Alyson + Jesse

As the former editor-in-chief of three regional bridal magazines, I've seen many of weddings over the years. But never have I been so proud as to run the following story about Alyson and Jesse Newquist — Minnesota Bride's first ever same-sex couple.

I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, because it shouldn't be an exception to the norm, but, well, the United States hasn't exactly gotten to that point yet, and it is a big deal. You might even be wondering what took so long! It all boils down to equality — we only feature the best local weddings in the magazine, regardless of sexual orientation, but hadn't yet seen a same-sex wedding that met our standards. Until now.

Jesse and Alyson's wedding was absolutely gorgeous and full of creative, meaningful details. They even opened their own venue in the process! Check out Matt Burgess' wonderfully written feature on these inspiring newlyweds, with photos by Photogen Inc:

Holiday Jewel Tones and Glossy Lipstick

I'm feeling inspired by this moody editorial starring Keira Knightley, from the January issue of Vogue UK, for the following reasons:

1. My skin is currently that pale. Thanks, winter.
2. The rich pops of color and jewel tones in Ms. Knightley's attire feel so ripe for the holiday season.
3. Same goes for the sultry, lacquer-like finish on her lips. What a cupid's bow on that girl!
4. This looks like it was shot in a romantic Mediterranean plaza, and couldn't we all use a little Mediterranean plaza in our lives? Hello, Greece; let's hang out.

Since I'm making lists, here's what I still need to accomplish before the holidays:

1. Find a Christmas present for my boyfriend. He's the last one left on my list. His interests include expensive booze, expensive outerwear, expensive cookware and expensive camping gear. Remind me again why I'm dating someone whose tastes begin in the triple digits? (oh yeah — those cute dimples, and his culinary abilities, and his dorkiness, and maybe some other things too)
2. Shop for shoes online. I'm looking for sturdy boots with a thick heel that still manage to look chic. Maybe a wedge? Anyway, Macy's has a killer sale right now, which just might be the ticket.
3. Wrap gifts.
4. Muster up the self control to not eat myself into oblivion over the next two weeks.

How have your holidays been? Are you finished gift-shopping yet? Do you plan on watching your waistline this month?

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Can't get enough of this wickedly beautiful editorial from FASHIONTREND, an Australian quarterly magazine. The unabashedly kinky '80s hair, jet-black eye makeup and agressive accessories feel so modern and bold. And it still mantains an all-over glamorous vibe.

Have you ever thought about getting a perm? I still remember, quite clearly, in 1993 when my best friend, Sam, permed her hair. She looked so cool. Back then, my hair wasn't thick enough to be eligible, but now it's filled out and I've consider committing to curly. In fact, a few haircuts ago, I asked my stylist what she thought, but she said that because I color my hair, I can't perm it too. It'd get fried and could possibly fall out — in other words, the stuff of nightmares. Not worth the risk, if you ask me.

WORK

Here's a single shot from behind-the-scenes at a bridal fashion shoot I orchestrated in Scottsdale on Tuesday. I don't have time to post more at the moment, because I'm getting ready for a weekend getaway to Kohler, Wisconsin to visit the American Club Resort for a story I'm researching. We're hitting the road at 6 AM tomorrow. Time for bed!

A weekend in Milwaukee

Occasionally, I get to travel for my job. Last weekend I spend three days in Milwaukee to promote the new issue of Wisconsin Bride (of which I am the editor in chief) and chat with brides about wedding planning. My account manager, Katie Roberts, and I spent two days at the Wonderful World of Weddings bridal show at Milwaukee's State Fair grounds.

Here's the new issue. I love this cover, shot by Buck Holzemer and styled by Hollie Mae Schutz of HMStyling. Over the course of two days at the expo only one bride mentioned that she wouldn't wear such an over-the-top bolero. I was expecting much more criticism; Midwest brides can be quite traditional in their wedding attire (which is part of why I like to push the envelope in our fashion shoots — gotta show 'em something they haven't seen).

Here's Katie, holding down the fort at our tiny exhibitor booth.

We gave away 2,000 magazines! I've never seen more brides in one place. Most were your typical 24- to 25-year-olds, but I spotted several barely 18-year-olds and more than a few 70+-year-olds. The majority had a small entourage of their mother, sister and friends, and some even brought their grooms. All were so tickled to get a free copy of the magazine — a few even had one already, which is neat because the new issue just came out a few days ago.

Here was the view from our booth:

That traffic jam at the end of the hall was due to everyone crowding around a display of live "mannequins," and a table with cake samples. The booth next to us gave out bags of candy. Not a bad idea — brides flock to free stuff.

Meanwhile, across the country, my coworkers were giving away copies of Arizona Bride (of which I'm also the editor in chief) at a wedding fair, but they had a much swankier setup:

No fair! Bridal shows can run the gamut style-wise; sometimes it's a classy event and sometimes it's more low-key. Here's hoping my next expo is more like Arizona's.

During our second night in Milwaukee, Katie and I went out to dinner at Nanakusa, a lovely sushi restaurant in the 3rd Ward.

Photo by Czeltic Girl via flickr

It was delicious. We loved the scallop maki roll best. If you're in the area, this place is a must.

Afterward, we wandered around the corner to check out Cuvée, a second-story champagne bar that also hosts wedding receptions.

Photo by Zilli Hospitality Group

It was super classy and cozy. Katie and I parked ourselves in a wrap-around booth and tried a champagne cocktail. I got a French 75 and she got a Bellini — both were perfect.

Next, we checked out Bacchus, an upscale bar/restaurant across the street from our hotel.

I loved how dimmly lit and chic it felt. We weren't sure what to order so the bartender invented a drink for us. It always pays to let bartenders experiment, and we weren't disappointed.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend. On Sunday I'm heading to Scottsdale to represent Arizona Bride on a tour of hotel ballrooms and golf course venues throughout the Valley. My itinerary is packed with spa treatments, so I'm pretty excited. I plan to fully enjoy the warm Southwest weather and soak up as much sun as possible.

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