I am just absolutely, positively gushing over this fresh take on the rustic chic wedding. With a modern spin and an upscale flair, this pretty fall fête held at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and beautifully captured by Kelly Dillon Photography is a gorgeous take on the rustic affair we have all come to know and love.  From the vibrant florals of Tangerine Creations to all the perfectly placed details, the gallery is full of all that is modern, fresh, rustic and fabulous!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Kelly Dillon Photography…Details, details, details. That was the name of the game and they were captured perfectly by the supremely talented Kelly Dillon and (thankfully) noticed & appreciated by our friends & family. Bill proposed exactly 1 year prior to our wedding day and I had a definite vision: to get married in New England…in a tent…in the Fall, and I knew I wanted what I came to coin as an “upscale rustic chic” theme. Elm Bank was the PERFECT backdrop to our perfect day, sandwiched in between a weekend of torrential downpours and an early-season snowstorm!

We were fortunate to know many of our fabulous vendors beforehand (and boy did we have a lot of them!) and I wanted to be as hands-on as possible, so I took on the role of both bride & planner. We started with the concept and stayed pretty true to it throughout the process, but it definitely evolved in terms of colors and certain elements. Style Me Pretty was like my bible and I should note that I still continue to stalk this site every day!

Of utmost importance was a day that was personal, filled with joy & love, and that it was very unique and very “us”. I appreciate certain traditions but I was always thinking: how can we make them our own? It truly did come down to the details and many were DIY-chosen projects that I wanted to take on myself. This was a time my creativity had no boundaries and I loved it! The end result was a representation of me & Bill as a couple and as individuals.

With the help from our floral genius, Orly from Tangerine Creations, we were able to bring typical Fall colors into the bouquets & boutonnieres, as well as the cocktail/lounge area. We wanted a WOW factor though so behind the separating sheer pipe & drape was a reception area in contrast to those colors…soft taupes, ivories, deep purples and LOTS of branches and candles. The lighting provided a soft glow everywhere, and a branch go-bo projected beautifully on the drapes. The final product was utterly romantic & rustic but also fresh and totally “New England”.

I found some birch tree curtains at Ikea of all places and knew immediately I wanted to use them on some of the tables as runners. I also knew that I wanted tables in different shapes with different linens & centerpieces. Bill and I both wanted a fun head table and we ended up creating the most gorgeous long table from 3 whitewash farm tables (thank you New England Country Rentals!) that stood out from the other square & circle tables.

The day was whimsical, romantic and lively, and made so memorable by any # of things…the modern take on the Jewish 7 Blessings, the most gorgeous chuppah I’ve ever seen, the guys wearing Chuck Taylors, the girls wearing different dresses with custom shoe clips (Etsy was my go-to for everything!), my something “blue” in the form of Bill’s blue baby bracelet woven into my bouquet…and some unexpected details such as serving pumpkin beer in mason jars with cinnamon sugar rims, assigning tree names to each table, enclosing a “what’s happening card” I designed in the napkins instead of a menu card, or the most unbelievably tasty and beautiful dessert spread instead of a traditional cake (why stop at one flavor when you can have 4? And apple cider donuts! And candy! Okay you get the point).

I could go on and on but what it came down to was an unforgettable day far more beautiful & more fun than we could’ve imagined (the dance floor was packed thanks to a fabulous band & DJ…we even saw guests munching on salmon & noodles out of takeout boxes while standing in line for the photobooth!) I had so much fun that I even forgot to change into my blue sparkly Converse for dancing! All in all, it was a perfect blending of our families & friends and I desperately miss planning it already! Most importantly, guests can say it was totally “emily and bill.”

Wedding Dress: Manuel Mota for Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Lavender / Bride’s Bracelet: BHLDN / Shoe Clips: b. poetic / Make-up: Zoe Kalaitzidis Markos via Boston Bridal Lounge / Hair: Missy Pappas / Groom + Groomsmen Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylors / Bridesmaid Dresses: Melissa Sweet + Priscilla of Boston / Wedding Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography / Venue: Massachusetts Horticultural Society / Floral Design: Tangerine Creations / Caterer: La Bonne Maison / Cupcakes: Party Favors / Rentals: Peterson Party Center, Table Toppers + New England Country Rentals / Band: Eye 2 Eye / DJ: DJ Wyatt / Lighting: Jack Falvey & Associates / Photobooth: Boston Photobooth Rental

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