Going to the chapel … or the neighborhood block party …

Danielle Bouchat-Friedman

If there’s one thing I learned from interviewing couples about their recent weddings, it is this: Unforeseen events will happen on your wedding day (torrential rain, nor’easter, traffic from the Pope), but it’s all about how you can keep calm and carry on.

During Kerry Kristine McElrone and Joe Trainor’s Wilmington wedding, their urban fairy tale block party quickly turned into a full-on monsoon. Everyone was handed umbrellas and slickers to stay dry. Instead of feeling stressed, the couple and their guests continued to celebrate. “Everyone embraced the weather as if it was the most gorgeous day imaginable. No one, including us, seemed to care,” says McElrone. Read more about their wedding along with six other couples, beginning here.

Cristela Tschumy

Besides sharing the stories of some delightful couples, our team had an incredibly tough time narrowing down what else we wanted to include in this issue. (Whatever we couldn’t squeeze in we made sure to include here on our website.) And the result, with the help of creative director Cristela Tschumy, is simply stunning. 

Here are just a few things I am head over heels in love with in this issue of Delaware/Main Line Bride:

Glowing gowns: Classic white is nice, but wedding gowns in subtle shades make a big statement. Live out all your Cinderella fantasies.

Trendy trimmings: Ladies, allow your fiancé some fashion fun, too. Help him feel superior in a colorful bow tie or a playful pair of socks. P.S.—They also make great gifts for his groomsmen.

Puppy love: Who doesn’t consider their pet a member of their family? Writer Lora Englehart has six tips for anyone looking to include their four-legged friends on their special day.

Small bites, big impression: The sit-down dinner may be a thing of the past, discovers writer Pam George. Couples are opting for dinner stations, a wide selection of passed hors d’oeuvres and even food trucks to feed their guests.

Social media savvy: Nowadays, every couple has their own wedding day hashtag. Contributing editor Tara Behan gets the lowdown from Chester County-based public relations professional Patricia Maristch.

Winter weddings: Contributing editor Melissa Jacobs discovers that there are plenty of reasons to choose a winter wedding date, including elegant candlelight, twinkling lights and make-your-own s’mores.

What are you waiting for? Pick up your copy—and browse our site—to find more enchanting ideas.

—Danielle Bouchat-Friedman · Editor