Long Island brides-to-be model the latest gowns

BY TANIA PADGETT
tania.padgett@newsday.com

March 10, 2008

There's nothing like wedding couture -- the rich fabrics, fancy embroidery, dramatic lines. But what's a bridal gown without an effervescent bride? Sort of like champagne without the bubbles. For this issue, Bridal Planner put out a call to Long Island brides to model the latest gowns. The response was high -- we received more than 100 e-mails.

We chose seven brides: an actress; a self-described ugly duckling who actually was a swan; a former competitive figure skater; a bride who declared herself energetic and indeed she was; an accountant; a bride who captivated her fiance's heart after she moved next door to him; and an art education student who sent a photo of herself hanging upside down from a traffic light (talk about being head over heels -- or heels over head -- in love).

We dressed this dynamic group in gowns from some of the Island's top bridal boutiques: the Wedding Salon of Manhasset, which fitted our brides in Vera Wang, Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier and an exclusive import from Italy; Bridal Reflections in Carle Place, which provided St. Pucchi and James Clifford gowns; and Moonlight Couture in Merrick, which loaned us a wedding dress from Disney's recently launched bridal collection. We photographed them at the Woodlands, a Woodbury mansion with chandeliered ballrooms and burnished mahogany fireplace mantels, a marble-floored lobby and French doors.

Just off a stint of styling models at Fashion Week in the city, our hair and makeup team from Spa Adriana in Huntington created elegant 'dos for the brides, without overpowering their natural beauty.

The three bouquets -- an elaborate mix of roses and orchids -- were created by Party Sensation, Flowers & Event Production in Port Washington. As for our brides-to-be, it seems like they enjoyed the experience.

"It was exciting," said Lisa La Macchia, 31, of East Islip, an actress in the Off-Broadway play "Murdered by the Mob."

"Everyone was so nice," said Te'Kima Anthony-Bey, 25, of Massapequa, a customer-service representative who said she would make a perfect model because she was confident and energetic.

Meghan Fitts, 24, of Huntington, who once skated competitively, praised the hair and makeup team: "I absolutely did not recognize myself."

"I felt like a princess," said Elizabeth Sanchez of Wantagh, a 25-year-old accountant.

"Loved it!" declared Renee O'Connor, 25, of Port Jefferson, who is earning a master's degree in art education and told us that hanging upside down from a traffic light was much easier than it looked.

"It was so much fun," said Nicole Giordano, 20, of Smithtown, a student and assistant teacher whose neighbor-turned-fiance smiled approvingly as she posed for the camera.

Melissa Rosenthal, 30, of Wantagh, a second-grade teacher at Kramer lane Elementary School, found the experience affirming. "I never felt pretty when I was younger because I was so tall, but now I'm here modeling. As I tell my kids, believe in yourself because you can do anything."

Copyright 2008 Newsday Inc.