Brides USA

C

ongrats to ever yone who recently got engaged!

After you’ve told your family and close friends,

taken that ring selfie, and changed your Facebook

status, take a week, a month—or, as one of our brides

did (page 326), a year!—to savor the moment. And then

savor the planning, because you’ll be a fiancée only

once. Cooking up the details of your big day should be

fun. Bask in the newness and excitement. Plan romantic

date nights with your beau. Snap photos while dress

shopping, at your cake tasting, and at your makeup trial.

The big day is wonderful, but the journey between

now and then can be just as memorable if you make it

count. This is your year!

Now, there will be times when you may forget this,

when seating charts, vendor appointments, budget

conversations, and endless logistics make you feel

like air-traffic control rather than Star of the Day. For

those moments, we have several stories that you’ll

want to tear out and save: “Happily Ever Before” (to

stay zen when things go off the rails), “What to Plan

First” (the first five things on your to-do list), and “The

New Woman in Your Life” (i.e., your mother-in-law).

Laying a strong foundation now—with planning and

with your new larger family—will help you build a solid

future. It will also help you appreciate the celebrations

(shower! bachelorette party!) and new memories that

are coming your way. Enjoy!

EDITOR’S LET TER

The Stoney Hill Road House, the Martha’s Vineyard compound

where my sister is getting married this year! To find your dream

location, check out “THE BEST VENUES IN AMERICA” (page 358).

The three spectacular dining

tables our Brides team created for

this year’s NEW YORK TABLETOP

SHOW, inspired by our favorite local

wedding destinations.

SERENA & LILY’s crisp and

clean-smelling candles,

which make great gifts for

your bridesmaids.

UPPER EAST SIDE

BROOKLYN

THE HAMPTONS

A FEW

OF MY

FAVORITE

THINGS

RIGHT

NOW

KEIJA MINOR

EDITOR IN CHIEF

@keijaminor

82 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 6 BRIDES.COM

PORTRAIT: DAVID A. LAND; FAVORITE THINGS, FROM TOP: TARA SGROI (3); COURTESY OF THE VENDOR AND THE STONEY HILL ROAD HOUSE