Rose City Bridal Guide 2011 9 Bridal perfection: you and your dress The perfect wedding gown enhances every bride’s natural beauty, says bridal guru Randy Fenoli By Anne Endicott Staff writer are is the Next to booking a venue, shopping for a wedding gown rates high RR bride-to-be on a bride’s to-do list. One trip through a dress salon, and it’s not who hasn’t experienced hard to understand why brides grow to loathe the word “budget” dur- goose bumps walking into a ing the planning process. Yet it’s the first question Fenoli asks brides bridal salon to begin her search for the per- when it comes to choosing their dress. fect gown. Yet despite being armed with magazine photos or a child- “(A budget) really is the most important thing,” he says, “espe- hood vision of their dream dress, most women are naïve about the one cially with the dress. I never show a bride a dress that is beyond her element of bridal perfection they already possess. price point. The reason for that is because if she tries on a more ex- “I believe no matter what size, age or shape, every woman is beau- pensive gown, every dress after that, even one in her budget, will never tiful,” says Randy Fenoli, fashion director at New York City’s famed make her happy. It won’t be the same.” Kleinfeld’s Bridal Salon. “The perfect wedding dress helps to enhance The bride’s gown sets the tone for how her natural beauty. A bride’s wedding gown is the most important other members of the bridal party are dress she will ever wear, so she should feel beautiful.” dressed, Fenoli says. If she chooses a tra- The star of cable channel TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Say Yes to ditional gown, without a lot of bling, all at- the Dress: Big Bliss” and “Randy Knows Best,” Fenoli is the recog- tendants and mothers of the bride and nized face in bridal consultation. He is a highly respected award-win- groom should be equally unadorned and ning bridal designer and frequent guest speaker for all things wedding formally suited. A more informal style can related. His passion for fashion is superseded only by a soft spot for be complemented by tea-length brides- fulfilling every girl’s bridal fantasy. Nearly 15,000 brides each year are maid dresses and less tailored tuxedos. fortunate to work with Fenoli, whose expertise with fabrics, acces- Equally important is the location and sories and embroideries have made him the guru of the bridal in- time of day of the wedding. No bride dustry. wants to wilt under the weight of a While Fenoli may be an expert on weddings overall, for him, it’s all heavy dress standing before her about the dress. groom on a beach in the early af- The bride’s attire is the biggest focal point of the wedding and most ternoon, nor does she want to likely, the one thing guests remember. But beading, bustles and blush- freeze to death at sunset. ers are mere embellishments to a garment that speaks more than “The season and most brides realize, Fenoli says. time of day are im- “The dress is really telling the couple’s story,” he explains. “It com- portant,” Fenoli plements all the other wedding elements in describing who you are. says. “Getting mar- The food at the wedding says, ‘If you were in our home, this is what ried in Colorado in the we would serve you.’ The music says, ‘This is what we listen to.’ Your summer is totally different dress can tell people that you have a formal lifestyle or you like to than getting married in Colorado have a lot of fun. Your dress is more about who you are both individ- in the winter. It’s the same for tropical ually and as a couple.” destination weddings. You want a dress that will be