New York Weddings

This is probably my favorite batch of photos from today’s real wedding. When you look at each of the details up close, you see just how thoughtful every element was. It’s so great to see a bride infuse her style with touches that speak to her own life, her own loves…

As mentioned earlier, Kate Webber is the photographer behind this gorgeous affair. A few other vendors helped to design the wedding as well and I wanted to quickly mention them…The florist was Karen Lenahan Designs out of Bridgehampton, NY. The day of coordination was done by Tailored Productions. Hair and Makeup was done by Vincent de Silva of Gil Ferrer Salon also in Bridgehampton. The band was Mamalee, Rose & Friends, and DJing was done by Sonimax Sound and Style. Catering was done by Food for Forks.

Such a great job by everyone who helped make this wedding a reality!

When I first saw today’s wedding that the fabulous Kate Webber photographed, it reminded me a lot of yesterday’s featured affair. It’s forever fascinating to me to see how different brides translate similar color palettes and wedding styles.

Both weddings being beach inspired, elegant takes on blue hued palettes…and yet you can really see how distinct their personalities are through the details, the perfect extras that made each wedding totally unique.

Kate Webber, the photographer behind these gorgeous images has been sweet enough to stop by and share a few more of the details…

Erin and Ted wanted an intimate wedding with a hometown vibe that celebrated the natural beauty of the town where both sides of Erin’s family have lived for several generations. The couple chose September, knowing that the summer crowds would be gone and guests would be able to enjoy the beauty of the Hamptons as it is known to locals.

They decided that September 13, 2008 – three years and three days after Erin and Ted met – was the perfect date.  The couple chose a reception site with deep personal meaning- Erin’s parents’ home in Sagaponack, where her mother’s family has lived for over 100 years.

The couple also wanted to pay homage to Ted’s Alaskan roots and welcome guests making the trip from Alaska to the “Lower 48.”  Flown in from Alaska…the wedding ceremony incorporated the couple’s personal and family traditions- Rev. Norman H.V. Elliott, a close family friend of the groom traveled all the way from Alaska to officiate at the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, where Erin’s parents were wed 37 years earlier.

So much more to come!

Today we are featuring the most gorgeous real wedding that the forever talented Kate Webber sent us. I am so drawn to great photography, probably in large part thanks to running Style Me Pretty. Learning to take beautiful photographs was actually my New Year’s resolution. So, when a photographer is willing to let me into her creative mind just a bit, I get really excited.

Before I get into that though, let me show you a bit more of Kate’s work from today’s real wedding…

From Kate…

My main aim when shooting comes from my editorial and studio art backgrounds- I try to tell the stories as fully, as beautifully and kindly as possible. My style is a good blend of classic beauty with a bit of an edge…any bit of “funk” I can capture is great– (this wedding was more traditional)!  I never thought I would end up shooting weddings but they drew me in for the love, the creativity present from all the vendors and visions.  There is so much eye candy and so much emotion and I am always excited to capture each.  AND, most importantly, it is truly fulfilling to do something that I love and do well and to give it to people for their families on one of the most important days in their lives thus far.  Its like spreading ongoing smiles to couples and their families each time they look at their wedding images.

I love that. Love Kate. So much more to come from today’s wedding, so many more gorgeous details on the way!

I am really excited to share today’s real wedding with you, as it is such a beautiful compliment to yesterday’s featured affair. Sent to us by the insanely talented Kate Webber, the wedding took place in Sagaponack, NY this past September. With a really similar color palette to yesterday’s wedding, along with the same beach chic vibe, it’s so fun to see how different brides translate a very similar style…

The gorgeous dress is by Rivini from the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in New York and the bridesmaids dresses are Butter by Nadia. All of the paper products were designed by the oh-so-talented, Little Black Book member, Saima Says in Washington DC.

From the bride…

Ted and I met when they when we were seated next to each other by mistake at a wedding in Erie, Pennsylvania. I approached a table full of strangers not knowing that I was about to sit down next to my future husband. A friend of mine (also named Kate Webber, just like our photographer) had brought Ted along as a platonic date. After hitting it off immediately, we were inseparable the rest of the evening. Because I lived in New York City and Ted in Baltimore, I was worried I may never see him again—but 24 hours later we were talking on the phone as if we had known each other for years.

Before moving to New York City and Baltimore, Ted and I started our lives on opposite sides of the country; myself, a native of the Hamptons, New York and Tedof Anchorage, Alaska.   Following a year and a half and hundreds of emails and phone calls and countless train rides between Baltimore and New York City, I moved to Baltimore. Shortly thereafter, on a beautiful summer night in my hometown of Sagaponack, Ted lured me to the beach for a moonlit walk that ended with a proposal of marriage.

So much more to come!

A few more gorgeous photographs and some fun details from today’s featured affair…

Are you in love yet? Just wait until you hear about all of the lovely things that the bride incorporated into their day…

When it came to planning and execution, the couple looked to family members for creative expertise and guidance. Erin’s sister and maid of honor Lauren, a special-events professional, was declared “executive wedding planner.” Erin’s mother designed and made the flower girl dresses in white eyelet with yellow sashes, an eyelet table runner and 200 navy grosgrain and white eyelet ribbon napkin rings.  She also spent a year weaving traditional Nantucket baskets as gifts for the nine bridesmaids, each personalized with the bridesmaid’s monogram etched in scrimshaw. WOW.The flower girls also carried her woven baskets, filled with daisies for the ceremony.

The bride, Erin, loves beautiful papers and each element of her invitations were all custom designed and letterpressed by Saima Says. The ringbearer’s “pillow” was a gorgeous NAUTILUS shell that held the wedding bands neatly in its camerae (chambers).

As for the photography, Erin found Kate Webber before even having met Ted!  Erin was a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding at Sea Ranch, California, 3 years earlier and after seeing Kate’s beautiful  images and remembering her personality at the wedding, Erin knew she was the one to tell her wedding story!  Kate is originally from outside New York and offers several “home markets” outside of her San Francisco base– New York, being one of them!

So, so, so much more to come!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Lyndsey Hamilton for sharing today’s featured wedding with us! It’s absolutely gorgeous and such a reflection of your talents. And Jake McBride of Christian Oth, well, your photographs are flawless!

From Lyndsey…

Kaitlin wanted to make a big exit, so we passed out sparklers to all guests and lit them as they ran thru the lines of family and friends.  We also lined a walkway with dozens of lanterns from the barn to the street–it was truly breathtaking!  This was one of my favorite weddings of last because of Kaitlin.  She was so wonderful to work with and just wanted a fun, laid-back, and non-fussy wedding!

Wedding Update: Kaitlin and Will’s Mulford Farm wedding is featured in the Hampton’s edition of Well Wed Bridal Magazine, just realeased yesterday!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

For those of you that are checking in on your afternoon coffee break, we are featuring the most lovely Hamptons wedding today, which was sent to us by the ever so talented Lyndsey Hamilton. Lyndsey plans events from New York to New England and back to California (and of course, everywhere in between) and her sense of style and design is always spot on. She brings the couple’s life into every element, making sure that the weddings she plans are a true reflection of the couple…

photographs by Jake McBride at Christian Oth / Florals by Matthew Robbins at Artfool

This reception…sigh. It’s so beautiful, it’s hard for me to find the right words. It’s got this effortless chic style going, with the flowers set in mason jars, the pretty silver lanterns, the craft paper menus and the sprigs of fresh rosemary. It’s a little bit French country, but not too much. A little bit Anthropologie, but not too much. It’s organic and fresh, it’s styled but not over-styled. Love, love, love.

From Lyndsey Hamilton…

For the reception, Kaitlin and I decided upon a blue and white color palette, with beautiful blue linens and bamboo folding chairs.  We wanted the flowers to be unfussy, with each arrangement in its own unique container, ranging from antique tins to milk bottles.  Kaitlin did not want a traditional wedding cake, but rather her childhood favorite: a “fudgy-the-whale” ice cream cake from Carvel, that we topped with two bride and groom rubber ducks.  Guests also snacked on a beautiful dessert table of local pies and cookies.

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

When I see one of these barn inspired, Hampton-esque weddings, here is what I think about…Simple, natural flowers. Sweet, rustic details like wrought iron lanterns and shabby chic containers. Wonderful, organic food. And a sense of luxury and elegance. This wedding is that and so much more…

photos by Jake McBride at Christian Oth (and I am loving every single image)

The flowers for this wedding were done by one of my favorite designers, Matthew Robbins at Artfool. His sense of style is unmatched, really…with each design complimenting the whole to perfection. The catering was done by Thyme and Again and if it taste as good as Jake made it look…well, it must have been exquisite. Just wait until you see the absolutely gorgeous reception that Lyndsey designed. It’s FLAWLESS.

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

Here’s a first look at the cocktail hour from today’s wedding that Lyndsey Hamilton sent us…

photos by Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

I love that the colors of the linens echo the colors of the bridesmaids dresses…a great way to tie the styles together without going overboard. More to come!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

One of the things that I love about today’s featured wedding is the completely laid back style. The wedding is gorgeous and it’s thoughtfully designed, and yet it seems like the planning was really seamless. Every element just flows. It’s got this Jackie Kennedy way about it…don’t you think?

photographs by Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

From Lyndsey….

The wedding was to be outdoor and tented.  We planned to use the various barns and structures located on the property for cocktail hour and also incorporate them as a unique element for the flow of the wedding.  Their ceremony was held at St. Luke’s church, directly next to Mulford Farm.  Guests then walked from the ceremony into beautiful gardens and passed thru an antique turnstile to Mulford Farm.

More to come!

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

Loving today’s Lyndsey Hamilton planned event…it’s Hampton style at it’s best!

photographs from Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

From Lyndsey…

Kaitlin wanted a causal wedding and chose gorgeous silk skirts in varying bright colors for the bridesmaids.  Each bridesmaid wore her own white shirt.  We incorporated the bright colors of the bridesmaid skirts in the floral decor and linens for cocktail hour.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

We are featuring the absolutely gorgeous wedding that Lyndsey Hamilton sent us today…it’s all about the Hamptons. That picture perfect rustic charm that seems to permeate everything within this style. Love, love, love.

all of the lovely photographs shot by Jake McBride of Christian Oth Studios

That beautiful dress that the bride is wearing is a Monique Lhuillier and the vintage lace overlay, well…it’s perfection. There is something really sweet and timid about this wedding. Perhaps it is the understated elegance of the day or the  oh-so-pretty bride. Maybe it’s the fresh from the garden style of flowers. Whatever it is, it’s just beautiful.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

Lyndsey Hamilton is one of those planners that you book the minute she has an opening. She just has this way about the events that she crafts…they seem incredibly personal, incredibly real and always, incredibly beautiful. And to be honest, those are the traits that I look for when featuring a wedding on Style Me Pretty. I don’t like to show weddings that are overly designed or manufactured. I love weddings where the couple, the bride, the beauty of the day can really shine through.

So when Lyndsey send us today’s featured wedding, which just happened to be photographed by Jake McBride of Christian Oth (love), I swooned…

From Lyndsey…

Kaitlin & Will had chosen East Hampton as their wedding location when they were living in Hong Kong.  Kaitlin had spent summers in the Hamptons as a child, and her family owned a home directly across the street from Mulford Farm. Because there had never been a wedding held at Mulford Farm, which is maintained by the East Hampton Historical Society, Kaitlin knew that she needed to hire a planner to orchestrate the details and logistics–that was when she hired us!  We began planning the wedding in January for the following September.

So much more to come from this lovely wedding…

{To see the full gallery, click here!}

When you think of the golden hues and sizzling colors of fall, Brooklyn may not be the first place that pops into your mind.

Question: If you add a chic, modern, state-of-the-art production facility overlooking the Brooklyn Navy Yard to the mix … what do you have?

Answer: A magnificent fall wedding … from one of our favorite Little Black Book photographers, Karen Wise.

Jane and Bryan’s posh city event took place at Stage 6 at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn NY. This place is incredible.

Stage 6 is the newest venue of Abigail Kirsch, a world renowned caterer and author of The Bride and Groom’s First Cookbook!

A few more of the specifics: Jane’s the maids’ gowns were by Jim Hjelm, shoes by Stuart Weitzman. Hairpiece is by Myran Callan of Twigs and Honey (Etsy). The gorgeous fall florals were by Atlas Florist.

Joy D. Cho (Oh Joy!) designed the entire stationery suite from start to finish. How gorgeous is this! Her designs never cease to amaze us.

The Caramel Sea Salt Brownies were from Mari’s NY (you’ll drool at the brownies on their website!).

Love, love, love fall weddings!

For more gorgeous weddings from Karen Wise, do check out her website and blog!

Previous Posts on Style Me Pretty from Karen:

Joy’s Wedding

Deb and Jack’s Fall Wedding In Connecticut (Features Hana Floral Design with amazing bouquets and wedding florals)

Winter Wedding At Blue Hill Farms, NY

September Wedding In Chatham, MA (gorgeous colors!!!)

Shining & Karl’s Wedding (saw one of these pics in the current Martha Stewart Wedding magazine!!)(more pics from this great wedding on Karen’s blog)

Julia & Scott’s Westchester Wedding (love Julia’s bouquet)

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Hana Floral Design

View Portfolio

It’s no secret by now … we LOVE Daria and Andy Bishop’s photography!

We featured Amanda & Jeff’s gorgeous Shelburne Farms wedding just a couple of days ago along with some great reasons on the decision to have a “first look”. If you haven’t already seen it, take a peek!

And back in February 08 Abby featured another of Daria’s weddings … one that a loyal Style Me Pretty reader, Robyn, sent in. Robyn & Keith’s wedding took place at The Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, Vermont. Robyn said that she had always considered herself fairly creative, but it wasn’t until planning her own wedding that she realized just how much she could do, herself! Here’s the first of the posts from that day.  For lots of DIY ideas, be sure and read Part II and Part III. By the way, the color palette was rich! Apple green (chartreuse), deep purples, browns, and ivories. Rich.

So moving on to today’s featured wedding … when we saw Brandi and Marty’s Adirondack wedding on Daria’s blog, our list of photo requests was a mile long! (Andy actually said we were like kids in a candy store …) We have lots of delightful shots from this wedding, and there are tons more on Daria’s blog!

Doesn’t Brandi look like she’s just about to burst with excitement?

Such a doll! I’ll bet this little girl feels pretty important right about now.

Brandi and Marty were married at St. Agnes, an incredible Roman Catholic Church in Lake Placid, NY.

The photo of Brandi (above) won 2nd place in the “Bride Getting Ready” category of the Wedding Photojournalist Association’s quarterly contest! Way to go Daria!

I think Abby and I were having one of our same color karma days today! Her featured wedding (Julia & Brian) also showcases a yummy yellow color palette. Sunshine, joy, happiness … a perfect wedding color!

Now, a word about baby’s breath. Tons of people say they don’t care for it … but when it’s used like this … mmm … gorgeous.

What Daria and Andy can do with color …. !!

If you’ve been following our Little Black Book Blog for long, you know I love a great ring shot … (and precious “mini-maids”).

The reception was held at the Lake Placid Club Golf House (said to have the most beautiful view of the High Peaks in the Adirondacks, with an open-beamed ceiling, a massive stone fireplace & magnificent antler chandeliers).

So, what else can we say? Brandi and Marty, you guys had an awesome wedding. And Daria and Andy, you guys rock!

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

Every now and then, I get a really beautiful write-up from the bride of a featured Real Wedding after we’ve already posted the event. I usually just thank the bride but let her know that we’ve already featured another wedding. This time, though, the write-up was just so lovely and the additional pictures so beautiful, I wanted to share.

Here is a bit more from yesterday’s completely cozy Winter Inspired Wedding from Karen Wise …

From the bride…

We (Jill & Eric) live in Westchester County NY. We wanted a small, intimate wedding – more of a cozy dinner party with close family and friends than a big, choreographed affair. We chose Blue Hill at Stone Barns for several reasons. First, the food is fabulous. Eric and I enjoy buying produce at farmers markets and like to eat locally produced foods whenever possible.We had visited Stone Barns and eaten at Blue Hill in the past and loved the fresh, farm-to-table ethic and organically grown food. Rather than choosing from a catering menu far in advance, the chef designed a personalized menu for us about a week before the wedding that featured what was fresh and in season on the farm that week.

The setting itself is rustic, yet sophisticated and there was something really magical about the way the votive candles made the stone and timber-beam interior glow. We kept the decor simple, unfussy and elegant to echo Blue Hill’s interiors. There were simple mustard yellow/green raw silk table runners and floral arrangements of richly-colored seasonal flowers and berries on two long rectangular tables – each set for 20 guests. Ou

r Chupah was made of fresh bamboo that we discovered growing on our property. Sandra Clothier, our florist designed an amazing structure using the bamboo Eric and I harvested (literally – we spent half a day in the woods, saws in hand chopping down 7-foot lengths of the stuff!) and garlands of magnolia leaves – which were in season.

Because it was such an intimate gathering, we wanted our guests to be able to chat and enjoy each other’s company so it was important to us that the music blended with and enhanced the mood with rather than overpowered conversation. We opted for a simple jazz trio to play during the ceremony and dinner that followed. Eric and I didn’t do a traditional “first dance” However, on the spur of the moment during dinner we felt inspired when the musicians played one of our favorite songs and snuck off to dance. It was very romantic and spontaneous and one of my favorite moments of the evening.

The beautiful cake was crafted by Sweet Melissa in Brooklyn, New York.

Lisa Hoffman of Ceci New York is guest blogging for us today…with a sneak peak of her newest White Label Collection (a fabulous ready-made line of her insanely gorgeous invitations) and her new letterpressed boxed stationery sets!

* * *

Before I share the details from my White Label Collection, here is Detail of the Kimono Collection, one of my new boxed sets. Inspired by vintage kimono fabrics. The vibrant color is so energizing. There are 6 collections in all – over 48 different designs.

Some of my favorites of the White Label Collection. This one is called Antiqued.

And another…a winter inspired invite, called Lumiere – perfect for December brides!

And finally, I wanted to give you guys the details of our upcoming holiday party…hope to see you there!

Join us to celebrate the season and toast to our new beautiful showroom with a  CECI HOLIDAY SHOPPING PARTY! Experience an exclusive opportunity to shop the newly launched Ceci Stationery collections. Featuring over 48 new designs!

The unique packaging, fresh designs and luxurious quality make the perfect holiday present… Each box is only $39.95 * Bonus: Personalized hand calligraphed gift tags with every purchase!

Tuesday – December 9th,  6:00pm – 9:00 pm

130 West 23rd Street / Second Floor / New York, New York 10011…Please respond to rsvp@cecinewyork.com. Everyone is welcome!

Amanda at Orchard Cove Photography sent us several fun weddings from this past summer, and it was SO hard to choose just one to show you on today’s Little Black Book Blog. (I even resorted to asking her to help us choose!) But, as any great photographer would  say … she couldn’t! There is just no way to choose a favorite when you’re blessed to be in this industry that is filled with so many unique couples with such great personalities. So, we’ll just have to keep the other weddings for a later date … and urge you to visit Amanda’s website and blog to feast your eyes upon so many more creative weddings and detail shots.

Today’s LBB Real Wedding: Ben and Hedda, Greenport, NY in July 2008: from the bride … Ben and I were married on the North Fork of Long Island.  We wanted a Fourth of July weekend-wedding where our friends and family would feel relaxed and happy. Our wedding was small, about 80 people, no bridesmaids or groomsmen.

We picked sunflowers … this was the first and easiest starting point. The sunflower is simple, but brilliant. Our friend, Sarah, did an amazing job with the flowers!

Our invitation invited our guests to join us “on the lawn”.

Coliseum Catering specializes in Fourth of July BBQs, and we served huge ice cream sandwiches for dessert. They’re Biggy Iggy and Chewie Louies! Ben and I discovered them in New Hampshire and have deemed them the most amazing ice cream cookies EVER. We also had a fabulous local “Newgrass” band, Astrograss.

Our wedding goal was to simplify….. I think we pulled it off!

Well, Hedda and Ben may have simplified, but I can’t imagine a more beautiful wedding.

Amanda, a Connecticut and Vermont based photographer, traveled to Long Island to photograph Ben & Hedda’s wedding.  Thanks Amanda for sharing their special memories with us.

{to see the full gallery, click here!}

One of SMP’s favorite designers, Amy Atlas, has been at it again…this time, crafting the most fabulous dessert table for the equally fabulous Wedding Library in New York!

This table was inspired by an Alan Campbell wallpaper that the Wedding Library uses and was actually filmed for a Martha Stewart show called The Art of Cakes, 2, that will debut on the Style Network on December 16. How cool is that?

Check out Amy’s website if you haven’t already. And, if you are in need of some serious wedding inspiration, some great planning tips and a handful of gorgeous wedding finds, check out the Wedding Library’s new blog!

Stay tuned to find out about the designers behind the great silhouette boxes!

Karen Wise, today’s featured Little Black Book member, is based in New York … but shoots from coast to coast … New York to Palm Beach … Canada to India*.  You simply must spend some time on her website and new blog for some superb weddings with detail shots galore. 

This next wedding is another New York based event shot by Karen. Love the jade bracelet (and Shining & Karl’s adorable dog).

Bottom line is … if you develop a good rapport with your wedding photographer, believe me, the camera will love you right back. As you can see in these shots, being at ease with Karen, is a breeze!  Thanks, Karen, for joining us at SMP in our Little Black Book Blog  and for being the best of the best in the industry!

We have one more of Karen’s weddings coming up, so check back soon.