The Veil by Alexia Sakellariou

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NOT YOUR USUAL BRIDE

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MEET THE TEAM Alexia Sakellariou

Fitria Tjandra

Fashion Journalist

Graphic Designer, Photographer

Marianna Venieri

Danae Giatraki

Brand & Marketing Manager

Illustrator

Mary Kalymnou

Amaryllis Tsegou

Luxury Travel & Lifestyle Blogger

Food Blogger

Fadi Ifram

Katerina Vrana

Neuroscientist

Comedian

Cathy Papag (Dudette)

Silia Eleftheriadou

DJ, PR/Events Manager

Photographer

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CONTENTS

#FASHION MEET THE DESIGNERS

11 Shoe of the Season 12 Shop ‘til You Drop 52 Put a Ring on It 64 Into the Woods 78 Smells Like Wedding Spirits

18 Palais Flowers 36 Kevin Muscat 44 Alexia Kirmitsi 50 Lorie X

#TIPS

#you 25 Your Stories 40 We Asked You

17 Our Spotify List 20 Online Bride 22 Pre-Wedding Detox Routine 35 You Said “I Do”, Now What? 72 The Calm Before The Storm 80 All That Glitters 42 Why Weddings Are (More) Fun If You’re The Guest 92 Wedding Glossary 48 The Love We Yearn For

#think

#HONEYMOON 85 You May Drive The Bride 90 Vienna Edition

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Editor's Letter “So, how was the bride?” That’s the first question I ask when people share details of a wedding they recently attended. It doesn’t matter if I actually know the bride; I am just curious to find out what she looked like on her big day. Was her dress traditional and princess-like, or did she make a statement by opting for modern trousers? How about the hair – did she have beach waves or a structured ponytail? For me, there are three types of brides: Firstly, we have the ones who overdo it and end up having heavy makeup, big hair, shiny fabrics, and all kinds of embellishments on their wedding dresses. Then we have the fashionista bride, the one who blindly follows the trends set by celebrities and knows all the "must-do’s" of a wedding. And finally we have the third bride, the one who knows that a wedding should reflect the couple’s character. She has a unique approach on fashion and she’s not afraid of setting the trends instead of following them. She is the bride who challenges traditions and stereotypes. Inspired by the third type of bride, The Veil proudly launches its first issue by celebrating the uniqueness of its reader. For that reason, we sought out the most extraordinary wedding rings, unusual bohemian gowns, and glittery makeup ideas, and we produced editorials with the most talented young people of London. Every single feature of this magazine was created with an alternative approach on all things bridal, with one person in mind: not your usual bride. Alexia S.

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Shoe of the Season Saying “I do” with the right shoes.

Photographer EKA BAKOWSKA Ankle Boots by SOPHIA WEBSTER

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SHOP â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til YOU DROP If bridal shopping intimidates you, fear no more. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve searched the most exciting products to accompany you on your big day and guess what? We have something for every style and budget!

Illustrations by Danae Giatraki

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Fabulous Bride

Perfume – Balenciaga, Champagne blush bra - With Love Lilly, Bracelets - &Other Stories, Clutch – Urania Gazelli, Earrings – Wendy Nichol, High heels – Sophia Webster, Bath oil – Jo Malone, Lash curler – Benefit, Lipstick – Christian Louboutin

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Minimal Bride

Bras – Intimissimi, Mascara – Yves Saint Laurent, Lip balm - Mac, High heels – Alexander Wang, Bracelet - &Other Stories, Perfume – Kenzo, Ring – COS, Earrings – Dior, Perfume – Santal 33, Candle – Jo Malone, Bag – Skinny Dip London

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Modern Bride

Ankle boots – Russell & Bromley, Underwear – La Perla, BB cream - &Other Stories, Earrings - &Other Stories, Perfume – Marc Jacobs, Necklace – Bela Louloudaki, Lipstick – L’oreal, Candle – Byredo

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OUR Spotify List ♫ You’ve found the dress. You’ve settled on the guest list. Time to fight over what songs will be played during your wedding day. Fear no more, dear brides, because Dudette has created a few Spotify lists for you to get started.

The Couple’s Dance 1. New Order - True Faith 2. Louis Armstrong - I Will Wait For You

The Party

Honeymoon roadtrip

1. Madonna - Vogue 2. Robbie Williams - Let me entertain you 3. George Michael - Freedom 4. Pulp Fiction - Misirlou 5. Barry White - Let the music play 6. Chaka chan - Ain’t Nobody 7. Beyonce - Single Ladies 8. Michael Jackson - Don’t stop till you get enough 9. Shaggy - Mr Bombastic 10. Glen Miller - Swing swing swing

1. Kool and the Gang - Too Hot 2. Grammatik - Is the Whole World 3. Bryan Ferry Loop Deli 4. Christofer Ross - Ride Like the Wind 5. Barry White - You are the first, the last, my everything 6. Stella - Picking Words 7. Etta James - Damn your eyes remix 8. Tina Turner - You are simply the best 9. Barry White - Never never gonna give you up

FIND US ON SPOTIFY www.spotify.com/TheVeilMag

By Dudette, aka Cathy Papag

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CHATTING WITH THE EXPERTS:

Palais Flowers

Not everyone is a flower guru, so we turned to Emma from Palais Flowers to learn more about wedding floral arrangements. Grab a pen and take notes!

#designer

Q: What is the process of choosing the best flowers for a wedding? Is it just a matter of taste or do you also suggest ideas based on the couple’s character?

Q: Have you spotted any trends during your career?

A: Luckily, bridal flower trends seem to be moving away from the tight balls of roses that have been a popular A: The most important consideration when choos- choice for so long and towards something much more ing the best blooms is what’s in season, colour and undone and natural with long trailing ribbons. I am toshape. And of course it’s very important to pick the tally in love with this. My other favourite trend is for flowfreshest, more beautiful bunches from market. Choosing ers that look like still life paintings mixing fruit with flowers. flowers for a couple is a very natural process; we will look through loads of images of flower arrangements, Q: What would you advise all young and confused bouquets and buttonholes and pick out what they like brides? and don’t like. It’s usually really easy to get a good understanding of their style. Shape, texture and colour A: I think it’s really important to carefully consider how will be the main focus rather than individual favourite flowers will be used during the wedding, as they play flowers. an intrinsic part in setting the mood for the whole event. It somehow seems like a missed opportunity to not add Q: Traditional VS unusual floral arrangements: what’s some romance into every part of the day. your stand? Q: If you were a bridetobe, what would your bouquet A: Coming from a background of sculpture and set look like? design, I love making and designing installation-based florals but I’m a traditionalist at heart. I often think flow- A: My bouquet would be an enormous tangle of garers don’t quite make sense without a beautiful vase or den roses and jasmine. container of some sort.

The Palais Flowers studio is located in East London and the brand works across London and the UK. http://www.palaisflowers.com/

Photos taken from the brand’s website Interview and Words by Alexia Sakellariou

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#onlinebride Why bother with countless notebooks and agendas, when you can take a tech approach and plan everything online?

Wedpics

WeddingWire

Ditch the disposable cameras and hashtags; lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting easier with this new app called Wedpics, as it helps the couple organise every single wedding-related detail. The features of this smartphone (and desktop) application enable you to share all the information about the venue, reception and ceremony, as well as gather all the pictures taken during the day. Most importantly, with Wedpics you can organise all the photos in separate folders, thus having pictorial memories even from the hen party. That is if your guests take their roles seriously, so that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to beg for pictures every 15 minutes.

If Monica Geller was a real person, she would definitely use Wedding Wire to plan her big day. Neat and organised, this application will keep the bride-to-be on track with a customised wedding timeline, making sure that the couple stays on budget. Not only that, but also it includes a well-informed forum where other users can answer your questions (or panic with you).

www.wedpics.com

www.weddingwire.com

#tips

The Knot

Zola

Wedding Party

Why print invitations and make a billion phone calls when you can create a personalised site for your wedding? The Knot offers more than 100 colour combinations and themes to choose from, while the content of the website is pretty much in your hands. However, make sure you share useful information about the wedding, rather than stories of how you met the groom.

Wedding registries are our biggest nightmare. Unpacking countless versions of the same product can be very a haunting experience; not to mention that returning all these gifts (and trying to find something else to buy instead) is perhaps the most stressful process of getting married. Fear no more dear brides, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cause Zola is here to make registries a piece of cake. Simply enter your details, choose the products you need for your household and send the list to your guests.

Wedding Party is another cool application that helps the newlyweds gather all the cool photos from the ceremony or party. And while the concept seems familiar, this particular application also offers a messaging feature so that friends and family can get involved in the planning process. Did we mention that your friends can also create GIFs out of their pictures?

www.theknot.com

www.zola.com

www.weddingpartyapp.com

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PRE-WEDDING DETOX ROUTINE Looking flawless on your wedding day takes time. Why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you try these detox drinks we prepared for you? Amaryllis Tsegou from thetastyother.com shares her recipes exclusively for the readers of The Veil.

Red Fruit, Coconut & Kale Smoothie You will need:

How to:

1 1/2 cups pure coconut water 1 cup frozen red fruit (I used cherries, blackberries, grapes & black currants, but any other combination will also do) 2 handfuls fresh kale, thoroughly washed 1 heaping tablespoon desiccated coconut 6-5 ice cubes. extra coconut to garnish

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Add the ice cubes and blend again. Serve in large glasses with extra coconut sprinkled on top.

Serves 4 medium glasses.

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Carrot, Apple, Ginger & Lemon Juice You will need:

How to:

3 medium carrots, peeled and cut in large chunks 2 braeburn apples 1 small ginger chuckle (about 3cm) juice from 1/4 lemon

Process all the ingredients in a juicer, stir and serve.

Serves 2 large glasses.

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Lime, Mint & Pear Infused Water You will need:

How to:

1 1/2 limes, sliced 1 pear, vertically sliced a handful fresh mint sprigs

Fill a large jug with filtered water and add the lime and pear slices, arranging them to your liking. Place in the fridge for about half an hour, allowing the water be infused with all the flavours.

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YOUR STORIES the first issue of The Veil, I wanted to feature the real â&#x20AC;&#x153; For couples that inspired me and led to the creation of this magazine. All of them share something in common: they all have beautiful stories to tell

â&#x20AC;?

- Alexia Sakellariou -

#you

Joanna & Nick

Joanna is a true inspiration for every bride-to-be. Not only did she design her own gown, but she also organised her wedding in record time. This is her story: ‘’The dress is a very important chapter for any woman’s wedding day. However, personally, I didn’t have the desire to sparkle or be glamorous on the big day. It may sound cheesy, but the reason I chose to design my own dress is because Nick inspired me to do so. We’ve been together for nine years now and, as cheesy as it may sound, I keep falling in love with him every day. The dress symbolises these feelings. Being a fashion designer, it wasn’t too difficult to create my wedding dress. I hand-picked French silk ivory fabrics, embellished with stones so that they could bring the design to life. The fabrics are the heart and soul of the dress,

making them a fundamental part of the whole procedure. Now, with the choice of fabric being decided, the moulage process came next and this started with the technicians. My maid of honour, who happens to be a designer for leather bags, was a great support throughout the whole process. She gave me her personal opinions and ideas, and helped me whenever I needed support. Without her, everything would have been different. I completed the dress within two weeks. You might think that is far too quick, but we had decided to get married

within two months of getting engaged, so there was no other choice except to organise everything in record time! With the right people around to inspire, help, and understand you, nothing is impossible. On our wedding day, I felt very proud of my dress and everyone kept complementing it. After sharing the bridal photos on my blog, I had many proposals to design dresses for other brides and that was something that I had never thought of before. We can all be an inspiration after all!”

- Joanna

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I completed the dress within two weeks. With the right people around to inspire, help, and understand you, nothing is impossible.â&#x20AC;?

#you

Elena & Panayotis

Engagements are usually underestimated, leading to a complete lack of candid photos. Panayotis was smart enough to make his proposal more public. She is a style editor; he is an e-Business consultant. Together, they make the perfect match. They’re also social media darlings, so it wasn’t very surprising that we found out about their engagement through paparazzi shots uploaded on Facebook a few years ago. He proposed while having dinner in a restaurant and, in order to capture the moment, he shared leaflets explaining his plans to the lucky attenders: “In my country we say (the groom will always get a shave at the end). Well, my time is probably coming.

That is, IF my sweet princess, Elena, will accept my proposal to marry me, Panayotis, tonight. I‘ll propose right here, tonight. Feel free to take pictures – and, why not, shoot 1-2mins of video. It will be a great memory for us to have something from this night. Feel free to tweet, if you want (I am @pgezerlis - she is @_lfof), but ONLY after I propose to her, as she is always checking out her timeline. Or e-mail us at pan@gezerlis.gr. I don’t know when I’ll find the courage to do the proposal, but I guess, when I do, you‘ll notice somehow, or the

waiters here will give you a signal 1-2 minutes before. Thank you for being with us tonight on this special moment!” The rest is history. She said yes, we all cried during their spectacular wedding, and a few months later I took part in her surprise baby shower party. And then they lived happily ever after.

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Myrto & Tassos

This is the greatest proposal story I’ve ever heard. For your sake, I hope you have tissues next to you. “We met in a time when both of our lives were pretty complicated, but we fell for each other instantly. Before we officially started dating, we agreed on writing each other a letter, which we would then seal and exchange on my birthday, if everything went according to our plans. Ten months later, on August 1st, we were at his village. I was four months pregnant and we were

having the time of our lives. However, Tassos was noticeably stressed and he barely wished me for my birthday. The same night, after our dinner, he asked, ‘Wanna read the letters?’ The time had come, and I had almost forgotten. He was still nervous, maybe more than before. We opened my letter first. And then he said, ‘Now, it’s time for mine. Please, read it out loud.’ His

letter was impressively smaller, just a few lines. I read loudly and started crying. After a few love words, I read, ‘If you’re reading this, will you be my wife?’ He then took the box out of his pocket, revealed the ring, and proposed, thus turning my dreams into reality.”

-Myrto

#you

“This is why I designed my own engagement ring” They met online, he proposed twice, she designed her own ring. This is not a simple story of boy meets girl; it’s the unusual love story of Zoe and Curtis.

My name is Zoe Juanita Beatty and I work as jeweler. As the New York City-born daughter of a theatre wardrobe professional mother and prolific music recording engineer father, it would be surprising if I hadn’t pursued a creative discipline for a career. In March of 2013, I founded my own independent line of jewelry in Boston where I grew up. I elected to call it MAKAZOE, with a silent ‘e’ at the end. The name came from a transliteration of the nickname donned upon my mother at the time of my birth by the South African female cast members of the Broadway show Sarafina which she was working on at the time of my birth. It simply means “Zoe’s mama”. I wanted to pay tribute to my mother while also giving a nod to my African-American lineage.

look at the supply chain for metals and stones. While it was easy to find companies that proudly advertised their dedication to selling only recycled precious metals or traceable origin and conflict-free diamonds, I found that a Google search for ‘fairtrade color gemstones’ yielded an alarmingly small number of results.

guest list from five to twenty-five attendees. A preternaturally talented self-taught gem cutter with a vast international network, Jean-Noel’s talks were engaging and informative. His work is indescribably precise and he manages to make stones that are normally cut only with the aim of holding a color and sparkle.

Social media being the place to find like-minded folks, I stumbled upon an Instagram account with the handle @topnotchfaceting. I followed the link in the profile and wrote an email to lapidary Jean-Noel Soni inquiring how he traces the origin of his materials and where I might go to find fairtrade jewelry. He called me almost immediately and we spent nearly an hour on the phone, ending with an agreement to connect prior to his upcoming trip to the East Coast. I began producing custom jewelry I was renting a bench in a collaband original designs under the name orative workspace in Somerville, so MAKAZOE as soon as I felt confi- I floated the idea of organizing a dent enough in my skills to achieve a small gathering for jewelers to meet strong finished product. I had a few Jean and learn about what he does burning questions about the jewelry and how. We subsequently orgaindustry that arose as I began to nized two more events, growing the

While looking at certificate training courses, a friend talked me into creating a profile on the online dating website OkCupid. Having been single for three years and also grown tired of the dating pool associated with my friends and activity group at the time, it seemed there was nothing to lose by trying something different. At first I received messages from men who couldn’t write an engaging message even when given the luxury of time to proofread and edit, and other men whose profile photos showed a suspicious resemblance to Myspace-era bedroom selfies; shirtless in a bedroom that can only be described as ‘Mom’s house’. Just when I was about to give up, Curtis messaged me.

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#you

above: the final ring Zoe designed, bottom: stages of designing process

#you

I had seen his face pop up on my matches a few times and had forced myself to refrain from initiating contact. Our first date was at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The chemistry between us was palpable and all I remember is that we conversed nonstop and shared opinions on most of the art we looked at together. Soon after, we both deleted our OkCupid profiles, and the rest is history.

to pick something so important. Letting go of the expectations learned from tradition takes strength and time so, after a while, Curtis said to me “you wouldn’t want to make your own ring, would you?”.

It was something I had already given thought to, and all I knew was that I would want to use a Top-Notch Faceting stone, so I answered positively before calling Jean-Noel. He was enthusiastic about the idea At some point during the winter of and he brought some very special 2012-2013, I was waxing poetic rough sapphire material with him to about how much I wished I could show me the next time he came to spend every single waking moment Boston. I picked out a lovely periwith Curtis. We stood side-by-side winkle blue, frosty freeform lump of facing a mirror, looking at ourselves sapphire from the earth of Mambila and one another. He suddenly blurt- Plateau in Nigeria. ed out “marry me”, making me smile so hard I hurt my face. The following The design and production proday I started calling friends to an- cess was just as complex as the nounce the news, but Curtis didn’t backstory of the ring; it took me a like that, mainly because he didn’t full year to complete! When it was have a ring when he proposed. The finished, I gave it to Curtis for him to subject then rested for a while, as decide when he wanted to formally buying a ring special enough for the propose, ring in hand. But, as I was occasion was out of the question at examining the photos I took during the time. Most of the designs were the process of producing the ring, too traditional, too mass-produced, I had a gut feeling the design was or totally impractical for a woman not 100% right. So, after demanding with an active lifestyle. If it was hard it back, I decided to redesign the for me, a jeweler and designer, to entire thing. The diamonds around choose, I couldn’t imagine how intim- the sapphire felt too busy and the idating it must be for a partner with whole ring looked like it was intendlittle knowledge about the industry ed for someone else. I loved the de-

sign, but it was not me. With a strong vision and enormous amount of confidence in my abilities to successfully execute it, I re-made the whole ring and all of my design decisions were influenced by my dedication to create jewelry that is comfortable for the wearer. It is very common for engagement rings to be so heavy that they spin towards the middle finger, for example. Shortly after completing the ring, Curtis proposed to me in our backyard while we looked at the moon together. I said “Yes!” and he joked that if I had said no at that point, he would call my parents to come and get me, essentially returning me to the store for being defective! Once we set the date, I asked my mother if I could wear a particular white dress that she had kept pristine in her personal clothing archives. In the 1980s, my mother had lived with a fashion designer named Patrick Kelly while working on a Broadway show called ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar’ during its’ European tour. As a graduate of Parsons School of Design, he was an expert at cutting and draping fabric. Patrick’s presence in my mother’s life has undoubtedly influenced who I am as a person and an artist, therefore it seemed only appropriate to rock one of his designs on my wedding day.

Words by Zoe Juanita Beatty Ring photo taken by Curtis Killian

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#tips

You Said “I Do” Now What? He proposed and it was very romantic; you cried and said yes. Now what? Marianna Venieri is a perfect cynic (and bride-to-be) and explains all the weird things that will happen after your boyfriend proposes.

1. Left vs. right If you’re anything like me (meaning that you’ve never thought of this day in details), you’ve probably never prepared your awe-struck face for when *insert relevant name* proposes. You also have no clue on which hand you should put the ring. “Which hand do we put it on, then?” he asked me. How on earth would I know, man? So he just put it on the right one. It was three days later when a girl in the office asked, “How come you’re wearing your engagement ring on the right hand?” Boom! Turns out it’s the left one you should wear it on, because it’s closer to your heart – thank you, Google! So, left hand it is. Take a note. 2. My precious The first piece of advice that my best friend gave me when I told her I got engaged was to remove my ring when I’m putting on tights. Three torn pairs of tights later, I now cherish this advice more than any. Also, how on earth are you supposed to cope with the responsibility of carrying a diamond around? I’ve never been mugged in my life, thankfully, but what if I am now? What if they take my ring?? Oh my god, I need to make a replica to wear instead of the original. This and other paranoid thoughts, offered to you by yours truly. *checks finger to see if diamond is still there* 3. All eyes on you There are no other topics in your life now. I repeat, there are no other topics. The weather? Same old, same old. This new bar in town? Yes, yes, we’ll hit it - now tell me about your wedding. This is pretty much how it goes for quite some time - not that I’m not enjoying it, of course! I have this friend who texts me almost every day: “Have you realised you’re getting married??” No, let’s talk about it a bit more! Oh, and we also have a massive trip to New York booked for next January, but, by all means, let’s talk about the wedding that’s happening in two years, AGAIN.

4. Did anyone scream “Panic”? No? When will we do it? Oh my god, do we want a summer or winter wedding? Who’s paying what? What dress am I wearing? Shoes? Veil or flowers? Wedding favours? Who will be the maid of honour? Do we want a photo booth? Fireworks? Cake? Sweets table? Live music or DJ? Church vs. civil service? I dare you to google “things to do after he proposes”. You’ll find a trillion lists that start with “tell your family and friends” and quickly move on to talking about venues, dates, guest lists, budgets, and so on. 5. And the winner is… Budget. Apart from the fact that money is always a pain, budgeting for a wedding, in particular, can be a keep-you-up-all-night pain. I won’t spoil it for you, but with this small fortune that you’re going to use to pay for a wedding, you could have: - enjoyed a big trip to a land far, far away - enjoyed many big trips to many lands far, far away - bought a car - given a deposit for a house It doesn’t matter if you fund your wedding yourselves or if your parents are helping, the total amount will still be a big one. But, you’ll have the time of your life, and – hopefully - you only get married once! In a more day-to-day approach, I’m trying to come up with a plan to save as much as I can, which involves minimizing all trips over the next year, not buying clothes, and eating canned soup every day. And yes, I do have sweaty nightmares every night about it! Thank you for asking!

#designers

Designers We Love:

Kevin Muscat

He hand-makes everything, he designs for the confident bride and finds trashy ones quite interesting. Muscat London is a label you need to know if you’re a bride-to-be, as it is one of the most up-and-coming labels in the bridal world. It’s impossible to enter Kevin Muscat’s atelier in West Hampstead without making “aww” noises, as each and every piece throughout his collections is unashamedly minimal yet exquisitely feminine. No wonder he won the Bridal Next award at the Most Curious Wedding Show back in 2014. Our interview started with him asking the questions while picking up a few bridal titles from his library. I love how he has kept magazines of different aesthetics to have as inspiration; it shows he’s experimenting with various styles and is interested in approaching several types of bride. K: So, how come you’re producing a bridal magazine? A: I’m trying to change the way brides think, because weddings seem monotonous nowadays. I’ve been to lots of weddings in Greece, and every time I see the same thing again and again. Weddings should have a unique character and a personal touch. K: (laughs) Yeah, I know, I come from Malta; it’s the same there! The brides want lace, a long dress, a fabulous train, and they also want to be princesses. A: It’s quite funny and sad at the same time, but there are a lot of young brides who, despite having access to all these inspiring social media platforms, end up looking so tacky on their wedding day. I’ll never understand the heavy makeup and horrendous hair most brides in their mid-20s have. K: (laughs) Exactly - why do you want to look like an old woman? The wedding dress came from the Victorian Era, and it used to be your best evening

dress. So, if you look at your best evening dress now, does it look anything like a bridal one? No. So why are you wearing it? I get it, you want to look like a princess, but princesses don’t look like that. Look at – cliché, I know - but look at Kate Middleton: her wedding dress was amazing! I mean, it was very traditional, but still, it was very well-designed. So, if you want to look like a princess, that’s what you need to emulate! They all wear Haute Couture, so you need to be looking at Haute Couture for inspiration. The wedding gown, for me, is not a costume; it’s a dress. A: You know, some brides choose to rent rather than buy their wedding dress. It’s a huge thing in Greece.

#designers s that a tradition in the UK or Malta as well? K: Renting is actually a good idea. There are only a few occasions of this happening here, at least as far as I know of. The main problem is that we’re talking about renting a white piece of clothing and white always gets dirty, especially if it’s a long dress. Because of these long trains that everyone wants, you’re basically sweeping the floor for six hours! A: I think mine will be a rental one. I don’t see why I should keep it; where would I wear a wedding gown again? But I believe that’s a matter of lifestyles. K: It does depend on your lifestyle. But then, also, don’t wear white, maybe! Just get a very good dress that you could wear again and again. Muscat knows what he’s talking about; his whole collection is about mixing and matching or wearing dresses that don’t look like the usual bridal attire. His masterpiece, a long dress with golden flowers on it, is the perfect example. A: So, how much are your pieces? K: Well, they start at 1800£ and they reach up to 4000£. They’re all made in London, in this exact room – A: Oh, so here is where the magic happens! K: (laughs) Yes! The fabrics are of a very good quality, the finishing as well. I love dresses. I think weddings are the only occasion where women wear extravagant dresses and they’re allowed to do so exactly because it’s their wedding day! I also don’t mind trashy brides; at least it means it’s you, it means you’re comfortable wearing what you’re wearing, and that’s important for every bride. A: I love every piece that you’ve designed, at least from the ones I can see hanging around me, but I believe I find the shorter one the most interesting of them all. K: Unfortunately, people don’t buy this. The thing is, when you’re designing you also need to look at it from a commercial point of view. You know, I really love short wedding dresses, but they don’t sell. A: So they usually prefer long ones? K: Yes - long, long, long. Long. A: Puffy ones? K: Not really, but they’re choosing more comfortable ones. A lot of companies still do corseting with lacing, but that’s incredibly

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#designers

ucomfortable, and a lot of brides don’t realise that. It looks amazing when you try it in the shop, but then you have to wear it for six hours or more. Many other companies love trains; I also love trains! But, if you’re a bride, in London, wearing these long things, you’re basically sweeping the floor with a very expensive dress. A: So do you think brides shop their wedding gowns based on trends? K: Yes and no. They say that there are no trends in bridal, but that’s not true. There are trends, but they change less quickly than ready-to-wear. Most of the elements you’re used to seeing will always be there - lace, for example. However, brides do shop based on the Dream; the Dream with a capital D, the one they’ve had for years. The problem is that if you’re 30 and you’ve been dreaming about this moment for 20 years, you’re 20 years out of fashion; you’re still stuck on what you liked at 10. Also, bear in mind that bridal designers may keep producing their collections for 2-3 years, which, to me, is very attractive because it’s more sustainable. I’m not a big fan of fast fashion.

K: I don’t think pure white suits many people; it’s very cold on the skin. A: You know, I think it was Queen Victoria who established white as the most suitable colour for brides. Before that, women used to get married in black or generally dark gowns. She also wore a floral headpiece instead of the typical jewelry that brides preferred. K: Actually, Queen Victoria’s dress was silver! As for the flowers, that was just a pretty way to disguise the smell! The tradition was to carry flowers in order to cover your smell, but the question is why do we still choose flowers nowadays? I mean, why don’t we question? Generally, we don’t bother to question what each tradition means - why do you wear a garter, what does it mean? A: That’s actually a very good point. In ready-to-wear, we question and challenge everything. From the gender to the “right” size of the model, or feminism and androgynous style; everything is subjected to questioning. But when it comes to weddings, we take everything for granted.

A: What about colours? Pure white? Pastels? What’s your favourite?

Clothes by MUSCAT Creative Director KEVIN MUSCAT Photographer TERRY SEAH Makeup Artists PATRIZIA LIO, ISABEL CHEYNE Models EKATERYNA PAVLOVSKA, JULIE DUMONT Assistants JADE FIORENTINI, DAVID WESTON

Interview and Words by Alexia Sakellariou

Muscat London is located in Unit 33 Kingsgate Workshops, 110-116 Kingsgate Road, London, NW6 2JG. Find the brand online on: www.muscatlondon.com www.facebook.com/MuscatBridal

#you

we Asked you We had burning questions and we needed answers. How’s your dream dress? Would you invite your ex to your wedding? What about men? Why nobody asks them about their dream honeymoon? Well, it’s all here:

First, we asked the biggest pre-wedding questions: LARGE VS. SMALL WEDDINGS?

89%

of you prefer a friend-oriented guest list

82% of you said SMALL 18% of you said LARGE

LONG VS. SHORT DRESS? 88% of you said LONG 12% of you said SHORT

JEWELRY VS. FLORAL HEADPIECE? 74% of you said FLOWERS 26% of you said BLING BLING

WHITE VS. COLOURED DRESS? 60% of you said WHITE 40% of you said COLOURED

Then, things got juicy: WOULD YOU INVITE YOUR EX TO YOUR WEDDING? 50% of you said YES! 50% of you said NO!

SLOW & ROMANTIC VS. BEYONCE MOVES FOR THE FIRST DANCE? 82% of you said SLOW 18% of you said BEYONCE

#you

The boys come next. Why does nobody ever ask them what they want?

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM WEDDING?

“I picture it on an island by the sea” “Definitely outdoors, maybe in the countryside or an island. Not over 100 guests, so we can spend time and thank each and everyone”

“I’d love it to be like an ancient Greek fairy tale”

“Slightly folklore wedding with a band like Imam Baildi and the best food money could buy”

“I’d love a classy wedding and party, but not too traditional” “Private party with very close friends and family on the beach ,with cocktails and dance music”

“Matching tattoos instead of wedding rings and an open cocktail bar. Souvlaki for starters and our closest friends and family to celebrate with”

Back to the ladies and the most important question of all: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

“Having a massive wardrobe malfunction when walking down the aisle or during the first dance” “Groom getting cold feet”

“Forgetting the rings” “Little kids stepping on my wedding dress or – even worse – drunk guests spilling coloured drinks on it!”

“Probably I’ll have a fight with my dad, he likes to interfere everywhere and I’ll lose my temper + I will spill my own wine on my own dress, next sec I’ll speak out bad words about Christ God and all the saints, a sec after I’ll calm down and keep on having an awesome time”

“Guests getting too drunk” “Sweating like a pig”

“PIMPLES! Stress ruins my skin, what if I’m full with pimples on my wedding day?”

#think

WHY WEDDINGS ARE (MORE) FUN IF YOU’RE

THE GUEST!

Ah, weddings. So much potential for fun if you’re a guest, and so much potential for a breakdown if you’re the bride. By Katerina Vrana

When it comes to your wedding, there is so much planning and so many people (who are not the couple) getting involved, as well as prices sky-rocketing just because it’s “the biggest day of your life”, that it ends up demeaning any other great day; for example, the one when you were so hungry that you ate two entire large pizzas without even struggling, more than any other person in your group at the time, thus gaining instant respect from the guys and weird looks from the girls. Or that day you had to pee behind a bush and you did it seamlessly, in one single, unified stream, without backsplash onto your shoes or calves, or any insect alighting on your bum mid-stream, and you had the perfect wet-wipes with you, which you never do. Those days. I’m not saying they’re more important than weddings but, in their own way, they’re just as important. That one defining moment when your friends look at you differently. When you feel you’ve gone up a level. And there’s triumphant music in the background as it is happening. The amount of planning and angst that goes into a wedding day sometimes defeats the point. I’m not against weddings please don’t think that. I friggin’ love weddings. They are huge fun, especially Greek ones (oh hi, I’m Greek, did I mention that?). So, maybe because most of the weddings I’ve been to are Greek, I have a slightly skewed opinion on them. You see, these

weddings are never about the couple and their decision to spend their lives together. No, they’re about everybody and everything else: parents, friends, relatives, colleagues, society, honour, face, social-standing, tradition, identity, values. Greek weddings are huge productions, with five hundred guests (during the crisis, this has dropped to an austerity-induced two hundred and fifty), scenery, and extras. A Greek wedding is a production the family (of the bride, usually) has put on for you. Not their daughter or their future sonin-law, no, no, no. You. The random guest/relative/co-worker who should be able to walk away saying that that was one of the best weddings they’ve ever been to, because the food was so good/the music was superb/they’ve never danced like that in their lives. Very few people mention the church service in Greece, because it’s always the same. Always. Everywhere. You, the couple, have to stand for an hour – A FULL HOUR – and say nothing. You don’t get asked if “you do”, personalising vows is totally out of the question, and no one except the heavilybearded priest reads from anything. You just stand there, for a full hour of extreme boredom, sweating away in the Greek summer heat in an overcrowded church, as the bearded man chants nasally in Oldie-Timey Greek at you, dictating how forbearing you have to be as a woman and how providing you have to be as a man.

#think

Bride and groom, in-laws, aunties and uncles, younger cousins, brothers, sisters, friends; all the people looking for someone to flirt and make-out with, the girls swishing their hair and doing all the latest provocative dance moves, the boys all macho and contained, checking out the action; an old man who belongs to no one’s guest list leeching genteelly over all the young ladies, trying to get them to dance with him; older relatives that do old-school couple dancing, regardless of the music playing, and other ones still trying to be hip and down with the kids, while some young guests act like they’re on the brink of death and, “oh dear *panting* can’t believe we danced so much *more panting* that was craaaazy; well, better quit while we’re ahead!” and it’s barely the third song and they’ve left. During the service, the hundreds of guests mill around, go in and out of the church because, even though it’s 7pm, it’s still summer and unbearably hot in the tiny-but-oh-sobeautiful church on top of some rocks by the sea on some island, and the only fun moment is when the priest leads the couple around in a circle three times and the guests get to pelt them with rice. In Greece, it’s all about the wedding reception. We take eating, dancing, and drinking very seriously, and these moments are what we live for. First of all, the food is sumptuous and plentiful. There are loads of food. Immense mountains of food. At this point, the drinking is subdued; our concentration is on the eating. We don’t have speeches, so next up is the dancing. And we love us a bit of dancing. We will dance to nearly everything, from pop to hip hop to Greek pop to traditional Greek music, till the wee hours of the morning, with half the guests complaining about the music list and the other half absolutely loving it. But, in the end, everyone will dance.

And we don’t break plates. I repeat, we do. Not. Break. Plates. But we do drink. With the dancing starts the drinking. The usual Greek ones, like tsipouro, raki, and even ouzo, and then red and white wines, vodka, whisky, rum, gin - you name it, we drink it. It helps with the rampant dancing. Not many people pass out or throw up, which I think must be due to the food. There is always food around, even when the dining is over. I’ve been to some weddings where, around 4 a.m., they serve more food. As “breakfast”. To soak up the alcohol. As I said, Greek weddings are huge fun if you’re the guest. But they are a terror to organise; the logistics are ridic. And the parents and in-laws play a much larger role then they should. So, my lovely brides-to-be, just remember that your wedding day is about you and the groom and your nearest and dearest. That’s what’s important. Focus on that. Enjoy the day. And make sure your guests are well-fed.

#designers

Designers We Love:

Alexia Kirmitsi

For those in the know, Athens is the most promising bridal hotspot of Europe, with many Greek designers producing extraordinary wedding creations in more affordable prices. Alexia Kirmitsi is one of the newest gems in the industry and she’s explaining everything about her first collection. I officially met Alexia during a dinner with common friends some time ago, but I was familiar with her work way before that, as she is the designer behind the successful label Hysteria Asteria. During our first meeting, I was captivated by her vibrant personality and confidence, not to mention that I’m secretly intrigued when meeting someone with whom I share the same name. Naturally, I was fascinated when I discovered her bridal collection and I needed to learn more. Q: Why did you turn to bridal? A: Well, it’s not that I turned to bridal; I just extended my line of work by adding high-fashion to my experience. Throughout my Hysteria Asteria time, which is my ready-to-wear brand that’s constantly evolving, I have been creating tailor-made garments and wedding dresses to fulfill the needs of individual customers. Gradually, apart from the fact that this slowly started to grow on its own, it also gave me more freedom to express myself and took my design aesthetic to another edge. So after a while I just made my bridal project more official. Q: As a designer based in Greece, have you spotted any particular challenges due to the financial crisis? Does the Greek bride support local designers? A: The crisis has taught me a couple of things regarding the financial handling of my business after various failures and challenges. As an optimist, I tend to focus on the constructive outcome of these challenges; that’s why I am trying to incorporate what I’ve learned into this new bridal project of mine, with the hope of creating a solid foundation to a successful effect. Generally speaking, though, Greek

brides-to-be have a tendency towards local designers indeed. The main reason for that is because the designers offer much more economical propositions to the brides, depending on their available budget. According to how much the bride is willing to spend on her wedding gown, the designer will create a tailor-made piece, thus challenging the ‘rental’ scheme that has been going on since forever at mainstream bridal ateliers. Also, don’t forget the fitting procedure that is required while producing a wedding gown; it’s much easier for the bride to find a designer based in her own country, as the fitting sessions become much more accessible.

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#designers

Q: Are there any particular bridal trends you’ve spotted? A: Taste varies, but I have noticed that more and more brides are looking for simple yet interesting dresses with flow feeling, easy-to-wear and not heavy; in other words, they want unique dresses that create a fine silhouette. Also, many other brides love embroidered pieces or gowns with silk mousseline skirts flowing all over. Q: Your collection is beautiful! Where did you get inspiration from? Did you have a specific bride in mind when creating all these gorgeous dresses?

anything mysterious, mythical, magical, dreamy and unconventional. I also love lights and sparkles; this was the basis of my inspiration altogether. Regarding my 2016 collection, which is named ‘Fables’, inspiration came from a book of allegoric stories using the same name. Also, I drew inspiration from the fantasy movie ‘Labyrinth’ and its ballroom dance hallucination scene; the bride I had in mind was just the mythical bride I built in my imagination. Q: Final question – my favorite one. If you were a bride-to-be, which one of your designs would you choose? A: I would go for any of them indiscriminately.

A: Throughout the collection, I have created dresses inspired by my style and aesthetics; simplicity, minimalism, clean and shaped structures, fabric manipulation and volumes. I love

Alexia Kirmitsi’s bridal showroom works with customer private appointments and is located at: 19 Agiou Georgiou str, Halandri, Athens, Greece

Set design/styling: Danai Simou Photography: MRZ photography Make-up: Katerina Papageorgiou Hair: Konstantinos Sakkas Artwork: IPWT Interview and Words by Alexia Sakellariou

Find the brand online: www.alexiakirmitsi.com info@alexiakirmitsi.com Facebook: alexiakirmitsibridal Instagram: @alexiakirmitsi_bridal Pinterest: alexiakirmitsi Linkedin: alexiakirmitsi

#think

The Love We Yearn For A man’s perspective on the shenanigans of dating and the journey of finding true love. By Fadi Ifram

You all know what kind of love I’m talking about. It’s in every romantic movie you’ve seen, every pop song you’ve heard and every romantic novel you’ve ever read. It’s the kind of love that brings you to tears, makes you feel whole, and surrenders your soul to your lover. How do we find that love? Where does it all begin? With my previous love endeavors following a similar pattern to one another, I have this feeling that our journeys to finding love may be more similar than we think. This is my version of what I feel is an inevitable series of events that we all go through in the hopes of finding that kind of love. You’ve met someone at a bar, nightclub - or heck, even a library - and you chat away. You’ll talk

about anything and everything, and go through a bulletpoint-like conversation of all the things you share in common. By the end of the night, we’ll probably forget half of the things you’ve said to us and we’d have even lied a couple of times (especially about that time we won that golden trophy in a sporting event), and if everything went well, we would have exchanged numbers in the hope of continuing this at a later date. Being a guy, there seems to be this kind of unspoken agreement with the opposite sex that we’ll be the ones who instigate the “scheduling” of the first date to show them that we’re interested – although, personally, I’d love for the girl to tell me she wants to meet again (we’re quite fluffy deep down, but shhh! this stays between us).

Now the long process begins where we frantically try to figure out our opening line and how to approach you without sounding like the lonely men that we are. After half the day has gone by, and over a hundred options considered, we end up starting the conversation with a simple, “Hey” – yeah, I know! Literally no idea how we thought this would be the best line. But in any case, the conversation continues and hopefully a date will be set up. The hard part is done now, right? Wrong! Now comes the wait until date night. Do we play it cool and text you on occasion? Or do we keep you constantly entertained to let you know you’re interested? I honestly hate this game, I always seem to be on either end of the spectrum.

#think

“How do we find love? Where does it all begin? With my previous love endeavors following a similar pattern to one another, I have this feeling that our journeys to finding love may be more similar than we think”

Date night has finally arrived and we try not to get too excited. We also double check that the date is still on. The initial meet up is always going to be the most awkward thing anyone will ever have to go through; do we hug you, give you a kiss on the cheek or go for a handshake. It usually ends in a weird combination of all three. Once we get passed that kisshug-shake disaster we start our small talk and the conversation goes well for the most part and, of course, we’ll get a good dose of that dreaded silence, but hey, it’s the first date! First dates are like a gambling game; how much are we willing to reveal and how soon do we reveal ourselves? Like, how long do we have to play the part of the person of who we think you want us to be and when do we finally settle into playing the part of the person who we really are? As the night comes to an end and it’s time for our goodbyes, we’ll inevitably go through that weird kiss-hug-shake combo all over again; unless we’re overly confident with how well the date went and we make the move for

your lips. We now find ourselves in the make-or-break phase and, without going into too much detail, this is where our one date could be our last together, or this is where the magic happens; the first date leads to a second, the second to a third and before we know it, we’re a loved up couple.

This is where your journey begins. This is where you split from the generic pursuit of love. This is where your quest to unlock the secrets to long-term desire begins; the Holy Grail. Let’s face it; falling in love can be easy, and everyone is easily infatuated during the honeymoon period, but what happens when routine becomes Now don’t get me wrong, this part of your reality? How do you whole process can be a lot fun keep hold of that passion, that and quite exciting. It will also spark desire, that spark? up those butterflies that have laid dormant in our stomachs for so As psychologist Esther Perel said, long, but up to this point, you can pretty much bank on the fact that “If there is a verb that comes with hundreds of thousands of other love, it is to have. And if there is a people have shared this exact verb that comes with desire, it is experience. to want. In love we want to have. We want to minimise the distance, As creatures in need of love and we want to contract that gap, we affection, we strive to build on our want to neutralise the tensions, relationships to find that special we want closeness. But in desire, kind of love. The kind where love we tend to not go back to the and sadness coexist, where we places we’ve already gone. A become overwhelmed with emo- foregone conclusion does not tions and moments filled with ec- keep our interest. In desire we stasy, yet we are already mourn- want another; somebody on the ing the fact that these moments other side that we can go visit.” will end. It’s what makes this kind of love so unique and yet so tragic. But can’t we just want what we already have?

#designers

Designers We Love:

Lorie X

A London College of Fashion alumni with a unique sense of style and a wonderfully unusual bridal collection. Dear brides-to-be, I give you Laura Hall! Her bridal dresses are stunning; that’s the first word that comes to mind when viewing her printed creations. Printed! Who would have thought that a bride can wear a printed dress? Well, Laura Hall did and so she began her label called Lorie X. Naturally, I was very curious to learn more about her collections. Q: I love how all of your wedding gowns are unusual, as I rarely see brides who dare to wear something that isn’t pure white. How did Lorie X start? A Lorie X started as my graduate collection a few years ago, as I believed there was a need in the bridal market for something alternative. My idea was to create feminine and romantic dresses that still used traditional references, but had a modern twist and more colours. During the period of my studies, the typical ‘alternative bridal’ concept included 50s tea dresses or vintage-looking ones, so I wanted to offer something different than that. My first collection launched with a brand new website in October 2014 and since then I have been working with brides to create designs unique to them.

Find the brand online at www.loriex.co.uk

Q: How personalised can the prints on your dresses be? A: They can be completely personal. Brides can seek inspiration from the standard range or they can even suggest their own designs and ideas. I can work with photographic imagery or hand draw the ideas; it really depends on the occasion. Q: Are there any particular bridal trends you’ve spotted as a designer?

A: The process starts with a complimentary design consultation, followed by inspiration research. Once the research is completed, the designs are being developed, which is a process that can be done either in person or via email. Usually, the customer does three or four fittings before the dress comes to life and the brides are a true part of the designing process. Ideally, a bride should get in touch with my team at least six months before her wedding day!

A: I definitely believe that brides are becoming a bit braver, by incorporating colours in more quirky ways than usual! In fact, I worked on a bespoke printed veil earlier this year and I absolutely loved the result. This is definitely an interesting way to add an unusual detail to your wedding look. Q: If you were a bride-to-be, which one of your designs would you choose? A: The Tatiana Dress is my favourite one! Q: How long does a dress need in order to be completed?

Interview and Words by Alexia Sakellariou

#designers

#theveil_mag

Into The Woods Moments before her wedding, our bride escapes into the woods, walks barefoot and gets closer to nature. She is a free spirit, bohemian bride.

#theveil_mag

Photographer STEPHEN MAYCOCK Model ANDREEA N CHOCO Makeup Artist KEYLEIGH SMITH Hairstylist KAT CASEY Stylist ALEXIA SAKELLARIOU Stylist Assistant DORA TARASIDOU Dresses by NIDODILEDA Headpieces by MINNA Jewelry by HALL COLLECTION

#tips

THE CALM BEFORE

THE STORM Getting cold feet or panicking about everything before the wedding is normal. But before turning into a last-minute bridezilla, take a step back from the stress and relax, by following our precious tips (bride approved, by the way).

photographer SAMANTHA WHEELWRIGHT makeup artist POPPY MICKLEM model JANA CLOE stylist ALEXIA SAKELLARIOU studio assistants ALEX ROCKS & OLLIE STOCK lingerie PRIMARK jewels ACCESSORIZE

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#tips

ALL TIME CLASSICS CALL IN SICK

1. Hit The Spa Find a spa that offers a bridal package to receive a day of total relaxation. We all love a good masage! Can’t find a bridal package? Don’t fret! A day package will do the trick.

2. Yoga? Yoga ! Heard all the hype but never done yoga before? Sign up for a beginner class and give your body the needed release of built-up tension. Yoga offers breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that will bring your body back to equilibrium.

Getting married is the perfect excuse to make that call - don’t feel guilty!

SOAK IT UP! A bath a day keeps the stress away!

GET A MASSAGE It’s the perfect way to relieve that built-up tension.

Editor’s Note

We love the Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk shower gel from RITUALS. Use it to relax the day before the wedding!

#theveil_mag

#tips

3. Essential Oils Never underestimate the power that essential oils have on relaxing your mind. Scents such as lavender, jasmine, chamomile, and basil have proven relaxation effects. Just dab some onto your wrists and temples and voila.

SONGS TO SING IN THE SHOWER I’m Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves)

Happy

4. Do Nothing

Sit back and relax. Don’t think about anything nor physically do anything. Simply let the time pass by with you sitting on the couch or laying in bed. Log in to your Netflix account and chill.

5. The Great Outdoors

Go to your local park, switch that pesky phone off and simply walk and enjoy the scenery. Switch off from everything else and soon you’ll be feeling pretty Zen.

(Pharrell Williams)

Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)

Words by Fadi Ifram

#fashion

smells like wedding spirit Our perfume expert, Marianna Venieri, found the best scents to complete your bridal look, according to your style.

Hey you, Minimal Bride! No other perfume brand screams “Minimalist” more than Byredo, of course; this Nordic simplicity, this perfectly round bottle and cap, all the super nicely designed hand creams, purse sprays, body lotions, etc... What other scent would be more suitable for a beautiful minimalist bride than Byredo’s Blanche? None. Built around Byredo’s founder’s perception of the colour white, this pure and simple-instructure fragrance will match perfectly with your minimalist aesthetics. A first whiff gives you notes of white rose, aldehydes, and pink pepper, but going deeper you’ll find neroli, peony, and violet in its heart. Not quite your normal floral, though, woods and musk sit at its base to provide exactly the fine fragrance you want for your special day. Byredo Blanche Eau de Parfum 100ml, £130 Liberty London (Liberty.co.uk)

You are chic, and your special scent has to be chic, too. However, you’re bored of all the No5s and Miss Diors out there, and are looking for a classic fragrance - but with a twist. Search no more, Chic Bride! Edition de Parfums Frederic Malle have made this sensuous edition just for you – the name ‘Dans tes Bras’ is on top of it, a romantic reference to your husband-to-be (romantic alert!). Carved with masses of cashmere, sandalwood, musk and patchouli, reinforced with salicylates and incense, softened with heliotrope and brightened by an accord of violets, Dans tes Bras evokes the deep and sweet smell of warm, slightly salty skin. A sensuous and intimate composition, an exalted skin scent: the very essence of perfume. Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle ‘Dans Tes Bras’ 100ml £145 Les Senteurs Marble Arch (http://www.lessenteurs.com/)

“Salty Surf. Warm Sun on bare skin. Sea birds sing as the Ocean Whispers.” Here’s a nice poem for your Beach wedding, and it’s also the inspiration behind MiN New York’s Long Board. Is this meant to be, or what? A splash of orange blossom reveals salty marine notes, embraced by tropical coconuts and solar cream; an earthy vetiver heart melts into a base of vanilla and amber: Pure Bliss. Add a spritz of this limited-edition scent on your wedding day and, I promise you, all your summer days from now on will remind you of your special wedding day. MiN New York ‘Long Board’ Eau de Parfum 75ml, £200 Selfrdiges (http://www.selfridges.com)

#fashion

It’s your special day, and nothing says SPECIAL more than your own personal smell. Plus, you’re funky and cool and tired of all the old school perfumes – that, weirdly, all smell the same to you. Ta-dah! Molecule 01 is for you! Molecule 01 contains only the aroma-chemical Iso E Super which, on its own, is less of a fragrance than an effect. When spraying, you may notice a subtle, velvety, woody note which will vanish, then re-surface after some time. Molecular fragrances adjust to your skin, body temperature, etc., so it’s unique every time you wear it. You will notice the impact the fragrance has on other people, because Molecule 01 lends an indefinable allure to the wearer. In fact, its effect is almost pheromonic. Make a list of the compliments you’ll get when wearing it; trust me, it’ll be a long one. If only I had a penny for every time someone asked me, “What fragrance are you wearing?” when I have Molecule 01 on! This Company ‘Molecule 01’ 100ml, £65.50 Harvey Nichols (http://www.harveynichols.com/ )

Go to the Le Labo Fragrances shop in Shoreditch, I dare you. Your inner hipster (sorry, I meant “alternative”) self will adore the shop, the smells, and the packaging of this company! Its unique slant is that all its perfumes are “made-to-order”. Each one is built around a primary natural essence from France’s “fragrance capital” Grasse. This essential oil concentrate is added to the rest of the perfume once you have purchased it. Your name and “date of fabrication” is then inked onto the label. Each scent’s name is the key essence, followed by a number that reveals the exact amount of the raw ingredient housed within. It can’t get more personalised than that, can it? My personal favourite is Santal 33; treat yourself to a bottle and ask the guys in the store to put your wedding date on the label. You might even want to get a personalised present for your groom while you’re there! Le Labo ‘Santal 33’ Eau de Parfum 100ml, £150 Le Labo Shoreditch

Dare to sniff this beautiful floral scent! Unflinching, exquisite femininity, Vilhelm Parfumerie Fleur Burlesque Eau de Parfum is inspired by the la-belleépoque, a woman, alive in the spotlight at the Moulin Rouge, enchantingly aglow in Maxim’s soft candlelight, drenched in jewels and adornments. This can be you on your wedding day, no? With top notes of heady gardenia and coquettish jasmine, sandalwood at its heart and amber at its base, this voluptuous floral is made for all you floral lovers out there – straight from New York! VilhelmParfumerie ‘Fleur Burlesque’ Eau de Parfum 100ml, £145 Exclusively at Liberty London (Liberty.co.uk)

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ALl that

Glitters Our editor-in-chief tries party looks for the most fun hen do party

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A confetti eyeliner look is more fun and less messy than having actual confetti!

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This CROWN AND GLORY headpiece is to die for. Show them whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the party queen!

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How to remove glitter from your hair: Take the best premium grade olive oil you have on hand, lather it all over your scalp and masage for deep conditioning. After 10 minutes, rinse. Your hair will be glitter-free and will feel silky smooth!

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Photographer EWA BAKOWSKA Makeup Artist ALICIA VU Stylist INGRI CASTAGNA Model ALEXIA SAKELLARIOU Dress by PAPER LONDON Headpieces by CROWN AND GLORY Available at www.crownandglory.co.uk

#honeymoon

You May DRIVE THE BRIDE

10 days, 15 cities, 2 countries, and unlimited breathtaking views; a road trip to the Italian and French Riviera is our idea of the perfect honeymoon! Mary Kalymnou packed her suitcase, grabbed her significant other, and lived the ultimate teenage dream. Now sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back, with a report for The Veil.

#honeymoon

You wonder what the best honeymoon destination is. You read travel books, search the web, and ask friends. Yet, all you dream of are endless relaxing moments in exotic islands, lying in hammocks, or drinking colourful cocktails. Your idea of the greatest honeymoon trip includes sleeping, swimming, sunbathing, or whatever will take the post-wedding stress away. That’s one choice, maybe the most common one. The Veil, however, is all about exploring and experimenting, and so am I. That’s why I believe that a road trip to the Italian and French Riviera sounds like the best honeymoon experience you could possibly have. During this trip, you’ll cross two countries, you’ll enjoy some cold Chardonnay wine while having Siena’s Duomo in the background, and you’ll find the most delicious moules frites in beautiful Nice. You will enjoy the sunset in stunning Portofino and you’ll cuddle while strolling around Riomaggiore’s colourful streets, or when visiting the traditional village Saint Paul de Vence. Florence will blow your mind, and so will its famous pistachio ice-cream. Saint Tropez and its luxurious yachts will turn into the most romantic scenery for you to kiss in, and you’ll almost say “I do” one more time whilst browsing diamond rings in the store of Van Cleef & Arpels in Monaco. Did you fall in love already? Because I did. A honeymoon trip like that will offer you so many different memories, as you will get to experience both low budget and luxurious moments within a few days.

Crossing cities and villages is a priceless experience and you’ll realise that once you enter the car with your other half, in order to turn your wildest dreams into reality. Driving through Tuscany will certainly give you love-chills, and your inner movie star will be revealed whilst walking all around La Croisette in Cannes. If this constant change of imagery and background is not magic, then I don’t know what is. You can start your journey from Tuscany to visit Siena and Florence before continuing towards Liguria and Cinque Terre (where, by the way, you should spend a couple of days to do some hiking from one village to another). Your finish line can be somewhere in Portofino, and the prize will include a glass of cold wine while singing along to the lyrics of “What a Wonderful World”. Apart from these popular cities, though, I highly recommend that you stop at smaller and more traditional villages as well, as you can find the perfect Italian cold-platter with parma ham and sweet melon, among other things. Besides, discovering hidden gems is a must-do during road trips. The route from the Italian Riviera towards the French one is probably one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see from the co-driver’s seat. And, while your big love is driving, you will look out of the window, absorbing every little detail of your surroundings. Nice will turn into your honeymoon base, since it’s close to everything you’ll want to do. Monte Carlo is only 20 minutes away; be prepared

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to feel like Grace Kelly standing outside of Hotel de Paris. At this point, all you need to do is cross the street, visit Café de Paris, and order a cranberry juice. After this glamorous pit stop, it’s time to head towards Saint Paul de Vence, perhaps the most artistic French village. Spend the day enjoying a plateau de fruits with a glass of Merlot made in Bordeaux; saying “I love you” again and again seems like the most appropriate choice of words. After enjoying more than 15 cities, you’ll return home happier than ever. This trip will fill the first days of your common life with laughter, passion, adventures, and, occasionally, tensions. Travelling together for so many days can lead to arguments about where to eat or spend the next day, but, after all these memories, you’ll end up more bonded, knowing more about each other’s preferences and limits. And while every other couple books luxurious hotels to enjoy the same view over and over again for about a week or, even worse, gets stuck with a group tour somewhere in Asia, you will live like teenagers instead.

Words and Photos by Mary Kalymnou www.maryhop.com

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HONEYMOON:

VIENNA EDITION

The Viennese Girl shares her most favourite romantic spots in Vienna.

To me, Vienna is the ideal destination for honeymooners. Almost designed to be on the top of your Best Honeymoon Destinations, the Austrian capital also happens to be the best place to live in, according to the Quality of Living survey. So if I was a newlywed, here is where I would go:

Parks • Schönbrunn garden and palace • Belvedere

Cafes • Demel: this place has everything - a history which goes back to 1888, delicious desserts, and creativity. There, chocolate is not seen as just candy, but as fine art. • Sacher café: best chocolate cake on earth – a must if you’re a couple of foodies on a honeymoon. • Cafe Central: choosing what pastry to eat is more difficult than choosing the right wedding dress. They’re all that good.

Bars • Sofitel roof top bar Vienna Tips: • Visiting Vienna during summer? Don’t forget to rent a boat in the Danube. • During night time, take the opportunity to walk around the city center and enjoy it better without the noise or crowded streets. • Try to avoid the central streets – in the side streets of Vienna you’ll find many gems! Photos and Words by Silia Eleftheriadou of www.theviennesegirl.com

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WEDDING GLOSSARY Surprisingly, bridal language is not as self-explanatory as you might think. FAKE TIER A part (or parts) of a wedding cake that serves decorative only purposes and is actually fake. You didn’t think this seven-floor cake was real, did you? HAND-TIED A bouquet style that is looser and less structured than a posy – but we like your dirty mind. LASER CUT No, it’s not like a paper cut of the future. Laser cut is a technique that creates intricate patterns in wedding stationery (or dresses). MINIMOON Could be part of a Sailor Moon dictionary but, no, this is just a term describing a significantly shorter honeymoon. STD Not as itchy as you’d think; it’s just an acronym for Save The Date invites or emails. TRAINS If you thought a bridal train is, erm, a train full of brides, you’re not ready to be one. To make your life easier, trains are the long back portions of a wedding gown (or any skirt for that matter). AISLE RUNNER Definitely not a type of sport; an aisle runner is something that runs the length of the aisle (duh), typically a cloth or other decorations. BRIDEZILLA Irrational demanding bride. Basically, the type of bride we hope you’ll never become. BABY’S BREATH Sounds creepy, but in fact it’s a very cute type of flower that fills out floral arrangements.

VEIL Glossary

MOODBOARD Digital (or handmade, if you’re old-school) collage that holds all your pictorials sources of inspiration in order to create the mood for your wedding (or other activities) – pretty much what we’ve been doing for the last four months in order to create this magazine. BIRDCAGE VEIL Modern and sophisticated, this type of veil skims the face and head but never falls below the chin. CATHEDRAL VEIL The most dramatic of them all, since it touches the floor. MANTILLA VEIL A Spanish-style veil with a wide lace border; traditional and beautiful. DOUBLE-TIER VEIL The classiest of them all, it combines two lengths of veil; also chosen by the Princess of Monaco, which says a lot. POUF VEIL A bold tulle headpiece that came from the 60s; it doesn’t suit every bride, which is a shame.

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Thank You Producing the first issue of The Veil was a demanding task. It required patience, careful planning, and hard work. However, like all important projects, it also needed support from family and friends. The Veil wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have come to life without the emotional and financial aid coming from my parents, George and Katerina, and for that I will always be grateful. My friends were supportive as well! Especially the ones who devoted some of their free time and agreed to write articles, take photographs, proof read, and many other tasks; Fadi, Mary, Katerina and Cathy, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Also, I would like to thank Amaryllis and Danae for contributing to The Veil and for saving it from failure at the last minute. But nothing compares to the support I received from Marianna, my beautiful friend, and bride-to-be. Thank you for believing in me from the moment I decided to study at the London College of Fashion, thank you for doing everything in your power to assist me with every project from the beginning of this course.

Alexia xx

ÂŠ 2015 The veil mag