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HERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS
I Do, I Do
FALL BRIDAL 2014
O
lder and wiser, the bride-to-be who is, say, north of
age 45 is going to truly and finally have the wedding
and more, importantly, the marriage she always
dreamed of.
This is not to say her first wedding was a disap-
pointment, but if she is getting remarried, chances are very good that
the first marriage, was, in fact, a disappointment of sorts. And so now
she gets a do-over in love and life.
The do-over in terms of the wedding means that the bridal
couple can tailor the ceremony not only to themselves but to and for
their respective children as well. Children who are more than likely
happy that their mom or dad has found real happiness and peace
with someone else, having perhaps witnessed their parent going
through great sorrow or frustration in the last gasps of their previous
marriage.
Mary Paul, formerly of New Canaan and now a new resident of
Denver, Colo., following her second wedding this past June, felt it
was very important to include her two children in her ceremony.
I loved planning my second wedding because I felt like we could
incorporate traditional details with our own custom-made reflec-
tion of our new family, she said of her wedding to Joe Middleburg.
Getting married the second time when children are involved is very
different because, to me, it was not just about the two of us but more
about the start of our new blended family together. As a result, we
had our three children as our attendants and we walked down the
aisle together.
While some older brides choose to have a low-key and/or casual
wedding and reception, others like Paul opt for a more tradi-
tional, even more formal affair.
A few people asked why we went to the expense and effort of
having a full second wedding, Paul said. I felt that it was important
for two reasons. First of all, when you have been married before for
20-plus years as we both had, you know that marriage isnt easy. We
have grown kids so frankly there really wasnt a reason to remarry. We
could have happily remained dating but we chose to make that com-
mitment to each other so we wanted to do so publicly. Our ceremony
was a reflection on the fact that life isnt always easy but with love
and hope it can be good again. I think it is a very different message
than the marriage of young couples who
are starting their lives together.
Secondly, we wanted our children to
have a milestone that started our family as
one and to celebrate that union. The wed-
ding was as much about them as it was
about us. We even had a cake with both
our family dogs on it saying We do, too!
While Paul and Middleburg went the
way of a church ceremony with Paul in
full wedding gown regalia other brides
and grooms may choose to tailor down
their special day.
When Molly Howe Putnam who
grew up in Weston got remarried, she
and her fianc Ed Putnam wanted a more
relaxed, intimate wedding than their pre-
vious ones.
We had a very informal, seaside
wedding, Howe Putnam said of their
Massachusetts ceremony. Guys wore
Hawaiian shirts, women wore sundresses. It was a beautiful weekend.
It was one of the best days of my life.
Incorporating children and the tenor of your relationship into
a second wedding is usually quite important to an older couple.
Perhaps more so than for a first wedding. The betrothed can make it
as over-the-top as any first-time bride or groom or as wholly different
from that first go round. The details reflect their new attitude and
outlook upon life and love.
Its never too late to live happily ever after! Howe Putnam said.
by Julie Butler


Mary Paul was a jubilant June bride for her second wedding. She and her new husband, Joe Middleberg opted for a
more formal wedding day. Cynthia Brown Studio
1

WINNER
BEST EVENINGWEAR
by Best of the Gold Coast
10 years in a row &
Connecticut Magazine
8 Years in a row!

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2 I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers October 2, 2014
Planning a wedding is no small feat, as couples
are faced with many decisions seemingly from
the moment they get engaged right up until they
walk down the aisle. One of the biggest decisions
a couple will make is where to host the reception.
Do you want a country or city reception
venue? A country club by the Sound or a lake?
How about a reception hall in a favorite restau-
rant? Or maybe you want to rent out a barn?
Couples must consider a variety of factors
when looking for the right banquet hall or venue
to host their reception. The wedding is a celebra-
tion, and the banquet hall is where the couple
and their guests will let their hair down and
hopefully enjoy a festive and memorable night.
Because the reception is typically the most
lengthy portion of a couples wedding day, its
important to find a place where everyone can be
comfortable and enjoy themselves.
Word-of-mouth is a great way to find the right
reception site. Ask friends or family members
who got hitched in the same town where your
ceremony will be if they can recommend a recep-
tion site. These friends or family members can
provide a behind-the-scenes look at a reception
hall, from how accommodating the staff was to
how flexible the banquet hall was with regard to
pricing to how open the staff was to suggestions.
Consider the size of the facility. Some couples
prefer an intimate affair with relatively few guests,
while others will desire a large wedding party
with lots of guests. Couples can find a location
thats capable of catering to small or large wed-
ding parties, but find one that fits your party
specifically.
Dont downplay decor. A banquet hall with an
attractive decor is not only aesthetically appealing
but can appeal to a couples finances as well. Such
a hall likely wont need any additional decora-
tions, while a banquet hall thats unadorned and
lacks embellishments will. Compare the costs of
the more decorated banquet hall with the one
thats more plain in appearance, factoring in the
cost to decorate the latter, and you might just
realize the one with more aesthetic appeal is more
affordable in the long run.
Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton, for
instance, boasts a new clubhouse in a rustic
country setting which features a 300-guest ball-
room, Ambler Room and Annex room which can
accommodate smaller affairs.
Wedding couples select Rolling Hills for their
special day because of the ability to use multiple,
gorgeous rooms for the ceremony, cocktail hour,
wedding reception and bridal party prepara-
tion, Hilary Perettine, spokeman for the club,
said. Our windowed ballroom overlooking the
golf course is one of the largest, newest and most
spectacular in the area.
Prioritize privacy. Few couples would be open
to strangers having easy access to their wedding
reception. When shopping for a banquet hall,
look for one that gives you and your guests all the
privacy you need.
Destination weddings need not mean hopping
on a plane. If the couple lives in Southern Faifield
County, they may want to host their ceremony
and reception up in Litchfield County, or vise
versa.
The Garden House at the Keeler Tavern
Museum in Ridgefield has become a preferred
venue for local couples as well as couples seeking
a destination wedding, Mary Ann Connors,
Garden House manager and associate director,
said. The private, sunken garden with beautiful
seasonal flowers is the perfect setting for their
intimate ceremony. The Garden House and
adjoining terraces add to the serenity and beauty
of the venue. Many couples are enchanted with
the rich history of the Keeler Tavern and incorpo-
rate a tour of the museum into their wedding day
schedule for their guests.
Connecticut is ripe with venues in all shapes
and sizes, which should make the choosing a fun
part of the planning.
Ideas of where to celebrate I do
The Inn at Longshore/Splash Restaurant
Westport; 203-226-3316, innatlongshore.com;
203-454-7798 (Splash)
The Lounsbury House
Ridgefield; 203-438-6962; lounsburyhouse.com
Garden House at the Keeler Tavern Museum
Ridgefield; 203-438-5485, keelertavernmuseum.org
Le Chateau
South Salem, N.Y.; 914-533-6331, lechateauny.com
The Washington Club
Washington; 860-868-9133
Stonehenge Inn
Ridgefield; 203-438-6511, stonehengeinn-ct.com
The Amber Room Colonnade
Danbury; 203-748-3800, theamberroom.net
Tarrywile Park and Mansion
Danbury; 203-744-3130, tarrywile.com
Milford; 203-876-8051, greatrivergolfclub.com
Salem Golf Club
North Salem, N.Y.; 914-669-5485
2

2
October 2, 2014 I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3
Box 1019, Ridgefield, Conn 06877
203-438-6544
Julie Butler, editor
Bryan Haeffele, designer

Thomas B. Nash, publisher

For advertising information,

call 203-438-6544
Copyright 2013, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC
OCTOBER 2, 2014

I Do
I Do

Brides-to-be have long checklists for planning
their big day. Dress, flowers, venue, vows, will
there be a sit-down dinner or hors doeuvres and
crudits? Who will be in the wedding party?
Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect
and by that, many mean that they want the event
itself and themselves to be absolutely beautiful,
says Eric Gulbrandson, a wedding photographer
and author of the new book, Dream Wedding
Secrets: The All Important G.S.F.
But a perfect wedding is also one that people
remember months and years later as a wonder-
ful event where they thoroughly enjoyed them-
selves, Gulbrandson says. Think about it no
bride wants her wedding remembered as a disas-
ter!
The secret is to put a high priority on what
Gulbrandson calls the G.S.F. guest satisfaction
factor.
Its how others perceive your wedding, he
says. Most brides do want their guests to be
able to enjoy their wedding, but they overlook
the G.S.F. because all the advice is geared toward
beauty and budgets.
Gulbrandson interviewed hundreds of wed-
ding guests and compiled more than 200 dos and
donts for brides-to-be for ensuring a high G.S.F.
Among them:
If you invite children, arrange a supervised
activity area for them. Couples often include chil-
dren on their guest list because they contribute
to the family atmosphere and celebration, but
weddings are not child-centered events. Kids
get bored; the wedding day is often a long one
with extended periods of sitting quietly and an
abundance of adults consuming alcohol. Help
parents and children enjoy the event by arranging
for a supervised activity area on the outskirts of
the reception. A couple of teenaged relatives may
appreciate earning some money for overseeing




Off-the-shoulder necklines, bold colors,
tulle overskirts, capes. Breezy fabrics. Cut-
outs and crop tops.
These are some of the looks that are
trending right now in bridal fashion. There
are also creative dresses that boast convert-
ible skirts, particularly in tulle, so that the
bride can wear a floor-length skirt for the
ceremony and then take off the bottom
half for a fun reception dress that is decid-
edly more dance-friendly.
It is a really great time in bridal fash-
ion, Alison Fischer Luciano, owner of
The Plumed Serpent Bridal in Westport,
said. There are so many new trends that
are emerging. The biggest right now are
the use of texture laces that have a
three dimensional effect rather than just
being flat, and skirts with twirls of fabric
and ruffles.
Fischer Luciano also noted that delicate
embroidery and beading is definitely being
seen much more than it has been in past
seasons.
Ashley Krauss, owner A Little
Something White in Darien, said that her
brides are increasingly looking to differ-
entiate themselves from all of their friends
who have recently gotten married.
Because of this, we have seen an
increased interested in non-strapless
gowns, she said. The biggest trend with
brides right now is the illusion neckline.
An illusion neckline is the perfect option
for a bride who loves the overall look of a
strapless gown but wants some additional
coverage. An illusion neckline is a piece of
tulle fabric that covers the back and chest
and is often adorned with something like
lace or embroidery.
Fischer Luciano also said that illusion
necklines are being shown by almost every
designer.
There is nothing better than watching
what you know will be the next big trend
go down the runway and know you are
seeing it and will have it in your store,
she said.
Fischer Luciano described a Liancarlo
bridal gown Plumed Serpent carries that
features the illusion neckline.
I love how the lace seems to float up
and over the brides shoulders and then
down the back, she said. Many of our
brides who have fallen in love with one of
our strapless gowns end up working with
my seamstress to custom create a buildup
for the gown that covers a portion of their
chest and back.
Krauss said that with fabrics, lace con-
tinues to dominate what our brides are
looking for, and designers have responded
by creating a wide variety of options when
it comes to lace gowns. However, some
of our brides are looking to differentiate
themselves by adding details like beading
or crystals to the lace.
Color has become more prevalent
and is definitely here to stay, according
to Fischer Luciano, who said gowns are
being shown in blush, soft pink and even
the palest blue.
Krauss said that brides that come into
her store, however, continue to show
interest predominantly in white and ivory
gowns.
While many designers are show-
ing color variations, our brides remain
relatively traditional and prefer white or
ivory.
No matter which way you want to go,
no way is the wrong way when it comes to
todays bridal couture.
Its your day, after all.


See Happy on page 5
This Caroline Castigliano gown illustrates the very popular illusion neckline favored
by brides lately. - Photo courtesy of The Plumed Serpent
3


Alvina Valenta Amsale Anna Maier Coren Moore
Judd Waddell Junko Yoshioka Kelly Faetanini
Liancarlo Sareh Nouri
1292 Boston Post Rd Darien CT 06820
www.alittlesomethingwhite.com
Info@alittlesomethingwhite.com 203.309.5110
Photo credit: Sareh Nouri
3
4 I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers October 2, 2014
Theres something enchanting about a precious basket-
toting flower girl toddling down the aisle or a dashing ring
bearer posing GQ-like in his pint-sized tux.
And then theres something scary about these real-life sce-
narios:
The bride walking down the aisle, eyes darting around
and mind consumed with whether the young kids in her wed-
ding party had managed to break anything else. Throughout
the day, said florist Rachel Whittemore of this wedding a few
years ago, When we needed to touch base with the bridal
couple, we just followed the screams.
The beach destination wedding where the brides niece
was handed a cute metal beach pail to transport the rings.
No one noticed the sweet, little girl digging in the sand
and playing. She needed more room in the bucket and
dumped the sand, and rings, somewhere on the beach, said
Richard OMalley, the New Jersey-based event planner who
coordinated travel and the reception for this wedding. (Ninety
minutes into a search, only the grooms ring could be res-
cued.)
The ring bearer who somehow found a Sharpie and left
a tiny Picasso on the bridal gown.
The bride had her gown bustled to hide the ink, and
never got the long train she wanted, said Whittemore, owner
of The Centerpiece Floral Design, also of New Jersey and who
has worked with Connecticut couples.
In a more typical wedding scene with kids, for every mis-
hap theres an equally magical moment.
Its not unusual for a rambunctious, tuxedo-clad ninja to
behead his bout before he even has a chance to walk down
the aisle ... all while beaming with cuteness, she added.
There are also pros and cons to children as guests.
Its special to many parents when their kids get to share
in the day, said Lisa Nightingale of Old Wethersfield-based
Nightingale Events. Yet, those parents cant quite relax as they
by Melissa Ezarik

Cousins Kali DeCristoforo, Annabelle Shultz and Lucy Shultz prepare the way for their aunt, Megan DeCristoforo to her
fiance Michael Sylvester at their July wedding. Bryan Haeffele photo
4
mens clothier
womens accessories
est. 1976

454 Main Ave.
Norwalk
203-846-1664
brucesflowers.com
1040 Post Rd.
Fairfield
203-255-0461
www.hansensflowershop.com
Both Florists under same ownership
Hansens Voted One of the
TOP THREE WEDDING FLORISTS
- TheKnot.com
Hansens voted
BEST FLORIST 1999-2013
- Fairfield County Weekly

anache Hair Design

4
As you consider the ideal setting for
your wedding, we invite you to make
the historic mansion and gardens of the
DCA Meadowlands your own.
Our eight acre Regency-style estate
grand staircase descending to rooms
decorated with unique period details,
an elegant formal garden as a gorgeous
stage for your ceremony, and Garden
Wing with stage and ample space for
your reception.
For further information or a tour of the
estate, please contact Laura Boulton,
our Catered Events Coordinator, at
events@dariendca.org or 203-655-9050
extension 12. The DCA is located at 274
Middlesex Road in Darien, CT.
View more images and information at
dariendca.org or at theknot.com.
As you consider the ideal setting for
your wedding, we invite you to make
the historic mansion and gardens of the
DCA Meadowlands your own.
View more images and information at
dariendca.org or at theknot.com.
For further information or a tour of the
estate, please contact Laura Boulton,
our Catered Events Coordinator, at
events@dariendca.org or 203-655-9050
extension 12. The DCA is located at 274
Middlesex Road in Darien, CT.
Our eight acre Regency-style estate
grand staircase descending to rooms
decorated with unique period details,
an elegant formal garden as a gorgeous
stage for your ceremony, and Garden
Wing with stage and ample space for
your reception.
Imagine Your Wedding at the
DCA Meadowlands
October 2, 2014 I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers 5
worry about their kids being disruptive.
Yes, shes seen little fingers dip into wed-
ding cakes.
While ideally kids-or-no-kids is up to
the couple, its not always cut and dry.
No matter what they say, someone will
ask to bring their child to the wedding,
said Marta Segal Block, weddings editor
for GigMasters, an online booking agency
for wedding vendors, including more than
500 Connecticut-based members.
If you have children who are part
of the wedding party, asking your other
guests not to bring them can cause some
tension, said wedding planner Kia
Martinson, owner of West Hartford-based
ESTOccasions and founder of the website
Engaged Connecticut, engagedct.com. In
her experience, most parents opt not to
bring their children anyway.
For those who vow to include kids on
the big day, here are nine ways to help
ensure their presence is memorable for the
right reasons.
1. Consider the individual child
when considering the bridal party ros-
ter.
Boys especially have a lot of energy.
Walking down an aisle slowly, to soft
music, is an impossible task, said
Whittemore. Flower girls tend to be more
into it, but also tend to steal the show.
2. For blended family weddings,
think of a special way to honor the bride
and/or grooms kids.
On their invitation, one of Nightingales
clients had the brides son being the one to
cordially invite the guests. And when Tim
and Sue Gagne of Newtown exchanged
vows in 2010 at a casual backyard cer-
emony, Tims two daughters, 21 and 19,
and Sues two daughters, 13 and 12, all
had starring roles.
My girls walked me down the aisle,
and hers walked her down the aisle, and
then we all did the first dance together,
he said. It cemented us as family.
3. Choose flowers that arent poison-
ous to keep tiny tots safe.
There are actually quite a few flowers
you can safely eat, Whittemore said.
4. Pin a ring bearers boutonniere,
using safety rather than straight pins, no
more than two minutes pre-aisle walk,
advised Whittemore.
5. Know that dropping petals is a
tough task for a young flower girl.
Whittemore will suggest a wand with
long ribbons as whimsical, age-appropri-
ate and very sweet.
6. Drop the exact vision of how the
day will go.
Children can have good and bad
days/hours, said Nightingale. They could
decide minutes before they are set to walk
down the aisle to melt down.
7. Keep timing in mind.
Kids dinners should be served with
their parents salad or apps, she said. And
with a 6 p.m. to midnight reception, know
that guests with young children may leave
by 8 or 9. Daytime weddings are a better
kid fit.
8. Sit kids together, and with a sitter.
Distribute goody bags with small
toys and games or, better yet, a tablet
with some Pixar films uploaded and a
handful of cheap headsets to go around,
Whittemore said.
9. Enjoy the energy kids are sure to
bring.
At the Gagne wedding, the kids were
dancing, running around and being silly,
he recalled. It was the kids who carried
the event.
Melissa Ezarik is a Stratford mom of a
ring bearer who held the pillow between his
knees and cried during the recessional of
his godfathers 2011 wedding.
arts and crafts projects and games. Hiring
relatives for this job will help keep the costs
reasonable.
Dont make costumes a requirement
for your themed wedding. Whether youve
got your heart set on a Renaissance faire or
zombie nuptials, dont require your guests
to shell out money buying or renting cos-
tumes. Yes, you can ease any financial bur-
den by requesting they wear costumes in
lieu of buying gifts, but that doesnt address
the potential for physical and emotional
discomfort. Sure, all your friends may be
LARPers, but if Uncle Howard and Aunt
Betty are not, they may not enjoy wearing
capes and carrying swords to your cer-
emony.
Dont plan your wedding for a holiday
weekend. Occasionally, brides plan their
wedding for a three-day holiday weekend
thinking it will help out-of-towners who
want to attend. However, it also boosts
the odds of local guests being out of town.
Given that most working people have only
two guaranteed three-day weekends a year,
many plan ahead for them. Additionally,
hotel and rental car prices tend to go up
during holidays and traffic doubles. Play it
safe by avoiding calendar holidays and, of
course, Super Bowl Sunday.
With food and drink, if you have
to choose between quantity and quality,
choose quantity. Nobody will mind if the
chicken skewers arent the best they ever
had, but they will if you run out of them.
While taste and presentation are important,
having enough food and drink available
throughout the event is more important
than a glamorous presentation.
When its all said and done, dont ruin
your perfect wedding by failing to follow
through with that time-honored (for good
reason) custom of sending thank-you notes.
Technically, accepted protocol allows
guests a year after the wedding to send a
gift, so you may be on the receiving end for
quite some time, Gulbrandson says. Keep
a list and send handwritten thank-yous as
quickly as you can. Most guests and experts
agree that one to three months after the
wedding is fine, but my advice is to get on
it quickly.
More info: dreamweddingsecrets.com
Continued from page 3
Andrew Downey passes out programs for
his aunt Megan DeCristoforos wedding
to her fiance Michael Sylvester in July.
Bryan Haeffele photo
5
THE HISTORIC 1896
S T U N N I N G
IN ALL FOUR SEASONS
316 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877

L O U N S B U R Y
H O U S E
CONNECTICUTS MOST ROMANTIC AND ELEGANT
WEDDING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION SITE
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5
6 I Do, I Do: Fall Bridal Hersam Acorn Newspapers October 2, 2014
6

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