Fairytale Weddings
Fairytale Weddings
Fairytale Weddings
Melissa Peaker-Whitten
Wedding dreams. Most women have been imagining their wedding day since childhood and in their minds it takes on fairytale proportions. From the look of the dress to the moment that her father gives her away, she has the entire day planned far before she has a ring.
The specifics of the day might not have been determined in her mind throughout the years and it’s these little things that can cause the biggest worries in the months leading up to the big day. Since it is so important that no detail be overlooked, Vows took a tour of Bakersfield to find some of the best new trends – from rentals to rings – that will help to make any Bakersfield wedding the special day that it should be.
Location
Noriega House, located in Old Town Kern, was built in 1900 and was converted into a wedding venue in
1998. While the structure’s historic appeal alone makes it a sought-after spot for weddings, Noriega House helps to simplify wedding plans by providing everything from food to flowers to photography and even the minister.
In spring and summer, the gardens at Noriega House are the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding accommodating up to 350 guests. For a more intimate ceremony, choose the home’s dining room for a small gathering of up to 40 guests, or the chapel that can seat up to 80 guests. The menu can also be customized to suit the needs of each individual party.
A unique and artistic location for a local wedding can be found at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Located in Downtown Bakersfield, the museum offers its garden or the fantastic art gallery as a unique backdrop for exchanging vows. Indoor or outdoor receptions are also available and the BMOA can accommodate from 125 to 300 guests depending on which part of the museum is used.
“It’s very flexible here,” said Beth Pandol, the museum’s director of marketing.
“If you have a garden wedding planned and it rains, we can move it all inside at the last minute.
“It is such a beautiful location. If you want an elegant, private location, you get the run of the museum for your event. It’s so pretty with all of the art around as well as the lovely garden setting.” As museums go, there is no shortage of interesting options at the Kern County Museum. The outdoor bandstand, with its surrounding grass area, can be used for both the ceremony and reception and can accommodate a gala affair of up to 750 guests. Or opt for a cozy ceremony in one of the historic buildings on the grounds for smaller gatherings.
What could be a better way to have a wedding immortalized than to see the bride and groom’s names on the Fox Theater’s marquee? It can happen and that is just one of the many features included when getting married at the Fox. Options and opportunities at the Fox are endless for creating any unique theme. Because of The size of the venue, the stage and the capabilities for lighting and sound, the sky’s the limit. And because there are no windows, any mood can be created with lights or candles. The staff at the Fox Theater will even go so far as to build a set for a special wedding day.
For a more intimate setting, the historic Guild House can accommodate up to 80 guests and will also serve lunch or dinner. The cost includes the use of the home for both the rehearsal and the ceremony. “I really think it’s the most romantic venue in Bakersfield,” said Mary Middleton, who has been the Guild House’s wedding coordinator for the past eight years.
“You have an entire house to yourself.
It’s just an intimate venue.”
The Dress
Jenny Barker, owner of Little White Dress, specializes in beautiful gowns. According to her assistant, Danielle Torgersen, it’s the dress in the store’s front window that draws the most attention. It’s also the store’s most expensive at $6,000. “It is very whimsical, kind of like a fairy dress,” she said. Renowned designer Lela Rose created the gown.
The current trend for wedding gowns is vintage inspired, according to Torgersen, including the sleek, drop-waist style of the Gatsby era, as well as the tea length and A-line styles of the 1950s.
“A lot of brides are choosing classic dresses with modern details,” said Torgersen, mentioning such details as adding pockets, a belt or ruffles to bring the dress up to date.
Jeana Jost, owner of Jeana J’s Brides and Proms, turned her passion for fashion into a business and her shop offers one-of-a-kind dresses for creating a unique look for any wedding day.
“Usually the most popular dresses are lacy, very couture,” said Jost. “Very fitted, called a trumpet, which is fitted on top but flares at the hip area.” One designer featured at Jeana J’s Brides and Proms is Demetrios, who is known as a fashion icon in the bridal gown industry. Demetrios offers versatile styles that are on the cutting edge of the fashion world.
Other prestigious designers the store carries include Anjolique and Mori Lee. Prices range from $300 for a standard dress to $2,500.
The Tuxedo
While the bride might be the star of the show, she still wants her leading man looking sharp and trends are changing in menswear as well.
“The newer designer look is a more refined, more polished look,” said Carl Leech, owner of Mr. Tuxedo.
“Mainly one and two button coats with a narrower lapel. Pants have a trimmer fit and the finer fabric has a much better feel, which makes it feel
Like you’re wearing your own suit and not a rental.” “Men’s tuxedos are incredible now,” said Ray Davis, owner of “I Do” Tuxedos. “There are as many choices for tuxes as there are for women’s gowns. There’s so much to choose from, even with the shirts. You can create an individual look based on how you combine things.” Styles include shadow stripes as well as different lapel effects with colors as varied as pinks and greens and browns.
For a real change of pace, AJ’s Tuxedo Junction has a line of Frank Sinatra hats as well as suits in three different shades of brown. “You can walk in and try them on, everything we carry is in stock,” said AJ’s owner Andrew Jackson.
The Flowers
Beside the dress, flowers are probably the single most important wedding accessories, which is why most florists don’t offer wedding packages. Instead, they create a custom look so both the flowers and the wedding are one of a kind.
According to Janice Fowler, owner of Janice’s Wildflower Cottage, brides lately have chosen mini calla lilies in a variety of colors as well as hydrangeas. Other favorites include gardenias and orchids, but roses are still the most popular wedding f ower.
According to Certified California Florist Leon Hunt, head designer at Mt. Vernon Florist, many brides are going with mixed bouquets and using brighter colors. “Yellow is going to be big in 2009,” said Hunt. “The brighter colors are considered hopeful and optimistic.” When going that route, options include Gerber daisies and sunflowers, as well as yellow roses.
The Rings
Second only to finding that perfect dress is choosing the rings she will wear from the wedding day forward. The most popular trend in women’s wedding sets is white gold or platinum with pavé settings, according to Paula Wall, manager of Don Hall Jewelers. The diamonds are embedded in the band which creates the look of diamond clusters. Most engagement rings tend to be either round cut or princess cut.
Steve Houston, owner of Houston Jewelers has noticed couples going back to the more traditional vintage and antique styles that have been redesigned for the modern bride. “Combining platinum with those one of a kind designs makes for a great wedding ring. Since platinum has become more affordable, these styles have become even more desirable especially with unique design selections,” said Houston.
The Food
“I will usually customize a menu for whatever they want,” said Harlan Shanklin, catering manager for Cafe Med. “I have nothing etched in stone. I’ve done many weddings featuring a variety of different foods – from buffets to sit-down dinners.
We’ve found that for most weddings, a buffet works out the best because you can have a variety of food.” In agreement with Shanklin, Gina Young, event coordinator for Catering Affairs, says nothing is pre-set. “We try to find out what they want. “It’s their day so we want to make sure they get what they’re asking for.”