Table of contents for October/November 2016 in Brides

Here at Brides, each issue is a labor of love, fun, and often adventure. Six months before we go to press, my directors and I hunker down in a large conference room, and the departments (fashion, features, beauty, wedding style) come in one by one to pitch the stories and ideas they’re most excited about. Conversations on the tiniest of topics (should we show a fork with that mini cake to convey scale?) can stretch from five minutes to 45, and two things are always involved: lots of enthusiasm, and chocolate to keep us going through what is often an all-day meeting. The best part is seeing our work come to life, like associate wedding-style editor Hannah Baker’s remix of roses, starting on page 280. You’ll also love senior wedding-style…

WHO DID YOUR MAKEUP? 69% A makeup artist 21% Me 10% A friend HOW DID YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR? 43% Half up, half down 36% Up 21% Down 76% say that if they had to choose, they’d rather have perfect skin than perfect hair. 58% tried a new makeup, skin, or hair product for the wedding that they still use today. 27% changed their hair and/or makeup look between the ceremony and reception. IF YOU COULD HAVE HAD ONE OF THESE FOR FREE FOR THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT, WHICH WOULD IT BE? 49% A personal trainer 34% A subscription to a healthy meal plan 15% A nutritionist 2% A subscription to a juice cleanse 80% modified their diet while engaged. And it paid off: 74% lost a few pounds.…

1 Italian tulle with beading and hand-wrapped flowers, $8,470, Rivini by Rita Vinieris; rivini.com. 2 Sequined with appliqués at dégradé hem, price upon request, Mira Zwillinger; studio@mirazwillinger.com. 3 Beaded with floral details, $8,230, Jenny Packham; jennypackham.com. 4 Allover shimmer, made to order, Hayley Paige Red Carpet Collection; JLM boutique. 5 Beaded tulle with satin, $4,690, Marylise; marylisebridal.com. 6 Petal-embroidered net over cashmere Chantilly lace, price upon request, Lazaro; jlmcouture.com.…

“A WEDDING GOWN SHOULD MAKE THE BRIDE FEEL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHE’S EVER FELT AND REFLECT HER PERSONAL SENSE OF STYLE.” She designs engagement rings, fine china, and red-carpet dresses for your fave celebs, but for Monique Lhuillier, it started with a wedding gown. Two decades ago, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising graduate discovered her calling when she was shopping for her own big day— and found very few fashion-forward options: “Everything was so onedimensional and traditional,” she says. She settled on a duchesse-satin gown with a drop waist and cascading bows and resolved to fix the hole in the market. The next year, at a trade show in Las Vegas, she presented her first collection, five dresses that shook up the industry with sheer fabrics and body-hugging…

RED MOUNTAIN RESORT Ivins, Utah The go-to exercise at this resort, situated near both Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park, is hiking through the red rocks, from guided treks in caves to river walks down in the canyons. You can also throw in a fitness class or two, like Pilates or yoga on top of sandstone formations, indulge at the spa with a facial or its renowned hot-stone massage, and end the day with a sunset dinner on the terrace. The best part, though, is the versatility. Whether you’re looking for wellness “lite” or a complete detox and weight-loss program, there’s a package for you. From $265 per night, all-inclusive; redmountainresort.com. THE BODYHOLIDAY St. Lucia If anything will kick-start your bridal fitness program, it’s the Olympic athletes and…

FOR MORE WEDDING COLOR PALETTES, VISIT BRIDES.COM/COLORPALETTES.…

You’ve set a date, found your venue, and determined your budget; now it’s time to tackle the next step on your to-do list: booking vendors. Whether your day job has you supervising many or you’ve never had so much as an intern work for you, you’re now project manager of your wedding—congrats! Use these corporate-world tips to make some great hires, and watch them turn your vision into reality. 1 Sketch out a job description. Sit down with your partner and decide the big stuff: What’s our budget? What look and feel are we going for? What are our top priorities? Write down your answers so you can refer back to them throughout the process. 2 Search for candidates. If you’re not using a planner, you’re your own recruiter. Start…

BUNDLE UP Snow-white Champagne roses, peach-toned Princess Sakuras, and pale-pink Romantic Antikes combine to create a textured bouquet. “The design was very much about letting the roses take center stage,” says Chezar. “The eucalyptus and akebia foliage create a soft halo to frame the main event.” LIGHT A FIRE “This spectacular rose is called Caroline,” says Chezar. “I love the playful flares of color in the petals.” Beyond adding rich color to a bouquet or centerpiece, the Caroline rose resists fading for several days, ensuring vibrant tones through the last dance.…

THE COUPLE Preston Neupert, 30, interior designer, and Greg O’Brien, 30, oil executive THE WEDDING At Lewis & Clark College HOW THEY MET As students at the University of Virginia in 2005 THE PROPOSAL On April 11, 2013, at the High Line park in New York City HONEYMOON The Maldives “Most of our guests had never been to the Pacific Northwest,” says Preston, an Oregon native, “and we wanted to show them this city that we love.” TO GET THE LOOK SHOWN HERE, TURN TO PAGE 314…

THE BEAUTY ISSUE 12 MONTHS BEFORE • Write up the guest list. • Figure out who’s paying for what. • Set the wedding budget. • Hire a planner if you’ll be using one. • Book the ceremony site and reception venue. 10 MONTHS BEFORE • Choose your officiant. • Go dress shopping. • Set up in-person meetings with potential vendors. • Select the bridal party. • Hire the stationer if you’re going custom. 8 MONTHS BEFORE • Hire the caterer, florist, band/DJ, ceremony musicians, and photographer and reserve rentals. • Order your wedding dress if it’s custom. • Set up your wedding Web site. • Block hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. • Register. 6 MONTHS BEFORE • Order bridesmaids’ dresses. • Book the honeymoon. • Shop for wedding bands. •…

HEART Set in platinum with diamonds, Neil Lane Jewelry; 310-275-5015. OVAL Set in platinum with diamond pavé, Graff; graffdiamonds.com. CUSHION Set in platinum with diamond pavé, De Beers; 212-906-0001. ROUND Set in 18 - karat white gold with diamond pavé, Forevermark; forevermark.com. PEAR Set in platinum with two tapered baguettes, Harry Winston; harry winston.com. EMERALD Set in platinum with diamonds, Tiffany & Co.; tiffany.com. ASSCHER Set in platinum, Stephen Russell; 212-570-6900. MARQUISE Set in platinum, Tacori; tacori.com. BOXES The Mrs. Box; themrsbox.com.…

For your big day, makeup mogul Bobbi Brown has some advice: “Go with a look that’s fresh and pretty and you’ll love how you look in your photos 10 years from now,” she says. To create that feel at Marchesa’s Fall 2016 show (inspired by the subjects in John Singer Sargent paintings), she prepped skin using lotion without SPF (“just for this one day, as it reflects light in photos,” she says), applied yellow-based foundation because a flash emphasizes pink tones, and set with powder. For softly flushed cheeks, she mixed together her Retouching Powder in Pink and Rose, and she played up natural lip color by applying brick-red lipstick with her fingers. As for eye makeup? This dreamy look didn’t require much: It was restricted to brow gel, nude…

EXCLUSIVE! WATCH THE FULL SERIES Follow Elle and Alex’s journey to “I do” across three cities in two countries by heading to brides.com/video. For the fourth-annual Brides Live Wedding, our readers, users, fans, and followers threw beauty vlogger Elle Fowler and her musician fiancé, Alex Goot, one unforgettable celebration. Thousands of you voted on every detail, from the reception decor and bridesmaids’ dresses to Elle’s hairstyle and the couple’s registry. The results were tallied, the choices were brought to life by SoCal-based planners at Brooke Keegan Special Events, and all was unveiled at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, California. To see the full bash, go to brides.com/video. “I LOVE THE ANTICIPATION OF SEEING WHAT AMERICA SELECTS,” PLANNER BROOKE KEEGAN (A 2014 BRIDES LIVE WEDDING VETERAN) SAYS OF…

FOR MORE, HEAD TO BRIDES.COM/DRESSES.…

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! TIP Arrange escort cards (or tiles, or kumquats) alphabetically. “And have someone on hand with a guest list and table plan, if you can, to help people who are struggling to find their name,” says Susie Young.…

1 COPPER TEA KETTLE Copper kettles like this one, handcrafted in England, boil faster and retain heat longer than others. $295, Simplex; surlatable.com. 2 ROUND DUTCH OVEN Not sure you need a large cast-iron pot? If you ever plan to cook for/impress a crowd, you do. 7.25 quarts, $360, Le Creuset; lecreuset.com. 3 GLASS JAR This classic canning jar, whose carved wooden top is lined with a rubber seal, is insanely useful and pretty. Oneliter tulip jar, $14 for two, and wooden lid, $7, Weck; shopterrain.com. 4 COPPER COLANDER As a budget-friendly option, go for stainless steel with copper plating. $49, Rejuvenation; rejuvenation.com. 5 RECTANGULAR BAKER A kitchen essential, this enamel-coated steel pan can be used for everything from brownies to lasagna. Three quarts, $172, Dansk Kobenstyle; lenox.com. 6 CASSEROLE…

HONEYMOON IDEAS FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME For the Couple Who Wants EXOTIC SITES DESTINATION MYANMAR SHIP SCENIC CRUISES’ SCENIC AURA CAPACITY 44 PASSENGERS If you’re looking to go where no one you know has ever been, consider this Asian nation that only started allowing foreign travelers in 2012 and remains blissfully free of crowds and tourist traps. As you head north from Yangon on the 1,300-mile Irrawaddy River, you’ll pass centuries-old golden Buddhist temples, bustling markets, and monks draped in long red robes. While most ships plying the river have an antique feel, this one, which launched in September, is clean and modern, with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the lush green landscapes inside. DON’T MISS A sunrise hot-air-balloon ride over nearly 2,000 gilded pagodas in…