Trust your Gut “ It ’ s okay to love a dress on your first trip out ! Some brides do not mentally prepare themselves to love something so early in their shopping trips . When you put that special dress on and suddenly nothing seems to compare , it ’ s like falling in love . You just know !” – Christina Carlson , Owner of the Bridal Garden , bridalgardenri . net
Lauren Dobish Photography
Fashion First “ When narrowing down your hair / makeup look , I would think strongly about the style of dress you chose . The style in dresses has had a slight shift and we ’ re seeing more traditional lace and classic silhouettes come back . Our team suggests asking your hair and makeup artist for suggestions when it comes to what type of style would be best for you , especially depending on the neckline , back , detailing or style of your dress .” – Sarah Depault , Owner of Sarah Depault Beauty , sarahdepaultbeauty . com
Fairy-tail service
Do you dream of having your fur baby by your side on your big day ? For the Love of Paws , a Boston-based wedding planning pet service , can make that dream a reality . “ All of our packages include complimentary chauffeur service to and from the venue , full hands-on pet-assistance come wedding day and , of course , showering your pup with love ,” says owner Danielle Marchessault . “ Your pet will have their own wedding day time line , ceremony rehearsal , and Instagram highlight reel from the day !” Other a la carte services include engagement session assistance , pre-wedding day grooming and training , and even attire selection . fortheloveofpawsboston . com
Two is Better Than One “ We are seeing a huge trend of couples deciding to separate their ceremony and reception dates . It ’ s always a great option ( especially during COVID ) to keep your ceremony small and intimate while scheduling a big reception celebration for friends and family on a later date .” – Greg Marcotte of Take it to the Bridge , takeittothebridgeband . com
In Shape “ Elongated center stone shapes are also making a comeback . Ovals , emeralds , radiant and even marquise shapes have been nearly surpassing round in popularity due to their complementary appearance on the hand . For the same size carat , the elongated shapes take up more length on the hand , giving them a bigger overall appearance and an undeniable sparkle .” – Janina Messerlian , Assistant General Manager of Baxter ’ s Fine Jewelry , baxtersjewelry . com
Take to the Sea
In need of some bachelor / ette festivity ideas ? Coastal Queen Cruises has three : You and your tribe can have the time of your lives all aboard their mimosa cruise , scenic bay cruise or their sunset cruise ( all of which offer spectacular views and yummy drinks ). Actually , make it four : you also can charter the Coastal Queen and have her top and lower decks all to yourself , with professional staff on hand for catering services , music and more . coastalqueencruises . com
Life of the Party “ Cocktail parties are becoming mainstream for wedding dinner service in 2022 . What I love most about this trend is the variety it provides for picky eaters and food connoisseurs alike . You ’ ll experience the benefits of a multi-course meal without the hefty culinary fees and the extended seating times associated with multi-course dinners . Plus , for loved ones coming from afar , this may be a great opportunity for them to indulge in multiple styles of cuisines they may not be accustomed to . Cocktail-style parties also encourage more mingling in a lively atmosphere . If you are a couple that loves to socialize , they create the opportunity for a larger dance floor with more interesting floor plan configurations .” – Pearl Farquharson , Owner and Proprietor of Designed by Delsie , designedbydelsie . com
28 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2022