A monumental occasion

Walking in to the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, a string quartet plays “On the Street Where You Live” from “My Fair Lady.” The Willard’s ancient windows frame the Washington monument and White House while models wearing bridal gowns parade around the historic hotel.

The experience can only be described as uniquely Washington. The Willard played host to Engaged! magazine’s bridal expo, which featured various D.C. wedding vendors, including Carine’s Bridal Atelier, Priscilla of Boston dresses and make-up artist Carl Ray.

Priscilla of Boston has been involved with the D.C. scene for decades, designing President Nixon’s and Johnson’s daughters’ dresses. The company also designed Grace Kelly’s bridesmaids’ dresses.

“Most recently we’ve done some senators’ daughter’s weddings,” said Deborah Koenig, assistant manager of the Tysons Corner office.

Priscilla herself passed away in 2004 but her legacy lives on with the trends that she created, such as the embellished pink bridal dress, according to Koenig.

Carine Halabi of Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Georgetown began her fashion career over 10 years ago in New York City. Her eye for designing wedding gowns has allowed her to attend bridal fashion weeks in which she hand-selects dresses to be featured in her store, according to her website www.carinesbridal.com.

“I’ve noticed that D.C. brides tend to go for simple and elegant dresses,” Halabi said. “Whereas women from the South tend to go for big sweeping ballgowns, Northern brides go for dresses with more of a fit and curve to them.”

According to Halabi, she’s noticed that November is a very quiet month for weddings. “No one wants to get married during the election,” she said. D.C. women want to focus on politics, she said.

Carl Ray, who also had a booth at the event, has been in the make-up business for 13 years. In addition to bridal make-up, Ray has done make-up for Anna Nicole Smith’s Supreme Court visit.

He also worked with Paula Abdul, Alanis Morissette and Rosanna Arquette. He’s also done political celebrities like Tipper Gore and Bill Richardson.

“Since I’ve been doing the craft, I’ve noticed that D.C. weddings are definitely more conservative,” Ray said. “They’re definitely a monumental affair though, with lots of friends and family.”

Ray is located in the George Salon at the Four Seasons Hotel Courtyard in Georgetown.

After perusing the various vendors, guests were treated to a $55-per-plate tea with the theme “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue.” The menu included oysters, a selection of tea sandwiches and scones.

Guest speakers at the event were celebrity cake decorator Sylvia Weinstock and Preston Bailey, wedding planner who frequently appears on Oprah.

Weinstock, who married her college sweetheart 59 years ago, designed Ben Stiller’s and Billy Joel’s cakes.

“I get inspiration from everything around me,” she said. “To me, everything is an art form.”

According to Weinstock, groom cakes are also becoming popular. One particular groom wanted a cake in the shape of his pet dog.

Weinstock also encouraged brides to spend, but spend carefully. She also cited her cake prices, which typically run about $17 per person.

Preston Bailey, in an interview before his speech, said that D.C. weddings are typically viewed as conservative but he encourages brides in the city to be willing to explore dramatic, contemporary designs.

Bailey said in his speech that when planning a wedding, he’s learned that with women, it’s important to listen to them and give them what they want.

“I’ve spent 27 years in event planning and have been able to travel and experience so many different cultures and countries,” he said. “Weddings are just extraordinary events.”

Kelly, a bride at the event, plans to marry Nov. 8 at a historic hotel in Richmond, much like the Willard.

“I think that growing up in Maryland, near D.C., there’s a lot of pressure to have a big, lavish wedding,” she said.

Engaged! magazine, now in its third year, publishes twice a year — in January and July.

“My vision for the magazine was to put out a quality publication for anyone planning a wedding who wants to get inspiration,” said Doreen Tisone, editor of the magazine.

Tisone plans to make the expo an annual event. “I think it was very successful,” she said. “It was sold out and I received countless thank you notes from brides and mothers and daughters who enjoyed a wonderful day together.”