Article of Interest
This article was featured in 'dailycandy' today and I thought it might be of use to some of you girls....
01/15/2003
Blame it on the mistletoe. One kiss led to another and ... now
you're engaged.
Welcome to hell. All the 'Best wishes!' in the world won't be a
**** bit of help when you're trying to perfectly execute your
nuptial vision.
Here's help: a one-stop bridal 411. Use it for yourself or pass
it along. It will save countless headaches during these blissful,
happy months.
The Gown
The whiter shades of pale and price tags all boil down to one
question: Will you still love it when you flip through the
wedding album in twenty years?
For a timeless look, go with vintage couture. Jana Starr
Antiques (236 East 80th Street, 212-535-6930; online at
http://members.aol.com/janabridal/index.html) is the best
resource for Edwardian and Victorian gowns.
Prefer the shock of the new? John Galliano's bridal collection
for Christian Dior will have everyone blushing -- not just the
bride (21 East 57th Street, 212-931-2950). Aussie designer
extraordinaire Lisa Gowing has finally made her gowns available
here (call 866-684-0658; or e-mail [email protected];
for styles, go to http://www.lisagowing.com.au/index.html).
For the gosh-darn prettiest, utterly over-the-top gowns, see
designer Mary Adams (138 Ludlow Street, 212-473-0237, online
at http://www.maryadamsthedress.com). Simple, elegant, and
surprisingly affordable, Jussara Lee is a godsend (11 Little
West 12th Street, 212-242-4128). Or pay a visit to Anna, and
ask for Kathy Kemp and Kimberle Vogan (150 East 3rd Street,
212-358-0195) for more great custom dresses.
Does the notion of sample sales thrill? Bookmark
http://www.bridesmade.com for its listings of
designer-wedding-dress sample sales.
The Gear
Face it: White shoes ****. Skip the heels and hit the aisle
in a jeweled barefoot sandal from Ladybead
(http://www.ladybead.com). Another no-heel option: thigh-high
Converse lace-up sneakers (custom made at Opening Ceremony,
35 Howard Street, 212-219-2688). When Mom freaks, just say,
'But it's couture!'
Sure you could do the veil, you pristine thing, you. But go
alterna-bride with a fresh-flower wreath from Lotus NYC
Flowers (161 Seventh Avenue, 212-463-0555).
Sexy and practical lingerie: Fill a flask with 'lemonade' and
tuck it into your garter belt (http://www.agentprovocateur.com).
That'll chase the nerves away.
The Girls and the Guy
Hey now. Friends don't let friends wear crappy bridesmaid
dresses. Proper brides send their friends to Serafina (25
West 36th Street, fourth floor, 212-253-2754;
http://www.serafina.net) or Thread (26 West 17th
Street, Suite 301, 212-414-8844; http://www.threaddesign.com).
The sweetest touch: La Crasia's silk fingerless mitts (304
Fifth Avenue, 212-695-0347; http://www.wegloveyou.com).
Okay, the bloke (your best accessory). Love a guy in an
Armani tux (760 Madison Avenue, 212-988-9191). For the
ADD groom, Bergdorf Goodman Men is effortless one-stop shopping
(745 Fifth Avenue, 212-339-3342). (Really. Grooms get off so easy.)
The Goods
Face it: They come for the cake. And you're gonna freeze that
stuff for a year. The no-brainer? Sylvia Weinstock (273 Church
Street, 212-925-6698; http://www.theknot.com/ADVB_SW_about.html).
We also dig the less pricey Deborah Lauren's City Sweets
(917-817-1058, [email protected]).
Forget confetti. Give the guests rose petals to throw
(http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/store/pagDetails.asp?imgid=258&cat=36).
(So 'American Beauty!')
The Gang
You'll need a team of people to help you prepare for the big day.
Program these numbers into your speed-dial pronto:
Caterers: Thomas Preti (212-764-3188; http://www.thomaspreti.com)
is as charming, professional, and soothing as you are nervous,
neurotic, and uncertain. The food? Incredible.
Florists: Jodi Zimmerman (212-734-7194) specializes in custom
designs and hand makes one-of-a-kind vases: You pick the fabric
and flowers, and she does the rest. Other good ones: Preston
Bailey Design Inc. (147 West 25th Street, 11th floor, 212-691-6777)
and -- duh, big spenders -- Christian Tortu for Takashimaya
(693 Fifth Avenue, 212-350-0111).
Hair: Want longer hair but don't have the time? Yusef at Paul
Labrecque will get you instant extensions (171 East 65th Street,
212-988-7816). For braids, an up-do, or the perfect blowout,
Miki at Prive Salon is your man (310 West Broadway, 212-274-8888).
Makeup artists: Easy pieces. Kerri Berman (917-566-6426) and
Lisette Bugeja (516-459-9581). They work with celebs; they can
handle you.
Invites: Like you have the time to call everyone and tell them
the great news. For beautiful stationery befitting a bride, Stylepress
makes cool, elegant, and discreet stuff (866-675-7895;
[email protected]).
Photographers: Don't skimp on this one. It lasts, like, forever:
Bob London (78 Fifth Avenue, ninth floor, 212-929-8595;
http://www.robertlondon.com), Lyn Hughes (114 West 27th Street,
#6N, 212-645-8417; http://www.lynhughesphoto.com).
Wedding planners: Why are you trying to do this alone? You'll
fall to pieces in a jiffy. Event planner Philip Baloun
(340 West 55th Street, 212-307-1675; http://www.pbdesigns.com)
or Fete (212-725-7268; http://www.feteny.com) can handle it all.
After all, you need plenty of time to indulge that nervous
breakdown.
Just kidding. Best wishes!
01/15/2003
Blame it on the mistletoe. One kiss led to another and ... now
you're engaged.
Welcome to hell. All the 'Best wishes!' in the world won't be a
**** bit of help when you're trying to perfectly execute your
nuptial vision.
Here's help: a one-stop bridal 411. Use it for yourself or pass
it along. It will save countless headaches during these blissful,
happy months.
The Gown
The whiter shades of pale and price tags all boil down to one
question: Will you still love it when you flip through the
wedding album in twenty years?
For a timeless look, go with vintage couture. Jana Starr
Antiques (236 East 80th Street, 212-535-6930; online at
http://members.aol.com/janabridal/index.html) is the best
resource for Edwardian and Victorian gowns.
Prefer the shock of the new? John Galliano's bridal collection
for Christian Dior will have everyone blushing -- not just the
bride (21 East 57th Street, 212-931-2950). Aussie designer
extraordinaire Lisa Gowing has finally made her gowns available
here (call 866-684-0658; or e-mail [email protected];
for styles, go to http://www.lisagowing.com.au/index.html).
For the gosh-darn prettiest, utterly over-the-top gowns, see
designer Mary Adams (138 Ludlow Street, 212-473-0237, online
at http://www.maryadamsthedress.com). Simple, elegant, and
surprisingly affordable, Jussara Lee is a godsend (11 Little
West 12th Street, 212-242-4128). Or pay a visit to Anna, and
ask for Kathy Kemp and Kimberle Vogan (150 East 3rd Street,
212-358-0195) for more great custom dresses.
Does the notion of sample sales thrill? Bookmark
http://www.bridesmade.com for its listings of
designer-wedding-dress sample sales.
The Gear
Face it: White shoes ****. Skip the heels and hit the aisle
in a jeweled barefoot sandal from Ladybead
(http://www.ladybead.com). Another no-heel option: thigh-high
Converse lace-up sneakers (custom made at Opening Ceremony,
35 Howard Street, 212-219-2688). When Mom freaks, just say,
'But it's couture!'
Sure you could do the veil, you pristine thing, you. But go
alterna-bride with a fresh-flower wreath from Lotus NYC
Flowers (161 Seventh Avenue, 212-463-0555).
Sexy and practical lingerie: Fill a flask with 'lemonade' and
tuck it into your garter belt (http://www.agentprovocateur.com).
That'll chase the nerves away.
The Girls and the Guy
Hey now. Friends don't let friends wear crappy bridesmaid
dresses. Proper brides send their friends to Serafina (25
West 36th Street, fourth floor, 212-253-2754;
http://www.serafina.net) or Thread (26 West 17th
Street, Suite 301, 212-414-8844; http://www.threaddesign.com).
The sweetest touch: La Crasia's silk fingerless mitts (304
Fifth Avenue, 212-695-0347; http://www.wegloveyou.com).
Okay, the bloke (your best accessory). Love a guy in an
Armani tux (760 Madison Avenue, 212-988-9191). For the
ADD groom, Bergdorf Goodman Men is effortless one-stop shopping
(745 Fifth Avenue, 212-339-3342). (Really. Grooms get off so easy.)
The Goods
Face it: They come for the cake. And you're gonna freeze that
stuff for a year. The no-brainer? Sylvia Weinstock (273 Church
Street, 212-925-6698; http://www.theknot.com/ADVB_SW_about.html).
We also dig the less pricey Deborah Lauren's City Sweets
(917-817-1058, [email protected]).
Forget confetti. Give the guests rose petals to throw
(http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/store/pagDetails.asp?imgid=258&cat=36).
(So 'American Beauty!')
The Gang
You'll need a team of people to help you prepare for the big day.
Program these numbers into your speed-dial pronto:
Caterers: Thomas Preti (212-764-3188; http://www.thomaspreti.com)
is as charming, professional, and soothing as you are nervous,
neurotic, and uncertain. The food? Incredible.
Florists: Jodi Zimmerman (212-734-7194) specializes in custom
designs and hand makes one-of-a-kind vases: You pick the fabric
and flowers, and she does the rest. Other good ones: Preston
Bailey Design Inc. (147 West 25th Street, 11th floor, 212-691-6777)
and -- duh, big spenders -- Christian Tortu for Takashimaya
(693 Fifth Avenue, 212-350-0111).
Hair: Want longer hair but don't have the time? Yusef at Paul
Labrecque will get you instant extensions (171 East 65th Street,
212-988-7816). For braids, an up-do, or the perfect blowout,
Miki at Prive Salon is your man (310 West Broadway, 212-274-8888).
Makeup artists: Easy pieces. Kerri Berman (917-566-6426) and
Lisette Bugeja (516-459-9581). They work with celebs; they can
handle you.
Invites: Like you have the time to call everyone and tell them
the great news. For beautiful stationery befitting a bride, Stylepress
makes cool, elegant, and discreet stuff (866-675-7895;
[email protected]).
Photographers: Don't skimp on this one. It lasts, like, forever:
Bob London (78 Fifth Avenue, ninth floor, 212-929-8595;
http://www.robertlondon.com), Lyn Hughes (114 West 27th Street,
#6N, 212-645-8417; http://www.lynhughesphoto.com).
Wedding planners: Why are you trying to do this alone? You'll
fall to pieces in a jiffy. Event planner Philip Baloun
(340 West 55th Street, 212-307-1675; http://www.pbdesigns.com)
or Fete (212-725-7268; http://www.feteny.com) can handle it all.
After all, you need plenty of time to indulge that nervous
breakdown.
Just kidding. Best wishes!
