Gene Puskar
One of the trends Johnson sees in wedding invitations is
letterpress, where the printing is pressed into the paper.

“Similar to the Guttenberg Bible,” she says.

Sandra Kalix, who owns You’re Invited (690 Washington
Road), is seeing a rise in more eco-friendly brides who opt
for Crane papers, which—in addition to being elegant and
traditional—are 100 percent cotton.

Because more weddings are now being planned as weekend-
long events, invitations with pockets are growing in popu-
larity. They allow for including additional invitations—to
the rehearsal dinner or a brunch the next day—in a clean,
organized way.

Infuse your invitation with personality, Johnson says. Adds
Kalix, “The invitation is the only thing [guests] see until they
get to the wedding. It gives them a clue what the wedding will
be like. That’s why it has to be perfect.”
More than Words, You’re Invited and Signatures (The
Galleria) also carry shower invitations and thank-you cards.

The Gown
Gregory Cherico simply loves weddings.

In his bridal salon, Anne Gregory…for the Bride (695
Washington Road), the walls are lined with racks of silk and
satin gowns in every color. Crystal beads twinkle in the light.

A wedding portrait of his mother, Anne Gregory, hangs over
the marble fireplace in the entrance.

Cherico hand selects each dress in his salon. “I meet person-
ally with Carolina Herrera and Monique Lhuillier. I bring
New York to [my clients],” he says.

His collection includes dresses for the mothers of the bride
and groom. “I don’t believe mothers should match the bride. I
do a lot of black and champagne,” he says.

As for the bride, strapless gowns are the most popular, but
different styles are emerging as well: halters, plunging neck-
lines, bustiers, A-lines. “Sashes are very big,” he says. “Lace is
very strong…traditional with a little bit of a modern flair.”
Stephanie Keremes, owner and designer of Tomasina (615
Washington Road), agrees. “Strapless is the most flattering
look for all sizes,” she says. But Keremes—who has been co-
designing wedding gowns with her mother, Demetria Hyland,
for 20 years—adds that shoulders with lace cap sleeves and
hand-draping are growing in popularity and A-line silhouettes
with trains are very cutting edge.

Only about 20 to 30 percent of Tomasina’s gowns are pur-
chased locally, the rest are sold to Saks and other bridal shops
across the country and even Japan (where red wedding gowns
are very big). Every gown, however, is made in the Washington
Road shop.

When considering a gown, a bride should pick a design that
flatters her figure. “Once you pick the shape, it’s all about the
details. Stay simple and use great fabrics,” says Keremes. “You
should be wearing the gown; the gown shouldn’t be wearing
you.” According to Bridal Beginning (450 Cochran Road) store
manager Dorothy Auth, halter and tank (wide straps) gowns
are supplanting strapless. Bridal Beginning offers many design-
er gowns as well as dresses for the bridesmaids, flower girls and
mothers of the bride and groom.

Usually the only person who likes the bridesmaids' gowns
46 mtl • october 2008
Bride to be Bree Coberly of North Versailles tries on a gown at Anne
Gregory for the Bride.

is the bride, but Auth says she see a turn toward more classic
designs and cocktail length, even for a formal wedding. Colors
follow trends—a year ago it was chocolate brown with bright
flowers; today its brighter colors such as royal blue and fuscia.

There was a time when the flower girl looked like a mini-
bride, but today the dresses are simpler, complement the bridal
gown and suit the girl.

For the bride who wants to create her own wedding look,
Donnatella Deguilio and Vienna Vizzoca design custom-made
gowns at Moda Donnatella (520 Washington Road).

“Some [brides] bring in photos and some have their own
ideas,” Deguilio says. “We start from the sketch.”
Deguilio says their dresses tend to be simple and elegant with
a lot of femininity—French lace or delicate Swarovski crystal
beads. “Nothing that overpowers,” she says. Another trend is
adding a splash of color to the gown—sage green, chocolate
brown, fuchsia.

For an outdoor wedding, they did a yellow wedding dress
accented with forest green, Deguilio says. She also sees wed-
dings becoming more individual—brides are choosing the
fabric, but letting the bridesmaids choose the style.

Deguilio and Vizzoca use French and Italian silks from The
Fabric Place (727 Washington Road). “The Fabric Place has
the best fine fabrics in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area,”