SPRING BRIDAL 2015

I Do,I Do

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

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LOGISTICS FIRST, PROPOSAL LATER

Thinking ahead can secure your perfect day
by Melissa Ezarik

Lisa Nightingale and her boyfriend who planned

to get married one day wanted a meaningful wedding date.
The minute I realized both our parents had the
same wedding date, I checked to find the closest
year with that date falling on a weekend, recalled
Nightingale, owner of Wethersfield-based Nightingale
Events.
A year or more before getting engaged, she reached out
to venues and vendors. Within a week of getting the ring,
she had her dress, photographer and videographer chosen.
Within a few more weeks, a venue for the October 2016
nuptials was solidified.
Ann Ballantyne of Milford, whose engagement period will total about seven months
when she gets married this May, also
opted to get down to the business of
planning before it was official.
I knew the engagement was
going to happen in the near future
and we had spoken about getting
married in summer 2015, she
said.
The venue search commenced.
I found the perfect location and
they only had two dates left for
2015. So my mother and I zoomed
up to Vermont to look and it was
everything I had dreamed of, she
explained.
With her fianc-to-bes blessing, they
booked it. And not long afterward, still preengagement, Ballantyne had her gown as well.
She and Nightingale are hardly alone in their early
planning. We run into quite a few couples that do this,
said Heidi Hanson, founder and president of Always and
Forever, a wedding and event coordination business with
locations in Easton and Granby.
She attributes the ease of getting a jump on the wedding to-dos to the overabundance of wedding-related websites and to Pinterest, which has made it easy for every
woman to envision the perfect wedding day, she said.
Also if youve seen 27 Dresses, you know that if youve
been a bridesmaid a lot of times, you know what you like
and dont, so when your wedding eventually rolls around,
you know what you are going to want and not want, she
said.
Couples with a specific wedding time frame are apt to
consider the planning before the proposing. Hanson had
one client put a deposit down on a venue pre-ring, because
as a teacher she knew her potential wedding weeks were
limited. She also knew the venue would book quickly.
In general, Hanson said, booking brides are those who
See Planning on Page 7

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I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Fashions
for mom

March 5, 2015

The very important

supporting player can dazzle, too
by Julie Butler

MOBs (Mother of the Bride) and MOGs

(Mother of the Groom) unite and rejoice:
It may be your daughter or sons big day,
but you can shine brightly, too.
Say goodbye to dull ideas about how
an MOB and MOG should dress for a
wedding. You are an important supporting player and there are many ways that
fashion can help you look your part with
panache.
It used to be that mothers wore suits or
very modest/buttoned-up styles so as not
to draw attention away from the bride, but
now many mothers want to have a little
more fun and show a little skin in a tasteful way.
No one wants to look like a mother
of the bride or groom, said Erica Jensen,
owner of the 37-year-old Helen Ainson
shop in Darien. My customers want an
elegant dress or gown appropriate for the
occasion which makes them look younger
and thinner than they really are. We can
help with this, as choosing the right style
can accomplish just that.
There are so many choices when choosing the perfect MOB or MOG dress, said
Jensen: short cocktail dress, long gown,
strapless, or arms covered, silk, chiffon,
taffeta or sequins, sexy or tailored, jacket,

At left, the mother of the bride and groom need not dress frumpy and resigned
anymore. Erica Jensen, owner of Helen Ainson on Darien, models a figure-flattering gown in the popular hue of blue. The addition of a sheer shawl is the perfect
accessory for women of a certain age, as well. Above, make sure your MOB/MOG
look coordinates with a chic clutch. This one is from Helen Ainson, Darien.
Bryan Haeffele photos

 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

March 5, 2015

stole, or neither.
And oh yes, then there is the color,
Jensen said.
Does the mother have to match with
the bridesmaids and wear a thematic wedding color? No. Mothers should wear a
color that looks good next to the bridesmaids and is coordinated to the wedding
as a whole, but she does not have to
match so dont stress about finding an
exact hue.
Right now, navy is the new black,
according to bridalguide.com. Black is a
comfort color for many women, but it can
be somber for some weddings. Navy offers
the same slenderizing effect and it looks
great in photos.
On the other end of the color spectrum
this season, blush pinks, mint greens,
seafoam blues and pale yellows are in
abundance, too. And an inviting palette of
neutral colors can always be found in flattering styles.
Its also important to take into consideration your personality and the most flattering color depending on ones skin tone
and hair color, added Jensen.
Lace, lace and more lace is one of the
biggest fashion trends in bridal for 2015,
and lace works beautifully for mothers
because it is flattering and forgiving and

can work for any time of year. Try a delicate lace sleeve, which covers up while
still showing some skin.
Bridalguide.com reports that sheer
sleeves, tiered skirts and shorter length
dresses are trending right now. Also in
a true throwback to the 1970s capes
and capelets can add some vintage chic to
MOB styles.
Depending on the shape and body type
of the customer, we try and find the style
which does accentuate the positive while
minimizing the negative, said Jensen. It
is always important first to discuss the
dress code on the invitation, the time, day
and location of the wedding in order to
decide how formal a dress to choose.
When choosing your MOB or MOG
look, also ask the staff of the store you are
shopping in to suggest the proper lingerie,
jewelry, shoes and evening bag to give that
total look, said Jensen.
Above all, we must stay within the
comfort zone of that individual customer,
she said.
So, moms, although you dont want to
steal the spotlight from your daughter or
daughter-in-law, it doesnt mean you cant
direct a little attention upon the person
responsible for that bride or groom standing up there at the altar!

please
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 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Blooming trend

March 5, 2015

The non-floral touch

by Melissa Ezarik

When wedding floral designer Anne

Cothran worked with one Connecticut bride,
she learned how close the bride had been
to her now-deceased grandparents and that
she wanted to have them close to her as she
walked down the aisle.
The solution for the wedding, which
took place in Old Lyme: Incorporate framed
images of the grandparents into the bridal
bouquet, said Cothran, currently based in
Charleston, S.C.
A few brides who have worked with
Flowers By Danielle in Trumbull have
requested including one or more of their
grandmothers brooches in their flowers. In
fact, said owner Danielle Farrer, we use a
lot of brooches and crystal accents in our
bouquets.
There are so many ways to incorporate
non-floral accents, she added. The nonfloral trends are definitely popular and continuing to grow.
Diana Chouinard, lead event planner and
designer at Cheshire-based Jubilee Events,
attributes the idea to couples wanting a
unique wedding.
Adding texture and dimension to floral
decor has become an area that many couples
are exploring and constantly pushing the
creative envelope to develop new and exciting trends, she said.
Picture this:
Jewels in bouquets, or jewels as bouquets.
Jeweled bouquets are very trendy,
said Brett Galley, director of special events
and owner of Hollywood Pop Gallery, a
Greenwich-based event planning and concert production company that handles a lot
of weddings.
This may mean silk flowers and crystals,
hanging rhinestones or beaded necklaces,
perhaps with sentimental or vintage jewelry
pieces added.
Its a DIY trend for some couples. The
pearl and crystal bouquet picks and peacock
feathers are two of the bestsellers in the ceremony supplies category on the wedding and
event supplies website Koyal Wholesale, said
co-founder and director Shreyans Parekh.

This bride from Old Lyme incorporated framed photos of her grandparents into her bridal bouquet. The trend that more and more brides are following is to
include meaningful, non-floral elements in their bouquets. JAG Studios

Origami in bouquets and centerpieces.

One fun floral bouquet alternative is the
lottery ticket wedding bouquet, said Galley,
adding that it signifies how both couples
won the lottery when they decided to get
married.
A few years ago, a bride who worked
with Washington, D.C.-based Stephanie
Aspinwall of Pretty Entertaining purchased
quilting cotton in prints that complemented
her color scheme. She starched the fabric
and then cut and folded it into origami
designs for her tables.
They were beautiful, and a big hit with
the guests, Aspinwall said.
Guys with grass.
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 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

March 5, 2015

found a trend, but an improvement in

the boutonniere made of feathers and grasses
instead of flowers, shared Richard OMalley,
owner of Northern New Jersey-based The
OMalley Project, an event production company.
Nearly all flowers make awful boutonnieres; they are too bulbous and heavy to sit
nicely on the lapel, OMalley said. By using
the feathers and grasses, you get a sleek and
sexy look that works with the lines of your
tux.
Rustic looks in bouquets and on
tables.
Cothran anticipates a classic garden style
will be popular for 2015.
Ive been asked to create the look that it
was just gathered together straight from the
garden, with ferns, twigs and even fruit used
in centerpieces and succulents, herbs, vines
and ribbons in bouquets, she said.
Flowerless centerpieces.
Floral centerpieces can be very expensive,
so if on a budget there are many alternatives,
Galley said.
Beach-themed weddings may include seashells with floating candles in water or small
lighthouses. Other ideas are fruit in clear long
vases, candelabras, beautiful stones and marbles in vases and even candy centerpieces.
Farrer favors the Manzanita tree, which
could be strung with battery-operated tea
lights or sprayed silver and garnished with
crystals. These centerpieces really get that
wow effect when entering a ballroom. They
are tall so really capture your eye, yet your
guests are still able to hold a conversation
under them, she said.
For baseball-themed weddings, Aspinwall
has worked with couples who, for example,
used baseballs, bats, pennants and baseball
cards in place of floral centerpieces.
Flowers in front
Couples looking to explore non-florals
certainly need not nix tradition altogether.
Using fresh blooms mixed with notes

Having a creative
bachelorette party

The trend of using feathers, twigs and other nonfloral elements for a boutonniere has replaced the
traditional flower boutonniere for some grooms
today. Floral design by Pennylyn Kaine.
Al Ojeda photo

of candlelight, unique vases, lanterns and

more is popular, said Chouinard. Flowers
bring the vision to life and add an aspect
that, without them, would not be otherwise
expressed or included.

If the thought of competing with the

guys and putting your hands down a
strange mans pants leaves you considering the convent, dont give up hope on
having a great bachelorette party. You,
too, can celebrate a friends last days as a
single girl in an all-out fun way.
Consider these ideas that dont necessarily have to include half-naked men.
Ante up: Lets face it, marriage is a
gamble. So why not hold the bachelorette party at a casino or racetrack?
Most have a nice restaurant and you
might want to see a show or book rooms
overnight. The great thing about gambling parties (other than the free drinks)
is that some may walk away with enough
money to pay for the bridesmaid dresses,
a wedding present, or even better
another girls night out! Just remember the odds are against you, so if betting
is your thing, put down only what you
can afford to lose.
Pamper palace: Suggest a day or
weekend spa event. Youll forgo junk
food and alcohol, but those clean pores
and exfoliated elbows will be worth it.
Choose a full-service spa that offers
everything from massages and mud
wraps to makeovers and manicures. The
bride will appreciate the stress-buster
and you all may find great new looks for
wedding day.
Hee haw: If shes a country girl,
maybe the bride-to-be would prefer a
good old-fashioned Virginia Reel. Take
her for a honky-tonk night at a country

Julie Butler, editor

Bryan
Haeffele, designer

Thomas B. Nash,
publisher

information,
For advertising

call 203-438-6544

I Do
I Do

Copyright 2015, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

MARCH 5, 2015

Box 1019, Ridgefield, Conn 06877

203-438-6544

and western bar and bring your cowboy boots and hats.
Karaoke: If youve forgotten the
liberating feeling of making utter fools of
yourselves, lip-synching will be fun for
all.
Its in the stars (and the cards): If
the bride knows her Sun and Moon
signs, plus her fiancs rising sign, she
may love a New Age party. Hire a tarot
card reader and an astrologer to do
everyones chart. This idea can be a big
hit, and not just with the starry-eyed
bride. Who doesnt want to know what
the future holds?
Scavenger hunt: Youre adults, but
that doesnt mean you have to act the
parts. A scavenger hunt (complete with
clues and a treasure map) will bring out
the children in all of you and prizes can
be as grown-up as you like (bottles of
champagne or gift certificates for a massage, for instance). Use a friends house
or garden and be as creative as you dare.
Where the wild things are: Does the
bride love the great outdoors? Consider a
back-to-nature bachelorette party.
Call the Connecticut Office of
Tourism to ask about campsites, then
ring up locations of interest and ask
about rental cabins or tents (if you come
up empty, you can rent tents and other
supplies at outdoor stores). Also, find out
what activities are offered (hiking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, or horseback
riding). Make sure all guests know what
clothes, food, and accessories to pack.

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 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

March 5, 2015

Modern trends
in wedding videography

A couples wedding day is often a whirlwind for the bride- and

groom-to-be. Happy couples hope to remember every little detail, but
that can be difficult when so much is going on. That is why many
brides and grooms hire videographers to preserve the memories of
their weddings.
Couples who fail to capture their ceremony and reception on film
may feel like they missed out once their big day has come and gone.
As a result, a professional videographer can be a wise investment.
Todays wedding videos have come a long way from their poorly
produced predecessors. Gone are the potentially cheesy soundbites
and elevator music. Many of todays videos are artfully edited and
highly cinematic productions that could have couples wishing they
were viewing videos in theaters.
The following are some wedding video trends popular among
todays couples.
Brief clips and highlights: Few people want to sit through their
entire wedding day frame-by-frame. Montages of key elements of the
day are much more popular than a chronological unfolding of the
ceremony and reception. Some videographers like to show snippets
of whats to come at the start of the wedding video, then go into more
extensive segments later on.
Special filters or film: Filters and lighting effects can give a wedding video an entirely different feel. For example, filming in 8mm can
lend a grainy touch to the video and make it seem ethereal or even
part of a home movie collection. However, few people want the stark
reality of a high-definition camera that highlights every flaw.
Film chapters: Dividing segments of the video into different
chapters allows viewers to fast forward to the parts they want to see
and pass those they can skip. This saves the hassle of having to watch
the video in its entirety.
Cinematic styling: Instead of a stationary camera on a tripod, this
method of filming incorporates different angles and close-up shots to
give the video a modern feel. Its shot more like a movie than a documentary, allowing viewers to feel as though theyre really experiencing
the event.
Artistic, indy feel: Film buffs may want a wedding video that
breaks the mold. Ask videographers to create something that would
fit in at the Sundance or Tribeca film festivals.
Same-day editing: Want to revisit the ceremony at your wedding
reception? Some videographers will edit portions of the ceremony and
preparations for the big day in the time between the ceremony and
reception. This gives all guests, including those who may not have
been able to make the ceremony, the chance to view the nuptials.
Unobtrusive technology: This trend relates to the equipment
used to capture wedding memories rather than the actual finished
product. No one wants their view of the ceremony or reception to be
marred by a big, bulky camera. Smaller video cameras enable videographers to seamlessly blend in and perhaps capture shots that larger
cameras could not.

For their December 2014 wedding,

Melissa Sansone Ruggiero and Jaimie
Ruggiero chose to have fun with both still
photography and videography. The couple also wanted to make certain their big
day reflected the playful nature not only
of their relationship but each as an individual. From sequined-covered Converse
sneakers to the Art Deco-esque church
aisle runner, Melissa and Jaimie made
sure the event was memorable for all.
Angela Maria Photography

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 I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

March 5, 2015

Planning
Continued From Page One

The money talk

every engaged couple should have
by Joseph Matthews

Over the course of any engagement, there

will be lots of conversations about the future.
Some will cover less earth-shattering
issues, such as what color tablecloths to use
for the wedding reception. Other talks will be
more meaningful. Whether to rent or own a
home, when to start a family, how to balance
your respective families demands just the
beginning of a lifetime of discussions.
One of the most important is how to
approach finances as a married couple. Its
worth an evening or an afternoon of your
time together to have an in-depth discussion
about money. After all, studies show that early
disagreements over money are one of the
leading causes of divorce.
So, get a pad of paper and be prepared to
ask each other some tough questions.
Here are some of the points you should
cover:
1. What are your financial assets? Will you
combine your assets as a married couple, or
keep them separate? Who will be responsible
for paying the bills? Will you divide them or
will it be a one-person job?
2. What are your individual debts and liabilities? Will you be responsible for the others
debt? Will you turn to your parents for assistance in paying down debt and, if so, will you
pay it back? What about student loans?
3. What are your credit profiles and credit
scores? When it comes to your credit personality, are you on-time or late payers? Do you
prefer cash or credit? If you differ on these
preferences, you may want to work out some
guidelines in how you will approach future
payments.

4. Now, think about your insurance, if you

have any. Who is the beneficiary? If you are
getting re-married and have a former spouse,
you probably want to remove him or her as
the beneficiary. Same goes for a parent. If you
do not have adequate insurance, especially if
you have children or are planning children,
now is the time to look into sufficient coverage.
5. Do you have a plan for your retirement?
Have you begun your strategy for saving?
Are you taking advantage of 401(k) plans at
work? Do you have a financial advisor who
can help create a strategy?
Even though it may seem far away, your
plans for retirement are a big deal. In a recent
nationwide poll of investors, Morgan Stanley
found that, in the Tri-State area, the vast
majority of respondents (76%) seek the counsel of a financial professional, most commonly
a CFP or financial advisor.
The most desired types of assistance are
guidance on how to allocate assets in an
investment portfolio (91%), clear communications regarding how assets can contribute to a
retirement income stream (90%), guidance on
changes in federal tax policy and exemptions
(87%), and analyses of what is going on in
the economy and markets and how it impacts
their portfolio (87%).
This is the time to be forthcoming about
how you handle money overall. What kind of
financial person are you individually, and how
will you operate as a couple? Will you be willing to take risks while young? Can you put
aside money and agree not to touch it, just let
it accumulate for future? What are your finan-

cial priorities: do you like to buy every new

gadget and toy, or would you rather save up
for your childrens education? Are you comfortable with debt?
Will you create and stick to a budget?
What if one of you is unwilling to stick to a
budget?
How will you handle it if you butt heads
on some of these issues?
As you can guess from these questions,
the potential for disagreement is undeniable.
Nonetheless, it is far better to have an open
and honest discussion before you say your
vows than to allow small financial clashes to
become bigger battles later on.
Joseph Mathews is a financial advisor with the Global
Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley Smith
Barney in Fairfield. He can be reached at 203-319-5165.

know their ring is coming but may

not know exactly when. That was the
case for Ballantyne, who had gone
with her boyfriend, each with a diamond they already possessed, to have
a ring designed.
To Nightingale, personality plays
a role. Most clients and even myself
did this to make sure we get exactly
what we want for our big day, she
said. Within hours of her engagement
being official, Nightingale began
reaching out to book her chosen vendors.
Couples without the cash for a big
shiny ring or for whom an engagement doesnt seem as important as
getting married also seem to go for
the concept, Nightingale has found.
Purchasing a dress early is sometimes accidental. Well hear a bride
say she purchased her dress one day
when she went out shopping for
something else, and she just had to
have it, Hanson said.
In Ballantynes case, it was deliberate. Once the date had been chosen
I needed a dress, she quipped. With
her mother and sisters, she began
shopping.
In my mind we were engaged.
We booked the venue and had a date
the ring is just an added bonus,
she said, adding that her entourage
felt the same. They had no issue
with me looking for a dress before I
had the ring.
Other family and friends were
let in on planning progress, too.
I shared the moment with those I
wanted to share the moment with,
and I told the people that matter to
me that I had found the dress, she
said. No one seemed shocked or
appalled, especially considering her
older sister had taken similar preengagement action.
Her fiancs parents preferred a
more traditional unveiling, so their
friends and wider family (and the
couples Facebook walls) got the news
after the engagement was official.
Nightingale told friends of her
pre-engagement work, too.
Some thought I was crazy, she
said. But I am just obsessed with
having a plan.

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I Do, I Do: Spring Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers

March 5, 2015