Bridal Guide January 2013

January Issue 2013

Visions of Romance The rich,

2013 Gowns: Visions of Romance

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Brides feel good these days.

And with a positive outlook comes a desire for rich, luxurious gowns that will make fashionable statements at their weddings. From lace to layers to fun pops of colors, these are the gowns brides want to wear in 2013

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Bride’s Guide – January 2013 – Page 3

Town or Country?

1 wedding, 2 options. A big city celebration has modern conveniences, while a country setting offers its own ‘rustic chic’ charm. Here’s how to make your choice

By Anna Sachse CTW Features Sure, the city where you live (or the one where you grew up) would make a deeply personal backdrop for your big day. But perhaps you’ve always pined for a more pastoral celebration. Urban fêtes and country soirées both have lots of pros – and they have their party-downer cons. Here, three wedding planning experts share insight to help you decide which setting is right for you.

Go to Town

At the top of the list for why an urban wedding should win out? Practicality.

First, you have your pick of venues, from traditional hotel ballrooms to modern museums and art galleries to hip converted

Page 4 – Bride’s Guide – January 2013

warehouses, restaurants and more, all of which are likely practiced at working with big events. Many may even include everything from tables to lighting and the sound system with their venue fee or catering minimum.

Similarly, getting married in town enables access to numerous qualified vendors, allowing you to pick the caterer, florist, baker or DJs that best suit your needs, personality and budget, says Constance Curtis of Southern California-based Constance Curtis Events. There are no

travel fees, delivery charges will be minimal if any, and competition may open the door to special packages, discounts or deals. Plus, it’s easy to meet with your vendors pre-wedding on a lunch break or after work if you need to hammer out centerpieces or sample the menu.

In addition, metropolitan weddings are über-convenient for guests, notes Curtis. Those who live close by don’t have to pay for lodging and may be able to use public transportation to avoid driving after a night of revelry.

Out-of-towners can simply book a room upstairs from or within walking distance of your bash.

As for a city affair’s downsides, traffic takes the cake. Anja Winikka, the site director for TheKnot. com, advises checking ahead of time to see if there’s preplanned subway or train work and informing guests on your wedding website. You’ll also want to mention if

any large events (festivals, football games, races) may impede public transport or clog the roads for drivers. And be sure to note parking garages near the venue, Winikka adds, as you don’t want to walk down the aisle with half-empty rows because half your guests are driving around in circles looking for a spot.

More things to make you think twice: If you have chosen a major city, expect to pay a premium for all your vendors, and know that those venue fees and minimums don’t come cheap. Traditional event spaces can feel generic and their included linens, chairs, dishes, etc. can be boring or beat up, thus you may end up shelling out a pretty penny for alternative rentals and décor.

Finally, you aren’t alone. if any part of your wedding is outside, you’ll likely get some gawkers, Winikka says.

Country Strong Whether you’ve got your heart set on saying your I do’s amid a field of flowers, at a vineyard or in a barn, a key advantage of having a country wedding is that there’s already gorgeous scenery to serve as the backdrop, says Maggie Lord, founder of RusticWeddingChic. com and author of “Rustic Wedding Chic” (Gibbs Smith, 2012).

Although Lord notes that the often big, open spaces make it easy for you to create whatever atmosphere you want: elegantly Old-World, woodsy and sweet, a festive ranch hoedown, or a glamorous garden party with bocce ball and croquet. These settings typically have a ton of natural character, minimizing the need for extra embellishment. If there’s no onsite catering, you also can save money by bringing in your own alcohol, which is a great way to showcase your favorite local winer-

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ies, breweries and distilleries. And you’ll likely having the ceremony and reception in the same place, which means you won’t have to pay for two venues or transportation between sites.

If the location is too far away from town for guests to make it a day trip, another bonus is that you can make a weekend out of it, says Curtis. You’ll have more opportunity to spend time with all your loved ones, especially if you plan group activities like wine tours, hay rides or hikes.

But like any wedding, country destinations also have their concerns. Unless your location is an established wedding venue, everything from the table and chair rentals to creating a cooking space for the catering team to furnishing generators, lighting and portable bathrooms might be your responsibility, warns Lord, not to mention all the cleanup afterward. For this reason, even if you’re having a

very informal event, Lord strongly advises hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator who can handle all the details, plan for contingencies and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Keep in mind that you’ll also have less local vendors to choose from, or will have to pay more for city-based vendors to travel or make deliveries to your locale, says Curtis. If it’s very remote, you’ll want to make sure there’s enough lodging for friends and family nearby, or organize transportation to get guests safely to and from town in a timely manner. And don’t forget about unpredictable weather, adds Winikka. In most cases, some element of the event will be outdoors, so definitely have a Plan B for rain, excessive wind or extremely hot weather. © CTW Features

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If you want your guests to have a memorable time from the moment they arrive, consider following the lead of more and more modern couples who are opting to get the party started pre-ceremony.

To set the right tone, Brides magazine Senior Editor Yolanda Crous recommends creating a special playlist or hiring an instrumentalist (think guitarist or jazz trio) to play classical versions of your favorite tunes.

Give guests something to look at like a slideshow or elaborate wedding program.

Crous suggests including your love story, mini bios of your attendants, and background on your readings.

If you’re location is unique – museum, art gallery, zoo – Crous also advises arranging for mini tours. Added bonus: These pre-wedding activities are a fun conversation starter for guests who don’t know each other. Photo booths, the guest book and lawn games are good pre-ceremony activities, too.

It’s also nice to offer a little refreshment.

Karine France-Matsumoto, owner of Honolulu-based Seasons of Life Events,

recommends having servers pass signature cocktails and booze-free mocktails, and setting up a self-service beverage station with minted water and fruit tea. No need to go overboard on the food, but this is a perfect time for featuring regional bite-sized appetizers or the couple’s favorite snacks, France-Matsumoto says.

In addition, think about the weather. If it’s hot, France-Matsumoto suggests handing out chilled hand-towels, and Crous recommends providing paper fans, sunscreen and bug spray.

If it’s cold, Crous says having space heaters and baskets of blankets or pashminas is smart.

Most importantly, you, the couple, should feel free to join in! The pre-ceremony party will give you even more time to chat with old friends or relatives who traveled from afar, notes France-Matsumoto, and connecting in a casual way can help calm jitters about being the center of attention. But it’s probably best if the newlyweds-to-be avoid the alcohol, Crous says: “You don’t want to slur your vows.”

–Anna Sachse © CTW Features

Visions of Romance

By Nola Sarkisian-Miller CTW Features

Brides feel good these days. And with a positive outlook comes a desire for rich, luxurious gowns that will make fashionable statements at their weddings. From lace to layers to fun pops of colors, these are the gowns brides want to wear in 2013

f

or the most romantic day of their lives, brides want to look as romantically alluring as possible.

Visions of lace cascading down their dresses, fabrics layered for movement and shape and pops of color conveying a sunny mood are some of the key trends emanating from the 2013 runways that can help achieve that fashionable dream.

Along with feeling good about their impending marriages, brides-to-be are in a more bullish mood and willing to spend a bit more on higher-end styles that include laces imported from Europe.

“A more positive outlook on the economy Continued on Page 8

Ivory lace and silk organza gown with V-neckline, delicate embroidery and hand beading on bodice, slim A-line skirt and cathedral train from Watters

Bride’s Guide – January 2013 – Page 7

N.Y., or showier styles at M Bride in La Jolla, Calif. Designers are creating lace works for the 21st century that are more modern and more Silk white and gold embroidered tulle illusion cap sleeve gown with natural waist, soft A-line skirt and 4-inch envelope-pushing by incorporating embroidered bow belt from Monique Lhuillier, below lace in sleeves, on illusion necklines, on portrait backs, on belts and with embellishments of beading.

Lace abounds in the portrait backs of Lela Rose’s collection and plays a central role in Monique Lhuillier’s spring line. There are Chantilly lace bow belts on corset gowns with drop waists, Chantilly lace sheaths and re-embroidered lace illusion necklines and ball gowns. Guipure lace gowns mixed with satin-faced organza in glamorous slim, column shapes are popular Kevan Hall White Label styles. Anne Bowen is incorporating beading into lace gowns, such as a beaded Chantilly lace dress or a white beaded lace trumpet gown. Another forward style is by Modern Trousseau, based in Connecticut, which offers a Continued from Page 7 pinstripe silk taffeta gown with a lace is driving the desire for richness and luxuriousness,” says Andrea Novella, overlay.

The key for brides to remember is sales and marketing manager for that a little lace goes a long way.

New York-based Anne Bowen.

“Brides have to be careful,” says High-quality fabrics such as lace, Michele Martin, owner of M Bride. silk and crepe “are preferred because “If they wear allover lace, the dress can although they are pricier, they add wear them.

But, lace mixed with tulle a richness and finish that makes the or English net looks more whimsical, gown look much more expensive more ethereal and more flattering.” than it is.”

How brides wear it also makes a Bridal salons from the West difference.

For instance, when picking Coast to the East Coast report out a dreamy lace dress, don’t ruin that lace gowns are key sellers with the confection with a sash, say bridal customers, whether it’s more modest experts. fitted looks at Esti’s in Brooklyn, “Sashes can downgrade the dress, dumb it down,” Martin says. “It looks more prommy and not as sophisticated.

Novella agrees that “sashes have given way to Bridal Makeup Artist & Hairstylist beaded belts, especially those Avon Sales Representative incorporated into gowns.”

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‘Subtle and unexpected’: Designer Jennifer Williams of Alvina Valenta mixed lace and tulle for a soft, feminine feel in this V-neck gown with shoulder straps

Ivory Chantilly lace illusion cap sleeve sheath with embroidered tulle overlay, low back and godet skirt

Thomas Knoell Designs to create a line of accessories, including belts with rhodium-plated metals, for an opulent, vintage feel for its collection of Miami-inspired dresses.

To keep the lace in check, lace has been pairing up with other fabrics for a match made in heaven whether it’s for an accent or a layering piece. Jessica Williams, the designer of Alvina Valenta, wanted to create looks that featured “subtle and unexpected dimensions’’ for the spring season. Her gowns include a V-neck style with shoulder straps mixing lace and tulle for a soft, feminine feel.

Kevan Hall’s bridal dresses that are receiving positive reactions include a strapless style accented with a front bow along with gowns layered

with classic tulle and touches of re-embroidered lace in a move away from heavier gowns.

“Dresses that are soft and light and airy are what’s in,” Hall says.

“Brides want fabrics that are more sensuous and lightweight.”

Mixing clean lines with Art Deco details, Watters is using washed silk organza mixed with tulle for soft, flowing looks in dropwaist and modified A-line silhouettes, says Maria Prince, vice president of the Dallas-based bridal line.

“We’re using yards and yards of fabric for draping and billowing for a very ladylike look,” Prince says. “We’re layering and layering without the weight of big satin.”

Continued on Page 10

Lace portrait back on the ‘Tompkins Square’ gown from Lela Rose, right

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Whisper pink tulle and silk taffeta gown with V-neckline, silk taffeta-covered buttons and tulle skirt with silk taffeta and hand-beaded design details and chapel train from Watters

Continued from Page 9 There’s also no shortage of color on the runways. But, brides are opting for subtle color to make a big statement. Many designers are keeping the shades understated, such as at Anne Bowen, which offers a gown made of ivory lace with a blush under-layer.

“Brides are keeping color soft so it looks like a wedding gown, but has an edge,” says Callie Tein, designer for Modern Trousseau. “They don’t want their gowns to look like an evening dress. When do you ever get to wear an all-white dress? You can always wear a red dress or a green dress.”

Nova, a Cinderella-blue satin dress, and Eden, a Chantilly lace sheath re-embroidered with chiffon are bridal favorites at Modern Trousseau. Monique Lhuillier created some

Page 10 – Bride’s Guide – January 2013

blush drama with her figure-hugging Chantilly lace corset gown and Spanish tulle draped trumpet gown with a full skirt. Watters’ pink dress with cut pieces of taffeta shimmering with embroidered metallics streaming down the skirt is a showpiece.

Geography, however, often plays a role in how much brides are willing to deviate from the conventions of color or lack thereof.

“Tradition dies very hard here,” says Gail Hester, a bridal consultant at the Mimi boutique in New Orleans. “We had one girl who wore black this weekend, and she looked stunning.

She has red hair and blue eyes. But there aren’t many girls who have the confidence to pull that off or that have parents that will let them.” © CTW Features

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By Taniesha Robinson CTW Features On their wedding day, Jonathan Buckley and his wife, Brandi, stood on the grand staircase of San Francisco City Hall, where Brandi’s grandparents married nearly 70 years before.

Everything about their day paid homage to the town they would together call home: Brandi’s dress, the limo service and even the technology they’d use to capture the day in photo. They gazed into each other’s eyes, smiling.

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The vintage look at this point is like pearls. It’s timeless.

— Kelsey Goodwin, photographer

Continued from Page 11

Page 12 – Bride’s Guide – January 2013

For Jonathan and Brandi Buckley’s wedding at San Francisco’s City Hall, Kim Thomas photographed the wedding using an iPhone 4S , then edited the photos and added effects via the Instagram iPhone app.

want,” Goodwin says. “Once in a while, a mediocre image can be pushed into greatness with a little bit of editing help, but it’s a fine line.”

Stunning effects and filters, however, are not limited to pics snapped via a smartphone apps.

Here, some of the most stylish photography trends that photographers can employ to their photos captured via their trusty dSLR camera.

Kim A. Thomas Photography

Their photographer stood away, aimed and shot the image – with an iPhone 4S. More than 500 photos of the Buckleys were taken that day solely with an iPhone. Later, the Buckleys’ photographer, Kim Thomas, added effects mostly with Instagram filters and delivered more than 100 images to the couple.

“The very next evening we had a mini reception of 40 to 50 people, and we had iPads set up in picture-frame mode around the room with all the photographs,” Buckley says. Soon afterward, hundreds in their social network would browse through the photos online.

Digital and mobile photography has enabled what is perhaps the biggest trend in photography today – sharing images shortly after they’re taken.

Now, the immediacy has transferred to the editing process. “Being able to use the Instagram filter is really, really quick,” Thomas says. “You don’t have to spend hours and hours trying to get the right look for your photo.”

Not only are the effects from smartphone camera applications such as Instagram, well, instant, they create striking, appealing photographs. “It brings back an element of film because the quality is not as great,” Thomas says.

Thomas used the Amaro and Rise Instagram filters for most of the Buckleys’ images, which created a warm, vintage look. Amaro adds a bluetoned, aged appearance while Rise softens images with a golden glow. Thomas’ eye homed in on the couple’s chemistry, and the hall’s lighting and architecture to produce her enchanting photos.

Lighting, composition and the moment of action are the key elements of any wedding photograph with or without effects, says British Colombia-based photographer Kelsey Goodwin. “If you have those three things then you can do whatever filter you

Textured Photos

Textured photography has a design overlay that gives a perceived surface quality to the image. For example, a layer could add a brushstroke effect to different areas in the picture giving the overall image the feel of a painting. “If the texture overlay is laid on too thick, it can lend itself as a distraction to the actual image,” Goodwin wrote in a guest blog for TheWedLoft. “Though if done correctly, it can be a very pleasing effect,” she adds. Textures were very popular in the ’90s but are now used less often.

A photo with selective desaturation leaves on part of an image in color while the rest is pared down to black and white. This is one of those trends that have stood the test of time. It first appeared in the ’80s but seems to have timeless character.

High Dynamic Range

HDR has been around for more than a century.

“It was originally designed to bring value in lights and darks to create a balanced image in terms of exposure, but if you overdo it, it looks like a painting or a cartoon,” Goodwin says. Picture a comic book to get a sense of what the extremes of this effect can do. Yet, even toned-down usage creates awesome definition and heightens the intensity and mood of an image.

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

Selective Desaturation

Textured photos, above,feature design overlays that give a surface quality to images. City traffic takes on an alluring life form with long-exposure photos, below.

Long-Exposure Photo

This technique requires a night or dark setting and moving light. Stationary elements are sharply captured while moving light blurs during the long exposure time. It has been popularly used to shoot traffic at night, making city landscapes look like a carnival has come to town.

When film or a camera sensor is exposed to extra light, red or yellow glares can fill the image. “Back in the day it was considered poor photography skills,” Goodwin says. Likewise, lens flare from unplanned reflections or impurities in the lens was considered an amateur mistake. Today photographers are clamoring to get these washed out, hazy Continued on Page 14

Bride’s Guide – January 2013 – Page 13

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

Light Leak and Lens Flare

Continued from Page 13 effects in their photos. Both can make images look more vibrant, retro or just plain creative.

S

Kelsey Goodwin Photography

The Holga is a medium format camera created in the 1980s that harnesses the creative power of light leaks, blurring, and other distortions for a faded, vintage look.

“The vintage look at this point is like pearls,” Goodwin says. “It’s timeless.” © CTW Features

Photos shot with light leak and lens flare have a much-desired washed-out or hazy effect.

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