i do, i do - fall bridal special section by han network

Special Section to: Darien Times I New Canaan Advertiser I Ridgefi eld Press I The Wilton Bulletin I The Redding Pilot I Weston Forum I Lewisboro Ledger | Stratford Star I Milford Mirror I Trumbull Times I Shelton Herald I Monroe Courier I Easton Courier

HAN NETWORK

I Do,I DoFALL BRIDAL 2015

Elegance for Mom

You’ve got the exciting news from your daugh-ter or son that they are engaged and have found the one.

There is so much excitement and a long list of to do’s prior to the wedding. Whether you are mother of the bride or mother of the groom, one of the biggest dilemmas is what to wear to your daughter or son’s wed-ding. That’s where Helen Ainson, 1078 Post Road, Darien, comes in.

Erica Jensen, owner of Helen Ainson, has been outfitting mothers of the bride/groom (MOB and MOG) along with her trained stylists for 38 years now. For the past 11 years, Helen Ainson has been voted Best Of Cocktail Attire, Formal Wear and Gala Wear in Moffly Media’s Annual Best of the Gold Coast list, where readers and editors choose favorites in every category. Jensen is also very proud to have won Best Eveningwear in the state of Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine for the past nine years. We caught up with Erica for a Q and A regard-ing MOB and MOG most frequent questions and concerns.

Brides-to-be are buying more than a wedding gown for the big day, they are buying an experience.

That’s what Ashley Krauss, owner of A Little Something White Bridal Couture in Darien

has to say to her customers. “A bride’s wedding day look is influenced

so much more than just saying yes to the dress. While certainly an exciting moment in the wedding planning process, selecting a dress is only the beginning of the journey,” she said.

The alterations process, where the bridal gown is fit to a bride’s body, usually takes

place six months to a year after the gown is purchased, yet it is the most critical element in making sure a bride’s gown looks amazing on her wedding day.

It is critical to choose a store that will ensure that the entire process, from the dress selection, to the ordering, to the alterations, to the final pressing, is enjoyable and worry free. How do you know what type of experi-ence a store will offer? Talk to your friends who have purchased there, read a store’s reviews, and pay attention to the experience you have when shopping for a gown, Ashley advises.

“I would encourage brides to keep an

open mind,” she said. “ It is helpful when brides come to us with ideas and photos of what they like, but we always encourage our brides to try on a variety of styles. Eighty percent of the time a bride chooses a style different from what she originally thought she wanted.”

Don’t spread yourself thinAshley says less is more.“Our happiest brides are the ones who

choose one to three stores to visit and choose their gown at that point,” said Ashley. “Trying on too many gowns and styles is confusing

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Many elements combine to make tradi-tional wedding receptions special. But many veteran wedding guests would agree that the right playlist once guests hit the recep-tion hall dance floor can turn an ordinary wedding reception into something far more memorable.

“Couples should find someone that they are comfortable with. Someone that will take the time needed to get to know the couple’s personalities and exactly the kind of atmosphere they are trying to create at their event,” said Anthony Apuzzo, owner of Digital Entertainment.

Entertainment is often one of the more memorable aspects of a wedding reception, as the right disc jockey can help to establish a jovial mood that makes it easy for everyone to have a good time.

Couples can leave their wedding reception playlists to the professionals, but they should also know that they have a say in which songs are played. In addition, couples can have a “no play” playlist that prohibits certain songs they dislike from being played.

“I don’t have a cookie-cutter playlist that I use for every wedding,” said Apuzzo. “I take the time to get to know my couples, so that by the time their big day comes around I know exactly what they want for entertain-ment. I have DJ’d for couples that want me to turn their reception into a dance club. I have had other couples that want me to play all punk rock and heavy metal. And I have had other couples that want me to create more of a lounge feel for their event. I love the variety. It keeps my job fun.”

Make a list of your favorite songs. Make this list during different days and at different times and moods so you get a good cross-section of your favorite tunes. But remember not every song is a good fit for a wedding reception. Melancholy songs or those that include suggestive lyrics are best left off the playlist.

Aim to get as many guests on the dance floor as possible. Well-known songs and upbeat dance music will inspire more guests to cut a rug than lesser known tunes you may be fond of. Music that spans the decades

and various genres will appeal to guests from all age groups, encouraging dancers young and old to cut a rug.

“An ideal DJ is one that will make the bride and groom ‘the show.’ Some DJs like to put the spotlight on them and not the couple,” said Apuzzo, who covers all of Connecticut. “A good DJ is one that will recognize that the day is a celebration of the bride and groom. I am not on the mic very much. The guests aren’t there to hear me talk. They are there to celebrate the bride and groom.”

Apuzzo said since he’s started his busi-ness, fewer and fewer couples are choosing traditional items in their reception — like the bouquet and garter toss.

“Instead, I play a Newlywed Game with my couples, as well as highlight an anniver-sary dance to celebrate the new couple and the married couples in attendance,” Apuzzo said.

He said the best receptions are when the couple includes a part of themselves in the music.

“I DJ’d a wedding where the bride

walked down the aisle to Beyond The North Waves by the Norwegian black metal band Immortal. Everyone loved it,” he said. “That was something that screamed to the couple’s personality and all their guests knew that it was the perfect song for that couple. I love when couples take the time to perfectly cap-ture who they are through the music.”

Information: Digital Tracks Entertainment on Facebook, DigitalTracksEntertainment.com or 203-506-6509.

Creating a reception for a lifetime of memories

Choosing the right DJ for your wedding reception can bring all of your guests to the dance floor. — DavidApuzzo.com photos

• 2 • • I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal • HAN NETWORK • • October 1, 2015 •

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Need to get in shape for the big day? A fitness class in the area is taking a piece of equipment that has long been a cardio main-stay and turning it up a notch.

Over the past seven months, Darien resi-dent Donna Christensen’s running speed has been gradually increasing. She went from being able to hold about an 11-minute mile pace for 30 seconds, to an eight-minute mile pace for the same duration—a huge improve-ment.

Christensen credits a new class at her fitness club, Equinox in Darien, for her increased speed. The class, called Precision Running, is a treadmill-based group fitness class. It was created in 2013 by David Siik, a treadmill running coach who teaches at Equinox’s West Hollywood and Beverly Hills locations.

Siik grew up in Michigan, where there were very long winters when he was confined to running on the treadmill. He was an indoor track athlete and needed something that would increase his speed without being lim-ited to long duration paces.

Precision Running is a set program that uses the BITE method: Balanced, Interval, Training, and Experience. “You are setting yourself a goal for the best pace you will do for the day,” said Equinox personal trainer and fitness instructor Brian Robbins, who teaches the class.

“By the end of the class, you want to get to your goals. Then, you can set new goals for yourself the next time you come in,” said Robbins, of Stamford.

Equinox, which also has a location in Greenwich, offers Precision Running three times a week. The class is for runners of any ability level. It is also for walkers who would like to become runners.

The structure of the class is predetermined beforehand. The general format includes a warmup and movement preparation, Robbins explained. “Then there are three 15-second sprints at goal pace, which is the fastest pace the runner can go for a full minute. Then the class starts two to three miles per hour from that goal pace. There are two to three sets of

intervals that range from sux intervals per set to as many as 15,” he said.

Duration of the intervals as well as inclines change throughout a workout, Robbins explained. “One thing that does occur in each class is that you gradually ramp up to your goal pace. This gives runners the ability to properly tax their cardiovascular system while increasing their capacity to endure faster speeds.”

Inclines change depending on the workout — sometimes they gradually increase and sometimes they are set at a certain percentage.

“Everyone runs at the same interval at the same amount of time, at their own pace. I give them cues on what incline they should be at,” said Robbins, who is 26.

According to Robbins, there are two types of cardiovascular training. The first type is steady state training, which is just keeping the same speed over a long duration of time. The second is interval training, which is changes in speed with a set goal pace or duration in mind.

“Most of your training should be longer duration at a steady pace, but you need those elevated paces to get yourself out of your comfort zone to increase your average pace for whatever race you have in mind,” said Robbins, who was an all-American track ath-lete at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

While some students take Precision Running to train for a particular race, about

60% to 70% simply take the class for a good workout, he added.

Robin Kane-Nickel, group fitness manager at Equinox, said the class is designed to have every person start at his or her best time. “It’s a signature group fitness class created by one of our very own instructors, trainers, and master runners.

“It is unique in that it is a program where every runner can participate. You can run next to the best runner or you can run next to someone who never ran before. This is all because the program is set up to start at your personal best time. Members are able to chal-lenge themselves with wherever they are at personally. You never feel as though you are not able to keep up.

“We have members who used to walk and now run, members who only ran and who are now running faster than ever, and triath-letes who are using the class to train for their events on the off season,” said Kane-Nickel, of Westport. Nickel has been in the fitness industry for 25 years and has certifications that include the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise.

Erica Smith, who is from Darien, has taken Precision Running twice a week for the past six months and finds it to be very engaging. “With Precision Running, you have a program that’s been developed to help you increase your speed and endurance with appropri-ate corresponding rest times for recovery. Running on the treadmill can be hard, bor-ing, and monotonous. This class allows me to diversify my workout and provides motivation by working with a larger group of people,” said Smith, 26, who is manager of client ser-vices at Indeed.

Christensen, who is 65, said, “This class really builds your stamina. If forces you to push yourself. When I’m on the treadmill by myself, I may not push myself hard. We need somebody to kick our butts.”

For a free trial of a Precision Running class at Equinox, visit 72 Heights Road, Darien, or call 203-655-2300.

Toning up, shedding pounds for your wedding by Sandra Diamond Fox

• October 1, 2015 • • I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal • HAN NETWORK • • 3 •

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Q. You’ve been dressing mother of the bride and mother of the groom for years now and are consistently voted No. 1 for your beautiful gowns and dresses. What sets you apart from any other store that sells gowns and dresses?

A. We are different in so many ways. First and foremost, our goal is to make mom feel special and attended to. My stylists and I really listen to the customers and help them achieve the kind of look they are going for. We are never pushy and customers appreci-ate honest opinions. We would never tell you something looks great if it doesn’t! Nobody is on commission, and I specifically wanted it that way, so that our customer can trust us and know we truly care about making the most of all your assets.

Q. Who chooses the gown or dress first? Is it the mother of the bride or mother of the groom?

A. Typically it is the mother of the bride who chooses first and sets the tone. Once the MOB has chosen her dress then the MOG follows.

Q. When does the MOB or MOG start shop-

ping for their gowns/dresses?

A. They can start anytime but need to keep in mind that we offer so many custom-izable options that they should allow six to eight weeks once ordered and then allow for alterations for the perfect fit. We do have some designers that can turn around a gown in a week or so but the customer should leave some leeway if they need an alteration.

Q. You spoke about customization and dif-ferent options for gowns. What are some of the things a MOB or MOG can change, add, etc.?

A. I think we have become the go to store for formal attire, gowns and dresses because women get so many different options here. We have gowns that come in 1 color, 10 col-

ors, 40 colors and 300 colors. We can take a long gown and shorten it to cocktail length, add sleeves, take off sleeves, or add a custom stole to name a few options. With all this customization available, our MOB or MOG will truly have a one of a kind gown to wear to their daughter or son’s wedding.

Q. How do you help the nervous mother of the bride or groom navigate through all the options and color choices?

A. We know it’s a big day for mom and some sense of trepidation does exist in choosing the dress. We take into account her body type when choosing a dress or gown for her. We want to play up all her assets and downplay body parts she is self conscious about. We also consider her hair color and skin tone to find the perfect color to light up her face. We never want any of our custom-ers to feel rushed or pushed into a direction she is uncomfortable with.

Q. What other services or accessories do you offer the mother of the bride or groom?

A. We believe that we are one-stop shop-ping. Our moms don’t just get a dress here, they get much more and we always go the extra mile. The right bra can make or break the look and we’ve got gorgeous bras to enhance how mom looks from the waist up (all of our stylists are trained to fit you for the perfect bra). We also offer shape enhanc-ers to flatten a tummy and make the rear view as great as the front view.

We offer jewelry, evening bags and dressy shoes to complete the look. Our customer doesn’t have to go to a bunch of different stores, but instead she can head over to our store and know when the big day comes she knows she looks amazing from head to toe! If it’s a destination wedding, mom may have to pull together some looks that are more casual for the days before and after the wed-

ding. We offer in-home wardrobe consulta-tions ($175 the first hour and $75 for each hour thereafter) where we go through your wardrobe with you and help you put fabu-lous outfits together. Our customer can also bring in those lonely shorts, tops, pants, etc. and we will pull together looks she will feel confident and beautiful in! Let’s not forget the rehearsal dinner, we can outfit you for that too!

Q. So many women are comfortable wearing black but it’s not a color choice for most wed-dings. What other color do you suggest to give a slimming effect?

A. Deep colors like dark charcoal, navy, deep plum and other dark, rich colors are good choices.

Q. Thank you for your time and if you have one final thought what would it be?

A. We here at Helen Ainson have dressed so many mother of the brides and mother of the grooms, and it has been an honor to help them shine on the big day. We’ve accomplished our goal when you look into the mirror the day of the wedding and feel confident, elegant and beautiful.

We are also humbled and grateful for all the photos we get from our mothers of the bride and grooms showing us how fabulous they looked on their daughter or son’s special day.

Jensen said that her customers are very special people, as many have been loyal shoppers for years and feel like family. She added “we dress women for some of life’s most important events and each customer, whether a long time shopper with us, or a first time customer, anyone who walks through our door is greeted with a smile and many a hug!”

Information: HelenAinson.com or 203-655-9841.

Elegance Continued from Page 1

A meal for your eventSusan Kane Catering works to bring upscale

flavor and full event planning to your next wed-ding. From small, to large, Kane said it’s hard to put everything she’s done in one category.

She caters a variety of ways, weddings and engagement parties can be buffet to sit down meals. There will be cocktail parties, appetizers and more

to whet your pallets.“We are dedicated to making your dream event

a reality,” said Kane. “Beyond fresh, flavorful dishes, we can plan out each detail to ensure your event is a success.”

For more information about Susan Kane Catering: susankanecatering.com.

A table setting for the reception feast. — Audra May Photography

Grooms-to-be face many deci-sions regarding their pending nuptials, but few may prove as delicate as choosing the grooms-men for the big day. Friends who expect to be groomsmen may be disappointed if they are not ultimately chosen, while brothers may feel left out if they are not asked to walk a bridesmaid up the aisle.

Choosing groomsmen should not be taken lightly. Grooms-to-be who are facing some difficult choices with regard to that deci-sion can follow a few pointers to ensure they make the right call.

Pick a number. Before you even consider who you want your groomsmen to be, speak to your fiancée about how many bridesmaids she hopes to have. The number of groomsmen and bridesmaids typically matches, so your fiancée’s intentions may make your decision a lot easier.

Choose the best man for the job. Many grooms pick a brother to serve as their best man, and while that’s a nice sentiment, it’s important that grooms recognize that being a best man carries with it some responsibility. A best man will organize the bachelor party, give a toast at the wedding and handle any post-wedding duties, such as returning the tuxes or arranging for the newlyweds’ transportation to the airport.

Don’t forget your fiancée’s family. While you should not feel pressured to pick anyone in particular as your best man, if your fiancée has any brothers, ask her if she had her heart set on including any of them in the bridal party. Some brides want their brothers to be groomsmen, so discuss this with your fiancée before asking anyone to line up beside you. This discussion can go both ways as well, as you can ask your bride-to-be to include a favorite sister in her bridal party if you so desire.

What to wearAfter you figure out who will

stand with you the big day, it’s time to think about what you are all wearing.

Camillo Ferrari, owner of

Camillo’s Tuxedo, with locations in Norwalk and Orange, recom-mends getting the tuxedo a few months before the big day.

“We suggest they book the tuxedos anywhere from two to four months before the date,” Ferrari said. “That is pretty standard. The members of the wedding party can get measured anytime up to two weeks before the wedding.”

Although groomsmen may be able to take an active role in the wedding, they may do so from out of town or out of state.

“We often times have grooms-men whom are out state send in their measurements and come in for their final fitting when they arrive the morning of or day before the wedding,” said Ferrari. “We have the capability to pre-pare a tuxedo while the customer waits as well, if necessary — so essentially it is never too soon or too late to get a tuxedo from Camillo’s. This is a service that no other tuxedo vendor can pro-vide as we own all of our stock and always have tailors on site who can make last minute chang-es or alterations.”

Ferrari — who is the grand-son of the founder of Camillo’s, which opened in 1966 — said there are a variety of suits to choose from, especially depend-ing on where and when you’re getting married.

“We have been doing a lot of weddings with our Perry Ellis Silver Sterling Tuxedo, and our Ike Behar Navy Blake Tuxedo and Charcoal Tuxedo; they are great for any time of year,” he said. “Of course, we offer traditional black tuxedos and have countless styles and designers to choose from. We also have full stock of white tie, cutaways, and strollers. For destination weddings we have a full like of tan linen suits which are great for beach weddings. We also carry a full line of formal suits in navy, black and charcoal.”

For more information, find Camillo Tuxedo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram at camillotux, online at CamilloTux.com or email [email protected].

Here comes the groom


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and frustrating for a bride. Brides shouldn’t feel that they need to shop around in order to try on a variety of styles. Most boutiques have a pretty great selection and many bou-tiques have an excellent variety all in one place.

“Gown shopping is one of the most fun aspects of the wedding planning process,” Ashley said. “Often times a bride gets so caught up in the excitement of the shopping that they forget at some point they will be moving forward with the purchasing process. So I always remind my brides that it’s OK to say yes once they have found their dream dress — whether that is on their first day of shopping or their fifth.”

TrendsAt A Little Something White Bridal

Couture, they are seeing a few notable trends right now for brides getting married across all seasons.

“We are seeing a definite shift in requests for non-strapless gown options,” said Ashley. “While the majority of our brides still opt for a strapless gown, more brides are request-ing and purchasing gowns with some sort of strap or slight sleeve. Strapless still domi-nates the purchases, but interest in that type of neckline has definitely had a notable decrease.”

A Little Something White Bridal Couture is also seeing a shift towards brides plac-ing a greater emphasis on comfort. Lighter, easier-to-manage gowns dominate these days, and across all silhouettes -— from the fullest ballgown to the slimmest sheath — designers have responded without sacrificing style.

“Brides recognize that they are going to be moving all day and night and want to have fun effortlessly,” said Ashley.

Last-minute shoppingWhile it’s not always ideal to buy your

dress close to the wedding day, it’s not unusual.

“Two months ago, we had a bride come in four weeks before her wedding,” Ashley said. “We found a way to order her a new gown and complete three rounds of alterations in that four week period. And she looked stun-ning on her wedding day. Sometimes we are miracle workers!”

Most of the time when a brides comes in extremely close to her wedding date look-ing for a gown, the wedding date has actu-ally been set for months. A bride’s reasons for waiting may be varied. Sometimes, she doesn’t realize how long the ordering process typically takes (six months) and doesn’t know that bridal gowns require alterations (another two months). Other times, she has found a gown at another store that doesn’t end up

working out, and is looking for something at the last minute. Sometimes, the planning process is quite quick, and she still just needs a gown.

“The advice I would give a bride who, for whatever reason, finds herself shopping close to the wedding, would be varied,” said Ashley. “First, I would suggest keeping an open mind with respect to styles. The more difficult situations is when a bride with a short time frame comes in with a very nar-row vision and little flexibility on style. In my boutique, we have certain designers that can produce a gown in a short time frame more easily, and less expensively, than others. Those are the designers I hone in on with a bride who is low on time, and a bride with flexibility on style will find it much easier to find something.”

Plan to purchase a gown off the rack. Most bridal salons have a rack of bridal gowns available for sale as is, meaning you purchase the gown that is in the store (versus the stan-dard process, which is to order a new gown). The third piece of advice is to start shopping ASAP. If you set your wedding date and it’s only two months away, start shopping imme-diately.

From head to toeA Little Something White Bridal Couture

considers themselves a full-service bridal salon.

“Essentially, we can outfit a bride and her bridal party in their entire wedding day look without them having to go anywhere else,” Ashley said. “In addition to bridal gowns and bridal party dresses, we carry veils, jewelry (both for the bride and bridesmaids), shoes, belts and sashes, headpieces and brooches and we offer services such as alterations, fur rental and gown cleaning and preservation. I specifically designed my store this way because I want the process to be easy and effortless for our brides. It is so nice to be able to purchase everything in one place and to not have to spend time running around looking for these different items. We are so lucky to work with accessories designers that are as amazing and detail oriented as our bridal gown designers, ensuring that the accessories are as exquisite as the gowns.”

A Little Something White received honors such as one of the Top 50 Bridal Salons in America (BRIDES Magazine) as well as Best Bridal Gowns in Fairfield County for the last three years (Moffly Media).

“For me, this award serves as validation that the consistent hard work and passion we put into our brides and their experience has had a significant impact. However, the most meaningful feedback we receive is in the photos brides send to us after their wedding days. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing how a bride’s look came together on one of the happiest days of her life,” Ashley said.

For more information about A Little Something White Bridal Couture, 1292 Boston Post Road, Darien, call 203-309-5110, or visit alittlesomethingwhite.com.

Father-daughter dances are a tradition in many weddings. — Audra May Photography

DressContinued from Page 1

• October 1, 2015 • • I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal • HAN NETWORK • • 5 •

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i do, i do - fall bridal special section by han network

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