our weddings magazine preview

USE THESE GREAT TIPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT: Photographer, Baker, Chef, Florist, & Event Planner

TRUE LOVE’S DAY: Our Favorite Couple

Get the LookCELEBRITY HAIRSTYLIST AND

MAKEUP ARTISTCC THE GREAT SHARES TIPS

FOR YOUR BIG DAY

Exclusive GownDesigns by

LindaRowe Thomas

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Our Weddings Magazine Subscription Order FormSingle Subscriber Version: [email protected]. Order online at http://www.ourweddingsmag.com

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ABOUT THE MAGAZINEOur Weddings Magazine is designed with the Black (African American) bride and groom in mind. Our Weddings Magazine will highlight many different experiences we as brides go through to get down the aisle. From our hair to our makeup, Black brides search high and low to find the best of the best for their special day. Our Weddings Magazine will also highlight beauty, honeymooning, wedding day needs and checklists and other great tips, advice and articles for that special day. You will love adding Our Weddings Magazine to your collection! Subscribe now and enjoy learning all things wedding from a Black brides

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Index

CONTENT 8 FIND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Tips for finding the right photographer for

your wedding

9 CAKE! WHAT IS IT REALLY ABOUT?

Learn all about selecting your wedding cake

10 BRINGING YOUR WEDDING TO LIFE

Finding the right flowers could mean the

difference in your wedding scheme

11 TOP 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK

YOUR CATERER

Having the right food menu is important

but having the right caterer or personal

chef is more important

12 GET THE LOOK: WEDDING

HAIR AND MAKEUP GUIDE

Create your wedding look with this

How To Guide

14 TIPS FOR BUDGETING YOUR

WEDDING

Don’t go broke trying to impress others,

learn great money saving tips for your

wedding day

11

109

12


12

1616 BREAKING THE MOLD:

ROMAS BY LINDA ROWE THOMAS Exclusive interview with renowned

designer Linda Rowe Thomas

28 TRUE LOVE’S DAY

Wedding spotlight of

Michael and Rachel Knight

22 CONVENIENTLY UNCONVENTIONAL

Adding flare to your wedding and breaking

away from the traditional look of it all

26 THE PERFECT DECOR

The decorations at your wedding will

definitely set the mood with these great tips

24 HIS SIDE: PAUL BRYANT

Every man has his opinion on love and mar-

riage and name is no different

30 DIRECTORY

Find the right vendor for your big day

23 2015 SPRING

WEDDING DRESS TRENDS

Take a look at these wonderful dresseriage

28


Ivy N. McQuain, PublisherEric Bettis, Art & Graphic Designer

LAYOUT: BLI Solutions, a subsidiary of The BLI Group

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Janean Wadley, Forever Yes Weddings

Nicole Smedley, Nicole Smedley Event DesignsPorsha Kimble, Your Cake Diva

Shunnique Fletcher, ChiCity PhotographyElizabeth Lizzy Maina, Fashion Stylist

Kevin Johnson, ChefLatasha Stephens, Tea and Tee Party RentalsNekea Valentine, Fashion Writer and Stylist

WEDDING DRESS SPREAD:Designer: Linda Rowe Thomas, Romas by Linda Rowe Thomas

Jewelry: Haute IndulgenceHair and Makeup: Chakina CC The Great Watkins

Photographers: ChiCity Photography & City


From the Editor

What IS Our Weddings Magazine?

One of the things that I missed out on when I was getting married in 2003 was the imagery of African Americansor Black brides and grooms. Don’t get me wrong the other magazines were helpful but I didn’t see me as I flipped through the pages of the other magazines. I saw beautiful dresses, rings and great tips on getting married but I didn’t see a repre-sentation of me.

Years later and a divorce under my belt I still like to look at bridal maga-zines and you know what I realized? Not much has changed as far as a repre-senation of Black brides and grooms on the pages of larger bridal magazines. I am not sure if they don’t think that we as a whole get married or if we want to be married but for me it is upsetting to see such large brands not target Blacks.

Yes, they may share a photo or two of a Black couple in their wedding bliss but that’s it. At least that’s all that I have seen. So when I started to think about how can we be represented I did

my research. I looked at other maga-zines, bridal and some not bridal and

I decided that if I was going to tell my story about Black love that I needed the best writers, the best photographers and the best way to do it.

With this first issue I am not in it for the advertising because that’s a hard sell your first time out of the gate, but my goal has been and will continue to be to tell the stories of Black couples who loved each other enough to get married and stay married.

Just know that Our Weddings Maga-zine is not your ordinary magazine about how to get married. No, it’s much more. It’s for that little Black girl who may think that we don’t get married and for that little Black boy to know that it’s okay to marry the woman you love. I want those kids to turn to our pages and see themselves and know that it’s okay to get married and stay married.

I hope you enjoy and support

OUR WEDDINGS MAGAZINE.

Ivy N. McQuain, Founder

Wedding photo shoot

facebook.com/ivynmcquainmbatwitter.com/ivymcquain

Linda Rowe Thomas hand stitched and

sewn wedding dresses

We took it back to the 1920s for this

wedding shoot

We had fun with our wedding photo shoot


Travel


2015 Spring Wedding Dress

TrendsPicking the perfect wedding dress means

everything to the bride and these wonderful trends for 2015 will give any bride great ideas

for finding the perfect dress for her big day.


Your wedding day is quite possibly the most important day of your life. It is day you will cherish and talk about for years to come. When deciding on a photographer, you want to make sure you choose a photographer who best captures the true essence and feeling of that day – a photo-grapher who has the ability to bring those feeling back to life by freezing the most memorable moments in time.

Here are a few tips you should consider when choosing the right photographer for your wedding day:

1. Have a clear cut and honest idea of what you want. Do not consider looking for or hiring a photographer until after you have clearly chosen the style, theme, date, time, location and budget for your wedding.

2. Create a prospect list. Begin creating a list photographers you want to contact. Do not limit yourself – it’s fine to use the internet for a generic search of “wedding pho-tographers” in your area; however consider all of your resources. Past brides are a good point of reference when looking for photographers, so reach out to your family members, friends or co-workers. Social media is another good resource.

3. Research your prospects. Do they have a website or photos posted on their social media page? Are there any reviews or comments listed about their work? Does their style of work match what you are looking for? Are they visually creative? Do you like what you see?

4. Interview your prospect by phone first. The photographer should be able to tell you if they are available for the date and time of your wedding, if there is a mileage fee charged for your location and what wedding packages they offer. Give a general overview of the theme of your wedding and discuss what you are looking for. Don’t forget to ask for two or three references.

5. Schedule a face to face meeting with the prospects you feel most comfortable with. Allow yourself enough time to meet with your prospect so you can review the fol-lowing: samples of their prints, wedding books, and all paperwork (a brochure of packages with prices, a shot list – some photographers may not have a shot list, and if pos-sible, a contract). You can also request to view a complete wedding shoot so you can get a clear understanding of the photographer’s style.

6. Things to consider: How nice are they? Do they unders-tand what I am looking for? Is their style comparable to yours? Are they providing clear explanations? When it comes to price don’t let pricey photographers scare you away? Remember, you get what you pay for, but it’s fair to ask if their wedding packages are negotiable (can you add on or exclude)?

7. Contact the verifiable references. Ask if they were satis-fied with the photographers work or not. If the person was not satisfied, do not bother asking for the specifics of the situation. Also ask if they have or if they would refer the photographer to others in the future.

8. Sleep on it! Never make a decision without thinking it all the way through. Take a moment to step away from the si-tuation, then return to it with a clear mind and choose the photographer you feel most comfortable with. Remem-ber, this person is going to spend a greater part of your most important day with you, so make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with. When a photographer feels that they have your complete trust, their confidence is boosted and their stress level is reduced. They will per-form at their best to give you the best memories of your wedding day.

Find Your PhotographerBy Shunnique Fletcher

Owner of ChiCity Photography

Shunnique FletcherPhotographerWebsite: www.ChiCityPhotography.comPhone: (214) 407-4342Facebook: Facebook.com/ChiCityPhotography

Ask the Expert


• Start with a Pinterest Board. This allows you to collect your thoughts and ideas for your big day. Giving your florist access to your board help them create your personal style.

• Use fresh flowers, instead of faux ones. Despite what you may think having quality silk flowers can be very costly. If you are trying to be budget friendly, then you using real flowers can be a more effective option.

• Select budget friendly flowers. Roses and hydrangeas can be purchased at wholesale prices and come from all over the world. There are hundreds and hundreds types of roses, and they all bloom differently, and come in various shades. Hydrangeas takes up plenty of space due to their size, therefore they are very efficient.

• Don’t be afraid to play with dif-ferent colors. Many brides have their colors deadlocked and fail to change their mind but if you are option to executing the perfect

Creating the perfect look for your wedding is challenging for many brides. Not only are they on a hunt to find the perfect dress and venue they also must create the perfect look. Here are some great tips for picking the right floral look for your wedding.

Bringing Your Wedding to Life

By Nicole Smedley Florist and Owner of Nicole Smedley

Event Designs

wedding look, then play with different color combinations for your flowers.

• Match your flowers with gree-nery to add volume. If you have a tight budget, try adding greenery to your floral arrangements to add dimension and volume.

• Dress up your tables. The secret to having a beautiful table is having a “full” table. Not only do you want charger plates, silve-rware, goblets, centerpieces and candles consider sub-centerpieces which are smaller floral arrange-ments circling your table. It adds flare!

• Don’t just leave your flowers on the table. If you are going to pay for flowers, then use them everywhere you can. Place them on tables, on chairs and around your venue.

Whatever you envision for your wedding, just remember your budget! Other than that… go for it and bring your wedding to life with real flowers!

Ask the Expert


Cake trends change but the topic of money and cake budget always remains the same. In this day and age the word, “CAKE” has gone to an entire new level. From wedding themes to over the top extravagant cakes for a wow factor, you need to consider the cost. Here are some tips to help you understand what cake is really about.

• TA S T I N G / C O N S U LT: When going to your baker or bakery take the time to look at their work prior to setting up the appointment. See if the baker or bakery has a variety of styles and flavors. When you set your appoint-ment see the cakes they have to offer from the most complex to the most detailed. Don’t just order just a plain old vanilla, chocolate and/or strawberry flavored cake. Since you are paying a lot of money for a special cake, you should pick special flavors and/or fillings to take it up a notch. Besides we all know what those flavors taste like and honestly when you have a tas-ting, those shouldn’t be the only flavors offered! Use each of your tastings as a comparison to the next one you may have. But if you are in love with what you have tasted and seen, book the day of. You are not the only couple getting married that weekend in the entire city, so keep that in mind before you lose your favorite baker!

• BUDGET: Remember to stay wit-hin your budget. Any baker or ba-kery can make what you want the cake but you as the customer must be willing to pay for the request. Or maybe scale back on items on the cake. For example, handmade edible flowers and decorations can

drive the price up dramatically. Use fresh flowers instead. Mainly the cost is based on serving per person. If you have invited 200 people, order a cake for 175 or less. Not everyone eats cake and/or some are diabetic. You could use that money towards something else instead of throwing extra cake you paid for in the trash. Faux tiers are a big trend, but remember, the faux tiers cost and there are times the faux layers can be higher than ordering a “real” cake.

• DECISIONS: When making the decision your cake or cakes, don’t

CAKE! What Is It Really About?By Porsha “Cake Diva” Kimble,

Celebrity Cake Designer & Owner of Your Cake Diva

let the price be the winning fac-tor. Cheap cake isn’t always good cake! You do get what you pay for. But if cake isn’t your thing, it’s okay to go “outside the box”! Instead of cake create a dessert table with cake pops, cupcakes, mini pies, tarts, and chocolate co-vered strawberries. This not only is handy when time to clean up but it’s different, modern and well could be less expensive.

Overall make the cake/cakes, desserts or whatever you chose be about you and no one else. It is your day and you should choose what works best for your budget!

Ask the Expert


Looking for a caterer or personal chef for your wedding day is hard work, especially if you have special dietary needs. Chef Kevin Johnson gives our brides and grooms the best advice for finding the right caterer or chef for that special day:

1. Do you offer tastings? Tastings offer you an opportunity to test drive the catering menu. A Chef should always be willing to do a tasting, however if the Chef is referred to you by some-one who has previously used that Chef, it may not be necessary.

2. Do you have flexibility in your menu selec-tions? Most caterers will not allow any varia-tion from their menu. Sometimes this is due to the fact that some of the food is pre-made. We prefer to make everything fresh, so that is why we choose to create menus that are custom to our client’s needs. This allows a Chef to show-case his skills and show that he is not limited to what is provided on a menu, this also allows your guests to experience a meal that may be more reflective of your taste or personal style.

3. What is the total cost? Cost and Menu flexibility go hand and hand. Having menu flexibility will all you to create a menu that is suitable for you budget. I always recommend that you have a budget in mind; this will give the chef an idea of what kind of menu to create.

4. Do you have service staff? Depending on your wedding set up and the aesthetics, you may or may not want a wait staff to serve your guests. I will almost always insist that you having a service staff. Having a service staff will help portion control so that all of you guest are fed and in addition it makes the clean up process a lot faster for those that have time restraints on how long that they have rented their venue.

5. Will you be there? Either the Chef or someone that he/she has designated to oversee your event should be there from start to finish.

Top 5 Questions To Ask When Choosing

a Caterer

Ask the Expert

By Kevin Johnson,Chef and Owner of CULINARY AFFAIRS BY CHEF KEVIN


Travel


Experience your wedding or reception New Orleans style at The Pelican House Restaurant.

107 S. Cedar Ridge DriveDuncanville, Texas 75116www.ThePelicanHouseRestaurant.com972.296.0403

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Breaking the Mold: Romás by Linda Rowe Thomas

By Nekea Valentine Fashion Writer and Stylist


It’s a one in a lifetime opportunity to interview someone who understands fashion on both a creative and per-sonal level but it’s the undefined moments that words can not adequately express when you interview some-one that is a real visionary and breathes new life into the fashion industry – Linda Rowe Thomas. She’s been designing her own line “Romás by Linda Rowe Thomas” for well over 15 years now. Linda’s custom design is fea-tured in this month’s Southern Dallas County Magazine, Wedding Edition – a beautiful wedding gown, person-ally designed and sown by the fashion designer herself. And if all of that weren’t inspirational enough, she’s accomplishing these things with what one might deem obstacles.

As a two-year old, Linda survived a house fire that left her with facial scarring and without fingers on her left hand. Yet she used this experience to birth her dream of designing and personally hand-sowing all of her own works. Without fail, Linda is much more than a designer but a champion that beat the odds, and fashionably so.

Who is Linda Rowe Thomas? I am a wife, a mother, a designer. A woman on a mission to bring forth the beauty that is inside me through my gift of design. I am a motivator, true inspiration…I am designing hope. What did you do at times when you really wanted to give up and had to face adversity? What advice can you offer to fellow creatives? In moments of adversity, I always fall back on my faith. From the moment I can remember, my mother was always there telling me that I could do whatever I set my mind to as long as I believed in myself. My advice to anyone is to invest time into learning your craft and to never stop reaching for your dreams. Did you ever feel like this dream would not come into fruition? What kept you encouraged? Absolu-tely! There are still times that I review my ultimate goals and the end seems so far away. My children are my driving force. I want to be the perfect example for them – to show them that faith, hard work and an unstoppable drive will always trump adversities. Describe your process in achieving your goals? At the beginning of each year, I create a vision board and throughout the year I try to cross off all the goals on my list. The vision board allows me to see my goals and to stay focused. A good friend introduced

me to finding at least one positive thing daily, my win for the day and that helps me to get back on track and hold myself accountable. What was your defining moment? When did you feel like you’d truly arrived? I remember receiving the fashion calendar for New York Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and seeing my name listed among the designers that I grew up admiring. It was one of the most affirming moments of my career. I felt like I’d arrived as I did the finale walk to a standing ovation, an audience of my family, key fashion insiders and celebrity guests. I defini-tely felt as though I’d finally made it to the launching pad of my design career.


What were some adversities that you faced when you trying to get your name out there? I think my biggest adversity was proving myself - that I had the talent, skills and knowledge to thrive within this industry. Thankfully, my work now speaks for itself. My greatest challenge now is obtaining the resources and funding to fuel the bigger vision. I currently sketch, design, and sew everything myself. That hinders me from broade-ning the brand to larger retailers. What inspires your designs? I love timeless classic pieces that will transcend throughout time. I will always lean towards elegance and sophistication. I grew up loving the way Jackie O’ was graceful and stylish in everything she wore. I love that our first lady Michelle Obama epitomizes style! How do you balance your business and creativity? What is your primary focus versus what you dele-gate to others? I certainly love the creative side of what I do the most but business is the essential key. There are days set aside to focus on the business aspect. My primary focus is the creative direction of the brand.

The design vision is the hardest part to entrust to others, therefore I usually delegate out the other components of the business. Did you face a lot of opposition when you chose this field? No. I have an awesome support base. My husband, family and friends have always pushed me and supported my dream. How did NYC Fashion Week happen? My name was given to one of the producers by a fellow designer. I presented a portfolio and the rest as they say is history. Where do you see Romás by Linda Rowe Thomas in five years? As a household name - my goal is to be in major department stores and to be internationally known.

Where can we find the latest Romás collection and designs by Linda Rowe Thomas? You can find it at www.romasbylrt.com.

Cover Story


Get The Look:Wedding Hair and Makeup Guide

Sultry Yet Vintage Hair

Sultry and Sassy Look

Passion and elegance are the focus! Use a 1-inch flatiron to curl the hair into tiny sections over the entire head. To create this classic waved looked, take a fine tooth comb and comb the hair into a c-shape motion. Ensure each row is opposite of the other. Use duck bill clips to secure the waves. Using your favorite holding spray, hold the spray at least 6 inches away from the hair and spray the entire head to secure and hold the waves. Wait 20 minutes before removing the clips!

For the makeup, the look was a Smokey Eye! Prime the entire eyelid with black. Next use a matte black eye shadow directly over the lid from the lash line to slightly above the crease area. Lastly use a prime color or the color closest to your skin tone to highlight. Use a blending brush to go directly on the crease to blend outward and up in a circular motion to get this sultry Smokey look! Try a custom blend for a nude lip blend.

By Chakina “C.C. The Greatˮ Watkins, Celebrity Makeup Artist and Master Hairstylist

Ask the Expert


A Modern Twist

Timeless Look

To achieve this look pull the braided hair in the back section up into an inverted braid starting from the nape of the neck ending at the top of the head. Next, section off the fridge and make three French braids and pinned them into the inverted braid in the back. Lastly, take the remaining hair and pull into a ponytail then braid into six French braids. Take the French braids and wrap them around the top of the head in a circular pattern!

For the makeup go for a natural and timeless look with a pop! Use gold on the eyelid, plum on the inner crease and Matte Brown on the outer crease. Highlight with Sable Sand directly above the brow bone. Also, highlight her Cupid’s bow, nose, forehead and cheekbones with your favorite makeup. Add use bronzer to the temples and lower jawline for added definition! The lips … a classic ruby red for this timeless look.

Fun and Flirty HairGet this fun and flirty look by prepping your hair for a straw set or tight roller set, depending on the length. After you’ve dried and the rollers or straws have come out, loosen your hair without losing the curls. Starting at the front of the head, going along the nape to the opposite side twist your hair under. Pin it along the way to secure it. Fluff the remainder of the hair to get a curly inspired ponytail without the rubber bands.

The Fun LookUse Make Up Forever Aqua Seal for this fun look! Aqua Seal is a must have for any bride because it’s waterproof. Use Make up Forever White Stardust on the lids and then use a matte black in the crease for a slightly intense defi-nition. Use Makeup Forever Flash Pad to create a custom pink lip to set the tone!


It’s normal to want to have a big wedding but you shouldn’t overlook one of the most stressful things, your BUDGET. Creating and sticking with your wedding budget is simple,

especially when you make it realistic. Here are some tips:

1. Understand the who? Who is responsible for the wedding expenses? Are the bride and groom the only persons paying all expenses or are other relatives contribu-ting? Discuss everyone’s contribution to the wedding and get a clear commitment on the amount, and if possible, ask for the money upfront or by a certain date. We have seen many cases where relatives offered to contribute but once the bride/groom got into the process those rela-tives had to remove their financial commitment due to a number of issues from losing their job and etc.

2. Establish a REAListic budget. Determine what is rea-listic for your household income. The average wedding in the DFW area starts at $25,000. Ask yourself these ques-tions to help you determine your real budget:

• What size wedding would you like? • How many bridesmaids/groomsmen are

you going to have? • How many guests? • What extra services do you want such as a

DJ vs. a live band, limo services, photogra-pher, videographers?

These are very important items to consider. Many times couples have this idea of having a HUGE guest count/wedding party and fail to realize that for each person you have it requires a meal, table linen, chair

3. Plan to pay for the wedding. Save at least 30% cash of

your budget saved to pay for retainers and deposits. While it’s a joyous time you don’t want to incur credit card debt. A smart way to plan is to have a separate wedding account. While you may think you can budget your household expenses from your wedding expenses it can become easy to interchange the two. So open a savings or checking account to pay for wedding expenses.

4. Keep track of every cost. As you spend money on your wedding be sure to save your receipts in the event things become damaged or need to be exchanged. We have had the experience of vendors who don’t allow exchanges or refunds without a receipt so keep your receipts handy just in case.

Yes, your wedding is a special day but you have to live afte-rwards. Setting a budget that is realistic will allow you to have the wedding that you want while staying on track financially. We recommnd seeking out a professional wedding planner to assist you with planning your wedding budget and giving you the advice that is needed for the perfect wedding.

TIPS for Budgeting Your WeddingBy Janean Wadley

Owner of Forever Yes Weddings


Themed weddings are not just your typical claasic or vintage weddings. They have resurfaced yet again demanding attention. Details like the name of the wedding to the catering stations, the entertainment and throughout every element of the wedding, especially the spectacu-lar décor should be consistent and beautiful.

As the wedding trend changes from year to year, you must flow

with them but put your own spin on it and be innovative and think outside the box. Black and white themes will never get old but you can always make it pop with a splash of color, i.e.… Hot Red Fuschia,Crimson Orange, Royal Blue and even Lemony Yellow. By adding some spiciness and flavor to your classic wedding theme, you can create your own style. Also play around with patterns like black and white polka dot and stripes. Yes, they pair very nicely and create energy as well as synergy that marry quite well.

Themed weddings are primarily based on the transitioning of the room to create a virtual teleport from the outside world into a somewhat magical carpet ride through the minds of you, the bride or your event planner. You don’t have to neces-sarily use props, but try using up lighting, sheer and satin

fabrics to soften the feel of the room as well as scents and fragrances to tantalize the nostril, eyes and palates for all of your invited guests.

Outside weddings are event planners playground. The vintage themed wedding look can be so versatile just by using summer benches, tree stomps, burlap linens, old coke or milk bottles and mason jars with fresh limes or lemons. You can create breathtaking centerpieces by stacks of old books, old coffee cans... the list can go on and on. Just make sure that your wedding theme is beautifully captured and an event for the record books.

You can create any themed wedding including a traditional wedding theme that is geared more towards family and the happy couple. Having various food, dessert or fun stations around the seating areas and bars is where you definitely will create fun, yet cozy settings for communication and family fun environments.

Any wedding can have a theme, whether intimate or grand, it’s all about presentation and it doesn’t have to be an arm and a leg to pull it off either. The key is that you just have to have the right event planner that has {P.E.} #1 Passion - the wherewith-al to tackle the project and follow through. #2 Eye-for detail and the ability to see the little things that pull the wedding together.

The Perfect DecorBy Latasha Stephens,

Owner of Tea and Tee Party Rentals


A unique cookbook by renowned fitness guru Adrienne “AG” Galloway that blends healthy eating and fitness all into one.

Words of Encouragement From Donna Richardson

A Healthier, Happier, Stronger You At Any Age

Starting Now!!

Adrienne

Galloway

Says...

C. C. the GreatMaster Hairstylist and

Makeup Artist 817-874-0938


Feature

Love is in the air and the wedding season is here with us. Gone are the days when every bride wore a white Cinderella inspired dress with matching kitty heels. I mean, don’t get me wrong, but unconventional weddings are becoming the new norm and everyone is slowly but surely jumping on the band wagon. Nuptial style is the in thing! It’s all about standing tall in high designer heels, dripping in the finest jewelry from top notch jewelers, having the best make up and hair done by celebrity stylists, strutting down the aisle in a risque Haute Couture dress tailored to compliment and accentuate your every curve, to hosting your guests in a meticulous venue while pulling into the driveway with the fanciest cars for this bigger than life auspicious occasion. All eyes are on bride, the bridal party and mother of the groom and bride

so lets delve into all the details.

BRIDES DRESSES

The bride should choose a dress that she absolutely loves and feels comfortable in, one that boosts her confidence and captures the hearts and attention of her guests and soon to be husband. Take for example, Cynthia Bailey of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta,who chose a flawless couture gown tailored and suited by Russian designer Rubin Singer who also happens to be a favorite amongst most celebrity styl-ists. Her very unconventional gown was gun metal grey in color with a big bow to the shoulder which added a chic, classy, glamorous touch to it.

Feeling bold and edgy? How about walking down the aisle in a pair of pants? Genius! Designer Os-car De La Renta makes pants on a bride look like a photo shoot in a Vogue magazine or like a model strutting the runway.

MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM DRESSES

A dress that’s unique, original with a touch of elegance is bound to get the right attention. Choose a dress that fits the theme of the wedding and compliments her silhouette. Solid celebratory and vibrant colors are fitting for the occasion. Avoid prints of any kind if possible but compensate mini-mally or generously with classy jewelry depending on her likes. Grammy winning Kandi Burruss recently had a televised wedding in which both mother of the bride and mother of the groom wore unconventional but beautiful and chic gold dresses that tastefully

complimented them.

A well tailored pant suit is also a great option for the mother who wants to be different yet elegant. Bright but not overpowering hues are an edgy way to add spice to her look. What better way to add pizzazz to her entire outfit than wearing a statement hat?!

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES

The bridesmaids dresses make or break a wedding. Reason being, the bridesmaids precede the bride at the beginning of the ceremony and trail behind her after the ceremony. Their dresses set the tone for the wedding. It is important to pick the right fabric and color hues that will get the guests excited. The dresses do not have to match. They can be tailored in different designs and if

Conveniently UnconventionalBy Elizabeth “Lizzy” Maina, Fashion Stylist


you choose to go with different color palettes, ensure the colors do not clash but compliment each other. When in doubt, use the color wheel

to understand what opposite colors on the wheel go hand in hand.

MAKEUP AND HAIR

Smokey or nude shadow eyes, red or bright colored lips, wind swept or high held ponytails, highlights or color streaks in hair are cool, fresh and fun options for a different yet modern look. The secret is, if you choose to take the unconventional route, make sure it’s tasteful, clean with the right amount of edge. Obey the golden rule, “less is more.” The last thing you want to be is the talk of the town for all the wrong rea-sons. Hire professionals who will deliver a seamless and flawless job. Please do not compromise on your big day.


Grooms can sometimes get the short end of the stick…or should we say the broom? Sure the bride’s had her wedding planned since she was seven but let’s not forget that the groom equally shares in that day of bliss as well. We thought we’d go right to the source to find out just what men are looking forward to on that special day and how they exercise their rights as well…men – from their own ideas about marriage to how they communicate their own desires when they tie the knot.

1. What is your ideal marriage? My ideal marriage is one that first and foremost has a focus on God. If my wife and I have a belief system founded on what is written in the word then we will always have a foundation to walk on during disagreements or when making hard decisions. Since we, in of ourselves, are limited we can always turn to Him and His wisdom.

2. What qualities are most es-sential in a woman you are dating? Intelligence is very attractive to me. I love stimulat-ing conversation and you can’t

have that without a level of intelligence and creativity which is another quality I love. I also like a woman who can be styl-ish, sexy, and creative with the way she dresses but can still remain classy and covered. A woman who reveals too much is an instant turn-off for me. Also she must be crazy fun! Because I have a twisted sense of humor sometimes. Last but not least, she must have a relationship with God.

3. What do you do for a living? I am a graphic designer. I work with graphics, photography, and video editing, for fashion, retail and other publications. I have also developed websites for various companies. You could say that I use art to help busi-nesses express their overall vision. Anyone can see my work at www.PaulBryant.biz .

4. Is it important that your future wife be a fellow creative? My first preference is that she is a creative; however, that’s not a deal-breaker, it’s more important that she understands that I am a creative at heart and not in any way minimize my work or my career. In my experience, people who are not creatives have a hard time understanding those of us that are. There will be problems in any marriage, from time to time, so I would rather avoid the extra problems that could arise because my wife couldn’t relate to me as a creative.

5. Do you feel like the groom is left out of the wedding plans far too often? Lol Are you that man that would like to be very involved or a little involved in the wedding plans? Men are usually

left out of the planning stages for the wedding. They just expect the groom to show with the ring! Lol! But to be honest, I person-ally am not that concerned with the planning of the wedding. I only have a few must-haves. I’m more concerned with the planning of the marriage. Having a beautiful wedding is okay but what I really want is a beauti-ful marriage - that is where my heart, mind, and spirit is.

6. What type of wedding do you want? How would communi-cate the importance of this to your future bride if she had a completely different vision? I’m not really into the whole thing about how a wedding should or shouldn’t be. I do know that I do not want a traditional wedding, I do not want traditional rings but rather custom-made and a bit more on the artistic side. I do want it to be outside - beach, garden, park, just somewhere beautiful. I am a poet at heart so I would express this vision to my wife in a poetic and roman-tic way. Honestly, I really want this to be her perfect day. So I’d have to go all out to show her how this vision, our vision together, will truly make it her perfect wedding day.

7. Wedding day – what are you looking forward to seeing come into the fruition the most on your wedding day? I want to see the smile on my bride-to-be’s face that is full of love for me and me only…beyond a shadow of a doubt. That’s all that I need - to see that beautiful smile, from her heart that says “I finally get to be with my baby!” Lol.

His Side: Paul Bryant Opens Up About MarriageBy Nekea Valentine

Fashion Writer and Stylista

Ask HIM


true love’s dayMike and I met at Lincoln High School in 2001 where we both attended. One afternoon, right as the

bell rung for class to be dismissed, we noticed each other in the gymnasium before I went to practice. We eventually exchanged numbers and became friends. Although we never officially dated Mike

would occasionally check on me through the years. One of his calls came right on time and we started dating. Now we’re embarking on our new journey together as husband and wife.


Wedding Planner: Janean Wadley, Forever Yes Weddings

Floral Designer: Nicole Smedley Event Designs

Photographer: Tim Wright

Bride: Rachel Butler Groom: Micheal Knight Wedding Date: May 17, 2014Location: The Windsor at Hebron Park, Carrollton, Texas Honeymoon: Montego Bay, Jamaica


Keokuk DomingoStaging & Travel Expert1-866-693-8856 office(972)800-3374 [email protected]

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