It was a book just waiting to happen. Now, readers of the posh Town & Country magazine can delve into more than 200 lush color photographs of the most memorable celebrations and create their own unforgettable wedding.
“After more than 150 years of chronicling weddings, dating back to the magazine’s founding in 1846, we felt it was about time we gathered our collective knowledge and experience and put it between the pages of a hardcover edition for posterity,” said Pamela Fiori, editor in chief of Town & Country.
While many things have changed over the years, some things haven’t, added Fiori.
“Advance planning is key,” she said, “and these days, since everyone is so busy, planning a wedding is like having a second job.”
“Elegant Weddings,” written by Town & Country contributing editor Stacey Okun, not only offers photographs, but also provides ideas and inspirations for creating your own unique day. Since modern weddings have become costly productions, it’s important to savor every minute, Fiori advised.
“Weddings are really back in fashion,” she said, “and they can be very expensive. The price of putting on a wedding has risen considerably. Often, it becomes a two- or three-day event. I think many busy people rely on the expert help of a consultant.”
With elaborate weddings becoming more and more fashionable, wedding consultants play an important role for many couples and their families. These professionals pave the way for a wedding that reflects the individual personality of each of their clients.
“I don’t just provide the flowers for weddings,” said Stanlee Gatti, a San Francisco event planner featured in “Elegant Weddings.” “To me, every wedding is an individual artistic challenge that I work on and work on until the finished product is a masterpiece.”
“Never before have brides and grooms had more choices and perhaps more freedom to make them,” said Okun. “And, never before have weddings been so detail-oriented and, frankly, grand. Nor have couples been so personally involved in the planning. The new model of bride plans her weddings as ingeniously as she’s plotted her career.”
Here are a few quotes and tips from the book:
*”The poor mothers of this generation didn’t get to plan their own weddings because their mothers took care of everything, and they’re not getting to plan their daughters’ weddings, either,” said Nina Austen, Dallas wedding planner.
*”If you are looking for the menu to make a statement, then choose a place where you know the food will be outstanding,” said S. Michael Ereshena, Palm Beach, Fla., events planner.
*”We all go to weddings in the same ballrooms dozens and dozens of times. I look to find a way to transform a room so completely that people won’t recognize it,” said Colin Cowie, international events planner.
*”It’s magic when you have an old stone from someone else’s engagement ring made into new jewelry: something old, something tried, something true,” said Renee Lewis, New York jeweler.
*”Violins are a must at a wedding ceremony. They have this quality that’s capable of bringing on the tears,” said Mark Stevens, leader, Starlight Orchestra.
*”I firmly believe that people look their best when they are not aware of the camera and when small imperfections come through the lens,” said Denis Reggie, Atlanta and New York wedding photographer.
*”People have been to enough dull weddings. Couples are putting in the time and thought to make them extraordinary. I’ve had women say to me, ‘I was in Bali; I loved the flowers there. Can we plan the whole wedding around Balinese flowers?'” said Marcy Blum, New York wedding planner.
*”Brides don’t have to reinvent the wheel at every wedding. The love that goes into the planning is the most important thing,” said Renny Reynolds, New York floral designer.