Bridal News

While working on the cover shoot for the July edition of Brides & Weddings, I had a chance to ask makeup artist Tracie Rosales what she was seeing in terms of hair tyles for brides this year. Here’s the scoop …

Working with brides and bridesmaids, I find that every year there’s a hairstyle that gets requested a lot. This season I have brides and bridesmaids who want the “Waterfall Braid”. What is ironic is I have also been getting emails from people asking me, “What is a Waterfall Braid”?

A Waterfall Braid is a take on the classic French Braid. Instead of starting your French Braid down the middle and taking an even amount of hair on each side, this braid starts on one side of your head and wraps around the back. The appeal is that it looks complicated – but it really isn’t. Based on what you are looking for, it can take the place of a half up/half down hairstyle.

The hair that is not braided can then be styled straight or wavy, or you can add curls for a more romantic feeling. The Waterfall Braid also gives a way to pull your hair all the way up in a fun and stylish way and will beat the heat for those summer weddings. The ends of the hair can be twisted in a bun so that it is completely up and off the face.

Either style of the Waterfall Braid lends itself nicely to adding flowers, feathers or a fun hairpiece within the end of the braid – another fun hairstyle option that is all the rage this season with brides and celebrities.

Thanks Tracie – as always, great advice for the Bridal News Blog. Are you looking for a mobile makeup artist for your special day? Give Tracie at call at 571.201.5942 and be sure to visit www.tracierosales.com.

I am pleased to introduce a new wedding venue to Northern Virginia brides. If you love country chic weddings, you’ll want to check out Wollam Gardens, located just south of Warrenton in the tiny town of Jeffersonton.

Photo by Mark & Annie Mulligan

Wollam Gardens is made for wedding weekends in the countryside. You’ll have use of three rooms for two nights in a 19th century farm house. There’s 22 acres of flowering fields - imagine the photos! Celebrate your vows on the back porch of the farmhouse and then head over to the tented space accommodating up to 180 guests for your reception with a wedding menu prepared by Legends Catering. Like to DIY it? You’ll receive $300 in freshly cut flowers as part of the wedding package. And event management is provided by Fleur De Lis  Flair.

To schedule your stroll through Wollam Gardens and to discuss your special day with Event Planner Aimee O’Grady call 540.937.3222 or email aimee@fleurdelisflair.com. And visit www.wollamgardens.com.

It’s nice to be able to take your time when planning a wedding - but sometimes life doesn’t work that way. Military personnel deploy on short notice, and with the ethnic wedding market, visas can’t be secured 12-18 months in advance. With these situations, sometimes you only have a matter of weeks to pull your wedding together.

If you’re in that situation, Gala Cuisine at Foxchase Manor South in Manassas has a deal for you. Book a Friday or Sunday wedding reception during June or July and save 50% on your total bill! Gala Cuisine specializes in wedding menus from around the world and they’ve mastered the art of “fusion food”.

To learn more about Gala Cuisine, call Sammy Hatami at 703.335.5131 and visit www.galacuisine.com.

For the month of May, you can take an additional $200 off your gown at the Hannelore’s Sample Clearance. There are 100 gowns from top name designers, so you’re sure to find something! Hannelore’s is located at 106 North Lee Street in Old Town Alexandria. To schedule your appointment, call 703.549.0387 and visit www.hannelores.com.

Located on the banks of the Potomac River off the GW Parkway just minutes from Old Town Alexandria is stately Collingwood Library. This venue offers a great combination of spaces for your special day. Hold your ceremony at the end of a spacious, tree-lined yard leading to the river, gather on the patio of the historic property for cocktails, then host your reception in their spacious banquet hall.

On Sunday, May 20th, Collingwood is teaming up with Better Events Catering for an Open House Tasting from 2pm to 6pm. Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a martini salad bar, along with carving and pasta stations. Reservations are requested by email and you’re welcome to bring up to two (adult) guests. To RSVP for the tasting, email info@betterevents.com. And to schedule your personal tour of Collingwood, contact Karen Groff at 703.765.1652 and visit www.collingwoodlibrary.org.

The City Club of Washington at Columbia Square, located at 555 13th Street, recently completed extensive renovations and is now available for your wedding reception. The club offers a mixture of classic elegance in its dark hardwood treatments and a fresh, sophisticated feel with its artwork and decor.

For a memorable ceremony, glide down the marble steps and say your vows in front of a beautiful fountain. (The cover shot of our current planning guide was taken in front of the fountain!) Then adjourn to the spacious bar for cocktails before taking a seat in the beautiful ballroom.

The club recently held an open house for members and guests and the food was terrific! To learn more about City Club and to tour the property, contact Private Events Manager Cassandra Centers at 202.347.0818 or email cassandra.centers@ourclub.com. And visit www.city-washington.com.

Don’t be caught with two left feet on your special day – learn to dance! On Sunday, May 20, The Wedding Dance Specialists will be holding workshops in Alexandria, VA and Columbia, MD, 3pm-6pm. At this 3-hour workshop, you’ll sample a variety of dances to see what matches your personal style, explore the fundamentals of partner dancing and learn easy moves that look impressive. Cost is $70 per person - register by May 15^th and save $10! For more details, visit www.theweddingdancespecialists.com.

Now here’s how you multitask …. come out to Warrenton next Saturday, May 12, for Gateau Distinctive Cakes and Desserts Open House, 1:30-5pm. You’ll have the opportunity to taste 20 flavors of delicious cake. And while you’re there, you can pick up a Mother Day’s cake for Sunday’s dessert. You’ll enjoy live entertainment, meet great local wedding vendors and be eligible to win some fabulous door prizes.

Gateau is located at 7498 Edington Drive in Warrenton. For more details and to RSVP, call 540.347.9188 or email gateauva@gmail.com. And visit www.1gateau.com.

During the month of May, Curvy Girls Bridal is having an Inventory Reduction Sale. They need to make room for all the new gowns coming into the store and this is your chance to save 30-50% on their current sample gowns. You’ll find a super collection from top designers in sizes 12-24. Curvy Girls is located on Route 50 near the Fairfax County Parkway in the Pender Village Center. Call 703.539.8777 to schedule your appointment. And visit www.curvygirlsbridal.com.

There are only a handful of seats available for tomorrow’s (May 4th) Sareh Nouri Fashion Show, hosted by Soliloquy Bridal Couture in Herndon. Come see the latest designs and meet local wedding vendors too. This fashion presentation is part of the Sareh Nouri Trunk Show running May 4-6 at Soliloquy.

To RSVP for the fashion show or to schedule an appointment to see these beautiful gowns, call 571.449.2580. And to find out about other special events at Soliloquy, visit the Calendar of Events on www.bridesandweddings.com.