In a nutshell, this Newport wedding from Studio Atticus and Hello Super Studios is a dream come true for a blogger like myself. It’s the perfect amount of vintage sprinkled with some serious style, and that all makes for one fabulous fête to swoon over today. With a team of vendors as talented as this group, it’s really no surprise. Because when you have a Sperry Tent filled with gorgeous blooms by Stoneblossom all planned to perfection by Gracie Lou Events you simply know you’ll have a stunner on your hands – and that’s just what’s waiting for you in the highlight film and the full gallery of images.

Maegan & Kevin’s super 8 wedding film highlights: The Eisenhower House, Newport, RI from Hello Super Studios on Vimeo.

From Studio Atticus… Maegan and Kevin have known each other since they were children. Although they live in Connecticut, they decided to marry in Newport, Rhode Island, where they fell in love. The reception at the Eisenhower House was filled with whimsical details — chandeliers, charming rustic table, pink goblets, delightful florals and so much more. Pashmina wraps, in cotton candy colors served as favors for their guests.

From the Bride… Growing up, Kevin and I would travel to Newport each summer with our families and friends.  The small seaside town has always meant a great deal to us especially since my husband attended college nearby.  While celebrating our marriage in Newport was an obvious choice, choosing a venue to accommodate our 300 guests was a bit more difficult.  After much searching, we stumbled upon the Eisenhower House at Fort Adams State Park.  I saw it immediately, a glowing Sperry Tent along the water, beautiful flowers, and our closest friends and family.  Our planning experience was undoubtedly a labor of love with many DIY projects completed by my mother and mother-in-law, two truly amazing women.  We are so thankful that my mother spent so many hours crafting table runners, refinishing furniture, and collecting glass bottles and vintage china just so we would have the most beautiful memories of our wedding day.  And last, but certainly not least, we are eternally grateful to Connie of Studio Atticus and Megan of Hello Super Studios for capturing the day flawlessly.  [dotted]
Wedding Photography: Studio Atticus| Cinematography: Hello Super Studios | Wedding Venue: Eisenhower House | Event Planning + Coordination: Gracie Lou Events | Floral Design: Stoneblossom | Catering: Russell Morin Catering | Wedding Dress: Marissa Bridals | Headpiece + Belt: Doloris Petunia | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin (gift from Groom) | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale | Lounge Area Rentals: New England Vintage Rentals | Tent + Farm Tables: Sperry Tents | Lighting + Chandeliers: Revelation Productions | Ballroom Chairs: Rentals Unlimited | Other Rentals: (Pink Glasses + Silverware + China): Fancy That | Reception Music: Heart Beat Dance Band | Mobile Facilities: Luxury Loo | Rentals: New England Country Rentals

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Stoneblossom Floral and Wedding Design

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Today is going to be a good day. First on the agenda, we have this beyond beautiful wedding from Kate Webber Photography (seriously, check out that reception – Got Light did some fantastic work creating that ambiance). And then this afternoon, Taste Catering & Event Design is back with our very first Ask the Expert feature… answering your catering questions! But until then, this is a gallery that can keep you busy.

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From the stunning bride… Jereb proposed when we were sitting on the beach outside of our hotel on Tomales Bay with our dogs Taboo and Delilah, shucking oysters, eating cheese, and drinking beer and I had just beat him in a game of dominoes (which is a rare thing) and as I was basking in my win he nervously got down on one knee and asked me to marry him- I was so surprised and we were both so excited I can’t really remember what happened next but that I said yes!

There are a very limited number of spaces in San Francisco that can hold a guest count over 250 that has both an outdoor and indoor space. That being said, Treasure Island proved to be an awesome, unique choice. The Winery was like a blank, rustic canvas and even though we knew we’d be challenged by the weather outdoors, the views are so extraordinary that we thought we’d take the risk.

Natural, relaxed, and colorful was the inspiration for our day. I think that mine and Jereb’s style shone through in all the details. We stayed away from magazines and just went off of colors and styles we love and are attracted to. Something that was important to both of us was that everyone felt comfortable and included, we served dinner family style and didn’t do assigned seating but assigned tables of 24 so people could get to know each other over enjoying great food. We really wanted to create an electric energy, like when you go into a bustling restaurant and look around and you can just tell that everyone is having the best time. With the help of Jess Flood Designs, my mom, Taste Catering and an amazing lighting team it became a reality!

Everywhere I looked there was something that I noticed that was unique to our style that we chose or created. Jereb and I are huge sports fans so we made “rally towels” for our guests and all throughout the night they were reappearing, I loved seeing how they came into play. Jess Flood our coordinator, who was amazing, knew that I hated flower arrangements on the dinner tables at weddings, they always seem to get in the way or block your view of the person sitting across from you, so her and her team built low, “canoe” planters out of wine barrel staves, they looked amazing. Jereb’s brother is a photographer and he has been known to set up a photobooth of sorts, it’s hard to explain how he does it but its in an open space and you hold the clicker to take the photos, I loved watching people use it and the photos turned out amazing and hilarious.

From going to the Farmer’s Market in the morning with my girls to riding the bus back to the Vitale Hotel at the end of the night (1:30 AM) with my new husband, every moment was totally different and amazing. I loved taking the trolley across the Bay Bridge with my mom and ladies right before the ceremony, walking down the aisle with my mom and dad, I was nervous through my vows and stumbled on my words (thats a great photo), seeing how amazing the cocktail area turned out with the band playing, (umbrellas and trees and turquoise adirondacks), the food, walking down into the winery (it was magical, some people were saying it reminded them of the dining room at Hogwarts, dorky yes, but I’m totally cool with that), my dad’s speech (nailed it!), dancing the night away with my man – almost a year later everything is still pretty vivid. The boat ride we took with our wedding parties after the ceremony was pretty awesome, it gave us a moment to sit back and relax before the craziness recommenced, the pictures from that are some of my favorites. Also the shots from the ceremony are spectacular with the city in the background.

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Photography: Kate Webber Photography | Flowers: Jess Flood Event Design | Event Design & Planning: Jess Flood Event Design | Ceremony Location: Treasure Island | Reception Location: SF Winery | Catering: Taste Catering & Event Planning | Invitations: Twig & Fig | Dress: Lela Rose | Lighting: Got Light | Rentals: Hartmann Studio

If you ask me, destination “I dos” are where it’s at. Because when you combine the romance of a wedding, the excitement of adventure, and those postcard-perfect views…well, it’s like snagging yourself a one-way ticket to swoonville. And this Jamaica love fest? No exception. With Round Hill Hotel and Villas as their backdrop and the crazy talented Closer to Love duo behind the camera, there’s no doubt this wedding was the ultimate day.

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From the Bride…We were the couple that never thought we would be wed – that progressive couple that thought we didn’t need marriage to define our relationship.  But something happened to us ten years later, our hearts changed and we were open to the idea.  Aaron popped the question and I had butterflies.  It couldn’t have been more perfect of timing.

Needless to say, I’ve never dreamt once before of what my wedding could be and had no expectations other than for it to be intimate and relaxed.  And since we’re not the traditional couple, we certainly did not want a traditional ceremony.  All of these things led to an easy decision, destination wedding.  We fell in love with Montego Bay right away, but trying to find the perfect resort was tricky.  With much research, it led us to the most incredible place on Earth (according to us), the Round Hill Hotel and Villas.  This former pineapple plantation captured everything we wanted:  complete sophistication but with an effortless atmosphere.  Grand enough to house the likes of Grace Kelly and the Kennedys but small enough that the entire Round Hill staff knew my guests by name. 

Transferring and planning for 40 people was certainly a tall task – someone described it on the trip as to “herding kittens.”   However, we were up for the challenge and made it work.  We were incredibly fortunate in assembling the best team that made everything incredibly easy for us – from our coordinator, Raquel, to our lovely photographers to the local artist that we used to letterpress our invitations and menus.  Everyone went above and beyond and made the planning process equally as enjoyable as the execution was.  Each detail was valued as a memory and was tailored to giving our guests the ultimate experience.  It was important for our friends and family to feel the gratitude that Aaron and I had for them – that they had traveled so far to witness us say ‘I do’ and that they had patiently waited all these years for our big day to come.

Every day was planned with an event.  A chartered sailboat served as our welcome party, where we snorkeled in a nearby lagoon and toured the bay until sunset.   The following day, Aaron proudly organized beach games on the shore, which involved tossing mangos into rings and relay races on paddle boats.  Later that night, we kicked off our shoes and dined directly on the beach in the sand for our rehearsal dinner.  We enjoyed a Jamaican barbeque feast and celebrated with folklore dancers, fire breathing artists and the now-infamous limbo.  News traveled quickly, and I was greeted as “Limbo Queen” from there on out.   

Our ceremony was held on a shallow cliff overlooking the bay and the cocktail party in a large hut next to the infiniti pool.  Candles illuminated the path for our guests which lead them to our sunset reception at the Hanover terrace.  Paper lanterns adorned the large tree that pierced through the balcony and shaded our guests below.  Candles glistened throughout…  That night was perfect and will forever have our hearts.  Every second was divine.

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Photography: Closer to Love Photography | Venue: Round Hill Hotel and Villas | Wedding Coordinator: Raquel Bernard | Cinematography: Elite Media Concepts | Floral + Candles: Tia Flora Services Ltd. | Invitations + Menus: Blackbird Letterpress  | Calligrapher of invitations + Menus: Neithersnow | Calligrapher of place cards: Nancy Hopkins Handlettering | Guest Bags: Faux Pas Printing | Cake: Round Hill | Officiant: Glenroy Clarke | Ceremony Guitarist: Jorge Valenciano | DJ: Kevan Stewart | Makeup: LVO Makeup Artistry by Lynna Vo | Hair: Huey Nguyen | Wedding Dress + Hairpins: BHLDN | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Veil: Mia Bridal Couture | Garter: Bella Fleur Bridal | Maid of Honor Dress: J.Crew | Groom + Best Man Suits, Custom: Luca Falcone | Shoes: To Boot New York | Tie: Tie Bar | Cufflinks: Zara

There are so many words I could use to describe this Essex House wedding from Lauren Gabrielle Photography, but honestly, there isn’t a single one that would possibly do it justice. Glamorous, timeless, perfect? Yes, but nothing quite fits. So I’ll leave you with the notion that it’s every girls dream, (and every bloggers dream too, for that matter) and you can get lost in each and every gorgeous moment right here.

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From the Bride… From the moment we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to get married in Manhattan. While we met and started dating in high school in Connecticut, we really started our life together post-college in NYC. We really wanted to incorporate the NYC theme wherever we could. The venue search was exhausting; the city has so many amazing venues, we didn’t know where to start. After visiting an extensive number of different venues we had to decide whether we wanted a hotel wedding, a loft, or one of the old banks that have been turned into an event space. in the end choosing the Essex House was an easy decision. The ballroom was so gorgeous, and the event team was so amazing and accommodating, we knew we made the right choice.

I knew I wanted a really classic and elegant black tie New York City wedding. I love black and white and knew I wanted those to be my wedding colors. I also did not want to look back in 20 years and ask myself “what was I thinking?”. The ballroom at the Essex House is so beautiful I knew I wanted to keep the flowers and decor all white because I did not want to compete with what was already going on. Ashley at Belle Fleur is an amazing artist and brought my vision to life. She had so many creative ideas and was such a pleasure to work with. From the beginning of the wedding planning process we knew we wanted a big party; we wanted our friends and family on the dance floor all night. Our band did not disappoint, they were fantastic and kept our guests dancing for the entire 4 and a half hours (we even extended the party!). Everyone we worked with was absolutely amazing: Stacy and Sally on hair and makeup, our team of coordinators Jason, Jeffrey and Peter, and Lauren our photographer. Thanks to them our wedding day was the most amazing and perfect day of our lives. [dotted]

Wedding Photography: Lauren Gabrielle Photography | Ceremony Venue: St Ignatius Loyola | Reception Venue: JW Marriott Essex House | Event Coordination: Jeffrey Selden of Marcia Selden Catering | Floral Design: Belle Fleur | Invitations: Judy Paulen via Bloomingdale’s | Wedding Dress: Rivini via Kleinfeld | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale via The Wedding Library | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Diamond Bracelet ‘on loan’ from T. Gluck | Earrings: Kleinfeld | Hair: Stacy Pitt of Styles on B | Makeup: Sally Duvall | Entertainment: The Michael Hart Band with Hank Lane | Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren Black Label

I love mini destination weddings.  You know the ones.  Those drop-dead gorgeous weddings where you and your honey (+ closest friends and family) venture off to a breathtaking paradise close to your hometown?  It’s a crazy wonderful way to celebrate and this fun-filled Grayton Beach State Park affair is a shining example with its vibrant hues, seaside nuptials and one stunning moment after another captured beautifully by Churchill’s Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… We wanted a small wedding with a focus on making it a fun experience for everyone involved, while allowing us to spend time with 35 of our closest friends and family.  We didn’t want the destination to be far enough away to exclude anyone, but we did want a stunning backdrop, so we chose the always-beautiful Florida gulf coast, which was close enough to our home in metro Atlanta for folks to make the drive.

Our family stayed at the bed and breakfast where the reception was hosted, and our friends rented two big beach houses nearby.  The day of the wedding, we split the houses up, boys in one and girls in the other, while getting ready.  Since we had the ceremony at a state park, we and our guests took turns throughout the day staking out our spot on the beach.  Starting the morning on a quiet beach with my maid of honor gave me some time to relax and take in everything that was taking place!

Getting married an hour before sunset with our toes in the beautiful white sand was an incredible experience.  After the ceremony, we headed to the backyard area of the Hibiscus, where our guests were already having a great time.  My bridesmaids and I had worked on lots of little crafty elements to add a personal touch.  We had a homemade photo booth setup where people could take fun pictures with props like chalkboard speech bubbles or empty picture frames that were hung from the trees.  Dinner featured one of my favorite things about the coast: seafood!  The whole event positively flew by, but we were able to spend time with everyone, and many of our guests told us it was the most fun they’ve ever had at a wedding.

From Churchill’s Photography… It was such a huge honor for us to photograph Amanda and Brad’s wedding!  They got married in one of the most beautiful spots in the country, Florida’s Gulf Coast, and Amanda put so much care and thought into her wedding. Many of the details such as the invitations, signs, and decorations were all DIY by Amanda.  

They decided to do a First Look so we found a secluded spot in the gardens at Watercolors, a resort town not far from their ceremony location.  They were so sweet together and we had a great time taking photos around the gardens and boat house.  And of course the white sand beaches of the gulf coast made for the perfect ceremony and post ceremony photos.  The reception was at a beautiful and cozy little bed and breakfast where the mood was perfect with twinkling lights in the trees and music playing softly in the background. It was a wedding where we definitely felt like we were more on vacation than working!

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Photography: Churchill’s Photography | Floral Design: Forever I Do | Day of Coordination + Rentals: Forever I Do | Ceremony Location: Grayton Beach State Park | Reception Location: Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse | Invitations: DIY | Shoes: Havaianas via Zappos | Dress: Paloma Blanca via La Raine’s Bridal Boutique | Cake: Publix | Hair + Makeup: Vivo Spa Salon | Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal | Men’s Outfits: Mens Wearhouse

I know this goes without saying, but backyard weddings?  They’re awesome.  And ever since that fateful day I viewed Father of the Bride for the very first time (shout out to 7th grade!), they’ve been some of my favorites.  Which is exactly why I happen to be somewhat obsessed (read: all kinds of obsessed) with this darling Sonoma affair from Robin Jolin Weddings.  It’s what I call backyard perfection with a sweet garden setting, beautiful peach and green hues and family touches woven throughout.  Annie Banks would be sooo proud.  Click here for more.

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From the Bride… When we were planning the wedding, we wanted to create an intimate and romantic setting that included family touches to help create a meaningful and special event for everyone in attendance. I envisioned soft colors with pops of peaches and greens, candles and string lights in my Grandmother’s beautiful garden, and whimsical flowers to create our version of a fairytale wedding. By having neutral tones we were able to emphasize the special details that were incorporated into the wedding. From the custom bow ties, flower girl headbands to the reception decorations, flowers, handmade programs, table numbers and menus, we were able to have fun with the details to make the day our own.

Family is extremely important to us, and we wanted to incorporate that into the wedding. We served my parents’ wine and my brother’s beer at the wedding and Dave’s father made jam favors for guests to take home. We added family heirlooms to include those that are no longer with us — I wore my Great Grandmother’s earrings and used my Grandparent’s cake cutting knife that they used on their wedding day. Our  wedding day was also on my cousin’s birthday which was special, because my grandparent’s anniversary was on my Mom’s birthday, continuing the tradition that we have in our family.

Superman Logo: Dave and I figured out early on that our middle names were something special. Dave’s middle name is Clark and my middle name is Kent. Together they form Clark Kent, better known as Superman. We’ve tried to incorporate Superman into events in the past and the wedding was no different. This is what inspired my something blue. I wanted to surprise Dave with the Superman logo at the wedding, which is why I had it sewn into my dress. It was something fun and an inside joke for the two of us.

Dancing: Dave took ballroom dance classes when he was in college and I have a love for country music and the two-step, so the first dance was fun for us. We opted out of taking lessons, because as one friend of hers put it, “that man can dance!” We decided to pick “When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Krauss for our first dance and it was definitely a highlight of our evening!

Handkerchief: Dave and I had custom handkerchiefs that we gave as gifts to our family before the ceremony. It was a sweet way to have them come and see us before we said our vows and have a special moment together. We had our initials put on them to add a personal touch. My cousin then surprised me with my Great Grandmother’s handkerchief that had been given to her on her wedding day, continuing on the family tradition.

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Wedding Photography: Robin Jolin Productions | Wedding Venue: St Andrew Presbyterian | Reception: Private Residence, Sonoma | Floral Design: Studio 13 Designs | Wedding Planner: A Nobel Affair | Catering: Preferred Sonoma Caterers, Petaluma | Desserts: Scandia Bakery | Cupcakes: Short and Sweet | Lighting: Illusions Lighting | Rentals: Wine Country Party & Rentals | DJ: Ronny Dickstein “DJ Ronny” | Wine (white): One Hope Wines | Wedding Dress: Glamour Closet, San Francisco | Hair + Makeup: Aleysi Usher at Catalina Salon

This whole wedding weekend with the stunning couple and the beautiful rolling countryside is straight out of a scene from Under the Tuscan Sun. Family style dinners set outside an old stone villa – it’s the whole nine yards designed and planned by SposiamoVi along with lavender and greenery by Fiori del Chianti. Oh to be a guest at this wedding. Have a peek at the full gallery shot by Velvetine Photography for even more.

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From Velvetine Photography…Dutch couple Peter and Claudia got married during a wonderful and exciting wedding weekend near Florence, Italy. They always dreamed of such a thing, simply because they love the rural country in Italy and all of its beauty. When the time came to get married, Italy was the first location that came to mind.

A little town near Florence called Bagno a Ripoli created the perfect backdrop to a gorgeous weekend of festivities. When Peter and Claudia visited Italy to look for a venue they fell in love with ‘the Borgo’, as everyone got used to calling it. Not only was it spacious enough for practically everyone to stay at, it also had the most beautiful view over the valley (with Florence around the corner), and it had a romantic vibe to it. Simple but chic interior, stunning walls and floors (all was neutral so you could add your own style to it), great people to work with and fabulous food. It was the perfect venue for Peter and Claudia’s wedding as they wanted to have their wedding to be natural and relaxed with a country feel. The next step was to find a ceremony location. A little down the road there was this tiny old chapel from the sixteenth century. With frescos all over the walls and ceilings it had a Roman feeling to it – as if you stood in a mini version of the Saint Peter’s cathedral.

The invitations were made by the talented ladies of Oh So Pretty Party. Peter and Claudia asked for ‘something simple’ but ended up with the whole package, literally. Letterpress invites with mintgreen accents and some lovely goodies were packed in cardboard boxes with custom designed labels. Guests were welcomed with another package: a little book full of great and useful information about the area and specially made olive oil from the venue in a cute tin can.

For decoration Claudia wanted to keep things natural and quite simple. Lots of white, mint green and a little purple accent. The long table underneath the oak tree, with the amazing view over the valley, was decorated with lots of potted herb plants and beautiful green glasses within the colour theme. Guests were served goat cheese ravioli with pear as a starter, with lamb and risotto to follow. Whilst eating all of the guests were able to enjoy seeing the sun set over the hills and celebrating through the night with lots of good Italian wine and food.

A group of 50 people, consisting of family and friends, surrounded the bride and groom to celebrate this special happening. Even though the sun didn’t come out for a long time, it was a beautiful day. The amazing thing about a destination wedding is that you feel like you’ve been on a holiday for weeks the minute you arrive at the venue. You could see the absolute happiness on the bride and groom’s faces, which was the reason to be there to begin with. Being able to share a private wedding like this with the people you love is a privilege that Peter and Claudia will never forget.

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Photography: Velvetine Photography | Floral Design: Fiori del Chianti | Event Planning + Design:   SposiamoVi | Ceremony Location: Oratorio di Santa Caterina | Reception Location + Catering: Borgo i Vicelli, Bagno a Ripoli | Invitations: Oh So Pretty Party | Hair + Make Up: SposiamoVi | Bride’s Shoes: Ella Cruz | Bride’s Dress: Caroline Castigliano | Bride’s Ring + Earrings: Jewelry: Pomellato Nude Collection | Necklace: Heirloom from Grandmother | Groom’s Shoes: Santoni  | Suit: Oger Amsterdam  | Watch: IWC | Getaway Car: Vintage Fiat 500

So our inboxes have been flooded with some of the most delectable recipes I’ve seen to date. We’re talking cookies, cakes, cinnamon buns… the works. We’ve been having so much fun with this series that we thought we’d extend it for just one more week! In the meantime, here’s one of many awesome contest submissions to date. Kathryn O’Malley’s grandmother’s recipe for coconut pound cake is an old family favourite that had us sold from the start.

From Kathryn… My grandmother got this recipe for Coconut Pound Cake from a choir member at her New Orleans church many years ago, and has made it many times since. A “real old time” recipe, as my grandmother refers to it. It’s rich and buttery with a moist, delicate crumb, and a glaze that melts right into the warm cake — soft and pillowy and flecked with sweetened coconut flakes. In other words, it’s guaranteed to be a hit!

Jacquelyn ClarkGrandmas Coconut Pound CakeMoist, rich pound cake made with shredded coconut and drizzled with coconut glaze.

prep time 20 Minute/s

cook time 1 Hour/s

total time 1 Hour/s 20 Minute/s

Serves 8Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 cup whole (or low-fat) milk
• 1 tsp coconut extract
• 3½ oz Angel Flake sweetened, shredded coconut
• FOR THE GLAZE:
• 2 tbsp unsweetened coconut milk (or regular milk)
• 1/2 tsp coconut extract
• 1/2 – 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9- or 10-inch tube pan. This cake is delicate so I wouldn’t recommend using a bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer (on medium speed) to cream the butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add in eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Stir in the milk, coconut extract and shredded coconut. Finally, add the flour, baking powder and salt mixture, and stir to combine. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until golden brown, about 1 hour.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Whisk together the coconut milk, coconut extract and confectioner’s sugar until smooth, adding more sugar as needed to thicken the glaze (or more milk if you want to thin it out).
5. Cool cake in pan for 5-10 minutes before removing. Drizzle with glaze while cake is still warm.

So for all you folks who didn’t have time to get your bake on, you have a few more days to get those submissions in! I should probably remind you that a Kitchenaid Mixer (or a gift card of equal value) is at stake here folks.

The new deadline? Monday, August 12, 2013 at midnight EST. We can’t wait to see what you whip up (literally!)

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And the winners of our Nature Box Giveaway are the lucky Mimi & Caitlyn! Ladies, we shall be in touch promptly to tell you how you can claim your prizes. Thanks for playing everyone!

Let’s face it, you really can’t have a clambake without a solid clam chowder recipe. And I’m pretty sure we have just the ticket. Straight from Hog Island Oyster Co. (you may remember them from this incredible birthday party), this clam chowder recipe trumps any and all clam chowder recipes out there. Photographed by Amber Gress, I urge you to make this bad boy immediately, if not sooner.

Jacquelyn ClarkHog Island Oyster Co. Clam ChowderHog Island Oyster Co's world famous clam chowder.

prep time 30 Minute/s

cook time 30 Minute/s

total time 1 Hour/s

Serves 6Ingredients

• 1/2 pound high quality bacon, sliced
• 1/2 stalk celery, thinly sliced
• 2 large leek, white part only, thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 1 large carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 8-10 medium-size Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered into bite-size cubes. Do not peel!
• 6 pounds small, raw Hog Island® Manila clams in the shell, rinsed (note: Hog Island estimates ~3/4 lb. of clams per serving)
• 1 quart heavy cream
• Salt and pepper
• Parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Place clams in a colander in the kitchen sink and rinse throughoughly under running water. Pick through and discard clams with broken or open shells. Allow clams to drain in the sink while you prepare your stock base.
2. FOR THE BASE: In a large stock pot bring about 5-6 cups of water to a boil (no salt) and cook the potatoes until al dente, or just before fork-tender.
3. While the potatoes are boiling, in a second heavy-bottom pot melt the butter with the thyme. Render the bacon in the butter and thyme (over low heat, careful not to burn); once bacon is rendered add leeks and celery, cook until vegetables are translucent.
4. Add carrots and cook until bendable without breaking.
5. Add the potatoes and 4 cups of potato water. The base can be made (up to one day) ahead and kept chilled.
6. FOR THE CLAMS: Portion your clams out per single serving (~3/4 lb per serving) and cook each serving individually. Working in batches, place a single serving of clams in a heavy bottomed sauté pan over medium heat.
7. Ladle one cup of the chowder base on top and cover the pan, simmer for about 5-6 minutes, or until the majority of clams open.
8. Skim through and pick out any clams that have not opened. (Don’t skip this step — unopened clams may spoil the chowder.)
9. Add in 1/2-cup cream per serving and bring the chowder to a simmer. If it is too thick, add in more of the potato water. When the chowder is bubbling in the middle, it is ready to serve. Pour individual servings into a large soup bowl.
10. Serve garnished with cracked pepper and chopped parsley. Don't forget to place extra empty bowls on the table for discarding clam shells.

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Photography: Amber Gress Photography | Food Production and Styling: Chandara Creative | Art Direction: Fourteen-Forty | Venue: Greenwich Village Townhouse, NYC

We’re big fans of Love This Day Events here at SMP. Kara’s weddings are always beautiful, and are always a true reflection of the couple. And when you throw Brinton Studios into the mix, the resulting images are what blogger dreams are made of. Happy Wednesday to you, lovlies!

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From the photographer… Caroline and Brad’s classic Denver wedding was a dream!  It was probably the sunniest day on June 1, 2013 in Colorado and they basked in their wedding glow at the Denver Botanic Gardens and the wonderful Four Seasons downtown Denver.  We loved the tuscan feel that the gardens provided for their ceremony and the Four Seasons came through with their award winning service, as did Kara Delay with Love This Day Events.  We truly felt like old friends shooting their wedding!  Their group was so inviting and complimentary to our work.  We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding to be a part of!  Cori Cook’s gorgeous floral arrangements and center pieces were to die for.  The subtle whites and light pinks of the floral designs were so romantic.  Also, the beautiful chandeliers in the Four seasons created such a soft, romantic and intimate feeling for the reception.  The bride and her father danced to Sweet Caroline and it was such a sweet sight; everyone was cheering them on and dancing surrounding the dance floor, it made such a great memory for everyone in attendance.  One personal touch that we loved were the straws that the bride hand made for each one of her guests.  Soul School really kept the party going with some great music the whole night and BoothB’s photo booth was a huge hit, as well; the guests had so much fun with it throughout the night.  All together this wedding was fabulous and we were honored to be a part of Caroline and Brad’s special day!

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Photography: Brinton Studios | Photobooth: BoothB | Flowers: Cori Cook Floral Design | Event Planning & Design: Kara Delay, Love This Day Events | Ceremony Location: Mara Owen, Denver Botanic Gardens | Reception Location: Anglie Vossler, Four Seasons  Denver | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair/Makeup: Britt Chambers, Fluff Bar | Reception Music: Soul School | Cake: Four Seasons Pastry

The idea of a clambake has always been incredibly appealing to me, but the fact that I don’t live near the ocean has been a bit of a deterrent. It never really occurred to me that I could throw a city version with a similar, yet slightly urban approach. It turns out when you pair Fourteen-Forty, Amber Gress, Chandara Creative, and Love + Brain Films to name a few, beautifully brilliant things ensue. Oh, and it can all be found right here.

Summer Clambake in the City from Courtney Arcese on Vimeo.

From Patricia at Fourteen-Forty… Recently, a group of talented wedding gals got together to create a perfect summer feast in the backyard of a Manhattan townhouse. As fellow small business owners, we think it’s so important to encourage and support one another, and that was what this dinner was all about—doing something creative while sharing, laughing, and learning from each other. When thinking about the theme for the night, we longed to create the most summery, outdoorsy feast possible, especially since we all live in metropolitan areas. We realized that a clambake would be perfect, but it can be really involved and time-consuming to prepare (plus you need to be on a beach), so we found a way to adapt classic recipes to make it come to life right in the heart of the city. 

A few DIY touches as well—the food for the night was created by Chandara of Chandara Creative. We sourced all our ingredients locally, from Chelsea Market, which included trips to their amazing seafood market, the butcher, and their amazing produce store. The drink stirs have a DIY instruction component that HushedCommotion has broken down on her blog, and the Geometric Silver backdrop has DIY instructions as well on the Fourteen-Forty blog. The majority of our tabletop items are vintage and things we already owned. We choose a simple color palette of Red, Blue, and Yellow, to highlight the naturally beautiful ingredients. We feel that this could be a great inspiration for readers to recreate a similar backyard party in their home!

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Photography: Amber Gress Photography | Cinematography: Love + Brain Films  | Food Production and Styling: Chandara Creative | Art Direction: Fourteen-Forty | Venue: Greenwich Village Townhouse, NYC | Paper Goods: Fourteen-Forty | Hair and Fashion accessories, Drink Stirs, Napkin Rings: HushedCommotion | Desserts: Lael Cakes

Let’s just be honest. Dressing your bridesmaids on a budget is no small task. And finding a frock to suit everyone’s taste? Nearly impossible. But that’s where we come in. We shopped ’til we dropped and rounded up 11 dresses that break the typical ‘maids mold without breaking the bank. Don’t worry — you can thank us later.

Tell us fashionistas — what look will your leading ladies be sporting on the Big Day? Bold and bright, or soft and subtle? All one gown, or mix and match? Let the dress dish start……NOW!

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Feminin Halters |One. Anthropologie | Two. J.Crew | To the Maxi | Three. Shopbop | Back that Bow Up | Four. Zara | Five. Ruche | Cocktail Savvy | Six. Rent the Runway | Seven. Nordstrom | Eight. ASOS | Bold Brights | Nine. Anthropologie | Ten. Zara | Eleven. Zara

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Not only is this wedding beautifully captured by Aurora Meneghello Productions, but it’s filled to the brim with sweet details and gorgeous florals placed perfectly by Locally Grown Weddings – making it one fabulous fit for the pages of SMP. So it’s not surprise that it looks so darn pretty up in the lights, and there is even more to swoon over right here.

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Our lovely couple initially shared that their vision was for a modern affair with clean and elegant lines. As our designer, Madeline, and event planner, Sadie, spent more time with the couple, it became clear that what they were really excited about was color. During one design session, Catie told our team she wanted vibrant colors full of happiness. We couldn’t agree more with her and were happy to oblige! With the lush garden and vineyard setting of Campovida, it was an exciting challenge to develop a color palette and design elements that complemented, but did not overpower, the already gorgeous surroundings.

Catie’s dress and shoes had a touch of ancient Rome, a perfect match for the colorful garlands Madeline designed. Her classic beauty was enhanced with the magic makeup work of Angela LaFlamme, one of our favorite artists to work with.

In addition to the personal flowers for our bride and groom and their family, Madeline created stunning floral and herb garlands that were placed throughout the venue. One strand hung over the happy couple, who were married by Catie’s grandfather, while still more graced the reception area where the long colorful strands hung over each dining table. As guests headed from the gardens to the dinner area, they were welcomed with bright pops of color and a warm glow from the flowers and candles floating in the central fountain.

Everything ran smoothly as the event & catering teams worked seamlessly to put in place the finishing touches. Escort cards crafted from chipboard showing cutouts of fig, sage, lavender, blackberry and english thyme guided guests to their seats, where the tables held matching fruits and herbs. There were also signs encouraged guests to stay cool with a wooden fan & light their way home with a flashlight at the end of the night. To provide a lovely transition space between the dinner reception and dancing, Sadie and Madeline designed a lounge area that allowed guests to relax and enjoy the warm evening air.

Catie & Russ’ guests were welcomed to the ceremony with a selection of hand-crafted drinks to enjoy in the warm weather including: cucumber water, watermelon agua fresca & Chef Stephanie’s signature lavender lemonade. The appetizers served post-ceremony included: beef & mango rolls with fresh mint and horseradish cream, stuffed figs with warm goat cheese, cucumber and avocado soup shooters, as well as a delicious selection of cheese and charcuterie with seasonal fruit, nuts, and assorted crackers. Catie and Russ went with a family style dinner that began with a beautiful heirloom tomato salad with feta cheese, French lentils, and fresh basil. Chef Stephanie followed with grilled lamb kebabs with a cucumber mint sauce, grilled chicken kebabs with a three herb chimichurri, and grilled seasonal vegetables with an arugula pesto. The main course was accompanied by a quinoa tabouli with fresh mint, chickpeas, English cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes, and a Dino kale salad with golden beets, Asiago, pecans.

For dessert, Catie and Russ chose a gourmet ice cream bar, complete with a decadent hot fudge sauce and whipped cream. They chose some classic flavors such as chocolate, strawberry and coconut, as well as a few with a twist: vanilla with roasted fig and salted caramel. For those who wanted just a touch of sweetness, guests were also offered Pei-Yee’s signature honey caramels with fleur de sel and Mexican chocolate crinkles. The team put together to-go boxes of cookies, caramels and figs from the tables as a sweet little take away for the guests – a perfect finish to a perfect evening!

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Wedding Photography : Aurora Meneghello Productions | Second Shooter: Douglas Despres | Officiant: Grandfather of the Bride, Reuven Katz | Floral and Event Planning and Design:  Locally Grown Weddings— Members: Sadie Waddington-Event Planning, Chef Stephanie-Catering. Madeline Trait-Floral + Event Design, Pei-Yee Woo-Desserts | Venue: Campovida | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Musicians: Joel Nelson & Frank Goldstein | Lighting: Twilight Design | Transportation: CA Wine Tours | Brunch Rentals: Encore Rentals | Brunch Caterer: K King Catering

I love winery weddings.  LOVE them.  That air of sophistication mix and mingling with a laid-back vineyard vibe is always, always tugging at my heart strings.  And in the case of this sweet Panton Hill Winery wedding, it’s downright obsession that I am feeling.  Because anytime you combine a breathtaking setting with fab paper goods (hello Peace Love and Letterpress), beautiful Clarence florals and an entire gallery of pretty from Jo Cush, you can downright guarantee an entire day of amazing. Kick it off in the full gallery.

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From Jo Cush… This wedding was held in Yarra Valley, VIC, at Panton Hill winery and from the moment I walked in, I felt like I had been transported to the Tuscan hills.  It felt like a destination wedding without having to leave Victoria! Chanel and Stu were married in the rustic stone courtyard surround by their friends and family.  Little touches such as wild flowers in old jars and bottles, vintage flower headband for Chanel’s sister, Stu’s sister being the “Best Woman” and a vintage Kombi to bring the bride to the ceremony brought Chanel and Stu’s dream wedding together. Enjoy!

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Photography: Jo Cush | Venue: Panton Hill Winery | Floral Design: Clarence | Band: Holiday Adventure | Invitations: Peace Love and Letterpress | Cake: Kyliecakes | Kombi: ClassicKombi

These two are the literal definition of adorable.  Seriously.  Their smiling faces, oh-so-chic fashion sense and palpable love for each other is just the kind of awesomeness you should see when you look up the word “adorable” in Webster’s Dictionary.  (Someone give them a call.)  And their sweeter than sweet engagement session captured by All This Happiness Studios?  A beautiful picnic meets park paradise chock-full of pretty.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From All This Happiness Studios…Vicky and Oleh met in University at the University of Toronto, they just graduated this year. We shot this engagement shoot at the very park Oleh proposed to Vicky!

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Photography: All This Happiness Studios

I find it amusing that this recipe landed in my inbox as it was just the other day that I tried a ginger beer bourbon concoction for the very first time. Truth be told, I am a gin and soda girl through and through (those rich liquors have never been my schtick), but I have to admit that this pairing was seriously satisfying. Match it up with Clove & Kin’s Summer Bruschetta and I do believe you have yourself a party!

Jacquelyn ClarkGinger Beer Bourbon CocktailA ginger beer and bourbon cocktail that pairs perfectly with the warm summer months.

prep time 2 Minute/s

cook time

total time 2 Minute/s

Serves 1Ingredients

• 1 part bourbon
• 3 parts ginger beer
• 1 lime wedge
• mint leaves

Instructions

1. FIll glass with ice.
2. Add bourbon followed by ginger beer.
3. Top with mint leaves .
4. Squeeze lime in, gently stir and drink up.

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Recipe & Photography: Clove & Kin

Let me start by saying the floral design by Blue Lotus in this Trinity River Audubon wedding is next level good. It’s protea perfection, and actually, the entire wedding is just as stunning. It doesn’t hurt, of course, the images from Sara & Rocky Photography are pinch yourself pretty – so cozy up close and get ready to devour them all right here in the full gallery of images.

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From Sara & Rocky… Whitney & Andy were wed in April at the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, Texas.  Whitney is originally from South Africa, where their flower is the protea (used all throughout their wedding)!  Andy is a rugby player, as were most of his groomsmen (note the rugby socks).  They are such a sweet couple, and all of the simple details were absolutely beautiful.

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Wedding Photography : Sara & Rocky Photography | Wedding Venue : Trinity River Audubon | Wedding Planner : RSVP Swanky Events | Floral Design: Blue Lotus | Invitations: Ink, Love, Paper | DJ : Nate Nelson with Leforce Entertainment

Ever since my little sister journeyed off to Spain to spend a week frolicking through the countryside, I’ve had this European paradise on the very top of my bucket list.  I am fully convinced that it’s the kind of place you just HAVE to visit at least once… and saying “I do” amongst its awesomeness?  Even better. Especially when it’s a day as sweet as this affair from Jeremy Standley Photography, an intimate gem of a wedding set against a breathtaking La Alhambra backdrop with enough beauty to last a lifetime.  (I am not kidding.) Prepare to get your pretty on (there’s a lot of it) and see it all here.

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From Jeremy Standley Photography… Shawna and Mike wanted a small wedding with their closest family and friends. This multicultural couple chose The Alhambra in Granada, Spain as the perfect representation of how different cultures can create something incomprehensibly beautiful and strong enough to withstand the ages. Shawna wanted to create an intimate environment with a rustic feel. She accomplished this using twine, lanterns, flowers and herbs, along with mercury glass candle holders hanging from the trees that perfectly complemented the natural atmosphere.

One of the funniest moments Shawna remembers was when she changed out of her crystal Jimmy Choos into her beat up Birkenstocks to walk down to the Alhambra with Mike. “They were so comfortable that I kept them on for the rest of the night. I literally wore my wedding shoes for less than an hour.”

She also never expected to be staying up late on her wedding night. Her party of just over 30 guests surprised her, however, and danced until the wee hours of the morning. At one point Mike dipped her down and she could see the stars out of the glass atrium. “I felt like the luckiest girl in the world,” said Shawna.

The couple has lots of advice for future destination brides: first, visit locations as an in-person visit is priceless. Also, a wedding planner is a must. There are many practical details that will need to be sorted out and you will need someone on the ground to help out with those details. Shawna encourages brides to use Pinterest to create picture boards for your wedding planner as you won’t have the luxury of multiple visits to flower shops and bakeries, so it is really important that you can clearly communicate what you want as easily and visually as possible. She also highly recommends scheduling activities for your guests. One of the best things they did was plan a walking tour of Granada with their entire group. It was casual and relaxed and everyone got to know each other before the wedding, just the way they had hoped and planned.

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Photography: Jeremy Standley Photography | Wedding Planner: AWOL (A Wedding of a Lifetime) Granada Weddings | Location: La Alhambra | Wedding Venue: Parador de Granada | Accomodations & After Party: Portago Suites | Blessing Minister: Mark Fury | Floral Design: Floresteria Nerine | Guitarist: Mark Shurey of El Pimientito

Days like this are the epitome of all things pretty; the kind of day you dream about when you think “wedding.”  Maybe that has a little something to do with the drop-dead gorgeous location (Summerour Studio), the fab stylings of Amy Osaba and a custom gown designed by the bride that will literally take your breath away (seriously).  All I know is that it’s one beyond beautiful moment after another captured by Arina Borodina… and the gallery?  THE place to be.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride…The most memorable part of our wedding day was when I walked down the aisle with my father and saw my soon to be husband for the first time that day. It was a very special and emotional moment where time seemed to have stopped. The rest of the day and evening were absolutely magical.

For our wedding favors, we had honey jars with handmade doily covers. My grandma and my aunt hand crocheted over 300 doilies and we tied them on with different pretty ties. My fiancé and his father built the white birch arch that we used at the ceremony. My florist brought my vision to life with the arch. My fiance’s grandparents made all the stamped cloth napkins and all the burlap runners with lace trim. Also, all the lace table cloths are vintage and were collected by the bride and her family. We also made the moss covered letters on the front doors of our reception.

The inspiration for our wedding day revolved around the beautiful blooms of spring, the rustic feel of Tuscany, and many vintage touches. I love spring and beautiful gardens so we tried to bring the gardens inside. My husband did architecture school and we both enjoy the industrial, rustic look of Summerour Studio. The beautiful laces, vintage glass bottles, hand crochet doilies, vintage typewriter, and my handmade French lace wedding gown all added to the vintage details we love.

I remember the day I found out that Adelin’s mother had worked for some wonderful designers in the wedding dress industry. It was any girls dream come true to be able to design my own dress. I knew right away that I’d want a vintage looking lace gown. I traveled to NYC twice to pick out the perfect French alencon lace. My father made the final decision with the lace, and I am very proud of that. The dress construction started with Carmen, my fiance’s mother, and we stayed up many nights working on tweaking it to fit and flare perfectly. The color of the dress was crucial for me. We used a powdered blush silk for the lining and a cream taffeta silk for the dress. The lace was ecru, a darker ivory, giving the dress a very vintage look. I wanted it to be modest, yet beautiful. We designed a lovely bateau neckline that was continuous with the sweet cap sleeves and the open v-line back. We re-designed the lace with the contours of the curves. This took hours but it was well worth it making the dress appear to be made out of one piece of lace. I also wanted a long train and we made sure to make it as long as possible. The entire process was very special as I saw my dream come true with each step. The veil was very simple with small lace details to match the gown. I would love to pass this dress on to my daughters and keep it in the family as an heirloom.

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Photography: Arina Borodina | Floral Design, Ceremony: Hacman Floral | Floral Design for Reception, Personal Flowers + Design: Amy Osaba | Ceremony Venue: Lawrenceville Romanian SDA Church | Reception Venue: Summerour Studio | Cakes + Cupcakes: Anne Kathleen Cakes | Macarons: Mozart’s Bakery | Catering: Endive Fine Catering | Rentals: Settee-Event Décor Rentals | Cinematography: Dragos Photography and Videography | Makeup + Hair: Ann Tecu | Head Band: Cecille Boccara for BHLDN | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew, H&M | Grooms Suit: Ben Sherman | Grooms Tie: Billy Reid | Grooms Shoes: To Boot New York | Flower Girls Dress: Baby Gap | Wedding Dress: Designed by Bride (Cindy Olteanu-Tanasa and handmade by mother-in-law Carmen Tanasa) | Bride’s Shoes: Coco Chanel

When I first peeked at this wedding, I thought it was in some magical forest far, far away – but when I saw it was in Jamaica Plain, right in our backyard, it made me fall in love with it that much more. Which is saying something, because I was already head over heels in love with every second captured by Shane Godfrey Photography – and you can see all the reasons why right here, in the full gallery of images.

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From Shane… Josina and Bongani both live in a house with their friends in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Bongani is originally from Swaziland, Africa and many of his friends and relatives made it over for their big day! In the morning they built up the Chuppa in the center of the pond at the Essex Conference Center where both the wedding ceremony and reception was held. The grounds are covered with all kinds of sculptures that the owner of the property has created over the years. Every time I go back, there are new sculptures up and they are always very interesting and add to the aesthetics of the property. They had an interfaith ceremony, as Bongani is Episcopalian and Josina is Jewish. They lit candles that Bongani’s family brought over from Africa and then we broke into family, bridal party, and bride and groom photos. Afterwards, we went up to the reception where the tent was done up in twinkle lights. They skipped on the DJ as Bongani had spent several months working on the playlist (his main duty for planning the wedding) and had a few of his friend’s MC for the night. They danced the night away and ended with a fire outside the reception tent which is surrounded by logs with stumps to sit on. We did a final ring shot as we left for the night and they continued after hours by the fire.

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Wedding Photography: Shane Godfrey Photography | Wedding Venue: Essex Conference Center | Officiant: Rabbi Judy Epstein | Floral Design: Trim Hahn of Posies by Trim | Catering: Essex Conference & Retreat | Dress Designer: J Crew | Makeup: Sephora