Blog - The Wedding Guys

FIND THE DATE: Collective Resource to Find open Wedding Vendors for 2020

May 7, 2020

FIND THE DATE is comprised of a collection of the top Minnesota Vendors that have open dates in the coming months to help create and host your upcoming Wedding Celebration. We hope this serves as a helpful resource for couples required to postpone or reschedule their wedding due to COVID-19, or still hoping to plan a wedding for 2020!

In all categories the ranges only reflect weekends, Friday-Sunday, but a majority of these vendors offer options for Thursday or week day events as well. As a team, we plan to keep all lists as updated as possible and for each vendor there are direct email links to be able to connect with each company.

Here is a list of all Categories available to select from based on your needs:

Congratulations on your Upcoming Wedding and Happy Planning!

HOW ONE BRIDAL EXECUTIVE REMEMBERS BRUCE

May 27, 2020

When the world lost Bruce Vassar last year, we lost more than a warm man who mentored many in our industry. We thought our audience would best understand more about Bruce if they heard from those that caught up with him year after year at bridal trade shows, fashion shows, and other such events. We sat down with Dawn Bromander to find out what she remembers about the man with the hearty laugh, and what he taught her along the way. After you read about how one bridal executive remembers Bruce, we hope you understand how your wedding, while it might be stressful to plan at times, should always also work in a little fun.

Man in blue shirt sits at restaurant — *Bruce loved attending New York Bridal Fashion Week*

CAREER PATHS INTERTWINED

“Bruce was with me every step of my bridal career,” recalls Bromander. “It started at Dayton’s first as a manager and later the Director for Dayton’s Hudson’s and Field’s. I went on to consult for a variety of designers—Reem Acra, Watters, Toni Federici… Ultimately, I went on to take a role as the Vice President of retail for Monique Lhuillier. After twelve years, I took a role as president of Ines Di Santo for five years and recently became the COO/President for Mark Ingram. Every single step of the way, Bruce was with me for our shows, chatting fashion and pushing for ad/event dollars,” she recalls but with an endearing fondness for him.

*Dawn recalls Bruce’s sage advice along with his infectious smile and show-stopping laugh*

Bruce’s PASSIONS

Bromander tells us, “While Bruce and I shared 1000 bridal moments, some of the funniest and so ‘Bruce’ moments sprang from royal weddings and Miss Minnesota.” These were two of Bruce’s passions, and while one was directly related to the wedding industry and one wasn’t, they both included fabulous fashions and had huge followings, in their own individual ways.

Bruce Vassar prepares Miss Minnesota pageant winner — *One of Bruce’ passions was givin*g *his time to the Miss Minnesota pageant*

“Bruce called me several years ago and asked me to be a judge for the Miss Minnesota pageant. You could not find a more unlikely person to ask if your life were on the line. I laughed for three days with him and then he got serious. He shared how important and empowering that it was for the women involved. Now he was speaking my language.” Bromander explains, “I ended up meeting so many fabulous people that were involved with the organization, as well as young women who I am sure have gone on to be powerhouses in their fields. I loved that we could always make fun of what we were doing and yet ultimately feel so passionate about it. Everything in life has a component of humor at its base. What a gift to find it, enjoy it, and then go on to find the heart and soul that lives underneath.” Lessons that can apply to a marriage, no?

Royal Weddings

When talking to Bromander about Bruce, she couldn’t leave out one of his passions, that of royal weddings, “And then there was Bruce and any ROYAL WEDDING. The planning of the outfits, the interviews, the anticipation, and shortness of breath that accompanied a good long royal engagement. The royal family spoke his language. Forever after, if I wanted him to get excited about something, I would just put the word ‘royal’ in front of it and we were off and running.” Bruce appreciated the formality, the beauty, and the tradition behind any royal wedding, and this helped him in executing weddings, connecting with those in the industry, and kept him passionate about what he did for a living.

Bromander put into words what so many of us couldn’t when it comes to recalling our loss, “It is shocking to me that he is not a phone call away with a 3-pack-a-day laugh on a man that never smoked. He used his smile to bring down the house. We miss him so.”

Designer Feature: Elie Saab

May 27, 2020

Lebanese designer, Elie Saab, has been designing couture pieces for decades. Starting in bridal, his expansion into haute couture, ready to wear, eyewear, accessories, and fragrances show the breadth of his talents. Known for ornate fabrics and ornamentation, Saab’s works are not just fashion, they are works of art. In 2001, Halle Berry won an Oscar in one of his gowns, and ever since fashionistas everywhere have known about Elie Saab.

Looking closely at his bridal collections, one can see how masterfully he creates necklines. From alluring v-necks to soft scoop necklines, Saab frames the décolletage in a complimentary way that suits a myriad of brides. When it comes to his fabrics, they are, in a word, stunning. From unique laces to quality silks, his gowns are worn by brides with a great sense of style.

Click here for a more extensive look at Elie Saab and how he got his start in fashion.

What You Need to Know About Cathedral Veils

May 27, 2020

Fit for royalty or anyone looking to make a statement on their wedding day, the cathedral veil is the perfect headpiece. The longest veil option, the cathedral veil leaves a train trailing behind the bride, making it perfect for a church setting or anywhere there is a long aisle. It’s also lighter in weight than the train of an actual dress, so it’s perfect for a bride that wants drama without feeling pulled down by heavy fabric. Just note that if you choose a cathedral veil with embellishments such as beading or detailed embroidery, that will add to the weight of the veil. Still, whichever style of cathedral veil you choose, it makes for stunning and very memorable photos.

CATHEDRAL VEILS ARE TIMELESS

Daphne Newman, Founder and Creative Director of Daphne Newman Design, explains why cathedral veils stand the test of time, “Gown trends come and go, but if you look back in history a cathedral veil is timeless and classic. You may not want to wear your mother or grandmother’s gown, but a cathedral veil is something you could easily make your own and incorporate into your look.”

*Incorporating a cathedral veil can make for a timeless look*

THEY WORK WITH MANY GOWNS

Not solely dedicated to a regal ballgown, on the contrary, a cathedral veil can work with many silhouettes, as Newman explains, “We pair long veils with everything from ball gowns to slip dresses. It gives the bride her ‘bridal moment’ and can add some drama to a simple look, or perfectly finish a dramatic one. A cathedral veil also photographs beautifully and doesn’t create any additional lines on the body allowing all the gorgeous details of the gown to be seen. We just love the silhouette of a bride walking with a long veil– it’s breathtaking!” We couldn’t agree more.

Wedding Guys Wisdom: share your veil choice with your hairstylist so he or she can create a hairstyle that works with this dramatic veil. For example, the stylist should bring extra pins for a cathedral veil and discuss placement as you might want a cathedral veil placed higher up on your head than other types of veils.

All photography by Leila Scarfiotti, courtesy of Daphne Newman

Royal Weddings and how they are “just like us!”

May 27, 2020

Prince William and Kate Middleton wave to fans post-wedding — *Prince William & Kate Middleton’s nuptials was a royal wedding for the books*

Long in tradition and with a huge fan following, British royal weddings have been popular with the British and with Americans for centuries. Whether you share a love for all things royal with your mum or you just want to know what details you can pick up for your own nuptials, read on for tidbits of history and what the future brings for current royalty looking to wed during the pandemic (Spoiler Alert: even royals have to stop for COVID-19).

TRADITIONS IN BRITISH ROYAL WEDDINGS

British royal weddings follow the traditions and customs of Great Britain. Among the many popular traditions in these celebrations are wedding parties that consist only of children, and guests wearing hats. You might remember when the world was covering Kate and William’s wedding or Megan and Harry’s wedding. Even our American reporters covering the events donned hats. These are British customs. There are also several royal-specific traditions such as brides carrying a sprig of myrtle because Queen Victoria did. Another tradition includes laying the bride’s bouquet on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster.

ORDER OF PROCESSIONAL IN BRITISH ROYAL WEDDINGS

As far as protocol, the members of the royal family arrive in a specific order based on the hierarchy. The Queen is the last member of the family to arrive before the bride and her escort, usually her father. (You might remember Meghan Markle did not walk down the aisle with her father. Instead, she was escorted by her mother and then walked into the church on her own and was met by Prince Charles halfway.)

FORMAT AND TIME OF DAY

Unlike some American weddings, royal weddings are held in the morning and are followed by a wedding breakfast, usually including a luncheon menu. Inspired by American weddings, today’s royal brides and grooms have added an evening reception with an intimate list of guests.

MODERN DAY ROYAL WEDDINGS

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet fans in carriage following wedding — *Today’s royal weddings are customizing their wedding day*

Contemporary royal couples have done a lot in the past 20 years to add more personalized details to their weddings. This follows the trend American brides have been doing, in trying to make their weddings reflect their own personal touches. Some of these personal details include Meghan Markle’s veil adorned with flowers from across the British Commonwealth, or choosing to carry flowers with special meaning. For example, Kate Middleton’s veil had Sweet William in it as a nod to her groom. Other details that royal couples might include in their receptions are those that any couple could have. Examples include a groom’s cake made from the groom’s favorite dessert or flavor, a wedding cake with their married monogram, or jewelry that has special meaning to them (a family heirloom or gift from a fiancé or parents).

CURRENT ROYALTY GETTING MARRIED

And just like many of us, COVID-19 even caused the postponement of a royal wedding.

The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Beatrice—her parents are the Queen’s son, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, and Sarah, Duchess of York—had her late May wedding to Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi postponed due to the pandemic. A new wedding date has yet to be confirmed, but details for the original wedding included that it was going to be a small ceremony at Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, with a reception at Buckingham Palace. It is expected the couple will marry in 2021. People Magazine published details on the couple’s original plans.

Find the Date: 2020 Cake/Dessert Openings Amidst COVID-19

May 26, 2020

This list is comprised of a collection of Minnesota Cake/Dessert Artists that have open dates in the coming months to help create your Wedding Day sweets for your upcoming Wedding. We hope this serves as a helpful source for couples required to reschedule their wedding or still hoping to plan a wedding for 2020!

Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe

Bread Art

North Mallow

Sweet Kneads by Farmington Bakery

Designer Spotlight: Bridal Designer Justin Alexander

May 20, 2020

There are so many beautiful gowns in the latest Justin Alexander Collection, it’s hard to pick a favorite. One of the reasons we wanted to spotlight this talented designer is to show you the depth of his creativity. The Spring/Summer 2021 collection is filled with a variety of details. From low backs and plunging necklines to those with sparkle and still others with no ornamentation, there is something for every bride in this collection.

The Spring/Summer 2021 Justin Alexander Collection was inspired by the sleek and sultry vibe of 1930’s jazz, and because of this, the bridal styles are full of depth and range. You’ll see a variety of textures, embellishments, and silhouettes, making this a very fashion-forward and dramatic collection.

And now, Justin Alexander will be hosting virtual trunk shows through the brands’ Facebook pages, so check those out if you want more on this latest collection during this unprecedented time.

Here’s a breakdown of trends and more gorgeous bridal gowns from the latest collections by many designers, including Justin Alexander gowns.

Vendor of the Week: Face Foundrié

May 20, 2020

One thing all couples should do before their wedding day is book a facial to ensure they look and feel amazing. Face Foundrié is a Minnesota-based spa leading the way in skincare trends while creating rejuvenating experiences for brides, grooms, and their entourages alike.

Ali Nanne, co-owner of Face Foundrié, has had a passion for skincare for as long as she can remember and loves making brides feel phenomenal. Keep scrolling for her expert opinion on the latest trends in beauty and how you can make an appointment for your bridal party or just a quick pick-me-up!

Q: Let’s get to it, what’s your business’ specialty?

A: Efficient and effective facial services

Q: Where can we find you?

A: Edina (located in the Galleria) and North Loop

Q: Tell us when and how your business began.

A: Michele and I came together in December of 2018 and began the process of planning our facial concept! We opened our first location (Edina) in March of 2019 followed by our second location in North Loop in November of 2019.

Q: What makes your company unique from others?

A: All of our facial services are quick and efficient, yet very effective! Most can be performed in under 45 minutes and we also offer a 20-minute mini facial, which is perfect for those that are on the go but want to pop in for a quick treatment.

Q: How long have you been in the industry? What do you think has changed the most since then?

A: I’ve been in the beauty industry since 2012. It has grown immensely since I started. Nowadays there is no beauty brand if they do not have a digital presence. Beauty is becoming more and more about technology, quality, individualization, and responding to specific needs. Social platforms are very important to brands, it’s basically how they communicate with their customers now.

Woman providing facial at spa — *Skincare trends are leaning more and more towards clean beauty*

Another thing that is changing is the more holistic approach to beauty – no one wants the 15 layers of makeup on anymore, it’s more about a natural glow and products that enhance our beauty, not cover it. Millennials are also starting to care about ingredients more than ever; no longer can brands pack products with cheap fillers without being called out!

Q: Walk us through your average day.

A: You can find Michele and me at our warehouse in Northeast Minneapolis most days with our executive team. We try to pop into the stores and be present a few days a week, but we are typically working on back end things and the growth of the company.

Q: What would you want couples searching for your business type to know?

A: Our facial services cater to both men and women! Men are starting to really care about their skin and are finding importance in preventive aging products. Our open concept is perfect for couples facials whether it’s for fun, Valentine’s Day, or before your wedding day!

Q: How far in advance should a couple book with you?

A: We encourage people to book their appointments at least a day in advance, but we do pride ourselves in being able to take walk-in services. Weekends have been extremely busy for us, where we are seeing all eight of our beds at each location filled the entire day. So, it is encouraged to book weekend appointments ahead!

Q: What’s hot in wedding skincare trends and beauty right now?

A: Each individual has very unique goals in mind for their wedding to make it stand out from others. People are planning their beauty appointments nearly a year in advance!

Q: Where do you find inspiration for wedding beauty?

A: As a skincare company, our main goal is for each of our clients to walk out feeling glow-y and beautiful! We are inspired by the feedback we consistently get from brides saying that one of the main reasons they felt so confident on their wedding day was because of their skin! That is what keeps us going and what makes us want to continue to provide the very best facial services in the industry.

Two women at their skincare business — *Michele (left) and Ali (right) are inspired by brides feeling confident due to their services*

Q: What are some of your favorite products to use on clients?

A: Through a ton of trial and error and working with a dermatologist, we believe that our skincare products are the best of the best. Each and every one of our products are strategically planned out for each facial service and are all very important to achieve the skin goals our clients have.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

Q: Do you have any favorite podcasts?

A: How I Built This, Often Ambitious Podcast, and The BossBabe Podcast

Q: Who’s your most played artist on your streaming service?

A: Florida Georgia Line

Q: Heels or flats?

A: Heels

Q: Mountains or Beach?

A: Beach

Q: Go-to cocktail (or mocktail)?

A: Bootleg—a Minnesota STAPLE! So yummy!

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Dermatologist

Q: You’re at brunch. Are you going for something sweet or savory?

A: Sweet, always!

Q: Go-to comfort food?

A: Pancakes

Q: Duck Duck, Grey Duck, or Duck Duck Goose?

A: Duck Duck, Grey Duck!

Thanks, Ali! I think we could all use a little facial refresh ASAP! For more information on Face Foundrié, reach out to Ali directly at ali@facefoundrie.com, check out their website, or visit their social media pages!

Sign up for The Wedding Guys newsletter on our home page to be the first to receive our stories on the latest in skincare trends.

Unusual but cool things for your registry

May 20, 2020

It’s always important to follow your passions, and in picking items for your registry, we say, go for it. Now more than ever, it’s easy to add unusual but cool things for your registry that incorporate what you love to do, or what you like to eat, or even where you like to go. Take a look at these sites offering more than blenders and china as you set up your new life as a married couple.

FOR HONEYMOONS AND BEYOND

Whether you’ve heard of Honeyfund or not, you might not know all the possibilities this site offers. Honeyfund is a fundraising platform. It is a crowdfunding site for weddings, honeymoons, down payments, charities and more. If you feel weird asking for money, this is a great, totally acceptable way to get help paying for your honeymoon or even a down payment on your 1st home. Also, it will sync with your other registries, so you can still have a more traditional registry as well.

FOR THE CHARITABLE

The Good Beginning is dedicated to creating registries for charitable causes throughout the world. You can add more than one registry, and The Good Beginning will track who and how much has been donated as the donations come in, making thank you notes a breeze. This streamlined process makes it easy for guests to give, and easy for you to be informed about their generosity.

FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY A BEVERAGE

The Thirsty Nes t is “the first wine and spirits registry for the modern couple.” You can select wines and spirits, along with barware on this registry site. Curated with the help of experts from The Wine Enthusiast, this site really has unusual but cool things for your registry. (Even if you don’t like to drink, check it out for the great barware. There are really great looking bar carts, decanters, glasses and more).

FOR ART LOVERS

Registries are intended to give guests a place to get you what you want, and originally, that meant for setting up your new home. Whether your home is new or not, if you love art, you should know about UGallery. The experts at this site curate art and their experts will help you figure out what type of art you might like, what room it could work best in, and has art delivered right to your door.

If you’re looking for an art experience but aren’t ready to be a collector, consider registering for a museum membership. This is a great way to add an experience to your registry, that you can use over and over again.

FOR FOOD LOVERS

Yes, you can get restaurant certificates as wedding gifts, but another idea that’s unique and great for those that love to cook is a CSA membership. Community Supported Agriculture is a way to get local, seasonal food directly from farmers. When you get a membership or subscription, you’re getting a “share” which can be a box or bag of vegetables, and might include other farm products, each week throughout the farming season.

Here’s a list of farms in the Minneapolis area that participate in CSAs. Contact them to see if you can set up a way to incorporate their CSA into your wedding registry.

Why You Should Consider an All-Inclusive Wedding

May 20, 2020

Sometimes, wedding planning can be overwhelming. With all of the vendors, decisions, and things to keep track of, it’s easy to want a more streamlined process. For that, we say why you should consider an all-inclusive wedding venue. We took a closer look at some in our area that include rooms, catering, and so much more.

WHAT all-inclusive means

Profile Event Center includes two halls, which you would decide between depending on your number of guests. The Diamond Hall and Casablanca Hall seat up to 250 and 400 guests, respectively. There is no hall rental fee, and use of a hall includes complimentary parking, private suites, exclusive patios, tables, chairs, linens, glassware, china, flatware, and five video projectors, high-speed fiber optic internet, as well as a dance floor with hi-tech lights, a 12,000 watt sound system, and chiffon drapery back-lit with intelligent lighting.

Photos Above Courtesy of Profile Event Center

But more than just a hall and catering, this venue offers décor and flowers, as well as a DJ and a photo booth. This means if you are to book Profile Event Center, your coordinator is working with a florist and DJ among other vendors that are regularly apart of his or her team. They all work for the event center, and continually provide good service for that venue, week after week. By being part of the same team, your coordinator knows these specialists better than if you are working with many vendors from several different companies.

And like many venues, Profile Event Center also provides a list of preferred vendors in the categories of photography, videography, officiants, live music, stationery, and hair and make-up.

Laura Zimmer, Director of Sales for the Embassy Suites Bloomington tells us at their venue they offer “all-inclusive packaging, which can include ceremony, reception, centerpieces, cake, decorations, and DJ services. We work with 3rd party event services to eliminate the need for reaching out to multiple companies. We like to consider ourselves as a one-stop-shop for your wedding.” And with one contact, their catering manager, as your contact, the process is streamlined.

Photos Above Courtesy of Embassy Suites Bloomington

Senior Venue Sales Consultant Samantha Maroney explains how much her three distinctive properties have to offer, “Between our newest award-winning Bavaria Downs property on 270 private acres, our rooftop and modern chic large capacity venue A’BULAE overlooking the Saints Stadium, and our more intimate Van Dusen Mansion conveniently placed right in Minneapolis, we offer clients their choice of three incredibly unique properties that offer not just a wonderful planning experience, but a simple “All-inclusive” package approach.” Once you have chosen a venue, the sister company, Bellagala, can assist with lining up photographers, DJ’s, and floral designers. “We are with you every step of the process and will even conduct your full ceremony,” states Maroney.

Above photos courtesy of Shane Long Photography, Janelle Elise Photography, and Lahzeh Photography

NO HIDDEN FEES

As Event Coordinator Bailey Bivolarov of Profile Event Center told us, it’s easy to meet your minimum, because so many aspects of your wedding planning go towards it, “you may reach our all-inclusive minimum by ordering our plated and buffet meals, hors d’oeuvres, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, wedding cake and desserts, hiring our in-house DJ, using our photo booth, ordering flowers for your wedding ceremony and reception, or using our centerpieces, decorations, chair covers and sashes, chocolate fondue fountain, and more!”

Often times, venues give you a coordinator to help with the wedding planning, but Profile Event Center includes many other services in addition to a coordinator, “we do not charge for setup, cleanup, or security.” We hope this gives you a bit of clarity on why you should consider an all-inclusive venue. Check out venues and their websites to see for yourself what they include and what they don’t so you can make an informed decision on this important aspect of your celebration.

FIND THE DATE: 2020 Wedding Day Hair + Makeup Openings Amidst COVID-19

May 13, 2020

This list is comprised of a collection of Minnesota Hair + Makeup Artists that have open dates in the coming months to help create your Wedding Day Style for your upcoming Wedding. We hope this serves as a helpful source for couples required to reschedule their wedding or still hoping to plan a wedding for 2020!

These ranges only reflect weekends, Friday-Sunday. As a team, we plan to keep this list as updated as possible and there are direct email links to be able to connect with each company directly.

You can also find a list of other Vendor category openings at the following links:

We are wishing you a Wonderful Wedding Celebration!