WEDDING GUIDE I WeddingGuideChicago.com28

Wedding Guide Chicago sat down with Clinton Kelly, best known as TLC’s “What Not To Wear” guy, to

get his thoughts on all things nuptial! Clinton is an industry partner at

Macy’s helping couples with their registries.

Clinton says, “communicate, communicate, communicate!”Communicate with your fiancé on a regular basis. Everyone tends to focus on one or two things about the big day; great music, fabulous food, or the worlds best photographer. Each of you should know what the other thinks is important.

I don’t know that you should really follow trends; classic is always best. When you look back at your pictures, the trendier things are eventually going to look silly. Just think about headbands and poufy sleeves. Men look best in a classic tuxedo with the single button and shawl or notched lapel, and I love color for brides. Maybe you want to wear a red sequined mini skirt to set yourself apart from the guests. Just don’t forget to include in your invitation “No red mini-skirts!”

My own wedding was “picnic chic” and we included a description in the invitation so everyone knew what to expect for attire, menu and activities. For the record, picnic chic meant lots of color and a meal of lobster rolls and fried chicken. Women were apprised that they’d be on grass, so no little black dresses; and flats, wedges or barefoot was the rule of the day. Gentlemen went sans jacket with dress shorts and enjoyed the outdoors.

Our favorite part was the dancing. I wish the dancing could have lasted another five hours, until everyone just passed out. We rented buses so we didn’t have to worry about anyone drinking and driving because the party was

important to us. If I could do it again, I would have spent more money to extend the DJ.

Be true to yourselvesDon’t have a wedding that your parents or friends expect you to have. Have the wedding you want. Have the wedding you can afford. I think you should not go into debt for a wedding. If you have a lot of money, or your parents have a lot to spend, then throw the craziest most extravagant wedding you can. But if you can only afford $4 per plate, make it the very best $4 wedding ever. The important thing is to make it fun. If you just give everyone a cupcake and a glass of champagne, it can be a really fun wedding. You just have to be creative.

“Even if you only give your guests a cupcake and a glass of champagne, it can

be a really fun wedding…”

Budget: “if you can only afford $4 per plate, make it the very best $4 wedding ever. If you just give everyone a cupcake and a glass of champagne, it can be a

really fun wedding.”

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Even the food should be fun. I would never have a wedding where the options were filet mignon, salmon or chicken Marsala. Pizza and a pasta wedding would be fun. Indian food would be awesome. Pick a theme and go with it. Maybe have food from the Southern palate, or Chicago wet beef. I’m all about finding your own way. If you’re flat broke, have a potluck wedding. If a friend told me that, I would immediately tell him, “I’ll bring whatever you want me to bring.”

Your wedding should reflect who you are as a human being. If you’re a traditional kind of woman, you should have a traditional dress. If you’re an artist, you should wear bright purple. I don’t think enough women put their own stamp on their wedding. Too many brides end up following a kind of script written for them. That’s one thing I would like to change and working with Macy’s is like saying, “Your life doesn’t have to be the way your mother wants it to be.” It should be the way YOU want it. We’re in 2014…and 2015 so just come on and have a good time.

Don’t just plan for one big dayThis is where Macy’s comes in—for the registry and the beginning of the “after” part. I really enjoy talking about the registry because this is your opportunity to get the things you really want. It can be such a boost to have things you need in the early months and years, but sometimes people feel shy about registering. I don’t know where issues come from because your guests really want to give you your heart’s desire and help you build your life together. Don’t be afraid to register for things you really need at different levels and price points. Is it tacky to ask for cash? Yes, but it’s not tacky to give it. On that note, I’m sure you’ve heard about Macy’s Dream Fund. You don’t have to ask for cash, but the Dream Fund allows people to contribute to things like a whole bedroom set.

Don’t be afraid to go off-registry to make it ultra personal. I like to complete registries; for example if the bride has seven place settings, I will go in for the eighth, or even go down the list and fill in empty spots so my packages end up looking rather eclectic. The registry is there so your guests don’t have to search for things to make it work, and they can always choose to spend more generously than you might think. I have a friend who registered for a cook set. It wasn’t sexy, but every once in a while she will send me a photo of her dinner to show me what she cooked with it.

Let yourself laughBe able to laugh off the things that go wrong because there will be things that go wrong. You can not let yourself get worked up about the mishaps because the day is about fun and if you lose sight of that, you’ve lost the big picture.

There will be plenty of opportunities for laughter and fun. I have been a best man and gave the speech. I was funny and quick. If you go past three minutes, people will check out. Tell them how happy you are, tell a story and a quick joke and put down the microphone. Weddings where everyone feels like it’s their moment to have the spotlight are endless.

At my wedding, we did not invite everyone with a plus-one. It may seem like a breach of etiquette, but we decided it would be a small affair. So if we didn’t know the significant other (not a spouse), we let everyone know there would be lots of single people so if they didn’t know anyone, they should go up to anyone and start talking. To balance it, we didn’t assign seats or singles tables, and we didn’t do slow dances that needed a date. We just played great dance music everyone knew from the 70s and forward. The laughter was organic and contagious.

To bring us full circle, I have to say, I’ve not been to a Chicago wedding yet, but if you’re having an open bar, I plan to change that! No matter what, it will all go by too fast. (That’s why we hire videographers!) For you brides, I can simply promise you—make it your day and it’s going to be okay.

Fashion: “I love color and if you’re on your third wedding and walking downthe aisle in the big white gown, I’m sorry but I’m laughing at you.”

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