Why We Love Her: Abigail is the ideal combination of fun, glamorous, and sexy for all brides! Her natural a-line silhouette complements all body types by flawlessly cinching at the smallest part of the waist, making for a very flattering look on everyone. She has a single layer of glitter tulle that lays under the applique lace layer to make the whole dress subtly sparkle from all angles and perfectly complements the appliques on top! The florals are the unique mix of leaves, vines, and flowers throughout, and they even have clusters of iridescent sequins to add even more glitz!
Low scooped back with illusion lace and buttons
Her bodice consists of a gorgeous deep, yet not too revealing, plunge neckline that is ever so slightly covered with the petals of the appliques. She also has a slight ruching tulle layer that softly lays beneath the lace and creates an enhanced slimming illusion. She is finished with thin delicate mesh spaghetti straps that lead into the even more glorious back.
Deep plunge with illusion tulle and ruching
Abigail’s back is a statement by itself. She has a perfect low scoop shape that gives even more of a sexy appeal by allowing the bride to show some skin! The thin straps lead down to a gorgeous illusion lace back that is closed with buttons (yes, another bonus detail!). Going further down the back, Abigail has a long stunning train with a leaf-edged hem lace that allows the train to lay perfectly shaped!
Romantic and dramatic train perfectly edged in lace
Abigail is available in three stunning colors: ivory/mocha (shown in photos), all ivory, and all white. The ivory/mocha version of this dress shows off Madi Lane‘s signature color while also enhancing all the lace detailing, making sure the lace can be seen up close and far away! The all ivory and all white versions show off the sparkle of the dress, while also keeping the more traditional look on this bohemian lace dress.
Leaves, vines, and shimmery floral lace appliques really pop over the mocha charmeusse lining
She’s Great For: Abigail is great for spring and summer weddings! Her floral and leaf applique perfectly fits the warm weather while her sequins and glitter will shimmer in the bright sunlight. Despite all her glamorous detail, she can keep a light and airy composure that will be comfortable in all levels of heat!
What Makes Her Special: What makes Abigail special is her unique detachable bubble sleeves! Those sleeves can completely transform her look by adding the perfect touch of fun! They further add to the complete bohemian uniqueness of the dress , and they serve as the perfect “WOW” factor that will leave the guests stunned!
Every year, we like to see what were the most popular tuxedo and suit rentals for the entire year. Last year, we saw an abundance of formal event activity: proms came back, although not fully, galas started to creep back and of course weddings were incredibly popular.
We generally can see what is trending in the men’s fashion area because we rent so many tuxedos and suits. However, when we run reports from our rental system, we are sometimes surprised what makes it into the top 5 category!
With many 2020 weddings postponed due to COVID-19 and even some 2021 weddings delayed, we saw an immense number of weddings in 2021. So what were our top 5 tuxedo and suit rentals during 2021? Let’s not waste any more time and get to our list!
TUXEDOS
Ike Behar classic black tuxedo with notch lapel
Ike Behar full navy tuxedo with notch lapel
Michael Kors light gray tuxedo with notch lapel
Ike Behar navy tuxedo with black peak lapel
Allure Men cobalt blue tuxedo with notch lapel
# 5 Allure Men Cobalt Blue Tuxedo
At the beginning of the year, we did not expect this tuxedo to be so popular. However when you look at the vibrant and beautiful blue fabric of this tuxedo, we should have known better! The tuxedo has no satin on it, rather a border stitching on the notch lapel to emulate a satin border and fabric buttons. This was the perfect tuxedo for grooms who wanted a modern and striking blue color that went well with our brown shoes.
Allure Men Cobalt Blue Tuxedo
# 4 Ike Behar Navy Tuxedo With Black Peak Lapel
This tuxedo is the same exact fabric and style of our full navy Ike Behar tuxedo with notch lapel. The only difference is a black peak lapel and black buttons to match that lapel. Often, brides and grooms want to help distinguish the groom from the bridal party and fathers. One of the most common things we saw during 2021 was the groom wearing this tuxedo and the groomsmen wore the full navy tuxedo. This was a great choice to help dress the groom a little differently and help distinguish him further from the groomsmen.
Ike Behar Navy Tuxedo “Blake” With Black Peak Lapel
# 3 Michael Kors Light Gray Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
Even we were surprised by this ranking! This light gray tuxedo with the thinnest of satin running down the notch lapel was popular with our spring and summer weddings. Although when we set out to rank our most popular wedding tuxedo rentals, we had no idea this one was number three, or even made the top 5 list! Part of its popularity, we think, is because of the Michael Kors name, the light gray color goes very well with warmer weather weddings and events, and it goes beautifully with most every bridesmaid color! We can say though, that the fabric is quite comfortable and luxurious and that could have swayed our brides and grooms. Nonetheless, a great tuxedo choice for a wedding.
Michael Kors Light Gray Tuxedo
# 2 Ike Behar Full Navy Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
Before we ran the numbers in our tuxedo and suit rental ordering system, the staff at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo was trying to guess the most popular tuxedos rented by our wedding parties. We all guessed this tuxedo to be the most popular one. We were close but this tuxedo came in second. We can say, though, that it’s by far our most pinned tuxedo on our Pinterest page. This is a very handsome navy color with very luxurious fabric that provides all day comfort for grooms, groomsmen and fathers.
Ike Behar “Sebastian” Full Navy Tuxedo with Notch Lapel
# 1 Ike Behar Classic Black Tuxedo With Notch Lapel
There is no surprise at the popularity of this fine tuxedo. However, when we were trying to guess the top tuxedo rentals, we had no idea that it was our most popular wedding rental in 2021. We knew it would make the top 5 list but had no idea it would be number 1! The classic, timeless look, luxurious fabric and perfect fit have always made this a favorite for just about anyone for any occasion. We found that brides and grooms who were interested in creating a timeless look tend to choose this tuxedo. We always advise that it’s a good idea to keep your wedding photos timeless so in 25 years you don’t question what you wore for your wedding! This tuxedo would certainly help you with that goal.
Ike Behar Classic Black Tuxedo with Black Bow Tie
TOP 5 WEDDING SUIT RENTALS
In some instances, brides and grooms prefer to dress the groom and groomsmen in suits rather than tuxedos. That approach is evident in the number of suits we rent every year for weddings.
Erik Lawrence steel gray suit
Ike Behar navy suit
Erik Lawrence black suit
Erik Lawrence french blue suit
Ike Behar light gray suit with peak lapel
Okay, first things first: we were REALLY surprised that the Ike Behar Yale blue suit did not make it into the top 5! It was number 6. It seemed that so many wedding parties wore this suit in 2021 but I guess when you are doing thousands of tuxedo and suit rentals, it can be challenging to keep track of which is precisely more popular. In addition, we all thought that the Ike Behar navy suit would have come out on top. In fact, it came in as the number 2 most popular suit rental for weddings.
# 5 Ike Behar Light Gray Suit
Brides and grooms who wanted a gray suit for a warmer weather wedding, tended to choose this suit. The fabric was soft, light and comfortable. And of course, as with all Ike Behar suits and tuxedos, it fits perfectly every time. The peak lapel on this suit adds a bit of style and flair to the look. Some wore it with the scoop vest, others did without the vest and may have added suspenders. We saw most rentals for this suit for Spring and Summer weddings.
Ike Behar Light Gray Suit With Peak Lapel
# 4 Eric Lawrence French Blue Suit
Coming in at number 4 is our French blue suit. Again, before compiling our totals, we thought this one would have been in the top 3. We were close! The striking bright yet dark blue color of this suit is what attracts most of our brides and grooms to it. Wedding photos come out vibrant and defined when the wedding party is dressed in this suit. We predict this will be a popular suit for many years to come.
French blue suit with notch lapel, matching French blue vest and pants, lavender floral long tie and matching pocket square and white shirt.
# 3 Ike Erik Lawrence Black Suit
Okay, this is somewhat of a surprise to us! Why? We didn’t think a black suit would have made it into the top 5 suits rented for weddings. Given the extreme popularity of the various shades of blues and grays that we rent and sell, we thought that those colors would have outpaced the black suit rentals. However, that’s why we run reports that summarize the thousands of rentals we do every year to see who are the clear winners! This is a very handsome, timeless suit. The trim fit jacket, slim fit pants and matching vest all create a very professional and modern look. In addition, the pants are both adjustable and have belt loops for grooms and groomsmen who like to wear a belt.
Erick Lawrence Black Suit
#2 Ike Behar Navy Blue Suit
Again, no surprise here, even though we thought this would have been the number 1 most rented suit in 2021. Instead, it came in at number 2. Many of our brides and grooms love our Ike Behar full navy tuxedo but do not want any satin. This suit solves the problem by replicating the navy tuxedo without satin. The slim fit and classic dark blue color make this a favorite for our wedding parties. I personally love this suit and have ordered one for myself. Many of our grooms purchased this suit while the remaining groomsmen rented it. The sheer number of groom purchases of this suit alone is a testimonial of how great it is!
This was definitely the suit for a bride and groom who wanted a different kind of blue. This blue shade is very pleasing and that’s before we get to the fact that it’s an Ike Behar. The fabric is super luxurious, very comfortable and fits like a custom suit.
Ike Behar Navy Suit
# 1 Erik Lawrence Steel Gray Suit
This darker gray suit was very popular with many of our wedding parties. We found that brides and grooms were choosing this suit no matter what season it was. This is a very professional looking suit that has both style and comfort. The gray color is a true dark gray and is not mistaken for black. The matching trim fit jacket, slim fit pants and vest make great attire for your wedding party. We also found that many grooms purchased this suit rather than rented it. Grooms have told us that they like the suit so much that they would rather be able to keep this suit for future use. More frequently, the groomsmen rented the suit rather than purchased it.
Erick Lawrence Steel Gray Suit
So what was more popular for weddings, tuxedos or suits? We can say that last year, more tuxedos were rented than suits. 70% of our rentals were tuxedos and 30% were suits. It seemed that brides and grooms were going for a more formal look, thus choosing tuxedos more frequently for their wedding. That’s not to say that suits do not look formal. In fact, some of our suit rentals look more formal than certain tuxedos. However, our best advice to you is choose a style that you like and are comfortable with, regardless of whether it’s a suit or tuxedo.
Another thing to consider is to try to match the feel and look of the bridal gown. If the wedding dress is very formal, you may want to choose tuxedos for the wedding party. If the bridal gown is less formal, perhaps a suit is more appropriate.
So there you have it! Our Top 5 wedding tuxedo and suit rentals for 2021. With 9 new tuxedo and suit styles being added to our 60 or so already on offer, we are curious what will make the top 5 list for 2022. I guess we will have to wait and see!
Are you curious what father’s should wear to the wedding. Read our blog with advice on dressing father for your wedding.
About the author: Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in their ninth year in business. In that time, he built the tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear. Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia with extensive international business experience, he currently resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
Yes, we did. We took the plunge, tied the knot, got hitched. Whatever you call it, after 20 years Franco and I decided to make it official! I always knew we would someday…
Someday was December 17, 2021.
As owners of a bridal and tuxedo store, we have met so many people – and vendors. We celebrated our 9th anniversary of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo this month, the store that we opened out of thin air.
I thought it appropriate to do a blog highlighting who we chose for our wedding and why. This is not to say anyone is “better than” or “less expensive” or anything like that. Our wedding was exactly what WE wanted, and that isn’t what anyone else may want. As you read you will find out exactly the reasons we chose who we chose!
Free advice before we begin: It really is your day. YOURS. Just because someone else throws their opinion in doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Any sentence that begins with “You should” is one to hear and most likely discard because you already know what you should do.
THE VENUE: BLACK BASS HOTEL
Our wedding day December 17, 2021
If I could convey how much I love this property you probably wouldn’t believe me but I feel like I could live there. It is historic, cozy, warm, on the river, for me absolute perfection. I will tell you a very personal story as to choosing this venue.
As some of you may know, back in 2020 I suffered a severe spinal cord injury. I popped C6 out of alignment and was paralyzed from the chest down. The injury was considered “incomplete” – meaning it was up to me to get back whatever I could. The biggest thing for me of course was to walk again.
Because of Covid, there was no rehab available once I got home 5 weeks later. Franco was at my side every minute helping me… my trainer, my cheerleader, my therapist, my chef, my best friend.
One of the amazing things he did was taking me to the Stockton Bridge where there is a wide and sturdy railing on one side and he was on my other side. He walked with me every day, back and forth, six times.
It took forever to get to one end and then I had to turn around and go back. It was devastating how hard it was – and how slow, unsteady, and afraid I was. There were times I cried the entire time out of pure frustration. And oh my God did I swear. A LOT.
Note: If you are ever in a hurry and you are behind elderly people who are slow or someone who has trouble walking, please don’t angry, take your time and be grateful that you have the ability.
Anyhoo, one day later in the summer he decided to take me to a different bridge for a change of scenery, the Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge a/k/a the Lumberville Foot Bridge.
I remember how hot it was and when I made it to the Jersey side, I turned around and saw people dining outside at the Black Bass. It looked so inviting and sweet! I also remember thinking I wanted to be sitting there with them, drinking myself into oblivion. Instead I simply asked Franco if we could eat there one day.
When we decided to get married, I knew it would be at Black Bass.
Deanna, Franco, Wendy, & Daria on the Lumberville Foot Bridge
We met with Fiona and I encourage you to as well if you are considering this delightful location.
They had such sweet ceremony decor with blankets on the chairs for guests and heat lamps, plus the lights and garland for Christmas.
Cozy blankets for guests
We got married outside at 4:30pm, and when I tell you it was perfect, it was literally perfect. The weather was outstanding, 50° and clear. The sun was beginning to set. The lights were on and fire pits going!
Married 🙂
We had a quick ceremony and then cocktail hour and as the sun went down an almost full moon came up over the river, the Christmas lights went on, and it sounds cliché but it truly was magical. I could not have asked for anything more.
Cocktail hour with the moon lighting up the river
We had indoor-outdoor cocktail hour with delicious stations, and the gorgeous bar has a fireplace and plenty of seating. The dining room overlooks the Delaware. The dinners were outstanding, the service was fantastic.
This picture makes me want to do it all over again!
While we had a very small and intimate affair with 30 people, it was casual yet still formal, and so special. They even offer valet parking! It was truly everything we wanted.
THE DRESS: MADI LANE IZADORE
I knew the minute I saw this pic in May 2019 this was my dress. You know when you know, right? No question this was my dress before I even saw it in person. Before I even tried it on.
Before I even had a wedding date. lol
Like I said, I knew it would happen someday and there was never a dress that hit me like this… and I’ve seen thousands of dresses.
Madi Lane Izadore dress
I brought it into the store in my size… and fell in love even more.
Trying on in the store in 2019 – no wedding date, but this was the dress 🙂
THE SEAMSTRESS: DESIGN STUDIO BY IRINA
The above picture was taken pre-accident. As you can see, the dress at that time only needed a few tweaks and a hem. By the time we got married at the end of 2021, I was 15 pounds lighter. This dress needed significant and major alterations.
When I put it on prior to my first fitting, I didn’t think it had a chance of working out. The top was enormous, the sleeves baggy, and there was almost no shape at all. I texted Irina. She said bring it over.
When I say she is a master, that’s exactly what she is. She told me not to worry and that she’d make it perfect. Six inches in the top, take in sleeves, three inches in the waist and hip, remove the train, and hem.
One fitting. Boom. My dress fit like a glove and I didn’t want to take it off.
For Consideration: Remove the train from your dress. I did because it was too stressful for me to worry about walking with a train. So much easier! A cathedral veil will give the same effect and the same drama on entrance, but is taken off at the reception. I was thrilled that I did not have to deal with a bustle all night and my dress looked pretty from the front AND back!
GROOM’S TUXEDO: IKE BEHAR
Getting ready
When we go to a formal event, Franco always asks me what color tux I want him to wear. Because we have so many, there is always something different to pick from! This time I left it his choice. He knows I’m partial to classic black though. Good Lord, a black tuxedo is so sexy.
I knew he would choose an Ike Behar though, even if it wasn’t black. The fit on the Ike is perfect every time.
Twenty years and still this excited
He chose black. 🙂 After 20 years, I’m still smitten.
MAIDS OF HONOR DRESSES: CLARISSE
Unsure, right up to the last minute. Daria and Deanna were sending pictures of dresses back and forth, just like all bridesmaids do. Again I only gave them a few guidelines and let them pick. I loved the hunter green satin for Christmas, and then they each picked their style. These dresses came from Clarisse, were in stock, and fit so well they only needed a hem!
Maids of Honor Deanna (L) and Daria (R)
It was amazing that the day was mild enough not to wear jackets, however we did get them fur wraps to wear for the ceremony. The colors could not have been more perfect, in my opinion!
HAIR & MAKE UP: DANEENE JENSEN & ASSOCIATES
I met Daneene when we first opened our store nine years ago. I didn’t know anyone in the wedding industry and was eager to get to know as many people as I could. I had no idea that Daneene was one of the highest rated hair and make up artists in the entire region. She was so interested in meeting us and our new little store, that when I realized exactly who she was it spoke volumes to her character.
She did not need us, she was already successful. She wanted to know us. There’s a big difference.
Franco with our girls looking lovely after Daneene’s work!
Since that first meeting she has done so many of our brides and bridal parties with nothing but five star, glowing reviews. She and her team are kind, reliable, and perfectionists. If you are looking for hair and make up, she is my go-to every time.
THE FLOWERS: NEWTOWN FLOWER COMPANY/REEANNE SIRAVO
Reeanne used to work at our store in bridal, but her talents were far beyond just that. I would watch her design and decorate our display windows, make flower girl baskets and ring boxes, draw flowers and designs on our welcome board, repurpose things that no one else could have possibly re-purposed. She’s genuine, fun, and I’m so proud she’s my friend. So when I needed flowers I thought of her and it just so happens her sister Denise owns the Newtown Flower Company. #score
A getting ready toast with my dear friend Ree and her sister Denise of the Newtown Flower Company (Deanna had water!)
Because our affair was small and the Black Bass offered candles as centerpieces, I only needed three bouquets and a boutonniere. I sent her two pictures for inspiration, and told her I didn’t want them this big:
Inspo pic #1
Inspo pic #2
That was all I gave her. That was all she needed. She perfectly combined the two to give me this:
My flower bouquet doubled as a centerpiece with the candles on our sweetheart table
I am still so in love with these flowers every time I see pictures!
THE OFFICIANT: ARIEL CLAUS
Ariel entertains while waiting for us
We met Ariel at Peddler’s Village when she was doing corporate events for them. She took a group of us on a tour and she was as delightful as she looks – fun, smart and bubbly.
Not long after, we met again at another networking event and then it became routine to see her. I always enjoyed talking and giggling with her.
Now when it came time to find an officiant, I realized I was at a loss. I knew no one so I started searching, to no real avail. And then, poof! A Facebook post of Ariel, saying she had officiated a wedding.
Could my wedding get any better? I sent her a Facebook message and that was that. She asked what was important to us, what kind of ceremony we wanted, etc. all the questions to make sure she did what we wanted.
Because Franco and I had been together for so long, we didn’t need all the vows or traditional stuff. We didn’t want too much along the religious lines. We already wore rings for 14 years, we didn’t need a ring exchange.
Instead, we wrote something up – our “story” – and she read that for our guests. It was cute, sweet, heartfelt, silly; it was us and maybe 10 minutes start to finish.
Being married by your friend is definitely recommended!
It was perfect. And being married by a friend was so incredibly special. And as fate would have it, as I am writing this, our marriage license just arrived from the courthouse!
It was “official”!
THE PHOTOGRAPHER: NICOLE GOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Like Ariel, Nicole is just my style. We met through networking as well and I gravitate towards the fun ones. She is so easy going! Eager to do the best job and she definitely did.
Because we had such a small and rather non-traditional wedding/reception (it was just a dinner with a great playlist of music), I did not need what others require. I did not need formal “getting ready”, extended family photos, or reception shots. We wanted candid and fun pics from pre-ceremony up to dinner.
She laughed with us as she caught things I didn’t know would happen – like this one – sort of a reverse first-look when I saw Franco coming across the street.
Just a little excited
Or this great one of us taking a selfie to send to our friends in Italy who could not attend due to Covid restrictions:
Nicole took a picture of us taking a picture of ourselves!
Nicole is wonderful and qualified for so much more than the small affair we had, yet she took it as seriously as a much bigger wedding and even got fantastic shots of our guests throughout cocktail hour. I cannot stop looking through all these pictures!!
And that’s a wrap! Franco and I are so pleased at how everything turned out exactly as we hoped – and actually it was even better. If you need a referral for your wedding, feel free to ask! We know so many amazing and talented vendors and can find one that would be perfect for the wedding YOU want!
Coming off of an unprecedented 18+ months where weddings were canceled and businesses shut down, couples were forced to reschedule and even DIY parts of their wedding. One of those areas was flowers and some really great ideas became more mainstream, and others were newly born!
Because sustainability has really come to the forefront, Millennials and Gen Zers are more concerned than ever about being eco-friendly wherever possible and that includes wedding planning. No doubt with pesticides, plastics, shipping, etc. it can seem irresponsible. Here are ideas to use for inspiration!
Flower arrangement made of sola wood by The Paisley Moon on Etsy
The above photo shows a bouquet made of sola wood, which comes from the tapioca plant root. It is also known as arrowroot and grows in tropical climates. You can purchase ready to use or DIY it with tutorials. Easy to dye as well for any color combo!
Succulents and greenery make a beautiful bouquet
A real favorite right now is the succulant. Requiring little water and coming in many shapes, sizes, and colors, these beauties are gorgeous in bouquets and table centerpieces.
Wild flowers in vintage bottles make a sweet centerpiece
Have you thought of wild flowers? The popularity of the boho wedding lends perfectly to these natural beauties with none of the environmental effects. There are florists who are able to source wild flowers so consider this option for a truly earthy and romantic addition. Use for centerpieces as well!
Table runner using greenery and lanterns
When thinking of “going green” – really GO green! In-season and locally grown greenery can be just as dramatic! Create a gorgeous table runner with ruscus or olive branches, lanterns, and candles, or the suspended drapey ivy vines with pretty blooms or evergreens. So many options available with greenery from Queen Anne’s lace to palm fronds – all eco-friendly!
Dried flowers are another option that regained popularity during the 2020 shut down and has remained a popular option today. Easily incorporate out of season flowers this way.
Others to consider are fabric, felt, and paper blooms. These will last for years, use in a vase at home, or you can reuse – use them instead of bows for gift toppers! Etsy stores have gorgeous options here, or check Insta and Pinterest!
If you want to be creative, think of items like jewelry and feathers to use/add to your bouquet.
We look forward to seeing the creative ways our couples incorporate flowers of any type into their wedding day! If you used any of these eco-friendly ideas, we would love to see your photos and share with our couples in the planning stages!
About the author: Wendy Ianieri-Salerno is co-founder and
co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in its eighth year in
business. In that time the store has grown from a small bridal boutique
to a full-service bridal store serving not only Bucks County, PA but
the surrounding counties and even border states. With the customer
experience in mind, Wendy steers the company by offering the best
designers and wedding attire while creating a caring, family atmosphere.
A life-long Bucks County native, she currently resides in Warrington
with her husband and co-founder/co-owner Franco Salerno, and their
two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
Are you curious how you should be dressing the ring bearer for your wedding? You’re not alone! Many brides and grooms ask us this question. In this wedding planning blog, we will guide you with some ideas and common practices that we see on dressing ring bearers for weddings.
Bride Maggie with her little man!
Common Ring Bearer Attire
In general, there are three or four approaches to dressing your ring bearer. The first and most common method we see is that the ring bearer wears the same exact suit or tuxedo that the groom is wearing. He essentially becomes a mini-groom. This includes the ring bearer wearing a miniature version of the same exact tuxedo jacket, pants, vest, shirt, shoes, bow tie or long tie, pocket square, studs and cufflinks. This allows the ring bearer to look different than the groomsmen and simultaneously tie into the groom. We see this method of dressing the ring bearer in 75% of all our weddings.
I Just Want to Be One of the Guys!
Sometimes the bride and groom want the groom to look different than everyone else, including the ring bearer. In that particular case, the bride and groom will often choose to have the ring bearer wear the same exact tuxedo or suit and accessories as the groomsmen. He just becomes a miniature version of the groomsmen! In many cases, the groomsmen’s accessories, long tie, bow tie and pocket square, match the color of the bridesmaids dresses. This is also a great choice and will allow the ring bearer to feel like “one of the guys” if he is dressed like them. We see this method of dressing the ring bearer 20% of the time.
Look at this handsome little man!
Matching the Guys
What should you do if the same exact styles are not available in children’s sizes? Most of the 73 tuxedos and suits that we offer for rent are available from a 3 year old size up to a size 66 jacket. Not every designer makes all suits and tuxedos in children’s sizing.
Oftentimes you can dress the ring bearer in a very similar style and it will be hard to tell the difference. However, we highly recommend that you ask your retailer, before everything is ordered, if they offer the same suits, tuxedos and accessories in children’s sizes. This will prevent a lot of scrambling to find alternatives for the little guy.
What if the ring bearer is too small for a tuxedo?
Most tuxedo and suit rental sizes start at about a 3 year old’s size. This of course depends how large the child is relative to other 3 year olds. In some cases, we’ve seen large two year olds that looked perfectly fine in a 3B tuxedo jacket.
If the child is too small for a three year old attire, there are usually two choices: the first one is to see if he can wear just the pants, a shirt, a little bow tie, suspenders and little shoes. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo has adjustable pants for children and we can often hem the pants to the proper length and make the little guy look cute as can be. Our only advice is to have the child try on fitting clothes at our store to make sure it will look proper.
The other choice is to purchase a toddler’s tuxedo with matching shoes! They typically come in age ranges: 6 – 12 months, 12 – 18 months, etc. Keep in mind this is a purchase and is not a rental. While purchasing a toddler’s tuxedo is a choice, we can honestly say that we have not seen many brides and grooms doing that for their weddings. We estimate about 1-2% of wedding parties purchase a tuxedo for the toddler ring bearer. The main reason is that it is challenging to manage a toddler to carry out his ring bearer duties! The other reason is the same reason many ring bearers rent their tuxedos or suits: because they grow so quickly that it will not fit them in two weeks!
His tie was a bit too tight, Franco makes the adjustment
When Should the Ring Bearer Get Measured?
And that brings us to another matter. Should you include a ring bearer in your wedding party and he is still at an age that he is growing, we highly recommend not to have him get measured more than 3 – 4 weeks before the wedding. Even being measured 3 – 4 weeks before the wedding, we’ve seen ring bearers grow an inch or two! That is no problem, because all we do is either re-hem the pants to a proper length or if he went through a complete growth spurt, we give the young man a new tuxedo in his new, proper size.
Another option for dressing a ring bearer that we’ve seen about 2 – 5% of the time is that the ring bearer wears something different than everyone. The bride and groom will choose a completely different tuxedo or suit being worn by both the groom and groomsmen. They want the ring bearer to stand out beyond just his size!
Can’t wait to show everyone!
Must I have a Ring Bearer in My Wedding?
Finally, we do have about 15% of our wedding parties with no ring bearer at all. This is either a personal choice by the bride and groom or there is no one in the families of ring bearer age. Again, this is completely a personal choice. It’s your wedding and you are not required to have a ring bearer.
Too cute!
Make Some Memories
No matter how you dress the ring bearer, we must tell you that he, and the flower girl, often steal the show! So either way, choosing to include children in your bridal party will allow you to savor those photos for the rest of your lives!
About the author:
Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal &
Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the
tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing
expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear.
Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers
with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal
event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently
resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store
co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store
was named, Daria and Deanna.
Do you ever wonder how you fit in with other brides and grooms with wedding planning?
“Does anyone else… ?” “Do other brides/grooms… ?” “Are we too… ?”
This blog will answer some of those questions and the “fun stats” come directly from a sample of over 1,000 of our brides and grooms from this year! If you find yourself wondering what “everyone else is doing”, have a read and see where you fit in.
The question we get most often as a bridal store is, “When do brides buy a dress?”
We recommend approximately 9-12 months ideally. Shopping too early can lead to dress regret because new dresses come out every 6 months and you will want to see the newest designs before committing.
We recommend reading these blogs when starting your dress search:
Let’s move onto scheduling an appointment! Ever wondered what months are busier than others in the store?
What is the busiest month for bridal appointments?
This makes for an interesting study. Because of the number of engagements over the winter holidays, it makes sense that January would be a busy month! However, it also makes sense for those buying 6-12 months out, which puts them into the wedding months of June, September, and October.
July is always a very busy month for bridal in the store and one interesting trend we have noticed is that there are many in the teaching profession who are engaged and have that month to plan as much as possible for their weddings/honeymoons that will also be in the summer – their off time!
What is the busiest month for tuxedo appointments?
July is on top again, but tuxedo appointments are pretty even throughout the year, save for the December holiday season!
What is the best day of the week to visit? Well, that depends on your schedule and whether you don’t mind a crowd or thrive in a louder and busier atmosphere:
Over one-third of our bridal appointments are on Saturdays. If you don’t want a crowd, consider during the week!
Curious what month held the most weddings in 2021?
This is hard to compare because of the 2020 weddings that were postponed, considering the date 10/10/2020 was one of, if not the most popular date booked for 2020.
Another fun stat: Comparing to 2019, October came in a close second place to the winning month of September!
And the venues chosen? A backyard, university campus, zoo, formal country club, or even another country, couples tie the knot anywhere they want!
Half of our couples chose a formal venue such as a country club, historic property, museum, etc. Many of the “undecideds” were brides shopping over 12 months out for their dress – they found the dress before committing to a venue.
Our destination couples ranged from Montana, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, Bermuda, Mexico, Italy, Israel, and more!
How many are in a wedding party? It is up to you how many attendants you wish, some have zero and others have over 20!
It is certainly pretty even with the divisions here. Who you want by your side and helping you plan is very personal and a decision you should give much thought to early on in the planning process! Here is a great blog on choosing your bride tribe to help think this through.
We hope you enjoyed our fun stats. We look forward to seeing if these trends continue over 2022 and maybe we will have you included in our sample!
About the author: Wendy Ianieri-Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in its eighth year in business. In that time the store has grown from a small bridal boutique to a full-service bridal store serving not only Bucks County, PA but the surrounding counties and even border states. With the customer experience in mind, Wendy steers the company by offering the best designers and wedding attire while creating a caring, family atmosphere. A life-long Bucks County native, she currently resides in Warrington with her husband and co-founder/co-owner Franco Salerno, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
All weddings have some really great photos, but I only had to see one to know that I wanted Sarah & Dan to be a featured couple.
This is that photo. It’s Sarah’s band, Vixen77, leaning against Sarah’s car, a 1955 Chevy Nomad.
All-girl band Vixen77 (L-R) Caitlin Walker, Elizabeth Cartwright, Sarah Novack, Jazman Dobson, Samantha Chonski
Have you seen a cooler photo of a bride than this? If you have please send it my way.
What follows is a feature on Sarah, Dan, and their amazing family and friends. Enjoy this love story, written by Sarah!
The Beginning: Dan saw me for the first time at a bar called Artie’s 3 & 1/2 years ago. He was too scared to talk to me so he asked one of his friends who then messaged me on Facebook a week later.
Our first date was at Longhorn Steakhouse. Dan was a little shy at first, but once I started asking him about racing he opened right up! He’s a huge auto racing fan – Nascar, sprint cars, Indy cars, you name it he loves it! We hit it off after that moment. At the end of the night we officially exchanged numbers (we had been communicating through Facebook messenger up until that point). It was so refreshing to go on a date with such a sweet guy!
I love that Dan has the ability to literally fix anything, from tractors to plumbing to even fixing one of my necklaces, he’s a genius! I also love how sweet he is to me, he is so caring & thoughtful. He knows just when I’m in need of a hug, kiss, or even someone to make me laugh! He’s truly my best friend.
The Proposal: It was completely a surprise! It was his birthday and I was giving him his birthday presents before we went to work at 6:45am. After I was done giving him his presents, he said, “I actually have a present for you. Will you marry me?” He brought out a tiny white box with my engagement ring in it! I was shocked and so happy!
The Planning: Wedding planning was a bit stressful as I feel it always is for a bride, especially since I didn’t have a wedding planner, I did it all myself.
Ring Bearer pillow in rustic autumn colors
I really have to thank my mom for helping me with so much of the decor shopping. We came up with so many cute ideas for decor & had so much fun shopping around for the perfect decorations!
Sarah said I Do! in Aubrey by Madi Lane
Dress shopping was DEFINITELY one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process! Fashion is one of my favorite things, so trying on the dresses was so much fun for me. My maid of honor and my mom came with me and it was such a blast to walk around with my maid of honor pulling dresses off the racks for me to try on.
My maid of honor was actually the one to pick out my dress off the rack! I knew as soon as I tried mine on, I had that “yes!” moment! The staff at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo really made it special for me, they were just as excited as I was when I found my dress!
Sarah and her gorgeous crew Rachel & Sara in front, Megan & Laura in back
The Wedding Party: My wedding party certainly was a great group of people. My bridesmaids included my best friend since high school Sara Dalen, along with my other close friend from high school Megan Reinhart, my awesome sister in law Laura Stanfill, and my brother’s girlfriend Rachel Baransky.
Dan had his best friend Lewis Moore, along with his other friends CJ Townes, Dave English, & Gary Magyar, Dan’s brother TJ Holmes, my brother Nick Novack, and Dan’s brother-in-law, Bryan Stanfill.
My flower girl was my cousin’s daughter, Izzy Mercer, and my ring bearer was Dan’s nephew, Cruz Stanfill.
Best Friends Sarah and Sara
My maid of honor was my best friend Sara Dalen. We have been inseparable since freshman year of high school. She is a super talented musician, she sings, and plays saxophone, guitar, piano, and violin! She was such a huge help to me with helping organize my bridal shower and bachelorette party, & helping my other bridesmaids with makeup and last minute dress fixes! Not to mention her speech at my wedding was absolutely beautiful.
She was one of my biggest supporters with planning this wedding. I couldn’t have had a fabulous wedding without her!
Dan and his Best Man Lewis
Dan’s best man was his childhood friend Lewis Moore. They grew up next door to each other, and have made memories to last a lifetime. Lewis is also a firefighter on multiple fire squads, and is an EMS first responder! We have super high respect for him and all he does for the community.
Sara and the girls at her bachelorette party at Pinot’s Palette
The Batchelorette Party & Shower: My bachelorette party was SO much fun! My MOH organized the whole thing: we did a wine & paint session at Pinot’s Palette, then went to dinner at a local hibachi restaurant! It was super fun & memorable.
Sarah and some of her family at her bridal shower at Alfresco’s
My bridal shower was a total blast. We had it at a local Italian restaurant, Alfresco‘s. It was definitely a great kickoff to the wedding celebrations. We all had fun taking pictures together, and playing the typical shower games, like “Who knows the bride best?” “What’s in your purse?” I handed out rose gold/burgundy pens with my shower date on them, & handed out candles from a local Bucks County candle shop, “Libellule candle” as prizes for the games.
Fortunately, Covid did not really impact anything! The only thing was we couldn’t do a traditional cake tasting: the baker dropped off some sample cupcakes for Dan & me to try instead.
Sara and Dan after saying I Do at Razberry’s in Frenchtown
The Vendor Team: I decided to pick Razberry‘s in Frenchtown, NJ as my venue because it is a local place & I wanted to support local businesses! Being local was so convenient; if I forgot anything it was super easy to run back & forth. It is also a beautiful place, with a water fountain in the back, and a huge reception room. You also get a great deal on food, alcohol, etc. for the price!
Sarah in her Chevy, beautifully detailed by Precision Care Detailing
Special Memories: Something that really meant a lot to me is that the classic car in my pictures is my 1955 Chevy Nomad – my dad & I restored it together. My friend, Derek Frey, has a detailing business “Precision Care Detailing” and as his wedding gift to me he spent 4 days detailing my car for me for my special day. He even came the day of the wedding to make finishing touches on it. My car has never looked so good. He went above & beyond for me & I am forever grateful.
Sarah at her shower gets a hug from her biggest fan, Dad!
Another great moment was my dad totally rocking out to my band playing! He’s always been my biggest/most animated fan.
Sarah playing the drums at her reception!
Vixen77: We are an all girl, punk rock band from Philly! I joined them in January of 2021, it would’ve been sooner as I had been talking with them since June of 2020, but due to Covid rehearsal spaces weren’t open at the time. I was SO excited to be a part of the band! It has been my dream ever since I started drumming at 11 years old to be in an all girl band. I’m so thankful to be surrounded by these talented ladies! We are cutting an album in the beginning of December, then going to really start rocking out & playing live shows once the album is released!
Band members: Samantha Chonski: lead vocals; Caitlin Walker: lead guitar; Elizabeth Cartwright: rhythm guitar; Jazman Dobson: bass guitar; and of course me on drums!
Sarah on drums, back shot!
Sarah and Dan definitely have a special bond between them and are the very best of friends. Our family wishes them a lifetime of joy and happiness as they start this new chapter together.
We love being able to feature our couples! If you are a Darianna bride and would like to be a featured couple, please let us know by texting our store at 215-491-8500.
“Order me one size smaller because I’m going to lose weight before the wedding.”
Oh how many times we have heard this. Sometimes they do sometimes they don’t but regardless, everyone wants to look their best for their wedding day and a fitness plan often finds its way into the planning mix. So how do you really get wedding ready?
There are so many “fitness” options today, depending on your goals. There are the chain gyms, the niche gyms for power lifting, barre, or yoga, online communities for weight loss/work out “challenges”, diet-specific cooking classes on Tik Tok, home delivery meals – the list goes on.
Everyone is different, and while a big box gym might work for someone, it may be intimidating to another. Someone may really catch on to cooking for themselves while someone else may not have any interest at all in doing that.
I think most of us are somewhere in the middle, wanting a small group setting that isn’t intimidating where you can make friends with others who may not be looking to enter a competition, rather just get in shape to feel better, more confident, and healthier. A good place to do this is right in Horsham called Remix Fitness!
Trisha Goodman and Mary Cate Wampler are the co-founders of Remix Fitness. This is important to us as a small business, because we know how much passion is required. We know the twist and turns necessary to stand out and apart. This is definitely not your stereotypical gym, they are there to make it fun and help you achieve your fitness goals!
They offer in person classes and live stream all of them. They offer child care as well. If you take a class online you must sign up because they will hold you accountable! The class sizes are just right with like-minded individuals working hard to improve themselves and cheering you on as you do the same.
THE OFFER:
Remix is offering a free week of classes with no strings attached to see if Remix is a fit for you!
Maybe you want to get in shape and wedding ready with your fiancé? Maybe you and your mom would like to try it out? Maybe your parents, you and your MOH? They are open to anyone being referred from our store! Don’t wait until January to make your resolution, start now and see where you could be in January!
HOW TO REDEEM:
Text the code “FreeWeek” to 215-770-0364 and you will get just that! Follow them on Instagram at Remix_Fit and find their website at remix-fitness.com. Meet them and learn more on YouTube here.
We are proud to partner with Trisha and Mary Cate and know they have the same commitment to their customers as we have to ours. Here’s to getting wedding ready for the big day!
About the author: Wendy Ianieri-Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in its eighth year in business. In that time the store has grown from a small bridal boutique to a full-service bridal store serving not only Bucks County, PA but the surrounding counties and even border states. With the customer experience in mind, Wendy steers the company by offering the best designers and wedding attire while creating a caring, family atmosphere. A life-long Bucks County native, she currently resides in Warrington with her husband and co-founder/co-owner Franco Salerno, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
Born out of a pandemic and a seemingly temporary fix, the Minimony and Micro Wedding appear to have taken hold as smaller, meaningful, and more intimate ways to tie the knot.
A minimony, also called a micro wedding, is simply a smaller wedding ceremony, usually with a luncheon or dinner celebration afterwards. Some couples will plan a large reception for a later date, or better yet, have a big 1-year anniversary party! Such a great idea!
So while all of this is a great idea, it leads us to the attire: what to wear for the Minimony and micro wedding?
You are still the bride, even if the wedding is scaled down. You will still walk down the aisle, you will still have pictures taken, and the formality of the tradition is no less important. So what are some good options?
Taking into account the season, location, and your wishes, the options are wide open! These are some of our most popular.
Aiden by Madi Lane: and all over crêpe square neck fitted dress with chapel length train is a perfect choice. Sophisticated and classic, you can wear with a belt, and also the sheer tulle jacket with pearls. This dress is so smooth and looks perfect with your flowers, they really pop!
Aiden all crepe dress by Madi LaneAiden all crepe dress with jacket by Madi Lane
A popular choice for an outdoor Minimony is Lillium from the Blue collection by Enzoani. A lovely cap sleeve, plunge V-neck, and banded waist lead to a lightweight and flowy skirt that moves perfectly whether walking down the aisle or twirling at your first dance. If you are into BoHo, add a flower crown to this and it is perfection!
Lillium soft lace from Blue by Enzoani
Another great choice for an outdoor micro wedding if you prefer your arms covered is Bea byMadi Lane. A layer of charmeuse underneath gives some fullness to the skirt and the sheer sleeves include the vine-like lace applique. Bea also has a scooped out back adding a little fun to the design!
Bea long sleeve boho by Madi Lane
A perfect summer or destination Minimony and micro wedding dress is this darling creation from Stella York. A smooth crêpe front that can be worn with or without a belt or sash, plunge neckline, and an open back with a wrap tie for added support and a pretty bow detail!
Crepe tie-back with buttons from Stella York
Lovely and lightweight is this piece from Morilee. A cut-in halter neck beautifully shapes the full bodice, and the lined chiffon skirt adds even more sophistication. Peek-a-boo slit to show off your shoes!
Brandy halter lace top on chiffon skirt by Morilee
Similar in shape to the dress above is this pretty V-neck. A fully beaded bodice and a wide banded waist are very flattering and easy to wear. Gorgeous skirt made of layered English net. A lovely and popular dress from Sincerity.
Beaded bodice on English net skirt from Sincerity
One of our favorites is this halter neck, all over lace A-line from Casablanca. The lace pattern is beautiful, and the bodice offers much support. A stunning wedding dress that is beautiful and flattering on everybody!
All over lace halter from Casablanca
Another very popular dress with sleeves is this Stella York. Such a clean dress with a beautiful chiffon skirt make this a very popular choice for brides holding an indoor or outdoor Minimony and micro wedding events!
Long sleeve lace on chiffon by Stella York
These are just a few of our popular Minimony and micro wedding dresses, there are so many more to choose from! Make your appointment here to see for yourself!
About the author: Wendy Ianieri-Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in its eighth year in business. In that time the store has grown from a small bridal boutique to a full-service bridal store serving not only Bucks County, PA but the surrounding counties and even border states. With the customer experience in mind, Wendy steers the company by offering the best designers and wedding attire while creating a caring, family atmosphere. A life-long Bucks County native, she currently resides in Warrington with her husband and co-founder/co-owner Franco Salerno, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.
Pinterest is every wedding vendors dream tool. When brides and grooms come to us with a vision, trying to describe exactly what they want or the vibe they are going for can be challenging. Pinterest has made it easy for them to collage together what they are thinking and show their vendors exactly what they are picturing rather than trying to find the right words.
Whether you are a bride, groom, maid of honor, or wedding planner, Pinterest is definitely a site you will want to use to make your planning run smoothly. Follow along to learn how to create the most efficient wedding Pinterest board!
Step One: Designing your Board
First thing’s first, you need to make a board that is dedicated to solely wedding related content. This board is going to contain only pictures, ideas, and blogs that you like and inspire you, so keeping all of your relevant content in one space will make it easy to find when you are looking for it.
This board is something that can be created regardless of if you are engaged or not! Many women start their wedding boards before they even find “the one”. The earlier you start it, the more you learn about your wedding tastes and preferences.
Step Two: Creating Sections
You have your wedding board that you will be adding all of your inspiration to, but you can’t leave them all jumbled together! Creating a section for each sector of your wedding makes it simple for you to store and find exactly what you are looking for.
Pinterest board dedicated to bridal flowers
Say you are ready to come say “yes!” to your dress at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and you want to show us pictures of what kinds of dresses you have been liking online. Since you created a “Dress” section underneath your wedding board, it is a breeze to hand the phone over to your consultant and then let her take it from there pulling dresses that are similar to the ones that you have saved! It allows you to have a very productive appointment without spending too much time trying to describe what it is that you have been looking at.
Step Three: Begin Pinning
Now that you have your places to store all of your inspiration, it is time to go find what you like! You can always start with a very broad topic like “wedding” to see what comes up that may help you find what you like or even what sections to create that you may not have thought about before. Once you start to narrow down what you are looking for, search for more specific topics.
Madi Lane Birdie, an A-line dress with a cross back
For example, you may start with a search like “wedding dress”. Once you start seeing all the different types of dresses and notice which ones catch your eye, you may want to try a search like “fit and flare lace wedding dress”. If you have found a designer that you like, you could even try “Madi Lane A-line wedding dress” and see other styles that the designer has that you have not seen yet!
Step Four: Follow your Vendors
Once you book a vendor, it is a good idea to follow them on all social media platforms to get the best inspiration and stay up to date with what is happening with them. Following your vendors on Pinterest is a great idea to see what is unique to their business and what they are showcasing from their actual weddings prior. This give you a good idea of the realistic possibilities for your own wedding!
Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo models walk in a bridal fashion show
As a bridal store that is active on Pinterest, we have brides from all over the world watching our consultants model our gorgeous gowns. We often send incoming brides to our Pinterest page to get an idea of what dresses we have in the store that they may want to try on! Make your feed more personal to your wedding by filling your feed with all of the people who are contributing to your wedding!
Step Five: Clean up Your Sections
If you have had your wedding board for a while, you may have experienced a shift in tastes or have found that your original ideas no longer fit the theme that you have created. It is always worthwhile to go through all of your sections and delete pins that are either outdated, repetitive, or no longer relevant to your wedding. Trends can change fast as can tastes! Keep your sections as fresh as possible by thoroughly scrolling through each one. While you are cleaning them up, you can also see if you have a number of pins that look similar or if your section starts to look repetitive. This can help clarify what you are really looking for in your flowers, dress, cake, and decor!
Congratulations – you have the perfect Pinterest board! You are ready to share it with your maid of honor, vendors, and wedding planner. Make sure you have the Pinterest app downloaded to your phone so you can take your board with you to give them the best idea of the feel you want every component of your wedding to have! And when you are ready to make your appointment to dress shop, send your dress section over to the consultants at Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and prepare to say “yes” to the dress of your dreams!
About the author: Daria Capaldi is the manager of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and one-half of its namesake. On the cusp of the Millennial/Gen Z divide, she is uniquely suited for understanding the wedding industry both from a business perspective and a bride’s planning perspective. A graduate of James Madison University and a participant in the Disney Internship Program, Ms. Capaldi upholds the customer experience as key. A Warrington, Bucks County native, she resides in Huntingdon Valley with her boyfriend Jeff and her adorable pup Eva.
