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on January 10, 2011 1:40 PM
Bridal party pow-wow. | Photo courtesy the Resort at Pelican Hill
By Michelle Garrido | Newport Beach Magazine, March 2010
Brides are opting for a modern take on bridal party attire that allows her attendants to choose from a selection of dresses in a specified color and fabric. According to Jeannie Savage, wedding planner with Details Details (aboutdetailsdetails.com), this is a great option for larger bridal parties of eight or more.
“With the larger bridal party, there’s a bigger variation in body type,” Jeannie says. “Not everyone is going to have the same frame. When you have a larger group of women standing at your side, it’s a bit more sophisticated if each can choose a different hemline, or a top that flatters her figure.”
For smaller bridal parties with up to two or three attendants, Jeannie sees brides keeping her friends’ body types and budgets in mind by choosing dresses that can be worn more than once.
“They’re definitely not ordering bridesmaid dresses,” says Jeannie. “They’re choosing beautiful evening gowns or cocktail dresses off the rack from stores like ABS or BCBG—even department stores.”
This option is especially suited to older brides with older bridesmaids, Jeannie says. “When you’re in your 30s, you don’t want to wear the traditional bridesmaids dress that might be too cutesy or too flirty. You want something a bit more sophisticated, and brides are becoming much more sensitive to that.”
Color trends pick up where last year’s left off, with deep, regal shades remaining popular among brides. “Eggplant was a huge trend last year,” Jeannie says, “and it continues in 2010. All of the rich jewel tones: deep shades of pink, purple, fuchsia.”
Fucshia flights of fancy. | Photo by Kri Sado
Soft shades of gray are also gaining popularity. These tones play well with others and serve as an unexpected neutral that can flatter most skin tones. “I see a lot of combinations of gray,” Jeannie says. “Gray and grapefruit, gray and butter yellow, gray and mocha. It’s easy to match with other colors. And from gray we move into the metallics—silver, champagne and bronze are also trending for 2010.”
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By Michelle Garrido | Newport Beach Magazine, March 2010
Even though every bride wants a singular look on her big day, most Southern California girls are keenly aware of what’s hot. Newport Beach ladies looking for the latest trends in white need look no further than the red carpet. Celebrity award-show fashions have long dictated bridal trends, and this year is no different
The glamour of old Hollywood is new again in this elegant gown. | Photo by Kri Sado
“Right now we’re seeing dresses that reflect that old Hollywood glamour—lots of one shoulder dresses, for example—done in a very lightweight way,” says Shawna Flatten, head buyer for Costa Mesa’s Mon Amie Bridal Salon, one of the go-to dress studios for women headed for Newport nuptials. “We’re seeing lots of lightweight fabrics: tulle, chiffon, charmeuse and georgette. They have that sense of elegance and glamour but yet they are easy to wear.”
Newport Beach brides, like most of their Southern California counterparts, want a gown that’s sweet, sexy, romantic and sophisticated. The Modified A—a dropwaisted style that hugs the upper body and spills into a fuller skirt, delivers the perfect look. “Our brides want to be sexy, but still have that princess look,” Shawna says. “This style dress shows off the hips and waist and all the curves—but the fuller bottom gives that fairytale look.”
Gossamer dress. | Photo by Kri Sado
Multi-layered or tiered looks may resonate with free-spirited Newport brides seeking a fun, flirty look. Shawna says these styles reflect the casual, bohemian spirit of coastal California living. “They create a lot of soft, flowy movement and offer a relaxed feel for women who want to express their happiness and their free-ness,” says Shawna.
Ruching is a hot dress trend for 2010 because it suits most every figure and is comfortable. Whether the bride is a size 2 or 22, “everyone looks good in ruching,” she says. “It subtly hugs the body and play up the curves.” Another plus: It prevents the unsightly crease that can occur in more structured dresses.
A wedding can be a black tie affair. | Photo by Kri Sado
Veils are big in 2010, with brides opting for shorter, retro cage veils or longer, more dramatic mantillas—circular or oval veils accented with lace edging. “It seems they either want to look hip and modern or a bit more romantic and traditional,” Shawna says. Cage veils are very popular, with many brides accenting them with a soft feather flower.
Fairytale headpieces, adorned with ribbons, crystals and flowers, offer brides a demure, romantic option. Reminiscent of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, these crowning glories have been in demand since worn by actress Alyssa Milano when she married in 2009. “It’s not a traditional tiara, but still adds sparkle to the hair,” Shawna says.
It’s all about expressing your style. | Photo by Kri Sado
When shopping for a dress, Shawna advises her brides to get the dress they truly love. “It’s the most photographed piece of clothing you’ll ever own,” she says. “It ends up on your grandparents’ mantel, on your parents’ mantel, on your mantel. That dress is going to define your style forever.”
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Photo by Kri Sado
By Michelle Garrido | Newport Beach Magazine, March 2010
Just like different accessories can transform a little black dress into a sexy evening ensemble or a sweet daytime frock, a wedding’s details (invitations, décor, food and photography) define the event’s mood and convey a couple’s true spirit. Kevin Covey, a third-generation wedding planner, owner of Kevin Covey Wedding and Event Coordination (kevinsparties.com) and planning veteran of countless Newport weddings, says special elements not only tell the couple’s personal story, but they also help create a welcoming atmosphere for guests.
Invitations: These offer guests the first glimpse of what to expect from your wedding.
Multi-paged invites, Kevin says, are a popular trend for 2010. These clever bundles open like a book and close with a pretty ribbon or interesting tab. Consider this option if you want an invite that’s as functional as it is lovely. “They are very neat and have a lot of order to them,” Kevin says. “These days clients want people to have all the details.” Brides can pack their invites with lists of local accommodations for out-of-town guests, as well as specific driving directions from multiple locations—anything to ensure guests are rested, ready and on time.
“Sometimes they even fib on the invitation and state the wedding begins 30 minutes before it’s actually due to start,” Kevin admits. “Brides don’t want anyone to be late—especially if they have a limited amount of time at their venue.”
Flowers: There was a time when many Newport Beach residents took a money-is-no-object approach to wedding flowers. But not even the truest love can belie these tough economic times, and Kevin says his clients are opting for unique ways to get maximum impact for minimum green.
This season, Kevin says, clients are choosing flower varieties that resonate with their unique style and combining them with accent pieces, such as glass, to help make fewer flowers go farther.
“You can fill glass with anything—fruit, flowers, birch sticks, candles of different heights,” he says. “You can alternate really beautiful floral arrangements on one table, and maybe do something a little less expensive, like a candlescape, on another.”
Kevin also suggests forgoing expensive extras and spending the money saved on details with maximum impact. “Tablescapes are important,” Kevin says. “Invest money in creating a beautiful table. That’s where your guests spend the most time, and that’s what they’ll remember most.”
Photography: Give your wedding album an ethereal edge with an unorthodox post-wedding photo shoot. The latest trend to “Trash the Dress” has brides hanging from trees, sitting pretty among the flowers and splashing with their mister in ocean waves. The result: earthy, playful images that capture a couple’s personality beyond the wedding-day jitters. Inspired from the pages of fashion magazines, Kevin says this practice has gained momentum with brides who want to buck tradition.
“Most of them feel they’re never going to wear the dress again, and their daughters aren’t going to want to wear that dress down the line,” Kevin says. “Before the ceremony, they want their gown in immaculate condition, but they day after or maybe when they get back from the honeymoon, they’re not afraid to create something unusual for their wedding album.”
While some couples conduct pre-ceremony photo shoots to save time between the wedding and reception. Kevin, usually an advocate of personal style over tradition, urges his clients to reconsider this option.
“I’m still in love with the idea of the bride and groom not seeing each other for the first time at the ceremony, walking down the aisle,” Kevin says. “You can’t recreate that moment ever again, and most brides really do want that moment.”
Dining: “When guests come to a wedding, they assume they’re getting beef, chicken or fish,” Kevin says. “The fact is, they’re probably still getting beef, chicken or fish, but we encourage our brides to do something a little more inviting with those options.”
Hearty foods with a high-end twist are popular wedding fare, as couples try to serve foods that whet and satisfy their guests’ appetites. “They’re choosing options like tasty pasta, comfort foods like lobster ravioli or lobster macaroni and cheese,” says Kevin.
Unexpected combinations, like filet mignon with French fries or gourmet burgers served on fine China, allow the bride and groom to put their own personal spin on the usual wedding feast. “Guests want people to mix it up,” Kevin says, “and it’s OK to be different.”
Wedding Cake: Once exiled to a far corner of the room, today’s wedding cakes are wild, flamboyant displays taking center stage at most receptions. As cake construction continues to defy the laws of physics, couples are seeking greater and grander designs. From beach-scapes to globes to city skylines, wedding cakes have become a signature way couples communicate their personal story with guests.
“You never see white wedding cakes anymore,” Kevin says. “People are getting cakes with as many colors, layers and shapes as they want, and in any design they can imagine.”
Taking a cue from the perennial sunshine of Newport Beach, flavors have taken a turn for the tropical. This year, look for cakes infused with mango and passion fruit. Chocolate—once considered too dark and sinful for wedding cake—is now more commonplace, as are cakes spiked with different liqueurs.
Wedding Splurges & Unexpected Touches
The after-party following the reception. Close off part of the reception area and decorate it like a casino or lounge to make a relaxed, fun space to hang out with just your group of friends.
Fireworks. A fireworks display from an ocean barge makes an amazing statement over the water—something that coastal couples can take advantage of.
Invitations. Many couples splash out on fabulous invitations, designing them as gift packages. Some have done silk boxes with crystal brooches and pretty wooden invitations inside.
Confetti cannon. These cannons that can shoot confetti, streamers or a combination, can be used right as the couple’s first dance ends or at a peak time when guests are dancing.
Decal appliqués for reception dance floors. A very trendy way to personalize the reception space, vinyl floor decals can be custom made to display couple’s names, wedding date, or any special message or design.
Breakaway bouquets. Create a bridal bouquet out of eight or more mini bouquets so that more people can catch a bouquet, and you can even tie little wedding fortunes to them, such as “You’ll marry the boy next door.” This is a great idea for larger weddings.
