJ Cadiz
Luming de la Cruz
Luming and her husband Ed are Ballroom & Latin dance instructors at their studio, Dance Time With Friends. They pride themselves in teaching students of all ages the skills needed for social dancing, to choreography for a wedding “first dance” or other special events.
Julie Gordon
Julie is the owner of Inspiring Kitchen. With more than 14 years in the housewares industry, Julie is taking her broad knowledge and sharing it with brides, grooms, homeowners, interior designers and realtors to build the kitchen of their (or their clients) dreams.
Food Editors Karista Bennett Ksenia Skvortsova Home & Garden Editor Emily Kennedy Travel Editor Jim O’Donnell Style Editor Arnika Zinke Contributing Editors Doris Hobbs Mabel Gago Julie Gordon Mia Torres Contributing Photographer Audrey DLC Contact Us VRAI Magazine LLC P.O. Box 62 Techny, IL 60082
Katie Stanwyck
Katie has always been a traveler at heart with 27 countries already under her belt. Now, she is living in Toronto writing about travel in her blog A Bite of Travel and seeing the world one step at a time.
Mia Torres
Mia is a Californian residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She hosts a web show called “Let’s Go”, is well-traveled and enjoys writing about events, food, wine and travel in her blog Table For One.
General Inquiries editor@vraimagazine.com Advertising Inquiries advertising@vraimagazine.com
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an interview with on-air design, DIY and entertaining expert, Francesco Bilotto by Danny de la Cruz Photography by Audrey DLC
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Danny de la Cruz and Francesco Bilotto at Birch Coffee 10
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e pulled up in our cabs just minutes apart in front of Birch Coffee on 27th street in Manhattan. It’s been more than a year since we first digitally connected and this was our time to finally catch up in person. Always so dapper on TV and in his photos, today was no exception as he wore a blazer with a contrasting, fuchsia crew neck sweater which brightened an otherwise dark and overcast morning. Francesco is always on the go, so I was fortunate to carve out a couple of hours of his day before he had to run off and do a taping on a network talk show. We found a quiet nook within the coffee shop, a perfect corner to catch up amidst a library setting with tall, dark bookshelves that towered above us. A lot has happened to Francesco since we first interviewed him in December of 2014. As he continues to make a name for himself as a lifestyle expert, he’s continued to be a featured guest on various programs from ABC’s Good Morning America to The View, to most recently being named as one of the Tastemakers on NBC’s TODAY show. Obviously we’re not the only one who’s noticed that the man has talent. Although he admitted that his path in New York has led him more to interior design, decorating and space planning, weddings will always have a special place and really serve as the origin of his success.
“Relationships with my clients are critical and being able to work with them as they progress in their lives and transition from one stage to another is what I love the most.”
A Floral Passion
It began with his love of flowers and his ability to create beautiful floral arrangements. As his passion for flowers grew, his work led him down the path of creating custom wedding events in Chicago for several years. From there, he springboarded to New York City and into interior design and decorating, to office and space design, and today, even babies’ rooms. For Francesco, it all boils down to building relationships with clients and finding creative solutions at various stages in their lives. From the wedding planning, to decorating that first home, to ultimately preparing the baby nursery — it’s all about design fixes and solutions at every stage. “Relationships with my clients are critical and being able to work with them as they progress in their lives and transition from one stage to another is what I love the most,” Francesco stated. We could have chatted for hours as we also connected on our Chicago roots and old neighborhood stomping grounds. But, our next venue was calling and it was time to get to the heart of our meeting and talk about wedding planning. 11
21 Tips for a Perfect Winter Wedding
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VRAI Magazine
Set the Stage: Don’t Fight the Season
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few blocks later we arrived at Midtown Loft & Terrace at 267 Fifth Ave. A quick elevator ride took us to the 11th floor and opened up to a long, rectangular space complete with a working kitchen, separate side-rooms and a connecting terrace up a flight of stairs. Although the room had just been dismantled from a recent event, with stacks of white chairs in one area, pipes and draperies, it was obvious that this was a wonderful venue for a wedding, a winter wedding to be exact. We walked with Francesco throughout the space and even up to the outdoor terrace area. As we explored the venue, he began to share his advice for anyone about to take the plunge and have a winter wedding. 13
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VRAI Magazine
Small Bites for an Enticing Wedding Menu by Chef Karista Bennett
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lanning a wedding can have its memory making moments as well as its challenges, so keeping the food table simple but delicious is key to a happy, stress-free occasion. Currently trending are small bites that are cleverly plated. Just enough hearty fare that satisfies the taste buds and complements the cocktails. Preparing an assortment of small bites (or finger foods) displayed on different tables is a lovely way to satisfy hungry guests. It also allows guests to mingle through the venue nibbling and chatting while celebrating the special day. Set the first table with platters of skewered fresh fruit and mint, Caprese Rosemary Skewers or Baked Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Honey. Always lovely are assorted crackers and crostini and several cheese trays that are labeled with the type of cheese and where the cheese is made. Those are particularly fun and allow for interesting conversation. Another table might be set with cocktail shrimp in little glasses, seared sea scallops with a lemon cream or pesto and party picks, Asian Salmon Sliders with Cilantro Lime Aioli, bites of seared beef tenderloin with a Chimichurri sauce for dipping and Apple Curry Spiced Meatballs. This would be the entrée table that is filled with heartier dishes. A table on the lighter side could be set with mini glasses filled with winter greens dressed with a light French Vinaigrette, curried pasta salads, Rosemary and Irish Cheddar Gougeres and mini bowls of warm soup with grilled cheese croutons or Corn and Shrimp Soup Shooters.
A sweets table would be lovely set with an assortment of sheet cakes cut into bite sized squares or mini dessert cups along with pieces of chocolate and fresh fruit. Sheet cakes are making a comeback and definitely trending on the dessert table. Frosted or just lightly dusted with confectioner sugar, they are an easy and tasty way to cure your guests’ sweet tooth. Placing tables around the venue filled with nibbles and nosh is a lovely way to feed guests and create a festive celebration for your special day. I’ve created three recipes that I think would be perfect for a fall or winter wedding menu. All three are delicious and indulgent, just the way party food should be! A Crab and Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers Greek Lamb Sliders with Cucumber and Spiced Yogurt Sauce Puff Pastry Crostini with Goat Cheese and Strawberry Pepper Jelly For wine pairings for the three recipes that follow, please go to page 29.
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a moment with
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arlier this year, the VRAI Magazine Style Team had front row seats to Leanne Marshall’s Fall/Winter 16 runway show at New York Fashion Week. We’ve been fans of Leanne since her Project Runway win several years ago and as our Winter Wedding Guide was being crystallized, it was clear that we had to feature this talented designer and her beautiful bridal gown collections. Meet fashion designer Leanne Marshall and discover her breathtaking collection. VRAI Magazine (VM): When did your love of bridal gowns begin? Leanne: After the Project Runway finale aired, I received hundreds of requests for custom wedding gowns. That was really the catalyst that launched me into bridal. As a designer, I want to make garments that make women look and feel beautiful. I want to make pieces they are excited to wear. That lends itself well to bridal since for many women, it is one of the most important days of their life. VM: Who is the Leanne Marshall bride? Leanne: She is a woman who wants a dress that will showcase, not overshadow, her beauty. My designs are known for their light, flowing lines, feminine details and timeless elegance.
Project Runway Winner and Fashion Designer
VM: We love your philosophy that your gowns showcase not overshadow a bride’s beauty. Can you tell us more about this? Leanne: My gowns are very light and airy, and until you put one on, you cannot see exactly what it will do on the body. This lightness and attention to craftsmanship allow me to create gowns that compliment the woman, not hide her. To experience the magic of one of my gowns, you have to try it on. The fit and flow will surprise you. VM: We are seeing a growing trend in winter weddings. What are your thoughts about weddings during this season? Challenges/watchouts? Leanne: I think people should get married whenever they would like. Winter weddings are beautiful, but depending on where you live, weather and travel constraints could be a factor. VM: What can we expect to see from you in the year or two ahead? Leanne: Only time will tell!
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VRAI Magazine
Photography by Emily Soto
Leanne Marshall Signature Collection
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by Carly Cylinder, The Flower Chef Photography from the Flour LA
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VRAI Magazine
This classic white bouquet is for a modern woman who knows what she wants. The addition of garden roses makes it extra special with a touch of extravagance, while the veronica adds whimsy and texture to the round bouquet.
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VRAI Magazine
by Katie Stanwyck
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ave you ever thought about heading somewhere unique, exciting and different from the typical honeymoon or wedding destinations? One way to do this, that is growing in popularity for couples, is travelling on a group tour for part of or an entire honeymoon. Why? It’s easy, you don’t have to stress about planning and you can see some incredible, remote places with a guide who’s an expert on the destination. We’ve gathered some of the perfect honeymoon and wedding tours for you adventurous lovebirds out there for inspiration, with the help of the experts at TourRadar.
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Now Available VRAI Magazine Seasons Digital Cookbook Seasonal recipes to enjoy throughout the year
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VRAI Magazine
To see the entire VRAI Magazine Winter Wedding Guide,
Click Here
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