Los Angeles - January 15, 2003

Altar Ego

The DailyCandy LA Wedding Guide

Blame it on the mistletoe. One kiss led to another and … now you’re engaged.

Welcome to hell. All the “Best wishes!” in the world won’t be a damn bit of help when you’re trying to perfectly execute your nuptial vision.

Here’s help: a one-stop bridal 411. Use it for yourself or pass it along. It will save countless headaches during these blissful, happy months.

The Gown
The whiter shades of pale and the price tags all boil down to one question: Will you still love it when you flip through the wedding album in twenty years?

For a timeless look, go with vintage couture. Paris 1900 is a great resource for antique gowns from the early 1900s (2703 Main Street, 310-396-0405).

For ultra glam, Hollywood types love the medieval corsets, chiffon skirts, slip-dresses, and layered organza at Les Habitudes (101 North Robertson Boulevard, 310-273-2883; leshabitudes.com).

Prefer the shock of the new? John Galliano’s bridal collection for Christian Dior will have everyone blushing — not just the bride (230 North Rodeo Drive, 310-859-4700). Aussie designer extraordinaire Lisa Gowing has finally made her gowns available here (call 866-684-0658 or e-mail couture@lisagowing.com; for styles, go to lisagowing.com).

Sexy and elegant your look? Get thee to Monique Lhuillier for bias gowns and close-to-the-body silhouettes (9609 South Santa Monica Boulevard, 310-550-3388; moniquelhuillier.com). Mon Atelier Couture is another favorite among stylish brides (119 North La Brea Avenue, 323-937-1189).

Feeling lucky? Bookmark bridesmade.com for its listings of designer wedding dress sample sales.

The Gear
Face it: White shoes suck. Skip the heels and hit the aisle in a jeweled barefoot sandal from Ladybead (ladybead.com).

Sure you could do the veil, you pristine thing, you. But go alterna-bride with one of Patricia Underwood?s floppy hats (Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Boulevard, 310-275-4211). Don’t want hat head? Wear a fresh-flower wreath from Jennifer McGarigle at Floral Art (1301 Main Street, No. 3, 310-392-1633; floralart.org).

Sexy and practical lingerie: Fill a flask with “lemonade” and tuck it into your garter belt (agentprovocateur.com). That’ll chase the nerves away.

The Girls and the Guy
Hey now. Friends don’t let friends wear crappy bridesmaid dresses. Proper brides send their friends to Hartnell (1515 4th Street, 310-393-6587) or Thread (8572 Melrose Avenue, 310-360-5943; threaddesign.com). The sweetest touch: La Crasia’s silk fingerless mitts (wegloveyou.com).

Okay, the bloke (your best accessory). Love a guy in an Armani tux (436 North Rodeo Drive, 310-271-5555). For the ADD groom, Barneys New York is effortless one-stop shopping (9570 Wilshire Boulevard, 310-276-4400). (Really. Grooms get off so easy in this whole thing.)

The Goods
Face it: They come for the cake. And you’re gonna freeze that stuff for a year. The no-brainer? Cake Divas (310-399-2499; cakedivas.com).

The Gang
You’ll need a team of people to help you prepare for the big day. Program these numbers into your speed-dial pronto:

Invites: Like you have the time to call everyone and tell them the great news? For beautiful stationery and invites fit for a bride, Papergirl (626-818-5243; paper-girl.com) is sure to please.

Caterers: Both Tommy Tangs (7313 Melrose Avenue, 323-937-4199) and Reel Food Productions (310-780-5076, reelfoodproductions.com) are as charming, professional, and soothing as you are nervous, neurotic, and uncertain. The food? Incredible.

Florists: Floret offsets innovative arrangements (121 1/2 North Larchmont Boulevard; 323-466-4997). Beautiful. Other good options: Tic-Tock Designs (1603 North La Brea Avenue; 323-874-3034) and, for those big spenders, Suzane Le May for Les Sculptures Vivantes (3763 Midvale Avenue, 310-202-6363).

Hair: Want longer hair but don’t have the time? Piny will get you instant extensions (8817 West Olympic Boulevard, suite 104, 310-652-6691). For braids, an up-do, or the perfect blowout, Ricardo at Frank Studio is your man (2525 Michigan Avenue, 310-998-1920).

Make-up artists: Easy pieces. Robert Bolanos at Gavert Atelier (9666 Brighton Way, 310-858-7898) and, duh, Valerie Sarnelle at Valerie Cosmetics (460 North Canon Drive, 310-274-7348). They work with celebs; they can handle you.

Photographers: Don’t skimp on this one. Those pictures last, like, forever. For true keepers, check out Simone and Martin (310-277-7717, simonemartin.com) and Joe Buissink Studios (310-360-0198, joebuissink.com).

Wedding planners: Why are you trying to do this alone? You’ll fall to pieces in a jiffy. Event planner Jo Gartin will handle it all (213-842-9952; loveluckandangels.com).

After all, you need plenty of time to indulge that nervous breakdown.

Just kidding. Best wishes!