Bridal Expo

In case you missed it last night, the E! channel aired a one hour special entitled “Fascinating Celebrity Weddings”. Aside from fascinating, it was spectacular,  extremely informative, inspirational and at times quite romantic. This was way better than your typical ‘end of year’ re-cap, it looked at really high profile weddings over the past few years and the intimate details you may have missed in the headlines. The event planners were interviewed and discussed the things that each couple wanted to make their day personal and special, the little touches that personalized their wedding for them.

 Petra Ecclestone, daughter of Formula One billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, spent over $5 million on their wedding, including a $130, 000 Vera Wang bridal gown. The reception featured performances by Eric Clapton, the Black Eyed Peas, acrobats and fireworks. But, what made their wedding stand out was their humble approach to their massive combined wealth. The couple refused gifts, asking their guests to donate money to charity. There is no amount of money that can buy that much class.

Dylan Lauren, daughter of style icon Ralph Lauren had a really ‘sweet ‘ wedding.  As the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar, a chain of boutique candy shops featuring over 7,000 candies from around the world her reception featured waiters dressed in candy-colored vests and white top hats, brimmed in candy dots  serving candy cocktails. The sweet table was the centerpiece of her lavish wedding and reinforced her personal goal to “merge fashion, art and pop candy culture”.

When Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie married actor Josh Duhamel in an ‘enchanted garden’ themed wedding, she searched specifically with a location that had a pond so her husband could enjoy his favorite hobby (fishing). The pond was stocked with fish so Josh and their guests could fish during cocktail hour.

Nicole Richie wanted Elephant at her wedding. Why? They supposedly bring good blessing and fertility. Her “Versailles” themed wedding took place at her father’s estate where he sang for the newlyweds.  Another nice touch was having their names elegantly embroidered on the sleeve of her gown.

In a related elephant story, Russell Brand and Katy Perry rode elephants on the way to take their vows in India probably for the same reason. The elephants turned out to be a pair who had never been seperated so they walked side by side the entire way.

Molly Sims had her heart set on rose petals covering the entire walkway and the wedding planner obliged. It took  over 6,000 roses to cover the 10x 120 ft area. It was a nice touch which she recalls it as being the highlight of the decor.

Some of my other favorite  personal touches:

-Same sex couple Chely Wright and Lauren Blitzer opting for a casual country wedding and serving ‘pigs in a blanket’ at the reception because it is her dad’s favorite. Sweet.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo pulled a fireworks permit for their Virgin Island wedding so there would be a no-fly zone for paparazzi helicopters. Smart.

Sheri Shepherd’s only wish for her big day was to have a ‘choreographed’ bridal party dance. The end result was adorable and heartwarming. Stunning.

Whether you spend a million dollars or much less on your wedding, it is of the utmost importance to always put your individual stamp on it. Make it your own unique celebration of love with your future spouse and don’t be afraid to express your own personality. Those unique touches are the things you will remember fro years to come.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Sorry, there is no Ralph Lauren Bridal Collection but, can you  imagine how phenomenal it would be? Actually, you don’t have to imagine at all. Ralph Lauren’s daughter Dylan was married last July and his Son David in September and as luck would have it, he designed both gowns for both brides and hit a home run both times! You can see a complete pictorial in this month’s Vogue magazine. Here are the highlights:

Dylan’s  gown for her July nuptials was  modern  with romantic silk tulle ruffles, a duchess satin  bodice delicately draped across the bodice and shoulders with light touches of silk tulle. I loved Dylan’s dress, it is perfect;  urban and sleek, yet romantic and sexy at the same time.

Ralph’s son David married Lauren Bush (activist, model and neice to former President G.W. Bush) in September in an Old West themed wedding at papa Ralph’s 17,00 acre Double RL ranch located outside Telluride, Colorado.  Lauren Bush-Lauren wore the most perfect gown I have seen in many years. I know it does bear some similarities to Princess Catherine’s  gown but, with all due respect I have to say that Ralph nailed it and Sarah Burton missed her mark on some key design points.

Lauren wore a  Victorian-inspired  gown with a high neck  and a bit of a pouf sleeve, opting for an open back to show a modern edge. The gown, which took 3000 hours to make, was made of silk tulle that was completely embroidered by hand. Look at eachof those scroll designs – that was embroidered by hand. It was elegant, timeless and unbelievably breathtaking. On her head was a simple crystal headband and a long silk veil. To complete the look,  she opted to wear cowboy boots under her gown. Not a bad choice since the reception was held in a 200 year old barn. Of course they  had  decorated in abundance with fragrant flowers in whites, creams and pale blues.

To complete the Western theme, the groom wore an old timey suit complete with gold vest pocket chains and pinstriped pants. In the pictures, you can see how well the entire look came together. The black and white wedding photo is a nice touch, adding to the antique feel.

According to Mr. Lauren,  he consulted his long time friend and one time assistant, Vera Wang for advice on both gowns. Now, thats’ what I call expert advice.

Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago.