Michelle Obama, in her speech to support her husband, the president, set the agenda for New York Fashion Week.

　　Her forceful femininity — played out in a bright, shapely dress showing off a toned and energetic body — has become the mantra for young designers looking for ways to bridge fashion gaps: tough versus tender, uptown versus downtown and the dichotomy of a power woman with an emotional spirit.

　　The contrasts in the summer 2013 season, which runs through this week, appear not least in the show venues themselves, which alternate between Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side and Milk Studios, way down the Westside Highway.

　　The trend is toward fusion. And the result on the runway is intriguing, as when Alexander Wang sent out sharp, graphic, back-to-the-1960s looks, but softened that concept with peeps onto the body and animalistic details like a crocodile worked in eyelets down the backbone of a shirtdress or tiny bead embroidery giving the illusion of snakeskin.

　　The feeling of (what Mr. Wang called backstage) the “tension and suspension” of the clothes included the skeletal, cutout knee-high boots. The show already felt vital and dynamic — then came its vibrant ending: Models lined up for a glow-in-the-dark effect that changed graphic into color, bringing an ovation from the crowd.

　　“It’s very French,” said Joseph Altuzarra , explaining that “there is a narrative, something about getting dressed for youth.” That translated into chic chignon hairdos, in contrast to the loose locks of the actress Jessica Chastain sitting front row. Yet the tidy hair was a perfect accompaniment to the blue-striped cotton summer jackets, with patches of Swarovski beading sparkling like sun on sea.

　　This neat and tidy woman (give or take gilded-fringe belts that threatened to overwhelm the elegance) had sleeves with arm vents, allowing freedom of movement like a cape. That was a smart way of breaking out of the constraint of tailoring and giving uptown clothes a youthful vibe. Even when macramé fringing and scalloped embroidery overtook the ease, Mr. Altuzarra proved himself a designer who is stepping smartly forward.

　　Jason Wu , a favorite to dress uptown girls (and even the first lady), took a seductive “Fifty Shades of Grey” approach, citing as his inspiration the “provocative, erotically charged images” of Helmut Newton contrasted with the “gentle forms” of the photographer Lillian Bassman.

　　On the runway, that meant lacy bras and harnesses absorbed into leather dresses, with chiffon and lace interspersed with tougher fabrics.

　　It is a safe bet that Mrs. Obama, who has looked elegant wearing Mr. Wu’s streamlined clothes, will not venture into this shadowy, shady world of revealing and concealing flesh. But as an exercise in melding soft and hard, fluid and taut, the show was gracefully done.

　　For Peter Som , the approach was more intensely girly, from the lace trim on soft shorts through bra tops and draped summer dresses. These were surely aimed at uptown girls, but with a flirtatious spirit politely evocative of sensuality but nothing to make Mr. Som’s woman — or his show — stand out in a crowd.

　　At Rag & Bone , fusion seemed less of an illusion, as the designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville steeped sportswear in layers of male/female influences, using the textures of a leather jacket with a nylon shirt or a similar softly quilted jacket with crisp white piqué. Colors, too, were subtle mixes of clotted cream with glaring white. The result was streamlined and well thought out, yet somehow missed an edgy, downtown energy.

　　AtSuno , the designer Erin Beatty widened the fashion scope by facing off what she called “Old Americana” with oversize sportswear hinting at the 1980s.

　　Vintage prints from the Congo were mixed with faded prairie patterns, while solid jacquard weaves played off against filmy fabrics. Ms. Beatty described Suno’s current mission as “making things seem useful again.” But above all, she and her partner, Max Osterweis, have a fresh take on fashion that makes the line seem both thoughtful and original.

　　At Edun , ideas like hazy camouflage prints on semi-sheer fabrics showed the male/female tensions to the max.

　　Ali Hewson, who directs the ethical brand, emphasized the tension between bedroom and street, while the designer Sharon Wauchob said she was focusing on the importance of the iconic, whether it was images of femininity or a downtown feeling.

　　The result was a standoff between bellicose khaki — but worn as a sexy little bra top — and cargo pants in shiny chiffon prints, the best of the patterns created in Africa. The utilitarian and intimate contrast worked well and offered a different take on the hard/soft balance.

　　At the French sports giant Lacoste , the designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista is creating a quiet revolution. He is introducing a street-conscious feel and a convincing women’s collection, without deviating too far from the essence of the French sportswear brand. (There were tennis racquet prints this season to compete with the famous alligator logo.)

　　The show swung on its lightweight, streamlined outerwear: cape raincoats that managed to be both ergonomic (there was a New York tornado outside) and sensual in their blurry transparency. Other elements were graphic, with color blocks swirling and curving across the body. And even the Lacoste staple — the polo shirt — was elongated, sliced with color giving a preppy urban touch.

　　Prabal Gurung has created a youthful uptown image, but his summer collection featured everything from floaty clothes that might have come from his native Nepal to full-skirted and feathered prom dresses that looked like a parody of femininity. He proved that the balance between sophisticated and edgy is not always easy to maintain.

　　It was left to Tommy Hilfiger , in his men’s wear show, to go arrow-straight to preppy heaven. The designer called his focus a “melting pot.” But the clothes seemed destined to appeal only to a young man with aspirations to join a tony golf club, with striped jackets and crested blazers looking like a parody of preppy. But the designer made the shorts suit, recently proposed by more risqué designers, seem feasible for a male summer wardrobe.

　　AMONGST it many symbolisms, a wedding is said to be a woman’s initiation into the next stage of her life.

　　With this in mind, the dress that the bride dons deserves special attention for its noble role. It will be forever remembered as the pride and joy of her special day.

　　Zery Zamry of Zery Zamry Couture, recognises this, and captures the magic and intimacy of the moment with his creations.

　　His current collection of bridal wear, Love Spell 2, is demure; the designs are described as conservative yet modern. Each of the dresses in his new collection of 10 boasts myriad design elements and caters to the whims of today’s women.

　　According to Zery, 28, his designs encapsulate the needs and feelings of the bride-to-be. “I designed each dress to be her dream dress; to make her look captivating on her big day,” he says.

　　His dresses are a continuation of his vision from his first collection, Love Spell. The second collection, however, is more “ladylike”.

　　The dresses are also versatile and can be worn on different occasions, such as “for the engagement, the akad nikah or the bersandingceremony,” says Zery. “It all depends on how a woman wants it, and on how she sees it.”

　　From curve-hugging mermaid outfits and empire waist dresses, to ball gown-inspired dresses, Zery’s outfits are made to complement a woman’s body shape. Aside from that, there are also traditional cuts in the collection inspired by the kebaya or baju kurung, a popular choice among brides in Malaysia.

　　The amount of detail that goes into each dress also makes the collection special. Beads and Swarovski crystals, for example, are gently eased into the design to raise its aesthetic value without making the dress look overdone.

　　Zery also uses his creativity to arrange flower petals to look like a rose or camellia on the dress for that extra touch of femininity.

　　While luxurious fabrics like satin, silk and chiffon are used, Zery injects glamour through fine embroidery, draping and pleats.

　　He prefers minimalism in his designs, however, because he believes in understated elegance.

　　“The Love Spell 2 collection give wearers a choice, but I still feel (minimalism) is able to make a bride look radiant on her wedding day,” he adds.

　　Zery, from Selangor, first pursued economics and business at college, but upon realising his passion was in the arts, he went for a diploma, and later a degree in fashion design from Universiti Teknologi MARA in 2005 and 2007 instead.

　　He endured his fair share of challenges when first trying to break into the fashion industry. One of the problems he faced was being associated with Malay-inspired designs. Zery has now shattered that stereotype with his contemporary designs.

　　Zery believes that he is at his best when designing womenswear. The couturier, whose idols are Alexander McQueen and Elie Saab, now has the honour of dressing celebrities like Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Erra Fazira and Ziana Zain.

　　He attributes his success to hard work and says that to break into the fashion business one has “to get enrolled in a good fashion school, learn your art and work like you’ve never worked before.”

　　Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a private equity investment firm, has signed a deal to acquire the multichain retailer David's Bridal Inc.

　　The company is valued at about $1.05 billion but other terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the agreement, Leonard Green & Partners will continue as a minority partner.

　　CD&R operating partner Paul Pressler, who previously worked as chief executive officer of Gap Inc. and as chairman of global theme parks and resorts at Disney, will take on the role of chairman when the deal is finalized. The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

　　Founded more than 60 years ago, David's Bridal has 300-plus stores across the U.S. and five in Canada. Through a exclusive partnership with Vera Wang, the retailer is the sole distributor of the White by Vera Wang label. Before a formal tea and presentation with Wang last month at Per Se, David's Bridal president Robert Huth said the company plans to open two stores in the U.K. next year.

　　The retailer, which sells affordable wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, special occasion dresses and accessories, offers the Oleg Cassini, Galina Signature, Galina, David's Bridal Collection and DB Studio labels.

　　Since Joseph Rice III started CD&R in 1978, it has managed the investment of more than $18 billion in 52 U.S. and European businesses with an aggregate transaction value of more than $80 billion. The firm deals with an assortment of businesses in various categories including Sally Beauty Holdings, Hertz, the electrical and metal manufacturer Atkore International and Hussmann, a maker of refrigerated display merchandise. Rice not available for immediate comment Tuesday morning.

　　With spring just around the corner, clothing store windows are filling with pastel colours, floral designs and more lace for the ladies and coloured/rolled up jeans for the men.

　　Arrowtown designer Claire Brinsley shared some tips on what women can get away with and what they should keep away from in Queenstown this spring, and further research by the Queenstown Times uncovered what's in for the guys.

　　Ms Brinsley is the designer behind local label Claire Bloom, which is known for its feminine style that aims to be timeless.

　　She has lived in the area for 18 years and said this spring was about "pop out" colours, bold florals and even the occasional spot.

　　"There are no boundaries here. Be who you want and don't be afraid.

　　"Wear colour and shine." Dresses were increasing in popularity, and spring collections should offer one for all tastes.

　　"More and more women are finding it easy to wear frocks, and they are in high demand.

　　Frocks that show off the figure and are more tailored, rather than a tunic-style dress."

　　The colour palette for spring 2012 was wide ranging, from shades of fuchsia to crisp apples, lemons and bright oranges.

　　"Let's not forget the stylish black with an accent of white.

　　Prints are bold and memorable.""Spots are still in too, so classical and timeless."

　　The feminine look of lace was in for a second season and could be easily altered with different slips and undergarments to add texture or colour to the outfit, Ms Brinsley said.

　　Pastel shades or primary, bold colours were a must for every wardrobe this spring and coming into summer, skirts and jackets were the best combination.

　　For the gents, it is important to throw away the beat-up boat shoes and upgrade to a pair of sharp-looking lace-ups, and this meant going leather.

　　Most Queenstown locals live in their blue denim jeans and sadly, some in khaki pants, but this spring calls for men to stop fearing coloured denim and taking a look at red.

　　In the hair department, the Midwest style is in, which means a top-heavy do.

　　Those who have spent the winter growing their "manly beard" need to look at grooming it ... carefully.

　　Floral is in for the men too, but be careful not to follow your father's example of what was cool 50 years ago in terms of 1960s flower power.

　　The buttoned-up shirt is still making headway around the country and if you're walking to work, a tote (carry bag) is a better option than a school bag now.

　　Ties to work are nice too.

　　As the weather heats up, a light-coloured blazer can be worn everywhere. Dress it up with a shirt in the evenings or down with jeans during the day.

　　The most important thing for all Queenstown males to remember is stop wearing sheens (jeans with gym shoes).

　　If you're going to roll your jeans up, ask a female first.

　　And stop wearing sunglasses indoors, just stop it.

　　The latest issue of St. Louis Bride magazine features Wood River native and model Melinda Howland on the cover - and page after page inside.

　　She has an 18-page spread in the magazine and is featured on a billboard that advertises the publication, which is the fall/winter edition that will be on newsstands for the next six months.

　　She said she still is getting used to it, noting it is something you never quite get used to, and that is what makes it exciting.

　　"It's definitely a surreal experience," Howland said. "This ended up being a bigger deal than expected. I didn't expect a full 18-page spread or the billboard. It is a really neat feeling. It was really fun to be part of it. It is really cool to be on the cover of a magazine.

　　"I had so much fun being a part of this project and am very excited to have had the opportunity to be on the cover and experience this."

　　The process also was a tremendous experience, the Roxana High School graduate said.

　　"It was great working with the magazine," Howland said. "I absolutely loved working with them. The editor has always been unbelievably amazing to me. She is a joy to work with. She has always been very supportive of me."

　　Nancy Warden Slade is the editor of the magazine.

　　"This is my fourth time in the magazine and second cover for them," Howland said. "They received a photography award and cover of Professional Photography Magazine for one of my past images."

　　Howland also has appeared in Seventeen and Y&M, among other publications. She also has been featured in numerous ads, including one for Coca-Cola, and is a runway model, walking for the likes of Tommy Hilfiger and Saks Fifth Avenue.

　　One of the best things about such a high-profile appearance is being able to share it with family and friends, she said.

　　"It is really exciting knowing that everyone can see it," Howland said. "My family was extremely excited about it. I'm glad I could share it with them. It is really flattering and amazing to get those phone calls after they have seen the magazine."

　　Diana Howland, Melinda's mom, said she could not believe her eyes when she first saw her daughter's magazine spread.

　　"When I first saw her on the cover, it took my breath away; I wanted to cry," Diana said. "I was so proud of her, I don't even know where to begin. Everyone was looking for the magazine to see her."

　　Melinda Howland said she always had a passion for modeling.

　　"I have been doing it since I was 18," she said. "I thought about taking a different path for a while, but I love it. As I begin to shoot again after taking some time off, I realize how much I have missed it and the wonderful feeling I get when I work on a new project."

　　Howland, who is not married, has been a "bride" before, but never for real.

　　"I have been in the magazine four times and done runway and bridal shows before, so it definitely gives you an idea of what it would be like on your own wedding day," she said. "All the dresses, jewelry, makeup and hair, it is like playing dress-up as an adult and a lot of fun. It has certainly given me ideas for if I ever do plan my own wedding."

　　She plans to parlay her modeling career into more.

　　"I have been dipping my toes into other things," Howland said. "I'm going to give the world of acting a try. It's something that I would really like to do. I also would like to finish my degree in public relations and mass communications."

　　Howland has spent time modeling in New York but moved to Los Angeles last August in order to further her career.

　　"I have wanted to live here my entire life, so it felt like the right time to make the move," Howland said. "It was one of those things where I thought to myself, life is short, so why not? It has definitely opened more doors for me. I have met some amazing people. It is one of best decisions I have made, and I am having the time of my life."

　　Published on Tuesday 21 August 2012 09:57

　　THESE cute tots have not even started school yet - but they have already enjoyed their very first prom.

　　Youngsters aged three and four celebrated leaving Woodthorpe Children’s Centre, and said goodbye to their friends, in what is thought to be Sheffield’s youngest prom.

　　They donned smart suits and dream dresses for the party, where they enjoyed food, fun and let off balloons to see how far they could go.

　　The prom - a first for the centre - was the idea of a little girl who uses the facility.

　　Shirley Frances, childcare manager, said: “We were going to have an Olympic event, but, with the weather, we were looking for something else to do instead.

　　“The idea came from a little girl who liked dressing up.

　　“Children that came are all going to different schools, so it was their last chance to see each other socially.

　　“Some of them have been with us since they were six months old.”

　　One balloon released by a child was handed in just an hour after the party when it was found by a man at Magna, Rotherham.

　　But staff are hoping they will be found as far afield as Germany.

　　The prom at the Lewis Road centre may have had all the fun of the school equivalent, but usual excesses such as limos were absent.

　　Shirely said: “The children said it was wonderful, some of the little boys got dressed up in suits, some in smart casual and the girls in dresses.

　　“It wasn’t a huge prom, we didn’t want it to be like a gypsy wedding.”

　　And youngsters will be presented with a special momento, as the centre is putting together a photograph album for each child with pictures from their time at the centre.

　　Shirley said: “I would like to say that we do have amazing children here,

　　“It was a big group effort from the staff and parents.”

　　Perhaps the most pleasant and memorable moments in the life of someone about to enter into holy matrimony. the time when the longing to spend every moment with your loved one is the strongest emotion that you feel. that phase of courtship when it is certain that the one you love will be yours soon - forever!

　　Yes, what is being referred to is the 'engagement' - a sweet and short affair, usually a private one, to make matters official and to announce the countdown to the 'big day.' The most important event that is carried out on this day is the exchange of rings, which serves the purpose of binding the couple together as they proceed to the next phase of their lives.

　　Understandably, the engagement ring is a special one and couples take great care while selecting the ring that will mark the beginning of a beautiful relationship. In simple terms, it must be as beautiful as they would want the relation to be!

　　Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring

　　While traditions and current trends must be kept in mind while looking for the perfect ring for you and your loved one, you must take care not to let this stand in the way of your personal preferences and tastes. This is essential because on your big day you need to feel good about everything, including this most crucial element namely the engagement ring, more than anything else. The best bet therefore would be to try and strike the right balance between tradition and contemporary trends so as to not make your precious engagement ring look like it belongs to a different era altogether!

　　When it comes to picking the engagement ring you must consider the following aspects:

　　Your sense of style

　　Types of rings that are on the market right now

　　Your budget

　　Ensuring that you identify a reputable jeweler

　　What's your Style?

　　Take time to ponder over what you and your would partner genuinely value in your engagement ring. Is it going with what is 'hot' in the marketplace? Or is it a touch of antique designs with a contemporary twist? Is it more utilitarian - where features that facilitate easy daily wear outweigh stylish embellishments and design? Or is it totally outlandish - all of a head turner? Identifying this aspect will make it easier for you to zero in on the right choice for you.

　　Current Trends in Engagement Rings

　　Design trends in engagement ring styles and settings are ever-changing, reflecting today's busy lifestyle. One of the most noticeable trends is that ergonomic designs have come to reign supreme of late; a sleek design with an unobtrusively set stone that will interfere the least with what you do is a good idea for those of you who are looking at wearing your engagement ring day in and day out.

　　One important consideration to make is that this is a ring that you will wear for a long time to come. It therefore would be wise to go for classic designs that never go out of vogue. An example of this is the brilliant cut, solitaire diamond engagement ring sporting a round diamond.

　　It's needless to say that there are several contemporary trends to choose from for those who value sheer panache. Here are a few popular trends:

　　Cut: Diamond cuts that display more facets are gaining popularity; cuts like Asscher, cushion and princess cut diamonds as well as the traditional oval and pear shaped diamonds are back in demand of late. The general trend is moving away from classic cuts.

　　Setting: Sleek, innovative and modern settings like bezel, tension and hammer set stones are rising in popularity since these match evolving lifestyles. The prong, champagne and halo settings are also among the most popular, as is the pavi and micro pavi settings involving multiple stones. The general trend again, is moving away from classic settings.

　　Metal: Platinum stands for purity, elegance and durability, and is the new favorite when it comes to making trendy engagement rings; its silver-white rich luster beautifully enhances the brilliance of diamonds. Although yellow gold continues to be the classic choice, two-tone engagement rings make a style statement, and rose gold helps enhance the appearance of antique styled rings.

　　Color: Colored diamonds are also gaining popularity - canary yellow, pink and blue diamonds, black diamond jewelry are the hot favorites of late. Brown diamonds are also making a come-back of sorts now.

　　The evergreen rule of 'the bigger, the better' seems to hold good for engagement rings. Another fast emerging trend is that of having a modern take on antique style rings. The versatility that modern jewellery-making methods provide makes it possible for vintage designs to be reproduced with the same fine attention-to-detail that is evident in most antique rings. Filigree settings and flower motifs are popular designs in this category.

　　Matching engagement and wedding ring sets are also in great demand at many leading jewelers'. Exquisite ranges of matching platinum ring sets featuring a variety of styles and cuts are available that you can choose from. All you need to do is to ensure that you have a jeweler of repute to buy your engagement ring from.

　　Wish you a happy engagement!

   long evening gowns | tea length wedding dress

　　Now decked out with colorful, all natural dresses, the combination of old and new is the perfect decor mix. "I'm very excited and optimistic about moving downtown into the hotel," said Ali. "Not only is the hotel beautifully restored, it just feels cool to be down here! I moved into the hotel because made-to-measure pieces were demanding too much of my time to maintain the shop on Elmwood, so I'm sure Buffalo will be seeing many more garments made by anatomy. Because of the gap in the market for truly unique and sensible wedding dresses and the clear demand for them, I've moved into the Hotel Lafayette hoping to cater more to those women; however, I still have my made-to-measure collection of separates and cocktail wear to cater to any occasion. The flip side to special occasion wear within the anatomy made-to-measure collection is establishing your perfect fit for any silhouette. A sloper is created just for you to create jackets, skirts, or dresses that can be subtly updated from cottons to silks!"

　　Ali's plan is to accommodate an entire bridal party, from flower girl to bride, by offering custom dresses with choices of all natural materials, colors and styles. "You don't have to be in a wedding to shop here," Ali reminded me. "Many of our dresses can be worn for other occasions. When it comes to custom, we're here to come up with whatever the customer has in mind. And when it comes to bridesmaids, we create dresses that can be worn after the wedding. It's senseless to purchase a dress and then only wear it once. Plus, you are guaranteed to have something that looks and fits great. At anatomy, the fabrication is as important as the cut and the silhouette... my designs are trendy, cute and wearable. We also offer accessories such as broaches, shoe clips, belts and vintage jewelry."

　　Ali has raised the bar when it comes to shopping for fun and fashionable dress wear. To think that there is a lobby right next door, with an art deco bar next to that... places to grab a bite to eat, flowers to take home, sweets to pick up, home accessories to browse... all under one roof? Not a bad set up, especially when planning for that big day.

　　Ninety-seven days ago, I got married.

　　Ninety-six days ago, exactly 10 people on the planet knew I was about to get hitched: me, my husband-to-be, two childhood friends, two college roommates, one company HR representative, one hippie jewelry designer and, unfortunately, one Geico agent (don't ask).

　　In case you're counting, that leaves just about 7 billion people on the planet who didn't know, including: my parents, immediate-future in-laws, 99 percent of friends and my boss, who gritted her teeth and wished me a lovely critical four days in the middle of a huge project off.

　　No, I'm not pregnant.

　　My now-spouse and I debated extensively the true definition of the term "elope" in the six months prior to our very planned surprise wedding. It usually conjures up an image of a knocked-up bride, drive-through Vegas chapel or both. All we had was one otherwise unremarkable night when we decided we might as well get hitched.

　　We decided to have a surprise wedding because that's just our style. Neither of us are wedding people. We don't like traditional anything. Right now, we like having money more than we like spending it. We figured we had more important (read: fun) things than wedding planning to occupy half a year of our lives. And really, we didn't want the real reason for us getting hitched -- the whole head-over-heels, can't-live-without-my-partner-in-crime thing -- to get buried in a pile of taffeta and birdseed and giant chair bows.

　　So we ordained a friend online, flew in a select few accomplices who were sworn to secrecy and went to the courthouse. We walked our little processional through a set of metal detectors -- which is basically an arch, right? -- got the marriage license, went outside and signed it during a one-minute "ceremony," then made our grand re-entrance back through the metal detectors to turn it in.

　　And then we came clean.

　　We videotaped the "ceremony," dropped the key 30 seconds of footage into a tacky photo slideshow set to "Hotel Yorba," uploaded it to YouTube, sent my parents the link and summoned FaceTime. (Full disclosure: A few glasses of vino may have been consumed before that last step.)

　　As it went, my mother didn't threaten to kill me. Through her (happy) snot and tears and gasps emerged four words, crystal clear, when no doubt remained as to what was happening: Kate. You. Little. Shit.

　　Then we sent the video out to the world.

　　Then we had a tacky party. We'd already invited friends to a "big, fat, tacky, fake wedding party" at a local community center, with instructions to don old bridesmaid dresses and ill-fitting suits and prepare to do some cheap champagne-fueled YMCA-ing. This came as no shock to our crowd, who's used to our annual tacky Christmas party (this year's theme was nativity), our festive costumes (such as the American flag pants and patriotic Zubaz we don for various holidays) and generally goofy antics (like switching our Batman and Poison Ivy costumes midway through Halloween -- fishnets + man legs = yikes).

　　The kicker: It wasn't fake.

　　The bride wore an early-90's, long-sleeve, tiered lace gown with someone's else's makeup on it by eBay. The groom wore an embroidered velour mariachi suit by Goodwill.

　　Guests busted in, screaming and cheering even louder for our sneaky nuptials than the fact that they could still zip their decade-old bridesmaid dresses. They settled in, sipping Miller High Life and Cook's champagne (if you want to call it that) straight from their personal-sized bottles, nibbling on a sheet cake wreck from Sam's Club and digging into the barrel of cheese balls.

　　During our impromptu toast and cake cutting/face smashing, complete with two-foot tall "Bride" and "Groom" glasses gifted by a friend, I heard someone whisper to the person next to her, "Did they actually get married or not? I'm so confused!"

　　The feedback on the whole thing was stellar. Equally divided, I'd say, among:

　　I so should have done that when I got married.

　　I'd totally do that, but my mother would KILL me.

　　I wish I was cool enough to pull that off. (Ha.)

　　Shockingly, no one whined. No one bitched. No one sobbed that they'd never get to walk their only daughter down some rolled-out, faintly stained piece of rental satin.

　　Family and friends saluted our commitment to a marriage, not a wedding. Our big reveal video, which we set as private on YouTube, got a scary 1,200+ views and counting (who is still watching this thing beside my mom?!). Friends showed their boyfriends and girlfriends. Coworkers showed their spouses. Parents showed their kids (some as an example of what to do, some as an example of what not to do).

　　When the festivities died down and our house became our own once again, my new husband and I attempted recovery.

　　"I have multiple bruises," I moaned from the shower.

　　He sighed. "I think that's the sign of a good wedding."

　　We sprawled across the couch, sore from lugging around cases of Miller High Life, exhausted from playing college with a four-day slumber party and emotionally spent, to say the least. He called me Wife and I rolled my eyes. We examined our rings. We regretted mocking people who leave the morning after their wedding for Sandals Jamaica. We talked about who liked our wedding and who thought it was classless. And then we debated what to make for dinner.

　　When we got home after our first day back at work in our newly-married state, we found a giant box waiting in front of our door. Much to our annoyance, my parents told me they were balking our strict no-gift policy. The sheer size of the box scared us first. And then we noticed the return address: Kmart. Half-tempted to just close the door and pray for thieves to come in the night, we opened it to find none other than... six toasters. The crappiest toasters you ever did see. Shrink wrapped together.

　　"What in the world are we going to do with six toasters?" we asked my dad.

　　"Exactly," he said.

　　I guess we had a real wedding after all.

　　A gem from my email
inbox: A news release about an exhibit that opens this fall at the National
Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

　　The topic is
Prohibition, so I was interested enough to continue reading. And I got a lot
more excited when I found this piece on the exhibit, written by the Philadelphia
Inquirer’s culture writer:

　　The exhibition itself will be
marked by theatrics. In a re-created speakeasy (complete with bar, dance floor,
bandstand, and powder room), an actor portraying a bartender will expound on
Prohibition-era life. Visitors will be able to learn the
Charleston.

　　On opening night, Oct. 18, those over 18
will be able to attend a “Bootlegger’s Ball.”

　　An
installation featuring a re-created church pew will give visitors the
opportunity to learn about the rise of the Anti-Saloon League, the pressure
group that forced the country into Prohibition with the 18th Amendment to the
Constitution, ratified Jan. 16, 1919, and effective Jan. 17,
1920.

　　Before you order your airline tickets to Philly,
let me tell you about the second paragraph of that news release, which says that
once the exhibit embarks on a national tour next spring, Austin is one of the
cities already lined up to host. I’m told today that the exhibit is scheduled to
go on display at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum from October 2014
through February 2015.