#inspired by the time i told my mom i wanted to wear a tux and she threw a fit and nearly disowned me 💅

[salmas20]

inspired by Taylor Swift’s speak now

I stand in front of the big gate, my legs are shaking. The venue is so rich people like and I don’t fit here but I have to go in, I’m running out of time. I sneak inside, nobody said anything maybe because I looked like a waitress with my white shirt and black pants, I didn't notice the huge figure I slammed into “Sorry”

“ no prob… Zoey? What are you doing here?”

“ Adam, hi. I’m.. look, I need to talk to Ollie”

His gaze turned sad, pitiful. “ that’s not a good idea Zoey”

“ I.. I can’t lose him, Adam, he doesn’t love her, you know that” I’m too close to crying now. “ I know” he lowered his gaze and then looked back at me “ Zoey, that’s not you, you don’t barge in impulsively. Think for a second, you’ll cause a scandal.” I’m angry yet I try not to raise my voice since we’re still in the hallway and the bride is probably in one of those rooms. “ I don’t care, he can’t marry her. Damn it it should’ve been me in that dress” he batted my shoulders to calm me down. “ I just need to talk to him, hear him say he wants this. You know If he did, I would never barge in like this. We both know this is his mom doing, and hers. Let me talk to him, Adam”

“ Fine, I’ll try to get you to him”

“ Thanks” He leaves me in the hallway and when my legs move to leave as well, I heard a loud shout, a woman’s shout “You idiot, that’s not the dress I told you to wear”

“ it is” I peeked a look to the room, the woman who was being shouted at is wearing the same dress as the other two next to her, the only difference is that she was way more beautiful than them, and the bride. Is she angry her bridesmaid would steal her thunder or something. “ no it isn’t, all the dresses are the same. Yours doesn’t look like theirs.” again, it’s because she’s prettier than them. The dress is ugly but she made it look magical somehow. I steal a look at the bride, she’s wearing a gown that was shaped like a pastry and before I see anything further, the door slams shut. I waited for Adam behind the curtains, I took a look at the guests, they were exchanging fond gestures and smiles. There was an old woman dressed in pastel and I noticed that was the color of the evening. Music starts to fill the room, the song sounds more like a death march than a wedding one, nothing here is what Ollie would’ve wanted. Adam is late but I have to stay behind these really ugly curtains since I wasn’t invited by the lovely bride-to-be. My mind went to all my happy memories with Ollie, our first date, the time he told me he loved me for the first time, the time when I was trying on a wedding gown for fun then he told me he can’t wait to see me in one. I pushed the memories away, I can’t cry now. After another half hour, it came to my realization that Adam stood me up, as I was moving to go look for Ollie myself the music changed taking everyone’s attention to the woman floating

down the aisle like a pageant queen. I need to find Ollie now. I pull out my phone and called him, but it went to voice mail and I took the only chance I have to tell him not to do that, “ Ollie, please don’t do that, don’t say any vows, whatever you prepared is not from your heart anyway. Baby, I know you wish it was me 'cause I sure wish it was me in that gown, actually no, that gown is hideous. Anyway, I love you Ollie, and even if you don’t love me anymore, don’t marry her, you don’t love her. please don’t say yes” I cried in the end and while I was searching for a way to get to him, I heard applause, damn it, if she’s walking on the aisle that means he’s waiting for her at the end of it. I went back to the curtains, I looked through them. He looks amazing, even in that hideous tux. What’s with rich people and ugly clothes? Time paused for me, I kept looking at that gorgeous man I love, I saw myself in that ugly dress standing in front of him, and the preacher starts speaking I say my vows, tearing up with happiness, you say yours yet they sound a little shallow and meaningless. Before he pronounces us, he looked to the audience and said the very old phrase “And those who object to this pairing, speak now or forever hold your peace” I fill out of my daydream to the room, I didn’t have time to pull myself back behind the curtains. The room is so silent I can hear a pin drop, everyone is looking at me, Adam has a horrified look, he’s scared of me causing a scandal, my legs and hands are shaking, I don’t know what to do so I did the only thing I do when I need comfort I looked in his eyes. He was as surprised as everyone, but he stayed silent. A woman spoke and kicked the horrible silence out “Honey, are you lost? The reception is not here” She thinks I’m a waitress. Like I said I don’t fit in a place like that. I took another look at the man I love, a last look then I tell the woman “Yes, I’m sorry. I was lost, I need to find my boss so I’d know what should I do. Again, I’m sorry I interrupted the ceremony. Go on father” I motioned to the preacher. I walked out of the room. I get into my car and exploded in tears, I lost him forever. I collected myself and started the car, I don’t know how long had it been since I got out. My phone rings before I start driving, I answered “Hey sweetheart” I checked the caller ID since I didn’t bother to look before I answered, and it said OLLIE, “Hey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have..” he cut me off “ meet me at the back, I just need to get out of this tux. I’m almost out of it” he’s breathing hard, “ Zoey?”

“ yes, I’ll be there”

Ollie appeared out of the church’s back door, he got in my car and then said “Drive” I gave him a questionable look “Just get us out of here and we’ll talk”

I drove a couple of miles away till we reached a cute little diner, we sat down in silence after we ordered some coffee, he was about to talk before I cut him off “You should go back, as much as it tears me apart to say that but I can’t be the reason you lose you…”

“ I love you,” he said “ I never stopped, I don’t love Sarah. I love you Zoey Queen. And yes, I do wish it was you in that hideous dress. Although I said my vows, I didn’t say yes” he smiled at me and it took me a while to realize that he’s referencing the voice mail “ you heard my voice mail?”

“ I ran after you, when you were out of sight I pulled my phone to call then I saw you left a message. You were so fast baby” he laughed saying the last part. “ what happened with Sarah, and your mother?”

“ they were furious, but I needed to get to you” he looked for a while then continued, “ I told Sarah that I don’t love her, and I didn’t want that marriage. She started shouting, and my mom and hers came to see what was wrong. When they found me taking off my tux, they started shouting as well, I locked them in the room and I got out to call you, but I didn’t want to stay in that tux so I sneaked to my best man's room and stole a shirt and pants. I just didn’t want to get you back with that tux”

“ it was hideous” I laughed. “ so we’re wanted now?” my smile fell when the thought came to my mind, “They’ll find you, and they’ll make that marriage happen, I’m not a good fit..”

“ They can’t make me marry her if I’m married” he took my hand and smiled at me “Run away with me, marry me, Zoey”

“ what? That’s insane”

“ I can’t lose you again, my mother manipulated me into this and she can do it again. Marry me, run away with me, let’s be away from all this. Just me and you, and your family, they’re amazing” he laughed again, “ Ollie, I can’t be the reason you lose your family. You want me to stay in touch with mine while you cut yours off?”

“ I wanted to run away, I wanted to leave that church. I was a coward, then my amazing girl fell into the room and reminded me why I shouldn’t do this. I would’ve hated that life, I would've hated every second with Sarah, 'cause I’d be seeing you but you wouldn’t be there. I want a life with you Zoey.”

“ I love you too, I just don’t want you to hate me”

“ I’d never” he smiled and kissed my hands “ I’m so glad you were there when he said speak now”                    

[snobgoblin]

well that went better than expected

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Wedding Dresses - What You Wear Getting Married to Each of the Triple Frontier Men

Pairings: Will Miller x Reader, Ben Miller x Reader, Frankie Morales x Reader, Santiago Garcia x Reader, Tom Davis x Reader Rating: T Warnings: Light cursing Notes: Like halfway through writing this I was like ‘hey, I know! Moodboards!’ Which I don’t do often so I’m sorry if they’re...Bad. I also wound up Pinteresting like c r a z y for this so if you want a link to anything I gotchu ;) The actual headcanons also got away from me while I was writing them, so. Whoops.

Will Miller - Romantic Lacy A-Line

You’d both waited for this - for a long time. You knew it wasn’t going to be a big event; just your families and your closest friends. Will was already covered in the wedding wear department - he was going to be wearing his dress uniform, he didn’t even have to worry about a tux. You on the other hand, well. You had a few things to consider. The reception was going to be in his parents’ backyard; you knew it would be decorated with white string lights and mason jars full of flowers. It’d be sweet, romantic. You decided that you wanted your dress to capture that feeling. Going into dress shopping, you weren’t sure about lace - you didn’t want to look like a tablecloth. But the embroidered bodice of the dress had thrown you for a loop - and the lace didn’t blanket the skirt, it was placed expertly throughout. You felt delicate and romantic in it. You opted for a shorter veil; you were sure it would come off after the ceremony, anyway, and you didn’t want to worry about it. You decided to wear the necklace that Will had given you for your last anniversary, and found shoes that complimented the lace detail on the dress. “You find a dress?” Will asked you when you came home from dress shopping. You’d told him that you had. “Do I get a hint?” He’d asked. “I got a mini dress. Barely covers my thighs -- neckline down to my navel. You’re gonna love it, babe,” You’d teased. Will had laughed, swept you into a kiss. “You could wear a burlap sack and I’d love it,” He’d sworn. After your ceremony, as the two of you drove to his parent’s house for the reception, he leaned over, kissing you sweetly at a red light. “For the record,” He murmured, “I think I actually like this better than a burlap sack.” “...But less than a mini dress?” You asked. Ben Miller - Boho Chic Dress - with a surprise two-piece look for the reception

It was going to be a party, you knew that going in. The first thing you and Benny had booked was the frickin’ DJ. You knew going into dress shopping that you’d be looking for something you’d be able to dance in, and something that you’d be comfortable in all night - the two of you were getting married in mid-July; it was going to be hot. Benny had told you, “Look, I don’t care what you wear -- we’ve gotta be able to move, babe. None of that tight-- waddle-walk type dress shit, what’s it called? Penguin?” “Mermaid!” You’d corrected him once you’d managed to stop laughing. The dress that you wound up with wasn’t the ‘traditional’ wedding dress, but you and Benny weren’t a traditional couple. The slit meant an ease of motion while you were walking; the skirt was flowy and wouldn’t be too heavy in the summer heat. You choose gold-heeled boots instead of high-heels, not wanting to worry about tottering down the aisle. You had assumed you were all set when you left the bridal salon. You didn’t find the two-piece look until you went back for your dress fitting. You’d been toying with the idea of a separate reception dress, and you’d spotted the jumpsuit on your way into the salon. Your maid of honor hadn’t even bothered to try to talk you out of it - she knew she’d never win. Benny had loved your dress when he saw it, but when he saw your reception outfit? “... I married the smartest fucking woman-- Holy shit, it has pockets?”

Frankie Morales  - Princess-y Ballgown 

Frankie had thought about his wedding day - a lot. So had you. You just hadn’t realized that the both of you had considered what you would be wearing so much. You had bought a couple of bridal magazines and you kept them around to flip through for inspiration; every once in a while, when you were looking through one, he’d lean over your shoulder and mutter, “That one’s nice.” Sometimes you’d open a magazine to find a page with a ballgown on it dog-earred. The first couple of times that this happened, you’d figured that you’d done it and just forgotten. The fifth time, though, you’d held it up, showing it to Frankie. “Did you mark this for me, babe?” You asked. He glanced at it, muttered, “Might’ve,” Before slouching down on the couch a little more and turning back to the tv. Hint hint, Future-Mrs. Morales. You were surprised at how strongly he felt about you wearing a ballgown-style wedding dress. You wanted to look hot; he wanted you to look like a princess. To him, you were one. You didn’t think you wanted a ballgown. But, since he’d mentioned it, you decided to try one on when you went shopping. You fell in love with it the second you saw yourself in it. The strapless sweetheart top and a lacy, partially see-through bodice was a little bit sexy; the full, layered, lacy skirt made you feel the way Frankie saw you: like a princess. You got the best of both worlds. Frankie’s mom lent you her veil, giving you your something borrowed; your mother gifted you the necklace she wore on her wedding day, giving you your something old. Your shoes and your dress were your something new, and your flowers were your something blue. Frankie cried when he saw you coming down the aisle. Santiago teased him about it, but he didn’t care. You’d never looked more beautiful. Santiago Garcia - Alluring Mermaid Dress

Santiago did not think he was ever going to get married. You knew that. That was why you hadn’t expected him to be such a Groomzilla. Alright, maybe ‘Groomzilla’ was an exaggeration, but Santiago was kind of...Particular when it came to the things that he wanted - even more particular than you were. 

“Are you gonna micro-manage my dress, too?” You’d been teasing him when you’d asked that. He didn’t even look away from the email he was sending to the caterer. “If that’s a serious question then yeah, I have some thoughts,” He’d said. It had definitely not been a serious question, but you did want to see what he had in mind. Santiago had sent the email off, then tugged you into his lap and pulled up a folder on his laptop labeled ‘Wedding Ideas’ (which you'd had no idea he had - but it really shouldn’t have surprised you; Santiago was a planner, through and through). The dresses he’d looked at were sexy, bordering on skimpy. “You know my family will faint if they see me in that,” You’d told him after he’d clicked on one dress that was entirely see-through, save for some expertly placed lace, “That looks more like lingerie than a wedding dress-- what kind of underwear am I even supposed to wear with that?” “Who says you have to wear any?” Santiago countered. The pictures that he’d shown you had been fresh in your mind when you’d gone shopping for dresses. You’d had ideas of what you’d wanted to wear, and you wanted to find a happy medium between your preferences and his. In this dress, you did. It had a sexy-ish top, and a form-fitting silhouette that showed off your body. Santiago broke out into the widest grin when he saw you walking down the aisle. He broke into a wider one when you pinched his shoulder during your first dance, after he whispered to you, “So where did we net out on the underwear situation?” Tom Davis - Classic A-Line V-Neck

Tom wasn’t against getting married again, obviously, but he didn’t want to make it a massive deal. He already did the big wedding thing once. You knew that he was a little trepidatious about the process. He told you while you’re planning that he was fine, but he was a little more tense than usual in the months leading up to it. You did your best to involve him in the planning without overwhelming him with it, and when you asked him what kind of dress he'd like to see you in, he was surprised. He wasn’t involved in that process last time. He asked you to let him think about it, and you agreed. You found out after the fact, of course, that Tom, in typical Tom fashion, had been incredibly thorough: did research on different silhouettes, wedding trends over the last five years -- he even took undergarment types into consideration. But when he’d come back to you, he’d simply said that he wanted you to wear whatever you’d be happiest in; it was your day. You’d frowned, cupped his cheeks, and said, “Sweetheart, it’s ours.” He’d nearly cried. Tess was with you when you’d found the dress. The two of you got along well, and you’d been involving her in the wedding planning where you could. Your maid of honor hadn’t been able to get the day off of work, and you hadn’t wanted to go alone. You’d tried on a few dresses, with varied silhouettes and fabrics. You were hesitant to try on something that seemed a little more plain on the hanger, but this satin A-line ivory dress had caught your eye. Tess had helped you accessorize, and suggested a belt that had given the look just the right amount of bling. “Do you think your dad will like it?” You’d asked uncertainly. Tess had met your eyes on the mirror. “Do you love it?” She’d asked. You’d nodded, and she’d smiled and said, “Then so will he.”

[pucking-insane]

Speak Now - Ryder Donovan

Player: Ryder Donovan Word Count: 1866 Warnings: Swearing

Inspired by: “Speak Now” by Taylor Swift

I  am not the kind of girl Who should rudely barging in on a white veil occasion But you Are not the kind the kind of boy Who should be marrying the wrong girl

The invitation was a surprise to say the least. Of course, you knew Ryder was dating, but you weren’t expecting the “save the date” to come. Immediately, you texted Shay, who, even though you and Ryder had broken up years ago, you remained close with. 

It killed you to know that Ryder had moved on. You were happy that he was happy, but you were still in love with him.

Even though you didn’t really want to go to your ex-boyfriend’s wedding, Shay had convinced you to come as his plus one. 

When you got to the wedding venue, you took a deep breath before even opening your car door.

Y/N Shay I can’t do this

Shay Donovan I know it hurts bub But you need closure I’ll see if I can sneak out to your car

Y/N Thank you

Eventually, there was a knock on your car window. You unlocked your car for Shay, who slid into your passenger seat.

“I can’t do this.” You said quietly.

“I know it’s hard and I know it hurts, but he’s happy.” Shay explained. 

“It should be me.” You cried. “I should be getting ready to marry the love of my life. I should have my hair and makeup done and my dress and jewelry should be on. We should be taking pictures right now.”

“Believe me, Y/N,” Shay sighed. “It should be you.”

“You’re not making this any easier, Donovan.”

“Sorry, bubs.” Shay rubbed your back. “I’ll save a dance for you. That is if Cole or Turcs don’t get to you first.”

“They’re here?”

“Of course they are.” Shay smiled and glanced at his watch. “I should probably get going. But find one of them and you’ll be fine.”

I sneak in and see your friends And her snotty little family all dressed in pastel And she is yelling at a bridesmaid Somewhere back inside a room  Wearing a gown shaped like a pastry

Eventually, you willed yourself to leave your car and walk inside. You quickly spotted the familiar head of curly dark hair you had known since college.

“How’s LA treating you Turcs?” You asked as you fell into the natural conversation.

“Great. Thinking of buying a ring for Tori.” He smiled.

“Oh my gosh! That’s amazing!” You gave your friend a congratulatory hug.

“What are you doing here?” Alex asked. “Not that I don’t want to see you, I just thought you wouldn’t want to go to your ex-boyfriend’s wedding.”

“Shay asked me to be his plus one, claimed I needed closure.” 

“And how’s that working out for you?”

“Well. I had a mental breakdown in the car, so I’d say things are going swell.” You replied sassily.

You made small talk with Alex, Cole and some of their college teammates joining you. You laughed about the good old college days, when you and Ryder were dating, after all, you did follow him to Madison. You joked about the TikToks that were created in your dorms and the adventures around campus. The four years you spent at the University of Wisconsin were easily the best four years of your life and you were glad to spend it with your good friends, even though some of them left for their NHL teams before the four years were up.

But talking about your college years with the UW-Madison men’s hockey team brought some sadness. You remembered all of the wonderful memories with Ryder. How many times you fell asleep in his room that he shared with Shay, the number of games you attended at the Kohl Center with “R. Donovan” proudly displayed across your shoulders, the picnic lunches you would have on the quad.

Now, the love of your life was probably fixing up his hair, which you knew he was always particular about, one last time before entering the wedding venue. Those would be his last moments as a free man.

This is Surely not what you thought it would be I Lose myself in a daydream Where i stand and say

“Don’t say yes  run away now I’ll meet you when you're out Of the church at the back door Don’t wait Or say a single vow You need to hear me out And they said ‘speak now’”

When you are all seated, you start to lose yourself in your thoughts. 

What would it have been like at your wedding?

You would’ve gotten married in a church, for starters, and there would be far fewer flowers. Your bridesmaids would have been Ryder’s sisters, your college roommate, and a high school friend or two. The color scheme would have been coral and navy, two colors that complimented Ryder’s olive skin. Your first dance song would’ve been something by Dan + Shay. You would’ve had red velvet cake at your reception.

You would’ve been marrying Ryder.

Alex notices that you’re in your head and puts his hand on your leg, giving a quick squeeze to your thigh for reassurance. 

In a perfect world, you would object when the preacher called for objections. You and Ryder would run away together, go to Vegas, and live happily ever after. 

But it wasn’t a perfect world.

Fond Gestures are exchanged And the organ starts to play a song That sounds like a death march And I Am hiding in the curtains It seems that I was uninvited  By a lovely bride-to-be

She Floats down the aisle  Like a pageant queen But I Know You wish it was me You wish it was me, don't you?

The piano starts to play a nice andante movement as the ushers escort Bill and the bride’s mother down the aisle, and the preacher follows. Next, Ryder walks with his mom, giving her a kiss on the cheek before going to stand next to the preacher. 

Cole, who is seated on your right side, gives you a sad smile, knowing how hard this was going to be for you. 

Ryder stands in a black suit, one you had seen countless times on game day, only this time, he wasn’t wearing his usual beanie and a boutonniere was pinned to his chest. 

You lock eyes with your former love as the wedding march starts to play. The doors open and Ryder’s bride and her father stand ready to walk down the aisle. She looked gorgeous. You looked back at Ryder, who had an empty stare. 

He wished it was you walking towards him, and you knew it.

I hear the preacher say “Speak now or forever hold your peace” There’s a silence There’s my last chance I stand up with shaky hands All eyes on me

Horrified looks from everyone in the room But I'm only looking at you

“Dearly beloved,” The preacher starts. “We are gathered here to join Ryder Donovan and Alyssa Johnson in Holy Matrimony. If anyone has just cause as to why these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Your heart races in your chest. Alex and Cole both look at you, making sure you don’t speak, Shay doing the same from next to Ryder. 

You stay quiet. If Ryder was truly happy, then you were happy for him. Eventually, you would find someone to be your happily ever after.

You zone out for the rest of the ceremony. Until the vows.

Alyssa had already said her vows, saying “I do” through her tears.

“Do you, Ryder Donovan, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse,” Ryder glanced in your direction and then back to the preacher and then to Alyssa. “For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”

Ryder took a deep breath before speaking. 

I am not the kind of girl Who should be rudely barging in On a white veil occasion But you Are not the kind of boy Who should be marrying the wrong girl

“I don’t.”

Gasps come from everyone in the room. Ryder looks in your direction before turning to Alyssa.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I thought I loved you more than I really did. You deserve the world.”

Ryder pressed a kiss to Alyssa’s cheek before walking back down the aisle. 

Shay runs after him, pulling you with him as he runs past you.

“I told you everything would be fine.” Shay smirked.

You and Shay found Ryder back in the groom’s dressing room. He sat with his head in his hands, sobs rocking his body.

“Hey.” Shay says as he approaches his younger brother.

“I just couldn’t do it, Shay,” Ryder cried. “I just couldn’t.”

“It’s okay.” Shay said as he rubbed Ryder’s back.

“I wish I hadn’t been so goddamn stupid when I left for Vegas. I should never have dumped Y/N. Never.”

“She’s here,” Shay said. “You know.”

Ryder looked up, his cheeks soaked with tears and eyes puffy. 

“Can you give us a minute?” Ryder asked.

“Sure.” Shay said, patting you on the back as he left the room.

“Hey.” You said softly.

“I said ‘I don’t’ because of you.” Ryder said, staring into your eyes. “I saw you with Alex and Cole and then as Alyssa walked down the aisle, I wished it was you.”

“I kept imagining what our wedding would have looked like.” You explained. “How you would cry when you saw me and how we would have red velvet cake with lots of cream cheese frosting because it’s our favorite.”

“I’m so stupid for letting you go.” Ryder sighed, taking your hands in his.

“If you love something, set it free.” You smiled. “And if it’s meant to be, it’ll come back.”

Ryder looked into your eyes before leaning in and kissing you on the lips. The kiss was tender yet passionate. 

And you’ll say “Let’s run away now I’ll meet you when I’m out Of my tux  At the back door Baby I didn’t say my vows So glad you were around  when they said ‘speak now.’”

Two years later, you were at another wedding involving Ryder Donovan. But this time, you were the bride and he was the groom. 

Ryder cried as you walked down the aisle and you had tears in your eyes yourself.

“Do you, Ryder Donovan, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse,” Ryder smiled wide as the preacher spoke. “For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”

“I do.” He smiled at you, squeezing your hands.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Minnesota, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The preacher smiled. “You may kiss the bride.”

Ryder pulled you in for a kiss and whispered in your ear. 

“I’m so glad you were around when they said ‘speak now.’”

[d-criss-news]

Blaine Warbler just go hitched everyone! Darren Criss, best known for his musical role in Glee and his ground-breaking performance as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace, married his fiance Mia Swier on February 16 in a four-day wedding extravaganza in New Orleans.

For the wedding ceremony, the lovely bride wore a strapless crepe tulle gown by Vera Wang. Darren, on the otherhand, was his usual dapper self in an off-white Giorgio Armanisilk grosgrain tux, accented with a bow tie, and completed with patent leather shoes.

However, never one to shy from his Filipino roots, Darren switched up his look during their reception and donned a barong tagalog made by Filipino designer to the stars, Francis Libiran, who posted the couple's Vogue wedding highlight on his Instagram. “We are on Vogue! Take a look at multi-awarded Hollywood actor Darren Criss’ most talked about wedding where he wore a custom-made Francis Libiran Barong Tagalog celebrating his union with Mia Swier.” the designer’s caption read.

The change in costume was to honor his Filipino mom, Cerina Criss, as they performed a sweet mother-and-son dance in the middle of the couple’s musical celebration. While Darren’s hand-loomed barong is made with the traditional piña fiber, the real sentimentality to his look came in the little details. According to Vogue, if you look closely, you’ll notice that the intricate embroidery on Darren’s barong is reminiscent of tattoo patterns that famously originated from Cebuano natives. Quite possibly an ode to his Cebu-born mother. Really though, could he get any sweeter?

Below, Preview talks more to Francis about the barong tagalog, working with Darren, and more!

How did you end up dressing Darren for his wedding?

“My business partner Arsi Baltazar was contacted by Ashley Weston, the stylist of Darren Criss asking if we can create a modern design of the Barong Tagalog for Darren’s wedding. We were ecstatic upon hearing this considering that we had just met him and partied with him at the Golden Globe Awards last January in Hollywood.”

Have you done clothes for him prior to this?

“This is the first time that I made clothes for Darren and I know that this will be a good start of a fruitful relationship.”

Could you describe the details that went into the barong?

“Darren’s custom-made Francis Libiran piece is made of pure hand-loomed Piña fabric. We intricately embroidered the fabric with my signature Art Deco embroidery. The design of the embroidery is inspired by the famous Tattoo design patterns of the ‘Pintados.’”

How involved was he in the process? Did he have any special requests?

“Darren and his stylist were very hands on. We were communicating on every detail up to the fitting. They simply wanted us to create an amazing design of the Barong Tagalog. I was thinking that it would be really nice for Darren to wear a traditional button-down Barongembroidered with Art Deco-patterned threadwork—a Francis Libiran signature design. We sent several design options and he chose two. During the fitting last February 5, he loved both Barongs but could not decide which one he was going to wear and told us that he will just choose on his wedding day.”

What was it like dressing him up?

“Seeing Darren Criss wear my design makes me extremely happy and proud to be Filipino. What better way to promote the Philippines but through the Barong Tagalog, and worn by a multi-awarded Hollywood star, who happens to be half Pinoy! How awesome is that? The entire process was smooth and I am so honored to have the privilege to be part of his very special day. What makes it even more special is that he chose to pay homage to his Filipino roots by wearing our national dress on his wedding day. This, for me is what makes Filipinos so amazing!”

[drummergirl231-2]

AU - Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s Father

(Note: I posted this in October 2018, months before “Whatever Happened to Della Duck?!” aired.) I didn’t think over 20 people would be interested in my silly ideas, but you guys surprised me!

I have no idea how things will go in the show regarding the boys’ father (and Della being gravid), but my brain can’t stop trying to fill in story details in the meantime. So without further ado, my AU!

As you can see by this Duck family tree by Carl Barks, HDL’s father had a military-like haircut (and also freaky human-looking ears for some reason, but I ain’t about that) so I had the idea that he was in the army and Della, Donald, and Scrooge are all under the impression he was killed in action (but he wasn’t!). 

Della finding out she was gravid:

In my story idea, Della was engaged and her fiance was about to be deployed when they conceived the boys. Donald waited up for Della as usual, and waited, and waited, and made coffee, and waited some more until she finally came home after 4am. After whisper-yelling at each other in the hallway outside their rooms (Donald scolding her for being reckless and Della saying she regrets nothing) they both turned in.

Once Della’s fiance was deployed, Scrooge noticed Della was even more melancholy than the last time (oxytocin is a jerk like that sometimes) so he decided to take Della and Donald on an extended trip to Della’s favorite places. While on the trip, Della started experiencing nausea. Scrooge thought she must have eaten something bad, since, “It’s not like you to get motion sickness, Lass.”

Scrooge decided that Della might be more comfortable in a hotel, so they got a room and ordered a third bed (the rolling kind, which Donald would have slept in only it kept folding in half on him so Della volunteered to sleep in it and it didn’t fold in half on her). Della’s nausea didn’t improve though and she suspected she could be gravid. 

One morning, Della took a test and discovered she was gravid. She started freaking out and wondering how she was going to tell Donald and Scrooge when Donald knocked on the bathroom door asking if she was okay. She opened the door and pulled him into the bathroom and shut the door again. She asked where their uncle was and when Donald said he’d already gone downstairs, she held up the positive test. Donald stared at it for a few seconds before saying, “Please tell me that’s a thermometer and your temperature is 11 in some foreign unit,” to which Della shook her head. Her eyes started tearing up and her bill quivered, which was enough to make Donald soften and hug her and promise to be supportive.

She was still pretty nervous about telling Scrooge. Donald tried to encourage her to get it over with as they were leaving the room to go downstairs, and Della turned to him while he fussed with the lock and said that Scrooge was born in the 1800s and would probably disapprove. “If Uncle Scrooge knew I was gravid he probably wouldn’t speak to me again until after the wedding!” “Try me.” Della jumped and realized that Scrooge had been coming up the hallway and heard what she said. Fortunately, he was also more supportive than she thought he’d be.

Her fiance’s supposed death:

After a brief visit to Ithaquack to share her news with Selene and Storkules, they returned home. She had an ultrasound done and the doctor told her it was triplets. She tried to think of a cute way to tell her fiance, who always wanted a big family. One night while she, Donald, and Scrooge were watching a movie, she got a call from her fiance’s mother and stepped outside the room to answer. She told Della he’d been killed in combat and that she didn’t want Della at the funeral (she never approved of the match). 

Della started crying but kept her head until the end of the phone call when she started hyperventilating and sobbing, at which point Donald and Scrooge came around the corner and held her, then helped her sit down when it seemed like she was about to faint. 

Della later sent a sonogram to his mother to let her know she was going to be a grandmother of triplets. She never replied.

She developed Preeclampsia and had to go on medication before finally delivering her eggs by cesarean with Donald by her side. Afterward she developed Postpartum Depression with frightening intrusive thoughts, leading to her departure on the Spear of Selene and leaving the boys with Donald, who she believed would keep the boys safer than she could.

FAST FOWARD

Della returned from the moon and wrote a book about her ordeal. She got invited to go on a talk show and told some of her story there. Her former fiance was alive though, and one of his buddies saw the interview where she said how she lost him and then told him about it. He watched the interview online and knew he had to contact her.

He called the landline of McDuck Manor and asked to speak to her, without telling Webby (who answered) who he was. Della nearly fainted again when she heard his voice, and he asked how she could have lied like that. She asked what he was talking about and how he could be alive. He countered that she saw him alive and broke up with him because of his wounds and not to deny it. “I’m going to deny it because it’s not true! How could you think I’d leave you? Especially for something like that?” “I wouldn’t have believed it, except I saw you left the ring on the nightstand in my hospital room!”

When he got transferred to a hospital back in the US, he woke up after a surgery to see the engagement ring he gave Della on the nightstand beside his hospital bed. His mother told him Della had been there and when she saw him wounded she called things off. “You mean the ring I’ve been wearing on a chain around my neck all this time?”

They then realized his mother had orchestrated their separation, even going so far as to have a replica ring made, and boy oh boy were they mad. They were excited to meet with each other again, though. “Since you haven’t actually seen me, I should warn you I’m a little lopsided.”  “What do you mean?” “I lost my leg.” “How? ...If you’re okay talking about it.” “Well my boys put a firecracker under my chair...” referring to his comrades (a reference to the old comic when HDL put a firecracker under their dad’s chair and he had to stay in the hospital). He was only joking though and he told Della the truth: he’d stepped on a landmine.

He’d suffered from PTSD but was doing much better, and he was actually a successful youtuber doing inspirational workout and hardcore parkour videos despite only having one leg (he does have a prosthetic but he doesn’t always wear it). He hadn’t lost his senses of adventure or humor that Della adored so much.

He’d seen Huey, Dewey, and Louie on TV before but didn’t realize their age and thought Donald must have had kids. He didn’t realize those boys were theirs.

Reunited

After they told off his mother for tricking them and keeping his triplets a secret from him, he and Della started dating again with the intention of finally marrying if all goes well. She gave the real ring back to him so he could propose again properly if the time came. He finally met his sons and started renting a house in Duckburg to be closer to all of them. He was also helpful to Della as she dealt with her own PTSD. 

He thanked Donald for everything he’d done for the boys, and asked if he would let him do two things. “What?” “One, I want to start paying child support. I know you have your pride, but I have mine and I want to start taking financial responsibility.” Donald reluctantly agreed since he put up a good argument.  “Okay, what else?” “I want to be the king of corny dad jokes. The other night I couldn’t sleep so I started writing out all these dad jokes I could use and imagining them facepalming and rolling their eyes at me. Please let me have this.”

When Halloween rolled around, his boys really got to see the extent of his humor when he said, “Alright boys, I have three ideas. One, your mom and I are thinking of dressing as pirates and I could do the whole peg leg thing, Two, I could be the elf ‘Legless,’ and she could be Tauriel, or three, I could lie on the front walkway of my house with fake blood and gore makeup all over my stump and reach out for help like something just tore off my leg while she bursts out the front door controlling some giant beast puppet.”

The Boys

Louie had a bit of a hard time accepting his dad in his life at first. He didn’t want his mom to move out again when she gets married considering they just got her back, and he didn’t want his mom and dad to take him and his brothers away from their Uncle Donald.

Scrooge held a meeting with Donald, Della, and the boys’ father to discuss options, saying there was a portion of the mansion that was like a separate flat (two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small kitchen and dining/living area) where they could live and have privacy but still be close to the boys (It had been Mrs. Beakley and Webby’s apartment until the separate air conditioner went out one summer and they moved into the main part of the mansion and never got around to moving back because it was a hassle.) They agreed this was a good option while the boys were still growing up as long as the AC was fixed.

Not long after, he and Della got engaged again, and when they got married Scrooge gave Della away and the boys had choreographed a surprise dance at the reception where they took off their tux jackets to reveal t-shirts they’d made. Huey’s said “At last,” Dewey’s said “too legit,” and Louie’s said “to quit!” So it read “At last too legit to quit!” as a joke that they were finally “legitimate.” Their father was so proud of the pun.

Marriage and a New Baby

After they got married, Della got gravid again. She was nervous after her complications last time, but still in a much better place with her true love alive and by her side.

She told Scrooge first by gift-wrapping her test (which was in a plastic bag inside the box since she remembered how squeamish he was about home tests the last time) and she and her hubby gave it to him on his birthday. He was surprised, but so happy he laughed and hugged them both and started tearing up a bit. When his nephew-in-law asked him if he was crying he said, “A Scotsman doesn’t cry, Laddie. He sweats from his eyes.”

They told Donald the next day by giving him a baby onesie that said, “I Have the Best Uncle,” and he reacted very much like Scrooge but didn’t deny his tears.

Then they set up a mystery/scavenger hunt for the boys and the last thing they’d find was a sonogram. Louie just kept looking back and forth from the sonogram to his parents saying “NO WAY!” with a big smile on his face. Huey hugged and nuzzled his mom’s tummy while Dewey started doing parkour tricks off the walls that his dad had taught him.

Della had another c-section since she’d had one last time and didn’t want to risk complications with a natural egg-laying.

Later on when they took the egg to a checkup, they had the doctor write whether the baby was a boy or girl on a piece of paper which they gave to Webby to organize a fireworks display over the Duckburg harbor. They wanted pink fireworks for a girl or blue for a boy. 

Della used social media to invite all of Duckburg to the gender reveal party, and they took Donald’s boat out and waited. Lots of other boats were on the water and a crowd had gathered at the harbor. The fireworks shot into the air, and when they exploded, pink sparks filled the sky and everyone cheered. Everyone had hoped for a girl since they had three boys already (even the boys, who wanted an excuse to still watch animated princess movies), and Dewey was so excited he jumped ship with a “WOO-OO!!!” Everyone laughed except Donald, who immediately threw a lifesaver to Dewey, not that he needed one.

When the baby girl hatched, they named her Josephine (Della likes old names and the song “Come Josephine in my Flying Machine”) and everyone called her Jojo since, as Dewey put it, “She’s too little for a name as big as Josephine.” At first they called her Josie but then shortened it even further.

Della took a picture of Scrooge holding Jojo for the first time and smiling as his eyes filled with tears and she posted the photo online. It went viral and Scrooge’s popularity went up when everyone saw his softer side.

And so they all lived happily ever after. 

[luci-is-a-devil-]

Model!Jeonghan

Notes: so this one is a little more serious then my normal. It involves a panic attack and depression, please be careful when reading. Requests are open!

•you were a child model for a while •and you hated it, people would tell you how to look and how to move •it was awful, but it was your moms dream and you were only seven •so you held your tongue and did as told •commercials, magazines, tv, movies, you were everywhere •but not for what you wanted to be •it was because you were adorable that you were everywhere, not for your talent or your smarts •you were treated like an object, a doll that was supposed to sit still and look pretty •when you turned eighteen, everything came to a stop •no more acting, no more commercials, nothing •you wanted no part of being in the public eye •but you needed a job, and the only thing besides sitting still and looking pretty that you were good at was photography •you had countless photo shoots, and photographers would tell assistants what camera they needed and stuff •and you picked up on it, and could tell cameras apart and knew what the best setting was •so from modeling, you became a photographer •you had friends who worked in the business and let you take their pictures •and you got a boost in the world, sure it was help but this world was tough •each day was different, models couldn’t be anymore different from each other if they tried •models like Jeon Somi had taken over your spot, and you were glad but you know how it felt being in the spotlight •so whenever you were with the young girl, you would treat her like your equal and would give her advice •and because of that she’d talk about you on variety shows she went on •continuing to boost you into the photography world •you started to work with very popular models •Kim Seokjin, Kim junmyeon, Wendy and so many more •it was thrilling, these were people who wanted to be in the position that you hated • •on rare days off, you liked to take walks in the park, go to cafes, anywhere that gave you inspiration •so one Monday where you had no work, you bundled up in your favorite coat and scarf and started to walk •having no place in mind, you let your feet carry you to where they wanted •so when you found yourself at a park, you just continued to walk •there was a huge pond near the play area, and a few ducks were swimming inside •making you coo at them from afar, because ducks are cute but also terrifying •but what scared you more then the ducks, was a hand tapping you on the shoulder •you spun around and looked at the person, ready to fight if needed •"Hi! My name is Seokmin, I’m looking for someone who can model right now. Are you free?“ •a look at him and you could see that he was stressed, bags were under his eyes, his nails looked bitten to the skin, and he was wearing pajama pants while wearing the top of a tux •"yeah, I’m free. What do you need.” •you hated modeling but this man just looked like he needed to rest and if you rejected, he wasn’t gonna get that •"I’ll take you to mingyu and josh now!!! Thank you!!!“ •pretty much getting dragged along, you let him take you to his workplace •inside of the building was a fake spring set, flowers, and everything •there was a group of people whisper yelling at each other •when they saw seokmin, two boys ran over and grabbed you and started spinning you around •"I’ll get the kit, get them in the clothes.” •and the boy with high cheekbones was off •"I’m soonyoung! I’m a manager!“ •before you could greet him, he shoved clothes at you and pushed you into a changing room •and so you changed in record time, not wanting one of the boys to barge in while you were changing •when you finished, you left the changing room •right in front of the room was a boy holding a pink box •he quickly introduced himself as mingyu and sat you down and did your makeup •he rushed you out of the chair when your face was finished •there seokmin was waiting for you •when he saw you, his face broke into a grin that you thought his jaw would break •"you look amazing! Have you thought of being a model?” •letting a scoff you shake your head and ask him if you could hurry this up •so he quickly takes you to where this boy is standing in front of a camera •"jihoon! Jeonghan! I found someone!“ •both the photographer and model turn their head to look at you •the photographer nods, as if saying that you match him •so you get ushered next to the blonde boy, and sighing once more you start to remember the poses for modeling •the photo shoot was supposed to look like a date in spring •so you’re both in cute floral, pastel outfits even though it’s fall •luckily you’re inside or else it’d be chilly •so you have Jeonghan’s hand in yours, and your smiling a sweet smile at him, as if he had said something cute too you •this went on for two hours, three clothes change laters, and a bottle of water •you’re exhausted, and ready to leave •as everyone’s packing up, and you’re allowed to get dressed in your own clothes •jeonghan is waiting for you outside the changing room •as you leave the room, for what you hope the last time •"who are you? Why do you look so familiar?” •looking at him and then sighing because he most likely saw you in the dark days •"is this a pick up line? Because it’s not a good one.“ •of course you knew it wasn’t but who was he to get to know your backstory? •he scoffed but there was amusement in his chocolate brown eyes •you waved goodbye to to the male, and left the building, memories of the past came flooding back even though you tried to keep them away • •it had been months since you had modeled with jeonghan •and as much as you loved photography and wanted to believe that you were good at it •seeing jihoon’s pictures of jeonghan and you made you feel small somehow •he managed to make it look like you and jeonghan were actually in love •and you were frustrated by this, because emotions nope, you were married to work and it was a very happy relationship •or so you thought, but jeonghan was different •you had seen him in passing a few times, and witty banter had been a nice part in seeing him •but what are these feelings???? •bicth take em bacb •sadly these feelings remained •and you had this huge ass crush on the blonde boys who’s smile sent your heart into overload •he was kind yet he could be so mischievous, he deserved the world •but could you give him that? •the photos had come out of you two, and everyone had been surprised that you were a model for it •but you said that was a one time thing and carried in with your life •and everything went back to normal •nope I’m lying •you were receiving calls and requests every day, and they all wanted the same thing •you to model and act again •with each call and email, it started to break you •because were they telling you that you aren’t good at your job? •were you only a pretty face? •you were spiraling back to the place you had left years ago •the depressed part of you that left you feeling small and beaten •Anxiety plagued your mind, filling it with thoughts that made your depression come back harder •you weren’t taking pictures anymore •there was no taking walks on days off •no more "coincidentally” bumping into jeonghan •all you wanted to do was sleep, you were so tired •your mind seemed to never turn off these days, your email was flooded •the voicemail had been fillies days ago •but you couldn’t find it in you to care •what was the point? Jeonghan deserved someone who could give him the stars and the moon •not you, someone who couldn’t take pictures and was only a pretty face • •days passed into weeks, and eventually no one had seen you for the better part of a month •the boys would come and knock on the door, your manager would come and tell you about new uprising models •Jeonghan came •you could tell from the soft breathing and the soft thump that signaled him putting his forehead on the door •"y/n? Are you okay?“ •and that set you off, tears started streaming down your face, hiccups came out as you tried to breathe, only to find out that you were having an attack •Jeonghan heard this and tried to open the door, its locked obviously •but he tries his hardest •and you want to open it, you do •but would this be the end? Would he see you and decide that you’re not worth it? •taking a blanket and putting it around you so you were bundled up, like that would help pretend you were alright •and you unlocked the door, seeing Jeonghan for the first time in what felt like years •"wanna come in?” •you offered to the male who looked just as handsome as he did the day you met him •he nodded and followed you into the living room, and sat stiffly on the couch •you bundled yourself up in the blanket, preparing for the conversation that was sure to come •"y/n?“ •he was letting you start the conversation, you draw the line where you wanted too •he let you be in control, and that meant a lot •"you deserve the moon, the stars, planets and so much more. I can’t give that to you, I can’t give anything. But I like you so much, I thought I was done with this. But I guess I’m still broken.” •the laugh at the end was filled with anger and pain, and you were disgusted at yourself •who were you to tell him your problems? He had his own, he didn’t need your dumb stupid ones. •you were worthless, trash, an absolute disg- •"I don’t deserve anything, y/n. You deserve happiness, why won’t you let yourself have that? I don’t need planets or the moon. I only want you.“ •you should be happy, thrilled even but the only thought in you mind is why •and you feel fresh tears starting to drip out •but these aren’t sad tears, they’re relieved ones •you unbundle yourself, and hold out your arms •letting your walls completely fall, allowing Jeonghan to hold you close to his heart •where you can hear and feel his heart beating • •the walls fell down and there was no reason to rebuild them •with Jeonghan by your side you could fight the world •as long as he was standing next to you, that look in his eyes that he gets when he’s happy, it’ll be okay •you’ll be alright

[bts-love-sweat-tears]

Ice Princess

Title: Ice Princess

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Rating: PG

Type: Fluff (the only thing I know how to write, apparently)

Inspiration: Tae’s love of Gucci, his frugal & filial ideal type, my summer finance course (lol, I’m not on the MC’s level at all), Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (specifically Park Hyung-Sik’s young CEO character).  This one took me a little while and was harder to write than the first two I did. As always, please let me know any  constructive writing feedback you have <3 

You sighed and stretched out in your California king bed, and rolled over to check the time on your phone. 4:45AM. Why was it that you could rarely sleep through the night? Knowing that it was all the rest that you would be getting for the night, you padded over to your desk, flipped open the computer, and started reading through financial reports. Not the most glamorous way to be spending the wee hours of the morning, but it was one that had led your family’s business to unprecedented success. You had taken a small mom-and-pop operation, and turned it into a national chain, and then an international conglomerate based on investments and acquisitions. Luckily you had your parents and older brothers to be the public faces of the operation, with only those on the Board of Directors knowing that you were the brains behind the company’s continued success. It wasn’t that you had set out with this secrecy, but it had sort of evolved after realizing how difficult it was to “wheel and deal” at the highest levels of this patriarchal society.

On the other hand though, you were still in your early twenties, and longed for someone to communicate with. Your non-stop work managing the company was your passion, but it had come at the expense of friends and romantic relationships. While you knew that you had chosen your priorities, you still hoped that you could “have it all.” Part of the main challenge was that you had two different personas- your in-office, immaculate professional, and then the person you were outside of work. You dressed simply and casually. Though your family’s net worth was in the nine digits, on your rare days off you wore white tees, gray hoodies, and black jeans. it was a standard, simple uniform, but it was comfortable, and more importantly, cheap. You hadn’t gotten the family business to thrive by wasting money on fashion or other frivolities. The paparazzi had quickly become bored of your austerity, and had moved on to the scions of other chaebols, whose lives provided much more interesting fodder for the tabloids.

After reviewing spreadsheets and flipping through the top articles of the day, you glanced at your Google calendar, and froze. Out of all the things you remembered to do  day in and out, you couldn’t believe that you forgot that today was your mother’s 50th birthday. You had remembered that your father had been planning some sort of intimate family dinner at one of the most exclusive restaurants in town, which of course had been a source of contention between the two of you, since you hadn’t wanted to randomly spend the money, but now it all made sense. More importantly though, you realized that you had no gift, and the rest of your afternoon was booked with conference calls and meetings, so it was now or never. You sighed and went to your closet. Even though you preferred comfort and utility, you also knew that where you were going, you would need to look good to get the best/quickest service. Time to go to “the Rodeo.”

An hour and a half later, you found yourself outside the Gucci store in Cheongdam-dong, a place you had never had any particular interest in visiting. However, your mom had been eyeing a pair of pink leather loafers that had been all the rage with the other ajummas in her circle, but you knew that she would never actually buy them for herself. Your mother had grown up poor, and she still couldn’t quite trust the sustained good fortune that your family had had. While you didn’t like spending money wastefully or on yourself, your mother was the one person who you would never hesitate to spend money on, particularly since she also would never spend it on herself.  

You approached the door, noticing a crowd congregating outside of the store, snapping pictures and talking animatedly among themselves. You didn’t give them a second glance though, knowing you were on a tight timeframe. You opened the door, and were met by a cool blast of air conditioning, followed almost immediately by the smiles and greetings of shop attendants. When you told them what you were looking for, they led you to the well-lit back wall that highlighted all of their shoes, and explained the different options. After it was clear that you were alternating indecisively between the unlined and fur-lined pair, the shop assistants started to drift away to seemingly more lucrative clients.

As you were debating, you noticed a tall, golden-complexioned boy (man?) out of the corner of your eye. He clearly thought that he was all that, since he was wearing sunglasses-inside, at nine in the morning, no less- and had a face-mask on. You rolled your eyes. This was exactly why you avoided stores like this. He was looking at the men’s slippers. When he caught you eyeing him up, he lowered his mask, and smiled the squarest smile you had ever seen. How did his lips even bend in that way? Caught off guard, you kept staring, which only made his smile more boxy. His face was unbelievably symmetrical.

“Like what you see?”

“Not particularly.” You sighed. “ I was just wondering what kind of weirdo wears sunglasses inside.”

He looked like a hurt puppy at the word “weirdo,” and the image you had of a self-assured player shattered. He must be your age or younger.

“I’m not weird!!!” he whined. “ I have to be….cautious.”

“Yes, yes. I’m sure you have your reasons.” You sighed, not particularly interested in furthering the conversation, already thinking back to your mom’s slippers.

The boy wasn’t giving up though. He moved closer, and spoke again, this time whispering.

“You seriously don’t recognize me?” His eyes were sparkling with some emotion you couldn’t read. Surprise? Suppressed laughter? Derision?

You ignored him, and when he saw what you were looking at, he said, “Go with the fur-lined ones. My hyung got me a pair, and they’re my favorite!”

You decided that you had better things to do, and stood up, unconsciously taking his advice and grabbing the fur-lined ones.

He laughed, eyes still sparkling, and followed you to the register. “You called me weird, but you’re possibly the only person in South Korea who doesn’t know who I am.”

“Sorry, but I don’t have a lot of free time.  In fact, I have a meeting to get to,” you snapped, handing the black credit card to the cashier. His eyes followed your hands, and the card, and you thought that might finally shut him up.  

As you were walking out of the store, he ran out after you,  multiple bags in hand and boxy smile still plastered to his face. “My job takes up a lot of my time, but I still have time to watch TV and stay up to date on who’s who!”

Before you could even think of what to reply, he was whisked away by some kind handler, and the crowd that had been there when you arrived had only multiplied. As you got into your own waiting car, you heard squeals of “Taehyung-oppa!!” and “V-oppa!” While you were sure that you had heard of that name somewhere and now had deduced from the crowd that he was some kind of celebrity, you couldn’t place him. Clearly whatever “cautions” he had taken were ineffective.  Soon you were whisked away to meetings, and any thoughts of him left your mind.

The clinking of glasses and silverware, the dim lighting, and the classical music were all par for the course at the fanciest French restaurant in the city, but for some reason, the night still felt especially enchanting to you. Maybe because you were all together as a family, celebrating the woman who was the bedrock of your family. You were all relatively close, but as the family business grew bigger, it seemed like you had less time together. You should all really just sell the company, and relax on a yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean, but it wasn’t in line with your family’s working class values. You felt strangely happy (maybe it was the wine), which was rare for the family’s “ice princess.” Some disgruntled investor had called you that once, and the nickname had somehow stuck. Though your family now said it with endearment, you didn’t always love it.

Tonight, though, that part of your personality had melted away.  Feeling warm, you excused yourself from the table to go to the bathroom and splash some water on your face. Your cheeks were a little pink when you saw your reflection in the bathroom, but nonetheless you thought you looked glamorous in your little black dress and pearls. You felt like Audrey Hepburn in one of those old classic movies you would sometimes watch with your siblings. Realizing that you were probably approaching the end of the socially acceptable time limit to be gone from the dinner table, you opened the bathroom door, and rushed around the corner. And directly into someone’s broad back.

You bowed slightly to apologize, and when you looked up you saw the same infuriating boxy smile from that morning. Except this time, instead of sunglasses, he was wearing prescription frames that allowed you to stare directly into his dark brown eyes.  He was also wearing a perfectly fitted tux, which you were trying very hard to ignore. He had clearly recognized you right away.

“Hey! I know you! The girl from this morning! Did you plan this?” he beamed.

“Wow, the weird guy from this morning. And definitely not. I’m here with my family.” you replied curtly. But you thought back to this morning and again felt bad for calling him weird.

“I want to meet them! I bet they’re really cute and traditional-who shelters their grown daughter so much that she has never heard of BTS?”

You roll your eyes at that. Well that answered THAT question. “I’m not sheltered-just busy with my career. Forgive me, oh great Taehyung-oppa.” You had meant it as a joke, based on what you had heard people shouting earlier, but your voice came out breathier and higher than you meant it to. You were blaming it on the wine.

He froze for a minute, eyes wide, but suddenly laughed a wheezy laugh, which was cut by the arrival of your mother.

“Ahh there you are! I was just coming to check if you were okay! I thought you may have fallen in,” she chuckled, her whole face smiling. Her expression changed to shock when she saw Taehyung, and you were concerned that she might have a heart attack.

“Aren’t you Kim Taehyung? You were in the drama 화랑 recently!” she said excitedly.

Kim Taehyung smiled sweetly, and nodded his head. Your mother continued, “Aish, I watched every episode! Though there were some very sad scenes,” she said, looking at him pointedly. “Wow, what good luck to run into a celebrity on my birthday!”

“Ahh, it’s your birthday?” Tae almost shouted. “생일 축하합니다!!” Why were you the calmest one in the hallway?  Your mom looked like she was on the verge of fainting.

“I know it might be strange of me to ask, but would you be willing to take a picture with me? I’m a huge fan.”

You were sure that he was going to say no, as idols were notorious for being image-conscious and intensely private. Just as you were about to get defensive on her behalf, he beamed that signature smile and said unexpected words.

“ I would be honored.” As you took out your phone to take the picture, he put one arm around your mom and and shot a heart toward the camera with the other. You blushed just looking at the screen. How strong was this wine?! This wasn’t your personality at all.  

After you snapped the photo, he quickly closed the space between you, and asked to see the picture. After approving it, he looked back to you. “I know it might be bold, since we just met, but since we keep bumping into each other, would you give me your phone number?”

Your mom covered her mouth with her hand and slowly backed away to give you two some space. You could only imagine the gossip she was probably spreading back at the family table. If he had asked for your number earlier in the Gucci store, you would have definitely said no, but seeing how kind he was to your mom, how could you not? You smiled and started to speak. You had a feeling that things were going to be changing, and maybe you could “lean in” and still “have it all.”

[biofunmy]

Real Wedding Day Looks – The New York Times

A traditional aso oke for a Nigerian wedding. A kimono for a Japanese tea. A red lehenga for a Hindu ceremony. The men and women featured in our wedding announcements (and other couples) wore outfits that told many stories, some of personal style and others of cultural traditions. Here is a selection of photographs from their weddings, with details on their purchases.

1. A Dream (Dress) Come True

Alix Raspé in Eve of Milady

Since she was a little girl Alix Raspé dreamed of wearing a pink princess dress when she got married. “This dress seemed like the perfect, more adult, compromise of my dream pink wedding dress,” said Ms. Raspé, who chose an Eve of Milady gown embellished with delicate pale pink and white flowers, along with a layer of clear sequins underneath the top skirt. “I was glowing, I felt so happy, beautiful, in love and loved by everyone who attended our wedding,” said Ms. Raspé who found her dress at Kleinfelds in New York. “I knew I was marrying my prince and I had the perfect princess dress to make my wedding feel royal and spectacular.”

2. A Touch of Red and a Nod to Tradition

Jennifer Miao in Zuhair Murad

Dr. Jennifer Miao learned to work under pressure as she studied for her medical degree. But finding a wedding dress during her residency proved to be a greater obstacle than she thought. “I purchased my dress online without a formal fitting, given my schedule,” she said. “The second time I tried it on was my wedding day — one week after finishing a monthlong rotation in the medical intensive care unit.” Dr. Miao wore a dress designed by Zuhair Murad. “I fell in love with its simple but elegant front and dramatic, intricately layered tulle skirt that enhanced the dress’ free-spirited, impressionistic qualities,” she said. “I chose to wear red lipstick and red suede Valentino Rockstud heels as a homage to my Chinese heritage.” In the end, she felt that what she wore paled in comparison to the love she felt. “I felt incredibly fortunate to be able to see my husband-to-be’s asymmetrical dimples and green eyes light up as I walked down the aisle.”

3. Classic with a Twist

Laura Suppan in Raf Simons for Calvin Klein and Jacquemus

Laura Suppan was inspired by New York and the many iconic couples who wed there, and so she carefully selected wedding day looks that featured mostly New York-based designers. “The idea of looking back at our pictures and seeing my husband and me in this amazing setting inspired me to choose pieces that have an equal connection to the city and my heritage,” said Ms. Suppan, who wore a dress designed by Raf Simons for Calvin Klein for the morning ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau and a suit from Jacquemus for the reception at the New York Yacht Club. “It didn’t feel right for me to wear an elaborate wedding gown, so I was set to find a non-wedding dress. I tried about 50 different dresses all over the city before I found ‘the one.’”

4. Four Looks, Two Weddings

Morenike and Ademola Adewale-Sadik in custom outfits crafted by the Nigerian designers Tsemaye Binitie, Toju Foyeh, Andrea Iyamah and Deola Sagoe of House of Deola

Morenike Adewale-Sadik had a total off four outfits, two for each day of her two-day wedding celebration. For the traditional Nigerian wedding, Ms. Adewale-Sadik and her husband, Ademola Adewale-Sadik, chose a matching teal blue aso oke, a garment worn by the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. “I wanted to wear a solid color to stand out solely from the color in a sea of so many people,” said Ms. Adewale-Sadik, who later changed into an embellished pink tulle aso oke, while her husband wore a matching pink ensemble. For the next ceremony, Ms. Adewale-Sadik donned a white, off-shoulder mermaid gown from Andrea Iyamah a Nigerian-born designer based in Canada. “My outfits were all custom-made by Nigerian designers,” Ms. Adewale-Sadik said. “I have never felt such a sense of pure euphoria. Each of my designers paid tremendous amounts of detail to my outfits and getting to wear some family heirlooms made it all the more special.”

5. A Dreamy Vintage Gown

Anna Kaschel in a custom dress designed by Mariel Manuel

Anna Kaschel didn’t see herself wearing a white traditional bridal dress, especially because her wedding was not a very traditional one. “We decided to do a spontaneous and fun road trip to New Orleans from New York City,” said Ms. Kaschel. “Inspired by the tropical vibrant spirit of New Orleans and our beautiful location, the Tree of Life in Audubon Park, I chose to go for a colorful but very dreamy tropical ‘L.A. desert vintage’ inspired wedding dress.” Ms. Kaschel enlisted the help of her friend Mariel Manuel, who designed and created an outfit that consisted of a colorful underdress made from Bombay silk, handmade and tie-dyed, and a top layer of petal pink chiffon. “When I slipped into my dress that day and into my favorite bright golden summer shoes, I felt like a dreamy vintage, yet contemporary bride,” she said. “I was so happy.”

6. A Grandmother’s Gift

Eri Tagaya in a custom kimono and gown by Zahavit Tshuba

On Eri Tagaya’s 20th birthday, her grandmother bought her a traditional Japanese furisode kimono from Mitsukoshi in Tokyo. Years later, she didn’t have to look far for the perfect look for her tea ceremony. “The furisode style is one which can only be worn by single women, and I wore it to our tea ceremony at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, the day before the wedding,” Ms. Tagaya said. “During the tea ceremony, I felt connected with my grandmother, who passed away in 2012.” On her wedding day, Ms. Tagaya wore a dress from the Israeli designer Zahavit Tshuba for the ceremony and later changed out of the long skirt and into an ostrich feather mini so that she could dance the night away. “On my wedding day, I felt full of joy,” she said. “And at the same time, deeply peaceful, like I was floating through the best dream I have ever had.”

7. Palm Spring’s Rat Pack Glamour

Henry Orzynski and Judson Trapnell in the Black Tux

Henry Orzynski and Judson Trapnell’s black-tie dress code from the Black Tux was a nod to Palm Spring’s history as Hollywood’s playground. “Jud and I wore ivory dinner jackets while the male wedding attendees wore standard black tuxedos,” Mr. Orzynski said. “We wanted to stand out, but neither of us wanted to be the only one in white for fear of looking like ‘the bride.’” The couple added a custom detail to their wedding day looks with cummerbunds bearing their monograms in a needle point design by a Colorado artist. “Our outfits felt highly personalized and reminiscent of Palm Spring’s Rat Pack glamour,” said Mr. Trapnell, who surprised Mr. Orzynski with bespoke fox and hound cuff links made by Anna Biggs, a family friend and jewelry designer. “As we left the ceremony, we hopped into a vintage red Mercedes convertible that Henry arranged as a surprise for me.”

8. Fit For Martha’s Vineyard

Najah Woodby in Made with Love

Najah Woodby knew she wanted a form-fitting dress, but she wasn’t quite sold on lace. “Originally, I didn’t think I wanted lace until I saw the most beautiful lace dress that was classic yet unconventional at the same time,” Ms. Woodby said of the Made with Love dress that she bought at Lovely Bride, a bridal shop in New York. “It was elegant, sexy and fit my wedding venue in Martha’s Vineyard perfectly. And most importantly the dress made me feel beautiful and perfectly flattered my figure.”

9. Inspired by Mom

Lepi Jha Fishman in traditional lehengas

Lepi Jha Fishman didn’t think much about what she would wear on her wedding day, but she didn’t have to look far for ideas. “I ended up looking at my mother’s wedding photos for inspiration,” she said. “My mother wore a beautiful red sari with gold accents.” Ms. Jha Fishman also looked to her then-fiancé Eddie Fishman, who loved trees, for inspiration. “To recognize these two incredibly important people in my lives, I chose to wear a deep red lehenga with gold accents that were arranged in the likeness of a tree,” she said of the outfit she wore to her reception, designed by Manish Malhotra. On Ms. Jha Fishman’s wedding day, her parents gifted her a custom maang tikka, an Indian bridal centerpiece worn on the forehead, and to complete the look, she wore a beige lehenga from Nazranaa, an Indian bridal shop in Iselin, N.J. “I wanted both the Jha and Fishman sides of the day to come through in my choice of lehengas,” she said. “Thinking through the elements that were part of both of our traditions made me feel like I could wear those traditions during our ceremony and reception.”

10. Dressing for a New Outlook

Meghan Paul in Oscar de la Renta and Naeem Khan

The first time Meghan Paul wore a wedding gown she had idealistic expectations about marriage and a wedding dress. This time, she wanted a dress to reflect the change in her outlook. “I had previously worn a princess-style ball gown, which in hindsight, perfectly described my idealism when it came to marriage,” she said. “Now, I had a more mature, realistic view on marriage, and wanted my dress to reflect that, while still being fashion-forward.” Ms. Paul married Peter Marquis on Sept. 2 at the Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Shopping for that wedding was trickier than she expected, so she enlisted the help of a professional. “I was referred to the bridal stylist Maradee Wahl who expedited the process immensely, and even made it fun,” Ms. Paul said. “After going through the look book process, we ended up selecting the Lola gown from Oscar de la Renta’s 2018 collection.” Ms. Wahl also helped with selecting a reception gown designed by Naeem Khan from the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in New York. Having a second outfit, Ms. Paul said, “took the pressure off getting the perfect wedding gown and made dancing the night away so fun.”

11. The Un-Bridal Gown

Anne Fink in Dan Jones

Anne Fink had a very specific vision for what she didn’t want to wear on her wedding day, and that was a strapless, lace, mermaid gown with a beaded silk belt. “I wanted something that felt unique and also fit my body, I wanted something simple that I could move around in.” Ms. Fink heard about an Australian designer, Dan Jones, that created an entire line called “Unbridaled,” which included wedding dresses that didn’t feel “too bride-y.” It didn’t take long for Ms. Fink to find the gown that she had been searching for. “The dress is so reminiscent to that of my late grandmother, the second I put it on I knew it was the dress,” she said of the gown that featured long sleeves, a high neckline and a simple skirt. Ms. Fink completed her look with vintage diamond floral shaped drop earrings and classic white Manolo Blahnik shoes. “I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life,” she said. “I got to marry my best friend, and do it feeling beautiful.”

12. A Marriage of Two Visions

Lauren Gumerove in Pronovias Atelier

When Lauren Gumerove was considering what to wear on her wedding day, her future husband had his own ideas. While Ms. Gumerove wanted a more form-fitting wedding dress, he wanted to see her in a poufy princess gown. “After shopping at countless New York wedding dress boutiques, I had yet to find ‘the one,’” said Ms. Gumerove, who married Brennan Gumerove Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Club of New York. “So, I decided to buck tradition and bring my fiancé, who routinely vets my outfits, with me to see if his input could get me any closer to finding my dream wedding dress.” However, their visions still didn’t align. “To marry these two visions, my wedding planner, Jennifer Taylor of a Taylored Affair, and I came up with a compromise: a magnificent custom overskirt that I could wear in the first part of the evening and take off when the party started.” Ms. Gumerove worked closely with Designer Loft and Pronovias to make her (and her fiancé’s) vision into a reality, and, after seven fittings, her dress was finally ready. “I felt otherworldly and regal in my dress and custom overskirt, so much so that I ended up wearing the overskirt well into the night. It perfectly fit the grandeur of the venue and the decadence of our vision for the wedding.”

13. Falling in Love with Saris

Megan Barry in Sabyasachi

When Megan Barry and Rohit Anand began planning their Indian wedding ceremony, Ms. Barry knew that a white dress, which is usually worn as a sign of mourning in the Hindu religion, was not in the cards. “In the beginning, I was a little sad about this but then I started looking at my sari options and I fell in love,” said Ms. Barry, who married Mr. Anand Sept. 8 at the Light House in Chelsea Piers in New York. Ms. Barry visited the Sabyasachi store in Mumbai, India, and was captivated with all of his designs. “Since I couldn’t wear white I knew I wanted to wear gold and when I saw my dress in the designer’s book I knew I had to have it,” she said.

14. First Time’s a Charm

Alexandra Britton in Monique Lhuillier

After visiting Ultimate Bride, a bridal shop in Chicago, it didn’t take long Alexandra Britton to find the dress of her dreams. “It was the first dress I tried on, and I fell in love with it,” said Ms. Britton, who bought a Monique Lhuillier gown that she paired with a custom cathedral veil designed to match. “I wanted something elegant and classic while also being fun and festive.” Ms. Britton, who had a black-tie New Year’s Eve wedding last year at the St. Jane Hotel in Chicago, said she felt beautiful and empowered on her wedding day. “Someone called me an ice princess,” she said, “and it was probably the most astute and flattering description possible.”

Continue following our fashion and lifestyle coverage on Facebook (Styles and Modern Love), Twitter (Styles, Fashion and Weddings) and Instagram.

Sahred From Source link Fashion and Style

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2MOrc4u via IFTTT

[biofunmy]

Real Wedding Day Looks – The New York Times

A traditional aso oke for a Nigerian wedding. A kimono for a Japanese tea. A red lehenga for a Hindu ceremony. The men and women featured in our wedding announcements (and other couples) wore outfits that told many stories, some of personal style and others of cultural traditions. Here is a selection of photographs from their weddings, with details on their purchases.

1. A Dream (Dress) Come True

Alix Raspé in Eve of Milady

Since she was a little girl Alix Raspé dreamed of wearing a pink princess dress when she got married. “This dress seemed like the perfect, more adult, compromise of my dream pink wedding dress,” said Ms. Raspé, who chose an Eve of Milady gown embellished with delicate pale pink and white flowers, along with a layer of clear sequins underneath the top skirt. “I was glowing, I felt so happy, beautiful, in love and loved by everyone who attended our wedding,” said Ms. Raspé who found her dress at Kleinfelds in New York. “I knew I was marrying my prince and I had the perfect princess dress to make my wedding feel royal and spectacular.”

2. A Touch of Red and a Nod to Tradition

Jennifer Miao in Zuhair Murad

Dr. Jennifer Miao learned to work under pressure as she studied for her medical degree. But finding a wedding dress during her residency proved to be a greater obstacle than she thought. “I purchased my dress online without a formal fitting, given my schedule,” she said. “The second time I tried it on was my wedding day — one week after finishing a monthlong rotation in the medical intensive care unit.” Dr. Miao wore a dress designed by Zuhair Murad. “I fell in love with its simple but elegant front and dramatic, intricately layered tulle skirt that enhanced the dress’ free-spirited, impressionistic qualities,” she said. “I chose to wear red lipstick and red suede Valentino Rockstud heels as a homage to my Chinese heritage.” In the end, she felt that what she wore paled in comparison to the love she felt. “I felt incredibly fortunate to be able to see my husband-to-be’s asymmetrical dimples and green eyes light up as I walked down the aisle.”

3. Classic with a Twist

Laura Suppan in Raf Simons for Calvin Klein and Jacquemus

Laura Suppan was inspired by New York and the many iconic couples who wed there, and so she carefully selected wedding day looks that featured mostly New York-based designers. “The idea of looking back at our pictures and seeing my husband and me in this amazing setting inspired me to choose pieces that have an equal connection to the city and my heritage,” said Ms. Suppan, who wore a dress designed by Raf Simons for Calvin Klein for the morning ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau and a suit from Jacquemus for the reception at the New York Yacht Club. “It didn’t feel right for me to wear an elaborate wedding gown, so I was set to find a non-wedding dress. I tried about 50 different dresses all over the city before I found ‘the one.’”

4. Four Looks, Two Weddings

Morenike and Ademola Adewale-Sadik in custom outfits crafted by the Nigerian designers Tsemaye Binitie, Toju Foyeh, Andrea Iyamah and Deola Sagoe of House of Deola

Morenike Adewale-Sadik had a total off four outfits, two for each day of her two-day wedding celebration. For the traditional Nigerian wedding, Ms. Adewale-Sadik and her husband, Ademola Adewale-Sadik, chose a matching teal blue aso oke, a garment worn by the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. “I wanted to wear a solid color to stand out solely from the color in a sea of so many people,” said Ms. Adewale-Sadik, who later changed into an embellished pink tulle aso oke, while her husband wore a matching pink ensemble. For the next ceremony, Ms. Adewale-Sadik donned a white, off-shoulder mermaid gown from Andrea Iyamah a Nigerian-born designer based in Canada. “My outfits were all custom-made by Nigerian designers,” Ms. Adewale-Sadik said. “I have never felt such a sense of pure euphoria. Each of my designers paid tremendous amounts of detail to my outfits and getting to wear some family heirlooms made it all the more special.”

5. A Dreamy Vintage Gown

Anna Kaschel in a custom dress designed by Mariel Manuel

Anna Kaschel didn’t see herself wearing a white traditional bridal dress, especially because her wedding was not a very traditional one. “We decided to do a spontaneous and fun road trip to New Orleans from New York City,” said Ms. Kaschel. “Inspired by the tropical vibrant spirit of New Orleans and our beautiful location, the Tree of Life in Audubon Park, I chose to go for a colorful but very dreamy tropical ‘L.A. desert vintage’ inspired wedding dress.” Ms. Kaschel enlisted the help of her friend Mariel Manuel, who designed and created an outfit that consisted of a colorful underdress made from Bombay silk, handmade and tie-dyed, and a top layer of petal pink chiffon. “When I slipped into my dress that day and into my favorite bright golden summer shoes, I felt like a dreamy vintage, yet contemporary bride,” she said. “I was so happy.”

6. A Grandmother’s Gift

Eri Tagaya in a custom kimono and gown by Zahavit Tshuba

On Eri Tagaya’s 20th birthday, her grandmother bought her a traditional Japanese furisode kimono from Mitsukoshi in Tokyo. Years later, she didn’t have to look far for the perfect look for her tea ceremony. “The furisode style is one which can only be worn by single women, and I wore it to our tea ceremony at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, the day before the wedding,” Ms. Tagaya said. “During the tea ceremony, I felt connected with my grandmother, who passed away in 2012.” On her wedding day, Ms. Tagaya wore a dress from the Israeli designer Zahavit Tshuba for the ceremony and later changed out of the long skirt and into an ostrich feather mini so that she could dance the night away. “On my wedding day, I felt full of joy,” she said. “And at the same time, deeply peaceful, like I was floating through the best dream I have ever had.”

7. Palm Spring’s Rat Pack Glamour

Henry Orzynski and Judson Trapnell in the Black Tux

Henry Orzynski and Judson Trapnell’s black-tie dress code from the Black Tux was a nod to Palm Spring’s history as Hollywood’s playground. “Jud and I wore ivory dinner jackets while the male wedding attendees wore standard black tuxedos,” Mr. Orzynski said. “We wanted to stand out, but neither of us wanted to be the only one in white for fear of looking like ‘the bride.’” The couple added a custom detail to their wedding day looks with cummerbunds bearing their monograms in a needle point design by a Colorado artist. “Our outfits felt highly personalized and reminiscent of Palm Spring’s Rat Pack glamour,” said Mr. Trapnell, who surprised Mr. Orzynski with bespoke fox and hound cuff links made by Anna Biggs, a family friend and jewelry designer. “As we left the ceremony, we hopped into a vintage red Mercedes convertible that Henry arranged as a surprise for me.”

8. Fit For Martha’s Vineyard

Najah Woodby in Made with Love

Najah Woodby knew she wanted a form-fitting dress, but she wasn’t quite sold on lace. “Originally, I didn’t think I wanted lace until I saw the most beautiful lace dress that was classic yet unconventional at the same time,” Ms. Woodby said of the Made with Love dress that she bought at Lovely Bride, a bridal shop in New York. “It was elegant, sexy and fit my wedding venue in Martha’s Vineyard perfectly. And most importantly the dress made me feel beautiful and perfectly flattered my figure.”

9. Inspired by Mom

Lepi Jha Fishman in traditional lehengas

Lepi Jha Fishman didn’t think much about what she would wear on her wedding day, but she didn’t have to look far for ideas. “I ended up looking at my mother’s wedding photos for inspiration,” she said. “My mother wore a beautiful red sari with gold accents.” Ms. Jha Fishman also looked to her then-fiancé Eddie Fishman, who loved trees, for inspiration. “To recognize these two incredibly important people in my lives, I chose to wear a deep red lehenga with gold accents that were arranged in the likeness of a tree,” she said of the outfit she wore to her reception, designed by Manish Malhotra. On Ms. Jha Fishman’s wedding day, her parents gifted her a custom maang tikka, an Indian bridal centerpiece worn on the forehead, and to complete the look, she wore a beige lehenga from Nazranaa, an Indian bridal shop in Iselin, N.J. “I wanted both the Jha and Fishman sides of the day to come through in my choice of lehengas,” she said. “Thinking through the elements that were part of both of our traditions made me feel like I could wear those traditions during our ceremony and reception.”

10. Dressing for a New Outlook

Meghan Paul in Oscar de la Renta and Naeem Khan

The first time Meghan Paul wore a wedding gown she had idealistic expectations about marriage and a wedding dress. This time, she wanted a dress to reflect the change in her outlook. “I had previously worn a princess-style ball gown, which in hindsight, perfectly described my idealism when it came to marriage,” she said. “Now, I had a more mature, realistic view on marriage, and wanted my dress to reflect that, while still being fashion-forward.” Ms. Paul married Peter Marquis on Sept. 2 at the Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Shopping for that wedding was trickier than she expected, so she enlisted the help of a professional. “I was referred to the bridal stylist Maradee Wahl who expedited the process immensely, and even made it fun,” Ms. Paul said. “After going through the look book process, we ended up selecting the Lola gown from Oscar de la Renta’s 2018 collection.” Ms. Wahl also helped with selecting a reception gown designed by Naeem Khan from the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in New York. Having a second outfit, Ms. Paul said, “took the pressure off getting the perfect wedding gown and made dancing the night away so fun.”

11. The Un-Bridal Gown

Anne Fink in Dan Jones

Anne Fink had a very specific vision for what she didn’t want to wear on her wedding day, and that was a strapless, lace, mermaid gown with a beaded silk belt. “I wanted something that felt unique and also fit my body, I wanted something simple that I could move around in.” Ms. Fink heard about an Australian designer, Dan Jones, that created an entire line called “Unbridaled,” which included wedding dresses that didn’t feel “too bride-y.” It didn’t take long for Ms. Fink to find the gown that she had been searching for. “The dress is so reminiscent to that of my late grandmother, the second I put it on I knew it was the dress,” she said of the gown that featured long sleeves, a high neckline and a simple skirt. Ms. Fink completed her look with vintage diamond floral shaped drop earrings and classic white Manolo Blahnik shoes. “I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life,” she said. “I got to marry my best friend, and do it feeling beautiful.”

12. A Marriage of Two Visions

Lauren Gumerove in Pronovias Atelier

When Lauren Gumerove was considering what to wear on her wedding day, her future husband had his own ideas. While Ms. Gumerove wanted a more form-fitting wedding dress, he wanted to see her in a poufy princess gown. “After shopping at countless New York wedding dress boutiques, I had yet to find ‘the one,’” said Ms. Gumerove, who married Brennan Gumerove Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Club of New York. “So, I decided to buck tradition and bring my fiancé, who routinely vets my outfits, with me to see if his input could get me any closer to finding my dream wedding dress.” However, their visions still didn’t align. “To marry these two visions, my wedding planner, Jennifer Taylor of a Taylored Affair, and I came up with a compromise: a magnificent custom overskirt that I could wear in the first part of the evening and take off when the party started.” Ms. Gumerove worked closely with Designer Loft and Pronovias to make her (and her fiancé’s) vision into a reality, and, after seven fittings, her dress was finally ready. “I felt otherworldly and regal in my dress and custom overskirt, so much so that I ended up wearing the overskirt well into the night. It perfectly fit the grandeur of the venue and the decadence of our vision for the wedding.”

13. Falling in Love with Saris

Megan Barry in Sabyasachi

When Megan Barry and Rohit Anand began planning their Indian wedding ceremony, Ms. Barry knew that a white dress, which is usually worn as a sign of mourning in the Hindu religion, was not in the cards. “In the beginning, I was a little sad about this but then I started looking at my sari options and I fell in love,” said Ms. Barry, who married Mr. Anand Sept. 8 at the Light House in Chelsea Piers in New York. Ms. Barry visited the Sabyasachi store in Mumbai, India, and was captivated with all of his designs. “Since I couldn’t wear white I knew I wanted to wear gold and when I saw my dress in the designer’s book I knew I had to have it,” she said.

14. First Time’s a Charm

Alexandra Britton in Monique Lhuillier

After visiting Ultimate Bride, a bridal shop in Chicago, it didn’t take long Alexandra Britton to find the dress of her dreams. “It was the first dress I tried on, and I fell in love with it,” said Ms. Britton, who bought a Monique Lhuillier gown that she paired with a custom cathedral veil designed to match. “I wanted something elegant and classic while also being fun and festive.” Ms. Britton, who had a black-tie New Year’s Eve wedding last year at the St. Jane Hotel in Chicago, said she felt beautiful and empowered on her wedding day. “Someone called me an ice princess,” she said, “and it was probably the most astute and flattering description possible.”

Continue following our fashion and lifestyle coverage on Facebook (Styles and Modern Love), Twitter (Styles, Fashion and Weddings) and Instagram.

Sahred From Source link Fashion and Style

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2NdZYDi via IFTTT