All photographs courtesy of The Bar Method.
After only one Bar Method class in Chicago in 2009, Kate Arnold was hooked. “I immediately fell in love with it. I was amazed at the changes I saw in my body, my posture, my alignment, and my endurance,” she says. Based on fat-burning interval training and principles of dance conditioning, the body-sculpting workout incorporates barre, floor, and light weight exercises combined with muscle isolation techniques.
In 2010 Arnold and her husband returned to the District, and she was surprised to find there were no Bar Method studios in the area. The career attorney decided on a big life change—she left her law job and opened the first Washington-area outpost of Bar Method. “I couldn’t imagine my life without a [Bar Method] studio. I contacted Bar Method headquarters and began to inquire about opening one,” she says.
Three years later, the Bar Method has expanded to Chinatown and Bethesda and has earned some loyal followers—so loyal that the instructors know most of their fitness enthusiasts by name. But the DC franchise doesn’t stop there. It will now offer brides-to-be and bridesmaids a get-in-shape wedding package. We caught up with Arnold, who told us about the new wedding workout and her tips on looking your best in time for the big day.
All photographs courtesy of Starworks Group.
Brides-to-be, take note: You can now incorporate Oscar de la Renta’s bridal collection into your big day. Our favorite stationery e-tailer, Paperless Post, has teamed up with the master couturier for a stylish wedding collaboration. Inspired by Oscar de la Renta’s ready-to-wear and bridal collections, and the designer’s home in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the 50-piece collection features both electronic and paper save-the-date cards, thank-you notes, and wedding invitations, priced from $0.25 to $3.50 each.
Dudley Payne and Paige Johnson at their beachside wedding ceremony in the Bahamas. Photograph courtesy of Shelia Johnson.
How does Washington royalty tie the knot? If you’re Paige Johnson, the 27-year-old daughter of BET cofounders Sheila and Bob Johnson, you do it with four days of partying at the One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
Reached by phone yesterday in New York City, the bride’s mother said she was “just trying to recover” from the long weekend’s extravagant celebration. The part-owner of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics said her daughter chose the tropical destination for her nuptials because she’s “a James Bond freak” and parts of Casino Royale were shot at the Ocean Club.
Maybe it’s because of Baz Luhrmann’s much-anticipated remake of The Great Gatsby, which hits the big screen later this week, or because of reruns of PBS’s Downton Abbey, but Jazz Age fashions have gained big bridal momentum this season. Don’t believe us? Just look at the spring 2014 bridal market fashion shows, where decadent glam appeared all over the runways, with dresses showcasing fringe, feathers, drop waists, and heavy beading. Whether you want to subtly engage the trend or go full flapper fabulous, here are five dresses perfect for your roaring celebration.
1. Anna Sui Aiguille gown, $1,200 at BHLDN.
2. Sequin fringe dress, $295 at Ann Taylor.
3. Clara Bridal Gown, $1,100 at Nicole Miller.
4. Aidan Mattox embellished tulle dress, $330 at Nordstrom.
5. Va Et Vien Swirling Platinum Gown, $1,000 on sale from $1,800 at BHLDN.
Angela and Andrew at their October 20, 2012, wedding in Falls Church. All photographs courtesy of Nat Wongsaroj Photography.
The first time Andrew Woo asked Angela Pan for her phone number, following a brief encounter at a party, Angela said no. Not because she didn’t like the Bahamas-born app developer, with whom she felt an instant connection, but because she thought she was being cute by playing hard to get. “However, he didn’t think it was so cute, and he walked away,” says Angela, a landscape and nature photographer.
As fate would have it, the two ran into each other again a few months later, and by that point Angela had learned her lesson; she didn’t hesitate to share her contact information. A first date at Coastal Flats quickly blossomed into a relationship that grew over six years, until Andrew made it official with an over-the-top romantic hot air balloon proposal.
May 1 through 31: Markdown Month at CurvyGirls Bridal
Score designer sample gowns at 30 to 50 percent off all month long at our favorite curve-conscious bridal salon. With dresses available in sizes 12 through 32, CurvyGirls Bridal will showcase designers like La Sposa, Pronovias, and Allure. To make an appointment, call 703-539-8777.
May 3 through 5: Kevan Hall White Label Trunk Show at Soliloquy Bridal Couture
Minimalist brides, rejoice: You can purchase Kevan Hall’s unfussy modern designs for 10 percent off at Soliloquy Bridal Couture. Kevan Hall—a former design and creative director of Halston whose dresses have been worn by stars such as Felicity Huffman, Debra Messing, and Renee Zellweger—is known for his impeccable tailoring and streamlined silhouettes. Spaces fill up fast; make your appointment online.
May 3 and 4: Modern Trousseau Trunk Show at Hitched Salon
Check out Modern Trousseau’s new bridal collection at Georgetown’s Hitched Salon. The two-day event showcases the brand’s elegant gowns, known for their modern silhouettes and interesting details, straight off last month’s runway show. Reserve your spot and learn more about Modern Trousseau’s signature customization services by calling 202-333-6162.
A pair of hand-painted Mallory Musante shoes. Photo courtesy of Mallory Musante.
This month, we have a slew of deals for brides-to-be, perfect for every couple navigating the sometimes pricey waters of wedding planning. Unless otherwise noted, please mention Washingtonian Bride & Groom at the time of purchase or reservation between May 1 and 31 to receive the deal.
Beautiful at Bella Bethesda
Bella Bethesda Salon’s award-winning bridal team offers a full range of bridal services to make that perfect wedding-day look a reality. Take your favorite updo and makeup palette for a test run with this special: Receive a free makeup trial when booked this month with a hair trial, as well as 20 percent off any makeup purchase. 4733 Elm St., Second Floor, Bethesda; 301-718-9111.
Bridal Style For ’Maids and More
Local boutique Periwinkle is known for its fashion-forward yet prettily preppy frocks, accessories, and fun goods for the home. Now through June 30, readers can receive 25 percent off any full-price dress. With lines such as Shoshanna, Trina Turk, Yoana Baraschi, and more, this shop has the perfect outfit for bridesmaids, wedding guests, and the bride-to-be’s big events—showers, engagement shoots, and everything in between. 1557 Potomac Greens Dr., Alexandria, 703-519-5242; 4150 Campbell Ave., #104, Shirlington, 703-379-5252.
All photographs courtesy of Rosenthal Sambonet.
For a newly engaged couple, setting up a wedding registry for table settings may seem like a daunting experience. There’s the patterns, the styles, the number, the pieces—the list goes on and on. This is where John Flynn, director of stewarding at Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, comes in. Flynn, dubbed the “china specialist” by the Four Seasons, holds a complimentary consultation with every couple planning a wedding at the hotel in order to help them register for china, silver, crystal, and glassware pieces.
“Whether it’s ornate and vibrant or simple and understated, our priority is helping busy couples find a pattern for life,” says Flynn. We caught up with the hotel’s resident china whisperer, who shares his top tips for bridal registries, the season’s hottest china patterns, and the best ways to care for your tableware in the years to come.
Photo courtesy of Mervis Diamond Importers.
For brides on the hunt for the perfect wedding bands and jewelry, Tacori holds a can’t-miss event this weekend. Known for swoon-worthy sparklers, worn on various red carpets by the likes of Nikki Reed, Katy Perry, Katherine Heigl and Kate Beckinsale, Tacori takes over Mervis Diamond Importers on April 27 and 28 to host its biggest trunk show ever.
The event, held simultaneously at Mervis’s Rockville, DC, and Tysons Corner locations, will feature the largest selection of Tacori bridal and fashion pieces worldwide and showcase baubles from Precision Set, Verragio, Martin Flyer, JB Star, and Ritani. Overwhelmed by the idea of so many options? Tacori representatives and Mervis Diamond experts will assist and guide brides-to-be in finding their ideal wedding rings and accessories.
As if we needed another reason to love Haute Papier, the Arlington-based custom stationery shop has launched a newly curated subscription service. For $80 per year (or $20 for a one-time shipment), Haute Papier will send you four goodie boxes—one every three months—with an assortment of its best-selling and newly launched writing utensils, notebooks, coasters, various greeting cards, and letterpress trinkets.
We got a peek at the first Haute Box and it featured a handful of whimsical birthday and thank-you cards, heart-print coasters, a miniature notepad and notebook, and two gold-print pencils. Think inside the box and buy a single package or a subscription for a year—we think it’s a great gift for a bride-to-be.
