TRIBEZA

23 september

TRIBEZA Wedding Day 2007

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Sponsored by Various

By Libbe Dean Hoppe   Saying “yes” was the easy part. Now you have to plan a wedding. The planning process doesn’t have to be a hectic experience, though. Whether your special day will involve a large church ceremony with an outdoor garden reception or an intimate exchange of vows at a seaside wedding chapel, it is important to remember that your wedding is supposed to reflect your and your spouse’s personal style. From the flowers to the cake to the reception site itself, a little inspiration can go a long way. Let TRIBEZA Wedding Day help you with that inspiration. On Sunday, September 23, an exclusive group of wedding vendors will gather at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, giving brides-to-be and their grooms the chance to meet some of the city’s best photographers, caterers, and wedding gown designers. The event is free and runs from noon to 4 p.m. Wedding Day sponsors—Eliza Page, Analea de la Fuente, and the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel—will be among the vendors on hand to answer questions and provide insights on how to make your wedding day your own.

Analea de la Fuente, Wedding Gown Designer
It’s not the cake or the guest list that a bride has been dreaming about since childhood. It’s the gown that has taken center stage in most of her wedding fantasies. The gown is often the most important and expensive decision that the bride makes in the months leading up to her wedding and—aside from the groom—it's the most personal. A young Austin designer is helping brides create the wedding gown of their dreams. Analea de la Fuente has always had an eye for design. After attending the University of Texas at Austin on full scholarship and earning a bachelor’s degree in apparel design, de la Fuente continued her education in Barcelona, where she developed an appreciation for exquisite wedding gown design. Though she received national recognition as a designer of activewear, the Texas native decided to focus all her attention on wedding gowns, which allowed her, in her words, to "work with the best of everything." “I love the freedom and the flexibility of the industry,” says de la Fuente, who recently opened her own exclusive design studio in Central Austin. “My clients are more than happy to step outside the box, and that gives me the best canvas to work with.” All of the 26-year-old designer’s gowns are custom-made. She imports fabrics from Italy and France, and her team in New York assembles each gown by hand. Every detail—from bodice lace to beaded trim to satin buttons—is carefully selected and crafted with expert care. The elaborate gowns average $8,000 to $9,000 or more, depending on the intricacies of each dress. The designer’s goal is to provide her clients with an elegant design that will stand the test of time in both quality and style. She hopes each bride who wears one of her gowns won’t look at her wedding album in twenty years and ask, What was I thinking? “With wedding gowns, trends are so fleeting,” she says. “I try not to pay attention to the trends but focus more on capturing the beauty, lines, and essence of the woman.” De la Fuente approaches every gown differently, taking cues from the bride’s personality and individual style. “The bride is my biggest source of inspiration,” she says, “from the way she holds a champagne flute to the clothing she wears when she visits my studio. I try to design a gown that reflects her own fashion and style.” Though tempted to grow her business in New York or Europe, de la Fuente is proud to be an Austin designer. “I love the lifestyle, the town itself, and the people. It’s important to have an industry presence in Austin.”
  Eliza Page Jewelry and Accessories
After the wedding, the gown will be retired to the closet and memories will be safely stored as photographs in albums, but the wedding ring will serve as a daily reminder of the day that you and your spouse said, “I do.” If you have to wear something every day, you'd better make sure you like it. Eliza Page can help create that perfect piece of jewelry, one that you’ll be happy never to take off. Couples can choose from original pieces either in-store or custom-made. Featuring some of the most talented and innovative jewelry designers from Austin and around the country, the downtown jewelry and accessories boutique is a great option for couples looking for a new twist on an old tradition. “I think there’s a trend now in fashion that we want everything to be personalized. With jewelry, that's really easy to do,” says Elizabeth Serrato, owner of Eliza Page. “Our designers work with brides to make custom, one-of-a-kind pieces that fit a bride’s idea of what she wants, or she can come in with no clear idea and we will work from there. Our goal is simply to make something to reflect the bride’s personal style.” Those who visit the sleek, gallery-style store in Austin’s new 2nd Street District can expect to discover everything from classic, timeless pieces to cutting-edge designs. One can find a simple gold wedding band or that same band adorned with a sapphire to add character. Or instead of one ring, couples can exchange a set of chic, stackable rings. “We offer something different, something fashion-forward for young, modern couples,” says Serrato. The trendy boutique also has countless options for bridesmaid gifts, from dangle earrings to bangle bracelets to funky necklaces. Prices range anywhere from $40 for a charm bracelet to $2,500 for 18K gold yellow diamond cross earrings. Eliza Page designers prove that classic doesn’t have to be common, and that modern and innovative can be beautiful. That piece of jewelry will have a story to tell long after the last dance at the reception.

InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel
At the Tribeza Wedding Day event, more than one bride will enter the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, see the grand staircase, step out on the terrace overlooking Congress Avenue, and know that this will be the ideal place for her post-ceremony celebration. An Austin historic landmark since 1924, the hotel offers old-style elegance with modern luxuries, the perfect location for a sophisticated wedding reception. “Once the church is chosen, the next major decision is where to have the reception,” says Danelle Awtrey, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. She says couples choose the Stephen F—as locals call it—primarily because of its location on the corner of Seventh and Congress, but also because of its unique attributes. Many of the hotel's original early-twentieth-century architectural elements were restored during the extensive renovation in 2000, and no other hotel in the city has a view quite like the one of the Texas Capitol building seen from the open-air terrace just off the ballroom, which can accommodate up to 300 guests. Awtrey says that many brides simply appreciate the convenience that comes with having a reception at the downtown hotel. “We’re almost a one-stop shop,” she says. From housing out-of-town guests to hiring caterers, the boutique hotel can provide many services for the couple. The Stephen F. Austin regularly works with local vendors and is happy to recommend first-rate retailers if it is unable to personally provide a service for a bride and groom. “We are with the couple for the entire process, start to finish,” Awtrey says.
The best part for many newlyweds arrives after the reception ends. That's when they can finally retire to one of the hotel’s opulent suites featuring elegant furniture, lavish linens, and marble bathrooms. The Yellow Rose Suite is a favorite choice for couples spending their first night as husband and wife. It's easy to see why this Austin landmark is a favorite of local brides. Awtrey recommends booking the hotel about a year in advance, especially if planning a reception during the busy spring or fall season. Wedding packages range anywhere from $12,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the services provided. For more than 80 years, couples have chosen this notable Austin hotel for its beauty and grandeur. The InterContinental Stephen F. Austin continues to provide a most elegant setting for couples and their families to celebrate their momentous occasion in historic fashion and high style.

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