It's June, the sunny month of brides and grooms. It used
to be said that June was solely the month of brides, but
the new order has to include grooms as well. Who knows? One
day, the newsstands might even be filled with magazines focused
on the gentlemen stars of the nuptials. Can you imagine "Grooms" as
the masthead title of a new Conde Nast publication? I really
can.
In the old days, I often contributed ideas to my clients
to use at a wedding dinner. On second thought: Yes, I did
decorate a few – or more than a few weddings – to
say nothing about the debutante parties I have orchestrated
along with my friend, Peter Duchin at the piano. There is
only one Peter, and he is the king of the celebrity dance
bands, as Palm Beachers certainly know.
With June weddings here, I always think about gifts for
the bride – appropriate gifts, that is. "Appropriate" can
be difficult when it comes to choosing the right gift, but
I'm always sure of myself when I select an item from the
bride's store registry – and to be sure, I often purchase
a place setting or two of the bride's selected flatware.
You can never go wrong when you simply ask the name of the
store – or stores – handling the registry.
Some years ago, Prince Andrew and his then bride, Sarah,
the Duchess of York, selected items from Asprey of London
and Thomas Goode & Sons, also of London. The society
columnist Cindy Adams reported to the world those items selected,
some of which were posted at many thousands of dollars and
many, many thousands of pounds. We all cannot be former duchesses,
so here's a tip for brides and grooms: Please be cautious
when selecting bridal gifts that may be out of the rough
for guests and friends wishing to purchase something that
will be a special delight for your home.
I like gifts that are meaningful, and while I am sometimes
tardy in getting the gift to the newlyweds – you
are allowed a year to find the present by general etiquette – I
truly want to make each selection personal. I just cannot,
somehow, go out and buy the first thing I see on the shelf.
About a month ago, I was in West Palm Beach at the South
Dixie Highway shop of Wardall Antiques and Decorations, where
the delightful Brian O'Malley always takes good care of me.
I always stop at Wardall when I am Palm Beaching. The shop,
at 3709 S. Dixie, is always chocked full of delightful porcelains
and silver appointments that are absolutely right – and
the quality of the merchandise is top-grade.
On one of the tabletops, I saw a Steuben glass piece with
double hearts. I immediately knew this was the wedding gift
I wanted for a special Texas bride and groom at whose wedding
I had been a guest. "Eureka," as they say, "I
found it" – and after packaging and wrapping,
the bridal gift went off to Austin.
When purchasing a gift for the bride and groom, try to select
a piece that is usable as well as handsome – and the
gift certainly should be handsome and have a bit of glamour.
Beautiful picture frames are always good gifts, and silver
items – not plated, please (!) – go a long way
to show you care.
Table boxes in precious stone (lapis-lazuli, for example,
or malachite) always say "congratulations" to the
bride and groom. The colors – blue for lapis and green
for malachite – can add dazzle to the top of an end
table or coffee table. Even if they're never used or opened,
the boxes are practical for color alone. And when we see
color about a home, happiness reigns.
When selecting a wedding gift, it is good to know the favorite
colors of the bridal couple as well as their style, whether
classic or contemporary. It is also helpful to know if the
couple plans to dine in Colorado or Alaska or Palm Beach.
You don't want to send a covered-wagon porcelain tea service
to a Palm Beach residence, when the pieces would be far more
suitable on a Colorado ranch. Appropriate is the way to go – in
every way – and so, on with the wedding!
Happy days – decorating days – to all the brides
and grooms.
