Jessica & Chris
April 3, Tampa
Venue: Davis Islands Garden Club
Q What style gown did you wear? My lacy Jasmine Bridal gown had a deep V-neck, an Empire waist and a small train. It was from a private line that wasn’t advertised online or in magazines; I thought it was pretty cool to have a dress that no one had really seen!
Q How did you accessorize? I wore a veil that went down to my waist, plus pearl earrings and a bracelet. My three-inch satin heels perfectly matched my dress and coordinated with the peep-toe style that the bridesmaids wore.
Q And what about your makeup? Since it was a garden wedding, I wanted a natural look that was also elegant. I was a big fan of the foundation my makeup artist used—my skin looked great!
Q What did you choose for the bridesmaid looks? I went with tea-length chiffon dresses in canary yellow from David’s Bridal. Each maid wore a ribbon in one of the wedding colors around her waist. The maid of honor wore ivory and the other two girls wore orange and green, respectively.
Q How did the groomsmen round out the wedding party style? For the guys, we wanted something formal without being too dressy. Their dark tuxes were fitted around the waist, and they wore long ties in canary yellow to match the girls. The groom stood out in ivory accessories.
Karlene & Richard
February 20, Miami Beach
Venue: The Palms Hotel and Spa
Q What was the overall style you were going for? I wanted to capture the glamour of the 1920s and the 1950s.
Q How many gowns did you try on before you found one that fit that mood? I tried on maybe 10 before I found my strapless, mermaid-style gown by Adrienne Reich. I had it taken in a little, but other than that, it fit me perfectly.
Q What accessories did you choose? The front part of my veil was a birdcage style that came just over my forehead and gave me the retro look I was going for. I had a longer veil in back that was plain except for Swarovski crystal edges.
Q How did you choose your hairstyle and makeup? For my hair, I wanted the large waves and curls that were popular in the 1950s. I don’t normally wear a lot of makeup, but my maid of honor and I bought nude lipstick and a good foundation. I got my makeup applied for free at Macy’s!
Joanna & Ozer
May 10, Sarasota
Venue: The Courtyard at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Q When type of look did you hope to achieve? It was really important to me to look like myself on my wedding day, so I wanted something elegant and sophisticated, but not overdone.
Q Was it love at first sight with your strapless, mermaid-style gown? Yes! I had only tried on about five dresses before I found my silk-taffeta dress with a line of buttons down the back. The second I saw it, I knew it was the one!
Q Did you have an easy time finding your shoes too? I was struggling to find a wedding shoe that matched the color of my dress, which was not quite ivory and not quite white. I got really lucky and found a perfect pair of Alfani heels at Macy’s.
Q How did you decide on a hairstyle? I wanted my dress to be the focal point of my look, so I kept my hair simple. A giant curling iron and lots of hairspray gave me a classic, flowing look.
-- Patricia Bryan