Celebrity

“Wedding Fabulous: Sherri Shepherd Gets Married” on Style

August 22, 2011 By Michael Russo | Leave a Comment

With all due respect to Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, there is another upcoming wedding special that I am even more excited to tune into…but I am, admittedly, a little bit partial! On Tuesday, September 13 at 9PM ET/PT, the Style network is premiering the exclusive television event, “Wedding Fabulous: Sherri Shepherd Gets Married,” featuring the wedding that I planned for Sherri and her husband, Lamar Sally, which took place earlier this month!

Viewers are invited behind-the-scenes to witness all the excitement, from the early planning stages to the romantic one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony, and everything in between. Sherri’s friend and “The View” co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be there to lend a hand and joins celebrity bridesmaids Kym Whitley, Yvette Nicole Brown and Niecy Nash at the wedding celebration. The special also offers an inside look into Sherri’s incredibly busy schedule, as she makes appearances on “30 Rock” and hosts GSN’s “The Newlywed Game” in addition to juggling her many responsibilities in the weeks leading up to her big day. Viewers will also follow as Lamar moves from Los Angeles to Sherri’s home in New York as the couple embarks on their life together.

Viewers can expect to see hilarious dress fittings, bling by Jacob the Jeweler and the selection of the perfect cake. The team even coordinates a fun treat for the wedding guests – Sherri, Lamar and the entire bridal party plan to break out into a dance number at her reception.With her magnetic personality and bubbly sense of humor, Emmy award-winning talk show co-host, actress and comedienne Sherri Shepherd never fails to delight. I was so happy to be a part of this incredible event celebrating the love between Sherri and Lamar.

If you just can’t wait until September 13, take a look at this spread in Life & Style magazine, which gives you exclusive details on the magical day!

Kim Kardashian Weds!

August 22, 2011 By Michael Russo | Leave a Comment

As many of you may already know, this past Saturday marked the wedding of reality star Kim Kardashian and basketball player Kris Humphries. Details on the star-studded ceremony are few and far between; to get the lowdown on the big day, we’ll all have to tune into the the special that the couple filmed for E!, set to air in October. However, a few things are for certain: first and foremost, the lavish event wasn’t short on extravagance. The wedding was held in the posh Montecito area in California, and the bride (and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, who served as so-maids of honor) wore custom ivory Vera Wang. She also wore Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and a diamond-bedecked headpiece. In fact, it has been reported that Wang designed two additional dresses for Kim to wear throughout the reception. The groom, on the other hand, wore a white peak-lapel tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants, and a white shirt and bow tie, all by Ermenegildo Zegna. Kim’s stepfather, Bruce Jenner, walked her down the aisle, in front of over 440 guests, including Mario Lopez, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Lovato, Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough, Eva Longoria and Serena Williams. Interestingly, the wedding had a black-and-white dress code (tabloids are reporting that Lindsay Lohan attempted to upstage the bride in a white Temperley gown that Pippa Middleton had previously worn in green to the Royal Wedding earlier this year — scandal!). Finally, in an adorable turn of events, her nephew, Kourtney’s 1 1/2 year-old son Mason, was the ringbearer! While it’s inevitable that more details will undoubtedly be revealed within the coming days and weeks, here are a couple of exclusive pictures (courtesy of E! News) to tide us over until October.

What are your opinions on the latest Kardashian wedding? I’d love to hear what you think!

Celebrating Carmen Marc Valvo

May 23, 2011 By Michael Russo | 1 Comment

Last week, I attended an event held at Tamsen Z Boutique in New York City fêting the fantastic fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo and his book, Dressed to Perfection: The Art of Dressing for Your Red Carpet Moments. At the intimate cocktail reception, guests sipped champagne and perused the stunning jewels on display, while rubbing elbows with the world-renowned designer and author and having their copies of the book signed. Speaking of the book, it’s an absolute must-read; in it, Carmen sheds light on how to look your best on various occasions, from informal gatherings to the chicest black-tie events, while incorporating your unique personal style. With Kate Winslet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Beyonce, Katie Couric, Eva Longoria Parker, Queen Latifah, and Mary J. Blige among the A-listers that are fans of his amazing work, it’s clear that Carmen has a wealth of invaluable wisdom to pass along! Here’s a photo of myself and the man of the hour at the reception:

The Gateway Schools 2011 Gala Benefit Concert

May 5, 2011 By Michael Russo | 1 Comment

This week, I attended a truly amazing and inspirational event: the Gateway Schools Gala Benefit Concert, held at the Beacon Theater in NYC. Hosted by Robert De Niro and Matt Damon (and their wives, Grace and Lucy), and with performances from The Daily Show‘s Jon Stewart and the legendary Stevie Wonder (!!!), this benefit concert was a star-studded affair, to say the least! The inimitable Mr. Wonder delivered a memorable performance filled with many of his hit songs, which had the crowd on their feet for most of the night! Best of all, though, the event raised a lot of money (more than $2 million!) for a wonderful cause — Gateway Schools helps students with learning difficulties to excel in and beyond the classroom. All in all, the evening was an overwhelming success, and an unforgettable experience!

Royal Wedding Fever!

April 29, 2011 By Michael Russo | Leave a Comment

So, apparently, there’s a pretty big wedding taking place across the pond in just a few hours. (Gee, haven’t heard much about it!) In all seriousness, tomorrow’s Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton is sure to be a momentous historical event. With a star-studded list of rumored guests and performers, everyone is abuzz with speculation — who will design Kate’s dress? (Please be Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen!) Is she really doing her own makeup? (According to reports, yes!) Will Jay-Z and Beyonce serenade the royals with their hit “Crazy In Love”? (Unlikely..) Yet with all this forward-looking anticipation, I’d like to take a look back at the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. Nearly 30 years ago, Princess Diana walked down the aisle in a show-stopping gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. Made of six different fabrics (just look at that train!) and embellished with thousands of pearls and mother-of-pearl sequins, this dress is among the most famous wedding dresses of all time, and for good reason.

Will you wake up during the wee hours to watch the Royal Wedding? What (or who) are you most looking forward to seeing? Who do you think will design Kate Middleton’s gown?