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Photo by Adrienne Page
Courtesy The Wedding Fair

MUSIC

Say you have a favorite movie, such as  “The Sound of Music.” Could you imagine walking down the aisle to “The hills are alive with the sounds of music?” How emotional would that be?

“Anything is possible,” says Wedding Guy Matthew Trettel. “You just have to put yourself out in front of it all to experience it.”

The Rose Ensemble, an incredibly versatile vocal ensemble, can honor just about any music request possible. They have over 25 languages in their repertoire over a timespan of nearly 1,000 years, says Artistic Director Jordan Sramek.

“We help couples find unique music that truly fits the theme of their ceremony,” he comments.

They have chanted the Lord’s prayer in a beautiful translation of the original Aramaic, performed medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, and sang the famous “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” in the original German language.

“It was so beautiful that people didn’t stop talking about it throughout the reception,” Sramek says. “I just love it when we are able to do things like that.”

He points out that when planning a wedding, ceremony music shouldn’t be overlooked.

“So often, flowers and the DJ are where people spend crazy amounts of money, when the ceremony music is what so many guests remember afterward!”


BEAUTY AND FASHION

Feminine and delicate silhouettes are gracing the aisles today with detailed elements of fabrics, embroidery, ruffles, and lace. You don’t have to wear a Renaissance costume for your wedding gown, nor does the groom need to wear a suit of armor to paint a Renaissance theme, says Wedding Guy Bruce Vassar.

“The color of the dress and style plays more into whether a gown or a tuxedo is worked into the theme,” he says. It’s the subtle touches that make the dress or tux unique.

Kristen Olsen, talented designer and owner of The Dressmaker in Edina, has been creating beautiful custom dresses since 1980. In addition to creating custom gowns, she does professional alterations, restores heirloom gowns, and creates custom veils and headpieces.

Olsen has created everything from stunning 1940s-inspired gowns with flowing, shimmery silk crape to beautiful wedding saris. She once restyled and restored an exquisite Thailand wedding garment and has created Western-style wedding gowns from gorgeous sari fabric.

“Every culture has its own traditions,” she says.

Photo by Adrienne Page
Courtesy The Wedding Fair

She advises future brides to explore all of their options before making a final decision. “Think about custom, especially if you can’t find what you want. You might be surprised that it doesn’t cost as much as you think. And have your gown professionally fitted. Don’t just go to the cheapest place for alterations. Your gown is a big investment, and it should fit you perfectly.”

Another option for a unique wedding gown is dugo (Dress Up Go Out), located in Edina’s Galleria.

Featuring fine clothing for charity balls, summer parties, rehearsal dinners, and weddings, dugo brings back the satisfaction of dressing smart and dressing well.

“We can help brides and grooms that have color requests, and we can help anyone who wants something nontraditional,” says Nancy Shank, owner.

They carry luminous Thai silk by designer Marissa Baratelli, hand loomed and hand dyed in exquisitely bright colors (perfect for the mother of the bride or groom), in addition to simple gowns (ideal for destination weddings) in white, ivory, or pink. With the ability to mix-and-match different items, just about everyone can find a unique outfit at dugo.

“We can custom-order items and help put different sized tops with different sized bottoms to create a look for all body types,” Shank explains, adding that an excellent fitter on staff will make sure the outfit fits like a glove.

While men don’t have quite as many options as women do when it comes to wedding day attire, they do have decisions to make when it comes to their tuxes and the tuxes for the men in the wedding party. 

The current trends for tuxes are long vests and ties rather than traditional cummerbunds and bow ties. Non-pleated shirts and three-button jackets are also in. Another popular look is the cutaway tux with a cravat—a wide scarf knotted with the broad ends laying flat over each other—topped off with a pearl stickpin. The men in the wedding party can find the season’s hottest selections at Knights Formal Wear, with nine locations metro-wide, in addition to stores in St. Cloud, Duluth, and Rochester.

Your dress and tux will make you feel like a bride and groom, but a complete wedding day look goes beyond attire. The key players in a wedding party start getting ready for the wedding months in advance, watching their diet, taking care of their skin, making sure their teeth are as white as can be, and sometimes indulging in a little nip and tuck. Those wedding photos will be passed down from generation to generation, and everyone wants to look their best.

One way mothers of the bride and groom—along with older brides—are looking more youthful and rejuvenated in advance of the big celebration is through eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), says Dr. Eric Nelson with Minnesota Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Specialists in Edina.

This type of cosmetic surgery should be scheduled months before the wedding, due to the simple fact that it can take awhile to get in and see a surgeon, he says. Don’t wait until just a few weeks before the wedding.

Other popular pre-wedding day procedures include Botox and dermal fillers to eliminate crow’s feet, frown lines, laugh lines, and forehead lines. Botox should also be scheduled weeks in advance because swelling and redness can occur. Blushing brides are also investing in skin care treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels in order to get that healthy wedding day glow.

Not to be overlooked on your wedding day is the importance of a dazzling smile.

“If you don’t like something about your smile, now is the perfect time to do something about it,” says Dr. Chad Boger of New Hope’s Boger Dental. “On your wedding day, you don’t want to be hiding your teeth because you’re self conscious.”

Boger Dental offers everything from whitening to contouring to complete smile makeovers.

Your wedding day is the happiest day of your life, and you shouldn’t feel inhibited to smile.
 
“There’s nothing better than the confidence that comes with having a nice smile,” Boger says.

And really, what better day to be proud of your smile than your wedding day?

A future bride and groom can also find teeth whitening, veneers, instant orthodontics and restorative services at the Centre for Distinctive Dentistry in Woodbury, says Dr. Ned Nippoldt.

Dr. Nippoldt’s wedding advice to brides and grooms was straightforward and simple.

He comments, “Share your smile often with your new spouse and your guests.”


WEDDING DAY JEWELRY

Your ring is a symbol of love built to last a lifetime. Do you want a contemporary setting or an antique reproduction? Smooth or sculpted metal? What will your ring say about you?

At BNOX Gold and Iron, owner and goldsmith Rebecca Paquette-Johnson will help a couple custom-design their rings as individual as they are, taking into consideration lifestyle and design preferences.

“Like the planning and anticipation of other elements of the wedding, you’ll savor the excitement and involvement when creating your very own wedding rings. It will be a significant part in the scrapbook of your life together,” she comments.

BNOX is located in the historic waterfront village of Pepin, Wisconsin. 

Edina-based jewelry store Scheherazade—located in the Galleria—has been carrying unique designs since 1970. The attentive, helpful staff offers superior customer service, and the selection features some of today’s best American and international jewelry designers, such as amazingly talented local designer George Sawyer. Scheherazade also has an exclusive arrangement with L.A.-based Harry Kotlar Jewels, cutting and selling only the highest quality diamonds available on the world market—including the elite and beautiful cushion diamond.

A number of designers will create one-of-a-kind rings for couples, Rudd says.

“We hire designers who have the structure to come up with something unique for each individual, that’s part of our appeal,” he comments. “Couples can meet with our custom master goldsmith for a complimentary consultation, and he can either show them his portfolio or sketch something out.”

The buzz at Studio Vincent is that they’re taking wedding bands to the next level, creating minimal, masterful, original designs at affordable prices.

“A growing appreciation for custom designs keeps our loyal customers returning every year,” says Stephen Lehman of Studio Vincent.

He prides himself not only on 25 solid years of training and experience as a gold and platinum-smith, but also on the high standards he set for his exquisitely-crafted collections, ranging from stainless steel to the finest in precious gems and metals.

According to Lehman, “Our Studio and Muse collections reinforce a world-renowned reputation of quality craftsmanship and supreme dedication to offering only the finest hand-crafted jewels that any buyer can be proud to wear.”

A Grand Avenue landmark, Charlemagne Fine Jewelry carries an astounding array of original jewelry found nowhere else in the world. Specializing in state-of-the-art prong-less ring designs, vintage pavee diamond settings, an amazing variety of colored gemstone jewelry, and an expansive selection of South Sea, Akoya, and freshwater pearls in all sizes, shapes, and colors, Charlemagne has been a well-known destination on Grand Avenue for more than 30 years.

For brides and grooms who’d like a unique, custom-made ring, every step of the custom jewelry making process at Charlemagne happens in-house, ensuring total control over the final product. From the first vision to the approval of the wax model to the finished product, the jeweler and customer work closely together to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction. Personal service, unparalleled quality, and attention to detail keep happy customers coming back again and again.


Photo by Adrienne Page
Courtesy The Wedding Fair

The Grand Finale

Before you tie the nuptial knot with your beloved on your much-awaited wedding day, you have the popular option of registering for gifts.

Target Club Wedd is the largest wedding gift registry in the country, offering a vast array of traditional and unique items for today’s brides, grooms, and gift-givers. Couples can register in-store at one of the 1,494 stores in 47 states nationwide or online at www.target.com/clubwedd. Within minutes of completing their registry, couples and gift-givers can view the completed registry list.
 
Of the many area in which to register, housewares are the strongest performer, says Brie Heath, Target spokesperson.
 
“Couples still tend to register for very traditional gifts for their wedding, but with a modern twist,” Heath says. “Two of our most popular items are the Rival Stainless Steel Crock Pot and the Oster Chrome Beehive Blender.”

Other popular items include 400 thread count Fieldcrest luxury sheets, vintage Thomas O’Brien home products, and stainless steel kitchenware, but each registry is as unique as the couple getting married.

When the wedding day is over and the gifts have all been opened, most couples choose to begin their new life together with a special honeymoon. 

A rustic hideaway set on 280 acres of Wisconsin woods, Canoe Bay/Relais & Châteaux is ideal for an unforgettable honeymoon. Located in northwestern Wisconsin (Chetek, to be exact), this luxury resort is a blissful respite away from the routine of daily life. There is an outstanding chef on the property, an extensive wine list, charming accommodations, and a remote setting that caters to couples. 

“The peace and quiet we offer is just what over-stressed bridal couples need following their big day,” says Lisa Dobrowolski, general manager. “And we’re close to home, offering a savings on travel costs and a quicker start to your honeymoon celebration!”

Canoe Bay is the only property on Lake Wahdoon, a private, 50-acre lake. All rooms offer gas fireplaces, private decks, whirlpools, and continental breakfast delivered to the door. Couples can dine in the dining room, in the private wine cellar, or—if they’re staying at a guesthouse with a professional kitchen—make arrangements for one of Canoe Bay’s chefs to prepare a private gourmet dinner.

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