25 October 2005

Mission: Possible

Autumn 2005 Wedding Guide

Wedding planning is a lot like military planning. A bride-to-be must possess the tactics of a field marshal and the iron will of a general. Herewith, the first biannual DailyCandy wedding guide. A.k.a. your rules of engagement.

Plan Your Attack
You pre-emptively tracked down your dream dress within two weeks of engagement. Clinched the perfect venue after intensive recon. Probed indigenous florists to desired effect. So far, so smug. But like any campaign, the devil is in the details.

WMD (Website of Mass Desirability)
Wedding lists can be diplomatic minefields. Your uber-chic friends across the ocean need to know, like, yesterday where to buy your present, while Great-Auntie Maude is asking where she can pick up some lovely china. Tactic: compile an online list of items both stylish (Kenzo cushions) and practical (Sabatier knives) at wrapit.co.uk. The unwired can request your profile by phone (0845 075 1300).

Invite Intelligence
Tensions are brewing on the invitation front. Your betrothed demands elegant simplicity, while your style is more whimsical. MO: Oh So Inviting will help you reach a truce. The designs are sourced from all over the world and are a little edgier than Smythson (0845 458 2771).

Bridesmaid SOS
Heavy operations and thorough back-up required. Your troops need a reward on the big day. Remedy: Paul & Joe’s Kiss & Tell Kit has the essentials for a smooth morning of preparation (serums to calm skin, powders to pelt pastiness). Not only will your girls have looks to kill (you want them to pull, don’t you?), but the kit doubles as a box for keepsakes (Fenwick, 63 New Bond Street,W1; 020 7629 9161).

Confetti Conundrum
Airborne particles have you in a tailspin. Plain paper is simply naff, but everyone and their third husband does rose petals. Solution: throw caution to the wind and invest in personalised photographic confetti, discs with your picture on one side and your wedding date on the other. An armed uprising, with just the right amount of kitsch (80-81 Tottenham Court Road, W1; 0870 840 6060).

Your Old Kit Bag
Your new husband has booked an elegant hideaway for your great escape, but your battered suitcase will cause conveyor-belt shame. Secret Weapon: Rupert Sanderson’s luxurious retro luggage made of cream velum with candy-coloured edging. Instant baggage envy. Handle with care (33 Bruton Place, W1; 0870 750 9181).

Buy the Book
Four courses (plus wine) into the wedding breakfast and friends will not care much for perfect calligraphy as they sign the guest book. Line of attack: the more anally retentive (if you’re a bride, you probably qualify) should get Instant Forever’s pretty, hardback albums with drunken/foolproof pages with an insert for Polaroids and room to scrawl “I really, really love you” (07884 115 149).

Undercover Ops
How do you stun your spouse on your first night while steering clear of itchy, sluttish bridal get-ups? Strategem: submit to Yes Master, the coquettish underwear by Igor Pacemski. The pieces are heavy on sex-appeal, but the set with chiffon roses hand-sewn by Portuguese nuns should keep your innocent charm (if nothing else) intact (Miss Lala’s Boudoir, 148 Gloucester Avenue, NW1; 020 7483 1888).