I often forget just how much I adore the color blue… that is, until I see it all wrapped up in a fabulous soiree such as this one by the always amazing Turn Loose The Art.  Boasting the prettiest of blue hues (plus hints of gorgeous purple for good measure) and a stunning location overlooking the Long Island Sound, these Bayville nuptials are nothing short of spectacular.  Plus, when I tell you this entire affair was planned in just three short months, you’ll be picking your jaws right up off the floor.  Yep, I suggest you prepare yourselves for a whole lot of pretty and join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I wasn’t one of those women who had their perfect wedding already planned in her head so, needless to say, I was at a loss after Rob proposed.  When Rob and I started planning our wedding, we knew we didn’t want to spend endless months obsessing over it.  We agreed to move forward with things that felt like “us.”  After looking into different venues and locations we decided that The Crescent Beach Club was the best fit.  Although we were originally dead set against a catering hall, The Crescent Beach Club had a relaxed yet elegant vibe that we were immediately drawn to.  We especially loved the idea that our cocktail hour would be on the beach overlooking the Long Island Sound. The beach has significance to us as a couple so it made sense that it be a part of the wedding.

When a Saturday night in June opened up at Crescent Beach we couldn’t pass it up.  We decided to dive right in to wedding planning craziness.  We booked in March which meant we had three months to do everything. We didn’t choose colors or have a particular theme or motif in mind when we started planning.  Not knowing where to begin, we tried to narrow our focus to the necessities of any great party: good food, good music and a beautiful setting.  We made a second visit to the Crescent Beach for a tasting and the food was outstanding! We appreciated the setting even more this time so we were ready to think about music.

Rob and I are passionate about music and listen to everything from indie rock to old school hip hop.  We were getting discouraged after meeting with a couple of DJ’s that were not at all what we had in mind. Rob and I wanted to create a cocktail party type atmosphere for our guests so that everyone could mingle and talk without having to shout over the music.  When we met Drew Burrows of Beat Train Productions, we knew we had our DJ.  We shared similar tastes in music and Drew’s understated style was exactly what we were looking for.

Hiring an amazing photographer was also very important to me.  I wanted to see timeless, natural images when I looked at my wedding album.  I knew we had to be totally comfortable with whoever was with us that day.  Joe and Britney from Turn Loose the Art were the first photographers we met and we immediately felt a genuine connection with them.  From the start they were incredibly warm, responsive and professional.  They showed us samples of their work and we were amazed… we had our photographer.

Our day started at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church in Massapequa Park.  We had a traditional Catholic ceremony to honor our parents.  I can’t describe the feeling of looking at Rob and my family and friends in this magnificent church and to know our union is fully supported by everyone.  I was overwhelmed with joy. A wonderful addition to our day was to have Father Thomas Ahern marry us.  Father Tom married Rob’s brother and cousin and has performed other ceremonies for my husband’s family in the past. His presence made the ceremony so touching and personal.

After our ceremony, we went to the Massapequa Park Preserve to take pictures.  Our photographers, Joe and Britney, not only kept the day moving smoothly but they kept us laughing, relaxed and in the moment. It was a calming time during a crazy, hectic day.  It gave us time alone to enjoy our newly married status. We were so comfortable with Joe and Britney that it did not feel like a “photo shoot.”  I think they got some of the most amazing, natural shots of the day while we were in the preserve.

The reception turned out to be all we had hoped for and more.  Everything (including the amazing weather) came together exactly the way we envisioned.  Our vendors helped make the day so memorable and we truly had a blast!  Throughout our planning, whenever we were getting stressed out, I reminded myself that we would be surrounded by people who loved and that is what would make the day perfect…and it was!  It was the happiest day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Turn Loose The Art / Wedding Venue: Crescent Beach Club / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren / Entertainment: Drew Burrows of Beat Train Productions / Floral Design: Flowers by Burton

This vibrantly organic ranch wedding by First Comes Love Photography is sure to brighten up your day.  It is bursting with delicious pops of color, eye-catching patterns and textures and lovely, natural details.  The centerpieces that combine baskets of fruit and blossoms inside modern, glass orbs might be my favorite part.  Click here to see all the cheerfully crafted details in the full gallery! We’re sad too see Alison of First Comes Love Photography leave the west coast but if you’re anywhere near Michigan than you are certainly in for a treat as that is where she now calls home!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We first met in a student co-op house in college, but really got to know each other several years later, when we became roommates in a warehouse in San Francisco.  We dated for almost 7 years before getting married, and lived together for the last three of those years.  We’d done some international traveling together already, spent holidays with each other’s families, and decided to start a family — by the time we actually got married our lives were already intertwined and we had no doubts about going forward together.

The general feel of our wedding was fresh, bright and outdoors.  We brainstormed dress-up themes for a while but ultimately just encouraged people to dress flamboyantly if they were so inclined, but overall be comfortable and casual.  An unspoken theme for us was that the wedding be very personal and very “us.”  We spent a lot of time choosing which aspects of traditional weddings we wanted to maintain and which we would pass on, and what parts of alternative culture, such as Taiwanese/Chinese traditions and pagan rituals, we would like to include.

It was very important to us that as many guests as possible be able to stay on-site for the weekend, having lots of time to relax, meet people and be together.  We had a vision that people could park their car on Friday and not need it again until Sunday. Dawn Ranch was a great venue for this, both for the venue itself and for the convenient hotels and restaurants within walking distance. We also liked the value Dawn Ranch places on organic and local food and wine. In general, its balance of elegance and rustic charm, comfort and nature, professionalism and environmental values, was a great fit for us.

We were recommended to Alison by a trusted friend and felt comfortable with her right away when we met her.  She clearly could relate to our values and lifestyle choices, and felt like someone we had a lot in common with.  We liked that she was easy to talk to and laugh with, but also took her responsibilities as our photographer very seriously.

We started off thinking 120 guests would be ideal, and our final count ended up over 170!  As we went, we saw that adding guests was not that much more incrementally in cost, and we kept thinking of more people we would like to be part of the celebration.  We saw the event as not only a way for us to include people we care about, but a way for our family and community to connect with each other.  It ended up being something of a college reunion!

Wedding Dress: No Ordinary / Alterations: Janene’s Bridal Boutique / Groom’s Suit: John Varvatos / Tie: Ted Baker / Shirt: Thomas Pink / Cinematography: Weddings on Film / Bride’s Shoes: Kelly & Katie / Hair + Make-up: Salon 12 / Floral Design: Lila B. Design / Venue + Catering: Dawn Ranch Lodge / Wedding Photography: First Comes Love Photography / Band: Brass Monkey Brass Band + Tipsy Gypsy Trio / Wedding Cake: Satura Cakes

Heavens to Besty, Jennifer Ballard Photography sent us a beyond adorable farm fête, and I have been giddy with glee ever since. The couple (ps. how cute are they!?) wanted their love for the country and all the critters that live there to shine through in a stylish way, and boy did their style shine! From the bow ties to all the graphic design done by the bride – it’s practically perfect in every way! Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride..Sean and I met in the first year of University when we were both in England at the Bader International Study Centre.  He was an east-coast boy from Boston by way of Nova Scotia and I was a small-town girl from Ontario.  Our rooms were side-by-side in the dorm and it took about three months of shy glances and being friends before Sean made a move.

We both like to take our time and make sure something feels right before we commit. So it was no surprise that we took pains to plan our wedding nine years later.  We both wanted a country wedding that reflected our love of animals and the outdoors.  Even though we live in Toronto, we like to get out of the city and go up to my sister’s farm and escape the hustle and bustle for a bit.  So that was our starting point for the wedding – an escape from the city for all our family and friends.  We basically wanted a big party on a farm, where we happened to get married. After searching for months to find the perfect venue (true to our slow-moving styles) we found Dyment’s Farm in Dundas, Ontario.  The owners couldn’t have been nicer and the farm was perfect (ok, so there were no horses on site, but I could get over that).

Once we had found the farm (which by the way also caters, so that was a nice bonus) – my very first purchase was a font.  I’m a web designer and I had been eyeing the Phaeton font for a loooong while.  My wedding made a fantastic excuse to buy it.  I ended up using it on the invitations, our website, the place cards and even the table setting.  Definitely a good investment.  There were a lot of DIY elements at the wedding that made it really special for Sean and I.  My mom created all the bouquets and flower arrangements and Sean’s mom set up all the table settings and a ton of decorations.  I honestly don’t know how I would have survived without those two!

Our favors were adorable jam jars from the farm and one of my intrepid bridesmaids put the cloth coverings on them.  There was a wagon ride for guests at sunset, a fiddler, s’mores, dancing, quilts and my favorite red and yellow bunting strung up all around the barn.  I love looking at these pictures by our amazing photographer because they help to remind me what a special day it was and how lucky Sean and I are to have such amazing friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Jennifer Ballard Photography / Venue: Dyment Farm / Flowers: Deborah Hogg (Bride’s Mom) / Day-of Coordination: Helen Lai of Lapin Weddings / Decor: Friends + Family / Stationery: Anne Thomas Design / Fiddler: Stephen Fuller / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani / Bride’s Shoes: Locale / Groom’s Suit: Toronto Custom Suits / Hair: Mercedes

For an ultra modern fête, one needs look no further than the chic backdrop of the W Hotel Dallas. It just might be the coolest place on the planet for a wedding like this number captured by Forever Photography Studio. Hot pink, loads of glamour and drop dead gorgeous flowers by Bella Flora of Dallas. Yes, we are neck deep in a city-dweller’s dream wedding and the view is mighty pretty. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL gallery!

From Forever Photography Studio…

When we first met Elaine and Chris we just knew we were going to love their wedding and love photographing them! Elaine has such great style, and we couldn’t wait for the big day.

When we arrived at the W hotel in Dallas and saw the room where they would be getting married we literally almost started jumping up and down. Silly I know, but us photographers can get a little excited about things like that sometimes. Their wedding was beautiful and chic, and we loved every moment of photographing their event. We wish them both all the happiness in the world!

Photographers: Jona and Jerry Blackwell with Forever Photography Studio / Flowers: Bella Flora of Dallas / Venue: W Hotel Dallas / Dress: Mori Lee, purchased at LuLu’s Bridal Boutique / Jewelry: Nadri, purchased at Nordstrom / Shoes: sparkly champagne shoes were Jimmy Choo, Hot Pink Shoes Kate Spade / Hair and makeup:  by Tisha Corcoran at TC Makeup Studio and Academy / DJ:  Andy Austin / Cake: Frosted Art / Cake Pops: Cake Pop Shoppe / Photobooth: Photobooth Planet / Invitations and Programs: ULuckyGirl

Planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean is always a sure fire way to throw an amazing soiree… especially when those plans include a private island off the coast of Aruba, gorgeous stylings and paper goods from the uber-talented bride, one very stunning gown and some beyond breathtaking images from Alexandra Meseke Photography.  And when you add a guaranteed to melt your heart love story to the mix (High school sweethearts, anyone?), it’s almost too good to be true.  Yes, these intimate nuptials are as perfect as perfect can be and there’s even more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… Brian and I had our first date my freshman (his sophomore) year of high school and spent the next decade not really knowing what we wanted. When we managed to get our lives in order, we realized we could have everything together. It’s because of this that we’ve essentially always treated each other like best friends. When faced with planning the wedding, an overtly over-the-top romantic event, I felt really overwhelmed with the expectations. We decided as a result of this and a myriad of other reasons, to have an intimate destination wedding. Once we discovered that via the Renaissance Aruba Resort a private island could be rented for events, we were all set. From there, we just tried to fill our wedding with things we both love.

My sister and I have a small paper goods business, Ralph’s Grocery, so we took on the task of designing + creating all of the paper paraphernalia for the wedding, as well doing the overall event design. The earliest step of the process, our save the dates, basically set the tone for the weekend in Aruba. We decided it would be simple, with an M+B logo, letterpressed, and subtly nautical. We carried this theme through to all of the weekend information, welcome bags (which we screen-printed on my dining table) and to the Friday night welcome party itself. For the wedding invites, I chose a classic ivory + gold color palette, which was then infused into the wedding. For the reception, we really wanted the natural beauty to be played up, so we went with an intense amount of candles in gold mercury glass + lots of tiki torches. The saintly wedding planner on site, Juney Jones, advised that the trees are permanently wrapped in twinkle lights in order to provide lighting to the dinner + dance floor, which worked perfectly with our planned decor. In retrospect, I know the details pulled the event together: the individually wrapped metallic favor boxes at every place setting, the 120 glass votives, the glitter monogram chair hangers, the handmade program booklets. It was definitely added stress however, knowing we somehow needed to transport these items. We made it work in the end by distributing items amongst friends and carrying seven suitcases ourselves.

In addition to the visual details, Brian and I had a long list of things that were important to us. For our welcome party, held Friday night after our civil ceremony + rehearsal, we tried to incorporate things that couldn’t be included the next day. I wore green (an Italian tradition), Brian crafted an expert playlist of our favorite old songs and we had amazing speeches by my father, B’s best man Matt, his Uncle Mark + even his childhood pal, Teddy. On Saturday while we were getting ready, I had some surprises planned for Brian. I had procured a hanger from the incredible PR team at the Ace Hotel New York where Brian proposed. His suit was set on this, so he was faced with the words, “You look good in that” the morning of the wedding. I also handmade his card to fold out into a giant poster of my affection, a surprise that Alexandra assured me caused some happy tears.

For the ceremony we wanted it as personal as possible, while staying relatively lighthearted to feel like “us.” Brian’s ultra talented twin brothers recorded our music at home on the piano + viola. While guests arrived, they were able to listen to the boys’ rendition of other family members’ past wedding songs. They also performed the song that my parents walked me down to: Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.  We also had Uncle Mark read the lyrics to Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and my cousin Jaclyn perform the Cole Porter song “True Love”.  With my bouquet I carried items from both my grandmothers, a white handkerchief + blue rosary beads, as well as Brian’s great grandmother’s wedding ring.  After we were announced man + wife, Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend” played.

As music was clearly a priority, we had a steel drum player at cocktail hour + opened our reception to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base. One of the highlights of the night had to be lining up to walk in behind Brian’s groomsman Phil and my bridesmaid Nicole, as the two of them accompanied us on that first date twelve years ago. The food at the Renaissance was fantastic, and we heard rave reviews from everyone, but honestly when I think of the night, all I can think of is the fifty or so closest people in our lives, out on the dance floor for hours. I know that was the part Brian enjoyed as well, looking around seeing the smiles on our guests’ faces, smoking Aruban cigars and dancing in the middle of a sandy beach. We had such a magical time, I was even able to make light of some of the (predicted) mishaps, most notably our melting rock candy cake! All in all, the craziness of making + packing everything, the complications of planning a wedding from another country, it all felt minor in exchange for what we got: married!

Wedding Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography / Wedding Venue: Renaissance Aruba Resort / Event Coordinator: Juney Jones / Event Design + Stationery: Ralph’s Grocery by The Ripo Sisters / Civil Ceremony Dress + Accessories: Cynthia Vincent + Coach (clutch) + Seychelles (shoes) / Welcome Party Dress + Accessories: J.Crew + Charriol + Hermés (bracelets) + Roberta Chiarella (earrings) / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Wedding Shoes: Gucci / Earrings: Swarovski / Bracelets: Charriol / Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG / Officiant: Reverend Geoffrey Banfield / DJ: Tino Daal of Cyclone Promotion / Cigar Rollers: Aruhiba Cigars / Rum: Rum Palmera / Cake Toppers: Jonathan Adler / Cake Forks: BHLDN

Remember this gorgeous wedding that we featured on the main page a few weeks back? Well, we’ve got the insanely gorgeous film by Vintage Cinema by Jim Altieri to complete the swoon-worthy deal. This wedding was a true study in all things New England and featured an adorable old chapel, a lakeside reception and a romantic horse and carriage ride for the bride and groom. And you can see it all right here!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/29113917?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 601 338]

From Vintage Cinema by Jim Altieri…Yvonne and Kevin really love travel and their wedding was no exception.  Their destination wedding in Manchester, VT celebrated everything New England.  The old chapel, a horse drawn carriage and a fantastic lake side reception were just some of the amazing details from this day.  We dodged a few rain drops here and there in true New England fashion but I think it made for a gorgeous backdrop for a fantastic couple!

Wedding Photography: Carla Ten Eyck / Wedding Cinematography: Vintage Cinema by Jim Altieri / Flowers: Blomma Flicka / Officiant: Wayne Bell / Event Planning: Carrie Lane of Storied Events / Wedding Ceremony Location: The First Congregational Church / Wedding Reception Location: Equinox Resort, Pond Pavilion / DJ: Supersounds / Wedding Cake: Irene’s Cakes by Design / Wedding Dress: San Patrick / Hair Stylist: The Green Door Day Spa / Makeup: Christian Burran / Wedding Invitations & Paper Products: Lilah Paper / Linens: The Linen Shop by Occasions Catering / Calligraphy: Pretty Pen Jen

Every day here at SMP, we ooh and ahh over beautiful brides, stunning weddings, and adorable little flower girls. But one thing we also do on the regular is tear up. Whether it is caused by a stunning wedding film, a look that groom gives his bride the second he sees her the first time in her gown, or a story the couple or one of their lovely vendors share with us. This Denver wedding is the joining of two very special, very strong people. Chad Morgan Photography not only captured it exceptionally, but also captured the true meaning of the event in his write up of the affair. Make sure to save some time to read about this stunning couple, and make sure to have a box of tissues on hand. Click here for more!

From Chad Morgan Photography … When I met Jon and Jenette last year, the three of us had an immediate bond. Conversation was easy, full of laughter, and authenticity…we all got each other. I was 40 minutes late to our initial meeting (something that never happens), and they didn’t seem to mind. Of course, I apologized profusely, and they felt my sincerity, understood, and quickly forgave me. Nevertheless, I walked out of there feeling like I had made new friends…and I have.

A couple months later, I got a call from Joanna (planner) with some upsetting and scary news: Jenette had been diagnosed with breast cancer, was going to have a double-mastectomy, and an intense and aggressive regimen of chemo. My heart sank. My wife has MS. So, I understand the pain, struggle, and heartache that comes along with a diagnosis. My initial thoughts were with Jenette and the life-changing events set before her, mentally and physically.

And then, I thought of Jon. On a personal level, know what it’s like to be the support system, and what it means to have the love of your life threatened with an illness, or disease. Nothing about their journey was going to be easy.

The wedding was moved from June to August, we shot their engagement the very next week after Joanna’s call (before she started chemo), and I kept them in my thoughts and close to my heart, checking in every so often to see how they were doing, and if I could help in any way. I could definitely tell things were getting tougher as the treatments got more intense. But never did their resolve lessen. Seeing Jenette and Jon on their wedding day, made me…a little misty.

When I saw Jenette a few weeks ago getting her makeup and hair done, I told her I was proud of her. And I am. Her smile was new and powerful. Jon, too, seemed “grown up.” They had a new confidence in each other, and a new outlook on their life. It was palpable…and amazing.

I’m so, so honored to have been a part of their wedding. I’m also grateful to give Jenette and Jon these images that will allow them to remember their wedding, and all of the wonderful friends and family that surrounded them.

Planner & Florist: Joanna Bailey Weddings / Venue: Denver Art Museum / Photography: Chad Morgan Photography / Second Photographer: Amanda Forbes

I don’t believe I have ever adored a wedding more than I do this romantic English affair captured by Marianne Taylor Photography.  The stunning Georgian era setting, beyond gorgeous barn and darling DIY details are the perfect combination of rustic meets whimsy meets beautiful garden party… and I am going c.r.a.z.y for the whole fabulous fête.  Plus, there’s a carousel and, well, that’s always awesome.  So, if you want to spend your Tuesday wrapped up in pretty, you should most definitely join me in the gallery for all of the lovely and then stay tuned for one very fine film by Mark Brown below!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

We’re not done yet.  This film by Mark Brown is sure to put one very large grin on your face this lovely Tuesday morning and fill your day with even more gorgeous.  Sounds like a plan, no?  Enjoy!

From the Bride… Alex and I met on a school skiing trip to Vermont over 13 years ago, I pursued him on the ski slopes and after an initial confusion with my identical twin sister we became childhood sweethearts. 13 years later and with a custom made ring Alex got down on one knee to finally make it official.

Quite early on in the wedding planning we decided that we would like a barn wedding with a relaxed vibe and drew up a short list of venues to visit. As soon as we visited Preston Court we knew it was the one for us, it combined everything that we had been searching for, a barn big enough to house our reception, gorgeous outside space for the drinks reception and an “island” (albeit a small one) to hold the outdoor ceremony. When we saw the beautiful working carousel that clinched the deal for us both! We wanted our day to be very relaxed and fun and the Carousel started a Circus/English fete theme, we continued this throughout the day with outdoor games, pancake and popcorn carts for the evening and a traditional British Mini Cooper with a photo booth inside! This provided lots of entertainment for the guests and some amazing guest book entries for us to look back on.

Both working in creative jobs we threw ourselves into planning and designing all of the little details. After compiling numerous mood boards we realized there was an underlying theme – so many of the shots where from Marianne Taylor’s blog and we knew we had to have her to photograph our big day. She did an absolutely amazing job and managed to capture ever single tiny detail alongside all the emotion and feelings between our guests, every time we look over the photos we are transported right back there.

Our decorations took on a very homemade crafty feel with the use of brown kraft paper and lots of pink accents, we roped in lots of friends and family to help which gave everything a lovely personal touch and meant that so many people were included in our big day. We used a large chalkboard for the seating plan and homemade bunting was used throughout. An assortment of pastel colored paper pom poms lined the entrance to the barn and also hung from a tall tree on the island to create a colorful backdrop to the ceremony. The flowers were placed in an assortment of miss matching vintage bottles, jars, urns, tea cups and even tea pots which covered every surface.

It was so lovely to have all of our friends and family in the same place and keeping numbers down meant the whole day had a very intimate feel and we were able to mingle with all our guests without feeling overwhelmed. One of the most important things for Alex was that we had one long table which all the guests would be seated round. I took some convincing on this matter but it turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the day. When all the guests raised their glasses for our first toast as Mr. and Mrs. Field it was amazing emotional, to see everyone’s faces all around the same table sharing the moment with us.

Wedding Photography: Marianne Taylor Photography / Wedding Venue: Preston Court / Caterer: Relish Catering / Wedding Gown: Olivia Couture via Blackburn Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid Dresses: Reiss / Groom’s Attire: Reiss / Groom’s Shoes: Church Footwear / Floral Design: Euphoric Flowers / Wedding Cake: Neal’s Yard Cheese / Wedding Videographer: Mark Brown / Band: The Kicks / Stationery: The Groom / Photobooth: Mega Booth / Wedding Cars: Kent Beetles

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We interrupt our regularly scheduled real wedding programming for an introduction that cannot be missed. Vintage-loving brides out there, fashion-loving brides out there, actually ALL you brides out there looking for an unique gown to don on your biggest day – we highly recommend getting cozy with Mill Crest Vintage. Gorgeous, authentic vintage gowns and accessories? Does it get any prettier? My brain has visions of gorgeous vintage-dress wearing brides and their fab weddings dancing in my head! Just take a little scroll down and you’ll see what I mean…

About Mill Crest Vintage…At Mill Crest Vintage, we understand the importance of the bridal gown to set the tone of the wedding day. Our bride has a love of vintage and is looking for that perfect dress to express her own personal style. Our collection of authentic, high quality vintage bridal attire honors styles from every decade over the past 100 years. Vintage shoes and bridal accessories are also available to complete the ensemble.

Personalized service is just as important to us as the quality of the collection we offer. We want each woman to leave our boutique looking and feeling her very best. This level of service includes private bridal consultations, held on Monday’s and Tuesdays by appointment, and a professional vintage restoration specialist to assist in achieving the perfect fit.

Do you love, or do you LOVE? Now go give them a good SMP how do you do! Mill Crest Vintage – welcome to the SMP New York family! xoxo

Do It Yourself’ers take note – because this DIY seaside soiree by Dorothy Gautreaux Photography has style for miles and heart for even more miles. You can see it through each of the gorgeous sunshine-infused images, and you can feel it in the bride’s description. It’s intimate, it’s got a whole lotta personality and there is even more to see in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We did everything ourselves as far as the decor (with the exception of the flowers). We went to thrift store and garage sales to find the vintage plates and all the bottles. We took multiple trips to Joann’s fabrics to get the fabric for the banners and the altar. Jonathan stained and distressed the 3 pieces of wood that made up our altar as well. We bought one huge bolt of the antique-y blue fabric and cut it into squares for the table cloth and napkins. This was a particularly daunting task because we had to fray the edges of all those napkins and table cloths! The invitations were difficult too, because we stamped each envelope individually…same goes for the save the dates, which we decided to do on sand dollars and make them into ornaments, seeing how everyone received them around the holidays. All of the shells and coral were found at local shell shacks along with the vintage Florida post cards we used for invitations.We were going for a vintage-y ship wreck feel deriving inspiration from shell shacks, ship wrecks, and vintage pieces. I also browsed a lot of wedding blogs and design magazines.

My advice is to do exactly what you want, and if you cant afford it do it yourself. The DIY stuff seems like it would be a lot of work…and it is, but it is a labor of love. I have fabulous memories if spending time with my mother and girlfriends and brothers making all the decor. If you have a vision, stick to it. For example, Jonathan and I really wanted to have our food served family style so it would feel like a family dinner. People tried to tell us it would be easier to do a buffet, but the thought of it made us cringe. It ended up being so lovely to watch all our friends and family pass each other food and engage with one another.

My favorite memory of our wedding is the few minutes directly after we walked back down the aisle. We stopped close to the dunes and embraced each other and all of the emotions poured out. I remember turning around to hug my best friends and family and the tears of joy just wouldn’t stop. Also, an enormous flock of birds flew above us in a flying V formation. It. Was. Epic.

Wedding Photography: Dorothy Gautreaux Photography / Catering: Salt Water Cowboys / Floral Design: 57 Treasury / Groom’s Tux: J.Crew / Wedding Dress: Low’s Bridal / Cakes: Nothing Bundt Cakes / Make-up: Chanel

I’m a chevron lover through and through so it’s almost as if this backyard fête and I were meant to meet. It has all the makings of the perfect whimsical affair – bright colors, loads of personality, ribbons and scrumptious prints galore and all of it was masterminded by the Bride herself, even the paper goods! Clearly this Mrs. has a whole lot of style and she has gorgeous images by Nancy Ray Photography to prove it. Show your support for Team Chevron by checking out the gallery for more, more, more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Our wedding was a labor of love in that I really did love nearly every moment of hand crafting it together. Almost every detail involved a DIY element to not only save money, but to really make our wedding unique to us as a couple. Craig has been making me laugh since we started dating four years ago and we always have so much fun together. I wanted the wedding to represent our fun and lighthearted nature. The graphic elements of stripes and chevron as well as cheerful orange, yellow, coral and teal colors were a theme carried across our wedding, starting with the save the dates. I loved the idea of using an ampersand to represent our union as well as the dog silhouette I designed as a representation of our love for our dog, Abbey. These elements branded the whole event and really set the tone for our backyard wedding. We were really lucky to have a gorgeous private home as the backdrop and then added cafe string lights and pops of color with ribbons.

Some of the hand crafted elements of our wedding included the save the dates which I designed and then took a local letterpress class to print, the escort card buttons which were printed on to fabric by Spoonflower and then I cut and punched each one individually with a button maker, and also the chevron table runners which were sewn by Craig’s mom. I also personally cut and sewed all the fabric pockets for the wedding invitations and had so much fun designing all the paper good items for the day.

My favorite moment of our wedding was the first look and just enjoying the quiet moment with Craig after all the hard work to get to that day. We had a lot of family travel to be with us on our first day of marriage and it meant so much to be able to share it with them. In planning the wedding, I followed a long list of wonderful wedding blogs (and still do!) for my wedding inspiration and so to be able to share our wedding in hopes that other brides might gain inspiration in return is complete bliss!

Wedding Photography: Nancy Ray Photography / Flowers: The English Garden / Event Design: Janine Rae Design (Bride) / Ceremony + Reception Location: The Hidden Haven / Wedding Cake: Swank Cakes / Caterer: Delightful Inspirations / DJ: Anything Music / Invitations + Paper: Janine Rae Design (Bride) / Officiant: Kris Weiss

This Canadian couple has known and loved each other for eleven years. Voted Cutest Couple and Prom King & Queen of their high school meant they had quite a bit of hype to live up to when it came to their big day. And live up to the hype the did – from the three dress changes for the bride, the custom suit for the groom, the amazing stationery suite from PALETTERA Custom Correspondence, the perfect autumn ambiance, and the plethora of loved ones who had been along for the whole decade plus long ride. Whew, that’s a lot. The perfection was all captured by Bryan Caporicci Photography. And there is more of this amazing affair in the full image gallery, so don’t forget to pop over there!

From PALETTERA Custom Correspondence … Alvin & Tammy were high school sweethearts, who not only got voted the cutest couple in their high school yearbook, but were also crowned Prom King & Queen when they graduated. After dating for 11 years, they finally tied the knot, in haute style. These beautiful photos by Bryan Caporicci give us a glimpse of just how beautiful their wedding was, with a breath-taking Canadian Autumn backdrop.

Alvin and Tammy share a very close-knit group of friends, who have been there with them on their journey since the start. Even the night before the wedding was spent at Alvin’s parents’ home with all of their wedding party toasting the happy couple, PRE-celebrating for the big day! Needless to say, the bridal party was quite large, consisting of 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen. For each of her best friends, Tammy chose a unique dress from the luxurious Enzoani Love collection, in shades of taupe, earth, and silvery brown. When they walked down the aisle carrying gorgeous bundles of Mokara orchids, it felt like a runway, as each bridesmaid sashayed in a dress that was tailored to their personality and style. The ceremony took place at the Manor, located on the grounds of the Carrying Place Golf and Country Club in Kettleby, Ontario. The beautiful manicured grounds and prestigious building architecture complimented the already beautiful Autumn scenery by the lake.

Family and friends from high school, university, work and church were all there to witness as Tammy & Alvin exchanged vows. The Avondale Ensemble performed some beautiful numbers for the ceremony, which added to the acoustic ambiance of the entire setting outdoors. The tent and ceremony space was overflowing with orange blossoms of Mokara orchids, one of Tammy’s favourite flowers. Fa Flower designed some beautiful centrepieces and bouquets, which punctuated all the earth tones with a pop of orange.

Alvin, dressed handsomely in his custom suit by Garrison Bespoke, and Tammy, beautifully dolled up in her Pronovias Gown, were truly a perfect match! After some hors d’oeuvres and a lengthy photograph session with the crowds of loved ones, the bridal party headed north towards the Historic Village of Kleinberg. There, Bryan snapped some lovely portraits at The Doctor’s House and its adjacent fields.

In the evening, guests were welcomed through the doors of the Royalton, where they picked up some beautiful placecards by Palettera from the reception table. In the hall, some soft, white draping adorned the walls, with artistic splashes of orange everywhere – in the centrepieces, head table and stage, and the on the cake! The cute 3-tiered cake was dressed with mini Mokara orchids, made by Box of Sweets.

The bridal party entrance was epic. Ryan, the best man, put together a short music video introduction on the screens, inspired by Beverly Hills 90210. For the physical grand entrance, the party coordinated a dramatic choreographed dance to Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are, which lit up the whole room. Parents and friends of parents enjoyed the awesome performance. Touching speeches, even a singing duet by the groom and his best man, and good food — there’s not much more they could have asked for. Everyone stayed behind to enjoy all the throwback love songs and dance numbers from high school days until almost two in the morning! What an awesome party.

Everything was beautiful at this wedding. One of the highlights was definitely fashion. A known fashionista, Tammy changed outfits several times. Her beautiful silver ball gown really fit her stylish side, while her traditional Chinese qipao showed off her stunning figure. She kept her Badgley Mischka shoes on, even for dancing! Another thing that resounded with guests was the stationery. The boxed letterpress invitations featured a textile-like pattern that when examined closely, featured photographs from the 11 years of courtship. The storybook invitation featured multiple textures, drawings and types of printing that together, brought out the couple’s shared taste in aesthetic: sleek, stylish and posh. While highlighted with florals, the architectural & interior design inspiration was also a tribute to Alvin’s profession as a construction & design firm owner. It was truly the coming together of two people, in print form. The table menus were also a unique shape that had never-been-seen before: oval shaped and lined with the some chocolate-sepia-white photographs from their years leading up to their marriage, with a highlight of their names pressed deeply in shiny silver. The presswork flickered with the candlelight at the venue, and added so much character to the table.

A Snapz photobooth sat just outside the main doors of the party. Throughout the night, guests dressed up and took photos at the booth and got to keep a copy for themselves, while pinning a copy to Tammy & Alvin’s keepsake board. Angel from Snapz was on site to make sure every guest got a chance, sometimes twice, to take some fun and fabulous photos. The whole night was kept in order by wedding planner Leah, from Elan Weddings.

All in all, this wedding was a romantic and glamourous affair, which set the tone for subsequent weddings in this close-knit group. It had a bit of everything desirable: fashion, design, beauty, haute style, autumn palette with a touch of bling, Canadian nature & outdoor scenery, a great party, good laughs and great company!

Photographer: Bryan Caporicci Photography / Photography of Stationery In-Studio: Claudia Hung Weddings / Stationery: PALETTERA Custom Correspondences / Wedding Planning: Leah, Elan Weddings / Bridal Gown: Pronovias / Banquet Ball Gown: Jasmine / Chinese Traditional Wedding Dress: The Cloth House / Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids Dresses: Enzoani Love / Florist: Fa the Flower Shop / Hair: Blo On The Go / Make Up: Nicole Ostonal / Groom’s suit: Garrison Bespoke / Groomsmen Suits: Freeman Formalwear / Band: Avondale Ensemble / Cake: Box of Sweets / Photobooth: Snapz Photo Booth / Venue: Carrying Place Golf and Country Club

This is totally my dream wedding, hands down. Not only is it super romantic and full of soft colors and sweet DIY details, but this cute couple decided to nix the idea of a cake and had, get this, a cake made out of three huge and delicious wheels of cheese. I think I just died and went to cheese heaven! James Moes Photography captured the overall gorgeousness of this garden fete beautifully, including the florals which were loving crafted by the bride’s mom. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…It rained for the whole week leading up to our wedding.  Although our original plan was to get married on the lawn, once we saw that there was no end to the rain in sight, we made our contingency plans and were ready to hold the ceremony under the tent.  To our surprise, the rain cleared up two hours before the wedding and all of our emergency planning went out the window.  I already felt so lucky to be marrying my best friend but the sunshine was just icing on the cake.

I have always been obsessed with the romantic feel of the French and English countryside, so when we found our venue we knew that I knew that it was perfect to style with muted colors to complement the lush greens all around the gardens.  My mom is a florist and she completely blew us away with her designs.   We let her know our overall vision of a soft, romantic feel but let her have creative control.  She ended up everything from the beautiful tablescapes, to the flower garlands (which were an emergency last-minute design because we were expecting to have our ceremony under the tent), and put together the perfect accent pieces, such as the hanging jars and metal wheelbarrow of sweet peas.  We could not have been happier with the flowers.

We felt so lucky that all of our loved ones would be traveling from near and far to share our special day with us so we decided that what was important was to make it very personal and to spoil them with our favorite eats and treats.  We had long tables to encourage the feeling of community.  We’re Bay Area natives so RoliRoti, a San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers’ Market staple (famous for his porchetta sandwiches), was our first and only choice.  Being huge cheese lovers, we optioned out of the traditional wedding cake in lieu of a “cake” consisting of three cheese wheels, and also included  whole Belgian chocolate slabs, Parisian macaroons, and a port infused Stilton in our dessert spread.  We had a cigar and scotch tasting bar for our guests to enjoy.

I love crafting and styling so this was my first full on wedding styling project.  I worked with my sister and friends to make everything ourselves, and whenever possible, we tried to support small indie and Etsy vendors.  From the beginning stages of putting a vision together to the day of the wedding prep and execution, our family and friends were there there for us and helped us pull it all together.  This was a true labor of love and we could not have done it without them.

Wedding Photography: James Moes Photography / Second + Third Shootes: Nirav Patel + Isaiah Beiser / Floral Design: Flowers by Ivy / Wedding Design: HelloBoos Event Styling / Wedding Dress: Custom Julie Ireland Dress Making / Wedding Signage/Graphics: September Press / Bridesmaid Dresses: River of Romansk / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen’s Suits: Tommy Hilfiger / Caterers: RoliRoti + La Boulange / Cheeses: Cheese Plus / Bow Ties: Xoelle / Flower Sash + Clips: bpoetic / DJ: Marky Enriquez / Wood Signs: TRUECONNECTION / Flower Girl’s Dress: Annie Girl Couture Creations / Photobooth Props: Little Retreats / Bridesmaid Necklace: Elephantine / Cuff Links: QA Create / Personalized Hangers: Katherine Marie Design / Day-of Coordinator: Kiera Ilusorio / Make-up: Anh Thu Pham

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the color yellow or the fabulous combination of sunshine and beauty it has the ability to bring to each and every wedding it meets.  Nope, never.  And when you merge the perfectly cheery hue with the gorgeous stylings of We See Rainbows, a charming sweets table, one very breathtaking Southern California setting (A walnut grove!) and a crazy cool lemonade stand, it’s almost too perfect for words.  Thankfully, Gina Cella Photography was on hand to capture all of the happy and there is an entire gallery of brilliant images just waiting to brighten your Monday.  Join me there for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Gina Cella Photography… The wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. It was like a fairytale. Set in a walnut grove in the hills of Southern California. The sunlight made for a perfect ceremony, and the sunset created an enchanted glow for a beautiful reception. The location was about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles at Tierra Rejada Ranch, a Walnut Grove in Moorpark, CA.

The ceremony was quaint with cute white chairs in rows in the grass overlooking rows of walnut trees.
Every moment was perfect, the bright light in the early day was wonderful, and the harvest light in the evening slowly went down making the dance floor illuminate with help from the cafe lights strung over the reception area.

Its fun to see such a casual setting so dressed up. Ashley had help from her friend Alex Michael May who is breaking out in weddings and events. She did an amazing job with the yellow and gray color scheme. Everything from the rustic lemonade bar, to the adorable sweets table, was all her.

The bride was the most calm and cheerful bride I’ve ever worked with. Her dress was a sweetheart neckline, empire waist, and flowing. She wore a flower in her hair made by her friend Alex Michael May. The groom, who came from a very large family (some traveled from Mexico for the wedding day) was an extremely attentive and warm person. They met each other at their work years ago, and have been inseparable ever since. I got to know them quite well after shooting their engagement photos. They seemed truly relaxed and at peace at their wedding. Such a fab couple.

The light was perfect (although…coming from Chicago, every day here in California seems to be picture perfect for a wedding), everyone was having the time of their lives dancing and going gaga over the treats, the lemonade bar, and the corner photo booth with costumes to pick from. Their wedding day seemed like fairytale, and at times I forgot I was even working. Even I was smiling ear to ear. It was impossible not to!

Wedding Photography: Gina Cella Photography / Photography Assistant: Maia Harms / Event Styling + Decor: Alex Michael May of We See Rainbows / Wedding Venue: Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Ranch / Flowers: Sonia’s Flowers / Catering: Command Performance / Cakes + Cupcakes: The Cupcakery / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Jewelry: “Something Borrowed” from Bridesmaids / Groom + Groomsmen Shoes: Vans

Can we just take a moment to thank this thoughtful bride for dressing her bridesmaids in such gorgeous attire?  I’m sure her bridal party would certainly consider themselves lucky that they got to don such fabulous frocks.  The rest of this Sergeant’s Mess wedding by GM Photographics is equally as chic and elegant.   Breathtaking bouquets and centerpieces overflowing with roses and dusty miller, spectacular beachside views and one stunning couple.  The full gallery is where it’s at to crush over the entire wedding. And don’t miss the lovely reel by untitled film works!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We met through friends, but have known each other for years.

One night Matt told me he was taking me out for dinner, I thought we were going to a local pizza place but we got out and walked up to a friend’s restaurant.There were rose petals all over the grounds and tea light candles, he had booked out the whole restaurant, he got down on bended knee and proposed! After our beautiful 3 course meal, he had organized for all our friends and family to meet and have drinks at a local bar, it was beautiful!

When we started planning our wedding, I just wanted something that was classic, fresh and modern near the water with our close family and friends, and that’s exactly what we had.

The chapel in Manly was always one of our favorites, it’s in our local area, has amazing views and priest has know Matt and his family for years . Sergeant’s Mess was so easy to choose as our reception venue…it ticked all the boxes, we had family coming from the UK and Brazil, so we wanted somewhere on the water, with amazing views of what our beautiful city has to offer.

The best memory of our wedding day was sitting in the car with Matt after we left the church, we got to be by ourselves and talk about the day so far, you rarely get to be alone on your wedding day so rare moments like that were special, we could just breathe and sit back and enjoy each other and the day!

Wedding Cinematography: untitled film works / Wedding Photography: GM Photographics / Ceremony Location: Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel / Reception Location: Sergeant’s Mess / Flowers: Flowers by Drosia / Wedding Cake: Sugar Princess / Hair + Make-up: Jo Salerno / Invitations: Alannah Rose / Transport: Royalty Wedding Cars

This Quebec wedding by Unity Weddings brings rustic romance to a whole new level of gorgeous.  Planning a wedding from thousands of miles away can be a daunting task but this bride and groom were in good hands and the proof is in the details (and in their smiling faces!).  Sweet birch and burlap elements and soft shades of white, grey and beige bring a romantic, natural wonder to the entire event. Click here to see it all in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…When we first got engaged last summer, the boy/man and I had to make a couple of huge decisions. See, he’s British (with family in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland), I’m French Canadian, and we met in Brazil about nine years ago. Having a wedding that would accommodate people coming from different continents who speak different languages and have different customs seemed like an overwhelming challenge. In the end, we chose to have our wedding in Quebec because most of James’ family would be able (physically and financially) to fly over, whereas this was not the case the other way around. (I really wanted my grandmothers to be there – and James’ 81-year-old grandmother was OK with flying over from Scotland! Amazing lady!)

While researching venue options, we came up with the idea of renting log homes for all of our guests to stay in. Most log home rental resorts in Quebec are located north of Montreal, around the Mont-Tremblant ski area. After having visited three of these resorts (each with their pros and cons), we settled on Coté Nord Tremblant and its Caribou Restaurant. The log homes at Côté Nord really embodied our rustic chic theme. Beautifully appointed and newly built, these luxurious log homes came in a variety of sizes that could accommodate families and couples alike. And they came with fully-stocked kitchens, washers and dryers, internet – everything to make our guests comfortable. Chef Suzanne Boulianne, who runs the Caribou Restaurant, was friendly and completely accommodating about our menu option requests. The food she and her team cooks is absolutely incredible, specializing in wild game and locally-sourced products, all with a contemporary twist. Guests are still raving about having tasted deer and bison for the first time at our wedding.

Once the venue was chosen, wedding planning came to a bit of a halt. I decided I’d be joining the boy/man in England, which meant I would only be returning to Canada a week – if not days – before the wedding. That’s when we decided on hiring a wedding planner. Elyna Kudish from Unity Weddings really understood our “rustic chic” vision from the very beginning. She didn’t laugh at our budget or smaller guest list. She wasn’t intimidated by the whole trilingual issue. Or the fact that I’d be in another country. She just said she could take care of it.

And take care of it she did. I shared with her our (well, my) “rustic chic” vision, based on an obsessive perusal of around 60 wedding blogs, daily. I sent her pictures of antique milk bottles overflowing white hydrangeas and roses, hundreds of mason jars filled with candles, vintage suitcases and wooden crates, birch logs, burlap and lace. I scoured the internet, antique shops and garage sales for all of these items. We talked (almost daily), we tested out flower arrangements, and we went over tiny (oftentimes insignificant) details such as the folding of napkins and the strategic use of twine. Elyna was absolutely irreplaceable. Not only did she bring our vision to life and ensure that our wedding day ran smoothly, she also created all of our stationary, helped us with band and photographer contacts, and acted as a general sounding board. I know James is thankful that I did not have to have intense napkin and twine discussions with him.

Although we had a wedding weekend, the wedding day itself went by in a flash. As much as my obsessive blog reading had prepared me for this, I’m still surprised by how quickly it all went. I remember snippets of beautiful blue skies, our birch tree ceremony arch in front of the lake, drapey white fabric floating in the wind. I remember tears and laughter and forgetting words. I remember our mothers tying bits of lace and burlap in our handfasting ceremony. I remember the British guests’ hats (and a kilt!), the speeches and the dances, the food and the toasts, the spontaneous kisses. I’d have forgotten much more if it wasn’t for our incredible photographer, Micheal B, and his assistant Roxanne. Their attention to detail was spot on. And they seemed to be everywhere at once, capturing the day for what it meant to us – an intimate, casual celebration with our favorite people in the world, good food, good wine, and good music in beautiful surroundings. I know that thanks to them – and Elyna – the boy/man and I will cherish our wedding day memories forever.

Design + Concept: Unity Weddings / Wedding Photography: Micheal B Photography / Venue: Cote Nord Tremblant / Bride’s Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes + Purse: Aldo / Rings + Earrings: Cara Jewellers / Groom’s Tux: TM Lewin / Groom’s Shoes: Jones Bootmaker / Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Socks: John Lewis / Bridesmaid Dresses: Le Chateau, Armani Exchange, Monsoon + Coast / Stationery: Unity Weddings / Groomsmen Shirts: TM Lewin / Groomsmen Ties: John Lewis

As soon as I laid my wedding loving eyes on these gorgeous images, I knew this was going to be the perfect way to kick off another week here at SMP Illinois. You know a wedding is beyond gorgeous when you wish you were on the invite list. And get this-the groom got his DIY craft on and designed all the programs, escort cards, table cards and menus! Robyn Rachel Photography captured all the elegant details and there’s so much more in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Admittedly, the beginning of the day could have started better.  Don’t get me wrong – we were both ecstatic for what lied ahead and were having a great time with our bridesmaids/groomsmen and respective families, but the weather was a bit of concern.  I’m not a risk-taker in the slightest so I did not plan any outdoor aspects to our wedding for that very reason.  However, as I looked outside and saw the green-colored sky, sheets of rain and lightning, all I could think about was how I was going to get from the trolley to the church.  Fortunately for me, I was able to stop worrying about 20 minutes prior to the ceremony – the weather cleared up and we had a perfect summer day from there on out.

Our ceremony was particularly special to me as we got married in the church that I grew up attending and my grandpa’s cousin officiated, making it all the more personal.  The overall design of our day was really inspired by the venue for our reception though, the Chicago Cultural Center.  Now even though I grew up outside of the city of Chicago, I had never even heard of the building until I wound up there one Saturday afternoon with a friend to check out a Marilyn Monroe exhibit they were hosting. My friend and I walked around when we were done and stumbled upon Preston Bradley Hall – a gorgeous room with mosaic tiled walls, a view overlooking Millennium Park and home to the world’s largest Tiffany dome.  I instantly fell in love and knew that one day I would be celebrating my wedding there.  Luckily for me, Steve felt the same!

We knew how quickly places booked up in the city, so in the Spring of 2010, before we were even engaged, we decide to put a hold on the room for August 20, 2011.  (I can’t help it…I like to plan ahead!)  Fortunately for me it worked out, because on August 20, 2010, on the steps of the Cultural Center, Steve proposed.  Needless to say, the venue had a very special place in our hearts and naturally inspired the design of our wedding. The Cultural Center is a beautiful, historical landmark in the city, which was perfect because all of Steve’s guests were from out of town and we really wanted to give them a taste of classic Chicago!  We wanted to capture the turn of the century feel of the city, since the venue was built in the 1890s.  This was evident in some of our details like our “guest book” – antique photograph and vintage travel poster postcards of the city back in the day.

We used a color scheme of sage green – a prominent color in the room’s mosaics – taupe and yellow, and carried it through everything. The printed materials all leveraged some design aspect of the room, be it the dome or the chandeliers. Steve has a background in design so he actually designed the programs, escort cards, table cards and menus himself.  He even did the drawing of the dome that was used in our save the dates!  It added such a personal touch to the day and made it so much more special to look around the room and see what he had created for us.

Steve and I also wanted to make sure that the wedding was reflective of our relationship.  We met in college at the University of Michigan, so it was only appropriate for us to walk out to our school’s fight song, “Hail to the Victors.”  And since so many of our guests were also Michigan graduates, we took a huge group photo on the staircase, sporting a mock-up of the Michigan banner the players hit while entering the stadium.

All in all, though it started off a little rocky because of the weather, it ended up being an absolutely perfect day.  We were so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love and care about us!  And I would be remiss if we did not thank our amazing photographer, Robyn Rachel for capturing the day beautifully and our wedding planner, Chrissy Magliano, for making our dream wedding a reality – thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Wedding Planner: Chrissy Magliano of Big City Bride / Wedding Photography: Robyn Rachel Photography / Venue: Chicago Cultural Center / Church: Our Lady of Perpetual Help / Caterer: Blue Plate / Wedding Videography: Delack Media Group / Band: Ken Alren Orchestra / Floral Design: KLA Design / Hair:  Eunice Johnson of Sam Martirano Salon / Make-up: Elise Brill / Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo via Dimitra’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Charles David / Tux: Brooks Brothers / Invitations: Sarah Drake Design / Wedding Cake: Rolf’s Patisserie / Lighting: VLS

Oh my, this outdoor country wedding by Mustard Seed Photography has stolen my heart. From the antique church to the fields of gold to the splash of color on the bridesmaids – it could be close to impossible not to have your heart stolen by simple yet stunning wedding. But it doesn’t stop there, because Mustard Seed Photography not only filled the gallery full of pretty, but they also passed along the film for this fabulous fête below! So sit back and get ready to soak it all in!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/29462963 601 338]

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Mustard Seed Photography…Stephanie & Victor were married in the Texas countryside – at the Antique Rose Emporium located in the small town of Brenham, TX. Their ceremony was held in an antique chapel. Their reception was illuminated by a gorgeous sunset – it was heart meltingly gorgeous. The flowers, food, decor was themed along with an outdoor country wedding and helped lend character to the uniqueness of the venue.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Mustard Seed Photography / Location + Flowers: Antique Rose Emporium / Event Design + Planning: Brenda Epstein of Antique Rose Emporium / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal

This colorful celebration by Rachel Olsen Photography is just a feast for the senses. Vibrant in every way, from the textures on the traditional garb to the to die for color palette to the gelato bar – it just doesn’t get more sensory rich than this. It’s not what you expect from a typical seaside Maine destination wedding, but I think that’s what I love so much about this soiree for the senses! Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Rachel Olsen Photography…Shawn and I began planning our wedding with one word in mind. Destination.We dreamed of being married far from home, in a relaxed environment with inspiring views. We found all this and more at Newagen Seaside Inn in Southport, ME.

For our marriage ceremony, we wanted to highlight our passion for travel and adventure, our deep appreciation of Buddhist philosophy and traditions, and fueled by my own Indian heritage and our fascination with Indian weddings. In the end, I believe we created a unique, sensory rich, and multi-cultural wedding experience that everyone could enjoy and remember.  And many of our family and friends happily participated in dressing the part with us by wearing traditional Indian dresses (sari or lehenga) and suits (kurta or sherwani).  This of course only added to the vibrant color palette of the day.

As the amazing night wore on however, east did meet west and clothing changed to summer dresses and shirts and ties. For dessert we had a gelato bar (a huge hit!) as a nod to the Italian heritage of Shawn’s family. Bringing our guests all the way to India or even Italy was impossible, but I think we succeeded in bringing a small piece of it to them. We were able to create many memories filled with rich beautiful color, exotic and delicious cultural traditions, and dancing! Lots of dancing!

Wedding Photography: Rachel Olsen Photography / Flowers + Lighting: Kate Marin of Beautiful Days /
Henna: Remarkable Blackbird / Hair: Andrea Torre / Make-up: Linda Forgues of About Face / Band: Boss / Wedding Cake: European Bakery / Gelato: Gelato Fiasco / Indian Dress: Pashmina / White Dress: Nicole Miller via The Dressing Room / Jewelry: Two Tightly Wound / Wedding Coordinator + Event Planning: Jason Schlosser at Newagen Seaside Inn / Officiant: Lama Padma Karma

We’ve got the prettiest, pink garden fete to brighten up your Monday morning with some incredibly sweet DIY details tucked into each and every flower filled corner. The gardens at this venue are so beyond gorgeous that I wish I’d known about this place back when I was planning my own wedding. Jen Ing Photography captured all the pretty details to absolute perfection and thank goodness the swooning doesn’t have to end here because there’s way more where this came from in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…We wanted the wedding to be elegant yet whimsical, with personal touches throughout. The gardens at Elm Bank were the perfect setting to unleash our creative spirit.

We drew inspiration from the gardens in designing our DIY details.  The ginkgo branch motif on our stationery and favor boxes came from a tree in the herb garden. We loved the playful, oversized birds’ nests in the children’s garden and sculpted a pair of warblers as a cake topper.  We encountered a lovely surprise just before the ceremony, when two little warblers touched down on the railing near us!  To lead our guests to the ceremony garden, we made a series of wooden signs with the phrases “getting closer”, “almost there”, and “at last”…the title of our first dance song.

Our perspective was that a wedding should be a celebration of family.  The bride’s engagement ring, designed with heirloom diamonds from both sides of the groom’s family and encircled with a filigree of Chinese knots, was a perfect symbol of our union.  We kept our families in mind as we considered the personal meaning behind each moment of our day. Keeping the ceremony intimate, we had a groomsman play the guitar, while the bride’s older brother led us through our vows.   The bridesmaids were sisters of the bride and groom, and the groomsmen were a cousin and close friends from childhood.

We both enjoy gardens with a childlike sense of wonder, and we wanted the reception to to reflect that nostalgia.  Two living room arrangements in the dance tent became lively spaces for playing coffee table games. Guests both young and old enjoyed familiar treats, from colorful boxes of gummy bears to dessert trays of ice cream sandwiches and chocolate-covered cheesecake pops.

Wedding Photography: Jen Ing Photography / Floral Design: Wedding Flowers by Annette / Day-of-Coordination: Elegant Aura Events / Lighting Design: DesignLight / Hair + Make-up: Styling by Lisette / Ceremony + Reception Location: Massachusetts Horticultural Society / Catering + Wedding Cake: Cuisine Chez Vous / Ceremony Music: Bert Mingea (groomsman) / Reception Music: DJ Brian Delac, Murray Hill Talent / Bride + Bridesmaids Attire: Watters & Watters via Occasions Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Veil: Sabella Couture / Bride’s Engagement Ring + Wedding Band: Bostonian Jewelers / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / (DIY SOURCES) Invitation, favor box inserts, menus, place cards, and printed signage: Epson Papers & Inks / Hang tags for programs, invitation enclosures, envelopes + ribbon: Paper Source / Clear plastic favor boxes: Oriental Trading Company / Gummy bears: Albanese Confectionery, Inc. / Cake topper: Sculpey polymer clay / Plywood sign boards and posts: Home Depot