CONTENTS
Bridal Guide March/April 2022
MARC H/AP
34
& Destinati
on Wedding Guide
WEDDING PLANNING
SUN-KIS
SED! A TR SPECIAL MAGICAL ULY MEXIC SECTIONWEDDING AN IN H ray fo BACK oo Hollyw r
30 PARTY PLANNER
PG 0
A dreamy beach wedding in Cabo.
ood
34 PLANNERS (& PLACES) WE ♥
WHERE TO WED IN SUNN Y CALIFOR NIA
POSH PR OPER BEST EX TIES WITH THE PERIENCE S PG 00
38 IF I COULD PLAN IT AGAIN...
PLUS: ONE COUPL ALASKA E’S LOVE STON RY
Real brides look back on their weddings, and share what they might have done differently. by Debra Witt
41 ASK DAVID TUTERA
Get more online at
Here’s what he’s learned from his brides.
ASK FOR HELP! Feeling overwhelmed? Learn which wedding tasks you can delegate to a friend at bridalguide.com/delegate
Celebrity planner Mindy Weiss helps you plot the perfect wedding timeline.
58
58 WEDDING ALBUM
Rachel and Cole’s charming Charleston, South Carolina minimony.
NEWS & FEATURES 42 IT’S HOW MUCH?
Watch out for these sneaky hidden wedding fees. by Stella Katsipoutis
bridalguide.com
NEW WEDDING GOWNS Find the hottest trends for 2022 at bridalguide.com/2022trends
45 PLANNING NOTEBOOK
Etiquette questions and answers.
PG 0
Romanc e Ready
We’re putting our favorite wedding pros in the spotlight. by Carol Straley
16 WEDDING Q&A
RIL 2022
30
GET READY FOR SPRING Find 75+ gorgeous ideas for the season at bridalguide.com/spring
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Gain access to the latest digital edition of Bridal Guide magazine, now available
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ultimate honeymoon spots and get the best bridal beauty advice from our editors.
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all that glitters
RINGS
In the Stars
Say “I do” with a ring match made by the heavens. by Kayla Hayes
MAR 21 - APR 19
A bold, all-or-nothing Aries will love a ring that stands out: Elongated cushion-cut diamond and trapezoid side-steps in platinum by Forevermark x Micaela; forevermark.com.
cancer
JUNE 21 - JULY 22
Known for their caring natures and sensitive hearts, Cancers are drawn to sensual, timeless rings: Pear-cut diamond with pavé halo by Kay Jewelers’ Monique Lhuillier BLISS; kay.com.
libra
SEPT 23 - OCT 22
Balance keepers, Libras are known for being loyal partners that exude grace and serenity: Bicolor sapphire between two rose-cut diamonds by ManiaMania; themaniamania.com.
capricorn DEC 22 - JAN 19
Capricorns are resourceful and down-to-earth. They cling to tradition and enjoy pieces that have a story to tell: Authentic Victorian era five-stone ring with Old European-cut diamonds from Trumpet & Horn; trumpetandhorn.com.
taurus
APR 20 - MAY 20
Über-romantic and grounded, Taureans love pieces that are a mix of luxe and sentimental: Bezel-set emerald and diamonds in 18k gold by Andria Rogers Rogers; victorbarbone.com.
leo
JULY 23 - AUG 22
A lion ruled by the sun, Leos are bold leaders not afraid to live outside the box: Bespoke pink sapphire, diamond, and rose-gold ring by Jemma Wynne; jemmawynne.com.
scorpio
OCT 23 - NOV 21
Passionate and mysterious, Scorpios are alluring, but won’t open up until they’ve fallen for you: One-of-a-kind claw-set grey diamond in Oh; michelle-oh.com. yellow-gold by Michelle Oh
aquarius JAN 20 - FEB 18
Creative Aquarians are on the forefront of what’s next. Their style antennae draws them towards a new classic or twist on traditional: Bespoke gold interlocking ring by Retrouvaí; retrouvai.com.
gemini
MAY 21 - JUNE 20
Geminis are expressive, playful, and thrive on their duality: Linked white- and yellow-gold bands with diamond in micro-pavé prongs by Spinelli Kilcollin; spinellikilcollin.com.
virgo
AUG 23 - SEPT 22
Virgos have a sharp attention to detail and are the type-A planners that appreciate the practicality of the classics: Claw-set round diamond with cathedral-style shoulders and pavé diamond halo by Bahdos; bahdos.com.
sagittarius NOV 22- DEC 21
The extroverted, optimistic Sagittarius is free-spirited and full of personality, opting for the unexpected: Bezel-set diamond with blue enamel halo by Alison Lou; alisonlou.com.
pisces
FEB 19 - MAR 20
The last sign of the zodiac is the calm, nurturing Pisces. Deeply intuitive, they’re soulful creatives: Marquise diamond in recycled gold by Pamela Love; pamelalove.com.
* SOURCE: KAREN CHRISTINO, AUTHOR OF YOUR WEDDING ASTROLOGER
aries
S I N CER I T Y B R I DA L .CO M
it’s how much? DON’T LET THESE HIDDEN WEDDING COSTS WREAK HAVOC ON YOUR BUDGET.
PHOTOGRAPHY: HEATHER NAN PHOTOGRAPHY
by Stella Katsipoutis
F
rom the moment your beloved slips that ring on your finger, your brain goes into wedding-planning overdrive. But even the most detail-oriented, budget-conscious bride can be caught off-guard by unanticipated expenses. Here’s how to avoid them.
PHOTOGRAPHY: (FROM LEFT) SANDRA D. PHOTOGRAPHY; ©LIZBANFIELD
VENUES & CONTRACTS “You must be aware of the financial pros and cons of each venue if you don’t want to be hit with unexpected expenses,” says Cheryl Beitler, who heads up The Zanadu Group, event planners in Hollywood, FL. “If you want a wedding outdoors, for example, you’ll need to obtain a number of pricey permits for your open-air event, and you’ll have to make sure that everything from city regulations to fire regulations are strictly adhered to. You’ll also have to rent tents in case of rain or inclement weather.” Beitler adds that every rental item placed in the tent is also your responsibility, including electricity generators, air conditioning or heating, the sound system and tableware. As for indoor venues, JoAnn Gregoli, the owner of Elegant Occasions event planning in New York City, says, “Ask the vendor for the price per person, all inclusive, so that you know the fee for food and beverages, plus tax and service charges. When reviewing the contract, look out for the words ‘additional costs may be incurred’ and ‘plus the cost of setup and delivery.’ ” Ask what these costs are: They can increase the price per person by 30 percent, adds Beitler, de-
pending on your state’s sales tax. Certain venue prices depend heavily on what time of year and where in the country you decide to get married. “If a majority of weddings take place between May and December where you live, you could save money across the board by getting married in a quieter month,” says Beitler. “The same applies to the day of the week or the time of day you choose. Reception halls charge the highest fees for Saturday night weddings. You might want to consider a Sunday brunch or luncheon instead, or consider a Friday night celebration.”
DECOR & FLOWERS “Selecting out-of-season flowers (such as peonies in October) will increase the budget considerably, as the flowers will need to be imported,” says Lisa Gorjestani, founder of Details Event Planning in Los Angeles. “Choosing flowers that are in season, abundant and have popular colors plays a big role in minimizing cost.” Gorjestani recommends hydrangeas for spring because they are large, luxurious and full—and they fill up space more easily and cheaply than, say, tulips. “If you want the feeling of lush ➺
What if your guests are having a great time at the reception and want to keep going? Find out beforehand the costs for overtime.
>> BRIDALGUIDE.COM Trim your wedding budget with the savvy tips at bridalguide.com/budget
MARCH/APRIL 2022
& Destination Wedding Guide SUN-KISSED!
A TRULY MAGICAL MEXICAN WEDDING PG 22
Hooray for Hollywood
WHERE TO WED IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA
PG 6
Romance Ready POSH PROPERTIES WITH THE BEST EXPERIENCES PG 4 PLUS: ONE COUPLE’S ALASKAN LOVE STORY