Índex per June/July 2019 a Brides

You May Surprise Yourself Obsessed with blush and gold? Lovely! But that doesn’t mean they will work best with your venue, season, or overall aesthetic. Don’t get color blocked; see what hues emerge naturally. A mood board lets you eyeball choices before committing to any. “It’s a great visual way to brainstorm,” says Robin Verrier, founder of Verry Robin & Co., based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Ideas Feel Real Pinterest allows you to easily gather inspo on your laptop, but a mood board lets you play with textured materials like ribbons, fabrics, or stationery that you can’t appreciate on a screen. “You’re taking ideas and making them tangible,” Verrier says. To that end, look to books or magazines (beyond wedding-related ones), boutiques, museums, and cocktail bars for keepsakes you can pin…

MOOD LIGHTING Colored table candles save you money on flowers and add “the romantic feel of a candlelight reception,” says event planner Brooke Keegan. “Try a variety of heights to add drama.” LATE-NIGHT EATS When stomachs start grumbling after two hours of tearing up the dance floor, a surprise snack attack delivered via an ice cream sandwich station or a local food truck acts as “fuel to keep the party going,” says Keegan. STATEMENT CHAIRS It’s easy to overlook what’s under you, but chic seats make a major impact, says Keegan. “They’re one of the first things eyes focus on in a room.”…

LORIA STERN OF LORI FOOD AND CAKES To achieve this bohemian rhapsody, Stern used pressed edible flowers—an easy way to add a unique spin to buttercream tiers. You can do it to your cake, too, with handpicked pressed blooms from the caterer’s organic garden in Montecito, California. $40 for 20; LORIASTERN.COM BREE MELDRUM OF THE CAKE THAT ATE PARIS For a treat equal parts elegant and subtle, Meldrum took inspiration from her own wedding dress, with its hand-sewn pearls and crystal beads. “This was covered in edible sugar pearls and crystals for a wow factor that wasn’t over the top.” THECAKETHATATEPARIS.COM.AU NEGAR NADIMI OF MA PETITE MAISON CAKE DESIGN For this take on a tropical theme, Nadimi (mpmcakes.com) let the event florist take the lead: “Structural greenery makes a statement…

You’re looking for a little drama up top. Some brides do it with a new ‘do or hue—or by adding extensions for more body. Adel Chabbi, who owns New York’s Adel Atelier, recommends bonded extensions over clip-ins for their natural look. They’ll stay put through your honeymoon, plus they’re “very comfortable to wear,” says Chabbi. Consider the time of year and whether your event is outside or inside. That may help you decide between an icy-cool braid or curly locks. Ultimate Updos Chignon or bun, anyone? Hairstylist Kara Lee at Let’s Prep Salon in Laurel, Maryland, proposes a trial six months before, so there’s “time to try a second option too. Do it a year out and it can feel outdated.” Once you’re set, maintain that length with healthy trims…

When it comes to her house, coziness and comfort are key for stylist and author Emily Henderson. “Our living room is the heart of the home, but we don’t want it to feel precious,” Henderson says. “People should feel like they can relax with a glass of red wine, and kids can play.” Henderson and her husband, Brian, have shared that sensibility from the beginning, when they met in college 20 years ago. “When we moved in together, we didn’t have any furniture and just collected things. The overall look was super thrifted and funky,” she says. “Now it’s a bit more grown-up!” With two young children and busy careers, the couple’s Tudor home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles is a colorful, eclectic space. The couple’s laid-back…

Quinta da Comporta, Portugal If waking up and going for a sunrise walk along undulating sand dunes doesn’t soothe the soul, then the meditation and yoga classes, and a few sessions in the hammam followed by a body scrub with rice grains and a deeptissue massage, should. Chablé Marama, Riviera Maya, Mexico Couples Tower Isle, Jamaica Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, Australia Hoshinoya Tokyo Le Barn, Bonnelles, France Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, Aruba Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California…

Bawah Reserve, Indonesia Located in the middle of the little-known Anambas archipelago, the reserve is seriously remote, but all you have to do is get yourself to Singapore (and that’s not that hard), where a butler meets and escorts you to a private seaplane. Once you alight on the gin-bottle-blue lagoon surrounding your bungalow, everything—spa treatments, kayaking, cooking classes, sunset cruises—is taken care of. Hermitage Bay, Antigua Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Jamaica Paul Gauguin Cruises Sanctuary Cap Cana, Dominican Republic Sandals, Barbados Serenity at Coconut Bay, St. Lucia Viceroy Riviera Maya, Mexico…

WEDDING TEAM EVENT COORDINATORS Karen Gables, William Mbunjiro, Carole Mtwana CATERING, CAKE & VENUE andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp BRIDE’S ATTIRE Selia Yang, Champagne and Grit cape GROOM’S ATTIRE E. Thomas Suit Supply FLORAL DESIGN Anna Langmead STATIONERY Fourteen-Forty PHOTOGRAPHY Heather Waraksa of the Wedding Artists Co.…

WEDDING TEAM PLANNER Jennifer Zabinski Events VENUE Flagler Museum FLORAL DESIGN Xquisite Designs BRIDE’S DRESSES Markarian, Oscar de la Renta, Alex Perry, Brandon Maxwell GROOM’S ATTIRE Freemans Sporting Club STATIONERY Bella Figura PHOTOGRAPHY Allan Zepeda…

This year, my fiancé, Mark Brendon Herman, and I are getting married at our favorite place in the world: Harbour Island in the Bahamas. We have the whole weekend planned, from taking our groomsmen out for dinner on Friday after the rehearsal to surprising guests with a tuxedo-clad violinist playing Adele’s “Hello” when they step off the boat for our ceremony at the Other Side resort on Eleuthera. We’ve made sure the Sunday Funday pool party will have plenty of barbecue, burgers, Bloody Marys, and chilled rosé for our loving family and friends. We even created a family crest! And being the thoughtful, organized person he is, Mark has already written his vows. I’ll write mine soon. I have a lot to say. Considering the last few years, when life-changing…

Looks aren’t everything. You also want your guests to feel the love tonight. That means personalizing your wedding with special details that come together to create an atmosphere—one that’s visually and experientially on brand for you and your new spouse. Below, our experts share their secrets for throwing an event that’s 100 percent your day, your way. DO WHAT MAKES YOU TWO YOU Turn to your partner and ask: What brings us joy as a couple? What are the things we love to do? Remember that you’ll be participants in the wedding day festivities too, so make sure they sound fun. “Pull from your own experiences together,” recommends Teissia Treynet, founder of Firefly Events in California and New York, who is currently planning her own wedding. “My fiancé and I…

Six Months Before With time to spare before your wedding, your number one concern should be stimulating collagen to smooth, firm, and strengthen your skin and fade existing fine lines. In a united chorus, every dermatologist we spoke to said the key ingredient here is retinol, a derivative of vitamin A that speeds the shedding of old skin cells so skin looks more radiant. New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner says, “Collagen-stimulating products can take a fairly long time to work and should be started months in advance. It takes weeks or more for the effects to be visible.” There’s also a period of adjustment, as retinol can initially cause irritation. Connecticut-based dermatologist Mona Gohara advises her patients to use a pea-size amount on the face and then moisturize after…

Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Paris Rooms in this 18thcentury town house are charming, with canopy beds and rooftop views; if it were anywhere else, you would hole up except for trips to the glam main bar or the rooftop bar. But this is Paris—and the buzzy 2nd arrondissement—so get out there! Casa Pueblo Tulum, Mexico Dimora delle Balze, Sicily, Italy Epi 1959, St. Tropez, France Heckfield Place, Hampshire, England Hotel San Cristóbal, Todos Santos, Mexico Little Beach House, Barcelona, Spain Lo Sereno Casa de Playa, Troncones, Mexico Playa Grande Beach Club, Dominican Republic…

On Billions, Malin Akerman plays Lara Axelrod, the fierce and formidable wife of a billionaire hedge fund manager. But on December 1, 2018, she played every part the boho bride, marrying actor Jack Donnelly in a breezy fete that could not have been further from her on-screen counterpart’s lifestyle. The couple—who were friends for two years before they started dating—opted for a seaside ceremony in Tulum, Mexico, full of unique touches. “It was all about being authentic…not adhering to somebody else’s standard of what a wedding should be,” Malin says of the attitude that came naturally to the duo. “We wanted the wedding to feel real to us. It gave us a lot of freedom.” Take, for instance, the bride’s gown in a romantic blush hue, a color Malin felt…

Your search for inspiration starts in 3, 2… “Something blue” was a defining part of my nuptials, thanks to my own obsession. Early on, I zeroed in on my forever-favorite hue for our wedding’s color palette—determined to find a distinct shade that embodied my envisioned summertime country club theme. I considered light blue (too baby), teal (too tropical), and navy (classic, but too dark) before triumphantly selecting a peacock blue—Pantone 315 C, to be painfully exact. However, it was difficult to find in the wild, so I carried around swatches, ready to lecture printer or planner at any sign of a mismatch. My efforts were well-intended but, I now know, misplaced. Experts agree that coming up with a wedding style should begin not by obsessing over a detail but by…

IDENTIFY NONNEGOTIABLES Once you and your S.O. have a set guest list, narrow down priorities and high-ticket items. For interior design types, luxury table linens may be must-haves, while foodies may obsess about their dessert table presentation. RESEARCH PAYS OFF! Do lots up front to avoid any latent sticker shock. Feel confident about your decisions by comparing prices online and searching for in-person discounts in department store clearance sections and consignment shops. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DIY Expensive ≠ impressive. If you can’t find the exact decor item you desire, consider making it yourself. You could save moola and create meaningful memories with a bridesmaid or fiance who helps.…

IS YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE IN DANGER of disappearing faster than the cocktails at your reception? That’s to be expected if there is a big push for both of you to get in righteous shape before the ceremony. Yet “there’s so much to live for after a wedding,” says Massy Arias, the certified personal trainer formerly known as MankoFit (@massy.arias), who applauds the priorities couples set together but sees how easily good intentions fall away after the main event. “There shouldn’t be one reason to get healthy—that tells your brain there’s a stopping point,” she says. So how do you and bae form realistic habits that last? First, you’ll have to split up. Relax, we just mean to create personal objectives before couple goals—especially if someone is less “fitnessy,” says Katie Horwitch,…

Hotel Amparo, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Housed in a 300-year-old former mayoral residence, this fiveroom hotel with its abstract art and midcentury modern furniture feels fresh, even edgy, in this colonial town. Plus, it’s a quick walk to historical treasures, like the 17thcentury Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel in all its neo-Gothic glory. 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai, Thailand Casa San Agustín, Cartagena, Colombia El Rey Court, Santa Fe Jaya House River Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia The Silo, Cape Town, South Africa Villa La Coste, Provence, France…

Manapany, St. Barts This boutique hotel on the sleepy, still-wild north shore is helping change the island’s reputation for unabashed excess. Water is heated by solar panels, only electric cars are permitted, towels are made from bamboo, and all-natural cleaning products are used. And yet you’re hardly roughing it. This is full-on luxury, just with an eco mission and plenty of places to take in views of the Caribbean while sipping chilled Veuve Clicquot (it is still St. Barts). Gal Oya Lodge, Sri Lanka Itz’ana, Placencia, Belize La Donaira, Cádiz, Spain Pikaia Lodge, Galápagos Islands Playa Viva, Juluchuca, Mexico Time and Tide Miavana, Madagascar…

“My dad wanted to share a ride to the ceremony at a schooner docked on the Hudson River, so just the two of us could have a little moment together beforehand. He wanted to get a limo, but I loved the idea of taking a cab. My fiancé, David Dilettoso, and I had envisioned the day of the wedding to be simple and intimate, with the focus on people and experiences, so I didn’t hire anyone to do flowers. I thought it would be fun to stop en route at a New York City bodega to pick some up. So my dad bought me a bundle of peonies (my favorite) on the way to marry my best friend.” Show us your #bridesmoment! DM us @brides on Instagram.…