10 Questions with National Bridal Editor of Modern Luxury Weddings Phebe Wahl

1) HOW MANY BRIDAL EDITIONS DOES MODERN LUXURY HAVE?

WE HAVE MODERN LUXURY WEDDINGS EDITIONS IN THIRTEEN MARKETS INCLUDING ATLANTA, ASPEN, CALIFORNIA (FOR FIVE DIFFERENT MARKETS), CHICAGO, DALLAS, HOUSTON, MIAMI, SCOTTSDALE AND WASHINGTON DC.

2) HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR IS IT PUBLISHED?

WE PUBLISH TWICE A YEAR. IT IS CONCEIVED AS A COFFEE TABLE PIECE TO BE ENJOYED FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON.

3) EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS WITH CONTENT, DOES EACH EDITION HAVE IT’S OWN SPECIFIC AESTHETIC? 

YES, EACH EDITION IS CUSTOMIZED TO REFLECT THE MARKET’S UNIQUE AESTHETIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC. FOR EXAMPLE, SOUTHERN BRIDES IN ATLANTA OR DALLAS MIGHT HAVE A SOFTER, MORE FEMININE FASHION SENSIBILITY WHILE A MIAMI OR CALIFORNIA BRIDE MIGHT GRAVITATE MORE TOWARDS A CLEANER, MODERN AESTHETIC. WE REFLECT THE VIBE OF EACH MARKET IN EVERY PAGE FROM THE FASHION EDITORIALS TO THE STYLED TABLESCAPE FEATURES.

4) DO YOU HAVE LOCAL PHOTO SHOOTS OR ARE THEY ALL DONE IN NYC?

WE SHOOT TABLESCAPES, CAKES, FLOWERS, INVITATIONS AS WELL AS OTHER ELEMENTS LOCALLY. WE HIGHLIGHT THE TOP TALENT OF THE WEDDING WORLD IN EACH MARKET AS THESE ARE THE VENDORS THAT COUPLES SEEK WHEN SELECTING THEIR WEDDING TEAM. OUR AMAZING FASHION DIRECTOR, JAMES AGUIAR SHOOTS THE FASHION EDITORIALS IN NYC.

5) WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT MODERN LUXURY HAS WITH THE LOCAL VENDERS?

ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF MODERN LUXURY IS OUR “BOOTS ON THE GROUND” IN EACH LOCAL MARKET. WE HAVE FULLY STAFFED TEAMS IN EACH OF OUR MARKETS INCLUDING EDITORIAL, MARKETING AND SALES. OUR TEAMS HAVE STRONG AND AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS LOCAL TASTEMAKERS AND INFLUENCERS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER YEARS. HAVING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN EACH MARKET HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT SETS MODERN LUXURY APART.

6) HOW DO YOU DEFINE LUXURY?

I THINK LUXURY IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. WE LIKE TO SAY IT IS THE “WHO MANY” NOT THE “HOW MANY.”

7) HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO WEDDINGS?

FOR WEDDINGS, I THINK THESE MEANS A FOCUS ON THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND SMALL BUT IMPACTFUL DETAILS OF YOUR WEDDING: THE HAND EMBROIDERY WORK ON A WEDDING GOWN, CRAFT COCKTAILS OR FRESH FARM-TO-TABLE FARE AT THE RECEPTION, OR TRULY BREATHTAKING FLORALS. IT IS ALL ABOUT A SUBTLE SOPHISTICATION RATHER THAN AN OVERT OSTENTATION.

8) HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHAT IS MODERN WEDDING?

FOR ME, MODERNITY IS ALL ABOUT A UNIQUENESS IN APPROACH. THE CHIC WEDDINGS THAT WE COVER ARE VERY MODERN IN THIS SENSE THAT EACH CEREMONY AND RECEPTION IS ENTIRELY CUSTOMIZED TO THE COUPLE. EVERYTHING IS BESPOKE AND TAILORED TO REFLECT THEIR PERSONALITY AND UNIQUE LOVE STORY OF THE BETROTHED. THIS MODERN APPROACH OF TELLING THEIR SPECIAL NARRATIVE THROUGH THEIR WEDDING IS ALSO DEEPLY ROMANTIC I THINK.

9) DESCRIBE YOUR READER.

OUR READER FOR MODERN LUXURY WEDDINGS IS THE LOCAL COUPLE THAT HAS A DISCERNING TASTE LEVEL AND SEEKS THE BEST THEIR CITY HAS TO OFFER. THEY ARE THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL AND ENJOY POURING OVER THE DETAILS OF PLANNING THEIR SPECIAL DAY.

10) ANY GREAT NEW TRENDS YOU SAW FOR YOUR READERS DURING THE RECENT RUNWAY SHOWS?

THIS MARKET I LOVED SEEING A SENSE OF REGAL REFINEMENT. I WAS REALLY FEELING AN ELIZABETHAN SENTIMENT WITH HIGH NECKS, GOLD BROCADE TOUCHES AND LOTS OF ORNATE DETAILING. THERE WERE SO MANY GOWNS FIT FOR A MODERN PRINCESS! IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE SOMETHING A BIT MORE DEMURE AFTER SEVERAL SEASONS OF SEXY, SEXY, SEXY.