This wedding has been written up in a handful of glossies, but when Belathee sent me the full spread…I couldn’t resist sharing even more images. They were just too lovely to not be plastered all over Style Me Pretty. It’s the wedding of Il Divo’s David Miller and actress Sarah Joy Kabanuck and is absolutely, positively one of the loveliest weddings I’ve ever seen. Romantic, elegant, timeless and utterly chic. Which doesn’t come as terribly surprising seeing that Hatch Design Studio designed it and Annie Lee of Daughter of Design planned the day. Click here to see ALL of the images.
{click here to see the full wedding}
From Annie Lee…
Sarah Joy purchased a Michelle Rahn dress from the salon Gabriella. David had his suit custom made by Giorgio Armani himself. For the ceremony, we recreated a French cafe using bistro chairs and tables, old French posters and called it Cafe Momus, which is the name of the Cafe in La Boheme. Also hung on the walls were engagement photos that Sarah Joy and David took in Paris. For the ceremony, guests walked through a wrought iron gates, like the famed gates in the opera production. Once through the gates, Barb from Hatch Creative Studio, recreated a park atmosphere for the ceremony, so rather than have rows of chairs there were park benches, garden furniture and bistro tables and chairs scattered in the room. We were envisioning having the room look like an abandoned building that the plants and vines had overgrown into the space. Barb had flowers pouring in from the open windows and vines and flowers growing on the walls. It was stunning.
The bride walked down the aisle to a song David composed for the occasion. It was called “For Sarah.” The trio and harpist were given the sheet music in advance to learn for the processional.For the ceremony readings, instead of having the best man and maid of honor read from a folder or a sheet of paper, we printed and taped the readings into the middle of a vintage book to make it appear as if they were reading straight out of the book. During the ceremony the guests were surprised by the West Village Choir that quietly slipped into the back of the room and sang Set Me As A Seal and then sang a joyful Osana for the recessional. Sarah Joy and David chose to use a local church choir group rather than professional singers to support the local arts.
The main house of 632 on Hudson really requires little decor. Barb added flowers and candles to the fireplaces and on some of the tables but otherwise there really wasn’t much to do in the space. So as an added personal touch, I asked Bernard Maisner to come to the venue the day of the event and, what I call, “Calligraffiti” the mirrors, fish tanks, windows, etc. From their first song lyrics on the mirror to opera libretto on chalkboard, there were a lot of great details we added. He was such a great sport, especially when I asked him to draw on the sidewalk!!
Ron Ben-Israel made a cake based on a cameraphone picture of a tree they loved on a drive upstate. David mentioned he wanted penguin cake toppers since penguins mate for life. The rest of us weren’t loving the idea of them on top but loved the concept he was going for and so I suggested perhaps having the penguins hide behind the thicket of branches and flowers. So it’s a bit of a Where’s Waldo but if you look on the bottom tier, right side, you can see two little penguins hiding inside. We also put a frame (held up with L brackets) infront of the cake to make it “picture perfect.” The guests had a lot of fun posing with the cake. I don’t think I’ve ever had a cake more photographed at a wedding before.
Instead of a traditional sit-down dinner, Sarah Joy and David opted for a cocktail party style reception with both passed courses and stations. Each room was themed to correspond with an opera, for example the “Madama Butterfly” Asian room, “La Boheme” Italian room and “La Traviata” French room. Creative Edge catered the event and the food could not have been more amazing. Later the long wooden table in the kitchen that was the “La Boheme” station was converted to a decadent spread of desserts. David is a big Nobu fan. When he is on tour he visits every Nobu along his way. So as a surprise in the Asian room Sarah Joy had Nobu come set up a sushi station. David in particular likes Uni with quail egg so for the surprise reveal we had a waiter come to him with the Uni with a Nobu napkin. He was thrilled!
Their first dance was “Such Great Heights” by Iron & Wine which is a very slow acoustic version of the song and at the end of the night the last song was “Such Great Heights” but the energetic Postal Service version.
| « Il Divo’s David Miller and Sarah Joy Kabanuck | Los Angeles Wedding by Kristin Banta » |
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WOW! This wedding is very different then a lot of the stuff on SMP! Very refreshing, love it!
Thanks for sharing such detailed information! I always love to hear the songs / readings that the couple chose.
I love the framed cake! It is so unique. The entire wedding is beautiful.
Love...Love everything about this wedding!
The fireplace garden is so romantic!
This wedding is absolutely spectacular - love, love, LOVE it! The details are so fantastic.
What kind of tray is holding those mini taco type appetizers; almost looks like a stiffened burlap fabric.
I heart this wedding, my heart even hearts this wedding....i mean my goodness vintage chic beautiful amazing, did i say I heart this wedding!!!!
I love LOVE her veil. Any idea where its from?
Such beautiful pics and wedding! What a Gorgeous Bride, Gorgeous Veil and Grogeous accessories - where is her belt from? Would love to add something like it to my dress! Thanks!
This is BEAUTIFUL! Love, love, love it! How presh is the little dog?!?
i heart the quotes on the chalkboard, mirror, etc. what sweet touches!!
I love her veil! Can anyone let us know where it's from?
Everything about this is perfect!!! This is one to remember.
Jaime--beautiful flowers!! I'm a friend of your mom's. You've done a beautiful job here; all the best in the future!
Absolutely stunning! Love the veil!
What a lovely wedding, everything was so elegant but yet so unpretentious. The bride was beautiful in her gown and unusal veil. loved the framed cake...the bouquets at the seating. Congratulations to Sarah and David..may all your problems be little ones..
Gorgeous bride, amazing venue, cute dog.
Beautiful!
I've got to have that veil. GORGEOUS! Also, that is exactly how I want to wear my hair, I'd been looking for the perfect inspiration photo. I needn't look further.
Thanks.
love her romantic veil! just gorgeous beyond words!
This wedding is everything I could ever want! How do people find such amazing venues?? Oklahoma blows when it comes to that :(
I love all the great feedback :). To answer a few questions. The veil can be found at Gabriella NYC as well as the belt which is designed by Michelle Rahn. Hope that helps!
Lovely wedding! What kind of pen did they use to write on the mirror?? Neat idea!!!
CANNOT SEE ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF ILDIVO
Beautiful, just beautiul, I hope they will be very happy. Just a thought, I didn`t see where Carlos got married which was to take place on Valentines Day.
Annie, Thanks so much for following up about the veil! I've never wanted a veil, because I've never seen one I could stand, and now I have fallen head over heels for one. I must find it!
The belt is from the wedding dress designer Michelle Rahn. You can reach her at info@michellerahn.com and reference the belt from the Ronee dress.
There is a new collection of beaded and encrusted belts which will be available for Spring 2010.
Annie thanks for the veil photo- I think I'm seriously going up to NYC to get it!
Emily L--I am on the same boat with you! I have never really understood the veil phenomena and was thinking that I may only do a birdcaged veil at my wedding. But...this veil is just gorgeous. I am from a suburb of NY and definitely heading into town to go the the Gabriella NYC store!
What a breathtaking day! I can only imagine how beautiful it must have been in person. BRAVO!!
WHO is the designer of the veil?
I just love the decor at the reception - the French bistro / shabby chic combination is so sweet. But (or even BUT!), I just cannot, even for a split second, fathom why poor David's wish to have penguins on the wedding cake had to have them banished to behind the decorations. I think I would love this wedding more if it had the hallmarks of two people sharing their combined styles for a wonderful day, and not one guy being put in his place so the bride could have it all photo-perfect.
Can you explain the logistics of the cake frame? I would love to do that but have no idea where to start.
The gown is designed by Michelle Rahn. It's made of luxurious French silk tulle and embellished with a custom designed embroidered and Swarovski encrusted belt.
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