• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy1
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Relationships

Countdown to 'I Do': Part 2

Wedding Blog Two
By · March 13, 2009October 29, 2020
01
Sister Act

Howdy! It’s Pamela Edwards here, Beauty Editor of ESSENCE magazine. Welcome to my second edition of Countdown to ‘I Do’ on ESSENCE.com.

So, my younger sis Jenny-poo-poo (pictured with me on the right) is my maid of honor. And she has carried some weight with this wedding production. She set up a wedding Web site for Nigel and me on weddingwindow.com. Jennifer says it’s an easy, efficient web tool and she updates it regularly. Too bad we still haven’t locked down her dress. Ahhhhhh, we’ll get there…

If you missed my inaugural post last week,

Check It Out Here »

02
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

I have a tendency to procrastinate. And for this reason many of my friends and family have taken it upon themselves to step in and help me make this wedding happen. Just last week my buddy Nazenet appeared in my office, demanding my guest list. She’s putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet so I can keep up with RSVPs, thank-you notes an so forth. Thank God for Naz!

03
Dressless in New York

This is my junior bridesmaid, Gabby, Nigel’s sweet and only niece. Like Jennifer, she too is without a proper garment for the wedding (all my fault). I’m determined to get this straight by next week. Tick tock.

04
Here’s Johnny

Jennifer and Gabby aren’t the only ladies in this shin dig without a done-deal dress for the big day. I’m also in the midst of putting a dress together. Johnny Lewter is a NYC designer/tailor who works miracles…

05
Gown and Glory

I knew something was right about Johnny after he whipped up this gown for me. I wore it during my close encounter with designer Diane von Furstenberg. She was at this gala, The Root Ball, during Inauguration Weekend in D.C. We made eye contact, then she gave me an approving head-to-toe once-over and smiled. Approved by DVF? Johnny is my guy! And by the way, Johnny sewed this gown for me in two days.

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

06
Dress for Success

I bought it month’s ago—a stupendous deal at a consignment shop in New Orleans. My mom made me get it because the fabric and silhouette were simply perfect. I still didn’t really think it would be the real thing… That was three months ago. This has to be it!

07
We Can Do It!

As of right now, my wedding gown does not fit. Johnny is now working his magic to ensure a perfect fit on April 11, 2009, the big day.

Say a prayer for us, really.

08
I Can Do It!

All these dress-fit issues have sent me straight to the gym. I discovered a real time-saving and effective workout via Station Fitness on Hudson Street in NYC (stationfitness.com). Their workouts revolve around Power Plates or rather vibrating machines that intensify your workouts. Half an hour of calisthenics on these babies is equivalent to an hour and a half workout. All the ladies in class swear I’ll see real definition on my abs in two weeks…good thing, cause that’s about all I’ve got.

09
Cardio Is Essential

My good friend Holly (left) says my morning strength training at Power Station is great, but I’ve got to get the cardio in… So she dragged me to a brutal but necessary boxing class at AeroSpace Gym (aerospacenyc.com). Thanks to the owner (center), and our instructor, Michael Olajide, Jr., the burn is now on.

10
Pilates Please

Cardio is essential, and so is solidifying my core. Nothing does that better than Pilates. Here I am on the reformer trying my best to exercise self-control. I’m counting on Erika Bloom Pilates Plus (erikabloompilatesplus.com) and my instructor Celine Burn to transform my stocky middle into a longer, leaner machine. So that’s my workout plan: Power Plates every morning, two, three nights of hardcore cardio and two nights of Pilates.

11
Texture Transformation

The exercise has left my hair a hot mess. Forget the blow-outs for now—they’re a waste of time with all of this sweating. My curl genius friend and celebrity stylist Anthony Dickey has helped me with his curl line, Hair Rules, hairrules.com.

Dickey washed my hair with his suds-free shampoo (it won’t dry curly hair) before applying his Quench Conditioner. He rinsed that out and then applied a big glob of Curly Whip throughout my tresses. Now I’ve got more of a defined texture that I can work with, whether my hair is up or down. Bye-bye, birds’ nest…

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

12
Secret Weapons

The two products that have saved my life: Hair Rules Quench and Curly Whip, hairrules.com.

13
Lifetime of Treasures

This is Wendy Scott. She’s in charge of the Bridal Registry at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, not to mention an absolute pleasure to work with. Many think I’m a little nutty for registering at a New York-only, pricey spot. Here’s why they’re wrong: Bergdorf’s 7th floor is full of exquisite, one-of-a kind items that can make every corner of a home smile. I’m a Cancer so home is everything to me. And the best part is that 90% of my registry items are under $150! I also registered at Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma, both full of great-looking necessities. But Bergdorf has those special touches that will make my home sing.

14
Orange Crush

I’m in love with my china pattern. Mom thinks I’m crazy for choosing orange, but it is my favorite color.

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

15
Smile Bright

My big accomplishment last week? Professional teeth whitening! Most every dental practice has this type of light therapy brightening. It takes about an hour for the light to brighten the teeth through and through. I left with trays for two weeks of at-home intensification. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Gregg Lituchy of Lowenberg & Lituchy brightened my pearly whites perfectly. If you choose to skip in-office brightening, two really good at-home options include Crest Whitestrips Premium (whitestrips.com) and for sensitive types, Luster Weekend Tooth Whitening System (lusteroralcare.com).

See you next Wednesday!

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

16
X
17
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

18
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

19
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

20
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

21
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

22
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

23
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

24
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

25
Gown and Glory

I knew something was right about Johnny after he whipped up this gown for me. I wore it during my close encounter with designer Diane von Furstenberg. She was at this ball, The Root Ball during Inuguration Weekend in D.C. We made eye contact, then she gave me an approving head-to-toe once-over and smiled. Approved by DVF? Johnny is my guy! And by the way, Johnny sewed this gown for me in two days.

26
Gown and Glory (2)

(I discovered Johnny’s genius after he made me a gown for Inauguration weekend––in two days!) CUT!

27
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

28
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

29
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

30
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

31
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

32
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

33
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

34
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

35
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

36
#11 split Hair Help
37
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

38
#11 Split Texture Transformation
39
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

40
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

41
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

42
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

43
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

44
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

45
1

Read part 1 of our Countdown to “I Do” wedding special »

Read More

Entertainment
This Is The One Singer Chaka Khan Would Do A Verzuz Battle With
First Look At Patrisse Cullors' New Book 'An Abolitionist's ...
Health & Wellness
Why The Black Community Should Double Down On Science Right ...
Fashion
Shop Now: Winnie Harlow Stars In New Sneaker Campaign With PUMA
Lifestyle
Teachers Find Ways to Release the Pressure During the Pandemic
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now