“Fête-i-quette”: a hybrid of party (en francais) + etiquette.  It is our fresh, light-hearted, reinvigorated, 21^st century interpretation of age-old traditions.

What’s making you fret?  Submit it to fête-i-quette: blog@nonpareilevents.com

Last year, my good friend got engaged, and then called off the wedding 3 months before the date.  Meanwhile, I and the other 4 best friends/bridesmaids had purchased our $300 hideous bridesmaid dresses and we were stuck with them.  Said friend then got engaged again to same guy 1 year later.  Now there is a whole new wedding party except for me, and the bride’s sister AND suddenly I have been appointed as the maid of dishonor.  Now we have new, different bridesmaid dresses, the wedding is to take place in a barn in the middle of no where, a 15 minute drive from any hotel, and there is no option for a bus, cab or shuttle from the wedding to town…disaster waiting to happen?  I think so!

AND–the bachelorette party is fully planned.  Friend was saying that it would be a small party with just 5 girls, but really it is becoming a full production of 15 random annoying girls.

AND–I have yet to see a wedding invite or save the date…and it’s a destination wedding 3 months away…and the bride just texted me for my address (I am the maid of honor and best friend, and have lived in the same place for 8 years!)  Worried for everyone else.  What can I do?!

Dear Maid of Dishonor,

Run.  FAST.  Get out while you can.  For the love of god this girl is a hot mess.

Seriously, sounds like your friend should have consulted us, but that’s a moot point now.  Your over-expenditure on two dresses seems to be the least of your worries now.  Your friend needs to get organized!

As a longtime friend, you are in the position to give her some stern advice…such as, ‘hey friend, how’s your Aunt Cassie with the hollow leg going to get home from the wedding?’  Or, maybe a little more blunt: ‘You need to send your invitations out or no one will come to your wedding’.  Common sense to the rest of us…  Good luck!

Over the years I have become very familiar with Michael C Fina, a spectacular purveyor of high end tableware, crystal, flatware and home accessories in Manhattan.  I have purchased many a wedding gift (as they are the place to register), and worked extensively with them to put the finishing touches on various clients’ homes (in my former life as an interior designer…).  And this week, I had the pleasure of attending their debut of Project Runway finalist Carol Hannah Whitfield’s bridal collection, as well as jeweler Tacori’s 18K 925 collection.

I was thrilled to be invited, since this event encompassed an intersection of my creative design worlds.

Exhausted Alexis fresh off a redeye from California, and the fabulous Carol Hannah

Both professional models and real brides showcased 14 wedding gowns and 9 bridesmaid dresses, coordinated with Carol Hannah’s favorite Tacori pieces.

It was fantastic to see that her PR castmates Logan Neitzel and Rodney Epperson were also in attendance, supporting her endeavors.

Happy designer with her models

To end the evening, Carol Hannah proposed a toast: “I design with all of you in mind. Through fashion I am able to be a part of one of the most significant milestones in a woman’s life, and that’s what I love about what I do.”  Ditto–That’s what we love about what we do too!