Martha Stewart Living - The Early Weddings Issues

I've wanted to do this post for a long time but simply didn't have the raw material to do so. Before Martha Stewart Weddings became its own entity, special issues of Martha Stewart Living magazine devoted to the subject of weddings appeared annually, and then seasonally, between 1995 and 1999. While the magazines are branded with the Living moniker, and were introduced to the public as special issues, they are in fact counted as part of the list of volumes that were published as Martha Stewart Weddings in later years. 

In this sense, they are difficult to classify. They occupy that 'grey area' between being a supplemental issue of Martha Stewart Living and emerging as a fledgling publication of its own. This is why I consider them to be in their own category and do not list them as special issues of Martha Stewart Living, nor count them as editions of Martha Stewart Weddings. Although, as mentioned above, they are technically numbered as a part of the Weddings editions. 

A very kind person on the Martha Moments Facebook Group recently acquired all of them in a search to complete her Martha Stewart Living collection and agreed to scan them for the blog! Thank you Eileen! We both thought it would be helpful for collectors of the magazine to have a visual record of the covers of these often-elusive issues. They are enticing and informative in every way and full of the most beautiful weddings content you could imagine. Martha is listed as the editor in chief for several of the issues. What is interesting to note in the masthead is how quickly Darcy Miller ascended the ranks, beginning as one of several style editors and making her way to the editor by the eighth volume - just four years later. She eventually went on to become the editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Weddings and then Executive Editorial Director of all Weddings content for the Martha Stewart brand. 

These magazines often appear on eBay, if you're searching for them, for prices that are quite reasonable, given their collectability. Thank you again, Eileen for the scans!

Issue Number One: Spring, 1995

Issue Number Two: Spring, 1996

Issue Number Three: Spring, 1997

Issue Number Four: Fall, 1997

Issue Number Five: Winter-Spring, 1998

Issue Number Six: Summer-Fall, 1998

Issue Number Seven: Winter, 1999

Issue Number Eight: Spring, 1999

New Real Weddings Special Issue Out Next Week

Scan the newsstands on November 10th for the Fall 2014 issue of Real Weddings, a bi-annual special issue from Martha Stewart Weddings. On the cover are design specialist Brooke Sirianni and her husband Shea Foley, a partner in the socially-conscious men's fashion site Apolis. The magazine takes you to their stunning Southern California wedding where clean stripe motifs and a crisp cream palette defined the occasion. Click here to see more photographs from this wedding.

FROM THE ISSUE:

"Shea’s mentor, Pastor Milt Richards, officiated at the alfresco ceremony, on the lawn of a family friend’s residence in Shea’s hometown of Temecula. The bridesmaids processed to a guitar version of Philip Phillips’s Sea of Love, then Brooke entered to an instrumental rendition of Coldplay’s Strawberry Swing. The couple exchanged vows in a Christian service set against rolling hills and a cross that Shea’s dad constructed from reclaimed wood.

At the end of the ceremony, guests tossed white rose petals at the newlyweds. The petals were stashed in paper bags stamped with “Shower the Foleys” in the same calligraphy style as the invites."

ALSO IN THE ISSUE:
* Ten couples share their one-of-a-kind celebrations
* 92 pages of dresses, flowers, cakes and DIY design
* Seasonal hair and beauty tips

Happy 20th Anniversary, Martha Stewart Weddings!

Last week, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia celebrated the 20th anniversary of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine by throwing a glamorous bash at the Pierre Hotel in New York City during bridal fashion week. Martha was in attendance, as was the editorial director of Weddings, Darcy Miller. You can read about the party on Martha's blog.

Martha Stewart Weddings has always been a magazine that has set trends, rather than simply regurgitating them. The magazine is unpredictable, with a mix of traditional and modern styles, as well as a refreshing DIY take on many of the details that go into making a wedding memorable. It was a guaranteed hit right from the beginning. Weddings is Martha's most profitable magazine at the moment and is the second best-selling weddings magazine in the world after Brides magazine. 

What I've always admired about the magazine is its wide range of topics (fashion, cakes, stationery, decorations, etiquette, venues, flowers, bridal bouquets, favours, etc.), its beautiful, award-winning photography and its timeless, helpful advice - whether you are planning a wedding or any special party. I must also mention how refreshing it is to see a weddings magazine that celebrates inclusion by showcasing same-sex marriages in its pages. As a married gay man, myself, it feels very special to be 'seen' in such a popular magazine. 

It is truly one of the best magazines out there for brides and their families, as well as for party planners, people who love to entertain or for those interested in bridal fashion, flower arranging, table settings and all the details that make an event special. Below is a feast for the eyes: some of my favourite imagery from Martha Stewart Weddings.... Happy Anniversary to the entire Martha Stewart Weddings team!

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE ISSUES ARE SHOWN BELOW, INCLUDING THE FIRST ISSUE (BOTTOM RIGHT) WHICH DEBUTED IN 1995

New Special Issue: Martha Stewart Real Weddings

As I've noted before, I will occasionally pick up a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings just for inspiration. I have been married for six years to my partner, Tomas, and have no interest in planning anyone else's wedding. But the Weddings magazine is always such a treasure trove of ideas for flower arranging, cake decorating, table setting, crafting and general entertaining that it's difficult to resist. In this special issue, the second "Real Weddings" edition this year, actual weddings are documented from start to finish in locations as diverse as Michigan and Mexico. One such wedding is the marriage of Martha Stewart's niece, Sophie Herbert, to her husband Dan Slater in Las Vegas. Martha was in attendance and helped plan the wedding details, including Sophie's beautiful bouquet. Martha used a photograph of her sister Laura's wedding bouquet and commissioned an artist to replicate it using clay. Collectors of Martha Stewart's special issue magazines will want to add this one to their collections but anyone interested in throwing a beautiful party will benefit from the ideas in its glossy pages. It is on newsstands now until January 27th.

A Keepsake Bouquet

A new trend in bridal bouquets is the brooch bouquet. Timeless and everlasting, they bring sentiment and sparkle to the bride's wedding day. My good friend Jessie was married this past weekend and I attended the event, which was a small and intimate gathering of close friends and family. One of the most striking features of Jessie's attire was the brooch bouquet that her mother, Sharron, had made for her.

Sharron worked for hours to hand craft the flowers you see amid the jewelry. She also spent a good deal of time sourcing special brooches, pins and earrings for the bouquet. Some of the examples of brooches shown are very old and quite valuable, belonging to relatives and friends of the family. Some are new, as well. Sharron presented the bouquet to her daughter in an old hat box that belonged to my Great Aunt Ann, which is where Jessie will store it. The whole effect was very beautiful. For Jessie, knowing it was made with so much care only lends to its value. Rather than blindly tossing an arrangement of beautiful flowers over one's shoulder, consider the handcrafted bouquet instead. Its meaning and sentimental value will far outlast the events of the day itself. Shown here is a photo of Jessie's bouquet, taken by photographer Jennifer Pershick, who is based in Ottawa.

The Loved One

When I first met Antonia Akai-Casuccio I thought she was from another time. Effortlessly glamorous, self-possessed and articulate, she simply exudes elegance. Antonia and I worked together at the first Anthropologie store in Canada, which opened in Toronto in 2009, and she continuously surprised me with her creative ideas and engaging spirit. Early last year, Antonia started her own business and I wanted to let you know about it, since I am so proud of her. Now that Spring is officially here and wedding season is blossoming (if not the flowers) I could think of no better time to introduce you to The Loved One.

In its current phase, The Loved One is an online bridal boutique specializing in unique and luxurious accessories for event dressing. Antonia works closely with local and international designers to bring the selection of beautiful, bespoke pieces to a market that might otherwise not have access to such originality. Based here in Toronto, with much of the product photography coming straight from her living room and her husband Scott's digital camera, the business is truly homegrown - an aspect that Antonia relishes, since it gives her time to work closely with her clients. With plans to expand into a showroom and introduce apparel to the brand, Antonia's vision for her business continues to evolve. Below are some examples of the gorgeous products The Loved One proffers, followed by an interview with Antonia about her business. Be sure to visit the website for product information.

Why did you name your new venture "The Loved One?" What's the origin?

There is something so wonderful about the process of planning and prepping for a wedding, and I feel that being 'The Loved One' is the perfect way to describe a bride-to-be. The name comes from the satirical 1948 Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name, but the inspiration comes from the name only, not the subject matter of the book, which is quite dark!

Describe your vision for the business? How did it begin and what is it all about?

I started thinking about the concept for the business about 5 years ago, while shopping for my own wedding. It was frustrating going from store to store, looking through racks of big, frothy dresses and uninspiring, expected accessories. I looked at vintage stores, and the pieces I loved either didn't fit, or were damaged in some way. Slowly, the concept started to take shape and evolve towards what it is now. I love how organic this whole process has been, and how the business continues to grow in unexpected ways. My vision for the business is being instrumental in redefining what bridal and event dressing can be, and taking an uncompromising approach to product selection and customer service.

Describe your clientele.

In a word, exceptional! I've been so lucky to meet such a diverse group of women who are stylish, intelligent, individualistic, and not content to be cookie-cutter brides. Many of my clients have been same-sex couples, and I find it really gratifying to be able to contribute, even in a small way to an issue that is so important to me.

Do you have a favourite product?

My goodness, that's like asking a parent to choose a favourite child! My favourite pieces vary all the time - I own the Gatsby Braided Bracelet, and I love that it looks just as chic with a wedding dress as it does with a pair of jeans and a great pair of heels. I'm particularly enjoying Tanna Paradis' reworked vintage pieces right now, (also fabulous dressed up or down), and I'm obsessing about a piece that milliner David Dunkley is working on for me at the moment - it's inspired by a Russian tiara from the 1800's, and I can't wait for him to finish it. All of the pieces on the website are there because they evoked an emotional response when I saw them. So far, this seems to have been a successful strategy for choosing product!

You mentioned to me once that your dream is to have a store one day. How would that store look and what sorts of services would it offer?

Well right now I'm in the process of looking for a showroom space, which is the next step. In addition to accessories, the product assortment will expand to include apparel (I use that word purposefully, as it will be more than just dresses), and event décor. As for aesthetics, it's no secret that I've been obsessed with the 1920's for as long as I can remember, so there will definitely be art deco elements. What it won't look like is a traditional bridal salon. I love a mix of glamour and rustic, high and low, and the space will reflect that. I want the space to be unexpected and experiential, from the product offering, to the display, merchandising and fixturing to the unparalleled customer service. One of the services we offer now, and will continue to offer with the showroom is the option to customize many of the items available. I really love liasing with our brides and the designers to create something personalized and one-of-a-kind. The showroom will be by appointment only, which allows us to focus on one client at a time, again, going back to evoking a feeling of truly being 'The Loved One.' Going forward, as the showroom evolves, I'm flirting with the idea of adding in other options like eco-friendly invitations and floral design. And from there, there's really no limits.

452 Pages, I do

Vogue magazine has nothing on the winter issue of Martha Stewart Weddings! At 452 pages, it is the biggest issue the magazine has ever published - a fact that is proudly asserted on the cover, right next to the title. The weddings market is one of the few that is still going strong in the publishing world with dozens of magazines on the subject filling the newsstands. Brides and their families, it seems, reach for weddings magazines much more than the homemaker or gardener may reach for publications on her subjects of interest, these days. (Never underestimate a bride with a vision and her hunger for ideas!)

 

Martha Stewart Weddings is one of the few bridal publications that showcases all aspects of wedding planning, foregoing fashion trends in favour of classic, timeless (often DIY) ideas that will never date - ideas that can also be channeled into much wider spheres, such as entertaining and celebrating special occasions other than weddings: anniversaries, graduations, milestone birthdays.

 

Martha Stewart Weddings is at the top of its game, a magazine that I read regularly for ideas on entertaining, tablesettings, floral arrangements and styling ideas. I am never disappointed in Martha Stewart Weddings. Even though I don't subscribe or buy every single issue, I am always inspired by the ideas in its pages. Here is a peek at the winter issue, below. Please also visit Darcy Miller's adorable new website! You can also meet Darcy at an event on January 27th in New York City, Martha Stewart's Wedding Party, produced by Claudia Hanline of The Wedding Library. Find out more and buy tickets here.



Wedding Belles

It's been a while since I've posted anything about Martha Stewart Weddings. Having been married to my partner Tomas for nearly five years - and hence no wedding to plan - the urge to flip through these lovely pages has diminished slightly. Every so often, though, I can't resist a look - and the winter 2012 issue is worth more than just a glance. 

This issue touts itself as the Ultimate Planner, with tips and how-tos that span the entire planning process, from choosing a venue to a caterer to a florist. For me, though, the issue marks another major milestone in the evolution of weddings publications. For the third time in as many years, Martha Stewart Weddings has featured a gay wedding (photos below) in its pages, and for anyone who has ever felt excluded, marginalized or silenced these editorials in mainstream publications do so much to bridge the gap between 'them' and 'us.' I want to thank editor Darcy Miller and Martha for taking the lead on this. 

I have always said that Martha Stewart Weddings is really just an entertaining guide disguised as a bridal magazine. There is a wealth of ideas here for anyone planning an anniversary party, a special birthday party, a graduation dinner or any special event that involves lots of planning and lots of attention to detail. Below are some inspiration photos from this issue.

A wedding in South Carolina is replete with Southern charm.

Use wallpaper in all kinds of innovative and attractive ways. I loved the imagination expressed in this article.

I will never, ever wear a diamond ring. Doesn't mean I don't like looking at them!

An article on the innovative use of flowers: a rose-petal runway.

A modern and youthful look for the bride and groom.

History in the making! 

Leather-bound stationery lends a masculine touch.

Cakes...beautiful cakes!

I'm obsessed with this Hermes cake. Brilliant!

Click here to download planning charts for your venue, caterer, florist, photographer and wedding planner.