At the 1979 Cannes Film festival, 3½ years after initial filming for the movie began, acclaimed film director Francis Ford Coppola premiered his Vietnam War epic, Apocalypse Now. It was a pet project for Coppola, who felt at the time he had earned enough creative capital through his success with The Godfather that he could make the most thought-provoking film of his career. What Coppola wasn’t prepared for was what’s now known as one of longest and most arduous production periods for any film. In a press conference that week in Cannes, in a brief moment of honesty and drama, Coppola described the effort it took to make his vision a reality: “We were in the jungle, there were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.”
 
In getting ready to plan a wedding, I felt no truer words had ever been spoken.

The day after our engagement, Kristin asked, “What colors do you envision for our wedding?” Colors? We don’t need no stinking colors! It felt like something I should have an answer for but didn’t. It was like the pop quiz in junior high or the “logic games and critical thinking” section of the LSAT. Since I hadn’t done the reading the night before, this was going to be more complex than I anticipated.

Thursday, October 29, through Saturday, October 31
Visit Carine’s Bridal Atelier (1726 Wisconsin Ave., NW) for a three-day Kenneth Pool wedding-gown trunk show. His gowns, which he describes as lavish fabrics with a mix of fantasy, drama, and careful bead work, look straight out of a fairy tale. If you find a gown to send you into happily-ever-after, you’ll receive a 12-percent discount on Thursday and Friday and 10 percent Saturday. Appointments required; call 202-965-4696 or e-mail info@carinesbridal.com. Thursday 4 to 6, Friday 11 to 6, and Saturday 11 to 7.

Friday, October 30
Ky Washington of Richie (7775 Jewelweed Ct., Springfield; 571-332-3170), a multipurpose salon, will share her fashion and styling expertise during her Personal Accents trunk show and cocktail party. Washington encourages attendees to bring an outfit or a picture of a potential wedding look so she can provide advice on how to glam it up. The bride who brings the most people gets a prize. 6 to 9:30.