The 411: What You Need to Know When Planning Your Wedding

FLORISTS 

Blooming New Shops   New florists are shooting up in the city. Fleur owner Chai Kanchanahoti just opened a second outpost of his Manayunk shop in Old City (fleurflowers.com). Across the way at Hana & Posy you’ll find a darling gift boutique from owner Kayo Higashimura, who uses eco-friendly, sustainable practices and blooms in her arrangements (hanaposy.com). And in Rittenhouse, Flowers & Co. is helmed by designer Jennifer Longo, who’ll design your flowers in the back of the shop, where brick walls and old church pews make for a charming meeting space.

CITY VENUES

Play & Stay Philly’s got three new options for holding your wedding—and your guests. Le Meridien has room for 160 in its Trumbauer Ballroom—decorated in neutrals, with wrought-iron chandeliers—and 150 in the Library; packages begin around $125 a person (lemeridien.com/Philadelphia). Hotel Palomar offers space on its 24th and 25th floors for around 80 guests, with sweeping views of the city and catering through adjacent Square 1682 (hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com). And the circa-1926 Radisson Warwick just finished a $22 million renovation, which included the stately Grand Ballroom, Crystal Junior Ballroom and Warwick Room; packages begin around $150 a person (radisson.com/philadelphiapa).

SHORE VENUES

Seaside soiree Atlantic City’s new 12,000-square-foot One Atlantic at the Pier Shops at Caesars extends 100 yards out over the ocean, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows, well, your view basically becomes your decor. There’s also the stellar One Atlantic Catering, helmed by Jon Weinrott of renowned Peachtree & Ward—ask about the “100-Mile Menu,” which sources every ingredient within that radius—and the flexibility of the sleek white space, which allows from 50 to 1,000 of your nearest and dearest to come for cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, and cigars and wine on the terrace. Pricing begins around $125 per person (oneatlanticevents.com).

BRIDAL FASHION
New on the Scene Two new places to shop for The Dress: Bijou Bridal, which took over the vacant—but perfectly outfitted for bridal—Suky space in Ardmore, offers gowns from Romona Keveza, Reem Acra and more, plus mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaids gowns alongside twinkling accessories (pa.bijoubridal.com). The Sample Rack, previously and discreetly above La Fourno on South Street, has new digs on Pine, filled with designer gowns in sizes 4 to 22, with no dress costing more than $800. Plus, planner Carolyn Verdi is a co-owner, and you can meet with her about her services, including invitations and calligraphy, right there in the shop (thesamplerackpa.com).

THE FIRST YEAR

Required Reading  If you used our very own Carrie Denny’s book, The Bride’s Instruction Manual, to help you plan, you’re going to love our very own Caroline Tiger’s follow-up, The Newlywed’s Instruction Manual (Quirk Books, $16.95), for tips on how to navigate the wonderful and sometimes baffling newlywed world. Among the topics covered: merging finances and clothes with your new hubby, fighting fair, and keeping the romance sizzling long after the honeymoon is over.