Wedding night lingerie

Everybody talks about bridal gowns, but wedding night attire is barely mentioned in 500-page bride magazines. However, Jeff Gellman, owner of Miko Exoticwear, is full of ideas for lingerie for brides.

Gellman says that one of the most popular bridal shower gifts are lingerie, peignoirs and fancy underthings. But, he advises, because every woman's body is different, it's best for a bride-to-be to buy these items herself. That way she can complement her body shape.

His advice includes:

• Don't think you won't look good. Women are their own worst critics when it comes to lingerie buying. They think they won't look good in anything. "Lingerie comes in so many different sizes and shapes that can accentuate assets or hide flaws very well," he said.
  
  
  
• Go for a look. Women should consider a total look including shoes, hosiery and hairstyle. Going for a monochromatic look with one-color lingerie and hosiery can make a woman appear slimmer.
  
  
  
• Accentuate the positive. "If your fiance loves your long legs or the curve of your back, then wear styles that will show these features."
  
  
  
• Stay away from padding or push-ups. They may be fine for under the wedding dress but not for the wedding night, Gellman said.
  
  
  
• Don't forget the honeymoon. Include aromatic candles with all your lingerie to trigger different senses.
  

Classic lines and simplicity mark season's dresses

Although it's the beginning of a new century, this year's brides won't be turning to sci-fi hi-tech when it comes to wedding dresses.

"Although we are in the age of the Internet and the empowered woman, when it comes to weddings, brides still want the traditional look," say bridal specialists at a Los Angeles bridal boutique.

"They don't want the fussy meringue look, though; classic lines and simplicity is what they search for."

Fitted bodices topping A-line of straight skirts, Empire line and the higher-waisted Princess line are the styles new millennium brides will be floating down the aisle in. And fabrics are equally traditional; smooth silk, jacquard and Duchesse satin. Although space-age silver has been introduced into the new collections by some of the bridal world's top designers, Tickled Pink don't predict a starry future for the glitzy shade.

"It's a difficult colour to wear and flatters only the strongest of complexions. Gold tones are much easier on English rose types and have been around in bridal designs for a few years now. If brides want the glamorous touch, it will be gold they go for," add Tickled Pink, who also have a selection of pastel pinks and blues among their vast collection of predominantly ivory or white gowns.

So is the new era sparking new romance in young couples? "Possibly," says Dave, owner of the boutique. "It's a special year ahead and more couples may decide marrying in the year 2000 will make their big day more important. But when you look closely at the wedding statistics, it is not as outdated an institution as people think.

Create lasting memories: wedding vows in Africa

If you've ever dreamed of getting married half-way across the world, the travel experts at the Adventure Company say honeymoons as well as weddings can be arranged in various parts of Africa. Park East has arranged for honeymooners to stay at such romantic spots as Peponi’s Hotel and the Kiwayu Safari Village, located on the Indian Ocean near Lamu, Kenya; the Mnemba Island Club of Zanzibar; the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and beautiful hotels and lodges in South Africa.

One couple who was married last year at the legendary Mt. Kenya Safari Club, commented: "The place we chose for our ceremony was in the bush, by a river. The spot was shaded by Yellow Fever trees….Our arrival was greeted by the rhythmic pounding of a dozen Chuka drummers, the traditional ‘keepers’ of nearby Mt. Kenya.

"They sounded three beats - boom, boom, boom - then shouted ‘Karibu’ - welcome - in unison until we reached our seat at the end of the red carpet. A choir of young men and women, arranged in rows, sand delicately in Swahili once the drumming ceased and before the vow-making , ring-exchanging and paper-signing started. It was near sunset. We both felt a thorough and surprising sense of calm.

"The manager of the Mt. Kenya Safari Club….stood beside the district officer and said something nice about our parents, who certainly had us in their thoughts on our wedding day, halfway around the world.

"We slipped rings on each other’s fingers: yellow Maasai beads were a suitable substitute for gold. We approached the desk and signed our marriage certificate. We stood up for the district officer’s advice dispensed in perfect English: respect your partner. No polygamy. Enjoy the day. You may kiss the bride.

Wedding Gowns for Every Shape

The wedding date has been set and now you have to consider one of the most important decisions every bride has to face — finding a gown. Picking the perfect dress causes more anxiety than almost any other detail for one simple reason: You've been dreaming about the dress forever, and probably have preconceived notions of what you want. Avoid the pitfalls of shopping by letting go of unrealistic expectations and start looking for a style that's going to make you look as beautiful as you feel on your special day. Start by evaluating your body type, then take the following factors into account while you're searching. You'll be amazed at what a difference a few well-placed details can make.

Full Middle

The drape of your dress will enable you to draw attention away from a less than sculpted waist. If draping is more fabric than you favor, go with an A-line or empire silhouette that takes the focus off your middle. A wide or plunging V-neck works to create a narrower waistline by drawing the eyes in. Princess seams elongate the body for a leaner look. Avoid shapes and fabrics that cling, instead look for gowns that graze the body. Sheer, beaded or lace overlays that move with you are also elegant options.

Ample Hips

If you're bigger on the bottom, accent your upper half and keep it simple from the waist down. A strong neckline will help create balance. Look for square and off the shoulder styles. Or, go as bare as you dare in sleeveless or even strapless (remember a wrap if that will be too revealing for the ceremony). Use embellishments like beading, embroidery or even a subtle ruffle to draw the attention upwards. An empire waist or A-line will skim your body and create a slim silhouette.

Bountiful Bust

Whatever you choose, start by selecting something with sleeves or straps wide enough to hide your bra. You may even consider having snaps put in place to keep your straps from slipping. Portrait and sweetheart necklines with capsleeves flatter a fuller bosom. If you have your heart set on something bare, be sure to investigate strapless and/or halter bras before you buy. A ball gown or Princess style skirt will suit your body best. For something simpler, a bias cut dress with a slight flare at the bottom will maximize Marilynesque curves.

Petite

Proportion is everything when you're petite. Keep the silhouette simple and the details dainty. That doesn't mean you have to think small, just keep it close to the body to maximize your height and don't over-embellish (leave that to the accessories). If you want to go for a train, keep it short and look for something sheer that won't bring you down. Styles with strong waistlines will cut the body in half; instead, opt for a fitted bodice with a simple seam or slim belt. Vertical seaming also helps to create the illusion of height.

Tall and Lanky

Creating the illusion of curves is the key for you lanky ladies. Look for halter, draped or or V-necklines with details like beading or an overlay of lace or sheer fabric to maximize your bosom. Hug the body with a bias cut or all-over beading to create the illusion of an hourglass figure. Another option is to contrast colors or fabrics on top and bottom. Keep the silhouette simple, a voluminous skirt, multiple tiers and ruffles or anything too frou-frou may disrupt your elegant stature. Stand up straight and proud.

Exceptional honeymoon spots on St. Barts

While the remains of an ancient volcano might not seem like the ideal place for a honeymoon, St Barts, in the Virgin Islands, offers two spectacular locations for a romantic vacation.

Guanahani on the water and Francois Plantation high in the mountains feature luxury villas, all the tropic plants anyone could want and restaurants offering superb cuisine.

Privacy is the watchword at Guanahani, set high on a peninsula between two beaches. The individual villas are designed so no door or window faces another door or window. The usual view from the terrace is the sea, with perhaps an edge of the roof of a villa on a lower level.

What a setting. Perched in a grove of coconut palms between the two beaches, the restaurant is a large open porch with sliding glass panels for protection against the sometimes boisterous tropic winds.

The interior is white with muted touches of turquoise and blue to echo the colors of the nearby water - and huge pool. The food is excellent and the porch is a spot for lingering. The walk back up the hill to the villa is an excellent excuse for a second croissant and butter.

Guanahani's Bartolomeo Restaurant is good enough to be its own excuse for visiting the island. The young French chef who oversees its kitchen is a master at combining traditional cuisine with the heart-healthy ideas of today. Herbs picked nearby in the morning season the evening's presentations.

At least one evening, try to be near the Bartolomeo at about 4 when the resort's pack of cats assembles at the back door to be fed. Like many islands, St. Barts is overrun with stray cats, but Guanahani's live the good life. Ribs are padded, fur is sleek, attitude is wary but open to the friendly gesture and kittens tend to go to new homes via the first-class cabin of international airlines.

Perched high in the mountains, Francois Plantation is proclaimed to have the island's best restaurant.

Again, the restaurant - La Route des Epices - is a porchlike affair, this time in deep wood tones. The surrounding landscaping is so lush it overflows and joins up with the interior decor.

Francois Beret, who developed the former citrus fruit plantation, takes pride in his exceptional wine cellar (actually a refrigerated room), which he will show off at the drop of a grape, and his smoking room, which accommodates cigar smokers with much the same attention to detail.

Francois Plantation's appeal is shared equally between the restaurant and the resort's 12 delightful cottages, furnished in mahogany and marble, again set to create the maximum privacy and served by a dedicated staff. The high site is cooled by breezes in even the hottest weather and the view is spectacular. The beach is a brief but challenging drive away.

If you go

Francois Plantation, St. Barthelemy, French West Indies; telephone 0-590-29-80-22; fax from United States 800/207-807; $1,740 per couple for six nights and seven days with Continental breakfasts, a dinner, car and some other extras from April 15 to Dec. 20; hotel is closed from August to October; restaurant is closed from June to October. For information on Guanahani, contact a travel agent.

Honeymoon in Venice

The moonlit gondola rides, the winding streets, and the sumptuous Italian food. It's no wonder so many lovers head to Venice for their honeymoon.

If your fiance courted you with the pasta and seafood dishes, you might be destined to glide along the Grand Canal, to smile over flutes of prosecco in one of the Piazza San Marco's open-air cafes and to savor each other's company wandering the city's watery maze.

Venice is actually hundreds of tiny islands hidden beneath palaces and churches and neighborhood shops, with hundreds of canals and footbridges connecting them. No roads, no cars. Along the Grand Canal you can catch the vaporetto, the maritime equivalent of the city bus, but otherwise you walk everywhere you go.

Meals always started with a bottle of vino di casa - the house wine. At an American restaurant, that would get you some cheap swill and an instant headache. But at a small family trattoria, the light, fruity wine chosen by the proprietor - sometimes with a label on the bottle, sometimes not - was a pleasant discovery.

Then you can order something from every course on the menu. Portions are small, nobody rushes you, and this gives you many opportunities to sample the bounty of Venice's fruitti di mari - fruits of the sea.

One spectacular restaurant is Terraza Danieli. You will sit atop one of the most elite and historic hotels in the world - one where Lord Byron and other born romantics stayed. You'll laugh and revel while attended by several professionally invisible waiters. The head waiter will scrutinize your order and compliment you on your choices (but gently make an adjustment because you've ordered too much).

The antipasto, the pasta, even the vegetables will be decadent. At one point in the meal, an immense platter of whole fishes will be brought to the table and filleted in front of you. Your wine glass will never go empty. Your napkin won't touch the floor without being replaced with a clean one. And when you leave, considerably poorer but richer for the experience, the staff will line up and thank you for the time you've spent with them.

IF YOU GO:

Lodging: Many tourists stay in the San Marco area to be close to the main attractions. But you can get a better hotel for less money in one of the other districts. La Residenza costs about $ 140 a night. The Hotel Rialto, along the Grand Canal, costs about $ 230 a night, off-season. Rooms are awash in velvet, gilt and marble.

Dining: Breakfast is generally included in the price of your hotel. A lunch of sandwiches and a shot of espresso at any "bar" in the city will run you only a few dollars. Smaller restaurants in the neighborhoods are your best bets at night.

What to do: Art and architecture lovers will swoon across Venice. For a couple of dollars, you can see an exhibit of Picasso paintings and sculpture. In the evening, take in a Vivaldi concert at La Pieta, the church where the famous composer was choirmaster.

Gift ideas from A to Z

Bridal gift registries benefit both the bridal couple and their guests. Couples have a chance to select items that fit their personal tastes and needs. For guests, registries eliminate the guesswork in selections and make it easier to find gifts that fit their budget.

Computerized kiosks are an added convenience. Couples generally find it fun to inventory stores and make their selections. Wedding planners recommend registering for gifts at least four months in advance of the wedding date. That way, guests have an opportunity to purchase shower gifts from the list, too.

Registries aren't limited to fine china and department stores, either. Registries at discount and home-furnishings stores are growing in popularity.

Gift Ideas From A to Z

Aroma therapy, airline tickets, address book.

Blender, bread machine.

Coffee grinder, cookie jar, chip-and-dip set.

Day at the spa, dance lessons.

Electric knife, exercise equipment.

Fajita skillet, fondue pot.

Glassware, gift certificate.

Hammock, hand towels.

Ice bucket, ice cream dishes.

Juicer, jewelry box.

Knife set, kitchen towels.

Luggage, luxury hotel suite.

Magazine rack, money.

Night on town, napkin rings, newspaper subscription.

Omelette pan, outdoor thermometer.

Picnic basket, pizza pan, piano.

Quilt, quartz clock.

Roasting pan, road atlas.

Serving bowls, silverware.

TV trays, toaster, tool set.

Umbrella, utensil set.

Vacuum, vase.

Wastebasket, wine, wok.

X-rated gag gifts.

Yard supplies, yachting adventure.

Zoo membership