Winter 2019 Issue
OF TRAVEL & HOME
In the winter months, the street vendors of Rome, bundled against the chill, hawk roasted chestnuts. Their blunt, gravelly solicitations sound the same as the solicitat...
PROMOTION
Considering the Details
Advice from the pros for personalizing your special day.
While the setting plays a big part In the general aesthetic and flow of the day, here are other ways to add personality and spirit to your wedding gathering.
ON FLOWERS:
Wild or lush, floral arrangements create a cavalcade of fragrances sure to delight your attendees. The colors of your flower selection also make a statement. Rose Robson of Robson's Farm In Wrightstown predicts that, In 20ig, “a lot of couples will be going for bolder, brighter color palettes. Historically, people have tended to go with peach and blush tones, but now people are making statements with color."
Robson recommends making an “Inspiration board", a collection of photographs, cutouts, swatches and other Items that represent the overall style you want to achieve for your wedding. The board will act as a guide for creating your floral selection and other décor elements.
Leah Ducey of Botaniq Blooms in Bordentown has noticed a trend In couples using flowers from sustainable, environmentally- responsible farms. In addition to benefiting local growers, the local sourcing “gives [couplesl access to unique flowers unavailable from wholesale retailers".
ON DECOR:
Everyone has different tastes when It comes to decorations, but Sarah Hatfield of Collum Hatfield Design recommends keeping It simple, noting that It's often the simplest things that are the most beautiful. “It's all about personalizing what's most representative of the couple and making a statement about your relationship In everything you do." Even the smallest of details can be deeply personal to the couple and make a statement. “We now work with a company that just provides beautiful farm tables [for events]. It's such a niche but really popular," notes Emily Matticoli of Emily's Café & Catering.
Online forums, such as Pinterest, can be valuable tools for Inspiration, but Ducey encourages couples to “look for Inspiration everywhere—there are design Ideas all around."
ON FOOD:
Menu choices for your big day can also serve as an expression of the bridal couple's experiences, values, and style. One Atlantic's McGlinn recommends that “food can be designed to reflect family recipes or places the couple has traveled that hold significance." If you're both devoted to a sustainable lifestyle, share that passion through a thoughtfully sourced menu and eco-friendly table settings.
According to Matticoli, seated plated dinners are still popular while some couples want a casual atmosphere with flair: “One trend Is definitely late night snacks, such as Ice cream sandwiches or flatbread pizza. Guest can hang out a little bit longer." Consider local food choices for wedding favors, too. Your guests will enjoy going home with ajar of exquisite local honey or artisanal jam.
Sensory experiences are a great way to bring your special day to life. Senses engage the emotions, thus encoding the memories In a meaningful way. Drink as well as food and flowers all connect deeply with the senses. A special wedding cocktail crafted with local herbs or fruit will become a memorable detail
ON DESSERT:
Dessert and sweets play a starring role in every special event, and weddings are no exception. While donut boards, cup-cakes trees, and ice cream bars have become popular, the wedding cake still holds a special place of honor. Julie Pauly, owner of The Able Baker in Maplewood, advises researching the bakery to ensure its capabilities are aligned with your vision. “Go online and Look at cakes that appeal to you, then go to the baker," says Pauly. And be sure not to wait too Long: “Order as soon as you know the headcount, before you send out the invites, because bakeries get booked up pretty fast."
“Tasting means a Lot," adds Pauly. It's just as important that the couple truly Loves the flavors and textures of their cake as they do the Look of it.
According to Pauly, the Latest wedding cake trend is a “naked cake," in which the baker “skim coats the cake, just to even the outsides. You can see the cake all around" She also notes people opting more for fresh flowers or botanicals to decorate the cake Instead of big, elaborate fondant flowers. This is also the more economical choice as the client can simply have their florist add fresh flowers to the cake on site, rather than paying a cake decorator to spend hours creating detailed fondant flowers."
And nowadays, when dietary restrictions and diets abound, more and more couples are Looking to accommodate guests' needs. Marilyn Besner, of Wildflour Bakery/Cafe in Lawrenceville, who specializes in gluten-free and vegan baked goods, says that a popular choice of vegan wedding cake is her chocolate banana cake with vegan buttercream.
ON LOGISTICS:
For most couples, budget is an important consideration throughout the wedding planning process. Ducey recommends being realistic, noting that it's important to “understand the relationship between invite List and budget." Being creative can help you stay within your budget. With a Larger guest List, for example, greenery and candles make more affordable centerpieces than flowers on every table.
Timing and pace are other important considerations. Keep in mind the time it takes to travel from place to place and how much time to allot for the bridal party and other formal photos. “It's important to understand and manage the timing of events so you can make the most of your wedding," says Ducey. “For instance, oftentimes couples will spend all this money on the band, but the band's playing time is cut short because of timing issues"
The date of the wedding can itself convey a statement. Timed adjacent to a major holiday, your wedding can provide a reunion opportunity. An August event gives family and friends a reason to visit the Shore; an October ceremony can be set against a backdrop of fall foliage. Emily Matticoli recalls a favorite: “We did a beautiful wedding on the Summer Solstice at The Watershed Institute."
At the end of the day, you want your wedding to reflect your unique personalities. This will be inevitable if you put care and thought into choosing and designing the details. But above all—relax and enjoy it.
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