Thanks to multiple appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Colin Cowie shot to stardom and became known as one of the preeminent wedding planners in the country. Despite his fame, this creative genius is decidedly down to earth, a trait that becomes apparent when he explains that his inspiration comes directly from his couples, all with different budgets and their own ideas about how to make their wedding day unique and special. His latest business pursuit, colincowieweddings.com, is a reflection of this and gives visitors access to amazing ideas and inspiration. Here, we chat with Colin about the I do’s and I don’ts for planning your day and we peek into what our brides did best.
The Gown: Perfect Fit
Breath taking gowns photographed by Steve Depino Photography and Melani Lust Photography
Say yes to the dress, then go home and sleep on it,” says Colin. With all the bridal fashion out there, from Lazaro to Vera Wang, a bride can easily become overwhelmed in what is likely to be the costliest fashion purchase of her life. Colin’s advice: “Never buy the dress on the first visit. You’ll always have time to get your dress done, so don’t let any pushy salesperson say you have to order your dress today.” He says it’s important to find a dress that speaks to you and to decide what your criteria are ahead of time—do you want lace, tulle, a full skirt, semi-skirt, drop-waist, high back, or low-cut front—all of these things will help shape your bridal consultation. “Each dress makes its own statement,” he says, “but it’s only a statement when the bride relates to the dress. If she doesn’t have a big personality, and she’s wearing a big dress, the dress could end up wearing her.” He does warn our brides against one surefire mistake he sees all too often, “The first thing a bride does when she gets that engagement ring is run out and look at dresses when she hasn’t even decided if the wedding is going to be indoors or outdoors, at the country club, a super-modern art gallery or a very formal museum. Before she’s figured out the style of the wedding, she’s figured out the style of the dress.” If you go dress first, wedding second, you may find yourself in a strapless, lightweight gown in the middle of an outdoor, October wedding. Colin says to take the time to figure out the experience you want to create on your big day and let your dress reflect both that feeling and your individuality
The Flowers: Love Blossoms
Gorgeous bouquet photographed by Lassara Photography
Create a story with your bridal flowers that begins with your bouquet and carries throughout the wedding. For example, “You might be doing a beautiful all cream combination of ivory, ecru and champagne, with orchids as your central flower, but your wedding color is fuchsia,” says Colin. In order to add a pop of color and interest, he says to consider incorporating fuchsia orchids into your bouquet and adding crystal rhinestones, which can be glued to the middle of each flower or threaded throughout with a crystal garland, to give a little sparkle. For more over-the-top drama, he recommends adding peacock or ostrich feathers. To further personalize your bouquet, Colin encourages brides to “incorporate jewelry to the back of the bouquet where only they can see it.” He adds, “Maybe your grandmother has a beautiful vintage brooch that can be pinned onto the bouquet’s sash.” By doing this, he explains “you are taking the essence, the beauty, the love of your grandmother with you down the aisle.” When thinking about the centerpieces at your reception, try to incorporate that central flower, in this case, the orchid, into the arrangements. “You want to make sure there is a thread of style that weaves its way throughout the flowers, and therefore, the wedding,” he says. “You don’t want it to look like your flowers were designed by committee or like they’re representing four different genres. Focusing on one key element will give a sense of continuity throughout the wedding.”
The Details: Memorable Moments
Romantic atmosphere designed by KD&J Botanica Floral & Event Design
Begin by reflecting on who you are as a couple to your friends and family. “Make sure the details and the tradition really make sense with what you’re doing. It needs to resonate with you,” Colin says. For example, if you’re a playful bride with a real sweet tooth, you can have a candy bar in conjunction with your cake ceremony, but have those sugary delights reflect your wedding colors, so it all ties in together. Or, rather than having a formal, multitiered cake, consider having a multilayer cake/cupcake display to add a touch of whimsy. One of Colin’s top rules is that every wedding needs what he calls a “JDM” or jaw dropping moment. This can be as lavish as one wedding he planned, where halfway through dinner a big-time artist came out to perform, or as quiet and sentimental as a candlelight ceremony, where everyone held a candle whose flame originated with the bride and groom. According to Colin, every wedding, big or small, no budget or tight budget, can have this moment. When it comes to spending money, he says,“spend it where the guests are going to spend the most amount of time. What can they touch, feel, taste, smell that will create that one great experience? Create that moment that happens when your guests walk in and say ‘Oh my God.’” Colin’s final words of advice: “Don’t forget the big picture. This is not the opportunity to impress people, rather to make them feel welcome and comfortable. You’ll naturally impress them that way.”
For more wedding tips and trends visit ilovefc.com