Chic to Chic

St. Charles Avenue Couture Wedding Guide February 2009

Consider choosing a landmark building in Historic Old Mandeville as a venue for your wedding party and treat your guests to the jewel of St. Tammany Parish: the civilized, unobstructed shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain and its lush country surroundings. Maison Lafitte, at 402 Lafitte St., is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Contact owners Brett Davis and Clark Heebe at 421-7760 about the sale, lease or rental of this charming property.

Formerly known to locals as the century-old Bechac’s at 2025 Lakeshore Drive, Lake House will open on Valentine’s Day as a premiere venue, restaurant and lounge by partners Cayman Sinclair, Restaurateur Vicky Bayley and Chef Michael Sichel. With French doors and galleries overlooking the lake with its stunning Northshore sunsets, Lake House gatherings are certain to raise the bar for haute cuisine and scenic ambiance. Call (985) 626-3006 for booking and restaurant information.

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Couples get a jump-start at Adler’s Fine Jewelry by choosing the venerable family-owned business for the purchase of their engagement ring. Buy it there, and Adler’s Fine Jewelry will put 10 percent of its value toward your wedding registry, with the irresistible bonus of completing sets of china, stemware or flatware by giving the eighth set free. Three citywide locations, a searchable database and a national reputation for quality, selection and service make Adler’s Fine Jewelry the wedding source specialist.

To create the ring of your dreams, visit Kenneth Friend Jr., president and owner of family-owned Friend and Company, who designs and crafts unique custom jewelry. The bridal registry staff offers personal assistance in selecting china, crystal, sterling flatware and gifts from a wide range of celebrated designers.

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry specializes in gems, timepieces and giftware by the world’s most distinguished designers and craftspeople. Ryan Berg manages his family’s two New Orleans locations, with Jay Aronson overseeing the Canal Place store’s bridal registry. Gift ideas for the entire wedding party include pearl studs and monogrammed money clips.

If your search is for antique and estate jewelry and you appreciate the undivided personal attention of an expert, contact Hope Goldman Meyer for an appointment. A graduate gemologist, Meyer has been selling privately to clients for more than a decade and can help you locate a fine diamond or update an old setting. Her unique collection is a reflection of her exquisite taste.

Chic to Chic

Register your gifts at Quince for a more modern alternative. Custom linens, German porcelain and French flatware along with an eclectic array of decorative and functional items for entertaining and cooking attract the discerning bride. Beautiful gift wrap, delivery and shipping are welcome services at this new lower Magazine Street shop.

Owners Margaret and Sallie Jones invite you to experience the old world charm and elegance of Scriptura. Their couture wedding and party invitations are regularly featured in national publications. The personal attention, expertise and the creative images and ideas that the staff members bring to each meeting with the bride helps anticipation levels remain high from save-the-date to thank-you notes.
Betty Hunley Designs is a one-stop shop for traditional printed and engraved wedding invitations, announcements and thank-you cards. The experienced staff is well versed in the traditions and rules of etiquette, and will lead you through the process of seeing your own ideas and concepts take shape.

Sisters M’Adele and Sidonie Read opened RSVP Stationers in 1991. Their goal is to design the memorable invitation that serves as both an elegant reminder of the event and keepsake of your wedding. Engraved invitations and card stock include classics designed by Crane, Vera Wang and William Arthur.

Mimi Bowen represents the entire collection of Vera Wang Bridal in her eponymous store, making Mimi the largest Vera Wang Bridal retailer south of Washington, D.C. Based on a philosophy of simplicity and timeless elegance, Wang’s use of fabric and knowledge of construction is unparalleled in the industry. A magical selection of designer ready-to-wear is always on hand for perfect party attire.
Suzanne Perron opened her boutique in 2006, bringing 13 years of New York design experience home to New Orleans. A pet protégé of Vera Wang, the young designer individually imagines and constructs exquisite couture gowns for her clients. From the initial sketch, the creative process is collaboration, resulting in a faultless foundation and perfect fit. Perron is also adept at incorporating family heirlooms, lace and vintage items into ethereal modern gowns for the current bride.
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As the largest bridal store in the New Orleans area, Pearl’s Place offers a stunning array of gowns at every price range and is always cutting edge when it comes to fashion choices for the bride and bridal party. Owned by the Schulman family for 38 years, the store prides itself on the fastest delivery of special orders, amazing alterations and a professional team of consultants for a bride-to-be.

At Wedding Belles, sisters Amy Anseman and Mary Sides EMBRACE boutique design companies that are unique to this area, offering a wide selection of modern, fresh and flattering styles to choose from. The fabrics and craftsmanship are classically beautiful, the price points are moderate, the service is personal and pressure-free, and the shop’s vibe is professional, youthful and charming.

In continuous operation since 1932, Town and Country is the area’s oldest bridal salon. Owners Cullom and Lisa Swords feature many exclusive designs, eliminating the possibility of seeing your dream gown walk down the aisle on someone else. Girls who fell in love with the Town and Country experience as bridesmaids often return as brides and the salon’s three fulltime in-house alterations experts can fit any gown and deliver it on time.

Elizabeth’s offers elegant apparel, shoes and accessories carefully chosen for special occasion events. Party frocks, evening gowns and suited looks in exquisite styles and fabrications distinguish the carefully selected merchandise at both old Metairie and West Bank locations. Elizabeth’s is a great resource for all of your elegant dressing needs.

Bessie and Effie Papazis’ Old Metairie boutiques FeBe feature designer cocktail dresses for luncheons, showers, rehearsal dinners and weddings. Labels include Vera Wang Lavender, Diane Von Furstenberg, Laundry and Milly. Shop both Metairie Road locations for a fabulous selection whether you are a bride, a bridesmaid or a guest.
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Angelique Short’s eponymous store Angelique is located in the heart of the Riverbend and is known for its well-edited lines of merchandise, from cutting-edge designers to familiar luxury brands. Friendly, approachable staff makes the Angelique dressing room experience fun, and a dress from Angelique will be as individual as you are.

John’s Tuxedos is locally owned and operated, serving New Orleans customers since 1984. With a Web site that includes tutorials, a delivery and pickup service for out of town guests, on-site tailoring and in-stock inventory, John’s handles last minute adjustments and requests with ease to guarantee the perfect fit.

If you envision your groom and his friends in traditional white linen or seersucker suits, visit Perlis. A mainstay in men’s clothing since 1939, Perlis will help coordinate your wedding party look down to the neckties. Their formalwear rental department offers the full range of classic tuxedo styles including tails, morning and afternoon attire. For the ring bearer, an Eton suit is the classic choice and the Ladies Boutique is a reliable fashion resource for the bridal party.

Owner Karen Ludwig of Mignon for Children stocks a lovely selection of flower girl and ring bearer outfits as well as a unique selection of clothing, toys and gifts for children. New Orleans-related items make perfect mementos for a very special event.
Chic to Chic

Owners Roy Dunn and Stephen Sonnier of Dunn & Sonnier are fans of unusual plant materials and vintage containers. Their lower Magazine Street shop is brimming with exotic – and live – birds, oversized orchids and a stunning array of antiques. Sonnier consults his bridal customers on venue selection and the overall look of the floral design. Flowers are flown in from growers all over the world and first cut blooms ensure long-lasting and unique arrangements without duplication.

Glen Vesh’s Perfect Presentations has provided expert guidance for the creation of stunning events in New Orleans since 1980. From the initial consultation, Perfect Presentations creates the right floral look for the right space, in line with the bride’s specific taste. Intimate knowledge of local venues guarantees easy installation and flawless execution, allowing the bride to enjoy her special day without worrying about the logistics.

White Oak Productions takes the stress out of booking the music for your wedding and ceremony. Voted New Orleans Best Booking Agency since 1998, White Oak will work with you to customize your entertainment with an astounding talent roster representing all musical genres, as well as provide the best in sound and light packages and staging.

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