Tips and Trends

Look of the Moment

Michelle Taute — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:11:00 GMT

Wedding planners see it all. From the first chat about the couple’s vision for their big day to the late-night send-off as the reception comes to a close, the planner is the bride’s go-to for honest and sage advice. We decided to ask three local expert planners what trends they are seeing—and adoring—in gowns, flowers, and receptions. From short, short skirts to textured floral arrangements to interactive photo booths (with live photographers), the experts give us the inside scoop on what Queen City brides can’t get enough of. We also asked them what trends they would include if planning their dream wedding today. Read on. No matter your personal style, you’re sure to find a few ideas for your inspiration file.

Brigid Horne-Nestor
Owner, i-do Boutique

Gown: “It sometimes blows the budget, but I just love the new short gowns that brides are putting on after the dancing gets started. I’ve seen some gorgeous feathery froufrou poufy little skirts that are short, and they are just so much fun. For brides who have nice legs, they are fabulous, and they also show off the shoes.”

Flowers: “I’m seeing a lot of brides choose more organic and natural material, even if they’re going over the top with flowers. They look like they’ve come from the garden, like somebody just picked them.”

Reception: What would Horne-Nestor’s dream reception have right now? “I would definitely choose a light-up dance floor,” she says. “I love to dance, and anything that gets people motivated to join me on the dance floor is a good thing because I find that I’m usually the one dragging people out.”

Michelle Kinne
Lead planner, Blue Dahlia Events

Gown: “I’m loving lace. There is an illusion neckline that’s really hot right now. The lace goes up toward the neck and just gives a much more structured top to the gown, rather than sticking with the classic sweetheart or strapless dress with the lace.”

Flowers: What would Kinney’s dream wedding flowers be right now? “I am a bit of a classic girl and peonies always make me smile,” she says. “There are really just so many different shades of peonies and textures and types. You can get such a romantic feel with them.”

Reception: “One of the things I am seeing a lot right now is brides moving away from the rustic and going more toward just vintage, almost a romantic vintage. It still has a very classic feel, very cozy, and very relaxed, but you can get a little more of that elegance back.”

Julie Schmidt
Owner, Cincy Event Planning

Gown: What would Schmidt’s dream dress be right now? “I would definitely choose something over-the-top,” she says. “I love a dress with a drop waist, a lot of beading on the top, and a lot of movement. I’m also obsessed with floral dresses, tulle, and flower embellishments on the bottom.”

Flowers: “It’s about the overall feel and texture. Peonies are huge, and garden roses, and anything that has a lot of ruffle and texture. I am also seeing bigger flowers and unexpected touches like berries or succulents. We’ve had some brides incorporate herbs in their bouquets. We are seeing a lot of softer hues coming up.”

Reception: “We’re seeing a ton of interactive photo booths with live photographers. They are a huge hit. We have props that a lot of our brides borrow from us…just getting into the fun of that.”

Illustration by Dan Zettwoch
Originally published in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue.

Ask the Expert: Claire Pettibone

Michelle Taute — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:25:00 GMT

Brides who aspire to a vintage and romantic style have always loved Claire Pettibone dresses. But the designer’s name recognition received a big boost last May when Priscilla Chan wore a Pettibone dress in a surprise wedding to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The whole thing was a surprise to Pettibone, who learned about Chan’s dress along with the rest of the world. This very public brush with celebrity led to quotes from the designer in national magazines, as well as an appearance on Good Morning America. During a recent visit to Bridal and Formal, Pettibone gave us some insider advice about shopping for your dream dress.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?  The brand new collection is inspired by Windsor Rose China. That was a little bit inspired by my grandmother, literally, my grandmother’s china. I incorporated some of the gold detailing and some hand-painted floral elements.

Throughout the collections, I have this continuing thread of vintage inspiration, but it still has some modern feeling to it. When I say vintage, I usually mean really vintage. I love the turn of the centuries, from the 1800s through the early 1900s. There’s just such richness in the past that I like to draw into now. I strive to create a timeless feeling, so you wouldn’t necessarily know when the wedding took place.

What do you tell brides who are just starting to look for a dress? You’ve got to be a little open-minded. There’s the girl who comes in and knows exactly what she wants and tries it on and yes, that’s it. Or you can get a girl who comes in and ends up trying on something that she never in a million years thought that she was going to love and ends up loving it. Trust the sales associates. They really do know what’s out there.

What should brides know about alterations? A lot of times girls seem to have this fantasy that the dress is going to come in and fit perfectly from the moment they try it on. Fittings should be expected. You will need alterations because women’s bodies are all so different. It’s all in the final fitting where it really does come together, and it will fit perfectly.

Photograph by Nataliya Vakulenko • View the Gown Gallery

Making It Yours

Michelle Taute — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:07:00 GMT

1. DO embrace the humble chalkboard. Turn to framed chalkboards and your artistic hand for table numbers, charming signs, or if you’re the Martha type, even an entire seating chart. “It’s fun and cute and gives brides a bit of creative license,” says Brigid Horne-Nestor, Master Bridal Consultant, i-do Weddings & Events. A word to the wise: Hide the chalk and erasers. Open bar + chalk + groomsmen = totally juvenile messages and/or drawings.

2. DO play with the wedding timeline. There’s no need to stick to the traditional schedule if it doesn’t fit with your personality as a couple. Horne-Nestor says more Midwestern brides are adopting a popular East Coast timeline: The dancing starts right away instead of after dinner is over. Imagine everyone showing off their moves between courses—and before they fall into that sugar- and carb-induced coma. Or is that just us?

3. DON’T make your guests hunt for their seats. Yes, it’s a party. But some of us are wearing cute-yet-not-so-comfortable heels. Do us a solid and make it easy to find our chairs. Horne-Nestor recommends that anyone with more than 15 tables stick with numbers to help guests navigate. After all, no one’s sure where the Paris table is in relation to Berlin. But if you really have your heart set on creative table monikers, just add numbers underneath.

4. DO take advantage of the family talent pool. Dora Manuel, owner of Viva Bella Events, told us that one of her brides tapped into her dad’s carpentry skills. The father crafted beautiful table numbers, escort card holders, and other wooden accent pieces for the big day. Just make sure whomever you recruit from the family tree is an eager volunteer. We don’t want this to turn into a wedding sweatshop-type situation with your second cousins once removed.

5. DON’T find all your “unique” ideas on Pinterest. Hey, we’re addicted to pinning fab wedding ideas, too. But how can we break this gently? You’re probably not the only one who wants to re-create that one craft idea with hundreds—maybe even thousands—of re-pins. Choose wedding details from Pinterest wisely and hey, it wouldn’t hurt to look for inspiration in other places, too. Like, maybe you could tear some pages out of the swank magazine this story came from.

6. DO rock out the escort cards. This is the perfect place to showcase your creative streak. Or, hey, you could steal (umm, we mean borrow) a fun idea from one of Manuel’s creative brides: She tied escort cards to lollipops and displayed them on a fun stand. Another found a picture of every guest and formatted each one to look like a Polaroid. Instead of finding their names, guests looked for pictures.

7. DON’T arrange your own flowers. Listen, we know it looks easy to throw a few blooms in a vase or pull together a bouquet, but those florists are real pros. And your bridesmaids don’t want to help you frantically pull together centerpieces at midnight before your big day (even if they’re way too nice to say anything). Trust us, we’ve been there, done that. There were tears involved.

8. DO play off your interests and hobbies. OK, come a little closer. We’re going to let you in on the real secret to throwing a one-of-a-kind wedding: Make it about what you and your groom already love. We recently went to a totally fab wedding for a couple who works in publishing, and it was easy to tell they were book worms. Think old colorful tomes on the tables and fun book-themed favors (personalized bookmarks plus tiny notebooks).

9. DO wear a little blue. Just because it’s a tradition doesn’t mean you can’t make it personal. Try kicking it in a pair of striking blue heels, wearing a hairpiece with a peacock feather, or choosing blue polish for your mani or pedi. But do us all a favor and leave the blue eye shadow back in the ’80s where it belongs.

10. DO personalize your cake topper. This one’s a no-brainer. Find an Etsy seller to make that little bride and groom look just like the two of you. Or if you’re fancy schmancy, go for an elegant monogram or a vintage find. We even have a soft spot for those geek chic toppers: robots, Star Wars characters, or Lego figurines. Just don’t expect us to show up in a costume. This isn’t Halloween, hon.

Ask the Expert: Debra Moreland

Michelle Taute — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:59:00 GMT

Debra Moreland is the designer behind PARIS, an elegant handmade line of bridal accessories that includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings, headpieces, belts, and veils. Based in Cincinnati, she approaches bridal accessories as wearable art, and this philosophy has earned her a spot in the bridal world’s inner circle. Her awards and media mentions are too numerous to list, but we can’t help name dropping a few of the celebrities who have been her customers—Taylor Swift, Winona Ryder, and Oprah Winfrey, just to name a few. She gave us a few tips on finding the perfect accessories for your dress.

What should a bride keep in mind as she chooses accessories?

If you don’t have access to your specific gown, you need to get the closest possible dress and put it on. Something with a similar neckline and texture, so you can see what it looks like. Take off all of your existing jewelry. Take off your watch. You will be compensating for it. Picking out jewelry is just like picking out a dress. You need to try it on. The accessories should really take it up a level. They should reflect you, but a little more, and not be your usual everyday look.

How do you know when you have too much? When it’s time to take an accessory away?

There are some people that you can’t put enough on them and they carry it off. And some people you can’t put much on at all. It’s personality-driven. There are some rules of thumb. If you have a statement necklace, you shouldn’t have statement earrings. The eye needs a place to rest, so the accessories you choose matter. It’s a matter of balance. Be careful not to under-accessorize a dress that has a lot going on, or it will look unfinished.

What about veils?

If you’re just shopping for veils, your eyes go to the more decorative ones. But my advice is to start with a plain veil. I like a long, very simple veil that lets you see every detail of your dress. A short veil creates a triangle on the top half of your body. If you’re outside, wind is always a factor. If you have a short veil, there’s no way to control it. You need something long enough to drape over your arm. If your dress is more architectural than ornamental, that is the perfect opportunity to do a lace or painted veil—the perfect way to show it off.

Photograph by Jonathan Willis

Pretty in Cream

Nina Beth Hayutin — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:17:00 GMT

I was so excited to be a flower girl in Uncle Ricky and Aunt Lisa's wedding. It was a good thing they asked me, because I was hired to be a flower girl in my cousin's wedding last summer but my Mom and Dad didn't want to bring me to that wedding because they wanted to go by themselves. I was mad, but then I figured out that I was going to be hired again.

When I first saw my dress, I liked other ones better. At the store, the dress looked kind of yellowy. I liked the ones with bows and pink stuff and a lot of decoration because I'm a girlie-girl and pink is one of my all-time favorite colors. But then I tried it on and it looked pretty on me. I told the salesperson, "I didn't think that I would look this beautiful, but I do."

Then, once we got the dress, I could not wear it until the wedding so I wouldn't ruin it or get it dirty or anything. I wanted to because it was so pretty. When I got the dress it looked prettier than it did at the store. It looked more cream.

I really liked my shoes. They were real high heels, the highest heels I've ever worn. They're grown up and pretty.

I got to go to Lisa's shower because I'm a girl and I was about to be her neice. It was very fun.

Aunt Lisa told me I had to wear a headband with flowers. Yuck. Don't tell Aunt Lisa but I didn't think it looked that good. But I knew I had to wear it, so I just did.

I opened a present that they gave me. It was a pearl necklace and it was so pretty. Aunt Lisa put it on me. They were real pearls from an oyster.

Then I was just walking around the room, waiting for the wedding to start and posing for pictures. I loved wearing my dress all day at the wedding. Everybody was probably looking at me.

My basket had calla lilies and it was wrapped with ribbon. It was filled with white rose petals that I was supposed to throw down like flower girls always do so the aisle looks pretty to walk down.

A funny thing happened when all the posing was going on. I turned around and saw that there were already petals in the aisle. I thought that somebody had already done my job, so I got mad and told Mom, "Somebody put down all my petals already!" She said, "Your petals are fine. Those are different petals." Isn't that funny?

Everybody was smiling at me when I walked down the aisle. I did not have to concentrate because it was easy and fun. All I had to do was hold the basket in one hand and throw petals in different places. First I was throwing them up in the air, but then a lady told me to throw them down, so I did. I loved when everyone was looking at me. The bride was probably the prettiest one at the wedding, and the groom was the next prettiest, but the next prettiest after that was definitely me.

I actually loved the whole wedding. After I did my petals I sat down on a chair and watched the ceremony. It was so beautiful with the music and everything. I just loved it.

But my favorite part was seeing everybody in our family. I love my family, that's why.

At the end, the shoes weren't so good after all because the heels started hurting. When I was walking to the room to get babysat I kept hoping that I would get there soon because I wanted to take those shoes off. I still love them anyway.

If somebody asks you to be a flower girl, you should do it. I'm waiting for my other aunt to get married so I can do it again.

Get Slim: Skip the Gym

Kaileigh Peyton — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:01:00 GMT

Sure, you can pound the treadmill day after day or hit the elliptical for hours on end. But what’s the fun in that? Here’s the skinny on some fun physical activities around Cincinnati that will help you achieve your best wedding-day shape—no health membership necessary.

Adult Soccer League

For a whole-body workout that will increase your endurance, make your way to Indoor Soccer City and kick a ball around with your soon-to-be spouse. Join a league for just $70, or start your own team with your entire wedding party. 5770 Springdale Rd., Colerain Twp., (513) 741-8480, indoorsoccercity.com

Climbing Lessons

Tone your arms for that strapless gown at Rock Quest Climbing Center, which offers wall-climbing lessons suited to your pace. If your skills are more advanced, get your bridesmaids in on the fun with a climbing party for up to 10 people and as much as three hours of climbing. 3475 E. Kemper Rd., Sharonville, (513) 733-0123, rockquest.com

Loveland Bike Trail

Pedal away on a scenic adventure through historic Loveland on the Loveland Bike Trail. No bike? No problem. Loveland Bike Rental will lend you one for the day and offer several suggested routes. 206 Railroad Ave., Loveland, (513) 683-0468, lovelandbiketrail.com

Yoga

Relieve your pre-wedding stress with a class at yogahOMe. Try the challenging Hot Power Hour or a more meditative class like Hot hOMe Flow, which focuses on connecting breath to movement. 11928 Montgomery Rd., Symmes Twp., (513) 774-YOGA; 7457 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, (513) 561-YOGA; 3215 Brotherton Rd., Oakley, (513) 871-YOGA; yogahome.net

Aerial Fitness Classes

Why do boring crunches when you can be an acrobat? The Aerial Fitness classes at the Cincinnati Circus Co. offer an intense workout. Beginner classes focus on groundwork fitness done on aerial equipment to get you ready for those fancy high-flying moves. 2323 Ferguson Rd., Western Hills, (513) 400-3868, cincinnaticircus.com

Cincinnati Adventure Boot Camp

Did you wait until the last minute to start your workouts? The Cincinnati Adventure Boot Camp will whip you into shape with their rigorous four-week cardio and toning routines. Expect to get your blood pumping before the sun rises, as boot camp begins daily at 5:30 a.m. You’ll get nutrition tips and motivation from instructors. Bridal parties of five or more receive a 20-percent discount. 4325 Red Bank Rd., Oakley, (513) 407-4665, cincinnatifitnessbootcamp.com

Pure Barre Cincinnati

One of the latest trends in fitness, Pure Barre combines yoga and ballet techniques that lift and tone all of those trouble areas. By using the body as resistance against the ballet barre, these moves will create long and lean muscles. Pure Barre Cincinnati offers a Bridal Package, which includes unlimited hour-long classes for a three-month period. 3083 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 321-5800, purebarre.com

Brides on a Budget

Michelle Taute — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:38:00 GMT

Let’s face it: we all have a budget for our big day. We talked to two local brides who had fab weddings on super-tight budgets. They shared their best tips for getting married without breaking the bank.

» Skip traditions that aren’t meaningful to you.
Lisa Dolan tied the knot last May with a budget of roughly $4,500 for about 120 guests. How? She and her husband skipped the limo and extensive decorations, details that weren’t overly important to them.

» Buy wedding accessories from other brides.
For her March 2012 wedding, Gina Kuchenmeister ordered used table and chair covers online. The price tag was about 75 percent less than new, and she can sell them when she’s done. Check sites like Craigslist to find deals on everything from candles to envelopes.

» Tap into the talents of friends and family.
Nothing stretches a tight budget like help from the people who love you most. Dolan’s aunt, a cook, offered to prepare the food as a gift while other friends pitched in on the flowers, invitations, and bartending.

» Take your time and stay calm.

“Don’t let the excitement of your engagement and impending wedding rush you into making hasty decisions,” Kuchenmeister says. “Look around for the best deals and stay within your means so when your big day is over, you still can afford to enjoy your new life.” Great advice from a bride who had a wedding and reception for 150 guests on a $4,500 budget.

Wedding Apps We Love

Michelle Taute — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:35:00 GMT

If you’re like us, you’re never far from your iPhone or iPad. When planning your wedding, it only makes sense to put these powerful tools to work with some helpful wedding apps. Here are a few we recommend.

myGuestList

Track your guests and their RSVPs anywhere, anytime. It’s designed for any party, so it’s perfect for the rehearsal dinner, the big day, and entertaining as a married couple. Download price: $1.99

Vera Wang Weddings

Flip through the designer’s swoon-worthy gown collection and watch backstage videos of runway shows. Even if you can’t afford one of her gowns, this app lets you find dresses with features or styles you might want to look for at the bridal store. Download price: Free

Plan Your Wedding With Mindy Weiss

Let a celebrity wedding planner give you her insider tips, tricks, and secrets. This app features exclusive videos, up-and-coming trends and inspiration, and some of the same advice that Mindy Weiss shares with her A-list clients. Download price: $7.99

Illustration by Mikey Burton • Originally published in the Winter 2012 issue.

Dress the Part

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:20:00 GMT

You’ve seen him giving fashion guidance to brides on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress. Now Randy Fenoli, fashion director at Kleinfeld in New York, is on a mission to help brides—and bridal salons—across the country. At an appearance last fall at Bridal and Formal, where he lent his expertise to some lucky local brides, we talked with him about his new book, body-image issues, and his ultimate goal—making every bride feel beautiful.

Your book, It’s All About the Dress, released Nov. 1. Why should brides pick it up?
This is not your mother’s wedding book. I take the modern bride through the process, because it’s a process to find the perfect dress. I say that finding a wedding dress is like taking a trip to a foreign country. You don’t know the language. I give brides the key words they need for a bridal appointment: what to ask, what are the fabrics. I use no models, only real women, brides of all ages from size 2 to 24, because I believe that every woman can look beautiful, and should have that privilege.

Finding a gown can be an overwhelming experience. How does a bride stay focused?
It’s all about preparing for the appointment, learning the language and knowing what you’re there for. Speak to the people who are coming with you, to let them know how much you want to spend and the styles you love. You need to have the knowledge before you even enter the salon.

How do brides with body issues find a gown that will flatter them?
You can wear almost anything if the proportion is right. If you want something beaded and you’re petite, you don’t want the beading to be too big or if you’re going for lace, you don’t want the pattern to be too large. If you have broad shoulders, go for a fuller skirt that balances those shoulders. Ruching on the diagonal is always good to camouflage any tummy issues.

How many dresses should a bride try on?
As many as she needs to find the one that makes her feel beautiful. However, it does come to a point where you’ve tried on too many dresses and they all become a blur. Ten dresses is about average and a lot of times, it’s one of the first three dresses you try on. I compare the process to finding your fiancé. You know to stop looking at other guys when you’ve found the one.

What advice do you have for brides on a tight budget?
A bride can look beautiful at any price point. A simpler dress in a better fabric is more beautiful than a dress covered in inexpensive embroidery. Less is more. The dress also has to fit like a glove. If the dress does not fit properly, it will look cheap.

How has the wedding gown evolved over the years you’ve been in the industry?
Bridal gowns in the past have been very traditional. Now they’re much more fashion-forward and trendy, which is exciting. You can wear just about anything. You can never go wrong choosing a classic dress, which will stand the test of time. The dress needs to say who you are and with so many options today, you can find one that says “this is who I am.”

What inspires you to do the work you do?
A bridal gown is the most important dress a girl will ever wear. It is her Academy Award moment. If I can help a woman select a dress that will make her realize her beauty and give her the utmost confidence, that is the greatest gift.

Why do you love fashion?
Oprah Winfrey did a show where she brought Christmas to Africa. She did research and determined that every boy would want a soccer ball and every girl would want a baby doll. Then she gave every child a uniform. The gift that they loved the most was the uniform. They said that, when they put it on, they no longer felt poor. That speaks to me about the power of clothing, that it’s not just a piece of fabric. It makes you feel, emotionally.

Tell us about a bride who has inspired you.
I worked with a girl recently who’d been through an ordeal. She had been coming back from her graduation. It was her Mom, Dad, and her in the car. She had just gotten a card from them that said something like “Now that we’ve seen you graduate, we will be happy for the rest of our lives.” A drunk driver crashed into them, killing both of her parents. She only had a 10-percent chance of surviving. She has made it, she is walking, and she is getting married.

What is your goal in making local appearances at bridal salons across the country?
I am here to support the smaller bridal salons that have been around for decades and are struggling in this economy. I want to support the real designers, the ones that actually sketch and drape and create dresses, rather than just mass-produce gowns. I’m also here to support the bride and to make her feel beautiful on her wedding day. I don’t care if she is spending $100 or $100,000. She will get the same experience from me.

Any future aspirations?
I want to be a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

Photograph courtesy of Randy Fenoli • Originally published in the Winter 2012 issue.

Ask the Expert: Megan Ketover

Michelle Taute — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:06:00 GMT

Reality TV fans might recognize Megan Ketover from the second season of Bravo’s Top Chef Just Desserts, where she held her own against the show’s 13 other pastry chefs through the seventh episode.

But it’s just as likely that you’ve actually tasted one of Ketover’s delectable desserts. As the pastry chef for the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, she’s responsible for everything from those final sweet bites at award-winning Orchids at Palm Court to gorgeous wedding cakes that look (and taste) just as stunning as the art deco hotel. She gave us the inside dish on wedding cakes and desserts.

How can a bride make sure the cake fits her wedding theme?
Many times when I meet with brides, they bring in little story boards, or I start to put one together when I’m helping them design their cake. It might be a swatch of the bridesmaid’s dress and a picture of what the flowers are going to look like, and then maybe a place card. I think those are great, because it starts to create a story for the wedding.

What’s a great way to make your wedding cake more personal?
One of the things I love to do is match the wedding cake to the bride’s dress. For one of the weddings I did just a couple of weeks ago, the bride’s dress had this cool, ruffled flower on it, so I made some and put them on the cake. It was a subtle detail. If a dress has embroidery, I can pipe icing that matches the embroidery.

Besides cakes, are there other dessert trends you’re seeing at weddings?
We’ve been doing a lot of late-night dessert stations separate from the wedding cake. It might have little tarts, mini cupcakes, French macarons, small chocolates, or lollipops. And it can all be tied into a color theme. If we decorate each of the mini cupcakes, we’ll make a little chocolate garnish to match the theme of the wedding. It’s a really fun element for guests too, because they’re out there dancing and having a great time, and they get this fun late-night snack.

What do brides need to know when they start meeting with bakeries?
They need to see pictures of cakes the bakery has done in the past. Sometimes brides will bring in a picture and they might say “Oh, yeah, I can do that.” But if they don’t have any work showing they can do a wide range of custom cakes, it might be reason for concern.

Photograph by Jonathan Willis • Originally published in the Winter 2012 issue.