MARCH/APRIL 2025
Our Favorite Planners Share their Secrets
DRESSES, DECOR, FLOWERS & MORE!
Wedding Venue Pros and Cons
Easy Ways to Keep the Budget on Track
BRIDALGUIDE.COM
You said "yes!"— now let's start planning!
CONTENTS CONTENTS MAR/APR JAN/FEB 2025 2025
WEDDING PLANNING 20 PARTY PLANNER
A winter wedding at Grandmother’s house.
24 PLANNERS WE LOVE
We’re putting our favorite wedding pros in the spotlight. by Carol Straley
28 SETTING YOUR SITES
Barn, ballroom or (fill in the blank)? Venue pros and cons. by Valerie Berrios Get more online at bridalguide.com
33 PLANNING NOTEBOOK
Two dance instructors explain how to put together a show-stopping First Dance.
& DE DESTINATION DESTINATI STINATIO STINATI ON WEDDING GUIDE
38 WEDDING ALBUM
daydreams realized
Laura and Chris’s Baltimore wedding.
NEWS & FEATURES 10 WEDDING Q&A
Etiquette questions and answers.
• STAY AT A WINERY IN ARGENTINA • SOAK IN HOT SPRINGS IN ARIZONA • SUN-KISSED IN COSTA RICA
34 IMPRESS FOR LESS Money-saving strategies from top wedding 00 geniuses. by Elaine Stuart
33
Florida’s best choices for weddings & honeymoons
SPECIAL SECTION IN BACK
28
Island delights CARIBBEAN 101
PLUS: AN A-LIST WEDDING IN LOS CABOS
• MANAGE YOUR STRESS Learn to cope with wedding stress and anxiety with the advice at bridalguide.com/ stress • PERSONALIZE YOUR WEDDING Add some special touches to your wedding with the ideas at bridalguide. com/handmade •INDOOR WEDDING DECOR Find inspiration for a beautiful indoor wedding at bridalguide.com/indoor
28
24
Mary Clarke
EDITOR IN CHIEF ART DIRECTOR Mary Cate Godfrey
FASHION AND BEAUTY
FASHION AND BEAUTY DIRECTOR Juli Alvarez
TRAVEL
TRAVEL EDITOR Jenna Mahoney
HOME DESIGN
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robin Zachary
ART
DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Wendy Mansfield
BRIDALGUIDE.COM
DIGITAL MARKETING & CONTENT COORDINATOR Kristen Klein
FASHION ADVERTISING
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, VP Jim Duhe EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Dichter Capo, rcapo@bridalguide.com, 631-786-2469 ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Sonn Bashner, rachelbashner@aol.com, 917-992-8847
TRAVEL ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Karen Higgins SPECIAL TRAVEL ADVISER Thomas F. Curtin
GENERAL ADVERTISING
SENIOR DIRECTOR Steven Ritterman, ritterman@bridalguide.com, 917-338-5841
CLASSIFIED & DIRECT RESPONSE
EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Dichter Capo, rcapo@bridalguide.com, 631-786-2469
MARKETING SERVICES
CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, VP Rita Sadowski PROMOTION ART DIRECTOR Patricia Nordin
BRIDAL GUIDE ADVERTISING OFFICES
Jeff Hendlin, jhendlin@bridalguide.com SOUTHEAST Colleen Schoch Morell, ckschoch@me.com CARIBBEAN/EUROPE Viveca Caldara, viveca@vcmedia.es MEXICO Anabel Rodriguez, anabelrg503@gmail.com GENERAL MANAGER, VP Yelena Malinovskaya PRODUCTION DIRECTOR William L. Ziff IT MANAGER Jeremy Bucovetsky ACCOUNTING MANAGER Zoya Fleysher
Advertising Sales Offices: 1333A North Avenue #706, New Rochelle, NY 10804 212-838-7733; 800-472-7744 FOR SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES, CALL 818-286-3128 FROM 7 AM TO 4 PM PST OR EMAIL BRGCS@MAGSERV.COM
PUBLISHED BY RFP CORP.
PRESIDENT Barry Rosenbloom FOUNDER Mike Rosenbloom Distributed by Comag Marketing Group PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
Bridal Guide magazine (Vol. 41, No.2 Mar/Apr 2025 ISSN 0882-7451) is published bimonthly by RFP Corp., 1333A North Avenue #706, New Rochelle, NY 10804; 212-838-7733. Copyright © 2025 by RFP Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Subscription Rates: U.S. and possessions one year $18.95. Back issues $7; prepayment required. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY 10017 and additional offices. All unsolicited editorial must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We assume no responsibility for returning unsolicited material, including but not limited to photographs, artwork, manuscripts and letters. Postmasters—Send address changes to P.O. Box 16717, North Hollywood, CA 91615 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
GUIDE
PRINCESS CHARMING
Pearl encrusted Galene open-knotted gown and embroidered Galene veil, both price upon request, by IDAN ATELIER. Rings (left) Alex and Albert gold bands and 22K gold Royale ring with amethyst and diamond; Rings (right) Salvatrice garnet and diamond ring, Crowning Glory 22K gold and diamond ring, and Princess garnet and diamond ring, all by DONNA DISTEFANO. 008 45 000
& DE DESTINATION DESTINATI STINATIO ON
WEDDING GUIDE daydreams realized
• STAY AT A WINERY IN ARGENTINA • SOAK IN HOT SPRINGS IN ARIZONA • SUN-KISSED IN COSTA RICA
Florida’s best choices for weddings & honeymoons
Island delights CARIBBEAN 101
PLUS: AN A-LIST WEDDING IN LOS CABOS
ELSEWHERE, THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF A TRAVELER’S FLIGHT IS THE COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGE SERVICE.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Plan your trip to North Carolina at visitnc.com