MR N: Solving your wedding day dilemmas

ALL GROOMED

Dear Mr N

I’m just a normal guy who hates shopping, but my bride has left it in my hands to decide the outfits for the ushers and me. What do I do?

Tom, Eastbourne.

The most important thing here is to not forget the chosen theme. Go with wearing matching suits and ties. Another key to avoiding disappointment is choosing a shop where the staff will guide and direct you to looking great on your wedding day. The men’s section at Browns Boutique offer a range of designers, D & G, Mcqueen, Dior Homme.


To really impress your fiancé and look as sharp as possible, get the suits made to measure at A Suit That Fits. They offer a bespoke service where you can create your perfect suit. Or if that is all too much, hire from Moss Bros. Arrange for fittings and sort out the collection dates well in advance and get your best man to help you.

Send your wedding problems to Mr N: mr.n@niemierko.com

GUEST LIST: Floral Champagne

MARK MEETS: Events Manager at Mustard Catering Harriet Walker

Harriet Walker is the Events Manager at the Mustard Catering, offering services for corporate and private parties with a range of yummy canapés, dinners and food stations to choose from to suit every client’s needs.

Here Mark has a good catch up with Harriet about food cooked to perfection to her cheesy choice of wedding entertainment!

Mustards work is always of such a high standard. But what inspires your work…Perfection. Every party is bespoke, so we try and combine our creativity with inspiration from the client. We also have an excellent team, who take pride in creating the perfect event and seeing the client’s response when they enjoy the amazing food.

Weddings should perfectly represent a couple’s personal style, what word best describes your style…
Impeccable!

How best would you advise a Bride and Groom to personalise their wedding day catering…
Lots of couples worry about what others will think if they go for something a bit different (i.e. anything other than lamb!) I’d say worry less and just choose something you love and make it personal that way.

What can’t you live without…
The huge tubs of Valrhona chocolate buttons in the pastry kitchen…. A 4pm sugar low lifesaver!

What has been your favourite moment of your career so far…
Watching our chefs send out 900 individual beef Wellingtons, on time and cooked to perfection. I still don’t know how they do it!

Who do you respect and admire within the wedding industry…
Glynn Woodin - Mustards Chairman, he just gets it right every time

What makes the perfect wedding day gift…
Vintage Silver Cocktail Shaker from Portobello

Dream wedding entertainment…
Black Eyed Peas

Which season do you think is best suited to weddings…
Late summer, the light is so beautiful and the first two weeks of September are always sunny.

What do you think makes a wedding most memorable…
(Apart from the food!) I think its all in the detail… with some humour in the personal touches.

Are buffets a total no no….
Ha! You’d be amazed, some of our most chic clients choose to have buffets! Done well and for the right party, with modern presentation, colourful salads etc I think they can work well to create an informal atmosphere. Personally for a wedding I think sit down is more elegant.

Finally what can we expect from Mustard in the future…
Business as usual – incredible food and service with an increasingly contemporary style.


For more information on Mustard Catering Ltd visit http://www.mustardcatering.com/

NIEMIERKO TV: Mark talks to ITN's Royal Wedding Channel on creating Regal touches to your wedding day

Mark caught up with Sonali Hindmarch, at ITN, to pass on tips on how to create a Royal luxury feel to your wedding day. 

Sonali is delightful.  She made a rather pretty Bridesmaid at a Niemierko couples wedding last year in May, here she is walking the aisle at Farm Street Church in Mayfair... divine.



MR N: Solving your wedding day dilemmas

GAMES GALORE

Dear Mr N

I’m having a table of kids at my wedding and finding it difficult to find entertain for them. What do you suggest?

Serena, Caldecotte.

Have chalkboards laid out on the tables as place names, with little pots of chalk, colouring books and crayons, that will keep them busy for a while. Also you can give them the responsibility of handing the guestbook around and disposable cameras for them to capture precious memories. Or why not bring in a Children’s Entertainer like Jojo’s Travelling Minstrels!


For later on in the evening part of the wedding, consider hiring some babysitters to whisk the kids off while their parents relax and enjoy themselves, this way you’re keeping everyone happy, and the parents get to let their hair down.

Send your wedding problems to Mr N: mr.n@niemierko.com

GUEST LIST: Here Come The Girls

MARK MEETS: Anne Chertoff, founder of The B-List.

Anne has earned herself a reputation as a wedding authority over the course of 10 years in the bridal industry. Having worked previously at Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides.com, Anne lives and breathes all things wedding.

Here she talks with Mark about why she loves the wedding industry so much.

How did you end up working within the world of weddings…
I applied for a part-time job in the marketing department at Modern Bride magazine that I saw on the college job board and got it!

How best would you advise a Bride and Groom to personalise their wedding…
I think a couple should make a list - short or long - on all the things that inspire them, their hobbies, likes and dislikes across all mediums - fashion, decor, movies, travel.

Who would you say is an iconic bride…
Elizabeth Taylor. After eight weddings Miss Taylor has had the classic white wedding, the civil wedding and the destination wedding. I think each one of them could inspire today’s bride in both wedding and fashion style.

What do you love about working within the wedding industry…
Weddings encompass so many different industries: food and beverage, home decor and gifts, fashion and accessories, flowers, music, stationery, etiquette and travel.

What do you loathe about working within the wedding industry…
I hate that the media portrays brides as greedy and mean and make every woman planning a wedding think she’s a bridezilla because she has an opinion on what she wants her wedding to look and feel like.

What can’t you live without…
Chocolate chip pancakes.

What does marriage mean to you in three words…
Love, fun and laughter.

Ideal wedding venue…
My dream was to get married at the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza Hotel so I think that would be my ideal location.

How does British style compare to American style when it comes to weddings…
American weddings tend to be more fairytale princess and formal than UK weddings.

Which season do you think is best suited to weddings…
I like weddings held late spring/early summer when it’s not too hot out and late summer/early fall when it’s not too chilly.

Bridesmaids… love or loathe…
Love! As long as you limit bridesmaids to your close friends and relatives.

Top tip for delivering the perfect speech…
Write out the entire speech or bullet points so you know what you want to say.

Check out Anne’s blog From I Will To I Do and visit the B List here.

FRONT ROW: Matthew Williamson, Fall 2011 Bridal Collection

It’s not exactly hot gossip that Mark is a big fan of boleros. So when Niemierko popped along to see Matthew Williamson’s first bridal collection, their furry shrugs caused much excitement. Just the thing for a winter wedding.

The collection is a combination of both long and short dresses; our fav was a gorg Black Swan-esque short feather number, which had us reaching for our Net-A-Porter wish list. And the accessories are so adorable too. The jewelled headbands ideal for making a bride feel like a total princess, in a contemporary fashion.

The Matthew Williamson flagship store is your one-stop shop for all wedding outfits – asymmetrical mini dresses for the engagement party and floral maxis for the honeymoon. A-MAZING.

    
 

MR N: Solving your wedding day dilemmas

LOOKING RIGHT, FEELING RIGHT...
FOR MR RIGHT

Dear Mr N,

I’m planning on going wedding dress shopping for the first time in a couple of weeks & feel clueless – what kind of underwear should I wear, do I bring a pair of heels with me?

Lucy, Cambridge.

Everyone knows shopping when you’re not in the mood is a difficult task. Wedding dress shopping however is in a whole different league, not only should you look your best but you should feel your best. Blow-dry and a mani/pedi is a necessity, nice lingerie, good outfit. Apart from that, upmarket wedding stores will have heels etc for you to see the full overall look. If you are feeling your best, the chances are you will have a much more successful day shopping.


What you really need when you’re dress shopping is someone with you that has a good eye and an honest opinion, which is why Mr N is so good at it.

Send your wedding problems to Mr N: mr.n@niemierko.com

GUEST LIST: Clutch Me

MARK MEETS: Lauren Adriana, fine jewellery designer

With a degree in Jewellery Design and stockists lining up to buy her sell out graduate collection in 2007, Lauren Adrianna, a close friend of Niemierko’s chats to Mark about her daring style and what marriage means to her.

Weddings should perfectly represent a couple’s personal style, what word best describes your style…
Eclectic



How best would you advise a Bride to personalise her wedding day jewellery…
I would always suggest wearing an heirloom on your wedding day if possible - a piece belonging to a Great Aunt or Grandmother always feels special. However, if your family don't exactly own the crown jewels, try being a bit more bold - wear jewellery that will make a bit of impact and which adds some colour and drama. There is a time and a place for white - it's called your dress. Let your jewellery show your personality.

Who would you say is an iconic bride you would love to wear Lauren Adriana…
The Queen of Jewellery herself - Elizabeth Taylor of course! I'd settle for being in any one of her (numerous) weddings.

What do you love about working within the wedding industry…
I really enjoy the hands-on approach the brides take - working with them to create something special that they will treasure forever. The great thing about bridal jewellery is that it will always be worn; it's not just for that one day.

What do you loathe about working within the wedding industry…
Tempers can run a little high sometimes - it's important to have some perspective. I tell my clients - don't aim for perfection, aim for the 'illusion' of perfection.

What motivates you the most…
The fear that I will miss something, or knowing that my work can always be better gives me a kick up the bum, and gets me into the studio.

What has been your proudest moment of your career so far…
Getting a call from Charlotte Stockdale saying that Natalia Vodianova wants to wear my jewellery in her new lingerie campaign - that was pretty surreal.

Who do you respect and admire within the wedding industry…
Oooh - this is an easy one! Mark Niemierko (duh) for being a good friend and having excellent taste in champagne. Peter Langner, for cutting the best dresses. Sally Dixon for being the most effortlessly stylish human being on earth. Peta Hunt for her beautiful shoots, and for being the first to feature my work. Andrew Prince for being too talented to know what to do with it and for being one of my first friends in this industry.

Who’s your biggest rival…
Lets just say, they know who they are - and I'm coming up fast...

What does marriage mean to you in three words…
Mortgage application form.

Which season do you think is best suited to weddings…
I love that bit between summer and autumn proper - so September, October. I'll call it Sumtumn.

Bridesmaids… love or loathe…
Loathe - I'm an only child. Like hell I'm sharing the spotlight.

Trend prediction for wedding jewellery…
I think the late eighties, early nineties trend for sapphires (think Princess Diana) is coming round again. Also rose gold is showing a surge in popularity, as too are champagne diamonds.

Finally what can we expect from Lauren Adriana in the future…
The new collection is coming out in late autumn - and as soon as I know what it looks like, you will be the first to know!

Mr N: Solving your wedding day dilemmas

DOES SIZE MATTER?

Dear Mr N

I’m having trouble finding the perfect engagement ring for my fiancé. How do I manage her expectations against my budget?

Phillip, London

We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Obviously the bigger the better!

However finding an engagement ring within your budget is something you shouldn’t be scared of as the options are endless. If you can’t afford a huge diamond, why not go for another style of ring? A pave of diamonds is much cheaper than a full diamond but can still give off a fantastic sparkle and effect. For alternative engagement rings visit Van Cleef & Arpels, their engagement rings are unique in style and there is a good selection in the lower price bracket. Consider other stones but diamonds, yellow sapphires look fantastic on dark skin for example.

Another way to impress your future fiancé is to buy her a diamond and give her the option to re-set it to make it a bespoke ring, now THAT will blow her away.

Send your wedding problems to Mr N: mr.n@niemierko.com

GUEST LIST: Touch Up

MARK MEETS: Fins for Him founder Alexandra Finley

Alexandra Finlay is the founder of Fins for Him, the fuss-free and fun shoe for the discerning gentleman. Famous Fin fans include Valentino, Bardley Cooper and Zac Efron. Mark caught up with Alexandra to talk finspiration, blow-drys and her loathing of marzipan.

What inspires your work…
The men I design for! Seriously, I love finding out what they want to wear and designing an option for them that is simple, classic, affordable and fuss-free.

How best would you advise a Groom to personalise their wedding day footwear…
If he's keeping it traditional in the rest of his ensemble, I would do the same with his choice of shoes. Such a special day is the perfect opportunity to have a bespoke pair of shoes made for the service; and for the party afterwards, if he's not wearing a pair of my camuscio suede party shoes, a pair of hand embroidered tapestry slippers from Tapisserie in Walton Street.

Who would you say is an iconic Groom that you would love to wear Fins on their wedding day…
A pair of Fin's on the feet of Mick Jagger when he married Bianca in St. Tropez would be pretty sensational, time machine allowing...

What motivates you the most…
Seeing a boy in a well-worn and much-loved pair of Fin's wandering down the road. Heaven. And a great excuse to get him to buy a new pair.

What can’t you live without…
My twice weekly blow-drys.

Something old, new, borrowed and blue…
Old husband, new lover, borrowed time and blue language.

What does marriage mean to you in three words…
Credit. Card. Paid. Please let that be taken tongue in cheek!

What makes the perfect wedding day gift…
Two friends of mine married last year and I had the emblem on their wedding invitation embroidered onto 2 linen pillows for their bed. I was very pleased with that one.

What would be your first dance song…
Most likely something by Barry Manilow or Celine Dion, and it would be great if either were there in person to sing it...

Which season do you think is best suited to weddings…
I would hate to be weather-dependent, so marry when the weather is bound to be beastly - November - February, also a time of year when all your friends aren't bombarded with a wedding every weekend.

Favourite cake flavour…
Anything without marzipan - bleurgh.

Bridesmaids… love or loathe…
Only if they are under 5, but having said that, they are a liability at any age and to be avoided at all costs.

Essential item for a Groom on his wedding day…
Hip flask

To view the full collection of Fin’s visit finsforhim.com

STYLE: Niemierko Bride Yana in Oscar de la Renta

MR N: Solving your wedding day dilemmas

TOP HAT & TUX & TAILS

Dear Mr N

My fiancé wants to wear a top hat and tails for the wedding so I'm assuming his groomsmen will do the same, but I was also hoping to make the evening black tie and my dad would like to wear a tux. How does this work? It feels like two conflicting styles to me, but we want to have quite a formal evening. Please help! Also, where does one begin to look for tails that are stylish?

Alexis Cuddyre, OMG I'm Getting Married!

Traditionally  top hat and tails is known as morning dress. Black tie specifically indicates that the occasion is a formal evening event. I’m quite traditional in that black or white tie shouldn’t be warn at 2pm in the afternoon, its evening attire, so should be warn at the earliest 5pm!  If your fiancé wears morning suit this does allow other guests to wear lounge suits, three-piece suits and so on.  Although I feel groomsmen (Best man, ushers and both fathers) should ideally match the Grooms attire.  If you do choose black tie you have to make the wedding a Black tie event, meaning all male guests should adhere to this.

White tie and tails is a good medium of both the morning suit and black tie styles if you like.  So perhaps worth a suggestion to your husband to be and father, keeping all parties happy.  Do remember though the Groom is really your accessory for the day, he needs to feel comfortable.  But all Grooms should be Gentlemanly in allowing you to stipulate what YOU would like for the day.

For stylish top hats and tails, if money is no object try Norton and Sons on Savile Row for a totally bespoke fit, or Spencer Hart is another Niemierko Grooms favourite.   You also have the more traditional Gieves and Hawkes or Ede and Ravenscroft.  If you insist on hiring you’ll find all outlets much of the same and surprisingly Moss Bros is one of the best options.

Send your wedding problems to Mr N: mr.n@niemierko.com