An inspiring wedding: Robby Li-jaja Elises nuptials

THEY met at the review center preparing for the Architectural board exams. Robby Li from Manila and Jaja Elises, the charming Dabawenyo.
They were attracted to each other and their love story mettle tested and spanning from their hometowns to Singapore.
They saved happily for a beautiful wedding and their parents -- Mr. Odello and Mrs. Nelly N. Elises of the bride and Mrs. Norieta V, Li -- are proud for the achievements of these hardworking and efficient couple.
Last August 8 was the Big Day, an auspicious day which is one of the most sought after dates to settle down.
They had their memorable day at the St. Paul Parish, solemnly officiated by Bishop Guillermo Afable and co-celebrated by Rev. Fr. Rodney Mondido.
Tears of joy were shed as the bride marched her way through the aisle with the groom bursting in tears waiting at the altar. Finally, his hard paid off -- he got his beautiful bride.
Reception followed at the coolest place ever, The View, with the great photography of Simply Gray.
Standing as the couple's principal sponsors are: Arch. Marietta Ara¤as, Delma Q. Elises, Christina B. Ramos, Gloria Maria D. Coronel, Camila S. Maligalig, Elma G. de Guzman, Dr. Eleonor B. Palabyab, Delia P. Solis, Amy D. Grabato, Valentina D. Ciudadano, Fely L. Aquino, Trinidad M. Amoguis, Alice A. Banta, Arch. Jaime P. Ansaldo, Engr. Joe M. Bagais Engr. Renato V. Maligalig, Engr. Victor T. de Guzman Dr. Nelson C. Villano, Enrico U. Solis and Frem D. Grabato.
The day was made possible by the excellent and professional services of the wedding team of Mel Orlina Couture of Manila, groom's suit by Egay Ayag, cake by Osvaldo's, entourage by Jun Artajo, make-up by Otoi Mercado, flower arrangement by noted florist Wendell Gartes of Floral Pink Designs, cocktails and catering by Aor's A Home Kitchen, invitation by Prinsonalities, mobile bar by Cocktails & Dreams Davao, photobooth by Fun in the Box.
The master of ceremonies was lawyer Alexis Lumbatan.

IN HER SHOES: ZENDAYA BREAKS DOWN HER DESIGN PROCESS

Zendaya Coleman, author, actress and recording artist, has been making a serious imprint on the red carpet with her unique style. From Michael Kors plaid skirt sets to Vivienne Westwood jumpsuits and custom Fausto Puglisi, she manages to hit the mark every time in a youthful, fun and fresh way — and the fashion world has taken notice.
Publications from Teen Vogue to WWD regularly rank her as one of the top 10 red-carpet influencers, and now she is taking that prowess to her first fashion foray — a shoe collection. Designing the line with Law Roach, her stylist, the first shoes will hit stores in spring 2016 and will bear her nickname, Daya. She’s been holding the designs close to her vest but if you are lucky enough to score an invite to her reveal event at FFANY or FNPlatform (the two footwear trade shows in August), you’ll get to see them up close.
For now, she sat down to talk with us a little about her first pair of Louboutin’s, why shoes are so amazing and how recording her music in socks is best.
What are your favorite pair of shoes of all time?
I would say the "So Kate" Louboutins, patent leather black, because me and Law, we are just so impressed with them, and they work with everything. They look good with anything, and plus my foot has molded to them now, so they’re not uncomfortable anymore. They’re actually the most comfortable shoes I own. I wear them everywhere — like literally everywhere — to the point where I had to get the heel fixed, because it was destroyed, because I wore them so much. We definitely have our own version of that go-to shoe [in the line].
What shoes did you wear on Dancing With the Stars?
I wore dance shoes usually. They’re just nude. They’re not the cutest shoes in the world, but they’re made for ballroom dancers. A couple of times, I got to wear Chucks, because I was cute and adorable, and they allowed me to do that, because I was 16. They were white, and then they bedazzled them. They bedazzle everything over there.
Why did you want to do a shoe line?
I love shoes, so there’s that. Honestly, I was really inspired kind of by my family. I have a lot of sisters and nieces, and one of my nieces is in college right now. I have a sister who is a dancer. These are women that are either just now starting to get a job, or kind of come into their own and become what they’re supposed to become. At that time, you don’t have a lot of money to pay for the shoes that you see on all your favorite celebrities — the shoes that you really, really want — it’s just unreasonable. So it’s about still having quality, and not losing the quality of the shoes, but making something that that girl can still feel cute in, and not feel like she has a knock-off.
Why are shoes so special to you?
Because they’re amazing. I’m a girl. I feel like I went through a phase where, when my feet finally started growing, and my body continues to change. But my feet have completely stopped, and now I can just have a collection of shoes. It’s like you document your life through shoes. Clothes kind of come and go, but shoes stay. They kind of say where you were, what you did and what was happening.
What inspires you when you design your shoe line?
I think what inspires us is our personal taste. What would we like? I’m not going to make any shoes that I’m not going to feel comfortable going out in. I’m not going to do it. We’re really obsessed with every detail of every shoe and everything that goes into it, even down to like the strap or the color of the metallic on the clasp — all kinds of stuff. Me and Law have now become really attentive to people’s shoes when we’re outside. We’re walking, and we’ll just stop people for their shoes. We notice "I’m seeing a lot of wedges," or "I’m seeing a lot of this, I’m seeing a lot of that." We just kind of collect our data, and that’s it.
What can we expect to see in your line?
We kind of wanted to touch a little bit of everything. We have a lot of nudes. I feel like almost every shoe we have comes in a nude, because I feel like that is so important, I think, especially for the working woman, you can’t go wrong with nude. It works, every time. Know what I mean?
What’s your favorite shoe in the collection, so far?
Oh, that’s tough. I personally am obsessed with some of the flat-type options that we have, the platform — and there’s slip-ons because they’re comfortable, but they’re so freaking cute.
What shoes do you like to wear when you record music?
I like no shoes. I usually do it in my socks. I’m usually looking a hot mess! Usually, they’re like cozy socks with some kind of pattern on them; something cool like that, or mismatched. Honestly, whatever I can get out of my drawer that day will go on my feet.
What size shoe are you?
I’m a 9.
What kind of shoes do you like to see on guys?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I think for me, it’s really about the outfit as a whole. I’m definitely a sneaker person, but I also love seeing a good dress shoe.
What’s your favorite part of designing your shoe collection?
Honestly, that we can be creative and just have fun. It’s really fun to be a part of. It’s like free choice school project, you can do it about whatever you want. And it gets to be about shoes. They’re my favorite thing, ever.

Beautiful Wedding Decor Also Needs to Actually Work for the Event

I'm a wedding planner and I have to admit that when I scroll through Instagram or troll Pinterest, I'm always seeing amazing décor that makes me shiver. Lighting I could never recreate in some of the more remote destinations where I plan makes me jealous. Tents you can only rent in more densely-populated areas that have crazy chandeliers make me swoon. Even though I do this for a living, I'm easily impressed by beautiful wedding décor.
With that said, I'm not an advocate of stupid wedding décor.
Let me give you a very good example. Just the other day I saw an absolutely, positively gorgeous table runner made entirely of live flowers featured on an Instagram account I follow of another wedding vendor. It was so pretty that I wanted to recreate it so I looked closer. And closer.
For anybody who is paying attention to the picture, the table runner is INCREDIBLE but it's so damned big that I could barely see the place settings. Time to zoom in. Alrighty now, you cannot see the place settings because it's a fully "staged" picture (as in, not a real wedding) and there's not enough room on the table for dinner plates, place settings, wine glasses, etc. God forbid you're using placecards! That table runner of flowers was fully two-thirds the width of the entire table.
So I messaged the vendor who posted the picture and said "I don't get it. Where do the plates go?"
Their response - I swear to God - was this: "We love ideas that are dramatic and different. Maybe not for everyone, but we would totally take a little less space for place settings to create a showstopper like this!"
Yep, that's a showstopper alright. As in, the perfectly-executed wedding will come to a grinding halt when the guests try to get seated for dinner and have zero space in front of them to put down their drinks. And can you even imagine what a disaster the service will be? OMG. Clearly this vendor isn't the wedding planner or the caterer or they would understand why a giant floral table runner is an absolutely RIDICULOUS idea unless the table is wide enough to hold both the runner and the place settings!!!
I probably look at it from a different perspective because, while I do the flowers for most of my destination weddings because there isn't another florist to be had, I don't sell my clients ridiculously expensive arrangements that don't fit their tables just so I can make an extra buck.
Gorgeous floral displays, centerpieces and other décor can be the highlight of your wedding event, but you want to try to avoid the totally impractical. I get requests for "Italian lights" all the time - those are the strands of lights with bare bulbs hanging off of them that you see featured so frequently in garden wedding pictures. We have them and we put them up in tents all the time, but you can't use them when you're trying to light concrete columns at a venue.
Many private homes, villas and historic buildings were not designed to be wedding venues and when you're decorating, you have to find a way to hang things (safely) that doesn't compromise the actual structure. You cannot drill into walls to put in hooks. You have to work with what's available. If you're trying to light concrete or stone columns on a porch, you can't use "Italian lights" or anything else that's meant to dangle. You're stuck with using "fairy lights" (Christmas lights on white electrical cords) or rope LED lights. You can also have uplighting done from the base of the columns if it won't create a trip hazard for your guests, and if it will give off enough light to actually let people see where they're going and what they're eating.
Pinterest has become an amazing channel to market my own services, and Instagram is a hoot because you see the good, bad, and the truly ugly from other weddings all posted by wedding guests. But what's important for brides and grooms to realize is that not everything that looks pretty is functional. Much of it is not affordable. And a good bit of it (unless you're only looking at pictures on my social media pages) was created solely for a professionally-staged shoot and was never intended to actually work at a wedding. Most of what you see in glossy bridal magazines could never be executed the same way at a wedding actually attended by real people.
Massive, top-heavy centerpieces on your dinner tables, dripping crystals in the faces of your guests, may be the look you really want, but what will happen when your guests get frustrated because they can't see each other through the bling and try to move them a little? They flip ass-over-teakettle almost every time. I've seen it happen as both a planner and a wedding guest. And don't pretend guests are too well-mannered to move centerpieces. They do, and they will. After six cocktails, it's all about keeping themselves happy. To hell with what the bride and groom wanted to see in their wedding pictures.
I know some couples are all about "go big or go home," but at the same time, not everything that is big and fancy is actually practical and reasonable for your wedding and your venue. Sometimes you have to adjust your expectations in order to actually execute a flawlessly beautiful wedding. I have never heard a wedding guest complain that there wasn't enough table décor. But I have listened to many people bitch and moan about how tightly packed it all was. Cuz let's not pretend the bride and groom are going to spend money on two more tables and associated arrangements to compensate for the space being lost to the décor. They're still going to jam in 10 guests at a table meant for that many, even if the space the centerpiece takes up is akin to having a dead body in the center of the table.
Be smart. Look at wedding pictures you like and then modify them to fit your taste, style and the scale of your wedding venue. If you're working with a planner or vendors who say something can't be done, listen to them. If you do it, they make money so they have no motive to lie to you about this. They're trying to prevent the inevitable problems that will ensue if they give you EXACTLY what you're asking for.
You don't have to "keep it simple," but you do need to keep it REAL when you plan your wedding décor. Otherwise, people are more likely to remember that they struggled around your flowers than how beautiful they were in the grand scheme of things. And you'll spend a lot of money for something your guests will not enjoy.

Staying stylish during holy month

To observe Ramadhan, many women tend to dress more appropriately by covering most parts of their bodies. The beauty of this is that you can still be stylish. One thing is for sure, the clothing should not be too tight or transparent.
Throughout this month, many stores and shopping venues, including Ramadhan-themed bazaars, are offering great bargains.
This is a good time to shop for clothes or accessories as they are likely to be priced much lower than normal.
Not only women, but men and kids alike also want to dress differently while observing the holy month, and especially at Idul Fitri.
To observe Ramadhan, there are some fashion choices that can be applied and that help protect your skin and prevent dehydration at the same time. What are they?
Women’s Ramadhan fashion
The number one choice is gamis (long, shirt-like dress) or a kaftan-like dress. Both dresses are mainly worn by Muslims in the Middle East, but they are also worn in many other countries. The kaftan can be likened to a robe or a tunic.
In the world of entertainment, many local celebrities and ustadzah (woman teachers) wear gamis and kaftans. Their fashion style often becomes a source of inspiration.
To better convince you that this kind of dress never goes out of style, even international celebrities like Rihanna, Jenifer Lopez and the Kardashians are occasionally spotted wearing kaftans.
When looking for gamis, ask for one that is suitable for this occasion that is gamis syar’i. This type of dress is designed according to sharia dress code. Compared to a kaftan, a gamis can usually be worn daily as the long sleeves are not as loose as those of a kaftan and the lower half, which is loose, is comfortable to walk in.
Although only a couple of weeks of the fasting month remain, these types of dresses also protect your skin against the sun. Inspired from the Middle East, you will understand the benefit of the longer dress when the weather is hot.
If you wear a hijab, you can accessorize it with a brooch or some other ornament. If not, you can mix and match the dress with kerudung (cape) or chiffon-based pashmina-styled scarf or shawl.
Loafers or sandals best suit a long dress. Don’t ever think of wearing wedges or heels, since they just make it difficult to walk.
JP/ P.J.Leo
Men’s Ramadhan fashion
For men, wearing a baju koko (long-sleeve collarless shirt) seems to be fashionable. But for daily routine, the choice of baju koko is often out of context.
Nowadays, there are many styles of baju koko, such as those tailored in ethnic inspired patterns.
For a more stylish model, get one with an asymmetrical design with various colors. And while most baju koko are long-sleeved, more casual types are also available. But for couples or family members, sarimbit (matching batik wear for couples) is also trendy. Wearing sarimbit is often synonymous with showcasing a family’s or couple’s harmony. Sarimbit are suitable for gatherings or parties.
For shoes, avoid wearing boots or sneakers as they would be troublesome for praying. Formal shoes or the slip-on kind are appropriate, and comfortable.
Children’s Ramadhan fashion
Without a doubt, kids are eager to wear new and nice clothes, especially at Idul Fitri. And this month is the best time for them to wear different clothes.
Just like men and women, the choice in clothing for this month should be similar for kids. But remember, don’t get them anything too complicated to wear. The most important thing to remember is that the fabric should be comfortable.
Do not be fooled by low prices or bright colors, since sometimes the materials used are not suitable for children.
Their daily activities will be conducted mostly at home, at a relative’s place or at a mosque for tarawih (extra prayer service during Ramadhan). So, a pair of new sandals and sarong are great gifts for the fasting month.

International fashion & style; Valentino .. resort 2016

Here is a list of what came to mind after seeing this expansive collection that reeks of hubris, excess, money, ethnicity and well, a lot of subpar looking clothes, no matter the price, the quality or the brand. We have every kind of Indian known to man, we have every part of the east… from middle to far to near, enough folkloric florals to fill a flower district and then there were those hideous patchworks which reminded me of cheap mistakes from times gone by.
What was shown today, IMHO, is at least 3 collections all clumped up to be shown as one bloated repetitive collection that reminds us who has this look covered more than anyone and with more craftsmanship than anyone. One would think that with all that was shown … the standout piece would have been something other than a full length camo anorak/field jacket with an embroidered fire breathing dragon on the back. A collection of this enormity is ennui inducing on so many levels but what MUST be kept in mind that this is a collection that requires dissection. There are so many “parts” to the puzzle but the real gems are to be extracted from the total looks that were presented.
One would think that a brand with this kind of power would refrain and not succumb to the trite and silly styling which included bad shoes, “Frida” hair, hippie earrings and braids; such gimmicks are like pandering which is beneath the brand’s reputation. You would think that Maria Grazia Chiuri andPierpaolo Piccioli might have exercised a bit of restraint pertaining to the powers of editing. Yes, editorially speaking, these clothes are an open and shut case of extravagance but one realizes that these clothes are far beyond the reach of more than 99% of the population which in a way renders them “useless” unless of course they are loaned, given or appear on a printed page, to say that the clothes for the most part are prohibitively expensive is like saying a Maserati is just a good family car. This all reminds me of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!”
Anyone who reads me knows that the brand in its current over embroidered, over embellished, overly prissy but impeccably made incarnation evades me for the most part. Where are the spectacularly beautiful day and evening clothes that women of a fashion aristocracy can wear to suit their needs? Which also brings up where are the exquisitely tailored suits of times gone by?

Real Housewives of New York Week 6 Recap

This is a rough episode for me to blog because one can’t keep it real without commenting on the sloppiness of Sonja Morgan. It is tough because I like Sonja. In the interest of full disclosure, I know Ms. Morgan. I have met her, been in her home, worked on a project with her, and know her to be a smart, funny, and lovely woman.
I wish people could see Sonja at home with her child, or talking about the pain of her divorce. I wish people understaod how successful she was before she married into the Morgan dynasty, and what she gave up during her marriage. I wish they could know the truth about her life as a single parent co-parenting with a man of power.
Sonja has a tragic yet inspiring story. She is more than what we see on this show and the truth is this show is not doing Sonja any favors. Sonja isn't doing Sonja any favors. I hope Sonja will share her true story one day because it is fascinating. I hope she gets out of her own way and knows she has my love and respect.
I write about reality TV with humor and truth. I am occasionally harsh, always honest, and at the end of the day a fan. I'm not paid to blow smoke up anyone’s ass. I have a job to do and the reason this blog is loved and hated is because I write without worrying what people will think. This was hard to write but not hard to keep it real.
The entire group is going to Atlantic City to celebrate Ramona’s birthday. I am pouring a cocktail and the show hasn't even started. Heather, Kristen, and Dorinda are at Sonja’s house to take a limo to Atlantic City. It is cold and raining but Sonja has asked an intern to instruct the women to wait outside rather than in her home.
Heather loses her shit and decides to talk about Sonja being a drunk she has rescued. Heather is a bitch, which is interesting since she calls out everyone else for being bitchy. I get she is offended and I would be too, but dumping on Sonja is not necessary and makes Heather look bad because we know Sonja is sloppy without Heather.
Ramona appears saying she used the bathroom so something is not kosher. This is bad editing to make Sonja look bad and it is unfair. The limo finally arrives from around the corner where the producers have had it waiting, and the ladies get in the car and wait for Sonja. LuAnn and Carol are meeting them there, but Bethenny joins them.
Bethenny is late and apologetic, but Heather is pissed. Heather is being a twat. This is not her first trip with these women, or her first ride on the production train, so she needs to shut up. Sonja says she is running late because her sister in unable to fly from Nashville to watch her daughter. I call bullshit. Her sister wasn't coming.
Why would her sister call the day she was to be there to say she isn't coming? That makes no sense. Sonja’s story is silly and even if it were true, there's no reason she couldn't figure it out with the women in her house. Let them in, put the kettle on, take care of your shit, and move on. It wasn't nice to leave them out in the cold.
Sonja gets in the car like she's done nothing wrong and tells Heather they need to be speaking to travel together. Heather wants an apology and Sonja wants to move on and give Ramona a nice birthday. Bethenny is holier than thou but very funny as she pours herself some Skinnygirl ass juice. Dear Lord, that shit tastes bad.
Heather is yelling at Sonja, telling her they're not friends. Sonja ignores her by looking at her phone, then Ramona loses it and tells everyone to shut up because it is her birthday and she needs to relax. She acknowledges Bethenny is under stress, which is hilarious, then Sonja jumps on the stress bandwagon with them.
Kristen is not sure what stress Sonja is talking about and I again wonder why Kristen is on the show. Bethenny tries to end the madness telling Sonja to apologize. She does, sort of. Heather doesn’t hear her and Bethenny states she is growing tired, to which Sonja responds she growing more tired. Sonja has perfect comedic timing.
Bethenny and Sonja are talking and Sonja is goes on and on about Dubai or some other bullshit and it is hard to believe her level of delusion. Bethenny is trying to help Sonja but it isn’t working. Bethenny has to pee and tells the driver to pull over on the side of the road. Really? Not one gas station on the way to Atlantic City?
Bethenny is looking for hand wipes and Dorinda tells her the wipes will hurt her vagina. Ugh. Bethenny pees outside and it isn't cute. It is actually her MO and wasn’t cute years ago either. Ramona tries to pee but has performance anxiety and can’t do it. This is just sad. That Bethenny is resorting to this type of TV is pathetic.
They finally arrive and Ramona is overly excited. Ramona, Sonja, and Dorinda share a suite. Bethenny has her own, Heather, Carole, and LuAnn are in the another suite, putting Kristine in the other single. Poor Kristen. Even the ladies don’t see the need for her. The girls relax while Heather floods her bathroom with water.
Heather is complaining about Sonja to Carole and LuAnn while Sonja is gassy with Dorinda and Ramona. Oy vey. We're 20 minutes in and I’m done. Everyone is getting ready to go out, Bethenny is pouring herself another Skinnygirl ass juice. Kristen brought two mismatched shoes and calls it fashion. Bless her.
Heather is an hour late and Bethenny calls her out. Heather denies being late and it is hilarious. Heather is an idiot and this night is not going to end well. They order booze and dinner is on. These women are mean to each other and it is sad they keep coming back for more. Fame whores crave public humiliation.
Kristen is wearing two different color shoes, Carole is wearing ears, and nobody appears to be wearing a bra. These women look fabulous, but at their ages a little inappropriate. Bethenny is wondering why everything has to be so hard in the group and I wonder the same thing. These women do not like each other.
Sonja tells Bethenny she was in PR all her life and Bethenny shuts her down. Bethenny is harsh, which I love, but she likes the sound of her own voice too much and goes on too long. She is being mean to Sonja, which Sonja needs, but certainly not at dinner and certainly not after Bethenny just said how mean everyone is.
Bethenny is yelling at Sonja to take a Xanax and everyone is listening to her. Sonja starts crying, Ramona tries to make things better for Sonja but it is too late. Sonja is clearly tipsy, Bethenny has really bad timing, LuAnn jumps in like the bitch she is, and it is sad that everyone gangs up on Sonja then claims to feel bad.
Ramona says she misses wearing her ring and LuAnn says Ramona is nicer without Mario. LuAnn is spiteful and Dorinda is lovely. Sonja and Ramona play Blackjack and Ramona says they should join their friends, but Sonja wants them to stay on their own. It is sad. Sonja is harmless and deserves more from these morons.
Sonja and Ramona go dancing, then the girls join. Carole looks ridiculous and Sonja is full on drunk flashing her vag on stage. Oy vey. Sonja is talking about being in PR again and Bethenny tells her she can’t listen to her rhetoric anymore and gets up and walks away from her. Sonja is on an island alone with these girls.
Everyone has bailed on Sonja so Dorinda is going to get her to bed. Sonja is talking rubbish and trashed. Sonja feels rejected by everyone and tells Dorinda everyone is mean to her. She then shares she parties with Madonna and JFK Jr.. Dear Lord. Dorinda reminds Sonja John John is dead and walks away from her.
Sonja needs new friends. Dorinda tells Sonja money speaks and wealth whispers. Amen. Cut to breakfast and Sonja breezes in fresh as a daisy and everyone is amazed by her continuing delusions. Sonja goes to Bethenny to apologize for the night before and Bethenny decides to have a heart to heart with her.
Sonja says she misses her husband and family life. She's been divorced for years and while I understand how hard it is, enough. She is a broken record and if she thinks for one minute being drunk and sloppy has anything to do with barometric pressure she needs more than therapy. Bethenny crosses a line in 3…2…1.
Bethenny tells Sonja she needs to stop mixing alcohol and prescription drugs. Sonja says she is taking vitamins and there may be a bad reaction. Bethenny is not a therapist and more importantly, if Bethenny really cared about Sonja, she wouldn't have this conversation on camera. This is now the Bethenny show.
Back to the girls, Heather says she could not care less about Sonja, but she is still talking about her. Kristen says Sonja’s tears are fake, but Luann says they’re not. No tears, no crying, but there were tears. Back to Sonja, she tells Bethenny she is choosing to not be in a relationship until her bankruptcy is over.
I call bullshit. We have watched her chase a relationship for years so this makes no sense. Sonja lives in a fantasyland brought on by stress, delusion, and depression. She'll be fine but only if she separates herself from these gutter pigs, and stops drinking. Bethenny tells Sonja she needs a therapist.
Sonja is not hearing anything Bethenny says. Not one word. Nobody will ever help Sonja until she helps herself. I believe in her and hope her day of freedom comes soon. Next week we’ll watch more Bethenny than is needed. Her shows were cancelled for a reason so Bravo needs to let her go and keep it real.

Northumbria University Graduate Fashion Week kicks off with style at the Baltic

Trendsetting Newcastle students proved they have what it takes to cut it in the fashion world when they showed off their cutting-edge creations at a catwalk show at Baltic.
With a packed room looking on, Northumbria University’s annual fashion show made its dramatic debut on Wednesday night with 58 graduates unveiling their end-of-year collections.
Gateshead’s contemporary art gallery proved a fitting backdrop to a dazzling array of eye-catching style from glamorous dresses and tops to striking menswear and jumpsuits.
Imagination was the hallmark of the night with the likes of The Gentleman Crook collection, inspired by 1940s America, by Billie Toole from Whitley Bay.
Then there was final year student Victoria Barwood’s high-drama collection inspired by the films of Italian director Federico Fellini and Annie McKie’s men’s outer-wear made from a £20 scout tent bought on eBay. Both have been selected to feature in a special online spring edition of Vogue.
“I think it’s the first time that’s happened,” said Kristen Pickering, lecturer and programme leader for fashion for the past nine years.
The grand affair, which included a champagne reception in the River Terrace for guests who included industry professionals, media and family and friends, marks the 60th year of Northumbria’s BA Hons fashion course show.
It has built up an impressive reputation in the fashion industry with former graduates going on to work for such labels as Ralph Lauren and Alexander McQueen.
A panel of judges were in place to pick out which collections to showcase on May 31 at London Fashion Week where the university’s students have won more 40 awards in the past five years, including new designer of the year, the fashion innovation award and, for three years’ running, the ethical award.
“We’ve never done a show where the industry did not come back to interview students afterwards,” said Kristen who added the Newcastle show is a chance for local companies like Barbour to see what’s on offer first.
“The judges are looking for collections that are going to have good presence on the catwalk: catwalk impact, balance and colour and sense of style.”
So with votes at stake, there were nerves as well as excitement before the models hit the catwalk in the level one gallery space.
Earlier in the day, local pupils and students were invited to an afternoon showing as a kind of dress rehearsal for the main event and this was the first chance students had to see their complete collections modelled.
Claire Fortune, 22, from Newcastle, said: “I’ve seen it in fittings but seeing it complete was different. I felt my heart race!
“It was amazing to see it but I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I am always thinking I want to do more to it, or I should have done this or that!”
Her collection is inspired by thirties patterns and by Greek marble sculptures she saw at the V&A and British Museum during a holiday trip to London.
She said: “You think of marble as being white but there are colour veins in it so my collection is all purple and pinks with blue in there as well.”
“Every time I do a collection I’m drawn back to something historical,” added Claire whose family and boyfriend were joining the audience. “They’ll be brutally honest!”
Victoria Barwood was “very nervous but very excited” about unveiling her collection which includes jumpsuits and dresses featuring lots of black and billowing lines inspired by quirky Fellini films and the circus.
The 28-year-old from Majorca, whose parents now live in Rothbury, has loved her course and said: “My mum is a Geordie and I have always considered Newcastle my second home. I love it here.
“I spent the last four summers in Italy working on a boat and came across Federico Fellini films which I fell in love with and I had the idea to do something in my collection.
“I’m inspired by quirky arty films and his films are always really edgy. I’ve used his Catholic influences and his memories of travelling circuses.”
Designer Victoria Barwood
There’s one stand-out orange dress in her collection among lots of black. “I wanted to represent the circus theme in a big way.”
She added: “You’re so busy with the collection that you never look at it. I feel like tonight I can, and that I can be proud of what I have done - although it could go either way!”
She would love to travel and learn from other designers and to ultimately set up her own label.
And the show, whose invited guests included Barbour, Topshop, Dr Marten’s and Newcastle-born world-class photographer Chris Moore, promises a perfect springboard.
Known as the Catwalk King, Chris, who is still working at the age of 81 and whose 60-year career in the industry has seen him work in the fashion capitals of Milan and New York shooting the likes of Dior, is just as keen to focus on the latest showcase designs from his home city and he always photographs the annual students’ show on its transfer to London for Graduate Fashion Week.
Baltic’s catwalk is back in action on Thursday when a second night of high fashion comes courtesy of NE1’s Fashion Futures event.

Wedding: Lindsey Long Wannamaker & Patrick McKissack Westbury

Lindsey Long Wannamaker and Patrick McKissack Westbury, both of Columbia, South Carolina, were married on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at St. Paul United Methodist Church in St. Matthews, South Carolina. The bride was given in marriage by her father. The Reverend Suzanne Walker and the Reverend Dr. Justin Gilreath, cousin of the groom, performed the six o'clock ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kendall Whitfield Wannamaker of St. Matthews. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. John Calhoun Parler, Jr. and the late Mr. Parler of Elloree, South Carolina, and Mrs. Joseph Long Wannamaker and the late Mr. Wannamaker of St. Matthews. Lindsey graduated from Orangeburg Preparatory School in 2005 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Newberry College in 2009. Currently, she is employed by AFLAC Insurance in Columbia.
The groom is the son of Mrs. Gilreath Westbury of St. Matthews and Mr. and Mrs. James Kenneth Westbury, Jr. of Ft. Motte, South Carolina. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Frank Gilreath, Sr. of Travelers Rest, South Carolina and Mrs. James Kenneth Westbury, Sr. of Lexington (formerly of St. Matthews) and the late Mr. Westbury. Patrick is a 1999 graduate of Calhoun County High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University in 2002. He is currently employed with C. F. Evans and Company in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
Mary Win Hipp King, cousin of the bride, served as the bride's matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Elizabeth Mahon Brown, Katherine Ann Edwards, Henley Westbury Ellis, Mollyrose Milewski, Ainsley Reid Porter, and Mary Margaret Weeks Westbury. Flower girls were Bella Grace King and Lila Win Hipp, cousins of the bride.
The groom's brother, Kenneth Lawrence Westbury, served as the groom's best man. Groomsmen were Adrian Ross Ashley, Jr., Robert Paul Edwards, Alden Kyle Pugh, John Michael Stevens, and Kendall Whitfield Wannamaker, Jr.
Program attendants were Rachel Deanne Funchess, Charlotte Sheridan McCoy, and Sandra Caroline McCoy, cousins of the bride.
A reception followed the ceremony at The Orangeburg Country Club where guests were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Keitt Hane Fair and Mr. and Mrs. James Howard Shirer, Jr., friends of the bride's family.
After a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the couple will reside in Columbia.

The Naked Dress: Kim Kardashian’s See Through Dress Can Be ‘Normal’ Work Clothing, Says Fashion Experts

Kim Kardashian’s naked dress may turn some heads by appearing almost nude in public, but fashion experts say this type of see through dress may come to be known as “normal” women’s clothing. But how could the average American ever consider see through clothing anything other than a fashion faux pas based upon shameless public nudity?
In a related report by the Inquisitr, a nude model named Andressa Urach almost died when having plastic surgery, and now she is telling the world that “vanity isn’t everything.”
The history of the naked dress does not start with Kim Kardashian. In 1962, Marilyn Monroe once sang Happy Birthday to former U.S. President John Kennedy while wearing an outfit some would say showed off way too much. Nowadays, fashion models like Kate Moss regularly show up wearing near naked dresses that leave little to the imagination. The MTV Music Awards and the Grammy Awards often have stars like Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga wearing clothing that is just one tiny mistake away from streaking.
Most Americans may think these sheer fabrics would likely lead to an arrest for indecent exposure, but some fashion experts like Lauren Thurston believe Kim Kardashian’s nude dress styles could be modified to be considered normal even in a work setting.
“This trend can work in everyday life,” Thurston said, according to The Independent. “The key is adapting it to suit your lifestyle. You could wear a body under a sheer blouse to provide more coverage for work. Invisible lingerie allows the clothes to do the talking, while bright colors and neon make a feature out of your underwear for a night out. We wouldn’t recommend going for a sheer bra under a see-through top though.”
Essentially, the nude dress is all about putting underwear on display for all the world to see. Celebrities may be fine with letting everyone seeing glimpses of their naked forms beneath the sheer fabric, but that would hardly do for the average public outing, never mind the workplace.
Experts say the choice of “your lingerie needs to complement the overall look not distract from it. Lingerie decisions need to look intentional – whether this is choosing a style and color that works harmoniously or intentionally contrasts.” The underwear must be well-fitted in order to “achieve the perfect silhouette” in addition to ensuring that “lines remain clean and minimal.” A well-fitted bra not only has an impact on back posture and health, but also supports self-confidence.
“Wearing a good-fitting and supportive bra can be a revelation,” says Thurston. “You feel more comfortable, supported and more confident.”
Of course, in order to strut around in an almost nude dress requires plenty of confidence from the get-go. If you plan on mimicking the celebrities then issues of public nudity laws might even become an issue. For example, in LA County section 43 of ordinance 17.12.360 bans women from wearing clothing where “any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person is exposed to public view.”
Do you think see-through clothing should be allowed to become a “normal” fashion trend worn by the average working female American?

WEDDING: Childers/Peck

Miss Sarah Paige Childers of Lancaster, Ohio and Mr. Joseph William Peck of Baltimore, Ohio were married at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, October 4, 2014 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Ohio. The Rev. Mark Raddatz officiated. Kantor Kelly Raybourne furnished the wedding music. Mrs. Shirley Schaffner of Baltimore, Ohio was vocalist.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Ray Childers of Jackson, Ohio. Her maternal grandparents are Mrs. Katherine Lundy of Conway, South Carolina and the late Mr. Lloyd Lundy. Her paternal grandparents are Mrs. Earleene Childers of New Franklin, Ohio and the late Mr. Carl Childers.
The bride graduated from the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College with an associate degree in Radiologic Technology. She is employed at Fairfield Medical Center as a Radiologic Technologist.
The groom is the son of Mrs. Karen J. Peck of Baltimore, Ohio and the late Mr. Harold W Peck. He is the grandson of the late Mr and Mrs. Joseph and Mary Agnes Guisinger, and the late Mr and Mrs. Willard and Neva Peck.
The groom attended Ohio University and is employed at Green Gourmet Foods in Baltimore, Ohio.
The bride was escorted by her father. Matron of honor was Kylie Collins of Rushville, Ohio, friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Elizabeth Arthur of Vinton, Ohio, sister of the bride, Rebecca Childers of Gallipolis, Ohio, sister of the bride, Genevieve Rossiter of Gallipolis Ferry, West Virginia, friend of the bride and Melissa Robers of Lancaster, Ohio, friend of the bride and groom. The flower girl was Miss Kendal Robers of Lancaster, Ohio, friend of the bride and groom.
Best Man was Scott Wray of Baltimore, Ohio, friend of the groom. Groomsmen were Joseph Robers of Lancaster, Ohio, friend of the groom, Gary Greene of Baltimore, Ohio, friend of the groom, James Ebersbach of Thurston, Ohio, friend of the groom and David Mauger of Lancaster, Ohio, cousin of the groom. The ring bearers were the bride's nephews, Jeremiah Childers of Gallipolis, Ohio and Ethan Arthur of Vinton, Ohio.
The ceremony readers were Susan Mauger of Lancaster, Ohio and Kelly Kunkler of New Lexington, Ohio. The guest registrar and program attendant was Miss Madison Collins of Rushville, Ohio, friend of the bride.
Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a reception at Hickory Lakes in Pickerington, Ohio. After a honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple will live in Lancaster, Ohio.

Designer Gaultier declares failure of fashion industry

He may be one of the world’s most famous designers, but Jean Paul Gaultier seems to be falling out of love with the fashion industry.
The French couturier — who found fame putting Madonna in a conical bra and helped shape global trends for four decades — shocked the fashion world by ending his ready-to-wear and menswear lines earlier this year.
And in a candid interview with The Associated Press, the 62-year-old — whose signature peroxide quiff has now rather symbolically greyed — explained why.
“Too many clothes kills clothes . . . Fashion has changed. A proliferation of clothing. Eight collections per season — that’s 16 a year,” he said.
“The system doesn’t work . . . There aren’t enough people to buy them. We’re making clothes that aren’t destined to be worn,” he added as he stood beside a mannequin sporting one of his giant, pointy bustiers.
Gaultier gave his grave prognosis on the health of fashion from the newest leg of his acclaimed retrospective, which has travelled from Montreal to Rotterdam to London — and is now in Paris. The scope of the exhibit, from top hats made of human hair to bondage outfits and corsets made of ribbon, showcase Gaultier’s brilliance and theatrical flair.
And his launch party — attended by the likes of Kylie Minogue, Catherine Deneuve and Nana Mouskouri — was testament to his enduring popularity.
But the retrospective also feels as if it heralds the end of an era. The one-time enfant terrible was once seen as the heir to Yves Saint Laurent, but in recent seasons his womenswear shows failed to impress top critics who judged that his designs now lacked coherence.
“It fits very well that [the exhibit] is now in Paris, the moment [moment is odd here, can we say place? or just “where”? where I stopped ready-to-wear.] I stopped ready-to-wear,” Gaultier said, without nostalgia.
The designer said that he ended his 38-year-old womenswear line because he was fed up with the non-stop merchandizing, commercialization and marketing that the frenetic ready-to-wear industries demand. Instead, he wanted to concentrate on his profitable couture line, which he presents in Paris in January and July each year, as well as his theatre and cinema work.
“I continue doing the things that I like,” he said. “It’s almost a luxury, is it not?”
Gaultier isn’t the only one disillusioned with a luxury industry that’s bursting at the seams. Today, for example, there are some 100 collections presented four times a year in Paris alone.
Dutch design duo Vikor & Rolf gave up their ready-to-wear line this year too, citing similar reasons as Gaultier.
They just couldn’t keep up with the gruelling pace of the industry and wanted to concentrate on couture.
So what is the solution for the fashion-conscious consumer?
It might sound shocking for a designer who’s now concentrating on his astronomically priced haute couture line — but Gaultier’s advice is to go to the high street.
“There are labels that do inexpensive clothes very well, like Zara, H&M, Uniqlo. People can dress well for not too much money,” he said. “So why go and buy expensive clothes?”
Gaultier, a man known for his cheeky humour, cannot stay gloomy for long.
Looking back through his four decades of creations he recalls the surprising origin of the bustier that first made him a household name in the U.S. —when a certain pop star from Michigan wore it on her Blond Ambition tour in 1990.
“It was not Madonna who wore my first conical bra, it was Nana my Teddy Bear. And when I was six, I wanted to have a doll, but my parents didn’t find it politically correct for a boy,” he said.
Madonna is still very much in his heart — and he defended her against ageist criticism that her fall in this year’s Brit Awards showed that, at 56 years old, she should be hanging up her pointy bra once and for all. “Why do they attack her because of her age, and they don’t do it to men?” he asked.
“She got up as if it was nothing and to fall must have hurt a lot. She could have killed herself,” he said. “She’s a miracle because, well, she’s Madonna.”
The famed bra — and his Teddy Bear, Nana — can both be found in the Grand Palais exhibit in Paris, which runs until Aug. 3.

Hollywood fashion icon Grace Kelly's passion for Pringle knitwear revealed in new exhibition celebrating Scots firm's bicentenary

SHE was the Hollywood style queen who became a real-life princess.
Now one of the favourite items of clothing belonging to Grace Kelly is set to go on public display – and it’s not a couture ballgown or fur coat.
It is a simple black cashmere Pringle cardigan that she lovingly passed on to her eldest daughter, Princess Caroline.
It features in a new exhibition celebrating 200 years of Hawick-based knitwear firm Pringle of Scotland.
And the curator – fashion historian Alistair O’Neill – says Princess Grace of Monaco’s passion for Pringle was no public act.
The princess was one of several Hollywood leading ladies who publicly endorsed the brand, but Alistair reveals it was also her clothing of choice away from the limelight.
Grace’s daughter, Princess Caroline of Hanover, allowed students from London’s Central St Martins art school, where Alistair lectures, unprecedented access to her late mother’s private wardrobe.
They were also shown rare family snaps and home movies of Princess Grace dressed in the Pringle outfits she loved.
Alistair said: “It was a huge honour for us. One of the photos shows Princess Grace wearing sunglasses and was taken not long after her marriage.
“This is private image of a private moment and the Pringle garment she is wearing is part of her own private wardrobe.”
Alistair said that although Grace was known for glamour and sophistication on set, she also had a strong sense of practicality.
He added: “She purchased a lot of her Scottish knitwear at London’s Burlington Arcade and she liked to wear twinsets.
“In many ways her Pringle garments were a connection between her two lives – her life on camera and her private life.
“She liked twinsets as she liked the functionality of having two layers of knitwear.
“She might just wear the jumper while filming, then off camera, while waiting for her next scene, she could pull on the cardigan.”
Famed for her generous nature, Princess Grace was known to give away her clothes – including many of her Pringle favourites – to her family and friends.
The cardigan set to go on display in Edinburgh has been in Caroline’s wardrobe since her mother gave it to her several years before her death in a car crash in 1982. She was just 52.
Caroline said she had been delighted to work with Alistair’s fashion students on the project and even got in touch with her mother’s former laundress to research Grace’s wardrobe.
She said: “Marielle was our head laundress. She arrived at the palace just before I was born and she still remembers everything.
“We had a lot of trouble finding things because my mother gave a lot away to her friends and family. I pinched a few when I was 16, 17.
“In the last 15 years of her life, my mother dressed completely differently.
“She would have gone more for very warm clothes, because she was always cold,
“She would always have a scarf or a cashmere shawl.
“She had a lot of shawls from Pringle, she was such a faithful and enthusiastic customer.”
The Edinburgh exhibition marks the company’s bicentenary, tracing their evolution from a small hosiery firm founded by Robert Pringle in 1815 to an international fashion knitwear brand.
Other highlights of the exhibition include a 1933 outfit worn by golfer Gloria Minoprio, and a classic twinset designed by Otto Weisz.
Georgina Ripley, curator of modern and contemporary fashion and textiles at National Museums Scotland, said: “Pringle of Scotland has a long, rich and complex history, and has evolved to become one of the world’s top heritage fashion brands.”
Alistair added: “Fully Fashioned is a useful opportunity to not only mark Pringle’s 200th anniversary, but to demonstrate the centrality of knitwear to the modern wardrobe.
“The twinset has such an enduring sense of modernity about it, that it is exciting to be able to set this design classic into a broader context, showing how Scottish knitwear led the field in modernising the 20th century wardrobe.”
Fully Fashioned: The Pringle of Scotland Story’ runs from April 10 to August 16 at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Mall Leverages Augmented Reality for Spring Campaign

In order to let shoppers experience spring and summer fashion trends in news ways, Westfield created Future Fashion, a project that leverages virtual reality, social media, content, user-generated curation and digital avatars in order to get them to shop in-store. The installation will go live on March 27 at Westfield London, travel throughout April to Shepherd’s Bush, and then move to Westfield Stratford City.
Content and Connectivity Create New Shopping Paradigms
The three key themes that power this pop-up are S/S 2015’s most covetable trends: denim, floral and future modern. Each trend has been translated into a series of digital fashion experiences that will take visitors on a journey of the season’s trends through virtual reality and avatars. The components of the campaign are what make this interesting. They include:
Virtual Reality: Westfield has paired virtual reality headsets with gesture tracking technology. This allows users to see their own hands within the virtual world, making them directors in their own conceptual fashion journey.
Fashion Avatars: The technology will recognize the users’ shapes and represent them through fashion avatars that celebrate each of the trends as they make sweeping shapes and movements across a large screen.
Edit Me: After being immersed in the virtual journey of the season’s key trends, visitors will then be able to digitally curate products that fit these trends and can be found in retailers within the center. For the first time since its launch in 2014, Westfield’s Edit Me functionality will also include menswear.
In addition to the technology, the content hub aggregates Westfield’s social media content and features unique content that is designed to further engage the shopper in the form of quizzes, trend reports, tutorials and mobile focused videos.
The content that complements the technology is based on content that is generally widely successful in the fashion and retail verticals online. These include:
Style Quiz – What Denim Are You? Four denim styles are brought to life through faces made from denim. The style of each shopper is revealed through stop motion films when they speak to a camera about their style personality.
Trend Reports – Low-Fi / Luxe Style: A digital photographer and a fashion illustrator hit London’s streets to report on how people are styling themselves: low-fi or luxe. Shoppers can skim and interact with the imagery.
Video – Grow Your S/S 2015: Shoppers can watch Hyperlapse films showing the construction of three Spring/Summer 2015 looks translated into floral sculptures.
How-To – Accessorizing with Flowers: Shoppers can watch step-by-step film tutorials from leading hair stylists on how to add live flowers to their own undoes.
How-To – Choose Your War Paint: Shoppers can watch a series of stop motion makeup tutorials that animate the product from the page to the model in order to bring three key looks to life: graphic swipe, 90s minimal and contouring.
Myf Ryan, Westfield’s Marketing Director UK & Europe, shared:
The launch of the new season is such a prominent time for Westfield that we wanted to highlight the breadth of fashion offered at our centers and bring the top trends to life through technology. This event will take our shoppers on an incredible virtual journey, which pushes the boundaries of fashion and technology.
Retail Is No Longer Transactional, It Is Emotional
“Transactions are often the main conversion we look at, but shoppers are introduced to a brand in one place, the story deepens in another. They fall in love with a product in another and the ultimate purchase happens in yet another,” says Jeremy Bergstein of The Science Project.
When retailers combine the power of story and overlay it with social conversation and interactive technology, they can excite shoppers by adding value to their experiences. The excitement translates to engagement and connection—to a place, product or idea—thus becoming action. And that action is often a transaction that is not just financially based, but emotionally based. Not only has the brand achieved revenue, but it has built affinity and loyalty.
What are some of the ways your brand is leveraging technology in-store to create more dimensional, story-driven shopping experiences?

MY STYLE ICON: IN APPRECIATION OF SOLANGE'S FEARLESSNESS

The term "style icon" is one ripe for examination: Why do we worship others based on their clothes? How deep do these fascinations really go? And what if icons aren't exactly flawless? On the heels of our other digital mini-issues dedicated to segments of our collective psyches—from weed culture to how modern women think and talk about sex to why we're all just a little full of it—all week long ELLE.com will be exploring the pastime of finding ourselves in another woman's style. This article appears in the March 2015 issue of ELLE magazine.
I consider myself something of a fashionista, if anyone still uses that term. Mostly because I have an aversion to trends. So I love it whenever I get to do a double take when watching a celebrity prance along the red carpet. It's rare. Solange is the exception. This young Texan always brings the cool, the funk, the playful, the wild, the sexy, and her very own cultural zeitgeist—sometimes all in one outfit. She breaks all the boring rules about what constitutes "good taste."
Not only is she not afraid of color, it's her friend. She's the queen of color-blocking. I don't know anybody who better marries colors that were never even meant to be engaged: orange slacks, orange turtleneck under a cobalt blue coat with pink pumps. Grape and lime green. A white blouse is a canvas. She takes the idea of "mix and match" to a whole new level: Dare me?
She's convinced prints to accept one another, and if the public doesn't get it, it doesn't seem to matter to her. Solange dresses for Solange, not for them, which requires pounds of bravery and chutzpah and confidence in an age when celebrities are scrutinized down to their last piece of jewelry. Every star in Hollywood has a stylist, an army of wardrobe warriors who choose the same boring outfits from the same designers, awards season after awards season, only to see three other women dressed identically and then the question posed: "Who Wore It Best?" Who wore it best? Who cares?
I know I'm not alone among people who can't wait to see what Solange is going to break out on the red carpet—or her own wedding. That white dress and white cape were fierce. But those gold cuffs on both wrists made her look like a goddess.
Perhaps I feel this way because I feel like I am looking at a kindred spirit. When I was in high school, we were, in politically correct terms, "financially challenged." Even then I never liked wearing what everybody else was wearing. I may not have had Solange's level of style (or her clothing allowance), but I like to think I had her level of bravery. I was a pretty good seamstress; I used Butterick patterns, among others. I remember making a pair of wide-legged burgundy and gray bell-bottoms, which I wore with an inexpensive (okay, cheap) pink shirt-blouse with a burgundy tie I stole from one of my mother's boyfriends. I turned heads when I walked into a basketball game at my high school—no one could figure out where I'd bought the outfit. That's what I love about Solange. On the red carpet, the question is ubiquitous: "Who are you wearing?" The difference with Solange is that you actually care about the answer.
As women we tend to look to the past for our fashion role models. I find myself looking to the future. I'm no Solange, but I share her love for making a personal statement whenever she's out in public. She can sing. She can write. She's a model, an actress, a mother. And man, can she dress. I think that, years from now, we'll look at some of her fashion-forward ensembles the way we now look at Jackie Kennedy's. Hopefully Solange's, too, will find their place in some museum. Because when it comes to fashion, she is a work of art.

‘Marigold Hotel’ Didn’t Need a Sequel, but the Follow-up Is Enjoyable Enough

With all due respect to everyone who earned it, and they are legion, I can see no real reason for a sequel to the delicious 2011 hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It was perfect the first time around. But the second jog around the track passes the time pleasantly enough. The senior set deserves a few crumpets with their tea, and Part Two, which takes up where the original left off, aims to satisfy.
The British pensioners who ran out of retirement funds, relocated to affordable rents in India and refused go home have now taken over the run-down hotel—and business is booming. Somewhere between 75 and death, they conduct guided tours of Jaipur, submit to regular health checkups to make sure nobody has died during the night, and exchange enough nursing-home barbs to keep late night BBC in commercials for years.
The illustrious cast is back, in case there’s someone out there who forgot there was such a thing as taste and talent alive in the world after this year’s embalmed and catastrophic Oscar show. Evelyn Greenslade (Dame Judi Dench) finds her talent for fabrics put to good use in a paying job sourcing Indian textiles for export. Muriel Donnelly (Dame Maggie Smith) has become a co-manager with Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), and when the second installment opens, they are speeding down an American highway in an open convertible looking for investment money to start up a second hotel. The outcome will depend on an official report filed by an independent, anonymous inspector who will arrive unannounced to take notes that could make them or break them.
Meanwhile, Evelyn and Douglas Ainslie (Bill Nighy) are flirting with the possibility of an octogenarian romance now that his awful wife Jean (Penelope Wilton) has filed for divorce. Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are lurking after others, Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two rich and randy boyfriends old enough to buy life insurance, and Sonny is preparing the hotel and the city outside the gates for his wedding to hotel bookkeeper Sunaina (Tina Desai).
In the midst of the fireworks, an enigmatic American arrives in the form of Richard Gere, a newcomer whom everyone believes to be the dreaded hotel whistleblower. Mostly, he falls (unconvincingly) for Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey). A cast that big (there are more, too numerous to mention) needs room for character development, a necessary evil director John Madden quickly abandons in favor of plot twists and a storyline that consists primarily of vignettes. Curiously, although adding the length to more than two hours, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel clumps around like a club foot and depends hugely on the charms of its already established characters, most of whom have now become such old friends that the audience will forgive them anything.
The follow-up movie doesn’t have the same freshness, surprise or sense of discovery as the first one, but the characters are no less endearing. Judi Dench is warm and gentle and wise beyond her years. Maggie Smith helps enormously by padding out the meandering lack of excitement with her usual tart one-liners (“How was America?” “Makes death more tempting.”). Mr. Gere is to be congratulated for taking his rightful place as a member of the ensemble instead of hogging the show, but in the wedding sequence he gets a chance to demonstrate his dancing skills in a solo spot that proves his tap Terpsichore in Chicago was not a flash in the old panorama.
If I have mistakenly given the false impression that I didn’t like The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I apologize. It might lack the same thrill of discovery, but it’s as lively in tone and spirit as its predecessor, and a happy reunion with some swell folks whom are a pleasure to be around. A fine time is had by all, and that’s good enough for me.

Idaho Groom reads vows to his new stepdaughter at wedding

On a wedding-videos-that-will-make-you-cry scale of 1 to 10, this clip is a solid SOBBING NOISILY, NEED TISSUES AND CAKE ASAP. The footage was filmed at NASCAR driver Brian Scott and his now-wife Whitney's wedding in Idaho last year, but is having a well-deserved viral moment right now [H/T The Huffington Post]. It's beautiful footage throughout — I mean, there's banjo music and chandeliers, come on now — but the scene capturing everyone's attention in particular comes at the 4:10 mark, when a choked-up Scott offers some special wedding vows to his new stepdaughter, 3-year-old Brielle. That speech in full:
Brielle, can I tell you something? I promise to always hold your hand and skip with you down the street and bring comfort to your life. I vow to make you say your prayers before you eat. I promise to read you stories at night and to always tuck you in real tight. I vow to show you how a man should treat a woman in my relationship with your mother. And above all else, I vow to protect you, care for you and love you forever.
Knowing an emotional crescendo when they see one, the wedding videographers then cut right to the big wedding kiss moment. In her vows, crying bride Whitney said that she "had prayed to God every night that he would find the perfect man to not only love me, but to love my little girl, and he has more than answered my prayers." Scott told The Huffington Post it was those vows to Brielle that affected him the most on the big day, moreso even than the ones to his bride. "You're living in the moment," he said. "You get engulfed by it." As do all of us now.

He and Whitney welcomed their first child together, a boy called Joseph, last November.

Nick Saban responds to Alabama fan's wedding invite with a 'Roll Tide'

It was the Third Saturday in October - aka the Alabama-Tennessee football game - and it would be the first SEC game that Bama grad Casey Marriott had attended with her die-hard Tennessee fan boyfriend, Brandon Jones.
Whenever Alabama played Tennessee, according to Marriott, Jones would keep saying, "Ya'll just wait a couple more years..." which prompted laughter from Marriott.
"There is a reason Brandon and I (hadn't) been to a game together," she joked. The couple tries to limit smack talk to just the Alabama-Tennessee gameday. "I can't figure out if it is because we keep beating them, or if it's because of me!"
But this game was special. The morning of the game, the couple strolled toward downtown Knoxville, planning to meet Marriott's parents at Tupelo Honey on the square for breakfast.
"We were walking to meet them, and he just gets down on one knee and asked me to be his wife," said Marriott. "Little did I know, Brandon hired a professional photographer to capture the moment, and had both of our families hiding inside the restaurant.
"The day ended with a Tide victory, which means it was the most perfect day for this Bama girl."
In early November, Marriott and her mom were going over the wedding guest list. Her mom was jotting down names of friends and family while Marriott sat there, thinking.
The first name she wrote down? Nick and Terry Saban.
"Why not?" she said. "I figured they seem like nice people, and I have always wanted to meet him. It was all just for fun."
She also, on a whim, invited other celebrities, including Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5.
When she told Jones she was inviting the Sabans, he asked if that meant he got to invite Butch Jones.
"No, I am sorry, but it doesn't mean that," she joked. "But we can invite Peyton Manning."
Fast forward to last week, when an RSVP arrived in the mail from Nick and Terry Saban. They regretfully declined, but included a handwritten note: "Roll Tide & Best wishes for the happy couple!"
"I was so giddy that they even took the time to send it back," said Marriott. "Not only that, but they sent it back before the deadline date, which some of my guests haven't even done!"
Monday afternoon, Marriott's mother called her at work, saying she had received an envelope from the Alabama Football Department.
"I told her to open it ASAP and send pics of whatever it was," said Marriott.
Inside was a signed photo of the Sabans, addressed to her and Jones.
"Some people think, 'Who cares, it's just an autograph, it isn't that hard to get one,' but to me it is much more than that," said Marriott. "Despite what most football teams and fans think of Coach Saban, he truly is a great guy, and cares for his fans. He is a legend in college football and has created history here at the University of Alabama.
"This just shows what kind of people Nick and Terry are, and I appreciate their kindness."
Marriott said she wishes Coach Saban luck on spring training, which starts the day before Marriott's March 14 wedding.
She and Jones will be married at Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville.
Afterward, the couple will live in Huntsville, where Marriott is the catering director for The Chef Next Door and general manager for the Marketplace Café, and Jones is the head golf pro at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove.

The Best New Wedding Décor Trends

Celebrity Wedding Planner Mindy Weiss on the Best New Wedding Décor Trends to Watch For
Forget all-white everything and subtle pastels—the new wedding décor trends to watch for are bold, unique and, best of all, eye-catching.
Mindy Weiss, a wedding planner to the stars who curated Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson's Great Expectations-themed wedding, has an official forecast for the best new wedding trends this season. Weiss partnered with Wedding Paper Divas to give a first look at the décor styles we'll see for 2015 celebrity weddings.
Weiss describes Asian-inspired chinoiserie—a European- and Chinese-influenced art that often features intricate floral details—as "big on the runway, big in home décor and big in weddings." These fun, sprightly prints would add an exotic touch to any wedding.
So long soft pink and yellows! Color-blocking rich hues is big for the season, according to Weiss: "We're seeing a turn toward deeper jewel tone hues. It's a fresh, modern way to express yourself," she explained.
And don't only leave lace to your dress. "What says romance more than lace?" Weiss asks. "Not just the dress: Pair lace with soft florals and beautiful lighting for traditional glamour."
Watch the video to see the rest of Mindy's trend picks for the upcoming wedding season!

Newtownbutler shooting: Man dead after being shot at traveller wedding

A guest due to attend a traveller wedding has died after being gunned down outside the church in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
The man, who was aged in his 60s, was shot on the roadside near St Mary's Catholic church in the rural village of Newtownbutler.
Another male guest, aged in his 30s, was also shot in the incident while a third is understood to have sustained a knife wound to his hand.
The wedding party and their guests had travelled from Longford and Dublin in the Irish Republic.
Parish priest at St Mary's Father Michael King was preparing to conduct the ceremony when the shooting happened outside.
"The bride was standing at the back of the church waiting to come up the aisle and the next thing there was a bit of commotion at the back of the church - several women ran in and said 'there are shots, there are shots, there is somebody shooting'," he said.
The cleric revealed that there already had been disturbances outside the church prior to the fatal incident.
"There was an altercation in the car park long before the bride came - they were thumping and kicking each other," he said.
After the shooting, the gunshot victims were driven to a police station in nearby Lisnaskea in a white van. The older man was airlifted from there to hospital in a police helicopter but he later died.
The injuries sustained by the other two wounded men are not believed to be life threatening
After a delay, the ceremony inside St Mary's church went ahead.
Fr King said the wedding party had asked for the service to take place as planned.
"They said 'father we would like you to proceed with the wedding', so I proceeded with the wedding," he said.
"They spent at least half an hour inside the church at the end taking photographs."
The priest said it was only later this afternoon he heard the injured man had died.
"That really shocked me," he said.
Newtownbutler councillor Thomas O'Reilly, whose office is close to the scene of the shooting, said the community had been left stunned.
St Mary's Primary School is adjacent to the churchyard where the incident happened but it is understood no pupils witnessed the events.
"In a very small rural area and village such as Newtownbutler, it is shocking that something like this would happen," said Sinn Fein representative Mr O'Reilly.
Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Tom Elliott said the attack was "horrific".
"It is very worrying that certain people have access to firearms and are willing to use them for any reason," he said.

"There is a significant onus on police to ensure that these criminals are caught and that the courts ensure they are locked up for a long period."

Saving for a wedding?

Valentines Day is fast approaching, and while love is in the air, we decided to have a look at how we could help couples out as they decide to spend the rest of their lives together, and get married.
Valentines is the second most popular day of the year for Brits to get down on one knee and pop the question, second only to Christmas Eve. It’s also a very popular day to have your wedding, as many people see it as the most romantic day of the year. So if you are preparing to get engaged or preparing to get married, we’ve put together some money saving tips so you can have the dream wedding, without the nightmare price tag!
According to Bride Magazine, the average wedding now costs between £18,000- £24,000. It’s a massive amount of money to pay for one day, but a lot of people only get married once in their lives, so believe it to be worth it.
Fall in love with saving
Some people are lucky enough to have £24,000 in a savings or bank account ready for their special day, but not everyone is that fortunate. If you have just got engaged and are looking to save for your dream wedding, the best thing to do is to open an ISA. This way, you can set up monthly payments or even pay in lump sums throughout the year, tax efficiently, for up to £15,000 (going up to £15,250 in April). It is one of the best ways for you and your partner to save up money for your big day. You can start to save from as little as £30 per month, and can vary your premiums as many times as you like to suit your situation, as long as you stay within the annual ISA allowance.
Venue, Menu and extras
Once you have worked out how much your budget, based on your savings, its time to prioritise what you think will work best for you. Venues often come in much cheaper on weekdays and in the winter. You can get the same venue on a Wednesday in November for up to half the price of the same venue on a Saturday in July. Winter weddings can be absolutely beautiful, and if your guests have to travel, they will thank you as there accommodation and travel will probably cost less as well!
If you are considering a budget venue, HallsHire is a website that lists all community halls for hire in the UK. These can cost from as little as £100, and with a few personal touches, can look just as beautiful.
It can be nice to have a sit down meal for your guests once they get to the reception, but buffet options usually work out as much cheaper. They can be more popular among guests as well, as the choice is more extensive and fussy eaters can stick to the things they like. For desert, you could try baking your own cakes, or asking a family member to help you bake them. This usually works out as cheaper than other deserts when baking for many people, as you can make large quantities. You and your partner could even try baking your wedding cake together! It may take a few tries, but it could be really fun!
For alcohol, replace champagne with the much less expensive but just as popular proseccco to help you save money. Don’t be pressured to get a free bar if you can’t afford it, your guests will understand.
Ask your family and friends to help out with decorations and invitations. You and your bridesmaids could look for dresses and accessories in high street shops, or even better, see if you can find any nice vintage dresses in special wedding charity shops.
A nice idea for the music is to ask all your guests to pick a song that reminds them of you and your partner. Put these together in a playlist (leaving out the songs you can’t stand of course) and play them throughout your reception. Your guests will feel touched that there song was played on your special day, and you will have a playlist to remind you of your wedding.
Dream day
One of the most important things to remember about planning your wedding is not to panic too much. If you and your partner are happy and together, no matter what happens, your day will be a happy one. For more wedding planning help visit Hitched or Confettiand make sure you enjoy every minute of it!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Carolyn Hax: Kids weren’t invited to the wedding? Then don’t bring them

My son and his fiancee live in California and will be married there next summer. My entire family has met the fiancee and feel she is warm and friendly. We live in the Midwest and plan to attend the wedding.
My sister has three sons in grade school, and they are excited about this trip, their first to California. Also, my three nephews adore my son and are looking forward to seeing him get married.
However, my son’s fiancee has informed us that only adults are invited to the wedding and she has already informed her family of this. All of her family live in California.
We have asked my son and his fiancee to make an exception, given the distance my family is traveling. So far, we have not heard anything more. The nephews will be attending the ceremony and not the reception, so we cannot understand what the issue is. I think my sister should bring her sons to the wedding and hope for the best. I would appreciate any advice.
For the love of personalized matchbooks, do not, do not, do not bring people to a wedding who have not been expressly included.
I realize church weddings are technically open to the public, assuming this is one, and it’s not uncommon for congregations to have open invitations to ceremonies. (Receptions — closed, of course.) But if you use this technicality to justify defying the couple — as in, not just the bride, don’t think I didn’t catch the implication of “she is warm and friendly” and “sheinformed us” — then you risk souring your relationship with them both, indefinitely.
And over what? The boys’ excitement is heartwarming, yes, but not so sacred that it justifies undermining the very people this event is about.
Your inability to “understand what the issue is” moved my disingenuity needle a second time, too. There are many issues, the most obvious being that other parents on the guest list, the ones who cooperate and leave their kids home with (expensive) babysitters, will be justifiably angry when your three nephews walk in.
The bride and groom will also have standing to hold it against you and your sister for setting them up to look bad in this way. And that would be on top of their deserved outrage that you took matters into your own hands just because you didn’t get the answer you wanted. When you do that, it doesn’t matter what the specific issue is, or how unfairly rigid they’re being; the gall of acting unilaterally trumps it.
Would I have said yes to your request? Possibly. Probably. But it’s no more my call than it is yours.
Something else to consider, to make you and your sister feel better about arranging care for the nephews during the wedding: While weddings can be thrilling for kids, most bring out the bored-and-squirmies. And, there are few worse times to visit a special person than around his wedding. A couple’s attention is usually divided into a thousand different pieces. These kids will travel to California with big hopes and likely receive but one of these pieces at best.

So please take this opportunity to be gracious, understanding, compliant. The cousins can hang out some other, more appropriate time.

Lance Bass Recalls the Backlash His Family Faced After He Came Out, Reveals Justin Timberlake's "Lovely" Wedding Gesture

If there's one thing we know about Lance Bass, it's the simple fact that he loves being a newlywed.
Almost two months after the former 'N Sync member said "I do" to Michael Turchin, the pair are loving every minute of married life. But before the two could even picture a wedding day with someone special, they both had to come out.
"Coming out in the south, your family has to come out also," Bass revealed on Thursday's all-new Meredith Vieira Show. "People forget about that. So my family went through it…My mom would go to the grocery store and strangers would be like, ‘I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.' Like I died or something."
He continued, "She just has a thick skin. She is very quiet and reserved."
After awhile, though, the proud mama decided to speak out at her church she attends every Sunday. As it turns out, her story made a difference.
"She finally wrote an amazing letter to the congregation and that got picked up by theHuffington Post," he shared with Meredith Vieira. "It really started changing the dialogue in the churches in the south."
While marriage equality remains a hot top in some states, the newlyweds were also asked about politician Patricia Todd who threated to out her fellow congressmen of their same-sex affairs if they didn't pass the gay marriage law. While the state representative took back her remarks after receiving backlash, both Bass and Turchin agreed it wasn't the smartest statement.
"I am never about outing people at all, but when it comes to voting against my rights to live my life the way I want to and my pursuit of happiness, then I am all for it," he confessed. "Out them, yes."
Turchin added, "If you are going to work to suppress a group of people and yet you are living an equally, in your eyes, immoral life, you can't do that."
Today, the happily married couple continues to enjoy the honeymoon phase of their relationship. And before they start expanding their family, the twosome want fans to witness their love story on E!
In Thursday's wedding special, viewers will see the pair say "I do" in front of a star-studded audience. One guest that couldn't make the ceremony, however, was Justin Timberlake.
"How dare he not cancel his last date on tour for us!" Bass joked on SiriusXM's "Just Jenny" show. "I've always dreamt of my four brothers from ‘N Sync being at my wedding to see me marry the person that I love but unfortunately it just did not work out… by one day…it did not work out."

He added, "But you know, I had three of the other guys there. And that was nice. And he sent lovely messages the day of the wedding." Nice move, J.T.

Here Comes The Couture Bride: Paris’ Outrageous Wedding Dresses

The Billy Idol song ‘White Wedding’ boomed through Jean Paul Gaultier’s hallowed headquarters, as a motley crew of brides-to-be walked down a central runway, led by the “mother of all brides” dressed in flyaway layers of tulle, matched with a lace bomber jacket for the designer’s spring/summer 2015 couture show.
Other brides followed, dressed in jeans and shorts or wrapped in cellophane, no less, in the case of Naomi Campbell who was minimally clad as a wedding bouquet in a look that closed JPG’s first couture show since he announced last year that he was ditching ready-to-wear in favor of his first love.
The parade, which was met with raucous cheers, was called “61 ways to say yes.”
With its cavalcade of beginning-to-end bridal madness, the JPG show broke convention. As fashion week fans know, a wedding dress more usually provides the grand finale during couture week shows, not the first or, in this case multiple subsequent looks.
Long a staple of couture shows, more usually the bridal extravaganza marks the final moment when a half-dozen men in smart suits swoop in to lift the train of the model bride, as she turns for photographers so she can get back to base camp without walking on her own outfit.
Some of the trains are so vast that they take up about half of the catwalk, like the Ralph & Russo dazzling finale piece shown at the Grand Palais which capped a beautiful collection.
Elie Saab also rarely disappoints with ostentatious bridal numbers. It is no wonder that princesses come to view his shows, although one, along with about twenty reporters, was locked out from this week’s event by the Paris police, who bolted down the doors of the chosen venue at the Palais Chaillot on the dot at one, with several frail looking fashionista waving invites at them, as if they feared a riot.
Saab’s wedding gown was inspired by the gowns his mother wore, in a show entitled “Beirut: Chasing a Dream.” Think decorative floral motifs on beaded gowns: the models looked like the beautiful ghosts of glamorous women of yesteryear, dressed to ethereal delectation.
While Paris Fashion Week saw some beautiful, more traditional wedding dresses that made one think of some of the old-school designs (from 1775—2014) at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum for their current wedding dress exhibition—one features a train so vast that it could make up a dining cloth for a grand dining table—the Gaultier show smacked of some of the rebellious spirit running wild through couture this week.
In place of a white wedding dress, Bouchra Jarrar, considered fresh young blood and alternative in style to the old-school of couture designers, sent out a smoking suit as her wedding look. When asked if she had included any other wedding dresses in the collection, she pointed to a black see through design on her mood board. “The wedding dress is not my style, and while I love so many elements of couture like the hand-crafted and the workmanship, I want to bring it all into the year 2015.”
Or consider also the gold finale pieces at the show for the revived house of Schiaparelli. This included wayward hats worn by women who walked like divinely styled creatures that were caged in a palace for rare butterflies. These brilliant and original looks harked back to the heyday of the designer who had a thing for shocking pink and lobsters.
The final “wedding” look was a gold jacket shimmering with over sized lapels that was attached at the back to a gold narrow train. Tights were worn on the legs. The model spotted a vast Afro hairdo in place of a characteristically fabulous Schiap hat.
Gold was also in favor with the young couture designer Julien Fournie who sent out a beautiful collection that culminated in a gold goddess creation decorated in sumptuous exotic jewelry. The designer got emotional rounds of applause backstage as he spoke of the inspiration which perhaps hinted at the recent Paris attacks.
“I wanted to create a goddess-like creature and a woman who is free with a sense of the freedom that comes with travel,” Fournie said. “I want there to be a sense of liberty and for anyone that comes to my country to create something to be free to do so.”

Meanwhile, Viktor & Rolf were having none of it. They sent out models decked in flowers and what looked like hay twigs decorating their voluminous and amusing cotton dresses, which fanned out wide around the thighs and looked like walking bee-hives.

Newlyweds share tips for memorable wedding day

For many newlyweds that moment of saying I do was preceded by countless dizzy spells and stumbling steps, bouts with butterflies and clashing color schemes, as well as panic attacks over changing checklists and growing guest-lists.
Casey Baum, who married the love of her life, Jeb Baum, at Owen Farm in Ashland City recently took time to reflect on her experience.
"My biggest concern at our wedding was to make sure everyone had a good time," Casey said. "We kept our ceremony as short as possible so that we could spend the majority of the time with our friends and family celebrating the wonderful moment. We also made sure there were plenty of food, drinks and dancing so that everyone would have a memorable time as we became husband and wife."
Casey said she and Jeb wanted everybody to be involved in their wedding as much as possible, but noted that they were fortunate to have family and friends that wanted to just be there and to help out if needed.
"The wedding is for the bride and groom — not anyone else," she said. "So overall, the feeling of the bride and groom need to be considered over everything else."
For Casey and Jeb, the wedding location was a critical consideration, reflecting something moving and personal about the couple.
"We chose Owen Farm because it overlooks the river that we very first met on," she said. "My husband and I have a love of boating, canoeing, fishing and anything else outdoors. The water and the county atmosphere of the beautiful Owen Farms was a reflection of who we are."
Casey believes that personal touches are vital to a moving, memorable wedding ceremony that makes it unique.
"Every single thing we did was personalized," she said. "Our ceremony referenced our love for the water, outdoors and loyalty to one another for the rest of our lives. We displayed black and white photos of our parents at each of their weddings, had my mother's wedding dress as a decorative accent, and had a collage made of baby pictures of Jeb and me."
Sticking to tradition, Casey wanted to ensure that Jeb would not see her in her wedding dress until the ceremony was underway.
"The look on his face when he first saw me in my dress is something I will never forget," she said. "It meant more for me to see that expression at our ceremony with all of our friends and family."
Casey offered several additional pieces of advice for planning a wedding.
"My main tip is to not stress," she said. "At the end of that day, no matter what happens, you will be husband and wife and that is all that should matter."
She also added the importance of not being afraid to ask for help.
When it comes to the bridesmaids and the groomsmen, choose people you hope to have in your life for many years to come.
"To me, the most overlooked part of the wedding is the pictures," she said. "At the end of the day, the decorations get taken down, the cake is eaten, the music is gone, and all you are left with are the pictures that were taken. Our wedding photos mean so much to us because they capture such a wonderful time in our lives."
Also, it's not so much the budget as those helping hands from the heart that will serve to make a memorable wedding event.

"As long as you are smart about what you spend it on, money should not be an issue for your wedding," she said. "This is the biggest day of your life. It is the beginning of your life as husband and wife."

Pharaoh's to make Mardi Gras history on Saturday with 'fairy tale' wedding during ball tableau

Mobile Mardi Gras societies, and ruling associations, have been crowning kings and queens for more than a century, and doing so in the most lavish fashions imaginable. But for the first time in known Carnival history, a man and woman will be united in matrimony during a society tableau.
On Saturday night, after the Pharaoh's 30th parade through the streets of Mobile, Pharaoh XXX - otherwise known as "King Dan" - will marry his fiancée, and this year's Queen of the Nile, Sonja Lomax McGraw. Their wedding, which is thematically based on Verdi's opera "Aida," will be the crescendo of the evening's festivities.
In an interview with the Press-Register/AL.com, the soon-to-be newlyweds said their wedding was originally intended to have a Medievil theme, and be held at the Saenger Theater. But serendipity reigned, and two years after becoming engaged at a Pharaoh's luau, the society that has been King Dan's home for 17 years will provide the framework for their nuptials.
"Being an event coordinator, I can't just walk down the aisle," Dan said. "There are expectations."
The king said his events business - a "one-stop shop (that can do) everything except flowers and food - keeps him out of town on almost every holiday, so Mardi Gras was a perfect home for their wedding. The "blended" family includes four children, all of whom will participate in Saturday's wedding, he said.
"Being an event coordinator, I can't just walk down the aisle," King Dan said. "There are expectations.""To be the first monarchs to get married, I'm ecstatic," Dan said. "It has become very, very theatrical.
"I wanted to go over the top with just about everything."
The wedding will include the entrance of family members to their own signature songs, and the rings being delivered in an ark by the society president, he said. Presentation of the bride by her father, as well as the traditional dances after the ceremony will be included, as well.
"Sonya and I have designed everything around it, it's still Mardi Gras, but we've thrown these wedding innuendos in there too," Dan said.
Considering who is officiating the ceremony, there's no doubt about the wedding's ties to Carnival. Uniting Dan and Sonja will be Rev. Wayne Dean, who is celebrating his own 30th anniversary this year, as Chief Slacabamorinico. "Ol' Slac," one of his Merry Widows and the claret-clad Mistresses will participate in the wedding, Dan said.
"In every aspect of the wedding, we want it to be Carnival," he said.
For Sonja, having such a unique ceremony brings a dream to reality that started when she was a little girl, watching the royal wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
"This is what I've always dreamed of, and even bigger," McCraw said. "Every little girl wants to have a fairy tell wedding.
"Well, this is a fairy tale."
She said she wouldn't be surprised if other mystic couples rush to follow the Pharaohs' lead during future Carnivals, which puts even more pressure on the originals.

"We know that people are going to make it bigger, time and time again, but we really want ours to be the benchmark for it," McGraw said.