Page 2: Looking the Part | How to dress for success—a successful wedding, that is.
Looking the Part
How to dress for success—a successful wedding, that is.
Not everyone knows etiquette for wedding attire, so communicate it yourself. Explaining appropriate dress for your affair can be approached in a few ways.
“Stating that the dress is black tie is suitable to include on the invitation, but a theme that is different or creative can go on an insert card,” says Samantha Diedrick of Secretariat Wedding and Event Planning in Wilmington. “The more information you add, the better.”
If you are wedding at a beach, you’ll have to refocus. If it’s not a formal event, acknowledge that flip-flops or bare feet are acceptable, if that is the theme you want.
“Updates on the wedding, as well as temperature or travel details on a wedding Website, is convenient for out-of-town guests,” says Leanne Silicato of Make My Day Planning in Rehoboth Beach. Make My Day manages wedding Websites for brides. Word of mouth through the bridal party, friends or parents is also a good way to convey details and proper dress.
Other dos? “Dressing appropriately for the occasion is the best advice if it’s formal or at a ballroom or place of worship,” Diedrick says. “You don’t want to be dressed flashy or wear revealing clothes.” Help your guests realize it is a big day, and that there will probably be pictures taken of them.
A few don’ts: Most guests should know not to wear white so they don’t compete with the bride. “Don’t assume the weather is going to be nice,” Silicato says. “Prepare for rain and wind. Think ahead and tuck an umbrella, pashmina or a pair of flip-flops in your purse or car.” And “Never wear denim,” says Stephanie Weston of Exquisite Events in Wilmington. “It is a faux pas. No matter how casual, it is completely inappropriate.” —Rachel Lee
Page 3: Precious Moments | A new book by a local photog chronicles some very special stories.
Precious Moments
A new book by a local photog chronicles some very special stories.
With thoughts of dresses, flowers, venues, linens and enough details to fill hundreds of books, it is all too easy to become overwhelmed when planning your wedding. That’s when you should take a breath and remember the moments that are most important, says Wilmington photographer Laura Novak. Those special moments are at the heart of her new book, “After the Ceremony,” which features Novak’s photographs and a narrative by Kristy Lysik.
Intent on including emotionally significant photos, Novak reached out to her clients to choose pictures that were meaningful. Lysik, a high school friend of Novak’s, interviewed the featured couples to learn the story behind the images.
“For most people, it was about what it took for them to get to that point in the picture, like a military couple with the groom in his formal Navy uniform and the bride in her wedding dress,” Novak says.
One of her favorite photographs shows a bride who usually uses a wheelchair, but was determined to find a dress that would allow her to walk down the aisle. “We often take for granted things we can do on wedding day,” says Novak. “But she’s a face of determination. She says I gave her best gift with the photographs, but really she gave me the greatest gift with her joy and courage.”
Novak’s work has appeared in publications such as People, The Knot, and Brides magazine. She hopes those who read “After the Ceremony” will be inspired by the stories. “It’s the moments that happen at the wedding that are worth focusing on,” she says. “The moment when you realize your sisters aren’t your core family anymore, that your husband is. Those are the moments the wedding is about.” —Marianne Nagengast
