Índice para December 2018-January 2019 em Brides

When finally—finally—you find yourself one of the two participants in a marriage proposal, you really don’t want to be dressed like a flying bellhop monkey from The Wizard of Oz. The fact that I was should prove I had absolutely no clue I was about to be proposed to. My girlfriend, Alex, and I were meeting at the Rainbow Room, and I had no idea it was jacket-required. The maître d’ gave me one from their picked-over stash of loaners they keep for sartorial idiots. The jacket was a couple sizes too small, with sleeves ending a good three inches short of my wrists. I looked not at all like a New York man about town and very much like one of the Wicked Witch’s hench-monkeys. The only thing missing…

You want a wedding gown that feels like you. But you also want it to feel special and (not to get too greedy) have an element of surprise. Whether your style is boho, classic, or girly, these dresses tick all those boxes. If Your Usual Style Is BOHO GIRL You’ll want lace that drapes in just the right places—and maybe shows off a little skin. If Your Usual Style Is CLASSIC Go for crisp, clean lines. (So what if one of them is a slit up to your hip?) If Your Usual Style Is GIRLY Y ou’re not afraid of ruffes, frills, or flounces … or fabric that’s diaphanous but still sweet.…

The whole point of this photo sesh is to get comfortable in front of the camera so you can look natural—despite seemingly cheesy posing. Finding clothes that feel right is half the battle—which we fought for you. JUST WHAT TO WEAR For a Few Go-to Setups JUST WHAT TO WEAR For a Few Go-to Setups…

Try to sneak away for a few days because life is about to get real, real intense with all the planning you’ll have to do. No matter where you live in the U.S.—and whether you have a weekend or a little more time—here are eight fun, super relaxing escapes. IF YOU LIVE IN THE Midwest Head to San Antonio for the weekend. Austin gets a lot of love, but these days, we’re just as into San Antonio, with its excellent weather and great regional food (guys, the “puffy taco” was born here!). Check into Hotel Emma (page 151), in the sceney Pearl District, where you’re an easy bike ride to downtown’s River Walk and the Alamo. Or Banff for a longer trip. The Midwest has plenty of snow, but for…

When Rachel “Rocky” Barnes and Matthew Cooper set about planning their wedding, they did so with a single vision: traditional bohemian. “That’s us! I’m a total beach-hippie California girl, and he’s a born-and-raised New Yorker and is much more traditional,” says the bride, who’s best known as the influencer @rocky_barnes. The couple splits their time between New York and L.A., and their September wedding took place on Matt’s home turf, on the 10th hole of the Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly, New Jersey. “He grew up golfing there with his dad and caddied there in high school,” Rocky says. “It was important to him that we get married there.” Of course, to keep the scene from skewing too preppy, Rocky spread around a fair amount of her boho pixie dust—in…

“We wrote our own vows, and Beattie started his by saying, ‘Dearest Willa,’ which made everyone laugh,” recalls Willa, who wore Naeem Khan. FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED BY BRIDES, TAG YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS ON INSTAGRAM WITH #BRIDESREALWEDDINGS. “My ceremony jewelry was from India,” Nayha says of the bangles she wore over the mehndi designs on her wrists.…

CHRISTOPHER DESIGNS IS ONE OF THE FEW BRANDS THAT CUT THEIR OWN DIAMONDS, AND THEIR UNIQUE PROCESS MAKES THE DIAMONDS SEEM LARGER THAN LIFE. How is that possible? Both the Crisscut® and L’Amour Crisscut® diamonds are patented cuts created by founder Christopher Slowinski. He concluded that a diamond’s pavilion—the bottom of the diamond and a part you don’t even see after the stone is mounted—is a waste of materials. Since the bulk of a diamond’s carat weight is located here as well, a large pavilion also equals a waste of money. Christopher Designs’ cutting process maximizes the part of the diamond you do see, minimizes what you don’t, and amps up the reflective factor. Depending on which style you choose, your diamond will look larger than standard cuts of the…

On August 4th, this year’s lucky bride, Janelle Lloyd of @W aitY ouNeedThis, exchanged vows with her true love at Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. The decor, the dress, the jewelry—everything came together perfectly thanks to your votes and wedding planner Brooke Keegan. Congratulations, Janelle and Shola! SPECIAL THANKS VENUE: Montage Palmetto Bluff; BRIDE’S DRESSES: Maggie Sottero Designs; MEN’S ATTIRE: Men’s Wearhouse; BRIDESMAID’S DRESS AND GETTING READY ROBES: Plum Pretty Sugar; BRIDESMAID’S JEWELRY: Kendra Scott; HAIR: Sexy Hair; BRIDAL BRUNCH: Rosa Regale; REGISTRY: Crate and Barrel; HONEYMOON: Cayman Islands Department of Tourism; PLANNER: Brooke Keegan Special Events…

In my spare time, I’m a one-woman hair and makeup SWAT team at my friends’ weddings. After serving in six bridal parties and a few “house parties” (I’m told it’s a Southern thing), I have my bridal advice down to a science—and I’m ready to share. Let me hold your bouquet—and hone your style. Debloat the bride. Rehearsal dinner drinks and hors d’oeuvres can make your face look puffer than a princess skirt the next morning. Flush out excess water by moving a jade roller in gentle motions that sweep from the center of your face outward along your cheekbones, jawline, and brow bones. (To maximize the sliding action, prep with Kát Rudu’s Dewy Botanical Flower Mist.) Then tap on Dr. Brandt’s No More Baggage Undereye Cream; as its polymers…

Registering is one of the few times in your life when you are expected to straight-up ask for whatever your heart desires. (The next time this happens, you’ll be requesting … nursing bras.) Here, we’ve rounded up 59 winners that will make sure you love the home you’re with. Everyday Heroes TREND YOU’LL LOVE Iridescent Glasses This is the subtle, sophisticated take on rainbow/unicorn everything you’re seeing right now. 1. GLASSES AND STRAWS Bring sparkle to the table with these luminous glasses. (Boost your ocean-lover points with reusable straws.) Cost Plus World Market Lustre Iridescent highball glasses, $32 for four; stainless steel gold straws, $13 for four. 2. COOKING UTENSILS You’re not a master chef yet—but this kit will start you on your way. OXO 15-piece kitchen-tool set, $149; .jcpenney.com.…

Say ‘I Do’ to paradise and a wedding worthy of your love at one of the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Vallarta, and Punta Cana. Together with celebrity event-designer Colin Cowie, Hard Rock Hotels offer gorgeous, pre-planned wedding packages that let you celebrate in style. You’re sure to find the perfect one! Along with your chosen wedding package, a certified WOW Specialist will ensure nothing is overlooked and help with everything from travel to the welcome reception and cocktail hours. And next—it’s honeymoon time! Indulge in world-class amenities and enjoy unlimited spa treatments, salon services and more with the brand new Limitless All-Inclusive*. You can relax knowing the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels take care of every last detail. Or if you’d like to dance about it, you’re…

When Umindi Francis first met Dadi Denis at a café in New York City, she noticed his great smile—and serious sweet tooth. “He had like six sugar packets open on the table,” she recalls. “And he added even more to his coffee once we started talking!” The calories may have been empty, but the chemistry was undeniable, and so began a five-year romance. Last Christmas, he got down on one knee. Dadi, a Haitian Olympic sprinter turned financial adviser, also got down to two sugars a day, thanks to Umindi—who, he says, brings balance to most situations. She’s the CEO of a brand consulting firm—and a master coordinator—so they set a date for just six months away and invited 100 guests to Italy. “The timeline was ambitious but not intimidating,”…

Whether you said yes or you’re the one who did the asking (see “…And His Answer” on page 35), take a minute to enjoy it before you dive headfirst into planning. We have a few ideas about how to get warmed up—like taking engagement photos (page 107) or slipping off on a romantic engagementmoon (page 151). The moment you are ready to shift into wedding mode, take cues from our real couples who made their events personal by adding details that tell their story. When our cover girl, influencer Rachel “Rocky” Barnes, and Matt Cooper, her restaurateur husband, planned their celebration (page 162), she focused on mood, while he took care of food. New Yorkers Noa Santos and Ross Matsubara (page 176) exchanged vows in their home state of Hawaii,…

Want to know when to splurge and when to save? Ask us all your burning budget questions @brides on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Q: How do I save money while planning? —Alexus Kay via Facebook A: A planner can help you budget realistically from the very beginning. The budget is the most unfun part of a wedding, and a planner helps you get it out of the way. If you’re always thinking you are going over a little bit for each element, you are going to go over a lot. When you’re building a budget and allotting money in all the categories, focus on the most important piece first (maybe it’s the food) and work backward from there to the least important (maybe it’s the flowers). But remember, everything is…

STYLE YOU’LL LOVE Vintage-Inspired Get More Bling for Your Buck The best ways to maximize value (and may be save something for the wedding) Know your shapes. Round diamonds cost about 25 percent more than other shapes, says Nicole Wegman, founder of Ring Concierge. Ovals also tend to be pricier because they’re in demand right now (when the inventory is lower, the price rises). You can save up to 10 percent by going with another shape. Get the right cut. When your heart is set on a bigger rock—specifically a round shape—you can go for lower color and clarity if you get an excellent cut, Wegman says. It will sparkle more than lower-cut grades, appear whiter, and can hide flaws. (Slightly) downgrade your dreams. A 0.9 carat looks so much…

Pre-Photoshop yourself. When photogs retouch close-up shots, they often use a “dodg ing” tool to make eyes look brighter and whiter. Happily, it’s easy to get this effect in every shot when you use whitening drops like Lumify or Visine Maximum Redness Relief. If you want to go the extra mile, colored contact lenses just a shade warmer than your natural hue can make irises look extra bright. Just test them beforehand—if people can’t quite put their finger on why you look different, you have a winner. Don’t forget the toupee tape! It may not be sexy, but it is indispensable for keeping your dress up (and the girls in). I also recommend a few little comforts and random supplies for the bridal suite to keep yourself, the moms, and…

“Fit-and-flare silhouettes continue to be major trends in bridal, suiting a range of styles. Featuring tasteful deep-V necklines with organic finishing that taper into a narrow plunge, sophisticated will be the new ‘sexy’ in 2019.” Martine Harris, Head Designer BRIDAL FASHION PRETTY, HAPPY LOVE Martine Harris, award-winning head designer of Martina Liana, makes wedding day styling effortless with her eye for fashion. It’s all about capturing the bride’s love story—in every detail! Above are the trends she’s seeing this season and including in her latest Martina Liana collection. PRETTYHAPPYLOVE.COM FASHION DAVID’S BRIDAL This captivating long sleeve wedding dress catches the light in so many gorgeous ways, from the crystal-beaded waistband to the jeweled buttons down the illusion back, to the sparkling sequin lace appliqués on the skirt. Adding to the…

Janelle Lloyd and Shola Akinrolabu have a true New York City love story. They met in Manhattan in 2011, after an intro by the bride’s sister. “Our first date was one of those New York City nights that ended at dawn,” Janelle recalls. “It’s a cliché but true that by the end of the date, we both knew we had met the one.” Shola proposed five years later, on April 9, 2016 (Janelle’s birthday!), and the two set a wedding date for August 4, 2018. But rather than marry in their adopted city, Janelle and Shola—she’s an influencer @waityouneedthis, and he works in business and corporate development—decided to honor who they are as a couple and also where they come from individually. “I’m from Georgia, and our big family reunions…