Make your wedding an affair to remember with these great tips culled from Mindy Weiss’s indispensable (and newly updated!) nuptial bible The Wedding Book.
THE DRESS: When searching for the dress for a black tie wedding, go all out and experience the glamour and unmatched service of a bridal salon like Kleinfeld Bridal in New York. On-site alterations and an extensive array of accessories, from tiaras to shoes, are some of the perks you might find. You’ll almost always need to make an appointment, and you’ll be slotted in for forty-five minutes to an hour. At a high-end salon, a consultant should be assigned exclusively to you (bring magazine clippings with you to give her a general sense of your taste). You’ll have to use a certain amount of imagination, since you’ll be looking at yourself in sample gowns that don’t fit. To add to the romance of your big day, go for statement dresses with full skirts or long trains.
THE FLOWERS: Flowers are no place to scrimp at any wedding. And for an elegant affair, they should play an even more central role. Fill tables full of flowers, and surround them with intricate linens that highlight their natural beauty.
You may want to center your arrangements around one common flower, like the tulip, which can look innocent or impossibly chic. French tulips have long stems and are the most elegant, but they droop quickly and need to be wired. Tulips need a lot of water, so bouquets should be made at the last minute. Tulips also grow after they’re cut, so centerpieces that look perfect the night before the wedding may have to be readjusted on the wedding day. They come in a staggering array of colors, and some are available most of the year, but the best colors start appearing in mid-January and last through May. The Victorians associated the flower with passion, and we think that’s perfect for your intricate fête.
THE FOOD: Pass beautiful appetizers at your cocktail hour, and then have your guests sit down to a 4-course plated meal, followed by a champagne toast. A sample formal wedding menu is included below:
For dessert, hire the best baker to create a classic white wedding cake with multiple tiers, elaborate detailing or fresh flowers, topped with vintage cake toppers.
THE FAVORS: A wedding favor should be edible, drinkable, or useful—remember that! Send guests off with something to nibble on during their drive home. Chocolates are a classic gift. Look for shapes that relate to your interests; I’ve seen sailboat chocolates, golf club chocolates, car chocolates—there’s a lot out there—and wrap them up in beautiful mini boxes tied with a bow.
THE MUSIC: Check out our Black Tie Wedding playlist, full of songs that evoke the elegance of your wedding day.
No Comments