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EXCLUSIVEWedding Day Secretsby

Southern

Style realweddings

Summer 2012

TM

BRIDALBUZZBRYANRAFANELLI

With Celebrity Event Planner

� by Stacey Marcus

Photography provided by Bryan Rafanelli

B ryan Rafanelli’s exquisite sense of style, attention

to detail and ability to transform clients’ visions

into unforgettable celebrations have made him

a go-to planner for the nation’s most exclusive and

high-profi le events. From Chelsea Clinton’s “wedding of

the decade” to elaborate fairy tale-themed fundraising

galas for Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, to

State Dinners hosted by President Barack and Michelle

Obama to intimate birthday blowouts — he has produced

it all. We asked Bryan to share his thoughts on the latest

wedding trends.

WES: What are the timeless elements in wedding

ceremonies/receptions?

BR: The most timeless is when the bride walks down the

aisle and reveals herself to the congregation for the fi rst time.

It never gets old.

WES: How should a couple prepare to talk with an event

planner?

BR: We expect that our clients want us to tell them about

all the possibilities for their wedding. However, many of the

following things are helpful to walk into an interview with a

planner: Develop a preliminary guest list, talk about how you

want to feel at your wedding (like a princess, like a guest,

calm, cool and collected — intimate, fun. “I want my guests

to feel really taken care of.” This kind of statement really tells

us what kind of experience we should create for the bride

and groom. Have some idea of what your budget might

be. Although we understand that most people never realize

what a wedding costs, it is helpful to begin a conversation

A beautiful and whimsical fl oral installation made up of hanging tulips and votives.

with the infl uencers paying for the wedding. Develop a list of

priorities — what is most important to you — and be able

to discuss any likes and dislikes you have as they pertain to

your wedding.

WES: What are the current trends in celebrity weddings?

BR: Privacy is the order of the day. None of our clients,

whether they are perceived as celebrities or not, proclaim

every detail of their wedding to the world before the big

day. We all deserve to surprise and delight our guests

whenever we choose to reveal those surprises.

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ATTIRE Wedding dresses in tones of pale pink,

pearl and gold.

INVITATIONS We are continuing to propose

email Save The Dates, especially to satisfy our green

brides and grooms. We are presenting custom

invitations to present a real connection to the family.

Custom invitations do not need to be expensive and

offer an opportunity to decorate all the elements

of an invitation. The outside envelope, the inside

envelope as well as the back of the invitation. Every

surface can have a simple adornment that refl ects

the personality of the couple and their family.

FORMAT We are presenting ideas to the family

that refl ect whom they are. We often state that there

are no real rules in the ceremony anymore, unless

you are strictly observing your religion. Spoken

word, pop music, brass bands are all unique and

unconventional ways of telling the story of your union.

For example, telling the story of your love or your

parent’s or grandparent’s union at your ceremony

gives the guests a sense of history and commitment.

FLOWERS A combination of fl oral center-

pieces in unique vessels. We often shop for colored

ceramics or special vintage containers to refl ect a

sense of thought and personalization. We are very

much into the scent of the fl owers to create an impact

BRYAN RAFANELLI’S

IN LISTin the room for the guests. Sneaking a few gardenia

blooms in arrangements creates an amazing scent in

the room, whether you like the variety or not.

THEMES We have had fun recently proposing

themes at weddings, whether that is a masked ball

wedding theme where everyone brings a mask that

refl ects their personality or asking all the guests to

wear white.

DRINKS The old classics made in a new way.

Stormy Weather or Manhattans or Tom Collins are

the order of the day. We are encouraging our brides

and grooms to hire a mixologist with a reputation in

the area as the bartender that can make a great drink

every time. A mixologist can make drinks to order for

each guest and be armed with great ideas for making

a Margarita better by adding a splash of orange juice

for example.

DESSERT All passed desserts that have a sense

of home and family. Warm cookies and milk shots,

warm brownies with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, mini

lemon meringue pies, mini apple pies.

PHOTOGRAPHY Creative ways for the bride

and groom to design their wedding albums — from

special cloth binders to more of a storytelling format

as well, produced like a beautiful coffee table picture

book rather than a heavy, clunky album that you

never open.

PREPARTY Taking over a local pub or townie

bar in the area for all the guests to join in the night

before the wedding. It’s great for the local economy

and brings everyone together in a casual setting to

rave up for the wedding day!

POST PARTY Add a cool lounge setting in

the ballroom for your wedding and do not have a

separate space. Add a DJ in the same room and

move the party over to the corner of the space. This

saves on decorating another space with fl owers and

lighting and furniture you only use for the after party.

COLOR We customize our colors to our brides

and their personal essence, but we are seeing a lot

of purple and bright green and brown on our more

fashionable clients.

LIGHTING Lighting that you cannot physically

see — color changing light fi xtures mounted on the

fl oor and tucked behind drapes and columns. The

room can go from sunrise or sunset leaving the space

to feel like it is lit in candlelight.

CAKE Cakes that have a unique correlation to

the design of the party, whether that is the same

lace work form the bride’s dress or the monogram

or pattern lifted from the invitation. More and more

the cake is a complement to the overall design of the

party and not a singular design.

FAVOR I believe a wedding favor is a trend of the

past. After you host a weekend of beautiful events for

a guest, they get a parting gift as well?

16 | Summer 2012

WES: How can our readers work with planners

to create a celebritylike wedding?

BR: Customization. Creating anything custom

from a logo to table linen. It makes for a one-of-

a-kind wedding.

WES: What changes have you seen over the

last decade?

BR: The ‘de-formalization’ of weddings.

Anything goes, from cocktails and dessert

receptions to DJs instead of bands.

WES: In terms of destination weddings, where

are the hot places to consider?

BR: Unique locations like castles in Ireland or

private mansions in the Hudson Valley or in

Jamaica. A location that can offer the family and

guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

WES: Can you share a few surprise elements

a couple can integrate into their wedding to

make it special?

BR: Surprise musical performance by the bride

or groom or a “talented” friend. We love confetti

blasts when the music and dancing are at their

peak!

WES: How is planning for weddings different

than planning for other types of events?

BR: They are very personal. They are set up to

be a singular experience. The idea is that you

will never plan such an extravagant affair again

until you are planning your daughter’s or son’s

wedding. A real refl ection of two people and

their style as a couple.

WES: What would surprise our readers to

learn about celebrities at their weddings?

How are they similar to us and how are they

different?

BR: Most weddings don’t have the high levels

of security, privacy and sought-after press as

celebrity weddings do. But, all weddings have

thoughtful planning, important guests and two

stars.

WES: Do you believe in happily ever after?

BR: I do believe in happily ever after. I have

had the good fortune of serving couples that

have been married and inseparable for 50+

years. One of my clients has never been apart

for more than six days in their entire relationship

and are indeed happy and plan to be for a long

time.

Come up with a creative way to display name cards, such as this display of ships on a map at a nautical themed reception.

For your cocktail hour, keep your guests entertained with a Gypsy band while you are taking your pictures.

Add a personal touch to your reception with custom designed linens that refl ect your overall colors and theme.

Beer fl ights of the couples favorite brews is a growing trend.Have an interactive guest book.

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