Wedding Blues

Discover something new and blue for the big day

By Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is an Old English rhyme that typically stands for the four objects a bride adds to her wedding ensemble or carries with her on the wedding day. But this compilation of good luck charms is non-specific and the tradition need not be relegated to just the bride.

Whether keeping with tradition or aiming for originality, there is no right, wrong or incomplete way to incorporate “old, new, borrowed and blue” into any wedding. This tradition can be scattered lightly or liberally throughout any wedding day when brides and grooms take a few moments to think outside of the box.

A Dress Renewed
While brides rarely find occasion to wear their wedding gown again, accessories can be enjoyed far past the wedding day. Moë offers a silk-ruched Anah C.L.I.C.K. bag in virtually any color of the rainbow for the blushing bride.

“My C.L.I.C.K. bag gets its name from its contents, every woman’s essentials: cell phone, lip gloss, ID, cash and keys. This bag is the perfect way to tote whatever necessities you need to stay picture-perfect on your special day,” said Mary Rambin, designer and founder of Moë. Bags can also be a great gift for a bride’s attendants, Rambin said, whether they match the bridesmaid gowns or are personalized in each girl’s favorite color.

Couture designer Aimée Lauren also believes that brides can take the wedding day with them. Having heard from so many women that they never want to take their wedding gown off, Lauren had no problem deciding which way to go with her latest collection at Aimée Lauren Studio in Woodbridge. “I’ve included many extras that can be worn again—modified obi sashes, mini ‘corselettes,’ as well as reversible shrugs and an ultra-chic satin hoodie with beaded cuffs.” Instead of the bride’s wedding gown becoming an instant memory, it can remain new.

Lauren also suggested, “That beautiful hand-embroidered shrug you wore with your wedding gown, now paired with jeans and Manolos, is just one way to celebrate your first anniversary.”

Lauren, who has worked with style-setters like Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwen Stefani, also has a personal message. As a breast cancer survivor, Lauren is a strong advocate of early detection and sews a pink ribbon into each gown she creates.

“The pink ribbon is a special reminder to my brides to do their breast exams and stay healthy. Your health is the best gift you can bring to your wedding. It is the unspoken part of ‘I do’,” Lauren said.

Trish Thackston Designs offers a line of delicate cancer support bracelets, earrings and necklaces made with a sterling silver awareness ribbon and freshwater pearls, accented by Swarovski crystals in the cancer awareness colors of the bride’s choice.

“Her wedding day is one of the most important days in a woman’s life; a time when they want to have all of the people they love with them to help celebrate their happiness. It is a time when the absence of a loved one who has been lost to cancer or who is too ill to participate is keenly felt and when the gift of having overcome a cancer diagnosis is celebrated,” Thackston said. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her cancer support designs to the American Cancer Society.

Icing On the Cake
Today’s pastry chefs prove that blue food really does exist. Leslie Goldman-Poyourow of Fancy Cakes by Leslie believes in the art of an edible conversation piece.

“Anything goes these days for your wedding cake design,” said Goldman-Poyourow, “but adding blue, the hottest color this season, gives your cake a fresh twist.”

As the reception centerpiece, couples can think outside the box with a wedding cake dressed in a bridal blue fondant accessorized by anything from flowers to edible bows and lace.

Brides and grooms find another opportunity to show their personality with a creative cake topper. Retro plastic brides and grooms are all the rage, as are monograms of the couple’s names. You Top the Cake polymer clay cake toppers are custom-made to reflect hobbies, humor and physical characteristics of the bridal couple.

“Every detail is in there: the shape of the face, the hairstyle, clothing, skin color and height difference,” said Michelle Sharon, co-founder of You Top the Cake. “People love to add pets and, if they’re having a second wedding, to add their children. No one wants the same fairytale, cookie-cutter wedding.” Sharon offered.

Accessorizing is often the easiest way for a bride to incorporate blue into her wedding day, whether she chooses to conceal the blue under her dress via a garter, undergarments, underskirt or lingerie, or decides to showcase the tradition in her ensemble. Jenny Johnson from Jeanette’s Bride ’N Tux Boutique in Manassas said, “Sometimes blue is incorporated into the bride’s headpiece with blue beading. It can also be added to the gown with a sash, ribbon or embroidery.”

Johnson said that brides rarely wear blue shoes, but this choice might perfectly suit a gal’s quirky side on her wedding day. After the ceremony and photos, brides can kick off their classy heels in favor of a comfy pair of true blue slippers.

The groom, too, can participate with a pair of baby blue socks, boxer shorts, handkerchief or tie given to him by his lovely bride. For the bride who wants to wear blue but who can’t quite make the shade fit into her color palette—having already opted out of blue contact lenses, blue nail polish or blue eye shadow—there are other creative ways to invite blue to the wedding. Engagement photos are taken before the big day, but couples can choose to wear blue for the photo and display the picture at their wedding reception.

A Toast to Something New
To complement their sweet wedding cake, new husbands and wives can invite guests to toast the wedding day with a personalized cocktail. Couples can ask their bartender or caterer to develop a special new drink, named just for them. More adventurous folks can request blue cocktails created thanks to the liqueur blue curacao.

According to Ruth MacBean, a caterer with Teatime Delicacies, Inc. in Burke, “A different way to go would be to make a blueberry simple syrup. This could be used to color any drink as well as add flavor. It could be added to vanilla vodka or drizzled on top of any existing drink. Or consider skewering three or four berries for garnish.”

For guests who prefer caffeine to curacao, Alba Espresso Service, an authentic Italian espresso bar caterer, serves the metro area.

“Adding an espresso bar is a new twist on the coffee and dessert part of your reception,” said Kathy Ciccarello of Alba Espresso. “Instead of just plain coffee, guests can custom order their cappuccinos, lattes and espressos with a variety of syrups. We even make hot chocolate with whipped cream for the non-coffee drinkers!”

Coffee lovers can enjoy a sweet little nibble with their cup o’ Joe. If couples choose to offer their guests additional sweets along with wedding cake, they may want to consider the fun new treats from Suedy’s Koo-Ki Sushi. Described as “the art of sushi in chocolate,” Koo-Ki Sushi’s unique, handmade cookie confections are designed to resemble popular sushi shapes, chopsticks, lucky cats and sake cups.

“The in-fashion thing is to have a full dessert table. Koo-Ki Sushi makes a beautiful display around the cake for guests to enjoy alongside their cake. It’s also an unforgettable take-home favor,” said owner Karen Sasaki.

Sapphire to Stay
Sergio Rojas, general manager of Dominion Jewelers in Falls Church, said, “We definitely have couples coming in looking for color in their wedding bands.” Any regrets from color-loving folks later? According to Rojas, the answer is no, especially when it comes to blue.

“I have noticed that couples really love the color. It’s going to be with them for the rest of their lives and they really want it to be a part of their bands.” As for what stones to choose between, blue can be found in diamonds, blue topaz, tanzanite, blue zircon and aquamarine.

For daring couples who want to exchange more than wedding rings and vows, the celebration can be commemorated by taking the plunge to get matching blue tattoos. Whether going the celebrity route with visible pairs of dice (not recommended) or inking initials in a discreet spot, there is no more permanent way to say “I do.” Temporary or henna tattoos are alternatives for the fun-loving but needle-wary.

(June/July 2007)

Tags: wedding