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DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 22, 2009
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•••
THE 25 TRENDSETTERS OF 2009
MEET THIS YEAR'S WEDDING MAESTROS 25 TALENTED PROS WHO CRAFT CAKES,
FLOWERS, FASHION AND MORE INTO MASTERPIECES THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED
THE WAY WE MARRY. LEARN HOW THEIR CREATIVE INNOVATIONS AND IDEAS
CAN INSPIRE YOUR OWN CELEBRATION.
EDITED BY AMY GOLDWASSER
ANDY KUSHNER MUSIC MAN Rockville, MD
ANNE MILLETT
PAPER ARTISAN Sonoma, CA
"Mira Aster is a type offlower;' says Anne Millett,
about the name ofher stationery company, ''but it's
also a make-believe crafty girl who loves making really
cool things:' After peering at her couture creations, it's
obvious that Millett is that girl. She has a penchant for
using elegant materials-silk organza from India, silkscreened paper from Japan, Liberty of London floral
prints-embroidered onto the finest paper to construct
posh invites. Every layer is loaded with intricate details,
like an organza overlay that encases floating sequins or
handmade tissue-paper flowers. For Brooke Shields'
wedding, Millett set the happy tone with invitations on
bright yellow paper with hot pink lettering and orange
silk organza envelopes with hot pink tissue paper. And
for Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro's wedding, Millett
made red silk organza envelopes with black stitching.
Millett suggests that couples use complementary colors
or solids and patterns to distinguish between the prenuptial and day-ofstationery. For Millett, it's not about
matching precisely, it's about meeting the moment.
(miraaster.com) -STEPHEN MILIOTI
•••
"USE COMPLEMENTARY
COLORS OR SOLIDS AND
PATTERNS TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN THE PRENUPTIAL
AND DAY-OF STATIONERY"
218
MODERNBRIDE JUNEIJULY 2009
Ask bandleader and entertainment producer Andy
Kushner about one ofhis most stirring weddings, and
he'll tell you about the couple who married in front of
the castle at Disney World. "It was stunning-the bride
and groom in Cinderella's carriage, and the band getting
thousands ofpark visitors to sing 'Celebration' while
confetti machines went off," he recalls. Kushner started
his In-piece band, Sound Connection, 12 years ago. He
now has four bands within the two-year-old company
Andy Kushner Entertainment, as well as emcees, DJs
and dancers-really anyone a couple could conjure for
big sound on their big day. And if an entertainer who a
pair desire isn't part of Kushner's pack, he will calIon
them to collaborate: anyone from a salsa-singing drummer to a string quartet. His bands never carry a set list.
Instead, they take details from a couple's history-how
they met, what songs played for their parents' first
dances-which he suggests every couple share with their
music vendor to personalize the party. "I know we've
done our job when guests come up to us asifthey know
us," he says. ''When I see the bride and groom and their
family and friends having the time oftheir lives, that's
enough for me:' (andykushner.com) -JOANNA CORMAN
•••
"TAKE DETAILS FROM YOUR
HISTORY-HOW YOU MET,
WHAT SONGS PLAYED FOR
YOUR PARENTS' FIRST DANCESTO PERSONALIZE THE MUSIC,"