INES Issue No. 1

INES

Issue No.1

THE

ART OF FASHION

The Return of the Ball Gown Masterpiece Cakes Love on the Amalfi Coast

A Letter From Ines When I first knew that I wanted to be a fashion designer, I wasn’t sure where my dreams would take me.

But, I hoped they would take me some place where my imagination would touch many women and make each of them feel beautiful. I didn’t know growing up in Argentina after being born in Italy, that I would ultimately settle in Canada. And I had no idea that once there I would design my first wedding gown and how that would affect me. But that is my story - the very short version - and with the skill and training I had in Buenos Aires, Milan and Paris and my passion for love and romance and making women feel their most beautiful, wedding gowns became my world.

Over the years, raising a daughter who I always knew I would not only have but name Veronica, running my own business, and traveling extensively around the world, I have grown as a woman, a mother, a wife and as a designer. Today I am fortunate to work side by side with Veronica. My collections and my signatures have enhanced many women on one of the most important days of their lives. I say one of the most important days because it may very well be the most important day prior to saying I do. But I do is just the first step in creating a life together with a very special person that is full and joyous. There will be many more important days to come for each of you. My brides who have already gotten married know this. It’s the beginning of a journey that will take you from the excitement of finding someone you want to spend your whole life with to living that life and for each of you that means something individual and unique and each year it brings us to new challenges and endeavors.

For me, this year brought me to a new way of touching my brides not only with my designs, that are like children — each very special, each made with love and care and each destined for its moment in the spotlight -– but sharing more of my creative ideas and knowledge of the world of weddings with this magazine.

My team, some of the most creative and talented people I am lucky to work with, collaborated with me on creating fashion editorials that were based on the inspirations I began the design process with. We went further celebrating the creative people I have gotten to know around the world and the brides who wear my designs.

We are excited to share INES with you and hope you find inspiration for your special day here.

Enjoy!

Ines Di Santo

INES Issue No. 1

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THE STYLED BRIDE

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THE IN CROWD

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INES 73

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/ CREATIVE DIRECTION Deborah Moses, Moses Media, Inc.

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FASHION DIRECTOR & WRITER Juli Alvarez DESIGN DIRECTOR Gretchen Ervin PRODUCER Moses Media, Inc.

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Signatures to inspire individual style and an uncommon approach.

We think our friends should be your friends. Meet some of Ines’s favorites whose POV and expertise will enlighten your wedding style and planning.

I AM INES DI SANTO Ines celebrates the beautiful and unique women whose bridal style caught our eye.

CAKE SHOP Check out these confections from our favorite new cake creators who straddle the world.

THE ART OF FASHION Ines presents the year’s strongest gowns with a nod to the world of art and refinement.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY The grace and elegance of a formal portrait captured with modern élan.

STONED LOVE Ines celebrates the female form in sumptuous gowns worthy of Michelangelo’s chisel.

STRICTLY BALLROOM The ball gown returns (although we never felt it left) to create magic and glamour for the grand statement-bride.

LE JARDIN MAGIQUE Feathers and florals combine to create a sublime visage for the modern bride.

LA DOLCE VITA Join Bethany and Sarkis for an intimate, stylish wedding that captures the essence of Italy’s Amalfi coast and the romance of the Mediterranean.

A FINE ROMANCE The Beverly Hills Hotel was the perfect backdrop for Anna and Eddie who carried off West Coast style with grand panache.

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STYLED BRIDE

EVERY SEASON BRINGS WITH IT A FRESH, NEW CROP OF EXTRAORDINARY WEDDING DRESSES INSPIRED BY THE VERY WOMEN WHO WILL WEAR THEM DOWN THE AISLE. BUT YOUR BRIDAL LOOK WOULDN’T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT THOSE UNEXPECTED, PERSONAL STYLING TOUCHES THAT WILL WOW YOUR WEDDING. INES DI SANTO SHARES HER FAVORITE MOMENTS OF MATRIMONY

MAGIC DIVINED BY HER INCREDIBLE TEAM OF CREATIVE COHORTS.

TURBANS “Wearing a turban shows how adding strong accessories can change the bridal conversation. Enhancing the traditional wedding dress by accenting it with a modern/retro headpiece. The art of fashion is to mix different influences to achieve a head-turning look.”

– SUZANNE NEWMAN, SUZANNE COUTURE MILLINERY

ANTIQUE JEWELRY “Vintage jewels offer a universe of beautiful and unique possibilities, jewels which celebrate a bride’s individual style and create a most inspired and gorgeous moment. The Fred Leighton vintage jewels chosen to compliment Ines Di Santo’s exquisite bridal collection sang to the gown’s richness, sumptuous detail, and their incredible glamour.”

– REBECCA SELVA, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, FRED LEIGHTON

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FEATHERS Ines Di Santo’s love of texture and embellishment doesn’t begin and end with beading. Her affection for lush details includes perfectly placed plumes along skirt hems, tucked and stitched into her hand-embroidered fabrics, and of course in the accessories that accompany her collections. Tickle your fancy with some fine feathery fashion.

FLOWERS IN THE HAIR “Flowers are one of the most important elements on the wedding day, and if I could, I would always use flowers in the bride’s hair. They add a touch of natural beauty that finishes the look, whether they are fresh or silk. It’s also fun to mix flowers with ribbon and tulle, for a one-of a-kind couture look. Every bride has a unique style, which inspires me to create something special that fits her personality and dress.”

– FELIX FISCHER, FELIX FISCHER HAIR

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STYLED BRIDE

UPDOS You could say that Ines Di Santo has a flair for the dramatic that goes above and beyond the wedding dress. Each season she takes her runway coiffure to new heights with swirled, twisted, braided, and beehived up-do’s bedecked with pearls, flowers, butterflies, and even, cupcakes. The real bride take-away? A carefully considered coif isn’t just an up-do, it’s a must-do!

BOWS Nothing says girlie quite like a bow. From tiny shoestrings to exaggerated swathes of silk, the bow continues its reign as a symbol of femininity, never falling out of favor or fashion.

Di Santo continues the tradition as she re-invents the bow of the moment for the bride of today.

FLORAL EMBELLISHMENTS There’s no better source of inspiration than Mother Nature herself.

Di Santo plucks the most beautiful blooms to embellish her bridal gowns from top to toe. From creamy, dreamy ivory roses to plush, pastel poppies, Di Santo cultivates her floral fantasies for the most delicate of flowers among us.

PEARLS The tradition of bridal pearls goes back centuries, but in the hands of Ines Di Santo, they take on a whole new meaning. Tiny, lustrous seed pearls inform a beaded bodice, necklaces with multiple strands of graduated layers drape from throat to waist in signature style, bubbly, iridescent white pearls adorn hands, fingernails and up-do’s. These are definitely not your grandmother’s pearls.

LACE Ines Di Santo’s approach to lace is akin to a sculptor, carving the most delicate, swirling, curving panels along the body. Her lacy necklines scallop and dip to navel-gazing lows and balance at the tip of a shoulder.

Signature Art Nouveau patterns float on disappearing sheer illusion backs and sleeves. Di Santo’s mastery of lace is nothing short of a sheer work of art.

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STYLED BRIDE PASTELS Ines Di Santo doesn’t do basic. She does not conform to a cookie-cutter bridal look or adhere to some antiquated standards of what a bride should look like. Known for her feminine, fashion-forward look, Di Santo’s colorful palette of pastels includes gowns cut in powdery, whimsical shades of pink, blue, lilac, and mint, perfect for the bride who’s style defies tradition.

BEJEWELED Beading, embroideries, and embellishments are like oxygen to an Ines Di Santo dress. Her designs come alive with her formidable, signature bejeweling. Bugle beads, sequins, crystals, bouillon thread, pearls, and sparkles great and small all take their pride of place in Di Santo’s jubilant display of decadent wedding gowns.

We would expect nothing less!

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IN CROWD WE THINK OUR FRIENDS SHOULD BE YOUR FRIENDS. THE RIGHT ADVICE OR IDEA IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD, ESPECIALLY WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING. MEET SOME OF INES’S INNER CIRCLE WHOSE POV AND EXPERTISE WILL ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY FROM I WILL TO I DO.

WHO: FRED LEIGHTON @leightonjewels WHAT: CURATOR OF VINTAGE & CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY WHERE: NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Twenty plus years ago an ‘under the radar’ jewel-box boutique put the coveting and wearing of antique and vintage fine jewelry on the map. Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere in the early 90’s, the biggest names in Hollywood were walking the red carpet in spectacular, singular jewels that caught the eye of every style maven on the planet. Fred Leighton was literally rewriting the history of fine jewelry as we knew it.

Positioned squarely at the corner of Madison Avenue and 66th Street in Manhattan, Fred Leighton became the name to know. Classic cookie-cutter diamonds and pearls gave way to the riches of 18th, 19th, and 20th century jewels, each with a unique provenance and patina of past lives lived.

The late Mr. Leighton was nothing if not a brilliant curator, a man on a mission with a passion for beauty and an eye for the unusual.

Rare, precious pieces from the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau eras filled his boutique’s cases and vaults, each jewel more spectacular than the last. He was also a champion of antique Mughal jewelry, the classic Indian style of rose cut diamond clusters, emeralds, and rubies set in warm 22 and 24 karat gold, the underside of each piece artfully finished with a colorful cloisonné design.

As fashion insiders, celebrities, clients, and bridesto-be would soon come to realize, Fred Leighton’s antique jewels also possessed an unmistakable romantic character, which is why Ines Di Santo chose to collaborate with the storied jewelry house for her Spring 2019

collection imagery. Leighton’s sumptuous jewels were the perfect partner to Di Santo’s richly imbued wedding gowns, a match made in style heaven. Di Santo is known for her love of exquisite details and glamorous accessories, so when considering pairing fine jewelry with her collection, there was no doubt she wanted to join forces with Fred Leighton. Di Santo’s campaign photos celebrate the idea that brides who long for a unique engagement ring or diamond drop earrings or even a diamond tiara, could enjoy beautiful, statement jewels that are truly one-ofa-kind. The master craftsmanship from Leighton’s Edwardian and Georgian era treasure trove continue to usher in a new look and grace for wedding jewelry that champion old mine diamonds and precious gemstones set in delicate, magical designs.

As the legend goes, Mr. Leighton began his career as a jeweler in the 70’s by rescuing antique pieces from estate sales and auctions, and to his credit, from the past practice of removing the stones and foolishly discarding the settings. Can you imagine? This masterstroke of genius, and a little bit of luck and good timing, would forever change the narrative of an entire industry, bucking the norm of new, and shiny, and perfect. Leighton’s dedication to the craft and beauty of fine antique and vintage jewelry transformed the wearable art of yesterday into the future heirlooms of tomorrow. – JA

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IN CROWD WHO: KATHY THOMAS @kathythomasphoto WHAT: WEDDING & LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER WHERE: NASHVILLE AND ORLANDO Have camera, will travel. That’s Kathy Thomas’s modus vivendi. Pre-wedding celebrations on the Amalfi Coast? Sure. Engagement session in the Big Apple?

Why not. Wedding at a castle in Ireland? No problem.

Her lens and luggage are always ready to go and while weddings and lifestyle photos are the core of her business, Kathy loves fashion.

Enter Ines who she met through @solutionsbridal of Orlando on a buying trip in New York City. After posting a picture of an Ines gown on Instagram, Ines asked to meet her. Kathy thought she crossed the line and shouldn’t have posted it. Instead, the designer said the photo was romantic and poetic. Hence a backstage invite was offered up and the rest is photo history.

“The invite was only a year and half into my business, so this was a milestone for me,” said Thomas whose

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love of fashion influenced by architecture has always been an obsession.

“Bridal fulfills the two by merging fashion and architecture together,” Thomas, who worked in New York for Louis Vuitton before starting her photo career, explained. “Ines’s gowns aren’t only eye catching but they are an architectural dream. You can feel how every stitch, bead, and lace placement is with meaning and purpose.”

Shooting backstage, where the action is fast and fun, with 20 or more gorgeous brides, was a turning point.

“It was not only exciting, but emotional,” said Thomas. The details that go into getting each model runway ready is done with care and you can feel it.” Her favorite part? “When Veronica grabs her mother and they embrace each other as the first and then the last gown is revealed to the guests. It gives me goosebumps even now,” she added.

Thomas’s advice when hiring a wedding photographer? “Enjoy having the photographer by your side,” she said. “Of course you have to love their finished product, but equally you should enjoy their presence and feel like you can be completely vulnerable in front of them. If you relate to the photographer you will be yourself and that is when the real magic happens.”

She also suggests sharing your ideas with your photographer and making the time to let them get to know you. “Then turn it over and trust them,” Thomas says.

“Give them creative freedom while you are you. Real love played out in still frames is beautiful!” — DM

WHO: CAROLINE SO @ifeden WHAT: FASHION ILLUSTRATOR WHERE: NEW YORK, NEW YORK When like spirits meet, magic happens. So when Ines met fashion illustrator Caroline So it wasn’t surprising that sketches started flying followed by squeals of delight and applause. Fashion illustration has always played a central role in the creative process of design. For the first half of the 20th century, illustrations by renown artists graced most covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. But fashion illustration took a backseat to photography after the 1950s. Fashion illustration is having a comeback today with publications and advertisers reaching out for the stylish as well as the quirky and Caroline couldn’t be happier

“Illustration is putting your imagination on paper in a different way than photography,” explained Caroline. “Through each thin or thick stroke of the line, you are able to evoke a feeling. Each detail, like a splash of color or the look in the eyes of the model that is drawn has to be done with care to make sure each piece fits harmoniously with the whole artwork. I believe that illustration is a sensory experience in which you are able to fantasize with the art and be intoxicated with the mood.”

When it comes to bridal, Caroline says the stakes are

even higher. “Illustrating bridal gowns is not just illustrating the gown, but expressing the romantic concept that encompass the gown,” explained Caroline, who says it’s especially important for her to be in a beautiful state of mind to to illustrate bridal.

“Illustrations can be incorporated in your bridal experience in many ways,” suggests Caroline. Since bridal gowns are such an important statement, Caroline recommends that brides-to-be consider having their gown illustrated for framing and incorporating illustrations in the invitations.

“Pick an illustrator whose style reflects yours,” she explains.

“You can also add illustration to the program, name cards, map of the wedding venue, or even an illustration of you as a couple for next to the guest book.

Illustration offers personalization that will reflect who you are as a couple.” —DM

WHO: NAYRI KALAYJIAN

@weddingfashionexpert

WHAT: WEDDING FASHION EXPERT, STYLIST, AUTHOR, EQUESTRIAN WHERE: GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

Ines and Nayri Kalayjian go way back. The two first met when she was about 12 years old and Nayri accompanied her mother on buying trips to New York. “She was a charming little girl fascinated by the gowns and models, but she has grown into a fantastic woman and a leader in the world of bridal fashion,” Ines said.

Nayri has many accomplishments, from champion equestrian to wedding fashion expert with a weekly podcast on iTunes and video advice on her YouTube Channel, in addition to buying and styling brides at Lovella Bridal, in Glendale, California. While there’s a lot of heady satisfaction that goes into giving women the confidence to look and feel beautiful on the most important day of her life, there was also a lot of frustration. “So many brides would come into the store confused and unsure of where to begin and their information and research wasn’t accurate,” Nayri said. So she decided to do what any dynamic, self-possessed woman would do.

“I wrote a book so brides doing research could get accurate infor-

mation,” she said.

It seems to be hitting the spot, as I’m getting married & have NOTHING to wear! has become an Amazon best-seller. “I’ve taken all the top questions I get daily and I’ve broken each topic down.

Each chapter has a valuable takeaway and I wrote it in a way for readers to be able to look at the table of contents and see which questions they want answered and can go straight to that chapter,” Nayri explained.

“I love that I can support and uplift women beyond our store,” said Nayri. “The most gratifying feeling is when brides comment on how much easier the shopping experience and decision making process was after they read the book.” Nayri added that her favorite aspect of working with brides is the process. “I love seeing their face and body reaction once we find THE dress - seeing my bride light up is literally magic in front of my eyes every single time. It’s a privilege dressing women in the most important article of clothing they will ever wear in their life! It’s all about expression of LOVE!” — DM Click book to buy.

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I AM

INES DI SANTO

MONICA KISIELEWICZ

A MODERN DAY GRACE KELLY When Monica Kisielewicz’s boyfriend, Mark Harris, popped the question at her birthday party, she knew exactly who would be making her wedding dress. As the Production Manager for Ines Di Santo, Monica’s access to the inner sanctum of wedding gown heaven came in handy. Even though she considers herself to be rather indecisive, Monica knew that the Promise gown was the one for her. She watched as Ines put the finishing touches on the Spring 2018 collection, and as soon as the gown made its debut on the runway, she claimed it for herself.

Inspired by style and film icon, Grace Kelly, Monica took her style cues to heart. Clean, timeless gown that fits like a glove, check. Bold feminine flourish bow, check. Modern retro hairstyle, check. Dashing handsome man by her side, check check. Monica’s personal style veers toward the classic and the comfortable, but she also loves the element of surprise. A supersized bow that kept her back covered for the church ceremony sealed the deal. Pearl earrings, pearl embellished nails and a Blair Nadeau custom brooch for her hair completed her look. “Without a doubt the dress was the most important element on my wedding day. Everything from the flowers to the hair and makeup to the setting revolved around my dress. I wanted everyone to know how important Ines is as a designer and to me personally,” Monica exclaims. Awwww. – JA

HEADPIECE @blairnadeaubridal LOCATION @themanor1982 WEDDING PLANNER @renatadethomasisrollins PHOTOGRAPHER @mangostudios HAIR/MAKEUP @blendstudio.ca

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ALESSANDRA ALBRECHT

A MODEL BRIDE Alessandra Albrecht might just be one of the luckiest girls in the world. As a model, Alessandra has walked in countless Ines Di Santo runway shows and appeared beside Ines on TV. So when she got engaged to her beloved Alex, she knew Ines had to design her dress. Ale explains, “I personally consider Ines to be part of my extended family. She’s someone I absolutely admire and adore. Wearing her dress was an honor.” Even though her personal style is quite eclectic, going from punk rock to 60’s housewife on any given day, Alessandra’s gown was starkly different than how she envisioned her look. After trying 7 or 8 styles, she tried the Elena dress on ‘for fun’ but when she slipped into it with Ines standing by her side, she knew it was the one. Touches of deep sapphire blue (Ale’s favorite color) had a starring role not only as the center stone of her engagement ring, but also in the earrings and custom-made necklace she wore (a wedding day gift from groom Alex, handsome in a custom navy blue tux by Michael Andrew Bespoke). The comfort factor was an important element for the bride, from the dress that she wishes she never had to take off, to her clean, natural makeup look (waterproof, of course) and chic, easy up-do that kept her hair off her face and picture perfect. But at the end of the day, the most important take-away for Alessandra was staying present and enjoying every moment of their first day as husband and wife. This ‘model bride’ is indeed one very smart, beautiful, and lucky girl. – JA

BRIDE @ale_albrecht GROOM @alex_yampo TUXEDO @michaelandrewbespoke LOCATION @buttermilkfallsny WEDDING PLANNER @23layers PHOTOGRAPHER @vanessatierneyphoto HAIR @androoochn MAKEUP @beauteousmax

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VANESSA RUIZ

A GYPSET BRIDE There’s something wildly romantic about an outdoor wedding that mixes lush, green gardens and feminine flowers all at a stone’s throw from the hot, steamy desert. On October 15, 2017, Vanessa and Sam pledged their love for one another under the beautiful Arizona sky in true boho style at The Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley, a small Spanish style hotel that feels equally rustic and elegant. Along with wedding planner, Tessa Kahoun, the couple created a multi-cultural wedding incorporating their collective heritage, religions and multi-lingual backgrounds.

Because Vanessa’s mom is from Spain, the couple had a Spanish mantilla placed over them during the ceremony.

Sam has both Catholic & Jewish roots, which they celebrated by Sam breaking the customary glass. And if this wasn’t enough to tug at your heartstrings, the couple read their vows to one another in both English and Spanish.

Cue, waterworks. Looking very much the part of boho aristocrat, Vanessa chose Ines Di Santo’s Renew gown, a sexy, lace slip-of-an-affair with a sheer, lace capelet. Vanessa recalls, “I had no preconceived notion of what kind of dress I wanted but I knew I had to have some kind of cape, and as soon as I saw the gown, I knew it fit the esthetic of the wedding beautifully.” Flipping tradition on its head, she turned her Maria Elena Headpieces crown upside-down for the ceremony, then switched to a second, glittering head-cap for the reception. Vanessa also chose to wear her signature, dark lip-color instead of opting for a softer, more natural tone. We love that this serious News Anchor and Professor of Journalism at ASU whose daily style is clean, minimal and professional, discovered her romantic, altar-ego, a gorgeous Gypset Bride, Queen of The Desert Wedding. – JA

BRIDE: @thevrv WEDDING SALON @lovellabridal WEDDING PLANNER @tietheknotbytessa PHOTOGRAPHER @michaela.m.photography LOCATION @hermosainn HAIR @jaclyncipolla29 MAKEUP @makeupcollectivephx BRIDAL HEADPIECES & JEWELRY @mariaelenaheadpieces

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JULIE ALEXANDER

WILD AT HEART Don’t ever underestimate a bride with a vision. And when that vision includes flamingos and giraffes, she might just be unstoppable. When Julie Alexander and her fiancé, Jordan Dunn considered locations for their August 11, 2018 wedding, they literally heard the call of the wild. And by wild we mean the Santa Barbara Zoo. “Who wouldn’t want to mingle with flamingos on your wedding day?” quipped Julie. Selecting this family-oriented, local zoo for their big day felt natural to the couple and ticked all the right boxes. With the help of her mom and future mother-in-law, this powerhouse trio powered through the planning for Julie & Jordan’s Wedding Wonderland.

The natural, earthy ambience was the ideal setting for Julie’s romantic, effortless style, which carried through her entire look, but finding ‘the’ dress turned out not to be so easy. After trying too many dresses to count and feeling a bit frustrated, Julie finally found the dress she envisioned, Ines Di Santo’s Giselle gown. Both mom and bride burst into tears the second she tried it on. Its off-the-shoulder neckline, low back and delicate, antique-inspired lace was exactly as she had imagined, and it worked perfectly with her eclectic styling. Highlighting a palette of natural-toned makeup, Julie’s face-framing hairstyle combined classic French braiding with a quirky fishtail finish that was designed to emphasize the neckline and back of her gown. The addition of tiny silk roses was a spur of the moment find, a magical little gift from the universe, inspiring the bride to tuck them randomly throughout her braid and just as she planned, marrying perfect polish with the wonders of the wild on her wedding day. – JA

BRIDE @jujubellita GROOM @jordunnn TUXEDO @bonobos WEDDING SALON @betty_bridal LOCATION @santabarbarazoo PHOTOGRAPHER @kaciejeanphoto HAIR/MAKEUP @dreamcatcherartistry

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MARIYAM BARKHO

QUIET GLAMOUR To look at Maryiam Barkho you would never know that she wasn’t a glam girl 24/7. Maryiam’s everyday style is cool, comfy and casual. She rarely wears makeup and lives in leggings and t-shirts, she’s the quintessential Cali girl. So when she chose Ines Di Santo’s Brynn gown, she surprised everyone, including herself. Even though Maryiam stepped outside of her style comfort zone, she never felt more beautiful, more elegant, or more like the bride she always dreamt she’d be. From her choice of location, the elegant Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California, to the creamy white carpet they covered the ballroom floor in (save for the glossy white dance floor, of course) to the tips of her Louboutins, Maryiam and her wedding planner, Sara Besharati of The Besharati Group created a totally glamorous wedding for all 200 guests. Even the half dozen wedding crashers that shimmied their way in hoping to go unnoticed asked to stay because it was the most beautiful wedding they’d ever seen. I guess you could say it’s a testament to a bride and her crew, who very carefully considered every last detail to within an inch of its life. The bride’s beauty team, hairstylist David Degante and makeup artist, Lina Mourey captured her ‘laid-back spirit’ by giving her a super natural face with glowing, luminous skin, non-negotiable false eyelashes, and long, curly locks. Maryiam is living proof that there’s something very special about a woman on her wedding day. She can spend every day in pajamas and not a lick of makeup, but give a girl a gorgeous (Ines Di Santo) wedding gown, and she’s guaranteed to transform into the most beautiful bride in the world. – JA

BRIDE @maryiambarkho LOCATION @monarchbeachresort WEDDING SALON @thewhitedresscouture WEDDING PLANNER @besharatigroup PHOTOGRAPHER @renezadoriphotography HAIR @hair_by_david_g_degante MAKEUP @linamourey

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ASHLEY BURGESS

SCHOOL OF LOVE When Prescott Burgess proposed to his college sweetheart Ashley on the very spot they met at the University of Michigan at a homecoming celebration 13 years later, you could have knocked her over with a feather. So ladies, let this be a lesson. Just when we think our guys aren’t paying attention, they actually are. Prescott, a former NFL linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and wife Ashley, an Assistant Registrar at the University of Chicago made it an official family affair on June 24, 2017 surrounded by friends, family and their 2 beautiful children who they drafted for the roles of Flower Girl, Analia, age 5 and Ring Bearer, Roman, age 7. Even though Ashley is passionate about sports, travel and adventure, she remained true to her love of fashion that’s both sexy and classic. When she found her Ines Di Santo Siren gown, she knew it was the one. Ashley enthuses, “I instantly fell in love with the dress. It just seemed perfect for my style and shape, almost as if it was made just for ME!” We couldn’t agree more, a total touchdown! Looking like an absolute knockout in her dress, Ashley styled her look with a beautiful classic veil, crystal chandelier earrings, and a ‘something blue’ crystal ring. As perfect as her wedding day was (aside from a little champagne spill, a bridesmaid wardrobe malfunction and a rogue veil), the moment that still gives her goosebumps is when she walked down the aisle to meet her groom. Overcome with emotion and happiness, that’s the moment that made time stand still for her and one she’s unlikely to forget, and we’re pretty sure Prescott won’t either. – JA

BRIDE @ashholtz GROOM @pburgess54 LOCATION @hyattmccormick WEDDING SALON @nordstromchicago WEDDING PLANNER @kiamarievents PHOTOGRAPHER @keshalambert HAIR @kelly_thestylist MAKEUP @ladyamua

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CAKE SHOP

WHAT’S ON THE MENU? VIRTUAL EDIBLE WORKS OF ART CREATED BY BAKERS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD. MEET THE CAKE-CREATORS THAT ARE UPENDING THE VERY NOTION OF ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED NUPTIAL TRADITIONS,

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EDDING CAKE.

Photo & Cake: Cake Atelier Amsterdam

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CAKE SHOP

Cake Atelier Amsterdam AMSTERDAM

Natasja Sadi’s cakes give new meaning to the term ‘dutch masters.’ Inspired by the natural beauty of flowers, Sadi’s passion is the creation and dedication to her floral sugar-work. Truly lifelike, her blossoms capture a surreal quality that makes them incredibly unique. Sadi opened Cake Atelier Amsterdam after leaving the world of fashion for the sweet life of cake creation. Pretty, demure cakes whisper in sophisticated hues of crèmes. pinks, greens, and blues, while giant handcrafted and hand-painted flowers seem to bloom right before your very eyes atop Sadi’s classic cake shapes. She loves to offer newly wedded couples sugar flowers inspired by their wedding day as a treasured keepsake, a lasting one-of-a-kind reminder of their celebration. How masterful! – JA www.cakeatelieramsterdam

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@cakeatelieramsterdam

Cynz Cakes MONTREAL

Cynthia Irani of Cynz Cakes refers to herself as a cake artist, and it’s no wonder, her cakes are like paintings. From the tender age of 7, this Montreal based cake-creator began her passion for baking. Using color, dimension, texture and a brushstroke-like technique on minimally shaped cakes, Irani transforms the bespoke wedding cake into a one-of-a-kind centerpiece meant to dazzle the occasion. And because the inside is just as important as the outside, Cynz Cakes are crafted from delicious, all-natural ingredients like Madagascan vanilla bean, citrus blossom, fresh lemon zest, and coconut cream. – JA www.cynzcakes.com

@cynzcakes

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La Ombre Creations CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

Cake-creator Saadia Masood of La Ombre Creations crosses the boundaries between fashion and cake design. A former Pakistan-based dress designer, Masood traded fabric for buttercream and couture gowns for couture cakes when she relocated to Amaroo, Canberra, Australia. Her signature sugar-lace artwork and extravagant details in gilt, pearls and sugar flowers set her cakes apart.

Inspired by fashion, fine art and architecture, Masood challenges traditional mores of pastry politesse with her unabashed love of gold and black, washes of ombre color, dollops of meringue clouds and pearl-filled macarons. Masood’s more is-more aesthetic is an all-out celebration of brilliant, bold style. – JA www.laombrecreations.com.au @laombrecreations

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Ms. B’s Cakery HONG KONG

When Bonnae Gokson, an icon of the luxury fashion world, created her version of a patisserie, you knew it was going to be pastry-perfection. Based in Hong Kong and known for exquisitely designed cakes, inside and out, Ms. B’s Cakery is the go-to for the bride who wants nothing short of cake couture.

Gokson’s signature handmade sugar flowers and buttercream details and poufs of cotton candy add a whimsical touch to her pristinely crafted cakes. Butterflies, exotic flowers, and buttercream ribbons bring a delicate femininity to these sweet treats. Layers of mouth watering flavors (and colors) like café au lait, pistachio chiffon, and lemon & poppy seed compliment fillings of fresh fruit, coconut cream, and chocolate mousse. Divine cakes from the divine Ms. B. – JA www.msbscakery.hk

@msbscakery

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Atelier Soo SEOUL

In 2012, South Korean cake-creator Hyungyun Choi opened Atelier Soo and set off a new global trend of buttercream floral cake design that took the wedding world by surprise. Choi’s vibrant, fantasy floral designs are almost too pretty to eat, mimicking luscious bridal bouquets in palettes that range from plush pastels, gentle neutrals and of course, her signature wreath-like design in rich rainbow shades. Each cake is one-of-a-kind and composed with painstaking precision so the range of colors and floral shapes compliment the overarching design of each individual cake. Choi’s mastery of buttercream is an art form in and of itself. – JA www.soocake.com @soocake_ully

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Rice & Flower NEW YORK

In the New York city-based Rice & Flower flower cake design studio, it’s nearly impossible to distinguish cake-creator Seyun’s buttercream flowers from the real thing. Each handcrafted blossom is hand-piped, colored, and composed of classic buttercream or a sweet white beanpaste frosting. Inspired by the masterworks of impressionist painters, Seyun seamlessly blends fantasy with reality. Minimal, single-color cakes form the neutral base which serves as a blank canvas that highlights her signature floral edible artwork. Pretty, multi-color buds are imbued with a striking lifelike resemblance and spirit in their delicacy and composition. – JA www.riceandflower.com @riceandflower

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The IS FASHION ART? By definition, ART is the ‘expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.’

Esoterics aside, the artistry of Ines Di Santo and all true fashion designers working today transcends the outdated idea that fashion is simply commerce. For those of us that literally wear our heart on our sleeves, we know that the emotional power, the beauty, the creative skill, and the raw imagination it takes to create a wedding gown has at its core, the very intention of turning a bride into a priceless masterpiece for one of the most significant moments in her life.

And if that’s not art, we don’t know what is.

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F RT

Fo

FASHION

Portrait of

Evoke the exotic spirit of 18th century Chinoiserie with lush touches and a deep reverence to the fantastical far east.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AN LE

SITTING PRETTY.

Natural waist ball gown with floral appliques and beaded bodice.

Fred Leighton antique earrings and rings. New York Vintage feathered capelet.

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SET AGAINST A DECADENT BACKDROP

of Asian ornamentation, mythical Japanese gardens and gilded artwork, Ines Di Santo explores the sumptuous French fine arts movement of Chinoiserie for Spring 2019.

Opulent embroideries and Rococo-rich detailing delicately inform Di Santo’s Couture Wedding Collection while whimsical Chinoise-inspired accessories provide the dramatic stamp to her signature style.

THE LOOK OF LOVE. Fred Leighton antique earrings. New York Vintage feathered capelet.

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ZEN REPOSE. ARIA off-the-shoulder gown with poet sleeves, embroidered illusion bodice and soft organza skirt.

Fred Leighton antique diamond earrings and ring. New York Vintage straw hat.

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STATE OF GRACE. Embroidered ELLA gown with plunging sweetheart neckline, tulle Juliet sleeves and soft A-line skirt.

Fred Leighton antique diamond earrings and ring.

Beauty brightens the wedding day with a purity of conduct at bay, And innocence lies dormant now marked by uncertainty on the brow A wedding, like a bell doth ring, Attached to the heart with a string, And ecstasy, dawning the eyes, Reflects the marvel of the skies The vows taken on a wedding day by far, like a sanctity of life and character are, And the animation in the eyes more bright than the moonlight on a tranquil night.

– “Beauty of a Wedding Day” by Joseph T. Renaldi

LOVE BLOSSOMS. Embroidered MILA gown with deep V-neckline, soft detachable poet sleeves and slim, sheath silhouette. Fred Leighton antique earrings and ring.

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Photography @anlestudio Video @indigital.tv Styling @accessoteur Hair @felixfischerhair Makeup @tiahebron for @bobbibrown Set @jocelini_bodini Production @mahaliawats Creative Director @deborahsmoses

Only you and I, Only you and I, my love, Listen to me.

– “La Reina” by Pablo Neruda

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STILL LIFE. Compose yourself in encrusted GRACIE ball gown with detachable overskirt and sleeves.

Stoned

STRIKE A POSE IN A MODERNIST MASTERPIECE FROM INES DI SANTO PHOTOGRAPHY BY AN LE

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Diva this is your moment.

Like all great artists, Ines Di Santo is meticulous in her medium, sculpting fabric over form with precision, carving each silhouette to perfection.

Every bead, every pleat, every drape is stitched with the artistry of couture handcraft informed and inspired by the language of love.

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IN THE ABSTRACT. It’s more than an expression of artistry in AMSTERDAM ruched satin trumpet gown worn under embellished Amsterdam floor-length cape.

Sylph

Photography @anlestudio Video @albertocaruana Styling @accessoteur Hair @keithcarpenterhair Makeup @ralphsiciliano Set @stocktonhall Production @mahaliawats Creative Director @deborahsmoses

TRUE TO FORM. You’re carved to perfection from every angle with off-the-shoulder, bell-sleeve ASTRID trumpet gown worn with pearl beaded draped cape.

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Aphrodite

MIGHTY APHRODITE. It’s easy to secure your icon status in pink WYTHE sweetheart, ruched trumpet gown with Swarovski crystal brooch and dramatic Wythe bow.

STILL LIFE. Compose yourself in encrusted GRACIE ball gown with detachable overskirt and sleeves.

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Siren MASTERPIECE. You will arguably be a tour de force in embroidered CARNEGIE trumpet gown with detachable overskirt and embroidered Carnegie bolero.

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Nymphette PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE. You’re one of a kind in TIFFANY blue encrusted grand ball gown with cathedral train.

Muse WORK OF ART. Bring fashion to life in (left page) the pink WYTHE sweetheart, ruched trumpet gown with Swarovski crystal brooch and dramatic Wythe bow or the (right page) encrusted GRACIE ball gown with detachable overskirt and sleeves.

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Venus ONE OF A KIND. Be uniquely you in AMSTERDAM ruched satin trumpet gown.

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E nchantress

IN THE ABSTRACT. It’s more than an expression of artistry in AMSTERDAM ruched satin trumpet gown worn under embellished Amsterdam floor-length cape.

STRICTLY

BALLRO

OOM

THE BALL GOWN RETURNS TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT AS THE ULTIMATE STATEMENT OF RARIFIED GLAMOUR AND ELEGANCE.

BY JULI ALVAREZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY AN LE

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NOTHING SAYS ‘WEDDING GOWN’ QUITE LIKE A BALL GOWN. BIG, JUICY BALL GOWNS FULL OF AIR AND ROMANCE CONVEY THE NEW SPIRIT OF THE 21ST CENTURY BRIDE. BUT TRADITION PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE, TOO. DI SANTO’S COUTURE BALL GOWNS ARE A PURE EXPRESSION OF OLD-WORLD CHARM MIXED WITH A MODERN SENSIBILITY, DEDICATED TO THE BRIDE WITH A CONSIDERED PERSONAL STYLE. EXUBERANT, TWIRLING BALL SKIRTS, TULLE PETTICOATS AND TRANSPARENT BEJEWELED LAYERS VIBRATE WITH A NEWFOUND DASH OF EXCITEMENT. CAN YOU HEAR THE BECKON CALL?

BALL GOWN BLITZ.

(previous page) The shape of things to come begins with (from left, clockwise) SERENITY tulle ball gown with embellished ballerina neckline. SOFIA plunging V-neck ball gown with corset back and sheer hoop skirt. TAYLOR high-low ball gown with encrusted bodice and layered tiers.

HARPER ball gown with embroidered illusion cap sleeve bodice and textured ball skirt.

SKYLAR blue ball gown with embellished old-world boned corset and frothy ball skirt.

PEYTON off-the-shoulder ball gown. Duchess satin turbans from Suzanne Couture Millinery.

CRYSTAL BALL.

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(Above left and facing page) The magic shines through in SOFIA plunging V-neck ball gown with corset back and sheer hoop skirt worn over matching paillette cigarette pant. Duchess satin turban from Suzanne Couture Millinery.

C

LOSE YOUR EYES.

IMAGINE YOU ARE SPINNING AND BENEATH YOU IS THE WHIRL OF A FULL BALL SKIRT, CATCHING THE AIR WITH ITS LUSCIOUS FABRIC AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF LAYERED TULLE, BODICE FITTED, HOLDING ON TIGHT, WITH TOUCHES OF LACE, BEADING AND THE MOST EXQUISITE EMBROIDERIES EVER. NOW IMAGINE THIS IS YOUR DRESS ON YOUR WEDDING DAY. THE EXPERIENCE OF WEARING AND MOVING AND JUST BEING IN A BALL GOWN IS LIKE NO OTHER. JUST THINK ABOUT IT, HAVE YOU EVER WORN A BALL GOWN? MOST OF US HAVEN’T. NOT YET ANYWAY. THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY CHOOSING A BALL GOWN FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY MAKES IT SO SPECIAL.

PHOTO @MIKECOLON

IT’S MEANT FOR A RARE OCCASION.

Carnegie

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F

Vanderbilt

Sylvie

rom the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century through the 1950’s, the ball gown was the pinnacle of status fashion.

Worn by royalty, aristocracy and the cultural elite, the ball gown was, and continues, to be a full-throated expression of decadent desire. Conjure an image of a young, vibrant Marie Antoinette decked in perfect ball gown fashion for her day, emulated by Kirstin Dunst for Sophia Coppola’s modern cinematic version of the young French queen. The fantasy alone is enough to inspire for decades to come.

Every Queen of England worth her crown has ruled her respective kingdom in a ball gown. Queen Victoria, a true trendsetting royal gave her stamp of approval in 1842 for brides to wear a white ball gown on their wedding day.

Clearly a woman ahead of her time. American designer Charles James created some of the most important ball gowns of his day back in the 40’s and 50’s, as well as Christian Dior after the second World War which brought some much-needed fantasy back into fashion. Some of the most iconic ball gown imagery was created during this period celebrating the pure, unadultered chic of the ball gown and the presence of the women wearing them.

Today, the ball gown is reserved for brides, debutantes and the red carpet. But make no mistake, the historical provenance and future promise of this singular garment is as important as ever. The ball gown’s storied significance is certainly not lost on Ines Di Santo. Breathing a fresh new energy and light into bridal ball gowns has become a signature of the brand. Di Santo marries the perfect balance of fantasy and function in each gown as she designs with her bride in mind.

Recent collections by Di Santo have seen the return of several key design elements. The classic, couture corset complete with perfectly engineered boning that creates the optimal silhouette from the waist to the shoulder couples with a delicate, lingerie-like, lace-up back serving as a graceful touch while baring a sexy, sliver of skin.

Di Santo’s hallmark embroidery, beading and draped strands of pearls and crystals add dimension that intoxicate wearer and beholder alike.

Gone are the days of heavy, cumbersome ball skirts.

Di Santo deconstructs these power puffs from the inside out, leaving only the essential underpinnings and couture crinolines that form her weightless, new structures. Constructing a dress is like building a house, the foundation comes first. Fashion a close second. A very close second. But architecture aside, you can always expect the unexpected from Ines Di Santo. Each season she designs the next generation of ball gowns destined to become modern classics in their own right, and more importantly the dream dresses for lucky brides-to-be.

Collection after collection, Di Santo expands her vision of the ball gown. Like an artist with a brush, she goes beyond the classic canvas of cool optic white and creamy shades of ivory. to include a soft, painterly palette of pastels. Pretty

Light

Confection

Continued on page 70

Kensington

Confection

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PHOTO @ MIKECOLON

Photography @anlestudio Video @indigital.tv Styling @accessoteur Hair @felixfischerhair Makeup @tiahebron for @bobbibrown Set @jocelini_bodini Production @mahaliawats Creative Director @deborahsmoses

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Continued from page 67

pink, soothing sky blues, lavish lilac and sweet Georgia peach, transform the traditional bridal mode. You might even find them swirled together arranged like the perfect bridal bouquet balancing light, dark, color and texture.

Never one to shy away from a little glitz and glamour, Di Santo in perfect, hallmark fashion pours on the crystals, pearls, sequins, and all manor of jewels that her brides demand. Leading the way in embellished elegance, an Ines Di Santo ball gown is not for the shrinking violet, but for a bride confident in her style and comfortable in her own skin.

This season Di Santo upped the fashion-ante by layering her Madison

Skylar

Brielle

Claire

RUNWAY PHOTOGRAPHY @FIRSTVIEWPHOTO, @MIKECOLON

Tiffany gown signature bejeweled bridal cigarette trousers beneath the sheer-est of ball gowns for that bride, you know who you are, who’s willing to go the distance for fashion’s sake.

But fear not, for that spirit, that spark of surprise exists in all Ines Di Santo ball gowns. It’s her modus operandi, her design magic. From the turn of a beaded shoulder strap to the twist and tailor of the juiciest of bows, Di Santo’s ball gowns are destined for the belle of the ball, you.

Whoosh!

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Harper

Gracie

Gracie

71

PHOTO @MIKECOLON

PASSION FLOWER. Let the rhythm of fashion move you in lingerie-strap HAILEY mini with appliqued illusion and ostrich feather hem. Carolina Amato customized lace gloves.

Le

Jardin

AGIQUE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AN LE

Step into the magical world of Ines Di Santo, Explore your fashion fantasies with the feminine touch of flowers, feathers and frills. Let your imagination run free.

Di Santo will inspire your inner bride with dresses that capture the mystical spirit of your wildest dreams.

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WILDFLOWER. Your love grows wild and free in ANNA, illusion and lace soft trumpet gown with V-neckline.

Carolina Amato customized sheer gloves.

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SHEER INDULGENCE. Love blossoms come rain or shine in HAILEY organza trench with bejeweled and ostrich feathered pockets.

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LES PLUMES. Birds of a feather will flock together in blue, all-over embellished, QUEEN ANNE LAKE jumpsuit with plunging neckline. New York Vintage powder blue feather capelet.

Photography @anlestudio Video @indigital.tv Styling @accessoteur Hair @felixfischerhair Makeup @tiahebron for @bobbibrown Set @jocelini_bodini Production @mahaliawats Creative Director @deborahsmoses

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WILDFLOWER. Your love grows wild and free in ANNA, illusion and lace soft trumpet gown with V-neckline.

Carolina Amato customized sheer gloves.

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FULL BLOOM. Max out your flower power in CLAIRE corset ball gown with single floral strap and hi-low skirt in three-dimensional floral organza. Carolina Amato customized sheer gloves.

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La

DOLCE ITA

V

Love, Italian Style Bethany and Sarkis take in the magnificent view.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TANIA SHEPARD

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July 9, 2018 Villa Cimbrone Amalfi coast, Italy

Bethany Sarkis

Bohemian Rhapsody Wild-flowers courtesy of Malafronte Floral Design.

Note the tiny touches of blue in a nod to the bride’s gown.

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P

erched along the Amalfi Coast

sits the magnificent Villa Cimbrone in the historic seaside village of Ravello, Italy. This picturesque 5th century town is home to beautiful lush gardens, open-air concerts, ancient castles and legendary churches, some dating back thousands of years.

Marrying your beloved in a location roughly 5,791 miles from your home is nothing short of miraculous.

With the help of their wedding planner, Lindeman Weddings (they specialize in far-flung nuptials), Bethany and Sarkis were able to create the perfect union accompanied by an intimate group of family and close friends in a setting so magical, it looked like a dream.

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Romancing The Stone The ivy-covered courtyard at the magical Villa Cimbrone.

The Location

Getting Ready The Ladies

Dressing Room (clockwise from top left) Be-ribboned thank-you gifts; Bethany’s gown lights up the room with her blue hue; the bride’s pear-shaped blue topaz ring from Drukker Designs; Bethany chose metallic Aquazzura sandals with a block heel, perfect to navigate the location’s cobblestone grounds; a pair of dazzling crystal earrings from Nina Bridal; pre-ceremony celebratory bubbly.

Something Blue (right page) Bethany’s blue crew adjusts her gown’s grand train.

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Getting Ready The Gents

Suiting Up (clockwise from top left) The groom contemplates a shirtless look; Sarkis’ tea-rose boutonniere; shirted groomsmen toast the groom; the groom’s vows; tying the knot; the groom’s accessories.

Toile de Jouy (left page) The lining of Sarkis’ custom suit

by Custom by Mario’s shows how guys can rock a floral print.

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Quiet Repose

U

Good taste.

The couple indulges in a few sips before the ceremony gets under way.

nder the beautiful blue skies of Ravello, Bethany took her vows in Ines Di Santo’s BRIELLE gown, a dramatic blue ball gown of exquisitely embellished tulle and long matching sleeves. By some crazy twist of fate or intuition, the bride selected a wedding gown as blue as the sea and the sky that set the scene for this small, chic celebration. Bethany remarks on her choice, “I knew it was the right gown for me because it ticked all the boxes that I had in my mind – unique, flattering, and comfortable.

I made the decision early on to go with a ball gown – I didn’t want to worry about the amount of bubbly or pasta that I had on my wedding day.”

And as much as the bride’s dress was a major statement, she carried it off with a natural ease and elegance. She styled it with a pair of sparkling crystal Nina Bridal earrings and a blue topaz ring from Drukker Designs.

Careful not to upstage the dress, Bethany and her hair and makeup artist, Sequoia Leopold of Flawless Beauty Bar, complimented it with a simple ballerina bun, a glamorous smoky eye and the bride’s favorite lip color.

Bethany’s groom, Sarkis, has an equally educated eye for style, color and details. His custom blue linen suit by Mario’s was lined in a beautiful blue floral toile print. The groom’s stylist, Luke Woellhof, added a pair of marine blue suede loafers and a sky blue silk tie and belt for some authentic Italian flair. The groomsmen were also outfitted in super smart custom blue suits from Mario’s.

Because the Villa Cimbrone is such a magnificent backdrop for a wedding celebration, the couple wanted to keep the mood understated and elegant.

And in perfect symbiotic style, Bethany’s wedding gown served as inspiration for their invitations, flowers, and wedding website. Local florist Malafronte Floral Design created a natural, slightly wild look for the bouquets, the outdoor ceremony and the reception giving the appearance that they were freshly plucked from the villa’s gardens moments before the couple said I Do.

Acknowledging that this was the best day of her life, Bethany cherished the moment when her mom walked her down the aisle, and of course when she and Sarkis said their vows. “Brides and grooms should write their own vows. Tell the stories of your shared experiences of love, joy, hardship, and let those shape the vows that you make to your husband or wife. Reciting our vows turned out to be the best part of the entire day.”

Now, THAT’S amore!

– Juli Alvarez

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It’s Time...

Bride Squad (left page) Bethany chose pretty blue-grey dresses with smoky grey beading for her bridesmaids.

A Vision in Blue (right page) Here comes the bride.

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Secret Garden Bouquet in hand, the bride readies for her walk down the aisle as mom looks on.

The Ceremony 98

The Moment is Near. (left page) The string quartet played All Of Me by John Legend for Bethany’s walk down the aisle; guests make their way to the ceremony.

Down the Aisle. (right page) The mother-of-the-bride escorts her daughter to the groom’s side.

A bridesmaid and groomsman make their entrance.

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Blue Man Group.

The dashing groom and his guys await the bride in blue.

Hand in hand.

The bride and groom stand together at the altar with one of Sarkis’ best friends as officiant.

At the Altar of Love The groom recites his vows to Bethany.

I Do! Family and friends bear witness to Bethany and Sarkis’ joyful ceremony.

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The Happy Couple Time to celebrate!

Cocktails

Good Times.

A small group of family and close friends gather after the ceremony to toast the couple and celebrate their spectacular day.

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All Smiles.

The blissful bride takes a moment for a glass of champagne.

The Reception

Dinner is Served.

The spectacular set-up for the wedding reception at the Villa Cimbrone overlooks the estate’s luxe gardens and soaring mountaintop view.

Share The Love. (from left) The bride and groom have fun with their guests; a toast to the couple; mothers-of-the-bride and groom.

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An Affair to Remember.

Classic crystal, twinkling candles, and buckets of Italian champagne await the wedding party.

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The Party

Dance The Night Away.

After their first dance to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud,’ the couple boogied with their besties.

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Sweet Tooth.

Villa Cimbrone provided the traditional Italian wedding cake, a Millefoglie, a thousand layered cake of puff pastry, Chantilly cream and fresh strawberries.

WEDDING GOWN: @inesdisanto BRIDAL SALON: @nordstromsea BRIDE’S EARRINGS: @ninashoesbridal BRIDE’S RING: @drukker_designs BRIDE’S SHOES: @aquazzura BRIDE’S HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST: @flawlessbeautybars BRIDESMAID DRESSES: @anthropologie GROOM’S & GROOMSMENS’ SUITS: @stylemarios GROOM STYLIST: @stylemarios WEDDING LOCATION: @villacimbrone WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: @azzuraphotography WEDDING PLANNER: @lindemanweddings FLORIST: @malafrontefiori WEDDING CAKE: @villacimbrone

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R

A FINE

OMANCE

A nna & E ddi e

The

M arch 24, 2018 B ever ly H i lls H ote l

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DMITYRY SHUMANEV

W

hat happens when a picture-perfect couple living the life in Beverly Hills decide to tie the knot?

Well, they throw an equally picture-perfect wedding at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, naturally. After four years of dating and an elaborate surprise engagement scheme cooked up by the groom, which included an invisible friend, mysterious text messages sent by said invisible friend and a glamorous photo shoot set-up, Anna and Eddie made it official. With the help of wedding planner extraordinaire, Aliana Events, Anna and Eddie created the modern fairytale wedding Anna had always hoped for.

Built in 1954, The Beverly Hills Hotel served as the ideal backdrop, bringing an air of old Hollywood glamour to the couple’s posh wedding. The charming pink-themed hotel is an iconic Los Angeles destination, its halls and intimate garden cabanas filled with the history (and secrets) of the rich and famous. The bride and groom loved the location and used it as a springboard for the final look of the wedding to create their version of a modern fairytale, complete with an elegant ballroom, a grand staircase, chandeliers galore, winding gardens and a quirky color palette.

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A

nd what about the dress? Oh, that dress! When Anna began her quest for a wedding gown, it was her mother-inlaw that pressed her to try on the Ines Di Santo YVETTE gown at Lovella Bridal Salon. She knew she wanted something that had a royal feeling, a dress that felt important, but wasn’t sure she could carry off a big ball gown, until she put it on. The day she tried it on for her mother and the both of them ended up in tears, she was pretty sure that was the one.

Her gown had everything she envisioned; a princess bride-vibe, long sleeves, a sexy, low-cut neckline and exquisite overall embellishment. But it was that big swoosh of a ball skirt that sealed the deal. Paired with Eddie’s dashing dinner jacket look for a cross between James Bond and Frank Sinatra, these two were a match made in heaven, and possibly even the silver screen.

In keeping with the modern fairytale theme, Anna selected a soft, pretty wedding palette of white, cream and touches of silver that were reflected in the décor, the flowers and the cake. A pop of blush was the perfect accent of color for the bridesmaids and Maid-of-Honor dresses. Bucking tradition, Eddie partnered with his future bride and the talented team from Aliana Events to help organize, negotiate and plan the wedding from A – Z. They made every decision together and even attended their vendor meetings in unison. Anna loved the experience and was delighted to have her groom so involved. Eddie managed the budgeting and final negotiations and Anna took on the creative side. The bride drew heavily from Instagram and social media as she went through the process of pulling a mood board together to find just the right ideas for every detail.

As effortless and magical as Anna and Eddie’s wedding looked, Anna’s advice tofuture brides-to-be isn’t about the table settings or invitations or which color lipstick to wear, although we’re pretty sure she could give us some brilliant tips. Anna recalls, “When friends and family told me how fast the day goes, I really didn’t understand what they meant. But in truth, it’s over in a heartbeat. My advice to brides, and grooms, is to relax and enjoy the ride, enjoy the day to the fullest and don’t get upset if everything doesn’t go as planned.

It will all work out in the end.”

– Juli Alvarez THE LOOK OF LOVE. The happy couple meet for their first look photos.

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RAISE A GLASS. Cheers to the bubbly bride!

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GARDEN PARTY. Anna and her pink ladies celebrate on the grounds at the Beverly Hills Hotel surrounded by its private pink cabanas.

ALL THE PRETTY DETAILS. (clockwise from Top left) Anna’s gown waits patiently for it’s official debut.; chic little welcome bags for wedding guests; the bridal bouquet is a classic mix of white and ivory roses and peonies by Butterfly Floral Design; tokens of love, Anna’s engagement ring and Eddie’s wedding band.

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IT TAKES A VILLAGE. Anna’s bridesmaids swing into action while the bride calms her nerves with a kiss from mom.

MAN CAVE. Eddie’s best man on bow-tie duty.

CRAZY ‘BOUT A SHARP DRESSED MAN. (clockwise from Top left) The guys gather for the big moment; The groom’s style is on point; classic patent tuxedo shoes by Ferragamo; Eddie poses for a quick, relaxed portrait.

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KOOL & THE GANG. Eddie and his groomsmen suit up for the big day.

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BOND, JAMES BOND. The handsome groom exudes silver screen style in a classic shawl-collar dinner jacket tuxedo.

BLUSHING BRIDESMAIDS. Anna’s only requirement for her bridesmaids and Maid-of-Honor (sister Julia to her left) was simple: wear a blush-colored dress that makes you feel beautiful.

I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU. The couple shares a quiet moment before the ceremony.

STAIRCASE TO HEAVEN. (facing page) The bride makes a statement with Ines Di Santo’s embellished, cloud-like cathedral length train as she makes her way down the iconic, grand staircase at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

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CARTE BLANCHE. The couple’s classic color scheme of white, ivory and touches of silver set the scene for a beautiful garden ceremony.

ALL DOLLED UP. Anna with a future princess-bride-to-be, Flower Girl Capri.

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TAKE MY HAND. A tender moment at the altar.

I DO. The couple takes their vows under a chuppah of white orchids and roses.

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THIS MAGIC MOMENT. Anna and Eddie wrapped in tallit.

MAZEL TOV. The groom crushes it.

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AT LAST. It’s official!

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WE CAME TO DANCE. The party’s just getting started.

TABLE MANNERS. Wedding planner, Aliana Events, created a sophisticated, monochromatic look for the reception filling the ballroom with a powdery color scheme of white and cream flowers and table settings.

Clear crystal and Lucite accented with mirrored elements gave the room a clean, modern touch.

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PARTY ON. (clockwise from Top left) Anna and Eddie hit the dance floor; Anna’s bridesmaids share the love with some sentimental words for the couple; the white chocolate, blueberry and walnut filled wedding cake from The Butter End is almost too pretty to eat; guests look on as the bride surprises her groom with a song.

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MR. & MRS. The couple gives their newlywed status a whirl.

WEDDING GOWN: @inesdisanto BRIDAL SALON: @lovellabridal BRIDE’S EARRINGS & HEADPIECE: @jenniferbehr BRIDE’S SHOES: @manoloblahnikhq HAIRSTYLIST: @natali_lalaland MAKEUP ARTIST: @facesbyrob GROOM’S TUXEDO: @suitsupply WEDDING LOCATION: @bevhillshotels WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: @dmitry_shumanev WEDDING PLANNER: @alianaevents FLORIST: @butterflyfloral WEDDING CAKE: @thebutterend

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INES DI SANTO Creative Director

VERONICA DI SANTO

DAWN BROMANDER

Managing Partner

President

info@inesdisanto.com

info@inesdisanto.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS inesdisanto@atelierpr.com

Sales LORI WEISMAN Executive VP Bridal lori@inesdisanto.com

inesdisanto.com

PHOTO @AZZURAPHOTOGRAPHY