Today's Bride Showcase - April 2014

INSIDE:

Radiant Orchid – Color of the Year Unplugged Weddings

Naked Cakes:

These unfrosted beauties are set to take over in 2014

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Publisher: Jadlyn Incorporated 1930 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road Akron, Ohio 44333 330-670-9545 • 216-393-5677 FAX: 330-670-9546 admin@TodaysBride.com www.TodaysBride.com Chief Marketing Officer: James J. Frericks Chief Operating Officer: Denise L. Frericks Vice President of Shows & Internet Operations: Jennifer Judy Fyffe Bridal Marketing Account Managers: Rachel Yagl Kristin Fox

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Office Manager: Colleen Ahern

Wedding Time Every year millions of people walk down the aisle and begin the start of their new lives together as couples. December is one of the more popular months in which to get engaged, but other months of the year are more popular for weddings.

The decision on when to get married depends on a host of factors. Some couples choose the date based on availability with a church or reception hall, while others might prefer to walk down the aisle during a specific season. Some couples choose to coordinate their wedding with a special event, such as a birthday or another day of note. Most couples decide on a wedding month primarily for the weather. That’s why summer and fall are the most popular times of the year in which to get married. For your reference, here is a list of the most popular months to tie the knot.

. June 1 2. October 3. September 4. May 5. July

6. August 7. April 8. March 9. November 10. January 11. February 12. December

Web/Graphic Designer: Jamie Winebrenner Social Media & Content Stylist: Denise Wright Staff Photography/Graphics Assistant: Abby Frericks Content Assistant: Liz Pruitt All articles and advertisements are property of Jadlyn Incorporated and may not be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Jadlyn Incorporated is not responsible or liable for any errors, misprints, misquotes or omissions. Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved. Today’s Bride is not responsible for unsolicited editorial material unless a self-addressed stamped return envelope is included. Advertisement in this publication does not imply the endorsement of Today’s Bride magazine, Jadlyn Inc. or any of its representatives. For further information call our offices at 330-670-9545 or 216-393-5677. Printed in the USA. For a complete listing of our cover credits, please visit:

www.TodaysBrideOnline.com/covercredits.php

Less popular months for weddings may be easier to book in terms of availability, and certain vendors may discount items because of a slower season. Having a wedding during this time can be advantageous if money is tight.

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Couples find new way to ask their guests to disconnect from their devices

S

o there you are at the altar, gazing lovingly into the eyes of your beloved as you exchange vows. You turn to sneak a quick glance at your guests … and are greeted by a sea of down-turned faces staring at their LCD screens.

Sound familiar? Welcome to the era of over-documented everything – where a cell-phone free dinner is now a novelty instead of the norm. For many couples, it’s probably not a surprise that their guests are so eager to hit the shutter button when their big day rolls around. But is it welcome?

While some couples encourage their friends and family to snap as many photos as possible throughout the wedding day – maybe even asking them to download a photo-sharing app or use a special hashtag on Instagram – others are asking their guests to power down their tech gadgets for the day.

Truth is: There are strong arguments for both sides. For the tech-friendlier couple, there might be something extra special

that comes with seeing your wedding day from your guests’ perspectives. Some couples, on the other hand, would say that they’d just about die if they got their wedding photos back and all their favorite people were staring at their iPhone screens. If you’re ½ of the latter-mentioned couple, the Unplugged Wedding is for you.

If you do opt for a device-free wedding day, know that there are right and, well, less right ways to make your request.

For starters, you’ll want to spread the word even before your big day. Proper wedding etiquette would tell you (and we would agree!) that your invitation is not the place to make this announcement.

Chelsi Lee Designs

LM AC Ph oto gra ph y

Unplugged Weddings

Instead, you might opt to include it on your wedding website and/or share with your guests by word-of-mouth.

On the day of the wedding, there are several (easy!) ways to get your point across. You could include text on your ceremony program or have a sign placed near your venue entrance that states something to the effect of: “Welcome to our Unplugged Wedding. We invite you to be fully present with us during our ceremony. Please turn off all cell phones and cameras. Thank You.” You might even have your Officiant make a brief note of your request before the ceremony begins.

While the trend at celebrity weddings has been to ask guests to check their devices at the door, you might want to weigh that option heavily. It’s certainly possible that some of your guests will not feel comfortable handing over their phones for the day.

When you think about it, perhaps no one is a bigger advocate for an Unplugged Wedding than your photographer. After all, you’re trusting them to get the best shots of your big day; overzealous “guest photographers” who step out into the aisles – and into your photographer’s gorgeous shots – can often compromise those professional pictures.

While some of your guests might like to remember the day from images they’ve downloaded onto their own computers, politely request that they relive the day from their own memories instead – and remind them that you’d be more than happy to share your photographer’s images once you’ve received them.

Above all, when you’re deciding if a device-free wedding is right for you, the biggest thing you’ll need to consider is the reaction you want from your guests. If you’d love to see their excitement about posting photos on social media, then maybe you’d rather not go unplugged.

Then again, in a day where most people might feel the need to ‘capture’ everything in order for their experience to feel complete, maybe you’d rather people put down their cameras and simply watched – and clapped and smiled and cried – right along with you.

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confidence and imparts joy, health & love

Radiant Orchid inspires

hat’s pretty and feminine and darling all over? Pantone’s Color of the Year – that’s what!

Pantone, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, announced Radiant Orchid as the official Color of the Year.

Naturally, you’ll find this pigment dazzling on many runways and magazine covers, but you’ll also see it in weddings aplenty over the course of the calendar year. When it comes to weddings specifically, there are a variety of ways you might incorporate this captivating shade of purple.

First: Your color palette. The wonderful thing about Radiant Orchid is that it’s just as adaptable as it is beautiful. For a subtle effect, it pairs brilliantly with pale pinks, silvers, olives & hunter greens. If you’re looking for something more dramatic for your color scheme, pairing this purple hue with a turquoise, teal, light yellow or even red would create the eye-catching excitement you’re seeking.

La Valle fotografi

While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.

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Art Photography by Valerie

ZMEDIA

Radiant Orchid is a pure dream when it comes to your wedding fashion needs. The rosy undertones of this color radiate on the skin, which produces a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. (Hello, you know your little ring bearer would look adorable in a purple vest!) Even if you decide to just put your maids in this beautiful shade, choosing men’s fashions in a light gray would make for a lovely combination.

When it comes to your beauty routine for the big day, this versatile color creates a seductive recipe when teamed up with reds. It also pairs well with its sister shades – including lavender and various hues of purple and pink. Because it coordinates so well with the aforementioned colors, it’s a natural choice for your wedding day make-up or even your nails.

Whichever way you might choose to incorporate Radiant Orchid into your wedding, just know that you’ll be bringing an element of feminine radiance and creativity that both you and your guests will admire. That alone makes it a natural complement to your celebration.

Pale Pink

Silver

Olive

Hunter Green

Turquoise

Teal

Light Yellow

Red

Inlux Photo

The Perfect Pairing

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Time to Get Naked

F

irst things first. Don’t worry: This article is G-rated. There are no adultthemed cakes here, just the latest trend in wedding cakes: simple, beautiful naked cakes.

Phewww! Now that we’ve established that, we can talk a little more about these beauties in depth. Naked wedding cakes, which are essentially unfrosted yet decorated cakes, have been popular in Europe for a number of years. Their popularity across the United States – particularly for couples who opt to have them at their weddings – has been a more of a recent development.

The simple design of naked cakes revolves

around the fact that the layers of cake are exposed – with absolutely no icing to cover the outside. The inside, consisting of generous layers of buttercream icing goodness and the occasional fruit filling in between, speaks for itself.

While some might call this an unfinished cake, others find this style to be very organic and naturally beautiful. Naked cakes are an especially great option for brides who might find a more traditional cake to be too artistic or intimidating to cut.

Naked cakes, on the other hand, extend more of a “comfort food feel.”

Because of this overall aesthetic, many brides find a naked cake to

be the perfect complement to their rustic or shabby chic theme. Don’t feel limited by that though: These unfrosted beauties can come in all shapes, sizes and flavors!

You can up the glam factor by adding fresh flowers, luscious berries or even absolutely adorable shades of ombre.

Ultimately, you can certainly choose to go a number of different creative directions with naked cakes. But the real value is that, when it really comes down to it, there is just something utterly wonderful, homey and downright comfortable about these natural-looking cakes. There is an honesty and a bare-it-all-ness to them. They’ve got nothing to hide. They are what they are, and they are beautiful.

And for that, we think these undressed cakes – with all their simple, understated elegance – will undoubtedly draw you & your guests in, pique your curiosity & add a touch of whimsy to your celebration.

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Above: Judy Pak Photography, Inset: Yolandé Marx Photography

Be on the lookout for these cakes that are baring it all

Get your wedding featured by Calling all brides!

Share your Real Wedding with us for a chance to be featured online and/or in the pages of Today’s Bride magazine.

Brendan Thomas Photography

Submissions accepted here:

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Upping the

Sophistication

Factor

I

n the world of weddings, the vintage tides have turned & waves of chic and “Great Gatsby” elegance are washing ashore. As wedding themes become more and more sophisticated, so do their catering counterparts. Think elegant but approachable.

With that in mind, today’s brides have moved beyond the standard wedding fare and have started expecting more of a restaurant quality meal.

The individual items of this meal can vary; they can be presented in a number of different ways … but across the board, these are the catering elements that are adding a fresh, inventive feel to weddings everywhere.

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Genevieve Nisly Photography

How to bring the elegance to your food & drinks

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Genevieve Nisly Photography Black Dog Photo Co.

It makes sense that couples would infuse classic menu items on their big day – after all, many are modeling their entire day on classic wedding themes. One way couples are paying homage to the traditional? They’re putting new spins on classic dishes with items like carving stations, gourmet mac ‘n cheese and baconwrapped everything.

SERVICE STYLE

The favorite service style to capture this year’s approachable elegance? While the waiters might be wearing black dinner jackets and white gloves, they’re helping present the food family style. This method of serving encourages your guest to interact with each other.

Another way to get everyone to mix & mingle? Have your caterer set up some super trendy food stations. The options for these are virtually endless – with everything from a Stir Fry Station to a Baked Potato or S’mores bar.

becoming a staple for more and more celebrations.

GOING VEGETARIAN, VEGAN & GLUTEN-FREE

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TIPPING A HAT TO THE CLASSICS

In the past, vegetarian, vegan or glutenfree choices for a wedding might have meant a pile of pasta on a plate or a bowl of skimpy salad. These days, however, almost anything goes.

Whether you’re offering up Butternut Squash Ravioli or a hearty risotto, there are a number of ways you can cater to guests with dietary restrictions. Of course, it’s still important to keep all your guests in mind – and have meat choices in addition to your alternative dishes.

Genevieve Nisly Photography

Choosing local cuisine could mean any number of things – from asking your caterer to use meats & veggies from local sources; to serving beer & wine from local breweries and wineries; to incorporating local food favors for your guests. While staying local may not be a new trend (it’s been popular for years now!), we do see it as a “trend” that’s gathering steam and

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STAYING LOCAL

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Genevieve Nisly Photography

Also, don’t be shy about asking what’s in the cakes and desserts at the bakery when doing your tastings. Sometimes they offer vegan or gluten-free options – options that are so yummy your guests won’t even taste the difference!

DRINK STATIONS & DISPLAYS

Drink stations are a lovely way to really get creative and interactive with your décor. An iced non-alcoholic beverage, set up in beverage dispensers for example, is the perfect way to help guests cool off before and/or after the ceremony.

Meanwhile, pre-dinner cocktails are still a popular choice but consider adding champagne in champagne saucers in order to up the sophistication factor.

LATE NIGHT SNACKS

Late night treats are still a big hit for weddings. You might opt for sliders, hot pretzels or even tacos served from a food truck. Whatever you choose, just sure to be sure to clear it with your venue first – there may be restrictions on outside food or a hiccup in your timeline.

WONDERING HOW MUCH FOOD YOU NEED? Get catering numbers for everything from side dishes to soft drinks: http://bit.ly/OehPti

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However you might choose to incorporate food trends at your wedding, keep in mind that the menu is an important part of the day. In fact, most guests would name food & entertainment as the biggest elements that can make or break a wedding reception.

We’re confident that these creative catering ideas will make your wedding stand out, while still adding that touch of class that every classic wedding needs.

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The

New Style

on the Block

Non-strapless gowns solidify a place in brides’ hearts

M

Allure Bridals

ove over strapless; there’s a new gown in town.

She’s bold, but conservative. And she’s definitely oh-so-chic.

It may be a blip on the radar or a trend-in-the-making. Whichever the case, bridal shop stylists are hearing more and more brides say, “I’ll have sleeves with that, please.” And whether it’s straps, sleeves or just a simple shrug, bridal designers are finding more and more ways to give these modern modest brides what they want.

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Brides by Demetrios Allure Bridals

Allure Bridals

Allure Bridals

Although strapless styles remain “the norm,” it’s safe to say their humble counterparts are creating a ripple effect. A few years ago, many salon owners would tell you about 75 percent of wedding dresses on their salon floor were strapless; these days it’s looking closer to 65-70 percent.

And if the trend continues, maybe one day, brides could even see more of a 50/50 ratio.

But why exactly does a bride choose strapless over sleeves? And vice versa?

The reasons are plenty.

First, because ball gowns and longer skirts are so popular, brides might prefer to show more skin on top – which makes them look and feel younger & more confident. Even women who don’t wear strapless dresses in their everyday affairs often feel drawn to them for their weddings.

Additionally, it may be more than the preferences of brides that are driving the strapless trend. When it comes down to it, strapless gowns are also much easier for designers to construct. Adding necklines and sleeves leads to more design challenges & severely alters the fit of the garment for each bride.

And while strapless is a clear-cut choice for many brides, it’s not so much for others. As lovely as a strapless gown can be, it can also bring a host of complications along with it. Take, for example, busty brides who need the extra support straps can give. Or, on the opposite site of the spectrum, the more flat-chested bride

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• Bateau • Illusion necklines • V-neck • Cap sleeves • Full neckline of choice, bare back • Lace sleeves • Off-the-shoulder • Square • Scoop • Cover/shrug over your strapless gown

Brides by Demetrios

Allure Bridals

10 Non-Strapless Styles You May Want to Consider

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Brides by Demetrios

Allure Bridals

who fears “wearing a strapless dress” will be more accurately described as “a night of worrying your strapless dress is about to fall off.”

Even having a good figure alone doesn’t guarantee you’ll look great in a strapless style. The thinnest of brides could put herself through an extensive workout routine, trying to make sure her arms are looking fabulous and strapless-ready.

Ultimately, every bride wants – and deserves – to look beautiful on her big day. The farthest things from her mind should be: a) Do my guests secretly think my armpits look flabby? and b) Can I dance in this dress without spending the whole night tugging on it?

Maybe you are a strapless bride though. Maybe you have killer arms & you want to show them off. And that’s okay. (Just please share your workout routine with the rest of us!)

But if you are a more conservative bride – or you even just want to explore your options – it’s nice to know that the fashion industry is making moves to accommodate you.

And those moves are so pretty and so stunning that you just might forget strapless was even an option.

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