Table of contents for February-March 2018 in Brides

Erika & Sheung Tang May 27, 2017 New York “I wore the cheongsam that my mom wore to her wedding,” Erika says. “It meant a lot to have that as part of my day.” Kiley & Erik June 10, 2017 Chicago FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED BY BRIDES, TAG YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS ON INSTAGRAM WITH #WEDDINGOFTHEDAY. Hannah & Luke July 9, 2016 Dolores, Colorado Marc (left) & Josef August 12, 2017 Murphys, California…

Q: I want unique table decor. How do I get that without blowing my budget on flowers and rentals? —@alice_griffin1 via Instagram A: For flowers, go with more greenery than blooms. I like smilax and privet [1], which can be attached to railings and walls or used to decorate an altar or mantel. For rentals, I always say chairs are like shoes: They make or break the outfit. So splurge on chairs and use cheaper neutral linens. In photos, the texture and quality of the fabric don’t really matter, but the look of the chairs totally does. I like a black ghost chair [2] for a modern wedding, gold fanfare [3] for a formal or classic vibe, and wishbone [4] for a more casual soirée. Finally, if you rent less…

Show off your boho-bride side even if you’re getting married in an ornate ballroom. To create an understated flower crown, ask your florist to make a flexible vine of blossoms that you can loop around your head and tuck into a bun. Christy Doramus of Crowns by Christy in New York City recommends lilies of the valley, waxflowers, or even faux flowers. The messier the braid, the cooler it looks. Rough up the texture by rubbing it between your palms. Plant some cool-again baby’s breath into a braid for a casual-chic style (above). Doramus says that the little white blooms “look whimsical, and a fishtail braid will hold its shape throughout the day.” Loose waves and tendrils go from beachy to bridal thanks to satin ribbon and baby’s breath (right).…

Your registry really is the gift that keeps giving. Your friends get you all this awesome tableware… then you’re all set to invite everyone over for a lifetime of dinner parties.…

We’re loving… envelopes packed with personality. Lettering can set the tone for your whole wedding. Our two favorite—and admittedly opposite— trends are clean, simple fonts (Helvetica, yes!) and ornate hand lettering. To zhuzh on a budget, laserprint big return-address labels or add a wax seal. We’re loving… interactivity. Send something so unexpected and unique, it’s destined to live on your friends’ refrigerator doors for months—and maybe years—to come. We’re talking French doors and accordion folds, cootiecatcher maps, matroishkastyle inserts, and a spinner with a map of the night sky. We’re loving… mixed materials. We’re obsessed with the unexpected combo of the cutting edge (printed Plexiglas invitations) and the old world (vellum envelopes). And on thick, rich paper, traditional letterpress printing has a way of making simple fonts look like art.…

who rents out the entire place (à la Jay and Bey) when you stay at Mexico’s Coqui Coqui Mérida Residence & Spa. This singlesuite hacienda hotel mixes local Yucatecan decor (lots of stucco and tiles) with old-world Euro vibes (chandeliers and gold filigree), and it’s located right in the heart of Mérida. Just step out the door to shop the local market (get an embroidered huipil), gallery hop, or simply hang out in the beer garden of Mercado 60 and people watch. Rooms from $410 per night.…

Welcome Signs The bride created a logo for the event and had a local artist enlarge it on the old Holiday Inn sign outside their venue. She ordered custom Mexican papel picado flags (opposite) with their names and wedding date. Crown Jewel “I love Frida Kahlo and decided to pay homage to her with a big, bold floral headdress and a bright lip color,” Marika says. Though it’s a well-known art destination, Marfa, Texas, is not an obvious choice for a wedding. The nearest airport is 190 miles away, and the weather is notoriously wild: dust storms, heat waves, deepfreeze nights. But the desert town was perfect for Marika Shioiri-Clark and Graham Veysey, who spent their first date bonding over a desire to visit. Two months later, the couple—she’s an…

In the months ahead, you’ll have plenty of tasks to tackle— like honing your guest list (see page 191 for our zero-drama guide), booking a location (for favorites by region, flip to page 204), and cake tasting. (Wait, is that a task or a treat?) It’s a lot to think about at once, and my advice is to identify your priorities. That’s what our cover girl, Serena Williams, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, did for their recent wedding in New Orleans (page 218). As Serena told us, “Alexis loves the vibe of that city and was excited about doing it there. And painting and art are things I’m passionate about, so it felt natural to do it at a contemporary-art museum.” So pinpoint your passion, then focus your energy (and,…

Jared and I were engaged for over a year before the details of our September wedding finally started to come together. He cared about Moscow mules and finding a bow tie for our pug to wear while trotting down the aisle. I focused on farmers’ market bouquets and coordinating songs for our first dance. Then one morning at work, I was sitting at my desk when I suddenly realized I had missed my period. I ran to the closest drugstore, bought a two-pack of pregnancy tests, and nervously peed on the little stick. Positive. At first, those little blue lines did not compute. What about the dress I’d just had fitted? What about the champagne toast we planned? Why now? Of course, it shouldn’t have been a shock: I’d gone…

Cold, dry air can make your skin flakier than a snow globe, bumpier than a moguls course, or redder than a Santa hat. Here’s how to avoid three of the biggest complexion woes this winter—especially if you’re planning a bachelorette beach getaway or want to wear a sleeveless dress for a spring or early-summer wedding. Keep your complexion clear and calm all winter long. Winter woe: dry, flaky skin Crisp, cold winter air is extra dry— and can rob your skin of muchneeded moisture. “Our skin responds to the cool atmosphere by becoming dehydrated and [flaky],” says New York City dermatologist Ellen Marmur. “It shrinks up like a raisin.” Marmur’s first bit of advice is to fight your instinct to warm up with a long shower: Really hot water draws…

Make your table more modern PLAY WITH A CLASSIC PALETTE Lenox Pleated Colors red salad plate, $28. Luca Andrisani by Lenox Triangoli dinner plate, $29. Herend Chinese Bouquet salad plate, $100. Hawkins New York Simple flatware, $75 for a five-piece place setting. GO WITH A STATEMENT CHARGER Luca Andrisani by Lenox Acuto blue accent plate, $27. Thomas by Rosenthal Sunny Day green dinner plate, $25. Sieger by Fürstenberg charger, $330. PAIR GRAPHIC PATTERNS WITH SWEET FLORALS West Elm Abstract Brushstroke dinner plate, $56. Royal Copenhagen Blue Elements dinner plate, $120; zola.com. Vista Alegre Venezia charger, $70. Cutipol Moon flatware, $89 for a five-piece place setting. MAKE ONE COLORFUL PIECE THE STAR Mottahedeh Sacred Bird & Butterfly salad plate, $55. Cutipol Goa flatware, $89 for a five-piece place setting. Mario Luca…

We’re loving… botanical illustrations. These designs are like chic updates of pages in a vintage botany book. Embrace the girliness and choose a looping cursive font, or go with a simple, pared-down font to make the invitation look more modern. THAT’S WHY it really does pay to be efficient, methodical, and maybe a little Game of Thrones when finalizing your invite list. Bear in mind, your number is inextricably linked to both your venue (how many does it hold?) and your budget. (How many can you actually afford?) Oh, and who’s paying. For example, if the two of you are shouldering the cost, assume you’ll get 70 percent of the invites and all parents, combined, will get 30 percent. If one or more sets of parents are kicking in, each…

The wedding itself is actually the last celebration. Between now and then, you’ll have all kinds of fun occasions to get dressed up for. Whether you’re headed to your afternoon shower or evening engagement party, turn the page to find out what to wear. We dare you: Skip the white dress until the big day. At your shower, mix in something blue (and red)… …and for a nighttime party, go for something sparkling and jeweltoned.…

In every group of friends, there is “that couple”: the ones with the best place to hang out, and the ones who keep a stash of snacks and know how to mix a great drink. Can we let you in on a little secret? It doesn’t take much to become “that couple.” You just need a few easy recipes (see page 176) and versatile staples in your pantry, fridge, and bar cart. So go ahead and invite people over for the preparty—and don’t be surprised when they all decide to stay. EASY APEROL SPRITZ Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add 2 ounces prosecco and 1 ounce Aperol, and top it off with club soda and an orange wedge. DRINK LIKE A EURO AND POUR AN APÉRITIF Campari It’s the…

Like your own real-life love story, you have to be in the right place at the right time for the best honeymoon. Check out our monthby- month guide that goes from January in Baja through December in northern Vietnam (and the islands in its Ha Long Bay, shown here). No matter the month, stick to this planning formula: Unexpected destination + fewer crowds = the most romance. JANUARY Todos Santos, Mexico This Baja surf town has a laidback vibe that the new Hotel San Cristóbal totally nails. Rooms with bright tiles and woven serapes overlook the Pacific, and days are spent surfing, paddleboarding, and watching the circus-worthy acrobatics of migrating humpback whales. FEBRUARY Rangiroa, French Polynesia Come here if you love the idea of Bora Bora but want something less…

Trust us: Choosing the venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make right about now. Seriously, the location affects almost everything else, from how many people you can invite to what kind of flowers go on the table. Chances are, it’s also the biggest chunk of change you’ve put down, like, ever. So whether you’re a city girl who wants a rooftop soirée or the complete opposite of that, here are 28 places in the U.S. where you can gather all your people and get down to celebrating. North east DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Lincoln, Massachusetts This spot—just a half hour from Boston—sits on 30 acres and features more than 60 large-scale art installations. Exchange vows on the sculpture lawn, then head inside for an art-gallery reception.…