wedding dresses, wedding dress

Economy dampens wedding plans

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:49:21 +0000

A fairy-tale wedding never took a recession into consideration.

“We started planning our wedding a year ago,” said Lori Sabatello, 27, of Mount Sinai. “If we were doing it now, and this is how the economy was, we would have invited less people or had it at a less expensive place.”

Businesses catering to Long Island weddings - events frequently considered to be models of extravagance - are feeling the pinch as more and more couples worried about the souring economy scale back their festivities.

“I would say it’s the slowest it’s been in 15 years,” said Victoria Buckwald, co-owner of Angel Bridals, a bridal shop in East Islip.

“More girls have a specific budget in mind, and it’s down from the budget that they would have had a year ago,” said Buckwald, who said she began noticing changes in brides’ spending habits about a year ana half ago.

Buckwald said she’s noticed women borrowing headpieces and other accessories from their friends, or buying wedding dresses off the rack and having alterations made instead of custom-ordering a gown.

“You look to save money in any way that you can,” said Sabatello, whose wedding to her high school sweetheart is Nov. 7 at Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Port Jefferson. “It’s a lot of money when you start adding everything up.”

Gary Cress, fourth-generation owner of James Cress Florists in Smithtown and Port Jefferson, feels the impact of price-conscious brides on his cash register.

For one recent wedding, Cress’ shop crafted the table arrangements - but that was all.

“The bride went to Stop & Shop for her bouquets,” he said. “I was absolutely floored.”

In years past, Cress said, it wasn’t unusual for brides to come to him and say they had consulted with two other florists. Now, it’s more like seven or 10. “The competition is much more prevalent,” he said.

To stay afloat, Cress finds himself changing his sales tactics. He hasn’t lowered prices generally but he is negotiating more with brides on the cost.

“I don’t let any brides walk,” he said. “If they come in with a certain amount of money to spend, I give them their flowers. You can’t let some supermarket do your wedding. It needs to be done correctly.”

Guest lists also are taking a hit. Michael Burbage, banquet coordinator for Beckwith Pointe Catering in New Rochelle, said Friday that many guests are not attending his clients’ weddings because they can’t afford the travel and hotel costs, or even an adequate gift.

“I have a couple getting married this weekend and almost 35 percent of guests said no,” said Burbage, whose clientele is about 10 percent Long Islanders. Couples have resorted to “going to their C and D lists” to maintain the minimum number of guests needed to keep their room, he said.

Sabatello said that out of 180 guests she and her fiance invited, 120 responded with one week left to go until the RSVP date. So far, 21 guests - mostly from out of state - declined the invitation.

Debbie Golden, 26, of Coram, has a guest list of 125 and is counting on 100 showing up at her wedding in May. “We didn’t invite a lot of out-of-towners,” she said, so there’s no need to worry about long-distance cancellations.

But one of the out-of-towners is her sister - who’s in the wedding.

“She’ll show up. Well, hopefully,” she said with a laugh.

Many Long Island catering halls haven’t noticed a big change since the economic slump. Bruce Cocchi, banquet director of Watermill Caterers in Smithtown, said he’s noticed a slight decrease, “but nothing dramatic,” in guest attendance.

“Maybe some people are concerned about their jobs and giving gifts,” Cocchi said, “but I think most people, when it comes to a wedding, realize that the importance of the date has to supersede something as superficial as money.”

Wedding Architect crafts lifetime memories

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:45:08 +0000

With the assistance of Frisco’s Ricardo Tomas, couples planning to tie the knot can be certain that their wedding day will be everything they imagined. His wedding boutique is uniquely located inside the Troy Richard Salon north of State Highway 121 at Legacy Drive.

Known as the “Wedding Architect,” Tomas’ services include full wedding coordination by helping the couple plan the entire wedding from the engagement all the way through the honeymoon. For a more a la carte approach, he can also plan just the day of the wedding should that be the demand.

Tomas has planned approximately 15 weddings since he began from his most basic wedding costing $10,000 to his most extravagant at about $100,000.

“I do weddings depending on the client’s budget and not necessarily that I can’t do anything under [$10,000] but that has kind of been my budget,” he said. An average wedding will take about nine months for him to plan, but depending on the vendor’s availability he could plan a wedding in as quickly as about 30 days.

The most common setting for the weddings he has planned has been in a hotel ballroom in downtown Dallas.

“The most unique space so far, and the most beautiful has been the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine because of its inside décor that makes you feel like you’re outdoors. Since I am from San Antonio originally it reminds me of downtown River Walk,” Tomas said.

Although he has always worked out of Texas, he has done some destination weddings in St. Paul, Minn., Nashville, Tenn., and Cancun, Mexico. In Nashville, he planned the wedding of country singer Sara Evans. He has also planned the wedding of local celebrity, Tara Gibson, now Tara Harris, who was the first runner-up to Miss Texas 2005.

Tomas continues to set the bar high. He hosted and produced his first fashion bridal show in March. He has also appeared in D Weddings magazine, which features wedding professionals and brides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“The favorite part of my job is seeing everything come together. Basically, you only have one shot to do it. And the most gratifying part in the whole process is hearing the response from the parents and the couple that it was everything they set out for it to be which says a lot and makes my job well worth it,” he said.

Tomas is unique from other wedding planners because of his relationships with his clients.

“I really take each individual client personal. They each have their story and I do interview them in the process when I am getting to meet with them and I find out a lot about their background. Also, after the wedding I do remain friends with them as well as actually having attended some of their baby showers. It has been a good relationship so far,” he says.

The University of Texas at San Antonio graduate has the credentials to merit his Wedding Architect title.

“The reason for that is because of my design and degree since my degree is actually in architecture. I did not want to call myself wedding planner or wedding coordinator, I wanted something different and ‘Wedding Architect’ is something I can market and be unique and different from anybody else. Nobody else can possibly have that name. I think of myself as a contractor who is building a house. I pretty much have all my sources. I have florists, a baker, musicians, salons, dresses,” Tomas said.

Tomas was an interior designer for about 15 years before branching out to the wedding business. The first step he took in becoming a professional was to become a member of the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants.

“I did take a 40-hour wedding course, and I believe without this knowledge I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. Most people think that [wedding planning] is something that anybody can do, but besides knowledge you have to have patience,” Tomas said.

In addition to working with weddings, he was influential in grooming Miss Frisco 2006, Shilah Phillips, as she prepared for the Miss USA pageant.

“We didn’t have to really help her with the modeling. She had that down, she carries herself very well, and [she’s] very knowledgeable. So what we pretty much had to do was kind of tweak her to get her in pageant mode and ready for interview process, that is a big part of the Miss America system. We got to take her wardrobe shopping and got her a good coach for voice lessons. We pretty much just geared her all the way to Miss America,” he said.

Because his first fashion bridal show was a success Tomas has another in the works for October.

He offers some professional and honest advice for anyone getting married.

“Don’t try and plan the whole thing yourself. Go ahead and invest in a wedding consultant to gear your finances in the right direction, to help your budget, and to basically take the stress away from the wedding day and from your family,” he said.

For information, visit www.ricardotomasweddings.com or call 214-908-3830.

Fashion dresses up Asia Fest

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:40:58 +0000

Weddings and Events Go Green

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:38:16 +0000

Thinking about introducing eco-savvy “green” elements to your wedding, corporate banquet or family barbecue? Here are some tips from events planners.

By Jean Patteson | Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer

Black - the new wedding white?

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:36:13 +0000

Others sign up for such procedures as teeth whitening, while more time-poor brides are hiring planners to organise their big day.

Experts doubt the economic gloom will have a negative impact on the wedding market as brides are prepared to pay big money for their special day.

Bridal on Pulteney owner Angela Sgarbossa said more brides were choosing non-traditional colours for their dresses.

“It’s a generation that has paid their own way, and are used to making decisions for themselves, so why shouldn’t it be the same when it comes to the most important dress they’ll wear?” she asked.

“The modern bride is veering from tradition and choosing dresses that make them feel attractive and reflect their personal style, from black and red to deep green and brown.”

please keep following The changing face of wedding gowns will be showcased at the Spring Bridal Ideas Expo today and tomorrow at the Adelaide Showground.

Expo director Elizabeth Falloon said there was a trend towards unique weddings such as sky diving and deep-sea diving.

She said a poll taken of more than 100 exhibitors last year, showed less than half of weddings fell into the traditional category.

“We have brides who get married deep-sea diving. Others walk down the aisle in a bright red dress. A truly “traditional” wedding is hard to come by.”

New York brides are making their bridesmaids sign contracts specifying everything from prohibiting them gaining weight to having a tan.

Geoff Slater, of Elite Weddings and Functions, said while he had not heard of local brides going to this extreme he said a recent bride had “dropped” a bridesmaid in the middle of wedding plans because she was deemed inappropriate in her appearance.

Brides can be “very, very, demanding,” he said.

Mr Slater did not think “even in this economic climate brides would spend less” because it was their most important day.

Outfits on the cheap: Halloween, wedding wear goes for $20 or less at campus sale

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:44:45 +0000

Alissa Wersal, right, tries on a wedding gown with help from friend Amy Kaufman at a costume closeout sale by the University of Montana Drama/Dance Department on Friday. Wersal, who intended to use the gown as part of a Halloween costume, eventually let the dress go to a customer who wanted to get married in it.
Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Watch Watch a video of the Halloween costume-shopping frenzy at UM

No surprise that the gigantic mascotlike purple donkey head sold in less than 15 minutes after the kickoff of the second annual University of Montana Drama/Dance Department’s costume closeout sale on Friday.

“That’s just something someone would see and go, ‘Oh, my God. I have to have it,’ ” said Alana Wight, a senior drama major.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Several hundred costumes that starred in musicals and theatrical productions at the university hung on racks on the main floor of the University Center for Halloween-hungry costume lovers to snatch up.

It was the second time the university’s Drama/Dance Department has offered some of its extensive costume stock for sale to the public, just in time for Halloween-costume preparations.

Last year’s sale was twice as big because it was the first time in at least a decade that anyone had rummaged through and organized the school’s inventory of clothing and costumes, said Lisa Marie Hyslop, university costume shop manager.

This year, it took a month for students and faculty to determine what needed to go and what should stay. Much depends on the lineup of productions scheduled for the future.

It’s doubtful the Drama/Dance Department will hold a costume closeout next year. But it’s possible there will be another two years from now.

“Our stock should be usable and not some augmentation of the Goodwill,” Hyslop said.

Prices ranged from 25 cents to $20 and the proceeds help defray costs of buying and making new costumes for future performances.

Early Friday, the 18th and 19th century-style dresses were flying off the rack, Wight said.

Winner of the giant purple donkey head - constructed from styrofoam, velvet and a bike helmet, and which debuted almost a decade ago in UM’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” - was Robert Price, a 25-year-old student from Great Falls, who’s obsessed with Halloween and any other excuse that allows him to sport outrageous attire.

Last year, Price wore a hot-pink Marge Simpson costume to Maggotfest, and he has dressed up as a big blue elephant for past Halloweens.

When he awoke Friday morning, Price planned to dress up as the Joker from “The Dark Knight,” released in July. But one glimpse of the purple donkey head changed all that. Fifteen dollars later, Price walked through the UC showing off his new accessory.

For some browsers, it was as much a bridal fair as it was costume shopping.

Maura Donovan, 21, was scheduled to have breakfast with a friend in the UC. But their attention was diverted by the rack of white wedding gowns - many of them donated to the costume shop and a few that had never been worn. Donovan, of Superior, plans to wed this July. Shopping for a wedding dress has been a fairly frustrating experience, considering the prices for these once-in-a-lifetime garments, she said. She found a wedding gown that she loves - but for $800, which is outside her price range.

“I like that dress,” said Donovan, pointing to Alissa Wersal, a 20-year-old sophomore from Minneapolis, who happened to have on a dreamy dress with a long elegant train.

Wersal and a friend were at the costume sale right at 10 a.m. to get the best deals. She went in with no plan in mind, but pieced together a sexy Zorro idea based on a black cowboy hat and a pink, old-fashioned eye mask. The gown matched the idea perfectly, and, yes, Wersal half thought about splattering some fake bloodstains on it.

But if Donovan wanted it for its intended purpose - a wedding - how could a girl say no?

“I understand,” Wersal said, generously handing it over. “They’re expensive and it’s really pretty.”

Donovan squeezed into the dress. It almost fit, but she bought the $20 wedding gown anyway.

“I’m just going to get skinnier,” she said.

Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com.

Is it Safe to Buy Wedding Dresses On-Line, to Save Money?

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:40:32 +0000

With a recession upon us, many brides are asking if it is safe to purchase their wedding dress on-line. We ask top London bridal dress designer, Johanna Hehir for her opinion. Here are her pros and cons and the reasons why so few top designers sell their dresses on-line.

London (PRWEB) October 24, 2008 — With a recession upon us, many brides are now asking this question. For many brides, their wedding dress is the most important and often the most expensive dress they will ever purchase. Not a decision to be taken lightly.

We asked Johanna Hehir, one of London’s top bridal dress designers, who has recently launched on-line sales through her website at http://www.johanna-hehir.com/buy-wedding-dresses-online-c-26.html for her opinion.

Here’s what she had to say. “Many brides are tempted by the hundreds of websites offering wedding dresses for sale on-line, but it is very much a case of, buyer beware. In addition to established retailers, there are now a considerable number of wholesalers and manufacturers offering to sell direct to the public, at what appear to be very competitive prices”.

“Even though the prices are generally much lower than retail, it is virtually impossible for the bride to know if the dress shown on the website, will in fact be anything like the dress she actually receives. Some factories actually lift images from other designer’s sites and pass them off as their own. What they are supplying is often a cheap, badly made copy of the original”.

“Brides tempted to buy on-line should always get references or testimonials and only deal with reputable companies, who they can trust. If at all possible, it is advisable to try the dress on first to check the style and size, as returns can often be difficult”.

“Most websites sell standard sizes and the dress will probably need to be altered to fit, so brides should ensure they leave enough time for this. Brides should pay particular attention to measuring themselves correctly and if they are not sure, get someone else to help them. Remember that it is always easier to take a dress in than to let it out”.

Given her scepticism, we wondered why she has taken the unusual step of offering her wedding dresses on-line, when most other top bridal designers simply refuse to?

She said that the majority of bridal designers have a large number of stockists who would be up in arms, if designers started selling direct to the public. Most designers prefer to direct brides to their nearest stockists for obvious reasons. But selling through stockists adds considerably to the final price of the gown.

She also explained that Johanna Hehir receives a considerable number of enquiries from brides both within the UK and abroad, requesting their nearest stockist. But because she does not have other stockists, she has been unable to satisfy this demand up until now.

With the current downturn, they are also seeing more and more brides at their shop who would like to buy a Johanna Hehir wedding dress but either cannot afford it or do not have the budget for a made to measure gown. Therefore they have decided to offer their wedding dresses on-line to make the dresses more affordable.

Her prices for on-line wedding dresses are up to 50% off her retail shop prices for standard sizes. The only catch is that Johanna Hehir is unable to alter these dresses to fit. If the dress requires further alteration, then the bride must take it to her nearest dressmaker.

Their on-line wedding dresses are manufactured in the UK to the same high standard and use the same quality fabrics as their retail gowns. Prices are from £1000.

Standard delivery on their on-line wedding dresses is three months. But they may be able to do rush orders (6-8 weeks) depending on the workroom schedule and fabric availability. This service is available for worldwide delivery.

Johanna Hehir is well known for the quality and fit of her dresses. Visit http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews58474.html to see what other brides have to say about their experience at Johanna Hehir. Many bridal stores like to talk about their service and quality, but their track record does not always match their rhetoric. Brides are well advised to visit websites like Review Centre and other comparision sites to see what other brides have to say about their actual experience at other stores and websites, before purchasing their gowns.

Contact: Paul O’Donoghue - Director of Public Relations
Johanna Hehir
0044 2074862760
http://www.johanna-hehir.com

###

Johanna Hehir
Paul O Donoghue
01908507823
E-mail Information
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Wedding Jeopardized By Co., Couple Says

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:38:43 +0000

Woman: Dressed Odered In April Still Not Ready

POSTED: 5:42 pm EDT October 28, 2008

UPDATED: 8:51 pm EDT October 28, 2008

DANIELSON, Conn. — Jen Watson said the engagement ring is shiny and ready to go for her Nov. 8 wedding, but the same can’t be said for the wedding gown she ordered in April.

With only 11 days until the wedding, she said she’s freaking out a bit.

“I started to get extremely alarmed,” she said. “We’re at the point where I don’t know what to do.”

Her soon-to-be husband, Chris Devillez, said he feels the same way. He and all the groomsmen and bridesmaids are also waiting for their orders from the Classic Images shop in Danielson.

Grand wedding anniversary long in coming

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:36:06 +0000

By Maurice Arcache
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:46:00 10/31/2008

THE way some marriages last these days, it was really fantastic to be part of the wedding anniversary of Cosmo Manille’s très popular old-wealth couple, international businessman Bobby Cuenca and socialite Chingbee Kalaw, held at the exclusive Continental Room of Tower Club recently.

They had been together for 14 happy years, dahlings, before they got married in Hong Kong on Aug. 12, 1988, before a marriage registrar. But due to a mix-up in information, their first marriage application was denied and the wedding had to be postponed.

As a consequence, the reception at the chi-chi Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong was held a week before the wedding. Chingbee then claimed that since they did everything backwards, Bobby would have to court her for the rest of his life.

Originally, they had wanted to get married on August 8, 1988 or 8-8-88, a supposedly very lucky date. So did two million other Hong Kong Chinese, palanggas.

Après an excellently prepared dinner chosen especially by the host, Bobby C., hot violinist Jay Cayuca performed with his band, followed the host himself and Anabel Alejandrino singing some songs.

For the finale, Chingbee K.C. thanked all the chosen invitees while surrounded by her four good-looking sons.

Luxe wear

For 80 years, internationally renowned Italian brand Salvatore Ferragamo has defined what luxe sophistication is all about, dahlings.

So it was not surprising at all when Ferragamo showed its complete Fall/Winter 2008 collection of ultra chic clothes, plus head-to-toe accessories, in an atmosphere of elegance and style, dahlings.

Our town’s crème de la crème, led by Stores Specialists Inc.’s brilliant Executive Vice President Anton Huang, the très charmant Citibank Country Business Manager Mark Jones, and Salvatore Ferragamo Regional Executive Director Christian Foddis, graced the occasion.

It started off with a super gesture of appreciation: a two-million check donation to the Philippine National Red Cross, represented by gorgeous Rosa Rosal, dahlings, chairperson of the Blood Services Committee.

Ferragamo’s collection had more youthful, sexy and modern pieces for women’s wear. Sleek trousers and fluid cuts dominated the runway. Lavish fur and silver metal trimmings in dresses and jackets were absolute eye-catchers, palanggas, and those gorgeous shiny silk dresses in green and jumpsuits in silver brought back old Hollywood glamour.

Naturellement, there were handbags in leather and calf, trendy patent and snakeskin shoes with skyscraper heels, dahlings.

As for the men’s line, well, you can’t go wrong with the Ferragamo style, right, palanggas?

Headturners were Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales, Priscilla Meirelles and Illac Diaz—all visions of classic elegance in Salvatore Ferragamo outfits.

Italian and British Ambassadors Madame Cossete Fedele and adorable Jill Beckingham, respectively, were absolutely delighted with the show, and clients of Citigold—Citibank’s wealth management banking service—were welcomed by the Citigold team led by
Wealth Management Director Judith Go.

Casual chic

From Ferragamo’s ultra elegance, we move on to casual chic—specifically, checks and plaids, layered outfits and complementary colors, which took center stage during Folded and Hung’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The event, called “Streetcast Act 2,” was led by F&H’s main man, Ronald Pineda.

It was a sea of fashionable black at the A. Venue and Events Hall where F&H had its show, palanggas. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were lavishly served and, believe me, dahlings, not one glass was left empty. Meanwhile, the catwalk brimmed with the latest fashions from F&H.

F&H combines the practical and urban into ensembles that exude the richness and flair of party-appropriate ensembles, palanggas.

Now, guys can also choose between straight-cut or skinny-fit jeans, or opt for low-rise denim pants with metallic finish in variations of silver to gray tones, to display their fashion individuality on the streets.

Yes, F&H’s street wear is the bomb, dahlings!

Longtime Wedding Planner Makes Way for Environmentally-Sound Nuptials

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:32:55 +0000

Green Wedding Planner Blog may be a new website, but its owner, Sherry Christiansen, has been a wedding planner for 10 years. Now as people are becoming more aware of reducing pollution and saving Earth’s resources, Christiansen is introducing a new business model for the brides who want to wear green.

Duluth, MN (PRWEB) November 2, 2008 — Sherry Christiansen has been planning weddings for a decade and when it came time for her own daughter to cross the marriage threshold, she had a very unique request: “My daughter is an environmental studies major and she wanted a green wedding,” recalled Christiansen.

With her daughter as a pillar of inspiration, Christiansen was able to successfully plan an environmentally friendly wedding, as well as open up a new door for her wedding planning repertoire.

My daughter is an environmental studies major and she wanted a green wedding

Some people may want to utilize some services, others may go all out and want an entirely green wedding

We try to use as many local vendors and services as possible in order to conserve fuel consumption. We encourage the purchase of fair-trade diamonds. We suggest organic silk or vintage wedding dresses. For favors, we suggest using Plant-a-Tree favors. The bridal registry can be a donation to charity. The options are really limitless.

It’s an ongoing process. I’ll be adding more locations in the United States. When people choose a location, we want to be prepared. There’s quite a bit of expansion in our future.

I felt that this is a way to give back to nature

If you have a lot of passion and believe in yourself, you can do anything.

After months of shaping, www.GreenWeddingPlannerBlog.com launched in August 2008; the site has several options on how to make your wedding green and many times, they involve adjustments to mainstream wedding planning.

“Some people may want to utilize some services, others may go all out and want an entirely green wedding,” said Christiansen. “We try to use as many local vendors and services as possible in order to conserve fuel consumption. We encourage the purchase of fair-trade diamonds. We suggest organic silk or vintage wedding dresses. For favors, we suggest using Plant-a-Tree favors. The bridal registry can be a donation to charity. The options are really limitless.”

As Christiansen’s website is still in its infancy, her resources are available for Florida, Lake Tahoe and Minnesota, though over time it will grow: “It’s an ongoing process. I’ll be adding more locations in the United States. When people choose a location, we want to be prepared. There’s quite a bit of expansion in our future.”

Green Wedding Planner Blog not only has the topics on having a eco-friendly wedding, but it also has several general topics about environment issues such as alternative energy and companies that are shifting their practices to be aligned with the green movement.

Though Christiansen recognizes that her latest endeavor is a niche business, her love of the outdoors is a reflection of this direction. “I felt that this is a way to give back to nature,” she said. “If you have a lot of passion and believe in yourself, you can do anything.”

About the Company:
Green Wedding Planner Blog (www.GreenWeddingPlannerBlog.com) is a part of A Treasured Moment Weddings of Hawaii, which is owned by longtime wedding planner, Sherry Christiansen.

Contact Information:
Sherry Christiansen
www.GreenWeddingPlannerBlog.com
(218) 525-8400

IePlexus, Inc.
www.iePlexus.com