Table of Contents -- April 13, 2007 Issue of New York Magazine

April 13, 2007 Issue

Cover Story

New York Weddings

So you want to get married in New York. Understandable; it’s one of the most romantic places on Earth (as anyone who’s surveyed the glittering view from the Rainbow Room will attest). But it takes some planning. And who better to guide you through the process than us? We’ve narrowed the options to the very best, enlisted the experts, anticipated the problems, and solved the dilemmas. It might seem overwhelming at first, but in New York, there’s a florist, stationer, caterer, and cake designer to satisfy every couple. In other words, the city is at your service—and so are we.

Features

Ladies in Waiting

A selection of gowns that transcend the typical bridal silhouette, pictured in some of New York’s most handsome wedding venues.

From the Runway

Twenty-five gorgeous dresses embodying this season’s most desirable bridal fashion trends.

A Feast for the Eyes

New York’s top pastry and floral designers create formidable cakes and centerpieces for three very unique receptions.

From the Archives

Everyone Says I Love You

Some of New York’s most memorable weddings: from Alfred Hitchcock’s daughter’s at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to Cynthia Rowley’s in a Brooklyn airplane hangar.

Ask the Experts

The Gown Designer

“Girls ask, ‘Oh, how am I going to dance in this?’ Dancing is not the essential part of the wedding; the ceremony is.”

The Event Maestro

“I’m not about flowers, because they are so predictable. The most expensive wedding I’ve done had no flowers in it.”

The Planner

“Our motto is ‘Triple-check your double-checks.’ I micromanage every aspect in such a loving way.”

The Stationer

“Menus have become very elaborate. I do a menu–place-card combination that is really a tour de force.”

The Caterer

“Overstock the bar because there’s nothing worse than trying to find a bottle of Montrachet in the middle of the night.”

The D.J.

“Do-not-play lists say more about the couple than playlists. When I see Bob Marley on the former, I almost faint.”

The Lighting Designer

“Everyone understands what an orchid is, or a peony, or a rose. People don’t know what good lighting looks like.”

Everything Guide to Registering

Receiving Advice

Bergdorf Goodman’s Marien Klushin answers your gift-getting questions.

Six-Newlywed Poll

Greatest registry hits (and not so great).

Blue-Chip Items

All you need to know before you decide on your newlywed gifts.

Pre-Registry Reconnaissance

You’re going to live with them forever, so take a weekend to see your future heirlooms in 3-D. We map out the fastest route (and where to break for lunch).

Über-Registries

Curate your registry list like a pro.

Decorating With Love

The married editors of The Bitch in the House and The Bastard on the Couch impart some wisdom.

The Best Storage Solutions For…

The best storage solutions for studio tenants, hammer-happy nesters, sentimental pack rats, and more.

Where to Unload Everything From Your Single Days

Where to get rid of kitchen appliances, dinnerware, towels, sheets, and more.

Beauty Calendar

Beautification: The Abridged Version

A six-month schedule to make the pretty even prettier.

For Each Gown, Its Own Workout

How to get your skin, hair, and body into shape for your wedding dress.

The Reception

The Reception: Guest Wrangling

So many potential invitees, so few delicious catered meals to go around. A reception-planning visual aid that makes the tough decisions for you.

A Sign of What's to Come

What the invitation says about the party.

The Reception: Please Be Seated

Karen Bussen, wedding planner and author, lays out the ideal floor plan that takes everyone’s needs—and idiosyncrasies—into consideration.

The Reception: Debt-Free Nuptials

Seven creative ways to save and still put on an unforgettable show

The Reception: On the Cheap

A monetary breakdown of an inexpensive wedding.

Reinventing the Reception

For some examples of how to make over the old-fashioned wedding, we enlisted event planner Loulie Walker to create blueprints for three alternative affairs.