I Do, I Do - Fall Bridal - East Edition - Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Special Section to: The Valley Gazette I The Stratford Star I The Milford Mirror I The Amity Observer I The Trumbull Times I Fairfi eld Sun I The Huntington Herald I The Monroe Courier I The Easton Courier

I Do, I Do

FALL BRIDAL 2011

HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

PLANNED TO PERFECTION

A stress-free, joyous wedding

by Robin E. Glowa

“No Bridezilla here,” Patrick Macoy says, laughing. “My bride, Lindsay, was so on top of all the planning details and took care of everything so much ahead of time that when our wedding day arrived, it was completely relaxing, and really joyous. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

The Macoys, who were married on July 7, 2011, are part of the growing trend of today’s bridal couples who are finding new and unusual ways to imple-ment their wedding dreams. Lindsay and Patrick were willing to consider several alternatives when planning their wedding, such as holding their cer-

Airen Miller Photos

Planned continued on page 6

1

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

1

• 2 • • Fall Bridal • Hersam Acorn Newspapers • • October 13, 2011 •

Rudyard Kipling wrote: “Oh, East is East and West is West, but never the twain shall meet.” Though I hate to fault Kipling’s say-ing, if you’d attended one of the recent wed-ding celebrations of Connecticut-born-and-raised Pierre Rochman II and California-born-and-raised Helene Boyd, you’d have see how tightly East and West have been joined together.

Both the bride and the groom have large families. Needless to say, it’s not easy

to fly entire families across the country. The groom’s family, which is my fam-ily, is spread out all over Fairfield County — including Bridgeport, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe, Milford, Huntington and Oxford. That is why the idea of having two wedding receptions, one for each coast, became a reality. Though the celebrations were very different, they definitely doubled the plea-sure.

The actual ceremony took place in Laguna

Beach, Cal., on a terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here, the bride and groom exchanged their vows. There are many tra-ditions in wedding ceremonies, including the lighting of a Unity Candle, and there are variations on that tradition, including fami-lies or parents of both the bride and groom coming together to light the candle. Today it is common for the bride and groom to light one large Unity candle from the flame of their smaller individual candles. This symbolizes the two people now unified

in marriage, and the light of their candles growing brighter together.

My son and daughter-in-law chose a differ-ent symbolic tradition for their ceremony. In this instance, the bride poured white wine into a large glass decanter, followed by the groom pouring red wine into the same decanter. The officiant then lifted the decanter and swirled it, mixing the two wines as surely as the two lives have come together. He then poured the combined

Double the pleasure, double the funEAST COAST / WEST COAST WEDDING RECEPTIONS

by Joanne Greco Rochman

Pierre Rochman II and Helene Boyd were married in picturesque Laguna Beach in California. — Jack Randall photos

2

Buy Direct From the Manufacturer At Truly Wholesale Prices and SAVE!!

As a diamond cutter and manufacturer, we guarantee and provide each diamond with a certificate of authenticity

from GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the most highly recognized laboratory in the world, used

extensively by the diamond industry. ��

��

��

Y.Z. Jewelry Mfg.��

Also save on Diamond Wedding Bands, Diamond Anniversary Bands, Diamond Stud Earrings,

Diamond Pendants, Necklaces, Bracelets, Ringsand Earrings set with Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies

and Sapphires in all price ranges.

Classic Diamond Engagement rings in all shapes & sizes at HUGE savings!

You can shop online or go to the Diamond District,but you’ll find that our prices are always the best.

Size Color Clarity Size Color Clarity.58 D VS2.72 D VS1.90 D SI1.92 E VS21.00 D VVS21.01 G VS1102 H VS21.02 H VS21.02 G VS21.05 E VS21.06 F VS11.15 G SI11.21 H VS21.24 G VS11.25 F VS21.51 F VS2

1.60 E SI11.71 I VS22.01 G VS12.03 H SI12.03 I SI12.08 F SI12.33 F SI13.01 I SI13.03 F SI23.09 G SI23.17 H SI23.65 G SI13.83 D VS14.86 J SI15.04 I SI2

Larger Sizes Available

Come visit us…we’ll give you a complete education about diamonds and gems.

431 Post Road East, Westport • 203-222-1894Hours: Tues-Sat 10-5pm or by appointment

Compo Shopping Center, Suite 18, Second Floor (Above Cohen Optical)

www.yzmanufacturing.com

��

��

��

��

��

��

2

• October 13, 2011 • • Fall Bridal • Hersam Acorn Newspapers • • 3 •

wines into the glasses of the bride and groom, which the newlyweds drank, sym-bolizing the two coming together not only as one but as newly created and unique.

As the parents of the groom, we didn’t have much to do with the planning of the wed-ding. However, the bride and groom kept my husband and me informed of all their plans and preparations. The bride even sent me photos of the gown she selected. Considering that she is the events planner for the Newport Dunes in Newport Beach and that our son is the production manag-er for the House of Blues in Anaheim, the two of them are experienced in arranging events for large groups. Happily, they han-dled all the West Coast reception prepara-tions, which were quite amazing.

Like many of today’s couples, they have friends from all over the world. Their guests flew in from as far as Japan to be a part of the celebration. Because so many guests were staying at the same hotel, the groom arranged for a party bus to transport guests to the ceremony and then to the reception. This party bus was really quite remarkable. Not only did it have everything that you would find in an upscale club, but it also featured great music and a light show.

By the time we arrived at the country club for the reception, everyone was already in a party mood. As guests made their way to the assigned tables, they were greeted by magnificent centerpieces on each table. The long tubular glass vases, which stood about two-and-a-half-feet tall, featured a single long- stemmed, multiple-bloom orchid. The orchids complemented

the elements of the bride’s bouquet, which featured stunning creamy-white orchids, bright bi-colored circus roses and brilliant-blue tubular flowers, adding the perfect accent. The bottom of each centerpiece featured pebble-like translucent bulbs that illuminated the orchids as the vivid orange sun set on the blue Western sky.

After a delicious dinner, the bride’s favorite drink was lined up on the bar — I mean, there had to be about 100 of these drinks. I didn’t see many people who didn’t have one in hand, including the youngsters in attendance. The bride’s favorite drink, you see, is not alcoholic — it’s a root-beer float! These yummy drinks stood foaming in tall crystal-clear mugs. What a treat! It

nearly upstaged the wedding cake, which featured the couple’s new monogram.

After the wedding, the couple honey-

mooned in the Caribbean and returned to Connecticut for the East Coast reception. Since they didn’t have time to arrange for two receptions, I happily took on this responsibility. Luckily, I was able to secure a reception at our local country club, and the dining-room manager helped select everything from appetizers to dessert.

As for the centerpieces, my garden was full of big white and blue hydrangea. These large, full and fluffy flowers made it easy to fill big blue bowls I purchased at a local department store. On one side of the room, which faced the guests, was a large projection screen on which the West Coast ceremony played continuously. This allowed the East Coast guests to enjoy the most important part of the wedding celebration — the exchanging of wedding vows.

Weddings are joyous occasions. Some cul-tures spend an entire week celebrating a wedding. Two receptions seemed abso-lutely perfect. After all, this was when East was joined to West in a happy and loving commitment.

The blending of red and white wine symbolize two coming together not only as one but as newly created

and unique.

3

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

WWW.AMILLERPHOTO.COM(860) 261-5617

��

The Stone Barn��

The Perfect Setting For Your Next Occasion

��www.stonebarncatering.com

��

��

��

3


How do you pick the wedding photographer who’s best for you? The photographs of your wedding will last longer than the flowers, the cake, even your wedding dress. They’re not only memories for you, your husband and children, but for their children ... and on and on.

Wedding photographers each have their own special style, not just in the pictures they take but in their whole relationship with bride, groom and their families. Do you want impersonal efficiency, an unobtrusive presence, or do you want someone who really gets to know you, your husband-to-be, your likes and dislikes, the way you interact — all with the goal of giv-ing you a choice of wedding pho-tographs that express the excite-ment, the most touching moments, the most vivid memories of every part of the entire event.

Melani Lust is very much the involved-style photographer. She says, “We make you look the best you have ever looked in your life while capturing the passion, emo-tion and glamour of the day.” This doesn’t just happen. Before Melani takes even one photo, she has spent lots of time in advance to learn the best angles to photograph the couple, how they interact, their various expressions, attitudes, pos-ture, all aimed at achieving an

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Before one photo is takenby Lois Alcosser

The goal of Melani Lust Photography is to give you a choice of wedding photographs that express the excitement, the most touching moments, the

most vivid memories of every part of the event. — © MelaniLustPhotography

4

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

4

The Perfect Venue for Weddings,

Corporate Parties &

Social Gatherings

Completely RemodeledNew exteriors, marble dance floors and foyers, luxury wedding suite

and limousines

AFFORDABLE PACKAGES!Buffet, Dinner

or GrillCasual to Elegant

Schedule an appointment today to see the brand new Villa Bianca!

312 Roosevelt Drive (Rte 34) Seymour203-735-4883 www.villabianca.com

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

• October 13, 2011 • • Fall Bridal • Hersam Acorn Newspapers • • 5 •

extraordinary photographic legacy.

“The photographs look beautifully natu-ral, but that’s because we use very spe-cial portable lighting equipment for a soft, flattering light, and we know the right angles to make people look gor-geous,” she says. “We can handle any lighting situation. There’s a minimum amount of retouching, perhaps remov-ing a bra strap or touching up fly-away hair. Or wiping out an EXIT sign dur-ing the father’s speech. Sometimes, we have to stage things to make them look natural.” Melani points to a picture of a radiant, smiling bride and a tender, lov-ing groom. “That photo looks absolutely candid, but to create that moment and those specific emotions, I actually had to tell the bride and groom to pinch each other’s behinds! Sometimes, I’ll tell the groom to whisper something naughty n the bride’s ear and that can make a great photograph.”

Melani’s wedding packages include sev-eral innovations. There is a proof book which contains every single picture taken, from preparing for the wedding, dressing for the wedding, the ceremony and the reception, from start to finish. This can be around 1,100 photographs. To make the choice easier, Melani also provides an album of “Photographer’s Favorites,” the 150 pictures she thinks are best. She even has a booklet suggest-ing ways to display different size photo-graphs — on a wall, table, or as a framed group of pictures.

Melani is often asked for suggestions about color schemes, flower arrange-ments, bridesmaids’ dresses. One thing she’s adamant about is make-up. “Often, with all the kissing and such, the bride’s make-up is gone at the end of the wedding. I recommend special wedding make-up. It lasts perfectly the whole day.”

Melani also takes special, romantic pre-wedding photographs of the couple for the guest sign-in book. She also prints thank-you notes with an iconic photo-graph of the bridal couple. She can do destination weddings anywhere in the

world — one bride wanted Grand Central Station, another, the Lincoln Memorial. Together, she and her assistant speak Spanish, French, Italian, Bulgarian and Russian.

In a brochure she uses to describe her

services and fees, Melani writes:

“The era of assembly-line coverage and common, ordinary albums is over. We understand our clients’ needs for exclu-sive, classic products, and exceed their

expectations. We represent the grace, distinction and style that is possible in wedding photograph.”

To see what she means, go to melanilust-photography.com, or call her at 203-247-6983.

Together, photographer Melani Lust and her assistant speak five languages, and for destination weddings, they are available to go anywhere in the world. The studio

culls from around 1,100 photographs to provide a preview album of Photographers’s Favorites — 150 pictures they think are the best.

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

I Do I Do

��

��

��

��

��

��

5

A Fine Line� Custom Call igraphy by Sheri Dean �

Weddings - Rehearsal Dinners - Engagements - ShowersPlace Cards - Table Cards - Menu Cards

Envelopes for all occasions!

203-966-6844www.afine l ine .bz

249 Old Stamford Road • New Canaan • Connecticut 06840

Plan a Wedding You’llRemember Forever

Denise Cregier Photographer

Tents

Tables

Chairs

China

Linens

26 Kenosia AvenueDanbury‚ CT

203.790.7368www.asrentals.net

“”

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

T��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

5


emony and reception on a Thursday eve-ning, instead of on a weekend.

“This worked out wonderfully for us,” says Lindsay, “and I think couples who are planning their weddings, if they can be flexible with their date, will find there can be extreme economical advantages. Photographers, caterers, venues all con-sider weekday or evening jobs to be extra income, as they are usually already booked for weekends, and they may be willing to negotiate pricing, give discounts or throw in extra added value.”

Lindsay continues, saying, “We did all our major stuff very early on. It really was the key to our successful wedding. There weren’t any last minute hassles because we had taken care of every last detail well ahead of time. We booked our venue 13 months ahead, picked out a photographer a year ahead. I would definitely say that planning 12 to 13 months ahead of time was definitely the way to go, at least for us!”

A wedding celebration is the perfect time to showcase the unique interests of the bride and groom. Lindsay and Patrick are both natives of New England and share a deep-rooted love of the outdoors and the extraordinary beauty of nature. When it came time to plan for their wedding cer-emony, they knew they had to incorporate the bucolic background of natural New England.

Patrick says, “We found exactly what we were looking for at The Pavilion in Middletown. It’s a gorgeous location with a private lake ... our ceremony was held in a gazebo surrounded by pine trees. This was such a romantic setting; it really struck us as being just perfect for what we wanted to do. Being outdoors and having an early evening ceremony was so nice; it was very rustic, very New England and it was just what we were looking for. We then held our reception in their indoor facility, which we were thrilled with.”

“The Pavilion is very well known for their food,” Lindsay adds, “and we were so pleased; we had wonderful service and incredibly delicious food! We did have our cake made elsewhere — we actu-ally had cupcakes, made by Kim’s Cottage Confections. They looked really great, each cupcake was decorated with tiny hydran-gea petals to coordinate with the hydran-geas we used for the bridal flowers.”

“We found The Pavilion by googling Onsite Wedding Facilities and Outdoor Wedding Sites,” she says. “Of course, the Internet is such a great tool for planning. Brides and grooms really can find most every-thing they are looking for online. Also, the facility you end up choosing is usually quite helpful with any remaining planning details.”

“In fact,” Lindsay adds, “We found our justice of the peace at a wedding show that The Pavilion hosted — The Pavilion Catering Wedding Show. We weren’t look-ing to have a particularly religious cer-emony,” at which point Patrick interjects, “and we weren’t looking to write our own ceremony; it was not in our best interest to write our own vows!” Lindsay agrees,

saying, “That would have been too hard, but our justice of the peace was amazing. We had free rein with the ceremony; she made wonderful suggestions, but, most importantly, she supported us and what we wanted to express during the ceremony.”

Patrick says, “We wanted our event to be special, but we also wanted it to have a relaxed sense of fun, too. We chose an absolutely fantastic DJ, and we both can’t say enough about him. I would urge any-one who is considering a DJ to hire Kenny Q. He was awesome! He fit in with our

guests, and he created a fantastic party atmosphere by making the event so much fun. He had a dance off with my brother, and, at one point, he even had Lindsay take over as DJ. We know that our guests had a blast and so did we!”

Lindsay says, “We loved our wedding, and if we had to share any other thoughts with prospective couples, we would say, don’t be afraid to do things a little differently, and include the people who are closest to you. I had both my parents walk me down the aisle; I had a bridesman in addition

to my bridesmaids. And Patrick brought both his grandfathers to our wedding day, who have since passed away. The diamond in my engagement ring belonged to his maternal grandfather, and his wedding band was his paternal grandfather’s.”

“I’ll share one last tidbit with you,” she says. “Etsy.com. This is an amazing Web site. I found all my jewelry, gifts for my bridal party, a beautiful birdcage to hold the wedding cards. I definitely saved money shopping here, and I highly recommend that other brides check it out!”

Planned from page 1

DETAILS

Clockwise from top: photos to remind the couple of playful moments, of the flowers in Lindsay’s bouquet that brought out the vivid hue of her eyes, of cupcakes iced to add another blue note and of a beaming father’s reflection, echoing the smile on his daughter’s face. — Airen Miller Photos

pavilioncatering.com

kennyqproductions.com

kimscottageconfections.com

etsy.com

6

500 Boston Post Rd. Orange, CT 06477(203) 799-7999 . www.dia-designs.com

$150 OFF

$75 OFFany mens wedding band

$75 OFFany ladies wedding band

We thought you could use this!

The Downtown Flower Shopat Harborwalk

22 Broad Street, Milford, CTMon-Sat 10:00-6:00

203-283-7880

6

I Do, I Do - Fall Bridal - East Edition - Hersam Acorn Newspapers

Documents

Transcript of I Do, I Do - Fall Bridal - East Edition - Hersam Acorn Newspapers