Party and wedding expert David Tutera has planned big events for Jennifer Lopez, Elton John and Barbara Walters, supervised the nuptials of Star Jones and New York Giant Antonio Pierce, and dispensed advice on television shows from Oprah to E! He is the author of four books, including A Passion for Parties: Your Guide to Elegant Entertaining.

Named Life & Style Magazine’s “Best Celebrity Wedding Planner,” Tutera is host of WE TV’s My Fair Wedding and the Discovery Channel’s The Party Planner. His floral shop, Stem, is located on the Spice Road level of Trump Taj Mahal.

Casino Connection caught up with Tutera to find out about the hottest wedding trends of 2009.

Casino Connection: Every season brings new gowns. What’s up for 2009?

David Tutera: The look is more classic, with modern fabrics and intricate details. Fergie’s gown is a great example: a classic mermaid cut by Dolce and Gabbana, modernized with floral embellishments and crystal beading. But most importantly, as I always say, every bride knows “her” dress the moment she puts it on. She should never hesitate.

What seasonal flowers are easiest to come by?

Roses are year-round, they’re sturdy and they’re available in many shades, making them perfect for wedding floral designs. Other year-round flowers with a wide range of colors are orchids and mini-calla lilies. Peonies are perfect for June weddings, but are only available from mid-May to early June.

What silhouette do you like in bouquets?

A bouquet should always be viewed as a fashion accessory for the bride; the size and shape should match her style. I like perfect round pave-style bouquets with elegantly wrapped and accented handles. No matter the look, the bride’s bouquet should be held properly, facing forward to lead her down the aisle in style.

How about bridal veils and other headgear?

Many brides are forgoing the traditional veil and opting for either a stunning hair accessory or hairstyle. Although traditional veils will always be en vogue, this new trend allows for more perfect photo ops, and showcases the bride’s natural beauty and wedding glow. Brides who still wear veils tend to choose sleeker, more streamlined versions, which is the best of both worlds.

With so many details to oversee, how can brides relax and enjoy the coming nuptials? Is a planner worth the investment?

Absolutely. A planner is crucial to relaxing and enjoying your day, handling everything from picking up and delivering your dress to overseeing the entire design and installation of the décor. Coordinators and planners can handle both big and small details, and come on board from the very beginning or step in on the day of, depending on your needs and budget.

Is it crazy to plan an outdoor or beach wedding?

Nothing quite compares to photographs of the couple in front of a blossoming garden or a sunset on the beach. But you do run the risk of bad weather, and you won’t truly know what you’re dealing with until the last minute. I feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but I advise any bride to have a very solid backup/rain plan, one that she’s almost equally happy with, so she’s not disappointed on the big day and with the images afterwards.

With This Ring

When a man pops the question, it’s usually accompanied by that classic token of eternal love: the diamond ring. While couples these days usually choose the ring together (eliminating guesswork for the groom), there’s more to choosing a diamond than its outward appearance—or a salesperson’s pitch.

When you’re choosing the ring of a lifetime, there’s a lot to learn. Start with the 4 Cs: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. 

COLOR

Brides-to-be sometimes break with tradition by choosing colored diamonds (think JLo’s 6-carat pink diamond, or Tracey Edmond’s yellow stone). But for most brides, “the colorless diamond is still the first choice,” says Bob Rovinsky, of Serago Roberts Jewelers in Northfield. White gold or platinum top the list for the band.

Some brides opt for something other than a diamond. Princess Diana had a 16-carat deep blue sapphire; her successor, Camilla Parker-Bowles, wore an emerald. More recently, The Hills’ Heidi Montag chose a lemon amethyst surrounded by diamonds.

CLARITY
 
Clarity is determined by the size and number of inclusions, which interfere with the transmission of light and diminish a stone’s beauty and value.    

Here’s where your homework comes in. “It’s a bit of a jungle out there, and most people have to be guided through the process to make a wise decision; the trust factor is very important,” says Rovinsky. Because different grading agencies can offer different assessments, wise consumers will take their time, learn as much as they can before shopping, deal only with a reputable jeweler and stay away from online bargains. Remember, just because it’s a diamond doesn’t mean it’s a gem.

“The internet is a great place to be educated, but not a good place to buy,” Rovinsky says. “You’re buying a diamond, not a piece of paper. You have to see it, touch it, fall in love with it.”
   
CUT

As the name suggests, the brilliant-cut round diamond has the most brilliance and fire; no wonder it’s the most popular diamond shape. Following in popularity are the princess, radiant and cushion cuts (in the square/rectangular family) and ovals. These so-called “fancy” cuts maximize carat weight; for example, a rough diamond that might yield only a half carat in a brilliant cut might yield an extra 50 percent if cut into a pear or marquise.  

Speaking of pear-shaped and marquise-cut diamonds, they’re enjoying a slight resurgence after peaking in popularity during the 1990s. Jessica Simpson got a marquise-cut diamond from ex Nick Lachey.

CARAT

Carat refers to the measurement of a diamond’s weight, not its size. Most diamond engagement rings range from a quarter-carat to one carat in weight, so don’t be enticed by a large stone. Unless you spend a small fortune, your large stone could have numerous flaws, a lack of sparkle and other devaluing characteristics. As always, choose carefully and consult a respected jeweler.

COST

And how about the fifth C—cost? It’s been said a man should spend two months’ salary on an engagement ring, but that’s untrue, says Rovinsky.

“That was a wonderful ad campaign created by deBeers, one of the world’s major miners of diamonds,” he says. “Yes, this is an important purchase, and hopefully something that will be in the family forever. But you should spend what you’re comfortable spending. Don’t go into debt or mortgage the house to make the purchase.”

To which grooms everywhere will reply, “Whew!”

The New Bouquet

As a girl, Janet Markowitz spent many hours in her grandmother’s bridal shop. There she watched brides plan lavish events with chorus lines of bridesmaids, all decked out in pinks, pale blues and light greens. “There were even rainbow weddings,” she says.

That’s all changed. Markowitz, now proprietor of Chester’s Plants & Flowers in Atlantic City, says brides of today have all but abandoned pastels in favor of bold hues, sleek shapes and monochromatic palettes.

“Brides are more sophisticated,” she says. “Very few come in asking for pink, though they might add pink roses as an accent. Their bouquets are typically hand-tied and very simple, but with more and more bright colors. We’re even seeing a lot of black-and-white weddings, which are very elegant.” And vivid florals add to the drama.

For autumn brides, Markowitz suggests “zinnias, coxcomb, brown cimbidium orchids, and the deep, deep crocosmia, which almost glows orange.” But no matter the season, a bride can usually find the flower she loves—with help.“Remember, it’s always spring somewhere,” says Markowitz. “You can get tulips, lilies and hydrangeas all year.”    

Some requests are more daunting than others. When a young woman asked for peonies in the off-season, Markowitz went online and searched “from China to Israel to New Zealand” until she found a New York grower with dormant peony buds in his freezer. Another happy bride.

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