Happy Anniversary T&C
OUR RACHEL LEONARD SAT DOWN WITH BEAUTY DIRECTOR OF TOWN & COUNTRY, JAMIE ROSEN, AND DEPUTY EDITOR, DANIELLE STEIN TO SPEAK ABOUT their magazine AND ALL THINGS WEDDINGS.
1) WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT PUTTING THE BRIDAL SECTION TOGETHER FOR THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF T&C?
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT OUR WEDDINGS COVERAGE OVER THE LAST 170 YEARS, IT’S INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW WELL THE WEDDINGS WE LOVE HAVE HELD UP. THEY STILL LOOK ELEGANT, REFINED, AND EXECUTED WITH GREAT TASTE, NO MATTER THE YEAR. WE’RE ALWAYS BALANCING THAT TIMELESS QUALITY WITH SOMETHING THAT FEELS UP-TO-DATE, BE IT A ROUNDED CAKE OR A CHANEL COUTURE PANTSUIT.
2) HOW HAS THE T&C BRIDAL COVERAGE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?
WE'VE ALWAYS COVERED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WEDDINGS, OF ACCOMPLISHED AND FASCINATING COUPLES. BUT THE BIG SOCIETY WEDDING—AND THE MILLIONS OF WEDDINGS IT INSPIRED—USED TO FOLLOW A PRETTY SPECIFIC FORMULA. TRADITION USED TO DICTATE THE DAY. NOW, A COUPLE'S PERSONALITY AND TASTE DICTATES HOW TRADITION PLAYS OUT. AND, OF COURSE, SOCIETY ITSELF USED TO BE A SMALL, CONTAINED POPULATION. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER THE CASE.
3) IS THE 1% MARRYING ANY DIFFERENTLY TODAY?
THE OPTIONS FOR INJECTING LUXURY AND BEAUTY AND CREATIVITY INTO A WEDDING DAY ARE NOW VAST AND KEEP EXPANDING. THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO DO SOMETHING OVER-THE-TOP AND UNPRECEDENTED—MAKING THE SPECIFIC NOTES OF UNDERSTATEMENT OR TRADITION THAT A PERSON ADHERES TO THAT MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT.
4) WHAT MAKES A LUXURIOUS AND STYLISH WEDDING?
A GRACIOUS BRIDE AND GROOM. A WARM, RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. SOMETHING THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC TO THE PEOPLE AT THE CENTER OF IT.
5) ETIQUETTE RULES WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT TODAY?
MANY OF THE OLD ONES—LIKE HAND WRITE YOUR THANK YOU NOTES—STILL APPLY. IF ANYTHING, THERE ARE MORE RULES THAN EVER, BECAUSE THE SAME OLD ETIQUETTE QUANDARIES EXIST, AND NEW ONES HAVE CROPPED UP.
6) DO YOU THINK SOCIAL MEDIA HAS A PLACE AT A WEDDING?
IF THE COUPLE IS OKAY WITH IT OR ACTIVELY WANTS IT, SURE. IF NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT. NEVER DURING THE CEREMONY.
7) WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FAVORITE SPLURGE ON A WEDDING?
WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WEDDING MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOUR GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND END UP BEING THE THOUGHTFUL TOUCHES THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER—WHETHER THAT'S FLIP FLOPS FOR THE DANCE FLOOR OR A RIDE HOME AT THE END OF THE EVENING.
8) WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MOST STYLISH BRIDE THIS YEAR?
PIPPA MIDDLETON IS ONE TO WATCH, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WORLD REALLY FELL FOR HER AT WILL AND KATE’S WEDDING. AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING THE SEE THE FASHION WORLD AND SILICON VALLEY COME TOGETHER FOR MIRANDA KERR AND EVAN SPIEGEL’S WEDDING.
9) FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING, WHAT WOULD BE A DREAM PLACE TO MARRY?
THE PLAYA GRANDE BEACH CLUB IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, DESIGNED BY CELERIE KEMBLE, IS ISLAND CHIC AT ITS ECLECTIC BEST.
10) ONE WEDDING DRESS OR 2? THOUGHTS ON THE TRANSPARENT DRESS TREND?
IT'S REALLY PERSONAL. TWO IS DEFINITELY ACCEPTABLE, BUT WAIT UNTIL LATER IN THE EVENING TO CHANGE. YOU’VE JUST SPENT ALL THIS MONEY ON A GOWN, WEAR IT FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.
