Minnesota Monthly's eNewsletters
Bookmark and Share

Finding a Spot to Tie the Knot

(page 3 of 4)

Once the invitations are ordered, it’s time to think about details of the big celebration. Lighting can mean the difference between intimate and institutional, centerpieces can add drama and color to an otherwise average venue, and extras such as twinkle lights can add a magical touch.

Brides and grooms can add pizzazz to their parties through rental items such as canopies, tables, chairs, P.A. equipment, LCD projectors (for slideshows), décor pieces (linens, chair covers, centerpieces, arches and candelabras), and ceiling and design treatments available at Midway Party Rental. This local, family-owned business is known for exceptional customer service (including a 24-hour emergency phone line) and a low-price guarantee.

“People are stepping it up a notch this year with textured linens, grander ceiling draping, and elaborate candelabras with floral centerpieces,” says Rhonda Nestrud of Midway Party Rental. Hot color combinations include brown and green, Tiffany blue and black, and fuscia paired with bright orange and yellow.

Wedding colors and trends change from year to year, but what doesn’t change is the number of couples who procrastinate and then scramble to check off items on their “to-do” list.

“Summer rental items book up fast,” Nestrud says. “There’s no way you’ll be able to reserve a tent for June in June, so plan ahead!”

Other common mistakes include forgetting to order the cake table, salt and pepper shakers, card boxes, and table number stanchions. The more you communicate with your vendors, the more relaxed you’ll be when your wedding day rolls around.

“Your wedding vendors are here to work for you,” she points out. Use their experience to your advantage.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music is an extremely important aspect of your big day. Talented musicians, like prime locations, go fast.

Musician George Faber is one of those talents. Either as a member of event band The Icons, or as an individual performer, he plays from the heart, knows how to read a crowd to keep the party going, and loves what he does. The Icon’s repertoire includes big band, jazz, R&B, funk, disco, rock, Motown, and blues.

“We pace it right and build the momentum, with the goal of leaving everyone wanting more,” he says. “We’re a party band with an edge.”

Playing music should be fun, and it is with The Icons and Rockit.

“Experience has taught us that if we’re having a great time playing, it’s contagious and the guests will have a great time, too,” Faber comments.


BEAUTY AND FASHION

Photo by Coppersmith Photography

Whether it’s achieving a healthy wedding day glow, or looking dashing in a tux, brides and grooms spend a lot of time perfecting their wedding day look. Subtle touches, such as rhinestone hair accessories, are replacing traditional tiaras and headbands. Grooms are choosing to add a splash of color to their wardrobe. Makeup trends reflect a return to red carpet glamour.

Monique Lhuillier knows a thing or two about the red carpet. Celebrities Britney Spears, Natalie Imbruglia, Charlotte Ross, Debbie Matenopoulos, Kate Walsh, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, LeAnn Rimes, and America Ferrera have donned her designs for weddings, premier parties, and awards shows.

The Monique bride “is aware of fashion and loves fine things,” says Dawn Bromander of Monique Lhuillier’s flagship salon in Edina, one of only two signature salons in the country (the other is in Los Angeles). “Our bride is someone who would rather buy one beautiful pair of shoes every year than a moderate shoe in every color. She assigns worth to the perfect fit, silk linings, fine finishings, and timeless designs.”

The designs are feminine, modern and stylish, with a traditional romantic sentimentality. And the fabric—silk organza, silk satin, silk charmeuse, and taffeta—is “the soul of the gown,” Bromander says, often accounting for the high price tag (gowns range from $2,300 to well over $5,000).

Your wedding gown symbolizes a new beginning, and finding “the one” should be a pleasant experience.

“Many brides miss the wonder of it all when finding the gown takes on mission status,” she says. “Come see us expecting to enjoy yourself.”

Another option for classy wedding day attire 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.

“Mothers of the bride and groom especially like dugo because we understand their style and can custom order many different items in terms of design, style, and color to meet their exact needs and wants,” says Nancy Shank, owner.

Organza, chiffon, four-ply silk crepe and Thai silk are exceptional wedding day fabrics, Shank says, with many requests in shades of green or blue.

While men don’t have quite as many options as women when it comes to wedding day attire, they still have decisions to make when it comes to tuxes.

The current trends for tuxes are long vests and ties rather than traditional cummerbunds and bow ties, non-pleated shirts and three-button jackets, and the cutaway tux with a cravat and 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, and making sure their teeth are straight and white.

At American Laser Center, brides-to-be can look their best with professional laser hair removal services, AmeriSmooth cellulite reduction therapy, and skin rejuvenation therapy, combining energy treatments and microdermabrasion. The treatments can be done in as little as 30 minutes, with instant results and minor side effects.

Having a pretty smile is an important part of a bride and groom’s overall look. This is one day you don’t want to be self-conscious about smiling. You want to beam with confidence and pride. You want everyone to know how happy you are.

“When someone smiles and they have a beautiful smile, that’s the first thing you notice,” says Dr. Steve Gorman of The Gorman Center for Fine Dentistry in North Oaks.

One way to improve your smile is with porcelain veneers, which can change the position, length, color and shape of your teeth.

Another way to change your smile is through whitening procedures, says Dr. Ned Windmiller of the Centre for Distinctive Dentistry in Stillwater. “This can be achieved with our convenient, one appointment, in-office, BriteSmile treatment or home bleaching with customized bleaching trays.”

A dramatic way of changing your teeth (and your smile) is through orthodontic treatment at Minnesota Orthodontics. Approximately 25 percent of their patients are adults, proving you’re never too old for braces.

Whether it’s whitening your teeth a few shades or undergoing a complete smile makeover, a picture-perfect movie star smile is possible today with the help of a variety of dental enhancements.

Subscribe

Your Essential Guide to Dining, Shopping & Culture
  • Less than $1.25 an issue.
  • 72% off newsstand price.
  • The best Minnesota has to offer.
You can also add Midwest Home for just $8 more.