Creating your Fairy Tale

The Nouveau Romantics is a boutique event design and planning studio that takes pride in creating one-of-a-kind experiences - an approach that has landed them on multiple “Best Planners” list in the United States, including Harper’s Bazaar and Martha Stewart Weddings. TNR designs and plans weddings throughout the United States, Canada, and beyond. Given a ceremony in the countryside or a wedding on a riad rooftop in Marrakech – you’ll be seen at your best.

The many, many moving parts of a wedding can create a challenge. TNR’s clients in Texas love to throw Texas-sized celebrations - which often means building the entire wedding from scratch on private properties, and managing planning, decor, and floral teams that are often at least 20 deep, if not upwards to 50 staff! And while staff size is one aspect, the execution of their work often comes in remote locations, with limited FedEx runs, which means they are prepared with Plans B, C, D, and E as something inevitably goes “not according to plan.” When meeting with TNR, couples should bring the a list of their top priorities, a general idea of a guest list, and their vision of what they want their wedding day (or weekend) to feel like, as well as consideration on how they want the planning process to feel like. It’s not just the wedding, it’s also the relationship between the couple and the planner.

Recently engaged couples should… "Get real about the guest list, determine who is involved in the decision making process, and rank your top priorities - separately and together," says Elizabeth McKellar, found of TNR Planners like TNR can guide the entire process and ensure that you’re maximizing your investment, as well as troubleshoot and avoid any big snags with venues, that might adjust your budget in a significant way.

Claire Ptak, a London-based baker from Inverness, California, worked for three years at Chez Panisse as a pastry cook and then a pastry chef. Her acclaimed bakery and cafe, Violet, sells whoopie pies, cupcakes, and serving-size desserts, all crafted with a focus on organic and seasonal ingredients. Younger, hipper, cooler Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently announced that Ptak's Violet Bakery - a favorite of theirs - will design their wedding cake.

The couple asked her to create a "lemon elderflower cake to incorporate the bright flavors of spring." It will be covered in butter cream, and - get this - decorated with fresh flowers. The choice says Goodbye to the long-standing royal tradition of serving humdrum fruitcake, the holiday go-to made with nuts and candied fruit that makes most of us cringe (but, boy, do they last). The point of the tradition was that it could also be served the christening of the married couples first child.

The pastry chef tapped to make the sensationally sweet creation, was previously interviewed by Markle for her blog, The Tig. Clearly, the Suits actress kept in touch with the baker and reconnected upon her move to London. Ptak authored several books including "The Violet Bakery Cookbook" which is described as a "design-forward cookbook for sweet and savory baked goods."

There's a reason that many a bride maintain a veil of secrecy around the wedding gown. The "Oooooohs" and "Ahhhhhs" when the organ tolls out the opening of Wagner's Wedding March are as much of a tradition as the white gown itself. This season, we are seeing beautiful modern gowns, vintage-inspired gowns and capes, both off the shoulder and from the waist.

Dream shoes for women, precious, hand-made, following the noblest tradition of Made-in-Italy craftsmanship: René Caovilla's stunning collections range from stilettos to slippers. Starting at $1,090, each pair is hand-made in Venice.