Creating a Custom Wedding

Icing on the Cake
Article: Sterling silver tassel earrings with cubic zirconia and pearls, by Penny Larsen of Penny Larsen Jewelry.
Why Go Custom? Whether taking apart and reassembling a family heirloom or creating a specific piece of jewelry for a certain hairstyle or neckline, custom bridal jewelry gives a bride an heirloom-quality creation with modern materials. Jewelry designer Penny Larsen handcrafts all of her designs, and although some are based on a set template, no two styles are ever the same.
Find It:
Penny Larsen Jewelry is available at L’atelier Couture, 493 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-602-9492. Custom jewelry starts at $150.

To Have and to Hold
Article: Sixteen-inch-long, handmade silk dupioni clutch with gray, striped silk dupioni and black-silk ribbon and vintage broach detail, by Laura Nelli of Nelle Handbags.
Why Go Custom? With the detail that goes into planning a wedding day and the emphasis placed on the bridal gown, it makes sense to carry a purse that illustrates the bride’s personal tastes and style. A wedding clutch or handbag can be designed to play off the colors and material of a dress, as well as the shoes and jewelry, and can often incorporate a piece of heirloom jewelry or a special fabric. Even better, instead of having your entire wedding party decked out in matching taffeta dresses, give them matching custom clutches. The look is much more subtle and the bridesmaids will be left with a lasting gift that they can actually use.
Find It:
Available through Laura Nelli at or at Clutch Boutique, 5005 France Ave. S., Mpls., 612-455-0606. Custom wedding clutches start at $200 for an order of three.

Something New
Article: Silk taffeta gown with gathered drop waist, custom feather flower, and asymmetrical train, by Kristen Olsen of The Dressmaker.
Why Go Custom? A custom dress is more than a gown fitted to a bride’s exact measurements, it should be designed with her personality and tastes in mind. A custom gown is ideal for anyone seeking an individual experience, but it requires planning in advance. Know what you want and familiarize yourself with fabrics, cuts, and colors. Browse ready-to-wear gowns to determine what cuts look best on your frame, as well as what color suits your complexion. The best designers should translate your desires from words to fabrics for the perfect “I do” look.
Find It:
Kristen Olsen of The Dressmaker, by appointment, 3902 W. 50th St., Edina, 952-929-9475. Custom dresses priced upon request.
Joynoelle, 312 W. 42nd St., Mpls., 612-209-7822. Custom dresses start at $1,500.

Something Old
Article: Silk organza and vintage lace heirloom dress, reconstructed by Kaja Foat, Zoe Foat-Naselaris, and Brenda Foat of Foat Design.
Why Go Custom? Heirloom reconstruction is the ideal choice for a bride who wants to wear an heirloom dress, but desires a look that’s modern and individual. When choosing heirloom reconstruction, drawings or magazine clippings can help illustrate the direction of the redesign for the designer. Here, the reconstructed dress belonged to the client’s mother. The original gown was a tentlike, lace and netting gown popular in the 1960s (above). Because the bride requested a wedding dress with some color, the blue shell was made with recycled silk organza mill ends. The top layer was constructed from the heirloom dress. The train became the overlay and provided the scalloped lace detail at the bottom of the dress, and the sleeves of the original dress provided the fabric for the gathered waist.
Find It:
Foat Design, 1828 NE Marshall St., #11, Mpls., 800-658-1448. Heirloom reconstructions start at $800.

With This Ring
Article: 18k red-gold engagement ring with .71k center diamond and .144k total-weight pave diamond surround; two-millimeter-round platinum wedding band with .008k total-weight scattered diamonds, both by Stephen Vincent of S. Vincent.
Why Go Custom? A custom-designed engagement ring or wedding band allows the bride or groom to get involved in the design process. If you decide to go custom, there are a few things you can do before meeting with a designer to ensure a smooth process. If you’re up to it, sketch out what you want for the ring, noting your ideal metal, diamond cut and weight, and design elements, or find examples of other rings that illustrate your vision. Customization is also a great option if there is a favorite heirloom stone you’d like reset or if you would like to use a unique material.
Find It:
S. Vincent, Gaviidae Common, Mpls., 612-332-3646. Custom wedding and engagement rings start at $1,500.
Bill Plattes, by appointment, 651-646-1635. Custom rings start at $300.
Jeri Kaplan Jewelry, by appointment, 3902 W. 50th St., Edina, 952-848-8735. Custom wedding and engagement rings start at $1,000.

Headed Bliss
Article: Silk chiffon headband with handmade flower and vintage-button detail by Joy Teiken for Joynoelle.
Why Go Custom? Whether you desire a traditional chapel- or cathedral-length veil, or a more progressive headpiece, this grand dame of bridal accessories must complement your hairstyle, gown, and personality. While a traditional veil will never go out of style, a headpiece that incorporates silk chiffon, lace, and costume jewels gives it a modern look.
Find It:
Joynoelle, 312 W. 42nd St., Mpls., 612-209-7822. Custom designs start at $150.
L’atelier Couture, 493 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-602-9492. Custom designs start at $150.
Che Bella, 611 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-209-8822. Custom designs start at $65.

Something Blue
Article: Double-breasted suit with Super 120’s windowpane glitter weave and custom-made cotton shirt by Top Shelf; tie by Holland and Sherry, available through Top Shelf.
Why Go Custom? Why should the bride get to have all the fun? A custom formal suit or tuxedo allows a discerning groom to select the fabric, cut, and colors of his wedding wear. Many men who go custom do so because they like the idea of having something that they can treasure for life, rather than renting something that has little meaning. Plus, if the groom chooses a custom formal suit, which differs from the tuxedo only in that it doesn’t include satin lapels, it can easily transition into his wardrobe.
Find It:
Top Shelf, 3040 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 612-824-2800. Custom wedding suit start at $1,200 and custom wedding tuxedos start at $1,350.

Letterpress
Article: Letterpress invitation and menu cards, by Jennifer Norman Studio (middle) and Studio on Fire.
Why Go Custom? Letterpress dates back to the fifteenth century and has seen a resurgence in the past ten years. Letterpress has a contemporary look and can accommodate different decorative elements, including crisp lines, patterns, graphics, and typography.
Find It:
Studio on Fire, 1621 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-379-3000. Custom letterpress services start at $300.
Jennifer Norman Studio, 651-653-3809. Custom letterpress starts at $700 for 100 units.

Handwriting
Article: Crystal Kluge provided the hand lettering throughout this feature and the other wedding features in this issue.
Why Go Custom? Hiring a calligrapher not only saves you from countless hours bent over a table of blank cards, but it also assures that everything is executed perfectly.
Find It:
Rosann Konieczny, 763-221-4584. Hand lettering starts at $2 each for outer envelopes.
Kathy Moon, 763-588-1100, hand lettering starts at $1 per outer envelope.
Crystal Kluge, 612-377-2983. Hand lettering starts at $2.75 per outer envelope.

RSVP
Article: Invitation by Crazy Daisy Design.
Why Go Custom? Obviously all wedding invitations are custom to some degree, but more and more couples are choosing to go with artisan-designed invitations for their wedding day. The artisan approach allows the bride and groom to choose the paper and printing techniques, as well as the type of cards they’d like in their set—save the date, invitation, RSVP, map and directions, et cetera. Engraving is the most popular printing choice for custom pieces, but thermography is a budget-friendly option that offers similar results.
Find It:
Apiary Designs, 612-270-2960. Custom designs start at $700 for 100 units.
Crazy Daisy Design, 612-827-2121. Custom designs start at $1,000 for 100 units.
Jennifer Norman Studio, 651-653-3809. Custom designs start at $500 for 100 units.